should always bear in mind the lofty enthusiastic aspirations which
influenced the mind of the great navigator. He had hoped by the wealth
he should obtain to win the Holy Sepulchre from the infidels, but more
practical schemes soon occupied him. The wealth brought from the East,
owing to the discoveries of the Portuguese, aroused him to emulation.
He had found a strong current setting westward, through the Caribbean
Sea, between the coasts of Paria on the south and Cuba on the north, the
latter, as he believed, being a part of the Asiatic continent stretching
onwards in the same direction. He believed therefore that there must be
a straight opening into the Indian Sea, and, could he discover it, he
believed that he should be able to reach India by a far more easy route
than any yet followed.

His plan was listened to with attention by the sovereigns, and he was
authorised to fit out another armament.

He asked permission to touch at Hispaniola for supplies on the outward
voyage, but the sovereigns, knowing that he had many enemies in the
island, forbade him doing so. They, however, to soothe his feelings,
wrote him a letter dated the 14th of March, 1502, solemnly assuring him
that all his dignities should be enjoyed by him and his sons after him,
and that they would bestow further honours and rewards upon him and them
as well as upon his excellent brothers.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

FOURTH AND LAST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS--A.D. 1502.

Columbus sails from Cadiz the 9th of May, 1502, in command of four
caravels--Reaches Martinico, and steers for San Domingo to change one of
his vessels finds Bobadilla about to sail--Refused admission to the
port--Warns the Governor of an impending hurricane--Keeps close in with
the land--Escapes--Bobadilla's ship founders--Only one with the treasure
of Columbus reaches Spain--Touching at Jamaica, stands across to Bonacca
off the coast of Honduras--Visited by a cacique in a large canoe laden
with numerous articles--Search for the supposed strait--Goes on shore on
the mainland--The natives bring presents--Sails along the coast--Stormy
weather continues--Columbus suffers from illness--Fine weather--Off the
Mosquito shore--Natives offended at their presents not being accepted--
Hostages brought--Frightened at seeing the notary write--Natives carried
off as guides--Ships anchor in the Bay of Caribaro--Large quantities of
gold seen among the natives--Reaches the coast of Veragua--Hostility of
n