be preached in that country. Then he says, how providence causes its work
to be done, not on high motives only, but also on the ordinary ones which
influence mankind. He concludes by observing that providence dealt with
the Indians as a prudent father who has an ugly daughter, but makes up for
her ugliness by the help of a large dowry. By the ugliness in this case he
means the seas to be traversed, the hunger to be endured, and the labours
to be undertaken, which he considers no other nation but the Spaniards
would have encountered, even with the hope of greater booty.

With the timber of the unfortunate "Santa Maria" Columbus built a fort,
and called it La Navidad, because he entered the port near there, on
Christmas-day. He remained on very friendly terms with the good Cacique
Guacanagari; and might have established himself most advantageously in
that part of the country, if he could have been content, to be a settler.


THE ADMIRAL RETURNS.

But from the first moment of his discovery he doubtless had an anxious
desire to get back to Spain, and to tell what he knew; and at times,
perhaps, was fearful lest his grand secret, through some mischance to the
expedition, should still perish with him. The great discoverer, therefore,
now prepared to return homewards. He left his fort in trust to a small
body of his followers,[12] whom he commended to the good offices of
Guacanagari, not forgetting to impress upon them the excellent advice, to
do no violence to man or woman, and, in short, to make their actions
conformable to the idea (which the Indians first entertained of them) that
they had come from heaven: then, having received the necessary provisions
for his vessel from the friendly cacique, the admiral set sail for Spain
on the 4th of January, 1493.