116 1893 MAIN THE Letter of Columbus Claflis LENOX LIBRARY REPRINT THE Letter of Columbus on the Discovery of AMERICA A Facsimile Reprint of the Pictorial Edition of 1493, with a Literal Translation, and an Introduction PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE LENOX LIBRARY Second JEMtfon NEW-YORK, M DCCC XCIII E- \ COPYRIGHT, 1892, BY THE TRUSTEES OF THE LENOX LIBRARY. The present facsimile of one of the Columbus Letters belonging to the Lenox Library is published by the Trustees at this time #$ an appropriate tribute to the memory of the great discoverer. JOHN 5. KENNEDY, President. New-York, CMay i, 1893. 51 INTRODUCTION. THE letter of Columbus giving the earliest informa tion of his great discovery was first printed in Spanish at Barcelona in April, 1493. It was immedi ately translated into Latin and sent to Rome for publi cation, where it appeared in at least three editions, and was reprinted at Basle, Paris, and Antwerp. One of the rarest and most interesting of these is the pictorial edition, complete in ten leaves, which is reproduced here in exact facsimile, accompanied by a literal trans lation. The curious woodcuts with which it is illus trated are supposed by some to have been copied from drawings made originally by Columbus himself. They give remarkable representations of the admiral s own caravel, of his first landing on Hayti and meeting with the natives, and of the different islands which he visited. The memorable voyage which this letter describes lasted two hundred and twenty-four days, from the 3d of August, 1492, when Columbus sailed from the har bor of Palos on the southern coast of Spain, with three small caravels and about ninety men, to the 1 5th of March, 1493, when he returned in a single vessel to VI INTRODUCTION. the same port. Nine days after leaving Palos he reached the Canary Islands, where he remained until the 6th of September, taking in provisions and making other preparations. On the 8th, after lying becalmed for two days, he left these islands, and steered his way directly across the Atlantic, with the expectation of reaching India or China. On the morning of Friday, the 1 2th of October, corresponding to the present 2ist of October, he came in sight of one of the Bahama Islands, where he landed and took possession in the names of the Spanish sovereigns. On the i5th he visited another island, which he named Santa Maria de la Concepcion; on the following day he reached the island Fernandina; and on the igth, Isabella. Supposing that he was in the neighborhood of Cipango or Japan, he sailed toward the south, and on the 28th of October landed on Cuba, which he named Juana. Here he remained, exploring the northeast coast, until December 5th, when he sailed over to Hayti, called by him Espanola. After exploring the northern shore of this island, where he lost his own vessel by shipwreck on the 24th, he sailed in the Nina for Spain on the 1 6th of January, 1493, reaching the Azores on the 1 8th of February, Lisbon on the 4th of March, and Palos on the i5th of the same month. The following list comprises all the editions and INTRODUCTION. Vll translations of the Columbus letter known to have been printed before the year 1500 : (1) The original folio edition in Spanish, addressed to the " Escribano de Racion," Luis de Santangel, and supposed to have been printed at Barcelona in April, 1493. It is complete in two leaves or four pages. The only known copy, now in the Lenox Library, was discovered only a few years ago in Spain. (2) The quarto edition in Spanish, also addressed to the " Escribano de Racion," and containing four leaves or eight pages. It was probably printed in Spain, in 1493. The only known copy was discovered about thirty years ago in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana at Milan. A facsimile by photozincography, made from an in accurate hand-tracing of this copy, was published at Milan in 1866, and from this facsimile several recent forgeries seem to have been copied. (3) The edition in Latin with King Ferdinand s name alone in the title, described by Mr. Harrisse as No. i of his list, and by Mr. Major as No. 3. It is in four leaves or eight pages, and is supposed to have been printed at Rome by Stephen Plannck, in 1493. A copy is in the Lenox Library. (4) The edition in Latin with the names of Ferdi nand and Isabella in the title, described by Mr. Har risse as No. 4, and by Mr. Major as No. i, of their Vlll INTRODUCTION. respective lists. In other respects it is almost identical with the preceding, page for page and line for line, and probably was printed at Rome by Plannck, in 1493. The Lenox Library possesses a copy. (5) The edition in Latin printed at Rome by Eucharius Argenteus, or Silber, in 1493, complete in three leaves or six pages. A copy is in the Lenox Library. (6) The pictorial edition in Latin, reproduced here in facsimile from the original in the Lenox Library, which is the only perfect copy known. As the same woodcuts appear in a reprint appended to the drama of Carolus Verardus, published by Bergmann de Olpe at Basle in 1494, it is supposed that this edition was also printed at Basle, by the same printer, in 1493. (7) The edition in Latin entitled Epistola de insulis repertis de noiw, printed at Paris by Guyot Marchand, probably in 1493. It is in four leaves or eight pages, and contains only the name of Ferdinand in the title. Two copies are known, one in the Royal Library at Turin, the other in the University Library at Got- tingen. (8) The edition in Latin entitled Epistola de insulis de nouo repertis, printed at Paris by Guyot Marchand, in 1493 or 1494. It is evidently a reprint of the pre ceding, with which it agrees in the number of the INTRODUCTION. IX leaves, and in containing only the name of King Fer dinand in the title. Only two copies are known, one in the John Carter Brown Library at Providence, R. I., and the other (imperfect) in the National Library at Paris. A facsimile is in the Lenox Library. (9) The edition in Latin entitled Epistola de insults notiitcr repertis, printed at Paris by Guyot Marchand, in 1493 or 1494. It is also in four leaves, and agrees closely with the two preceding. Two copies only are known, both in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. A facsimile is in the Lenox Library. (10) The edition in Latin beginning Epistola Cris- tophori Colom, supposed to have been printed at Ant werp by Thierry Martens, in 1493 or 1494. It contains only the name of Ferdinand in the title, and is in four leaves. The only known copy is in the Royal Library at Brussels. ( 1 1 ) The pictorial edition in Latin appended to the drama of Verardus, published by Bergmann de Olpe at Basle in 1494. It is evidently a reprint of the separate pictorial edition, already described. There is a copy in the Lenox Library. (12) The edition in Italian verse entitled Storia della inventione delle nuoue insule di Chanaria indiane, printed at Rome on the i5th of June, 1493. The version was made by Giuliano Dati. The discovery TTT- X INTRODUCTION. of the only known copy was announced recently by Mr. Harrisse. (13) The edition in Italian verse entitled Questa e la hystoria della inuentide delle diese hole di Cannaria Indiane, printed at Florence on the 25th of October, 1493, in four leaves, being a reprint of the preceding. The only known copy, lacking the second and third leaves, is in the library of the British Museum. A fac simile is in the Lenox Library. (14) The edition in Italian verse entitled La lettera dellisole che ha trouato nitouamente il Re dispagna, printed at Florence on the 26th of October, 1493. It is another edition of the preceding. The only known copy, complete in four leaves, is in the library of the British Museum. A facsimile is in the Lenox Library. (15) The edition in Italian verse entitled hole Trouate Nouamente Per El Re di Spagna, printed at Florence, and dated 26th of October, 1495. It is in four leaves. The only known copy is in the Biblioteca Trivulziana at Milan. (16) The edition in Italian verse entitled La lettera dellisole che ha trouato nuonamente el Re dispagna, printed at Florence, and dated 26th of October, 1495. The only known copy, complete in four leaves, is in a private library in New- York. (17) The edition in German printed at Strasburg by INTRODUCTION. xi Bartholomew Kiistler, in 1497, in seven leaves. There is a copy in the Lenox Library. Besides the printed editions mentioned above, there are extant several manuscript copies in Spanish. One in the Archives of Simancas, addressed to the "Escri- bano de Racion," was printed by Navarrete in his Coleccion de Viages (Madrid, 1825), Vol. I, pp. 167-175. It is also described, and an English synopsis given, by G. A. Bergenroth, in the Calendar of Letters , Despatches, and State Papers, relating to the Negotiations between England and Spain (London, 1862), Vol. I, pp. 43-48. Another manuscript, in Spanish, addressed to Don Gabriel Sanchez, was discovered by Varnhagen in the CxOlegio Mayor at Cuenca, and published by him at Valencia in 1858. Columbus also made a full report of his voyage in the form of a diary, which he sent to the Spanish sovereigns. The original of this has not been found, but an abridgment, or synopsis, made by Bartolome de Las Casas, is extant, and has been printed in Navarrete s Coleccion. The transcript of this manu script which was probably used by Munoz and Navar rete is now in the Lenox Library. An English trans lation of this " Personal Narrative," made by Samuel Kettell, was printed at Boston in 1827. WlLBERFORCE EAMES, Assistant Librarian. LENOX LIBRARY, May i, 1893. FACSIMILE OF THE LETTER OF COLUMBUS. .Sllia? etia vna quant? nouo nomine nuttcupaui,*uiflpe aliam 3tofo lam Sancte 3fearie jCoceptiois.aUam ^ferna* t>mamalia5 IbyfebdUm.alia J qbauanui (ic &e reliqiue ajpellart tu!Tu^iiap:imu t ea^n^ fulam quaoudu lobanamvocariDijCi ag>uli muenuicta ei 9 lirtus o cadence vcrfus aliqu^ tulum p:occ(Ti:tam(p cam magna nullo rcpcr to ftncinueai:vt non infulamtfed cotinentefti Cbatay p:ouinda efle crcdiderimmulla tame vidce oipida mwutipiauc m maririmto fita c5 fimbu0:p:ctcr aliquoa vico^i pzcdia rafttca : cum quom mcoto loqui iiequibamtquarc fi* mul ac noe videbant furripiebat fugam 1^:0 grcdicbar vltratexirarnaii^ aliquam me v;bs Tillafueinuenrurum* Bcmc$ vidcnscjp long^ ftdmodum pgf elite : nibilnouicmergebat :cr buiufmodi via noe ad Scptcittnoncm DC fere batttf ipfe fttgeze cpptabamuerrte etcnim re gnabatbmma:ad auftrumq5eratm vetoed^ teiidcretnccminue venti flagitaimblts fuccc> oebat.coftitui alio$ no operiri fuccciTucte r fie retrocedenead po:tum quenda5 qticm figna^ ueramfumreuerfuetvnde ouosboCeecv 5o- fine in terrain mid *qui mueftigai-cnr:efFcr MC mc^p;omnda/v;befus aliquc/toii per ceanica muciwe Gpiftola Criftofert 2Tolom(cui etas noftra huiltii oebet : DC 3Jnrulie in tnari Jndico itug inueti0.2lo quasperquirendaeoctauo anteat menfetanfpicije tt ere ^nuictiffimi -f cmandi fcufpaiuawm iRegie miffue fucrat)ad ^feag^ nificum oftm iRapbaelcs Sanjci0:emfdc ferc^ mfiTinu Iftcgie Xbcfaurariu mifTa* quam nobi U0 ac littcrat 9 vir aiiandcr 6 Cofco: ab bif^ pano ydeomate iiilatmii cotiuertit:tcrcio fcfo afoaij. ^ft^cccc^ctij^ontificame Slcjcatidri Scjcti anno ip>rtmo . tEloitiamfurceprep:oaititiercm & (2 fectam me pfecutum fui(Te:gratii rt ^ bi fo:e fdo:bas pftitui ejtar are:que te vniufcuiufcp rei in boc noftro iti^ nere sefte muentecp admoneat-Sricefttnoter tic Die poftqs 6adtbu0 oirceffiun mare cu peruenitvbi plurimae ^ttfulas babitatae bommib^ rejperitqua^ ounjp ciflTimo TRegc noftrorpzccottio celebzato ve* jcillia cjctenfietcotradicenre nemme poffelTro* fie accepi.pzimeq? earumtotui Saluato:ie no men impofui (cuiuefret 9 aujcilio) tarn ad ba ad cetcms alias Euemtn 9 * Cain vcro ^ndi I :; ^ .t5 -^" i - ^S?^^ iTTl^iTi nr tres mes ambularut: inueneriit^miromeroe populos % babtmdcs: paruae rfi ct abf< vllo regtmmetquapzopi! redtewt* $Merca ego ia intcllcjccraa (Jbufdam 3fldfe:quo6 ibide fu* fcepera: quo bmoi p:oumcia:mfula quidern crati ftc perrcpi oztcnte vcrfustci feme ftriti gens Itttoza vfcp ad milurta *cccr,ty* vbi ipd 4 mfute funt c^trcma^bihc aha infuia ad 02icu^ tent p:ofpcjci:oiftantem ab baclJobaHarmUa* ribu0luijqua p:orirtu0lbifpanam oijcititi ea^ eg coceflu ^ oirep iter quafi g Scpteiitrionej queadmodii iti^iobatia ad ozietitertumiliarta cljciiij .que Dicta 5obaa ? alic ibidem tufulc ^fertilifrtme ejtiftiMMbec multie atc^ rutilTu mie i latismec alijs quoe vu$ videritn copa* r andi9 po:tib 9 : eft circudam.multi mantni % falubzee baric mterfluut fluuij.multt quoc?> ec cmittctilTimi in ea fimt motue0,me9 be iiifu le fuat pulccrrtme ^ varijs oiftincte figurtd: p^ uieti maxima arbo^ yartctate fidera lambeti tiiipleiietqsitu^folijephuari credo tqutp* pe vtdi ea0 it a yiretea atqj oeco:a : ceu mefc ^ifeato i bifpama folet ec:qp alie flozcresraUc fructuofetalie i alto ftatinf m vmufcutuf^ qli tateviseblttgamebat pbilomenati a!tj pafTc reo varij acmun;eri:mefelHoueb:i6q ipcper ca$ ocambuUbaSuiu prerca in otcta wFula 3obana fept vel octo palmar genera: mate * pulcbntudie ( queadniodfi cetere oes Sut t mirabilee pw*/agri/t p:ata valhflima/ varie aues/varie meila/varta< metallatferro cjtrcepto .511 ea afit quaibifpana fup:a oitim^ nficupari : majcimi funt motee ac pulcruvaft* rura/ncmoza/ campi feraalTinu/feri/ paar<^ i codendie edificijs aptiflimu^o^mff in bac i fulacomoditas: ipilantiaflummu copiafalu batatcadmijtta boim:q mil qws viderit: crc^ oulitatc fueaMbmus arbozce pafcua afruct^ muitumabilU0 yohweviffcmt. Ibecpterca Ibifpatia Diuerfo aromane gencre/ auro/ me^ talltfcp abundar^cu^ quide * oini alia^ quaa ego vidi: % qua^ cognitione babeoncolc vtri ufq? fcr ue nudi feme mcedut : qucadmodutn cduuf in lucem*p:eter aliquae fcmmae* q f^ Uo frondeue aliJit autbombidno velo: pude* oa opermttqfi ipe fibi ad id negocij parat*C rent bi omes (vr fup:a oijci) quocun4$ gcnere ferri^careiit ^ armietvtpote fibt ignotia nee ad eafutapti,no < ppf co2Bi6 oefoanutate (cftfint t)fi fo^mati) fs q* fut timidi ac pieni fonnidine. gcftat tn^ annie arSdineo fole guftasti qua^ baftile 4dda Ugneu ficcfi % tit macro 1 fepe cuenit cu miferim DUOS vcl trtebomfoea cjtr meis ad ahquas villae:vt cu ea;p loquere* tur mcoltete^ijITe agme glomeratii ej: 3>ndio; ct y bi noftros ajpzoputquare vidcbat:fugtn cclehter arripuilf e: ocfp:eti6 a patre Uberie ^ ccotra^boc no # cuipiam eo:ul oanmu aliqd veltrnuria illata fuerit:immo ad quofcuq^ ap pult 1 4bue cu vcrbu facerc porui: quic4d b* beba fum elargit:pannii ahac^ omultauiulla imbi facra vcrfura : fed ftmt nature pauidi ac timtdi*gTcte^ vbi fe ccrnut tutoetomi mctu re pulfo:funt ad modu fimplicee ac bone ftdeiti m omibue que babent Ubcrali(Timi:roganti Q? polTidct inficiaf nemo:qum ipfi noe ad id po* fccndum inuirat^ifoajctmu erga oce amore p^ fefcrurtoat qucc^ magna ,p paruio* minima 15 re nibiloue ptcnu:cgo attn ^>bibui nc tarn mi nima i null^ pci) bifce Darenftvtfunt lancie/ parapfidu /vitriq? fragmeta/jtej; daut/ltgule/ quanq5 ft boc potcrat adipifdtvidebaf cie put ccrrtma mudi poflTidere iocalia* Stccidit enim qucdant nauita : tantu auri pondus babuifle $ vna ligula : quah fut tree aurei folidi : i lie alioe $ alija mtone pci|:pf timp blanquie no uis:-i (fcufdanumis aurci9:p qb^babedisoa bat qc$d petebat vedito::putavncia cu oimi o u i oua$ auri: vf trigic^ ? qdr <r pottdo tqua ipi ia noiierar*) te arcuum/ampbo re/b?drie/Dolijc fragmetatbombice? auro tS q> bciltc coparabatq6 q ma itiiquu fane cratt vemi:oedic eis nwlta pulcra t grata q mcca tulera nullo it erucniere pmiotvt cos tmbi fa^ cili pciliare:ftcret(5 jcjpicole:i vt (Tut p:oniin gmoze crga iRcgciRcgina p:mctpefcp ttoftroa & viuucrfas getee lbifpante:ac ftudeat e4^c^ re i coaceruaretcacfe nobis tradcre 4b^ipi af* fluut ft nof magnoge idigcm*Tflulla by nozut ydolatnaumo firmiffime crediit oe5 vim: oej per cru: of a ociuc^ boita ciTc i celo: tnecp irtde cu bis naiub** nautif oefccdiffetats B aio vbe fui fufccptus poft^ mctu repuleraMBec fimt fegnes aut rude0:qumfummi ac cfpicacis in^ gcnijuboiea qui trarrflrctat mare illfcno fine odimratioc vuiufcumfqj ret ratione reddunt: fed nu$ videwnt gentesveftitasme^ nauea bmoi ego ftatun arcp ad mare ill6 puem te p:i ma infula quofda 3ndo0 yiolenter arripui: 4 cdifceret a nobia w nos piter oocerent ca:4? ipfi in bifcc partibus cognittone babebant * et ocvoto fucceffitma breui noe ipoe ?* by noa; turn geftu ac (Igniettum verbie inrellcjcerunt magnocp nobis fuere eraolumcto* veittunt m$ mecutftquifemp putant mepeiriuiflcecelo ^uis oiu nobifcfi verfati fuerint bodiecp ver* fentt bi erant primfc 4 id qttocuq5 afpeltabfr mu0nundabat:alij oeinceps alijs data vocc t>icetco*^lcmtc venite i vidcbitie getes erbc reas. fgluaobze ta femie $ viri: tl impuberes q$ adultittanv mu^nce ^fenes ; dpofita fo:mi tine paulo ante pcepta :no0 certatim vifebac magna iter ftipate caterua alije ctbu/ al^ 6 po turn afferentib tmajtio cu amo:c ac beniuole^ ria iticredibilulbabj vnaqueq > tttfula nmltas fcapbae foltdi ligm:^ (I anguftaaUongitudine tft ac fo:ma noftrte biremib 9 fimilc0:curfu aut velocio:eWRegunf remis tantumodo* Ibaril quedi Tunt magtterqueda parue:queda i me- Dio p(lftiitiM|lMurc0 tame biremi que remigct t>uooeuigititi tranftrio maiozeetcu qb 9 itt ocs illad infulaatque mttumere funntraijcif .cuq 5 bia fua mercatura ejtrcrcettec inter eoe corner^ ria fumt.2Uiquas ego barft biremium feu fca> pbaru^vidi qvebebat feptuaginta i octuagifi (a remigea^ii otntiib 9 bis infulis nulla eft oi^ uerfitaa inter genns effigieenulla in moabue etq5 loquelatqain oee fe tntelhgut admuice: que red cutilia eft ad id qd fercniffimii iRcge noflru cjcoptare p:ecipue reonfg; eo# ad fan (tarn jcpi ftdem puerlione,cui quide quantum ItcUisere potut ftcilimi funt i fni&ijA quc? admodu fum ;pgreffu antea m g rectii tramitc5 occafus in onentetn miliarifr cccjtjcij.f m quavia finwalliiitincrts poflutn tncere bac 5obana efle maio:e Snglia. a Sco tia fiFmanq5 vltra Dicta*ccc]ocij paffuu milta: in ca ere q ad ocddentc pfpectat : oue :quaa non pctij :fug funt .puincietqua^ alters ^ndi 2lnan vocat:cui accole caudati nafcuntZ t)unt in tonsitudinem admiliaria*cl]cjcjcvt ab bi0 4^ vebo mecu 5 tdte gcepi:qui omte baa callctinfula^lbifpanc vero ambit 9 matofcft to ta ib ifpanu a cologna vfq5 ad fontc rabidu Ibincqs facile arguif % qiurtii ci^ lac* qd ipc $) reef a linca occidenn^ in o:f ente traicd; mill ana priner*oj:Ulxc infula e affecrada i affe* ct A ta no fpcrncda in qua 1 1T alia^ oitn vt 01 ti ^ tnuictiffimo lUcgc nf o folenniter poITeflTio^ nem accepj:earuq5 iiuperiil oicto iRegipeni^ ruJ3 comi ttif u opoztiwi on tn loco: atc^ omi lu cro i cSmcrtio pdecentucuiufdainagncville: cui iHatiuitatia Dfii npme ocdtm^:polftffionc peculiariter accepiabiq5 arcem qu^ndas eri^ gere ejctemplo iuffitquc fnodo iam octet efle gactaun qu^ boies qui neceflar^ fiint vifi: cii omi armour genereu vltra annfi vtctu opozttt no relic} .tye quada c ara uclla: ip alt) pftruc pi? f I i Iw aitc $ in ceterl perirw ; 9 irtfulc iRcgis erga noo bcniuolcntia i familia mate incrcdibile. Su t cm gctes illc amabilcs a dmodtt i bciugne: eo $ iRcic p dictuo rnc fra tretn fuum Did glonabat * t fi ammu rcuoca rcnrtji bis 4 i arce manferut ttocere vclmrme q uc u t: q uia armis care t:nu di tccdut: i mrnifi timid i.idco o tcta arcctn tcuctes : ou ram pfit toti ea infuli nullo ftbi imminence oifcriminc (oomodo Icgco quad o cdim 9 ac regime no cic cedat)f>acile oetincre5rt omib^ bi^ uifiilia vt wtcllcu: quif^vm cm piugi acq utcfctr : peer pzinciped aut rcgce: 4 buo rigmti babcrc lic$. -f emine masts $ v trt labozare vidcuf :n ec be rtc potui incclligerc an babcat borta ppna:v j di ctn qd vn^ babebat alije ipartih:pf tim oa repcri: vt picric^ ejciftimabant: fed boico ma^ 0ne reueretie arcp benigno0iRec funt nigrive lut c tbio pco .bab ft crinea piano 9 ae oetniflTod no oegunt vbi radt om fotarid cmtcat calo:. g magna nacp bic eft folid vcbemcntia: ppterea $ abe4noctiali linea oiftat vbi videtur/gra? Duefe^i viguui C^montiu cacummib 9 ma^ pimfi q* vtget frig^:f5 id (idem modcranf 5rt^ t) i: td loci pfuetu die: tu re% calid iflftma^ 4b* f requeter t lujrun o fe vefcunf p:efid to . ^tacp moftra aliq no vidimc^ to$ alicubi babui ca cupata : que fecunda cjc Ibifpana m 3ndtant tranflreutibus criftit. quam gene que dam a finitume babita f credo: mcolir\ bi came bu* manavefcurttlbabcatp:edicrtbiremiiigcrtc ra plurtina:quibue jin omtice ^itdtcas wfulaa trail ctaitt/oep:edat/furripiutcp quecflq? pitt* Wtbtl ab aiije oifferunt mfi q> gerunt moze fc^ mineo longos crinee* yrunfarcub er fpicuto arundinei6:fiicia(vt mpm^in groffioh gte at tetiuatie baftilib^^ideocp babef fcroceetqua* re ceterityndi (ne^baufto metu ptectuitmr: (5 bos ego nibili facto plus q* alios, Ibi funt qui coeuitt cum quibufdam fcmmte:quc fole infu lam 4fcateimw pnml et Ibifpana tn 5tdiatn trail cienttb^ babitant *lbe aute femine iiulluj fui fejcus opu0 ejtcrccnttvtiwf em arcuM ^ fpi cuf ficuti 6 cap piugib 9 oiici muiuut: Jfefe lami his cnefo ma y tia ap6 ea^ copia ejciftit *aii am mibi mfula affirmant ftip:adicta Ibifpana maio2e: ei 9 incolc caret pilie.aurocft int alia0 potiffimu ejcuberat.lbui* infule % alia^ qs yt oi bofee mecu po:to:4 bo# q oijct teftimoniil pbibetBenic^ vt nfi oifceffua et celeris reuer fiote copediu:ac emolnmetii b:euib 9 aftringS B polliceo::tue nf fe TRegib 9 inuicttffimie puo ^b? fulfil au.tiUo:tanm aun oatu$ quantum cfe fticrft opu&tift vero aromawj, bombicfo* tnaftieis(q apud Cbium outajcat mucni)taii taqj ligni aloee.tantum f uoy by dropbilato* ruimquantu com maieftas voluerit ejrigere jtem r cubarbaru i alia aromatU3 genera :q bi q ucs in oiaa arce reliqui ia inucnilTracc^ IIP ucnturoo c]ciftimoqfTquidem ego nulUM ma* gis futn moutue nifi quanta me cotgerur vfe n:p:ctcrq; in villalBatiui carte: od arccm con^ cere i tuta omia effe p:owdu&tfe ^ H tnajtia et inaudita f unr : mulco tame maiora fozcnt ft nauee mibi vt ratio ejcigit f ubueralTent. Hez: multft ac mirabile bocmec noflrio meritis coz re( jpondee:fed fancteb:iftiane fideimoftro^ rumq^ iRegu pt et an ac religion! : quia qd bu^ m anu s cofcqui no poterat mrellecnioad bila^ me conceflTit oiuinua* Solet em oeuo f uoe fa csiquics Tua pcepta oiligunetia i impoiTibilU bus eraudiretvt nobie I piiria pttgit: 4 ea pfc cuti fum tq bacten moztaliu virce mime atti gerat.na (I bay infula^ cjpia alicidfcpfeft aut locuti fur:oeo p ambages i piecturae nemo fc eas vidiflfc aflerit: vnj>pe videbaf fabula ?gi tiir iftcjc i:lRegia pncipea ac eo# regna felicif (Tma: cuctecp alte b:iftiano$jpmncie Salua to:i ono nfo 3^fu)t:po agam^ gfaetcj tata noa peraganf folennia fatf a*feftacj$ fronde velent t>elub:a*]cultet b:ift*i temetqueadmodffi mcelisejcttltat:cam tot poputomm pditas ail bac anima:0 falttatum iri paeutdet* 2,e temur * nos:til jppter ejcalratioiienoftre fideutitm p* pter reru tempozaliu irtcremeta:q \io% no fold Ibifpam a fed vrtiuerfa Cbziftiattitao eft fuw* ra pticep9Ibecyt gcfta funt fie bzeuirer eitar* Criftofo:^ Colom (0ceane claffie i^:efecr* pisrama.TR*}Loe o:baria Epifcopfc afeontifpalufi) 2ld 3nmctilfimii TRege Ibifpama? 5am nulla Ibifpanio tellus addeda trifipbfef at$ paruin tantie yirib^/o:bi0 erat,, iHunc longe loie regio oepzeitfa fub vndi 0* Suctura eft tituloe 3&etice mague tuos* ^Inde repertozi mcrito referenda olubo (6raria:f5 fummo eft matoz babeda oeo: iiti vmcccla parar ttoua rcgiia tibiqj ftbicp; Zccg firoiU fo:tcm p:eftat i effe pium* ranatat TRANSLATION. THE DISCOVERED ISLANDS. Letter of Christopher Columbus, to whom our age owes much, concerning the islands recently discovered in the Indian sea. 1 For the search of which, eight months before, he was sent under the auspices and at the cost of the most invincible Ferdinand, king of Spain. 2 Addressed to the magnificent lord Raphael Sanxis, 3 treasurer of the same most illustrious king, and which the noble and learned man Leander de Cosco has translated from the Spanish language into Latin, on the third of the kalends of May, 4 1493, the first year of the pontificate of Alexander the Sixth. E CAUSE my undertakings have attained suc cess, I know that it will be pleasing to you : these I have determined to relate, so that you may be made acquainted with everything done and discovered in this our voyage. On the thirty-third day after I departed from Cadiz, 5 I came to the In dian sea, where I found many islands inhabited by 1 In the other editions this part of the sentence reads : " concerning the is lands of India beyond the Ganges, recently discovered." 2 The name of Isabella (Helisabet) is also omitted in the title of one of Plannck s editions ; it is found in the two other Roman editions. 3 The correct form is Gabriel Sanchez. 4 April 29th. 5 A mistake of the Latin translator. Columbus sailed from Palos on the 3d of August, 1492 ; on the 8th of September he left the Canaries, and on the nth of October, or thirty-three days later, he reached the Bahamas. 2 TRANSLATION. men without number, of all which I took possession for our most fortunate king, with proclaiming heralds and flying standards, no one objecting. To the first of these I gave the name of the blessed Saviour, 1 on whose aid relying I had reached this as well as the other islands. But the Indians call it Guana- hany. I also called each one of the others by a new name. For I ordered one island to be called Santa Maria of the Conception, 2 another Fernandina, 3 an other Isabella, 4 another Juana, 5 and so on with the rest. As soon as we had arrived at that island which I have just now said was called Juana, I proceeded along its coast towards the west for some distance; I found it so large and without perceptible end, that I believed it to be not an island, but the continental country of Cathay; 6 seeing, however, no towns or cities situated on the sea-coast, but only some villages and rude farms, with whose inhabitants I was unable to converse, because as soon as they saw us they took flight. I proceeded farther, thinking that I would dis cover some city or large residences. At length, per ceiving that we had gone far enough, that nothing new appeared, and that this way was leading us to the north, which I wished to avoid, because it was winter 1 In Spanish, San Salvador, one of the Bahama islands. It has been vari ously identified with Grand Turk, Cat, Watling, Mariguana, Samana, and Acklin islands. Watling s Island seems to have much in its favor. 2 Perhaps Crooked Island, or, according to others, North Caico. 3 Identified by some with Long Island ; by others with Little Inagua. 4 Identified variously with Fortune Island and Great Inagua. 6 The island of Cuba. 6 China. TRANSLATION. 3 on the land, and it was my intention to go to the south, moreover the winds were becoming violent, I therefore determined that no other plans were practicable, and so, going back, I returned to a certain bay that I had noticed, from which I sent two of our men to the land, that they might find out whether there was a king in this country, or any cities. These men traveled for three days, and they found people and houses without number, but they were small and without any govern ment, therefore they returned. Now in the meantime I had learned from certain Indians, whom I had seized there, that this country was indeed an island, and therefore I proceeded towards the east, keeping all the time near the coast, for 322 miles, to the ex treme ends of this island. From this place I saw another island to the east, distant from this Juana 54 miles, which I called forthwith Hispana; 1 and I sailed to it ; and I steered along the northern coast, as at Juana, towards the east, 564 miles. And the said Juana and the other islands there appear very fertile. This island is surrounded by many very safe and wide harbors, not excelled by any others that I have ever seen. Many great and salubrious rivers flow through it. There are also many very high mountains there. All these islands are very beautiful, and distinguished by various qualities; they are accessible, and full of a great variety of trees stretching up to the stars; the leaves of which I believe are never shed, for I saw them as green and flourishing as they are usually in Spain 1 Hispaniola, or Hayti. 4 TRANSLATION. in the month of May; some of them were blossoming, some were bearing fruit, some were in other condi tions; each one was thriving in its own way. The nightingale and various other birds without number were singing, in the month of November, when I was exploring them. There are besides in the said island Juana seven or eight kinds of palm trees, which far excel ours in height and beauty, just as all the other trees, herbs, and fruits do. There are also excellent pine trees, vast plains and meadows, a variety of birds, a variety of honey, and a variety of metals, excepting iron. In the one which was called Hispana, as we said above, there are great and beautiful mountains, vast fields, groves, fertile plains, very suitable for planting and cultivating, and for the building of houses. The convenience of the harbors in this island, and the remarkable number of rivers contributing to the health- fulness of man, exceed belief, unless one has seen them. The trees, pasturage, and fruits of this island differ greatly from those of Juana. This Hispana, moreover, abounds in different kinds of spices, in gold, and in metals. On this island, indeed, and on all the others which I have seen, and of which I have knowledge, the inhabitants of both sexes go always naked, just as they came into the world, except some of the women, who use a covering of a leaf or some foliage, or a cotton cloth, which they make themselves for that pur pose. All these people lack, as I said above, every kind of iron; they are also without weapons, which indeed are unknown; nor are they competent to use TRANSLATION. 5 them, not on account of deformity of body, for they are well formed, but because they are timid and full of fear. They carry for weapons, however, reeds baked in the sun, on the lower ends of which they fasten some shafts of dried wood rubbed down to a point; and indeed they do not venture to use these always; for it frequently happened when I sent two or three of my men to some of the villages, that they might speak with the natives, a compact troop of the Indians would march out, and as soon as they saw our men approach ing, they would quickly take flight, children being pushed aside by their fathers, and fathers by their children. And this was not because any hurt or injury had been inflicted on any one of them, for to every one whom I visited and with whom I was able to converse, I distributed whatever I had, cloth and many other things, no return being made to me; but they are by nature fearful and timid. Yet when they perceive that they are safe, putting aside all fear, they are of simple manners and trustworthy, and very lib eral with everything they have, refusing no one who asks for anything they may possess, and even them selves inviting us to ask for things. They show greater love for all others than for themselves; they give val uable things for trifles, being satisfied even with a very small return, or with nothing; however, I forbade that things so small and of no value should be given to them, such as pieces of plates, dishes and glass, like wise keys and shoe-straps; although if they were able to obtain these, it seemed to them like getting the most 6 TRANSLATION. beautiful jewels in the world. It happened, indeed, that a certain sailor obtained in exchange for a shoe- strap as much worth of gold as would equal three golden coins; and likewise other things for articles of very little value, especially for new silver coins, and for some gold coins, to obtain which they gave what ever the seller desired, as for instance an ounce and a half and two ounces of gold, or thirty and forty pounds of cotton, with which they were already acquainted. They also traded cotton and gold for pieces of bows, bottles, jugs and jars, like persons without reason, which I forbade because it was very wrong; and I gave to them many beautiful and pleasing things that I had brought with me, no value being taken in ex change, in order that I might the more easily make them friendly to me, that they might be made wor shippers of Christ, and that they might be full of love towards our king, queen, and prince, and the whole Spanish nation; also that they might be zealous to search out and collect, and deliver to us those things of which they had plenty, and which we greatly needed. These people practice no kind of idolatry; on the con trary they firmly believe that all strength and power, and in fact all good things are in heaven, and that I had come down from thence with these ships and sailors; and in this belief I was received there after they had put aside fear. Nor are they slow or un skilled, but of excellent and acute understanding; and the men who have navigated that sea give an account of everything in an admirable manner; but they never TRANSLATION. 7 saw people clothed, nor these kind of ships. As soon as I reached that sea, I seized by force several Indians on the first island, in order that they might learn from us, and in like manner tell us about those things in these lands of which they themselves had knowledge ; and the plan succeeded, for in a short time we under stood them and they us, sometimes by gestures and signs, sometimes by words ; and it was a great advan tage to us. They are coming with me now, yet al ways believing that I descended from heaven, although they have been living with us for a long time, and are living with us to-day. And these men were the first who announced it wherever we landed, continually proclaiming to the others in a loud voice, "Come, come, and you will see the celestial people." Where upon both women and men, both children and adults, both young men and old men, laying aside the fear caused a little before, visited us eagerly, filling the road with a great crowd, some bringing food, and some drink, with great love and extraordinary good will. On every island there are many canoes of a single piece of wood; and though narrow, yet in length and shape similar to our row-boats, but swifter in movement. They steer only by oars. Some of these boats are large, some small, some of medium size. Yet they row many of the larger row-boats with eighteen cross-benches, with which they cross to all those islands, which are innumerable, and with these boats they perform their trading, and carry on commerce among them. I saw some of these row-boats or canoes 8 TRANSLATION. which were carrying seventy and eighty rowers. In all these islands there is no difference in the appearance of the people, nor in the manners and language, but all understand each other mutually; a fact that is very important for the end which I suppose to be earnestly desired by our most illustrious king, that is, their con version to the holy religion of Christ, to which in truth, as far as I can perceive, they are very ready and favor ably inclined. I said before how I proceeded along the island Juana in a straight line from west to east 322 miles, according to which course and the length of the way, I am able to say that this Juana is larger than England and Scotland together; for besides the said 322 thousand paces, there are two more provinces in that part which lies towards the west, which I did not visit ; one of these the Indians call Anan, whose inhabitants are born with tails. They extend to 180 miles in length, as I have learned from those Indians I have with me, who are all acquainted with these islands. But the circumference of Hispana is greater than all Spain from Colonia to Fontarabia. 1 This is easily proved, because its fourth side, which I myself passed along in a straight line from west to east, extends 540 miles. This island is to be desired and is very desirable, and not to be despised ; in which, although as I have said, I solemnly took possession of all the others for our most invincible king, and their government is entirely committed to the said king, yet I especially took possession of a certain large town, in a very con- 1 From Catalonia by the sea-coast to Fontarabia in Biscay. TRANSLATION. 9 venient location, and adapted to all kinds of gain and commerce, to which we give the name of our Lord of the Nativity. And I commanded a fort to be built there forthwith, which must be completed by this time ; in which I left as many men as seemed necessary, with all kinds of arms, and plenty of food for more than a year. Likewise one caravel, and for the construction of others men skilled in this trade and in other profes sions ; and also the extraordinary good will and friend ship of the king of this island toward us. For those people are very amiable and kind, to such a degree that the said king gloried in calling me his brother. And if they should change their minds, and should wish to hurt those who remained in the fort, they would not be able, because they lack weapons, they go naked, and are too cowardly. For that reason those who hold the said fort are at least able to resist easily this whole island, without any imminent danger to themselves, so long as they do not transgress the regulations and com mand which we gave. In all these islands, as I have understood, each man is content with only one wife, except the princes or kings, who are permitted to have twenty. The women appear to work more than the men. I was not able to find out surely whether they have individual property, for I saw that one man had the duty of distributing to the others, especially refreshments, food, and things of that kind. I found no monstrosities among them, as very many supposed, but men of great reverence, and friendly. Nor are they black like the Ethiopians. They have 10 TRANSLATION. straight hair, hanging down. They do not remain where the solar rays send out the heat, for the strength of the sun is very great here, because it is distant from the equinoctial line, as it seems, only twenty-six de grees. On the tops of the mountains too the cold is severe, but the Indians, however, moderate it, partly by being accustomed to the place, and partly by the help of very hot victuals, of which they eat frequently and immoderately. And so I did not see any mon strosity, nor did I have knowledge of them any where, excepting a certain island named Charis, 1 which is the second in passing from Hispana to India. This island is inhabited by a certain people who are considered very warlike by their neighbors. These eat human flesh. The said people have many kinds of row-boats, in which they cross over to all the other Indian is lands, and seize and carry away every thing that they can. They differ in no way from the others, only that they wear long hair like the women. They use bows and darts made of reeds, with sharpened shafts fas tened to the larger end, as we have described. On this account they are considered warlike, wherefore the other Indians are afflicted with continual fear, but I regard them as of no more account than the others. These are the people who visit certain women, who alone inhabit the island Mateunin, 2 which is the first in passing from Hispana to India. These women, moreover, perform no kind of work of their sex, for they use bows and darts, like those I have described 1 Identified with Dominica. 2 Supposed to be Martinique. TRANSLATION. 1 1 of their husbands ; they protect themselves with sheets of copper, of which there is great abundance among them. They tell me of another island greater than the aforesaid Hispana, whose inhabitants are without hair, and which abounds in gold above all the others. I am bringing with me men of this island and of the others that I have seen, who give proof of the things that I have described. Finally, that I may compress in few words the brief account of our departure and quick return, and the gain, I promise this, that if I am supported by our most invincible sovereigns with a lit tle of their help, as much gold can be supplied as they will need, indeed as much of spices, of cotton, of chew ing gum (which is only found in Chios), also as much of aloes wood, and as many slaves for the navy, as their majesties will wish to demand. Likewise rhu barb and other kinds of spices, which I suppose these men whom I left in the said fort have already found, and will continue to find; since I remained in no place longer than the winds forced me, except in the town of the Nativity, while I provided for the building of the fort, and for the safety of all. Which things, although they are very great and remarkable, yet they would have been much greater, if I had been aided by as many ships as the occasion required. Truly great and wonderful is this, and not corresponding to our merits, but to the holy Christian religion, and to the piety and religion of our sovereigns, because what the human understanding could not attain, that the divine will has granted to human efforts. For God is 1 2 TRANSLATION. wont to listen to his servants who love his precepts, even in impossibilities, as has happened to us on the present occasion, who have attained that which hitherto mortal men have never reached. For if any one has written or said any thing about these islands, it was all with obscurities and conjectures; no one claims that he had seen them ; from which they seemed like fables. Therefore let the king and queen, the princes and their most fortunate kingdoms, and all other countries of Christendom give thanks to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who has bestowed upon us so great a victory and gift. Let religious processions be solem nized ; let sacred festivals be given ; let the churches be covered with festive garlands. Let Christ rejoice on earth, as he rejoices in heaven, when he foresees com ing to salvation so many souls of people hitherto lost. Let us be glad also, as well on account of the exalta tion of our faith, as on account of the increase of our temporal affairs, of which not only Spain, but universal Christendom will be partaker. These things that have been done are thus briefly related. Farewell. Lisbon, the day before the ides of March. 1 Christopher Columbus, admiral of the Ocean fleet. 1 March i4th, 1493. TRANSLATION. 13 Epigram of R. L. de Corbaria, bishop of Monte Peloso. To the most invincible King of Spain. No region now can add to Spain s great deeds : To such men all the world is yet too small. An Orient land, found far beyond the waves, Will add, great Betica, to thy renown. Then to Columbus, the true finder, give Due thanks ; but greater still to God on high ; Who makes new kingdoms for himself and thee : Both firm and pious let thy conduct be. OK IS LENOX LIBRARY, FIFTH AVENUE, 70TH AND 7isx STREETS, NEW-YORK. A public reference library, open daily, except Sunday, from 10 o clock A. M. to 5 o clock P. M. Exhibition of Rare Books and Manuscripts Columbus Relics and the Earliest Publications on America Paint ings and Statuary. ADMISSION FREE No TICKETS REQUIRED. GENERAL LIBRARY - U.C. BERKELEY BOOOS72313