consisted of the Gallega (the Galician), of which he changed the name to
the Santa Maria, and of the Pinta and the Nina. Of these the first two
were of a tonnage which we should rate as about one hundred and thirty
tons. The Nina was much smaller, not more than fifty tons. One writer
says that they were all without full decks, that is, that such decks as
they had did not extend from stem to stern. But the other authorities
speak as if the Nina only was an open vessel, and the two larger were
decked. Columbus himself took command of the Santa Maria, Martin Alonso
Pinzon of the Pinta, and his brothers, Francis Martin and Vicente Yanez,
of the Nina. The whole company in all three ships numbered one hundred
and twenty men.

Mr. Harrisse shows that the expense to the crown amounted to 1,140,000
maravedis. This, as he counts it, is about sixty-four thousand dollars
of our money. To this Columbus was to add one-eighth of the cost. His
friends, the Pinzons, seem to have advanced this, and to have been
afterwards repaid. Las Casas and Herrera both say that the sum thus
added was much more than one-eighth of the cost and amounted to half a
million maravedis.



CHAPTER III. -- THE GREAT VOYAGE.

THE SQUADRON SAILS--REFITS AT CANARY ISLANDS--HOPES AND FEARS OF THE
VOYAGE--THE DOUBTS OF THE CREW--LAND DISCOVERED.

At last all was ready. That is to say, the fleet was so far ready that
Columbus was ready to start. The vessels were small, as we think of
vessels, but he was not dissatisfied. He says in the beginning of his