They all wore something at the neck and arms, with many pieces of gold at the neck.
The canoes were much larger than he had seen, better in build and lighter; they had a cabin in the middle for the princes and their women.
He made many inquiries for gold, but was told he must go farther on, but he was advised not to go there, because his men would be in danger of being eaten.

At first, Columbus supposed that this meant that the inhabitants of the gold-bearing countries were cannibals, but he satisfied himself afterwards that the natives meant that they would be eaten by beasts.

With regard to pearls, also, he got some information that he should find them when he had gone farther west and farther north.
After these agreeable courtesies, the little fleet raised its anchors and sailed west.

Columbus sent one caravel to investigate the river.
Finding that he should not succeed in that direction, and that he had no available way either north or south, he leaves by the same entrance by which he had entered.

The water is still very fresh, and he is satisfied, correctly as we know, that these currents were caused by the entrance of the great river of water.
On the thirteenth of August he leaves the island by what he calls the northern mouth of the river (Boca Grande), and begins to strike salt water again.
At this part of Columbus's letter there is a very curious discussion of temperature, which shows that this careful observer, even at that time, made out the difference between what are called isothermal curves and the curves of latitude.