12 CONCEPTIONS OF COLUMBUS 



The important notes are those numbered I and 

 VII. In neither of these is there anything to imply, 

 or that could be construed to imply, that Columbus 

 made his verification of a degree on the equator, 

 measuring from east to west — a true degree of equa- 

 torial longitude. Such an operation was beyond his 

 ability or that of anyone in his time. The imper- 

 fection of the devices for measuring time at the end 

 of the fifteenth century was fatal to any nice calcu- 

 lation of longitude from eclipses. On the other hand, 

 note VII states distinctly that the measurement was 

 made between Lisbon and Guinea. ^^ 



An examination of the notes, taken together, brings 

 out the following points which bear upon the ques- 

 tion under discussion : (a) the Los Idolos Islands are 

 in latitude i° 5' N. ; (b) the starting point of the reck- 

 oning is Lisbon; (c) the navigation is from north to 

 south; (d) a degree equals 56 }i miles. Let it be 

 assumed, for the moment, that Columbus was sincere 

 in his assertion that he had actually made the verifi- 

 cation which he asserts. It will then appear that 

 the points just stated constitute all the facts essential 

 to the determination of the value of a degree in ac- 

 cordance with the best methods pursued before the 

 discovery of America. 



" Nor is there anything in the notes to support the contention of 

 Sophus Ruge (Columbus, 2nd edit., Berhn, 1902, p. 53) that Columbus 

 claimed to have made an observation for position and then, noting the 

 distance and sailing one degree by astronomical observation, determined 

 the value. Cf. Vignaud, op. cit., Vol. i, p. 66, note 97. 



