Columbus's report on the first voyage -- Summary

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Click here for a literary analysis of Columbus's report on the first voyage
Click here for Columbus's original report text

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Columbus's report on the first voyage -- Summary

Columbus goes from the Canary Islands to the Indies. He reaches an island he names Juana that is so big he thinks it must be the mainland. He goes from island to island, talks with some natives and takes them hostage. He finds another island, Espanola, beautiful and fertile with many kinds of trees and birds and cultivable land, and great for building towns on. There are metal mines and gold in the rivers. Its people are naked and too shy to use their stick weapons. They run away from the whites when they see them, even though Columbus has given them many gifts. They are generous back. Columbus gives them gifts so they may be kind to Spain and perhaps turn Christian. They have no religion except they believe that power comes from the sky and think Columbus has come from the sky. They are intelligent.

He takes some Indians hostage to learn of their background. They soon manage to communicate with one another. The hostages are certain he has come from the sky so on every island they announce this and Columbus' party is treated well. The men on different islands understand one another. He finds men with tails in the province of Avan. Columbus has taken possession of all he has seen for the Spanish crown. He has left men in Espanola to build a fort, and made friends with the king of that land. There is no danger to them because the inhabitants are harmless.

Each man takes one wife but for the king who has twenty. They have no property but seem to share things and land. The natives are not monsters, except for the people of the island Qaris who are fierce and cannibalistic and wear their hair long. They "have intercourse with" (sex?) the Matanino island dwellers in which there are exclusively women, and these act like men. On yet another island the people are hairless and gold is plentiful.

Columbus appeals to the king and queen for help, promising in return as much gold, cotton, spices, and other goods as they desire.


Christopher Columbus. Image source

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