This vast region is divided into two parts, one called Taia and the other called Maia.[4] The whole country is fertile, well shaded, and enjoys delightful temperature.  In fertility of soil it yields to none, and the climate is temperate.  It possesses both mountains and extensive plains, and everywhere grass and trees grow.  Spring and autumn seem perpetual, for the trees keep their leaves during the whole year, and bear fruit.  Groves of oak and pine are numerous, and there are seven varieties of palms of which some bear dates, while others are without fruit.  Vines loaded with ripe grapes grow spontaneously amid the trees, but they are wild vines and there is such an abundance of useful and appetising fruits that nobody bothers to cultivate vineyards.  The natives manufacture their machanes, that is to say swords, and the darts they throw, out of a certain kind of palm-wood.  Much cotton is found in this country as well as mirobolanes, of various kinds, such as doctors call emblicos[5] and chebules; maize, yucca, ages, and potatoes, all grow in this country as they do everywhere on the continent.  The animals are lions, tigers, stags, deer, and other similar beasts.  The natives fatten those birds we have mentioned, as resembling peahens in colour, size, and taste.

[Note 4:  This is the first mention of the word Maya.  The traders whom Columbus met were doubtless Mayas, coming from some of the great fairs or markets.  For the second time, he brushed past the civilisation of Yucatan and Mexico, leaving to later comers the glory of their discovery.]

[Note 5:  Myrobolanos etiam diversarum specierum, emblicos puta et chebulos medicorum appellatione.]

The natives of both sexes are said to be tall and well proportioned.  They wear waist-cloths and bandolets of spun cotton in divers colours, and they ornament themselves by staining their bodies with black and red colours, extracted from the juice of certain fruits cultivated for that purpose in their gardens, just as did the Agathyrsi.  Some of them stain the entire body, others only a part.  Ordinarily they draw upon their skin designs of flowers, roses, and intertwined nets, according to each one’s fancy.  Their language bears no resemblance to that of the neighbouring islanders.  Torrential streams run in a westerly direction.  Columbus resolved to explore this country towards the west, for he remembered Paria, Boca de la Sierpe, and other countries already discovered to the east, believing they must be joined to the land where he was; and in this he was not deceived.

On the thirteenth day of the calends of September the Admiral left Quiriquetana.  After sailing thirty leagues, he came to a river, in the estuary of which he took fresh water.  The coast was clear of rocks and reefs, and everywhere there was good anchorage.  He writes, however, that the ocean current was so strong against him that in forty days’ sailing it was with the greatest difficulty he covered