Columbus on Cuba- Learns of Corn and Tobacco

Transcript:

Columbus and he crew reached Cuba on October 28, 1492. While there he did not find any gold, however he discovered the natives growing two crops that would generate much gold for the settlers that migrated to the New World in the coming decades, corn and tobacco.

He anchored at the east end of the island in a bay at present day Bariay. He sent two men, Rodrigo de Jerez and Luis de Torres, ashore to explore and find the Chinese emperor.

He would write about the island in his log, saying:
“. . . I have never seen anything so beautiful. The country around the river is full of trees, beautiful and green and different from ours, each with flowers and its own kind of fruit. There are many birds of all sizes that sing very sweetly, and there are many palms different from those in Guinea or Spain. Some are of medium height without any bark at the base, and the leaves are very large. The Indians cover their houses with these leaves. The land is very level.
I took the small boat ashore and approached two houses that I thought belonged to fishermen. The people fled in fear. In one of the houses we found a dog that did not bark, and in both houses we found nets made of palm threads; cords; fishhooks made of horn; harpoons made from bone; and other fishing materials. There were many fire hearths; and I believe that many people live together in each house. I ordered that not one thing be touched, and thus it was done.”

Columbus would first encounter corn, or maize, on November 5, 1492.

The grain crop that Americans call corn has many different types. These include dent corn, flint corn, flour corn, popcorn, sweet corn, waxy corn, and pod corn. Mystery shrouds the origins of corn, or maize. Corn originated in the Americas from wild grasses. All varieties probably have similar beginnings through crossings, with different forms of grass, gamagrass and teosinte among the most likely species. These crossings probably occurred naturally, forming the first primitive maize varieties. Archeologists have found corn pollen in soil samples from soils 200 feet below Mexico City, Mexico, that are 80,000 years old. Scientists have also carbon-dated corncobs found in New Mexico bat caves that are around 56,000 years old. Most historians think that the first maize varieties originated in the Tehuacan Valley of Mexico. The original wild forms of maize have become extinct.
Introduction to Europe
Amerindians further developed the grain, which they introduced to Christopher Columbus on his first voyage in 1492 while Columbus explored Cuba On November 5. There is disagreement among historians about whether Columbus took maize back to Europe on his first, or second, voyage. Regardless, he did take it back. Europeans at first considered it a novelty crop but eventually understood that it was a valuable food source. Cultivation of corn gradually spread over Europe.

On his first encounter with tobacco, Columbus wrote:
“The two Christians met with many people on the road going home, men and women with a brand in their hands and herbs to smoke as they are accustomed to do.”

The natives rolled the dried herb in dried palm or mais leaves. They lit one end and drew in the smoke with their mouths, smoking the herb until it made them drowsy or drunk. The natives claimed that smoking the herb cured any fatigue they felt. This was not Columbus’ first contact with tobacco. On October 12, the first natives he encountered had given him some as a gift. No one in his crew knew the purpose of the herb and they discarded it.

After Columbus departed Cuba the captain of the Pinta, Martín Alonso Pinzón, deserted Columbus and headed off on his own.

This episode is based upon my book, Colonial American History Stories – 1215 – 1664. The articles in the book relate much more detail about the events. The book is the first in a 7-volume series. This book includes contains almost 300 history stories presented in a time line that begins in 1215 with the signing of the Magna Carta to the printing of the first Bible in Colonial America in 1664. A visit to my web site, http://www.mossyfeetbooks.com, will provide sample chapters excerpted from each of my 130 titles as well as links to purchase the books at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, and many other online book retailers. While you are on the web site, please subscribe by registering your email address in the subscribe button. When I post something, usually about 3 – 5 times weekly, you will recieve an email. The posts include podcast episodes, You Tube videos as well as other content, including the publication of a new book. You can also purchase books direct from me. Residents of southeastern Indiana can find my books in Batesville at the Walnut Street Variety Shoppe on George. Street. This podcast will also appear in video format on You Tube on the Mossy Feet Books channel. Subscribe to the channel for more great content.
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