58 



TRINIDAD ; THEN AND NOW. 



u The convenience and excellence of the har- 

 bours in this island, and the abundance of the rivers 

 so indispensable to the health of man, surpasses any- 

 thing that would be believed by one who had not 

 seen it. The trees, herbage and fruits of Hispaniola 

 are very different from those of Juana and moreover 

 it abounds in various kinds of spices, gold and other 

 metals, but not iron. 



" The inhabitants of both sexes in this island 

 and in all the others which I have seen, or of which 

 I have received information, go always naked as they 

 were born, with the exception of some women. 



' i They practise no kind of idolatry, but have a 

 firm belief that all strength and power and indeed all 

 good things are in heaven, and that I and my ships 

 had descended from thence, and under this impression 

 was I received after they had thrown aside their 



ft 



fears. They are very clear of understanding, and 

 those men who have crossed over to the neighbouring 

 islands give an admirable description of everything 

 they observed ; but they never saw any people 

 clothed, nor any ships like ours. 



" The extent of Hispaniola is greater than all 

 Spain from Catalonia to Fuenterrabia which ia 

 easily proved, because one of its sides which I coasted 

 in a direct line, from west to east measured five hun- 

 dred and forty miles. This island is to be regarded 

 with special interest, and not to be slighted ; for 

 although as I have said I took possession of these 

 islands in the name of the king, and the government 

 of them is unreservedly committed to His Majesty, 



