Final answer:
Christopher Columbus described the native people as timid and full of fear. His erroneous belief that he had reached the East Indies shaped his biased perception of their inferiority and lack of civilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Christopher Columbus described the native people he encountered during his voyages as "timid and full of fear." Despite this, he captured some natives and brought them aboard his ships. The primary influence behind these descriptions was Columbus's erroneous belief that he had reached the East Indies and that the native people he encountered were inferior and less civilized than Europeans. This bias influenced his perception and portrayal of the native people.