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The Admiral says that there are great could return, they were joined by many rivers at the distance of a lombard-shot.

Indians, and they went to the boats, where the Admiral was waiting with all his people. One of the natives advanced into the river near the stern of the boat, and made a long speech which the Admiral did not understand. At intervals the other Indians raised their hands to heaven, and shouted. The Admiral thought he was assuring him that he was pleased at his arrival; but he saw the Indian who came from the ship change the color of his face, and turn as yellow as wax, trembling much, and letting the Admiral know by signs that he should leave the river, as they were going to kill him. He pointed to a cross-bow which one of the Spaniards had, and showed it to the Indians, and the Admiral let it be understood that they would all be slain, because that crossbow carried far and killed people. He also took a sword and drew it out of the sheath, showing it to them, and saying the same, which, when they had heard, they all took to flight; while the Indian from the ship still trembled from cowardice, though he was a tall, strong man. The Admiral did not want to leave the river, but pulled towards the place where the natives had assembled in great numbers, all painted, and as naked as when their mothers bore them. Some had tufts of feathers on their heads, and all had their bundles of darts.

Monday, Dec. 3.-By reason of the continuance of an easterly wind the Admiral did not leave this port. He arranged to visit a very beautiful headland a quarter of a league to the southeast of the anchorage. He went with the boats and some armed men. At the foot of the cape there was the mouth of a fair river, and on entering it they found the width to be 100 paces, with a depth of 1 fathom. Inside they found 12, 5, 4, and 2 fathoms, so that it would hold all the ships there are in Spain. Leaving the river, they came to a cove in which were five very large canoes, so well constructed that it was a pleasure to look at them. They were under spreading trees, and a path led from them to a very well-built boat-house, so thatched that neither sun nor rain could do any harm. Within it there was another canoe made out of a single tree like the others, like a galley with seventeen benches. It was a pleasant sight to look upon such goodly work. The Admiral ascended a mountain, and afterwards found the country level, and cultivated with many things of that land, including such calabashes as it was a glory to look upon them. In the middle there was a large village, and they came upon the people suddenly; but, as soon as they were seen, men and women took to flight. The Indian from on board, who The Admiral says: "I came to them, was with the Admiral, cried out to them and gave them some mouthfuls of bread, that they need not be afraid, as the asking for the darts, for which I gave in strangers were good people. The Admiral exchange copper ornaments, bells, and made him give them bells, copper orna- glass beads. This made them peaceable, ments, and glass beads, green and yellow, so that they came to the boats again, and with which they were well content. He gave us what they had. The sailors had saw that they had no gold, nor any other killed a turtle, and the shell was in the precious thing, and that it would suffice boat in pieces. The sailor-boys gave them to leave them in peace. The whole dis- some in exchange for a bundle of darts. trict was well peopled, the rest having These are like the other people we have fled from fear. The Admiral assures the seen, and with the same belief that we sovereigns that 10,000 of these men would came from heaven. They are ready to run from ten, so cowardly and timid are give whatever thing they have in exchange they. No arms are carried by them, ex- for any trifle without saying it is little; cept wands, on the point of which a short and I believe they would do the same with piece of wood is fixed, hardened by fire, gold and spices if they had any. I saw and these they are very ready to ex- a fine house, not very large, and with two change. Returning to where he had left doors, as all the rest have. On entering, the boats, he sent back some men up the I saw a marvellous work, there being hill, because he fancied he had seen a rooms made in a peculiar way, that I large apiary. Before those he had sent scarcely know how to describe it. Shells

have a large population on its banks. Beyond Cabo Lindo there is a great bay, which would be open for navigation to east-northeast and southeast and southsouthwest.

and other things were fastened to the ceiling. I thought it was a temple, and I called them and asked, by signs, whether prayers were offered up there. They said that they were not, and one of them climbed up and offered me all the things Wednesday, Dec. 5.- All this night that were there, of which I took some." they were beating to windward off Cape Tuesday, Dec. 4.-The Admiral made Lindo, to reach the land to the east, sail with little wind, and left that and at sunrise the Admiral sighted anport, which he called Puerto Santo. other cape, 22 leagues to the east. HavAfter going 2 leagues, he saw the great ing passed it, he saw that the land trended river of which he spoke yesterday. Pass- south and southwest, and presently saw

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ing along the land, and beating to wind- a fine high cape in that direction, 7 ward on southeast and west-northwest leagues distant. He would have wished courses, they reached Cabo Lindo, which is east-southeast, 5 leagues from Cabo del Monte. A league and a half from Cabo del Monte there is an important but rather narrow river, which seemed to have a good entrance, and to be deep. Three quarters of a league further on, the Admiral saw another very large river, and he thought it must have its source at a great distance. It had 100 paces at its mouth, and no bar. with a depth of 8 fathoms. The Admiral sent the boat in, to take soundings, and they found the water fresh until it enters the sea.

This river had great volume, and must

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to go there, but his object was to reach the island of Babeque, which, according to the Indians, bore northeast; so he gave up the intention. He could not go to Babeque either, because the wind was northeast. Looking to the southeast, he saw land, which was a very large island, according to the information of the Indians, well peopled, and called by them Bohio. The Admiral says that the inhabitants of Cuba, or Juana, and of all the other islands, are much afraid of the inhabitants of Bohio, because they say that they eat people. The Indians relate other things, by signs, which are very wonderful; but the Ad

miral did not believe them. He only inferred that those of Bohio must have more cleverness and cunning to be able to capture the others, who, however, are very poor-spirited. The wind veered from northeast to north, so the Admiral determined to leave Cuba, or Juana, which, up to this time, he had supposed to be the mainland, on account of its size, having coasted along it for 120 leagues.

Memorial to Ferdinand and Isabella.Subjoined is the text of the memorial, or report, of the second voyage of Columbus to the Indies, drawn up by him for their Highnesses King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella; and addressed to Antonio de Torres, from the city of Isabella, Jan. 30, 1494, with the reply of their Highnesses at the end of each item in italics:

The report which you, Antonio de Torres, captain of the ship Marigalante, and governor of the city of Isabella, have to make, on my behalf, to the king and queen, our sovereigns, is as follows:

Imprimis: after having delivered the credentials which you bear from me to their Highnesses, you will do homage in my name, and commend me to them as to my natural sovereigns, in whose service I desire to continue till death; and you will furthermore be able to lay before them all that you have yourself seen and known respecting me.

good with respect to the gold-mines; for two parties only, who were sent out in different directions to discover them, and who, because they had few people with them, remained out but a short time, found, nevertheless, a great number of rivers whose sands contained this precious metal in such quantity that each man took up a sample of it in his hand, so that our two messengers returned so joyous, and boasted so much of the abundance of gold, that I feel a hesitation in speaking and writing of it to their Highnesses. But as Gorbalan, who was one of the persons who went on the discovery, is returning to Spain, he will be able to relate all that he has seen and observed; although there remains here another individual-named Hojeda, formerly servant of the Duke of Medina Celi, and a very discreet and painstaking youth—who with out doubt discovered, beyond all comparison, more than the other, judging by the account which he gave of the rivers he had seen; for he reported that each of them contained things that appeared incredible. It results from all this that their Highnesses ought to return thanks to God for the favor which He thus accords to all their Highnesses' enterprises.

Their Highnesses return thanks to God for all that is recorded, and regard as a very signal service all that the Admiral has already done, and is yet doing; for

Their Highnesses accept and acknowl- they are sensible that, under God, it is edge the service.

Item. Although, by the letters which I have written to their Highnesses, as well as to Father Buil and to the Treasurer, a clear and comprehensive idea may be formed of all that has transpired since our arrival, you will, notwithstanding, inform their Highnesses, on my behalf, that God has been pleased to manifest such favor towards their service that not only has nothing hitherto occurred to diminish the importance of what I have formerly written or said to their Highnesses, but, on the contrary, I hope, by God's grace, shortly to prove it more clearly by facts, because we have found upon the seashore, without penetrating into the interior of the country, some spots showing so many indications of various spices as naturally to suggest the hope of the best results for the future. The same holds

he who has procured for them their present and future possessions in these countries, and, as they are about to write to him on this subject more at length, they refer to their letter.

Item. You will repeat to their Highnesses what I have already written to them, that I should have ardently desired to have been able to send them, by this occasion, a larger quantity of gold than what they have any hope of our being able to collect, but that the greater part of the people we employed fell suddenly ill. Moreover, the departure of this present expedition could not be delayed any longer for two reasons, namely: on account of the heavy expense which their stay here occasioned; and because the weather was favorable for their departure, and for the return of those who should bring back the articles of which

we stand in the most pressing need. If the former were to put off the time of their starting, and the latter were to delay their departure, they would not be able to reach here by the month of May. Besides, if I wished now to undertake a journey to the rivers with those who are well-whether with those who are at sea or those who are on land in the hutsI should experience great difficulties, and even dangers, because, in traversing 23 or 24 leagues, where there are bays and rivers to pass, we should be obliged to carry, as provision for so long a journey, and for the time necessary for collecting the gold, many articles of food, etc., which could not be carried on our backs; and there are no beasts of burden to be found, to afford the necessary assistance. Moreover, the roads and passes are not in such a condition as I should wish for travelling over; but they have already begun to make them passable. It would be also extremely inconvenient to leave the sick men here in the open air, or in huts, with such food and defences as they have on shore; although these Indians appear every day to be more simple and harmless to those who land for the purpose of making investigations. In short, although they come every day to visit us, it would nevertheless be imprudent to risk the loss of our men and our provisions, which might very easily happen if an Indian were only, with a lighted coal, to set fire to the huts, for they ramble about both night and day. For this reason, we keep sentinels constantly on the watch while the dwellings are exposed and undefended.

by all accounts, is a badly disposed man, and extremely daring, who, if he were to find us in a dispirited condition and sick, might venture upon what he would not dare to do if we were well. The other evil consisted in the difficulty of carrying the gold; for either we should have to carry it in small quantities, and go and return every day, and thus daily expose ourselves to the chance of sickness, or we should have to send it under the escort of a party of our people, and equally run the risk of losing them.

He has done well.

These are the reasons, you will tell their Highnesses, why the departure of the expedition has not been delayed, and why only a sample of the gold is sent to them; but I trust in the mercy of God, who in all things and in every place has guided us hitherto, that all our men will be soon restored to health, as, indeed, they are already beginning to be, for they have but to try this country for a little time, and they speedily recover their health. One thing is certain, that, if they could have fresh meat, they would very quickly, by the help of God, be up and doing; and those who are most sickly would speedily recover. I hope that they may be restored. The small number of those who continue well are employed every day in barricading our dwelling, so as to put it in a state of defence, and in taking necessary measures for the safety of our ammunition, which will be finished now in a few days; for all our fortifications will consist simply of stone walls. These precautions will be sufficient, as the Indians are not a people to be much afraid of; and, unless they should find us asleep, Further, as we have remarked that the they would not dare to undertake any greatest part of those who have gone out hostile movement against us, even if they to make discoveries have fallen sick on should entertain the idea of so doing. The their return, and that some have even misfortune which happened to those who been obliged to abandon the undertaking remained here must be attributed to their in the middle of their journey, and return, want of vigilance; for, however few they it was equally to be feared that the same were in number, and however favorable the would occur to those who were at the opportunities that the Indians may have time enjoying good health, if they were also to go. There were two evils to fear-one the chance of falling ill in undertaking the same work, in a place where there were no houses nor any kind of protection, and of being exposed to the attacks of the cacique called Caonabo, who,

He has done well.

had for doing what they did, they would never have ventured to do them any injury if they had only seen that they took proper precautions against an attack. As soon as this object is gained, I will undertake to go in search of these rivers, either proceeding hence by land, and looking out

for the best expedients that may offer, or else by sea, rounding the island until we come to the place which is described as being only 6 or 7 leagues from where these rivers that I speak of are situated, so that we may collect the gold in safety, and put it in security against all attacks in some stronghold or tower, which may be quickly built for that purpose; and thus, when the two caravels shall return thither, the gold may be taken away, and finally sent home in safety at the first favorable season for making the voyage.

quantity that we have planted has taken root. The beauty of the country in these islands—the mountains, the valleys, the streams, the fields watered by broad rivers-is such that there is no country on which the sun sheds his beams that can present a more charming appearance.

Since the land is so fertile, it is desirable to sow of all kinds as much as possible; and Don Juan de Fonseca is instructed to send over immediately everything requisite for that purpose.

Item. You will say that, as a large portion of the wine that we brought with

This is well and exactly as he should us has run away, in consequence, as most do.

of the men say, of the bad cooperage of Item. You will inform their High- the butts made at Seville, the article that nesses (as indeed has been already said) we stand most in need of now, and shall that the cause of the sickness so general stand in need of, is wine; and, although among us is the change of air and water, we have biscuit and corn for some time for we find that all of us are affected, longer, it is nevertheless necessary that a though few dangerously. Consequently, reasonable quantity of these be sent to the preservation of the health of the us, for the voyage is a long one, and it people will depend, under God, on their is impossible to make a calculation for being provided with the same food that every day. The same holds good with they are accustomed to in Spain; neither respect to pork and salt beef, which those who are here now nor those that should be better than what we brought shall come will be in a position to be of out with us on this voyage. Sheep and, service to their Highnesses unless they still better, lambs and lambkins, more enjoy good health. We ought to have females than males, young calves and fresh supplies of provisions until the time heifers also, are wanted, and should be that we may be able to gather a sufficient sent by every caravel that may be decrop from what we shall have sown or spatched hither; and at the same time planted here; I speak of wheat, barley, and some asses, both male and female, and grapes, towards the cultivation of which mares for labor and tillage, for here there not much has been done this year, from are no beasts that a man can turn to any our being unable earlier to choose a conuse. As I fear that their Highnesses may venient settlement. When we had chosen not be at Seville, and that their officers or it, the small number of laborers that were ministers will not, without their express with us fell sick; and, even when they re- instructions, make any movement towards covered, we had so few cattle, and those the carrying out of the necessary arrangeso lean and weak, that the utmost they ments for the return voyage, and that, could do was very little. However, they in the interval between the report and the have sown a few plots of ground, for the reply, the favorable moment for the desake of trying the soil, which seems ex- parture of the vessels which are to return cellent, in the hope of thereby obtaining hither (and which should be in all the some relief in our necessities. We are month of May) may elapse, you will tell very confident, from what we can see, that their Highnesses, as I charged and ordered wheat and grapes will grow very well in you, that I have given strict orders that this country. We must, however, wait the gold that you carry with you be placed for the fruit; and, if it grows as quickly in the hands of some merchant in Seville, and well as the corn, in proportion to the in order that he may therefrom disburse number of vines that have been planted, the sums necessary for loading the two we shall certainly not stand in need of caravels with wine, corn, and other arAndalusia and Sicily here. There are ticles detailed in this memorial; and this also sugar-canes, of which the small merchant shall convey or send the said

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