ce, such as the imagination was
prone in those times to give to all remote and unknown regions? Had he
come upon some wild island far in the Indian Sea, or was this the
famed Cipango itself, the object of his golden fancies? A thousand
speculations of the kind must have swarmed upon him, as, with his
anxious crews, he waited for the night to pass away; wondering whether
the morning light would reveal a savage wilderness, or dawn upon spicy
groves, and glittering fanes, and gilded cities, and all the splendour
of oriental civilization.

It was on Friday morning, the 12th of October, that Columbus first
beheld the New World. As the day dawned he saw before him a level
island, several leagues in extent, and covered with trees like a
continual orchard. Though apparently uncultivated, it was populous,
for the inhabitants were seen issuing from all parts of the woods and
running to the shore. They were perfectly naked, and, as they stood
gazing at the ships, appeared by their attitudes and gestures to be lost
in astonishment. Columbus made signal for the ships to cast anchor,
and the boats to be manned and armed. He entered his own boat, richly
attired in scarlet, and holding the royal standard; whilst Martin Alonzo
Pinzon, and Vincent Yanez his brother, put off in company in their
boats, each with a banner of the enterprize emblazoned with a green
cross, having on either side the letters F. and Y., the initials of the
Castilian monarchs Fernando and Ysabel, surmounted by crowns.

As he approached the shore, Columbus, who was disposed for all kinds of
agreeable impressions, was delighted with the purity and suavity of the
atmosphere, the crystal transparency of the sea, and the extraordinary
beauty of the vegetation. He beheld, also, fruits of an unknown kind
upon the trees which overhung the shores. On landing he threw himself on
his knees, kissed the earth, and returned thanks to God with tears
of joy. His example was followed by the rest, whose hearts indeed
overflowed with the same feelings of gratitude, Columbus then rising,
drew his sword, displayed the royal standard, and assembling round him
the two captains, with Rodrigo de Escobedo, notary of the armament,
Rodrigo Sanchez, and the rest who had landed, he took solemn possession
in the name of the Castilian sovereigns, giving the island the name of
San Salvador. Having complied with the requisite forms and ceremonies,
he called upon all present to take the oath of ob