e time, writes the admiral, they had most
temperate breezes, the sweetness of the mornings being especially
delightful, the weather like an Andalusian April, and only the song of
the nightingale wanting. On the 17th the men began to murmur; they were
frightened by the strange phenomena of the variation of the compass, but
the explanation Columbus gave restored their tranquillity. On the 18th
they saw many birds, and a great ridge of low-lying cloud; and they
expected to see land. On the 20th they saw boobies and other birds, and
were sure the land must be near. In this, however, they were
disappointed; and thenceforth Columbus, who was keeping all the while a
double reckoning, one for the crew and one for himself, had great
difficulty in restraining the evil-disposed from the excesses they
meditated. On the 25th Martin Alonso Pinzon raised the cry of land, but
it proved false, as did the rumour to the same effect on the 7th of
October, from the "Nina." But on the 11th the "Pinta" fished up a cane,
a pole, a stick which appeared to have been wrought with iron, and a
board, while the "Nina" sighted a branch covered with berries; "and with
these signs all of them breathed and were glad." At ten o'clock on that
night Columbus himself perceived and pointed out a light ahead, and at
two in the morning of Friday, the 12th of October 1492, Rodrigo de
Triana, a sailor aboard the "Nina," announced the appearance of what
proved to be the New World. The land sighted was an island, called by
the Indians Guanahani, and named by Columbus San Salvador. It is
generally identified with Watling Island.

The same morning Columbus landed, richly clad, and bearing the royal
banner of Spain. He was accompanied by the brothers Pinzon, bearing
banners of the Green Cross (a device of the admiral's), and by great
part of the crew. When they all had "given thanks to God, kneeling upon
the shore, and kissed the ground with tears of joy, for the great mercy
received," the admiral named the island, and took solemn possession of
it for their Catholic majesties of Castile and Leon. At the same time
such of the crews as had shown themselves doubtful and mutinous sought
his pardon weeping, and prostrated themselves at his feet.

Into the remaining detail of this voyage, of highest interest as it is,
it is impossible to go further. It will be enough to say that it
resulted in the discovery of the islands of Santa Maria de la Concepcion
(Rum Cay), Fernand