He said that the king and queen of Spain had sent him with the express mission of bringing these tidings to them.

In particular, that he was charged with the duty of punishing the Caribs and all other men of impure life, and of rewarding and honoring all pure and innocent men.

This statement so delighted the old prophet that he was eager to accompany Columbus on a mission so noble, and it was only by the urgent entreaty of his wife and children that he stayed with them.

He found it hard to believe that Columbus was inferior in rank or command to any other sovereign.
The beauty of the island and the hospitality of the natives, however, were not enough to dispose the crews to continue this exploration further.

They were all convinced that they were on the coast of Asia.
Columbus did not mean that afterwards any one should accuse him of abandoning the discovery of that coast too soon.