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o much upon the jargon or the sea。
It is not flattering to the English or Spanish speaking peoples that the four hundredth anniversary of this great event draws nigh； and is likely to catch us still floundering； touching the first landing place。
SUMMARY。
First。 There is no objection to Samana in respect to size； position or shape。 That it is a little island； lying east and west； is in its favor。 The erosion at the east end； by which islets have been formed； recalls the assertion of Columbus that there it could be cut off in two days and made into an island。
The Nassau vessels still find a snug anchorage here during the northeast trades。 These blew half a gale of wind at the time of the landfall； yet Navarette； Varnhagen； and Captain Becher anchored the squadron on the windward sides of the coral reefs of their respective islands； a 〃lee shore。〃
The absence of permanent lagoons at Samana I have tried to explain。
Second。 The course from Samana to Crooked is to the southwest； which is the direction that the Admiral said be should steer 〃tomorrow evening。〃 The distance given by him corresponds with the chart。
Third。 The second island； Santa Maria； is described as having two sides which made a right angle； and the length of each is given。 This points directly to Crooked and Acklin。 Both form one island； so fitted to the words of the journal as cannot be done with any other land of the Bahamas。
Fourth。 The course and distance from Crooked to Long Island is that which the Admiral gives from Santa Maria to Fernandina。
Fifth。 Long Island； the third； is accurately described。 The trend of the shores； 〃north…northwest and south…southeast；〃 the 〃marvelous port〃 and the 〃coast which runs east ＇and＇ west；〃 can nowhere be found except at the southeast part of Long Island。
Sixth。 The journal is obscure in regard to the fourth island。 The best way to find it is to 〃plot〃 the courses FORWARD from the third island and the courses and distances BACKWARD from the fifth。 These lead to Fortune for the fourth。
Seventh。 The Ragged Islands are the fifth。 These he named las islas de ArenaSand Islands。
They lie west…southwest from the fourth； and this is the course the Admiral adhered to。 He did not 〃log〃 all the run made between these islands； in consequence the 〃log〃 falls short of the true distance； as it ought to。 These 〃seven or eight islands； all extending from north to south；〃 and having shoal water 〃six leagues to the south〃 of them； are seen on the chart at a glance。
Eighth。 The course and distance from these to Port Padre； in Cuba； is reasonable。 The westerly current； the depth of water at the entrance of Padre； and the general description； are free of difficulties。 The true distance is greater than the 〃logged；〃 because Columbus again omits part of his run。 It would be awkward if the true distances from the fourth to the fifth islands； and from the latter to Padre； had fallen short of the 〃log；〃 since it would make the unexplainable situation which occurs in Irving's course and distance from Mucaras Reef to Boca de Caravela。
From end to end of the Samana track there are but three discrepancies。 At the third island； two leagues ought to be two miles。 At the fourth island twelve leagues ought to be twelve miles。 The bearing between the third and fourth islands is not quite as the chart has it； nor does it agree with the courses he steered。 These three are fairly explained； and I think that no others can be mustered to disturb the concord between this track and the journal。
Rev。 Mr。 Cronan； in his recent voyage； discovered a cave at Watling's island； where were many skeletons of the natives。 It is thought that a study of the bones in these skeletons will give some new ethnological information as to the race which Columbus found； which is now； thanks to Spanish cruelty； entirely extinct。
APPENDIX B。
The letter to the Lady Juana； which gives Columbus's own statement of the indignities put upon him in San Domingo； is written in his most crabbed Spanish。 He never wrote the Spanish language accurately； and the letter； as printed from his own manuscript； is even curious in its infelicities。 It is so striking an illustration of the character of the man that we print here an abstract of it； with some passages translated directly from his own language。
Columbus writes； towards the end of the year 1500； to the former nurse of Don Juan； an account of the treatment he has received。 〃If my complaint of the world is new； its method of abuse is very old；〃 he says。 〃God has made me a messenger of the new heaven and the new earth which is spoken of in the Apocalypse by the mouth of St。 John； after having been spoken of by Isaiah； and he showed me the place where it was。〃 Everybody was incredulous； but the queen alone gave the spirit of intelligence and zeal to the undertaking。 Then the people talked of obstacles and expense。 Columbus says 〃seven years passed in talk； and nine in executing some noted acts which are worthy of remembrance；〃 but he returned reviled by all。
〃If I had stolen the Indies and had given them to the Moors I could not have had greater enmity shown to me in Spain。〃 Columbus would have liked then to give up the business if he could have come before the queen。 However he persisted； and he says he 〃undertook a new voyage to the new heaven and the new earth which before had been hidden； and if it is not appreciated in Spain as much as the other countries of India it is not surprising； because it is all owing to my industry。〃 He 〃had believed that the voyage to Paria would reconcile all because of the pearls and gold in the islands of Espanola。〃 He says； 〃I caused those of our people whom I had left there to come together and fish for pearls； and arranged that I should return and take from them what had been collected； as I understood； in measure a fanega （about a bushel）。 If I have not written this to their Highnesses it is because I wished also to have as much of gold。 But that fled before me； as all other things； I would not have lost them and with them my honor； if I could have busied myself with my own affairs。
〃When I went to San Domingo I found almost half of the colony uprising； and they made war upon me as a Moor； and the Indians on the other side were no less cruel。
〃Hojida came and he tried to make order； and he said that their Highnesses had sent him with promises of gifts and grants and money。 He made up a large company； for in all Espanola there were few men who were not vagabonds； and no one lived there who had wife or children。〃 Hojida retired with threats。
〃Then Vincente Ganez came with four ships。 There were outbreaks and suspicions but no damage。〃 He reported that six other ships under a brother of the Alcalde would arrive； and also the death of the queen； but these were rumors without foundation。
〃Adrian （Mogica） attempted to go away as before； but our Lord did not permit him to carry out his bad plan。〃 Here Columbus regrets that he was obliged to use force or ill…treat Adrian； but says he would have done the same had his brother wished to kill him or wrest from him the government which the king and queen had given him to guard。
〃For six months I was read