Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 52.djvu/396

380 When mass was over the old chief "presented to the admiral a casket of the fruits of his country, delivering the same with his own hands." After Columbus had "gently entertained him," the old man made a speech, which Didacus, the interpreter, translated to the Spaniards to the following effect:

I have been advertised (most mighty prince) that you have of late with great power subdued many lands and regions hitherto unknown to you, and have brought no little fear upon all the people and inhabitants of the same: the which your good fortune you shall bear with less insolency, if you remember that the souls of men have two journeys after they are departed from this body. The one, foul and dark, prepared for such as are injurious and cruel to mankind; the other, pleasant and delectable, ordained for them which in their lifetime loved peace and quietness. If therefore you acknowledge yourself to be mortal, and consider that every man shall receive condign reward or punishment for such things as he hath done in this life, you will wrongfully hurt no man.

Columbus,

marveling at the judgment of the naked old man, answered that he was glad to hear his opinion as touching the sundry journeys and rewards of souls departed from the bodies, supposing that neither he or any other of the inhabitants of those regions had had any knowledge thereof; declaring further that the chief cause of his coming thither was to instruct them in such godly knowledge and true religion. . . and especially to subdue and punish the cannibals and such other mischievous people, and to defend innocents against the violence of evildoers, etc.

The old man was so pleased with these comfortable words of the admiral that he became desirous of forsaking Cuba and accompanying Columbus to Spain, "notwithstanding his extreme age," and was with difficulty deterred from the purpose by his wife and children, who fell prostrate at the feet of the old cacique, imploring him with tears not to forsake and leave them desolate.

At whose pitiful requests the worthy old man, being moved, remained at home, to the comfort of his people and family, satisfying rather them than himself; for, not yet ceasing to wonder, and of heavy countenance because he might not depart, he demanded oftentimes if that land was not heaven which brought forth such men.

The Caribs were of different mettle from the inhabitants of the larger islands. They resisted to their utmost, and sometimes, without waiting to be assailed, attacked the Spaniards even at sea. In the Gulf of Paria we read that the Spanish vessels met with

a navy of eighteen canoes of cannibals, which went a-roving to hunt for men, who, as soon as they had espied our men, assailed their ship (that of Petrus Alphonsus, called Uignus) fiercely, and without fear inclosed the same, disturbing our men on every side with their arrows.