~Index~
American Identity: In search of an icon
The Myth: Looks are Deceiving
Journal of the Columbus voyage

America's national memory is filled with icons and symbols, avatars of
deeply held, yet imperfectly understood, beliefs. The role of history in the
iconography of the United States is pervasive, yet the facts behind the
fiction are somehow lost in an amorphous haze of patriotism and perceived
national identity. Christopher Columbus, as a hero and symbol of the first
order in America, is an important figure in this pantheon of American myth.
His status, not unlike most American icons, is representative not of his own
accomplishments, but the self-perception of the society which raised him to
his pedestal in the American gallery of heroism.

This gallery was not in place at the birth of the political nation. America, as
a young republic, found itself immediately in the middle of an identity crisis.
Having effected a violent separation from England and its cultural and
political icons, America was left without history--or heroes. Michael
Kammen, in his Mystic Chords of Memory explains that "repudiation of the
past left Americans of the young republic without a firm foundation on
which to base a shared sense of their social selves." (65) A new national
story was needed, yet the Revolutionary leaders, obvious choices for
mythical transformation, were loath to be raised to their pedestals. "Even
though every nation needs a mythic explanation of its own creation, that
process was paradoxically elaborated by the reluctance of Revolutionary
statesmen to have their story told prematurely." (Kammen, 27) To be
raised above others would be undemocratic, they believed. The human
need to explain origins, to create self-identity through national identity, was
thwarted by this reluctance. A vacuum was created, and was slowly filled
with the image of Christopher Columbus.

"The association between Columbus and America took root in the
imagination" in the eighteenth century. "People had even more reason to
think of themselves in distinctive American terms." (Noble, 250)
Americans, searching for a history and a hero, discovered Columbus. A
rash of poetic histories and references to Columbus emerge in the years
following the Revolution: Philip Freneau's The Pictures of Columbus, Joel
Barlow's 1787 The Vision of Columbus, and Phillis Wheatley's 1775
innovation, the poetic device "Columbia" as a symbol of both Columbus
and America. King's College of New York changed its name in 1792 to
Columbia, and the new capitol in Washington was subtitled District of
Columbia, in deference to those who would name the country after
Columbus. Noble observes that,

    It is not hard to understand the appeal of Columbus as a totem
    for the new republic and the former subjects of George III.
    Columbus had found the way of escape from Old World
    tyranny. He was the solitary individual who challenged the
    unknown sea, as triumphant Americans contemplated the
    dangers and promise of their own wilderness frontier...as a
    consequence of his vision and audacity, there was now a land
    free from kings, a vast continent for new beginnings. In
    Columbus the new nation without its own history and mythology
    found a hero from the distant past, one seemingly free of any
    taint from association with European colonial powers. The
    Columbus symbolism gave America an instant mythology and a
    unique place in history, and their adoption of Columbus
    magnified his own place in history. (252)
[end excerpt...balance may be read here]

The Myth
Looks are Deceiving
In Fourteen-Hundred and Ninety-Two, Columbus Sailed the Ocean
Blue

What a difference a few centuries make. On the 200th
anniversary of Columbus's discovery of the New World, few
in America had even heard of the Admiral, or if they had,
could hardly care less about his achievement. By 1792,
however, there was a serious movement afoot to rename the
United States of America Columbia. Partly to satisfy those
asking for the name change and partly to honor the
discoverer of the continent, the nation's capital was given the
name District of Columbia, King's College in New York City
was renamed Columbia University, and several cities across
the United States were named Columbus or Columbia.

By the 400th anniversary, all of North America joined in a
celebration that lasted an entire year. To coincide with a
movement begun in France to make Columbus a Saint, Irish
Catholics joined a newly formed fraternal organization, the
Knights of Columbus, to be "better Catholics and citizens,"
while Italian Americans raised the money necessary to erect a
giant monument to Columbus in New York City's Central
Park. Exhibits, parades, and festivities throughout the country
culminated in Chicago at the World's Columbian Exposition.
Included in this Exposition was a collection of over 70
portraits of the Discoverer painted by artists around the world
spanning 300 years. Millions of silver souvenirs that included
a popular portrait of Columbus were minted by the
government and sold to eager collectors.

But by the 500th anniversary, revisionist authors were
charging that Columbus was simply a fortune hunter who left
a legacy of exploitation and genocide. The National Council
of Churches resolved that the anniversary should be a "time
of penitence rather than jubilation." After much heated
debate within the chambers of the United Nations, it was
decided that the organization would not sponsor any
celebrations to mark the event. Native American groups
began planning protests of local festivities for Columbus,
charging that they honor a man who "makes Hitler look like a
juvenile delinquent." As John Noble Wilford, science writer
for the New York Times, aptly concluded, "Another Columbus
for another age" [Wilford 1991:48].

Much about Columbus and the legacy he left goes unresolved
[end excerpt]

Medieval SourceBook
Medieval Sourcebook:
Christopher Columbus: Extracts from Journal
  (c)Paul Halsall Mar 1996

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, of 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 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 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 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.

......Tuesday, Septmber 25, 1492
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.

...........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.

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
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.

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.

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 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.

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 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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(c)Paul Halsall Mar 1996
halsall@murray.fordham.edu
 

Another historian of the day, Bartolome de las Casas, the
"Historian of the Indies," knew Columbus quite well after his
return from the New World.