her I passed in thirty-three days, and
returned in twenty-eight, but that these storms have delayed me
twenty-three days running about this sea.[272-2] All the seamen say here
that there never has been so bad a winter nor so many shipwrecks.

Dated the 14th of March.[272-3]

Colom sent this letter to the Escrivano de Racion.[272-4] Of the islands
found in the Indies. Received with another for their Highnesses.[272-5]

FOOTNOTES:

[263-1] Guanahani in the Journal; see entry covering October 11 and 12.

[263-2] The original text has Isla bella, which was a misprint for
Isabella. _Cf._ Journal, October 20.

[264-1] _Cf._ Journal, November 2 and 6.

[264-2] _Cf._ Journal, November 1, for Columbus's strong inclination to
regard Cuba as mainland.

[264-3] _Cf._ Journal, December 9.

[264-4] _Cf._ Journal, December 20 and note.

[265-1] The prevalent Spanish, estimate of the population of Espanola at
the time of the first colonization was 1,100,000. The modern ethnologist
and critical historian, Oscar Peschel, placed it at less than 300,000 and
more than 200,000. The estimates of Indian population by the early
writers were almost invariably greatly exaggerated. _Cf._ Bourne, _Spain
in America_, pp. 213-214. and notes.

[266-1] _Cabos de agugetas._ Rather the metallic tips of lacings or
straps. _Agugeta_ is a leather lacing or strap. The contemporary Latin
translator used _bingulae_, shoe-straps, shoe-latchets.

[266-2] The _castellano_ was one-sixth of an ounce of gold.

[266-3] _Blancas_ were little coins worth about one-third of a cent.

[266-4] The _arroba_ was 25 pounds.

[267-1] The first appearance of this West Indian word in Europe.

[267-2] _Fustas de remo._

[268-1] _Cf._ Journal, December 23, and note. The reader will observe the
tone of exaggeration in the letter as compared with the Journal.

[268-2] Marco Polo reported that in the kingdom of Lambri in Sumatra
"there are men who have tails like dogs, larger than a palm, and who are
covered with hair." Marco Polo, pt. III., ch. XIV. See Yule's note on the
legend of men with tails, Yule's _Marco Polo_, II. 284. The name Avan
(Anan in the Latin letter) does not occur in the Journal. Bernaldez,
_Historia de las Reyes Catolicos_,[TN-5] II. 19, gives Albao as one of
the provinces of Espanola. As this name is not found in his chief source,
Dr. Chanca's letter, he may have got it from Columbus and through a lapse
of memory transferred it from Cuba to E