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“Sir:  As I am sure you will be pleased at the great victory which the Lord has given me in my voyage, I write this to inform you that in twenty’ days I arrived in the Indies with the squadron which their Majesties had placed under my command.  There I discovered many islands, inhabited by a numerous population, and took possession of them for their Highnesses, with public ceremony and the royal flag displayed, without molestation.

“The first that I discovered I named San Salvador, in remembrance of that Almighty Power which had so miraculously bestowed them.  The Indians call it Guanahani.  To the second I assigned the name of Santa Marie de Conception; to the third that of Fernandina; to the fourth that of Isabella; to the fifth Juana; and so on, to every one a new name.

“When I arrived at Juana, I followed the coast to the westward, and found it so extensive that I considered it must be a continent and a province of Cathay.  And as I found no towns or villages by the seaside, excepting some small settlements, with the people of which I could not communicate because they all ran away, I continued my course to the westward, thinking I should not fail to find some large town and cities.  After having coasted many leagues without finding any signs of them, and seeing that the coast took me to the northward, where I did not wish to go, as the winter was already set in, I considered it best to follow the coast to the south and the wind being also scant, I determined to lose no more time, and therefore returned to a certain port, from whence I sent two messengers into the country to ascertain whether there was any king there or any large city.

“They travelled for three days, finding an infinite number of small settlements and an innumerable population, but nothing like a city:  on which account—­they returned.  I had tolerably well ascertained from some Indians whom I had taken that this land was only an island, so I followed the coast of it to the east 107 leagues, to its termination.  And about eighteen leagues from this cape, to the east, there was another island, to which I shortly gave the name of Espanola.  I went to it, and followed the north coast of it, as I had done that of Juana, for 178—­[should be 188]—­long leagues due east.

“This island is very fertile, as well, indeed, as all the rest.  It possesses numerous harbours, far superior to any I know in Europe, and what is remarkable, plenty of large inlets.  The land is high, and contains many lofty ridges and some very high mountains, without comparison of the island of Centrefrey;—­[Tenerife]—­all of them very handsome and of different forms; all of them accessible and abounding in trees of a thousand kinds, high, and appearing as if they would reach the skies.  And I am assured that the latter never lose their fresh foliage, as