The Book of the Pearl: The history, art, science, and industry of the queen of gemsKunz, George Frederick
History
The Book of the Pearl: The history, art, science, and industry of the queen of gems
Kunz, George Frederick
Pearls
Columbus then sent to the shore two boats with many Spaniards, for
greater certainty of those new riches, and because they importuned
him. The chief took them to a place where there was a circular
building that resembled a temple, where presently much bread and
fruits of different kinds were brought. At the end of the feast he
gave them pearls for sweetmeats, and took them afterward to the
palace to see the women and the arrangement of the house. Of the
numerous women there, not one was without rings of gold and
necklaces of pearls. The Spaniards returned to the ships, wandering
at such pearls and gold, and requested Columbus to leave them there.
But he did not wish to do so, saying they were too few to settle. He
hoisted sail and ran along the coast as far as Cape Vela, and from
there came to Santo Domingo, with the intention of returning to
Cubagua after regulating the affairs of the government. He
suppressed the joy he felt at having found such treasures, and did
not write to the king regarding the discovery of pearls, or at all
events did not write it until it was already known in Castile. This
was largely the cause for the anger of the king, and the order to
bring Columbus a prisoner to Spain. They say that he did not so much
intend to conceal this discovery from the king, who has many eyes,
as that he thought by a new agreement to get this rich island for
himself.
Of the sailors who went with Christopher Columbus when he found the
pearls, the greater number were from Palos. As soon as these came to
Spain, they told about the country of pearls, displayed many, and
carried them to Seville to sell, whence they went to the court and
into the palace. Excited by this report, some persons there
hurriedly prepared a ship and made Pedro Alonso Niño its captain. He
had from the Catholic king license to go in search of pearls and
land, provided he should not go within fifty leagues of any
discovered by Columbus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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