In 1497, John Cabot (kab'-bot), accompanied by his son Sebastian, sailing under a commission from Henry VII. of England, reached the coast of Labrador, and thus was the first to discover the continent of America. In a second voyage, made by Sebastian Cabot the next year, a large extent of the eastern coast of North America was explored.1

America.

37. Columbus, it is certain, never realized how grand was the discovery he had made. It never dawned upon his mind that he had opened the way to another continent. His name, we all believe, should have been given to Origin of the name the new world, but that honor was reserved for Amerigo Vespucci (ah-ma-re'-go ves-poot'-che), an Italian navigator. Seven years after Columbus had made his discovery Vespucci visited the coast of South America (in 1499), and two years later made a second visit to the same regions. He prepared accounts of the two voyages, one of which being published, moved a German geographer, under an assumed name, in a Latin work printed the next year after the death of Columbus, to suggest the name America for the newly-discovered lands. In alluding to this person, Humboldt says: "I have been so happy as to discover the name and the literary relations of the mysterious personage who, in 1507, was the first to propose the name of America to designate the new continent."

38. The opinion that the lands discovered by Columbus were islands of India was entertained several years after his death. It was finally dispelled (in 1513) by a Spaniard named Bal-bo'a, governor of a settlement at Darien. "Floating rumors had reached the Spaniards from time to time of countries in the far west teeming with the metal they so much coveted; but the first distinct notice of Peru was about the year 1511, when Balboa was weighing some gold

The new lands not India.

'It is not known with certainty when and where the Cabots were born, nor at what time and place they died, though it is supposed they were natives of Italy. Bancroft says of Sebastian Cabot that he gave England a continent and no one knows his burial-place.'

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The First Voyage around the Earth 31

which he had collected from the natives. A young barbarian chieftain who was present struck the scales with his fist, and, scattering the glittering metal around the apartment, exclaimed: If this is what you prize so much that you are willing to leave your distant homes and risk even life itself for it, I can tell you of a land where they eat and drink out of golden vessels, and gold is as cheap as iron is with you.'

39. It was not long after this startling intelligence that Balboa achieved the formidable adventure of scaling the mountain rampart of the isthmus which divides the two mighty oceans from each other; when, armed with sword and buckler, he rushed into the waters of the Pacific and cried out, in the true chivalrous vein, that he claimed this unknown sea, with all that it contained, for the king of Castile, and that he would make good the claim against all, Christian or infidel, who dared to gainsay it.' All the broad continent and sunny isles washed by the waters of the Southern ocean! Little did the bold cavalier comprehend the full import of his magnificent vaunt.”

around

40. No other evidence was needed to prove that the lands discovered by Columbus, the Cabots, and others were no parts of India, yet additional proof was given in the voyage made by a Portuguese navigator named Ma- The gellan (ma-jel'-lan), commanding a Spanish fleet. first voyage Sailing from Spain across the Atlantic, he discov- the earth. ered the strait which bears his name. Passing through this strait he reached the ocean which Balboa had seven years previously discovered. This ocean he called the Pacific, because of the mild weather he experienced on entering it and for several days after. Steering boldly for India, he reached a number of islands, but at one of the Philippine group was slain in a battle with the natives. His ship, however, pro

1 About twenty years after Balboa's discovery of the Pacific, Pizarro, a Spanish adventurer, crossed the Isthmus of Panama, and, with a small force, of whom four men were his brothers, and one was De Soto (see p. 34), proceeded against and conquered Peru.

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.'

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 dã lã-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 isÏand 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 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

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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.'

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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 blos soms 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.'

1

46. "Hernando de Soto was the companion of Pizarro in The conquest of Peru. He had come

pedition.

to America a needy adventurer, with no other fortune than his De Soto's ex- sword and target. But his exploits had given him fame and fortune, and he appeared a' 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. Nobles and gentlemen contended for the privilege of joining his standard; and, setting sail with an ample armament, he landed at

DE SOTO.

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.