e down with two
of his councillors, who seated themselves at his feet.  He merely tasted
whatever was given to him, and then sent it to his followers.

Dinner being over, he presented to the Admiral two pieces of gold, and a
curiously-worked belt, evidently the wampum still employed by the North
American Indians as a token of peace.  Columbus, in return, gave him a
piece of cloth, several amber beads,  shoes, and, showing him a
Spanish coin with the heads of the King and Queen, endeavoured to
explain to him the power and grandeur of his sovereigns, as well as the
standard of the cross; but these apparently failed to have any effect on
the mind of the savage chieftain.  Columbus also had a large cross
erected in the centre of the village, and, from the respect the Indians
paid to it, he argued that it would be easy to convert them to
Christianity.

Again sailing on the 20th of December, the expedition anchored in the
Bay of Acul.  Here the inhabitants received them with the greatest
frankness.  They appeared to have no idea of traffic, but freely gave
everything they possessed, though Columbus ordered that articles should
be given in exchange for all received.

Several caciques came off, inviting the Spaniards to their villages.
Among them came an envoy from an important chief named Guacanagari,
ruling over all that part of the island.  Having presented a broad belt
of wampum and a wooden mask, the eyes, nose, and tongue of which were of
gold, he requested that the ships would come off the town where the
cacique resided.  As this was impossible, owing to a contrary wind,
Columbus sent the notary of the squadron, with several attendants.  The
town was the largest and best built they had yet seen.  The cacique
received them in a large, clean square, and presented to each a robe of
cotton, while the inhabitants brought fruits and provisions of various
sorts.  The seamen were also received into their houses, and presented
with cotton garments and anything they seemed to admire; while the
articles given in return were 