1002

The Northmen's Discoveries.

17

tinguished jarl of that country. The jarl, to whom he related his adventures, reproached him for not having explored the new land towards which he had been accidentally driven. Bjarne having returned to his father in Greenland, there was much talk among the settlers of pursuing his discovery. The restless, adventurous spirit of Leif (life), son of Erik the Red, was excited to emulate the fame his father had acquired by the discovery of Greenland. He purchased Bjarne's ship, and manned it with thirty-five men. Leif then requested his father to become the commander of the enterprise. Erik at first declined, on account of the increasing infirmities of his old age. He was, however, at last persuaded by his son to embark; but as he was going down to the vessel on horseback his horse stumbled, which Erik received as an evil omen for his undertaking. I do not believe,' said he, that it is given to me to discover any more lands, and here will I abide.' Erik returned to his house, and Leif set sail with his thirty-five companions, among whom was one of his father's servants, a native of the south-countries, named Tyrker (tur'-ker), probably a German.

6

7. They first discovered what they supposed to be one of the countries seen by Bjarne, the coast of which was a flat, stony land, and the background crowned with lofty mountains covered with ice and snow. Pursuing their voyage further south, they now came to another coast, also flat, covered with thick wood, and the shores of white sand gradually sloping toward the sea. Here they cast anchor and made a landing. Pursuing their voyage with a north-east wind for two days and nights, they discovered a third land, the northern coast of which was sheltered by an island. Here they again landed, and found a country, not mountainous, but undulating and woody, and abounding with fruits and berries delicious to the taste.

8. From thence they re-embarked and made sail to the west to seek a harbor, which they at last found at the mouth of a river, where they were swept by the tide into the lake

from which the river issued. They cast anchor, and pitched their tents at this spot, and found the river and lake full of the largest salmon they had ever seen. Finding the climate very temperate and the soil fruitful in pasturage, they determined to build huts and pass the winter here."

9. The spot selected, it is supposed, was in the latitude of Boston. "It happened one day, soon after their arrival, that Tyrker, the German, was missing, and as Leif set a great value upon the youth on account of his skill in various arts, he sent his followers in search of him in every direction. When they at last found him he began to speak to them in the German language, with many extravagant signs of joy. They at last made out to understand that he had found vines bearing wild grapes. He led them to the spot, and they brought to their chief a quantity of the grapes which they had gathered. Leif, thereupon, named the country Vinland."

10. The Northmen made settlements in Greenland, as they had previously done in Iceland; but these, after a period of more than a hundred years,

perished; and when Columbus set Christopher sail on his eventful voyColumbus. age in 1492, they were entirely forgotten. It is safe to

say that Columbus had no knowledge then, or afterward, of a second continent, nor is there any evidence that he even supposed there was a second. His object was to find a short way to the rich country in the south-eastern part of Asia, and the islands near to it, called India, or the Indies. 11. A Venetian traveler, named Marco Polo,1 as well as other

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.

1 The first and most extensive traveller among the Eastern nations was Marco Polo, who passed seventeen years in the service of the Khan of Tartary, during which he visited the chief countries and cities of Eastern

Idea and Plan of Columbus.

19

travelers, had been to India, and brought back to Europe exciting accounts of the riches to be found there. A considerable commerce was consequently carried on by IndiaVenice and other cities of Italy with that coun- the route to it. try; but the journey was long and dangerous. Vessels sailed through the Mediterranean to the north-east part of Africa, where they were unladen, and the goods were carried on the backs of camels across the isthmus of Suez, and thence again by ship down the Red sea and through the Indian ocean to India. Sometimes the goods were carried overland through Asia. Desiring to share in this profitable trade, the people of Portugal, encouraged and aided by their king, endeavored to find a passage to India-one entirely by waterby sailing along the west coast of Africa, and around its southern point.1

Idea and

12. The plan formed by Columbus was very different. Believing the earth to be round, he concluded that the shortest way to India was across the Atlantic ocean. It is plain that while he had a correct idea as to the shape of the earth, he was mistaken as to its size. plan of Columbus Various discouragements, too, beset him, but nothing could shake his determination. Being too poor to fit out an expedition at his own expense he applied for aid, it is asserted, to his native country, Genoa (jen'-o-ah); then to Portugal. In both cases he was unsuccessful. He then turned to Spain,

Asia, among them Japan, the existence of which was not previously known. He returned to Venice in 1295; and subsequently a very interesting account of his travels was published, which had a wonderful effect in encouraging geographical research.

16 The crown of Portugal was constant in its efforts, through the fifteenth century, to find a passage round the southern point of Africa into the Indian Ocean, though so timid was the navigation that every fresh headland became a formidable barrier; and it was not till the latter part of the century that the adventurous Diaz passed quite round the Stormy cape, as he termed it, but which John the Second (King of Portugal), with happier augury, called the cape of Good Hope. But before Vasco de Gama had availed himself of this discovery to spread his sails in the Indian seas (1497), Spain entered on her glorious career, and sent Columbus across the western waters."-Prescott's Conquest of Peru.

and during seven years, while his theory and offer were before the Spanish court, he implored and waited, until at last, when, in despair, he was in the act of leaving that country for France, he was recalled.

A

SPANISH CARAVAL IN WHICH COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AMERICA.

(From a drawing attributed to Columbus, and placed in a volume of his letters published in 1494.)

13. Queen Isabella had become deeply interested in his plan, and, "with an enthusiasm worthy of herself," had offered to " pledge" her "jewels to raise the necessary funds."

1492 Landing of Columbus in the New World. 21

There was, however, no need of the sacrifice. Money was advanced from the public treasury, three small vessels were fitted out, and with this miniature fleet Columbus set sail from Spain, on Friday morning, August the 3d, 1492, and, after a voyage of ten weeks-the most famous that ever was made-discovered one of the Bahama islands.1

14. “It was on Friday morning, the 12th of October, that Columbus beheld the New World. As the day dawned, he saw before him a level island, several leagues in extent, and covered with trees like a continued orchard. Though apparently uncultivated, it was populous, for the inhabitants were seen issuing from all parts of the woods, and running to the shore. They were perfectly naked, and, as they stood gazing at the ships, appeared by their attitudes and gestures to be lost in astonishment.

Landing of Columbus New World.

in the

15. Columbus made signal for the ships to cast anchor, and the boats to be manned and armed. He entered his own boat, richly attired in scarlet, and holding the royal standard; whilst the commanders of the other vessels put off in com pany in their boats, each with a banner of the enterprise emblazoned with a green cross, having on either side the letters F. and Y., the initials of the Castilian' monarchs, Fernando (Ferdinand) and Ysabel (Isabella), surmounted by crowns: As he approached the shore, Columbus, who was disposed for all kinds of agreeable impressions, was delighted with the purity and suavity of the atmosphere, the crystal transparency of the sea, and the extraordinary beauty of the vegetation. He beheld, also, fruits of unknown kinds upon the trees which overhung the shores.

"The island where Columbus had thus set his foot was called by the natives Guanahani (gwah-nah-hah'-ne). It still retains the name of San Salvador, which he gave to it, though called by the English Cat island."-Irving.

When

2 Castile (kas-teel') was an ancient kingdom or state of Spain. the various states were consolidated into one monarchy (1479), the capital of Castile became the capital of the new empire, and her language the language of the court and of literature."-Prescott,