On the nineteenth, after these agreeable hospitalities, the squadron
sailed again, and on the twentieth arrived at a harbor which Columbus
pronounced the finest he had ever seen. The reception he met here and
the impressions he formed of Hispaniola determined him to make a colony
on that island. It may be said that on this determination the course of
his after life turned. This harbor is now known as the Bay of Azul.

The men, whom he sent on shore, found a large village not far from the
shore, where they were most cordially received. The natives begged the
Europeans to stay with them, and as it proved, Columbus accepted the
invitation for a part of his crew. On the first day three different
chiefs came to visit him, in a friendly way, with their retinues.
The next day more than a hundred and twenty canoes visited the ship,
bringing with them such presents as the people thought would be
acceptable. Among these were bread from the cassava root, fish, water in
earthen jars, and the seeds of spices. These spices they would stir in
with water to make a drink which they thought healthful.

On the same day Columbus sent an embassy of six men to a large town in
the interior. The chief by giving his hand "to the secretary" pledged
himself for their safe return.

The twenty-third was Sunday. It was spent as the day before had been,
in mutual civilities. The natives would offer their presents, and say
"take, take," in their own language. Five chiefs were among the visitors
of the day. From their accounts Columbus was satisfied that there was
much gold in the island, as indeed, to the misery and destruction of its
inhabitants, there proved to be. He thought it was larger than England.
But he was mistaken. In his journal of the next day he mentions Civao, a