The Voyages Of Columbus
On Friday, August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail on his voyage to the New World. It was a voyage plagued with difficulties from the outset, everything from simple bad luck to purposeful sabotage, all carefully noted in Columbus’ journal. One such notation involved leaving 40 of his men on the island of Hispaniola at La Navidad.
Spanish Discovery of Caribbean Islands
Hispaniola, the Spanish name given to the island that is now Haiti and the Dominican Republic, lies in the heart of the Caribbean. Second in size only to Cuba, it was not Columbus’ first stop. Columbus first landed in the Bahamas, and did not reach Hispaniola until December after spending almost two months searching for gold on other islands along the way.
Searching for Gold in the Caribbean
After seeing the natives of San Salvador wearing gold necklaces and other gold jewelry, Columbus spent almost two months searching the Caribbean for the source of the gold. Most of this time was spent on the island of Cuba. By the time he reached Hispaniola on December 5th, he was becoming discouraged. Then the Santa Maria struck a coral reef on Christmas Eve, and one might expect that he became even more discouraged. Instead, he ecstatically rejoiced at news from king Gucanagari. The cacique knew where to find the gold Columbus was seeking.
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