From
The Log of Christopher Columbus.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21.
To-day he went with the boats from the ships to see that harbour:
which he saw to be such that he affirms none yet seen is equal to
it: and he excuses himself saying that he has praised those he has
passed so much that he does not know how to rate this one highly
enough: and he fears that he may be considered as magnifying the
truth of things to an excessive degree. He guards against this,
saying: that he is taking old sailors with him and these say, and
will say the same, and so also every one of those who go on the sea:
that is to say, that all his praises of the harbours he has passed
are true and it is also the truth that this harbour is much better
than all the others. He further says, as follows: "I have been
twenty-three years upon the sea without quitting it for any time
long enough to be counted, and I saw all the East and West as it is
called in going to the north, which is England, and l have travelled
through Guinea, but in all these regions the perfection of harbours
will not he found...{lacuna of a line and a half} found always the
{lacuna} better than the other. I considered what I had written
very carefully and I say again that I assert I have written well and
that now this harbour surpasses all the others, and all the ships in
the would could be contained in it, and it is so sheltered that the
oldest cable on a ship would hold it fast."
It is five leagues from the entrance to the innermost point. He saw
very well cultivated lands, although they are all like that, and he
ordered two men to get out of the boats and go to an elevation to
see if there was a village, because none could be seen from the sea:
although that night about ten o'clock certain Indians came to the
ships in a canoe to see the Admiral and the Christians, as being
something wonderful, and the Admiral gave them some of the articles
of barter with which they were greatly pleased. The two Christians
returned and told where they had seen a large village a little
distance from the sea. The Admiral ordered them to row toward the
place where the village was until they arrived near the land, and he
saw some Indians who came to the sea-shore and it appeared that they
came with fear, on which account he ordered the boats stopped and
told the Indians he was carrying in the ships, to speak to them and
tell them that no injury would be done to them. They then drew
nearer to the sea and the Admiral drew nearer to the land, and after
they became entirely free from fear, so many came that they covered
the land, offering a thousand thanks, the men as well as the women
and children. Some ran here and others there to bring us bread
which they bake from niames, which they call "ajes," which is very
white and good and they brought us water in gourds and in clay
pitchers shaped like those of Castile, and they brought us all they
had in the world and knew the Admiral wished for, and all so
generously and joyfully that it was wonderful "and it cannot be said
that because what they gave us was of little value that on this
account they gave it freely (says the Admiral) because those who
gave pieces of gold did it in the same way and as liberally as those
who gave a gourd of water: and it is an easy thing to recognise
(says the Admiral) when a thing is given very willingly and
eagerly." These are his words. "These people have no pikes or
spears or any other arms, neither have the other inhabitants of all
this island, which I believe to be very large: they are naked as
their mothers gave them birth, men as well as women; but in the
other countries of Juana and those of the other islands the women
wore in front, pieces of cotton something like men's breeches, with
which they covered their genital parts, and especially after they
had passed the age of twelve years, but here neither young nor old
wore it. And in the other places all the men made the women hide
from the Christians through jealousy, but here they do not, and
there are some very pretty women, and they are the first who came to
give thanks to Heaven and bring whatever they had, especially things
to eat, bread made from 'ajes,' gonza avellanada and five or six
kinds of fruits." The Admiral ordered some of the fruit cured in
order to take it to the Sovereigns. The women in the other places
he says did the same before they were concealed, and the Admiral
ordered everywhere that all his people should he on guard not to
annoy any of them in any manner, and that no one should take
anything from them against their will, and so the Christians paid
them for everything they received from them. Finally (says the
Admiral) it cannot be believed that men have seen a people with such
good hearts and so liberal in giving and so fearful that they strip
themselves of everything to give all they have to the Christians,
and on the arrival of the Christians, they then run to bring
everything to them. Then the Admiral sent six Christians to the
village to see what it was, and the people showed them all the
honour they knew how and were able to show, and gave them whatever
they had because they were no longer in any doubt but believed that
the Admiral and all his people had come from Heaven: the Indians
whom the Admiral had brought from the other islands also believed
this, although what they ought to believe in respect to this matter
had already been told them. After the six Christians had gone,
certain canoes came bringing people to pray the Admiral on the part
of a certain chief, to go to his village when he left this place.
Canoa is a boat in which they navigate and some of them are large
and some small. And having seen that the village of that chief was
on the way, situated on a point of land, and that he was waiting for
the Admiral with many people, he went there, but before he started,
so many people, men and women and children, came to the shore that
it was frightful and they were all crying loudly that he must not go
away but must remain with them. The messengers of the other chief
who had come to invite him were waiting with their canoes that he
might not go away without going to see the Chief: and so he went to
see him. When the Admiral arrived where that Chief was waiting for
him with a great many things to eat, the Chief ordered all his
people to be seated, telling them then to take whatever they had to
eat to the boats where the Admiral was, near to the shores of the
sea. And having seen that the Admiral had received what they had
taken to him, all or the greater part of the Indians commenced
running to the village, which must have been near, in order to bring
him more eatables and parrots and other things which they had, with
such generosity that it was wonderful. The Admiral gave them glass beads and brass rings and hawks' bells, not because they asked for
anything but because it appeared to him that it was right, and above
all (says the Admiral) because he already considers them as
Christians and as belonging to the Sovereigns of Castile more than
the people of Castile: and he says that nothing else is lacking save
to know the language and to give them orders because all that they
are ordered to do, they will do without any contradiction. The
Admiral left that place for the ships, and the Indians, men, women,
and children, cried out for the Christians not to go away but to
remain with them. After the Christians left, canoes filled with the
Indians followed them to the ships, and the Admiral treated them
with great honour and gave them things to eat and other things they
had with them. Another chief had also come previously from the west
and many people even came swimming, though the ship was more than a
long half league from the land. The Chief of whom I spoke, having
returned, the Admiral sent certain persons to see him and question
him about these islands: and he received them very well and took
them with him to his village to give them certain large pieces of
gold; and they arrived at a large river which the Indians swam
across but the Christians were not able to do so and so they
returned. In all this region there are very high mountains which
appear to reach Heaven, so that the mountains of the island of
Tenerife appear nothing in comparison with them in height and in
beauty and they are all green and covered with forests which is a
wonderful thing. In their midst are very delightful plains and at
the foot of this harbour to the south there is such a great plain
without an obstructing mountain, that the eyes cannot see to the end
of it, and it appears that it must he fifteen or twenty leagues
long: and a river flows through it and it is all populated and
cultivated and is as green now as if it were in Castile in the month
of May or June, although the nights are fourteen hours in length and
the land is so northerly. Therefore this harbour is very good
whatever winds may blow, sheltered and deep, and all the country is
inhabited by a very good and mild people, and they have no arms
either good or had. And any ship whatever may be free from fear in
this harbour that other ships might come by night to assault it,
because, although the mouth is more than two leagues wide, it is
very contracted by reason of two rocky reefs which are hardly seen
above the water: and there is a very narrow entrance in this reef
which appears as if it could only have been made by hand, which left
an opening wide enough for ships to enter. In the mouth it is seven
fathoms in depth to the foot of a small level island which has a
beach and trees at the foot of it: the entrance is to the west, and
a ship can approach near enough to touch the rock without fear.
There are three islands to the north-west and a large river a league
from the head of the harbour. It is the best harbour in the world
and he named it the Puerto de la Mar de Santo Tomas because this day
was the day of St. Thomas. He called it a sea on account of its
size.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22.
At dawn he set sail in order to go on his course in search of the
islands which the Indians said contained a great deal of gold, and
that some contained more gold than land. But the weather was not
favourable and he had to anchor again and sent the boat to fish with
nets. The Chief of that country who had a place near there sent him
a large canoe full of people, and in it one of his principal
servants, to entreat the Admiral to go with the ships to his country
and he would give him whatever he had. He sent the Admiral by this
servant a belt which in place of a purse had a mask attached with
two large ears and a tongue and nose of beaten gold. And this
people are so generous that whatever is asked of them they give with
the best will in the world, and it appears to them that in asking
them for something a great favour is shown them. The Admiral says
this. The Indians in the canoe met the boat from the ship and gave
the belt to a boy and came with their canoe on board the ship to
perform their errand. Before they could understand each other some
part of the day passed, neither could the Indians whom the Admiral
had with him understand them well, because there is some difference
in the names of things: finally he finished by understanding the
invitation of these Indians, by means of signs. The Admiral
determined to start for that place on Sunday although he was not in
the habit of leaving port on Sunday, solely on account of his
devotion and not from any superstition whatever. But because he
hopes, he says, that the people of those villages will he
Christianised on account of their good-will, and that this will be
accomplished by the Sovereigns of Spain, and because he already
considers them as belonging to the Sovereigns, and that they may
serve the Sovereigns lovingly he is agreeable to them and strives to
please them. Before he started to-day he sent six men to a very
large village three leagues from there to the west, because the
Chief of that village came to the Admiral the day before and told
him that he had certain pieces of gold. On the arrival of the
Christians at that place the Chief took the Escribano of the Admiral
who was with the Christians by the hand. The Admiral sent the
Escribano to prevent the other Spaniards from doing anything unjust
to the Indians because the Indians were so generous and the
Spaniards so avaricious and unreasonable that they were not
satisfied to have the Indians give them whatever they desired for
the end of a leather strap and even for a piece of glass and earthen
ware and for other things of no value; but even without giving them
anything they desired to have everything and take everything, which
the Admiral always prohibited, although the things they gave to the
Christians with the exception of the gold were always of small
value. But the Admiral, considering the generous hearts of the
Indians, who would give, and in fact did give, a piece, of gold for
six cheap little glass beads, on that account ordered that nothing
should be received from them for which something was not given in
payment. So that the Chief took the Escribano by the hand and
conducted him to his house with all the people, a very great number,
who accompanied him and made them give the Spaniards something to
eat, and all the Indians brought them many things made of cotton and
little balls of the same. Afterward in the afternoon the Chief gave
them three very fat geese and some small pieces of gold. And a
great number of Indians came with them carrying for them all the
things for which they had traded and contending among themselves as
to carrying them on their shoulders and they actually did carry them
across some rivers and muddy places. The Admiral ordered that some
things should be given to the Chief and he and all his people were
greatly pleased, believing that the Christians had really come from heaven and they considered themselves fortunate in seeing them.
More than one hundred and twenty canoes came to the ships on this
day all loaded with people and all bringing something, especially
their bread and fish, and water in small earthen jars and seeds of
many good kinds of spices. They throw a grain of these seeds in a
porringer of water and drink it and the Indians that the Admiral had
with him say that it was a very healthful thing.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23.
He could not start for the country of that Chief who had sent to
entreat and invite him to come, as there was no wind: but he sent
some people and the Escribano in the boats with the three messengers
who were waiting there. In the meantime while they were gone, he
sent two of the Indians he had with him to the villages which were
near the place where the ships were, and these Indians returned with
a chief to the ships, with the news that in that land of Espanola
there was a great quantity of gold and that people from other places
came there to buy it, and they told him that he would find as much as
he desired there. Others came who confirmed there being much gold
on the island and they showed him their manner of obtaining it. The
Admiral understood all that with difficulty: but yet he felt certain
that in those regions there was a very great quantity of gold and
that in finding the place from which it is obtained he would get it
very cheaply and as he imagined, even for nothing. And he repeats
that he believes there must be a great deal of it, because in the
three days which he remained in that harbour he had received good
pieces of gold and he can not believe that it is brought there from
another country. May our Lord, Who has all things in His hands
assist me and give me whatever may be for His service. These are
the words of the Admiral. He says that at that time he believes
more than a thousand persons came to the vessel and they all brought
something from what they possessed: and before they reached the
ship, at a distance of half a cross-bow shot, they arose to their
feet in their canoes and took what they were bringing in their
hands, saying: "Take, Take." Also he says he believes that more
than five hundred came swimming to the ships on account of not
having canoes, and he was anchored about a league from land. He
judged that five princes, sons of chiefs, with all their household,
women and children, had come to see the Christians. The Admiral
ordered something given to every one, because he says, it was all
well employed, and he says: May our Lord in His mercy direct me
until I find this gold, I say this Mine, because I have many people
here who say that they know it: these are his words. The boats
arrived in the night and they said that they had come from a long
distance, and that at the mountain of Caribatan they found many
canoes with a great many people who were coming from the place
whither the Christians were going, to see the Admiral and the
Christians. And he considered it certain that if he could be in
that harbour for the feast of the Nativity that all the people would
come from that island, which he already estimated to be larger than
England, to see the Christians. The canoes returned with the
Christians to the village, which, he says, they affirm to be larger
and with better arranged streets than any others passed and
discovered up to that time. This village, he says, is almost three
leagues to the south-east of the Punta Santa. And as the canoes go
rapidly with oars they went ahead to make known to the Cacique that
the Christians were coming. Up to that time the Admiral had not
been able to understand whether by Cacique they meant King or
Governor. They also have another word for a great personage, that is
to say Nitayno, and he did not know whether it meant a Hidalgo,
Governor or Judge. Finally the Cacique came to them, and all the
people of the village consisting of more than two thousand men,
united in the plaza, which was very clean. This King paid great
honours to the people from the ships and each one of the people
brought them something to eat and to drink. Then the King gave to
each one of them some cotton cloths such as the women wear, and
parrots for the Admiral, and certain pieces of gold: the people also
gave the sailors some of the same cloths and other things from their
houses for the little things which they gave them, which from the
manner in which they received them, it appeared they esteemed as
reliques. In the afternoon when they wished to take leave the King
begged them to wait until another day and all the people did the
same; but having seen that they had determined to come away, many of
the Indians came with them carrying on their shoulders the things
which the Cacique and the others had given them as far as the boats,
which remained at the entrance of the river.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 24.
Before sunrise he weighed the anchors, with a land breeze. Among
the many Indians who had come to the ship yesterday and had given
them indications of there being gold on that island and had named
the places where it was found, he saw one, who, it appears was
better disposed and more affectionate, or who spoke to him with more
pleasure. The Admiral flattered him, begging him to go away with
him to show him the mines of gold. This Indian brought with him
another, a companion or relative and among the other places which
they named where gold was found, they told of Cipango, which they
call Civao, and there they say there is a great quantity of gold,
and that the Cacique carries banners of hammered gold, but that is a
great distance from the east. The Admiral here says these words to
the Sovereigns: "Your Highnesses may believe that in all the world
there cannot be better or more quiet people. Your Highnesses must
be greatly pleased, because they will soon make them Christians and
will teach them the good customs of their realms, because there
cannot be a better people or country: and the people are so numerous
and the country so great that I do not yet know how to write it,
because I have spoken in the superlative degree of the people and
the country of Juana, which they call Cuba; but there is as much
difference between the people of this country and the people of
Juana as there is between day and night. Neither do I believe that
any other person who saw this, would have done or said less than I
have said, and I say that it is true that the things here are
marvelous and so also are the great villages of this island of
Espanola, as I have named it and which they call Bohio. And all the
people behave in a remarkably friendly manner and speak softly, not
like the other Indians who appear to threaten when they speak, and
the men and women are of good stature and are not black. It is true
that they all paint themselves, some black and others in other
colours, and mostly red. I have learned that they do it on account
of the sun, which then does not injure them as much. And the houses
and settlements are very beautiful and they are all governed by a
Lord or Judge, and all obey him so that it is a marvel. And all
these Lords speak very few words and have very fine manners, and
their commands are given usually by a sign of the hand, and then it
is understood in a wonderful manner." All these are the words of the
Admiral.
Whoever is obliged to enter the sea of Santo Tome must put in a good
league above the mouth of the entrance toward a small flat island
which the Admiral named La Amiga which is in the middle of it,
turning the prow toward it. And after he arrives within the "oto"
of a stone from it, must go to the west, and leave the island to the
east and must keep near it and not go to the other side, because
there is a very large reef to the west, and also in the sea outside
of it there are three shoals, and this reef reaches within a lombard
shot of La Amiga: and he will pass in the middle and will find at
the most shallow place seven fathoms of water with gravel
underneath, and inside he will find a harbour for all the ships in
the world where they can remain without cables. There is another
reef and more shoals which extend from the east toward the said
Island of Amiga and they are very large and extend far out into the
sea and reach almost within two leagues of the cape; but it appeared
that there was an entrance between them at a distance of two lombard
shots from La Amiga, and at the foot of Monte Caribatan on its west
side, there is a very good and large harbour.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25; THE DAY OF NATIVITY.
Sailing in a light wind yesterday from the sea of Santo Tome to the
Punta Santa, from which be was a league's distance at the passing of
the first quarter, which would be at eleven o'clock at night, he
decided to lie down to sleep because he had not slept for two days
and one night. As there was a calm, the sailor who was steering the
ship decided to go away and sleep and left the steering to a young
ship's boy, a thing which the Admiral had always expressly prohibited in all the voyage, whether there was a wind or a calm:
that is to say that the ships should not be steered by young boys.
The Admiral felt secure from banks and rocks because on Sunday when
he had sent the boats to that King, they had passed a good three
leagues and a half to the east of the said Punta Santa and the
sailors had seen all the coast and the shoals which extend from the
said Punta Santa a good three leagues to the east-south-east and
they saw where they could pass, which he had not done before on all
this voyage. Our Lord willed that at twelve o'clock at night, as
the crew had seen the Admiral lie down and repose and they also saw
that there was a dead calm and the sea was as in a porringer {bowl},
they all lay down to sleep and left the steering in the hands of
that boy, and the currents which were flowing carried the ship upon
one of the banks. Although it was night they made such a noise that
they were seen and heard at a good league's distance, and the ship
went upon the bank so quietly that it was hardly felt. The boy who
felt the helm catch and heard the noise of the sea, cried out, upon
which the Admiral came out and was so quick that no one had yet felt
that they were aground. Then the master of the ship who was the
guard, came out: and the Admiral told them to launch the small
vessel which they were carrying at the stern, and to take an anchor
and cast it at the stern: and the master with many others jumped
into the small vessel and the Admiral thought that they would do
what he had told them: but they thought only of flying to the
caravel which was a half league to the windward. The people on the
caravel would not receive them, which was right, and on this account
they returned to the ship, hut first the boat from the caravel
reached it. When the Admiral saw that they were fleeing and they
were his people, and that the waters were falling and that the ship
was athwart in the sea, not seeing any other remedy, he ordered the
mast cut and the ship lightened as much as they were able, to see if
they could not float her; but as the waters were yet falling, and as
the ship settled more and more to one side in the water, although
there was very little or no sea, he could not save her. Then the
seams opened but the ship remained whole. The Admiral went to the
caravel to place the people from his ship in safety, and as there
was a light breeze flowing from the land and also as the night was
not yet much advanced, and he did not know how far the banks
extended, he beat about, a la corda, until it was day and then went
to the ship inside the bank. First he had sent the small vessel to
land with Diego de Arana, of Cordova, Alguacil of the fleet, and
Pedro Gutierrez, "repostero" of the Royal House, to inform the King
who had sent on Saturday to invite and beg him to go with his ships
to his harbour. The village of this King was about a league and a
half beyond the said bank: and they say that the King wept when he
heard of the disaster and sent all his people from the village with
many large canoes to unload the ship: and so it was done and
everything was unloaded from the decks of the ship in a very brief
space of time, such was the great haste and diligence which that
King displayed. And he in person with his brothers and relatives
showed great assiduity both in the matter of unloading the ship and
guarding what was thrown on land that everything might be in
security.
From time to time he sent one of his relatives weeping to the
Admiral to console him, saying that he must not feel troubled or
annoyed, and that he would give him whatever he possessed. The
Admiral certifies to the Sovereigns that in no part of Castile could
things be placed in such safety without the loss of so much as a
leather strap. The King ordered everything placed near the houses
while some houses which he wished to give up were vacated, where
everything could be stored and guarded. He ordered armed men placed
around everything to watch all night. "He with all the people in
the village wept a great deal (says the Admiral): they are an
affectionate people and free from avarice and agreeable in
everything and I certify to your Highnesses that in all the world I
do not believe there is a better people or a better country: they
love their neighbours as themselves and they have the softest and
gentlest speech in the world and are always laughing. They go
naked, men and women, as their mothers gave them birth. But your
Highnesses may believe that they have very good customs among
themselves and the King maintains a most wonderful state, and
everything takes place in such an appropriate and well-ordered
manner that it is a pleasure to see it all: and they have good
memories, and wish to see everything and they ask what it is and for
what purpose." The Admiral says all this as above.
Columbus's Log: December, 1492 - continued - 3