without delay, steered in search of this reported island.
He had not sailed many leagues before the summits of lofty mountains
were seen rising above the horizon.  As he approached the island he was
struck with the beauty of its scenery, the majesty of its forests, the
fertility of its valleys, and the number of its villages.

In a short time seventy canoes filled with savages, gaily-painted, and
decorated with feathers, paddled off a league from the shore, uttering
loud yells, and brandishing lances of pointed wood.  They were quickly
soothed, however, by the interpreter, and a few gifts bestowed upon
them, so that they did not molest the ship.

Coasting westward, Columbus, finding a sheltered harbour, made
preparations for careening the ship, which leaked.  As he was entering,
the boats sounding ahead, two canoes came up, filled with Indians, who
hurled their darts; but wishing to avoid any act of hostility, he
ordered the boats to return and, standing on, came to an anchor.

Directly afterwards the whole beach was covered with savages, painted
chiefly with black, and all wearing coronets of feathers.  They showed
their hostile intentions by hurling their javelins towards the ship,
making the shores ring with their war-whoops.

As further forbearance might have been mistaken for cowardice, the
Admiral sent a boat on shore full of well-armed men, who let fly a
volley of arrows from their crossbows, wounding several Indians, and
throwing the rest into confusion.  They then sprang on shore and let
loose a dog, who pursued them with sanguinary fury.  This was the first
time bloodhounds had been used against the natives, afterwards to be
employed with such cruel effect by the Spaniards in their Indian wars.

Columbus then landed and took formal possession of the island, which he
called Santiago, but it has retained its original Indian name of
Jamaica.

Notwithstanding this unpleasant commencement, the natives soon entered
into a friendly intercourse with their visitors.  Columbus was struck
with the appearance of th