ucked in or absorbed the smoke by
the other, with which," he says, "they put their flesh to sleep, and it
nearly intoxicates them, and thus they say that they feel no fatigue.
These mosquetes, as we should call them, they call tobacos. I knew
Spaniards on this Island of Hispaniola who were accustomed to take them,
who, on being reproved for it as a vice, replied that it was not in
their power (in their hand) to leave off taking them. I do not know what
savour or profit they found in them." This is clearly a cigar.

The third or fourth of November, then, 1892, with the addition of nine
days to change the style from old to new, may be taken by lovers of
tobacco as the fourth centennial of the day when Europeans first learned
the use of the cigar.

On the eleventh of November the repairs were completed.

He says that the Sunday before, November 11 it had seemed to him that it
would be good to take some persons, from those of that river, to carry
to the sovereigns, so that "they might learn our tongue, so as to know
what there is in the country, and so that when they come back they may
be tongues to the Christians, and receive our customs and the things of
the faith. Because I saw and know," says the Admiral, "that this people
has no religion (secta) nor are they idolaters, but very mild and
without knowing what evil is, nor how to kill others, nor how to take
them, and without arms, and so timorous that from one of our men ten
of them fly, although they do sport with them, and ready to believe and
knowing that there is a God in heaven, and sure that we have come from
heaven; and very ready at any prayer which we tell them to repeat, and
they make the sign of the cross.

"So your Highnesses should determine to make them Christians, for I
believe that if they begin, in a short time they will have accomplished
converting to our holy faith a multitude of towns." "Without doubt there
are in these lands the greatest quantities of gold, for not without
cause do these Indians whom I am bringing say that there are places in
these isles where they dig out gold and wear it on their necks, in their
ears and on their arms and legs, and the bracelets are very thick.

"And also there are stones and precious pearls, and unnumbered spices.
And in this Rio de Mares, from which I departed last night, without
doubt there is the greatest quantity of mastic, and there might be more
if more were desired. For the trees, if planted, take root,