admiral ordered him to be regaled with bread and honey
and some wine; and when he arrived at the island, caused
him to be set on shore with some toys. The good
report which this man gave, brought the people of
the island aboard the ships to barter, as in the other
islands. When the boats went ashore for water,
the Indians readily shewed where it was to be had,
and even helped to fill the casks; yet they seemed
to have more understanding than the other islanders,
as they bargained harder in exchanging their commodities,
and had cotton blankets in their houses. Some
of the women also wore short cotton wrappers, like
petticoats, from the waist half way down their thighs,
while others had a swathe or bandage of cotton cloth,
and such as had nothing better, wore leaves of trees;
but the young girls were entirely naked. This
island appeared to have abundance of water, many meadows
and groves, and some pleasant little hills, which
the others had not, and an infinite variety of birds
flew about in flocks, and sung sweetly; most of these
being quite different from the birds of Spain.
There were many lakes, near one of which our men saw
a creature seven feet long, which he supposed to be
an alligator, and admired its size and strange shape.
Having thrown stones at this creature, it ran into
the water, where they killed it with their spears.
Experience taught them afterwards that this animal
is excellent meat, and is much esteemed by the Indians
of Hispaniola, who call them Yvanes. In
this island there were trees which seemed to have been
grafted, as they bore leaves of four or five kinds;
yet they were quite natural. They saw also fishes
of fine colours, but no land animals except large
tame snakes, the before-mentioned alligators, and small
rabbits, almost like rats, called Unias; they
had also some small dogs which did not bark.
Continuing the survey of this island to the north-west,
they anchored at the mouth of a spacious harbour,
having a small island at its mouth; but did not enter,
as it was too shallow. In this place was a town
of some size, all the rest they had seen in these islands
having not above ten or twelve huts like tents, some
of them round, and others with penthouse roofs, sloping
both ways, and an open porch in front in the Flemish
fashion. These were covered with leaves of trees,
very neatly laid on, to keep out wind and rain, with
vents for the smoke, and the ridges handsomely ornamented.
Their only furniture were beds of net tied to two
posts, like hammocks. One Indian had a little
piece of gold hanging from his nose, with some marks
on it resembling characters, which the admiral was
anxious to procure, supposing it to have been some
species of coin; but it afterwards appeared there
was no such thing in all the West Indies.