I ordered that nothing which they had left should be taken, not even the value of a pin.

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

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.

weigh

I assure your Highnesses that these lands are the most fertile, temperate, level and beautiful countries in the world.

except a few who were as old as eighteen years

being informed by the Indians I have on board,

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

They have no religion,

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

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.

although the water is very clear, and the bottom may be seen

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,)

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 could conquer the whole of them with fifty men, and govern them as I please

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.

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

and would be good servants

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.

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.

they could be much more easily converted to our holy faith by gentle means than by force,

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.

maravedis

like the light of a wax candle moving up and down, which some thought an indication of land.

she discovered land and made the signals which had been ordered

Here the men lost all patience, and complained of the length of the voyage

All night heard birds passing.

Towards evening seeing nothing of the land which the Nina had made signals for, and observing large flocks of birds coming from the North and making for the southwest, whereby it was rendered probable that they were either going to land to pass the night, or abandoning the countries of the north, on account of the approaching winter

Four tropic birds came to the ship, which is a very clear sign of land,

Continued their course west till the afternoon, then southwest and discovered that what they had taken for land was nothing but clouds

and demanded of the Admiral a reward for his intelligence

Saw a turtle dove, a pelican, a river bird, and other white fowl;–weeds in abundance with crabs among them.

Afterwards saw a pelican coming from west- northwest and flying to the southwest; an evidence of land to the westward, as these birds sleep on shore,

This morning he says he saw a white bird called a water- wagtail, or tropic bird,

tunnies

though not a continent, according to the opinion of the Admiral, who says, “the continent we shall find further ahead.”

at the rate of ten miles an hour,

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.

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.

So after having expelled the Jews from your dominions

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

Mahomet

whereby great numbers of people were lost, believing in idolatry and doctrines of perdition.

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,