At this point in the log, Columbus repeats himself. He gives two different descriptions of his sail from Island II to Island III on October 16, and they have slight but significant differences.
In the first description, Columbus says he left Island II at 10 o'clock to sail to the large island that he "saw" in the west. The distance sailed was 9 leagues and the course between the islands was east-west.
In the second description, Columbus says he left Island II at noon to sail to the large island that was "indicated" in the west. The distance sailed was 8 leagues, and the course between the islands was "almost" east-west. Some have interpreted the adjective "almost" to refer to the distance ("eight leagues almost") rather than the course.
During this passage between islands, Columbus overtakes an Indian in a canoe who is also heading for Island III. Columbus gives the Indian a lift, and notices that the native is carrying a Spanish coin -- indicating that he had come from Island I, where the Spaniards had done a lot of trading with the natives.
It is interesting that twice later in the Diario, Columbus mentions that the Indians can make seven leagues per day by canoe. This incident may have been the source for Columbus's belief: if the distance from Island I to Island II is seven leagues, and if it is 10 leagues west along the coast of Island II, and if the Indian was halfway between Island II and Island III when he was picked up, he would have paddled 7 + 10 + 4, or 21 leagues from Island I in three days, which is 7 leagues per day.
Routes in which the distance between Islands II and III is eight or nine leagues are given high marks on this clue in the scorecard, as are routes in which the most direct course between Island II and Island III is west.
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