First Encounters: Columbus and the Natives

Journal of Christopher Columbus, 1492 First encounters between Europeans

and Native Americans were dramatic events. In this account we see the assumptions and intentions of

Christopher Columbus, as he immediately began assessing the potential of these people to

serve European economic interests. He also predicted easy success for missionaries seeking

to convert these people to Christianity. Thursday, October 11 …After the Admiral

had spoken he saw the light once or twice, and it was like a wax candle rising

and falling. It seemed to few to be an indication of land; but the Admiral made certain

that land was close. When they said the Salve, which all the sailors were accustomed