his Tale so ill, and feign’d his Lameness worse, that _Sibilius_, one of the Messengers sent by _Columbus_, lifting up the Coverlet, saw that he ail’d nothing, which soon confirm’d his doubt, that he was confederated with the rest, and alike guilty of the Slaughter. At last _Guaccanarillo_ being desir’d, came in Person to _Columbus_, in whose presence he held a long Discourse with an _Indian_ Woman, which they had brought from the Island of _Santa Cruz_, there Christned by the Name of _Catharine_: At length _Guaccanarillo_ was dismiss’d, and the Night following this _Catharine_, with seven more of the _Indian_ Women, leap’d over-board, and swom almost a League to Shore, so going thence directly to their King _Guaccanarillo_. This Accident gave more suspicion to _Columbus_, who thereupon sent three hundred Men, commanded by _Melchior_, _Hoieda_, and _Gorvalano_, to march through the Island three several ways, and with special Commission to secure as their Prisoner _Guaccanarillo_. _Melchior_ discover’d a wide River, full of Reaches and winding Bays, gliding between high Hills cover’d with Woods, resounding with the ecchoing noises of harmonious Birds, and disemboguing his Waters, enlarg’d by two other Rivers, into the Sea, so making a convenient Harbor for Ships. Here a hundred of the Islanders, well Arm’d after their manner, met them, crying aloud, _We are no_ Cannibals, _but_ Taynos, that is, _a People more civil than they are cruel_. The _Spaniards_ making Signs of Peace, the _Taynos_ approach’d, and joyn’d their Forces in a friendly manner. Near the place of this Meeting appear’d a House built in an Oval fashion, being thirty two Paces in the Circumference, the Roof curiously pleited of divers colour’d Rushes, round about which stood thirty lesser Dwellings. Mean while, in his March _Hoieda_ discover’d a River that descended from a high Mountain, where the Inhabitants gather’d much Gold after this manner: They dig a Hole about two Foot deep; then taking up their left Hand full of Sand, with their right Hand they cull out the precious Ingots, which little accounting of, as they gather’d, they dealt away to the _Spaniards_. Most of the Pieces were as big as Pease, yet some so large, that they weigh’d nine Ounces. _Peter Martyr_, Councellor to the Emperor _Charles_, tells us, That he hath seen of them in the _Spanish_ Court, that were brought over thither by _Columbus_. Moreover, _Hoieda_ was inform’d here, That this Gold-River took its Original in the Province belonging to _Cacicus Caunaboa_, signifying, _The King of the Golden Palace_. [Sidenote: _Columbus_ builds a City.] [Sidenote: Strange fruitfulness there.]