bed like gold.[154-4] He remembered that
in the river Tagus, near its junction with the sea, there was gold; so
it seemed to him that this should contain gold, and he ordered some of
these stones to be collected, to be brought to the Sovereigns. Just
then the sailor boys called out that they had found large pines. The
Admiral looked up the hill, and saw that they were so wonderfully
large that he could not exaggerate their height and straightness, like
stout yet fine spindles. He perceived that here there was material for
great store of planks and masts for the largest ships in Spain. He saw
oaks and arbutus trees,[155-1] with a good river, and the means of
making water-power.[155-2] The climate was temperate, owing to the
height of the mountains. On the beach he saw many other stones of the
color of iron, and others that some said were like silver ore, all
brought down by the river. Here he obtained a new mast and yard for
the mizzen of the caravel _Nina_. He came to the mouth of the river,
and entered a creek which was deep and wide, at the foot of that S.E.
part of the cape, which would accommodate a hundred ships without any
anchor or hawsers. Eyes never beheld a better harbor. The mountains
are very high, whence descend many limpid streams, and all the hills
are covered with pines, and an infinity of diverse and beautiful
trees. Two or three other rivers were not visited.

The Admiral described all this, in much detail, to the Sovereigns, and
declared that he had derived unspeakable joy and pleasure at seeing it,
more especially the pines, because they enable as many ships as is
desired to be built here, bringing out the rigging, but finding here
abundant supplies of wood and provisions. He affirms that he has not
enumerated a hundredth part of what there is here, and that it pleased
our Lord always to show him one thing better than another, as well on the
ground and among the trees, herbs, fruits, and flowers, as in the people,
and always something different in each place. It had been the same as
regards the havens and the waters. Finally, he says that if it caused
him who saw it so much wonder, how much more will it affect those who
hear about it; yet no one can believe until he sees it.

_Monday, 26th of November_

At sunrise the Admiral weighed the anchors in the haven of Santa
Catalina, where he was behind the flat island, and steered along the
coast in the direction of Cabo del Pico, which was S.E. He re