hould treat the Indians ill, in any manner
whatever, the admiral is to chastise such ill-doers severely.

Even at this early period of his administration, Fonseca appears to have
made some attempts to thwart the admiral's wishes, attempts which
Columbus, now at the zenith of royal favour, had no difficulty in
baffling. As regards the household, for instance, Fonseca demurred to the
number of footmen which the admiral proposed for his domestic
establishment. The admiral appealed to the sovereigns, who allowed his
claim, and reproved Fonseca for objecting.

CHAPTER VI. Second Voyage of Discovery.

On the 25th of September, all the preparations being complete, the
squadron left Cadiz for the Canary Islands, and, after taking in
provisions there, sailed from Ferro on the 13th of October. The voyage was
singularly prosperous. There was but one storm, and that of not more than
a few hours' duration; and favouring breezes wafted them over calm seas
with a rapidity that brought the ships within sight of land on the 3rd of
November, having made the voyage "by the goodness of God, and the wise
management of the admiral, in as straight a track as if they had sailed by
a well-known and frequented route." It was Sunday, and accordingly the
name of Dominica was given to the first island to which the admiral came.

ISLAND OF GUADALOUPE.

From Dominica, where no aborigines were found, the admiral stood
northward, naming one small island Maria Galante, after his own flagship,
and calling a second and much larger one Guadaloupe, after a certain
monastery in Estramadura. This island was peopled by a race of cannibals;
and, in the houses of the natives, human flesh was found roasting at the
fire. An exploring party from one of the ships penetrated into the
interior, but so thickly was it wooded that they lost their way in the
jungle, and only regained the ships after four days' wanderings, and when
their safety was despaired of by their companions, who feared that they
had become food for the savages. Fortunately, however, the men of the
island were absent on some warlike expedition, and the white men only met
with women and children in the course of their dangerous explorations.

DESTRUCTION OF LA NAVIDAD.

Anxious to revisit the colony at La Navidad, the admiral proceeded
north-westward as speedily as possible, and after passing and naming
Montserrat, Antigua, St. Martin, and Santa Cruz, arrived at a beautiful
and fert