Letter of Christopher Columbus: On His First Voyage to America, 1492 | Summary and Question Answers

Letter of Christopher Columbus: On His First Voyage to America, 1492 | Summary

Summary

 It is known to all that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. Columbus used to write letters and diaries in his voyages of the new world and sent them to spain. This text is also a letter written to the king of Spain by Christopher Columbus in which he describes  new people, new environment in the New World. The letter shows how mesmerized he was because of the unpolluted and unmediated environment of the newly discovered islands. 

After 33 days of his first voyage, he discovered and named islands like San Salvador ( Now Bahamas), Santa Maria De Concepcion (Now Rumcay), Fernandina Island, Isabella Island, Juana (Now Cuba). He thought that he had found India without being aware that he had found out a new continent. 

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Later he went on to discovered Hispaniola which he found most extensive and than the others. There were many rivers. There were thousands of trees of endless varieties and thousands of birds of different varieties, varieties of fruits were also there. There were plenty of fertile land fir growing crops for pasturage, for building towns and village. 

He found out that the indigenous people in Hispaniola were very weak, fearful and knew nothing. The only weapons they had were sticks of cane,  bow made of cane and some arrows. But they were afraid to use them. They had no religion nor idolatry, except that they all believed power and goodness to be in heaven. 

The indigenous people began to think that Columbus and his men were sent by the gods from heaven. So they were well received everywhere they go. The innocent indies were ready to give anything they had like cotton, tobacco, gold, metal etc. Columbus gave a thousand good and pretty things that he had to win their love and trust. His inner plan to do this was to induce them to become christian and to make them his and his King's slave. In this islands the men seemed to be satisfied with one wife, except they allowed as many as twenty to their chief or king. 

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Another island near Hispaniola, which he named as City of Navidad (place near present Haiti) was a great place for gold mines, trade and profit. So Columbus left his half of his men with weapons and other necessary things there to protect and take care of the lands he found. 

He returned home with the plan that he will come again but with more ships and men ships and men to conquer the new land, its rich resources and the indigenous people who lived there. He had plans to take these indigenous people to spain and make them their slaves.