The strange thing is that Columbus, so wise in many ways, did not
understand it too, in spite of the miserably mean ideas which prevailed
in his day regarding the heathen. But the very fact that he notes so
frankly how he captured the natives shows that neither he, nor those who
were to read his journal, had any scruples on the subject. All moral
considerations aside, it was tactless indeed to treat the natives thus
in islands where he hoped to have his own men kindly received.

On Cuba the boats were calked and scraped, and the Admiral superintended
the operations. He was always a busy, busy man, on land or sea. Being a
great lover of nature, he left this nautical business for a while and
traveled a few days inland; and of every native he met he asked that
same question that he had been asking among all these lovely islands,
"Is there any gold or pearls or spices?" No, that land lies west, far
west; thus Columbus understood the sign answer; but after following a
native in that direction for a long time, he had to give it up, for the
time being. When he returned to the beach, Martin Pinzon showed him a
big stick of cinnamon wood for which, in his absence, one of the sailors
had traded a handful of beads.

"The native had quantities of it," Martin assured his Admiral.

"Then why didn't the sailor get it all?"

"Because," and here Martin grew malicious, "you ordered that they could
trade only a little, so that you could do most of it yourself!"

And now the native had gone, and the rueful Admiral never saw him nor
his cinnamon again!