opinion regarding the salubrity of the climate and the wealth of
the soil. His sailors wrested from the natives large sums of gold
and silver, and this led to the mistaken belief that mines of
great richness were within their grasp.

SPAIN'S HEARTLESS TREATMENT OF COLUMBUS.

Biography furnishes no parallel to the life of Columbus. Great men
there have been who have met with injustice and disappointments,
but there is perhaps no other instance of a man whom
disappointments and injustice did not dishearten and disgust; who
had his greatness recognized in his lifetime, and yet was robbed
of the rewards that it entitled him to.

It is probable that before his death Columbus confided his belief
in the wealth to be found in Cuba to his son Diego Columbus, for
in 1511 the latter fitted out an expedition for the purpose of
colonizing the island. This company consisted of about 300 men,
under Diego Velasquez, who had accompanied the great explorer on
his second voyage. The first settlement was made at Baracoa, in
the extreme eastern section, and this village was regarded as the
capital of the colony for several years. In the meantime extensive
settlements had been made by the Spaniards in the island of
Jamaica, and in 1514 the towns of Santiago and Trinidad were
founded on the southern coast of Cuba, in order that the
inhabitants of the two colonies might be brought into closer
communication. As immigration increased, other towns of importance
sprung up, and the island became the base for the various
operations against Mexico. Baracoa grew largely in population, and
the towns of Puerto Principe and Sancti Espiritus were established