Luis de Torres facts for kids
Luis de Torres (died 1493) was Christopher Columbus's interpreter on his first voyage to America. He played an important role in helping Columbus communicate with the people he met in the new lands.
Who Was Luis de Torres?
Luis de Torres was a man of Jewish background who had converted to Christianity. His original name was Yosef ben HaLevi HaIvri. Christopher Columbus chose him for his amazing language skills. Luis de Torres knew several languages, including Hebrew, Chaldaic (an ancient language), and Arabic. These skills were very valuable for exploring new parts of the world.
Exploring New Lands
After arriving at an island that Columbus thought was part of Asia, now known as Cuba, Columbus sent Luis de Torres and another sailor, Rodrigo de Jerez, on an important mission. This happened on November 2, 1492.
Their job was to:
- Explore the land.
- Meet the local leader.
- Gather information about a powerful Asian emperor known as the "Great Khan", who had been described by the famous traveler Marco Polo.
The two explorers were welcomed kindly in a village. They returned four days later with interesting reports. They told Columbus about a local custom: people would dry certain leaves, put them into cane pipes, light them, and breathe in the smoke. This was the first time Europeans learned about the use of tobacco.
Staying in the New World
On January 4, 1493, Christopher Columbus began his journey back to Spain. Luis de Torres was one of 39 men who decided to stay behind. They settled at a place called La Navidad, which was built on the island of Hispaniola.
Later that year, when Columbus returned, he found that the settlement was gone. Sadly, all the men who had stayed behind, including Luis de Torres, had died. This happened because of disagreements among the settlers and attacks from local groups.
