He hailed the tidings with
eagerness, as intimating the existence of some settlement in the
neighborhood; and, putting himself at the head of a small party, went in
the direction pointed out, to reconnoitre. He was not disappointed, and,
after extricating himself from a dense wilderness of underbrush and
foliage, he emerged into an open space, where a small Indian village was
planted. The timid inhabitants, on the sudden apparition of the strangers,
quitted their huts in dismay; and the famished Spaniards, rushing in,
eagerly made themselves masters of their contents. These consisted of
different articles of food, chiefly maize and cocoanuts. The supply,
though small, was too seasonable not to fill them with rapture.
The astonished natives made no attempt at resistance. But, gathering
more confidence as no violence was offered to their persons, they drew
nearer the white men, and inquired, "Why they did not stay at home and
till their own lands, instead of roaming about to rob others who had
never harmed them?"15 Whatever may have been their opinion as to.
the question of right, the Spaniards, no doubt, felt then that it would have
been wiser to do so. But the savages wore about their persons gold
ornaments of some size, though of clumsy workmanship. This furnished
the best reply to their demand.
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