NO. I COLUMBUS S LANDFALL WOLPER 20, 



and ponds. In October, when the rains have almost ceased, the island 

 takes on the freshness of spring in New England. 

 Columbus continues : 



Sunday, 14 October 



When day was breaking I ordered the ship's gig and the caravels' barges to be 

 readied, and I went along the coast of the island to the NNE, to see the other 

 side, which was the eastern side, what there was there, and also to see the 

 villages ; and soon I saw two or three, and the people who all came to the beach, 

 shouting and giving thanks to God. Some brought us water, others, other things 

 to eat. Others, when they saw that I didn't care to go ashore, plunged into 

 the sea swimming, and came out, and we understood that they asked us if we 

 had come from the sky. And one old man got into the boat, and others shouted 

 in loud voices to all, men and women, 'Come and see the men who come from 

 the sky, bring them food and drink.' Many came and many women, each with 

 something, giving thanks to God, throwing themselves on the ground, they 

 raised their hands to the sky, and then shouted to us to come ashore ; but I was 

 afraid to, from seeing a great reef of rocks which surrounded the whole of this 

 island, and inside it was deep water and a harbor to hold all the ships in Christen- 

 dom, and the entrance of it very narrow. It's true that inside this reef there are 

 some shoal spots, but the sea moves no more than within a well. In order to 

 see all this I kept going this morning, that I might give an account of all to 

 Your Highnesses, and also [to see] where there might be a fortress; and I saw 

 a piece of land which is formed like an island, although it isn't one (and on it 

 there are six houses), the which could in two days be made an island, although 

 I don't see that it would be necessary . . . and, moreover, next to said islet 

 are groves of trees the most beautiful that I have seen, and as green and 

 leafy as those of Castile in the months of April and May ; and much water. 

 I inspected all that harbor, and then returned to the ship and made sail, and saw 

 so many islands that I could not decide where to go first . . . Finally I looked 

 for the biggest, and decided to go there, and so I did, and it is probably distant 

 from this island of San Salvador 5 leagues . . . 



Reconstructing Columbus's last day around Guanahani-San Sal- 

 vador has been done at least 50 times by the writer. This day and 

 the time of Columbus's approach to the island are the two most 

 important comparisons with the Journal for proof that the island 

 is his landfall. As Columbus went north-northeast to see the other 

 side, he passed two or three villages. Three have been found by the 

 writer, and one was found by Beatrice Wolper at the harbor. They 

 are called Victoria Hill, Ward, Palmetto Grove, and Harbour Yard 

 sites. Red potsherds, made from clay mixed with crushed shells, 

 representing vessels, bowls, platters, and cassava griddles (fig. 8), 

 and bearing plaited and woven impressions, were found in all sites. 

 They were accompanied by bones of parrotfish, chiton, barracuda, 

 whale, and turtle. Other artifacts of stone, bone, and shell have 

 been discovered also. These village sites probably would not have 



