he exception of a dog which never barked, a
species of rabbit, and numerous lizards and iguanas.

Columbus was as much misled by his own fervent imagination as by not
comprehending the accounts given him by the natives. He proposed that
his stay at those islands should depend upon the quantity of gold,
spices, precious stones, and other objects of Oriental trade which he
should find there. After this he intended to proceed to the mainland of
India, which he calculated was within ten days' sail, and there, after
visiting some of its magnificent capitals described by Marco Polo, he
would deliver the letters of the sovereigns to the Grand Khan, with
whose reply he would return triumphantly to Spain.

Such was his idea when, leaving the Bahamas, he went in quest of the
island of Cuba, of which he had been told.

Touching at various islands, having crossed the Bahama bank, he came in
sight of Cuba on the morning of the 28th of October. He was struck as
he approached by its lofty mountains, its far-stretching headlands, its
plains and valleys, and noble rivers.

He anchored in a beautiful stream, the banks overhung with trees. Here
landing, he took possession of the island, giving it the name of Juana,
in honour of Prince Juan, and the river that of San Salvador. Going on
shore in search of the inhabitants, he found only two abandoned huts,
containing a few nets, hooks, and harpoons of bone, showing that the
owners were mere savages.

Again he was delighted with the scenery, and the vast flights of birds
of gorgeous plumage, parrots, woodpeckers, and humming-birds flitting
among the trees, and sucking honey from the flowers. He fancied too,
from the smell of the woods, that he perceived the fragrance of Oriental
spices. He discovered also shells of the kind of oysters which produce
pearls.

Having experienced since his arrival soft and genial weather, he
concluded that a perpetual serenity reigned over those happy seas.
Though the inhabitants had fled, he remarked that their dwellings were
better built than those he had hitherto seen, being clean in the
extreme; and as he discovered a few rude statues and wooden masks
ingeniously carved, he supposed that these signs of civilisation would
go on increasing as he advanced towards _terra firma_. He fancied that
the inhabitants had fled, mistaking his armament for one of those
scouring expeditions sent by the Grand Khan to make prisoners and
slaves. He, however, wi