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ointed his brother and Pedro Margarita governors of the city； and left with three ships for the further exploration of Cuba； which he had left only partly examined in his first voyage。 He believed that it was the mainland of Asia。 And as has been said； such was his belief till he died； and that of his countrymen。 Cuba was not known to be an island for many years afterwards。 He was now again in the career which pleased him； and for which he was fitted。 He was always ill at ease in administering a colony； or ruling the men who were engaged in it。 He was happy and contented when he was discovering。 He had been eager to follow the southern coast of Cuba； as he had followed the north in his first voyage。 And now he had his opportunity。 Having commissioned his brother Diego and Margarita and appointed also a council of four other gentlemen； he sailed to explore new coasts； on the twenty…fourth of April。
He was soon tempted from his western course that he might examine Jamaica； of which he saw the distant lines on the south。 〃This island；〃 says the account of the time； 〃is larger than Sicily。 It has only one mountain； which rises from the coast on every side； little by little； until you come to the middle of the island and the ascent is so gradual that； whether you rise or descend； you hardly know whether you are rising or descending。〃 Columbus found the island well peopled； and from what he saw of the natives； thought them more ingenious； and better artificers； than any Indians he had seen before。 But when he proposed to land； they generally showed themselves prepared to resist him。 He therefore deferred a full examination of the island to his return； and； with the first favorable wind； pressed on toward the southern coast of Cuba。 He insisted on calling this the 〃Golden Chersonesus〃 of the East。 This name had been given by the old geographers to the peninsula now known as Malacca。
Crossing the narrow channel between Jamaica and Cuba； he began coasting that island westward。 If the reader will examine the map； he will find many small keys and islands south of Cuba； which； before any survey had been made； seriously retarded his westward course。 In every case he was obliged to make a separate examination to be sure where the real coast of the island was； all the time believing it was the continent of Asia。 One of the narratives says； with a pardonable exaggeration； that in all this voyage he thus discovered seven hundred islands。 His own estimate was that he sailed two hundred and twenty…two leagues westward in the exploration which now engaged him。
The month of May and the beginning of June were occupied with such explorations。 The natives proved friendly； as the natives of the northern side of Cuba had proved two years before。 They had； in general； heard of the visit of the Spaniards ； but their wonder and admiration seem to have been none the less now that they saw the reality。
On one occasion the hopes of all the party； that they should find themselves at the court of the Grand Khan； were greatly quickened。 A Spaniard had gone into a forest alone； hunting。 Suddenly he saw a man clothed in white； or thought he did； whom he supposed to be a friar of the order of Saint Mary de Mercedes； who was with the expedition。 But； almost immediately； ten other friars dressed in the same costume； appeared； and then as many as thirty。 The Spaniard was frightened at the multiplication of their number； it hardly appears why； as they were all men of peace； or should have been； whatever their number。 He called out to his companions； and bade them escape。 But the men in white called out to him； and waved their hands； as if to assure him that there was no danger。 He did not trust them； however； but rushed back to the shore and the ship； as fast as he could； to report what he had seen to the Admiral。
Here； at last； was reason for hope that they had found one of the Asiatic missions of the Church。 Columbus at once landed a party； instructing them to go forty miles inland； if necessary； to find people。 But this party found neither path nor roadway； although the country was rich and fertile。 Another party brought back rich bunches of grapes； and other native fruits。 But neither party saw any friars of the order of Saint Mary。 And it is now supposed that the Spaniard saw a peaceful flock of white cranes。 The traveller Humboldt describes one occasion； in which the town of Angostura was put to alarm by the appearance of a flock of cranes known as soldados； or 〃soldiers；〃 which were； as people supposed； a band of Indians。
In his interviews with the natives at one point and another； upon the coast； Columbus was delighted with their simplicity； their hospitality； and their kindly dealing with each other。 On one occasion； when the Mass was celebrated； a large number of them were present； and joined in the service； as well as they could； with respect and devotion。 An old man as much as eighty years old； as the Spaniards thought； brought to the Admiral a basket full of fruit； as a present。 Then he said； by an interpreter：
〃We have heard how you have enveloped； by your power； all these countries； and how much afraid of you the people have been。 But I have to exhort you； and to tell you that there are two ways when men leave this body。 One is dark and dismal； it is for those who have injured the race of men。 The other is delightful and pleasant； it is for those who； while alive； have loved peace and the repose of mankind。 If； then； you remember that you are mortal； and what these retributions are； you will do no harm to any one。〃
Columbus told him in reply that he had known of the two roads after death； and that he was well pleased to find that the natives of these lands knew of them； for he had not expected this。 He said that the king and queen of Spain had sent him with the express mission of bringing these tidings to them。 In particular； that he was charged with the duty of punishing the Caribs and all other men of impure life； and of rewarding and honoring all pure and innocent men。 This statement so delighted the old prophet that he was eager to accompany Columbus on a mission so noble； and it was only by the urgent entreaty of his wife and children that he stayed with them。 He found it hard to believe that Columbus was inferior in rank or command to any other sovereign。
The beauty of the island and the hospitality of the natives； however； were not enough to dispose the crews to continue this exploration further。 They were all convinced that they were on the coast of Asia。 Columbus did not mean that afterwards any one should accuse him of abandoning the discovery of that coast too soon。 Calling to their attention the distance they had sailed； he sent round a written declaration for the signature of every person on the ships。 Every man and boy put his name to it。 It expressed their certainty that they were on the cape which made the end of the eastern Indies； and that any one who chose could proceed thence westward to Spain by land。 This extraordinary declaration was attested officially by a notary； and still exists。
It was executed in a bay at the extreme southwestern corner of Cuba。 It has been remarked by Munoz； that at that moment； in