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Northern Voyage of Columbus.

understood various arts, as catching fish with nets, &c. They were so much prized on this account that a neighbouring chief made war on their master to get possesion of them, and being the stronger, succeeded. In this way they spent thirteen years, being fought for and won by more than twenty-five chiefs in that time." The country and natives are described, and would tally in part with the conditions then of the present Southern States of North America, and Mexico. At length one of them escaped, and after innumerable vicissitudes reached his own country, and reported to the Earl of Orkney his many adventures.

Mr. Major, in his interesting vindication, proves without question that the long lost and long sought east colony of Greenland was on the west side, and that there were European settlers in America a century before the great voyage of Columbus.

Cristoval Colon (Columbus), previous to the voyages which have immortalised his name, sailed some distance toward the north, visiting both the coasts of Iceland and Greenland. No sufficient record of this voyage is extant, and we are left ignorant of its object, although it was made in all probability with the view of reaching the Indies by a north-western, or possibly even a north-eastern route. The Orient, the Cathaia of those days, was the proposed goal of a large part of the adventurous

Attempted Voyages to the Orient.

17

voyages made, and to sail "by the west into the east" was the ambition of the most distinguished navigators. It must be remembered that the rich products of India had not yet reached Europe by the Cape of Good Hope, but that they were transported overland. Not till 1498 did Vasco da Gama first reach India by doubling the Cape. Further, the existence of any obstacle to sailing westward to India, in the shape of a great American continent, was not known. Even when, in 1492, Columbus discovered San Salvador, he believed that he had reached the East Indies, and to this day we, in using the generic term bequeathed to us, have to distinguish between the West and East Indies (or

Hindostan).

C

CHAPTER III.

The Cabotian Period-North-West Passages-Discovery of Canada— Unflattering Origin of the Name-Gomez and his Friend's Mistake -The First Advocate of Polar Exploration-Voyages of the Trinitie and Minion-First Intercourse with Russia-Burrowe-Sir Martin Frobisher-Sir Humphrey Gilbert-John Davis.

D

JURING the reign of Edward IV. a Venetian merchant, Giovanni Cabota (or Cabot), settled in Bristol. Three sons, Ludovico, Sebastian, and Sancio, were associated with him in his various enterprises; and to them has been often erroneously ascribed the discovery of North America up to the Arctic, the previous voyages of the Greenland colonists having been overlooked. Their voyages were, however, fruitful in geographical results, and one of them was the first attempt (unless that of Columbus be admitted) at a north-west passage. The actual results were, that they explored much of the northern coasts of America; and Sebastian also, while temporarily in the service of Spain, discovered the Rio de la Plata in Brazil. The Pope's legate in Spain, at that period, reported a conversation with Sebastian

Cabot, in which the latter said:* "In that time when Don Christoval Colon, the Genoese, had discovered the coasts of India (i.e., the West Indies), in which there was great talke in all the court of King Henry VII., who then reigned; insomuch that all men, with great admiration, affirmed it to be a thing more divine than humane to saile by the west into the east, where spices growe, by a way that was never known before; by his fame and report there increaseth in my heart a great flame of desire to attempt some notable thing; and understanding, by reason of the sphere, that if I should saile by way of north-west I should, by a shorter tract, come into India, I thereupon caused the king to be advertised of my devise, who immediately commanded two caravels to bee furnished with all things appertayning to the voyage, which was, as farre as I remember, in the year 1496, in the beginning of summer; I began therefore to sail toward the north-west, not thinking to find any other land than that of Cathay, and from thence to turn toward India; but after certaine dayes, I found that the land ranne toward the north. . to the 56 degree under our pole. And seeing that there the coast turned to the east, despairing to find the passage, I turned backe again, and sailed downe by the coast of that land toward the equinoctiall, * Ramusio, as translated by Hakluyt.

20

Discovery of Canada.

(ever with intent to finde the saide passage to India), and came to that part of this firme land which is now called Florida, where my victuals failing, I departed from thence, and returned into England." The Cabots on this voyage brought home three natives of Newfoundland. "These savages were clothed in beasts' skins, and did eate raw flesh, and spake such speach that no man could understand them and in their demeanour like to bruite beastes."

About 1463 the Portuguese despatched John Cortereal to explore the northern seas, and in 1500, a second and more important expedition under Gaspar, son of the first named, was sent on the same errand. The results of these voyages were a more complete knowledge of the Labrador and Newfoundland coasts, and it is now admitted that Gaspar discovered Canada, and the great river St. Lawrence. Incidentally we may note that the Portuguese, having discovered that the St. Lawrence was a river, and not a strait by which a direct passage to India might be discovered, disappointedly exclaimed," Cà nada!" ("Here, nothing"), and by this uncomplimentary title are our prosperous colonies known to this day. Others say that the etymology of the word is "Aca nada!" ("There is nothing here!"), which, however, amounts to about the same thing. French navigators, after these