.

-- DISCOVERY OF HAYTI OR HISPANIOLA.
-- THE SEARCH FOR GOLD--HOSPITALITY AND INTELLIGENCE OF THE NATIVES--CHRISTMAS DAY--A SHIPWRECK--COLONY TO BE FOUNDED--COLUMBUS SAILS EAST AND MEETS MARTIN PINZON--THE TWO VESSELS RETURN TO EUROPE -- STORM--THE AZORES--PORTUGAL--HOME.
On the sixth of December they crossed from the eastern cape of Cuba to the northwestern point of the island, which we call Hayti or San Domingo.

He says he gave it this name because "the plains appeared to him almost exactly like those of Castile, but yet more beautiful." He coasted eastward along the northern side of the island, hoping that it might be the continent, and always inquiring for gold when he landed; but the Indians, as before, referred him to yet another land, still further south, which they still called Bohio.

It was not surrounded by water, they said.

The word "caniba," which is the origin of our word "cannibal," and refers to the fierce Caribs, came often into their talk.
The sound of the syllable can made Columbus more sure that he was now approaching the dominions of the Grand Khan of eastern Asia, of whom Marco Polo had informed Europe so fully.
On the twelfth of the month, after a landing in which a cross had been erected, three sailors went inland, pursuing the Indians.