An exploring party from one of the ships penetrated into the interior, but so thickly was it wooded that they lost their way in the jungle, and only regained the ships after four days' wanderings, and when their safety was despaired of by their companions, who feared that they had become food for the savages.

Fortunately, however, the men of the island were absent on some warlike expedition, and the white men only met with women and children in the course of their dangerous explorations.
DESTRUCTION OF LA NAVIDAD.
Anxious to revisit the colony at La Navidad, the admiral proceeded north-westward as speedily as possible, and after passing and naming Montserrat, Antigua, St.Martin, and Santa Cruz, arrived at a beautiful and fertile island which he called St.John, but which has since received the name of Porto Rico.

Here were found houses and roads constructed after a civilized fashion; but proofs that the inhabitants were cannibals abounded everywhere.

On the 22nd of November the admiral reached the eastern end of Hispaniola, and sailed along the northern shore toward La Navidad, where a profound disappointment awaited him.

The little colony which he had founded had been entirely destroyed.