( 2 ) 



When we faw that troubles were hkely to enfue, and learned that 

 the Ifland of Cuba had been lately gained under the government of Diega 

 Vclafquez, a certain number of us, perfons of quality who had come 

 with Avila, refolved to demand his permiflion to go to Cuba. This he 

 readily granted us j not wanting fo many foldiers as had come with him 

 from Caftille, for the country of which he w-as appoir^ed to the govern- 

 ment, had but few inhabitants, and was already conquered. Permiflion 

 being obtained we failed for Cuba, and arriving there, waited on the go- 

 vernor, who received us kindly, and promifed to give us the firft lands 

 that fhould fall vacant. Three years however elapfed, reckoning from 

 the time we left Caftille, and no fettlements had as yet offered. Con- 

 fidering this therefore as fo much lofs of time, one hundred and ten of 

 us ele<fted for our Captain a rich Hidalgo of Cuba named Francifco Her- 

 nandez de Cordova, and determined to fet out under his command, upon 

 a voyage of difoovery. For this purp.ofe we bought two veffels of con- 

 fiderable burthen, and our third was a bark which we obtained on credit 

 from the governor VelafqucE , he howc-v-ci pi-opofed as a condition, that 

 we (hould engage the foldiers to make a defcent on certain Iflands be- 

 tween Cuba and Honduras, named Los Guanages, to feize a number of 

 the inhabitants and make flaves of them, in order thereby to pay the coft 

 of the bark ; but when the propofal of Velafquez was made known to 

 the foldiers, we to a man refufed it, faying, that it was not juft, nor did 

 God or the King permit, that free men fhould be made Haves. 



Velafquez was immediately convinced, and aifented to the jufrice of 

 what we faid, and he gave us alfo what afliftance he could as to provi- 

 fions. We laid in a ftore of Hogs, which were then fold at three 

 Crowns each, and CafTava bread, there being in Cuba neither Oxen or 

 Sheep. With fuch poor provifions, and fome trifling Toys and Orna- 

 ments for the Indians, we prepared ourfelves for the voyage, having 

 engaged three Pilots, the principal of whom was Anthon de Alaminos, 

 a native of Palos ; the other two were named Camacho de Triana, and 

 Juan Alvarez el Manquillo de Huelva. Having provided ourfelves as 

 well as we could with every neceffary, we all aliembled at a port on the 



North- 



DSl 



