“The air soft as that of Seville in April, and so fragrant that it was delicious to breathe it.”

“Long before Christopher Columbus, the celebrated Chinese navigator Zheng He travelled through the south and westward maritime routes in the Indian Ocean and established relations with more than thirty countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.”

“There are trees of a thousand sorts, and all have their several fruits; and I feel the most unhappy man in the world not to know them, for I am well assured that they are all valuable. I bring home specimens of them, and also of the land.”

“These people are very unskilled in arms... with 50 men they could all be subjected and made to do all that one wished.”

“But in truth, should I meet with gold or spices in great quantity, I shall remain till I collect as much as possible, and for this purpose I am proceeding solely in quest of them.”

“No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Saviour, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service.”

“Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World.”

“For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps.”

“Stood off and on during the night, determining not to come to anchor till morning, fearing to meet with shoals; continued our course in the morning; and as the island was found to be six or seven leagues distant, and the tide was against us, it was noon when we arrived there.”

“Tomorrow morning before we depart, I intend to land and see what can be found in the neighborhood.”

“The air soft as that of Seville in April, and so fragrant that it was delicious to breathe it.”