The Earthly Paradise - 6

The Earthly Paradise - 6

The afternoon was spent in deciding on a site for the fortress which was to be

constructed; and Columbus had no difficulty in finding volunteers among the crews to

remain in the settlement. He promised to leave with them provisions of bread and wine

for a year, a ship's boat, seeds for sowing crops, and a carpenter, a caulker, a gunner, and

a cooper. Before the day was out he was already figuring up the profit that would arise

out of his misfortune of the day before; and he decided that it was the act of God which

had cast his ship away in order that this settlement should be founded. He hoped that the

settlers would have a ton of gold ready for him when he came back from Castile, so that,

as he had said in the glittering camp of Santa Fe, where perhaps no one paid very much

heed to him, there might be such a profit as would provide for the conquest of Jerusalem

and the recovery of the Holy Sepulchre. After all, if he was greedy for gold, he had a

pious purpose for its employment.

The last days of the year were very busy ones for the members of the expedition. Assisted

by the natives they were building the fort which, in memory of the day on which it was

founded, Columbus called La Villa-de la Navidad. The Admiral spent much time with

King Guacanagari, who "loved him so much that it was wonderful," and wished to cover

him all over with gold before he went away, and begged him not to go before it was done.

On December 27th there was some good news; a caravel had been seen entering a

harbour a little further along the coast; and as this could only mean that the Pinta had

returned, Columbus borrowed a canoe from the king, and despatched a sailor in it to carry

news of his whereabouts to the Pinta. While it was away Guacanagari collected all the

other kings and chiefs who were subject to him, and held a kind of durbar. They all wore

their crowns; and Guacanagari took off his crown and placed it on Columbus's head; and

the Admiral, not to be outdone, took from his own neck "a collar of good bloodstones and

very beautiful beads of fine colours; which appeared very good in all parts, and placed it

upon the King; and he took off a cloak of fine scarlet cloth which he had put on that day,

and clothed the King with it; and he sent for some coloured buskins which he made him

put on, and placed upon his finger a large silver ring"—all of which gives us a

picturesque glimpse into the contents of the Admiral's wardrobe, and a very agreeable

picture of King Guacanagari, whom we must now figure as clothed, in addition to his

shirt and gloves, in a pair of coloured buskins, a collar of bloodstones, a scarlet cloak and

a silver ring.

But the time was running short; the Admiral, hampered as he was by the possession of

only one small ship, had now but one idea, which was to get back to Castile as quickly as

possible, report the result of his discoveries, and come back again with a larger and more

efficient equipment. Before he departed he had an affectionate leave-taking with King

Guacanagari; he gave him another shirt, and also provided a demonstration of the effect

of lombards by having one loaded, and firing at the old Santa Maria where she lay hove

down on the sandbank. The shot went clean through her hull and fell into the sea beyond,

and produced what might be called a very strong moral effect, although an unnecessary

one, on the natives. He then set about the very delicate business of organising the

settlement. In all, forty-two men were to remain behind, with Diego de Arana in the

responsible position of chief lieutenant, assisted by Pedro Gutierrez and Rodrigo de

Escovedo, the nephew of Friar Juan Perez of La Rabida. To these three he delegated all

his powers and authority as Admiral and Viceroy; and then, having collected the

colonists, gave them a solemn address. First, he reminded them of the goodness of God to

them, and advised them to remain worthy of it by obeying the Divine command in all

their actions. Second, he ordered them, as a representative of the Sovereigns of Spain, to

obey the captain whom he had appointed for them as they would have obeyed himself.

Third, he urged them to show respect and reverence towards King Guacanagari and his

chiefs, and to the inferior chiefs, and to avoid annoying them or tormenting them, since

they were to remain in a land that was as yet under native dominion; to "strive and watch

by their soft and honest speech to gain their good-will and keep their friendship and love,

so that he should find them as friendly and favourable and more so when he returned."

Fourth, he commanded them "and begged them earnestly" to do no injury and use no

force against any natives; to take nothing from them against their will; and especially to

be on their guard to avoid injury or violence to the women, "by which they would cause

scandal and set a bad example to the Indians and show the infamy of the Christians."

Fifth, he charged them not to scatter themselves or leave the place where they then were,

but to remain together until he returned. Sixth, he "animated" them to suffer their solitude

and exile cheerfully and bravely, since they had willingly chosen it. The seventh order

was, that they should get help from the King to send boat expeditions in search of the

gold mines; and lastly, he promised that he would petition the Sovereigns to honour them

with special favours and rewards. To this very manly, wise and humane address the

people listened with some emotion, assuring Columbus that they placed their hopes in

him, "begging him earnestly to remember them always, and that as quickly as he could he

should give them the great joy which they anticipated from his coming again."