ars in which he was urging
his cause and that it was not enough that he should have showed the
religious side of it, that he was obliged to argue for the temporal view
as well. But their decision, for which he praises them indirectly, was
made, he says, in the face of the ridicule of all, excepting the two
priests, Marcheza and the Archbishop of Segovia. "And everything will
pass away excepting the word of God, who spoke so clearly of these lands
by the voice of Isaiah in so many places, affirming that His name should
be divulged to the nations from Spain." He goes on in a review of the
earlier voyages, and after this preface gives his account of the voyage
of 1498.

They sailed from Santa Lucca the thirtieth of May, and went down to
Madeira to avoid the hostile squadron of the French who were awaiting
him at Cape St. Vincent. In the history by Herrara, of another
generation, this squadron is said to be Portuguese. From Maderia,
they passed to the Canary Islands, from which, with one ship and two
caravels, he makes his voyage, sending the other three vessels to
Hispaniola. After making the Cape de Verde Islands, he sailed southwest.
He had very hot weather for eight days, and in the hope of finding
cooler weather changed his course to the westward.

On the thirty-first of July, they made land, which proved to be the cape
now known as Galeota, the southeastern cape of the island of Trinidad.
The country was as green at this season as the orchards of Valencia in
March. Passing five leagues farther on, he lands to refit his vessels
and take on board wood and water. The next day a large canoe from the
east, with twenty-four men, well armed, appeared.

The Admiral wished to communicate with them, but they refused, although
he showed them basins and other things which he thought would attract
them. Failing in this effort, he directed some of the boys of the
crew to dance and play a tambourine on the poop of the ship. But this
conciliatory measure had as little success as the other. The natives
strung their bows, took up their shields and began to shoot the dancers.
Columbus stopped the entertainment, therefore, and ordered some balls
shot at them, upon which they left him. With the other vessel they
opened more friendly communication, but when the pilot went to Columbus
and asked leave to land with them, they went off, nor were any of them
or theirs seen again.

On his arrival at Punta de Icacocos, at the southern point o