Columbus leaves Navidad east to seek a building site near Cibao

… and with this decision, on Saturday, the 7th day of December, he left the port of la Navidad with all his fleet, and went to anchor that evening near some islets that are near Monte-Christi, and the next day, Sunday, over the mountain, going looking through the land for where God might provide him the disposition he sought for settling, but his intention was, chiefly, directed to Monte de Plata, because it seemed to him, as he says, that it was land nearer the province of Cibao, where, according to what he had understood on the first voyage, were the rich gold mines, and which he reckoned to be Cipango, as was said above. The winds were very contrary to him after he left the port of Monte-Christi, so that with very great labor and for many days, and with the whole armada, he found himself in great pain and strait, because the people and the horses all came in great fatigue; …