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The Columbus Letter
The Columbus Letter | |
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Christopher Columbus's letter announcing the success of his voyage to the "islands of the India sea" is one of the most remarkable documents ever published. It is a key document in the social and intellectual histories of both Europe and the Americas. The Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education, University of Southern Maine, is pleased to make this significant historical document -- in the form of the Basle 1494 edition -- available to the people.
De Insulis nuper inuentis
Epistola Christoferi Colom (cui etas nostra mul-tum debet: de Insulis in mari Indico nuper inuen-tis: ad quas perquirendas octauo antea mense: au-spiciis et ere inuictissimi Fernandi Hispaniarû Re-gis missus fuerat) ad Magnificû dominû Raphae-lem Sanxis: eiusdem serenissimi Regis Thesaurari=um missa: quam nobilis ac litteratus vir Aliander de Cosco: ab Hispano ideomate: in latinum con-uertit: tercio Kalendas Maii .M.cccc.xciij. Pontifi-catus Alexandri Sexti Anno primo.
Qvoniam suscepte prouinciæ rem perfectâ me consecutû fuisse: gratum tibi fore scio. has constitui exarare: quæ te vniuscuiusque rei in hoc nostro itinere geste inuêteque admoneât. Tricesimotercio die postquam Gadibus discessi: in ma=re Indicû perueni: vbi plurimas Iu[n]sulas innumeris habitatas hominibus reperi: quarû omnium pro foe-licissimo Rege nostro: præconio celebrato, et vexil=lis extensis: côtradicente nemine possessionê acce-pi. primeque earum: diui Saluatoris nomê imposui. cuius fretus auxilio: tam ad hanc quam ad ceteras alias peruenimus. Eam vero Indi Guanahanyn vocant. Aliarum etiam vnâquanque nouo nomine nûcupaui. Quippe aliam Insulam Sancte Marie Conceptio-nis. aliam Fernandinam. aliam Hysabellam. aliâ
Translation: Because my undertakings have attained success, I know that it will be pleasing to you: these I have determined to relate, so that you may be made acquainted with everything done and discovered in this our voyage. On the thirty-third day after I departed from Cadiz, I came to the Indian sea, where I found many islands inhabited by men without number, of all which I took possession for our most fortunate king, with proclaiming heralds and flying standards, no one objecting. To the first of these I gave the name of the blessed Saviour, on whose aid relying I had reached this as well as the other islands. But the Indians call it Guanahany. I also called each one of the others by a new name. For I ordered one island to be called Santa Maria of the Conception, another Fernandina, another Isabella, another Juana, and so on with the rest.
As soon as we had arrived at that island which I have just now said was called Juana, I proceeded along its coast towards the west for some distance; I found it so large and without perceptible end, that I believed it to be not an island, but the continental country of Cathay; seeing, however, no towns or cities situated on the sea-coast, but only some villages and rude farms, with whose inhabitants I was unable to converse, because as soon as they saw us they took flight.
I proceeded farther, thinking that I would discover some city or large residences. At length, perceiving that we had gone far enough, that nothing new appeared, and that this way was leading us to the north, which I wished to avoid, because it was winter on the land, and it was my intention to go to the south, moreover the winds were becoming violent, I therefore determined that no other plans were practicable, and so, going back, I returned to a certain bay that I had noticed, from which I sent two of our men to the land, that they might find out whether there was a king in this country, or any cities. These men traveled for three days, and they found people and houses without number, but they were small and without any government, therefore they returned.
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Glimpses of Chandni Chowk and Old Delhi : Shoot At Sight
The procession to the Jama Masjid during the great Delhi Durbar to celebrate the accession of King George V. Photo by Central Press/Getty Images
Glimpses of Chandni Chowk and Old Delhi : Shoot At Sight
The procession to the Jama Masjid during the great Delhi Durbar to celebrate the accession of King George V. Photo by Central Press/Getty Images
Israel needs to wage a peace offensive : They Call Me Muslim
HT Home / Blogs Home > They Call Me Muslim / World / Israel needs to wage a peace offensive
Israel needs to wage a peace offensive
Israel ought to have known better. If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes some history lessons, he will know that, in the summer of 1947, the British Mandate committed the terrible crime of attacking the illegal immigrant ship “Exodus”, carrying Jewish refugees and Holocaust survivors.
The lands that now make up Israel and the Palestinians territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip emerged from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. They were initially administered by the British under a League of Nations mandate. Hence the name, British Mandate.
The brutality with which the British Mandate attacked the ship carrying Jewish refugees, many of them women and children, sparked outrage and was widely deplored. With the Exodus attack, the Mandate lost international legitimacy and British rule over the country ended just 10 months after that.
Israel was equally arbitrary when, on May 30, its commandos descended on a Turkish-backed flotilla with humanitarian supplies bound for Gaza, resulting in the loss of nine lives.
The commandos raided the ship before dawn to prevent it from reaching Gaza but opened fire when some of those on board tried to fend them off with sticks and, according to the Israelis, knives. The Israelis seized six ships and detained 600 campaigners with a view to deport them.
Most governments criticized Israel’s actions but America was more restrained in its reaction, persuading the UN Security Council not to lay the blame squarely on Israel. President Obama looks hamstrung and helpless.
Israel does not have too many friends globally but it does not seem to value much those that it has, except the US, which shields it from any real impact of international criticism.
Israel must ask itself some serious questions. What will it do if more concerted civilian attempts are made to break its siege of Gaza? Isn’t the Gaza siege becoming a self-defeating exercise now? To me, the most shocking aspect of the raid on the flotilla was not just the violence on board it resulted in but also the lack of imagination on part of Israel’s government. Acting nervously, unimaginatively and predictably, it almost walked into a trap.
As an Indian, I would like to cite to the Israelis the example of the great Indian qualities of patience and restrain. I would remind them of a great man that walked our lands — Mahatma Gandhi.
As a Muslim, I would urge Muslims to look upon Jewish people as blood brothers. Our two religions, along with Christianity, share the same roots. I have said this before and would like to repeat that anti-Semitism is anti-Islamic.
Four million Jews were inhumanly killed in the Holocaust. They were expelled from many lands. Therefore, Jews deserve Muslim compassion. This sentiment, on either side, is essential for progress to be made in resolving the stuttering conflict.
There are many dimensions to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. However, this is the time to focus on uplifting Gaza from its abyss.
The blockade of Gaza, which is starving 1.5 millions of Palestinians, is illegal by Israel’s own position. The Israeli position is that Gaza is no longer occupied and Israel does not exercise effective control over any land or institution in that area.
One reason for the blockade is Hamas’s belligerent rocket attacks. Another stated reason is to cut off any traffic between Iran and Gaza. However, it’s one thing to not allow weapons in, quite another to punish 1.5 million people by cutting off essential supplies. A blockade that does not allow construction materials, crayons and copybooks?
Gaza needs to be re-built — very urgently, more so after the December 2008 “Cast Lead” assault by Israel, with caused extensive damage.
We support the Palestinian cause. But my sympathy does not blind me to the requirements of justice. I will always defend Israel’s right to exist because there is no way we can go back in history and turn the clock.
Any talk of “wiping the Jewish State off the map” is tantamount to another potential Holocaust. There is no greater crime against humanity than the Holocaust.
However, Israel has to stop acting in haste and with hegemony, and display vision in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Otherwise, it may well go on crushing the Hamas regime, and with it, the people of Gaza, but in the process be prepared to live in perpetual insecurity.
The less Israel uses its power, the more powerful it will be.
Israel needs to stop citing international war rules, deemed applicable in conflict situations between full-fledged sovereign states, to justify its four-year blockade of Gaza.
Israel’s blockade has turned Gaza into a 146-square-mile prison. Gaza, along its southwestern flank on the Mediterranean Sea and on the border with Egypt, is governed by the militant Hamas. The blockade is aimed at Hamas, but it is hurting ordinary Gazans gravely, resulting in an enormous humanitarian crisis. The blockade is untenable and unsustainable.
For any meaningful progress, UN Security Council resolutions 1850 and 1860 need to be fully implemented. Resolution 1860 emphasizes “unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance, including of food, fuel and medical treatment”.
I believe, if Israelis think hard enough, a solution can be found. A solution will have to be found. It will have to begin with a respect for the right to coexist. And it can start with a peace message from the Jewish state.
(12 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5)
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-->Posted by Zia Haq on Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 7:59 pm
· Comment (RSS) · Trackback
Filed under World · Tagged Benjamin Netanyahu, British Mandate, flotilla, Holocaust survivors, Israel, Jewish refugees, Mahatma Gandhi, President Obama, Prime Minister, UN Security Council
I find this author to be quit fascinating. I've been following him for months. I'm learning a great deal about the Middle East.His opinions are very fair to all.
Israel needs to wage a peace offensive : They Call Me Muslim
HT Home / Blogs Home > They Call Me Muslim / World / Israel needs to wage a peace offensive
Israel needs to wage a peace offensive
Israel ought to have known better. If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes some history lessons, he will know that, in the summer of 1947, the British Mandate committed the terrible crime of attacking the illegal immigrant ship “Exodus”, carrying Jewish refugees and Holocaust survivors.
The lands that now make up Israel and the Palestinians territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip emerged from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. They were initially administered by the British under a League of Nations mandate. Hence the name, British Mandate.
The brutality with which the British Mandate attacked the ship carrying Jewish refugees, many of them women and children, sparked outrage and was widely deplored. With the Exodus attack, the Mandate lost international legitimacy and British rule over the country ended just 10 months after that.
Israel was equally arbitrary when, on May 30, its commandos descended on a Turkish-backed flotilla with humanitarian supplies bound for Gaza, resulting in the loss of nine lives.
The commandos raided the ship before dawn to prevent it from reaching Gaza but opened fire when some of those on board tried to fend them off with sticks and, according to the Israelis, knives. The Israelis seized six ships and detained 600 campaigners with a view to deport them.
Most governments criticized Israel’s actions but America was more restrained in its reaction, persuading the UN Security Council not to lay the blame squarely on Israel. President Obama looks hamstrung and helpless.
Israel does not have too many friends globally but it does not seem to value much those that it has, except the US, which shields it from any real impact of international criticism.
Israel must ask itself some serious questions. What will it do if more concerted civilian attempts are made to break its siege of Gaza? Isn’t the Gaza siege becoming a self-defeating exercise now? To me, the most shocking aspect of the raid on the flotilla was not just the violence on board it resulted in but also the lack of imagination on part of Israel’s government. Acting nervously, unimaginatively and predictably, it almost walked into a trap.
As an Indian, I would like to cite to the Israelis the example of the great Indian qualities of patience and restrain. I would remind them of a great man that walked our lands — Mahatma Gandhi.
As a Muslim, I would urge Muslims to look upon Jewish people as blood brothers. Our two religions, along with Christianity, share the same roots. I have said this before and would like to repeat that anti-Semitism is anti-Islamic.
Four million Jews were inhumanly killed in the Holocaust. They were expelled from many lands. Therefore, Jews deserve Muslim compassion. This sentiment, on either side, is essential for progress to be made in resolving the stuttering conflict.
There are many dimensions to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. However, this is the time to focus on uplifting Gaza from its abyss.
The blockade of Gaza, which is starving 1.5 millions of Palestinians, is illegal by Israel’s own position. The Israeli position is that Gaza is no longer occupied and Israel does not exercise effective control over any land or institution in that area.
One reason for the blockade is Hamas’s belligerent rocket attacks. Another stated reason is to cut off any traffic between Iran and Gaza. However, it’s one thing to not allow weapons in, quite another to punish 1.5 million people by cutting off essential supplies. A blockade that does not allow construction materials, crayons and copybooks?
Gaza needs to be re-built — very urgently, more so after the December 2008 “Cast Lead” assault by Israel, with caused extensive damage.
We support the Palestinian cause. But my sympathy does not blind me to the requirements of justice. I will always defend Israel’s right to exist because there is no way we can go back in history and turn the clock.
Any talk of “wiping the Jewish State off the map” is tantamount to another potential Holocaust. There is no greater crime against humanity than the Holocaust.
However, Israel has to stop acting in haste and with hegemony, and display vision in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Otherwise, it may well go on crushing the Hamas regime, and with it, the people of Gaza, but in the process be prepared to live in perpetual insecurity.
The less Israel uses its power, the more powerful it will be.
Israel needs to stop citing international war rules, deemed applicable in conflict situations between full-fledged sovereign states, to justify its four-year blockade of Gaza.
Israel’s blockade has turned Gaza into a 146-square-mile prison. Gaza, along its southwestern flank on the Mediterranean Sea and on the border with Egypt, is governed by the militant Hamas. The blockade is aimed at Hamas, but it is hurting ordinary Gazans gravely, resulting in an enormous humanitarian crisis. The blockade is untenable and unsustainable.
For any meaningful progress, UN Security Council resolutions 1850 and 1860 need to be fully implemented. Resolution 1860 emphasizes “unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance, including of food, fuel and medical treatment”.
I believe, if Israelis think hard enough, a solution can be found. A solution will have to be found. It will have to begin with a respect for the right to coexist. And it can start with a peace message from the Jewish state.
(12 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5)
Loading ...
-->Posted by Zia Haq on Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 7:59 pm
· Comment (RSS) · Trackback
Filed under World · Tagged Benjamin Netanyahu, British Mandate, flotilla, Holocaust survivors, Israel, Jewish refugees, Mahatma Gandhi, President Obama, Prime Minister, UN Security Council
I find this author to be quit fascinating. I've been following him for months. I'm learning a great deal about the Middle East.His opinions are very fair to all.
