The man who discovered the new world

Every event in the eventful life of Christopher Columbus is of supreme interest. "He was born in Genoa and at the age of 14 he went to sea — a red-haired, sunburnt boy with bright blue eyes. He saw foreign countries, he learnt the art of navigation, of charting the seas and drawing maps. In 1474, he left Genoa for Portugal, famous throughout the world for its recent discoveries. He wanted to learn all he could about these discoveries and made voyages to Guinea, Madeira and Porto Santa.

Columbus became a recognized seaman of distinction, but he was obsessed by a plan of reaching India sailing westward instead of the way by Africa. He proposed his idea to the King of Portu­gal and then to the King and Queen of Spain giving his reasons for thinking there was an unknown land to the west. But his scheme was laughed at and he had to wait for eleven long years till the Queen of Spain got interested in the expedition. She even declared she would sell her jewels to provide the necessary means. Columbus was created Admiral of the Ocean in all the lands he might discover. The explorer was now forty-six; his red hair had become grey with waiting for the possibility of realizing his great scheme.

On August 3rd, 1492, the little fleet of three ships sailed north from Spain.' No one ever expected to see them again. Day after day they sailed in search of an unknown land till at last on the evening of, October 11th light was seen glimmering in the distance; when the sun rose the shores of land could be seen. It was an island which later on Columbus named San Salvador.

, Columbus thought he had discovered a new way to the Indies, he never knew he had discovered a new continent. When he came to Spain he was met like a royal person. Yet his triumph did not last long. His next two voyages were full of hardships and ruined his health. Columbus died friendless and penniless on the 21st of May, 1506 and his end was unnoticed as though it had been the death of some unknown sailor. Very soon his contemporaries no longer knew even the dates of his discoveries. Another man gave the name to the new world that Columbus had found — Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentime pilot who made several voyages to the West, reaching the mainland of the yet unknown continent.