ut the Indians in their light canoe escaped, and reaching the
island fled to the woods. Shortly afterwards a canoe, having on board a
single native, coming near, he was captured and brought to Columbus,
who, treating him with kindness won his heart; his canoe was also
restored to him, and that taken by the _Nina_ was set at liberty.

Soon afterwards, while traversing the channel between two islands, when
about midway another Indian in his canoe was overtaken, a string of
glass beads round his neck, showing that he had come from San Salvador.

Columbus, admiring his hardihood, had him and his canoe taken on board,
when he was treated with great kindness, bread and honey being given him
to eat. It was too late to select a spot through the transparent sea
for anchoring, and the ship lay to until the morning, while the Indian
voyager, with all his effects and loaded with presents, was allowed to
depart.

Next day the natives came off, bringing fruits, and roots, and pure
water. They were treated in the same way as the former had been. Their
huts, which were formed of tall poles and branches neatly interwoven
with palm-leaves of a circular form, were visited. They were clean and
neat, and generally sheltered under wide-spreading trees. For beds they
had nets of cotton extended between two posts, which they called
hammocks, a name since generally adopted by seamen.

Columbus, as he sailed round the island, found a magnificent harbour,
sufficient to hold a hundred ships. He was delighted with the beauty of
the scenery, the shady groves, the fruits, the herbs and flowers,--all
differing so greatly from those of Spain. Everywhere the natives
received their visitors as superior beings, and gladly conducted them to
the coolest springs, and assisted them in rolling their casks to the
boats. To the last island visited by Columbus he gave the name of
Fernandina. Sailing thence on the 19th of October, he steered in quest
of a large island called Saometo, where, misled by his guides, he
expected to find the sovereign of the surrounding islands, habited in
rich clothes and jewels and gold, possessed of great treasures, a large
city, and a gold-mine. Neither were found; but the voyagers were
delighted with the balmy air, the beautiful scenery, the graceful trees,
the vast flocks of parrots and other birds of gorgeous plumage, and the
fish, which rivalled them in the brilliancy of their colours. No
animals were seen, with t