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o the south…southeast； while he himself； with the Santa Maria； the SHIP； as he calls it； went to the southeast。 He ordered the caravels to keep their courses till noon； and then join him。 This they did； at an island to the east； which he named Isabella； the Indians whom he had with him calling it Saomete。 It has been supposed to be the island now called Inagua Grande。
〃All this coast；〃 says the Admiral； 〃and the part of the island which I saw； is all nearly flat； and the island the most beautiful thing I ever saw； for if the others are very beautiful this one is more so。〃 He anchored at a cape which was so beautiful that he named it Cabo Fermoso； the Beautiful Cape； 〃so green and so beautiful；〃 he says； 〃like all the other things and lands of these islands； that I do not know where to go first； nor can I weary my eyes with seeing such beautiful verdure and so different from ours。 And I believe that there are in them many herbs and many trees； which are of great value in Spain for dyes ＇or tinctures＇ and for medicines of spicery。 But I do not know them； which I greatly regret。 And as I came here to this cape there came such a good and sweet odor of flowers or trees from the land that it was the sweetest thing in the world。〃
He heard that there was a king in the interior who wore clothes and much gold； and though； as he says； the Indians had so little gold that whatever small quantity of it the king wore it would appear large to them； he decided to visit him the next day。 He did not do so； however； as he found the water too shallow in his immediate neighborhood； and then had not enough wind to go on； except at night。
Sunday morning； October 21； he anchored； apparently more to the west； and after having dined； landed。 He found but one house； from which the inhabitants were absent； he directed that nothing in it should be touched。 He speaks again of the great beauty of the island； even greater than that of the others he had seen。 〃The singing of the birds；〃 he says； 〃seems as if a man would never seek to leave this place； and the flocks of parrots which darken the sun； and fowls and birds of so many kinds and so different from ours that it is wonderful。 And then there are trees of a thousand sorts； and all with fruit of their kinds。 And all have such an odor that it is wonderful； so that I am the most afflicted man in the world not to know them。〃
They killed a serpent in one of the lakes upon this island； which Las Casas says is the Guana； or what we call the Iguana。
In seeking for good water； the Spaniards found a town； from which the inhabitants were going to fly。 But some of them rallied； and one of them approached the visitors。 Columbus gave him some little bells and glass beads； with which he was much pleased。 The Admiral asked him for water； and they brought it gladly to the shore in calabashes。
He still wished to see the king of whom the Indians had spoken； but meant afterward to go to 〃another very great island； which I believe must be Cipango； which they call Colba。〃 This is probably a mistake in the manuscript for Cuba； which is what is meant。 It continues； 〃and to that other island which they call Bosio〃 （probably Bohio） 〃and the others which are on the way； I will see these in passing。 * * * But still； I am determined to go to the mainland and to the city of Quisay and to give your Highnesses' letters to the Grand Khan； and seek a reply and come back with it。〃
He remained at this island during the twenty…second and twenty…third of October； waiting first for the king； who did not appear； and then for a favorable wind。 〃To sail round these islands；〃 he says； 〃one needs many sorts of wind； and it does not blow as men would like。〃 At midnight； between the twenty…third and twenty…fourth； he weighed anchor in order to start for Cuba。
〃I have heard these people say that it was very large and of great traffic；〃 he says； 〃and that there were in it gold and spices； and great ships and merchants。 And they showed me that I should go to it by the west…southwest； and I think so。 For I think that if I may trust the signs which all the Indians of these islands have made me； and those whom I am carrying in the ships； for by the tongue I do not understand them； it （Cuba） is the Island of Cipango；＇*＇ of which wonderful things are told； and on the globes which I have seen and in the painted maps； it is in this district。〃
＇*＇ This was the name the old geographers gave to Japan。
The next day they saw seven or eight islands； which are supposed to be the eastern and southern keys of the Grand Bank of Bahama。 He anchored to the south of them on the twenty…sixth of October； and on the next day sailed once more for Cuba。
On Sunday； October 28； he arrived there； in what is now called the Puerto de Nipe； he named it the Puerto de San Salvador。 Here； as he went on； he was again charmed by the beautiful country。 He found palms 〃of another sort；〃 says Las Casas； 〃from those of Guinea； and from ours。〃 He found the island the 〃most beautiful which eyes have seen； full of very good ports and deep rivers；〃 and that apparently the sea is never rough there； as the grass grows down to the water's edge。 This greenness to the sea's edge is still observed there。 〃Up till that time；〃 says Las Casas； ；he had not experienced in all these islands that the sea was rough。〃 He had occasion to learn about it later。 He mentions also that the island is mountainous。
CHAPTER V。 LANDING ON CUBATHE CIGAR AND TOBACCOCIPANGO AND THE GREAT KHANFROM CUBA TO HAYTIITS SHORES AND HARBORS。
When Columbus landed； at some distance farther along the coast； he found the best houses he had yet seen； very large； like pavilions； and very neat within； not in streets but set about here and there。 They were all built of palm branches。 Here were dogs which never barked （supposed to be the almiqui）； wild birds tamed in the houses and 〃wonderful arrangements of nets；＇*＇ and fish…hooks and fishing apparatus。 There were also carved masks and other images。 Not a thing was touched。〃 The inhabitants had fled。
＇*＇ These were probably hammocks。
He went on to the northwest； and saw a cape which he named Cabo de Palmas。 The Indians on board the Pinta said that beyond this cape was a river and that at four days' journey from this was what they called 〃Cuba。〃 Now they had been coasting along the Island of Cuba for two or three days。 But Martin Pinzon； the captain of the Pinta； understood this Cuba to be a city； and that this land was the mainland； running far to the north。 Columbus until he died believed that it was the mainland。
Martin Pinzon also understood that the king of that land was at war with the Grand Khan； whom they called Cami。 The Admiral determined to go to the river the Indians mentioned； and to send to the king the letter of the sovereigns。 He meant to send with it a sailor who had been to Guinea； and some of the Guanahani Indians。 He was encouraged； probably； by the name of Carni； in thinking that he was really near the Grand Khan。
He did not； however； send off these messengers at once； as the wind and the nature of the coast proved unfit for his going up the river the Indians had spoken of。 He went back to the town where he had been t