A lord sends a canoe and gold mask inviting Columbus

At daybreak he set sail to go on his way to seek the islands which the Indians told him had much gold, and some of which had more gold than earth: the weather did not serve him and he had to anchor again, and he sent the boat to fish with the net. The lord of that land, who had a place near there, sent him a great canoe full of people, and in it a principal servant of his, to beg the Admiral to come with the ships to his land and that he would give him all he had. He sent him by that man a belt which, instead of a purse, bore a mask which had two large ears of beaten gold, and the tongue and the nose. And since these people are of so free a heart that whatever is asked of them they give with the best will in the world, it seems to them that in asking something of them one does them a great favor: this the Admiral says. They met the boat and gave the belt to a ship’s boy, and came with their canoe alongside the ship with their embassy. Before he understood them some part of the day went by, nor did the Indians he had with him understand them well, because they have some difference of words in the names of things: …