52 CONCEPTIONS OF COLUMBUS 



course, could not follow since he had started his re- 

 turn voyage from Samana Bay in the island of Haiti, 

 ten degrees to the east of Florida. 



There were really three discoveries made by Co- 

 lumbus instead of one. His discovery of the two 

 ocean routes was so overshadowed by the discovery 

 of land that it has passed unnoticed. However, in 

 the very nature of the case the really great ocean dis- 

 coveries could not be appreciated by any one until 

 later generations had become acquainted with the 

 whole Atlantic Ocean. By that time people forgot 

 to give credit where it was due. 



Conclusion 



This exposition of facts connected with Columbus' 

 first voyage does not necessarily prove him to have 

 been a true scientist. The chain of circumstances 

 resulting so happily may have been due entirely to 

 chance. But it is truly extraordinary when a chain 

 of chances fits together so perfectly. For the out- 

 ward voyage there was the belt of calms and head 

 winds to be avoided. There was the indispensable 

 need of making a great distance westwards in a short 

 space of time. There was the belt of fa\'orable winds 

 to help. But their use involved a second start from 

 a point not obviously on the route to the place sought. 

 There were currents and winds both adverse for the 

 return in the region from whence Columbus started 

 on his return voyage. There was the same belt of 

 calms and variable winds to be avoided on the return, 



