la) is larger in circuit than
the whole of Spain, from the Straits of Gibralter (the Columns) to
Fuentarabia in Biscay, as I sailed 138 long leagues in a direct line
from west to east. Once known it must be desired, and once seen one
desires never to leave it; and which, being taken possession of for
their Highnesses, and the people being at present in a condition
lower than I can possibly describe, the Sovereigns of Castile may
dispose of it in any manner they please in the most convenient
places. In this Espanola, and in the best district, where are gold
mines, and, on the other side, from thence to terra firma, as well
as from thence to the Great Khan, where everything is on a splendid
scale--I have taken possession of a large town, to which I gave the
name of La Navidad, and have built a fort in it, in every respect
complete. And I have left sufficient people in it to take care of
it, with artillery and provisions for more than a year; also a boat
and coxswain with the equipments, in complete friendship with the
King of the islands, to that degree that he delighted to call me and
look on me as his brother. And should they fall out with these
people, neither he nor his subjects know anything of weapons, and go
naked, as I have said, and they are the most timorous people in the
world. The few people left there are sufficient to conquer the
country, and the island would thus remain without danger to them,
they keeping order among themselves.

"In all these islands it appeared to me the men are contented with
one wife, but to their governor or king they allow twenty. The
women seem to work more than the men. I have not been able to
discover whether they respect personal property, for it appeared to
me things were common to all, especially in the particular of
provisions. Hitherto I have not seen in any of these islands any
monsters, as there were supposed to be; the people, on the contrary,
are generally well formed, nor are they black like those of the
Guinea, saving their hair, and they do not reside in places exposed
to the sun's rays. It is true that the sun is most powerful there,
and it is only twenty-six degrees from the equator. In this last
winter those islands which were mountainous were cold, but they were
accustomed to it, with