22 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I48 



which caused these leaves to hurst into flame and flare up, 1 turning 

 brilliantly. 



(6) The flame fell and rose for the following reasons: At 9:15 

 p.m. the fire had been started with yellow wood. At 9:45, the first 

 three leaves were thrown on the fire. This accounted for the flares 

 of light seen at this time from the sea. At 10:15, when the fire had 

 decreased in size, three more leaves were added ; this continued at 

 intervals of one-half hour. No more than three leaves were used at 

 any time. This procedure caused the light to rise and fall. 



(7) The two lights we saw that had disappeared at 10:40 were 

 from fires on top of Breezy Hill. 31 The author was told by the 

 natives who live there that these fires in front of their huts were 

 to ward off the sandflies, and when they went to bed and closed up 

 their huts, the fires died down. It is possible that this could be why 

 Columbus and a few men from the same position saw a light once 

 or twice which then disappeared. 



(8) The white circle was caused by high waves at the foot of 

 High Cay, breaking and crashing against it, throwing salt spray up 

 into the atmosphere. Luminescence from the fire in the salty at- 

 mosphere caused a glow above the fire, increasing the range of 

 visibility. Although the light from the fire was not visible at first 

 when it decreased, the large white circle remained continuously. 



(9) Radiation of the light, in rays estimated to have extended 

 over 200 feet above sea level, explains the fact that a light was seen 

 nearly 29 nautical miles out to sea. 



(10) In conclusion, it was felt by all aboard that the expedition 

 was a successful reconstruction of how Columbus might have ap- 

 proached Guanahani-San Salvador on October 12, 1492. If the lati- 

 tude at High Cay had not been correct and our distance at sea not 

 closely similar to that of Columbus, the white sand cliffs would not 

 have glowed when the moonlight pierced the darkness straight ahead 

 of the M. J'. Drake, 30 minutes before 2 a.m. on October 22, 1959. 



SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LIGHT IN IDENTIFYING 

 COLUMBUS'S LANDFALL 



If the light and "white head of sand" that were seen are significant 

 to the position of the landfall, then to substantiate these findings it 

 should be possible to follow every word of the .Admiral in chrono- 



31 The light from the lighthouse on San Salvador was not seen until mid- 

 night. This light is 163 feet above sea level and is at the northeast part of the 

 island. 



