Two Spaniards, Rodrigo de Jerez and Luis de Torres, the interpreter to the expedition -- who had so far found little use for his Hebrew and Chaldean--were chosen; and with them were sent two Indians, one from San Salvador and the other a local native who went as guide.

Red caps and beads and hawks' bells were duly provided, and a message for the king was given to them telling him that Columbus was waiting with letters and presents from Spanish sovereigns, which he was to deliver personally.

After the envoys had departed, Columbus, whose ships were anchored in a large basin of deep water with a clean and steep beach, decided to take the opportunity of having the vessels careened.

Their hulls were covered with shell and weed; the caulking, which had been dishonestly done at Palos, had also to be attended to; so the ships were beached and hove down one at a time -- an unnecessary precaution, as it turned out, for there was no sign of treachery on the part of the natives.

While the men were making fires to heat their tar they noticed that the burning wood sent forth a heavy odour which was like mastic; and the Admiral, now always busy with optimistic calculations, reckoned that there was enough in that vicinity to furnish a thousand quintals every year.