On the way back, »Pinta» in turn slowed down, because its rear mast had broken, and Pinzon, in his gold rush, had not been quick to get a new one. Due to the headwinds, the ships went down towards the northeast and soon came to cooler waters, where they caught a lot of fish, including an enormous shark. The catch was a welcome addition to the stockpile, as food was starting to run low. The return journey was much more difficult because of the winds, as it had to be sailed in more uneven and headwinds than on the outward journey, when the trade winds had so sympathetically and quickly escorted the ships across the unknown ocean.
In the end, Columbus probably didn’t know where he was, because the sea had such high waves that he couldn’t use an astrolabe to measure the height of the North Star. On the 12th of February, a severe storm arose, which finally reached such an extent that “Nina” had to furl almost all her sails and go down with the storm. On February 14, the small ship was in great danger. Columbus ordered lots to be prepared, one of which was marked with a cross, and ordered that whoever got the cross should make a pilgrimage to Santa Maria de Guadaloupe and donate a five-pound wax candle to the shrine there. Columbus himself took the first one and got the bean with the cross drawn on it. Then lots were cast as to who should go on pilgrimage to Santa Maria de Loreto, which was in Italy, near the city of Ancona, and this lot fell upon a sailor from Cadiz. The admiral promised to give him travel money if rescued. Then lots were cast to see who would be the vigil for one night and say Mass at the Santa Clara Shrine in Moguer. The lot again fell to the admiral. Last time, the ship’s crew collectively promised that they would all go to the church in the first place where they would come ashore, in festive attire and barefoot, to thank the Virgin for salvation. This all happened while the storm was raging, and pious raffling kept the spirits up.
Every moment could really be the last. The ship had become lighter due to the fact that the food supplies were starting to run out, and was listing heavily. To help with this inconvenience, the admiral had empty barrels filled with sea water and stored below deck. He himself kept a close eye on the rudder all the time. Those who have been in a heavy storm off the Azores will well understand the danger this little leaky vessel was in, alternately climbing the huge waves of the Atlantic, alternately plunging into the unseen between them. Cods and foams flew to the top of the masts and wave after wave washed over the deck. The slightest carelessness in holding the stern could have been the ship’s undoing.
When the danger was at its highest, Columbus wrote on parchment a short account of his discoveries and a request that the letter be taken to the Spanish royal couple. He then sealed the letter in an empty barrel and wrapped the barrel in a cloth and threw it into the sea. But no one else knew what it contained, and everyone thought it was some kind of religious expenditure. Columbus himself, even in the time of greatest danger, was assured that he would be saved, for he considered himself God’s intermediary.
On the 15th of February, the storm stopped and as the sun set, land could be seen on the horizon. The pilots thought it was a Spanish beach, but Columbus guessed it was one of the Azores, and it really was. In the evening, the admiral finally dared to go below deck to sleep, having been at the helm without getting tired since the storm had begun. The next morning we reached the shore and the island was discovered to be Santa Maria, the easternmost of the Azores. The other half of the men rowed ashore on the spot to fulfill a common pilgrimage promise, but the Portuguese governor of the island treacherously imprisoned the men, contrary to the friendly message he had sent to the admiral. However, after a few bends, the men were released again and »Nina» was able to continue her journey. March 4 p. In 1493 it happily arrived on the shores of Portugal and went to the mouth of the Tagus to repair its damage. The return of Columbus attracted immense attention in Lisbon. Bartholomeu Diaz, who was the master of the port, would have gladly imprisoned him and seized his ships, but King João II summoned the admiral to his court and received him with great honors. Columbus sent overland from Lisbon to the Spanish government the first news of his happy return.
On March 13, »Nina» again left Lisbon and a couple of days later happily arrived at Palos port, from where it left the previous year on August 3. had set off. »Pinta», which had separated from it in a storm, had drifted all the way to Bayona, on the West Coast of Galicia, but it also arrived in Palos on the same day as »Nina». The small harbor town greeted the returnees with great celebration. The admiral went straight to St. George’s Church to thank God for his happy return and his salvation from so many dangers. Then the monks escorted him to the monastery of La Rabida, where a solemn “Te Deum” was celebrated. The next day, ten Indians were brought ashore from the ships, six of whom were from Guanahan and four from Cuba, as well as strange animals, plants and all kinds of other objects that had been brought with them. At the end of March, the admiral left for Seville.
Reception in Spain.
Opinions in Spain had completely changed with the return of the expedition. Everyone thought it happened in India and the jubilation was endless. Columbus, who before had been so much laughed at and ridiculed, was now a hero, »Admiral of the Ocean» and Viceroy of India. When he arrived in Seville, a select body of royal cavalry came outside the city to receive him. A party went into the town, with servants in front carrying parrots and other strange birds of beautiful plumage, spears and other weapons and strange articles, and after these came the Indians, who attracted more attention than any other sights. Then followed the admiral with his seamen and officers, and such acquaintances as had shown him friendship before the voyage. The streets were black with people, the windows were full of spectators and Columbus got an apartment in the palace of Count Cifuentes. From Seville, according to one source, he wrote a letter to Paolo Toscanelli, but the elderly Florentine scientist could hardly be alive anymore; the year of his death is mentioned as 1482. A letter arrived from the king and queen, who were then in Barcelona, in which the admiral was urged to come to the court as soon as possible and at the same time it was announced that he would be able to return to India to continue his work more quickly.
In mid-April, Columbus left for Barcelona. In all the cities, people flocked to greet the returning hero, and in Barcelona a magnificent reception was prepared for him. Outside the city rode a group of gallantly dressed knights who escorted him before the king and queen. Ferdinand and Isabella sat with their son, the young Prince Juan, on two thrones under a stately tent, surrounded by ministers and princes of the kingdom. However, the high-ranking gentlemen had to wait somehow long, because the streets were so crowded that it was very difficult to get through with the admiral’s procession. In front came the Indians and sailors of the “Nina”, carrying tropical fruits and all kinds of foreign plant products, parrots and many other brilliant birds and strange animals, among other things, a five-foot-long immense iguana lizard [the iguana lizard is a very horrible-looking, although completely harmless animal. The Spanish thought it was a dragon, I guess], with big spikes on its back. The Indians, of whom there were six, had spears and arrows and ornaments of gold. Then followed Columbus himself, handsome and large, although his hair was already grey. Ferdinand and Isabella, as if on a moment’s impulse, rose to their feet as the admiral entered the audience hall. It was an honor rarely bestowed upon any subject. After Columbus had kissed the hand of the royal couple, he was asked to sit near the throne and tell his story. Eloquently he explained his remarkable journey, the discovery of Guanahan, Cuba and Espanjola and showed, how the ruling couple now had the opportunity to serve God, wisely and righteously ruling these new lands. When he had finished his speech, there was a moment of deep silence in the hall, after which the royal couple fell on their knees, thanking God, and the whole Court followed suit. Priests and choir singers entered the hall in a solemn procession chanting the »Te Deum«, and the numerous crowds in the streets erupted into thunderous applause. This solemn moment made a deep impression on everyone present. In the following days, Columbus was able to have a private conversation with Ferdinand and Isabella, and then it was determined in more detail how the expeditions were to be continued. At the same time, it was decided to ask the Pope to assure these newly discovered lands to the Spanish crown that Portugal would not be able to usurp them. wisely and righteously governing these new lands. When he had finished his speech, there was a moment of deep silence in the hall, after which the royal couple fell on their knees, thanking God, and the whole Court followed suit. Priests and choir singers entered the hall in a solemn procession chanting the »Te Deum«, and the numerous crowds in the streets erupted into thunderous applause. This solemn moment made a deep impression on everyone present. In the following days, Columbus was able to have a private conversation with Ferdinand and Isabella, and then it was determined in more detail how the expeditions were to be continued. At the same time, it was decided to ask the Pope to assure these newly discovered lands to the Spanish crown that Portugal would not be able to usurp them. wisely and righteously governing these new lands. When he had finished his speech, there was a moment of deep silence in the hall, after which the royal couple fell on their knees, thanking God, and the whole Court followed suit. Priests and choir singers entered the hall in a solemn procession chanting the »Te Deum«, and the numerous crowds in the streets erupted into thunderous applause. This solemn moment made a deep impression on everyone present. In the following days, Columbus was able to have a private conversation with Ferdinand and Isabella, and then it was determined in more detail how the expeditions were to be continued. At the same time, it was decided to ask the Pope to assure these newly discovered lands to the Spanish crown that Portugal would not be able to usurp them. so there was a deep silence in the hall for a moment, after which the royal couple fell on their knees, thanking God, and the whole Court followed suit. Priests and choir singers entered the hall in a solemn procession chanting the »Te Deum«, and the numerous crowds in the streets erupted into thunderous applause. This solemn moment made a deep impression on everyone present. In the following days, Columbus was able to have a private conversation with Ferdinand and Isabella, and then it was determined in more detail how the expeditions were to be continued. At the same time, it was decided to ask the Pope to assure these newly discovered lands to the Spanish crown that Portugal would not be able to usurp them. so there was a deep silence in the hall for a moment, after which the royal couple fell on their knees, thanking God, and the whole Court followed suit. Priests and choir singers entered the hall in a solemn procession chanting the »Te Deum«, and the numerous crowds in the streets erupted into thunderous applause. This solemn moment made a deep impression on everyone present. In the following days, Columbus was able to have a private conversation with Ferdinand and Isabella, and then it was determined in more detail how the expeditions were to be continued. At the same time, it was decided to ask the Pope to assure these newly discovered lands to the Spanish crown that Portugal would not be able to usurp them. Priests and choir singers entered the hall in a solemn procession chanting the »Te Deum«, and the numerous crowds in the streets erupted into thunderous applause. This solemn moment made a deep impression on everyone present. In the following days, Columbus was able to have a private conversation with Ferdinand and Isabella, and then it was determined in more detail how the expeditions were to be continued. At the same time, it was decided to ask the Pope to assure these newly discovered lands to the Spanish crown that Portugal would not be able to usurp them. Priests and choir singers entered the hall in a solemn procession chanting the »Te Deum«, and the numerous crowds in the streets erupted into thunderous applause. This solemn moment made a deep impression on everyone present. In the following days, Columbus was able to have a private conversation with Ferdinand and Isabella, and then it was determined in more detail how the expeditions were to be continued. At the same time, it was decided to ask the Pope to assure these newly discovered lands to the Spanish crown that Portugal would not be able to usurp them.
Columbus was treated with the greatest respect during the time he stayed in Barcelona. On March 3, the Indians were baptized and the king and crown prince were witnesses to the baptism. The admiral was solemnly assured of all the rights that had been promised to him before setting out on the voyage, and in addition he was given his own coat of arms. The king presented him with a fine Milanese suit of steel, which is still preserved. Around this time, the incident that is so widely known as »Columbus’s egg« is said to have happened. The admiral was in the company of the Spanish superiors, and there was, as usual, a lot of talk about India. One of those present had said: »Signor Cristoforo, even if you had not discovered India, we would not have lacked a man who could have attempted the same thing as you did, for this Spain of ours is full of great men, learned both in cosmography and in literature.» Columbus made no reply to these words, only asking that an egg be brought to him. He put the egg on the table and said: »Gentlemen, I’ll make a bet with anyone that you can’t get this egg to stand on its head from a bare basin, but I can.» They all tried and none could. When the egg had gone round to Columbus, he pressed its head on the table so hard that it flattened; those present were embarrassed when they saw it, because they understood the meaning of the trick: When a great work has been done and everyone knows how it has to be done, everyone thinks they can do it. They should have sought India first, and not mocked him who had set out in spite of it, that it was they who had laughed at the whole attempt as impossible. This joke was written in memory about fifty years later and it is likely that it has a basis in fact.
Columbus’s account of the discovery of America.
Columbus had sent a letter from Lisbon to his friend Luis De Santangel, the money keeper of Aragon, which was the first account of the discovery of America intended for the sovereign. From the letter we can see how fondly the admiral himself criticized his discovery. It reads in its entirety as follows:
»In the strong assurance that you will be happy to hear the happy conclusion of the expedition I led, I have wanted to send you the following notes, so that you can see what has happened on our journey and what has been discovered on it. Hear then: About a month after I had left Gadesh, I arrived at the Indian sea. There I found many islands inhabited by countless people. With a solemn proclamation and the flag of Spain I took possession of them all in the name of our most gracious king, and there was no opposition to it. The first island I found, which the natives called Guanahan, I named San Salvador, remembering the Saviour, in whose help we had come so far, and by whose help we were to go still farther. I also gave the other islands new names: Santa Maria de Concepcion, Ferdinandina, La Isabella, La Isla Juana. When we had come to the aforesaid island of Juana (Cuba), we sailed along its shore a little to the westward, but found it so vast that it could no longer be considered an island, but a part of the mainland of Cathay (China). But I could not see any cities or larger settlements on its shores, only a few villages and small towns, the inhabitants of which it was impossible for us to speak with, because they ran away when we approached. We therefore sailed forward in the hope that we would find a city or other population centers. But when this hope proved futile, and when I found that we were thereby forced further and further to the north, which I wished to avoid, as winter was already coming, I intended to direct my course towards the south. But when the wind was not favorable to our intention, I decided not to go any further, but to return to a suitable port that I had noticed on this coast. From there I sent two of our men ashore; they had to find out if that country was ruled by a king and if there were any cities in it.
»They traveled for three days, found many small settlements and many people, but no trace of any government. That’s why they came back. But then I heard from some of the Indians I captured that the land was an island after all, and therefore I continued my journey farther and farther eastward along the shores of this island 322 nautical miles, to its end. From there I saw another island to the east, which was 54 fathoms from Juana, and I named it La Spanola. I steered to it and sailed it too, following its northern shore towards the east for 564 fathoms. The said Juana, like all the other islands in these seas, is exceedingly fertile. And there are many safe, spacious and incomparably beautiful harbors everywhere on its shores. Many large and pleasant rivers flow through the island and many mountains raise their lakes high. In general, all of these islands are luxuriously lovely through their diverse formations, all open to travelers, decorated with the most diverse, sometimes reaching for the clouds, trees. I don’t think these trees will ever lose their leaves. I saw them standing as green and wonderfully lush as our trees in Spain in May. Some of them bloomed, others were full of wonderful fruit, each tree according to its own quality. And yet, in November, when I was on the island, nightingales and countless other birds sang. Besides, the said Juana had seven or eight kinds of palm trees, which, as well as all the other trees, grasses, and fruits of the place, for the growth and loveliness of the solaka, in many ways excelled all, what we grow in Spain. So there are wondrous forests of silicon, vast cultivations and grasslands, many kinds of birds, different kinds of honey, and metals, except no iron. But in that island which I called La Spanola, as I mentioned above, there are very high and lovely mountains, extensive forests and cultivated lands, and wonderfully fertile soil, which is the best both for farming and raising cattle, and for founding settlements. And it is almost incredible to anyone who has not seen it, how incomparable harbors and excellent rivers there are, and in most of the rivers there is gold. But the trees and grasses and fruits that were in La Spanola were very different from those that are in Juana. La Spanola also grows a variety of spices, and gold and other metals are very abundant there. The inhabitants of this country, as well as of all the other countries I have seen and explored, go about naked, both men and women, as naked as they were when they were born into the world, only the women cover their private parts with leaves and leaves or with a cotton garment made for that purpose. These people have no iron at all, as I already mentioned, and weapons are almost unknown to them. And they wouldn’t even know how to use them, because they are a fearful and timid people. They would have good physical condition, because they are beautifully formed. Their weapons are only sticks made of dry reeds, to the end of which they attach a dagger-like point formed of dry wood. But they hardly dare to use this weapon either. At least it happened often, that when I sent two or three of my men to the villages of the natives to talk, they were met by a whole group of Indians. But on the spot when they saw our people coming closer, they fled in haste and abandoned their fathers and sons and the sons their fathers. And it by no means happened because we would have harmed them or used violence against them. On the contrary: Wherever we went and wherever it was possible to start conversations with the residents, we always tried to offer them whatever we had as gifts, fabrics, clothes and much more, without taking anything from them. They are incredibly timid by nature. But when they realized that the fear was absolutely necessary, they became good-natured and confident and freely gave everything, what they had. They willingly gave up anything that was asked of them, even outright forced them to take it. All of them treated us with the greatest friendship, and in bartering they did not mind it, although they had given valuable things for worthless ones, they were always satisfied with even the most insignificant. But in order that they might not be harmed, I forbade my men to give them such cheap things as pieces of dish and pieces of glass, nails, and leather thongs, though the possession of these seemed to them more valuable than all other treasures. It so happened that the sailor got so much gold from the leather strap that three money of fine gold could have been stamped out of it; and others sometimes got even more for still more trifling objects. Especially for the new copper and gold coins, they gave whatever the person concerned demanded: one and a half and two ounces of gold, or thirty or forty pounds of cotton, which was already a familiar product to them. In the same way they tried to get for themselves bowstrings, pieces of vessels, pieces of urns and barrels, just like wild animals. But at last I forbade this barter, because the country-dwellers in it mostly became most unreasonably cheated. And I presented to them, taking no return, many good and useful things that I had with me, in order to gain their favor, and to be able more easily to convert them to Christianity, and to render them subject and subject to our royal couple and our princes, and to all the people of Spain, and that by care and diligence they would bring together all kinds of the same wealth, which they have more than enough, but which we lack. These people do not serve any kind of idols, but on the contrary they strongly believe that all power and might and in general everything good is from heaven and that I, my ship and my ship’s men, had also come from heaven. In that faith, they welcomed me everywhere, as soon as they had overcome their first fear. But by no means should you think of them as stupid or simple, on the contrary, they are quite intelligent and understand things easily, know the local seas from their own trips and tell surprisingly accurately about everything that is in them. And that belief arose in them only because they had never before seen people with clothes, nor ships like ours. As soon as I had arrived in these regions, I caused some of the inhabitants to be taken by force on the spot on the first island, in order to learn from them all that they could tell. And it succeeded, because after a short time we understood them and they understood us, partly by signs, partly by speech. And so they were of the greatest benefit to us. And even now they are with me, and still, no matter how long they have been with us, they think that we have come down from heaven to earth. And they always declared the same thing everywhere first, wherever we landed. Others then spread this information, shouting to their neighbors: “Come, come see people who have come from heaven.” And then men and women, children and adults, youths and old men came in great numbers to see us, and they were no longer afraid, as at the beginning. Some brought food, some brought drink, and all were friendly and most lovable. — In all these islands we have seen many canoes made of one tree, which were almost as long as our two-oared boats, and of the same shape, only narrower, and therefore faster; they were transported only by oars. Some canoes are bigger, some smaller, some medium-sized. But some are even bigger than our similar galleys with 18 rowing boats. They go in their boats to all these innumerable islands and thus trade with each other. I saw some such canoes, or two-oared vessels, with seventy or eighty oarsmen. All these islands have the same people, and there is no difference in their language or customs. And they all understand each other, and this circumstance seems to me very favorable to the realization of that desire, which I understand to be nearest to the hearts of even our most gracious royal couple: to convert all these nations to the Christian holy faith, to which, as far as I can understand, they can be easily and easily persuaded. I have already told you how I sailed from the west to the shore of Juana island directly eastward 322 fathoms. I can draw the conclusion from this amount of maika, that the island of Juana is bigger than England and Scotland combined. For there are still two provinces in the west, which I did not visit, beyond the distance of 322 penicula mentioned. One of them is called Anan, and there it is said that people are born into the world with tails. The length of both these provinces, I heard, was about 180 cubits, as I learned from the Indians in my company, who know all these islands. The circumference of the island of La Spanola is greater than the whole of Spain from Colonia (Catalonia) to Fons Rabidus (on the coast of Biscay). This is proven by the fact that the other side of the island, along which I walked, is 540 peni angles. The possession of this very island is most precious to us, and though I, as I have already said, have solemnly taken all the other islands as our invincible king’s own, so I have wanted, especially on this island, to take possession of such a place as would be suitable for trade and industry, and founded a city which I named La Navidad. For that, I built a castle on the spot, which is probably already ready, and I gave the defense forces I left in the castle the necessary weapons and food supplies for more than one year. I also left them the ship and men who are skilled at building ships and know other trades as well. Besides, those left there enjoyed the special favor of the king of the island, and likewise the inhabitants there in general were friendly and open-minded, and the said king, for example, was always happy to call me his brother. And even if there is a change in their mood and even if they try to harm the castle people left behind, however, they wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything because they are unarmed, naked, and moreover cowards. Therefore, according to my assurance, the castle people I left there would be able, if necessary, to destroy even the whole island, without having to fear for themselves, if they only follow my advice and orders. — In all these islands, according to my understanding, monogamy prevailed, with the exception of kings and princes, who were permitted to keep twenty wives. As far as I understand, women do more work than men. Whether the inhabitants of the country have private property, I could not find out, for I saw that each one shared with the other what he had, especially food and the like. Cannibals, which many thought they were, I have never met among them in the first place, but only helpful and benevolent people. And they are not so black as the Ethiopians, and they have straight hair that hangs down. They try to avoid the heat of the sun, which is very great in these parts, 26 degrees from the equator. But in the high mountains there is also a severe cold, which the inhabitants of the country are used to, they mitigate it by eating hot food and using a lot of spices. So I have never met cannibals anywhere, nor heard of them, with the exception of one island, which is another when coming from Spain and approaching India from the sea. Its name is Charis. Because there live a people that all the neighboring peoples consider very wild, and they eat human flesh. This nation possesses many rowing canoes, and in them they go to all the islands of India, looting and pillaging wherever possible. In appearance, these people do not differ from other islanders, except that they, like the women, have long hair. The weapons are bows and throwing weapons are reed sticks with an arrowhead on the end. For all these reasons they are considered savages and are unspeakably feared by other Indians. They didn’t scare us any more than the other Indians. The inhabitants of the said island are married to women who live alone on the island of Matremonio, the first to come from Spain. Those women, however, do not do the same work as other women, but they have spears and bows just like the men, and copper plates to protect the body, which metal is abundant there. On another island, which, according to the inhabitants of the country, is even larger than the said La Spanola, the inhabitants have no hair in the first place. That island had more gold than any other. From that island, too, I bring with me inhabitants, as well as from all the others I have visited, as proof of my story. — In the following, I will briefly repeat the profit and benefit of my journey and my speedy return: I undertake to bring to our invincible royal couple, as compensation for the relatively small help given to me, as much gold as is necessary, and as much spices, cotton, and mastic resin — which until now has been obtained from the island of Chios — as much aloe-wood, and as many slaves as arms-bearers as may be required. And also rhubarb and other spices and everything that the crew I left in the castle have already found, or are yet to find. I, for my part, stayed everywhere in those regions only so long, as the winds forced me to stay, except for the city of Navidad, where I built a castle, taking care of the safety of its defenders. But despite that, my achievements are enormous and unheard of. But they would be even bigger if I had enough decent ships. However, grace has come to me in a surprising amount and far beyond my merit, partly because of my faithful Christianity and because of the pious and God-fearing mood of our royal couple. Namely, what human reason could not achieve, God’s spirit has granted to people. For God’s way is even in what is impossible, to listen to his servants and those who love his commandments. The same has happened to us now. For we have brought it about, which no mortal power has yet accomplished. Namely, those who until now have written or spoken about these islands, they have only done so on the basis of legendary statements and premonitions. No one could claim that he had seen these islands with his own eyes, so it seemed as if they were just a myth, not reality. Therefore now the king and queen and their happy kingdoms and all other Christian countries should thank and praise our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, who has thus led us to victory and given us rich gifts. Festive processions should be carried out, splendid sacrifices should be celebrated and the Houses of God should be decorated with festive leaves. Christ must also rejoice on earth, as He rejoices in heaven. For the souls of so many peoples, which before perished, will now be saved. Let us rejoice for once, first of all, at the promotion of our faith, and then also at the accumulation of our earthly wealth, of which not only Spain will share, but with it the whole of Christendom.
This is a short story of what we have accomplished! Farewell!
Chrislobal Colon. Admiral of the Ocean Fleet.»
As a result of this letter, which in other places is a bit laudatory, it should be pointed out that Columbus is mistaken both about the position of the islands he found, and especially about their size. The reason why he judged the coasts of Cuba and Haiti to be so long was perhaps the sea current against which he was sailing, which must have carried him far astern, especially as he was at the same time tacking against the wind. The area of Espanjola, or Haiti, is 77,000 square kilometers, so it does not even compare to England and Scotland, whose total area is 217,000 square kilometers. The incompleteness of the observations is shown by the fact that Columbus reported the position of these two large islands to be a whole lot further north than the real one.
