The discovery of these lands I have mentioned, by the Genoese, Christopher Columbus, was related in my Ocean Decade, which was printed without my permission[2] and circulated throughout Christendom.  Columbus afterwards explored immense seas and countries to the south-west, approaching within fifteen degrees of the equinoctial line.  In those parts he saw great rivers, lofty snow-capped mountains along the coasts, and also secure harbours.  After his death the sovereigns took steps to assume possession of those countries and to colonise them with Christians, in order that our religion might be propagated.  The royal notaries afforded every facility to every one who wished to engage in these honourable enterprises among whom two were notable:  Diego Nicuesa de Baecca, an Andalusian, and Alonzo Hojeda de Concha.

[Note 2:  Peter Martyr’s friend, Lucio Marineo Siculo, was responsible for this premature Spanish edition published in 1511.  An Italian edition of the First Decade was printed by Albertino Vercellese at Venice in 1504.]

Both these men were living in Hispaniola where, as we have already said, the Spaniards had founded a town and colonies, when Alonzo Hojeda first set out, about the ides of December, with about three hundred soldiers under his command.  His course was almost directly south, until he reached one of those ports previously discovered and which Columbus had named Carthagena, because its island breakwater, its extent, and its coast shaped like a scythe reminded him of Carthagena.  The island lying across the mouth of the port is called by the natives Codego, just as the Spaniards call the island in front of Carthagena, Scombria.  The neighbouring region is called Caramairi, a country whose inhabitants, both male and female, are large and well formed, although they are naked.  The men wear their hair cut short to the ears, while the women wear theirs long.  Both sexes are extremely skilful bowmen.

The Spaniards discovered certain trees in the province which bear fruits that are sweet, but most dangerous, for when eaten they produce worms.  Most of all is the shade of this tree noxious, for whoever sleeps for any length of time beneath its branches, wakens with a swollen head, and almost blind, though this blindness abates within a few days.  The port of Carthagena lies four hundred and fifty-six miles from the port of Hispaniola called Beata, where preparations are generally made for voyages of discovery.  Immediately on landing, Hojeda attacked the scattered and defenceless natives.  They had been conceded to him by royal patent because they had formerly treated some Christians most cruelly and could never be prevailed upon to receive the Spaniards amicably in their country.  Only a small quantity of gold, and that of poor quality, was found amongst them; they use the metal for making leaves and disks, which they hang on their breasts as ornaments.  Hojeda was not satisfied with these spoils, and taking some prisoners with him as guides,