We may be sure that the authorities made
the most of what the discoverer had brought back; the Indians were
ordered to decorate themselves with every kind of color and every kind
of feather. The tropical plants were borne aloft, and it was rumored
that merely to touch them would heal any sort of malady.
Most imposing of all, there was shown a table on which was every golden
bracelet and ornament that had been collected. To be sure, these were
not numerous, but everybody hinted to everybody else that they were but
a few articles out of Columbus's well-filled treasure-ship. The
discoverer himself, richly clad, mounted on a fine horse, and surrounded
by gorgeously accoutered _caballeros_, brought up the rear of this
unique procession. What shouting as he passed! and later what reverent
thanksgiving! Barcelona was no insignificant little port like Palos, to
be stupefied at the wonder of it; Barcelona was one of the richest and
most prosperous seaports of Europe, and could look upon the discovery
intelligently; and precisely because she herself had learned the lesson
that trade meant wealth, she rejoiced that this wonderful new avenue of
commerce had been opened for Spain.
The display over, the king and queen invited Columbus to tell his story.
Now had arrived the most critical moment since his return; but our
Admiral, it is to be regretted, did not realize it, else he would have
been more guarded in what he said.
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