nd must have opened a boundless field of conjecture to the
wondering Spaniards. The imagination delights to picture forth
the splendid confusion of their thoughts. Was this the great
Indian Ocean, studded with precious islands, abounding in gold,
in gems, and spices, and bordered by the gorgeous cities and
wealthy marts of the East? Or was it some lonely sea, locked up
in the embraces of savage uncultivated continents, and never
traversed by a bark, excepting the light pirogue of the Indian?
The latter could hardly be the case, for the natives had told
the Spaniards of golden realms, and populous and powerful and
luxurious nations upon its shores. Perhaps it might be bordered
by various people, civilized in fact, but differing from Europe
in their civilization; who might have peculiar laws and customs
and arts and sciences; who might form, as it were, a world of
their own, intercommuning by this mighty sea, and carrying on
commerce between their own islands and continents; but who
might exist in total ignorance and independence of the other
hemisphere.

"Such may naturally have been the ideas suggested by the sight
of this unknown ocean. It was the prevalent belief of the
Spaniards, however, that they were the first Christians who had
made the discovery. Vasco Nunez, therefore, called upon all
present to witness that he took possession of that sea, its
islands, and surrounding lands, in the name of the sovereigns
of Castile, and the notary of the expedition made a testimonial
of the same, to which all present, to the number of sixty-seven
men, signed their names. He then caused a fair and tall tree to
be cut down and wrought into a cross, which was elevated on the
spot from whence he had at first beheld the sea. A mound of
stones was likewise piled up to serve as a monument, and the
names of the Castilian sovereigns were carved on the
neighbouring trees. The Indians beheld all these ceremonials
and rejoicings in silent wonder, and, while they aided to erect
the cross and pile up the mound of stones, marvelled
exceedingly at the meaning of these monuments, little thinking
that they marked the subjugation of their land."

From the summit of the mountain Vasco Nunez cheerfully pursued his
journey to the coast; when he tasted the water and found it s