Columbus departed with his fleet from Gomera on Monday the 7th of October, and passing Hierro, the farthest of the Canaries, steered more to the southward than he had done in his first voyage.  On the 24th of the same month, having sailed about 450 leagues in his estimation, a swallow was seen among the ships, and they soon afterwards had heavy showers of rain, which the admiral supposed were occasioned by some near land, for which reason he slackened sail at night, and ordered every one to keep a sharp look-out.  On Sunday the 3d November, all the fleet saw land to the great joy of all on board.  This proved to be an island, which Columbus named Dominica, because discovered on Sunday.  Presently two other islands were seen on the starboard, and then many others; and they began to smell the herbs and flowers, and to see flocks of parrots, which always make a great noise during their flight.  As there seemed no convenient anchorage on the east coast of Dominica, the admiral continued his course to the second island, which he named Marigalante, that being the name of his own ship.  He landed here with some men, and took formal possession in presence of a notary and witnesses.  Leaving this island, he discovered another next day, to which he gave the name of Guadaloupe, to which he sent some boats on shore to a small town, which was found deserted by the inhabitants, who had all fled to the mountains.  In searching their houses, a piece of ship timber which the sailors call a stern-post was found, to the great surprise of every one, not knowing how it should have come hither, unless either drifted from the Canaries, or perhaps it might have belonged to the admirals ship, lost in the first voyage, and might have floated with the currents from Hispaniola.  In this island the Spaniards took the first of those parrots which are called Guacamayas, which are as large as dunghill cocks.  Some men went on shore again on Tuesday the 5th of November, who took two youths, who made them understand that they belonged to the island of Borriquen, since named St Juan de Porto Rico, and that the inhabitants of Guadaloupe were Caribbees, and kept them to eat, being canibals.  The boats returned for some Spaniards who had remained on shore, and found with them six women who had fled from the Caribbees; but the admiral gave them some hawks-bells and set them on shore.  The Caribbees took all from them; and when the boats went again on shore, these women, with a youth and two boys, solicited to be taken on board the ships.  From these people it was learnt that there was a continent not far distant, and many islands to which they gave names.  On being asked for the island of Ayti, which is the Indian name of Hispaniola, they pointed in the direction where it lay.