Though
The Wind Was Contrary, He Resolved To Leave This Place, And Continue His
Course To The Eastwards Through The
Channel between Tortuga and Hispaniola,
where he found an Indian fishing in a canoe, and wondered his small vessel
was
Not swallowed up, as the waves rose very high; he accordingly took
both Indian and canoe into the ship, where he treated him well, and sent
him on shore afterwards with some toys. This man commended the Spaniards
so much that many of the natives resorted to the ships; but they had only
some small grains of gold hanging at their noses, which they freely parted
with. Being asked whence that gold came, they made signs that there was
plenty of it farther on. On the admiral inquiring for Cipango, which he
still expected to find in these seas, they thought he had meant Cibao,
and pointed to the eastwards, as the place in the island which produced
most gold.
The admiral was now informed that the cacique, or lord of that part of
the country was coming to visit him, attended by 200 men. Though young, he
was carried in a kind of chair on mens shoulders, attended by a governor
and counsellors; and it was observed that his subjects paid him wonderful
attention, and that his deportment was exceedingly grave. An Indian, from
the island of Isabella, went ashore and spoke to the chief, telling him
the Spaniards were men who had come from heaven, and saying much in their
praise.
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