CHAPTER XXVII.
"Mac-Homer, too, in prose or song, By the state-papers of Buffon, To deep researches led; A Gallo-Celtic scheme may botch, To prove the Ourang race were Scotch, Who from the Highlands fled."
Lord John Townshend.
The intelligence of the return of Columbus, and of the importantdiscoveries he had made, spread through Europe like wild-fire. It soongot to be, in the general estimation, the great event of the age. Forseveral years afterward, or until the discovery of the Pacific byBalboa, it was believed that the Indies had been reached by the westernpassage; and, of course, the problem of the earth's spherical shape washeld to be solved by actual experiment. The transactions of the voyage,the wonders seen, the fertility of the soil of the east, the softness ofits climate, its treasures in gold, spices, and pearls, and the curiousthings that the admiral had brought as proofs of his success, were allthe themes of the hour. Men never wearied in discussing the subjects.For many centuries had the Spaniards been endeavoring to expel the Moorsfrom the peninsula; but as that much-desired event had been the resultof time and a protracted struggle, even its complete success seemed tameand insignificant compared with the sudden brilliancy that shone aroundthe western discoveries. In a word, the pious rejoiced in the hope ofspreading the gospel; the avaricious feasted their imaginations onuntold hoards of gold; the politic calculated the increase of the powerof Spain; the scientific exulted in the triumph of mind over prejudiceand ignorance, while they hoped for still greater accessions ofknowledge; and the enemies of Spain wondered, and deferred, even whilethey envied.
The first few days that succeeded the arrival of Columbus' courier, weredays of delight and curiosity. Answers were sent soliciting his earlypresence, high honors were proffered to him, and his name filled allmouths, as his glory was in the heart of every true Spaniard. Orderswere issued to make the necessary outfits for a new voyage, and littlewas talked of but the discovery and its consequences. In this mannerpassed a month, when the admiral arrived at Barcelona, attended by mostof the Indians he had brought with him from the islands. His honors wereof the noblest kind, the sovereigns receiving him on a throne placed ina public hall, rising at his approach, and insisting on his being seatedhimself, a distinction of the highest nature, and usually granted onlyto princes of royal blood. Here the admiral related the history of hisvoyage, exhibited the curiosities he had brought with him, and dwelt onhis hopes of future benefits. When the tale was told, all present knelt,and _Te Deum_ was chanted by the usual choir of the court; evenFerdinand's stern nature dissolving into tears of grateful joy, at thisunlooked-for and magnificent behest of heaven.
For a long time, Columbus was the mark of every eye; nor did his honorsand consideration cease untill he left Spain, in command of the secondexpedition to the east, as the voyage was then termed.
A few days previously to the arrival of the admiral at court, Don Luisde Bobadilla suddenly appeared in Barcelona. On ordinary occasions, themovements of one of the rank and peculiarities of the young grandeewould have afforded a topic for the courtiers, that would not soon havebeen exhausted, but the all-engrossing theme of the great voyageafforded him a screen. His presence, however, could not escape notice;and it was whispered, with the usual smiles and shrugs, that he hadentered the port in a caravel, coming from the Levant; and it was one ofthe received pleasantries of the hour to say, in an undertone, that theyoung Conde de Llera had also made the _eastern_ voyage. All this gaveour hero little concern, and he was soon pursuing his ordinary life,when near the persons of the sovereigns. The day that Columbus wasreceived in state, he was present in the hall, attired in the richestvestments, and no noble of Spain did more credit to his lineage, or hiscondition, than Don Luis, by his mien and carriage. It was remarked thatIsabella smiled on him, during the pageant; but the head of more thanone wary observer was shaken, as its owner remarked how grave thequeen's favorite appeared, for an occasion so joyous; a fact that wasattributed to the unworthy pursuits of her truant nephew. No one, thatday, gazed at Luis with more delight than Sancho, who lingered atBarcelona to share in the honors of his chief, and who, in virtue of hisservices, was permitted to take his place among the courtiersthemselves. Not a little admiration was excited by the manner in whichhe used the novel weed, called tobacco; and some fifteen or twenty ofhis neighbors were nauseated by their efforts to emulate his indulgenceand satisfaction. One of his exploits was of a character so unusual, andso well illustrates the feeling of the hour, that it may be well torecord it in detail.
The reception was over, and Sancho was quitting the hall with the restof the crowd, when he was accosted by a man apparently of forty, wellattired, and of agreeable manner, who desired the honor of his presenceat a slight entertainment, of which several had been prepared for theadmiral and his friends. Sancho, nothing loth, the delights ofdistinction being yet so novel, cheerfully complied, and he was quicklyled to a room of the palace, where he found a party of some twenty youngnobles assembled to do him honor; for happy was he that day in Barcelonawho could get even one of the meanest of Columbus' followers to acceptof his homage. No sooner did the two enter the room, than the youngCastilian lords crowded around them, covering Sancho with protestationsof admiration, and addressing eager questions, a dozen at a time, to hiscompanion, whom they styled "Senor Pedro," "Senor Matir," andoccasionally "Senor Pedro Matir." It is scarcely necessary to add, thatthis person was the historian who has become known to us of these latterdays as "Peter Martyr," an Italian, to whose care and instructionIsabella had entrusted most of the young nobles of the court. Thepresent interview had been got up to indulge the natural curiosity ofthe youthful lords, and Sancho had been chosen for the occasion, on theprinciple that when the best is denied us, we must be content to acceptinformation of an inferior quality.
"Congratulate me, Senores," cried Peter Martyr, as soon as he could findan opportunity to speak, "since my success surpasseth our own hopes. Asfor the Liguirian, himself, and all of high condition about him, theyare in the hands of the most illustrious of Spain, for this day; buthere is a most worthy pilot, no doubt the second in authority on boardone of the caravels, who consenteth to do us honor, and to partake ofour homely cheer. I drew him from a crowd of applicants, and have notyet had an opportunity to inquire his name, which he is about to give usof his own accord."
Sancho never wanted for self-possession, and had far too much mother-witto be either clownish or offensively vulgar, though the reader is notnow to be told that he was neither qualified to be an academician, norhad the most profound notions of natural philosophy. He assumed an airof suitable dignity, therefore, and, somewhat practised in his newvocation by the thousand interrogatories he had answered in the lastmonth, he disposed himself to do credit to the information of a man whohad visited the Indies.
"I am called Sancho Mundo, Senores, at your service--sometimes Sancho ofthe ship-yard-gate, though I would prefer now to be called Sancho of theIndies, unless, indeed, it should suit his Excellency Don Christopher totake that appellation--his claim being somewhat better than mine."
Here several protested that his claims were of the highest order; andthen followed sundry introductions to Sancho of the ship-yard-gate, ofseveral young men of the first families in Castile; for, though theSpaniards have not the same mania for this species of politeness as theAmericans, the occasion was one in which native feeling got theascendency of conventional reserve. After this ceremony, and theMendozas, Guzmans, Cerdas, and Toledos, present, felt honored in knowingthis humble seaman, the whole party repaired to the banqueting-room,where a table was spread that did credit to the cooks of Barcelona.During the repast, although the curiosity of the young men made someinroads on their breeding in this particular, no question could induceSancho to break in upon the duty of the moment, for which he entertaineda sort of religious veneration. Once, when pushed a little more closelythan common, he laid down his knife and fork, and made the followingsolemn reply:
"Senores," he said, "I
look upon food as a gift from God to man, andhold it to be irreverent to converse much, when the bounties of thetable invite us to do homage to this great dispenser. Don Christopher isof this way of thinking, I know, and all his followers imitate theirbeloved and venerated chief. As soon as I am ready to converse, SenoresDon Hidalgos, you shall be told of it, and then God help the ignorantand silly!"
After this admonition, there remained nothing to be said until Sancho'sappetite was satisfied, when he drew a little back from the table, andannounced his readiness to proceed.
"I profess to very little learning, Senor Pedro Martir," he said; "butwhat I have seen I have seen, and that which is known, is as well knownby a mariner, as by a doctor of Salamanca. Ask your questions, then, o'heaven's sake, and expect such answers as a poor but honest man cangive."
The learned Peter Martyr was fain to make the best of his subject, forat that moment, any information that came from what might be termedfirst hands, was greedily received; he proceeded, therefore, to hisinquiries, as simply and as directly as he had been invited to do.
"Well, Senor," commenced the man of learning, "we are willing to obtainknowledge on any terms. Prithee, tell us, at once, which of all thewonderful things that you witnessed on this voyage, hath made thedeepest impression on your mind, and striketh you as the mostremarkable!"
"I know nothing to compare with the whiffling of the north star," saidSancho, promptly. "That star hath always been esteemed among us seamen,as being immovable as the cathedral of Seville; but, in this voyage, ithath been seen to change its place, with the inconstancy of the winds."
"That is, indeed, miraculous!" exclaimed Peter Martyr, who scarcely knewhow to take the intelligence; "perhaps there is some mistake, MasterSancho, and you are not accustomed to sidereal investigations."
"Ask Don Christopher; when the phernomerthon, as the admiral called it,was first observed, we talked the matter over together, and came to theconclusion, that nothing in this world was as permanent as it seemed tobe. Depend on it, Senor Don Pedro, the north star flits about like aweathercock."
"I shall inquire into this of the illustrious admiral; but, next to thisstar, Master Sancho, what deem you most worthy of observation? I speaknow of ordinary things, leaving science to future discussion."
This was too grave a question to be lightly answered, and while Sanchowas cogitating the matter, the door opened, and Luis de Bobadillaentered the room, in a blaze of manly grace and rich attire. A dozenvoices uttered his name, and Peter Martyr rose to receive him, with amanner in which kindness of feeling was blended with reproof.
"I asked this honor, Senor Conde," he said, "though you have now beenbeyond my counsel and control some time, for it appeared to me that onefond of voyages as yourself, might find a useful lesson, as well asenjoy a high satisfaction, in listening to the wonders of an expeditionas glorious as this of Colon's. This worthy seaman, a pilot, no doubt,much confided in by the admiral, hath consented to share in our poorhospitalities on this memorable day, and is about to give us manyinteresting facts and incidents of the great adventure. Master SanchoMundo, this is Don Luis de Bobadilla, Conde de Llera, a grandee of highlineage, and one that is not unknown to the seas, having often traversedthem in his own person."
"It is quite unnecessary to tell me that, Senor Pedro," answered Sancho,returning Luis' gay and graceful salutation, with profound, but awkwardrespect, "since I see it at a glance. His Excellency hath been in theeast, as well as Don Christopher and myself, though we went differentways, and neither party went as far as Cathay. I am honored in youracquaintance, Don Luis, and shall just say that the noble admiral willbring navigation more in fashion than it hath been of late years. If youtravel in the neighborhood of Moguer, I beg you will not pass the doorof Sancho Mundo without stopping to inquire if he be within."
"That I most cheerfully promise, worthy master," said Luis, laughing,and taking a seat, "even though it lead me to the ship-yard-gate. Andnow, Senor Pedro, let me not interrupt the discourse, which I discoveredwas most interesting as I entered."
"I have been thinking of this matter, Senores," resumed Sancho, gravely,"and the fact that appears most curious to me, next to the whiffling ofthe north star, is the circumstance that there are no doblas in Cipango.Gold is not wanting, and it seemeth passing singular that a peopleshould possess gold, and not bethink them of the convenience of strikingdoblas, or some similar coin."
Peter Martyr and his young pupils laughed at this sally, and then thesubject was pushed in another form.
"Passing by this question, which belongeth rather to the policy ofstates than to natural phenomena," continued Peter Martyr, "what moststruck you as remarkable, in the way of human nature?"
"In that particular, Senor, I think the island of the women may be setdown as the most extraordinary of all the phernomerthons we fell inwith. I have known women shut themselves up in convents; and men, too;but never did I hear, before this voyage, of either shutting themselvesup in islands!"
"And is this true?" inquired a dozen voices--"did you really meet withsuch an island, Senor!"
"I believe we saw it at a distance, Senores; and I hold it to be luckythat we went no nearer, for I find the gossips of Moguer troublesomeenough, without meeting a whole island of them. Then there is the breadthat grows like a root--what think _you_ of that, Senor Don Luis? Is itnot a most curious dish to taste of?"
"Nay, Master Sancho, that is a question of your own putting, and it mustbe one of your own answering. What know I of the wonders of Cipango,since Candia lieth in an opposite course? Answer these matters forthyself, friend."
"True, illustrious Conde, and I humbly crave your pardon. It is, indeed,the duty of him that seeth to relate, as it is the duty of him thatseeth not to believe. I hope all here will perform their severalduties."
"Do these Indians eat flesh as remarkable as their bread?" inquired aCerda.
"That do they, noble sir, seeing that they eat each other. Neither I norDon Christopher was invited to any of their feasts of this sort; for, Isuppose, they were well convinced we would not go; but we had muchinformation touching them, and by the nearest calculation I could make,the consumption of men in the island of Bohio must be about equal tothat of beeves in Spain."
The speaker was interrupted by twenty exclamations of disgust, and PeterMartyr shook his head like one who distrusted the truth of the account.Still, as he had not expected any very profound philosophy or deeplearning in one of Sancho's character, he pursued the conversation.
"Know you any thing of the rare birds the admiral exhibited to theirHighnesses to-day?" he asked.
"Senor, I am well acquainted with several, more particularly with theparrots. They are sensible birds, and, I doubt not, might answer some ofthe questions that are put to me by many here, in Barcelona, to theirperfect satisfaction."
"Thou art a wag, I see, Senor Sancho, and lovest thy joke," answered theman of learning, with a smile. "Give way to thy fancy, and if thou canstnot improve us with thy science, at least amuse us with thy conceits."
"San Pedro knows that I would do any thing to oblige you, Senores; but Iwas born with such a love of truth in my heart, that I know not how toembellish. What I see I believe, and having been in the Indies, I cannotshut my eyes to their wonders. There was the sea of weeds, which was noevery-day miracle, since I make no doubt that the devils piled all theseplants on the water to prevent us from carrying the cross to the poorheathens who dwell on the other side of them. We got through that seamore by our prayers, than by means of the winds."
The young men looked at Peter Martyr, to ascertain how he received thistheory, and Peter Martyr, if tinctured with the superstition of the age,was not disposed to swallow all that it pleased Sancho to assert, eventhough the latter had made a voyage to the Indies.
"Since you manifest so much curiosity, Senores, on the subject of Colon,now Admiral of the Ocean Sea, by their Highnesses' honorableappointment, I will, in a measure, relieve your minds on the subject, byrecounting what I k
now," said Luis, speaking calmly, but with dignity."Ye know that I was much with Don Christopher before he sailed, and thatI had some little connection with bringing him back to Santa Fe, evenwhen he had left the place, as was supposed for the last time. Thisintimacy hath been renewed since the arrival of the great Genoese atBarcelona, and hours have we passed together in private, discoursing onthe events of the last few months. What I have thus learned I am readyto impart, if ye will do me the grace to listen."
The whole company giving an eager assent, Luis now commenced a generalnarrative of the voyage, detailing all the leading circumstances ofinterest, and giving the reasons that were most in favor at the time,concerning the different phenomena that had perplexed the adventurers.He spoke more than an hour; proceeding consecutively from island toisland, and dilating on their productions, imaginary and real. Much thathe related, proceeded from the misconceptions of the admiral, andmisinterpretations of the signs and language of the Indians, as a matterof course; but it was all told clearly, in elegant, if not in eloquentlanguage, and with a singular air of truth. In short, our hero palmedupon his audience the results of his own observation, as the narrativeof the admiral, and more than once was he interrupted by bursts ofadmiration at the vividness and graphic beauties of his descriptions.Even Sancho listened with delight, and when the young man concluded, herose from his chair, and exclaimed heartily--
"Senores, you may take all this as so much gospel! Had the noble Senorwitnessed, himself, that which he hath so well described, it could nothave been truer, and I look on myself to be particularly fortunate tohave heard this history of the voyage, which henceforth shall be myhistory, word for word; for as my patron saint shall remember me, naughtelse will I tell to the gossips of Moguer, when I get back to thatblessed town of my childhood."
Sancho's influence was much impaired by the effects of Luis' narrative,which Peter Martyr pronounced to be one that would have done credit to ascholar who had accompanied the expedition. A few appeals were made tothe old seaman, to see if he would corroborate the statements he hadjust heard, but his protestations became so much the louder in behalf ofthe accuracy of the account.
It was wonderful how much reputation the Conde de Llera obtained by thislittle deception. To be able to repeat, with accuracy and effect,language that was supposed to have fallen from the lips of Columbus, wasa sort of illustration; and Peter Martyr, who justly enjoyed a highreputation for intelligence, was heard sounding the praises of our heroin all places, his young pupils echoing his words with the ardor andimitation of youth! Such, indeed, was the vast reputation obtained bythe Genoese, that one gained a species of reflected renown by beingthought to live in his confidence, and a thousand follies of the Countof Llera, real or imaginary, were forgotten in the fact that the admiralhad deemed him worthy of being the repository of facts and feelings suchas he had related. As Luis, moreover, was seen to be much in the companyof Don Christopher, the world was very willing to give the young mancredit for qualities, that, by some unexplained circumstance, hadhitherto escaped its notice. In this manner did Luis de Bobadilla reapsome advantages, of a public character, from his resolution andenterprise, although vastly less than would have attended an openadmission of all that occurred. How far, and in what manner, thesequalities availed him in his suit with Mercedes, will appear in oursubsequent pages.