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Christopher Columbus: Extracts from His Journal, 1492
IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Whereas, Most Christian, High, Excellent, and Powerful Princes, King and Queen of
Spain and of the Islands of the Sea, our Sovereigns, this present year 1492,
after your Highnesses had terminated the war with the Moors reigning in Europe,
the same having been brought to an end in the great city of Granada, where on
thesecond day of January, this present year, I saw the royal banners of your
Highnesses planted by force of arms upon the towers of the Alhambra, which is the
fortress of that city, and saw the Moorish king come out at the gate of the city
and kiss the hands of your Highnesses, and of the Prince my Sovereign; and in the
present month, in consequence of the information which I had given your
Highnesses respecting the countries of India and of a Prince, called Great Can,
which in our language signifies King of Kings, how, at many times he, and his
predecessors had sent to Rome soliciting instructors who might teach him our holy
faith, and the holy Father had never granted his request, whereby great numbers
of people were lost, believing in idolatry and doctrines of perdition.
Your Highnesses, as Catholic Christians, and princes who love and promote the
holy Christian faith, and are enemies of the doctrine of Mahomet, and of all
idolatry and heresy, determined to send me, Christopher Columbus, to the
above-mentioned countries of India, to see the said princes, people, and
territories, and to learn their disposition and the proper method of converting
them to our holy faith; and furthermore directed that I should not proceed by
land to the East, as is customary, but by a Westerly route, in which direction we
have hitherto no certain evidence that any one has gone. So after having expelled
the Jews from your dominions, your Highnesses, in the same month of January,
ordered me to proceed with a sufficient armament to the said regions of India,
and for that purpose granted me great favors, and ennobled me that thenceforth I
might call myself Don, and be High Admiral of the Sea, and perpetual Viceroy and
Governor in all the islands and continents which I might discover and acquire, or
which may hereafter he discovered and acquired in the ocean; and that this
dignity should be inherited by my eldest son, and thus descend from degree to
degree forever. Hereupon I left the city of Granada, on Saturday, the twelfth day
of May, 1492, and proceeded to Palos, a seaport, where I armed three vessels,
very fit for such an enterprise, and having provided myself with abundance of
stores and seamen, I set sail from the port, on Friday, the third of August, half
an hour before sunrise, and steered for the Canary Islands of your Highnesses
which are in the said ocean, thence to take my departure and proceed till I
arrived at the Indies, and perform the embassy of your Highnesses to the Princes
there, and discharge the orders given me. For this purpose I determined to keep
an account of the voyage, and to write down punctually every thing we performed
or saw from day to day, as will hereafter appear.
Moreover, Sovereign Princes, besides describing every night the occurrences of
the day, and every day those of the preceding night, I intend to draw up a
nautical chart, which shall contain the several parts of the ocean and land in
their proper situations; and also to compose a book to represent the whole by
picture with latitudes and longitudes, on all which accounts it behooves me to
abstain from my sleep, and make many trials in navigation, which things will
demand much labor.
Friday, 3 August 1492. Set sail from the bar of Saltes at 8 o'clock, and
proceeded with a strong breeze till sunset, sixty miles or fifteen leagues south,
afterwards southwest and south by west, which is the direction of the
Canaries.
Monday, 6 August. The rudder of the caravel Pinta became loose, being broken or
unshipped. It was believed that this happened by the contrivance of Gomez Rascon
and Christopher Quintero, who were on board the caravel, because they disliked
the voyage. The Admiral says he had found them in an unfavorable disposition
before setting out. He was in much anxiety at not being able to afford any
assistance in this case, but says that it somewhat quieted his apprehensions to
know that Martin Alonzo Pinzon, Captain of the Pinta, was a man of courage and
capacity. Made a progress, day and night, of twenty-nine leagues.
Thursday, 9 August. The Admiral did not succeed in reaching the island of Gomera
till Sunday night. Martin Alonzo remained at Grand Canary by command of the
Admiral, he being unable to keep the other vessels company. The Admiral
afterwards returned to Grand Canary, and there with much labor repaired the
Pinta, being assisted by Martin Alonzo and the others; finally they sailed to
Gomera. They saw a great eruption of names from the Peak of Teneriffe, a lofty
mountain. The Pinta, which before had carried latine sails, they altered and made
her square-rigged. Returned to Gomera, Sunday, 2 September, with the Pinta
repaired.
The Admiral says that he was assured by many respectable Spaniards, inhabitants
of the island of Ferro, who were at Gomera with Dona Inez Peraza, mother of
Guillen Peraza, afterwards first Count of Gomera, that every year they saw land
to the west of the Canaries; and others of Gomera affirmed the same with the like
assurances. The Admiral here says that he remembers, while he was in Portugal, in
1484, there came a person to the King from the island of Madeira, soliciting for
a vessel to go in quest of land, which he affirmed he saw every year, and always
of the same appearance. He also says that he remembers the same was said by the
inhabitants of the Azores and described as in a similar direction, and of the
same shape and size.
Having taken in food, water, meat and other provisions, which had been provided
by the men which he left ashore on departing for Grand Canary to repair the
Pinta, the Admiral took his final departure from Gomera with the three vessels on
Thursday, 6 September.
Sunday, 9 September. Sailed this day nineteen leagues, and determined to count
less than the true number, that the crew might not be dismayed if the voyage
should prove long. In the night sailed one hundred and twenty miles, at the rate
of ten miles an hour, which make thirty leagues. The sailors steered badly,
causing the vessels to fall to leeward toward the northeast, for which the
Admiral reprimanded them repeatedly.
Monday, 10 September. This day and night sailed sixty leagues, at the rate of ten
miles an hour, which are two leagues and a half. Reckoned only forty-eight
leagues, that the men might not be terrified if they should be long upon the
voyage.
Tuesday, 11 September. Steered their course west and sailed above twenty leagues;
saw a large fragment of the mast of a vessel, apparently of a hundred and twenty
tons, but could not pick it up. In the night sailed about twenty leagues, and
reckoned only sixteen, for the cause above stated.
Friday, 14 September. Steered this day and night west twenty leagues; reckoned
somewhat less. The crew of the Nina stated that they had seen a grajao, and a
tropic bird, or water-wagtail, which birds never go farther than twenty-five
leagues from the land.
Sunday, 16 September. Sailed day and night, west thirty-nine leagues, and
reckoned only thirty-six. Some clouds arose and it drizzled. The Admiral here
says that from this time they experienced very pleasant weather, and that the
mornings were most delightful, wanting nothing but the melody of the
nightingales. He compares the weather to that of Andalusia in April. Here
they began to meet with large patches of weeds very green, and which appeared to
have been recently washed away from the land; on which account they all judged
themselves to be near some island, though not a continent, according to the
opinion of the Admiral, who says, "the continent we shall find further
ahead."
Monday, 17 September. Steered west and sailed, day and night, above fifty
leagues; wrote down only forty-seven; the current favored them. They saw a great
deal of weed which proved to be rockweed, it came from the west and they met with
it very frequently. They were of opinion that land was near. The pilots took the
sun's amplitude, and found that the needles varied to the northwest a whole point
of the compass; the seamen were terrified, and dismayed without saying why. The
Admiral discovered the cause, and ordered them to take the amplitude again the
next morning, when they found that the needles were true; the cause was that the
star moved from its place, while the needles remained stationary. At dawn they
saw many more weeds, apparently river weeds, and among them a live crab, which
the Admiral kept, and says that these are sure signs of land, being never found
eighty leagues out at sea. They found the seawater less salt since they left the
Canaries, and the air more mild. They were all very cheerful, and strove which
vessel should outsail the others, and be the first to discover land; they saw
many tunnies, and the crew of the Nina killed one. The Admiral here says that
these signs were from the west, "where I hope that high God in whose hand is all
victory will speedily direct us to land." This morning he says he saw a white
bird called a water- wagtail, or tropic bird, which does not sleep at sea.
19 September. Continued on, and sailed, day and night, twenty- five leagues,
experiencing a calm. Wrote down twenty-two. This day at ten o'clock a pelican
came on board, and in the evening another; these birds are not accustomed to go
twenty leagues from land. It drizzled without wind, which is a sure sign of land.
The Admiral was unwilling to remain here, beating about in search of land, but he
held it for certain that there were islands to the north and south, which in fact
was the case and he was sailing in the midst of them. His wish was to proceed on
to the Indies, having such fair weather, for if it please God, as the Admiral
says, we shall examine these parts upon our return. Here the pilots found their
places upon the chart: the reckoning of the Nina made her four hundred and forty
leagues distant from the Canaries, that of the Pinta four hundred and twenty,
that of the Admiral four hundred.
Thursday, 20 September. Steered west by north, varying with alternate changes of
the wind and calms; made seven or eight leagues' progress. Two pelicans came on
board, and afterwards another--a sign of the neighborhood of land. Saw large
quantities of weeds today, though none was observed yesterday. Caught a bird
similar to a grajao; it was a river and not a marine bird, with feet like those
of a gull. Towards night two or three land birds came to the ship, singing; they
disappeared before sunrise. Afterwards saw a pelican coming from west-northwest
and flying to the southwest; an evidence of land to the westward, as these birds
sleep on shore, and go to sea in the morning in search of food, never proceeding
twenty leagues from the land.
Friday, 21 September. Most of the day calm, afterwards a little wind. Steered
their course day and night, sailing less than thirteen leagues. In the morning
found such abundance of weeds that the ocean seemed to be covered with them; they
came from the west. Saw a pelican; the sea smooth as a river, and the finest air
in the world. Saw a whale, an indication of land, as they always keep near the
coast.
Saturday, 22 September. Steered about west-northwest varying their course, and
making thirty leagues' progress. Saw few weeds. Some pardelas were seen, and
another bird. The Admiral here says "this headwind was very necessary to me, for
my crew had grown much alarmed, dreading that they never should meet in these
seas with a fair wind to return to Spain." Part of the day saw no weeds,
afterwards great plenty of it.
Sunday, 23 September. Sailed northwest and northwest by north and at times west
nearly twenty-two leagues. Saw a turtle dove, a pelican, a river bird, and other
white fowl;--weeds in abundance with crabs among them. The sea being smooth and
tranquil, the sailors murmured, saying that they had got into smooth water, where
it would never blow to carry them back to Spain; but afterwards the sea rose
without wind, which astonished them. The Admiral says on this occasion "the
rising of the sea was very favorable to me, as it happened formerly to Moses
when he led the Jews from Egypt."
Tuesday, 25 September. Very calm this day; afterwards the wind rose. Continued
their course west till night. The Admiral held a conversation with Martin Alonzo
Pinzon, captain of the Pinta, respecting a chart which the Admiral had sent him
three days before, in which it appears he had marked down certain islands in that
sea; Martin Alonzo was of opinion that they were in their neighborhood, and the
Admiral replied that he thought the same, but as they had not met with them, it
must have been owing to the currents which had carried them to the northeast and
that they had not made such progress as the pilots stated. The Admiral directed
him to return the chart, when he traced their course upon it in presence of the
pilot and sailors.
At sunset Martin Alonzo called out with great joy from his vessel that he saw
land, and demanded of the Admiral a reward for his intelligence. The Admiral
says, when he heard him declare this, he fell on his knees and returned thanks to
God, and Martin Alonzo with his crew repeated Gloria in excelsis Deo, as
did the crew of the Admiral. Those on board the Nina ascended the rigging, and
all declared they saw land. The Admiral also thought it was land, and about
twenty-five leagues distant. They remained all night repeating these
affirmations, and the Admiral ordered their course to be shifted from west to
southwest where the land appeared to lie.
They sailed that day four leagues and a half west and in the night seventeen
leagues southwest, in all twenty-one and a half: told the crew thirteen leagues,
making it a point to keep them from knowing how far they had sailed; in this
manner two reckonings were kept, the shorter one falsified, and the other being
the true account. The sea was very smooth and many of the sailors went in it to
bathe, saw many dories and other fish.
Wednesday, 26 September. Continued their course west till the afternoon, then
southwest and discovered that what they had taken for land was nothing but
clouds. Sailed, day and night, thirty- one leagues; reckoned to the crew
twenty-four. The sea was like a river, the air soft and mild.
Sunday, 30 September. Continued their course west and sailed day and night in
calms, fourteen leagues; reckoned eleven.--Four tropic birds came to the ship,
which is a very clear sign of land, for so many birds of one sort together show
that they are not straying about, having lost themselves. Twice, saw two
pelicans; many weeds. The constellation called Las Gallardias, which at evening
appeared in a westerly direction, was seen in the northeast the next morning,
making no more progress in a night of nine hours, this was the case every night,
as says the Admiral. At night the needles varied a point towards the northwest,
in the morning they were true, by which it appears that the polar star moves,
like the others, and the needles are always right.
Monday, 1 October. Continued their course west and sailed twenty-five leagues;
reckoned to the crew twenty. Experienced a heavy shower. The pilot of the Admiral
began to fear this morning that they were five hundred and seventy-eight leagues
west of the island of Ferro. The short reckoning which the Admiral showed his
crew gave five hundred and eighty-four, but the true one which he kept to himself
was seven hundred and seven leagues.
Saturday, 6 October. Continued their course west and sailed forty leagues day and
night; reckoned to the crew thirty-three. This night Martin Alonzo gave it as his
opinion that they had better steer from west to southwest. The Admiral thought
from this that Martin Alonzo did not wish to proceed onward to Cipango; but he
considered it best to keep on his course, as he should probably reach the land
sooner in that direction, preferring to visit the continent first, and then the
islands.
Sunday, 7 October. Continued their course west and sailed twelve miles an hour,
for two hours, then eight miles an hour. Sailed till an hour after sunrise,
twenty-three leagues; reckoned to the crew eighteen. At sunrise the caravel Nina,
who kept ahead on account of her swiftness in sailing, while all the vessels were
striving to outsail one another, and gain the reward promised by the King and
Queen by first discovering land--hoisted a flag at her mast head, and fired a
lombarda, as a signal that she had discovered land, for the Admiral had given
orders to that effect. He had also ordered that the ships should keep in close
company at sunrise and sunset, as the air was more favorable at those times for
seeing at a distance. Towards evening seeing nothing of the land which the Nina
had made signals for, and observing large flocks of birds coming from the North
and making for the southwest, whereby it was rendered probable that they were
either going to land to pass the night, or abandoning the countries of the north,
on account of the approaching winter, he determined to alter his course, knowing
also that the Portuguese had discovered most of the islands they possessed by
attending to the flight of birds. The Admiral accordingly shifted his course from
west to west-southwest, with a resolution to continue two days in that direction.
This was done about an hour after sunset. Sailed in the night nearly five
leagues, and twenty-three in the day. In all twenty-eight.
8 October. Steered west-southwest and sailed day and night eleven or twelve
leagues; at times during the night, fifteen miles an hour, if the account can be
depended upon. Found the sea like the river at Seville, "thanks to God," says the
Admiral. The air soft as that of Seville in April, and so fragrant that it was
delicious to breathe it. The weeds appeared very fresh. Many land birds, one of
which they took, flying towards the southwest; also grajaos, ducks, and a pelican
were seen.
Tuesday, 9 October. Sailed southwest five leagues, when the wind changed, and
they stood west by north four leagues. Sailed in the whole day and night, twenty
leagues and a half; reckoned to the crew seventeen. All night heard birds
passing.
Wednesday, 10 October. Steered west-southwest and sailed at times ten miles an
hour, at others twelve, and at others, seven; day and night made fifty-nine
leagues' progress; reckoned to the crew but forty-four. Here the men lost all
patience, and complained of the length of the voyage, but the Admiral encouraged
them in the best manner he could, representing the profits they were about to
acquire, and adding that it was to no purpose to complain, having come so far,
they had nothing to do but continue on to the Indies, till with the help of our
Lord, they should arrive there.
Thursday, 11 October. Steered west-southwest; and encountered a heavier sea than
they had met with before in the whole voyage. Saw pardelas and a green rush near
the vessel. The crew of the Pinta saw a cane and a log; they also picked up a
stick which appeared to have been carved with an iron tool, a piece of cane, a
plant which grows on land, and a board. The crew of the Nina saw other signs of
land, and a stalk loaded with rose berries. These signs encouraged them, and they
all grew cheerful. Sailed this day till sunset, twenty-seven leagues.
After sunset steered their original course west and sailed twelve miles an hour
till two hours after midnight, going ninety miles, which are twenty-two leagues
and a half; and as the Pinta was the swiftest sailer, and kept ahead of the
Admiral, she discovered land and made the signals which had been ordered. The
land was first seen by a sailor called Rodrigo de Triana, although the Admiral at
ten o'clock that evening standing on the quarter-deck saw a light, but so small a
body that he could not affirm it to be land; calling to Pero Gutierrez, groom of
the King's wardrobe, he told him he saw a light, and bid him look that way, which
he did and saw it; he did the same to Rodrigo Sanchez of Segovia, whom the King
and Queen had sent with the squadron as comptroller, but he was unable to see it
from his situation. The Admiral again perceived it once or twice, appearing like
the light of a wax candle moving up and down, which some thought an indication of
land. But the Admiral held it for certain that land was near; for which reason,
after they had said the Salve which the seamen are accustomed to repeat and chant
after their fashion, the Admiral directed them to keep a strict watch upon the
forecastle and look out diligently for land, and to him who should first discover
it he promised a silken jacket, besides the reward which the King and Queen had
offered, which was an annuity of ten thousand maravedis. At two o'clock in the
morning the land was discovered, at two leagues' distance; they took in sail and
remained under the square-sail lying to till day, which was Friday, when they
found themselves near a small island, one of the Lucayos, called in the Indian
language Guanahani. Presently they descried people, naked, and the Admiral landed
in the boat, which was armed, along with Martin Alonzo Pinzon, and Vincent Yanez
his brother, captain of the Nina. The Admiral bore the royal standard, and the
two captains each a banner of the Green Cross, which all the ships had carried;
this contained the initials of the names of the King and Queen each side of the
cross, and a crown over each letter Arrived on shore, they saw trees very green
many streams of water, and diverse sorts of fruits. The Admiral called upon the
two Captains, and the rest of the crew who landed, as also to Rodrigo de Escovedo
notary of the fleet, and Rodrigo Sanchez, of Segovia, to bear witness that he
before all others took possession (as in fact he did) of that island for the King
and Queen his sovereigns, making the requisite declarations, which are more at
large set down here in writing. Numbers of the people of the island straightway
collected together. Here follow the precise words of the Admiral:
As I saw that they were very friendly to us, and perceived that they could be
much more easily converted to our holy faith by gentle means than by force, I
presented them with some red caps, and strings of beads to wear upon the neck,
and many other trifles of small value, wherewith they were much delighted, and
became wonderfully attached to us. Afterwards they came swimming to the boats,
bringing parrots, balls of cotton thread, javelins, and many other things which
they exchanged for articles we gave them, such as glass beads, and hawk's bells;
which trade was carried on with the utmost good will. But they seemed on the
whole to me, to be a very poor people. They all go completely naked, even the
women, though I saw but one girl. All whom I saw were young, not above thirty
years of age, well made, with fine shapes and faces; their hair short, and coarse
like that of a horse's tail, combed toward the forehead, except a small portion
which they suffer to hang down behind, and never cut. Some paint themselves with
black, which makes them appear like those of the Canaries, neither black nor
white; others with white, others with red, and others with such colors as they
can find. Some paint the face, and some the whole body; others only the eyes, and
others the nose. Weapons they have none, nor are acquainted with them, for I
showed them swords which they grasped by the blades, and cut themselves through
ignorance. They have no iron, their javelins being without it, and nothing more
than sticks, though some have fish-bones or other things at the ends. They are
all of a good size and stature, and handsomely formed. I saw some with scars of
wounds upon their bodies, and demanded by signs the of them; they answered me in
the same way, that there came people from the other islands in the neighborhood
who endeavored to make prisoners of them, and they defended themselves. I thought
then, and still believe, that these were from the continent.
It appears to me, that the people are ingenious, and would be good servants and I
am of opinion that they would very readily become Christians, as they appear to
have no religion. They very quickly learn such words as are spoken to them. If it
please our Lord, I intend at my return to carry home six of them to your
Highnesses, that they may learn our language. I saw no beasts in the island, nor
any sort of animals except parrots.
These are the words of the Admiral.
Saturday, 13 October. "At daybreak great multitudes of men came to the shore, all
young and of fine shapes, very handsome; their hair not curled but straight and
coarse like horse-hair, and all with foreheads and heads much broader than any
people I had hitherto seen; their eyes were large and very beautiful; they were
not black, but the color of the inhabitants of the Canaries, which is a very
natural circumstance, they being in the same latitude with the island of Ferro in
the Canaries. They were straight-limbed without exception, and not with prominent
bellies but handsomely shaped. They came to the ship in canoes, made of a single
trunk of a tree, wrought in a wonderful manner considering the country; some of
them large enough to contain forty or forty-five men, others of different sizes
down to those fitted to hold but a single person. They rowed with an oar like a
baker's peel, and wonderfully swift. If they happen to upset, they all jump into
the sea, and swim till they have righted their canoe and emptied it with the
calabashes they carry with them. They came loaded with balls of cotton, parrots,
javelins, and other things too numerous to mention; these they exchanged for
whatever we chose to give them. I was very attentive to them, and strove to learn
if they had any gold. Seeing some of them with little bits of this metal hanging
at their noses, I gathered from them by signs that by going southward or steering
round the island in that direction, there would be found a king who possessed
large vessels of gold, and in great quantities. I endeavored to procure them to
lead the way thither, but found they were unacquainted with the route. I
determined to stay here till the evening of the next day, and then sail for the
southwest; for according to what I could learn from them, there was land at the
south as well as at the southwest and northwest and those from the northwest came
many times and fought with them and proceeded on to the southwest in search of
gold and precious stones. This is a large and level island, with trees extremely
flourishing, and streams of water; there is a large lake in the middle of the
island, but no mountains: the whole is completely covered with verdure and
delightful to behold. The natives are an inoffensive people, and so desirous to
possess any thing they saw with us, that they kept swimming off to the ships with
whatever they could find, and readily bartered for any article we saw fit to give
them in return, even such as broken platters and fragments of glass. I saw in
this manner sixteen balls of cotton thread which weighed above twenty-five
pounds, given for three Portuguese ceutis. This traffic I forbade, and suffered
no one to take their cotton from them, unless I should order it to be procured
for your Highnesses, if proper quantities could be met with. It grows in this
island, but from my short stay here I could not satisfy myself fully concerning
it; the gold, also, which they wear in their noses, is found here, but not to
lose time, I am determined to proceed onward and ascertain whether I can reach
Cipango. At night they all went on shore with their canoes.
Sunday, 14 October. In the morning, I ordered the boats to be got ready, and
coasted along the island toward the north- northeast to examine that part of it,
we having landed first at the eastern part. Presently we discovered two or three
villages, and the people all came down to the shore, calling out to us, and
giving thanks to God. Some brought us water, and others victuals: others seeing
that I was not disposed to land, plunged into the sea and swam out to us, and we
perceived that they interrogated us if we had come from heaven. An old man came
on board my boat; the others, both men and women cried with loud voices--"Come
and see the men who have come from heavens. Bring them victuals and drink." There
came many of both sexes, every one bringing something, giving thanks to God,
prostrating themselves on the earth, and lifting up their hands to heaven. They
called out to us loudly to come to land, but I was apprehensive on account of a
reef of rocks, which surrounds the whole island, although within there is depth
of water and room sufficient for all the ships of Christendom, with a very narrow
entrance. There are some shoals withinside, but the water is as smooth as a
pond.
It was to view these parts that I set out in the morning, for I wished to give a
complete relation to your Highnesses, as also to find where a fort might be
built. I discovered a tongue of land which appeared like an island though it was
not, but might be cut through and made so in two days; it contained six houses. I
do not, however, see the necessity of fortifying the place, as the people here
are simple in war-like matters, as your Highnesses will see by those seven which
I have ordered to be taken and carried to Spain in order to learn our language
and return, unless your Highnesses should choose to have them all transported to
Castile, or held captive in the island. I could conquer the whole of them with
fifty men, and govern them as I pleased. Near the islet I have mentioned were
groves of trees, the most beautiful I have ever seen, with their foliage as
verdant as we see in Castile in April and May. There were also many streams.
After having taken a survey of these parts, I returned to the ship, and setting
sail, discovered such a number of islands that I knew not which first to visit;
the natives whom I had taken on board informed me by signs that there were so
many of them that they could not be numbered; they repeated the names of more
than a hundred.
I determined to steer for the largest, which is about five leagues from San
Salvador; the others were some at a greater, and some at a less distance from
that island. They are all very level, without mountains, exceedingly fertile and
populous, the inhabitants living at war with one another, although a simple race,
and with delicate bodies.
15 October. Stood off and on during the night, determining not to come to anchor
till morning, fearing to meet with shoals; continued our course in the morning;
and as the island was found to be six or seven leagues distant, and the tide was
against us, it was noon when we arrived there. I found that part of it towards
San Salvador extending from north to south five leagues, and the other side which
we coasted along, ran from east to west more than ten leagues. From this island
espying a still larger one to the west, I set sail in that direction and kept on
till night without reaching the western extremity of the island, where I gave it
the name of Santa Maria de la Concepcion. About sunset we anchored near the cape
which terminates the island towards the west to enquire for gold, for the natives
we had taken from San Salvador told me that the people here wore golden bracelets
upon their arms and legs. I believed pretty confidently that they had invented
this story in order to find means to escape from us, still I determined to pass
none of these islands without taking possession, because being once taken, it
would answer for all times.
We anchored and remained till Tuesday, when at daybreak I went ashore with the
boats armed. The people we found naked like those of San Salvador, and of the
same disposition. They suffered us to traverse the island, and gave us what we
asked of them. As the wind blew southeast upon the shore where the vessels lay, I
determined not to remain, and set out for the ship. A large canoe being near the
caravel Nina, one of the San Salvador natives leaped overboard and swam to her;
(another had made his escape the night before,) the canoe being reached by the
fugitive, the natives rowed for the land too swiftly to be overtaken; having
landed, some of my men went ashore in pursuit of them, when they abandoned the
canoe and fled with precipitation; the canoe which they had left was brought on
board the Nina, where from another quarter had arrived a small canoe with a
single man, who came to barter some cotton; some of the sailors finding him
unwilling to go on board the vessel, jumped into the sea and took him. I was upon
the quarter deck of my ship, and seeing the whole, sent for him, and gave him a
red cap, put some glass beads upon his arms, and two hawk's bells upon his ears.
I then ordered his canoe to be returned to him, and despatched him back to land.
I now set sail for the other large island to the west and gave orders for the
canoe which the Nina had in tow to be set adrift. I had refused to receive the
cotton from the native whom I sent on shore, although he pressed it upon me. I
looked out after him and saw upon his landing that the others all ran to meet him
with much wonder. It appeared to them that we were honest people, and that the
man who had escaped from us had done us some injury, for which we kept him in
custody. It was in order to favor this notion that I ordered the canoe to be set
adrift, and gave the man the presents above mentioned, that when your Highnesses
send another expedition to these parts it may meet with a friendly reception. All
I gave the man was not worth four maravedis. We set sail about ten o'clock, with
the wind southeast and stood southerly for the island I mentioned above, which is
a very large one, and where according to the account of the natives on board,
there is much gold, the inhabitants wearing it in bracelets upon their arms,
legs, and necks, as well as in their ears and at their noses. This island is nine
leagues distant from Santa Maria in a westerly direction. This part of it extends
from northwest, to southeast and appears to be twenty-eight leagues long, very
level, without any mountains, like San Salvador and Santa Maria, having a good
shore and not rocky, except a few ledges under water, which renders it necessary
to anchor at some distance, although the water is very clear, and the bottom may
be seen. Two shots of a lombarda from the land, the water is so deep that it
cannot be sounded; this is the case in all these islands. They are all extremely
verdant and fertile, with the air agreeable, and probably contain many things of
which I am ignorant, not inclining to stay here, but visit other islands in
search of gold. And considering the indications of it among the natives who wear
it upon their arms and legs, and having ascertained that it is the true metal by
showing them some pieces of it which I have with me, I cannot fail, with the help
of our Lord, to find the place which produces it.
Being at sea, about midway between Santa Maria and the large island, which I name
Fernandina, we met a man in a canoe going from Santa Maria to Fernandina; he had
with him a piece of the bread which the natives make, as big as one's fist, a
calabash of water, a quantity of reddish earth, pulverized and afterwards kneaded
up, and some dried leaves which are in high value among them, for a quantity of
it was brought to me at San Salvador; he had besides a little basket made after
their fashion, containing some glass beads, and two blancas by all which I knew
he had come from San Salvador, and had passed from thence to Santa Maria. He came
to the ship and I caused him to be taken on board, as he requested it; we took
his canoe also on board and took care of his things. I ordered him to be
presented with bread and honey, and drink, and shall carry him to Fernandina and
give him his property, that he may carry a good report of us, so that if it
please our Lord when your Highnesses shall send again to these regions, those who
arrive here may receive honor, and procure what the natives may be found to
possess.
Tuesday, 16 October. Set sail from Santa Maria about noon, for Fernandina which
appeared very large in the west; sailed all the day with calms, and could not
arrive soon enough to view the shore and select a good anchorage, for great care
must be taken in this particular, lest the anchors be lost. Beat up and down all
night, and in the morning arrived at a village and anchored. This was the place
to which the man whom we had picked up at sea had gone, when we set him on
shore.
He had given such a favorable account of us, that all night there were great
numbers of canoes coming off to us, who brought us water and other things. I
ordered each man to be presented with something, as strings of ten or a dozen
glass beads apiece, and thongs of leather, all which they estimated highly; those
which came on board I directed should be fed with molasses. At three o'clock, I
sent the boat on shore for water; the natives with great good will directed the
men where to find it, assisted them in carrying the casks full of it to the boat,
and seemed to take great pleasure in serving us. This is a very large island,
and I have resolved to coast it about, for as I understand, in, or near the island,
there is a mine of gold. It is eight leagues west of Santa Maria, and the cape
where we have arrived, and all this coast extends from north-northwest to
south-southeast. I have seen twenty leagues of it, but not the end. Now, writing
this, I set sail with a southerly wind to circumnavigate the island, and search
till we can find Samoet, which is the island or city where the gold is, according
to the account of those who come on board the ship, to which the relation of
those of San Salvador and Santa Maria corresponds. These people are similar to
those of the islands just mentioned, and have the same language and customs; with
the exception that they appear somewhat more civilized, showing themselves more
subtle in their dealings with us, bartering their cotton and other articles with
more profit than the others had experienced. Here we saw cotton cloth, and
perceived the people more decent, the women wearing a slight covering of cotton
over the nudities. The island is verdant, level and fertile to a high degree;
and I doubt not that grain is sowed and reaped the whole year round, as well as all
other productions of the place. I saw many trees, very dissimilar to those of our
country, and many of them had branches of different sorts upon the same trunk;
and such a diversity was among them that it was the greatest wonder in the world
to behold.
Thus, for instance, one branch of a tree bore leaves like those of a cane,
another branch of the same tree, leaves similar to those of the lentisk. In this
manner a single tree bears five or six different kinds. Nor is this done by
grafting, for that is a work of art, whereas these trees grow wild, and the
natives take no care about them. They have no religion, and I believe that they
would very readily become Christians, as they have a good understanding. Here the
fish are so dissimilar to ours that it is wonderful. Some are shaped like dories,
of the finest hues in the world, blue, yellow, red, and every other color, some
variegated with a thousand different tints, so beautiful that no one on beholding
them could fail to express the highest wonder and admiration. Here are also
whales. Beasts, we saw none, nor any creatures on land save parrots and lizards,
but a boy told me he saw a large snake. No sheep nor goats were seen, and
although our stay here has been short, it being now noon, yet were there any, I
could hardly have failed of seeing them. The circumnavigation of the island I
shall describe afterward.
We sail from the village where we had anchored
and watered. Kept on our course to sail round the island; the wind southwest and
south. My intention was to follow the coast of the island to the southeast as it
runs in that direction, being informed by the Indians I have on board, besides
another whom I met with here, that in such a course I should meet with the island
which they call Samoet, where gold is found. I was further informed by Martin
Alonzo Pinzon, captain of the Pinta, on board of which I had sent three of the
Indians, that he had been assured by one of them I might sail round the island
much sooner by the northwest. Seeing that the wind would not enable me to proceed
in the direction I first contemplated, and finding it favorable for the one thus
recommended me, I steered to the northwest and arriving at the extremity of the
island at two leagues' distance, I discovered a remarkable haven with two
entrances, formed by an island at its mouth, both very narrow, the inside
capacious enough for a hundred ships, were there sufficient depth of water.
I thought it advisable to examine it, and therefore anchored outside, and went
with the boats to sound it, but found the water shallow. As I had first imagined
it to be the mouth of a river, I had directed the casks to be carried ashore for
water, which being done we discovered eight or ten men who straightway came up to
us, and directed us to a village in the neighborhood; I accordingly dispatched
the crews thither in quest of water, part of them armed, and the rest with the
casks, and the place being at some distance it detained me here a couple of
hours.
In the meantime I strayed about among the groves, which present the most
enchanting sight ever witnessed, a degree of verdure prevailing like that of May
in Andalusia, the trees as different from those of our country as day is from
night, and the same may be said of the fruit, the weeds, the stones and
everything else. A few of the trees, however, seemed to be of a species similar
to some that are to be found in Castile, though still with a great dissimilarity,
but the others so unlike, that it is impossible to find any resemblance in them
to those of our land.
The natives we found like those already described, as to personal appearance and
manners, and naked like the rest. Whatever they possessed, they bartered for what
we chose to give them. I saw a boy of the crew purchasing javelins of them with
bits of platters and broken glass. Those who went for water informed me that they
had entered their houses and found them very clean and neat, with beds and
coverings of cotton nets. Their houses are all built in the shape of tents, with
very high chimneys. None of the villages which I saw contained more than twelve
or fifteen of them. Here it was remarked that the married women wore cotton
breeches, but the younger females were without them, except a few who were as old
as eighteen years. Dogs were seen of a large and small size, and one of the men
had hanging at his nose a piece of gold half as big as a castellailo, with
letters upon it. I endeavored to purchase it of them in order to ascertain what
sort of money it was but they refused to part with it.
Having taken our water on board, I set sail and proceeded northwest till I had
surveyed the coast to the point where it begins to run from east to west. Here
the Indians gave me to understand that this island was smaller than that of
Samoet, and that I had better return in order to reach it the sooner. The wind
died away, and then sprang up from the west-northwest which was contrary to the
course we were pursuing, we therefore hove about and steered various courses
through the night from east to south standing off from the land, the weather
being cloudy and thick. It rained violently from midnight till near day, and the
sky still remains clouded; we remain off the southeast part of the island, where
I expect to anchor and stay till the weather grows clear, when I shall steer for
the other islands I am in quest of. Every day that I have been in these Indies it
has rained more or less. I assure your Highnesses that these lands are the most
fertile, temperate, level and beautiful countries in the world.
The sky grew clear, we set sail and went as far
round the island as we could, anchoring when we found it inconvenient to proceed.
I did not, however, land. In the morning set sail again.
We got under weigh, and I ordered the Pinta to
steer east and southeast and the Nina south- southeast; proceeding myself to the
southeast the other vessels I directed to keep on the courses prescribed till
noon, and then to rejoin me. Within three hours we descried an island to the east
toward which we directed our course, and arrived all three, before noon, at the
northern extremity, where a rocky islet and reef extend toward the North, with
another between them and the main island. The Indians on board the ships called
this island Saomete. I named it Isabela. It lies westerly from the island of
Fernandina, and the coast extends from the islet twelve leagues, west, to a cape
which I called Cabo Hermoso, it being a beautiful, round headland with a bold
shore free from shoals. Part of the shore is rocky, but the rest of it, like most
of the coast here, a sandy beach. Here we anchored till morning. This island is
the most beautiful that I have yet seen, the trees in great number, flourishing
and lofty; the land is higher than the other islands, and exhibits an eminence,
which though it cannot be called a mountain, yet adds a beauty to its appearance,
and gives an indication of streams of water in the interior.
From this part toward the northeast is an extensive bay with many large and thick
groves. I wished to anchor there, and land, that I might examine those delightful
regions, but found the coast shoal, without a possibility of casting anchor
except at a distance from the shore. The wind being favorable, I came to the
Cape, which I named Hermoso, where I anchored today. This is so beautiful a
place, as well as the neighboring regions, that I know not in which course to
proceed first; my eyes are never tired with viewing such delightful verdure, and
of a species so new and dissimilar to that of our country, and I have no doubt
there are trees and herbs here which would be of great value in Spain, as dyeing
materials, medicine, spicery, etc., but I am mortified that I have no
acquaintance with them. Upon our arrival here we experienced the most sweet and
delightful odor from the flowers or trees of the island.
Tomorrow morning before we depart, I intend to land and see what can be found in
the neighborhood. Here is no village, but farther within the island is one, where
our Indians inform us we shall find the king, and that he has much gold. I shall
penetrate so far as to reach the village and see or speak with the king, who, as
they tell us, governs all these islands, and goes dressed, with a great deal of
gold about him.
I do not, however, give much credit to these accounts, as I understand the
natives but imperfectly, and perceive them to be so poor that a trifling
quantity of gold appears to them a great amount. This island appears to me to be
a separate one from that of Saomete, and I even think there may be others
between them. I am not solicitous to examine particularly everything here,
which indeed could not be done in fifty years, because my desire is to make all
possible discoveries, and return to your Highnesses, if it please our Lord, in
April. But in truth, should I meet with gold or spices in great quantity, I shall
remain till I collect as much as possible, and for this purpose I am proceeding
solely in quest of them.
Saturday, 20 October. At sunrise we weighed anchor, and stood to the northeast
and east along the south side of this island, which I named Isabela, and the cape
where we anchored, Cabo de la Laguna; in this direction I expected from the
account of our Indians to find the capital and king of the island. I found the
coast very shallow, and offering every obstacle to our navigation, and
perceiving that our course this way must be very circuitous, I determined to
return to the westward. The wind failed us, and we were unable to get near the
shore before night; and as it is very dangerous anchoring here in the dark, when
it is impossible to discern among so many shoals and reefs whether the ground be
suitable, I stood off and on all night. The other vessels came to anchor, having
reached the shore in season. As was customary among us, they made signals to me
to stand in and anchor, but I determined to remain at sea.
We arrived at a cape of the island, and
anchored, the other vessels in company. After having dispatched a meal, I went
ashore, and found no habitation save a single house, and that without an
occupant; we had no doubt that the people had fled in terror at our approach, as
the house was completely furnished. I suffered nothing to be touched, and went
with my captains and some of the crew to view the country.
This island even exceeds the others in beauty and fertility. Groves of lofty and
flourishing trees are abundant, as also large lakes, surrounded and overhung by
the foliage, in a most enchanting manner. Everything looked as green as in April
in Andalusia. The melody of the birds was so exquisite that one was never
willing to part from the spot, and the flocks of parrots obscured the heavens.
The diversity in the appearance of the feathered tribe from those of our country
is extremely curious. A thousand different sorts of trees, with their fruit were
to be met with, and of a wonderfully delicious odor. It was a great affliction
to me to be ignorant of their natures, for I am very certain they are all
valuable; specimens of them and of the plants I have preserved.
Going round one of these lakes, I saw a snake, which we killed, and I have kept
the skin for your Highnesses; upon being discovered he took to the water,
whither we followed him, as it was not deep, and dispatched him with our lances;
he was seven spans in length; I think there are many more such about here. I
discovered also the aloe tree, and am determined to take on board the ship
tomorrow, ten quintals of it, as I am told it is valuable.
While we were in search of some good water, we came upon a village of the
natives about half a league from the place where the ships lay; the inhabitants
on discovering us abandoned their houses, and took to flight, carrying of their
goods to the mountain. I ordered that nothing which they had left should be
taken, not even the value of a pin.
Presently we saw several of the natives advancing towards our party, and one of
them came up to us, to whom we gave some hawk's bells and glass beads, with
which he was delighted. We asked him in return, for water, and after I had gone
on board the ship, the natives came down to the shore with their calabashes
full, and showed great pleasure in presenting us with it. I ordered more glass
beads to be given them, and they promised to return the next day. It is my wish
to fill all the water casks of the ships at this place, which being executed, I
shall depart immediately, if the weather serve, and sail round the island, till
I succeed in meeting with the king, in order to see if I can acquire any of the
gold, which I hear he possesses.
Afterwards I shall set sail for another very large island which I believe to be
Cipango, according to the indications I receive from the Indians on board. They
call the Island Colba, and say there are many large ships, and sailors there.
This other island they name Bosio, and inform me that it is very large; the
others which lie in our course, I shall examine on the passage, and according as
I find gold or spices in abundance, I shall determine what to do; at all events
I am determined to proceed on to the continent, and visit the city of Guisay,
where I shall deliver the letters of your Highnesses to the Great Can, and demand
an answer, with which I shall return.
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