ceeded on the voyage westward, passed the cape of Good Hope, and in this way reached Spain, thus completing the first voyage ever made around the earth.1

of Florida.

41. Among those who accompanied Columbus on his second expedition to the new world was a Spaniard named Ponce de Leon (pon'-tha da la-oan'), of whom it has been said: "He was a lion by name and still more by nature.” Discovery A visit to the beautiful island of Porto Rico, which he made after the expedition alluded to, inspired him with the desire of being its governor, and the king of Spain gave him the appointment. "But his commission as governor conflicted with the claims of the family of Columbus; and policy as well as justice required his removal." He had, without good cause, fought the natives of the island, had killed many of them in battle, and those that still lived and had not escaped to the small islands in the vicinity, were slaves. He had been deprived of his office, but he was still living on the island on the riches that he had accumulated, when one day he was told by one of the natives that on an island far to the north-west plenty of gold could be found, and at the same place there was a wonderful fountain.

42. The Indian, in describing the fountain, said that if any old person should go into it and wash himself with its waters he would immediately become young again. The Indian further stated that a party of Indians had gone to the fountain many years before, and as they had never returned, they were without doubt living in that happy land-all of them young and all happy. This story was afterwards told to Ponce by other Indians, for they all believed it to be true; and it was told so often, and with so much sincerity, that he, too, finally believed it. In fact, he was not the only European who did believe it. The story found believers not only in

1

1 Magellan's fleet originally consisted of five vessels, but, owing to desertion and loss, was reduced to one. Before the Pacific ocean came to be so called generally, it was often called the South Sea or the Southern Sea,

1513

Discovery of Florida.

33

Porto Rico, but in Spain itself. Peter Martyn, an Italian historian of the time, in one of his letters written in Spain, says: "This rumor of the fountain for a truth has been so spread that not only the people, but also many of them whom wisdom or fortune had divided from the common sort think it to be true."

43. Ponce, evidently, gave willing credence to the story, for he was growing old, and eagerly desired to be young once more; besides, he thought of the glory it would give him to make known to the world the magic pool. At last, with the determination of finding the land of gold, and the "wonderful fountain of youth," he fitted out three ships and sailed from Porto Rico. This took place about twenty years after Columbus had discovered that island. Exactly how many and what islands Ponce visited is not known. We do know, however, that he landed on the island of San Salvador, the one that Columbus first discovered. He also touched at other islands, and at every one inquired for the fountain. We can believe that he tasted of the water of many springs, and bathed in the waters of many; still, so long as he did not get to be a young man again, he kept going from island to island.

44. In this way he continued his efforts, till one Sundayit was Easter Sunday--he came to a large country which he thought was a great island (1513). Its trees were full of blossoms, and millions of flowers covered the ground. The occasion was one to make him and his men very happy. The day was clear, the air balmy, and, as the fragrance of the blossoms was wafted to the happy Spaniards, they no doubt believed they had at last come to the fairy land. To the newfound region Ponce gave the name of Florida, because the discovery was made" on Easter Sunday, which the Spaniards call Pascua Florida" (pah'-scoo-ah flo-re'-dah); and as the word florida means flowery, it may be said there were two reasons for calling the country by that beautiful name.

45. Ponce landed, but found not the fountain. He sailed

along the coast, going around the southern point of Florida; but at last, weary of the search, returned to Porto Rico. Several years after, he went again to Florida, his object being to make a settlement, he having been appointed governor of the country on the condition that he would colonize it. His company was attacked by the natives and driven back to the ships; and he, "mortally wounded by an arrow, returned to Cuba to die. So ended the adventurer who had coveted immeasurable wealth and perpetual youth. The discoverer of Florida desired immortality on earth, and gained its shadow." 991

46. "Hernando de Soto was the companion of Pizarro in The conquest of Peru. He had come to America a needy adventurer, with

no other fortune than his

De Soto's ex- sword and target. But his pedition. exploits had given him fame and fortune, and he appeared at the Spanish court with the retinue of a nobleman. Still his active energies could not endure repose, and his avarice and ambition goaded him to fresh enterprises. He asked and obtained permission to conquer Florida. 2 His plans were embraced with enthusiasm. tlemen contended for the privilege of joining his standard; and, setting sail with an ample armament, he landed at

DE SOTO.

Nobles and gen

1 Two expeditions were made to Carolina by De Ayllon (Ile-yone'), one (in 1520) for slaves to work on the plantations and in the mines of St. Domingo, the other (in 1525) for conquest; but both were unsuccessful. In 1521, Cortez conquered the Mexicans and that country became a prov ince of Spain. In 1528, Narvaez (Nar-vah'-eth) made a disastrous attempt to conquer Florida, only four of his men returning, after years of wandering. These three commanders were Spaniards.

2" It must be recollected that the name of Florida then (1538) designated a vast extent of country, stretching from the gulf of Mexico, north-westwardly, towards unknown regions."-Fairbanks's History of

Florida.

1541

Discovery of the Mississippi River.

35

the bay of Es-pi-ri'-tu Santo, now Tampa bay, in Florida, with six hundred and twenty chosen men, a band as gallant and well appointed, as eager in purpose and audacious in hope as ever trod the shores of the new world. The clangor of trumpets, the neighing of horses, the fluttering of pennons, the glittering of helmet and lance startled the ancient forest with unwonted greeting.

47. Amid this pomp of chivalry religion was not forgotten. The sacred vessels and vestments, with bread and wine for the Eucharist were carefully provided; and De Soto himself declared that the enterprise was undertaken for God alone, and seemed to be the object of his special care. The adventurers began their march (1539). Their story has been often told. For month after month and year after year the procession of priests and cavaliers, cross-bowmen, soldiers with hand guns, and Indian captives laden with the baggage, still wandered on through wild and boundless wastes, lured hither and thither by the ignis-fatuus of their hopes. They traversed great portions of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, everywhere inflicting and enduring misery, but never approaching their phantom El Dorado."

66

48. At length, in the third year of their journeying, they reached an uninhabited country full of forests and swamps, where they had sometimes to swim their horses.

For seven days they traversed this country, coming Discovery

at last in sight of a village (1541). It was seated of the Mississippi River. near a wide and rapid river, which, being the largest they had discovered, they called the Rio Grande. This was the Father of Waters,' the mighty Mississippi. De Soto was the first European who looked out upon the turbid waters of this magnificent river, and that event has more surely enrolled his name among those who will ever live in American history, than if he had discovered mines of gold and silver,"

49. As the canoes of the Indians were not large enough nor strong enough to convey horses across the river, the

Spaniards built suitable boats, and in these they were borne to the western bank of the stream. The search for the land of gold was then resumed; and a region west De Soto crosses the of the Mississippi, to the distance of more than Mississippi. two hundred miles, was explored. But De Soto, discouraged and sick, turned his wanderings eastward, and finally made his way back to the river, where he died of a fever (1542).

50. "So soon as the death had taken place, Mos-co'-so, whom De Soto had named to be his successor, directed the

Burial body to be put secretly into a house, where it reof De Soto. mained three days; and thence it was taken at night, by his order, and buried. The Indians, who had seen De Soto ill, finding him no longer, suspected the reason; and passing by where he lay, they observed the ground loose, and, looking about, talked among themselves. This coming to the knowledge of Moscoso, he ordered the corpse to be taken up at night, and among the shawls that enshrouded it having cast abundance of sand to increase its weight, it was taken out in a canoe and committed to the middle of the stream.

51. An Indian chief asked for De Soto, saying: 'What has been done with my brother and lord, the governor?' Moscoso told him he had ascended into the skies as he had done on many other occasions; but as he would have to be detained there some time, he had left him in his stead. The chief, thinking within himself that he was dead, ordered two well-proportioned young men to be brought, saying that it was the usage of the country when any lord died to kill some persons who should accompany and serve him on the way, on which account they were brought; and he told him to com mand their heads to be cut off that they might go according ly to attend his friend and master.

52. Moscoso replied to him that the governor was not dead, but only gone into the heavens, having taken with him of his soldiers sufficient number for his need; and he besought