[The Life of Christopher Columbus from his own Letters and Journals by Edward Everett Hale]@TWC D-Link book
The Life of Christopher Columbus from his own Letters and Journals

CHAPTER IV
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There is, however, great doubt whether this is the island known by that name on the maps.

Of late years the impression has generally been that the island thus discovered is that now known as Watling's island.

In 1860 Admiral Fox, of the United States navy, visited all these islands, and studied the whole question anew, visiting the islands himself and working backwards to the account of Columbus's subsequent voyage, so as to fix the spot from which that voyage began.
Admiral Fox decides that the island of discovery was neither San Salvador nor Watling's island, but the Samana island of the same group.

The subject is so curious that we copy his results at more length in the appendix.
"I determined to wait till the next afternoon, and then to start for the southwest, for many of them told me that there was land to the south and southwest and northwest, and that those from the northwest came often to fight with them, and so to go on to the southwest to seek gold and precious stones.
"This island is very large and very flat and with very green trees, and many waters, and a very large lake in the midst, without any mountain.
And all of it is green, so that it is a pleasure to see it.

And these people are so gentle, and desirous to have our articles and thinking that nothing can be given them unless they give something and do not keep it back.


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