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4 became thoroughly convinced, that, by sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, directly towards the west, new countries, which probably formed a part of the vast continent of India, must infallibly be discovered. His conjectures were confirmed by the observations of modern navigators. A Portuguese pilot, having stretched farther to the west than usual, picked up a piece of timber, artificially carved, which was floating on the sea; and as it was driven towards him by a westerly wind, he concluded that it came from some unknown land situated in that quarter. Columbus' brother-in-law had found, to the west of the Madeira Isles, a piece of timber fashioned in the same manner, and brought by the same wind; and had seen also canes of an enormons size floating upon the waves, which resembled those described by Ptolemy, as productions peculiar to the East Indies. After a course of westerly winds, trees torn up by the roots were often driven upon the coast of the Azores; and at one time the dead bodies of two men, with singular features, which resembled neither the inhabitants of Europe nor Africa, were cast ashore there. Even the mistakes of ancient geographers, as to the immense extent of India, as well as various other reasons, contributed to persuade Columbus that the shortest and most direct course to the remote regions of the east, was to be found by sailing due west.

In the year 1474, Columbus communicated his ingenious theory to Paul, a physician of Florence, eminent for his knowledge of Cosmography. He warmly approved it, and encouraged Columbus in an undertaking so laudable, and which promised so much benefit to the