t)ESCk]!]^iONS BY COLlfMBirS. 30t 



a fish, and such hard substances. " He says that some had scars, 

 caused by wounds received when repelling invaders, (Caribs un- 

 doubtedly. ) 



'^ This is a tolerably large island, very level, with pine trees 

 and plenty of water, and a large lake in the middle of it, without 

 mountains, all covered with verdure which is pleasant to the 

 eye. 



"These people are very amiable, and desirous of having our 

 things, for when they have nothing to give us for them, they 

 take what they can and jump into the water and swim off with 

 it. But anything they have they give us readily for whatever 

 we will exchange for it. They will even barter for broken crock- 

 ery and glass. " 



Upon going to another part of the island, when the people saw 

 the Spaniards were not going to land, some of them, he says, 

 ''rushed into the sea and swam out to us, and we understood 

 them to ask if we had come from the skies. One old ma^ even 

 got on to the boat, and others, men and women, called out at the 

 top of their voices — * come and see the men who have come from 

 the skies; bring them something to eat and drink.' 



''They are a simplo-mindcd and handsomely formed race. 



"I went after a canoe which shot away faster than any boat 

 could; for speed they have great advantage over us." 



Again he writes: " The islands are very fertile, and have a fine 

 air. 



"I saw even cotton cloth, made like mantles, and the people 

 appeared more orderly, and the women wore a piec(! of cloth, 

 which, however, scarcely concealed their sex. 



"There appears to bo no kind of religion among them." 



He also speaks of the fishes as "of the most beautiful colorsr 

 as if painted of a thousand different hues, and so brilliant that 

 they astonish every one, who, on this account, is anxious to see 



