Authentic Letters of Columbus. 189 



termination. And about eighteen leagues from this cape, to the 

 east, there was another island, to which I shortly gave the name of 

 Espanola. I went to it, and followed the north coast of it, as I had 

 done that of Juana, for 178 long leagues due east. 



This island is very fertile, as well, indeed, as all the rest. It 

 possesses numerous harbors, far superior to any I know in Europe, 

 and what is remarkable, plenty of large inlets. The land is high, 

 and contains many lofty ridges and some very high mountains, with- 

 out comparison of the Island of Centrefrey ; all of them very hand- 

 some and of different forms; all of them accessible and abounding 

 in trees of a thousand kinds, high, and appearing as if they would 

 reach the skies. And I am assured that the latter never lose their 

 fresh foliage, as far as I can imderstand, for I saw them as fresh and 

 flourishing as those of Spain in the month of May. Some were in 

 blossom, some bearing fruit, and others in other states, according to 

 their nature. 



The nightingale and a thousand kinds of birds enliven the woods 

 with their song, in the month of November, wherever I went. 

 There are seven or eight kinds of palms, of various elegant forms, 

 besides various other trees, fruits and herbs. The pines of this 

 island are magnificent. It has also extensive plains, honey, and a 

 great variety of birds and fruits. It has many metal mines, and a 

 population innumerable. 



Espanola is a wonderful island, with mountains, groves, plains, 

 and the country generally beautiful and rich for planting and sow- 

 ing, for rearing sheep and cattle of all kinds, and ready for towns 

 and cities. The harbors must be seen to be appreciated ; rivers are 

 plentiful and large and of excellent water ; the greater part of them 

 contain gold. There is a great difference between the trees, fruits 

 and herbs of this island and those of Juana. In this island there 

 are many spices, and large mines of gold and other metals. 



The people of this island and of all the others which I have dis- 

 covered or heard of, both men and women, go naked as they were 

 born, although some of the women wear leaves of herbs or a cotton 

 covering made on purpose. They have no iron or steel, nor any 

 weapons; not that they are not a well-disposed people and of fine 

 stature, but they are timid to a degree. They have no other arms 

 excepting spears made of cane, to which they fix at the end a sharp 

 piece of wood, and then dare not use even these. P'requently I had 

 occasion to send two or three of my men on shore to some settlement 

 for information, where there would be multitudes of them; and as 

 soon as they saw our people they would run away every soul, the 

 father leaving his child; and this was not because any one had done 

 them harm, for rather at every cape where I had landed and been 

 able to communicate with them I have made them presents of cloth 

 and many other things without receiving anything in return; but 

 because they are so timid. Certainly, where they have confidence and 

 forget their fears they are so open-hearted and liberal with all they 

 possess that it is scarcely to be believed without seeing it. If any- 

 thing that they have is asked of them they never deny it; on the con- 



