Columbus and the First European Sighting of the Corn Islands

Christopher Columbus’s fourth and final voyage (1502–1504) brought him to the coast of present-day Nicaragua. During this expedition, he navigated along the Caribbean shoreline, encountering major rivers, bays, and islands that would later become important markers of Nicaraguan geography.

One of the most significant moments of this journey was the sighting of the Corn Islands (Great Corn Island and Little Corn Island), which Columbus named Islas Limonares (Lime Islands). While historians have long debated the precise identification of these islands, the evidence points strongly toward the Corn Islands as the locations Columbus recorded.

The Narrative from Anglería

Peter Martyr d’Anghiera, one of the earliest historians of the New World, recounts:

“Soon there appeared another river, suitable for large ships, and before its mouth were four small, flowery, and tree-covered islets that formed a port. He named them Cuatro Témporas. Thirteen leagues further on, always sailing eastward against the current, he found twelve small islets, which he called Limonares for their abundance of a new kind of fruit similar to our lemons.” (Década III, Libro IV, p.320, c.1555)

Analysing Anglería’s narrative alongside geographic evidence and subsequent scholarly interpretations allows for a plausible reconstruction of Columbus’s route. The Cuatro Témporas correspond to the small islets at the mouth of the Río Escondido, sighted by Columbus on 17 September 1502, while the Limonares were sighted between 18 and 20 September 1502, shortly thereafter. The distance of 13 leagues corresponds to approximately 72 kilometers (45 miles) east of the delta. This interpretation considers both the maritime conditions described by Columbus and the location of the Corn Islands.

Why the Corn Islands Fit the Description

The Corn Islands’ position aligns precisely with Anglería’s account. Great Corn Island’s Mount Pleasant, rising over 200 meters above sea level, is visible from the mainland during clear September weather, supporting the idea that Columbus could have observed them from a distance before landing. While Anglería mentions twelve islets, later editions and scholars, such as Carl O. Sauer, correct this to two, which is consistent with the actual number of the Corn Islands.

The identification is further strengthened by a critical analysis of historical sources. By cross-referencing the chroniclers with observable physical features and sailing conditions, it is evident that the Limonares are most convincingly identified as the Corn Islands rather than the Pearl Keys or other nearby archipelagos.

Alternative Theories

Although Samuel Eliot Morison proposed the Pearl Cays as the Limonares, this identification does not hold when considering the sailing distances and the narrative’s emphasis on a river delta, which the Pearl Cays are too close to satisfy. Therefore, Sauer’s conclusion that Columbus’s Limonares are the Corn Islands is strongly supported by the evidence.

Historical Significance

Columbus’s sighting and naming of the Corn Islands represent the first recorded European encounter with these islands, situating them within early American cartography. This case exemplifies how combining primary chronicles, geographic analysis, and critical reasoning can yield a coherent historical argument, allowing for the interpretation of historical events within a scholarly context. Moreover, the sighting influenced later European navigation and mapping on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua.

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References

• Anglería, Peter Martyr d’. Décadas del Nuevo Mundo, Década III, Libro IV, p.320, c.1555.
• Incer Barquero, Jaime. Nicaragua, Viajes, Rutas y Encuentros, 2016.
• Sauer, Carl O. The Early Spanish Main, Oxford University Press, 1966.
• Morison, Samuel Eliot. Admiral of the Ocean Sea, Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1942.

Notes:

• A league is approximately 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles).
• Ember Saturday refers to the Saturday of fasting observed during the Ember Weeks, a religious calendar period used by Columbus to date his observations.
• Mount Pleasant is the highest elevation of Great Corn Island, facilitating its visibility from the mainland under clear conditions.