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number of canoes and several inferior caciques: all assured him that the island abounded with wealth; they talked, especially, of Cibao, a region in the interior, further to the east, the cacique of which, as far as they could be understood, had banners of wrought gold.
Columbus, deceiving himself as usual, fancied that this
name Cibao must be a corruption of Cipango, and that this chief tain with golden banners must be identical with the magnificent prince of that island, mentioned by Marco Polo.* * Journal of Columb. 32.
Navarrete, Colec, tom. i. Hist. del Almirante, cap.
Herrera, decad. i. lib. i. cap. 15, 16.