d the prowess of the Spaniards who had defeated the
dreaded Caribs.

As the ships were one day standing along the coast under easy sail, with
a light wind, three canoes came off. In the largest, handsomely carved
and painted, sat a cacique, his wife, two daughters, two sons, and his
five brothers. One of the daughters, eighteen years of age, was
beautiful in form and countenance, and though destitute of clothing, was
of modest demeanour. In the prow stood the standard-bearer, clad in a
mantle of variegated feathers, with a tuft of gay plumes on his head,
while he bore in his hand a fluttering white banner. Two Indians, with
caps of feathers, their faces painted, beat upon drums, while two
others, with caps of green feathers, blew their trumpets of black wood
ingeniously carved. There were six others in caps of white feathers,
who appeared to be guards to the cacique.

Having arrived alongside the Admiral's ship, he came on board with all
his train. He wore on his head a band of small green stones, joined in
front by a large jewel of gold; two plates of gold were suspended to his
ears; to a necklace of white beads hung a large metal plate, resembling
gold, in the form of a _fleur de lys_, while a girdle of variegated
stones completed his costume; though his wife and daughters, with the
exception of girdles, to which were suspended tablets of coloured
stones, were unadorned.

The chief, warmly greeting the Admiral, told him that his object in
coming was to accompany him to Spain, to do homage to the King and
Queen. Columbus, knowing the dangers that the simple savage and his
people would be exposed to, was touched with compassion, and determined
not to take them from their native land. He therefore told him that as
he had many places to visit, he could not take him then, but would at
some future time fulfil his desire. Reluctantly the cacique and his
family re-embarked in his canoe and returned to the shore, while the
ships continued their cruise.

Columbus now stood across to Hispaniola. On sending a boat on shore
near a large village, the inhabitants issued forth with bows and arrows,
while others came provided with cords to bind their expected prisoners.
These were the natives of the eastern province. Their hostility,
however, was only in appearance, for directly the crew landed they threw
aside their arms, and readily brought provisions, asking for the
Admiral, whose fame had spread over the whole islan