Columbus‘s first voyage

Did Columbus “discover“ the Americas? No, not really. People lived there for thousands of years. Outsiders arrived on the new continent years before Columbus whether Norse, muslims or - most interestingly in my opinion - Indonesians. Heck, Columbus famously thought he had reached the far East reaches of Asia. Yet, there is no denying that Columbus's setting foot in the Caribbean was a landmark moment rarely matched. Today, I want to explore (no pun intended) the oldest account of Columbus's first journey to the Americas I could find. Are you ready to follow Columbus's footsteps? As you might guess from the delay between this post and the previous… I wasn‘t. I sincerely apologize for that. Hopefully, I will be more timely next time.

First things first: context.

To understand Columbus's voyage and expectations we must meet Toscanelli. A famous Florentine astronomer, Paolo Toscanelli was seen as the highest authority in navigation in his time - and that included Columbus. Indeed, the Admiral (as Columbus is most often named in “his“ journal) constantly referred to and came back to a map made by Toscanelli. Toscanelli sent that map to Affonso V, king of Portugal some years before Columbus asked for it. Indeed, Columbus wasn‘t the only one envisioning such an ocean voyage to Asia. The idea gained some prominence with the fall of Constantinople and the impact this had on Portugal‘s oriental trade routes. Yet, Portuguese entrepreneurs weren‘t dumb and knew that such a trip exceeded the range of their vessels. Columbus was the first hardy enough to try it. Toscanelli‘s map was pretty good for his time, with just the tiny oversight that he didn‘t include the Americas. But that‘s fair game - there was only a very low chance that he could have ever known that.

This is where I feel obligated to clarifiy… No one at the time believed the world to be flat. Not even remotely. Earth was a sphere. Full stop. End of the story.

In any case, going back to the journal itself, Columbus dutifully added entries to it every morning and evening from the day he departed the Canary Islands to the day he came back to Palos. Of course, we don't have the original journal, but rather a copy made at the demand of Isabella of Castile. We can only hope that it is remotely accurate. According to the rather practical character of it, I would feel it is to some extent. Let us start our resume of Columbus's journey.

Columbus's expedition left Granada on May 12th, 1492. They went to Palos of left for the sea there. They then reached the Canary Islands on the 3rd of August for provisions before going out on the Atlantic. Problems began 3 days later when mutiny plot was found. Not all sailors where… enthiusast about the Expedition‘s chances. In any case, the plot was thwarted. Still, the caravel Pinta was now unmanned. This delayed their departure for a couple of days.

At this point, Columbus's maritime reports begin. September 10 is the first instance of a rather unique aspect of these. Columbus always specified not only the distance travelled in the journal, but the distance TOLD to the crew as these were not the same. The difference could be large. For example, Columbus made 60 leagues on September 10, but said only 48 leagues to his crew. Now, why would he do that? The reason is simple: his crew also knew the expected distance to Asia written in Toscanelli‘s map. Lying openly like this was a way for Columbus to ensure his crew would stay sharp that much longer… for a few days at least.

On September 16, they saw some rocks with grass. The first of a few false alerts that Columbus would report. Just imagine the stress, the hope and then the disappointment each time. On that day, they also realized that stars were no longer in the position they expected. Indeed, the polar star changes position with longitude compared to a compass. From now on, Columbus gave less credit to their compass.

On October 7th, the Nina fired a shot - Columbus's chosen signal that land was sighted. Alas: a false alarm again. The Nina mistook a flight of birds as a sign of land (this was a common practice in Portugal at the time).

It‘s also around the second week of October that the crew increasingly started to complain. Columbus did his best to soothe them by promising rewards. He also bitterly reminded the obvious: at this point, to what land could they turn to but Asia? They didn't have much choice.

Fortunately for Columbus, they would reach land on the 11th. At first, Columbus was in disbelief and waited for sunrise to confirm the discovery. Indeed, it was land. Columbus would call it San Salvador. We know it today as Watling Island.

Here is the very first account given when they finally reached land:

“Having landed, they saw trees very green, and much water, and fruits of diverse kinds. The Admiral called to the two captains, and to the others who leaped on shore [...] and said that they should bear faithful testimony that he, in presence of all, had taken, as he now took, possession of the said island for the Kind and for the Queen, his Lords making the declarations that are required, as is more largely set forth in the testimonies which were then made in writing.“

These formalities feel like redacting additions. In truth, I can only imagine Columbus running, jumping and kissing the ground all over the place. Only a few lines later, we learn that the inhabitants of the island had gathered to welcome the visitors. Here is what‘s written:

"I knew that they were a people who could be more easily freed and converted to our holy faith by love than by force, gave to some red caps, and glass beads, to put round their necks, and manyu other things of little value, which gave them great pleasure and made them so much our friends that it was a marvel to see. They afterwards came to the ship's boats where we were, swimming and bringing us parrots, cotton threads in skeins, darts, and many other things; and we exchanged them for other things that we gave them, such as glass beads and small bells. In gine, they took all, and gave what they had with goodwill."

Looks like a decent bunch of people. Who would have guessed?

Columbus throughout his journey across the various islands of the Carribeans state over and over again two things. First, that the natives are fit, have a “very good countenance“ and were extremely good hosts. Seems like not just his first impressions were good. Although the picture is just not tinted pink. Columbus was also struck by scars borne by the natives. Proofs of the frequent and often bloodied quarrels between neighbouring villages. They were not exactly perfect being either (like anyone for that matter). Yet, Columbus saw their wit and recognized their intelligence. This is the main reason why he brought six natives back to show to the Portuguese court if we can take his word for it. The second thing Columbus gushes about over and over again is the islands themselves. The greenery, the food, the weather, the sand: everything is praised. Sure, the glee of discovery probably helped here but still.

Columbus would pass a couple months visiting different tribes, exploring the Carribeans only to return to Spain a few months later. But let us leave our friend there for now. History was made.

I wished I could describe further his journey, but I am already going long (and late too). See you next time.

References

• The Journal of Christopher Columbus (During his First Voyage 1492-93) and Documents Relating to the Voyages of John Cabot and Gaspar Corte Real, translated by Clements R. Markham, Hakluyt Society, 1893, London.