Columbus describes the high green country from Monte Cristi to Punta roja

… he came to a point that he named Punta Roja, which lies due east of Monte-Cristi 60 miles, and in its lee he anchored in the afternoon, which would be three hours before nightfall. He did not dare to leave there by night because there were many reefs, until they are known, because afterward they will be useful if they have channels, as they must, and they have much depth and good anchorage safe from all winds. These lands from Monte-Cristi to where he anchored are high, level lands and very lovely open country, and behind them very beautiful mountains that run from east to west, and they are all cultivated and green, so that it is a marvel to see their beauty, and they have many streams of water. In all this land there are many turtles, of which the sailors took some at Monte-Cristi that came ashore to lay their eggs, and they were very large, like a great buckler. The day before, when the Admiral was going to the Río del Oro, he said that he saw three sirens that rose well up out of the sea, but they were not as beautiful as they are painted, for in some fashion they had the form of a man in the face. …