t far from the
shore, where they were most cordially received. The natives begged the
Europeans to stay with them, and as it proved, Columbus accepted the
invitation for a part of his crew. On the first day three different
chiefs came to visit him, in a friendly way, with their retinues.
The next day more than a hundred and twenty canoes visited the ship,
bringing with them such presents as the people thought would be
acceptable. Among these were bread from the cassava root, fish, water in
earthen jars, and the seeds of spices. These spices they would stir in
with water to make a drink which they thought healthful.

On the same day Columbus sent an embassy of six men to a large town in
the interior. The chief by giving his hand "to the secretary" pledged
himself for their safe return.

The twenty-third was Sunday. It was spent as the day before had been,
in mutual civilities. The natives would offer their presents, and say
"take, take," in their own language. Five chiefs were among the visitors
of the day. From their accounts Columbus was satisfied that there was
much gold in the island, as indeed, to the misery and destruction of its
inhabitants, there proved to be. He thought it was larger than England.
But he was mistaken. In his journal of the next day he mentions Civao, a
land to the west, where they told him that there was gold, and again he
thought he was approaching Cipango, or Japan.

The next day he left these hospitable people, raising anchor in the
morning, and with a light land wind continued towards the west. At
eleven in the evening Columbus retired to rest. While he slept, on
Christmas Day, there occurred an accident which changed all plans for
the expedition so far as any had been formed, and from which there
followed the establishment of the ill-fated first colony. The evening
was calm when Columbus himself retired to sleep, and the master of the
vessel followed his example, entrusting the helm to one of the boys.
Every person on the ship, excepting this boy, was asleep, and he seems
to have been awake to little purpose.

The young steersman let the ship drift upon a ridge of rock, although,
as Columbus says, indignantly, there were breakers abundant to show the
danger. So soon as she struck, the boy cried out, and Columbus was
the first to wake. He says, by way of apology for himself, that for
thirty-six hours he had not slept until now. The master of the ship
followed him. But it was too late. Th