|
|
C HRISTOPHER COLUMBUS thought that he could reach India by sailing to the west. He went to the king of Portugal, and told him what he hoped to do. He showed the king his maps, and asked him for ships.
The king treated him badly. He would not help him, and was mean enough to send one of his own ships, secretly, to see if he could find anything. A storm arose. The crew were afraid of the high waves, and soon sailed back home.
When Columbus heard what the king had done, he left Portugal, and went to Spain. King Ferdinand listened to his plans, and said, "It is a strange and dangerous voyage. You must give me time to think about it."
The king talked with the wise men of his court, but they only laughed at Columbus, saying, "Do not spend money on this man's wild ideas."
There was a long and weary wait.
"Perhaps France will help me," Columbus said at last. "I will go there."
But a friend had gone and told Ferdinand's queen, Isabella. She sent for Columbus, and promised him help. "Your plans are worth trying, Columbus. If need be, I will sell my jewels to raise the money."
Three small ships were now made ready for the long voyage across the Sea of Darkness. They set sail from Palos, August 3, 1492.
Day after day and week after week they sailed out on the trackless ocean. Before them, and behind them, there was nothing but a waste of sky and water. The men began to be uneasy. They called to mind the old stories about the Sea of Darkness.
"We shall never find land," they grumbled. "The east winds are carrying us right away from home. How can we ever sail back? We shall all be lost."
Some of the sailors became so angry that they planned to throw Columbus overboard, and sail back to Spain. They would say that he fell into the sea while looking at the stars.
Columbus was as firm as a rock.
"Go back to your work, men," he said. "If at the end of three days no land is found, we will sail back home."
Columbus had seen signs of land. Seaweed had floated past. A bird now and then flew over his ship. Once a bush with red berries was seen in the water.
One night, when Columbus stood on the high deck and looked to the west, he saw a light, which seemed to rise and fall on the water.
"Look there, man; do you see a light?" he asked a sailor.
"Surely, master. It is like a torch waving to and fro. Land must be near."
Columbus and his men waited impatiently for day. At sunrise there lay before them a lovely tropical island. This was on Friday morning, October 12.
Joy filled the heart of Columbus. He believed that he had reached one of the islands off the coast of India. He did not know that he had found a new world.
Dressed in a scarlet robe, with sword in hand, he went ashore. He threw himself on his knees, and kissed the earth, and gave thanks to God for bringing them safely over the trackless ocean.
He then set up a cross, and unfurled the Spanish flag, saying, "I claim this land in the name of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain."
The little island was one of the Bahamas, north of Cuba, and not far from the coast of Florida. Columbus gave it the name of San Salvador.
The island seemed like a fairy land.
"It is so beautiful a country," Columbus said, "that I should like never to leave it."
The sea was as smooth as glass. Birds with gay plumage flitted in and out of the woods. Beautiful flowers, strange fruits, and wonderful trees were everywhere. And the people looked odd, with their high cheek bones, copper-colored skin, and straight black hair.
"It is all strange," said Columbus to himself. "These people are savage, and yet I am sure this is India." And so he called them Indians. By this name they are called to this day.
Columbus spent some weeks among the islands. At last he set sail for Spain, to carry the news of his wonderful voyage. It was a proud day for him and for Spain when he reached home. Ferdinand and Isabella sent for him to come and tell them his story. And the proudest and richest men of the kingdom were glad to honor him.