12 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 92 



to the knee ; that the cotton hlankets were not only colored but were 

 also decorated with needlework ; that the men's sashes were of the 

 type called in New Spain inastil ( i. e., breeches), and that the Indian 

 boat crew had a wine or beer made of maize. He continues, that the 

 Admiral was impressed with their honesty and modesty, " and treated 

 them very well, and taking from them some of the showy things to 

 take back for a sign he ordered given them things of Spain in rec- 

 ompense, and he permitted all of them to go in their canoe except an 

 old man who seemed a judicious person so that he could give them 

 word of what was in this land ; because the first thing of which the 

 Admiral inquired signs, was showing them the gold that they give 

 him news of the land where it was : and because that old man pointed 

 out, that they had it toward the parts of the East, they retained him, 

 and took him until they did not understand his language [just west of 

 Cape Gracias a Dios] before they let him return to his country ". 

 Las Casas' and Herrera's description of the people on the adjacent 

 mainland agrees with that of Ferdinand Columbus. 



The account of Peter Martyr contains a few variants. The ex- 

 plorers came to an island, 



which the inhabitantes call Guanassa, so florishing and fruitefull, that it might 

 seem an earthly Paradyse. Coasting along by the shores of this Ilande, hee 

 [Columbus] mette two of the Canoas, or boats of those provinces, whiche were 

 drawne with two naked slaves against the streame. In these boates was caryed 

 a ruler of the Ilande, with his wife and children, all naked. The slaves seeing 

 our men alande, made signes to them with proud countenance in their maisters 

 name, to stand out of the way, and threatned them, if they would not give place. 

 Their simpleness is such, that they neyther feared the multitude, or power of our 

 men, or the greatnesse and straungenesse of our shyppes. They thought that 

 our men would have honoured their maister with like reverence as they did. 

 Our menne had intelligence at the length, that this ruler was a great marchant, 

 which came to the marte from other coastes of the Hand : for they exercise 

 buying and selling by exchaunge within their confines. He also had with him a 

 good store of such ware as they stande in neede of, or take pleasure in ; as laton 

 belles, rasers, knives, and hatchettes made of a certayne sharpe yellowe bright 

 stone, with handles of a strong kinde of wood : also many other necessarie 

 instruments with kytchen stuffe, and vesselles for all necessary uses : likewise 

 sheetes of Gossampine cotton, wrought of sundry colours. 



Columbus then proceeded to a large land " ten myles distant " which 

 the inhabitants called Quiriquetana but which he named Ciamba. 

 When he landed, the inhabitants flocked around without fear and 

 brought the Spaniards gifts of food. In this great land there were 

 two regions, one called Tuia and the other Maia. The country was 

 pleasant and well wooded. Beside " Gossampine " and " date trees ", 

 from which textiles and long, broad swords and darts are made 



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