structed. They found many images in the have sweet water in their houses. Ships shape of women, and many heads like are able to turn in this river, both entermasks, very well carved. It was not ing and coming out, and there are very known whether these were used as orna- good leading-marks. He says that all ments, or to be worshipped. They had this sea appears to be constantly smooth, dogs which never bark, and wild birds like the river at Seville, and the water tamed in their houses. There was a suitable for the growth of pearls. He wonderful supply of nets and other fishing found large shells unlike those of Spain. implements, but nothing was touched. He Remarking on the position of the river believed that all the people on the coast and port, to which he gave the name of were fishermen, who took the fish inland, San Salvador, he describes its mountains for this island is very large, and so beauti- as lofty and beautiful, like the Peña de ful that he is never tired of praising las Enamoradas, and one of them has

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graceful mosque. The other river and port, in which he now was, has two round mountains to the southwest, and a fine low cape running out to the west-southwest.

He says that he found trees and another little hill on its summit, like a fruits of very marvellous taste; and adds that they must have cows or other cattle, for he saw skulls which were like those of cows. The songs of the birds and the chirping of crickets throughout the night Tuesday, Oct. 30.-He left the Rio lulled every one to rest, while the air was de Mares and steered northwest, seeing a soft and healthy, and the nights neither cape covered with palm-trees, to which hot nor cold. On the voyage through the he gave the name of Cabo de Palmas, after other islands there was great heat, but having made good 15 leagues. The Indhere it is tempered like the month of May. ians on board the caravel Pinta said that He attributed the heat of the other islands beyond that cape there was a river, and to their flatness, and to the wind coming that from the river to Cuba it was four from the east, which is hot. The water days' journey. The captain of the Pinta of the rivers was salt at the mouth, and reported that he understood from that, they did not know whence the natives that this Cuba was a city, and that the got their drinking-water, though they land was a great continent trending far

to the north. The king of that country, went to and fro between the ships and he gathered, was at war with the Gran the shore all day, and they came to the Can, whom they called Cami, and his Christians on shore with confidence. The land or city Fava, with many other Admiral saw no gold whatever among names. The Admiral resolved to proceed them, but he says that he saw one of to that river, and to send a present, with them with a piece of worked silver the letter of the sovereigns, to the king fastened to his nose. They said, by signs, of that land. For this service there was that within three days many merchants a sailor who had been to Guinea, and some from inland would come to buy the things of the Indians of Guanahani wished to brought by the Christians, and would give go with him, and afterwards to return information respecting the king of that to their homes. land. So far as could be understood from Wednesday, Oct. 31.-All Tuesday their signs, he resided at a distance of night he was beating to windward, and four days' journey. They had sent many he saw a river, but could not enter messengers in all directions, with news of it because the entrance was narrow. The the arrival of the Admiral. "These peoIndians fancied that the ships could enter wherever their canoes could go. Navigating onward, he came to a cape running out very far, and surrounded by sunken rocks, and he saw a bay where small vessels might take shelter. He could not proceed, because the wind had come round to the north, and all the coast runs northwest and southeast. Another cape farther on ran out still more. For these reasons and because the sky showed signs of a gale, he had to return to the Rio de Mares.

ple," says the Admiral, "are of the same appearance and have the same customs as those of the other islands, without any religion, so far as I know, for up to this day I have never seen the Indians on board say any prayer; though they repeat the Salve and Ave Maria with their hands raised to heaven, and they make the sign of the cross. The language is also the same, and they are all friends; but I believe that all these islands are at war with the Gran Can, whom they call Cavila, and his province Bafan. They all go naked

miral says. "The river," he adds, "is very deep, and the ships can enter the mouth, going close to the shore. The sweet water does not come within a league of the mouth. It is certain," says the Admiral, "that this is the mainland, and that I am in front of Zayto and Guinsay, 100 leagues, a little more or less, distant the one from the other. It was very clear that no one before has been so far as this by sea. Yesterday, with wind from the northwest, I found it cold."

Thursday, Nov. 1.-At sunrise the like the others." This is what the AdAdmiral sent the boats on shore to the houses that were there, and they found that all the people had fled. After some time a man made his appearance. The Admiral ordered that he should be left to himself, and the sailors returned to the boats. After dinner, one of the Indians on board was sent on shore. He called out from a distance that there was nothing to fear, because the strangers were good people and would do no harm to any one, nor were they people of the Gran Can, but they had given away their things in many islands where they had been. The Indian then swam on shore, and two of the natives took him by the arms and brought him to a house, where they heard what he had to say. When they were certain that no harm would be done to them they were reassured, and presently more than sixteen canoes came to the ships with cotton thread and other trifles. The Admiral ordered that nothing should be taken from them, but that they might understand that he sought for nothing but gold, which they called nucay. Thus they

Friday, Nov. 2. The Admiral decided upon sending two Spaniards, one named Rodrigo de Jerez, who lived in Ayamonte, and the other Luis de Torres, who had served in the household of the Adelantado of Murcia, and had been a Jew, knowing Hebrew, Chaldee, and even some Arabic. With these men he sent two Indians, one from among those he had brought from Guanahani, and another native of the houses by the river-side. He gave them specimens of spices, to see if any were to be found. Their instructions were to ask for the king of that land, and

they were told what to say on the part among them. He said that all he saw was

of the sovereigns of Castile, how they had sent the Admiral with letters and a present, to inquire after his health and establish friendship, favoring him in what he might desire from them. They were to collect information respecting certain provinces, ports, and rivers of which the Admiral had notice.

so beautiful that his eyes could never tire of gazing upon such loveliness, nor his ears of listening to the songs of birds. That day many canoes came to the ships, to barter with cotton threads and with the nets in which they sleep, called hamacas.

Sunday, Nov. 4.-At sunrise the AdThis night the Admiral took an altitude miral again went away in the boat, with a quadrant, and found that the dis- and landed to hunt the birds he had seen tance from the equinoctial line was 42 the day before. After a time, Martin

degrees. He says that, by his reckoning, he Alonzo Pinzon came to him with two finds that he has gone over 1,142 leagues pieces of cinnamon, and said that a Portufrom the island of Hierro. He still be- guese, who was one of his crew, had seen lieves that he has reached the mainland. an Indian carrying two very large bundles Saturday, Nov. 3.-In the morning of it; but he had not bartered for it, bethe Admiral got into his boat, and, cause of the penalty imposed by the Adas the river is like a great lake at miral on any one who bartered. He further the mouth, forming a very excellent port, said that this Indian carried some brown very deep, and clear of rocks, with a good things like nutmegs. The master of the beach for careening ships, and plenty of Pinta said that he had found the cinnafuel, he explored it until he came to fresh mon-trees. The Admiral went to the water at a distance of 2 leagues from place, and found that they were not cinnathe mouth. He ascended a small moun- mon-trees. He showed the Indians gold tain to obtain a view of the surrounding and pearls, on which certain old men said country, but could see nothing, owing to that there was an infinite quantity in a the dense foliage of the trees, which were place called Bohio; he further undervery fresh and odoriferous, so that he felt stood them to say that there were great no doubt that there were aromatic herbs ships and much merchandise, all to the

southeast. He also understood that, far away, there were men with one eye, and others with dogs' noses who were cannibals, and that when they captured an enemy they beheaded him and drank his blood.

that, in the event of the place becoming rich and important, the merchants would be safe from any other nations. He adds: "The Lord, in whose hands are all victories, will ordain all things for his service. An Indian said by signs that the mastic was good for pains in the stomach."

The Admiral then determined to return to the ship and wait for the return of the two men he had sent, intending to depart Tuesday, Nov. 6.-" Yesterday, at night," and seek for those lands, if his envoys says the Admiral, "the two men came brought some good news touching what back who had been sent to explore the he desired. The Admiral further says: interior. They said that after walking "These people are very gentle and timid; 12 leagues they came to a village of they go naked, as I have said, without fifty houses, where there were 1,000 inarms and without law. The country is habitants, for many live in one house. very fertile. The people have plenty of These houses are like very large booths. roots called zanahorias (yams), with a They said that they were received with smell like chestnuts; and they have beans great solemnity, according to custom, of kinds very different from ours. They and all, both men and women, came also have much cotton, which they do not out to see them. They were lodged sow, as it is wild in the mountains, and in the best houses, and the people touched I believe they collect it throughout the them, kissing their hands and feet, maryear, because I saw pods empty, others velling and believing that they came full, and flowers all on one tree. There from heaven, and so they gave them to are a thousand other kinds of fruits which understand. They gave them to eat of it is impossible for me to write about, and all must be profitable." All this the Admiral says.

what they had. When they arrived, the chief people conducted them by the arms to the principal house, gave them two Monday, Nov. 5. This morning the chairs on which to sit, and all the natives Admiral ordered the ship to be careen- sat round them on the ground. The ed, afterwards the other vessels, but Indian who came with them described not all at the same time. Two were al- the manner of living of the Christians, ways to be at the anchorage, as a precau- and said that they were good people. tion; although he says that these people Presently the men went out, and the womwere very safe, and that without fear all en came sitting round them in the same the vessels might have been careened at way, kissing their hands and feet, and the same time. Things being in this looking to see if they were of flesh and state, the master of the Niña came to bones like themselves. They begged the claim a reward from the Admiral because Spaniards to remain with them at least he had found mastic, but he did not five days." The Spaniards showed the nabring the specimen, as he had dropped tives specimens of cinnamon, pepper, and it. The Admiral promised him a reward, other spices which the Admiral had given and sent Rodrigo Sanchez and master them, and they said, by signs, that there Diego to the trees. They collected some, was plenty at a short distance from thence which was kept to present to the sover- to the southeast, but that there they did eigns, as well as the tree. The Admiral not know whether there was any. Finding says that he knew it was mastic, though that they had no information respecting it ought to be gathered at the proper cities, the Spaniards returned; and if they season. There is enough in that district had desired to take those who wished to acfor a yield of 1,000 quintals every year. company them, more than 500 men and The Admiral also found here a great deal women would have come, because they of the plant called aloe. He further says thought the Spaniards were returning to that the Puerto de Mares is the best in heaven. There came, however, a printhe world, with the finest climate and the cipal man of the village and his son, with most gentle people. As it has a high, a servant. The Admiral conversed with rocky cape, a fortress might be built, so them, and showed them much honor.

They made signs respecting many lands and islands in those parts. The Admiral thought of bringing them to the sover eigns. He says that he knew not what fancy took them; either from fear, or owing to the dark night, they wanted to land. The ship was at the time high and dry, but, not wishing to make them angry, he let them go on their way, saying that they would return at dawn, but they never came back.

days, all of us being mortal, may your kingdoms remain in peace, and free from heresy and evil, and may you be well received before the eternal Creator, to whom I pray that you may have long life and great increase of kingdoms and lordships, with the will and disposition to increase the holy Christian religion as you have done hitherto. Amen!

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To-day I got the ship afloat, and prepared to depart on Thursday, in the name of God, and to steer southeast in search of gold and spices, and to discover land."

These are the words of the Admiral, who intended to depart on Thursday, but, the wind being contrary, he could not go until Nov. 12.

The two Christians met with many people on the road going home, men and women with a half-burnt weed in their hands, being the herbs they are accustomed to smoke. They did not find villages on the road of more than five houses, all receiving them with the same Monday, Nov. 12.-The Admiral left reverence. They saw many kinds of trees, the port and river of Mares before dawn herbs, and sweet-smelling flowers; and to visit the island called Babeque, so birds of many different kinds, unlike those much talked of by the Indians on board, of Spain, except the partridges, geese, of where, according to their signs, the peowhich there are many, and singing ple gather the gold on the beach at night nightingales. They saw no quadrupeds with candles, and afterwards beat it into except the dogs that do not bark. The bars with hammers. To go hither it was land is very fertile, and is cultivated with necessary to shape a course east by south. yams and several kinds of beans different After having made 8 leagues along the from ours, as well as corn. There were coast, a river was sighted, and another 4 great quantities of cotton gathered, spun, leagues brought them to another river, and worked up. In a single house they which appeared to be of great volume, and saw more than 500 arrobas, and as much larger than any they had yet seen. The as 4,000 quintals could be yielded every Admiral did not wish to stop nor to enter year. The Admiral said that "it did not any of these rivers, for two reasons: the appear to be cultivated, and that it bore first and principal one being that wind all the year round. It is very fine, and and weather were favorable for going in has a large boll. All that was possessed search of the said island of Babeque; by these people they gave at a very low the other that, if there was a populous price, and a great bundle of cotton was and famous city near the sea, it would exchanged for the point of a needle or be visible, while, to go up the rivers, small other trifle. They are a people," says the vessels are necessary, which those of the Admiral, guileless and unwarlike. Men expedition were not. Much time would and women go as naked as when their thus be lost; moreover, the exploration of mothers bore them. It is true that the such rivers is a separate enterprise. All women wear a very small rag of cotton that coast was peopled near the river, cloth, and they are of very good appear to which the name of Rio del Sol was ance, not very dark, less so than the given. Canarians. I hold, most serene Princes, The Admiral says that, on the previous that if devout religious persons were here, Sunday, Nov. 11, it seemed good to take knowing the language, they would all turn some person from among those at Rio Christians. I trust in our Lord that de Mares, to bring to the sovereigns, your Highnesses will resolve upon this that they might learn our language, with much diligence, to bring so many so as to be able to tell us what there great nations within the Church, and to convert them, as you have destroyed those who would not confess the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. And after your

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is in their lands. Returning, they would be the mouthpieces of the Christians, and would adopt our customs and the things of the faith. "I saw and