Some brought us water, others things to eat. Others, when they saw that
I did not care to go ashore, threw themselves into the sea and came
swimming, and we understood that they asked us if we had come from
heaven. And an old man came into the boat, and others called all (the
rest) men and women, with a loud voice: 'Come and see the men who have
come from heaven; bring them food and drink.'

"There came many of them and many women, each one with something, giving
thanks to God, casting themselves on the ground, and raising their heads
toward heaven. And afterwards they called us with shouts to come ashore.

"But I feared (to do so), for I saw a great reef of rocks which
encircles all that island. And in it there is bottom and harbor for
as many ships as there are in all Christendom, and its entrance very
narrow. It is true that there are some shallows inside this ring, but
the sea is no rougher than in a well.

"And I was moved to see all this, this morning, so that I might be able
to give an account of it all to your Highnesses, and also (to find out)
where I might make a fortress. And I saw a piece of land formed like an
island, although it is not one, in which there were six houses, which
could be cut off in two days so as to become an island; although I do
not see that it is necessary, as this people is very ignorant of arms,
as your Highnesses will see from seven whom I had taken, to carry
them off to learn our speech and to bring them back again. But your
Highnesses, when you direct, can take them all to Castile, or keep them
captives in this same island, for with fifty men you can keep them all
subjected, and make them do whatever you like.

"And close to the said islet are groves of trees, the most beautiful I