He left the town at noon and prepared to sail round the island.

He had meant to go by the south and southeast.

But as Martin Alonzo Pinzon, captain of the Pinta, had heard, from one of the Indians he had on board, that it would be quicker to start by the northwest, and as the wind was favorable for this course, Columbus took it.

He found a fine harbor two leagues further on, where he found some friendly Indians, and sent a party ashore for water.

"During this time," he says, "I went (to look at) these trees, which were the most beautiful things to see which have been seen; there was as much verdure in the same degree as in the month of May in Andalusia, and all the trees were as different from ours as the day from the night.