The island is shaped like a chestnut leaf.  Columbus decided to found a town[5] upon an elevated hill on the northern coast, since in that vicinity there was a mountain with stone-quarries for building purposes and chalk to make lime.  At the foot of this mountain a vast plain[6] extends for a distance of sixty miles in length, and of an average of twelve leagues in breadth, varying from six in the narrowest part to twenty in the broadest.  This plain is fertilised by several rivers of wholesome water, of which the largest is navigable and empties into a bay situated half a stadium from the town.  As the narrative proceeds you will learn how fruitful this valley is, and how fertile is its soil.  The Spaniards laid out parcels of land on the river bank, which they intended to make into gardens, and where they planted all kinds of vegetables, roots, lettuces, cabbages, salads, and other things.  Sixteen days after the sowing, the plants had everywhere grown; melons, pumpkins, cucumbers, and other similar products were ripe for picking thirty-six days after they were planted, and nowhere had our people tasted any of finer flavour.  Throughout the whole year one might thus have fresh vegetables.  Cane-roots, from the juice of which sugar is extracted (but not crystallised sugar) grew to a height of a cubit within fifteen days after planting, and the same happened to graftings of vines.  Excellent grapes may be eaten from these vines the second year after planting, but on account of their exaggerated size, the bunches were not numerous.  A certain peasant planted a foot of wheat about the calends of February, and wonderful to say, in the sight of everybody he brought into the town a bunch of ripe grain on the third day of the calends of April, which fell in that year on the eve of Easter.  Two harvests of vegetables may be counted upon within the year.  I have repeated what is told to me about the fertility of the country by all those, without exception, who have returned from there.  I would notice, however, that according to some observations wheat does not grow equally well throughout the whole country.

[Note 5:  The town of Santo Domingo, standing at the mouth of the Ozama river.]

[Note 6:  This valley is the actual Vega Real.]

During this time the Admiral despatched some thirty of his men in different directions to explore the district of Cipangu, which is still called Cibao.  This is a mountainous region covered with rocks and occupying the centre of the island, where, the natives explained by signs, gold is obtained in abundance.  The Admiral’s explorers brought back marvellous reports of the riches of the country.  Four large rivers rise in these mountains, into which other streams flow, thus dividing the island by an extraordinary natural arrangement into four almost equal parts.  The first, which the natives call Junua, lies towards the east; the second, which borders on it and extends to the west, is called Attibinico; the third lies to the north and is called Iachi, while the fourth, Naiba, lies to the south.