A day like any other
We seem to have forgotten something. What was it?
On the thirty-third day after I departed Cadiz, I came to the Indian sea, where I found many islands inhabited by men without number... To the first of these I gave the name of the blessed Saviour [San Salvador]... But the Indians call it Guanahaní..." [Taino for "iguana"]
Presently many inhabitants of the island assembled... That we might form great friendship, ... I gave to some of them red caps, and glass beads to put round their necks, and many other things of little value, which gave them great pleasure, and made them so much our friends it was a marvel to see. They afterwards came to the ship's boats... bringing us parrots, cotton threads in skeins, spears, and many other things; and we exchanged them for... glass beads and small bells.
They go as naked as when their mothers bore them, and so do the women, although I did not see more than one young girl. All I saw were young men, none more than 30 years of age. They are very well made, with very handsome bodies, and very good countenances. Their hair is short and coarse... down to the eyebrows, except a few locks behind, which they wear long and never cut. Some paint themselves white, others red, and others of what color they find. Some paint their faces, others the whole body, some only round the eyes, others only on the nose.[Journal, Oct. 12, 1492]
I saw that some of them had a small piece [of gold] fastened in... the nose, and by signs I was able to make out that to the south... there was a king who... possessed a great quantity.[Journal, Oct. 13, 1492]
Oh! That's right. We were discovered.