CHAPTER V.

THE FOURTH AND LAST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS.

HE MAKES FURTHER DISCOVERIES ALONG THE CONTINENT OF AMERICA, AND NAMES THE HARBOUR OF PORTO BELLO-IS WRECKED ON THE COAST OF JAMAICA-RETURNS TO EUROPE. -DEATH OF ISABELLA.-DEATH OF COLUMBUS-IS SUCCEEDED BY HIS SON DIEGO,

MEANWHILE, Columbus was engaged in the unpleasant employment of soliciting the favour of an ungrateful court; and, notwithstanding all his merit and services, he solicited in vain. He demanded, in terms of the original contract of 1492, to be reinstated in his office of viceroy over the countries which he had discovered. But, by a strange fatality, the circumstance urged by him in favour of his claim, determined a jealous monarch to reject it. The greatness of his discoveries, and the prospect of their increasing value, made Ferdinand consider the concessions in that agreement as extravagant and impolitic. He was afraid to intrust a subject with the exercise of a jurisdiction, which might become no less formidable than it now appeared extensive. He inspired Isabella with the same suspicions; and, under various pretexts, equally frivolous and unjust, they eluded all the requisitions of Columbus to perform what a solemn compact bound them to accomplish. After attending the court of Spain for nearly two years, as an humble suitor, he perceived that he laboured in vain, when he urged a claim of justice or merit with an interested and unfeeling prince.

The spirit of Columbus, however, was not yet subdued. Even that ungenerous return did not discourage him from pursuing the great object which had first called forth his inventive genius. To open a new passage to the East Indies, was his original and favourite scheme. This still engrossed his thoughts; and, either from his own observations in his voyage to Paria, or from some obscure hints of the natives, or from the accounts given by Bastidas and De la Cosa, of their expedition, he conceived an opinion, that, beyond the continent of America, there was a sea which extended to the

East Indies, and hoped to find some strait or narrow neck of land, by which a communication might be opened with it and that part of the ocean already known. By a fortunate conjecture, he supposed this strait or isthmus to be situated near the gulf of Darien. Full of this idea, though now at an advanced age, and broken with infirmities, he offered to undertake a voyage which would ascertain this important point, and perfect the grand scheme, which, from the beginning, he proposed to accomplish.

Several circumstances concurred, in disposing Ferdinand and Isabella to lend a favourable ear to this proposal. They were glad to have the pretext of any honourable employment, for removing from court a person with whose demands they deemed it impolitic to comply, and whose services it was indecent to neglect: about this time, too, the Portuguese fleet, under Cabral, arrived from the Indies; by the richness of its cargo, giving the people of Europe a more perfect idea than they had hitherto been able to form, of the opulence and fertility of the east: thus, Lisbon became immediately the seat of commerce and wealth; while Spain had only the expectation of remote benefit, and future gain, from the western world. For the performance of this important object, there were assigned to Columbus, four small barks, the largest of which did not exceed seventy tons; the crews amounting, in all, to one-hundred-and-fifty men. It appears, however, that he preferred vessels of this size, to larger, for a voyage of that nature, on account of the greater safety arising from their easy draught of water, when exploring an unknown coast. He was accompanied by his brother Bartholomew, and his second son Ferdinand, the historian of his actions. He sailed from Cadiz on the 9th of May, and touched, as usual, at the Canary islands; whence, he proposed to steer directly for Jamaica, and thence for the continent, in search of the supposed straits: but his largest vessel was so clumsy and unfit for service, that he was constrained to shape his course for Hispaniola, (contrary to the orders of the sovereigns, prohibiting him, on his outward voyage, to touch at this island,) in the hope of exchanging her for some ship of the fleet that had carried out Ovando.

June 24.

When he arrived at St. Domingo, he found eighteen of those ships ready laden, and on the point of departing for Spain. Columbus immediately acquainted the governor with the destination of his voyage, and the ac、

cident which had obliged him to alter his route. He requested permission to enter the harbour, not only that he might negotiate the exchange of his ship, but that he might take shelter during a violent hurricane, of which, from various prognostics, suggested by his experience and sagacity, he discerned the approach. On that account, he advised him, likewise, to defer, for some days, the sailing of the fleet bound for Spain. But Ovando refused his request, and despised his counsel. "Under circumstances," observes an elegant historian,* "in which humanity would have afforded refuge to a stranger, Columbus was denied admittance into a country, of which he had discovered the existence, and acquired the possession; and his salutary warning was considered as the dream of a visionary prophet." The fleet

sailed for Spain. The following night, the hurricane came on, with dreadful impetuosity. Aware of the danger, Columbus used precautions against it, by taking shelter in some wild bay or river of the island. Within two days, the predictions of Columbus were verified. The fleet destined for Spain experienced the fate, merited by the rashness and obstinacy of its commanders. Of eighteen ships, only two or three escaped. In this general wreck, perished Bovadilla, Roldan, and the greater part of those who had been most active in persecuting the Indians, and oppressing Columbus. Together with themselves, was swallowed up all the wealth which they had acquired by their cruelty and injustice: amongst the ships that escaped, one had on board all the effects of Columbus, which had been recovered from the ruins of his fortune; and that one was the only vessel which was enabled to continue her voyage to Spain.

Columbus left Hispaniola on the 14th of July, and steered towards the continent. After a tedious and dangerous voyage, he discovered Guanaia, an island not far distant from the coast of Honduras, and then bore away to the east, towards the gulf of Darien. In this navigation, he discovered all the coast of the continent, from Cape Gracios a Dios, to a harbour, which, on account of its beauty and security, he called Porto Bello: but he searched in vain for the imaginary strait, through which he expected to make his way into an unknown sea; and, though he went several times on shore, and advanced into the country, he did not penetrate so far, as to

* Robertson,

cross the narrow isthmus which separates the gulf of Mexico from the great southern ocean. A beautiful island, at which Columbus stopped to procure refreshments, he called La Huerta, or the Garden. Directly opposite, on the main land, was an Indian village, named Cariari, situated on the bank of a delightful river. As soon as the inhabitants beheld the ships, they assembled on the coast, armed with bows and arrows, war-clubs and lances, prepared to defend their shores. When, however, they perceived that the Spaniards did not attempt to molest them, their hostility ceased, their curiosity began to predominate, and they made various pacific signals, waving their mantles like banners, and inviting the Spaniards to land. Finding that the strangers still declined to come on shore, the natives tried every means to dispel the distrust which might have been caused by their hostile demonstrations. One day, a boat cautiously approaching the shore, in quest of some place at which to procure water, a venerable looking Indian issued from amongst the trees, bearing a white banner on the end of a staff, as a signal of peace; and leading two girls, one about fourteen years of age, the other eight, having ornaments of gold about their necks. These he conducted to the boat, and delivered to the Spaniards; making signs that they were to be detained as hostages while the strangers should be on shore. The Spaniards now sallied forth with confidence, and filled their water-casks; the Indians remaining at a distance, and observing the strictest care, neither by word nor movement, to cause any new distrust. When the boats were about to return to the ships, the old Indian made signs that the young girls should be taken on board; nor would he admit any denial. Columbus was careful that the confidence thus placed in him should not be abused. After feasting the young females, and ordering them to be clothed and adorned with various ornaments, he sent them on shore. It was at this time, however, nearly dark, and the coast was deserted. They were under the necessity of returning to the ship, where they remained all night under the paternal guardianship of Columbus, who, the next morning, restored them to their friends.

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On the following day, the adelantado endeavoured to collect information from the natives respecting the country, and ordered the notary of the squadron to write down the replies. The latter immediately prepared pen, ink, and paper, and proceeded to write; but, no sooner did the Indians behold

this strange and mysterious operation, than, mistaking it for some necromantic spell, intended to be wrought upon them, they fled, with terror, to the woods. Shortly afterwards, they returned, cautiously scattering a fragrant powder in the air, and burning some of it in such a direction that the smoke would be borne towards the Spaniards, by the wind: this was apparently intended to counteract any baleful spell, for they regarded their visiters as beings of a mysterious and supernatural order.

When examining one of the villages, the adelantado found, in a large house, several sepulchres. One contained a human body, embalmed. In another, there were two bodies, wrapped in cotton, and so preserved, as to be free from any disagreeable smell. They were adorned with the ornaments esteemed most precious by the individuals when living; and the sepulchres were decorated with rude carvings and paintings, representing various animals, and sometimes what appeared to be portraits of the deceased.

On the coast of Veragua, for the first time in the new world, the Spaniards beheld signs of solid architecture; having found a large mass of stucco, formed of stone and lime, a piece of which was carried away by Columbus, as a specimen, considering it an indication of his approach to countries where the arts were in a higher degree of cultivation.

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Thus, briefly have we noticed some of the many objects of curiosity observed by the Spaniards in this interesting search. Like all the preceding voyages of the great discoverer, it was not free from vexation and peril. 1503. repulse, experienced by a small colony left on the river Belem, in the province of Veragua-the first that the Spaniards met, from any of the American nations—was not the only misfortune that, in this voyage, befel Columbus. It was followed by a succession of all the disasters to which navigation is exposed. Furious hurricanes, with violent storms of thunder and lightning, threatened his leaky vessels with destruction; while his discontented crew, exhausted by fatigue, and destitute of provisions, were unwilling or unable to execute his commands. One of his ships perished; he was compelled to abandon another, as unfit for service; and, with the two which remained, he quitted that part of the continent, which, in his anguish, he named the Coast of Vexation; and bore away for Hispaniola. New distresses awaited him, in this voyage. He was driven back, by a violent tem