This Place Is In The
Province Of Higuay, The Natives Of Which Are The Most Warlike Of All The
Tribes In Hispaniola, And Use Poisoned Arrows.
Continuing the course to the eastwards, a large fish was seen resembling a
small whale, having a shell on its neck like that of a tortoise, as large
as a target.
Its head, which it held above water, was like a pipe or large
cask; it had two vast fins on the sides, and the tail resembled that of a
tunny fish, but much larger. From the appearance of this fish, and by
other tokens in the sky, the admiral suspected an approaching storm, and
took shelter therefore within an island called Adamanoy by the Indians,
but which the Spaniards name Saona, which is about two leagues in length,
having a strait between it and Hispaniola about a league in breadth. He
there anchored, but as the other two ships were unable to get in they ran
great danger. That night, the admiral observed an eclipse of the moon,
from which he calculated the difference of longitude between the island of
Saona and Cadiz to be five hours and twenty-three minutes[12]. The admiral
remained in this place for eight days, and being rejoined by the other
ships, he made sail on the 24th September, and arrived at Cabo de
Ergario[13], or Cape Deceit, which he named San Raphael. He then
touched at the island of Mona, ten leagues from Hispaniola, and eight
from San Joan de Porto Rico.
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