Both
Vessels Returned To The Anchorage At Monte Christo, Where Martin Alonzo
Pinzon Endeavoured To Excuse Himself For Having Parted Company.
Though far
from being satisfied, the admiral pretended to be convinced by his excuses;
yet believed that Pinzon had procured a considerable quantity of gold
during his separation, keeping half to himself, and giving the other half
to his crew, to secure their silence.
To a considerable river which falls
into the sea near Monte Christo, the admiral gave the name of Rio de Oro,
or Golden River, because the sand had the appearance of gold. Wednesday
the 9th, hoisting sail, the admiral came to Punta Roxa, or Red Cape,
thirty leagues east from Monte Christo, where they procured tortoises as
large as bucklers, which went there on shore to lay their eggs in the sand.
The admiral affirmed that he saw three mermaids at this place, and that he
had seen others on the coast of Guinea. He described them as having some
resemblance to the human face, but by no means so beautiful as they are
usually represented. From Punta Roxa, he proceeded to Rio de Garcia, or
the river of Grace, where Martin Alonzo Pinzon had been trading, and which
is likewise called by his name. At this place, he set four Indians on
shore who had been taken away by Pinzon.
On Friday 11th January, he came to a cape called Belprado, from the
beauty of the coast, whence they had a view of a mountain covered with
snow, which looked like silver, whence it was named Monte de Plata, or
Silver Mountain; and to a harbour in its neighbourhood, in the shape of a
horse shoe, the admiral gave the name of Puerto de Plata, or Silver Port.
Running ten leagues farther along the coast, assisted by the current, he
passed several capes or head-lands, which he named Punta del Angel, or
Angel Point, Del Yerro, or Mistake Point, El Redondo, or Round Point,
El Frances, or French Point, Cabo de Buentiempo, or Cape Fair-weather,
and El Tajado, or Upright Cape.
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