To be
in his own country, and where they affirm they rejoin their relations and
ancestors, that they eat, have women, and give themselves up to all manner
of pleasures and pastimes. These things will appear more at large in the
following extended account which I ordered to be drawn up by one father
Roman, who understood their language, and set down all their ceremonies
and antiquities: But these are so filled with absurdities and fable, that
it is hardly possible to make any thing out of them, except that the
natives have some ideas of the immortality of the soul and of a future
state."
[1] This apparently ambiguous expression, probably means all contraveners
in the premises, or all who might in any way obstruct the full
execution of the offices and their privileges here granted to Columbus
and his heirs. - E.
[2] This is certainly the greatest hereditary grant that ever was conceded
by sovereign to subject. Had it taken effect in its clear extent, the
family of Columbus must long ere now have become prodigiously too
powerful and wealthy to have remained hereditary admirals, viceroys,
and governors of the whole new world. They must either have become
independent sovereigns, or must have sunk under the consequences of
rebellion. If they still exist, they owe their existence, or their
still subjected state, to the at first gross injustice of the court of
Spain, and its subsequent indispensably necessary policy to preserve
the prodigious acquisition acquired for them by the genius of this
great man. - E.
[3] The author mentions that he and his elder brother, the sons of
Columbus, were present on this occasion, probably to take leave of
their father. It appears afterwards that James the admirals brother,
accompanied him on this second voyage. - E.
[4] The phenomenon here alluded to is now well known to be electricity,
proceeding from or to pointed projections and in a continued stream,
resembling flame. - E.
[5] These three additional islands probably were successively, Marigalante,
Petite Terre, and Deseado or Desirade. - E.
[6] The origin of this may have been one of the people saying he had seen
a pan or vessel of a substance like iron, while in the progress of
the story to the admiral the qualifying circumstance of resemblance
was omitted. - E.
[7] The meaning of this passage is quite inexplicable. - E.
[8] Those here called cinnamon trees must only have had some distant
resemblance to true cinnamon in flavour; probably what is now called
Canella alba, which is only used to give a flavour to nauseous
medicines. - E.
[9] By the description of the route in the foregoing narrative, the
distances appear to have been, from Isabella to the pass of Hidalgos 3
leagues; from Hidalgos to the pass of Cibao 11 leagues; and from this
latter pass to the Castle of St Thomas 4 leagues:
