rather than teach both sides of his exploit, they encourage us to identify with
white Western exploitation rather than study it.
The passage in the left-hand column of the opposing page is one of the many
legends that hang about Columbus like barnacles—“myths, all without
substance.”^97 The passage in the right-hand column is part of a
contemporaneous account of an Arawak cacique (leader) who had fled from
Haiti to Cuba.
The reader will have already guessed that the passage on the left comes
from an American history textbook, in this case American Adventures. Since
the incident probably never happened, including it in a textbook is hard to
defend. One way to understand its inclusion is by examining what it does in the
narrative. The incident is melodramatic. It creates a mild air of suspense, even
though we can be sure, of course, that everything will turn out all right in the
end. Surely the passage encourages identification with Columbus’s enterprise,
makes Columbus the underdog—riding a mule, shabby of cloak—and thus
places us on his side.
A man riding a mule moved slowly down a dusty road in Spain. He
wore an old and shabby cloak over his shoulders. Though his face
seemed young, his red hair was already turning white. It was early in
the year 1492 and Christopher Columbus was leaving Spain.
Twice the Spanish king and queen had refused his request for
ships. He had wasted five years of his life trying to get their
approval. Now he was going to France. Perhaps the French king
would give him the ships he needed.
Columbus heard a clattering sound. He turned and looked up the
road. A horse and rider came racing toward him. The rider handed
him a message, and Columbus turned his mule around. The message
was from the Spanish king and queen, ordering him to return.
Columbus would get his ships.
Learning that Spaniards were coming, one day [the cacique] gathered
all his people together to remind them of the persecutions that the
Spanish had inflicted on the people of Hispaniola:
“Do you know why they persecute us?”