Development and Identities Question 2
1
Christopher Columbus: Extracts from
Journal
This document is the from the journal of Columbus in his voyage of 1492. The meaning of this
voyage is highly contested. On the one hand, it is witness to the tremendous vitality and verve of
late medieval and early modern Europe - which was on the verge of acquiring a world
hegemony. On the other hand, the direct result of this and later voyages was the virtual
extermination, by ill -treatment and disease, o f the vast majority of the Native inhabitants, and
the enormous growth of the transatlantic slave trade. It might not be fair to lay the blame at
Columbus' feet, but since all sides treat him as a symbol, such questions cannot be avoided.
IN THE NAME OF O UR 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 Eur ope, the same having been brought to an end
in the great city of Granada, where on the second 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 t hat 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 countrie s 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 r equest, 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 fu rthermore 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 Highnesse s, 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 perp etual 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 deg ree 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 em bassy of your Highnesses to the Princes 2
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. Moreov er, 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 cara vel 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 unf avorable 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 c apacity. 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 unab le 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 Span iards, 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 m en 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.
* * * * * 3
Sunday, 9 September. Sailed this day nineteen leagues, and determined t o 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 ve ssels 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, b ut 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 clou ds 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 Apri l. 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 t he 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, a nd 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 statio nary. 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 sea -water 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 4
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 wi nd, 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' progres s. 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 tho se 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 s hore, 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 morni ng 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.
Sat urday, 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."
* * * * * 5
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 wh ich 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 w hich 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 ou t 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 affirmation s, 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 thirtee n 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, s aw 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 cre w 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 an d seven leagues.
* * * * * 6
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 is lands.
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 a head 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 s he 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
no thing 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 countri es 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 fro m west to west -southwest, with a resolution to
continue two days ill 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 t he 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 ap peared to have been carved with 7
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 thi s 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 Q ueen 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 Adm iral 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 diligent ly 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 th e 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, a nd 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, mak ing 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 b ecame 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 c arried 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 shape s 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 Cana ries, 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 8
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 go od 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 pri soners 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 Christi ans, 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, n or 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 t he 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 c onsidering 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, th ey 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 what ever 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 islan d 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 th e 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 a nd 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 r eturn,
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. 9
Sunday, 14 October. In the morning, I ordered the boats to be got ready, and coasted alon g 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 bro ught 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 wo men 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 narr ow 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 disco vered 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 matte rs, 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 c ould 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 man y 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. Th ey 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 ext ending 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 t he 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 th at 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 th e island, and gave us what we asked of them. As the wind blew 10
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 cano e 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 t o 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 p ressed 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 t he 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 appea rs 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 t hings 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 t hem
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 San ta 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 11
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 ther e 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 g reat 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 whe re 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
custom s; 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 th e 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 p lace. 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 branc h 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 tr ees 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 li ke 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.
Wednesday, 17 October. At noon set 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 12
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 gol d 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 wo uld 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 w ith 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 s ound 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 villag e 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 grov es, 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 an d
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 bit s 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. N one 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. Havin g 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
bett er 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 o ff 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.
Thursday, 18 October. As soon as 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. 13
Friday, 19 October. In the morning 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 call ed 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 s hoals. 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 man y 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 Cap e, 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 e xperienced 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 In dians 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 Sao mete, 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 anc hor, 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 nig ht; 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. 14
Sunday, 21 October. At 10 o'clock, 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 captai ns 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. Everythi ng 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; spe cimens 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 di spatched 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 i n 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. W e 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 r eturn 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 a cquire 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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