y with them by oars, for they are incredibly fast; and
with these they navigate all the islands, which are innumerable, and
obtain their articles of traffic. I have seen some of these canoes
with sixty or eighty men in them, and each with a paddle.

"Among the islands I did not find much diversity of formation in the
people, nor in their customs, nor their language. They all
understand each other, which is remarkable; and I trust Your
Highnesses will determine on their being converted to our faith, for
which they are very well disposed.

"I have already said that I went 107 leagues along the coast of
Juana, from east to west. Thus, according to my track, it is larger
than England and Scotland together, for, besides these 107 leagues,
there were further west two provinces to which I did not go, one of
which is called Cibau, the people of which are born with tails;
which provinces must be about fifty or sixty leagues long, according
to what I can make out from the Indians I have with me, who know all
the islands. The other island (Espanola) 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