Ferdinand and
Isabella, at this time, happened to be in the remotest possible point
from Palos, in Barcelona, the great seaport of northeastern Spain. It
was a long, long land journey for a seaman to make, but Christopher
Columbus did not mind, for every step of it was glory and triumph. He
who had once wandered over this same land from city to city, obscure,
suspected of being either a visionary or an adventurer, had returned as
a great personage, an Admiral of Spain, a Viceroy, a Governor; and, best
of all, a practical discoverer instead of a mere dreamer. Every town he
passed through acclaimed him a most wonderful man.
Besides, he had brought them proofs of his discovery--those six strange
people called "Indians"; these, along with an iguana and some red
flamingoes, parrots, and unfamiliar plants, were exhibited in every
town, and every town gaped in wonder, and crowded close to get a view of
the Admiral and his _Indios_, and to whisper in awed tones, "and
there is much gold, too, but he is not showing that!"
All this was very gratifying to the Admiral; but even more so was his
reception when he arrived finally at Barcelona. Here he was met at the
city gates by a brilliant company of _caballeros_, or Spanish
nobility, who escorted him and his extraordinary procession through the
streets of the quaint old town.
Pages:
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118