[Sml-implementers] those islands who did evil to others

[Phippen <pil...@he...>]

Ey had never seen horses before, and when one of the soldiers dismounted
it seemed to them as though some terrifying two-headed, six-limbed beast
had come asunder. What with their fright of the horses and their desire
to possess the trinkets that were carried they were very friendly and
hospitable, and supplied the expedition with plenty of food. At last,
after passing mountain ranges that made their hearts faint, and rich
valleys that made them hopeful again, the explorers came to the
mountains of Cibao, and passing over the first range found themselves in
a little valley at the foot of the hills where a river wound round a
fertile plain and there was ample accommodation for an encampment. There
were the usual signs of gold, and Columbus saw in the brightly coloured
stones of the river-bed evidence of unbounded wealth in precious stones.
At last he had come to the place! He who had doubted so much, and whose
faith had wavered, had now been led to a place where he could touch and
handle the gold and jewels of his desire; and he therefore called the
place Saint Thomas. He built a fort here, leaving a garrison of
fifty-six men under the command of Pedro Margarite to collect gold from
the natives, and himself returned to Isabella, which he reached at the
end of March. Enforced absence from the thing he has organised is a
great test of efficiency in any man. The