Pioneer Spaniards in North America . e coast of South America, turned north, passedthe mouth of the Orinoco, made its way throughthe dangerous strait between the island of Trin-idad and the mainland which Columbus hadcalled Boca del Drago (Dragons Mouth), andcoasted the shores of Paria, stopping at variousplaces and noting the ways of the inhabitants,whom Vespucci describes very minutely. Thenit touched at the island of Margarita (Pearl), sincerenowned for its pearl-fishery. At a point on themainland the natives gained the friendship of theSpaniards by gifts of fish, venison, and cassava-bread
Pioneer Spaniards in North America . e coast of South America, turned north, passedthe mouth of the Orinoco, made its way throughthe dangerous strait between the island of Trin-idad and the mainland which Columbus hadcalled Boca del Drago (Dragons Mouth), andcoasted the shores of Paria, stopping at variousplaces and noting the ways of the inhabitants,whom Vespucci describes very minutely. Thenit touched at the island of Margarita (Pearl), sincerenowned for its pearl-fishery. At a point on themainland the natives gained the friendship of theSpaniards by gifts of fish, venison, and cassava-bread, and then implored their assistance againstthe fierce warriors of a distant island, who, theysaid, were wont to come and carry off their people, 7 PIONEER SPANIARDS to eat them at their leisure. This invitationexactly suited the adventurous nature of at once took on board some guides, sailedseven days, and came to the island of the canni-bals. The beach was covered with gaudilypainted and befeathered warriors, ready to de-. CHAMPLAIN S DRAWING OF PEARL FISHERY fend their native soil. The ships anchored andsent several armed boats to the attack. They were met with a cloud of arrows. Butwhen they fired their pedreroes (boat-howitzersthat discharged stones), the noise and smoke anddeadly missiles caused a panic among the Caribs,and they fled. They rallied, however, in thewoods and fought the pursuing Spaniards withdesperate valor. The next day the fighting wasresumed. The Caribs stood their ground bravely, 8 OJEDAS VOYAGES and, with their naked bodies and wooden weapons,engaged hand to hand the enemy sheathed insteel. Of course, they were slaughtered. Thenthe Spaniards plundered and burned their dwel-lings, returned to their ships with a number ofprisoners, to be sold as slaves, and sailed away,having lost only one man killed and twenty-onewounded. This was very interesting, no doubt,but not exactly the kind of thing for which themerchants of Seville had put out their mo
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