CHAP. V I I I . ]
CHRISTOPHER
COLUMBUS.
209
mast to be cut away, in the hope of lightening her sufficiently to float her off.
Every effort was in vain.
The keel was firmly
bedded in the sand; the shock had opened several seams; while the swell of the breakers, striking her broadside, left her each moment more and more aground, until she fell over on one side. Fortunately the weather continued calm, otherwise the ship must have gone to pieces, and the whole crew might have perished amidst the currents and breakers. The admiral and her men took refuge on board the caravel. Diego de Arana, chief judge of the armament, and Pedro Gutier rez, the king's butler, were immediately sent on shore as envoys to the cacique Guacanagari, to inform him of the intended visit of the admiral, and of his disastrous shipwreck.
In the mean
time, as a light wind had sprung up from shore, and the admiral was ignorant of his situation, and of the rocks and banks that might be lurking around him, he lay to until daylight. The habitation of the cacique was about a league and a half from the wreck.
When he heard of the misfortune of his guest,
he manifested the utmost affliction, and even shed tears.
He
immediately sent all his people, with all the canoes, large and small, that could be mustered ; and so active were they in their assistance, that in a little while the vessel was unloaded.
The
cacique himself, and his brothers and relatives, rendered all the aid in their power, both on sea and land; keeping vigilant guard that every thing should be conducted with order, and the prop erty secured from injury or theft.
From time to time he sent
some one of his family, or some principal person of his attend ants, to console and cheer the admiral, assuring him that every thing he possessed should be at his disposal. Never, in a civilized country, were the vaunted rites of hos-
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