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〃And here there is also aloes everywhere； although this is not a thing to make great account of； but the mastic should be well considered； because it is not found except in the said island of Chios； and I believe that they get from it quite 50；000 ducats if I remember aright。 And this is the best harbor which I have seen thus fardeep and easy of access； so that this would be a good place for a large town。〃
The notes in Columbus's journals are of the more interest and value； because they show his impressions at the moment when he wrote。 However mistaken those impressions； he never corrects them afterwards。 Although； while he was in Cuba； he never found the Grand Khan； he never recalls the hopes which he has expressed。
He had discovered the island on its northern side by sailing southwest from the Lucayos or Bahamas。 From the eleventh of November until the sixth of December he was occupied in coasting along the northern shore； eventually returning eastward； when he crossed the channel which parts Cuba from Hayti。
The first course was east； a quarter southeast； and on the sixteenth； they entered Port…au…Prince； and took possession； raising a cross there。 At Port…au…Prince； to his surprise； he found on a point of rock two large logs； mortised into each other in the shape of a cross； so 〃that you would have said a carpenter could not have proportioned them better。〃
On the nineteenth the course was north…northeast； on the twenty…first they took a course south； a quarter southwest； seeking in these changes the island of 〃Babeque；〃 which the Indians had spoken of as rich with gold。 On the day last named Pinzon left the Admiral in the Pinta； and they did not meet again for more than a month。
Columbus touched at various points on Cuba and the neighboring islands。 He sought； without success； for pearls； and always pressed his inquiries for gold。 He was determined to find the island of Bohio； greatly to the terror of the poor Indians； whom he had on board： they said that its natives had but one eye； in the middle of their foreheads； and that they were well armed and ate their prisoners。
He landed in the bay of Moa； and then； keeping near the coast； sailed towards the Capo del Pico； now called Cape Vacz。 At Puerto Santo he was detained some days by bad weather。 On the fourth of December he continued his eastward voyage； and on the next day saw far off the mountains of Hayti； which was the Bohio he sought for。
CHAPTER VI。 DISCOVERY OF HAYTI OR HISPANIOLATHE SEARCH FOR GOLDHOSPITALITY AND INTELLIGENCE OF THE NATIVESCHRISTMAS DAYA SHIPWRECKCOLONY TO BE FOUNDEDCOLUMBUS SAILS EAST AND MEETS MARTIN PINZONTHE TWO VESSELS RETURN TO EUROPE STORMTHE AZORESPORTUGALHOME。
On the sixth of December they crossed from the eastern cape of Cuba to the northwestern point of the island； which we call Hayti or San Domingo。 He says he gave it this name because 〃the plains appeared to him almost exactly like those of Castile； but yet more beautiful。〃
He coasted eastward along the northern side of the island； hoping that it might be the continent； and always inquiring for gold when he landed； but the Indians； as before； referred him to yet another land； still further south； which they still called Bohio。 It was not surrounded by water； they said。 The word 〃caniba；〃 which is the origin of our word 〃cannibal；〃 and refers to the fierce Caribs； came often into their talk。 The sound of the syllable can made Columbus more sure that he was now approaching the dominions of the Grand Khan of eastern Asia； of whom Marco Polo had informed Europe so fully。
On the twelfth of the month； after a landing in which a cross had been erected； three sailors went inland； pursuing the Indians。 They captured a young woman whom they brought to the fleet。 She wore a large ring of gold in her nose。 She was able to understand the other Indians whom they had on board。 Columbus dressed her； gave her some imitation pearls； rings and other finery； and then put her on shore with three Indians and three of his own men。
The men returned the next day without going to the Indian village。 Columbus then sent out nine men； with an Indian； who found a town of a thousand huts about four and a half leagues from the ship。 They thought the population was three thousand。 The village in Cuba is spoken of as having twenty people to a house。 Here the houses were smaller or the count of the numbers extravagant。 The people approached the explorers carefully； and with tokens of respect。 Soon they gained confidence and brought out food for them： fish； and bread made from roots； 〃which tasted exactly as if it were made of chestnuts。〃
In the midst of this festival； the woman； who had been sent back from the ship so graciously； appeared borne on the shoulders of men who were led by her husband。
The Spaniards thought these natives of St。 Domingo much whiter than those of the other islands。 Columbus says that two of the women； if dressed in Castilian costume； would be counted to be Spaniards。 He says that the heat of the country is intense； and that if these people lived in a cooler region they would be of lighter color。
On the fourteenth of December he continued his voyage eastward； and on the fifteenth landed on the little island north of Hayti； which he called Tortuga； or Turtle island。 At midnight on the sixteenth he sailed； and landed on Hispaniola again。 Five hundred Indians met him； accompanied by their king； a fine young man of about twenty years of age。 He had around him several counselors； one of whom appeared to be his tutor。 To the steady questions where gold could be found； the reply as steady was made that it was in 〃the Island of Babeque。〃 This island； they said； was only two days off； and they pointed out the route。 The interview ended in an offer by the king to the Admiral of all that he had。 The explorers never found this mysterious Babeque； unless； as Bishop Las Casas guessed； Babeque and Jamaica be the same。
The king visited Columbus on his ship in the evening； and Columbus entertained him with European food。 With so cordial a beginning of intimacy； it was natural that the visitors should spend two or three days with these people。 The king would not believe that any sovereigns of Castile could be more powerful than the men he saw。 He and those around him all believed that they came direct from heaven。
Columbus was always asking for gold。 He gave strict orders that it should always be paid for； when it was taken。 To the islanders it was merely a matter of ornament； and they gladly exchanged it for the glass beads； the rings or the bells； which seemed to them more ornamental。 One of the caciques or chiefs； evidently a man of distinction and authority； had little bits of gold which he exchanged for pieces of glass。 It proved that he had clipped them off from a larger piece； and he went back into his cabin； cut that to pieces； and then exchanged all those in trade for the white man's commodities。 Well pleased with his bargain； he then told the Spaniards that he would go and get much more and would come and trade with them again。
On the eighteenth of December； the wind not serving well； they waited the return of the chief whom they had first seen。 In the