e rights and wrongs of the new
settlement.

The letter goes on to say, that the sovereigns have communicated with
the King of Portugal, and that they have explained to him that Columbus
is pressing his discoveries at the west and will not interfere with
those of the Portuguese in the east. He is instructed to regard the
Portuguese explorers as his friends, and to make no quarrel with them.
He is instructed to take with him his sons, Fernando and Diego. This is
probably at his request.

The prime object of the instruction is still to strike the mainland of
the Indies. All the instructions are, "You will make a direct voyage,
if the weather does not prevent you, for discovering the islands and the
mainland of the Indies in that part which belongs to us." He is to take
possession of these islands and of this mainland, and to inform the
sovereigns in regard to his discoveries, and the experience of former
voyages has taught them that great care must be taken to avoid private
speculation in "gold, silver, pearls, precious stones, spices and other
things of different quality." For this purpose special instructions are
given.

Of this voyage we have Columbus's own official account.

There were four vessels, three of which were rated as caravels. The
fourth was very small. The chief vessel was commanded by Diego Tristan;
the second, the Santiago, by Francisco de Porras; the third, the
Viscaina (Biscayan), by Bartholomew de Fiesco; and the little Gallician
by Pedro de Torreros. None of these vessels, as the reader will see, was
ever to return to Spain. From de Porras and his brother, Columbus and
the expedition were to receive disastrous blows.

It must be observed that he is once more in his proper position of a
discoverer. He has no government or other charge of colonies entrusted
to him. His brother Bartholomew and his youngest son Fernando, sail with
him.

The little squadron sailed from the bay of Cadiz on the eleventh of
May, 1502. They touched at Sicilla,--a little port on the coast of
Morocco,--to relieve its people, a Portuguese garrison, who had been
besieged by the Moors. But finding them out of danger, Columbus went at
once to the Grand Canary island, and had a favorable passage.

From the Grand Canary to the island which he calls "the first island of
the Indies," and which he named Martinino, his voyage was only seventeen
days long. This island was either the St. Lucia or the Martinique of
today. Hence he p