http://www.sulgravemanor.org.uk/education/sail_with_columbus.htm
I have done it! To everyone who doubted, I have done it! I have found the trans-Atlantic trade passageway and returned alive to tell the royal King and Queen of Spain! Just minutes ago I returned to the beautiful port of Palos on the fifteenth of March in the year 1493.This glory and celebration; however, does not come to this great country without troubles. There are still 40 men left behind on Hispaniola, and many more who are dead after the Pinta was lost in a terrible storm. As soon as the opportunity arises, I plan on requesting funding from the royalty of Spain, who so kindly supported me previously, to return to the islands of the far east.
I must return and if for some strange reason, Spain does not support a second voyage, as rival nation Portugal did previously, I should have no trouble finding others willing to send me. The journey was filled with adventures and new knowledge. The foreigners who live in these lands are not how they seemed according to Marco Polo and other great travelers of Asia. These people had little knowledge on the use of tools, and found the fact that we were clothed to be odd. The people were also in shock at the massive size and pristine craftsmanship of our ships. Even with these ships though, these islands were extremely difficult to navigate because of the shallow waters and many obstacles that hid beneath the surface.
The most unbelievable event just occurred! The Pinta, which I thought went down in that ferocious Atlantic storm, has just pulled into port! I thought for sure they had perished, but now, I know my fellow sailors are alive to tell a story of their own. Perhaps the captain of the Pinta, Martín Alonso Pinzón, would like to join me in my next expedition, hopefully to colonize and conquer the islands. Pinzón and I grew apart a bit after he took his crew in another direction to search for gold without permission. But the sour relationship was made up for after reuniting with him while exploring the coast of Hispaniola, and discovering that he had found some gold. At this point, the Santa Maria had sunk as well, so the addition of a second ship was very pleasing.
I am very excited for my next expedition to the islands surrounding Hispaniola in the far east, assuming the trip is funded. Last year, the king and queen of Spain made a deal with me that if I found this passage to Asia, I could conquer and govern these islands. On my next voyage, I hope to bring along more people and resources, so that I can bring the great culture of Spain to these foreign people.
- C. Columbus