CHAP.
seen.
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
V.]
189
Passing by a great cape, to which he gave the name of
Cape Cuba, he struck eastward in search of Babeque, but on the 14th a head wind and boisterous sea obliged him to put back and anchor in a deep and secure harbor, to which he gave the name of Puerto del Principe.
Here he erected a cross on a neighbor-
ing height, in token of possession.
A few days were passed in
exploring with his boats an archipelago of small but beautiful islands in the vicinity, since known as El jardin del Rey, or the king's garden.
The gulf, studded with these islands, he named
the sea of Nuestra Señora; in modern days it has been a lurking-place for pirates, who have found secure shelter and concealment among the channels and solitary harbors of this archipelago. These islands were covered with noble trees, among which the Spaniards thought they discovered mastic and aloes. On the 19th Columbus again put to sea, and for two days made ineffectual attempts, against head winds, to reach an island directly east, about sixty miles distant, which he supposed to be Babeque.
The wind continuing obstinately adverse and the sea
rough, he put his ship about towards evening of the 20th, making signals for the other vessels to follow him.
His signals were
unattended to by the Pinta, which was considerably to the eastward.
Columbus repeated the signals, but they were still unat-
tended to. Night coming on, he shortened sail and hoisted signal lights to the mast-head, thinking Pinzon would yet join him, which he could easily do, having the wind astern; but when the morning dawned, the Pinta was no longer to be seen.* Columbus was disquieted by this circumstance.
Pinzon was
* Las Casas, Hist. lnd., torn. i. cap. 27. Hist. del Almirante, cap. 29. Journal of Columbus.
Navarrete, tom. i.