Not only did this royal command mean that every citizen of
Palos must furnish money to buy the ships and pay the crew, it meant
that the ships and crew would never come back again from the "Sea of
Darkness"! An expedition through the well-known Mediterranean to Sicily
or Naples would have seemed like a pleasure trip compared with the
terrifying one now contemplated! They were handing over the equipment to
a madman! Poor little Palos was filled with misgiving, and we may be
sure that Columbus, as he passed through the streets, was looked upon as
the common enemy.
The royal decree ordered Palos to have its contribution ready in ten
days; meanwhile, a third caravel was to be bought; but so violently were
the people of Palos opposed to the enterprise that not a single ship-
owner would sell his vessel. Another difficulty was to get a crew of
experienced seamen. With very few exceptions, sailors were afraid to go
out on the unexplored Atlantic Ocean beyond the Azores. Spanish sailors
had not had the excellent schooling of those in Portugal, where, for
seventy years or more, expeditions had been going out to discover new
lands and coming back safely.
Columbus, therefore, found it difficult to induce the sea-going men of
Palos to share his enthusiasm.
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