Thirty three days after my departure from cadiz i reached the indian sea, where i discovered many islands, thickly peopled, of which i took possession without resistance in the name of our most illustrious monarch, by public proclamation and with unfurled banners. To the first of these islands, which is called by the indians guanahani, i gave the name of the blessed saviour san salvador , relying upon whose protection i had reached this as well as the other islands to each of these i also gave a name, ordering that one should be called santa maria de la concepcion, another fernandina, the third isabella, the fourth juana, and so with all the rest respectively. As soon as we arrived at that, which as i have said was named juana, i proceeded along its coast a short distance westward, and found it to be so large and apparently without termination, that i could not suppose it to be an island, but the continental province of cathay. Seeing, however, no towns or populous places on the sea coast, but only a few detached houses and cottages, with whose inhabitants i was unable to communicate, because they fled as soon as they saw us, i went further on, thinking that in my progress i should certainly find some city or village. These men reconnoitered the country for three days, and found a most numerous population, and great numbers of houses, though small, and built without any regard to order: with which information they returned to us.

This said island of juana is exceedingly fertile, as indeed are all the others it is surrounded with many bays, spacious, very secure, and surpassing any that i have ever seen numerous large and healthful rivers intersect it, and it also contains many very lofty mountains. The nightingale and various birds were singing in countless numbers, and that in november, the month in which i arrived there. There are besides in the same island of juana seven or eight kinds of palm trees, which, like all the other trees, herbs, and fruits, considerably surpass ours in height and beauty.

The pines also are very handsome, and there are very extensive fields and meadows, a variety of birds, different kinds of honey, and many sorts of metals, but no iron. In that island also which i have before said we named espanola, there are mountains of very great size and beauty, vast plains, groves, and very fruitful fields, admirably adapted for tillage, pasture, and habitation. The convenience and excellence of the harbours in this island, and the abundance of the rivers, so indispensable to the health of man, surpass anything that would be believed by one who had not seen it. The trees, herbage, and fruits of espanola are very different from those of juana, and moreover it abounds in various kinds of spices, gold, and other metals. The inhabitants of both sexes in this island, and in all the others which i have seen, or of which i have received information, go always naked as they were born, with the exception of some of the women, who use the covering of a leaf, or small bough, or an apron of cotton which they prepare for that purpose. None of them, as i have already said, are possessed of any iron, neither have they weapons, being unacquainted with, and indeed incompetent to use them, not from any deformity of body for they are well formed , but because they are timid and full of fear.

Personal Essays About Nature

This timidity did not arise from any loss or injury that they had received from us for, on the contrary, i gave to all i approached whatever articles i had about me, such as cloth and many other things, taking nothing of theirs in return: but they are naturally timid and fearful. As soon however as they see that they are safe, and have laid aside all fear, they are very simple and honest, and exceedingly liberal with all they have none of them refusing any thing he may possess when he is asked for it, but on the contrary inviting us to ask them. They exhibit great love towards all others in preference to themselves: they also give objects of great value for trifles, and content themselves with very little or nothing in return.

How to Write a Critical Review of An Empirical Article

I however forbad that these trifles and articles of no value such as pieces of dishes, plates, and glass, keys, and leather straps should be given to them, although if they could obtain them, they imagined themselves to be possessed of the most beautiful trinkets in the world. It even happened that a sailor received for a leather strap as much gold as was worth three golden nobles, and for things of more trifling value offered by our men, especially newly coined blancas, or any gold coins, the indians would give whatever the seller required as, for instance, an ounce and a half or two ounces of gold, or thirty or forty pounds of cotton, with which commodity they were already acquainted. They practice no kind of idolatry, but have a firm belief that all strength and power, and indeed all good things, are in heaven, and that i had descended from thence with these ships and sailors, and under this impression was i received after they had thrown aside their fears. Nor are they slow or stupid, but of very clear understanding and those men who have crossed to the neighbouring islands give an admirable description of everything they observed but they never saw any people clothed, nor any ships like ours.

On my arrival at that sea, i had taken some indians by force from the first island that i came to, in order that they might learn our language, and communicate to us what they knew respecting the country which plan succeeded excellently, and was a great advantage to us, for in a short time, either by gestures and signs, or by words, we were enabled to understand each other. Each of these islands has a great number of canoes, built of solid wood, narrow and not unlike our double banked boats in length and shape, but swifter in their motion: they steer them only by the oar. These canoes are of various sizes, but the greater number are constructed with eighteen banks of oars, and with these they cross to the other islands, which are of countless number, to carry on traffic with the people. In all these islands there is no difference of physiognomy, of manners, or of language, but they all clearly understand each other, a circumstance very propitious for the realization of what i conceive to be the principal wish of our most serene king, namely, the conversion of these people to the holy faith of christ, to which indeed, as far as i can judge, they are very favourable and well disposed. These provinces extend to a hundred and fifty three miles in length, as i have learnt from the indians whom i have brought with me, and who are well acquainted with the country.

But the extent of espanola is greater than all spain from catalonia to fontarabia, which is easily proved, because one of its four sides which i myself coasted in a direct line, from west to east, measures five hundred and forty miles. This island is to be regarded with especial interest, and not to be slighted for although as i have said i took possession of all these islands in the name of our invincible king, and the government of them is unreservedly committed to his said majesty, yet there was one large town in espanola of which especially i took possession, situated in a remarkably favourable spot, and in every way convenient for the purposes of gain and commerce. To this town i gave the name of navidad del senor, and ordered a fortress to be built there, which must by this time be completed, in which i left as many men as i thought necessary, with all sorts of arms, and enough provisions for more than a year.

I also left them one caravel, and skilful workmen both in ship building and other arts, and engaged the favor and friendship of the king of the island in their behalf, to a degree that would not be believed, for these people are so amiable and friendly that even the king took a pride in calling me his brother. But supposing their feelings should become changed, and they should wish to injure those who have remained in the fortress, they could not do so, for they have no arms, they go naked, and are moreover too cowardly ao that those who hold the said fortress, can easily keep the whole island in check, without any pressing danger to themaelves, provided they do not transgress the directions and regulations which i have given them. As far as i have learned, every man throughout these islands is united to but one wife, with the exception of the kings and princes, who are allowed to have twenty: the women seem to work more than the men. I could not clearly understand whether the people possess any private property, for i observed that one man had the charge of distributing various things to the rest, but especially meat and provisions and the like.

I did not find, as some of us had expected, any cannibals amongst them, but on the contrary men of great deference and kindness. Neither are they black, like the ethiopians: their hair is smooth and straight: for they do not dwell where the rays of the sun strike most vividly, and the sun has intense power there, the distance from the equinoctial line being, it appears, but six and twenty degrees. On the tops of the mountains the cold is very great, but the effect of this upon the indians is lessened by their being accustomed to the climate, and by their frequently indulging in the use of very hot meats and drinks.

Thus, as i have already said, i saw no cannibals, nor did i hear of any, except in a certain island called charis, which is the second from espanola on the side towards india, where dwell a people who are considered by the neighbouring islanders as most ferocious: and these feed upon human flesh. These are the men who form unions with certain women, who dwell alone in the island matenin, which lies next to espanola on the side towards india these latter employ themselves in no labour suitable to their own sex, for they use bows and javelins as i have already described their paramours as doing, and for defensive armour have plates of brass, of which metal they possess great abundance. They assure me that there is another island larger than espanola, whose inhabitants have no hair, and which abounds in gold more than any of the rest. I bring with me individuals of this island and of the others that i have seen, who are proofs of the facts which i state. Finally, to compress into few words the entire summary of my voyage and speedy return, and of the advantages derivable therefrom, i promise, that with a little assistance afforded me by our most invincible sovereigns, i will procure them as much gold as they need, as great a quantity of spices, of cotton, and of mastic which is only found in chios , and as many men for the service of the navy as their majesties may require.