For it chanced that a sailor received for a single strap as much weight of gold as three gold solidi; and so others for other things of less price, especially for new blancas, and for some gold coins, for which they gave whatever the seller asked; for instance, an ounce and a half or two ounces of gold, or thirty or forty pounds of cotton, with which they were already familiar.  So, too, for pieces of hoops, jugs, jars, and pots they bartered cotton and gold like beasts.  This I forbade, because it was plainly unjust; and I gave them many beautiful and pleasing things, which I had brought with me, for no return whatever, in order to win their affection, and that they might become Christians and inclined to love our king and queen and princes and all the people of Spain, and that they might be eager to search for and gather and give to us what they abound in and we greatly need.

They do not practise idolatry; on the contrary, they believe that all strength, all power, in short, all blessings, are from heaven, and that I have come down from there with these ships and sailors; and in this spirit was I received everywhere, after they had got over their fear They are neither lazy nor awkward, but, on the contrary, are of an excellent and acute understanding.  Those who have sailed these seas give excellent accounts of everything; but they have never seen men wearing clothes, or ships like ours....

As soon as I had come into this sea, I took by force some Indians from the first island, in order that they might learn from us, and at the same time tell us what they knew about affairs in these regions.  This succeeded admirably; for in a short time we understood them and they us, both by gesture and signs and words, and they were of great service to us.  They are coming now with me, and have always believed that I have come from heaven, notwithstanding the long time they have been, and still remain, with us.  They were the first who told this wherever we went, one calling to another, with a loud voice, “Come, come, you will see men from heaven.”  Whereupon both women and men, children and adults, young and old, laying aside the fear they had felt a little before, flocked eagerly to see us, a great crowd thronging about our steps, some bringing food, and others drink, with greatest love and incredible good will....

I have told already how I sailed in a straight course along the island of Johana from west to east 322 miles.  From this voyage and the extent of my journeyings I can say that this Johana is larger than England and Scotland together.  For beyond the aforesaid 322 miles, in that portion which looks toward the west, there are two more provinces, which I did not visit.  One of them the Indians called Anan, and its inhabitants are born with tails.  These provinces extend 180 miles, as I learned from the Indians, whom I am bringing with me, and who are well acquainted with all these islands....