itted.--E.

[7] The meaning of this passage is quite inexplicable.--E.

[8] Those here called cinnamon trees must only have had some distant
resemblance to true cinnamon in flavour; probably what is now called
_Canella alba_, which is only used to give a flavour to nauseous
medicines.--E.

[9] By the description of the route in the foregoing narrative, the
distances appear to have been, from Isabella to the pass of Hidalgos 3
leagues; from Hidalgos to the pass of Cibao 11 leagues; and from this
latter pass to the Castle of St Thomas 4 leagues: in all 18 leagues as
in the text.--E.

[10] This story, like the iron pan in Dominica formerly mentioned, seems
to have gained circumstances in its passage to the author. Such
collections of balls or round stones are not uncommon in mines, and
are termed nests: The hay and straw seem an embellishment.--E.

[11] In a former passage he was said to have waited for the convoy of
provisions before going to Cibao, which must have been an oversight in
the author.--E.

[11a] All these mighty promises of mines turned out only torrents and
rivulets, in the beds of which gold dust and grains were found with
infinite labour, and which, after the destruction of the natives, were
all abandoned as unprofitable.--E.

[12] Flamingos.

[13] The remarkable whiteness of these three natives might have proceeded
from the use of white pigments, which, as well as red and black, were
used by the natives of the West India islands.--E.

[14] There must be a gross error here in the original translation, as the
circumstance of towing ships in such shallow water is impossible. The
passage ought probably to be thus understood: "There was not a foot of
water _to spare_, and the wind being foul the channel was too narrow
to turn through, which occasioned the necessity of towing." As
expressed in the text, the boats could not have floated.--E.

[15] These strong descriptive epithets seem to have been colloquial
exaggerations of the recounter to Don Ferdinand Columbus.--E.

[16] Columbus seems now to have changed his course, back again the way be
came, though not clearly so expressed in the text.--E.

[17] Probably alluding to the dress of the Spanish priest who had said
mass, and explanatory of the clothed natives who had been seen in that
place during this voyage.--E.

[18] This bread, which is c