FROM CORDOVA TO CATHAY.

same obscurity ; but about the year 1470, we find him residing in Portugal, the
birthplace of his wife, and somewhat later engaged in correspondence with
Toscanelli. According to his son’s statement, in 1477 he “navigated one hun-
dred leagues beyond Thule;” but in 1482 he is in the south of Spain, having
vainly endeavored to enlist the king of Portugal in his plans, and is sent to Isa-

 

 

THE MIRADOR OF LA RABIDA,
(Looking out upon the stream down which Columbus sailed Jrom Palos to the sea.)

bella by the Duke of Medina Celi, at the court in Cordova. He follows the
court to Salamanca in 1486, and there has audience with the queen. In 1487
he is before the Council in the Dominican Convent, returns to Cordova the same
year in the train of Isabella, whence he is summoned to the military camp at
Malaga. The year 1489 finds him before the walls of Baza, where he witnessed
the surrender of the Moors under Boabdil the Elder, and doubtless conversed
with the two monks who came there to the queen from Jerusalem. 1490 sees
him in Seville and Cordova, whence he finally departs in disgust for the port
of Huelva, stopping on his way at the Convent of La Rabida, where he attracts
_ the attention of the prior, and subsequently has the famous conference with the
friar, the village doctor of Palos, and Martin Alonso Pinzon of Moguer. This