nd Prince Juan officiating as sponsors; and great hopes were
entertained that on their return to their native country they would
facilitate the introduction of Christianity among their countrymen. One
of them, who remained in the household of Prince John, died not long
afterwards, the first of his nation who entered heaven, according to the
notion of a Spanish historian.

The Spanish monarchs were anxious for the speedy departure of the
expedition, on account of the proceedings of King John of Portugal, who
had prepared a large armament for the avowed object of an expedition to
Africa, its real destination being to seize upon the newly-discovered
countries. Before, however, the Portuguese vessels sailed, the King was
compelled to sign a treaty by which the Papal line of partition was
moved to three hundred and seventy leagues west of the Cape de Verde
Islands. The Spaniards might appropriate all countries to the west of
the line, the Portuguese to the east. But no one appears to have
reflected that they must ultimately meet at the antipodes.

The Spanish fleet, consisting of three large ships of heavy burden, and
fourteen caravels, large and small, was rapidly got ready. The number
of persons permitted to embark had been limited to a thousand, but so
many volunteers applied, that the number was increased to twelve
hundred, among whom were numerous cavaliers of the best families, eager
to acquire honour or obtain the gold supposed to abound in the Indies.

The best pilots of Spain, husbandmen, miners, carpenters, and other
mechanics, were engaged for the projected colony; horses, mules,
domestic animals of all kinds were shipped, as well as grain, seeds,
vines, sugar-canes, and saplings, and vast quantities of merchandise,
consisting of trinkets, beads, hawks' bells, and looking-glasses.

At dawn on the 25th of September the fleet set sail from the Bay of
Cadiz, and keeping wide of the coast of Portugal, stood south-west for
the Canaries, where it arrived on the ist of October. After touching at
the Grand Canary, Columbus anchored on the 5th at Gomera, where he
obtained a supply of water, and also purchased calves, goats, sheep,
eight hogs, and a number of domestic fowls, these latter the progenitors
of those now found in abundance in the New World. By sealed
instructions the commanders were ordered in case of separation to
rendezvous in the harbour of La Navidad, the residence of the cacique
Guacanagari.

Af