CHAPTER XIII.
"Nor Zayda weeps him only, But all that dwell between The great Alhambra's palace walls And springs of Albalein."
Bryant's Translations.
The instant of departure at length arrived. The moment so long desiredby the Genoese was at hand, and years of poverty, neglect, and ofprocrastination, were all forgotten at that blessed hour; or, if theyreturned in any manner to the constant memory, it was no longer with thebitterness of hope deferred. The navigator, at last, saw himself in thepossession of the means of achieving the first great object for which hehad lived the last fifteen years, with the hope, in perspective, ofmaking the success of his present adventure the stepping-stone towardeffecting the conquest of the Holy Sepulchre. While those around himwere looking with astonishment at the limited means with which ends sogreat were to be attained, or were struck aghast at the apparenttemerity of an undertaking that seemed to defy the laws of nature, andto set at naught the rules of Providence, he had grown more tranquil asthe time for sailing drew nearer, and his mind was oppressed merely by afeeling of intense, but of sobered, delight. Fray Juan Perez whisperedto Luis, that he could best liken the joy of the admiral to thechastened rapture of a Christian who was about to quit a world of woe,to enter on the untasted, but certain, fruition of blessed immortality.
This, however, was far from being the state of mind of all in Palos. Theembarkation took place in the course of the afternoon of the 2d ofAugust, it being the intention of the pilots to carry the vessels thatday to a point off the town of Huelvas, where the position was morefavorable to making sail than when anchored in front of Palos. Thedistance was trifling, but it was the commencement of the voyage, and,to many, it was like snapping the cords of life, to make even this briefmovement. Columbus, himself, was one of the last to embark, having aletter to send to the court, and other important duties to discharge. Atlength he quitted the convent, and, accompanied by Luis and the prior,he, too, took his way to the beach. The short journey was silent, foreach of the party was deeply plunged in meditation. Never before thishour, did the enterprise seem so perilous and uncertain to the excellentFranciscan. Columbus was carefully recalling the details of hispreparations, while Luis was thinking of the maid of Castile, as he waswont to term Mercedes, and of the many weary days that must elapsebefore he could hope to see her again.
The party stopped on the shore, in waiting for a boat to arrive, at aplace where they were removed from any houses. There Fray Juan Pereztook his leave of the two adventurers. The long silence that all threehad maintained, was more impressive than any ordinary discourse couldhave been; but it was now necessary to break it. The prior was deeplyaffected, and it was some little time before he could even trust hisvoice to speak.
"Senor Christoval," he at length commenced, "it is now many years sincethou first appeared at the gate of Santa Maria de Rabida--years offriendship and pleasure have they proved to me."
"It is full seven, Fray Juan Perez," returned Columbus--"seven wearyyears have they proved to me, as a solicitor for employment--years ofsatisfaction, father, in all that concerneth thee. Think not that I canever forget the hour, when, leading Diego, houseless, impoverished,wanderers, journeying on foot, I stopped to tax the convent's charityfor refreshment! The future is in the hands of God, but the past isimprinted here"--laying his hand on his heart--"and can never beforgotten. Thou hast been my constant friend, holy prior, and that, too,when it was no credit to favor the nameless Genoese. Should myestimation ever change in men's opinions"--
"Nay, Senor Almirante, it hath changed already," eagerly interrupted theprior. "Hast thou not the commission of the queen--the support of DonFernando--the presence of this young noble, though still as anincognito--the wishes of all the learned? Dost thou not go forth, onthis great voyage, carrying with thee more of our hopes than of ourfears?"
"So far as thou art concerned, dear Juan Perez, this may be so. I feelthat I have all thy best wishes for success; I know that I shall havethy prayers. Few in Spain, notwithstanding, will think of Colon withrespect, or hope, while we are wandering on the great desert of theocean, beyond a very narrow circle. I fear me, that, even at thismoment, when the means of learning the truth of our theories is inactual possession--when we stand, as it might be, on the very thresholdof the great portal which opens upon the Indies--that few believe in ourchances of success."
"Thou hast Dona Isabella of thy side, Senor!"
"And Dona Mercedes!" put in Luis; "not to speak of my decided andtrue-hearted aunt!"
"I ask but a few brief months, Senores," returned Columbus, his faceturned to heaven with uncovered head, his gray hair floating in thewind, and his eye kindling with the light of enthusiasm--"a few shortmonths, that will pass away untold with the happy--that even themiserable may find supportable, but which to us will seem ages, must nowdispose of this question. Prior, I have often quitted the shore feelingthat I carried my life in my hand, conscious of all the dangers of theocean, and as much expecting death as a happy return; but at thisglorious moment no doubts beset me; as for life, I know it is in thekeeping of God's care; as for success, I feel it is in God's wisdom!"
"These are comfortable sentiments, at so serious a moment, Senor, and Idevoutly hope the end will justify them. But, yonder is thy boat, and wemust now part. Senor, my son, thou knowest that my spirit will be withthee in this mighty undertaking."
"Holy prior, remember me in thy prayers. I am weak, and have need ofthis support. I trust much to the efficacy of thy intercessions, aidedby those of thy pious brotherhood. Thou wilt bestow on us a few masses?"
"Doubt us not, my friend; all that la Rabida can do with the blessedVirgin, or the saints, shall be exercised, without ceasing, in thybehalf. It is not given to man to foresee the events that are controlledby Providence; and, though we deem this enterprise of thine so certain,and so reasonable, it may nevertheless fail."
"It may _not_ fail, father; God hath thus far directed it, and he willnot permit it to fail."
"We know not, Senor Colon; our wisdom is but as a grain of mustard seedamong the sands of this shore, as compared with his inscrutable designs.I was about to say, as it is possible thou may'st return a disappointed,a defeated man, that thou wilt still find the gate of Santa Maria opento thee; since, in our eyes, it is as meritorious to attempt nobly, asit is often, in the eyes of others, to achieve successfully."
"I understand thee, holy prior; and the cup and the morsel bestowed onthe young Diego, were not more grateful than this proof of thyfriendship! I would not depart without thy blessing."
"Kneel, then, Senor; for, in this act it will not be Juan Perez deMarchena that will speak, and pronounce, but the minister of God and thechurch. Even these sands will be no unworthy spot to receive such anadvantage."
The eyes of both Columbus and the prior were suffused with tears, for atthat moment the heart of each was touched with the emotions natural to amoment so solemn. The first loved the last, because he had provedhimself a friend when friends were few and timid; and the worthy monkhad some such attachment for the great navigator as men are apt to feelfor those they have cherished. Each, also, respected and appreciated theother's motives, and there was a bond of union in their common reverencefor the Christian religion. Columbus kneeled on the sands, and receivedthe benediction of his friend, with the meek submission of faith, andwith some such feelings of reverence as those with which a pious sonwould have listened to a blessing pronounced by a natural father.
"Columbus kneeled on the sands, and received thebenediction."]
"And thou, young lord," resumed Fray Juan Perez, with a huskyvoice--"thou, too, wilt be none the worse for the prayers of an agedchurchman."
Like most of that age, Luis, in the midst of his impetuous feelings, andyouthful propensities, had enshrined in his heart an image of the Son ofGod, and entertained an habitual respect for holy things. He kneltwithout hesitation, and listened to the trembling words of the priestwith thankfulness and respect.
"Adieu, holy prior," said Columbus, squeezing his friend's hand. "Thouhast befriended me when others held aloof; but I trust in God that theday is not now distant, when those who have ever shown confidence in mypredictions will cease to feel uneasiness at the mention of my name.Forget us in all things but thy prayers, for a few short months, andthen expect tidings that, of a verity, shall exalt Castile to a point ofrenown which will render this Conquest of Granada but an incident ofpassing interest amid the glory of the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella!"
This was not said boastfully, but with the quiet earnestness of one whosaw a truth that was concealed from most eyes, and this with anintensity so great, that the effect on his moral vision produced aconfidence equalling that which is the fruit of the evidence of thesenses in ordinary men. The prior understood him, and the assurance thusgiven cheered the mind of the worthy Franciscan long after the departureof his friend. They embraced and separated.
By this time the boat of Columbus had reached the shore. As thenavigator moved slowly toward it, a youthful female rushed wildly pasthim and Luis, and, regardless of their presence, she threw her armsaround a young mariner who had quitted the boat to meet her, and sobbedfor a minute on his bosom, in uncontrollable agony, or as women weep inthe first outbreak of their emotions.
"Come, then, Pepe," the young wife at length said, hurriedly, and withlow earnestness, as one speaks who would fain persuade herself thatdenial was impossible--"come, Pepe; thy boy hath wept for thee, and thouhast pushed this matter, already, much too far."
"Nay, Monica," returned the husband, glancing his eye at Columbus, whowas already near enough to hear his words--"thou knowest it is by nowish of mine that I am to sail on this unknown voyage. Gladly would Iabandon it, but the orders of the queen are too strong for a poormariner like me, and they must be obeyed."
"This is foolish, Pepe," returned the woman, pulling at her husband'sdoublet to drag him from the water-side--"I have had enough of this;sufficient to break my heart. Come, then, and look again upon thy boy."
"Thou dost not see that the admiral is near, Monica, and we are showinghim disrespect."
The habitual deference that was paid by the low to the high, induced thewoman, for a moment, to pause. She looked imploringly at Columbus, herfine dark eyes became eloquent with the feelings of a wife and mother,and then she addressed the great navigator, himself.
"Senor," she said, eagerly, "you can have no further need of Pepe. Hehath helped to carry your vessels to Huelva, and now his wife and boycall for him at home."
Columbus was touched with the manner of the woman, which was notentirely without a show of that wavering of reason which is apt toaccompany excessive grief, and he answered her less strongly than, at amoment so critical, he might otherwise have been disposed to do to onewho was inciting to disobedience.
"Thy husband is honored in being chosen to be my companion in the greatvoyage," he said. "Instead of bewailing his fate, thou wouldst act morelike a brave mariner's wife, in exulting in his good fortune."
"Believe him not, Pepe. He speaketh under the Evil One's advice to temptthee to destruction. He hath talked blasphemy, and belied the word ofGod, by saying that the world is round, and that one may sail east bysteering west, that he might ruin thee and others, by tempting ye all tofollow him!"
"And why should I do this, good woman?" demanded the admiral. "What haveI to gain by the destruction of thy husband, or by the destruction ofany of his comrades?"
"I know not--I care not--Pepe is all to me, and he shall not go with youon this mad and wicked voyage. No good can come of a journey that isbegun by belying the truths of God!"
"And what particular evil dost thou dread, in this, more than in anothervoyage, that thou thus hang'st upon thy husband, and usest suchdiscourse to one who beareth their Highnesses' authority for that hedoeth? Thou knewest he was a mariner when thou wert wedded, and yet thouwouldst fain prevent him from serving the queen, as becometh his stationand duty."
"He may go against the Moor, or the Portuguese, or the people ofInghleterra, but I would not that he voyage in the service of the Princeof Darkness. Why tell us that the earth is round, Senor, when our eyesshow that it is flat? And if round, how can a vessel that hath descendedthe side of the earth for days, ever return? The sea doth not flowupward, neither can a caravel mount the waterfall. And when thou hastwandered about for months in the vacant ocean, in what manner wilt thou,and those with thee, ever discover the direction that must be taken toreturn whence ye all sailed? Oh! Senor, Palos is but a little town, andonce lost sight of in such a confusion of ideas, it will never beregained."
"Idle and childish as this may seem," observed Columbus, turning quietlyto Luis, "it is as reasonable as much that I have been doomed to hearfrom the learned, during the last sixteen years. When the night ofignorance obscures the mind, the thoughts conjure arguments a thousandtimes more vain and frivolous than the phenomena of nature that itfancies so unreasonable. I will try the effect of religion on thiswoman, converting her present feelings on that head, from an enemy intoan ally. Monica," calling her kindly and familiarly by name, "art thou aChristian?"
"Blessed Maria! Senor Almirante, what else should I be? Dost think Pepewould have married a Moorish girl?"
"Listen, then, to me, and learn how unlike a believer thou conductest.The Moor is not the only infidel, but this earth groaneth with theburden of their numbers, and of their sins. The sands on this shore arenot as numerous as the unbelievers in the single kingdom of Cathay; for,as yet, God hath allotted but a small portion of the earth to those whohave faith in the mediation of his Son. Even the sepulchre of Christ isyet retained by infidel hands."
"This have I heard, Senor; and 'tis a thousand pities the faith is soweak in those who have vowed to obey the law, that so crying an evilhath never been cured!"
"Hast thou not been told that such is to be the fate of the world, for atime, but that light will dawn when the word shall pass, like the soundof trumpets, into the ears of infidels, and when the earth, itself,shall be but one vast temple, filled with the praises of God, the loveof his name, and obedience to his will?"
"Senor, the good fathers of la Rabida, and our own parish priests, oftencomfort us with these hopes."
"And hast thou seen naught of late to encourage that hope--to cause theeto think that God is mindful of his people, and that new light isbeginning to burst on the darkness of Spain?"
"Pepe, his excellency must mean the late miracle at the convent, wherethey say that real tears were seen to fall from the eyes of the image ofthe holy Maria, as she gazed at the child that lay on her bosom."
"I mean not that," interrupted Columbus, a little sternly, though hecrossed himself, even while he betrayed dissatisfaction at the allusionto a miracle that was much too vulgar for his manly understanding--"Imean no such questionable wonder, which it is permitted us to believe,or not, as it may be supported by the church's authority. Can thy faithand zeal point to no success of the two sovereigns, in which the powerof God, as exercised to the advancement of the faith, hath been madesignally apparent to believers?"
"He meaneth the expulsion of the Moor, Pepe!" the woman exclaimed,glancing quickly toward her husband, with a look of pleasure, "that hathhappened of late, they say, by conquering the city of Granada; intowhich place, they tell me, Dona Isabella hath marched in triumph."
"In that conquest, thou seest the commencement of the great acts of ourtime. Granada hath now its churches; and the distant land of Cathay willshortly follow her example. These are the doings of the Lord, foolishwoman; and in holding back thy husband from this great undertaking, thouhinderest him from purchasing a signal reward in heaven, and mayunwittingly be the instrument of casting a curse, instead of a blessing,on that very boy, whose image now filleth thy thoughts more than that ofhis Maker and Redeemer."
The woman appeared bewildered, first looking at the admiral, and then ather husband, after which she bowed her head low, and devoutly crossedherself. Recovering from this self-
abasement, she again turned towardColumbus, demanding earnestly--
"And you, Senor--do you sail with the wish and hope of serving God?"
"Such is my principal aim, good woman. I call on Heaven itself, towitness the truth of what I say. May my voyage prosper, only, as I tellthee naught but truth!"
"And you, too, Senor?" turning quickly to Luis de Bobadilla; "is it toserve God that you also go on this unusual voyage?"
"If not at the orders of God, himself, my good woman, it is, at least,at the bidding of an angel!"
"Dost thou think it is so, Pepe? Have we been thus deceived, and has somuch evil been said of the admiral and his motives, wrongfully?"
"What hath been said?" quietly demanded Columbus. "Speak freely; thouhast naught to dread from my displeasure."
"Senor, you have your enemies, as well as another, and the wives, andmothers, and the betrothed of Palos, have not been slow to give vent totheir feelings. In the first place, they say that you are poor."
"That is so true and manifest, good woman, it would be idle to deny it.Is poverty a crime at Palos?"
"The poor are little respected, Senor, in all this region. I know notwhy, for to me we seem to be as the rest, but few respect us. Then theysay, Senor, that you are not a Castilian, but a Genoese."
"This is also true; is that, too, a crime among the mariners of Moguer,who ought to prize a people as much renowned for their deeds on the sea,as those of the superb republic?"
"I know not, Senor; but many hold it to be a disadvantage not to belongto Spain, and particularly to Castile, which is the country of DonaIsabella, herself; and how can it be as honorable to be a Genoese as tobe a Spaniard? I should like it better were Pepe to sail with one who isa Spaniard, and that, too, of Palos or Moguer."
"Thy argument is ingenious, if not conclusive," returned Columbus,smiling, the only outward exhibition of feeling he betrayed--"but cannotone who is both poor and a Genoese serve God?"
"No doubt, Senor; and I think better of this voyage since I know yourmotive, and since I have seen you and spoken with you. Still, it is agreat sacrifice for a young wife to let her husband sail on anexpedition so distrusted, and he the father of her only boy!"
"Here is a young noble, an only son, a lover, and that, too, ofimpetuous feelings, an only child withal, rich, honored, and able to gowhither he will, who not only embarketh with me, but embarketh by theconsent--nay, I had better say, by the orders of his mistress!"
"Is this so, Senor?" the wife asked, eagerly.
"So true, my good woman, that my greatest hopes depend on this voyage.Did I not tell thee that I went at the bidding of an angel?"
"Ah! these young lords have seductive tongues! But, Senor Almirante,since such is your quality, they say, moreover, that to you this voyagecan only bring honors and good, while it may bring misery and death onyour followers. Poor and unknown, it maketh you a high officer of thequeen; and some think that the Venetian galleys will be none the moreheavily freighted, should you need them on the high seas."
"And in what can all this harm thy husband? I go whithersoever he goeth,share his dangers, and expose life for life with him. If there is goldgained by the adventure, he will not be forgotten; and if heaven is madeany nearer to us, by our dangers and hardships, Pepe will not be aloser. At the last great reckoning, woman, we shall not be asked who ispoor, or who is a Genoese."
"This is true, Senor; and yet it is hard for a young wife to part fromher husband. Dost thou wish, in truth, to sail with the admiral, Pepe?"
"It matters little with me, Monica; I am commanded to serve the queen,and we mariners have no right to question her authority. Now I haveheard his excellency's discourse, I think less of the affair thanbefore."
"If God is really to be served in this voyage," continued the woman,with dignity, "thou shouldst not be backward, more than another, myhusband. Senor, will you suffer Pepe to pass the night with his family,on condition that he goeth on board the Santa Maria in the morning?"
"What certainty have I that this condition will be respected?"
"Senor, we are both Christians, and serve the same God--have beenredeemed by the same Saviour."
"This is true, and I will confide in it. Pepe, thou canst remain untilthe morning, when I shall expect thee at thy station. There will beoarsmen enough, without thee."
The woman looked her thanks, and Columbus thought he read an assuranceof good faith in her noble Spanish manner, and lofty look. As sometrifling preparations were to be made before the boat could quit theshore, the admiral and Luis paced the sands the while, engaged in deepdiscourse.
"This hath been a specimen of what I have had to overcome and endure, inorder to obtain even yonder humble means for effecting the good designsof Providence," observed Columbus, mournfully, though he spoke withoutacrimony. "It is a crime to be poor--to be a Genoese--to be aught elsethan the very thing that one's judges and masters fancy themselves tobe! The day will come, Conde de Llera, when Genoa shall think herself inno manner disgraced, in having given birth to Christofero Colombo, andwhen your proud Castile will be willing to share with her in thedishonor! Thou little know'st, young lord, how far thou art on the roadto renown, and toward high deeds, in having been born noble, and themaster of large possessions. Thou seest me, here, a man already strickenin years, with a head whitened by time and sufferings, and yet am I onlyon the threshold of the undertaking that is to give my name a placeamong those of the men who have served God, and advanced the welfare oftheir fellow-creatures."
"Is not this the course of things, Senor, throughout the earth? Do notthose who find themselves placed beneath the level of their merits,struggle to rise to the condition to which nature intended them tobelong, while those whom fortune hath favored through their ancestors,are too often content to live on honors that they have not themselveswon? I see naught in this but the nature of man, and the course of theworld."
"Thou art right, Luis, but philosophy and fact are different matters. Wemay reason calmly on principles, when their application in practicecauseth much pain. Thou hast a frank and manly nature, young man; onethat dreadeth neither the gibe of the Christian, nor the lance of theMoor, and wilt answer to any, in fearlessness and truth. A Castilianthyself, dost _thou_, too, really think one of thy kingdom better thanone of Genoa?"
"Not when he of Genoa is Christoval Colon, Senor, and he of Castile isonly Luis de Bobadilla," answered the young man, laughing.
"Nay, I will not be denied--hast thou any such notion as this, which thewife of Pepe hath so plainly avowed?"
"What will you, Senor Christoval? Man is the same in Spain, that he isamong the Italians, or the English. Is it not his besetting sin to thinkgood of himself, and evil of his neighbor?"
"A plain question that is loyally put, may not be answered with atruism, Luis."
"Nor a civil, honest reply confounded with one that is evasive. We ofCastile are humble and most devout Christians, by the same reason thatwe think ourselves faultless, and the rest of mankind notable sinners.By San Iago, of blessed faith and holy memory! it is enough to make apeople vain, to have produced such a queen as Dona Isabella, and such amaiden as Mercedes de Valverde!"
"This is double loyalty, for it is being true to the queen and to thymistress. With this must I satisfy myself, even though it be no answer.But, Castilian though I am not, even the Guzmans have not ventured onthe voyage to Cathay, and the House of Trastamara may yet be glad toacknowledge its indebtedness to a Genoese. God hath no respect toworldly condition, or worldly boundaries, in choosing his agents, formost of the saints were despised Hebrews, while Jesus, himself, came ofNazareth. We shall see, we shall see, young lord, what three months willreveal to the admiration of mankind."
"Senor Almirante, I hope and pray it may be the island of Cipango andthe realms of the great Khan; should it not be so, we are men who cannot only bear our toils, but who can bear our disappointments."
"Of disappointments in this matter, Don Luis, I look for none--now thatI have the royal fa
ith of Isabella, and these good caravels to back me;the drudge who saileth from Madeira to Lisbon, is not more certain ofgaining his port than I am certain of gaining Cathay."
"No doubt, Senor Colon, that what any navigator can do, you can do andwill perform; nevertheless, disappointment would seem to be the lot ofman, and it might be well for all of us to be prepared to meet it."
"The sun that is just sinking beyond yon hill, Luis, is not plainerbefore my eyes than this route to the Indies. I have seen it, theseseventeen years, distinct as the vessels in the river, bright as thepolar star, and, I make little doubt, as faithfully. It is well to talkof disappointments, since they are the lot of man; and who can know thisbetter than one that hath been led on by false hopes during all thebetter years of his life; now encouraged by princes, statesmen, andchurchmen; and now derided and scoffed at as a vain projector, that hathneither reason nor fact to sustain him!"
"By my new patron, San Pedro! Senor Almirante, but you have led a mostgrievous life, for this last age, or so. The next three months will,indeed, be months of moment to you."
"Thou little know'st the calmness of conviction and confidence, Luis,"returned Columbus, "if thou fanciest any doubts beset me as the hour oftrial approacheth. This day is the happiest I have known, for many aweary year; for, though the preparations are not great, and our barksare but slight and of trifling bulk, yonder lie the means through whicha light, that hath long been hid, is about to break upon the world, andto raise Castile to an elevation surpassing that of any other Christiannation."
"Thou must regret, Senor Colon, that it hath not been Genoa, thy nativeland, that is now about to receive this great boon, after having meritedit by generous and free gifts, in behalf of this great voyage."
"This hath not been the least of my sorrows, Luis. It is hard to desertone's own country, and to seek new connections, as life draweth to aclose, though we mariners, perhaps, feel the tie less than those whonever quit the land. But Genoa would have none of me; and if the childis bound to love and honor the parent, so is the parent equally bound toprotect and foster the child. When the last forgets its duty, the firstis not to be blamed if it seek support wherever it may be found. Thereare limits to every human duty; those we owe to God alone, never ceasingto require their fulfilment, and our unceasing attention. Genoa hathproved but a stern mother to me; and though naught could induce me toraise a hand against her, she hath no longer any claims on my service.Besides, when the object in view is the service of God, it matterethlittle with which of his creatures we league as instruments. One cannoteasily hate the land of his birth, but injustice may lead him to ceaseto love it. The tie is mutual, and when the country ceaseth to protectperson, character, property, or rights, the subject is liberated fromall his duties. If allegiance goeth with protection, so shouldprotection go with allegiance. Dona Isabella is now my mistress, and,next to God, her will I serve, and serve only. Castile is henceforth mycountry."
At this moment it was announced that the pinnace waited, and the twoadventurers immediately embarked.
It must have required all the deep and fixed convictions of an ardenttemperament, to induce Columbus to rejoice that he had, at length,obtained the means of satisfying his longings for discovery, when hecame coolly to consider what those means were. The names of his vessels,the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina, have already been mentioned,and some allusions have been made to their size and construction. Still,it may aid the reader in forming his opinions of the character of thisgreat enterprise, if we give a short sketch of the vessels, moreespecially that in which Columbus and Luis de Bobadilla were nowreceived. She was, of course, the Santa Maria, a ship of nearly twicethe burden of the craft next her in size. This vessel had been preparedwith more care than the others, and some attention had been paid to thedignity and comfort of the Admiral she was destined to carry. Not onlywas she decked in, but a poop, or round-house, was constructed on herquarter-deck, in which he had his berth. No proper notion can beobtained of the appearance of the Santa Maria, from the taunt-rigged,symmetrical, and low-sterned ships of the present time; for, though theSanta Maria had both a poop and top-gallant-forecastle, as they would betermed to-day, neither was constructed in the snug and unobtrusivemanner that is now used. The poop, or round-house, was calleda castle, to which it had some fancied resemblance, while thetop-gallant-forecastle, in which most of the people lived, was out ofproportion large, rose like a separate structure on the bows of thevessel, and occupied about a third of the deck, from forward aft. Tothose who never saw the shipping that was used throughout Europe, acentury since, it will not be very obvious how vessels so small couldrise so far above the water, in safety; but this difficulty may beexplained; many very old ships, that had some of the peculiarities ofthis construction, existing within the memory of man, and a few havingfallen under our own immediate inspection. The bearings of these vesselswere at the loaded water-lines, or very little above them, and theytumbled home, in a way to reduce their beams on their poop decks nearly,if not quite, a fourth. By these precautions, their great height out ofthe water was less dangerous than might otherwise have been the case;and as they were uniformly short ships, possessing the advantages oflifting easily forward, and were, moreover, low-waisted, they might beconsidered safe in a sea, rather than the reverse. Being so short, too,they had great beam for their tonnage, which, if not an element ofspeed, was at least one of security. Although termed ships, thesevessels were not rigged in the manner of the ships of the present day,their standing spars being relatively longer than those now in use,while their upper, or shifting spars, were much less numerous, and muchless important than those which now point upward, like needles, towardthe clouds. Neither had a ship necessarily the same number of spars, inthe fifteenth century, as belong to a ship in the nineteenth. The termitself, as it was used in all the southern countries of Europe, beingdirectly derived from the Latin word _navis_, was applied rather as ageneric than as a distinctive term, and by no means inferred anyparticular construction, or particular rig. The caravel was a ship, inthis sense, though not strictly so, perhaps, when we descend to the moreminute classification of seamen.
Much stress has been justly laid on the fact, that two of the vessels inthis extraordinary enterprise were undecked. In that day, when most seavoyages were made in a direction parallel to the main coasts, and wheneven those that extended to the islands occupied but a very few days,vessels were seldom far from the land; and it was the custom of themariners, a practice that has extended to our own times, in the southernseas of Europe, to seek a port at the approach of bad weather. Undersuch circumstances, decks were by no means as essential, either for thesecurity of the craft, the protection of the cargo, or the comfort ofthe people, as in those cases in which the full fury of the elementsmust be encountered. Nevertheless, the reader is not to suppose a vesselentirely without any upper covering, because she was not classed amongthose that were decked; even such caravels, when used on the high seas,usually possessing quarter-decks and forecastles, with connectinggangways; depending on tarpaulings, and other similar preventives, toexclude the wash of the sea from injuring their cargoes.
After all these explanations, however, it must be conceded, that thepreparations for the great undertaking of Columbus, while theimaginations of landsmen probably aggravate their incompleteness, strikethe experienced seaman as altogether inadequate to its magnitude andrisks. That the mariners of the day deemed them positively insufficientis improbable, for men as accustomed to the ocean as the Pinzons, wouldnot have volunteered to risk their vessel, their money, and theirpersons, in an expedition that did not possess the ordinary means ofsecurity.
Mercedes of Castile; Or, The Voyage to Cathay Page 14