Excerpt from: The Log of Christopher Columbus * Thursday, 3 January 1493

Taken from The Log of Christopher Columbus
Thursday, 3 January 1493

I did not leave today because last night three of the Indians who had come with me from the other islands and remained here on land, reported to me that other Indians and their wives were coming today at sunrise. The sea had also changed somewhat, and the small boat could not go ashore. I determined to depart tomorrow, the grace of God permitting.

If I had the Pinta with me, I would certainly have obtained a cask of gold because I would have been willing to follow the coasts of these islands. But being alone, I would not dare risk this as I do not want anything to befall me and prevent my returning to Castile and informing the Sovereigns of everything I have found. If I were certain that the Pinta would reach Spain in safety with Martin Alonso Pinzon, I would not hesitate to continue the exploration. But because I do not know if this will happen, and since Pinzon would be able to lie to the Sovereigns to avoid the punishment he deserves for leaving me without permission and preventing all the good that might have come about and all that might have been learned at this time, I feel confident that Our Lord will give me good weather and everything will be remedied.

Excerpt from: The Log of Christopher Columbus * Wednesday, 2 January 1493 (Part 5)

Taken from The Log of Christopher Columbus
Wednesday, 2 January 1493 (Part 5)


The Cacique demonstrated much love for me and great emotion over my departure, especially when he saw that I was ready to embark. A favorite of the King told me that he had ordered a stature of pure gold made as large as me and that at the end of 10 days they were to bring it to me. I embarked, with the intention of departing then, but the wind would not allow me to do so.

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This picture was found on the Internet.  If Columbus were about 5'11" tall and 210 pounds, how much do you think a life-size gold statue of him would be worth today?

Excerpt from: The Log of Christopher Columbus * Wednesday, 2 January 1493 (Part 4)

Taken from The Log of Christopher Columbus
Wednesday, 2 January 1493 (Part 4)

Many times I charged Diego de Arana, Pedro Gutierrez, and Rodrigo de Escobedo to see that everything was well ruled and governed for the service of God and Your Highnesses. I gathered my men together, the ones I was leaving, and addressed them.

First, I charged them to consider the great blessings that God has bestowed upon me and upon all of them up until now, and the benefits he has offered them, for which they must always give Him endless thanks and dedicate themselves to His goodness and mercy, taking care not to offend Him and placing all their hope in Him. They must pray to Him for my return, which, with His aid, I promised them would be as soon as possible - which, I trust to God, would please everyone.

Second, I begged them and charged them and ordered them, on the part of Your Highnesses, to obey their Captain as myself, as I am confident of his merit and loyalty.

Third, they should greatly respect King Guacanagari and his chiefs and principal men, or Nitaino, and other inferior chiefs. And they should avoid as they would death annoying or tormenting the Indians, bearing in mind how much they owe these people, and why it is necessary to keep them content, since they are remaining in Indian land and under Indian dominion. They should strive, by their honest and gentle speech, to gain the good will of the Indians, keeping their friendship and love, so that our relationship with them will be as friendly and pleasant, and more so, when I return.

Fourth, I ordered them and begged them earnestly to do no injury or use any force toward any Indian - man or woman - nor take from them anything against their will. Especially, they should be on guard and avoid doing injury or using violence toward the women, by which they would cause scandal and set a bad example for the Indians, and expose our own infamy, we whom the Indians are certain come from Heaven.

Fifth, I charged them not to scatter themselves or go inland, but to stay together until I return, and most of all, not to leave the land and dominion of that King who loves them so much and has been so good and merciful to them.

Sixth, I encouraged them to suffer their solitude, which is only a little less than exile, although they have willingly chosen it.

Seventh, I charged them that, when they saw it was fitting, to beg the King to send some Indians with them in canoes, and to take the ship’s boat along the coast to see if they could discover the mines of gold, for it seems to me that the gold comes from the east. Also, they should look for a good place to build a village because I am not pleased with this harbor. Further, if they find any gold they can barter for, they should do so, discreetly, so that when I return I shall find a great quantity of it.

Eighth, and last, I promised that I would petition the Sovereigns to grant them special favors, which they truly merit, and which they will see fulfilled when they are rewarded by the Sovereigns and, with the favor of God, by me when I return.

Excerpt from: The Log of Christopher Columbus * Wednesday, 2 January 1493 (Part 3)

Taken from The Log of Christopher Columbus
Wednesday, 2 January 1493 (Part 3)

I have left with them all the merchandise which the Sovereigns had ordered purchased for trading, of which there is a large quantity. With this they may trade and barter for gold, together with everything the grounded ship carried. I also left them sufficient biscuits for a year and wine and much artillery. I also left the ship’s boat, since most of them are sailors, so they can go find the gold mine when they see that the time is favorable. In this manner, when I return, I might find a lot of gold waiting and a place to establish a settlement, for this harbor is not to my liking. Since the gold that is brought here comes from the east, the more they went to the east the closer to Spain they would be. I also left seeds for sowing, and I left my officers, including the secretary and the master-at-arms, and among the others a ship’s carpenter, a caulker, a good gunner who knows a great deal about machines, a cask maker, a physician, and a tailor. All these men are also seamen.

Excerpt from: The Log of Christopher Columbus * Wednesday, 2 January 1493 (Part 2)

Taken from The Log of Christopher Columbus
Wednesday, 2 January 1493 (Part 2)

I left on this Isla Espanola, which the Indians call Bohio, 39 men in the fortress, under the command of three officers, all of whom are very friendly with King Guacanagari. In command is Diego de Arana, a native of Cordoba, whom I have given all of the powers I have received from the Sovereigns, in full. Next in line, if something should happen to him, is his lieutenant, Pedro Gutierrez, the representative of the Royal Household. Next in the line of succession is the lieutenant Rodrigo de Escobedo, secretary of the fleet and a native of Segovia, nephew of the friar Juan Perez.

Roster of the men left behind at La Navidad:


Cristóbal del Alamo
Diego de Arana, Master-at-arms of fleet, Captain at La Navidad
Francisco de Aranda
Gabriél Baraona
Juan del Barco
Domingo de Bermeo, cooper
Pedro Cabacho
Diego de Capilla
Castillo, silversmith
Juan de Cueva
Rodrigo de Escobedo, Secretary of fleet, Lieutenant at La Navidad
Francisco Fernández
Gonzalo Fernández (from Segovia)
Gonzalo Fernández de Segovia (from Leon)
Pedro de Foronda
Diego García
Francisco de Godoy
Jorge González
Pedro Gutiérrez, representative of royal household, Lieutenant
Francisco de Henao
Guillermo Ires (William Harris or William Penrise, from Ireland)
Antonio de Jaén
Francisco Jiménez
Martín de Lograsan
Alvar Pérez Osorio
Juan Patiño
Diego de Mambles
Sebastián de Mayorga
Alonso Vélez de Mendoza
Diego de Mendoza
Juan de Mendoza
Diego de Montalban
Juan Morcillo
Hernando de Porcuna
Tristán se San Jorge
Pedro de Talavera
Bernandino de Tapia
Diego de Tordoya
Diego de Torpa
Juan de Urniga
Francisco de Vergara
Juan de Villar

Excerpt from: The Log of Christopher Columbus * Wednesday, 2 January 1493 (Part 1)

Taken from The Log of Christopher Columbus
Wednesday, 2 January 1493 (Part 1)

I went ashore this morning to take leave of King Guacanagari and to depart in the name of the Lord. I gave the King one of my shirts and showed him the force of the lombards and their effect. For this purpose, I ordered one loaded and fired at the side of the Santa Maria, which was aground. This all came about as a result of a conversation about the Caribes, with whom they were at war. The King saw how far the Lombard shot reached and how it passed through the side of the ship. I also had the people from the ship fight a mock battle with their arms, telling the Cacique not to fear the Caribes if they came. I did all this so that the King would consider those I am leaving as friends, and also that he might fear them. The King escorted me and the men with me to his house to eat with him.

Excerpt from: The Log of Christopher Columbus * Tuesday, 1 January 1493

Taken from The Log of Christopher Columbus
Tuesday, 1 January 1493

At midnight I sent a boat to the island of Amiga to fetch the rhubarb. It returned at vespers with a basketful. They did not bring more because they did not carry a spade with them to dig it. I am carrying what they brought to the Sovereigns as a specimen. The King of this country has sent many canoes for gold. The sailor who had been sent with the Indian canoe to look for the Pinta returned without finding anything. This sailor told me that at a distance of 15 miles from there he had seen a king who wore upon his head two large gold plates, and when the Indians in the canoe spoke to him he took them off; the sailor said he also saw other persons with a great deal of gold. I think that King Guacanagari has prohibited everyone from trading gold to us, so that it might all pass through his hands. But I have learned about places where there is so much gold that they do not assign a price to it. I have also learned where there are spices in large quantities, worth more than pepper or allspice. The people remaining here have been ordered to obtain as much of these as they can.
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This photo of Anacaona was found on the Internet.  We can only guess if this is the sort of headpiece  the sailor said he saw a Taino king wearing on his head.