Columbus Exchanged Some Commodities With These Indians; And
Inquiring At Them Where Gold Was To Be Found, They Pointed Towards The
East, On Which He Altered His Course In That Direction.
The first land he
came to was Cape Casinas in the province of Honduras, where his brother
landed and took formal possession.
The natives of this coast wore short
cotton jackets without sleeves, and clouts before them. They behaved very
peaceably to the Spaniards, whom they supplied with plenty of provisions.
Sailing several days to the eastwards from thence with contrary winds, he
arrived at a great cape or head-land, whence the coast trended to the
southwards, and called this place Cabo de Garcias a Dios, or Cape thanks
to God, because the east winds which had hitherto obstructed his voyage
would now serve for navigating that part of the coast. He accordingly
explored that coast, touching at Porto Bello, Nombre de Dios, Belen
and Veragua, trading with the Indians. At Veragua he was informed of
gold mines at no great distance, and sent his brother up the country in
search of them. On his return, Don Bartholomew brought down a considerable
quantity of gold, which he had procured from the natives for toys of
little value. Being encouraged by the prospect of gold, he proposed to
have left his brother in this place with 80 Spaniards to settle a colony,
and even began to build houses for that purpose; but, being opposed by the
Indians, and his own men becoming mutinous, he was obliged to relinquish
his intention.
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