: THE STORY OF COLUMBUS AND THE WORLD'S FAIR. 149 
islanders. Another party brought several women, some of 
whom were captives and some were native women, who came 
quite willingly. From them he learned that the villages on the 
Island belonged to. the Caribs, who were always at war with | 
Some tribe, and whose weapons were bows and arrows pointed 
with fish bones or shells, and poisoned with the juice of a deadly 
herb. It was their practice to attack a vil lage, carry off the 
young and handsome women for slaves or wives, and the men 
they took home to be killed and eaten. 
These accounts made Columbus alarmed as to the fate of 
Diego Marquez, the captain of one of the caravels, and eight 
of his men, who had been missing since morning. Parties . 
were sent in search of them—they could not be traced. But 
after four days’ absence, they came back, having lost their way. 
During the search hideous proofs of the man-eating tastes of 
the savages were found. Fortunately most of the men had gone 
with their king in search of booty and prisoners, and the island — 
was left to be defended by the women of the tribe. They were — 
as expert with bows and arrows as were the men, and equaled 
them in ferocity and daring. | 
Dr. Chanca asserts in one place in his journal, that these 
Caribs were more polite than savages whom they had met in 
the other islands, and on another page he declares that their o. 
habits are beastly. It is difficult to reconcile the two statements, a 
but probably he spoke of them by comparison.+ Although the 
admiral was relieved to see Captain Marquez again, and noted