CHAP.
CHRISTOPHER
II.]
COLUMBUS.
169
had the same soft temperature; the air was delicate and balmy; the land was higher, with a fine verdant hill; the coast of a fine sand, gently laved by transparent billows. At the southwest end of the island he found fine lakes of fresh water, overhung with groves, and surrounded by banks covered with herbage. filled.
Here he ordered all the casks of the ships to be
“ Here are large lakes,” says he, in his journal, “ and the
groves about them are marvelous, and here and in all the island every thing is green, as in April in Andalusia.
The singing of
the birds is such, that it seems as if one would never desire to depart hence.
There are flocks of parrots which obscure the
sun, and other birds, large and small, of so many kinds all differ ent from ours, that it is wonderful; and beside, there are trees of a thousand species, each having its particular fruit and all of mar velous flavor, so that I am in the greatest trouble in the world not to know them, for I am very certain that they are each of great value.
I shall bring home some of them as specimens, and also
some of the herbs.”
T o this beautiful island he gave the name
of his royal patroness, Isabella; it is the same at present called Isla Larga and Exumeta.
Columbus was intent on discovering
the drugs and spices of the east, and on approaching this island, had fancied he perceived in the air the spicy odors said to be wafted from the islands of the Indian seas. “ As I arrived at this cape,” says he, “ there came thence a fragrance so good and soft of the flowers or trees of the land, that it was the sweetest thing in the world.
I believe there are here many herbs and trees
which would be of great price in Spain for tinctures, medicines, and spices, but I know nothing of them, which gives me great concern.”* * Primer Viage de Colon.
Navarrete, cap. 1.