Columbus, as I have been told, had forbidden them to do more than examine and reconnoitre the country.  The news spread that the king of the mountain country, where all these rivers rise, was called the Cacique Caunaboa, that is to say, the Lord of the Golden House; for in their language boa is the word for a house, cauna for gold, and cacique for king, as I have above written.  Nowhere are better fresh-water fish to be found, nor more beautiful nor better in taste, and less dangerous.  The waters of all these rivers are likewise very wholesome.

Melchior has told me that amongst the cannibals the days of the month of December are equal to the nights, but knowledge contradicts this observation.  I well know that in this self-same month of December, some birds made their nests and others already hatched out their little ones; the heat was also considerable.  When I inquired particularly concerning the elevation of the north star above the horizon, he answered me that in the land of the cannibals the Great Bear entirely disappeared beneath the arctic pole.  There is nobody who came back from this second voyage whose testimony one may more safely accept than his; but had he possessed knowledge of astronomy he would have limited himself to saying that the day is about as long as the night.  For in no place in the world does the night during the solstice precisely equal the day; and it is certain that on this voyage the Spaniards never reached the equator, for they constantly beheld on the horizon the polar star, which served them as guide.  As for Melchior’s companions, they were without knowledge or experience, therefore I offer you few particulars, and those only casually, as I have been able to collect them.  I hope to narrate to you what I may be able to learn from others.  Moreover Columbus, whose particular friend I am, has written me that he would recount me fully all that he has been fortunate enough to discover.[9]

[Note 9:  The letter of Columbus here mentioned is not known to exist.]

The Admiral selected an elevation near the port as the site for a town[10]; and, within a few days, some houses and a church were built, as well as could be done in so short a time.  And there, on the feast of the Three Kings (for when treating of this country one must speak of a new world, so distant is it and so devoid of civilisation and religion) the Holy Sacrifice was celebrated by thirteen priests.[11]

[Note 10:  The first Spanish settlement was named Isabella, as was likewise the cape on which it stood.  Long after it was abandoned and had fallen into ruin, the site was reputed to be haunted.  See Las Casas, Historia de las Indias, vol. i., p. 72.]

[Note 11:  There were certainly not as many as thirteen priests with Columbus.  The text reads ...._divina nostro ritu sacra sunt decantata tredecim sacerdotibus ministrantibus_.  The number doubtless includes all laymen who took any part, as acolytes, etc., in the ceremonies.]