"Sir: As I am sure you will be pleased at the great victory which
the Lord has given me in my voyage, I write this to inform you that
in twenty' days I arrived in the Indies with the squadron which
their Majesties had placed under my command. There I discovered
many islands, inhabited by a numerous population, and took
possession of them for their Highnesses, with public ceremony and
the royal flag displayed, without molestation.

"The first that I discovered I named San Salvador, in remembrance of
that Almighty Power which had so miraculously bestowed them. The
Indians call it Guanahani. To the second I assigned the name of
Santa Marie de Conception; to the third that of Fernandina; to the
fourth that of Isabella; to the fifth Juana; and so on, to every one
a new name.

"When I arrived at Juana, I followed the coast to the westward, and
found it so extensive that I considered it must be a continent and a
province of Cathay. And as I found no towns or villages by the
seaside, excepting some small settlements, with the people of which
I could not communicate because they all ran away, I continued my
course to the westward, thinking I should not fail to find some
large town and cities. After having coasted many leagues without
finding any signs of them, and seeing that the coast took me to the
northward, where I did not wish to go, as the winter was already set
in, I considered it best to follow the coast to the south and the
wind being also scant, I determined to lose no more time, and
therefore returned to a certain port, from whence I sent two
messengers into the country to ascertain whether there was any king
there or any large city.