We had with us upon the Santa Maria three San Salvador men. They had come willingly, two young, fearless men, and one old man with a wrinkled, wise, interested face. Assiduous to gain their tongue and impart our own, the Admiral, beside his own effort, told off for especial teachers and scholars Luis Torres and Juan Lepe. We did gain knowledge, but as yet everything was imperfect, without fine shading, and subject to all miscomprehension. But like the rest of us, the Admiral guessed in accordance with his wishes and his previous belief.
All these islands lay flat or almost flat upon the sea. All showed ivory beach, vivid wood, surrounding water, transparent2 and heavenly blue, inhabited by magically colored fish. When we dropped anchor, took boat and landed, it was to find the same astonished folk, naked, harmless, holding us for gods, bringing all they had, eager for our toys which were to them king's treasures and holy relics3. Every island the Admiral named; he gave them goodly names! Over and over the Indians pointed4 south and west. We understood great lands, clothed men, much gold. But when we next came to anchor, like small island, like men, women and children. We traded for a few more knobs of gold, but they were few.
Toscanelli's map and the Admiral's map lay on cabin table. "Islands in the Sea of Chin—Polo and Mandeville alike say thousands—all grades then of advance. Beyond any manner of doubt, persevering5 west or west by south, we shall come to main Asia." So long as he ruled, there would be perseverance6!
At Santa Maria de la Concepcion a solitary7 large canoe crowded with Indians was rowing toward us. One of the San Salvador young men aboard us fancied some slight, experienced some fear, or may even,—who knows?—have wearied of the gods. Springing upon the rail he threw himself into sea and made off with great strokes toward the canoe. Pedro behind him shouted "Escape!" There was a rush to the side to observe. Fernando bawled9, "Come back! or we'll let fly an arrow."
He swam, the dark, naked fellow, like a fish. Reaching the canoe, the Indians there took him in; he seemed to have a tale to tell, they all broke into talk, the canoe went round, they rowed fast back to land. The Nina, lying near us, had her boat filling to go ashore10. Her men had seen the leap overboard and the swimmer. Now they put after, rowing hard for the canoe, that having the start came first to beach. The Indians sprang out, the San Salvador man with them. Leaving canoe, they ran across sand into wood. The Nina's men took the canoe and brought it to the Santa Maria. In it were balls of cotton and calabashes filled with fruit and a chattering11 parrot. It was the first thing of this kind that had happened, and the Admiral's face was wrathful. He had a simple, kindly12 heart, and though he could be vexed13 or irritated, he rarely broke into furious anger. But first and last he desired peaceful absorption, if by any means that were possible, of these countries. We absorbing them, they absorbing us; both the gainers! And he had warm feeling of romance-love for all this that he was finding. He saw all his enterprise milk-white, rose-bright. And his pride was touched that the Indian who had seemed contented14 had not truly been so, and that the Nina's men had disobeyed strict commands for friendliness15. He would restore that content if possible, and he would have no more unordered chasing of canoes. The Nina's men got anger and rebuke16, Captain Cristoforo Colombo mounting up in the Admiral.
He would let nothing in the canoe be touched. Instead he had placed aboard a pot of honey and a flask17 of wine and three pieces of cloth, then with a strong shove it was sent landward, and the tide making in, it came to shore. We saw two venture from the wood and draw it up on beach.
In a little while came around a point of shore a canoe with one Indian who made toward us, using his oar8 very dexterously18, and when he entered our shadow holding up cotton and fruit. It was to be seen that he had had no communication with the men of the large canoe.
The Admiral himself called out encouragingly and snatching the first small thing at hand held it up. The Indian scrambled19 on board. He stood, as fine a piece of bronze as any might see, before the Genoese, as great a figure as might be found in all Italy—all Spain—all Europe.
The elder touched the younger, the white man the red man, as a king, a father, might have touched a prince, a son. He himself took the youth over our ship, showing him this, showing him that, had the music play for him, brought him to Fray20 Ignatio who talked of Christ, pointing oft to heaven. (To my thinking this action, often repeated, was one of the things that for so long made them certain we had come from the skies.) In the cabin he gave the Indian a cup of wine and a biscuit dipped in honey. He gave him a silken cap with a tassel21 and himself put round his throat one of our best strings22 of beads23, and into his hand not one but three of the much-coveted hawk24 bells. He was kinder than rain after drought. First and last, he could well lend himself to the policy of kindness, for it was not lending. Kindness was his nature.
In an hour this Indian, returned to his canoe, was rowing toward shore with a swelling25 heart and a determined26 loyalty27. He touched the island, and we could trust him to be missionary28, preaching with all fervor29 of heaven and the gods.
Ay, me!
Whatever the other's defection, he more than covered it, the return of the canoe aiding. Santa Maria de la Concepcion became again friendly. But the Admiral that evening gave emphatic30 instruction to Martin and Vicente Pinzon and all the gathered Spaniards. Just here, I think, began the rift31 between him and many. Many would have by prompt taking, as they take in war. Were not all these heathen and given? But he would have another way round, though often he compromised with war; never wanting war but forced by his time and his companions. Sometimes, in the future, forced by the people we came among, but far oftener forced by greed and lust32 and violence of our own. Alas33, again! Alas, again and again!
After Santa Maria de la Concepcion, Fernandina, and after Fernandina the most beautiful of islands, Isabella, where we lay three days. People upon this island seemed to us more civilized34 than the Salvador folk. The cotton was woven, loin cloths were worn, they had greater variety of calabashes, the huts were larger, the villages more regular. They slept in "hamacs" which are stout35 and wide cotton nets slung36 between posts, two or three feet above earth. Light, space-giving, easy of removal, these beds greatly took our fancy.
Here we sought determinedly37 for spice-giving trees and medicinal herbs and roots. It was not a spicery such as Europe depended upon, but still certain things seemed valuable! We gathered here and gathered there what might be taken to Spain. There grew an emulation38 to find. The Admiral offered prizes for such and such a commodity come upon.
We sailed from Isabella and after three days came to Cuba.
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1
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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2
transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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3
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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persevering
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| a.坚忍不拔的 | |
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6
perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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11
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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12
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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13
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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14
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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15
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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18
dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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tassel
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| n.流苏，穗；v.抽穗， （玉米）长穗须 | |
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strings
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| n.弦 | |
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beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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fervor
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| n.热诚；热心；炽热 | |
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30
emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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31
rift
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| n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入 | |
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lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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33
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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determinedly
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| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
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emulation
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| n.竞争；仿效 | |
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