Columbus landed and walked in procession to the church to return thanks to God.  Bells were rung, the shops shut, and all business suspended.  The sovereigns were dazzled by this easy acquisition of a new empire.  They addressed Columbus as admiral and viceroy, and urged him to repair immediately to court to concert plans for a second expedition.  His journey to Barcelona was like the progress of a sovereign, and his entrance into that city has been compared to a Roman triumph.  On his approach the sovereigns rose and ordered him to seat himself in their presence.  When Columbus had given an account of his voyage, the king and queen sank on their knees, and a Te Deum was chanted by the choir of the royal chapel.  Such was the manner in which the brilliant court of Spain celebrated this sublime event.

The whole civilised world was filled with wonder and delight, but no one had an idea of the real importance of the discovery.  The opinion of Columbus was universally adopted that Cuba was the end of Asia; the islands were named the West Indies, and the vast region was called the New World.

The Second Voyage

(September, 1493—­June, 1496)

Extraordinary excitement prevailed about the second expedition, and many hidalgos of high rank pressed into it.  They sailed from Cadiz in September 1493; all were full of animation, anticipating a triumphant return.  When they reached La Navidad they found the fortress burnt.  At length, from some natives they heard the story of the brawls of the colonists between themselves, and their surprise and destruction by unfriendly Indians.  Columbus fixed upon a new site for his colony, which he named Isabella.  Two small expeditions were sent inland to explore, and returned with enthusiastic accounts of the promise of the mountains, and Columbus sent to Spain a glowing report of the prospects of the colony.

Soon, however, maladies made their appearance, provisions began to fail, and murmuring prevailed among the colonists.  In truth, the fate of many of the young cavaliers, who had come out deluded by romantic dreams, was lamentable in the extreme.  Columbus arranged for the government of the island, and set sail to explore the southern coast of Cuba, supposing it to be the extreme end of Asia.  He had to contend with almost incredible perils, and was obliged to return.  Had he continued for two or three days longer he would have passed round the extremity of Cuba; his illusion would have been dispelled, and a different course given to his subsequent discoveries.

During his absence from Isabella the whole island had become a scene of violence and discord.  Margarite, the general left in charge of the soldiers, and Friar Boyle, the apostolical vicar, formed a cabal of the discontented, took possession of certain ships, and set sail for Spain, to represent the disastrous state of the country, and to complain of the tyranny of Columbus.  The soldiers indulged in all kinds of excesses, and the Indians were converted from gentle hosts into vindictive enemies.