In his journal of the next day he mentions Civao, a land to the west, where they told him that there was gold, and again he thought he was approaching Cipango, or Japan.
The next day he left these hospitable people, raising anchor in the morning, and with a light land wind continued towards the west.

At eleven in the evening Columbus retired to rest.

While he slept, on Christmas Day, there occurred an accident which changed all plans for the expedition so far as any had been formed, and from which there followed the establishment of the ill-fated first colony.

The evening was calm when Columbus himself retired to sleep, and the master of the vessel followed his example, entrusting the helm to one of the boys.
Every person on the ship, excepting this boy, was asleep, and he seems to have been awake to little purpose.
The young steersman let the ship drift upon a ridge of rock, although, as Columbus says, indignantly, there were breakers abundant to show the danger.

So soon as she struck, the boy cried out, and Columbus was the first to wake.