[181-2] _Ajes._ The same as _mames_. _Cf._ note, p. 139.
[183-1] This Indian word survives in modern Spanish with the meaning political boss.
[184-2] In Spain in earlier times the Annunciation was celebrated on December 18 to avoid having it come in Lent. When the Roman usage in regard to Annunciation was adopted in Spain they instituted the Feast of our Lady's Expectation on December 18. It was called "The Feast of O because the first of the greater antiphons is said in the vespers of its vigil." Addis and Arnold, _Catholic Dictionary_, under "Mary." The series of anthems all begin with "O."
[186-1] The excelente was worth two castellanos or about $6 in coin value.
[187-1] El Puerto de la Granja. (Navarrete.)
[187-2] The bay of Puerto Margot. (_Id._)
[188-1] Point and Island of Margot. (Navarrete.)
[188-2] _Camino_ for _Cabo_ (?). (Markham.)
[188-3] Mountain over Guarico. (Navarrete.)
[189-1] This conjecture proved to be wrong. The Peak of Teneriffe is over 12,000 ft. high, while 10,300 ft. (Mt. Tina) is the highest elevation in Santo Domingo.
[189-2] This is one of the passages used to determine the date of Columbus's birth. By combining his statement quoted in the _Historie_ of Ferdinand, ch. IV., that he went to sea at 14, and this assertion that he followed the sea steadily for 23 years, we find that he was 37 years old in 1484 or 1485, when he left Portugal and ceased sea-faring till 1492.
[189-3] A gap of a line and a half in the manuscript.
[190-1] The mutilation of the text makes this passage difficult. The third line literally is, "and I saw all the east [or perhaps better the Levant, _el Levante_] and the west which means the way to England," etc. After the second gap read: "better than the other which I with proper caution tried to describe." After "world," read: "and [is] enclosed so that the oldest cable of the ship would hold it fast."
[190-2] The distance is six miles. (Navarrete.)
[191-1] _Gonze avellanada._ The interpretation of the French translators is followed. The word _gonze_ is not given in the dictionaries.
[193-1] "This king was a great lord and king Guacanagarí, one of the five great kings and lordships of this island." Las Casas, I. 389.
[194-1] "This girdle was of fine jewellery work, like misshapen pearls, made of fish-bones white and colored interspersed, like embroidery, so sewed with a thread of cotton and by such delicate skill that on the reverse side it looked like delicate embroidery, although all white, which it was a pleasure to see." Las Casas, I. 389. From this we learn that wampum belts were in use among the Indians of Española.