Paul,

The origin of your quote is not referenced but it is apparently myth. 
According to contents of the JSTOR hyperlink below, Columbus' diaries are 
not held by 'family' but by Biblioteca Nacional in Madrid and have been 
transcribed/published by several, the first in English by Dunn & Kelley, 
Univ of Oklahoma Press, 1989.

See:
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0034-4338(199123)44%3A3%3C572%3ATDOCCF%3E2.0.CO%3B2-W

Hope this helps and restores some faith in heroes, notwithstanding Columbus' 
(and others') general deficient treatment of natives in the 'West Indies.'
Neil McDonald

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Heinegg" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 5:09 AM
Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] Slavery and Unanswered Questions


> "Amongst some archaeologists, who specialize in the opening of the New 
> World, the reason Columbus' diaries have never been released by the family 
> is
> that they reveal that much of his fortune came from selling pubescent 
> girls, and boys, to grandees in the Old World."
> -------------
>
> What great heroes we chose for ourselves and teach our children to revere!
> I wonder how many historians on this list teach that to their students.
> Paul
>