Columbus arrived at the north end of Island IV at noon on October 19. The Diario reports that from that northern end, the coast ran west for twelve leagues, as far as a cape that Columbus named "Cabo Hermoso" (beautiful cape).
We should pause here to point out that this direction for the coastline (west) is inconsistent with other descriptions in the Diario: [a] Columbus arrived at the northern end of Island IV sailing east (and yet somehow did not arrive at Cabo Hermoso first); [b] Columbus departed from the northern end of Island IV on October 24, sailing WSW, and yet did not run aground on this coast. For these reasons, the direction given in the Diario for this coastline is almost always taken to be an error of some kind.
From Cabo Hermoso, Columbus described a "great bight" to the northeast. Twice in the next few days, Columbus tried to enter the bight, but found it too shallow for navigation. On the first attempt, Columbus mentioned that he could see Cabo Hermoso from his position in the bight. On the second attempt, Columbus returned to Cabo Hermoso because "the way southwest was very roundabout."
Columbus described the coast of Island IV as "almost all beach," and had much water and large ponds. He also said that it had may large trees and a small height not large enough to be called a mountain.
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