Final answer:
Christopher Columbus described the islands he discovered, especially Hispaniola, in glowing terms to secure further support for his expeditions, despite mistakenly believing he had reached Asia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The underlined sentence in the provided text indicates that Christopher Columbus viewed the islands he found, specifically Hispaniola, very positively. He detailed the richness, beauty, and abundance of resources in these lands, including good harbors and rivers containing gold. Columbus's descriptions were not only a reflection of what he saw but were also likely influenced by his objective to persuade his royal sponsors, Ferdinand and Isabella, of the value of these lands, in the hopes of securing a second voyage. Despite his geographical miscalculations, believing he had reached Asia, Columbus's reports played a crucial role in igniting interest in the New World among Europeans.