Brief History of the United States | Page 9

was followed (1534) by Jacques Cartier (zhak car-tya'), also in search of a passage to Cathay. Reaching Newfoundland (map, p. 114), Cartier passed through the strait to the north of it, and explored a part of the gulf to the west. A year later he came again, named the gulf St. Lawrence, and entered the St. Lawrence River, which he thought was a strait leading to China. Up this river he sailed till stopped by the rapids which he named Lachine (Chinese). Near by was a high hill which he called Mont Real (re-ahl'), or Mount Royal. At its base now stands the city of Montreal. [20] From this place the French went back to a steep cliff where now stands the city of Quebec, and, it is believed, spent the winter there. The winter was a terrible one, and when the ice left the river they returned to France (1536).
[Illustration: INDIAN LONG HOUSE.]
Not discouraged, Cartier (1541) came a third time to plant a colony on the river. But hunger, mutiny, and the severity of the winter brought the venture to naught. [21]
NO SETTLEMENTS IN OUR COUNTRY.--From the first voyage of Columbus to the expeditions of De Soto, Coronado, and Cartier, fifty years had passed. The coast of the new continent had been roughly explored as far north as Labrador on the east and California on the west. The Spaniards in quest of gold and silver mines had conquered and colonized the West Indies, Mexico, and parts of South America. Yet not a settlement had been made in our country. Many rivers and bays had been discovered; two great expeditions had gone into the interior; but there were no colonies on the mainland of what is now the United States.
SUMMARY
1. The voyage of Columbus led to many other voyages, prompted chiefly by a hope of finding gold. They resulted in the exploration of the coast of America, and may be grouped according to the parts explored, as follows:--
2. The Atlantic coast of North America was explored (1497-1535) by Cabot (for England)--from Newfoundland to South Carolina. Ponce de Leon (for Spain)--peninsula of Florida. Verrazano (for France)--from North Carolina to Newfoundland. Cartier (for France)--Gulf of St. Lawrence.
3. The Gulf and Caribbean coasts of North America were explored (1502- 1528) for Spain by Columbus--Central America. Ponce de Leon--west coast of Florida. Pineda--from Florida to Mexico. Narvaez expedition--from Florida to Texas.
4. The Atlantic coast of South America was explored (1498-1520) by Columbus--mouth of the Orinoco. Other explorers for Spain--whole northern coast. Cabral (for Portugal)--part of eastern coast. Vespucius (for Portugal)--eastern coast nearly to the Plata River. Magellan (for Spain)-- to the Strait of Magellan.
5. The Pacific coast of America was explored (1513-1542) for Spain by Balboa--part of Panama. Magellan--part of the southwest coast. Pizarro (note, p. 23)--from Panama to Peru. Cabrillo (note, p. 28)--from Mexico up the coast of California.
6. The Spaniards early established colonies in the West Indies, South America, and Mexico; but fifty years after Columbus's discovery there was no settlement of Europeans in the mainland part of the United States. Several Spanish expeditions, however, had explored (1534-1542) large parts of the interior:--Cabeza de Vaca and his companions walked from Texas to western Mexico, Coronado wandered from Mexico to Kansas. De Soto wandered from Florida beyond the Mississippi River.
FOOTNOTES
[1] This discovery made a great stir in Bristol, the port from which Cabot sailed. A letter written at the time states, "Honors are heaped upon Cabot. He is called Grand Admiral, he is dressed in silk, and the English run after him like madmen." The king gave him ��10 and a pension of ��20 a year. A pound sterling in those days was in purchasing power quite the equal of fifty dollars in our time.
[2] These voyages of Cabot were not followed up at the time. But in the days of Queen Elizabeth, more than eighty years later, they were made the basis of the English claim to a part of North America.
[3] Bristoll--Arthurus Kemys et Ricardus ap. Meryke collectores custumarum et subsidiorum regis ibidem a festo Sancti Michaelis Archangeli anno XIIII mo Regis nunc usque idem festum Sancti Michaelis tunc proximo sequens reddunt computum de MCCCCXXIIII li. VII S. x d. quadr. De quibus.... Item in thesauro in una tallia pro Johanne Cabot, xx li. Translation: "Bristol --Arthur Kemys and Richard ap Meryke, collectors of the king's customs and subsidies there, from Michaelmas in the fourteenth year of this king's reign [Henry VII] till the same feast next following render their account of ��1424 7_s._ 10-1/4_d._.... In the treasury is one tally for John Cabot, ��20."
[4] On one of these voyages the Spaniards saw an Indian village built over the water on piles, with bridges joining the houses. This so reminded them of Venice that they called it Venezuela (little Venice), a