The rude Spanish common soldier perceived a far greater difference between himself and the Indian, than did the most accomplished man who visited the Indies, when he made to himself a similar comparison.
Occasionally, in a narrow nature, however cultivated, the commonest prejudices hold their ground; but, in general, knowledge sees behind and beyond disgust, and suffices to conquer it.
THE EARTHLY PARADISE.
Columbus, however, found the men, the country, and the products, equally admirable.

It is somewhat curious that he does not mention his discovery of pearls to the Catholic monarchs, and he afterwards makes a poor excuse for this.

The real reason I conjecture to have been a wish to preserve this knowledge to himself, that the fruits of this enterprise might not be prematurely snatched from him.

His shipmates, however, were sure to disperse the intelligence; and the gains to be made on the Pearl Coast were, probably, the most tempting bait for future navigators to follow in the track of Columbus, and complete the discovery of the earthly Paradise.
ILLNESS OF COLUMBUS.
Of the delights of this Paradise Columbus himself was to have but a slight and mocking foretaste.

He had been constantly ill during the voyage, suffering from the gout and from an inflammation in his eyes which rendered him almost blind.