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First Events and Early Influences: Island

The first idea impressed upon Columbus by Cuba was, that it was indeed an island, and then his conviction was formed, and never departed from him, that it was a continent, and it was not circumnavigated until 1508, when it was ascertained to be almost the same size as England. His point of first contact was on the north shore of the second province, as the Island is now organized from the east end. His westward voyages did not reach the extremity of the land in that direction. He rounded the eastern point, encountered the high land of Hayti, and, fascinated by the Caribbean Sea, touched in a later voyage the South American coast.