ly quitted. Pinzon, as soon
as the weather permitted, went on board the admiral's caravel to account
for his desertion, which he stated to have been the accidental result of a
storm which had driven him out of his course and out of sight of his
leader. The admiral accepted this explanation, as a quarrel with Pinzon,
whose townsmen and relations formed a large proportion of the crews, might
cause a mutiny which would be fatal to the undertaking; but he did not
fail to note in his diary his conviction of Pinzon's bad faith. The fact
was, that Pinzon had heard from the natives of a certain island, whence
all the gold was said to come, and he had wished to anticipate Columbus in
the discovery of this El Dorado, and to secure the profits for himself. He
had not found this home of the gold, but had met with some natives from
whom he had obtained, by barter, a large quantity of the precious metal.
Half of this he had appropriated: the other half he had distributed among
his crew as a bribe to them to say nothing about the matter.

AFFRAY WITH ABORIGINES.

After a few days spent in refitting the vessels, and preparing for the
homeward voyage, the Nina. and her consort again set sail, coasting St.
Domingo in an easterly direction as far as the Gulf of Samana. It was in
this neighbourhood that the first affray with the aborigines took place,
in consequence of an attack made by them upon an exploring expedition
which Columbus had sent out. But so anxious was he to preserve a good
understanding with the natives, that he did not leave the scene of the
encounter until he had come to an amicable agreement with them. Another
instance of the wise and humane policy by which he was actuated, is to be
found in the fact, that on discovering that Pinzon had carried on board
six natives to be taken to Spain, and there sold as slaves, he insisted on
their release, dismissing them, moreover, with presents of such glittering
toys as their kinsmen would be likely to appreciate, and as might
predispose them in favour of the Europeans.

SEARCH FOR AMAZONIANS.

On the 16th of January, Columbus left the Gulf of Samana on his homeward
course, from which, however, he deviated at first in the hope of finding
the island, peopled with Amazons, described by Marco Polo, of which he had
understood the natives of St. Domingo to give him intelligence. Such a
discovery would be, he considered, a conclusive proof of the identity of
his new country wit