09 January 2011

An Historical Understatement





On this day in 1493, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, sailing near the Dominican Republic, sees three "mermaids"--in reality manatees--and describes them as "not half as beautiful as they are painted.

2 comments:

Linda said...

Methinks that Captain Columbus was in desperate need of a new spy-glass!

maryt/theteach said...

Haha! Jamie, I just love manatees! I love them better than mermaids! :)