Where Did Columbus Land

Harper's for November has a clever article on the Bahamas, whioh says: In all probability it was not Cat Island Colutnbus named San Salvador, but Watling's Island - a small isle a littlo naore to the southward and eaatward. The faqts in the case are these : Contrary, probably, to the general opinión, it has never been dofinituly known whieh was the island entitled to the honor ; but about fifty years ago, when historians were busy with the history of Columbus, they undertook to settle the question by oomparing his journal with the imperfect charts of the Bahamas then existing. Navarette fixed on Turk's Islimd, which latter investigation has proved to be erroneous, while Irving, supported by the strong authority of Humboldt, argued for Cat Island, and since then this has been generally accepted as San Salvador, and is so designated on our charts to this day. But the English reversed their opinión some time ago, and transferred the name of San Salvador to Watling's Island, and it will be so found on their latest charts. The reasons for this change seem conclusive. Lieut. Beecher, of the English navy, proves conclusively that Cat Island can not be San Salvador, and that Watling's Island answers the conditions requiied better than any other island lying in the track of Columbus. His two strongest reasons against Cat Island are that Columbus states that he rowed around the northern end in one day, She size of Cat Island makes this physically impossible there, while it is quite feasible at tho other island. He also speaks of a large lake in the interior. There is no such water on Cat Island, while such a lake does exist on Watling's Island.