ina (Long Island), Isabella (Crooked Island), Cuba or
_Juana_ (named by Columbus in honour of the young prince of Spain), and
Hispaniola, Haiti, or San Domingo. Off the last of these the "Santa
Maria" went aground, owing to the carelessness of the steersman. No
lives were lost, but the ship had to be unloaded and abandoned; and
Columbus, who was anxious to return to Europe with the news of his
achievement, resolved to plant a colony on the island, to build a fort
out of the material of the stranded hulk, and to leave the crew. The
fort was called La Navidad; 44 Europeans were placed in charge. On the
4th of January 1493 Columbus, who had lost sight of Martin Pinzon, set
sail alone in the "Nina" for the east; and two days afterwards the
"Pinta" joined her sister-ship. A storm, however, separated the vessels,
and it was not until the 18th of February that Columbus reached the
island of Santa Maria in the Azores. Here he was threatened with capture
by the Portuguese governor, who could not for some time be brought to
recognize his commission. On the 24th of February, however, he was
allowed to proceed, and on the 4th of March the "Nina" dropped anchor
off Lisbon. The king of Portugal received the admiral with the highest
honours. On the 13th of March the "Nina" put out from the Tagus, and two
days afterwards, Friday, the 15th of March, she reached Palos.

The court was at Barcelona; and thither, after despatching a letter
announcing his arrival, Columbus proceeded in person. He entered the
city in a sort of triumphal procession, was received by their majesties
in full court, and, seated in their presence, related the story of his
wanderings, exhibiting the "rich and strange" spoils of the new-found
lands,--the gold, the cotton, the parrots, the curious arms, the
mysterious plants, the unknown birds and beasts, and the Indians he had
brought with him for baptism. All his honours and privileges were
confirmed to him; the title of Don was conferred on himself and his
brothers; he rode at the king's bridle; he was served and saluted as a
grandee of Spain. A new and magnificent scutcheon was also blazoned for
him (4th May 1493), whereon the royal castle and lion of Castile and
Leon were combined with the five anchors of his own coat of arms. Nor
were their Catholic highnesses less busy on their own account than on
that of their servant. On the 3rd and 4th of May Alexander VI. granted
bulls confirming to the crowns of Castile and