AMERICA



51



point at which they aimed in all their navigations, and in
comparison with it all their discoveries in Africa appear-
ed inconsiderable. The fertility and riches of India had
been known for many ages; its spices and other commo-
dities were in hihh reputation throughout Europe, and the
vast wealth of the Venetians arising from their having en-
grossed this trade, had raised the envy of all nations.



More than half a century had been employed by the Por-
tuguese in advancing from Cape Non to the equator, in
hopes of arriving at India by steering towards the south
and turning to the east, after they had sailed 'round the
farther extremity of Africa. Even although they could
succeed in arriving at India by pursuing this course, they
were at last convinced that the remaining part of the navi-
gation from the equator to India was extensive, that it
could not but be attended with uncertainty, danger, and
tediousness. These difficulties naturally led Columbus to
consider whether a shorter and more direct passage to -the
East Indies might not be found out. After revolving long
and seriously every circumstance suggested by his supe-
nor knowledge, in the theory as well as practice of navi-
gationand comparing attentively the observations of modern
pilots, with the hints and conjectures of ancient authors,
he at last concluded that by sailing directly towards the
west across the Atlantic Ocean, new countries which pro-
babI formed a part of the great continent of India must
         be discovered. Columbus was confirmed in his
opinion by the accounts of a certain Portuguese pilot, who
having stretched farther to the west than was usual at that
timb, took up a piece of timber, artificially carved, floating
on the sea; and as it was driven towards him by a west-
erly wind, he concluded that it came from some unknown
land situated in that quarter.
  Pieces of timber fashioned in the same manner, and
floating on tbe waves, were seen by several Portuguese
pilotaDto the west of the Madeira isles. and thither th'v



,
were brought by a westE
.,0 1 11 2,      - . ,



L Canes of an enormous
  ".6 ...    .U     - .



sze had been tound, whictffTezbled those described by