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"Master Christopherus, in war much else has to cease! In much we have had to find patience, and you have to find it." "My lord King, yes!" replied the tall man. "It is eighteen years since in Lisbon, looking upon the sea one day, I said to myself, 'Is there a question that is not to be answered? This ocean is to be crossed. Then why do not I cross it? There is Cipango, Cathay and India!
In the following year both he and his son Sebastian, then a very young man, who probably also accompanied his father in the voyage of 1497, sailed again for the new lands which were believed to be somewhere on the road to Cipango and the countries of gold and spice and silk.
He spent some time looking for the gold, but could not find any; although he heard of the island of Cuba, which he took to be the veritable Cipango. He weighed anchor on October 24th and sailed south-west, encountering some bad weather on the way; but on Sunday the 28th he came up with the north coast of Cuba and entered the mouth of a river which is the modern Nuevitas.
On the admiral inquiring for Cipango, which he still expected to find in these seas, they thought he had meant Cibao, and pointed to the eastwards, as the place in the island which produced most gold. The admiral was now informed that the cacique, or lord of that part of the country was coming to visit him, attended by 200 men.
The Tortugas Returns to Hispaniola Picks up an Indian in a canoe on the way The Indian's report induces a cacique to visit the ships Friendly intercourse with other caciques Farther along the coast, an envoy from the great cacique Guacanagari visits the ships The notary sent to the cacique His large, clean village The Spaniards treated as superior beings Cibao, mistaken for Cipango, heard of The ship of Columbus wrecked Guacanagari's generous behaviour Terror of the Indians at hearing a cannon discharged Delighted with hawks' bells Stores from the wreck saved A fort built with the assistance of the natives, and called La Natividad The cacique's friendship for Columbus Abundance of gold obtained A garrison of thirty men left in the fort, with strict rules for their government Guacanagari sheds tears at parting with the Admiral The Nina sails eastward The Pinta rejoins him Pinzon excuses himself His treachery discovered In consequence of it Columbus resolves to return to Spain Pinzon's ill treatment of the natives Fierce natives met with First native blood shed The Indians notwithstanding visit the ship Columbus steers for Spain Contrary winds A fearful storm The device of Columbus for preserving the knowledge of his discoveries The Azores reached Castaneda, Governor of Saint Mary's Crew perform a pilgrimage to the Virgin's shrine Seized by the Governor Caravel driven out to sea Matters settled with Castaneda Sails Another tempest Nearly lost Enters the Tagus Courteously received by the King of Portugal Reaches Palos 15th of March, 1493 Enthusiastic reception at Palos Pinzon in the Pinta arrives Dies of shame and grief Columbus received with due honour by Ferdinand and Isabella Triumphal entrance into Barcelona His discovery excites the enterprise of the English.
Lacking the full story, the narrator could give just enough of it to stimulate wonder. Who was he? Where was Cipango? He was rich learned knew all the sciences, all the languages he had visited countries everywhere, even the inhabited islands.
At first he thought it was heaven, but when he saw golden roofs he knew it must be Cipango, for in heaven where it never rained and there were no nights, we shouldn't need roofs. One interrupted, "We'd need them to keep the flying angels from looking in!" "It was Cipango," persisted Francisco, "for the Emperor himself came and gave me a rope of pearls.
Unbeknown to this Columbus, just send out a ship of your own to the west, and let them come back and tell us what they find." It was a most underhand piece of business all around; but the king yielded and sent out a ship, which presently came back again with the report that there was no Cathay there, and they hadn't found any Cipango; it was all nonsense!
The canoes were heaped with fruit and cassava bread, and they had cotton, not in balls, but woven in pieces. And these Indians had about neck or in ear some bits of gold. These they changed cheerfully, taking and valuing what trifle was given. "Gold. Where do you get your gold? Do you know of Cipango or Cathay or India? Have ever you heard of Zaiton, or of Quinsai and Cublai Khan?"
In the fragrance of the woods of Cuba, Columbus thought that he smelled Oriental spices, which Marco Polo had described as abounding in Cipango; when he walked by the shore and saw the shells of pearl oysters, he believed the island to be loaded with pearls and precious stones; when he saw a scrap of tinsel or bright metal adorning a native, he argued that there was a gold mine close at hand.
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