ntly applied to Hispaniola. His great object,
however, was to reach some civilised country of the East with which he
might establish commercial relations, and carry home its Oriental
merchandise as a rich trophy of his discovery. Besides Bohio, he had
heard of another island called Babique, of which he now sailed in
search, hoping that it might prove some civilised island on the coast of
Asia. Shortly afterwards he altered his course east-south-east,
following back the direction of the coast, and thus did not discover his
mistake in supposing Cuba to be a part of _terra firma_, an error in
which he continued to the day of his death.

Some time was spent in cruising about an archipelago of small and
beautiful islands, which has since afforded a lurking-place for
piratical craft.

In attempting to reach the supposed land of Babique, he met with a
contrary gale, which compelled him to put about, when he made signals to
the other vessels to do likewise.

The _Pinta_ did not obey him, and when morning dawned was nowhere to be
seen. This circumstance disturbed Columbus, who had reason to fear that
Pinzon, jealous of his success, intended to prosecute the discovery by
himself, or to return to Spain with an account of the success of the
enterprise.

Finding that Pinzon did not rejoin him, he returned to Cuba, and
continued for several days sailing along the coast. Again and again he
was struck with the magnificence of the scenery and size of the trees,
out of a single trunk of which canoes were formed, capable of holding
one hundred and fifty people. On the 5th of December he reached the
eastern end of Cuba, and then steering large, away from it, he
discovered land to the south-east. On approaching, he saw high
mountains towering above the horizon, and found that it was an island of
great extent, being Hagi or Hispaniola.

Again his native friends exclaimed, "Bohio!"--by which they meant to say
that it was thickly populated, though, as he understood the expression,
that it abounded with gold. He was struck with the unrivalled beauty of
its scenery. On the following day he entered a harbour at the western
end, which he called Saint Nicholas. It was deep and spacious,
surrounded by trees, many of them loaded with fruit.

Sailing again, he entered another harbour, called Port Concepcion, now
known as the Bay of Moustique. Wishing to open an intercourse with the
natives, he sent six well-armed men into the interio