EXTENDING PART I. VOYAGES AND DISCOVERIES. FROM THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA, BY COLUMBUS, IN 1492; ΤΟ THE SETTLEMENT OF JAMESTOWN, VIRGINIA, IN 1607: EMBRACING A PERIOD OF 115 YEARS. CHAPTER I. EARLY SPANISH VOYAGES, CONQUESTS, AND DIS- DIVISIONS. I. Discovery of America by Columbus.-II. Juan Ponce de Leon in Florida.-III. De Ayllon in Carolina.-IV. Conquest of Mexico.-V. Pamphilo de Narvaez.-VI. Ferdinand de Soto. I. DISCOVERY OF AMERICA BY COLUMBUS.-1. The discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, may be regarded as the most important event that has ever resulted from individual genius and enterprise. Although other claims to the honor of discovering the Western hemisphere have been advanced, and with some appearance of probability, yet no clear historic evidence exists in heir favor. It has been asserted that an Iceland* bark, in the early part of the eleventh century, having been driven southwest from Greenland * GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES.-1. Iceland is an island in the Northern Ocean, remarkable for its boiling springs (the Geysers), and its flaming volcano, Mount Hecla It was discovered by a Norwegian pirate, in the year 861, and was soon after settled by the Norwegians; but it is supposed that the English and the Irish had previously made settlements there, which were abandoned before the time of the Norwegian discovery. Greenland is an extensive tract of barren country, in the northern frozen regions separated from the western continent by Baffin's Bay and Davis's Strait. It was discovered by the Norwegians thirty years after the discovery of Iceland, and a thriving colony was planted there; but from 1406 until after the discovery by Columbus, all correspondence with Greenland was cut off, and all knowledge of the country seemed to be buried in oblivion. a. 1001. 1. What is said of the superior claims of upon by adverse winds, The 2. But even if it be admitted that such a discovery was made, it does not in the least detract from met the honor so universally ascribed to Columbus. Columbus? Icelandic discovery, if real, resulted from chance,—was not even known to Europe,-was thought of little importance, and was soon forgotten; and the curtain of darkness again fell between the Old world and the New. The discovery by Columbus, on the contrary, was the result of a theory matured by long reflection and experience; opposed to the learning and the bigotry of the age; and brought to a successful demonstration, after years of toil against opposing difficulties and discouragements. 2. What was long the pre respecting the discov ery by Columbus? b 3. The nature of the great discovery, however, valent error was long unknown; and it remained for subsequent adventurers to dispel the prevalent error, that the voyage of Columbus had only opened a new route to the wealthy, but then scarcely known regions of Eastern Asia. During several years, the discoveries of Columbus were confined to the islands of the West Indies;§ and it was not until August, 1498, six years after his first voyage, that he discovered the main land, near the 2. Aug. 10th. mouth of the Orinoco;|| and he was then ignorant that it was any thing more than an island. 3. What was his discov the extent of eries? b. 1492 to 1498. 4. What is said of the 4. The principal islands of the West Indies,W. Indies? Cuba, St. Domingo,** and Porto Rico,†† were soon * Labrador, or New Britain, is that part of the American coast between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Hudson's Bay ; a bleak and barren country, little known, and inhabited chiefly by Indians. † Nova Scotia is a large peninsula, southeast from New Brunswick, separated from it by the Bay of Fundy, and connected with it by a narrow isthmus only nine miler across. Newfoundland is a hilly and mountainous island on the east side of the Gulf of St. Lawrence; nearly a thousand miles in circumference, deriving all its importance from its extensive fisheries. The West Indies consist of a large number of islands between North and South America, the most important of which are Cuba, St. Domingo, Jamaica, and Ports Rico The Orinoco is a river on the northeast coast of South America. Cube, one of the richest islands in the world, is the largest of the West Indies, being 760 miles in length from southeast to northwest, and about 50 miles in breadth Its northern coast is 150 miles south from Florida. **St. Domingo, or Hayti, formerly called Hispaniola, is a large island, lying between Cuba and Porto Rico, and about equally distant from each. tt Porto Rico is a fertile island of the West Indies, 60 miles southeast from St. De wingo. It is 140 miles long from east to west, and 36 broad. colonized, and subjected to Spanish authority. 'In 1506 the eastern coast of Yucatan* was discovered; and in 1510 the first colony on the continent was planted on 1. of Yuca the Isthmus of Darien. Soon after, Vasco Nunez the first colde Balboa, governor of the colony, crossed the Isthmus, Continent? and from a mountain on the other side of the Continent discovered an Ocean, which being seen in a Discovery a southerly direction, at first received the name of the the Pacic? South Sea. II. JUAN PONCE DE LEON IN FLORIDA.-1. In 1512 Juan Ponce de Leon, an aged veteran, and former governor of Porto Rico, fitted out three ships, at his own expense, for a voyage of discovery. A tradition prevailed. What was among the natives of Porto Rico, that in a neighboring of the Foun island of the Bahamast was a fountain which possessed the remarkable properties of restoring the youth, and of perpetuating the life of any one who should bathe in its stream, and drink of its waters. Nor was this fabu- 5. By whom lous tale credited by the uninstructed natives only. It was generally believed in Spain, and even by men distinguished for virtue and intelligence. 2. In quest of this fountain of youth Ponce de Leon sailed from Porto Rico in March, 1512; and, after cruising some time among the Bahamas, discovered an unknown country, to which, from the abun. b. dance of flowers that adorned the forests, and from its being first seen on Easter Sunday, (which the Spaniards call Pascua Florida,) he gave the name of Florida.|| 3. After landingd some miles north of where St. discoveries? Augustine now stands, and taking formal possession d. April 18. * Yucatan, one of the States of Mexico, is an extensive peninsula, 150 miles S. W from Cuba, and lying between the Bays of Honduras and Campeachy. †The Isthmus of Darien is that narrow neck of land which connects North and South America. It is about 300 miles in length, and, in the narrowest part, is only about 30 miles across. The Bahamas are an extensive group of islands lying east and southeast from Florida. They have been estimated at about 600 in number, most of them mere cliff and rocks, only 14 of them being of any considerable size. Easter day, a church festival observed in commemoration of our Savior's resurrection, is the Sunday following the first full moon that happens after the 20th of March. Florida, the most southern portion of the United States, is a large peninsula about two thirds of the size of Yucatan. The surface is level, and is intersected by numerous ponds, lakes, rivers, and marshes. See note and map, p. 86 16 VOYAGES AND DISCOVERIES. [PART L 1512. of the country, he explored its coasts; and doubling its southern cape, continued his search among the group of islands which he named the Tortugas:* but the chief object of the expedition was still unattained, and Ponce de Leon returned to Porto Rico, older than 1. What was when he departed. A few years later, hav: been vng the second pointed governor of the country which he had discovered, he made a second voyage to its shores, with the design of selecting a site for a colony; but, in a contest with the natives, many of his followers were killed, and Ponce de Leon himself was mortally wounded. the result of voyage? 2. What is said of the of a. Pronoun b. 1520. ap III. DE AYLLON IN CAROLINA.-1. 2About the time enterprise of the defeat of Ponce de Leon in Florida, a company De Ayllon? of seven wealthy men, of St. Domingo, at the head of whom was Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon, judge of ap ced Ail-yon. peals of that island, dispatched two vessels to the Ba hamas, in quest of laborers for their plantations and 8. Of the dis mines. Being driven northward from the Bahamas, Carolina? by adverse winds, to the coast of Carolina, they anchored at the mouth of the Cambaheet river, which they named the Jordan. The country they called Chicora. covery of 4. Of the hospitality of and the per Spaniards? 2. Here the natives treated the strangers with great the natives kindness and hospitality, and being induced by curiosity, fidy of the freely visited the ships; but when a sufficient number was below the decks, the perfidious Spaniards closed 5. What was the hatches and set sail for St. Domingo. One of the the enter returning ships was lost, and most of the Indian prisoners in the other, sullenly refusing food, died of famine and melancholy. the result of prise? 6. Give an account of voyage and 3. "Soon after this unprofitable enterprise, De Ayl the second lon, having obtained the appointment of governor of is result. Chicora, sailed with three vessels for the conquest of the country. Arriving in the river Cambahee, the principal vessel was stranded and lost. Proceeding thence a little farther north, and being received with apparent friendship at their landing, many of his men were induced to visit a village, a short distance in the The Tortugas, or Tortoise Islands, are about 100 miles southwest from the southern cape of Florida. The Cambahee is a small river in the southern part of South Carolina, emptying inte St. Helena Sound 35 miles southwest from Charleston. (See map, p. 35.) interior, where they were all treacherously cut off by 1517 the natives, in revenge for the wrongs which the Spaniards had before committed. De Ayllon himself was surprised and attacked in the harbor;-the attempt to conquer the country was abandoned;-and the few survivors, in dismay, hastened back to St. Domingo. IV. CONQUEST OF MEXICO.*. -1. In 1517 Fran- 1. When and cisco Fernandez de Cordova, sailing from Cuba with three small vessels, explored the northern coast of Yucatan. As the Spaniards approached the shore, they were surprised to find, instead of naked savages, a people decently clad in cotton garments; and, on landing, their wonder was increased by beholding sev- 2. eral large edifices built of stone. The natives were much more bold and warlike than those of the islands and the more southern coasts, and every where received the Spaniards with the most determined opposition. 2. At one place fifty-seven of the Spaniards were 4. killed, and Cordova himself received a wound, of which he died soon after his return to Cuba. But, 5. What is notwithstanding the disastrous result of the expedition, another was planned in the following year; and under the direction of Juan de Grijalva, a portion of the southern coast of Mexico was explored,a and a large amount c.May, June, of treasure obtained by trafficking with the natives. 3. Velasquez, governor of Cuba, under whose 6. By whom auspices the voyage of Grijalva had been made, enriched by the result, and elated with a success far beyond his expectations, now determined to undertake the conquest of the wealthy countries that had been discovered, and hastily fitted out an armament for the purpose. "Not being able to accompany the expedition in person, he gave the command to Fernando Cortez, who sailed with eleven vessels, having on board six hundred and seventeen men. In March, 1519 Cortez landed in Tabasco,† a southern province * Mexico is a large country southwest from the United States, bordering on the Gulf of Mexico on the east, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It is about one fourth as large as the United States and their territories. The land on both coasts is low, but in the interior is a large tract of table lands 6 or 8000 feet above the level of the sea. Tabasco, one of the southern Mexican States, adjoins Yucatan on the southwest. |