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CHAPTER III.

JOURNAL OF THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS.

THE RUN TO THE CANARY ISLANDS.

August 3, 1492. The squadron crossed the bar at the island of Saltes half an hour before sunrise. By sunset of the same day it had gained an offing of about sixty miles. The ships were then headed to the southwest, toward the Canary Islands, distant about six hundred miles.

August 6. The rudder of the Pinta became unshipped or damaged in some way so as in a great measure to disable the vessel. It was suspected that two of the sailors had produced the mischief intentionally, at the instigation of the owner of the vessel, in order to interrupt the voyage, and some angry criminations took place between the officers and the men. Columbus was uneasy because the state of the weather prevented his going on board the Pinta to give directions in respect to repairing the damage. He, however, felt great confidence in the nautical skill of Martin Pinzon, who commanded the damaged vessel, which

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confidence it seems was well deserved, for Pinzon succeeded in refitting the rudder, so that the vessel could proceed.

August 7. The rudder of the Pinta gave way again, which occasioned a renewal of the difficulty that had occurred the day before.

August 8. It was time now, according to the reckoning, for the squadron to be drawing toward the islands, and a consultation was held among the commanders and pilots in respect to the precise direction in which it would be best to steer in order to find them. All gave their opinions, each judging as well as he could from the distance which they had come and the course on which they had sailed; and also from the floating of sea-weed, the flight of birds, and other such signs as navigators were accustomed to rely upon in those days for finding the land, in the absence of any precise knowledge from observations.

It proved in this case that Columbus' judgment was most correct. The vessels were steered in accordance with it, and soon the lofty peak of Teneriffe came into view.

The island of Teneriffe is one of the largest, and by far the most lofty, of the Canaries, and, therefore, it is always the first one that is seen. But the best harbor was at the smaller island of Gom

era, a little further on. Columbus, accordingly, determined to proceed to Gomera, but the Pinta was compelled to come to, and cast anchor under the shores of Teneriffe, on account of the rudder being so much out of order. The vessel leaked, too, it was found, and Columbus determined to exchange her for another, if he could find one at the Canary Islands.

A MONTH AT THE CANARIES.

The expedition was detained a month at the Canaries before they were ready to put to sea again. As soon as the other two vessels were safe in port Columbus went immediately to Teneriffe to see about the Pinta, having found by inquiry that he could not obtain another vessel to take her place. It was found, moreover, that she could not proceed to Gomera, but must be repaired where she was. So they looked out for a sheltered place on the shores of Teneriffe, and there, careening her so as to get access to the damaged parts, they succeeded, after expending a great deal of pains and labor, in repairing her.

While the expedition was thus detained Columbus availed himself of every opportunity to inquire of the residents upon the island, and of the various seafaring men whom he met there, in regard to

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