were all
built of palm branches. Here were dogs which never barked (supposed
to be the almiqui), wild birds tamed in the houses and "wonderful
arrangements of nets,(*) and fish-hooks and fishing apparatus. There
were also carved masks and other images. Not a thing was touched." The
inhabitants had fled.

(*) These were probably hammocks.

He went on to the northwest, and saw a cape which he named Cabo de
Palmas. The Indians on board the Pinta said that beyond this cape was
a river and that at four days' journey from this was what they called
"Cuba." Now they had been coasting along the Island of Cuba for two or
three days. But Martin Pinzon, the captain of the Pinta, understood this
Cuba to be a city, and that this land was the mainland, running far to
the north. Columbus until he died believed that it was the mainland.

Martin Pinzon also understood that the king of that land was at war with
the Grand Khan, whom they called Cami. The Admiral determined to go to
the river the Indians mentioned, and to send to the king the letter
of the sovereigns. He meant to send with it a sailor who had been to
Guinea, and some of the Guanahani Indians. He was encouraged, probably,
by the name of Carni, in thinking that he was really near the Grand
Khan.

He did not, however, send off these messengers at once, as the wind
and the nature of the coast proved unfit for his going up the river the
Indians had spoken of. He went back to the town where he had been two
days before.

Once more he found that the people had fled, but "after a good while
a man appeared," and the Admiral sent ashore one of the Indians he had
with him. This man shouted to the Indians on shore that they must not be
afraid, as these were good people, and did harm to no man, nor did
they belong to the Grand Khan, but they gave, of what they had, in many
islands where they had been. He now jumped into the sea and swam ashore,
and two of the inhabitants took him in their arms and brought him to a
house where they asked him questions. When he had reassured them, they
began to come out to the ships in their canoes, with "spun cotton and
others of their little things." But the Admiral commanded that nothing
should be taken from them, so that they might know that he was seeking
nothing but gold, or, as they called it, nucay.

He saw no gold here, but one of them had a piece of wrought silver
hanging to his nose. They made signs, that before three days many
mer