October 13, 1492—The Search for Gold One of the primary goals of the expedition was to locate and recover riches from the Orient. When Columbus landed on San Salvador, he immediately began to seek out the gems and metals which the king and queen expected him to bring back to Spain. What he found, though not in large quantities, were small pieces of golden jewelry which the native people wore. He repeatedly asked them where they found the gold and demanded that they take him to the places they mentioned. On each island he visited, Columbus made finding gold a priority. In order to consider, and have others consider, his journey a success, Columbus had to return to Europe with tales of riches, splendors, and beauties from the discovered lands. And he had to prove it. The only way to show that there was an ample supply of gold among the islands was to bring back enough samples to convince those who had not made the trip—the most important of these being King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Sunday, 13 October 1492I have been very attentive and have tried hard to find out if there is any gold here. I have seen a few natives who wear a little piece of gold hanging from a hole made in the nose. By signs, if I interpret them correctly, I have learned that by going to the south, or rounding the island to the south, I can find a king who possesses a lot of gold and has great containers of it. I have tried to find some natives who will take me to this great king, but none seems inclined to make the journey. Tuesday, 16 October 1492Judging by the clouds and the signs made by the men from San Salvador, this large island to the west was about 27 miles distant. They said that there is a lot of gold there and that the people wear it on their arms, legs, ears, nose, and necks. I do not know if this is another ruse of theirs or not, for I am beginning to believe that all they want to do is escape and they will tell me anything I want to hear. Friday, 19 October 1492Tomorrow before I depart, I am going ashore to explore. There is no village on the coast, but the men from San Salvador tell me there is one further inland where there is a king with a lot of gold. Tomorrow I am going to find that village and talk with that king. According to the signs the Indians make, he is lord of all the neighboring islands, and he wears clothes and many golden adornments. I do not hold much faith in what they tell me, for I have been fooled before. It is possible, however, that there is a lord who wears a little bit of gold, for these Indians are so poor that any gold trinket would seem like a fortune to them. Tuesday, 23 October 1492I am not going to waste any time looking for this king or lord, since I know there is no gold mine here. Saturday, 27 October 1492 I hauled up the anchor at sunrise and departed for Cuba, which I am told is magnificent, with gold and pearls. I am now certain that Cuba is the Indian name for Japan. . . . How did Columbus view and use gold? How did the Tainos view and use it?
In order to consider, and have others consider, his journey a success, Columbus had to return to Europe with tales of riches, splendors, and beauties from the discovered lands. And he had to prove it. The only way to show that there was an ample supply of gold among the islands was to bring back enough samples to convince those who had not made the trip—the most important of these being King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.
Sunday, 13 October 1492I have been very attentive and have tried hard to find out if there is any gold here. I have seen a few natives who wear a little piece of gold hanging from a hole made in the nose. By signs, if I interpret them correctly, I have learned that by going to the south, or rounding the island to the south, I can find a king who possesses a lot of gold and has great containers of it. I have tried to find some natives who will take me to this great king, but none seems inclined to make the journey. Tuesday, 16 October 1492Judging by the clouds and the signs made by the men from San Salvador, this large island to the west was about 27 miles distant. They said that there is a lot of gold there and that the people wear it on their arms, legs, ears, nose, and necks. I do not know if this is another ruse of theirs or not, for I am beginning to believe that all they want to do is escape and they will tell me anything I want to hear. Friday, 19 October 1492Tomorrow before I depart, I am going ashore to explore. There is no village on the coast, but the men from San Salvador tell me there is one further inland where there is a king with a lot of gold. Tomorrow I am going to find that village and talk with that king. According to the signs the Indians make, he is lord of all the neighboring islands, and he wears clothes and many golden adornments. I do not hold much faith in what they tell me, for I have been fooled before. It is possible, however, that there is a lord who wears a little bit of gold, for these Indians are so poor that any gold trinket would seem like a fortune to them. Tuesday, 23 October 1492I am not going to waste any time looking for this king or lord, since I know there is no gold mine here. Saturday, 27 October 1492 I hauled up the anchor at sunrise and departed for Cuba, which I am told is magnificent, with gold and pearls. I am now certain that Cuba is the Indian name for Japan. . . .
