Chapter II

COLUMBUS AND HIS DISCOVERIES.
1492-1500.

Early Experiences—The Compact—Embarkation at Palos—The
Voyage—Discovery of Land—Unfavorable Comparison with
the Paradise of Marco Polo—Cruise among the Islands—One
Nature Everywhere—Desertion of Pinzon—Wreck of the
Santa María—The Fortress of La Navidad Erected—Return
to Spain—Rights of Civilization—The Papal Bull
of Partition—Fonseca Appointed Superintendent of
the Indies—Second Voyage—Navidad in Ruins—Isabela
Established—Discontent of the Colonists—Explorations of the
Interior—Coasting Cuba, and Discovery of Jamaica—Failure
of Columbus as Governor—Intercourse with Spain—Destruction
of the Indians—Government of the Indies—Diego and
Bartolomé Colon—Charges against the Admiral—Commission
of Inquiry Appointed—Second Return to Spain—Third
Voyage—Trinidad Discovered—Santo Domingo Founded—The
Roldan Rebellion—Francisco de Bobadilla Appointed to
Supersede Columbus—Arbitrary and Iniquitous Conduct of
Bobadilla—Columbus Sent in Chains to Spain 155

CHAPTER III.

DISCOVERY OF DARIEN.
1500-1502.

Rodrigo de Bastidas—Extension of New World Privileges—The
Royal Share—Juan de la Cosa—Ships of the Early
Discoverers—Coasting Darien—The Terrible Teredo—Wrecked
on Española—Spanish Money—Treatment of Bastidas by
Ovando—Accused, and Sent to Spain for Trial—He is Immediately
Acquitted—Future Career and Character of Bastidas—The Archives
of the Indies—The Several Collections of Public Documents
in Spain—The Labors of Muñoz and Navarrete—Bibliographical
Notices of the Printed Collections of Navarrete,
Ternaux-Compans, Salvá and Baranda, and Pacheco and Cárdenas 183

CHAPTER IV.

COLUMBUS ON THE COASTS OF HONDURAS, NICARAGUA, AND COSTA RICA.
1502-1506.

The Sovereigns Decline either to Restore to the Admiral his
Government, or to Capture for him the Holy Sepulchre—So he
Sails on a Fourth Voyage of Discovery—Fernando Colon and his
History—Ovando Denies the Expedition Entrance to Santo Domingo
Harbor—Columbus Sails Westward—Strikes the Shore of Honduras
near Guanaja Island—Early American Cartography—Columbus Coasts
Southward to the Darien Isthmus—Then Returns and Attempts
Settlement at Veragua—Driven thence, his Vessels are Wrecked
at Jamaica—There midst Starvation and Mutiny he Remains a
Year—Then he Reaches Española, and finally Spain, where he
shortly afterward Dies—Character of Columbus—His Biographers 202