After the Admiral had spoken he saw the light once or twice, and it was like a wax
candle rising and failing. It seemed to few to be an indication of land; but the Admiral made
certain that land was close. When they said the Salve, (Salve Regina) which all the sailors were
accustomed to sing in their way, the Admiral asked and admonished the men to keep a good
look-out on the forecastle, and to watch well for land; and to him who should first cry out
that he saw land, he would give a silk doublet, besides the other rewards promised by the
Sovereigns, which were 10,000 maravedis to him who should first saw it. At two hours after
midnight the land was sighted at a distance of two leagues."
Columbus ordered the three ships to halt and wait for daylight before venturing further. His
journal continues: