Brave reception of a King in Hispaniola.
Shortly after this Battel hapned a Huricane, mix’d with Thunder-claps, renting great pieces from the Rocks, and the Wind blowing out of the East, threw down Houses and Trees, some of which were carry’d a vast heighth into the Air; three Ships that rode in the Harbor, broke their new Cables, and split against the Rocks. The Spaniards expected nought else, but that with this excessive Tempest the Day of Judgment was at hand. And on the other side, the Islanders ascribed this raging of Heavens to the Spaniards wickedness. This Storm past, and the Air setled, Columbus gave order for the building of two new Ships there, with which in March, Anno 1495. he return’d to Spain; where in Medina del Campo he gave an account at the Court about the discover’d Countreys; where also Sentence was pass’d on several Spaniards, and chiefly concerning the Benedictine Monk Boilus, who out of meer malice pass’d by him at Mass with the Host, while he gave it to others, without any distinction. Then he gave a further account, that his Brother Bartholomew had found, sixty Leagues beyond Isabella, several deep Pits, the uppermost Ground of which Sifted, produced abundance of Gold. Moreover, that he had built the Castle Aurea there in three Moneths time with little trouble: but because Provisions grew scarce there, he found himself necessitated to remove, but left ten Men in the Garrison, and had sent three hundred of the Islanders with their Governors to Spain. He also built the Castle Dominico, on the South-side of Hispaniola; from whence he had travell’d into the Countrey to the River Naiba: where, upon this Shore the King Beuchio Anacauchoa Encamp’d himself against the Naibans, to bring them, besides several other People, under his subjection. That Bartholomew demanded Tribute of Anacauchoa, which he immediately promis’d to pay, and disbanded his Forces, conducting Bartholomew above thirty Leagues on his Way, along a Path on both sides sown with Hemp, and planted with Cotton-Trees, to his Palace Xaraqua, in the West of Hispaniola, where he was received in great state: Thirty of the Kings Wives walk’d before, carrying in their Hands Boughs of Palm-trees, and both Sung and Danc’d very strangely; behind these came a considerable number of naked Virgins, very handsom; at last Bartholomew entring the Palace with the King, found a Table furnish’d with all manner of Dainties, and a very courteous Entertainment. The next day walking forth to a large Plain, and looking about he saw two Parties that deeply engag’d in Fight behind a Hill, with great slaughter on both sides, and had not he desir’d that they might be parted, there had been much more Blood shed. After he had been several days friendly entertain’d, he return’d to the Forts Isabella, Sperancia, Catharina, St. Jago, Turrita, Conception, and Dominico; where he found above three hundred Spaniards starv’d of hunger, besides many that were sick.
At that time Guarionexius having been oppress’d by the Spaniards, and a long time watching for an opportunity, now thinking he had found it, rais’d an Army of fifteen thousand Men, with which he was resolv’d to try his fortune against Columbus; who privately receiving intelligence thereof, fell upon him so on a sudden and unexpectedly, that he spoil’d his Design, and took all his Commanders Prisoners: But to oblige the Inhabitants, who begg’d for their King, Columbus set him at liberty, advising him to be careful of raising a War against him any more. But he not being able to endure the oppressions of Roldanus Ximenez, a Spanish Commander, fled to the wild Ciquano’s, descended from the Canibals, and living on steep Mountains: Of these he desir’d aid against the Spaniards, and obtain’d not onely their Promise, but some Men; with which he robb’d and pillag’d the Countrey round about, and what Spaniards he met with he kill’d, and with his Men did eat, as if a Venison Feast. Mean while Ximenez made himself Leader of seventy Rebels, which like raging blood-hounds fell upon the Natives after a terrible manner.
Columbus Sails the third time to Hispaniola.
Description of the City Angra.
Whilst all things were thus in disorder at Hispaniola, the Admiral Christopher Columbus set Sail a third time with eight Ships from the Haven Barrameda, in the Year 1498. To shun the French Pyrates, which watched for the Indian Treasures, he directed his Course to Madera, a fruitful Island of Corn, Wine, Sugar, Wax, and Cattel, desolate till Anno 1420. Here coming to an Anchor, he sent six Ships away to Hispaniola, which himself afterwards followed with the remaining two, steering by the Flemish Islands, or Acores, first so call’d from the Flemings, the first Planters: Here he dropt Anchor before the City Angra on the Isle Tercera, which is sixteen Leagues in circumference, and very Mountainous; the tops whereof are like Spires, and abound with Grapes: the Plain Countrey produces great store of Corn, but it will not keep above twelve Moneths. The Ground is oftentimes terribly shaken by Earthquakes, and between several sulphurous Places, both Flames and Smoak ascend up to the Sky. Near the City Angra is a Fountain which turns Wood into Stone. The Winds in this Place blow so fierce and strong, that they not onely beat down Houses, but wear out Iron, and all manner of Stone-work. In Angra the chief Commander of all the Flemish Isles hath his Residence. The City, surrounded by steep Rocks, lies towards the Sea like a Crescent, or Half-Moon; for at both ends thereof the Mountains extend with deep Points into the Ocean. The uppermost part towards the West stands likewise fortifi’d by a high Rock, as also by another on the East: on both are continual Watches kept; whereof those on the first can discover Ships fifteen Leagues off at Sea, coming either from the East or West-Indies; and on the other, all those that come from Europe: When they see above fifteen Sail, they put out the Kings great Flag upon the top of all the Rock.
This City of Angra is divided into several Streets: the Governor and Archbishop live each in a stately Palace; five handsom Churches are no small ornament to it; the Sea before it abounds with Fish, but are not to be taken in December, by reason of the turbulent Waves.
Christopher Columbus having refresh’d at Angra, Sail’d along the African Coast between the Hesperides: under the Equinoctial he was so miserably tormented by the Heat, that his Vessels seem’d to burn, the Hoops sprung from the Casks, so that the Water run about the Hold; and they could expect nothing but death from the insufferable Heat, and want of Water: eight days they had endur’d this hardship, when they met with a fresh Gale out of the South-East, so that they made great Way towards the West. On the last of July he discover’d three high Mountains; and approaching near the Shore, he smelt as in a Posie, all the sweet breathings of fragrant Flowers commix’d, and at last saw a convenient Haven; where going ashore he found cultivated Grounds, and steps of Beasts, but not a Man appear’d: the next day they spy’d a Boat with twenty young Men come rowing from the Shore into the Ocean. The Admiral hal’d them in vain to come aboard, for they made the greater hast ashore, still looking about continually with great admiration on the Ships: whereupon he commanded them to beat their Drums, and sound their Trumpets, that they might by that means entice them aboard; but they rather taking it as a sign of War, made themselves ready for resistance: mean while the Spaniards overtook the Indian Boat, into which they threw a Hat, and other trifles; the Islanders amaz’d thereat, made signs to them to row ashore; but soon after they fled.