+ 1^ IVJ-dO - 1| iNIVERS//, THE Letter of Columbus on the Difcovery of AMERICA A Facjimile of the Pictorial Edition, with a New and Literal Tranjlation, and a Complete Reprint of the Oldeft Four Editions in Latin. PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE LENOX LIBRARY NEW-YORK, M DCCC XCII 84943 COPYRIGHT, 1892, BY THE TRUSTEES OF THE LENOX LIBRARY. Two hundred and fifty copies printed on band-made paper. No. 46. MM* present facsimile, and reprint of the four Latin editions of the Columbus Letter, belonging to the Lenox Library, are published by the Trus- tees at this time, as an appropriate tribute to the memory of the great discoverer. JOHN 5. KENNEDY, President. New -York, October 21, 1892. INTRODUCTION. (D M - HE First Letter of Columbus, giv- ing the earliest information of his great discovery, was translated into Latin and sent to Rome for publication immediately after his return to Spain. Original copies of the oldest four editions of this version, printed in 1493, are preserved in the LENOX LIBRARY, where they occupy a prominent place in the exhibition of rare books. The rarest, and certainly the most interesting, of these is the pictorial edition, complete in ten leaves, which is reproduced here in exact facsimile, accom- panied by a literal translation. No other perfect copy is known to be extant. The curious woodcuts with which it is illustrated are supposed by some to have been copied from drawings made originally by Co- lumbus himself. They give remarkable representa- tions 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. This copy, which was rebound in red morocco by Thompson, the English bookbinder, apparently about Vi INTRODUCTION. sixty or seventy years ago, once belonged to Richard Heber, the celebrated bibliophile. At the sale of the final portion of his library at Paris, in October, 1836, it appeared as No. 885 of the catalogue, selling for ninety-seven francs. 1 It was subsequently owned by M. Guglielmo Libri, at the sale of whose library at London, in February, 1849, No. 259 of the catalogue, it was purchased by Mr. Lenox. 2 The three other editions referred to have no picto- rial illustrations, but they contain some slight variations. It is not known with certainty which of these is the first. In the Appendix all four editions are reprinted 1 The Heber copy is thus described in Brunei's Manuel du Libraire (Paris, 1842), Vol. I., p. 734, second column: " Le recto du prem. f. porte les mots Regn B Hispanic, avec les armes de Castille: au verso se voit une planche en bois (Oceana classis). Au a e f. commence De Jnsulis inuentis. Epistola Ckristof. Colon., traduction datee Kl. tnaii M. cccc. xciij, et oil sent placees quatre vignettes en bois. Le dern. f. contient, au recto, une figure represen- tant Ferdinand, roi d'Espagne, et au verso le mot Granata, avec les armes de cette ville." 1 Three imperfect copies are known : one in the Royal Library at Munich, lacking the first and tenth leaves; a second in the Public Library at Basle, also lacking the first and tenth leaves ; and a third in the Library of the British Museum (Grenville Collection), lacking the tenth leaf. The defect of the last- mentioned copy has been supplied by a facsimile leaf, presented by Mr. Lenox in 1859. There was a copy in the Brera Library at Milan, which is said to have been stolen early in the present century. As described by Bossi in his Vita di Cristoforo Colombo (Milano, 1818), p. 171, the ten lines of the title and the epigram at the end were ruled with red ink, the text began with an illuminated initial Q, and it lacked the tenth leaf. These peculiarities are all found in the Grenville copy of the British Museum. The statement in the reprint of Nicolatu Syllacius (New York, 1850), that in the title of the Lenox copy "each line has been underruled with red ink," is not correct. Only the top line has been so ruled. INTRODUCTION. vii side by side in ordinary type, with the abbreviations of the originals spelled out in full, in italics. The memorable voyage which this letter describes lasted two hundred and twenty-four days, from the $d of August, 1492, when Columbus sailed from the harbor 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 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 isth 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. Sup- posing 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 viii INTRODUCTION. 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 ship- wreck 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 isth of the same month. The news of these discoveries was soon spread far and wide. Various editions and translations were printed of Columbus's letter to the royal treasurer and secretary of the exchequer. Only a few of these, how- ever, have come down to our times, and they are reckoned among the rarest and most expensive of books. \ The following list includes all that were printed in the fifteenth century, so far as known : (1) The original folio edition in Spanish, of which the only known copy is in the Lenox Library. It was discovered in Spain in 1890, first offered for sale by Maisonneuve of Paris, and afterwards by Quaritch of London. It is complete in two leaves or four pages, addressed to the " Escribano de Racion," Luis de Sant- angel, and was evidently printed at Barcelona in April, 1493. Probably it is the oldest edition extant. (2) The quarto edition in Spanish, also addressed to the " Escribano de Racion," and containing four leaves or eight pages. This was probably printed in INTRODUCTION. IX 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 inaccurate hand-tracing of this copy, was pub- lished at Milan in 1866, and from this facsimile two 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 reprint is given in the Appendix, from the original 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 respective lists. It is otherwise almost identical with the preceding, page for page and line for line, and probably was printed at Rome by Plannck, in 1493. The reprint in the Appendix is from the original in the Lenox Library. (5) The edition in Latin printed at Rome by Eu- charius Argenteus, or Silber, in 1493, and supposed by Varnhagen to be the first edition. It is complete in three leaves or six pages, and is reprinted in the Appendix from the original in the Lenox Library. X INTRODUCTION. (6) The pictorial edition in Latin, reproduced here in facsimile from the unique copy in the Lenox Li- brary, and described at the beginning ot this intro- duction. 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 insults repertis de nouo, 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. The only known copy was discovered in 1873, in the Royal Library at Turin. (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 leaves, and in containing only the name of King Ferdi- nand in the title. Only two copies are known, one in the John Carter Brown Library at Providence, R. I., and the other in the National Library at Paris. A fac- simile is in the Lenox Library. (9) The edition in Latin entitled Epistola de insulis nouiter repertis, printed at Paris by Guyot Marchand, in 1493 or 1494. It is also in four leaves, and agrees INTRODUCTION. XI closely with the two preceding. Two copies only are known, one in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, the other in the University Library at Gottingen. A fac- simile 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. (n) 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 Questa e la hystoria delta inuentioe delle diesc Isole di Cannaria In- dianc, printed at Florence on the 2sth of October, 1493, in four leaves. The only known copy, lacking the second and third leaves, is in the library of the British Museum.- It was purchased in 1858. A fac- simile is in the Lenox Library. This edition and the three following are nearly alike in contents. The version was made by Giuliano Dati. (13) The edition in Italian verse entitled La lettera dellisolc che ha trouato nuouamente il Re dispagna, Xll INTRODUCTION. 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. It was purchased in 1847. A fac- simile is in the Lenox Library. (14) The edition in Italian verse entitled Isole Tro- uate Noitamente Per El Re di Spagna, printed at Flor- ence, and dated 26th of October, 1495. It is in four leaves. The only known copy is in the Biblioteca Trivulziana at Milan. (15) The edition in Italian verse entitled La lettera dcllisole che ha trouato nuouamente 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. (16) The edition in German printed at Strasburg by 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, Des- patches, and State Papers, relating to the Negotiations INTRODUCTION. X1U between England and Spain (London, 1862), Vol. I, pp. 43-48. Another manuscript, in Spanish, addressed to Don Gabriel Sanchez, was discovered by Vamhagen in the Colegio 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 manuscript which was probably used by Munoz and Navarrete is now in the Lenox Library. An Eng- lish translation of this " Personal Narrative," made by Samuel Kettell, was printed at Boston in 1827. WlLBERFORCE EAMES, Assistant Librarian. LENOX LIBRARY, October 21, 1892. FACSIMILE OF THE LETTER OF COLUMBUS. mucntfe Epiftola Criftofert fif olom(cui etas noftr* multu oebet : DC 3rafulis m man 5ndico ttUQ inuetis.Bo quaapcrqutrcndaaoctauo antea tnenfetaufpidja ct ere ?nuictiiTimi -f entandi niftcutn ofttn l(Upbaelc5 Saiijcieteiufdc ferc^ nilTitni iftegie Zbcfauratm milfa* quam nobi Ii0 ac luterat* vir atiander 6 Cofco: ab toif* patio ydeomate in latinii conuemr.tercio kla fectaro me p fccututn fUifle:gratu ti bi foze fciotbas pftitui ejcarare:que te vnwfcuiufcp rei m bociioftro m^ nere g^fle itiuentecp admoneat.iricefimoter rip oie poftq? (6adtbit0 Difceflfiun mare ^ndi^ cu peruenitvbi plurimae ? nfulas mrmmerid babitataa bominib rejperitqua^ oim^p fete ciffimo KXegc noftrorpzcconio cetebzato i v& jcilli0cictcnlT0:c6tradtccntcncmme poiTelTro* fie accepi.p:imc^ carum:oiui Sa luatone no metttmpofui (cuiuafret^aujetlio) tamadbaC ^ ad cctcras alias, jsuenim^* Cain.vcrQ Jndi .&Uap etfa vita quanq; tiouo nomine iwncupaui.j&uiflpe aliam 'Jnfu lam Sancte dfcarie flCoceprtois.aliam 'f erna* tnnamalU3 Ibffabeilam.alil ^qbananui: fie t>e reliquie ajpelUrt itufTu^uapnmil t ca^it^ fulam qua oudu 5obatutn vc can Diri ag>uli tnueuujcta ci titme ocadcncc verfus aliqus^ tulum p:occfTr.tam$ earn ma^na nullo repcr to fineinuenuvt non infulamifcd cotinentcnt Cbatay p:ouincia efle credidf rimtnulla tame vidce op id a mutucipiauc in ntahrimio Hta c5 fimbu0:p2ctcr aliquoa vicoe-t p:cdta rufttca : cum quo2U mcolialoqui nequibamtquarc fi* mul at noe vtdcbant furripiebat fugam ^:o grcdicbarvltrate^iftimans aliquam me v:bs Tillafue inuenmmm* Dcnic^ vidcus c$ lon^ ftdmodam pgf eflte : nibil noui cmcrgebat :cr baiufmodi via noe ad Scpteiurioncm DC f c re bat:^ ipfc fugczc cpptabanr.rcrrie ctenirn re gnabat bmmatad^auflrumqjcrat in' veto co* reiidcrctncc imnu0 vcnti fiogitantibUd fit ccc^ ocbltrcofhtui aliod no operiri fuccciTustc r lie rctroccdcnsad poztum quenda5 qucin fi^ia^ ucram fum reucrru0:vnde A ouo9 botee c.t no* flrte in tcrramlniflTqui inueftigarcncfefier nc ' per tree tics ambularut: inuaicrut$mnttmcro0 populos \ babir ato c0: par uao tn cr abfcg vllo regimine:quap:op.redicwt yntereb ego u fatcllejceraa c|bufdam 3ndfc:quo6 ibide fu* fccpcra: quo bmoi p:oumcia:mfula quidern crat.i fie perrcjci oztentc vcrructci^fcmp Ihiti gens lttto:a vfcp ad nuluria ^cccricij* vbi ipd 4 wfule futic e ttrcrr, a.bitic alia infu U ad o:icu tetn pzofpcjcitoiftatitcm ab bac3obana milta^ ribu3.lnij.qu5 p:o tmuelb ifpatiain otjciuti el* 'c0 cdceffu ^ oCrcjd itcrrquali p Scptcntripnc5 queadmodu mjobana ad ozicittcnnmilt ana bljcuij .quc Dicta ?obatia i alic ibidem tufule ^fcrtiliffime cjciftunt. Ibcc mulcis atq? ruttlTu mid -z latismcc alii o quo a vticp videritn copa* tatidie po:tib^: eft circudata.multi matinu % falubzeo baric mtcrfluur ftuutj -multi quoc? et cmuic tilTimi in ea fuut mo ittes. ^Dmes be tufu le furtt pulccrnmc i varijaoiftinctefigurid: p* uicti maicima arbo^ vanctate fidera lambcii tiuplene:q0nu$folij0p2uiari credo : qutp^ pe vidt eas ita yiretes a tcp oecoaaa : ecu mefe ^afoaio i bifpama folec ee:q^ alie flozereaiahc fructuofetalic C alio ftatu:f m vmufcuiufcp oil tatevigebattgamebat pbilomenau a!y paltc reo varij acinuiT;eri:mefeiRoulb:i04 ipf V^r eas D caiubuUb I. Sa lit pterca in Dicca infuU 3obana. fept yd ocro painty genera: mace t pulcbritudic ( queadmodu cetcrc oes flrbo:c0/bcrbc/fruaufio pftftunt^lurco tame biremi que remigce tuooeutginti rrattflrto maiozeatcii i quoa in Dicta arce reliqui ia inuenilTetacq^ in? uenruroo c;ciftimoqriquidcm ego natlibi ma* 06 fum mozatue nili quantii me cocgcrut T^ ti:p:ctcr$ in villalBatiuitatietoil arcem con* oerc i tuta omia efle p:ouidi*^iue -r H majcui ct inaudita funt : mulro tame maiora fozcnc (I mutrii ac mirabile bocmec noftrie meritis cot re(ponded:fed fancteb:ifhane ftdcimoftro* rum^ il\c^u. pietatt ac religioni: quia qd bu^ manus cofcqui no poterat inteilectueud bua^ n i conccffit piuinue, Solcr em oeuo f uoo fa oe:quiq5 fua pcepta Diligut:etia i mipoilibili* bus craudire:vt nobie C pntia prtgit: era$atrf folctmia facm.fefta$ fronde vetorf in cclis ctulnt: cum tot populowm pdto ail bac ammas falttatum in p:euidetXetcmur t no6:ru pptcr cpatratione nollre fidcutum pj ptcr rcru tcmpozaltu mcreinetatquo^ no fold Ibifpam'a fed vniucrfa /Cbziltianitao eft futu* ra gticcpa.lbec yt gcfta fun fie bzeuirer enar^ Criftofo;' Colom ^ceane claflis T:efect* pigramalR2l*De /Co:baria Cpifcopi ^l&ontifpaluli) Bd Jnuictilfimu TRegc i 5am nulla (biTpantd tcllus addeda triupbiai 2lto^ paruin tantis y irib^/ozbi0 crat^ iRunc longc iSois regio oep:enfa fub vndie* Suctura eft titulod 36 cticc magnc tuos. 'ndc reperton mcrito referenda iColubo j6ratia:f5 fummo eft maioz babeda oeo: ^ui vinceda parat noua regna ttbicp (ibices Zccp finwl fottem pzelfet i e(Tc pmm. ranarat 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. I ECAUSE 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. * April 29th. 6 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. * Identified variously with Fortune Island and Great Inagua. B 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 Haytj. 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 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 desirtd 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. 1 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 12 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 i^th, 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. THE EARLIEST FOUR EDITIONS IN LATIN OF THE FIRST LETTER OF COLUMBUS. [THE ILLUSTRATED EDITION.] [Third page begins :\ De Infulis inuentis || Epiftola Criftoferi Colom (cui etas noftra || multum debet : de Infulis in mari Indico nuper \\ inuewtis. Ad quas perquirendas octauo antea || menfe: aufpicijs et ere Inuictiffimi Fernandi || Hifpaniarum Regis miffus fuerat) ad Mag- 1| nificum demmum Raphaelew Sanxis: eiufde/rc fere- 1| niffimi Regis Thefaurariu/w miffa. quam nobi || lis ac litterat.y vir Aliander de Cofco : ab Hif- 1| pano ydeomate in latinuw conuertit: tercio kalendas \\ Maij. M. cccc. xciij. Pontificatus Alexandri || Sexti Anno Primo. || [PLANNCK'S "FERDINAND" EDITION.] C Epiftola Chriftofori Colom : cui # dudum Iohana; vocari dixi appulimus: iu || xta eius littus occidentem verfus aliquantulum proceffi : tamque \\ earn ma.gna.rn nullo reperto fine inueni : vt non infulam : fed conti || nentem Chatai prouinciam effe crediderim : nulla \awen videns op- || pida muni- cipiaue in maritimis fita confinibw^ praeter aliquos vi- || cos et predia ruftica : cum quorum incolis loqui nequibam. quare fi || mul ac nos videbant furripiebant fugam. Pro grediebar vltra : || exiftimans aliquaw me vrbem villafue inuenturum. Deniq