Signs of Land 'v:^ ^c> <i^ 



(From \h& Journal ; Hakluyt Soc. , trans.) 



A T dawn, on that Monday, they saw much more 

 "^^ weed appearing, like herbs from rivers, in 

 which they found a Hve crab, which the Admiral 

 kept. He says that these crabs are certain signs 

 of land. The sea-water was found to be less salt 

 than it had been since leaving the Canaries. The 

 breezes were always soft. Every one was pleased, 

 and the best sailers went ahead to sight the first 

 land. They saw many tunny-fish, and the crew 

 of the Nina killed one. The Admiral here says 

 that these signs of land come from the west, " in 

 which direction I trust in that high God in whose 

 hands are all victories that very soon we shall 

 sight land." In that morning he says that a white 

 bird was seen which has not the habit of sleeping 

 on the sea, called rabo de jitnco (boatswain-bird). 



Christopher Columbus. 



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