January 16, 1493—The Return Journey Columbus spent over a month on the island of Hispañiola, known today as the two countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He explored the shores of the island and set up a temporary settlement for himself and his men. There was little activity in the first weeks. On Christmas Day, however, the Santa María ran aground off the coast. Columbus tried to salvage the ship by moving its load onto the Niña, but he was unsuccessful. By the next morning it was clear that the ship would soon be dashed against the rocks and lost to the sea. In order to minimize the damage and loss, Columbus ordered that the ship and all of its stores be unloaded onto the land. A local chief came to Columbus's rescue and helped him unload the foundering ship. The chief provided the foreigners with housing and storage room for their supplies. Columbus took advantage of the Taino hospitality and ordered that a tower and fortress be built upon the shore where the Santa María was lost. Using wood from the ship and the supplies that could be salvaged, Columbus created the first Spanish settlement in the New World, La Villa de la Navidad. He ordered that the crew of the Santa María, himself and his first mate excluded, were to remain behind while the other two ships returned to Spain. Three weeks later, Christopher Columbus said goodbye to that part of his crew and sailed off into the blue ocean, with the Niña and Pinta at his disposal and the king and queen eagerly awaiting his return. Wednesday, 16 January 1493 Three hours before dawn I departed the gulf, which I have named the Golfo de las Flechas, first with a land breeze and then with a west wind. I turned the prow to the east by north, in order to go to the Isla de Caribe, where the people are whom the inhabitants of all these islands and countries fear so greatly. This is because the Caribes cross all these seas in their countless canoes and eat the men they are able to capture. One of the four Indians I took yesterday in the Puerto de las Flechas has shown me the course. After we had gone about 48 miles, the Indians indicated to me that the island lay to the SE. I wanted to follow that course and ordered the sails trimmed, but after we had gone 6 miles the wind again blew very favorably for going to Spain. I noted that the crew were becoming dismayed because we had departed from a direct course for home; and as both ships were taking in a great deal of water, they had no help save that of God. I was compelled to abandon the course that I believe was taking me to the island; I returned to the direct course for Spain, NE by east, and held it until sunset, 36 miles. Describe how you would feel if you were a member of Columbus's crew preparing to return home. How would you feel if you were one of the crew members left behind?
A local chief came to Columbus's rescue and helped him unload the foundering ship. The chief provided the foreigners with housing and storage room for their supplies. Columbus took advantage of the Taino hospitality and ordered that a tower and fortress be built upon the shore where the Santa María was lost. Using wood from the ship and the supplies that could be salvaged, Columbus created the first Spanish settlement in the New World, La Villa de la Navidad. He ordered that the crew of the Santa María, himself and his first mate excluded, were to remain behind while the other two ships returned to Spain. Three weeks later, Christopher Columbus said goodbye to that part of his crew and sailed off into the blue ocean, with the Niña and Pinta at his disposal and the king and queen eagerly awaiting his return.
Wednesday, 16 January 1493 Three hours before dawn I departed the gulf, which I have named the Golfo de las Flechas, first with a land breeze and then with a west wind. I turned the prow to the east by north, in order to go to the Isla de Caribe, where the people are whom the inhabitants of all these islands and countries fear so greatly. This is because the Caribes cross all these seas in their countless canoes and eat the men they are able to capture. One of the four Indians I took yesterday in the Puerto de las Flechas has shown me the course. After we had gone about 48 miles, the Indians indicated to me that the island lay to the SE. I wanted to follow that course and ordered the sails trimmed, but after we had gone 6 miles the wind again blew very favorably for going to Spain. I noted that the crew were becoming dismayed because we had departed from a direct course for home; and as both ships were taking in a great deal of water, they had no help save that of God. I was compelled to abandon the course that I believe was taking me to the island; I returned to the direct course for Spain, NE by east, and held it until sunset, 36 miles.
