Once beyond it he was in the smooth water of the Gulf of Paria.

He followed the westerly coast of Trinidad to the north until he came to a second channel narrower than the first, through which the current boiled with still greater violence, and to which he gave the name of Dragon's Mouth.

This is the channel between the northwesterly point of Trinidad and the eastern promontory of Paria.

Columbus now began to be bewildered, for he discovered that the water over the ship's side was fresh water, and he could not make out where it came from.

Thinking that the peninsula of Paria was an island, and not wishing to attempt the dangerous passage of the Dragon's Mouth, he decided to coast along the southern shore of the land opposite, hoping to be able to turn north round its western extremity.
Sweeter blew the breezes, fresher grew the water, milder and more balmy the air, greener and deeper the vegetation of this beautiful region.