Sanchez letter from a manuscript discovered by him in Valencia. Neither
of these manuscripts, however, has the authority of the first printed
editions.

E.G.B.

[Illustration: Facsimile of the first page of the folio (first) edition
of the Spanish text of Columbus's letter to Santangel, describing his
first voyage, dated February 15, 1493. From the original (unique) in the
New York Public Library (Lenox Building).]

LETTER FROM COLUMBUS TO LUIS DE SANTANGEL

SIR: As I know that you will have pleasure from the great victory which
our Lord hath given me in my voyage, I write you this, by which you
shall know that in thirty-three days I passed over to the Indies with
the fleet which the most illustrious King and Queen, our Lords, gave me;
where I found very many islands peopled with inhabitants beyond number.
And, of them all, I have taken possession for their Highnesses, with
proclamation and the royal standard displayed; and I was not gainsaid.
To the first which I found, I gave the name Sant Salvador, in
commemoration of His High Majesty, who marvellously hath given all this:
the Indians call it Guanaham.[263-1] The second I named the Island of
Santa Maria de Concepcion, the third Ferrandina, the fourth, Fair
Island,[263-2] the fifth La Isla Juana; and so for each one a new name.
When I reached Juana, I followed its coast westwardly, and found it so
large that I thought it might be mainland, the province of Cathay. And
as I did not thus find any towns and villages on the sea-coast, save
small hamlets with the people whereof I could not get speech, because
they all fled away forthwith, I went on further in the same direction,
thinking I should not miss of great cities or towns. And at the end of
many leagues, seeing that there was no change, and that the coast was
bearing me northwards, whereunto my desire was contrary, since the
winter was already confronting us, I formed the purpose of making from
thence to the South, and as the wind also blew against me, I determined
not to wait for other weather and turned back as far as a port agreed
upon; from which I sent two men into the country to learn if there were
a king, or any great cities. They travelled for three days, and found
innumerable small villages and a numberless population, but nought of
ruling authority; wherefore they returned.[264-1] I understood
sufficiently from other Indians whom I had already taken, that this
land, in its continuousness, was a