a. Note, p.112

granted his request, but also appointed him governor- 1538. general of Florida for life, and also of the island of Cuba. De Soto soon found himself surrounded by adventurers of all classes, and in April, 1538, sailed for Cuba with a fleet of seven large and three small vessels.

2

1. Sails for Cuba

His recepand his land

tion in Cuba,

info

rida.

1539.

b. June 10.

3. His forces

3. 'In Cuba the new governor was received with great rejoicings;-new accessions were made to his forces; and after completing his preparations, and leaving his wife to govern the island, he embarked for Florida, and early in June, 1539, his fleet anchored in the Bay of Espiritu Santo,* or Tampa Bay. 'His forces consisted of six hundred men, more than two hundred of whom were mounted, both infantry and cavalry being clad in complete armor. 'Besides ample stores of food, a drove 4 Supplies of three hundred swine was landed, with which De Soto` intended to stock the country where he should settle; and these were driven with the expedition throughout most of the route.

for his army.

the woander

ings of the Spaniards in the interior.

4. After establishing a small garrison in the vicinity 5. Account of of Espiritu Santo, and sending most of his vessels back to Havanna, he commenced his march into the interior, taking with him, as interpreter, a Spaniard found among the natives, who had remained in captivity since the time of Narvaez. After wandering five months through unexplored and mostly uncultivated regions, exposed to hardships and dangers and an almost continued warfare with the natives, during which several lives were lost, the party arrived, in the month of November, in the more fertile country of the Apallachians, east of the Flint river, and a few leagues north of the Bay of Apallachee, where it was determined to pass the winter.

5. From this place an exploring party discovered the ocean in the very place where the unfortunate Narvaez had embarked. De Soto likewise despatched thirty horsemen to Espiritu Santo, with orders for the garrison to rejoin the army in their present winter quarters. The horsemen arrived with the loss of but two of their number, and the garrison rejoined De Soto, although with some loss, as, during their march, they had several desperate encounters with the natives. Two small vessels that had been retained at Espiritu Santo reached the Bay of Apallachee, and by the aid of these the coast was farther

c. Nov. 6.

. Discovery and other flowed.

of the Ocean,

events that

Espiritu Santo, now called Tampa Bay, is on the western coast of Florida, 200 miles southeast from St. Marks. There is no place of anchorage between the two places.

Havanna, the capital of Cuba, a wealthy and populous city, is on the north side of the island. It has the finest harbor in the world, capable of containing a thousand ships. The entrance is so narrow that but one vessel can pass at a time.

t The Flint river is in the western part of Georgia. It joins the Chattahoochee at the northern boundary of Florida, and the two united form the Apalachicola.

ANALYSIS. explored during the winter, and the harbor of Pensacola discovered.

a 1539 40.

which the

passed their

1. Manner in 6. "The Spaniards remained five months in winter quar. Spaniards ters at Apallachee, supplying themselves with provisions by First winter. pillaging the surrounding country; but they were kept in constant alarm by the never-ceasing stratagems and as1540. saults of the natives. At length, in the month of March, b. March 13. they broke up their camp, and set out for a remote coun taken by them try, of which they had heard, to the northeast, governed, in the spring. it was said, by a woman, and abounding in gold and silver. De Soto had previously despatched his ships to Cuba, with orders to rendezvous in the following October at Pensacola, where he proposed to meet them, having, in the mean time, explored the country in the interior.

2. Course

3. Orders

given by

De Soto to

his ships.

4. Disappointed

7. 'Changing his course now to the northeast, De Soto expectations. crossed several streams which flow into the Atlantic, and probably penetrated near to the Savannah,† where he indeed found the territory of the princess, of whose wealth he had formed so high expectations; but, to his great disappointment, the fancied gold proved to be copper, and the supposed silver only thin plates of mica.

5. Route of De Soto through Georgia.

8. His direction was now towards the north, to the head waters of the Savannah and the Chattahoochee,+ whence he crossed a branch of the Apalachian§ chain which runs through the northern part of Georgia, and came upon the southern limits of the territory of the c. Map, p. 20. Cherokees. Hearing that there was gold in a region 6. Why the farther north, he despatched two horsemen with Indian the Cherokees guides, to visit the country. These, after an absence of ten days, having crossed rugged and percipitous mountains, returned to the camp, bringing with them a few specimens of fine copper or brass, but none of gold or silver.

country of

was visited, and the result.

7. Wanderings of the

Alabama.

9. During several months the Spaniards wandered Spaniards in through the valleys of Alabama, obliging the chieftains, through whose territories they passed, to march with them as hostages for the good conduct of their subjects.

Pensacola is a town on the northwest side of Pensacola Bay, near the western extremity of Florida. The bay is a fine sheet of water upwards of 20 miles in length from N.E. to S. W. (See Map.) ↑ The Savannah river forms the boundary line between South Carolina and Georgia.

The Chattahoochee river rises in the northeastern part of Georgia, near the sources of the Savannah, and, after crossing the State southwest, forms the boundary between Georgia and Alabama.

The Apalachian or Alleghany Mountains extend from the northern part of Georgia to the State of New York, at a distance of about 250 miles from the coast, and nearly parallel to it. They divide the waters which flow into the Atlantic from those which flow into the Mississippi.

'In October they arrived at Mauville,* a fortified Indian town near the junction of the Alabamat and the Tombeckbee. Here was fought one of the most bloody battles known in Indian warfare. 'During a contest of nine hours several thousand Indians were slain and their village laid in ashes.

1540.

a. Oct. 28.

1. Mauville,

and the events that occurred there.

2. Account of

near Mobile.

3 Situation

of the Span

10. The loss of the Spaniards was also great. Many great battle fell in battle, others died of their wounds, they lost many of their horses, and all their baggage was consumed in the flames. The situation of the Spaniards after the battle was truly deplorable, for nearly all were wounded, and, with their baggage, they had lost their supplies of food and medicine; but, fortunately for them, the Indian power had been so completely broken that their enemies were unable to offer them any farther molestation.

11. 'While at Mauville, De Soto learned from the natives that the ships he had ordered had arrived at Pensacola. But, fearing that his disheartened soldiers would desert him as soon as they had an opportunity of leaving the country, and mortified at his losses, he determined to send no tidings of himself until he had crowned his enterprise with success by discovering new regions of wealth. He therefore turned from the coast and again advanced into the interior. His followers, accustomed to implicit obedience, obeyed the command of their leader without remonstrance.

b.

tards after

the battle.

tion received

4 Informaby De Soto, movements. Note, p. 122

and his next

c. Nov. 28.

d. 1540-41.

1541.

5. Situation

of the Span

their second

losses suffered by them.

12. The following winterd he passed in the country of the Chickasas, probably on the western banks of the Yazoo, occupying an Indian village which had been deserted on his approach. Here the Indians attacked tards during him at night, in the dead of winter, and burned the vil-winter, and lage; yet they were finally repulsed, but not till several Spaniards had fallen. In the burning of the village the Spaniards lost many of their horses, most of their swine, and the few remaining clothes which they had saved from the fires of Mauville. During the remainder of the winter they suffered much from the cold, and were almost constantly harassed by the savages.

the Mississippi.

13. At the opening of spring the Spaniards resumed 6. They cross their march, continuing their course to the northwest until they came to the Mississippi§ which they crossed,

* Pronounced Mo-veel, whence Mobile derives its name.

e. May 5.

↑ The Alabama river rises in the N.W. part of Georgia, and through most of its course is called the Coosa. The Tombeckbee rises in the N.E. part of Mississippi. The two unite 35 miles north from Mobile, in the State of Alabama, and through several channels empty into Mobile Bay

The Yazoo river rises in the northern part of the State of Mississippi, and running southwest, enters the Mississippi river 65 miles north from Natchez.

The Mississippi river, which, in the Indian language, signifies the Father of Waters, rises 160 miles west from Lake Superior. Its source is Itasca Lake, in Iowa Territory. After a

ANALYSIS probably at the lowest Chickasaw bluff, one of the ancient crossing places, between the thirty-fourth and the thirtyfifth parallel of latitude. 'Thence, after reaching the St. Francis,* they continued north until they arrived in the vicinity of New Madrid, in the southern part of the State of Missouri.

1. Course then taken.

2. The follow

ing summer

a. 1541-2.

1542.

14. After traversing the country, during the summer, and winter. to the distance of two or three hundred miles west of the Mississippi, they passed the winter on the banks of the Wachita.t 'In the spring they passed down that river to 3. Do the Mississippi, where De Soto was taken sick and died. b. May 31. To conceal his death from the natives, his body, wrapped in a mantle, and placed in a rustic coffin, in the stillness of midnight, and in the presence of a few faithful followers, was silently sunk in the middle of the stream.

De Soto.

4. Attempt of the Span

Mexico

by land.

5. Their fourth winter.

15. 'De Soto had appointed his successor, under whom dards to reach the remnant of the party now attempted to penetrate by land to Mexico. They wandered several months through the wilderness, traversing the western prairies, the hunting grounds of roving and warlike tribes, but hearing no tidings of white people, and finding their way obstructed by rugged mountains, they were constrained to retrace their steps. 'In December they came upon the Mississippi a short distance above the mouth of the Red‡ river, and here they passed the winter, during which time they constructed seven large boats, or brigantines. 'In these they embarked on the twelfth of July, in the following year, and in seventeen days reached the Gulf of Mexico. Fearing to trust themselves far from land in their frail barks, they continued along the coast, and on the twentieth of September, 1543, the remnant of the party, half naked and famishing with hunger, arrived safely at a d. Note, p. 119. Spanish settlement near the mouth of the river Panuco in Mexico.

c. 1542-3.

1543.

6. Their sub

sequent

course until

they reach Mexico.

winding course of more than 3000 miles in a southerly direction, it discharges its vast flood of turbid waters into the Gulf of Mexico. It is navigable for steam-boats to the Falls of St. Anthony, more than 2000 miles from its mouth by the river's course. The Mississippi and its tributary streams drain a vast valley, extending from the Alleghanies to the Rocky Mountains, containing more than a million of square miles of the richest country in the world ;—a terri tory six times greater than the whole kingdom of France.

The St. Francis river rises in Missouri, and running south, enters the Mississippi 60 miles north from the mouth of the Arkansas.

The Wachita river rises in the western part of the State of Arkansas, and running S.E. receives many tributaries, and enters the Red river 30 miles from the junction of the latter with the Mississippi

The Red river rises on the confines of Texas, forms its northern boundary, and enters the Mississippi 150 miles N.W. from New Orleans

1497.

CHAPTER II.

'NORTHERN AND EASTERN COASTS OF NORTH AMERICA, FROM 1 Subject of

THE DISCOVERY OF THE CONTINENT BY THE CABOTS, IN 1497, TO THE SETTLEMENT OF JAMESTOWN, IN VIRGINIA, IN 1607. 110 YEARS.

Chapter II.

DIVISIONS.

a Car-te are.

L. John and Sebastian Cabot.-II. Gaspar Cortereal.-III. Ver- (Pronounced razani.—IV. James Cartier.a-V. Roberval.-VI. Ribault,þ Lau- b Re bo. donniere, and Melendez.-VII. Gilbert, Raleigh, Grenville, &c.—e. Lo-don-eVIII. Marquis de la Roche.d-IX. Bartholomew Gosnold.-X. De d. Roash) Monts.-X1. North and South Virginia.

åre

2. Divisions of Chapter II.

Account of

the voyage and discov

the

1. JOHN AND SEBASTIAN CABOT.-1. Shortly after the 3 return of Columbus from his first voyage, John Cabot, a Venetian by birth, but then residing in England, believ-made by ing that new lands might be discovered in the northwest, applied to Henry VII. for a commission of discovery. Under this commission Cabot, taking with him his son Sebastian, then a young man, sailed from the port of (0.8) 1496. Bristol* in the spring of 1497.

e Dated March 5th,

1497.

2. On the 3d of July following he discovered land, which he called Prima Vista, or first seen, and which until recently was supposed to be the island of Newfoundland, but which is now believed to have been the coast of Labrador. After sailing south a short distance, and £. Note, p. 111. probably discovering the coast of Newfoundland, anxious to announce his success, Cabot returned to England without making any farther discovery.

4.

1498.

voyage by

bot.

3. 'In 1498 Sebastian Cabot, with a company of three hundred men, made a second voyage, with the hope of The second finding a northwest passage to India. He explored the Sebastian Cacontinent from Labrador to Virginia, and perhaps to the coast of Florida; when want of provisions compelled. Note, p. 113. him to return to England.

Cabot.

4. 'He made several subsequent voyages to the Ameri- 1500. can coast, and, in 1517, entered one of the straits which 5 Subsequent leads into Hudson's Bay. In 1526, having entered the service of Spain, he explored the River La Plata,_and part of the coast of South America. Returning to England during the reign of Edward VI., he was made Grand

Bristol, a commercial city of England, next in importance to London and Liverpool, is on the River Avon, four miles distant from its entrance into the river Severn, where commences the Bristol Channel. It is 115 miles west from London and 140 south from Liverpool.