192. J. W. Redway—The Furst Landfall of Columbus. 
statement, “I looked for the largest island and determined to 
make for it.” Now there is only one other neighboring island 
southwest of Watling, and that is Long island. Moreover, no 
part of Long island is visible from Watling. Not only is it in- 
visible from the masthead, but it is about twice the distance 
given in the log; still more, neither its shape nor its dimensions 
conform to the description in the log. Even the careful Captain 
Becher incorrectly translates the passage “ cargué las velas, por 
andar.todo aquel dia fasta la noche,” saying, “ I made sail, contin- 
uing on until night,” etc. But cargar las velas means to shorten 
sail—not to crowd on more canvas. Major errs’ in translating 
the same passage, saying, “I started for the purpose of sailing,” 
etc. Captain Fox notices these errors and translates the passage 
correctly. Indeed, there can be no question about it, for it is 
the recognized nautical expression in the Spanish language for 
the act which in English is to “ clew up.” 
Just why Watling island should have received the sanction of 
so many authorities it is difficult to understand, unless it is the 
fact that this island has two rather large interior lakes; but, 
under any circumstances, lakes are about the most transitory 
features of the earth’s surface, and the lagoon of low, sandy shores 
is almost ephemeral; it is found today, and tomorrow it has dis- 
appeared. The storm which throws up a spit or walls in a cove 
today will just as readily undo its work tomorrow. After a lapse 
of four hundred years the presence or absence of a lagoon counts 
for nothing. 
It is freely admitted that in the foregoing paragraphs the pos- 
itive identification of Samané as the first landing-place has not 
been made. It is believed, however, that material evidence has 
been added to the question. It is hardly necessary to say that 
the testimony of any one map counts for but little; but the case 
is different when we take the consensus of many maps, and in 
future researches undoubtedly early maps will play a part sec- 
ond only in importance to the log. In closing this paper, there- 
fore, it is suggested that thorough and systematic search for eyi- 
dence among early maps be made. In the past such search has 
always been highly fruitful in its results; there is no reason why 
it should not be equally fruitful in the future. 
