The Four Voyages by Christopher Columbus

Author:Christopher Columbus
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.

CHAPTER 55

The Admiral discovers the island of Jamaica

ON Saturday, 3 May, the Admiral decided to go from Cuba to Jamaica, not wanting to pass this island without discovering whether the reports of much gold there, which he had heard in all the other islands, were true. And in good weather he sighted it on the next day, Sunday, while still half-way there. On Monday he anchored close to it and it seemed to him the most beautiful island of any he had seen in the Indies. An amazing number of natives came out in canoes great and small.

Next day, wishing to examine the harbours, the Admiral went down the coast and, when the boats went out to sound the harbour entrances, so many canoes came with armed warriors to defend the land that they were obliged to put back to the ships, not so much out of fear of the Indians as from reluctance to break friendly relations. But on reflecting that if they seemed afraid they would increase the pride and confidence of the natives they turned to another harbour on the island, which the Admiral called Puerto Bueno. And when the Indians came out from there also, and hurled their spears, the crews of the boats fired such a volley from their crossbows that the natives were compelled to retire with six or seven wounded. Once the fight was over great numbers of canoes came out very peaceably, from neighbouring villages, bringing to the ships various foods and other articles for sale and barter. These they exchanged for the smallest trinket.

In this harbour, which is shaped like a horseshoe, repairs were made to the Admiral’s ship, whose timbers had sprung and were letting water. When the leak was repaired, on Friday, 8 May, sail was raised and they continued down the coast westwards so close to the land that the Indians followed in their canoes, anxious to barter and to possess some of our trinkets.

As the winds were somewhat contrary, the Admiral could not make as much headway as he wished and on Tuesday, 13 May, decided to return to Cuba in order to follow its southern coast. He was resolved not to turn back until he had sailed five or six hundred leagues and made certain whether it was island or mainland.

Just as the ships were putting to sea a very young Indian came out and said he wanted to go to Castile. He was followed by many of his relatives and other people in canoes, who begged him most insistendy to return to the island, but they could not deflect him from his purpose. Indeed, to avoid the tears and groans of his brothers he hid in a place where no one could see him. The Admiral was amazed at this Indian’s persistence and ordered that he should be well treated.

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