e armed like
the Spaniards, with swords, bucklers, and cuirasses. He also fancied
they said that the sea continued round to Ciguare, and that ten days
beyond it was the Ganges. Probably they were describing Mexico or Peru.

The country was everywhere beautiful and fertile in the extreme. On the
2nd of November the squadron anchored in a commodious harbour, to which
Columbus gave the name of Puerto Bello, which it still retains. They
were delayed here ten days by heavy rains and stormy weather, but the
painted natives brought off provisions, though few had ornaments of
gold.

Again sailing eastward, they passed the point now known as Nombre de
Dios, but being driven back, anchored in a harbour, which, from the
large fields of Indian corn, fruits, and vegetables, was called the Port
of Provision. They here remained until the 23rd, endeavouring to repair
their vessels, which were fearfully pierced by the teredo. Misled by
the seamen, always eager to get on shore, who went to sound it, he
entered a small harbour, which he called The Cabinet. It was infested
with alligators, which filled the air with a musky odour.

The natives gathered in large numbers, and at first treated their
visitors with hospitality; but the rough seamen soon committed excesses
which aroused their hosts to vengeance. In a short time the natives
were seen approaching to attack the vessels. Not until some shotted
guns were fired among them did they take to flight.

The seamen now began to murmur at the continuance of the tempestuous
weather, declaring that the looked-for straits would never be found.
Columbus might have begun to suspect the same, and, to the great joy of
his men, he expressed his intention of relinquishing his search for the
present. Sailing on the 5th of December from the Cabinet, he steered in
search of the gold-mines of Veragua.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

LAST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS, CONCLUDED--A.D. 1503-6.

The squadron encounters fearful storms--Returns to Veragua--The
Adelantado visits the cacique Quibian--Vessels nearly lost by a bore in
the river--The Adelantado sets off for the gold-mines--During a second
excursion collects much gold--Columbus resolves to form a colony--The
vessels prevented from crossing the bar--Eighty men engaged in building
a fort--Diego Mendez goes on a scouting expedition, and discovers the
treacherous designs of Quibian--Visits the village of the cacique--The
Adelantado undertakes to capture Quib