194
LIFE
AND
V O Y A G E S OF
[BOOK I V .
riant plains and green savannas; while the appearance of culti vated fields, of numerous fires at night, and columns of smoke by day, showed it to be populous. It rose before them in all the splendor of tropical vegetation, one of the most beautiful islands in the world, and doomed to be one of the most unfortunate. In the evening of the 6th of December, Columbus entered a harbor at the western end of the island, to which he gave the name of St. Nicholas, by which it is called at the present day. The harbor was spacious and deep, surrounded with large trees, many of them loaded with fruit; while a beautiful plain extended in front of the port, traversed by a fine stream of water.
From
the number of canoes seen in various parts, there were evidently large villages in the neighborhood, but the natives had fled with terror at sight of the ships. Leaving the harbor of St. Nicholas on the 7th, they coasted along the northern side of the island.
It was lofty and moun
tainous, but with green savannas and long sweeping plains.
At
one place they caught a view up a rich and smiling valley that ran far into the interior, between two mountains, and appeared to be in a high state of cultivation. For several days they were detained in a harbor which they called Port Conception ;* a small river emptied into it, after wind ing through a delightful country.
The coast abounded with fish,
some of which even leapt into their boats.
They cast their nets,
* Now known by the name of the Bay of Moustique. N O T E . — T h e author has received very obliging and interesting letters, dated in 1847, from T . S. Heneken, Esq., many years a resident of St. Domingo, giving names, localities and other particulars connected with the transactions of Columbus in that island. in the course of the work.
These will be thankfully made use of and duly cited