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1504-08-03

Columbus, held by currents at Beata, writes to Ovando

Haitian

… The Admiral and all the rest embarked, and set sail on the 28th of June of 1504; they sailed with much hardship because the winds and currents that come with the breezes are continually contrary. On reaching the islet we call Beata, which lies next to this island, 20 leagues from Yaquimo, which the Admiral called the port of Brasil, to pass beyond this islet, in order to come to this port of Sancto Domingo, is very difficult, because the currents there are stronger, so that it happened that a ship would be held there, unable to pass it, eight months. While the Admiral was forcibly detained there, he wished to let the Comendador Mayor know, as one who would dispel as far as in him lay the vehement suspicion, though vain and frivolous, that he felt of him. He sent the letter either with some sailor overland (the place is nearly 50 leagues from this city), or ahead by the caravel, which, being lighter, could pass the currents. The letter was of the following tenor:

Source  ·  p. t. III, p. 182 Bartolomé de Las Casas, Historia de las Indias (t. III) (1875), p. t. III, p. 182