December 5, 1492—Hispañiola The next step in Columbus's journey through the islands was to visit the large, mysterious island of Bohío. The island was said to be inhabited by Caribs, a tribe of people who, according to the Tainos, had one eye in the middle of their heads and practiced cannibalism. Columbus was intrigued by these descriptions and wanted to explore the dangerous, unknown island to satisfy his curiosity. What he found there were not the monsters described to him by the Taino people, but a king and his people. Columbus befriended the king and used his knowledge and expertise to guide the Europeans around the island in their never-ending search for gold and riches. Wednesday, 5 December 1492While going along more-or-less toward the east, I looked to the SE and saw land. It was a very great island, which I had already been informed of by the Indians with me. They call it Bohío and say it is inhabited. The people of Cuba (which I have named Juana), and those of all the other islands I have visited, are very much afraid of the people of Bohío. They believe that those of Bohío eat people. They Indians also told me many other fantastic things, by signs, but I do not believe them. I think that the Indians of Bohío must be more astute and intelligent in order to capture those in Cuba and the islands, as those are very much lacking in courage. Thursday, 6 December 1492At the hour of vespers we entered a harbor that I named Puerto de San Nicolás, in honor of St. Nicholas because it was his feast day. As I approached the entrance of this harbor, I marveled at its beauty and excellence. . . . Sunday, 9 December 1492At the head of the harbor the mouths of two rivers discharge a small quantity of water. Opposite there are some of the most beautiful plains in the world, almost like the lands of Castile, only better. Because of this I have named this island La Isla Española. Sunday, 16 December 1492. . . Soon more than 500 men came to the beach, where they gathered near the ships, for we were anchored very near to the shore. After a little while, their King came. One by one, and in small groups, they came to the ship without bringing anything with them, although some of them wore grains of very fine gold in their ears and noses, which they gave away willingly. I ordered that everyone be treated honorably because they are the best and gentlest people in the world, and above all because I have great hope in Our Lord that Your Highnesses will convert all of them to Christianity and they will all belong to you, for I regard them as yours now. I saw that they all showed respect for the King, who was on the beach. I sent him a gift, which he received with much ceremony. He is a young man, about 21 years of age. He had an old governor or advisor and other counselors who advised him and spoke for him. He himself said very few words. One of the Indians with me spoke with the King and told him how we had come from Heaven, and that we were searching for gold and wished to see the island of Babeque. He replied that this was good, and that there was a great deal of gold on that island. He showed my master-at-arms, who had delivered my gift, the course that must be followed to reach Babeque and said that it could be reached in two days' time from where we were anchored. He also said that if we needed anything in his country, he would give it to us willingly. . . . Monday, 17 December 1492The Indians mixed freely with us and brought some arrows that belonged to the people of the Caniba, the Canibales. These arrows are quite long, made of spikes of canes; they use little sharp, hardened sticks for their tips. The Indians showed us two men who had lost some chunks of flesh from their bodies and said that the Canibales had bitten out the pieces. I do not believe this. What are the possible explanations for the tales of horror which the Taino people told Columbus about the Caribs? Why was Columbus so quick to dismiss the stories as false?
What he found there were not the monsters described to him by the Taino people, but a king and his people. Columbus befriended the king and used his knowledge and expertise to guide the Europeans around the island in their never-ending search for gold and riches.
Wednesday, 5 December 1492While going along more-or-less toward the east, I looked to the SE and saw land. It was a very great island, which I had already been informed of by the Indians with me. They call it Bohío and say it is inhabited. The people of Cuba (which I have named Juana), and those of all the other islands I have visited, are very much afraid of the people of Bohío. They believe that those of Bohío eat people. They Indians also told me many other fantastic things, by signs, but I do not believe them. I think that the Indians of Bohío must be more astute and intelligent in order to capture those in Cuba and the islands, as those are very much lacking in courage. Thursday, 6 December 1492At the hour of vespers we entered a harbor that I named Puerto de San Nicolás, in honor of St. Nicholas because it was his feast day. As I approached the entrance of this harbor, I marveled at its beauty and excellence. . . . Sunday, 9 December 1492At the head of the harbor the mouths of two rivers discharge a small quantity of water. Opposite there are some of the most beautiful plains in the world, almost like the lands of Castile, only better. Because of this I have named this island La Isla Española. Sunday, 16 December 1492. . . Soon more than 500 men came to the beach, where they gathered near the ships, for we were anchored very near to the shore. After a little while, their King came. One by one, and in small groups, they came to the ship without bringing anything with them, although some of them wore grains of very fine gold in their ears and noses, which they gave away willingly. I ordered that everyone be treated honorably because they are the best and gentlest people in the world, and above all because I have great hope in Our Lord that Your Highnesses will convert all of them to Christianity and they will all belong to you, for I regard them as yours now. I saw that they all showed respect for the King, who was on the beach. I sent him a gift, which he received with much ceremony. He is a young man, about 21 years of age. He had an old governor or advisor and other counselors who advised him and spoke for him. He himself said very few words. One of the Indians with me spoke with the King and told him how we had come from Heaven, and that we were searching for gold and wished to see the island of Babeque. He replied that this was good, and that there was a great deal of gold on that island. He showed my master-at-arms, who had delivered my gift, the course that must be followed to reach Babeque and said that it could be reached in two days' time from where we were anchored. He also said that if we needed anything in his country, he would give it to us willingly. . . . Monday, 17 December 1492The Indians mixed freely with us and brought some arrows that belonged to the people of the Caniba, the Canibales. These arrows are quite long, made of spikes of canes; they use little sharp, hardened sticks for their tips. The Indians showed us two men who had lost some chunks of flesh from their bodies and said that the Canibales had bitten out the pieces. I do not believe this.
