the shore of the great ocean that stretches beyond. Ignorant of the extent of the vast body of water that he saw spread out before him to the southward of the Isthmus, he I called it the South Sea.

2. Magellan's voyage.-Six years afterwards, a Portuguese navigator, named Ma-gel'-lan, commanding a Spanish squadron consisting of five ships, sailed from Spain to the southwest across the Atlantic Ocean, and discovered the strait which was named after him. Passing through this strait, he reached the ocean previously discovered by Balboa, and sailed across it. This ocean he called the Pacific, that is, peaceful, for he experienced very mild weather on entering it, and for several days after.

3. Voyage round the world. Unfortunately, this bold sailor was slain in a battle with the warlike natives of one of the Phil-ip-pine' Islands; but his ship kept 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 world (1519-22). This voyage, of course, proved America to be a different continent from the Eastern Continent, and it was therefore called the Western Continent, or New World. The islands among which Columbus had sailed were named the West Indies.

4. Voyage of Pon-ce' de Le-on'.-Among a large group of these islands, called the Bahamas, it had been reported that there was one which contained a very wonderful spring which would restore to youthful health and vigor any one

2. Who was Magellan? What voyage did he make? What did he discover? What ocean did he cross? Why was it called the Pacific? 3. When and how was he slain? How far did one of his ships sail? What did this prove? 4. What report existed in regard to the Bahamas? What did this prompt? Who was Ponce de Leon?

who should drink of it, or bathe in its waters. Hearing of this report, a soldier of distinction, named De Leon (dā lā-ōn'), who had sailed with Columbus in some of his voyages, determined to go in quest of it (1512), for he was of advanced age, and eagerly desired to be young once more.

5. Discovery of Florida. He sailed about for some time among these islands, but the fountain of perpetual youth was nowhere to be found. While thus engaged, however, he came to a very beautiful country, to which he gave the name of Florida, or the Land of Flowers, for the trees all along its shores were covered with bright and fragrant blossoms. It was Easter Sunday when this land was reached, and the mariners had abundance of flowers to celebrate that festival. De Leon, a few years afterward, returned to his newly-found land, and was mortally wounded in a battle with the natives.*

6. Discovery of Mexico-the inhabitants.-A short time after the discovery of Florida, Mexico was discovered, and the Spaniards were very much surprised to find that the inhabitants of that country, instead of being naked barbarians like the Indians, were a civilized nation, living in cities and towns, and having a regular government. Their temples and palaces were spacious and magnificent; and the people were dressed in garments of cloth, and wore ornaments of gold and silver. Their king, who was named

*"Wounded by an arrow, he returned to Cuba to die. . . The discoverer of Florida had desired immortality on earth, and gained its shadow."-Bancroft's Hist. U. S.

5. What land did he reach? Why was it called Florida? How did the death of De Leon occur? 6. What was the character of the Mexicans? Their king? To what race did they belong?

Mon-te-zu'-ma, it was said was very rich. These people belonged to a race called the Aztecs.

7. Expedition of Cortez.-Cor'-tez, a brave but cruel soldier, was sent with about six hundred men to take possession of this country. He landed with his small army on the shores of Mexico in 1519; and, in order to compel his men to think only of conquest, by cutting off all hope of return, he destroyed his ships. He then marched through the country to the capital, situated about two hundred miles from the place of his landing, although messengers had been dispatched by Montezuma to the strangers, bearing rich presents, but forbidding them to advance into the country.

8. Death of Montezuma.-Nevertheless, the Spaniards. were treated with great kindness and civility by Montezuma, on their arrival at the capital of his dominions; but the designs of the strangers were soon apparent to the Mexicans, and they soon began to give tokens of hostility. To check this, Cortez artfully made a prisoner of the king, and induced him to counsel his people to submit. At this they were so much enraged, that they hurled stones and arrows at their monarch; and from the effects of the injuries. which he thus sustained he soon after died.

9. Conquest of Mexico.-The Mexicans thereupon rose upon the Spaniards, drove them from their city, and pursued them with great fury. On the retreat, Cortez, finding that he must give battle or be destroyed, made a stand against

7. Who was sent to conquer them? What did he do on landing? 8. How were the Spaniards treated by Montezuma? What caused the king's death? 9. What followed? How was Mexico conquered?

his foes, and although his men were so few, he gained a victory; for the Spaniards wore armor and had fire-arms, against which the Mexicans had no means of contending. Aided by native tribes who had become dissatisfied with the rule of their king, Cortez returned to the city and made an entire conquest of the country (1521).

10. Cruelty of the Spaniards.-It was the desire for gold that prompted these Spanish chieftains and their followers to such deeds of hardship and daring. To satisfy this craving, they were guilty of the most shocking cruelties and crimes. Thus, after capturing the Mexican King Gua-timo'-zin, the successor of Montezuma, these ruthless soldiers laid him on a bed of burning coals, to compel him to disclose where he had concealed his riches; and a short time afterwards, Cortez ordered him to be hanged.* Thousands of the unfortunate Mexicans were slain by this relentless chief and his soldiers, in completing the conquest of the country.

11. Spaniards in Florida. Having found so much wealth in Mexico, the Spaniards thought they should be equally successful in exploring Florida; † and this belief was

*"Gua-ti-mo'-zin bore whatever the refined cruelty of his tormentors could inflict, with the invincible fortitude of an American warrior. His fellow-sufferer, overcome by the violence of his anguish, turned a dejected eye towards his master, which seemed to implore his permission to reveal all he knew. But the high-spirited prince, darting on him a look of authority mingled with scorn, checked his weakness by asking, ‘Am I now reposing on a bed of flowers?' Overawed by the reproach, the favorite persevered in his dutiful silence, and expired."-Robertson's History of America.

"It must be recollected that the name of Florida then designated a vast extent of country, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico, northwestwardly, towards unknown regions. The division of the country, as marked upon the maps, were Florida at the south, extending to the north of Chesapeake, and meeting New France."—Fairbanks's History of Florida.

10. What was the motive of the Spaniards in these conquests? What cruelties did they commit? Their treatment of Guatimozin? 11. What ideas were entertained in regard to Florida? Whose ambition was incited by reports of its wealth? Who was De Soto ?