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HISTORY STORIES

PIONEERS
N LAND AND SEA

Mc MURK Y

Pioneers on Land and Sea

PIONEER HISTORY STORIES

FIRST BOOK

Pioneers on Land and Sea

STORIES OF THE EASTERN STATES
AND OF OCEAN EXPLORERS

BY
£0^

CHARLES A. McMURRY, PH.D.

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY

LONDON: MACMILLAN & CO., LTD.
1916

(.
4,

Set up, electrotyped and published March, 1904.
Reprinted September, 1904; January, July, November,
1905 ; January, 1908 ; March, 1909 ; January, August,
1911; September, 1912; March, 1913; January, 1915;
February, September, 1916.

14 &

Bancroft

PREFACE

THIS is the first of three volumes of American History
Stories for use in intermediate grades. It contains the
accounts of the early explorers and frontiersmen along
the Atlantic coast and of the voyages of the great ocean
pioneers. They deal with great events and persons in
the simple setting of pioneer life.

The importance of these stories to American children
in the intermediate grades is now fully seen. In the
simple and interesting form of personal biography they
photograph the liveliest scenes of our early history.
European teachers may well envy us this copious stream
of pioneer story. No European country has anything
that can be safely compared with it in richness and
value.

The myths and early traditions of Europe we are
making good use of in our schools, but in entering upon
the field of real history, the pioneer and frontier life of
America abounds in the striking scenes of simple folk-
life in its rude beginnings. It is easy for children to
lose themselves in this frontier scenery and to partake
of its spirit.

VI PREFACE

These narratives are based on the most trustworthy
historical documents, source materials which have been
tested by our best historians, as Parkman, Fiske, Ban
croft, Ha^t, and others. Some of the narratives are
taken directly from undoubted source materials, the
testimony of eye-witnesses and chief actors.

In connection with the story of Champlain the teacher
should read Parkman's "Pioneers of France in the New
World," from which some quotations are made.

In working, up the stories of Columbus, Magellan, and
Cortes, John Fiske's two volumes on " The Discovery of
America" have been freely consulted and occasionally
quoted. Fiske's "Dutch and Quaker Settlements" and
"Old Virginia and Her Neighbors" have also been used
in the stories of Hudson and John Smith.

If the use of these stories in schools should lead
teachers and children to a closer acquaintance with the
full works of Parkman and Fiske it would be a very
fortunate result.

Scudder's " Life of Washington," from which much of
the story of Washington's early life is derived, is probably
the best biography of him for grammar grades, and
should become familiar to all the children in our schools ;
likewise the Fiske-Irving "Life of Washington."

The chronology of history stories in the pioneer period
is of little consequence to the children. A first-class

PREFACE Vii

story, full and rich in local color, personal and concrete
in its whole setting, is desired. Two or three years later,
in the grammar grades, these stories will find their proper
place and connections in a chronological outline.

Maps are required at every step in these stories. They
are necessary not only to a proper understanding of the
stories, but they illuminate the whole early geography of
North America and contribute much interest to the
parallel lessons in American geography in these grades.

For children of the eastern states these stories, which
are nearest home, are the best beginnings of history.
The two following volumes, " Pioneers of the Mississippi
Valley " and " Pioneers of the Rocky Mountains and the
West" are the natural continuation of the series.

The " Special Method in History " in Chapter III dis
cusses in full the value of these stories and the method
of handling them in classes.

DE KALB, ILLINOIS,
October 2, 1903.

CONTENTS

PAGE
CHAPTER ..

I. CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE ......

II. HENRY HUDSON .........

III. WALTER RALEIGH .... .....

IV. JOHN SMITH .....

103
V. POPHAM'S SETTLEMENT

VI. JOHN SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OF NEW ENGLAND
VII. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBU
VIII. FERDINAND MAGELLAN ......

•f ort

IX. HERNANDO CORTES . .

. 222
X. PONCE DE LEON • • • • .

227
XI. GEORGE WASHINGTON .....

122
VII. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS .

ILLUSTRATIONS

MUH

CHAMPLAIN AND THE INDIANS 17

CHAMPLAIN'S ATTACK ON AN IROQUOIS FORT 31

EARLY QUEBEC 33

THE PALISADES OF THE HUDSON 38

THE "HALF MOON" IN THE HIGHLANDS . . . . . .41

SIR WALTER RALEIGH 53

RETURN OF WHITE TO ROANOKE ISLAND 63

CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH ON THE BLOCK 80

CROWNING THE CHIEF OF THE POWHATANS 83

POCAHONTAS 96

A NEW ENGLAND BLOCK-HOUSE 105

CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH 108

INDIANS FISHING 120

COLUMBUS ' .123

THE DEPARTURE OF COLUMBUS 132

THE FLEET OF COLUMBUS 136

THE LANDING OF COLUMBUS 139

RECEPTION OF COLUMBUS ON HIS RETURN 147

MAGELLAN 161

CORTES 187

THE PUBLIC ENTRY OF CORTES INTO MEXICO 205

EARLY SPANISH SETTLEMENT IN FLORIDA 225

MONUMENT MARKING THE BIRTHPLACE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON . 227

AN OLD VIEW OF MOUNT VERNON 235

OPENING PAGE OF WASHINGTON'S JOURNAL 239

GEORGE WASHINGTON 251

MAPS

THE WORLD Frontispiece

PAGE

THE MOUTH OF THE ST. LAWREXCE . . . . ... . 8

DISTRIBUTION OF INDIAN TRIBES 11

CAROLINA 57

VIRGINIA 74

SMITH'S MAP OF NEW ENGLAND ........ 110

THE WORLD AS KNOWN IN THE TIME OF COLUMBUS . . . 125

VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS AND OF OTHER DISCOVERERS . . . 134

ROUTE OF MAGELLAN AND OF HIS SHIP 171

ROUTE OF PONCE DE LEON . 223

xtt

Pioneers on Land and Sea

PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

CHAPTER I

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE *

SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN, who has been called the Father
of New France, was a French soldier of noble family.
His first voyage to New France was made in 1603,
when he explored the St. Lawrence River as far as the
Rapids above Montreal. He tried to pass these, known
as the Rapids of St. Louis, in a skiff, but was forced to
return. On the deck of his vessel the Indians made
rude plans or maps of the river above, with its chain
of rapids, its lakes and cataracts. Champlain turned
toward home but resolved to visit this country at some
future time.

The next year he came again. This time, with the
vessel in which the voyage from France was made, he
explored the Bay of Fundy. After sailing around the
head of the Bay of Fundy, he visited and named the
St. John River and then went to Passamaquoddy Bay.
Champlain made maps of all the coast and harbors. His

1 Authority : Parkman's " Pioneers of France in the New World."
B 1

2 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

friend De Monts, to whom the king of France had given
all the land from Montreal to the Delaware, wanted to
make a settlement far' her south than the St. Lawrence,
to avoid the extreme cold of the winters. At the mouth
of the St. Croix River an island was selected as a site for
the new colony. It commanded the river and was well
fitted for defence, but the soil was poor, the place was
not so far south as they thought, and not well located
for the trade in furs which they expected to carry on.

Everybody went to work, and before winter began the
cedars which covered the island were cut away and many
houses were built. There were several dwellings, store
houses, a magazine, workshops, and a barrack for the
Swiss soldiers that had accompanied the expedition. The
whole was enclosed with a palisade.

When the work of preparing for winter was done, part
of the company returned to France. Seventy-nine men
remained behind, among them Champlain, De Monts,
and several other gentlemen of noble birth. The winter
was a bitter one.

While De Monts was getting things settled upon the
island, on the second of September he sent Champlain
on an exploring trip along the coast of Norumbegue
(Maine). With a bark of seventeen or eighteen tons, two
Indian guides, and a dozen men, Champlain was in high
spirits as he set out. They found the coast full of islands,

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE 3

bold, rocky, and irregular, and coming in sight of a large
island rising into barren summits, he called it Mount
Desert. Its cool groves and fresh sea air have made it
in recent years a great resort for summer tourists. Wind
ing in and out among the islands, they entered the mouth
of the Penobscot River. Up this stream they passed till
they came to the fall just above the present city of Bangor,
which stopped their further passage. The banks and hill
sides were clothed with tall pines and stout oak trees.
Along the river were a few deserted wigwams, but on the
shores of Penobscot Bay there were many Indians, who
proved friendly, entering into trade with beaver skins.

The weather now proved bad and as provisions were
low, the party returned to the mouth of the St. Croix.

Great cakes of ice swept by their island with the ebb
ing and flowing tide, often shutting off their supplies of
wood and water. Icy winds swept through their rude
houses and they shivered round their ill-kept fires, for
wood from the mainland was very difficult to get. Soon
scurvy broke out and before spring thirty-five died and
many more were left weak and exhausted. Champlain
did all he could to help and encourage the discontented
survivors and was still unwilling to give up his plans for
discovery and settlement.

After the severe winter was past and fresh supplies
from France had arrived, Champlain and De Monts set

4 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

out for a still further examination of the coast of Maine
and New England. With twenty sailors, two Indians,
and some gentlemen, they started the 18th of June to
search for a better location for a settlement. Passing
by Mount Desert and the mouth of the Penobscot, they
reached the entrance to the Kennebec. They sailed
along both sides of the broad bay, meeting some Indians,
but finding poor soil and no good point for a settle
ment. They anchored in sight of Old Orchard Beach,
now become famous as a watering-place. Crossing the
bar with the rising tide, they anchored at Saco, near
the mouth of the river, where the natives came down
to see them with strong signs of rejoicing. Fields of
waving corn, beans, pumpkins, and squashes in bloom,
and heavily laden grapevines along the river, were seen.
The Indians were graceful and agile, living mostly upon
vegetables and corn, and upon fish which were caught
by them in abundance at the mouth of the river.

After two days spent at Saco, they passed on and saw
the islands at Cape Porpoise covered with wild currants
upon which great flocks of wild pigeons were feasting.
Many of these birds were taken, and these gave the
Frenchmen a much-relished addition to their fare.

Casting anchor on the east side of Cape Ann, a few
Indians were seen and Champlain went on shore. After
winning the confidence of the natives by gifts, Cham-

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE 5

plain took a piece of drawing-paper and crayon and out
lined the coast as far as they could see and suggested
to the Indians that they complete the sketch beyond.
Seizing the crayon, one of the Indians continued to draw
on the same paper the map of Massachusetts Bay. The
Indians also indicated, by setting pebbles, that the bay
was occupied by six tribes. This was probably the first
drawing lesson that was ever given in an outdoor school
in Massachusetts. July 16 the Frenchmen sailed into
Boston harbor and were delighted with the scenery pre
sented by the islands and shores, waving with corn-fields
or shaded by tall forests. The clumsy log canoe of the
Indians was here seen for the first time. The sail-boat
of the explorers was perhaps the first that ever entered
Massachusetts Bay. The shores were soon lined with
many natives watching curiously this white-winged vessel,
moving quietly along without oars. Jumping into their
small canoes, they followed the departing Frenchmen a
short distance.

Passing on down the shore, the explorers were at length
driven into a small harbor to await a more favorable
breeze. The French noticed that the Indians had just
been fishing for cod, which they caught with hook and
line much as in our day, a piece of barbed bone fastened
to a stick serving as a hook, and the line being made of
a grassy fibre growing in this region. Champlain went

6 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

on shore and made a sketch of the harbor, by which we
are able to tell that it is the harbor of Plymouth,
where the Pilgrims landed fifteen years later.

After spending a day at Plymouth the Frenchmen
passed in a circle around the bay till they reached the
white sands of Cape Cod, which they named Cape Blanc.
But it had been visited before by Gosnold, who named
it Cape Cod. Sailing down outside of Cape Cod, they
reached and passed into Nauset harbor, where were
many Indian huts. Entering this large bay July 22, they
found many cone-shaped wigwams covered with thatch,
with an opening for smoke. In the cultivated fields were
beans, corn, pumpkins, radishes, and tobacco, and the
woods contained hickory, oak, and cedar. The Indians
were friendly. The weather was chilly and a cold east
wind kept them four days in the harbor.

At this place they had the first hostile meeting with
Indians. Some white men had gone ashore with brass
kettles for fresh water. The Indians were very desirous
of securing these. As one of the men stooped down to
fill the kettle at a spring, an Indian seized it and started
off. This led to a struggle and the Indian arrows flew
thick, striking the white man and soon killing him. The
Indians made off with the kettle into the woods.

Soon the other Indians came forward to explain that
they had no share in this matter and Champlain had to

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE 7

accept their statement rather than to run the risk of
inflicting punishment upon the innocent.

The voyagers had been gone five weeks and it was
time to turn back. On their return trip they stopped
at Saco and at the mouth of the Kennebec. At the
latter point they met an Indian sachem who told them
that a vessel had stopped at this place and, while pre
tending friendship, had seized five Indians and had
killed or carried them off. From the description Cham-
plain concluded that it was an English ship. From other
sources we know that Captain George Weymouth, com
manding an English vessel, explored this coast in June,
1605, and carried off five Indians as captives. He was
seeking for a suitable location for a colony to be sent out
by an English company. From this time on for many
years the French and English were rivals in making
settlements and gaining possession of the country along
the shores of New England and Canada.

As the explorers had found no place to the south on this
journey where they wished to make a settlement, De Monts
decided to move to Port Royal — now Annapolis — where
they had noted the beautiful inlet the year before. Every
thing that could be moved was put on board the ves
sels, carried across the Bay of Fundy, and landed at
the chosen spot. Everybody was set to work and soon
the buildings of the new colony took the place of the

PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

dense forest that had been cut down. When all was
done, De Monts went to France, but Champlain decided

to spend another winter
with the colony.

This winter was not so
severe as the one at St.
Croix but the colonists
were glad to welcome the
ship which brought more
people and supplies late

followin Slimmer.

THE MOUTH OF THE ST. LAWRENCE JR

Soon after the return of this vessel to France, Champlain
set out on another voyage of discovery. He went as
far south as the southern coast of Massachusetts but
then had to return, as the winter was close at hand.

During his absence the men at the fort had been busy
with their crops, raising a good supply of maize, as well
as some barley, wheat, and rye. These, with the supplies
brought from France, provided a good store of food for
the winter. Champlain devised a plan whereby their
table might always be supplied. The chief men in the
colony numbered fifteen. Champlain formed them into
an order of Knighthood which he called the " Order of
Good Times," and each member was to be, in turn,
Grand Master for a day. The Grand Master was not
only to see to the furnishing of food but was to super

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE 9

intend the cooking and serving. Each wished to excel
the others, so for several days before his turn each would
spend his time hunting and fishing, or bartering with the
Indians for food. The colonists had venison, bear and
grouse, ducks, geese, and plover, as well as all kinds of
fish, to eat with their bread and dried beans.

When the hour for dinner was struck — they dined at
noon — " the Grand Master entered the hall, a napkin
on his shoulder, his staff of office in his hand, and the
collar of the Order about his neck." The brotherhood
followed, each bearing a dish. The invited guests were
Indian chiefs, seated at the table with the French, who
enjoyed the companionship of the Indians. Those of hum
bler degree — warriors, squaws, and children — sat on the
floor, eagerly awaiting their share of biscuit or bread, a
novel and much-coveted luxury. These Indians, always
treated kindly, became very fond of the French, who
often followed them on their great hunts.

In the evening, when the big fires roared and the
sparks flew up the wide chimneys, the French and their
Indian friends drew round the blaze and the Grand
Master gave up his staff and collar to his successor.
With such sports the French passed away the long winter.
With good fare and entertainment there was but little
sickness and only four deaths occurred.

In 1607 the French king took away De Monts' charter,

10 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

and the colony was deserted. The French settlers had
been so kind to the Indians that, when the last boat
load left Port Royal, the shore resounded with lamen
tations and nothing could console the afflicted savages
but promises of a speedy return.

In 1608 two ships, one commanded by Champlain, the
other by Pontgrave, again crossed the ocean to New
France. Pontgrave was to trade with the Indians and
bring back the cargo of furs which, it was hoped, would
meet the expenses of the voyage. Champlain left Pont
grave at Port Royal to trade with the Indians and sailed
up the St. Lawrence as far as Quebec. Here a small
stream, the St. Charles, enters the St. Lawrence and in
the angle between them rises a promontory, on two sides a
natural fortress. In a few weeks a pile of wooden build
ings rose on the brink of the St. Lawrence. " A strong
wooden wall, surmounted by a gallery loop-holed for
musketry, enclosed three buildings containing quarters for
Champlain and his men, together with a courtyard, from
one side of which rose a tall dove-cot, like a belfry. A
moat surrounded the whole, and two or three small can
non were planted on platforms toward the river."

After spending a winter in Quebec, Champlain decided
to join a war party of Indians. A young Ottawa chief
had begged him to join his tribe against the Iroquois.
The Troquois lived in fortified villages in what is now the

,Vt:8L.-< ^^ft *

/-%* Ml A S K 0 K I

MAP SHOWING DISTRIBUTION OF INDIAN TRIBES

12 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

state of New York and were thought the most fierce of
the Indian tribes of the East. The Algonquins, with
allied tribes, lived along the St. Lawrence and in the
country north of the river and the Great Lakes. Their
allies, the Huron s, belonged to the Iroquois family but
had refused to join the other tribes when the latter united
against the Algonquins. As the French had shown great
friendship for the Algonquins near their colonies, the Iro
quois were naturally hostile toward the French. By join
ing the Hurons and the Algonquins, Champlain thought
he would be able to make discoveries without much danger
to himself.

It was past the middle of June when the tribes from
the north reached Quebec. Many of them had never seen
a white man and they looked at the steel-clad strangers
with speechless wonder. Eleven Frenchmen joined Cham-
plain. They were armed with short guns called the
arquebuse. They started up the river in a small sail-boat,
" while around them the river was alive with canoes, and
hundreds of naked arms plied the paddle with a steady
measured sweep." They went up the river to the mouth
of the Richelieu. Here they camped for two days,
hunted, fished, and took their ease. The Indians quar
relled and three-fourths of their number seceded and pad
dled toward their homes. The rest of the party went on
up the stream. Champlain soon outsailed the canoes and

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE 13

thought he would push on without them, but was stopped
by rapids in the river. The Indians had told him that
his boat could sail the whole distance to the land they
wished to reach but he found that he could not get the
boat over the rapids, and sent it, with the greater part of
the men, back to Quebec. Only two white men went on
with him.

" The warriors lifted their canoes from the water, and
in long procession through the forest, under the flickering
sun and shade, bore them on their shoulders around the
rapids to the smooth stream above. Here the chiefs
made a muster of their forces, counting twenty-four
canoes and sixty warriors. They advanced once more up
the river, by marsh, meadow, forest, and scattered islands,
then full of game, for it was an uninhabited land, the
war-path and battle-ground of hostile tribes." Some were
in front as a vanguard ; others formed the main body ;
while an equal number were in the forests on the flanks
and rear, hunting food for all. They carried with them
parched maize ground into meal, but kept it for use while
near the enemy, when hunting would become impossible.

" Late in the day they landed and drew up their
canoes, ranging them closely side by side. Some stripped
sheets of bark to cover their camp-sheds ; others gathered
wood; others felled trees for a barricade. They seem to
have had steel axes which they had gotten from the

14 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

French, for in less than two hours they had a strong
defensive work, open on the river side, and large enough
to enclose all their huts and sheds. Some of their number
were sent forward as scouts, and returning, said they saw
no signs of the enemy." At night they placed no guard
but all lay down to sleep, the usual custom of the lazy
warriors of the forest.

" The next morning the canoes again advanced, the
river widening as they went. Great islands were seen,
and soon Champlain entered the lake which now bears
his name. Passing on, he saw on the left the forest ridges
of the Green Mountains, and on the right rose the Adi-
rondacks. These the Iroquois made their hunting-
grounds ; and beyond, in the valleys of the Mohawk, the
Onondaga, and the Genesee stretched the long line of
their palisaded towns.

" They were so near the home of the enemy that they
now moved only in the night. One morning in July, after
paddling all night, they hid as usual in the forest. That
night Champlain dreamed that he saw Iroquois drowning
in the lake. Now he had been asked daily by his allies for
his dreams, for the Indians had great faith in them, but
to this moment his slumbers had been unbroken and
he had had nothing to tell. This dream filled the crowd
with joy, and at nightfall they went on their way, happy
with thoughts of victory.

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE 15

"It was ten o'clock in the evening when, near the
present site of Ticonderoga, they saw dark objects in
motion on the lake before them. These were the Iroquois
canoes, heavier and slower than theirs, for they were
made of oak bark. Each party saw the other, and the
mingled war-cries pealed over the darkened water. The
Iroquois landed and began to barricade themselves.
Champlain could see them in the woods, working like
beavers, hacking down trees with iron axes taken from
Canadian tribes in war, and with stone hatchets of their
own making. The allies remained on the lake, a bow
shot from the hostile barricade, their canoes made fast
together by poles lashed across. All night they danced
with as much vigor as the frailty of their canoes would
permit. It was agreed on both sides that the fight
should not begin before daybreak, but meanwhile an ex
change of abuse, threats, and boasting gave increasing
exercise to the lungs and fancy of the combatants, —
6 much/ says Champlain, ' like the besiegers and besieged
in a beleaguered town.' '

Early in the morning he and his two followers put on
the light armor of the time. Champlain wore the doublet
and long hose then in fashion. " Over the doublet he
buckled on a breastplate and backpiece, while his thighs
were covered by steel and his head by a plumed casque."
Across his shoulder hung the strap of his ammunition

16 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

box ; at his side was his sword and in his hand his gun,
which he had loaded with four balls. Each of the French
men was in a separate canoe, and as it grew light, they
kept themselves hidden, either by lying at the bottom of
their boats, or by covering themselves with an Indian
robe. The canoes came near the shore and all landed at
some distance from the Iroquois, whom they could see
filing out of their barricade, some two hundred in number
of the boldest and fiercest warriors of North America.
Some carried shields of wood and hide and were covered
with a kind of armor made of tough twigs fastened
together with a vegetable fibre supposed by Champlain
to be cotton. The chiefs wore tall plumes on their heads.
" The allies, growing anxious, called with loud cries for
Champlain, and opened their ranks that he might pass
to the front. He did so, and the Iroquois stood looking
at him in silent amazement. But his gun was levelled,
the report rang through the woods, a chief fell dead, and
another by his side rolled among the bushes. Then there
rose from the allies a yell which would have drowned a
thunderclap, and the forest was full of whizzing arrows.
For a moment the Iroquois stood firm and sent back their
arrows lustily, but when another and another gunshot
came from the thickets on their flank, they broke and
fled in terror. Swifter than hounds, the allies tore
through the bushes after them. Some of the Iroquois

18 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

were killed, more were taken. They left everything, —
canoes, provisions, and weapons, — in their flight."

The victors returned to the mouth of the Richelieu,
reaching it in three or four days. Then the Hurons and
Algonquins went to their home on the Ottawa, while
Champlain, with the rest of the Indians, descended the
St. Lawrence to Quebec. At parting, the northern tribes
invited Champlain to visit their towns and aid them
again in their wars.

That winter, 1610, Champlain returned to France but
came back in the spring to join the Indians against the
common foe, the Iroquois. The tribes near Quebec prom
ised to show him the way to Hudson Bay and the
Hurons were to take him to the Great Lakes, where rich
mines of copper were to be found. The tribes were to
meet at the mouth of the Richelieu. There is an island
in the St. Lawrence near the mouth of this river. Here
Champlain with the warriors from the neighborhood of
Quebec stopped to wait for the Algonquin warriors. The
Indians were busy cutting down trees and clearing the
ground for a dance and feast, as they were eager to wel
come their allies with befitting honors. Some Indians
came speeding down the river in a canoe. As they drew
near they cried out that the Algonquins were in the
forest fighting a hundred Iroquois warriors, who, out
numbered, had betaken themselves to a barricade of trees.

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE 19

The air was split with shrill outcries. " The Indians
snatched their weapons, — shields, bows, arrows, war-
clubs, sword-blades made fast to poles, — and pell-mell
ran headlong to their canoes, screeching to Champlain
to follow."

Champlain and four of his men were in the canoes.
They shot across the water, arid, as their boats touched
the shore, each warrior flung down his paddle, snatched
his weapons, and ran like a greyhound into the woods.
The five Frenchmen followed but could not keep up
with the Indians, who were soon out of sight and hear
ing. The day was warm and the forest air heavy and
dense. The mosquitoes, says Champlain, were " so thick
that we could scarcely draw breath, and it was wonder
ful how cruelly they persecuted us." The ground was
swampy and the Frenchmen could hardly get along with
their heavy armor. At length they saw two Indians
running in the distance and shouted to them that if
they wished for their aid they must guide them to the
enemy.

And now they could hear the shouts of the fighters
and soon reached the battle-field. The barricade was
made of trees piled into a circular breastwork, trunks,
boughs, and matted leaves making a strong defence.
The allies had attacked their enemy but had been driven
back and were now waiting for the French. When the

20 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

Indians saw them, a yell arose from hundreds of throats.
A fierce answer came from the band within and amid a
storm of arrows from both sides the Frenchmen threw
themselves into the fight. The Iroquois had not gotten
over their first fear of the guns and when the French
men ran up to the barricade, thrust their pieces through
the crevices and shot death among the crowd within,
they could not control their fright but with every re
port threw themselves flat on the earth. The allies,
covered by their large shields, began to drag out the
trees from the barricade, while others, under Cham-
plain's direction, gathered like a dark cloud at the edge
of the forest, ready to close the affair with a final rush.
Some French traders, hearing the noise, joined in the
attack. Champlain gave the signal ; the crowd ran to
the barricade, dragged down the boughs or climbed over
them, and bore themselves "so well and manfully" that
they soon forced an entrance. Some of the Iroquois
were cut down as they stood ; some climbed the barri
cade and were killed by the fierce crowd without ; some
were drowned in the river ; while fifteen, the only ones
left, were taken prisoners.

On the next day a large band of Hurons arrived,
much vexed that they had come too late. Hundreds of
warriors were now assembled and a heavy blow had
been struck at the enemy, but none thought of follow-

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE 21

ing up their success. Pleased with their unexpected
good fortune, the}7 danced and sang ; then loaded up
their canoes and started for their homes. Champlain
had fought their battles and might now claim the escort
they had promised to the Great Lakes and to the coun
try to the north, but his colony needed supplies and he
returned to France.

Early in the spring Champlain came again to Que
bec but did not stay long, as he wanted to plant a
colony at Montreal. This was the place that the Ind
ians passed yearly as they came south for trade or war.
Here he wanted to get the advantage of the fur trade.
But other traders followed and soon Montreal, or Place
Royal, as Champlain called it, became the centre of the
fur trade.

"Down the surges of the St. Louis, where the mighty
floods of the St. Lawrence, contracted to a narrow
throat, roll in fury among the sunken rocks, — here,
through foam and spray and the roar of the angry tor
rent, a fleet of birch canoes came dancing like dry
leaves on the froth of some riotous brook." They bore
a band of Huron s, the first of the tribes at the usual
meeting-place. As they drew near the landing, all the
fur-traders' boats blazed forth a welcome which fright
ened the Indians so much that they hardly dared to
come ashore. More soon appeared and hundreds of

22 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

warriors were shortly encamped along the shore, all
less and afraid. Late one night they awakened Cham-
plain. On going with them to their camp, he found
the chiefs and warriors sitting around the fire. " Though
they were fearful of the others, their trust in him was
boundless. ( Come to our country, buy our beaver, build
a fort, teach us the true faith, do what you will, but
do not bring this crowd with you/ ' They were afraid
that this band of traders, all well armed, meant to at
tack and plunder and kill them. Champlain told them
not to be afraid, but the camp soon broke up and the
uneasy warriors moved to a place above the rapids.
" Here Champlain visited them, and hence these fearless
canoe-men, kneeling in the birchen egg-shells, carried
him homeward down the rapids, somewhat, as he ad-
mite, to the discomposure of his nerves." The great
gathering soon broke up ; the traders returned to the
trading-post nearer the mouth of the St. Lawrence ;
the Indians went, some to their homes, some to fight
the Iroquois. Champlain could not go with them, as
he had to return to France to get help for his colonies.
The next year, 1612, Champlain was too busy in
France to visit his colonies. This year a young man
who had gone north with the Indians the year before
and had spent the year with them, came to Paris with
a tale of wonders. He said* that at the source of the

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE 23

Ottawa River he had found a great lake; that he had
crossed it and discovered a river flowing northward;
that he had gone down this river and reached the
shores of the sea; that here he had seen the wreck of
an English ship, and that this sea was distant from
Montreal but seventeen days by canoe. The story was
told so clearly that Champlain believed it. His friends
thought he ought to follow up this discovery, and he,
thinking that at last the way to the Pacific and India
had been found, was eager to go. Early in the spring
of 1613 he again crossed the Atlantic and sailed up the
St. Lawrence to Montreal. On Monday, the 27th of
May, he started up the Ottawa with four Frenchmen,
one of whom was the young man who had been north
the year before, and one Indian, in two small canoes.
They had to pass many rapids and the forest was so
thick and tangled that they were forced to remain in
the bed of the river, trailing their canoes along the
bank with cords or pushing them by main force up
the current. Champlain's foot slipped, he fell in the
rapids, two rocks against which he braced himself saving
him from being swept down, while the cord of the
canoe, twisted around his hand, nearly cut it off. At
length they reached smoother water, where they met some
friendly Indians. Champlain left one of his Frenchmen
with them and took one of their number in return.

24 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

After many days of hard travel the voyagers reached a
lake where they saw a rough clearing. The trees had
been partly burnt. Dead trunks, black with fire, stood
grimly upright amid the stumps and fallen bodies of those
half-burnt. In the spaces between, the soil had been
scratched with hoes of wood or bone and a crop of maize
was growing, now some four inches high. The houses,
with frames of poles, covered with sheets of bark, were
scattered here and there. The Indians ran to the shore
to see the strangers. Warriors stood with their hands
over their mouths, the Indian way of showing astonish
ment ; squaws stared, both curious and afraid ; naked
pappooses screamed and ran. The chief offered the calu
met and then spoke to the crowd. " These white men
must have fallen from the clouds. How else could they
have reached us through the woods and rapids which even
we find it hard to pass ? The French chief can do any
thing. All that we have heard of him must be true."

Champlain asked to be guided to the settlements above
and with a number of his new-found friends he advanced
beyond the head of Lake Coulange, and landing, saw path
ways through the forest. They led to the clearing and
to the cabins of a chief named Tessouat, who gave the
Frenchmen a friendly welcome and prepared to give a
feast in Champlain's honor. " Runners were sent to invite
the guests from neighboring villages, and on the morrow

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE 25

Tessouat' s squaws swept his cabin for the festivity. Then
Champlain and his Frenchmen were seated on skins in the
place of honor and the naked guests appeared, each with
his wooden dish and spoon and each giving his guttural
salute as he stooped at the low door. The wisdom and
prowess of the nation sat expectant on the bare earth.
Each long, bare arm thrust forth its dish in turn as the
host served out the banquet. First, a mess of pounded
maize wherein were boiled, without salt, morsels of fish
and dark' scraps of meat ; then fish and flesh broiled on
the embers, with a kettle of cold water from the river."
After the feast, pipes were smoked and Champlain asked
the Indians to furnish him with four canoes and eight
men to take him to the country north. Now Tessouat
was not friendly toward the tribes to the north, and
answered Champlain : " We always knew you for our
best friend among the Frenchmen. We love you like our
own children. But why did you break your word with us
last year when we all went down to meet you at Montreal
to give you presents and go with you to war ? You were
not there, but other Frenchmen were there, who abused us.
We will never go again. As for the four canoes, you shall
have them if you insist upon it, but it grieves us to think
of the hardships you must endure."

Champlain, fearing that he would not get his canoes,
told Tessouat that the young man with him had been to

26 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

this country and did not find the road nor the people so bad
as he had said. Tessouat asked the young man whether
that were true. The impostor sat mute for a short time,
then said, " Yes, I have been there." " You are a liar,"
returned the host. " You know very well that you slept
here among my children every night and rose again every
morning ; and if you ever went where you pretend to have
gone, it must have been when you were asleep. How can
you be so impudent as to lie to your chief, and so wicked
as to risk his life among so many dangers?"

Champlain, greatly disturbed, led the young man from
the cabin and begged him to tell the truth. At first he
declared that all that he had said was true but finally
broke down, owned his treachery, and begged for mercy.
The Indians wanted Champlain to have him killed at
once and offered to perform that office for him ; but
Champlain, who had promised the young man his life if
he would tell the truth, protected him.

As there was now no motive for further advance, the
party set forth on their return, attended by a fleet of forty
canoes bound to Montreal for trade. Champlain returned
to France.

It was near the end of May in 1615 when Champlain
again reached Quebec. With him came four Recollet
friars to found missions in the New World. A convent
was built for them near the fortified dwellings of Cham-

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE 27

plain. One of the friars had gone at once to Montreal,
where the Indians had come for their yearly trade.
Champlain soon joined him. The Indians begged him to
go with them against the Iroquois. He agreed to do so
but first returned to Quebec. After a short delay he came
back to Montreal, to find the place deserted. Impatient
at his delay, the Indians had gone home, and with them
went the friar and twelve well-armed Frenchmen.

Champlain, with two canoes, ten Indians, and two
Frenchmen, followed up the stream. He passed the vil
lage of Tessouat and two lakes in the river here. For
twenty miles the Ottawa runs straight as the bee can fly
deep, narrow, and black between its mountain shores.
Then came a series of rapids and at last the party reached
a small tributary of the Ottawa coining in from the west.
This they ascended forty miles or more, then crossing a
portage track, well trodden, stood on the shore of Lake
Nipissing. Crossing the lake, they entered French River
and floated westward to the great fresh-water sea of the
Hurons. For more than a hundred miles they followed
the eastern shore of this lake, and at last landed where an
Indian trail led inland. To the eye of Champlain this
land seemed one of beauty and abundance. There was a
broad opening in the forest, there were fields of maize,
pumpkins ripening in the sun, patches of sunflowers, from
the seeds of which the Indians made hair-oil, and in tbe

28 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

midst lay the great town of the Hurons. It was sur
rounded by a palisade of crossed tree trunks, and the
long lodges were made of bark, each containing many
households.

All were glad to see Champlain, as they thought him
the champion who was to lead them to victory. There
was bountiful feasting in his honor. But Champlain soon
tired of the idleness of an Indian town and with some of
his Frenchmen visited in three days five palisaded towns.
" The country delighted them : its meadows, its deep
woods, its pine and cedar thickets, full of hares and par
tridges, its wild grapes and plums, cherries, crab-apples,
nuts, and raspberries."

The warriors were beginning to gather. It was now
the middle of August. " Feasts and the war-dance con
sumed the days, till at last the tardy bands had all
arrived. Shouldering their canoes and scanty baggage, the
naked host set out." At the outlet of Lake Simcoe
they all stopped to fish. It was the 8th of September
when the Huron fleet crossed Lake Simcoe, went up the
little river Talbot, across the portage to Balsam Lake,
and down the chain of lakes which form the sources of
the river Trent.

" They stopped and encamped for a deer-hunt. Five
hundred men, in line, like the skirmishers of an army
advancing to battle, drove the game to the end of a

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE 29

woody point ; and the canoe-men killed them with spears
and arrows as they took to the river.

"The canoes now left the mouth of the Trent, and cross
ing Lake Ontario, landed within the borders of New York.
After hiding their light craft in the woods, the warriors
took up their swift and wary march, filing in silence be
tween the woods and the lake for twelve miles along the
pebbly strand. Then they struck inland, threaded the
forest, crossed the river Onondaga, and after a march of
four days, were deep within the western limits of the
Iroquois." The hostile town was close at hand. The
young Hurons in advance saw the Iroquois at work
among the pumpkins and maize, gathering their harvest,
for it was the 10th of October. Nothing could keep
back the hare-brained crew. They screamed their war-
cry and rushed in ; but the Iroquois defeated and pursued
them until driven back by Champlain and his Frenchmen.
Then the victors retired to their defences.

It was the town of the Senecas, the largest and one
of the most warlike of the five Iroquois tribes, and its
site was on or near one of the lakes in central New
York. Champlain says its defensive works were stronger
than those of the Huron villages. They had four rows of
palisades, formed of trunks and trees, thirty feet high, set
aslant in the earth and crossing one another near the top,
where they supported a kind of gallery, well defended

30 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

by shot-proof timber and furnished with wooden gutters
for quenching fire. A pond or lake, which washed
one side of the palisade and was led by sluices into the
town, gave a good supply of water.

Champlain was much vexed with his allies for their
useless attack and tried to show them how to take the
fort. A wooden tower was made, high enough to over
look the palisade and large enough to shelter four or
five marksmen. Several movable shields were also made.
In four hours all was ready and the attack began. " Two
hundred of the strongest warriors dragged the tower
close to the palisade, and three of -the Frenchmen mounted
it and opened a raking fire along the galleries, now
thronged with wild and naked defenders. But the Hu-
rons could not be kept back. They left their movable
shields, and, deaf to every command, swarmed out like
bees upon the open field, leaped, shouted, shrieked their
war-cries, and shot off their arrows, while the Iroquois
sent back a shower of stones and arrows in reply. A
Huron, bolder than the rest, ran forward with firebrands
to burn the palisade, and others followed with wood to
feed the flames. But it was stupidly kindled on the
leeward side, without the shields intended to cover it,
and torrents of water, poured down from the gutters
above, soon put it out. Champlain tried in vain to
restore order. Each warrior was yelling at the top of

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE

his throat, and his voice was drowned in the dreadful
din. Thinking, as he says, that his head would split
with shouting, he gave over the attempt and busied hiin-

CHAMPLAIN'S ATTACK ON AN IROQDOIS FORT

self and his men with picking off the Iroquois along the
ramparts."

The attack lasted three hours, when the Hurons fell
back to their camp with seventeen warriors wounded.
Champlain, too, was hurt and for a time disabled. He

32 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

wanted, however, to renew the attack, but the Hurons
refused, unless the five hundred allies they expected
should appear. They waited five days in vain and then
began to retreat. Their wounded, Champlain among
the rest, had been packed in baskets so that they might
be carried, each on the back of a strong warrior, " bundled
in a heap," says Champlain, " doubled and strapped to
gether after such a fashion that one could no more move
than an infant in swaddling clothes — I lost all patience,
and as soon as I could bear my weight I got out of this
prison."

At length the dismal march was ended. They reached
the spot where their canoes were hidden, found them
untouched, embarked and crossed to the northern shore
of Lake Ontario. The Hurons had promised Champlain
an escort to Quebec but each warrior found good reasons
for refusing to go or lend his canoe. The help of " the
man with an iron breast " no longer meant victory and
they were careless of his friendship. A chief offered
him the shelter of his lodge and he spent an unpleasant
winter with the Hurons. In the spring, when Champlain
returned to Quebec, his Indian host went with him and
was delighted with all that he saw. The fort, the ship,
the armor, the plumes, the cannon, the houses and bar
racks, the splendors of the chapel, and above all the good
cheer, pleased him wonderfully and he paddled back to

CHAMPLAIN IN NEW FRANCE

his lodge in the woods bewildered with admiring aston
ishment.

EARLY QUEBEC (from an old print)

Champlain made no more excursions to the wilder
ness but devoted himself to his colonies. Quarrels among
those in authority in France and among the traders

34 riONKKltS ON LAND AND SEA

themselves kept the colony from prospering. The colo
nists did not raise enough to support themselves and
supplies from France did not come often. In 1629 a
squadron of English ships appeared before Quebec and
demanded its surrender. Champlain's company was too
weak to defend the fort and surrendered on condition
that the men would .be returned to France. Three years
later England gave up her claim to New France and
Champlain returned to Quebec, where he remained until
his death in 1635.

CHAPTER II

HENRY HUDSON i

OF Henry Hudson's boyhood, history tells us nothing.
It is supposed that he belonged to a Hudson family that
lived in England, some of whose members were friends of
Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Sir Walter Raleigh, and others
much interested in seafaring and discovery. We know,
however, that he was a citizen of London and that on the
first day of May, 1607, he sailed for Greenland in command
of an arctic expedition. He tried to sail between Green
land and Spitzbergen, in the hope of passing over the
North Pole and finding an open sea over which he could
sail to the eastern ports of Asia. In 1608 he tried to
pass between Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla, which lie to
the north of Russia. " In this high latitude he tells us
that on the morning of the 15th of June two of his sail
ors saw a mermaid, who came close to the ship's side and
gazed earnestly at them. Her face and breasts were
those of a woman, but below she was a fish as big as a
halibut, and in color like a speckled mackerel." It is

1 Authority : Fiske's " Dutch and Quaker Colonies in America."
2Fiske's " Dutch and Quaker Colonies in America."

36 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

supposed that this creature was a seal, an animal which
at that time was little known by English sailors.

When Hudson returnel tox England after these voyages,
he found himself famous. He had been nearer the pole
than anyone else and had proved himself a very fine sea
man. The Dutch East India Company was anxious to
secure his services and persuaded him to make a voyage
for them. On the 4th of April, 1609, Henry Hudson
set sail on the Zuyder Zee. He commanded a little yacht
of eighty tons burden and had a crew of sixteen or eigh
teen sailors. About half of the crew were English but
the mate was a Netherlander. His ship was named the
Half Moon. On the fifth day of May he sailed around
North Cape and headed for Nova Zernbla. But the sea
was so full of ice that passage was very difficult and the
crew became mutinous. Hudson decided that he would
try another way of reaching Asia. On the maps of the
early voyagers to the New World a great sea was pictured
behind Virginia, divided from the Atlantic by a narrow
isthmus near the 40th parallel and called the sea of Yer-
razano. It might be possible to find a strait near here
that would lead into this sea. Captain John Smith, who
had explored along the coast the preceding summer,
thought it possible and had written to Hudson about it ;
so Hudson turned his ship and started for the New World.

On the 13th of May the little Half Moon stopped

HENRY HUDSON 37

at the Faroe Islands and the casks were filled with fresh
water. On the 3d of June the sailors were surprised at
the force of the ocean current which we now call the
Gulf Stream. On the 18th of July they arrived in
Penobscot Bay, with the foremast gone and the sails
much the worse for wear. Here they stopped for a week
to mend their sails and make a new mast. They enjoyed
good living while here, for they caught fifty cod, a hun
dred lobsters, and one great halibut. They were visited
by two French shallops full of Indians. The mate of the
Half Moon, who kept a journal, says : " Wee espied two
French shallops full of the country people come into the
harbor, but they offered us no wrong, seeing we stood
upon our guard. They brought many beaver skinnes and
other fine furres, which they would have changed for
redde gowns. For the French trade with them for red
cassockes, knives, hatchets, copper, kettles, . . . beades
and other trifles. . . . We kept good watch for fear of
being betrayed by the people, and perceived where the}7
layd their shallops."1

Nine days after leaving Penobscot Bay the Half Moon
reached the neighborhood of Cape Cod. On the 18th
of August she was as far south as Accomac penin
sula, where Hudson saw an opening which he thought
was the James River, for he says, " This is the entrance

1 Hart's " American History told by Contemporaries."

PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

into the King's River in' Virginia, where our Englishmen
are." Presently turning north again, he entered Dela
ware Bay on the 28th day of August and began to
take soundings. The water was shallow in many places
and the swift current made him sure that he was at the

THE PALISADES OF THE HUDSON

mouth of a large river. So he sailed farther north and,
on the 3d of September, stopped somewhere between
Sandy Hook and Staten Island.

They entered the bay and says the mate's journal:
" This day the people of the country came aboord of us,
seeming very glad of our coming, and brought greene

HENRY HUDSON

tobacco, and gave us of it for knives and beads. They
goe in deere skins loose, well dressed. They have yellow
copper. They desire cloathes, and are very civ ill. They
have great store of maize or wheate, whereof they make
good bread. The country is full of great and tall oakes.

" The fifth, in the morning, as soon as the day was
light, the wind ceased and the flood came. So we heaved
off our ship againe into five fathoms of water, and sent
our boate to sound the bay, and we found that there was
three fathoms hard by the souther shoare. Our men went
on land there, and saw great store of men, women, and
children who gave them tobacco at their coming on land.
So they went up into the woods, and saw great store of
very goodly oakes and some currants. For one of them
came aboord and brought some dryed, and gave me some,
which were sweet and good. This day many of the peo
ple came aboord, some in mantles of feathers, and some
in skinnes of divers sorts of good furres. Some women
also came to us with hempe. They had red copper
tobacco pipes, and other things of copper they did wear
about their necks. At night they went on land againe,
so we rode very quiet, but durst not trust them."

Their fears were well founded, for the next day "in
the morning was fair weather, and our master sent John
Colin an, with foure other men in our boate, over to the
north-side to sound the other river, being four leagues

40 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

from us. They found by the way shoald water, two
fathoms : but at the north of the river eighteen, and
twenty fathoms, and very good riding for ships; and a
narrow river to the westward, between two ilands. The
lands, they told us, were as pleasant with grasse and
flowers and goodly trees as ever they had seene, and very
sweet smells came from them. So they went in two
leagues and saw an open sea, and returned ; and as they
came backe, they were set upon by two canoes, the one
having twelve, the other fourteene men. The night came
on, and it began to rayne, so that their match went out ;
and they had one man slaine in the fight, which was an
Englishman, named John Col man, with an arrow shot
into his throat, and two more hurt. It grew so darke
that they could not find the ship that night, but labored
too and fro with their oares. They had so great a
streame, that their grapnell would not hold them.

" The eleventh was faire and very hot weather . . . wee
anchored, and saw that it was a very good harbour for all
windes, and rode all night. The people of the country
came aboord of us, making show of love, and gave us
tabacco and Indian wheat, and departed for that night ;
but we durst not trust them."

As the Half Moon passed up the river, she was often
greeted with flights of arrows and sometimes answered
the salute with musket shots. On the 14th of Sep-

42 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

tember the ship passed between Stony and Verplanck's
points. The journal says : The " fourteenth, in the
morning, being very faire weather, the wind south-east,
we sayled up the river twelve leagues. . . . The river
is a mile broad : there is high land on both sides. The
land grew very high and mountainous.

" The fifteenth, in the morning, was misty, untill the
sun arose : then it cleared. So we weighed with the
wind at south, and ran up into the river twentie leagues,
passing by high mountains. Wee had a very good depth,
as sixe, seven, eight, nine, ten, twelve, and thirteene
fathoms, and great store of salmons in the river. This
morning our two savages got out of a port and swam
away. After wee were under sayle, they called to us in
scorne. At night we came to other mountains which lie
from the rivers side. There we found very loving people,
and caught great store of very good fish. " *

On the 22d, after passing as far north as Troy, the
water became so shallow that the voyagers could go no
farther. This was plainly not the passage to the western
ocean. They now started on their return voyage down
the river. Their adventures are told in the mate's
journal. "The people of the mountaynes came aboord
us, wondering at our ships and weapons. We bought
some small skinnes of them for trifles. This afternoone,

1 Hart's " American History told by Contemporaries."

HENRY HUDSON 43

one canoe kept hanging under our sterne with one man in
it, which we could not keepe from thence, who got up by
our rudder to the cabin window, and stole out my pillow,
and two shirts and two bandeleeres. Our master's mate
shot at him and killed him. Whereupon all the rest fled
away, some in their canoes, and some leapt out of them
into the water. We manned our boat and got our things
againe. Then one of them that swamme got hold of our
boat thinking to overthrow it. But our cooke took a
sword and cut off one of his hands and he was drowned.
By this time the ebbe was come and we weighed and got
down two leagues." l

At one time the Indians came in hundreds in their bark
canoes, shooting their arrows at the boat with little effect,
but the ship's cannon sank their boats and the muskets did
deadly work. Sometimes the meetings with the natives
were friendly. Hudson tells of an experience near the
site of Catskill. "I sailed to the shore in one of their
canoes, with an old man, who was the chief of a tribe
consisting of forty men and seventeen women ; these 1
saw in a house well constructed of oak bark, and circular
in shape, so that it had the appearance of being well built,
with an arched roof. It contained a great quantity of
maize . . . and beans of last years growth, and there lay
near the house for the purpose of drying, enough to load

1 Fiske's " Dutch and Quaker Colonies in America."

44 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

three ships, besides what was growing in the fields. On
our coming into the house, two mats were spread out to
sit upon, and immediately some food was served in well-
made wooden bowls; two men were also despatched at
once with bows and arrows in quest of game, who soon
after brought in a pair of pigeons which they had shot.
They likewise killed a fat dog and skinned it with great
haste, with shells which they got out of the water. They
supposed that I would remain with them for the night,
but I returned after a short time on board the ship. The
land is the finest for cultivation that I ever in my life
set foot upon, and it also abounds in trees of every
description." *

On the 4th of October Hudson left behind him the
shore which was called by the natives Manna-hatta and
set sail for Europe. On the 7th of November he
reached Dartmouth and the English members of his crew
made him stop there. He sent a report of his voyage to
Amsterdam and asked for more money and some men to
take the place of the discontented English sailors. He
intended to start in March on a fresh search for the
Northwest Passage. The directors of the Dutch East
India Company asked him to come first to Holland.
King James refused to let him go and the Half Moon was
sent to Amsterdam without him. A new ship was fitted

1 Fiske's " Dutch and Quaker Colonies in America."

HENRY HUDSON 45

out in England and in April the new voyage was begun.
The English wanted the glory of the discoveries the
famous sailor expected to make.

In time the ship entered the great inland sea known as
Hudson Bay. Trien winter came on and from Novem
ber, 1610, to the following June, the ship was locked in
ice at the southern end of James Bay. As soon as the
ice broke up, the crew insisted upon going home but
Hudson decided to go westward. The crew mutinied and,
three days after leaving winter quarters, Henry Hudson
with his son John Hudson and seven sick men were set
adrift in an open boat and the ship started for England.
The leaders of the mutiny were killed by Indians
before reaching the ocean. As soon as the ship came
to England, the crew was thrown into jail and a ship
was sent in search of the great sailor, but the search was
unsuccessful.

Of the results of these voyages, John Fiske says : " In
all that he attempted he failed, and yet he achieved great
results that were not contemplated in his schemes. He
started two immense industries, the Spitzbergen whale
fisheries and the Hudson Bay fur trade, and he brought
the Dutch to Manhattan Island. No realization of his
dreams could have approached the astonishing reality
which would have greeted him could he have looked
through the coming centuries and caught a glimpse

46 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SKA

of what the voyager now beholds in sailing up
the .bay of New York. But what perhaps would have
surprised him most of all would have been to become a
part of the folklore of the beautiful river to which it is
attached, that he was to figure as a Dutchman in spite
of himself, in legend and on the stage, that when it is
thunder weather on the Catskills the children should say
it is Hendrik Hudson playing at skittles with his goblin

crew."

CHAPTER III

WALTER RALEIGH i

ABOUT the middle of the sixteenth century, 1552, a
boy named Walter Raleigh was living with his father and
mother in a small farmhouse vnear the Otter River in the
south of England. His father, though not rich, belonged
to a family which had long been rich and powerful in
England. The mother also belonged to a noble family,
being a descendant of the Courtenays, the famous English
emperors of Constantinople. The father and mother were
very proud of their son, who was noted in the neighbor
hood for his beauty. His features were regular, his com
plexion rosy, his eyes large, bright, and brown, and his
mind quick and active. He received his early education
at home from his mother. He was fond of outdoor
sports and as soon as he was old enough was the com
panion of his father as he galloped over the hills, his pack
of hounds yelping at his sides, chasing the fleet-footed deer.

About thirty miles from the farmhouse in the midst
of a forest stood an old castle, whose lofty towers rose

1 Authorities : Bancroft's " History of the United States," Higginson's
" American Explorers."

48 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

high above the surrounding trees. Here lived Waltei
Raleigh's half-brothers, Humphrey and Adrian Gilbert ;
for his mother, when a girl, had wedded a brave knight.
Sir Otho Gilbert, who died when his sons were yet young.
After her husband's death she married the quiet country
gentleman who became Walter Raleigh's father. These
half-brothers had been much abroad in the world and had
met with many stirring adventures in war and on the sea.
They were very fond of their young half-brother, who
delighted in visiting them and was never tired of sitting
with them by the big fireplace on a winter night, hearing
them tell of their adventures, and he was never so happy
as when following them to the hunt.

As his house was near the ocean, he often went to the
cottages of the sailors along the southern coast. These
men came home to rest after long and exciting voyages
and were very fond of telling of adventures at sea.
Walter Raleigh was equally fond of listening to their
stories of battle, shipwreck, and discovery. He read of
the discoveries of Columbus, Magellan, Pizarro, and Cor
tes with great interest and thought he would like to be
the hero of such adventures.

When about fifteen he left his quiet home for Oxford.
He entered into his college work with as much zest as he
had shown in pursuit of amusement before. He was well
liked by the young men he met and became friendly-

WALTER RALEIGH 49

with many noted men. One of his friends, Francis
Bacon, tells an anecdote of Walter Raleigh which shows
something of his spirit at that time. " Whilst Raleigh
was a scholar at Oxford there was a cowardly fellow, who
happened to be a very good archer; but having been
grossly abused by another, he bemoaned himself to
Raleigh, and asked his advice what he should do to
repair the wrong that had been offered to him. < Why,'
promptly answered Raleigh, ' challenge him to a match
of shooting.' '

When Raleigh had been at Oxford almost three years,
he was offered a chance to try some of the adventures
he had so long thought and dreamed about. A conflict
was going on in France between the Huguenots, or
Protestants, and the Catholic king, Charles IX. Eliza
beth, who was queen of England at this time, sympa
thized with the Protestants and encouraged adventurous
noblemen to help them, though she offered no direct
aid herself. A young cavalier, Henry Champenon,
a cousin of Walter Raleigh, was going to France with
a company of one hundred young men to take part in
the war and win what glory they could. This cousin
asked Walter Raleigh to join him and the temptation
was too great to be resisted. A fleet of four vessels took
the little company to France, where they joined the army
of Coligny, the great leader. What their exploits were

.~>U I'lONEKKS ON LAND AND SKA

history fails to tell, but no doubt they performed many
brave deeds, and Walter Raleigh received a training in
warfare which was of great use to him in after life. He
remained six years in France. He continued his studies
when he was not fighting and always took careful note
of all that he heard and saw.

When, at last, Walter Raleigh returned to England, he
was no longer a boy but a tall, broad-shouldered man of
twenty-four. He was thought to be very handsome and
was noted for his refined and graceful manner. He
attracted the attention of the queen and many nobles at
court. Soon after his return war broke out in Holland.
An expedition was sent from England to help the Dutch
against the Spaniards and Raleigh was given command
of a company. The expedition was a successful one ; the
Spaniards were defeated and Raleigh returned with new
laurels.

In the meantime, Raleigh's half-brother, Sir Humphrey
Gilbert, whose ambition had long been excited by voyages
of discovery, had made up his mind to start out upon a
voyage himself. He wanted to explore the still mysteri
ous continent of America. He fitted up a squadron of
vessels which he himself was to command. Walter
Raleigh reached London just in time to join him.
When the squadron dropped down the English Channel
and put to sea, Raleigh was on the flagship with Sir

WALTER RALEIGH 51

Humphrey. It was his first experience of life on the
ocean and he watched everything with keen interest.
He learned the methods of finding the latitude and
longitude of the ship's position, the arrangement and
management of the sails, and the discipline which was
imposed upon the crew. As he had little to do himself,
he spent much of his time on board in study. Mean
while he shared the rough life of the sailors, enduring
many of the hardships to which they were subjected.

The expedition was not a successful one. One of the
ships mutinied and sailed away. The rest were beset
by Spanish cruisers and escaped only by flight. Sir
Humphrey returned to Portsmouth with his ships badly
damaged and the expedition was given up.

Raleigh was next sent to put down a rebellion in Ire
land. Although he was eager for adventure, he did not
like this work of fighting people who were struggling
for liberty. " I disdain this charge," he said to the
Earl of Leicester, " as much as to keep sheep." But he
could not let a chance go by to add to his fame and
accepted a captainship in spite of his scruples. He
fought bravely and did so much toward putting down
the rebellion that his praises were sounded in England
and reached the ears of Queen Elizabeth.

At the age of thirty Raleigh returned to England.
Soon after his return a happy adventure had much to do

62 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

with his future fortune. Queen Elizabeth was stopping
at the castle and a crowd of gayly dressed courtiers
were awaiting her appearance. " Grave statesmen, all
beruffed, their white beards carefully trimmed and
daintily pointed; fine young cavaliers, sparkling with
gems, attired in rich velvets and long plumes, and armed
with gold-hilted swords ; stately dames and beautiful
young girls, were gathered on the thick green lawn
beneath the palace portals; while the trumpets gave
forth inspiriting sounds, and lines of soldiers were drawn
up along the bank." Soon the queen appeared, and,
surrounded by a gay group of ladies and courtiers, set
out for a walk in the park. It had rained during the
day and small pools of water still stood in places along
the walk. The queen paused before a muddy place in
her path, disliking to soil her dainty boots. At the
instant, Walter Raleigh stepped forward and threw his
handsome velvet cloak over the mud. The queen smiled
at him and went on with her walk. But she kept
Raleigh at her side and seemed very friendly toward him.
She gave him, soon afterward, great estates in both
England and Ireland.

In the meantime Sir Humphrey Gilbert was busy with
plans for discoveries and settlement in the New World.
Walter Raleigh joined eagerly in these plans. They
wished to make a settlement in Newfoundland. The

WALTER RALEIGH

expedition set out in 1583, commanded by Sir Humphrey,
Raleigh remaining at home. Sir Humphrey reached the
coast of Newfoundland but his men became unruly and

SIR WALTER RALEIGH

demanded that they be taken home again. They started
for England, but during a storm the Squirrel, Sir
Humphrey's ship, was sunk, and all on board were lost

54 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SKA

Raleigh was much grieved but not discouraged by the
sad death of his brother. As soon as possible he fitted
out another fleet to colonize the New World. This time
he thought he would make a settlement farther south
and from Queen Elizabeth obtained the right to plant
colonies in any region not already occupied and to have,
himself, the government of such colonies as he might
plant. In 1584 he sent out two vessels, commanded by
Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlow, to explore the coast
of the Carolinas. The ocean was quiet and they reached
the shores of North Carolina after a pleasant voyage.
As they drew near land, the fragrance was " as if they had
been in the midst of some delicate garden, abounding
with all kinds of odoriferous flowers." They sailed along
the coast for 120 miles in search of a good harbor, and,
landing on an island near the mainland, took possession
of the country for the queen of England. They were
delighted with all they saw. The natives who came to
the shore were friendly and they were entertained on the
island of Roanoke by the king's mother. " The people
were most gentle, loving, and faithful, void of all guile
and treason, and such as lived after the manner of the
golden age."

The adventurers were pleased with the New World,
and, without taking time to explore much, returned to
England.

WALTER RALEIGH 50

In 1585 Raleigh sent out another company which
sailed in a fleet of seven vessels and had as commander
Sir Richard Grenville, a friend of Raleigh. These ships
carried 108 colonists. Ralph Lane was made governor.
The fleet crossed the ocean in safety but came near
being wrecked upon the cape which was then for the
first time called Cape Fear. They made their way to
Roanoke. After spending eight days in exploring the
coast, Grenville returned to England.

Lane and his colonists explored the country. Lane
wrote at the time : " It is the goodliest soil under the
cope of heaven ; the most pleasing territory of the world ;
the continent is of a huge and unknown greatness, and
very well peopled and towned, though savagely. The
climate is so wholesome that we have not been sick since
we touched the land. If Virginia had but horses and
kine and were inhabited with English, no realm of Chris
tendom were comparable to it."

Hariot, the historian of the company, examined the
productions of the country. He observed the culture
of tobacco, used it, and believed in its healing power.
Maize and the tuberous roots of the potato were tried
and found to be very good food. The natives are de
scribed as " too feeble to inspire terror ; clothed in man
tles and aprons of deer-skins ; having no weapons but
wooden $words, and bows of witch-hazel with arrows of

56 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

reeds ; no armors but targets of bark and sticks wickered
together with thread. Their towns were small, the
largest containing but thirty dwellings. The walls of
the houses were made of bark fastened to stakes, and
sometimes consisted of poles fixed upright, one by another,
and at the top bent over and fastened as arbors are some
times made in gardens." The tribes warred against one
another but seldom in open battle. They lay in wait to
surprise an enemy at some unexpected place. They
thought the white men came from heaven, and the guns,
clocks, burning glass, and books the English had with
them, the works of gods. They feared the English and
wished to get rid of them. Finding they were eager for
gold, some of the savages told them that the Roanoke
River gushed from a rock so near the Pacific Ocean that
the surge of the sea sometimes dashed into its fountains.
Its banks were inhabited by a nation skilled in the art
of refining the rich ore in which the country abounded.
The walls of the city, they said, glittered from the
abundance of pearls.

Lane and some of his followers tried to reach the
source of the Roanoke but their provisions gave out and
they returned after a short time. While they were gone
the Indians had planned to get rid of the English by
attacking them while the two parties were apart, but
Lane's sudden return put an end to this plot. The

WALTER RALEIGH

Indians feared that the English would take their land
and plotted several times to destroy them, but were
unsuccessful. The English heard of some of these plots
and decided to put an end to them. They asked that
they might visit one of the most powerful of the Indian
chiefs. The Indians, fearing nothing, received them
kindly. At a signal the Eng
lish fell upon them and
murdered the chief and his
followers.

Lane had made some ex
plorations both north and
south of the Roanoke. Better
harbors were found farther
north and better places for
colonization.

The colonists at Roanoke
began to grow impatient as
none of the promised stores
came from England. One
day they were delighted to see the sails of twenty-three
vessels on the ocean. In three days Sir Francis Drake,
who was returning from the sacking of St. Domingo,
Cartagena, and St. Augustine, anchored his fleet " in
the wild road of their bad harbor. He conferred
with them of their state and welfare, and how things

MAP OF CAROLINA

58 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

had passed with them. They answered him that they
lived all, but hitherto in some scarcity, and as yet could
hear of no supply out of England; therefore they re
quested him that he would leave with them two or
three ships, that, if in some reasonable time they heard
not out of England they might then return themselves.
Which he agreed to. Whilst some were then writing
their letters to send into England, and some others mak
ing reports of the accidents of their travels each to
other, — some on land, some on board, — a great storm
arose and drove most of their fleet from their anchor
to sea ; in which ships at that instant were the chiefest
of the English colony. The rest on land, perceiving this,
hastened to those three sails which were appointed to
be left there ; and for fear they should be left behind,
they left all things confusedly, as if they had been
chased from thence by a mighty army. And no doubt
so they were, for the hand of God came upon them for
the cruelty and outrages committed by some of them
against the native inhabitants of that country."

Soon after the departure of the colonists " out of this
paradise of the world " a ship which had been sent
out by Raleigh well laden with supplies reached the
island, but finding no one there, returned to England.
About fourteen or fifteen days later Richard Grenville,
with three well-furnished ships, appeared off the coast

WALTER RALEIGH , 59

and looked in vain for the colony. Unwilling that the
English should lose possession of the country, he left
fifteen men on the island of Roanoke to be the guard
ians of English rights.

Sir Walter Raleigh persevered in his attempts to
colonize Virginia and in 1587 sent out a new colony of
150 men. John White was made governor and had under
him twelve assistants. A city was to be built in Virginia
and it was to be called the City of Raleigh. It was
intended that the city should be built farther north
than the island of Roanoke but the men landed at
Roanoke to search for the fifteen men left by Grenville.
No sooner were they landed than the commander of
the fleet, who was to take the ships back to England,
refused to go farther. It was late in July when they
reached America and he claimed that the summer was
too far spent for explorations. " Unto this were all
the sailors both in the pinnace and ship persuaded by
the master ; wherefore it booted not the governor to
contend with them, but (we) passed to Roanoke ; and
the same night at sunset went a-land on the island, in
the place where our fifteen men were left ; but we found
none of them, nor any sign that they had been there,
saving only we found the bones of one of those fifteen
which the savages had slain long before.

" The three and twentieth of July, the governor, with

60 . PIONEERS OK LAND AND SEA

divers of his company, walked to the north end of the
island, where Master Ralph Lane had his fort with sundry
necessary and decent dwelling-houses, made by his men
about it the year before, where we hoped to find some
signs or certain knowledge of our fifteen men. When
we came thither, we found the fort razed down, but all
the houses standing unhurt, saving that the nether rooms
of them, and also of the fort, were overgrown with
melons of divers sorts, and deer within them feeding on
those melons ; so we returned to our company, without
hope of ever seeing any of the fifteen men living.

"The same day, order was again given that every
man should be employed for the repairing of those
houses which we found standing, and also to make other
new cottages for such as should need."

From Manteo, a friendly Indian of Croatan, the colo
nists learned that the fifteen men had been killed by
Indians.

On the 18th of August " Eleanor, daughter to the
governor, and wife of Ananias Dare, one of the assist
ants, was delivered of a daughter in Roanoke, and the
same was christened there the Sunday following; and
because this child was the first Christian born in Vir
ginia, she was named Virginia. By this time, our ships
had unladen the goods and victuals of the planters and
begun to take wood and fresh water, and to new calk

WALTER RALEIGH 61

and trim them for England ; the planters, also, prepared
their letters and tokens to send back to England."

The colonists united in asking Governor White to
return to England to hasten the supplies so much
needed. At first he refused but finally consented as
the ships were ready to sail. He expected to return as
soon as possible.

But when White reached England he found every
body fearing a Spanish invasion. Grenville, Raleigh,
Drake, Frobisher, and all to whom he could look for
assistance were busy planning resistance. Yet Raleigh,
after a time, found means to send White with two vessels
of supplies. But desiring to make the voyage a gainful
one, the ships ran after Spanish cruisers, and instead
of gaining a prize, were forced to return to England
in a disabled condition. The delay was fatal, for the
Invincible Armada must be defeated before further
thought could be given to the colonists. Raleigh had
spent so much money in his attempts to colonize
America and in the wars, that his fortune was almost
gone. He tried, however, to organize a company of mer
chants to go to his colony in Virginia but more tha-n
another year elapsed before White could return to search
for his colony and his daughter. Upon reaching Roa-
noke he found the settlers gone.

Of the search for this lost colony, Governor White says :

62 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

"As we entered up the sandy bank, upon a tree, in the
very brow thereof, were curiously carved these fair Roman
letters, CRO : which letters presently we knew to signify
the place where I should find the planters seated, accord
ing to a secret token agreed upon between them and me
at my last departure from them. Which was, that in any
ways they should not fail to write or carve upon the trees
or posts of the doors the name of the place where they
should be seated ; for at my coming away they were pre
pared to remove from Roanoke fifty miles into the main.
Therefore at my departure from them in 1587, I willed
them, that if they should happen to be distressed in any
of those places, then they should carve over the letters or
name a cross . . . but we found no such sign of distress.
And having well considered of this, we passed toward the
place where they were left in sundry houses; but we
found the houses taken down, and the place very strongly
enclosed with a high palisado of great trees, with curtains
and flankers, very fort-like. And one of the chief trees
or posts at the right side of the entrance had the bark
taken off ; and five feet from the ground, in fair capital
letters, was graven CROATAN, without any cross, or
sign of distress. This done we entered the palisado,
where we found many bars of iron, two pigs of lead . . .
and such like heavy things, thrown here and there, almost
overgrown with grasses and weeds.

WALTER RALEIGH

*' From thence we went along by the water-side, toward
the point of the creek, to see if we could find any of theii
boats or pinnace ; but we could perceive no sign of them.

RETURN OF WHITE TO ROANOKE ISLAND

. . . At our return from the creek, some of the sailors,
meeting us, told us they had found where divers chests
had been hidden, and long since digged up again, and

64 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

broken up, and much of the goods in them spoiled and
scattered about, but nothing left, of such things as the
savages knew any use of, undefaced. Presently Captain
Cooke and I went to the place, which was in the end of
an old trench, made two years past by Captain Amadas,
where we found five chests that had been carefully hidden
of the planters, and of the same chests three were my
own ; and about the place many of my things spoiled and
broken, and my books torn from the covers, the frames of
some of my pictures and maps rotten, and spoiled with
rain, and my armor almost eaten through with rust. This
could be no other but the deed of the savages, our ene
mies, . . . who had watched the departure of our men to
Croatan, and, as soon as they were departed, digged up
every place where they suspected anything to be buried.
But although it much grieved me to see such spoil of my
goods, yet on the other side I greatly joyed that I had
found a certain token of their safe being at Croatan,
which is the place where Manteo was born, and the sav
ages of the island our friends." 1 Unfortunately, weather,
which "grew to be fouler and fouler," and some broken
cables, as well as a scarcity of victuals and water, made it
necessary for the vessel to "go for St. John, or some
other island to the southward," and no trace of the lost
colony has ever been discovered.

1 Higginson's " Young Folks' Book of American Explorers."

WALTER RALEIGH 65

About this time Raleigh married secretly a young girl
who was Elizabeth's maid of honor. When Elizabeth
heard of this marriage, she was very angry and had
Raleigh sent to the Tower to punish him. He had been a
prisoner here some time when some of his ships which
had been out to look for Spanish prizes brought in a
Spanish vessel loaded with valuable goods. As Raleigh
was chief owner of the fleet which had captured the prize
he was set free so that he might help divide the booty.
Elizabeth was much pleased with her share and upon
Raleigh's return to prison sent word that he might be
liberated. He lived quietly in one of his castles with his
beautiful wife for a while, but hearing of the wonders of
Guiana in South America, he resolved to visit that coun
try and to add it and its wealth to his beloved England.

According to Spanish accounts this Guiana on the
north coast of South America was in truth the land of
gold. Stories were told of a great city which stood on
the heights in the interior of the country, "where the
very troughs at the corners of the streets at which the
horses were watered were made of solid blocks of gold
and silver ; and where billets of gold lay about in heaps
as if they were logs of wood marked out to be burned."
It was also said that Montezuma had sent his great treas
ures to this city when he was captured by Cortes, and that
the boundless wealth of the Inca of Peru had been sent

66 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

to the same place when he was conquered by Pizarro.
Raleigh disliked the Spaniards very much and to prevent
their getting this land of gold he determined to go him
self to take possession of it in the name of his queen,
Elizabeth. He had given up his attempts to colonize
Virginia after so many failures but this seemed a new
and more promising field for colonization. In 1594 five
stout ships provided with crews and arms and provisions,
and with Sir Walter Raleigh himself as commander, left
the harbor of Plymouth. The fleet reached Guiana in
safety. Raleigh ascended the Orinoco some distance and
brought away some stones containing gold. He returned
to England to get more men, as he feared the Spaniards
would try to keep from him the great wealth he expected
to bring to England. When he reached England he
was needed in an attack against Spain and could riot
return to America.

Soon after this Elizabeth died and King James of Scot
land became king of England. Now James did not like
Raleigh and took from him his offices and estates. This
made Raleigh angry and he said many bitter things of the
king. Some of his enemies claimed that he was guilty of
treason and he was tried and convicted, though there was
really no proof that he was guilty. He was imprisoned
in the Tower where he remained thirteen years. While in
prison he wrote a history of the world. At last he was

WALTER KALEIGH 67

released from prison that he might go again to Guiana to
find the gold mines of which he had heard.

This expedition was not successful and upon his return
Raleigh was again thrown into prison. The old charge of
treason was revived and Raleigh was taken from prison
and beheaded. His efforts to found colonies" in America
had not been successful, but he had kept up the interest
of Englishmen in America and soon afterward colonies
were successfully planted.

CHAPTER IV

JOHN SMITH i

THE adventures of John Smith began when he was very
young. Before reaching his twentieth year he had fought
for a while in the French army and had served three years
in the Netherlands. In the year 1600 he returned to his
home in England, u where," he says in the history of his
life, " within a short time, being glutted with too much
company wherein he took small delight, he retired himself
into a little woody pasture a good way from any town,
environed with many hundred acres of woods. Here by
a fair brook he built a pavilion of boughs where only in
his clothes he lay." Here he read books upon the art of
war and studied the wise sayings of Marcus Aurelius. He
also took exercise with " a good horse, with lance and
ring ; his food was thought to be more of venison thac
anything else." But he soon grew tired of this quiet life.
" He was desirous to see more of the world and try his
fortune against the Turks ; both lamenting and repenting
to have seen so many Christians slaughtering one another."

1 Authority : Fiske's " Old Virginia and Her Neighbors " and other
sources.

JOHN SMITH 69

After an adventure in France with robbers, in which he
lost everything he had with him, he reached Marseilles.
Here he embarked for Turkey with a band of pilgrims.
A storm arose " which they said was all because of their
having this heretic on board, and so, like Jonah, the
young adventurer was thrown into the sea. He was a
good swimmer, however, and ' God brought him,' he says,
Ho a little island with no inhabitants but a few kine and
goats.' ' Next morning he was picked up by a Breton
vessel whose captain knew some of Smith's friends in
France and treated him with much kindness. The vessel
was bound for Egypt and Cyprus. On the return voyage
they were fired upon by a Venetian argosy and a hot fight
took place until the Venetian struck her colors. After
taking from her a rich treasure of silks and velvet and
Turkish coins in gold and silver, the Bretons let her go on
her way. When the spoil was divided, Smith received
£225 in coin and a box of goods worth nearly as much
more. His friend, the captain, landed him in Piedmont,
and he journeyed to Naples, enjoying himself i: sight see
ing." He visited Rome, Florence, and Bologna, and
finally made his way to Venice. From here he went to
Styria and entered the service of the Emperor Rudolph II.
He was soon given command of a company of 250 cavalry,
with the rank of captain. " On one occasion he made
himself useful by devising a system of signals, and on

70 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

another occasion by inventing a kind of rude missiles
which he called * fiery dragons/ which sorely annoyed the
Turks by setting fire to their camp."

During the years 1601 and 1602 Smith saw much
rough fighting. The troop to which his company be
longed passed into the service of Prince Sigismund of
Transylvania. " The Transylvanians were besieging Re
gal, one of their towns which the Turks had occupied, and
the siege made but little progress, so that the barbarians
from the top of the wall hurled down sarcasms upon their
assailants and complained of growing fat for lack of exer
cise. One day a Turkish captain sent a challenge, declar
ing that ( in order to delight the ladies, who did long to
see some court-like pastime, he did defy any captain that
had the command of a company, who durst combat with
him for his head.' The challenge was accepted by the
Christian army, it was decided to select the champion by
lot, and the lot fell upon Smith. A truce was proclaimed
for the single combat, the besieging army was drawn up
in battle array, the town walls were crowded with veiled
dames and turbaned warriors, the combatants on their
horses politely exchanged salutes, and then rushed at each
other with levelled lances. At the first thrust Smith
killed the Turk, and dismounting, unfastened his helmet,
cut off his head and carried it to the commanding general
who accepted it graciously. The Turks were so chagrined

JOHN SMITH 71

that one of their captains sent a personal challenge to
Smith, and next day the scene was repeated." This time
both lances were shivered and pistols were used. The
Turk received a ball which threw him to the ground and
then Smith beheaded him. " Some time afterward our
victorious champion sent a message into the town ' that
the ladies might know he was not so much enamoured
of their servants' heads, but if any Turk of their rank
would come to the place of combat to redeem them, he
should have his also upon the like conditions, if he could
win it.' The defiance was accepted. This time the Turk,
having the choice of weapons, chose battle-axes, and
pressed Smith so hard that his axe flew from his hand,
whereat loud cheers arose from the ramparts ; but with a
quick movement of his horse he dodged his enemy's next
blow, and drawing his sword gave him a fearless thrust in
the side which settled the affair; in another moment
Smith had his head. At a later time, after Prince
Sigisrnund had heard of these exploits, he granted to
Smith a coat-of-arms with three Turk's heads in a
shield." 1

At a battle fought in 1602 Smith was taken prisoner
by the Turks and sold into slavery. After enduring
many hardships he escaped by killing his master and
made his way to Russia. From there he went to Leipsic,

1 See Fiske's " Old Virginia and Her Neighbors," pp. 86-88.

72 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

where he found Prince Sigismund. After travelling for
some time on the continent he returned to England.

At the time of Smith's return to London, the Lon
don Company had just fitted out an expedition to plant
a colony in Virginia. There were three ships, with
Captain Christopher Newport in command. Smith had
talked with Newport, Gosnold, and other captains who
had visited America, and his love of adventure and
strong geographical curiosity urged him to join this
company. The three ships sailed on New Year's Day
with 105 colonists on board. The names of the per
sons appointed by the London Company to the colonial
council were carried in a sealed box, not to be opened
until the little squadron reached the end of its journey.
The voyage was a long one, as they first went down to
the Canary Islands and followed Columbus' s route across
to the West Indies. In the year 1602 Gosnold, who
was second in command, had crossed directly from the
English Channel to Cape Cod and it seems strange that
this shorter route was not tried again. The stock of
provisions was sadly diminished before the journey was
ended.

Some trouble arose between Smith and Wingfield, one
of the colonists. Smith was accused of plotting mutiny
and was kept in irons more than a month until the
ships reached Virginia. After leaving the West Indies

JOHN SMITH 73

they lost their reckoning, but on the 26th of April
they reached the cape which they named Henry, after
the Prince of Wales, as the cape opposite was after
ward named for his younger brother, Charles. A few
of the company went on shore, " where they were at
once attacked by Indians, and two were badly injured
by arrows. That evening the sealed box was 'opened,
and it was found that Bartholomew Gosnold, Edward
Wingfield, John Smith, John Ratcliffe, John Martin,
and George Kendall were appointed members of the
council, — six in all, of whom the president was to
have two votes." *

As the ships sailed into the quiet waters of Hamp
ton Roads, leaving the stormy weather they had en
countered, they named the promontory at the entrance,
Point Comfort. Then they entered the broad river
which they named James, in honor of their king.
They sailed along the banks until they found a spot
which seemed suited for a settlement and there they
landed on the 13th of May. As soon as the company
had landed, all the members of the council, except
Smith, were sworn into office and then they chose
Wingfield president for one year. On the next day
the men went to work building their fort. They called
it Fort James, but soon the settlement came to be

1 Fiske's " Old Virginia and Her Neighbors."

PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

known as Jamestown. There was some dispute about
the site and the one selected was just what they had
been told to avoid. In their letter of instructions they
were warned not to select a place that was low and
damp, as it was likely to prove unhealthful. At high
tide the waters half covered the little peninsula upon

which the fort was built, but the
narrow neck was easy to guard
and that, perhaps, decided the
choice of the place.

Smith was no longer a prisoner
but his enemies would not admit
him to the council. Newport was
to explore the river and Smith,
with four other gentlemen, four
skilled mariners, and fourteen
common sailors, went with him.
They sailed up about as far as
the present site of Richmond, fre
quently meeting parties of Indians
on the banks and passing Indian
villages. Newport was always kind and wise in his deal
ings with the Indians, and they seemed quite friendly.
These Indians were Algonquins, of the tribe called Pow-
hatans. After a few days the exploring party reached a
village called Powhatan, consisting of about a dozen houses

MAP OF VIRGINIA

JOHN SMITH 75

"pleasantly seated on a hill." These were large clan
houses with framework of beams and covering of bark,
much like the long houses of the Iroquois. The Pow-
hatans seemed to be the leading tribe of the neighbor
hood. Their principal village was oil the York River
about fifteen miles from Jamestown and the chief who
lived there was called the Powhatan.

When Newport and Smith returned to Jamestown, they
found that it had been attacked by a force of two hundred
Indians. They had been driven off but one English
man had been killed and eleven wounded. In the course
of the next two weeks these enemies were very annoying.
They would hide in the grass about the fort and try to pick
off men with their barbed, stone-tipped arrows. Some of
their new acquaintances from the Powhatan tribe came to
visit them and told Newport that the Indians who- had
attacked Jamestown belonged to a hostile tribe against
which they would willingly form an alliance. They ad
vised the English to cut the grass around the fort, which
seems to prove that they were sincere in what they said.

Smith now demanded a trial. Though Wingfield ob
jected, a jury was granted and he was acquitted of all the
charges against him. Then he was allowed to take his
place in the council. Newport soon after sailed for England
with a cargo of sassafras, and fine wood for wainscoting.
He promised to be back in Virginia within twenty weeks.

76 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

but all the food he could leave in the fort was reckoned to
be scarcely enough for fifteen weeks, so that the company
were put upon short rations. One hundred and five people
were left in Jamestown. A record given at the tinnj sa^s
that besides the six councillors, the clergyman, and the sur
geon, there were twenty-nine gentlemen, six carpenters,
one mason, two bricklayers, one blacksmith, one sailor,
one drummer, one tailor, one barber, twelve laborers, and
four boys " with 38 whom he neither names nor
classifies but simply mentions as ' divers others.' ' The
food left for this company was not appetizing. After the
ship was gone, says one of the number, " there remained
neither tavern, beer-house, nor place of relief but the com
mon kettle ; . . . and that was half a pint of wheat and
as much barley, boiled with water, for a man a day; and
this, having fried some 26 weeks in the ships hold,
contained as many worms as grains. . . . Our (only)
drink was water. . . . Had we been as free from all sins
as gluttony and drunkenness, we might have been canon
ized for saints." It seems they found but little game,
though some caught crabs and sturgeon in the river. The
poor diet, the great heat of an American summer, and the
unaccustomed work, soon added sickness to their suffer
ings. Before the end of September more than fifty of the
company were dead. One of the survivors of this dread
ful time writes : " There were neuer Englishmen left in a

JOHN SMITH 77

forreigne Countrey in such, miserie as wee were in this
new discouered Virginia. Wee watched euery three
nights, lying on the bare . . . ground, what weather so-
euer came ; (and) warded all the next day ; which brought
our men to bee most feeble wretches. Our food was but a
small Can of Barlie sodden in water to fiue men a day.
Our drink cold water taken out of the River ; which was
at a floud verie salt : at a low tide full of slime and filth;
which was the destruction of many of ovr men. Thus we
lived for the space of fiue months in this miserable dis-
tresse, not hauing fiue able men to man our Bulwarkes
upon any occasion. If it had not pleased God to haue put
a terrour in the Sauages hearts, we had all perished by
those wild and cruell Pagans, being in that weake estate
as we were ; our men night and day groaning in every
corner of the Fort most pittiful to heai^e. If there were
any conscience in men, it would make their harts to bleed
to heare the pitifull murmurings and outcries of our sick
men without reliefe, euery night and day for the space of
sixe weekes : some departing out of the World, many times
three or foure in a night; in the morning their bodies be
ing trailed out of their Cabines like Dogges, to be buried.
In this sort did I see the mortalitie of diuers of our
people." x

Captain Gosnold died of the fever. After his death

1 Fiske's "Old Virginia and Her Neighbors.'

78 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

the quarrel between Smith and Wingfield was renewed.
" To control the rations of so many hungry men was no
easy matter. It was charged against Wingfield that he
kept back sundry dainties, and especially some wine and
spirits for himself and a few favored friends; but his
quite plausible defence is that he reserved two gallons of
sack for the communion table and a few bottles of brandy
for extreme emergencies, but the other members of the
council, whose flasks were all empt}^ did long for to sup up
that little remnant." It was also said that he intended
to take one of the small vessels remaining in the river and
abandon the colony. He was later required to pay Smith
heavy damages for defaming his character. He was
finally deposed and John Ratclift'e was elected in his
place.

During these troubled times Smith's activity in trading
with the Indians for corn helped the colony greatly. In
the autumn so many wild-fowl were shot that the diet
was greatly improved. In December Smith started on
a trip for exploration up the Chickahominy River. He
went as far as his shallop would go, then leaving it with
seven men to guard it he went on in a canoe with only
two white men and two Indian guides. After going some
distance this little party was attacked by two hundred
Indians, led by a brother of Powhatan. Smith's two com
rades were killed and he was captured, but not until he

JOHN SMITH 79

had slain two Indians with his pistol. " It was quite like
the quick-witted man to take out his ivory pocket com
pass, and to entertain the childish minds of the barbarians
with its quivering needle which they could plainly see
through the glass, but, strange to say, could not feel when
they tried to touch it. Very like him it was to improve
the occasion with a brief discourse on star craft, eked out
no doubt with abundant gesticulation, which may have
led his hearers to regard him as a wizard." They did not
seem to agree as to what they should do with him. He
was tied to a tree and a cruel death seemed to await him,
when the chief held up the compass. Then the captive
was untied and the Indians marched away through the
forest, taking him with them.

After some time spent in wandering from place to
place, he was brought before the Powhatan, who received
him in his long wigwam. " The elderly chieftain sat
before the fireplace, on a kind of bench, and was covered
with a robe of raccoon skins, all with the tails on and
hanging like ornamental tassels. Beside him sat his
young squaws, a row of women with their faces and bare
shoulders painted bright red and chains of white shell
beads about their necks stood around by the walls, and in
front of them stood the grim warriors." Smith, in his
account of what followed, says the Indians departed
together and presently two big stones were placed before

PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

the chief and Smith was dragged hither and his head
laid upon them ; but even while warriors were standing.

Kiny Powhatan cemandr C.'Smitfi to b
is life hi
and htnv he Subiecltd fyefthtir fen#

This picture was drawn by an artist from Captain Smith's own description.

with clubs in hand, to beat his brains out, the chief's
young daughter, Pocahontas, rushed up and embraced

JOHN SMITH 81

him and laid her head upon his to shield him, whereupon
her father spared his life.1 "Two days afterward the
Powhatan ' having disguised him self e in the most
fearfullest manner he could/ caused Captain Smith to be
brought forth to a great house in the woods, and there
upon a mat by the fire be left alone. Not long after from
behind a mat that divided the house was made 6 the most
dolefullest noyse he ever heard.' Then the old chieftain,
looking more like the devil than a man, came to Smith
and told him that now they were friends and he might
go back to Jamestown ; then if he would send to the
Powhatan a couple of cannon and a grindstone, he should
have in exchange a piece of land in the neighborhood, and
that chief would evermore esteem him as his own son."
The next time Smith visited the Powhatan he was called
by this chief a " werowance," or chief of the tribe. The
Powhatan also ordered "that all his subjects should so
esteem us, and no man account us strangers . . . but
Powhatans, and that the corn, women, and country should
be to us as to his own people."

On the very day that Smith returned to Jamestown,
Captain Newport arrived with 120 colonists. There were
only 38 men who had survived the hardships at James
town. The supply of food brought by the ships was not
enough for so many people, so Smith took his " Father

1 See Fiske's " Old Virginia and Her Neighbors," pp. 102-111.

82 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

Newport " to visit the Powhatan. With blue glass beads
they bought a large quantity of corn. In the spring
Newport sailed for England again and Wingfield went
with him. In the summer of 1608 Smith made two
voyages of exploration up the Chesapeake Bay and into
the Potomac, Patapsco, and Susquehanna rivers. He
met some Iroquois warriors and found them carrying a
few French hatchets which had evidently come from
Canada. Daring his absence there was trouble at James
town and Ratcliffe was deposed. On Smith's return, in
September, he was at once chosen president. Only 28
were lost this year, and when Newport arrived in Sep
tember with 70 more persons, the colony numbered 200.
There were two women in this company.

The London Company was getting impatient with the
great expense and small return from the colony, and had
told Newport " that he must find either the way to the
South Sea, or a lump of gold, or one of White's lost
colonists, or else he need not come back and show his
face in England." When Smith heard these instructions
he "bluntly declared that the London Company were
fools, which seems to have shocked the decorous mariner/'
Newport was also ordered to crown their "new ally,
the mighty Emperor Powhatan. Newport and Smith
did it, and much mirth it must have afforded them. The
chief refused to come to Jamestown, so Mahomet had to

JOHN SMITH

go to the mountain. Up in the long wigwam the two
Englishmen divested the old fellow of his raccoon skin
garment and put on him a scarlet robe which greatly
pleased him. Then they tried to force him down upon

CROWNING THE CHIEF OF THE POWHATANS

his knees — which he did not like at all — while they put
the crown on his head. When the operation was safely
snded, the forest-monarch grunted acquiescence, and
handed to Newport his old raccoon skin cloak as a present
For his royal brother in England."

84 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

Newport was not able to find a nugget of gold or an 31
traces of Eleanor Dare and her friends. The Indians
told him that there were mountains westward and that
it would be useless to look for a salt sea there. New
port tried, however, and came back tired out before he
reached the Blue Ridge. Of these adventures one of the
colonists says : " Now was there no way to make us
miserable but to neglect that time to make our provision
whilst it was to be had ; the which was done to perfourme
this strange discovery, but more strange coronation. To
lose that time, spend that victuall we had, tire and
strane our men, having no means to carry victuall, mu
nition, the hurt or si eke, but their own backes : how or
by whom they were invented I know not ... as for
the coronation of Powhatan and his presents of bason,
ewer, bed, clothes, and such costly nouelties ; they had
bin much better well spared than so ill spent; for we had
his favour much better onlie for a poore peece of copper,
till this stately kinde of soliciting made him so much
overvalue himselfe, that he respected us as much as
nothing at all."

Newport returned to England and took with him
Ratcliffe, the deposed president, thus ridding the colony
of a man of doubtful character. It is said his real
name was Sickelmore and that he had taken the other
name to conceal his past. With Newport, Smith sent

JOHN SMITH 85

his new map of Virginia, showing the country he had
discovered and explored. This was "a map of remark
able accuracy and witness to an amount of original
labor that is marvellous to think of. ... None but a
man of heroic mould could have done the geographical
work involved in making it.

"With the map Smith sent what he naively calls
his ' Rude Answer ' to the London Company, a paper
bristling with common sense and not timid when it
comes to calling a spade a spade."

It was thought in England that Virginia would bring
much wealth to the mother country. In a play per
formed on the stage in 1605 one of the characters asks
of Virginia, " But is there much treasure there, Cap
tain, as I have heard ? " and the answer is : "I tell
thee, gold is more plentiful there than copper is with
us; and for as much red copper as I can bring I'll
have thrice the weight in gold. Why, man, all their
dripping-pans are pure gold, and all the chains with
which they chain up their streets are massy gold, all
the prisoners they take are fettered in gold ; and for
rubies and diamonds they go forth on holidays and
gather 'em by the seashore to hang on their children's
coats, and stick in their children's caps."

It was in search of gold that so many gentlemen
came to this new country. Then to care for it there

86 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

were two goldsmiths, two refiners, and one jeweller
brought over with the first supply. At this time some
one discovered a bank of bright yellow dirt which was
thought to contain gold. Then "there was no thought,
no discourse, no hope, and no work but to dig gold,
wash gold, refine gold, and load gold." On his return
"Newport carried a shipload of the yellow stuff to
London, and found, to his chagrin, that all is not gold
that glitters. On that same voyage he carried home a
coop of plump turkeys, the first that ever graced an
English bill of fare."

Smith soon gave up the search for gold and turned
his thoughts to other industries. Valuable timber was
cut and the making of tar and soap was tried ; also
the manufacture of glass. These efforts were not very
successful. The London Company was not satisfied with
a few shiploads of rough boards and sassafras where
they had expected gold and jewels. Then Wingfield
and other enemies of Smith had criticised his manage
ment of the colony before the London Company. When
the instructions brought by Newport with the second
supply were read, something said therein made Smith
angry and provoked the "Rude Answer" with which
he tries to defend himself. Of the quarrels among the
colonists he says : " For our factions, unless you would
have me run away and leave the country, I cannot pre-

JOHN SMITH 87

vent them. ... I do make many stay that would els fly
any whither." Of the tasks asked of Captain Newport
he says : " Expressly to follow your directions by Cap
tain Newport, though they be performed, I was directly
against it ; but according to our Commission, I was
content to be ruled by the major part of the council >
I fear to the hazard of us all ; which is now generally-
confessed when it is too late. . . . For him (Newport)
at that time to find the South Sea, a mine of gold, or
any of them sent by Sir Walter Raleigh, I told them
was as likely as the rest. But during this great voyage
of discovery of thirty miles (which might as well have
been done by one man, and much more, for the value
of a pound of copper at a seasonable time) they had the
pinnace and all the boats with them (save) one that re
mained with me to serve the fort.

"In their absence I followed the new begun works
of pitch and tar, glass, soap ashes and clapboard;
whereof some small quantities we have sent you.

"For the coronation of Powhatan, by whose advice
you sent him such presents I know not; but this, give
me leave to tell you, I fear will be the confusion of us
all ere we hear from you again. At your ship's arrival
the salvage's harvest was newly gathered and we going
to buy it ; our own not being half sufficient for so great
a number. As for the two (ship-loads) of corn New-

88 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

port promised to provide us from Powhatan, he brought
us but 14 bushels. From your ship we had not provi
sion or victuals worth £20, and we are more than 200 to
live upon this ; the one half sick, the other little better.
Oar diet is a little meal and water, and not sufficient of
that. Though there be fish in the sea, fowls in the air,
and beasts in the woods, their bounds are so large, they
so wild, and we so weak and ignorant that we cannot
much trouble them.

" When you send again, I entreat you send but 30
carpenters, husbandmen, gardeners, fishermen, black
smiths, masons, and diggers up of trees' roots, well pro
vided (rather) than 1000 of such as we have ; for
except we be able both to lodge them and feed them,
the most will consume with want of necessaries before
they can be made good for anything."

That Smith had labored with some of the gentlemen
with some success is shown by the testimony of Amos
Todkill, one of the first company of settlers. He tells
how Smith conducted a party of thirty of them five
miles from the fort "to learn to ... cut down trees
and make clapboard." Two lately arrived gallants were
among the number, "both proper gentlemen. Strange
were these pleasures to their conditions; yet lodging,
eating and drinking, working or playing, they (were)
but doing as the President did himselfe. All these

JOHN SMITH 89

things were carried on so pleasantly as within a week
they became masters ; making it their delight to heare
the trees thunder as they fell ; but the axes so oft blis
tered their tender fingers that many times every third
blow had a loud othe to drowne the eccho; for remedie
of which sinne, the President devised how to have
every man's othes numbred, and at night for every othe
to have a cann of water powred downe his sleeue, with
which every offender was so washed (himself e and all)
that a man should scarce hear an othe in a weeke.

' For he who scorns and makes but jests of cursings and his othe
He doth contemne, not man but God, nor man, but both/

" By this let no man thinke that the President and these
gentlemen spent their time as common wood hackers
at felling of trees, or such other like labours; or that
they were pressed to it as hirelings or common slaves;
for what they did, after they were but once inured, it
seemed and some conceited it only as a pleasure and
recreation : ... 30 or 40 of such voluntary gentlemen
would doe more in a day than 100 of the rest that must
be prest to it by compulsion." Then he adds, "twenty
good workmen had been better than them all."

After Newport was gone, the thing that Captain Smith
had feared came to pass. The Indians refused to furnish
them with corn. During the past winter Pocahontas

yU PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

had often visited the colony, bringing presents of corn
and game, and had thus helped to keep off famine. But
the Indians were growing jealous of the increasing num
bers of the settlers and wished to get rid of them. When
Smith first visited the Powhatan, he had been asked why
the English had come to this part of the world. Smith
did not think it safe to say that they had come to stay,
so he invented a story of their being defeated by the
Spaniards and driven ashore. As their boat was leaky,
Father Newport had left them while he went away to
get it mended. Now Father Newport had come twice
and had brought many more children than he had taken
away. There were now two hundred men at Jamestown.
" Every painted and feathered warrior knew that these
pale children were not good farmers, and that their lives
depended upon a supply of corn. By withholding this
necessary of life, how easy it might be to rid the land
of their presence." 1

As winter came on and the Indians refused to sell
their corn, the condition of the colonists became serious.
Smith decided that if the Indians would not trade of their
own free will, they must be made to trade. The Pow-
hatan had asked for help on a house he was building
and Smith sent him fourteen men. He soon followed
with twenty-seven men in the pinnace and barge. When

1 Fiske's " Old Virginia and Her Neighbors."

JOHN SMITH 91

they stopped the first night, a chieftain told them to be
ware of the treachery of the Powhatan, who intended
to kill them. " Captain Smith thanked the red-skin
for his good counsel, assured him of his undying affec
tion, and went on down the river to Hampton." Here
he was kindly welcomed by a small tribe of Indians
numbering about twenty warriors. A storm of snow
and sleet lasting about a week, from December 30, 1608,
to January 6, 1609, made the party stay in the well-
warmed wigwams of their friends. They were well fed
with oysters, fish, venison, and wild-fowl. When they
continued their journey and came near the York River,
the Indians seemed less friendly. When they reached
the village of the Powhatan, "the river was frozen for
nearly half a mile from shore, but Smith rammed and
broke the ice with his barge until he had pushed up to
a place where it was thick enough to walk safely."
The barge was sent back to the pinnace to bring the
rest of the party. When all were landed, they took
possession of the first house they came to and sent to
the Powhatan for food. He sent them venison, turkeys,
and corn bread.

The next day the chief visited them and asked them
how long they meant to stay. He said he had not asked
the English to come to see him and he had no corn for
them. He knew, however, where he could get forty

92 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SKA

baskets of it, if they would give a sword for each
basket. Smith pointed to the new house already begun
and to the men he had sent to build it. " Powhatan,"
he said, " I am surprised to hear you say that you have
not invited us hither; you must have a short memory."
This answer made the old chieftain laugh, but he in
sisted that he would sell his corn for swords and guns,
but not for copper. He could eat corn but not copper.
Then Captain Smith said : " Powhatan, to testify my love
I sent you my men for your building, neglecting mine
own. Now you think by consuming the time we shall
consume for want, not having wherewith to fulfil your
strange demands. As for swords and guns, I told you
long ago I had none to spare. You must know that
the weapons I have can keep me from want, yet steal
or wrong you I will not, nor dissolve that friendship we
have mutually promised, except you constrain me by bad
usage."

The Powhatan, understanding the threat, quickly said
that he would soon let the English have all the corn he
could spare. Then he said, " I have some doubt, Cap
tain Smith, about your coining hither, which makes me
not so kindly seek to relieve you as I would. For many
do inform me that your coming hither is not for trade
but to invade my people and possess my country. They
dare not come to bring you corn, seeing you thus armed

JOHN SMITH 93

with your men. To free us of this fear, leave your
weapons aboard the ship, for here they are needless, we
being all friends, and forever Powhatans."

" With many such discourses," says the chronicle, " did
they spend the day ; and on the morrow the parley was
renewed." Again and again the old chief insisted that be
fore the corn could be brought, the visitors must leave
their arms on shipboard ; but Smith was not so blind as
to walk into such a trap. He said, " Powhatan, the vow
I made you of my love, both myself and my men have
kept. As for your promise, I find it every day violated
by some of your subjects ; yet for your sake only we have
curbed our thirsting desire for revenge ; else had they
known as well the cruelty we use to our enemies as our
true love and courtesy to our friends. And I think your
judgment sufficient to conceive — as well by the adven
tures we have undertaken as by the advantage we have
in our arms over yours — that had we intended you any
hurt, we could long ere this have effected it. Your peo
ple coming to Jamestown are entertained with their bows
and arrows, without any exceptions; we esteeming it
with you as it is with us, to wear our arms as our apparel.
As for your hiding your provisions ... we shall not so
unadvisedly starve as you conclude ; your friendly care in
that behalf is needless, for we have ways of finding food
that are quite beyond your knowledge."

94 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

The hint that the white men could get along without
his corn had its effect upon the Powhatan. Baskets filled
with corn were brought, but before they were given to
Smith the chief said : " Captain Smith, I never used any
chief so kindly as yourself, yet from you I receive the
least kindness of any. Captain Newport gave me swords,
copper, clothes, a bed, towels, or whatever I desired ; ever
taking what I offered him, and would send away his guns
when I entreated him. None doth refuse to do what I
desire but only you; of whom I can have nothing but
what you regard not, and yet you will have whatsoever
you demand. You call me father, but I see you will do
what you list. But if you intend so friendly as you say,
send hence your arms that I may believe you."

Smith felt sure that this whimpering speech was merely
the cover for a meditated attack. Of his thirty-eight
Englishmen but eighteen were with him at the moment.
He sent a messenger to his vessels, ordering all save a
guard of three or four men to come ashore, and he set
some Indians to work breaking the ice, so that the barge
could be forced up near to the bank. For a little while
Captain Smith and John Russell were left alone in a
house with the Powhatan and a few squaws, when all at
once the old chief slipped out and disappeared from view.
While -Smith was talking with the women a crowd of
armed warriors surrounded the house, but instantly Smith

JOHN SMITH 95

and Russell sprang forth and with drawn swords charged
upon them so furiously that they all turned and fled,
tumbling over one another in their headlong terror.

Now the English felt sure of a plot against them, but
the Indians " to the uttermost of their skill sought ex
cuses to dissemble the matter ; and Powhatan, to excuse
his flight and the sudden coming of this multitude, sent
our Captain a great bracelet and a chain of pearl, by an
ancient orator that bespoke us to this purpose ; perceiving
even then from our pinnace, a barge and men departing
and coming unto us : Captain Smith, our chief is fled ;
fearing your guns, and knowing when the ice was broken
there would come more men, sent these numbers but to
guard his corn from stealing, which might happen with
out your knowledge. Now, though some be hurt by your
misprision, yet the Powhatan is your friend, and so will
ever continue. Now since the ice is open he would have
you send away your corn, and if you would have his com
pany send away also your guns." Captain Smith did not
send away his guns, and "never set eyes on his Father
Powhatan again. With faces frowning, guns were loaded
and cocked, the Englishmen stood by while a file of
Indians with baskets on their backs carried down the
corn and loaded it into the barge." l

The Englishmen would have departed at once, but the

1 Fiske's " Old Virginia and Her Neighbors."

PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

tide had left their boat stranded and they must wait foi
high water. They decided to pass the night in the house
where they were already quartered as it was some dis
tance from the village, and they sent word to the Powha-
tan to send them some supper. Here Pocahontas, that

"dearest jewel, in that dark
night came through the irk
some woods, and told our
Captain great cheer should
be sent us by and by, but
Powhatan and all the power
he could make would after
come kill us all, if indeed
they that brought it did
not kill us when we were
at supper. Therefore, if
we would live she wished
us presently to be gone.
Such things as she delighted in we would have given
her ; but with the tears running down her cheeks she
said she durst not be seen to have any, for if Powhatan
should know it she were but dead ; and so she ran away
by herself as she came." 1

Soon eight or ten Indians came with venison and other
dainties " and begged the English to put out the matches

1 Fiske's " Old Virginia and Her Neighbors."

POCAHONTAS

JOHN SMITH 97

of their matchlocks, for the smell of the smoke made
them sick." Smith sent them back to the Powhatan
with the message, " If he is coming to visit me to-night
let him make haste, for I am ready to receive him." The
Powhatan did not come. A few scouts prowled about, but
the English kept guard till high tide and then sailed
away.

The courage and tact of Smith had preserved peace
between the Powhatan and the English, and his fear
lessness and quick action helped them in another ad
venture on the way home. When they arrived at his
village, the brother of the Powhatan, chief of the
Pamunkeys, received them pleasantly, but soon they
were surrounded by a great crowd of armed warriors.
It did not seem best to fire upon the crowd, as Smith
was anxious to avoid bloodshed. Smith, with three
men, rushed into the chieftain's house, " seized him by
the long scalp-lock, dragged him before the astonished
multitude, and held a pistol to his breast." This so
frightened the Indians that they hurriedly brought out
their corn, and the vessels made their way back to
Jamestown " loaded with some 300 bushels of it, besides
a couple of hundred-weight of venison and deer suet.
In itself it was but a trifle of a. pound of meat and a
bushel and a half of grain for each person in the col
ony But the chief result was the profound impression

98 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

made upon the Indians/' It seems that they decided
that such brave men were better as friends than as
enemies.

Now that the fear of the Indians was past, Captain
Smith had time to look after affairs at Jamestown.
Things there were in a bad state. The chief difficulty
lay in the fact that the colony had been begun on a
communistic plan, that is, everything was owned in
common. Each man worked not for himself and family
but for the whole community. Whatever he got in
hunting or fishing, or trading with the Indians,. was for
all and not for himself. The idle and lazy fared as
well as the hardest worker, and so easy was it to live
without work that the time came when some thirty or
forty people were supporting the whole colony of two
hundred. Then Smith " applied the strong hand." He
called them together one day and told them that as
their lawfully chosen ruler he had a right to punish
those that would not obey his laws, and they must all
understand that hereafter he that will not work shall
not eat. The rule was enforced and for a while the
colony prospered. " By the end of April twenty houses
had been built, a well of pure sweet water had been
dug in the fort, thirty acres or more of ground had
been broken up and planted, and nets and weirs ar
ranged for fishing. A few hogs and fowl had been left

JOHN SMITH 99

by Newport, and now could be heard the squeals of
sixty pigs and the peeping of five hundred spring
chickens. The manufacture of tar and soap-ashes went
on, and a new fortress was begun in an easily defensi
ble position, upon a commanding hill."

But a new trouble arose. Rats, brought over from
time to time by the ships, had increased rapidly and
made such havoc in the granaries that little corn was left.
It was not a long time before harvest and work were
stopped while everybody searched for food. The Ind
ians were friendly and traded what they could spare,
but that was not much. By midsummer the settlers
were scattered, some among the Indians, some were
picking berries in the woods, and others down at Point
Comfort fishing. It was the fishermen " that were the
first to hail the bark of young Samuel Argall, who was
coming for sturgeon and whatever else he could find,
and had steered a straighter course from London than
any mariner before him." Argall brought letters from
the company complaining that the goods sent home in
the ships were not of greater value, and saying that
Smith had been accused of dealing harshly with the
Indians. He also brought news that a great expedi
tion, commanded by Lord Delaware, was about to sail
for Virginia.

Part of the new expedition reached Virginia in

100 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

August, and unfortunately the mischief-maker, Ratcliffe,
was with them. He instantly called upon Smith to
abdicate and some of the newcomers supported him.
But the old settlers were loyal to Smith, and there
was much confusion until the latter arrested Ratcliffe
as a disturber of the peace. The newcomers were, as
Smith says, " unruly gallants, packed thither by their
friends to escape ill destinies." They were sure to
make trouble but for a while Smith held them in
check. He decided to find a better site for a colony
than the low marshy Jamestown. In September he
sailed up to the Indian village of Powhatan and bought
of the natives a tract of land near the present site of
Richmond. This was a range of hills that could be
easily defended, with so fair a landscape that Smith
called the place Nonesuch. On his way back to James
town a bag of gunpowder in his boat exploded and
wounded him so badly that he was obliged to go to
England in the ship that sailed in October, for surgical
aid.

The winter after Smith left the colony was one of
great suffering to the settlers and is known as "the
starving time." Of the 490 persons in the colony in
October, only 60 lived through the winter. One of
these survivors wrote of Smith : " What shall I say ?
but thus we lost him that in all his proceedings made

JOHN SMITH 101

justice his first guide and experience his second; ever
hating baseness, sloth, pride, and indignity more than
any dangers; that never allowed more for himself than
his soldiers with him ; that upon no danger would
send them where he would not lead himself; that
would never see us want what he either had, or could
by any means get us ; that loved actions more than
words, and hated falsehood and covetousness worse than
death; whose adventures were our lives, and whose
loss our deaths."

In 1614 Smith again visited America, being sent out
by the Plymouth Company to explore the coast given
to it. He sailed from Penobscot Bay to Cape Cod
and made an excellent map of the coast. He called
the country New England, the name by which it has
been known ever since. The next year Smith started
on another expedition but was captured by a French
squadron and taken to France. He was again in Eng
land when Pocahontas, who had married an English
man named John Rolfe, made her visit at court. She
was received as a princess, for the English in London
still thought of her father as a mighty sovereign.
Smith was making preparations for another voyage to
New England when he heard of Pocahontas's arrival
and called on her. When he called her Lady Rebekah.
as all did in England, "she seemed hurt and turned

102 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

away, covering her face with her hands. She insisted
upon calling him Father and having him call her his
child, as formerly in the wilderness. Then she added,
6 They did always tell us you were dead, and I knew
not otherwise till I came to Plymouth."

The remaining sixteen years of Smith's life were spent
in England writing books, publishing maps, and encour
aging emigration to the New World. He was only thirty-
seven when his adventures ended with his capture by the
French while on his way to start a colony in New Eng
land, but he lived until 1631, — long enough to know that
a successful settlement had been made in New England
and that Virginia was prospering.

CHAPTER V

POPHAM'S SETTLEMENT

IN 1605 an English noble became so much interested
in the reports of the fine country about Cape Cod which
Gosnold had before visited, that he fitted out a ship with
Captain Weymouth to visit and examine the country
still further. Captain Weymouth came in sight of Cape
Cod and was driven by the winds northward, where he
entered the broad mouth of a noble river, the Kennebec.
He and his companions were delighted with the forest-
covered hills and wide river mouths, where hundreds of
great ships might safely anchor. They found the coast
waters swarming with excellent fish, of which they
caught cod four and five feet long. Noble forests
clothed the hillsides, from which lumber for building and
for ships could be had. Game on land was plentiful;
the springs and brooks coining from the valleys were
delightful.

They made special efforts to win the friendship of the
Indians and to excite their wonder and respect for white
men. Weymouth had been authorized to capture and
bring back with him to England some of these natives,

103

104 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

But they were so timid and suspicious that at first he
could not entice them into his ship. But he finally suc
ceeded in kidnapping five of the Indians and, getting
them on board, sailed for home.

On his return to England with his captive Indians,
Captain Weymouth gave a glowing description of the
Kennebec as a place for planting a colony. The broad
mouth of the river leading up into a well-wooded country,
where beaver skins and other furs could be purchased
of the Indians for trifles, seemed to offer a great tempta
tion to settlers. The abundance and variety of fishing
along the coast, the good harbors, and the prospect for
raising plenty of vegetables and maize also gave much
encouragement. In the summer-time, especially, the coun
try was beautiful, and with the boundless resources of
land and sea, and with friendly natives, the success of a
settlement seemed certain.

At any rate Weymouth' s reports awakened much
interest in England, and the next year the Plymouth
Company, under the leadership of Sir John Popham, who
was chief justice of England, sent out a colony of 120
persons to settle at the mouth of the Kennebec. On the
last of July they got sight of the coast of Maine, and
the two ships, the Mary and John and the Gift of Gfod,
sailed along the coast till they reached the mouth of the
Kennebec. The Indians became friendly when they saw

POPHAM S SETTLEMENT

105

with the whites one of the Indians whom Weymouth had
carried off.

On Sunday the colonists landed upon an island at the
mouth of the Kennebec and held a religious service, the
first upon the shores of New England.

After exploring the coast until the middle of August,
they returned to the mouth of the Kennebe^ and landed

A NEW ENGLAND BLOCK HOUSE

at a place near the island of Sequin. Here the designs of
the Company were explained to the settlers and soon
all were actively at work carrying out these plans.
Among the first buildings constructed were a fort and a
storehouse. Trees were cut down, a clearing was made ;
the carpenters began to trim the logs and frame them
into buildings. The surrounding forests furnished abun
dant building materials and a large number of log cabins

106 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SKA

were built. Before the winter set in the colonists were so
industrious that they had completed the fort and mounted
twelve cannon upon its walls, built a storehouse and
church, and finished about fifty cabins.

During the same time the ship-builders had put to
gether a pinnace, or small sailing vessel supplied with
oars, with which they could explore the coasts, inlets,
and rivers. In the meantime Captain Gilbert was explor
ing the neighboring coasts and getting acquainted with
the surrounding country.

The Indians scarcely knew what to make of these white
people. They were suspicious of them, yet very curious
to watch and discover their plans. While they were in
clined to be hostile, they had great respect for the guns
and other weapons of the white men. The natives had
only bows, arrows, and spears, to match the armor and
guns of the whites. The latter were afraid to trust the
Indians, and therefore had to carry about their heavy
guns, and were burdened also with steel armor, sword, and
head-dress. It was difficult, therefore, to move about
quickly. Once in going up the river in a boat, Gilbert
had a narrow escape from battling with the Indians.
They suddenly threw his firebrand for lighting the guns
into the river, threatened the whites with their arrows,
and seized the ropes to draw the boat ashore. But
the whites frightened the Indians by pointing their

POPHAM'S SETTLEMENT 107

guns at them as if to shoot and they ran off to the
woods.

As the winter came on, it proved much more severe than
they expected. Instead of the green foliage of summer,
the bleak hills were covered with snow and in spite of
their preparations they suffered many hardships. Some
of the men fell sick. George Popham, the president, and
others also of the colony died. The winter lasted longer
than usual and before the warm days of spring returned
many had grown homesick. This new land had not come
up to their expectations.

In the spring a ship came laden with full supplies of
food, arms, and tools, and all things needful for the colony.
But it also brought the report that Lord Popham, the
brother of George Popham and the chief supporter of
the enterprise, was dead. Captain Gilbert, who since the
death of George Popham had been leader of the colonists,
heard that his own brother, whose estates he inherited, was
dead and he was anxious to get back to England. There
was no one left to lead a colony to success, and it was
decided to abandon the attempt to found one and to
return to England.

Upon their return home the colonists spread the report
that the coasts of New England were too cold and severe
for permanent settlement, and no attempt was made for
several years to repeat the experiment.

CHAPTER VI

JOHN SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OF NEW ENGLAND*

IN the month of April, 1614, with two ships from
London, of a few merchants, I chanced to arrive in New

England, a part of
America, at the isle
of Mohegan in 43 J°
of northerly latitude.
Our plan was there
to take whales and
make trial of a mine
of gold and copper.
If those failed, fish
and furs were then our
refuge. We found
the whaling a costly
affair. We saw many
and spent much time
chasing them, but
could not kill any,
besides they were not the kind that yield fins and oil. As
for the gold mine, it was rather a device to get a voyage

1 Condensed and slightly modified from Captain Smith's own account.

108

JOHN SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OF NEW ENGLAND 109

started than any knowledge of such a mine. By our late
arrival and long time spent after whales, we lost the best
time for fishing and furs. Yet in July some fish were
taken but not enough to pay our expenses.

While the sailors fished, myself, with eight or nine
others of them that might best be spared, ranged the
coast in a small boat. We got for trifles near eleven hun
dred beaver skins, one hundred marten skins, and near as
many others, and the most of them within the distance of
twenty leagues.

We ranged the coast both east and west much farther,
but eastward our goods were not much esteemed, they
were so near the French, who offered them better; and
right over against us on the mainland was a ship of Sir
Francis Popham's that had much acquaintance there,
having used only that port many years, and further west
were two other French ships that had made there a great
voyage for trade.

With these furs, oil, and fish, I returned to England in
the Bark, where within six months after our departure we
safe arrived back.

New England is that part of America in the Ocean Sea
opposite to New Albion (California), discovered by the
most memorable Sir Francis Drake in his voyage about
the world. Now because I have been so oft asked such
strange questions of the goodness and greatness of these

110

PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

spacious tracts of land, how they can be thus long im
known or not possessed by the Spaniards, I entreat your
pardons if I chance to be too plain or tedious in relating
my knowledge for plain men's satisfaction. . . .

[J f\ ;:- cs_^sSc^f JBW

* A it »tL.? '^- Al.or.len

^', ^ \^

DunftfcgS

Schooler* hill
Sandwichfe?
Dartmouth^.

SMIXH'S MAP OF NEW ENGLAND

I have drawn a map (of the New England coast) from
point to point, isle to isle, and harbor to harbor, with the

JOHN SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OF NEW ENGLAND 111

soundings, sands, rocks, and landmarks, as I passed close
along the shore in a little boat, although there be many
things to be observed which the haste of other affairs did
cause me to omit. For being sent to get present prod
ucts rather than knowledge by discoveries for any future
good, I had not power to search as I would.

Thus you may see that of this two thousand -miles of
coast (east coast of North America) more than half is yet
unknown to any purpose ; no, not so much as the borders
of the sea are yet certainly discovered. As for the good
ness and true substance of the land, we are for the most
part ignorant of them.

That part we call New England is betwixt the degrees
41 and 45, but that part here spoken of stretcheth from
Penobscot to Cape Cod, 75 leagues by a right line from
each other; within which bounds I have seen at least
forty several habitations upon the sea coast, and sounded
about 25 excellent good harbors, in many whereof there
is anchorage for 500 sail of ships of any burden; in
some of them, for 5000, and more than 200 isles over
grown with good timber of divers sorts of wood.

For their fur trade and merchandize : to each of their
habitations they have different towns and peoples belong
ing, and by their relations and descriptions, more than
twenty several habitations and rivers that stretch them
selves far up into the country, even to the borders of

112 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

divers great lakes, where they kill and take most of their
beavers and otters.

From Penobscot to Sagadahock this coast is all moun
tains and isles of huge rocks, but overgrown with all sorts
of excellent good woods for building houses, boats, barks,
or ships ; with an incredible abundance of most sorts of fish,
much fowl, and sundry sorts of good fruits for man's use.

Betwixt Sagadahock and Sawocatuck there are but two
or three sandy bays but betwixt that and Cape Cod very
many. Especially the coast of Massachusetts is so indif
ferently mixed with high clayey or sandy cliffs in one
place, and then tracts of large long ledges of divers sorts
and quarries of stones, in other places so strongly divided
with tinctured veins of divers colors : as free stone for
building, slate for tiling, smooth stone to make furnaces
and forges for glass or iron, and iron ore, sufficient con
veniently to melt them. All which are so near adjoining
to those other advantages I observed in these parts, that
if the ore prove as good iron and steel in those parts as
I know there is within the bounds of the country, I dare
engage my head (having men skillful to work the sim
ples there growing) to have all things belonging to the
building and rigging of ships of any size and good mer
chandize for freight, within a square of ten or fourteen
leagues.

And surely by reason of those sandy cliffs and cliffs of

JOHN SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OP NEW ENGLAND 113

rocks, both which we saw so planted with gardens and
corn fields, and so well inhabited with a goodly, strong,
and well-proportioned people, besides the greatness of the
timber growing on them, the greatness of the fish and
the moderate temper of the air, who can but approve
this a most excellent place both for health and fertility ?
And of all the four parts of the world that I have yet
seen not inhabited, could I have but means to transport
a colony, I would rather live here than anywhere; and
if it did not maintain itself, were we once indifferently
well fitted out, let us starve.

The main staple from hence to be expected for the
present^ to produce the rest, is fish, which however may
seem a mean and base commodity ; yet whoever will take
the pains and consider the sequel, I think will allow it
well worth the labor.

Here is ground also as good as any that lyeth in the
height of forty one, forty two, forty three degrees, etc.,
where is as fruitful land as between any parallels in
the world.

Therefore, I conclude if the heart and entrails of those
regions were sought, if their land were cultured, planted,
and manured by men of industry, judgment, and experi
ence, what hope is there or what need they doubt, having
those advantages of the sea, that it might equal any of
those famous kingdoms (in Europe) in all commodities,

114 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

pleasures, and conditions; seeing that even the very
edges do afford us such plenty, that no ship need return
away empty. If they will but use the season of the sea,
fish will return an honest gain besides all other advan
tages, her treasures having never yet been opened, nor
her originals wasted, consumed, nor abused.

The ground is so fertile that questionless, it is capable
of producing any grain, fruits, or seed you will sow or
plant, but it may be not every kind to that perfection of
delicacy, or some tender plants may miscarry, because
the summer is not so hot, and the winter is more cold in
those parts we have tried near the sea side, than we find
in the same latitude in Europe and Asia. Yet I made
a garden on the top of a rocky isle in 43±°, four leagues
from the maine, in May, that grew so well as it served
us for salads in June and July.

All sorts of cattle may here be bred and fed in the isles
or peninsulas, securely for nothing. In the interim, till
they increase, observing the seasons, I undertake to -have
corn enough from the savages.

In March, April, May, and half of June here is cod in
abundance, in May, June, July, and August, mullet and
sturgeon, and surely there is an incredible abundance
upon this coast. The mullets here are in that abundance
you may take them with nets, sometimes by the hundreds.
Much salmon some have found up the rivers as they have

JOHN SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OF NEW ENGLAND 115

passed and here the air is so temperate as all these at any
time may well be preserved. Now young boys and girls,
savages or any other, be they never such idlers, may turn,
carry, and return fish, without either shame or any great
pain. He is very idle that is past twelve years of age
and cannot do so much and she is very old that cannot
spin a thread to make nets to catch them.

Salt upon salt may assuredly be made. Then the ships
may transport kine, horses, goats, coarse cloth and other
goods as we want, against whose arrival may be made that
provision of fish to freight the ships that they stay not.

Of the muskrat may be well raised gains well worth
their labor that will endeavor to make trial of their
goodness. Of beavers, otters, martens, black foxes and
furs of price, may yearly be six or seven thousand and, if
the trade of the French were prevented, many more.

Twenty five thousand this year (1614) were brought
from those northern parts into France, of which trade we
may have as good part as the French, if we take good
courses.

Of mines of gold, silver, copper, and probabilities of
lead, crystal and alum, I could say much if reports were
good assurances. But I am no alchemist nor will promise
more than I know.

But to return a little more to the particulars of this
country — the most northern part I was at was the Bay

116 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

of Periobscot which is east and west, north and south,
more than ten leagues. I found that this river ran far
up into the land and was well inhabited with many
people, but they were away from their habitations, either
fishing among the isles or hunting the lakes and woods
for deer and beavers. The bay is full of great islands of
one, two, six, eight or ten miles in length, which divide
it into many fair and excellent good harbors.

On the east of it are the Tarran tines, mortal enemies of
those at Penobscot ; where inhabit the French, as they
report, that live with those people as one nation or
family, and northwest of Penobscot is Mecaddacut at
the foot of a high mountain (a kind of fortress against
the Tarrantines) adjoining to the high mountains of
Penobscot, against whose feet doth beat the sea; but
over all the lands, isles or other impediments you
may well see them sixteen or eighteen leagues from
their situation.

Up this river (at Sagadahock) where was the western
plantation, are Anmuckcaugen, Kennebeck and divers
others, where there are planted some corn-fields. Along
this river forty or fifty miles I saw nothing but great high
cliffs of barren rocks, overgrown with wood ; but where
the savages dwelt, there the ground is exceeding fat and
fertile.

Westward of this river is the country Ancosisco, in the

JOHN SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OF NEW ENGLAND 117

bottom of a large deep bay, full of many great isles which
divide it into many good harbors.

But all this coast to Penobscot and as far as I could see
eastward of it, is nothing but such high craggy, cliffy
rocks and stony isles, that I wondered such great trees
could grow upon so hard foundations. It is a country
rather to affright than to delight one. And how to
describe a more plain spectacle of desolation, or more
barren, I know not. Yet the sea there is the strangest
fish pond I ever saw ; and those barren isles, so furnished
with good woods, springs, fruits, fish, arid fowl, that it
makes me think, though the coast be rocky and affright-
able, the valleys, plains, and interior parts may well be
very fertile. But there is no kingdom so fertile that hath
not some barren part ; and New England is great enough
to make many kingdoms and countries were it all
inhabited.

As you pass the coast still westward, Accominticus and
Passataquach are two convenient harbors for small barks,
and a good country within their craggy cliffs. Angoam is
the next. This place might content a right curious judg
ment ; but there are many sands at the entrance of the
harbor and the worst is it is embayed too far from the
deep sea. Here are many rising hills and on their tops
and descents many corn-fields and delightful groves.

From thence (Naimkech) doth stretch into the sea the

118 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

fair headland of Tragabigzanda fronted with three isles
called the Three Turks' Heads. To the north of this doth
enter a great bay, where were found some habitations and
corn-fields. They report a great river and at least thirty
habitations. But because the French had got their trade,
I had no leisure to discover it.

The isles of Mattahunts are on the west side of this
bay, where are many isles and questionless good harbors,
and then the country of the Massachusetts, which is the
paradise of all those parts. For here are many isles all
planted with corn, groves, mulberries, savages' gardens,
and good harbors; the coast is for the most part high,
clayey, sandy cliffs. The sea-coast as you pass shows
you all along corn-fields and great troops of well-propor
tioned people. But the French, having remained here
near six weeks, left us no occasion to examine the
number of people, the rivers, and other things.

We found the people in those parts very kind but in
their fury no less valiant. For upon a quarrel we had
with one of them, he, only with three others, crossed the
harbor of Quanahassit to certain rocks whereby we must
pass, and there let fly their arrows for our shot till we
were out of danger.

Then came we to Acconmac, an excellent good harbor,
good land, and no want of anything but industrious peo
ple. After much kindness, upon a small occasion, we

JOHN SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OF NEW ENGLAND 119

fought also with forty or fifty of those ; though some were
hurt and some slain, yet within an hour after they became
friends.

Cape Cod is the next that presents itself, which is only
a headland of high hills of sand, overgrown with shrubby
pines, hurts, and such trash, but an excellent harbor for
all weathers. This cape is made by the main sea on one
side and a great bay on the other in the form of a sickle.
On it doth inhabit the people of Paumet and in the bot
tom of the bay the people of Chawum.

Toward the south and west of this cape is found a long
and dangerous shoal of sands and rocks. But so far as I
encircled it, I found thirty fathoms of water aboard the
shore and a strong current, which makes me think there
is a channel about this shoal ; where is the best and great
est fish to be had winter and summer in all that country.

The herbs and fruits (of New England) are of many
sorts : currants, mulberries, vines, plums, walnuts, chest
nuts, small nuts, etc., pumpkins, gourds, strawberries,
beans, peas, and maize ; a kind or two of flax wherewith
they make nets, lines, and ropes.

There are eagles, many kinds of hawks, cranes, geese,
brants, cormorants, ducks, sheldrakes, teals, gulls, turkeys,
dive-droppers, and many other sorts whose names I know
not; whales, grampus, porpoises, turbot, sturgeon, cod,
hake, haddock, cole, shark, mackerel, eels, crabs, lobsters.

120

PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

mussels, oysters, and many others ; moose, a beast bigger
than a stag, deer, red and fallow, beavers, wolves, foxes,
wildcats, bears, otters, martens, and divers sorts of ver
min whose names I know not.

All these and divers other good things do here for want
of use increase and decrease. They grow to that abun
dance that you
shall scarce find
any bay, shallow
shore, or cove of
sand, where you
may not take
many clams and
lobsters, and in
many places load
your boat if you

—^

=m^ please; nor isles
where you find
not fruits, birds, or
crabs, or mussels,
or all of them, for
the taking at low
water. And in the harbors we frequented, a little boy
might take, of cunners and pinacks and such delicate fish,
at the ship's stern, more fish than six or ten men can eat
in a day; but with the casting net thousands when we

INDIANS WISHING

JOHN SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OF NEW ENGLAND 121

pleased. And scarce any place but cod, cuske, halibut,
mackerel, skate, or such like, a man may take with a
hook or line what he will. And in divers sandy bays a
man may draw with a net great store of mullets, bass,
and other sorts of such excellent fish, as many as his net
can draw on shore.

There is no river where there is not plenty of sturgeon,
or salmon, or both, all of which are to be had in abun
dance, observing but their seasons. But if a man will
go at Christmas to gather cherries in Kent, he may be
deceived, though there be plenty in summer. So here
these plenties have each their seasons, as I have expressed.

CHAPTER VII

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS*

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS was born at Genoa about 1436.
The family had been weavers. Columbus was probably
sent to school till he was about fourteen, when he turned
to the sea, and for many years made voyages in the Medi
terranean, and later beyond that to England, and also
south along the coast of Africa.

He became in time an expert geographer and map-
maker, and, being also an experienced seaman, he made
charts for sea-captains and merchants.

His native place, Genoa, in northwestern Italy, was an
important port and shipping centre for Mediterranean
countries, and Columbus often returned here between his
voyages and probably employed his time, while at home,
in map-making. A number of interesting stories are told
of his adventures and shipwreck in these early voyages,
but little is definitely known except that he became a
thoroughly seasoned and expert sailor and sea-captain.

About the year 1470 he made his way to Lisbon, where
his younger brother, Bartholomew, had gone before, as it

1 Authorities : Fiske's "Discovery of America" and Irving's "Life oi
Columbus."

122

CHBISTOtHEK COLUMBUS

128

had become a famous centre for navigators and sea-faring
men. Under the guidance of Prince Henry of Portugal,
the Portuguese had become greatly interested in explora
tions along the
west coast of
Africa. It is
probable that
Columbus sailed
as far as the
equator on some
of these voy
ages, and he
himself tells of
one of his voy
ages to England
and beyond as
far as Iceland.

At Lisbon, in
1473, Columbus
married a beau-

tiful Portuguese COLUMBUS

lady, Philippa, whose father had been governor of Porto
Santo, one of the Madeira Islands. Soon afterward
Columbus and his wife went to live for a few years on
this island. Philippa's father had left property there,
including valuable charts, and it is believed that, while

124 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

dwelling upon this island, three hundred miles west of
the coast of Africa, Columbus first formed the idea of
sailing westward to the coast of India.

On account of their rich products the lands along the
southern coast of Asia, known as India, were regarded
by the people of Europe as the richest of all lands. It
was supposed that any one who could find an easy way
to India would gain boundless wealth. Before the
time of Columbus the trade with India was carried on
by ships to the Black Sea, where caravans carried goods
from Bagdad and the Persian Gulf along the Tigris to
Trebizond. Another caravan route was from the Tigris
to Damascus and then to the Mediterranean at Tyre
and Sidon. A third route was by way of Alexandria
in Egypt, up the Nile and across to the Red Sea. By
these 'different routes, there were brought from India,
partly by water, partly by caravan, oil, fruits, gold and
precious stones, beautiful silks and embroidered robes,
spices and fine weapons. The trade in these valuable
products centred in Venice and made that city very rich.
But the cities along the overland route to northern
Europe, like those of the Rhine and Danube, were made
prosperous by this trade with the East. From Europe,
cotton and woollen goods, toys, and other products were
sent to India. When Columbus was a boy, the Turks
conquered Constantinople and closed up the trade routes

126 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

by way of the Black Sea and the Persian Gulf, and later
they took possession of Egypt also and thus almost
closed up thi§ way of reaching India.

Columbus believed that by sailing westward from
Spain he would come to the islands of India. If such
a route to the rich lands and cities of India could be
found, it would be much shorter and easier than by way
of the Mediterranean and by caravans across the deserts
to India.

Columbus had many good reasons for thinking that
the earth is spherical like a ball, so that India could
be reached by going westward as well, and perhaps
better than by going eastward. He had learned some
things from his own observations as a sailor during
thirty years and more. By watching ships disappear on
the sea he had one proof. He had been almost to the
equator on the south, and to Iceland in the north, and
he had observed that the North Star and other stars
toward the north appear higher in the heavens than
farther south. Besides this, Columbus had read much
in books of geography and astronomy and had found
that many of the wisest writers believed the world to
be shaped like a ball. In order to be still more surely
convinced, he wrote a letter to Toscanelli, a famous
astronomer of Florence, explaining his belief that he
should find India by sailing west. Toscanelli, who

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 127

was an old man of seventy-seven years, was much pleased
with the letter and plans of a voyage, and not only en
couraged Columbus to sail westward but drew a map of
Spain, Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean, marking down the
islands and showing how far he thought Columbus
would need to sail before reaching India. This map
Columbus kept and used on the voyage.

Columbus became thus firmly convinced that he could
reach India by sailing westward across the Atlantic.

But he had no money with which to build ships and
hire sailors for so dangerous a voyage. For some
years he had been at Lisbon from time to time and had
succeeded in getting an audience with King John II,
in which he urged his plan upon the king. The king
did not feel like deciding so difficult a question and
called a council of geographers and learned men. They
condemned Columbus's plan, thinking it a wild dream.
Still the king was interested in the matter and called
another council of the most learned men in the king
dom. Some of the council approved of his plan, but
others thought it too expensive or dangerous or im
possible. King John allowed himself to treat Columbus
very meanly. Having secured Columbus's charts and
plans of the voyage, he secretly sent out a ship with a
captain and crew to see whether they could not find the
way to India and thus outwit Columbus. The expedi-

128 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

tion proceeded to the Cape Verde Islands and thence sailed
westward. The captain and sailors had not gone far be
fore they became frightened at the great waste of ocean
around them, so they turned back and on their return to
Lisbon ridiculed Columbus's plan. When this meanness
and dishonesty came to the ears of Columbus, he was
very indignant at the king. He left Portugal at once
and set out for Spain, where he hoped for better treat
ment from the king and queen.

In the autumn of 1484 Columbus was in Spain with
his little son, Diego, whom he left with an aunt, his
mother's sister, at Huelva, near Palos, on the south
west coast of Spain. At this time Ferdinand and
Isabella, king and queen of Spain, were carrying on a
great war with the Moors, who were not Christians,
trying to capture the old castle and city of Granada arid
drive the Moors out of Spain into Africa. Then Ferdi
nand and Isabella would rule over the whole of Spain
and be free from the Mohammedan Moors.

The king and queen were so busy raising money and
armies to carry on this war that Columbus, for some
time, was unable to get a hearing. But the Spanish
treasurer became interested in his ideas and in the fall
of 1486 a council of learned men was called at the
University of Salamanca, where much opposition to
Columbus was shown. His idea that the earth is spheri-

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 129

cal was ridiculed. Texts of scripture were brought up
against him and some passages of ancient books were
quoted to prove him in the wrong. Some of the priests
and scholars, indeed, were strongly in favor of Columbus
and adopted his views. But nothing was done to help
him in his undertaking.

In the fall of 1488 Columbus made another visit to
Lisbon to see his brother, Bartholomew, who had just
returned from a great voyage with Diaz, in which they
had explored southward along the coast of Africa till they
came to the Cape of Good Hope and thus opened up the
way to India by passing round Africa. Columbus now
sent bis brother to England with maps and plans to secure
the aid of King Henry. He was received and well treated
by the king but was not given money or ships. Bartholo
mew, therefore, set out for France to make another effort.

Columbus returned to Spain and joined the Spanish
army fighting against the Moors, where he showed great
valor as a soldier. Not receiving help from the king, he
applied to one of the great nobles, the Duke of Medina-
Sidonia, who refused to aid him. Then the Duke of
Medina-Celi proved a strong friend, kept Columbus at his
palace for two years, and proposed to fit out some vessels
with which he could make his voyage. The queen refused
to grant the duke the privilege but she herself failed to
take up the matter, and Columbus, disgusted with long

130 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

waiting, resolved to shake off the dust of Spain from his
feet and to go to France or England. He deserted the
Spanish court, set out for Huelva to get his little son,
Diego, who should go with him. As he and the boy were
walking one afternoon along the road in sight of the
ocean, a few miles from Palos, they stopped at a little
monastery, La Rabida, to get food and drink. At this
time Columbus was very much discouraged ; for many
years he had labored with the kings of Portugal and Spain
to secure help for his great plan, but now, after so many
years of fruitless toil, he was about to leave Spain and
start out for new and strange lands and kings to seek
help. Little did he dream that in this little home
of monks, a mile or two from Palos, he was to meet the
man who would greatly aid him in his plan.

The prior, or head of the monastery, was Juan Perez,
who saw Columbus and talked with him as he entered the
gate. He had never before met the navigator; but he
was a wise man, and as they talked together he became
interested in Columbus's plan of a great voyage and asked
many questions. He persuaded Columbus to stay over
night and sent for a young physician of Palos, Garcia,
and Martin Pinzon, a sea-captain, who talked over Colum
bus's plan with enthusiasm. A few years before, Juan
Perez had been confessor to Isabella at the court, and he
now offered to go to court and persuade Isabella to under-

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 131

take the expense of the voyage. He sent a letter to the
queen and was at once summoned to appear at court.
After a few weeks he returned from Granada with a sum
equivalent to $1180 to pay Columbus's expenses for ap
pearing again at court. Columbus bought a court suit,
a mule, and other things and set out again to visit the
queen. His little son, Diego, he left with one of the priests.
As soon as Columbus reached Granada he was well
received and his plan was again discussed by a council of
learned men. But, although some opposed him, many
of the leading men were strong supporters of his plan,
and the queen promised to undertake it as soon as Gra
nada was captured and the war against the Moors ended.
This happened very soon, in the spring of 1492, but then
a difficulty arose that threatened to put an end to the
whole plan. Columbus was unwilling to undertake the
voyage unless the queen promised to make him admiral of
the ocean and governor of all the lands he should discover,
and allow him to receive one-eighth of all the profits
coming from those lands. The queen felt that these
demands were too large and the agreement was broken
off. Columbus refused to undertake the voyage on any
less favorable terms, so he mounted his mule and started
to leave the court a ' second time. Some of the chief
advisers of the queen went to her and urged that she
was losing a great chance.

132

PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

She was persuaded to think the matter over and a swift
horseman was sent to overtake Columbus, who was found
jogging along on his mule about six miles from Granada.
He was persuaded to return and soon an agreement was
made that was satisfactory to both parties.

THE DEPARTURE OF COLUMBUS

Now, in a second meeting with the queen, it was
agreed that Columbus should be admiral in all the islands
and countries he might discover, that he should be gov
ernor of these new lands, that he should iiave for himself

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 133

one-tenth of all the precious stones, pearls, gold, silver,
spices, and merchandise obtained in those regions, that he
should be judge of all disputes arising as to trade in those
countries. Columbus was to meet one-eighth of all the
expenses of the fitting out of vessels for the journey.
Some of Columbus's friends furnished him the money
for this purpose. The queen herself and her treasurer,
Santangel, undertook the work, and Ferdinand, the king,
was not directly concerned in it.

At the port of Palos, on the southeast coast of Spain,
Columbus was to prepare his men and fleet. The little
town itself was required to raise a tax upon its citizens to
help pay the expense and this they grumbled at. When
Columbus went down to Palos to begin work, the town
was in an uproar, the sailors and people were frightened
by such a voyage out on the great unknown sea. Colum
bus was cursed on account of the forced tax but the Pin-
zon brothers (sea-captains) were his strong friends and
supported the undertaking.

Three ships (caravels) were secured, the Santa Maria,
the admiral's flag-ship, the Pinta, a smaller but swifter
vessel, and the Nina. The two smaller vessels were not
decked amidships. Columbus had more trouble in secur
ing men than ships. Those going on this rash journey
scarcely expected to see their homes again. To persuade
men to join the crews debts were forgiven and some pris-

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 135

oners were released from jail on the promise of going
with Columbus. Ninety persons were at length secured
to man the three vessels. August 3, 1492, before sunrise,
they set sail from Palos in the midst of sorrow and weep
ing. They stood southward to the Canaries. Before
they reached the islands there were bad signs of trouble.
The Pinta broke her rudder and Columbus suspected that
its owners, who were on board, had purposely disabled it
so that their vessel might be left behind. At the Cana
ries, Columbus stopped to repair the Pinta. These were
Spanish islands and a safe place for Spanish ships to stop.
But even here two things threatened danger. First, it was
reported that some Portuguese ships were near to prevent
Columbus sailing. A volcano on one of the islands had
an eruption and caused a second terror to the supersti
tious sailors. But in spite of all these fears, on Septem
ber 6, they set sail from the Canaries on the first great
voyage out into the Atlantic. As they sailed westward
they saw the lighted mountain behind them sending out
fire and smoke. A short distance from the coast they were
becalmed and made only thirty miles in two days. Then
the breeze freshened and the islands passed out of sight.
Many of the sailors cried and sobbed like children.

The weather was fine and but for the fears of the
sailors this might have been a pleasant voyage. Many
things happened to excite their anxious fears. Septem-

136

PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

ber 13 the ship crossed the line where the needle
pointed straight north, and Columbus was astonished to
see that the compass needle began to sway from the
right to the left of the Pole Star. When the pilots
found the compass acting so queerly, they thought it
bewitched and playing a foul trick as a punishment

THE FLEET OF COLUMBUS

for their boldness. Columbus himself, though puzzled,
soothed their fears with a shrewd explanation.

On September 16 the vessels entered a vast tract of
floating seaweed and grasses, where many timny fish
and crabs were seen. " They had entered the wonder
ful Sargasso Sea, where vast tangles of vegetation cover

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 137

the surface of water more than two thousand fathoms
deep." At first the ships went through this tangle
with considerable ease, but, the wind becoming light, they
found progress difficult. Then the crews became fright
ened and thought of stories they had heard of "myste
rious impassable seas and of overbold sailors whose
ships stuck fast in them." Some were afraid they might
be stranded on shoals, but sounding they were aston
ished to find their longest line failed to reach the bot
tom. After a few days stronger winds blew and on
September 22 the ships had passed the sea of grass.

Now a new fear was aroused in the sailors by the
trade winds which blew steadily westward. Perhaps
they would never be able to return in the face of these
winds. After a while the wind changed to the south
west and their fears were quieted.

The crews were now impatient at not finding land.
Columbus, fearing this, had kept two logs, one for him
self and one for the crew. In the log for the crew he
never told the full number of miles sailed each day
and they did not know how far they really were from
the Canaries. Lately many signs of land had appeared.
Strange birds were seen flying through the air. A
mirage showed what appeared to be a coast-line but
the next morning it was gone, and then the men were
sure they had reached an enchanted place. Some one

138 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

suggested pushing Columbus overboard in such manner
that it would seem he had fallen while looking at the
stars. The fear that the fleet might not be able to
return to Spain without him probably saved his life.

On October 4 there were signs of mutiny and Colum
bus, to please his pilots, changed his course to the south
west. They were now 2724 miles from the Canaries,
though the log for the crew showed only 2200 miles.
This change to the southwest, although they did not
know it, shortened the distance to land about two hun
dred miles, as the coast of Florida directly west of them
was farther than the island they finally reached. On
October 11 signs of land became unmistakable and all
were much excited. A reward was promised to the one
that first saw the land and all watched eagerly. About
ten o'clock the admiral, standing on the high poop of
his vessel, saw a moving light as if some one were run
ning along the shore with a torch. A few hours later
a sailor on the Pinta saw land and soon all could see
the low coast some five miles away. This was at
two o'clock in the morning of Friday, October 12th — just
ten weeks since they had sailed from Palos and thirty-
three days since they lost sight of Ferro. The sails
were now taken in, and the ships lay to, waiting for
dawn.

At daybreak Columbus, with most of his men, went

140 PIONEERS OK LAND AND SEA

ashore. Beautiful trees and shrubs were upon every
side. All was strange and new and beautiful. The
sailors were wild with delight. They had at last
reached Cipango (Japan) and her great wealth was
theirs. The officers embraced Columbus or kissed his
hands, while the sailors threw themselves at his feet
and begged his pardon.

The people of the island gathered around, watching
the strangers with amazement. The natives were un
like any people the Spaniards had ever seen. All were
naked and most of them were greased and painted.
They thought the ships were sea-monsters and the white
men strange creatures from the sky. At first they ran
away as the strangers came ashore, but finding they
were not hurt they came slowly back, stopping every
few paces to throw themselves down to show their
respect. The Spaniards received them with nods and
smiles and they soon came close to the visitors and
touched them, as if to make sure that they were real,
and not a mere vision. The Spaniards offered them
presents of glass beads and hawks' bells and received
in return cotton yarn, tame parrots, and small gold
ornaments. Columbus tried to ask them, with signs,
where they got their gold and they pointed to the
south. Then Columbus decided that he was a little
north of the rich Cipango. This, he soon discovered

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 141

was a small island and he understood the name to be
Guanahani. He took formal possession of it for Cas
tile and gave it a Christian name, San Salvador. The
island discovered was one of the Bahamas. The name
San Salvador is still given to one of this group, though
perhaps not the one first seen by Columbus.

For ten days the ships sailed among the Bahamas
and visited four of the islands. Columbus was satis
fied that he was in the ocean east of Cathay, for Marco
Polo had said it was studded with thousands of spice-
bearing islands, and some of them were inhabited by
naked savages. Although he had found no spices, there
were many strange trees and shrubs; and the air was
full of fragrance and this might mean anything. When
the natives were asked where they found their gold,
they always pointed southward and there must lie the
island he was seeking.

He sailed to the south, intending to stay a short time
at Ciparigo and then sail on to China.

Soon he reached Cuba and was charmed with the
beauty of its scenery. Pearl oysters were found along
the shore. He was sure he had reached Cipango, though
no large cities could be seen. He tried to talk with the
natives, and understood them to say that Cuba was a part
of the Asiatic continent and that there was a king in th',
neighborhood that was at war with the Great Khan. So

142 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

he sent two messengers, one of them a converted Jew
who spoke Arabic, a language heard in parts of Asia, to
find the two kings. These messengers found pleasant
villages, with large houses surrounded by fields of to
bacco and of such unknown vegetables as maize and pota
toes. Columbus says in his diary, " The two Christians
met on the road a great many people going to their vil
lages, men and women with brands in their hands, made
of herbs for taking their customary smoke." The Span
iards little dreamed that the tobacco fields would some day
bring greater wealth than the spices they were seeking.
They passed acres of growing cotton and saw in the
houses piles of yarn that was to be woven into rough
cloth or twisted into nets for hammocks. They found
neither cities nor kings, neither gold nor spices, and soon
returned to the coast.

Columbus was puzzled. If this was the continent of
Asia, where was Cipango ? He thought the natives said
there was a great island to the southwest where much
gold was found, so he sailed in that direction. On the
20th of November, Martin Pinzon, whose ship could
outsail the others, deserted him. Pinzon seemed to think
that he might get credit for the discovery of the islands if
he first carried home the news.

For two weeks after Pinzon's desertion, Columbus sailed
slowly eastward along the coast of Cuba. He found

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 143

pearls and mastic and aloes and it seemed to him there
were signs of gold. Passing the island, he reached, on
the 6th of December, the island of Hayti, which he
called Hispaniola, or "Spanish land." Here again he
thought the natives spoke of gold inland and, as they
called the island Cibano, he was sure they meant Cipango
and that he had at last reached the place he sought.
The scenery was beautiful. Columbus says : " The land
is elevated with many mountains and peaks . . . most
beautiful, of a thousand varied forms, accessible, and full
of trees of endless varieties, so tall that they almost touch
the sky ; and I have been told that they never lose their
foliage. The nightingale and other small birds .of a
thousand kinds were singing in November (December)
when I was there." l Before he had done much exploring
an accident made him change his plans. On Christmas
morning, through carelessness of the helmsman, the flag
ship struck upon a sand-bank, where the waves soon
dashed her to pieces.

After the desertion of the Pinta and of her crew and
captain, the loss of the flag-ship Santa Maria caused
Columbus to fear that he would not be able to get back
to Spain. The only ship left, the Nina, was small, and
might never be able to cross the ocean back to Spain.
Columbus therefore prepared to return. After the loss of

1 Fiske's " Discovery of America."

144 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

the flag-ship, more men were left than could well return
on the little Nina, and some of them desired to be left
on the island to await Columbus's return on a second voy
age. The climate was so delightful and the Indians so
friendly that the men were eager to stay. Forty of them
remained on the island. From the wrecked timbers of
the ship a fort was built and the guns of the lost vessel
Dlaced upon it, and when the preparations were made,
Columbus with one ship set sail on his return.

Two days later, while sailing along the northern coast
of Hispaniola, the Nina -came in -sight of the Pinta.
The commander pretended to be glad to see Columbus
and tried to explain that he had been separated from
Columbus by bad weather. Columbus was glad to see
the other ship again and to have her company on the
return voyage, though he believed that the captain had
tried to desert him.

As soon as the ships got out into the ocean they met
the westward blowing trade-winds which made sailing
eastward slow and difficult. In order to avoid these trade-
winds Columbus sailed to the northeast till he reached
the 37th parallel, which is outside of the limit of trade-
winds. Then he sailed directly toward Spain. They had
started back across the ocean on January 4. On Febru
ary 12 a storm overtook the two small vessels and tossed
them with great violence for four days. It was so severe

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 145

and long continued that Columbus almost despaired of
holding out. Fearing that his ships would both go down,
he wrote out on parchment two accounts of his voyage
and discoveries, addressed to Ferdinand and Isabella,
wrapped them in cloth and then surrounded them with a
cake of wax. Each of these was securely fastened in a
tight barrel. One of the barrels was cast overboard.
The two vessels were separated during the storm and did
not meet again upon the sea. Before the tempest ceased
the Nina came in sight of land, which proved to be one
of the Azores Islands. These belonged to Portugal and
when a company of Columbus's sailors landed and went to
one of the churches to offer thanks for their deliverance
from the storm, they were arrested and cast into prison,
where they were left five days. Columbus threatened the
governor with the punishment of Spain unless the men
were given up and at length they were sent back to the
ship.

As Columbus with his single ship now sailed eastward
toward Cape St. Vincent, they met another fierce storm
and were carried to the north, and at length found refuge
in the harbor of Lisbon at the mouth of the Tagus. But
here also danger threatened the little crew of the Nina.
Some of King John's councillors desired him to have
Columbus arrested or put to death. But King John was
too wise for this- He invited Columbus to his court and

146 1'IONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

treated him honorably and on March 13 allowed him
to set sail for Palos. Two days later the little ship sailed
back into the harbor of Palos and was at once recognized
by the people, who were greatly excited and rejoiced.
They had scarcely expected to see again the friends who
had sailed away the year before out into the unknown
ocean. That evening, while the bells were ringing and
everybody was rejoicing, the Pinta sailed into the harbor.
Captain Pinzon of the Pinta, hoping that Columbus had
gone down in the storm, had written a letter to the king
and queen, claiming the credit of the discovery for him
self. His vessel had been driven northward in the storm
to France but he returned to Palos on the same day
as Columbus. He was greatly disappointed in finding
Columbus already in port. Discouraged and worn out
and knowing how unjustly he had acted, he died a few
days later.

Columbus sent a message to the king and queen of his
safe arrival but the news had spread to them before the
letter reached them. He was summoned to appear before
them at Barcelona and to give an account of his dis
coveries. His reception by the king and queen was a
grand scene. He was bidden to sit down in the presence
of the monarchs, an honor usually granted only to mem
bers of the royal family. The curious products of the
newly discovered islands — parrots, plants, pearls, and

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 147

gold — were displayed, and even six savages brought from
Hispaniola were presented as interesting curiosities.

RECEPTION OP COLUMBUS ON HIS RETURN

The islands discovered by Columbus were supposed
to be a part of the eastern coast of Asia, especially Japan.
The whole coast of eastern Asia, called India, was but
very imperfectly known to Europeans and these natives
were therefore called Indians. In fact, it was many years

148 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

after this before people found out that the islands dis
covered by Columbus are separated from India and
China by a great continent and by thousands of miles
of ocean.

The discovery of these islands and of this supposed
western route to India was a cause of great pride and
pleasure to Ferdinand and Isabella. The rich countries
of India would thus fall into the hands of Spain and
great wealth was expected.

King John of Portugal, who had refused to help
Columbus, felt bitterly disappointed that he had let slip
this great chance of adding to his kingdom and he was
very envious of the Spaniards.

The king and queen were now anxious to send out a
strong fleet of ships, with soldiers, sailors, and settlers,
to take possession of the new lands and still further to
explore this beautiful and boundless region of wealth.
The war which Ferdinand and Isabella had waged against
the Moors in southern Spain had ended in the capture of
the chief Moorish city, Granada, and the expulsion of the
Moors, and now many soldiers, and even young Spanish
nobles, were ready to seek adventure and wealth in the
newly discovered lands of India.

Columbus, of course, must be the commander of this
expedition and by the agreement made with Isabella and
Ferdinand before the first voyage, he was governor- general

COLUMBUS 149

and admiral over all these new countries, with a right
to keep for himself and his children these honors and
with them one-tenth of all the wealth obtained. In a
word, Columbus had become a great Spanish noble and
men flocked to his ships.

In September, 1493, he had command of seventeen
vessels and fifteen hundred men, soldiers, sailors, and
other adventurers, who were full of joyful enthusiasm
for discovery and conquest.

On this voyage Columbus, passing farther south, first
touched the Caribbean Islands, and, after stopping at
Porto Rico, passed on to Hispaniola and La Navidad.
Much to his sorrow he found only the charred ruins of
the fort in which he had left forty men upon his first
voyage. The boxes of provisions and chests of tools had
been broken open and carried away, and the bodies of
eleven white men were found near the fort. Later,
Columbus learned from the Indians that the white men
had quarrelled among themselves and had treated the
natives so badly that the red men had gathered in large
numbers, and had attacked and destroyed the fort and
all the white men.

Columbus now laid out a town at a good harbor on the
north coast of Hispaniola, and named it Isabella, where
he built houses, a market, and a church, and surrounded
the whole with a stone wall. This place was left under

150 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

the command of his brother, Diego, while Columbus, after
sending twelve vessels back to Spain for supplies, took
three ships for a voyage of further exploration. He
passed along the southern coast of Cuba and the islands
about a thousand miles, then returned along the coast of
Jamaica, and finally passed eastward around the southern
coast of Hispaniola, everywhere searching for rich cities
which he did not find.

Just before reaching Isabella, he was taken very sick
and was for several weeks unconscious. As he recovered
from this illness at Isabella, he found the affairs of his
colony in very bad shape. The Spanish soldiers and
nobles had been quarrelsome and disobedient to the gov
ernor and wandered about the island, committing wrongs
against the natives instead of working and strengthening
the colony. Two of the leading Spaniards, with their
friends, seized a vessel and sailed back to Spain and
made bitter complaints against Columbus and his brother
to Ferdinand and Isabella.

A strong native chief now formed a plot to destroy all
the white men but it was discovered and the chief cap
tured. In spite of his capture, an Indian war broke out
and Columbus spent a year in subduing the savages^ and
in bringing the troublesome and disorderly Spaniards
under control. In the meantime four vessels had arrived
with much-needed supplies, but they also had on board

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 151

an agent sent out by the king and queen to examine into
the condition of the colony and its government. This
man, Aguado, was shrewdly won over by the enemies of
Columbus, so that Columbus thought it best to go back
to Spain with him and defend his own conduct at court.

A short time before starting, rich gold mines were
discovered near the south coast and with this good news
Columbus set sail. His brother, Bartholomew, was left in
command and the next summer, 1496, transferred the
headquarters of the colony to the south coast, where he
founded the city of San Domingo.

The two ships were overloaded with two hundred
passengers and on the return trip got out of food and
almost starved, the men even threatening to eat their
Indian captives. Yet Columbus was able to hinder this
and the starved company at length reached Cadiz.

Columbus was received kindly at the court, and, after
much delay and vexation caused by his enemies, in the
spring of 1498 he had six ships ready for his third
voyage. Sailing farther south on this cruise so as to
reach the supposed Spice Islands and gold regions, he came
into the region of cairns just north of the equator.
Irving says : " The wind suddenly fell and a dead sultry
calm commenced, which lasted for eight days. The air
was like a furnace ; the tar melted, the seams of the ship
yawned; the salt meat became putrid; the wheat was

152 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

parched as if with fire ; the hoops shrank from the
wine and water casks, some of which leaked and
others burst, while the heat in the holds of the
vessels was so suffocating that no one could remain
below a sufficient time to prevent the damage that
was taking place. The mariners lost all strength and
spirit and sank under the oppressive heat. It seemed
as if the old fable of the torrid zone was about to
be realized ; and that they were approaching a fiery
region, where it would be impossible to exist." (Quoted
by Fiske.)

But, while there was no breath of wind, the strong
equatorial current carried the ships steadily toward the
northwest, so that after eight days they arrived again
in the region of westward trades, and with ten days of
good sailing came in sight of an island with three
mountain peaks, which Columbus called Trinidad. In
passing around the southern side of this island the
ships were caught in a mighty current of fresh water
which swept through the channel. This passage he
called the Serpent's Mouth, as it almost swallowed up
his ships, and led him to guess that it must be the
mouth of some great river draining an unheard-of con
tinent to the south. Sailing westward along the coast,
he made a collection of fine pearls. Here, again, ex
hausted with his anxieties and exertions, he became

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 153

feverish, his eyes failed, and he was forced to turn
northward to San Domingo.

His brother, Bartholomew, had been in charge of the
colony during his .absence and had found no end of
trouble with the rebellious Spaniards and with the
Indians who were furious against the white man. A
Spanish scoundrel named Roldan had raised a rebellion
against Bartholomew and had joined his men with the
Indians in the western part of the island. Columbus
and his brother managed to put down these rebels,
hanged some of the worst leaders, and threw others into
prison. Reports of these troubles reached Spain from
time to time, and the powerful enemies of Columbus at
the court filled the ears of the Spanish rulers with
complaints and false charges of his cruelty and wrong
doing against the Spaniards and Indians.

At length, by order of Ferdinand and Isabella, a
Spanish knight, Bobadilla, was sent out with full au
thority to inquire into the condition of the colony,
arrest and punish wrong-doers, and, if necessary, to
take the government into his own hands.

When Bobadilla arrived at San Domingo, instead of
making careful inquiries into the conduct of Columbus
and his brother, he at once liberated the rebels from
prison, joined with the enemies of Columbus, and with
out notice or trial threw him and his brothers into

154 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

prison and loaded them with chains. He then collected
from the rebels all manner of complaints against Colum
bus and forwarded them, with him as a prisoner, to
Spain. The sea-captain, on whose vessel Columbus was
put, was shocked to see the stately form of the old
man in irons and offered to release him, but Columbus
replied that he would wear the fetters till removed by
the order of his sovereigns, as full proof of the foul
treatment he had received. His son, Ferdinand, wrote
that he had afterward often seen these fetters hanging
in his father's room. A letter written on shipboard by
Columbus to one of the ladies at the court, and de
scribing the manner in which he had been treated,
came into the hands of the queen and she was so
much shocked that she sent a swift messenger to Cadiz,
ordering that he and his brothers be released, that
Columbus be invited at once to the court, after receiving
a purse of money for his expenses.

When Columbus arrived at the palace of the Alham-
bra in Granada, he was received with tears by the
queen and was so much overcome that, as Fiske says,
"this much-enduring old man, whose proud and mas
terful spirit had so long been proof against all wrongs
and insults, broke down. He threw himself at the feet
of the sovereigns in an agony of tears and sobs." He
was promised payment for all his losses. But it was

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 155

difficult for Isabella to fulfil her promises to him.
The Spaniards hated him as a foreigner, and it was
extremely difficult, even for a native Spaniard, to rule
successfully his cruel and plotting countrymen. Espe
cially was this true upon far-away islands, where they
had but little fear of the government of Spain, and
where they were all the while, by mean and bloody
deeds, stirring up the Indians to war. Columbus was,
therefore, fed on promises, while others were allowed to
rule and enrich themselves in the lands which he had
discovered.

In 1502, with four small and leaky vessels, he was
allowed to make a fourth voyage of exploration, hoping
at last to find some rich empire that would reward him
for all his labors and pay Spain the heavy costs of his
voyages and colonies. He finally reached the shores of
Yucatan and sailed southward many hundreds of miles
along the coasts of Central America, finding, indeed,
races of men who dressed in cotton and built large
stone or adobe houses. The natives wore also gold
ornaments and this seemed to point to rich gold-producing
countries to the west. Passing southward in hopes of
finding a passage to China, which he thought was close
at hand, he began to suffer great hardships. His ships
became worm-eaten, the food gave out, many of his
men were killed in Indian troubles, and he was com-

156 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

pelled to sail back to San Domingo. On the south
coast of Cuba his leaky vessels were met by a storm
and were driven at last upon the coast of Jamaica,
where they were too full of water to sail farther.
They were hauled up on the beach and two men were
sent in a canoe across to San Domingo to ask help.
But the governor, Ovando, made no effort at first to
rescue them and Columbus and his party spent a mis
erable year upon this wild coast.

A mutiny among his men led to a pitched battle, in
which Bartholomew was victor and killed or captured
the rebels. Finally Ovando sent two vessels to bring
back the suffering company of Columbus and pretended
to treat him and his brothers with courtesy. But Co
lumbus was glad to get away from so treacherous a
friend and sailed for Spain, where he arrived a few
days before the death of Isabella. After her death he
had no strong friend at court and could do little to
secure his rights. The last year and a half of his life
was spent in sickness and poverty, and, worn out with
disappointment and sorrow, he died May 20, 1506.

But Columbus had accomplished more than even he
had ever dreamed. He did not know that he had
touched upon the shores of two vast continents, far
more important to Europe than India and China. The
rich empires of Mexico and Peru were close at hand,

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 157

which would soon put vast quantities of gold into the
hands of the conquering Spaniards. If he could have
opened his eyes to the real importance of his dis
coveries, if he could have seen the great map of North
and South America, as we know it, unrolled, he would
have been filled with wonder.

Columbus, in his explorations and settlements in the
West Indies, bad two very difficult classes of people to
deal with, — the Spaniards and the Indians.

In exploring the islands, the Spaniards had to support
themselves from the country and they often plundered
and maltreated the Indians. The Indians in turn would
plot the destruction of the white men, and bloody war
followed.

In order to establish some sort of peace and understand
ing between the Indians and the whites, Columbus levied
a small tribute, or tax, upon all the Indians, which
would bring a sufficient sum to meet the needs of the
Spaniards. Those who had not paid this tribute were
required to work for their Spanish masters. This soon
led to a form of slavery, as whole villages of Indians
were required to till the soil for a single Spaniard who
ruled the district as if it were his plantation. This system
grew worse and worse and the Spanish masters practised
the most inhuman cruelties upon their Indian subjects or
slaves. Columbus did not intend to establish a system

158 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

of slavery ; but soon after he left Hispaniola the system
he had started developed into the most cruel form of
bondage. Many of the Indians were required to labor in
the mines of San Domingo and were worked so hard and
treated so cruelly tha.t they died in great numbers.

The Indians of the Caribbees were warlike cannibals,
who tortured and roasted the victims whom they cap
tured along the coast of Hispaniola. Columbus, in order
to stop their raids, and at the same time to win the
favor of the Indians in San Domingo, sent expeditions
against the Caribbee Indians, captured many of them and
sent them to Europe as slaves, hoping thus to make
Christians out of them, who might then come back to
civilize their people.

Columbus was especially unfortunate in dealing with
the Spaniards who accompanied him on his voyages.
They were treacherous and mutinous and were con
stantly arousing the bitter hatred of the Indians by their
cruelty and selfish love of gold. He was hated by the
Spaniards as a foreigner and they placed so many
difficulties in his way that he was soon deprived of his
government and his rights were never restored, though
his son, Diego, did become governor of Hispaniola a few
years after his father's death.

Columbus's original purpose was to find a way to the
Indies by the route westward. While the Spaniards

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 159

under the leadership of Columbus were exploring among
the islands, the Portuguese had passed round the Cape of.
Good Hope and even pushed across the Indian Ocean to
India. In 1497 Vasco da Gama sailed around southern
Africa, crossed the Indian Ocean to India, and brought
home a rich cargo of spices, silks, ivory, robes, and pre
cious stones. He had seen great cities and opened up for
Portugal the splendid commerce of the East. Columbus
had not discovered any cities or powerful kingdoms and
his voyages and discoveries had 'been very expensive,
without bringing in much return. It seemed as if the
Portuguese under Da Gama and others had really won the
rich prize, while Columbus had found only a few islands
inhabited by savages. By a decree of the Pope at Rome,
all the newly discovered lands along the coast of Africa
and eastward to India were to belong to Portugal, while
those discovered to the west, by Columbus and others,
were to be the possession of Spain. This line of division
was drawn at first on a meridian three hundred leagues
west of the Cape Verde and Canary Islands.

Columbus fondly hoped that, by pushing a little farther
west among the islands, he would come to those rich
countries of India (the Spice Islands, Japan, and China)
which the Portuguese had already reached by sailing
round Africa and across the Indian Ocean. He never
even dreamed that the Spaniards, soon after his death,

160 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

would discover and conquer rich kingdoms in Mexico and
Peru, more than ten thousand miles from the Indies ; so
ignorant was he of the real geography of the world and
of that vast ocean which lay westward from his newly
discovered islands, and from the continents which he had
touched without knowing what they were.

CHAPTER VIII

FERDINAND MAGELLAN

FERDINAND MAGELLAN was born about 1480, in a
rugged mountain district in Portugal. He belonged to
a noble family and as a
youth was early sent to the
court of Portugal, where
he was brought up in the
royal household. As a boy
he must have seen the
ships coming into Lisbon
from exploring voyages.
When about twenty-five
years old he sailed with
Almeida, the Portuguese
governor of India, around
the coasts of Africa and
spent the next seven years
in service as a soldier and sailor in conquering the East
Indies for Portugal. This was hard service, as he was
engaged in many fierce fights with the Arabs and native
tribes along the coasts of Asia and the East Indies.

M 161

MAGELLAN

162 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

In 1509 he was with the first European ships which
sailed along the coast of Malacca under the command of
Sequeira. While the Portuguese were loading the four
vessels with ginger and pepper, the native Malays were
allowed to throng upon the ships. The Portuguese had
taken all the boats but one ashore to bring the cargo and
many of the white men were scattered along the beach
loading the boats. The shrewd Malay king planned to
attack the Portuguese suddenly and murder them all.
The signal was to be a puff of smoke from a tall square
tower in the town which lay on the hillside. Sequeira,
all unconscious of danger, was playing a game of chess
on the deck of his flag-ship. While the Malays were
standing about, apparently friendly, awaiting the signal,
Magellan heard a rumor of the plot from a friendly
native woman and taking the only remaining boat and
riding to the flag-ship, shouted " treason " just in time to
save Sequeira. The men on board the ships began to
drive off the natives. At the signal from the tower, the
Malays attacked and massacred most of the Portuguese at
work along the shore, but Serrano, the captain, and a few
of his men jumped into their boats and pushed off. They
were swiftly surrounded by a great number of Malay
boats and overwhelmed by numbers. Just at this moment
Magellan rowed up with his men and attacked the Malay
boats with such fury that they were driven off and

FERDINAND MAGELLAN 163

Serrano and his men were saved. The Malays then
swarmed about the ships in their boats but the European
guns soon did such havoc among them that they
withdrew.

From this time Serrano and Magellan became the
closest friends. Serrano pushed still farther eastward
and became settled in the Molucca or Spice Islands.
Magellan returned to Lisbon in 1514 and letters from
his friend Serrano awakened in him the desire to sail
to those islands himself. He had become very much
interested in the study of geography and navigation,
and, by long experience and study, was an expert sea
man and pilot. In the meantime, Amerigo Vespucius
and his associates had sailed along the coast of South
America to 20° below the equator, and it was believed
that there was a passage farther south to the seas be
yond and thus to the Indies. Magellan formed the
daring plan of sailing through this strait and beyond
and then of continuing his course around the world. In
this way he would go to meet his friend, Serrano, in
the Moluccas, from the East. But Magellan had no
notion of the vast breadth of the ocean west of South
America. In fact, he knew very little about South
America itself. About this time he spent a year
with the Portuguese, fighting against the Moors in
Morocco, and received a wound in the knee which lamed

164 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

him for life. He was not in great favor with King
Emanuel of Portugal and when he presented his plan
before the king, it was not well, received.

Magellan therefore decided to offer his services to
the king of Spain in order to carry out his great idea
of circumnavigating the earth. In 1517 he settled at
Seville, in Spain, and soon married the daughter of his
friend and host, Barbosa, a Portuguese in Spanish ser
vice. At the Spanish court Magellan was well received
by Charles V, the young king, the grandson of Ferdi
nand and Isabella. It was agreed that a fleet of ships
should be fitted out for this undertaking, but so slow
was +he work that it was more than a year before all
the necessarj preparations had been made.

The king of Portugal, on hearing that Magellan was
fitting out such an expedition, put many obstacles in
his way. Ruffians were hired to waylay him in the
streets, orders were sent to the East Indies commanding
the Portuguese officer in charge to arrest Magellan should
he come into those regions, and, worse still, the crews
which were to sail with Magellan were corrupted and
three out of four of his captains afterward proved
traitors. The Spaniards at court were naturally jealous
of a foreigner who was sent upon so important an expedi
tion, and even the common people were stirred up against
him. But Magellan had the firm support of King Charles,

FERDINAND MAGELLAN 165

and continued his preparations. He was to have impor
tant rights and privileges in the newly discovered lands,
besides the honor, if successful, of being the first to sail
round the world.

The five ships, Trinidad, San Antonio, Conception,
Victoria, and Santiago, were ready in September, 1519,
and were manned by 280 sailors and adventurers, 37 of
whom were Portuguese who had followed Magellan.
The son of his old friend, Serrano, was captain of the
Santiago, and the only one of the four captains faithful
to Magellan. On the 20th of September the little
fleet escaped from the mouth of the river and set sail.
The boats were old and somewhat weather-beaten, the
largest 120 tons burden, the smallest 75 tons; not a
very promising outfit for so long a voyage in un
known seas. A few days later a small vessel overtook
the flag-ship, with an anxious message from Magellan's
father-in-law, Barbosa, that the captains had sworn to
their friends to kill Magellan if they got into trouble
with him. Magellan sent back the reply to his friends to
be of good cheer, as he would carry out his plan in
spite of the traitors. Pigafetta, a passenger on board
the fleet, kept a journal of this famous voyage, from
which our knowledge is obtained.

After stopping at the Canaries for water and wood,
the squadron sailed to the southwest and was be-

166 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

calmed for three weeks. On account of bad weather
and scarcity of food and water, mutiny began to show
itself. Carthagena, the captain of the San Antonio, the
largest ship, came on board the flag-ship and openly
accused Magellan. Magellan seized him with his own
hands and put him in irons, thus checking the mutiny
for the time. But the captains waited only for a better
opportunity.

The five ships arrived at Rio Janeiro Bay, Decem
ber 13, after a trip of nearly three months. Boats were
quickly lowered and the men were soon on land. The
natives treated the Spaniards very kindly, building a long
hut for them to live in and bringing them some pigs.
These the Spaniards roasted and greatly enjoyed after
months of diet on salt meat and hardtack. They also
tasted the pineapple for the first time and found the
sweet potato, which was described as having the form
of the turnip and a taste resembling the chestnut. The
natives had no metal tools. Their large canoes, capable
of holding thirty or forty men, were dug out of the trunks
of trees with knives of stone.

Magellan was in search of a passage to the western
sea and coming to the mouth of the La Plata in Janu
ary, he spent three weeks examining the broad bay and
river. Finding only a river's mouth, he sailed south
along the coast of Patagonia. He and his companions

FERDINAND MAGELLAN lf>7

were here overtaken by violent storms during February
and March and barely saved their ships from wreck.
The southern winter was setting in. " The cold be
came so intense that, finding a sheltered harbor, with
plenty of fish, at Port St. Julian, they chose it for win
ter quarters, and anchored there the last day of March." {
Magellan proposed now to spend five months of an
antarctic winter in this bay, and, when spring opened
again, to proceed southward till a strait was reached or
the end of this unexplored continent.
. It seemed that dangers and hardships had no power
to weaken the determination of this man, yet he also
showed himself kindly disposed, promised his men great
rewards, and appealed to their pride as Spaniards not
to give up the expedition. But the mutinous captains
thought they had suffered enough of storm and hardship.
Food was scarce and the ships were well battered. Per
haps Magellan was only trying to lead a Spanish squadron
to destruction. To spend five months of an icy winter
idly upon their ships was too much.

The traitors, Mendoza and Quesada, had already per
suaded the crews of their ships to join in the mutiny. On
Sunday night of Easter day, Quesada, with Carthagena and
thirty men, boarded the third ship, San Antonio, seized
the captain, a cousin of Magellan, and put him in irons.

1 Fiske's " Discovery of America."

168 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

They took possession of the ship, disarmed the loyal men,
and persuaded the others to join the mutineers, giving out
extra portions of bread and wine. The rebels were now
in full command of three of the large ships and felt safe
in defying Magellan. On Monday morning he knew
nothing of what had happened till he despatched a boat
to one of the ships, which was sent back to him with
the insolent reply that he no longer commanded that ship.
By sending the boat round to all the fleet, Magellan found
that only the smallest ship, the Santiago, with Serrano,
was faithful. Quesada requested a conference with Ma
gellan, who consented by asking the rebellious captains
on board the flag-ship. This invitation they refused.

Fiske says of Magellan at this juncture: "Little did
they realize with what a man they were dealing. Magel
lan knew how to make them come to him. He had reason
to believe that the crew of the Victoria was less disloyal
than the others, and selected that ship for his first coup de
main. While he kept a boat in readiness with a score of
trusty men, armed to the teeth, and led by his wife's
brother, Barbosa, he sent another boat ahead to the Victo
ria with his alguazil or constable, Espinoza, and five other
men. Luis de Mendoza, captain of the Victoria, suffered
this small party to come on board. Espinoza then served
on Mendoza a formal summons to come to the flag-ship, and
upon his refusal, quick as lightning sprang upon him and

FERDINAND MAGELLAN 169

plunged a dagger into his throat. As the corpse of the
rebellious captain dropped upon the deck, Barbosa's party
rushed over the ship's side with drawn cutlasses, the
dazed crew at once surrendered, and Barbosa took com
mand."

Magellan now had command of three ships and in the
evening his men boarded the San Antonio on two sides
and captured her, and soon after the other ship surren
dered. Thus in less than a day Magellan brought this
dangerous mutiny to a close and established his authority
more firmly than before. Quesada was beheaded and
Carthagena and a guilty priest were set on shore the fol
lowing spring to shift for themselves.

The smallest ship, while out exploring, was wrecked
during the winter and after extreme hardships the crew
was rescued. While at Port St. Julian, the voyagers saw
much of the native Patagonians, who were almost giants in
stature. They were friendly till some of their men were
invited on board the fleet and kept as prisoners. During
the winter the ships had been repaired and all preparation
made for the voyage southward with the earliest spring.

On the 24th of August the explorers set sail again but
the weather was very stormy and they were nearly two
months sailing along a rocky coast.

As the squadron moved southward it was overtaken by
a fierce storm, which for several days threatened either to

170 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

overwhelm the ships or to dash them against the rocky
shore. One of the vessels sprang a leak and another
barely escaped the rocks. At last they rode safely at
anchor in a small bay where the sailors demanded the
return of the expedition to Spain. They had suffered
danger enough, they said. But Magellan stoutly refused,
and, after refitting 'the ships and repairing the damage of
the storm, he again set sail southward, seeking a passage
to the western ocean.

On the morning of October 21, 1520, Magellan was
celebrating the day sacred to the eleven thousand virgins,
when, as the ceremony ended, one of the sailors espied a
cape or headland, beyond which nothing could be seen,
and, as they rounded the point, " Magellan's heart leaped
within him to perceive that there was a broad inlet run
ning in a southwesterly direction, and that while the land
was plainly visible on its southern side, its limit inland
could not be seen. Naming the point the Cape of the
Virgins, he gave orders that the fleet should boldly enter
the inlet and endeavor to find out whither it led." l

The shores were rugged and steep, with occasional for
ests. The main channel was divided into many inlets and
bays and in places was almost closed up by rocky islands.
The jutting reefs and breakers were to be avoided and
it was necessary to survey the channel closely as they

i Towle's « Life of Magellan."

172 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

advanced. Pigafetta, as quoted by Fiske, says: "The
straight now cauled the straight of Magellanus, beinge in
sum place. C. x. leaques in length : and in breadth sum-
where very large and in other places lyttle more than
halfe a leaque in bredth. On both the sydes of this
strayght are great and hygh mountaynes couered with
snowe, beyonde the whiche is the enteraunce into the sea
of Sur. . . . Here one of the shyppes stole away priuile
and returned into Spayne."

More than five weeks were spent in working their way
through these winding channels. At length, in a shel
tered bay, the fleet cast anchor. Two ships were sent
ahead to explore the channel while the others waited.
While attempting to return, the two vessels were over
taken by a furious storm and driven forward, and, after
passing through several straits and bays, they reached a
channel from which they could see the boundless ocean
beyond.

At last Magellan "was relieved by seeing them speeding
rapidly toward the bay, with flags and streamers flying
gayly at their mastheads. They were soon alongside
the flag-ship, and Mesquito, hastening on board, eagerly
advanced to Magellan and fell at his feet. < Praise be to
God, Admiral/ cried he, when he could recover his breath
so as to speak, ' we have found the outlet.' Magellan, with
flushed face, his whole body trembling with excitement,

FERDINAND MAGELLAN 173

raised the faithful captain from the deck, and clasping him
about the neck, burst into tears of joy. ' Is it indeed
true ? ' he said, with faltering voice. ' And have you seen
the other ocean, the western ocean beyond ? ' ' We have
indeed seen it with these very eyes,' replied Mesquito.
' We came near perishing in the storm, but we kept on
and have succeeded/ Having embraced the other officers,
Magellan said, 'My Comrades, we have at last triumphed.
Our perils have been great, our trials and hardships sore
and many. But the reward of all has come. The passage
that leads from the Atlantic to the further Ocean, and
opens the" nearest way from Spain to the rich Molucca
islands is found. It is just before us. We shall pass
through it into the ocean beyond, if God still pro
tect us. We shall make other discoveries, find wealth
and fame for ourselves and new lands for our king.
Let the captains return to their ships, and assemble
their crews to tell the good tidings ; let your cannon
speak to awake echoes among the crags ; float the
royal flag from your mastheads, array the decks with
streamers and ribbons, let meat and drink be set forth
in plenty, and render thanks to God for leading us to this
great discovery.' " l

The four ships were anchored alongside and the day
was given up to feasting and celebiation. When the

1 Towle's " Life of Magellan/'

174 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

feast was done, altars were erected on the deck and the
priests chanted the song of triumph.

The fleet now set sail and advanced through the chan
nel in a series of bays and narrow straits. Following
the course of the first two ships they came at last to a
narrow strait and a cape that jutted into it, from which
they could dimly see the distant ocean. This place
Magellan named Cape Forward.

But at this point the channel divides into two parts,
both extending far away, and he was at a loss to know
which to follow. Before sending forward the ships to
explore these channels, he called together his principal
men and asked their opinions about his future course.
Should they return now to Spain and make known this
discovery or proceed on the long voyage across the new
ocean to the Moluccas ? In spite of hardship, riches and
honor could be had by sailing on to the Moluccas. Some
were eager to go on but the chief pilot, Gomez, objected
and urged Magellan to return to Spain for provisions and
better ships. Magellan at once replied, " We will go on
even if we have to eat the leather from the ship's yards."

The Conception and the San Antonio were now sent
out to explore the two channels. After waiting impa
tiently for several days, Magellan set out along the
southern channel. Advancing, they came to a wide cur
rent in which many small fishes were found. Magellan

FERDINAND MAGELLAN 175

named it the Kiver of Sardines. Suddenly the Concep
tion appeared, to the great delight of Magellan, but the
other ship, the San Antonio, was not seen again by him.
The pilot, Gomez, had persuaded the crew to seize the
captain, Mesquito, and then they deserted Magellan and
started back through the strait and across the Atlantic
to Spain, and after six months reported that Magellan
and all the other ships were lost.

Magellan sent out men in two long boats to explore the
River of Sardines to its mouth. After three days they
returned and said that it flowed into the ocean, the
shores of which they had reached. The three ships pro
ceeded to the outlet of the river and anchored in a good
harbor near a hilly cape at the entrance to the ocean,
which Magellan called Cape Desire, because he had long
desired to see it. As he looked upon the rocky cliffs
reaching northward, and the boundless ocean to the west,
his heart was filled with thanks for the great discovery.

At this place they spent several days, exploring the
neighboring hills, mountains, and forests. The crews
went on shore and refreshed themselves among the
forests and in visits with the native Indians of large
size whom they found here. The Indians brought pro
visions to the ships and were greatly delighted with the
beads, buttons, and little bells with which Magellan
rewarded them. The ships were now repaired, the crews

176 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

rested, and a fresh supply of water, wood, and provisions
was taken on board. They were making ready for the
unknown voyage northward to the equator and westward
to India. They were trying to reach the Moluccas by
a route over which no traveller had ever gone before.

As the ships ploughed the waters westward the sailors
were surprised at the calm of the ocean. The weather
was warm and sunny and the sea steadily quiet. Magel
lan studied his charts and attempted to reckon the dis
tance to the Indies. What if he should reach India and
sail homeward by way of the Cape of Good Hope ! No
navigator had ever dared^ such a thing ! After they had
sailed many days through a quiet sea, Magellan called
his captains together and said that the great ocean
through which they were now the first to sail should be
called the Pacific, because of its peaceful waters. The
first part of this long journey was like a pleasure trip,
but in passing over so vast an untravelled waste it was
hard to tell what troubles might lie before them. As the
voyagers approached nearer the equator they turned more
to the west. The region of calms was at length reached
and for days together the ships lay idly floating on the
water. The winds sprang up again and they sped
westward. But the calms returned, till the crews grew
impatient. Their supply of food and water was running
short. Passing the Tropic of Capricorn, they came upon

FERDINAND MAGELLAN 177

very hot weather. The rosin oozed from the pine boards
on deck. An island hove in sight but it was barren
and lifeless. Another appeared but brought no relief.
The fleet had already sailed nearly twice as far as Co
lumbus in his first voyage across the Atlantic from the
Canaries to Guanahani, and there were still five thousand
miles of ocean before the men would again see land. Their
sufferings may be best understood from the old English
narrative of Eden, quoted by Fiske : —

" And hauynge in this tyme consumed all theyr bysket
and other vyttayles, they fell into such necessitie that
they were inforced to eate the pouder that remayned
thereof beinge now full of woormes. . . . Theyre freshe
water was also putrifyed and become yelow. They dyd
eate skynnes and pieces of lether which were foulded
abowt certeyne great ropes of the shyps. (Thus did the
captain-general's words come true.) But these skynnes
being made verye harde by reason of the soonne, rayne,
and wynde, they hunge them by a corde in the sea for
the space of foure or fiue dayse to mollifie them, and
sodde them, and eate them. By reason of this famen
and vnclene feedynge, sumrne of theyr gummes grewe
so ouer theyr teethe (a symptom of scurvy), that they
dyed miserably for hunger. And by this occasion dyed,
xix. men, and . . . besyde these that dyed, xxv. or. xxx.
were so sicke that they were not able to doo any seruice

178 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

with theyr handes or arms for feeblenesse : So that was
in maner none without sum disease. In three monethes
and. XK- dayes, they say led foure thousande leaques in
one goulfe by the sayde sea cauled Pacificum (that is)
peaceable, whiche may well bee so cauled forasmuch as
in all this tyme hauying no syght of any lande, they had
no misfortune of wynde or any other tempest. ... So
that in fine, if god of his mercy had not gyuen them
good wether, it was necessary that in this soo greate a
sea they shuld all haue dyed for hunger. Whiche neuer-
theless they escaped soo hardely, that it may bee doubted
whether euer the like viage may be attempted with so
goode successe."

At last the end of this terrible suffering was reached.
Islands, green and wooded, appeared in the edge of
the sky. As the ships approached, boat loads of natives
came out to meet them, bringing clusters of bananas,
cocoanuts, and other fruits. These the sailors were soon
eagerly devouring. Later, on account of the disposi
tion of the people to steal everything they could lay
their hands upon, Magellan called these the Ladrones,
or islands of robbers.

Ten days later, on the 16th of March, the voyagers came
to the islands that are now called the Philippines. They
first landed on an uninhabited Island, where there was
good water. Two large tents were put up and the sick

FERDINAND MAGELLAN 179

men carefully tended. The friendly natives from the
neighboring islands came in long boats bringing fish
and oranges. These they laid at the feet of Magellan.
He brought out from the tents and distributed among
them little bells, red caps, looking-glasses, and brass
and silver ornaments. These things delighted the
natives and they brought figs and cocoanuts and other
food with which he stocked his vessels. At last the
chief of the island, with his leading men, visited Ma
gellan. He was a pleasant-mannered old man and
brought two loads of oranges and palm wine, and also
some chickens. Magellan spent a week with these
people and through them learned much about the sur
rounding islands. The crews of the vessels were also
greatly refreshed with good food and life upon land.

Later he visited the island of Sebu and was received
in friendly spirit by the Malay chief, who not only con
cluded a treaty of peace with the Spaniards, promising
to trade only with them, but accepted Christianity. A
great bonfire was made of their idols and the tribe be
came Christians; a cross was set up and the people of
the island were baptized.

Magellan learned by conversing with these tribes
that they were visited by Asiatic traders and that the
Molucca Islands lay to the south. He knew also by
his own reckoning that he had already passed the longi-

180 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

tude of the Moluccas. In short, he had at last com
pleted the journey over the unknown parts of the ocean
and could now sail through the East Indies and the
Indian Ocean back to Spain.

Just as he was prepared to leave Sebu and continue
his voyage south and west, he learned that the chief
with whom he had concluded a treaty of friendship and
commerce and who had become a Christian, needed his
aid in subduing the king of a neighboring island. Ma
gellan was nob a man to desert his new friend and
besides he thought it a part of his work to subdue this
heathen king and make him accept Christianity. With
three boats and sixty men Magellan crossed over to
the neighboring island. Wading ashore with forty-nine
men, he attacked the savages, who swarmed about the
Spaniards in great numbers. After a furious battle the
Spaniards were compelled to retreat to their boats.
Magellan was among the last to retreat, shielding and
protecting his men. His helmet was knocked off and
his right arm disabled by a spear. u The Indians threw
themselves upon him with iron-pointed bamboo spears
and scimitars and every weapon they had, and ran him
through, — our mirror, our light, our comforter, — until
they killed him." (Pigafetta, quoted by Fiske.) A
tew of his men fell bravely fighting by his side ; the rest
reached the boats and returned to the ships.

FERDINAND MAGELLAN 181

The king of Sebu, finding that Magellan and his
men were not so powerful as he had supposed, decided
that he had made a mistake in accepting the God of the
Christians. He therefore invited thirty of the leading
Spaniards, including the brave captains, Barbosa and
Serrano, to a feast, and then massacred all of them.
The cross was chopped down and the heathen religion
restored.

The crews of the ships were now in a desperate
situation. They left the islands in haste. Stopping
at a favorable harbor they consulted upon their future
plans. Only 115 men remained of the 280 who started.
The Conception was leaky and unseaworthy and was
now burned to the water's edge; the crews were divided
between the other two ships. Having chosen new cap
tains, they visited the island of Borneo, where they were
kindly received and spent several days. The men at
last reached the Moluccas, which Magellan had long
desired to see. They were well treated by the natives,
and, after trading for a while, they prepared to sail
homeward. It was found, however, that the Trinidad
was leaking badly. After consulting, the voyagers de
cided that the Victoria should start upon the voyage
homeward at once, so as to take advantage of the ea>i
monsoon, while the Trinidad, after being thoroughly
repaired, should sail back across the Pacific to tlu

182 IMONKKIJS ON LAND AND SEA

Spanish settlements at Panama. Fifty-four men re
mained on board the Trinidad, forty-seven on the Vic
toria. Espinosa had command of the Trinidad and
Elcano of the Victoria.

In the spring of 1522 the Trinidad sailed east upon
the Pacific, but encountered unfavorable winds and
was finally driven back to the Moluccas. The crew had
suffered much from scurvy and privation. Only nineteen
men were left and these were seized by the Portuguese
and treated with great cruelty. Four years afterwards
four only of these men, including the captain, Espinosa,
were sent back to Spain.

The Victoria sailed man}' miles south of Ceylon, mak
ing a straight course for the Cape of Good Hope, which
she reached " on the 16th of May, with starvation and
scurvy already thinning their ranks, with foretop-
mast gone by the board and foreyard badly sprung."
It had been very stormy before reaching the cape and
the men begged their commander to allow them to stop
at Mozambique, a Portuguese settlement, but he knew
that they would be taken captive by the Portuguese
who were on the lookout for Magellan's ships. They
pushed on. The good ship became leaky and the men
had to work constantly at the pumps. In the two
months of the voyage along the western shore of Africa
to the Cape Verdes twenty-one men died. The Cape

FERDINAND MAGELLAN 183

Verde Islands were also possessions of the Portuguese.
Being in sore need, the men were compelled to stop at
these islands; they deceived the Portuguese by saying
they came from America and were driven out of their
course by a storm. The sick were taken on shore
and cared for and a boat load of rice was sent to"
the ship. But the secret got out and thirteen men
in one of the boats were seized by the Portuguese,
and the ships in the harbor were armed for the
purpose of capturing the Victoria. The commander
of the Victoria, seeing this, stretched all his sail and
made his escape, though followed some distance by the
Portuguese.

It took the Victoria eight weeks longer to make the
coast of Spain. On the 6th of September she came in
sight of land, with nineteen men on board, — all that
were left of the 280 who had sailed with Magellan
nearly three years before. They sailed into the mouth of
the Guadalquivir, greatly rejoiced. Entering the harbor
of St. Lucas, they were greeted by the vessels there.
When the Spaniards learned that this little vessel, the
Victoria, of eighty-five tons, had sailed round the world,
they were filled with astonishment. The ship sailed up
the river to Seville, where her arrival filled the old city
with excitement. A public reception was given to the
brave men who had survived so many dangers. King

184 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

Charles V entertained the officers at his palace and
bestowed pensions upon them.

The little son of Magellan had died the year before
and his wife also, soon after hearing of the death of her
husband and brother in the Philippines, had died, so
there was no one left to receive the reward of Magellan's
expedition. Fiske says : —

" The voyage thus ended was doubtless the greatest feat
of navigation that has ever been performed, and nothing
can be imagined that would surpass it except a journey to
some other planet. It has not the unique historic position
of the first voyage of Columbus, which brought together
two streams of human life that had been disjoined since
the Glacial Period. But as an achievement in ocean navi
gation, that voyage of Columbus sinks into insignificance
by the side of it, and when the earth was a second time
encompassed by the greatest English sailor of his age, the
advance in knowledge, as well as the different route chosen,
had much reduced the difficulty of the performance. When
we consider the frailness of the ships, the immeasurable
extent of the unknown, the mutinies that were prevented
or quelled, and the hardships that were endured, we can
have no hesitation in speaking of Magellan as the prince
of navigators. Nor can we ever fail to admire the sim
plicity and purity of that devoted life in which there is
nothing that seeks to be hidden or explained away."

FERDINAND MAGELLAN 185

Magellan had formerly spent several years in the East
Indies, so that in making his way across the Pacific to the
Philippines he had really completed the circumnavigation
of the world and had settled forever the great question as
to the size and shape of the earth.

The next great navigator to complete the journey round
the world was Sir Francis Drake, fifty years later. Drake
met with difficulties and hardships very similar in some
respects to those of Magellan.

One result of Magellan's voyage was to bring the
Philippine Islands under the control of Spain. Portugal
tried to claim them as a part of the East Indies but they
were taken and held by the Spaniards till 1898, when,
after the victory of Admiral Dewey in Manila Bay, they
became a possession of the United States.

CHAPTER IX

HERNANDO CORTES *

STILL believing that the new country discovered by
Columbus was near Cipango and Cathay, the Spaniards
dreamed of finding great cities and untold wealth. Many
searched for these marvels and at last one man found
something more wonderful, perhaps, than these dreams.

In the year 1504 a young man named Hernando
Cortes, a native of Spain, came to the Indies in search of
adventure. He fought bravely under Velasquez in the
conquest of Cuba in 1511. Later he was made chief
judge of the newly founded town of Santiago. In the
year 1518, hearing of the wonderful cities seen by Cor
dova on the peninsula of Yucatan, he persuaded Velasquez
to give him command of a fleet fitted up for further ex
ploration and conquest. These cities of which he had
heard had strange-looking towers or pyramids, and the
people were dressed in garments of cotton and wrore gold
ornaments, cloaks of feathers, and plumes. Then a
nephew of Velasquez, sailing along the coast, met a native
who told him wonderful stories of his chief, Montezuma,

1 Authorities : Fiske and Prescott.
186

HERN AN DO CORTES

187

who lived far up iii the country and ruled over many
cities and had no end of gold. This doubtless was the
Great Khan and wealth and fame would belong to the
brave men who should
conquer him.

Before Cortes was
well started upon his
adventures, Velasquez
began to fear that he
would prove too inde
pendent in case he
found a treasure and
sent two messages to
call him back. Cortes
paid no attention to
the messengers but
calmly went on his
way. Early in March,
1519, he landed at

Tabasco on the coast of Yucatan. Finding the natives
unfriendly, he attacked and defeated them. Seizing a
supply of provisions, he went to San Juan de Ulloa,
where he sent gifts to Montezuma in the name of his
sovereign, Charles V.

>* Montezuma was the chief of the Aztecs, who had built
their chief city, or pueblo, in a well-protected place in the

CORTES

188 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

marshes by Lake Tezcuco. This pueblo was begun in the
year 1325 and was called Tenochtitlan, which means
"place of the cactus rock." An old legend says that the
Aztecs, fleeing from their foes, took refuge in these
marshes. Here they found a stone upon which, some
years before, one of their chiefs had sacrificed a captive
chief. From a crevice in this stone, where a little earth
was embedded, there grew a cactus, upon which sat an
eagle holding in its beak a serpent. Their priest said this
meant long and continued victory. Diving into the lake
he talked with the god of waters, who told him that upon
this spot the people were to build their town. The name
under which it was best known later was taken from
Mexitl, one of the names of their war god.1

This pueblo was surrounded by marshes, which, by
means of dikes and causeways, the Aztecs gradually
made into a large artificial lake. In this stronghold,
the Aztecs grew stronger than any of the neighboring
tribes. With some of these tribes they formed an alli
ance, while they subdued others and demanded tribute
from them. They had elected "a chief of men" who
was war chief of the allied tribes. Montezuma, the
present chief, was about fifty years old at the time the
Spaniards reached Mexico and was a man of much in
fluence among his people. He had heard of the won-

1 Fiske's " Discovery of America."

HERNANDO CORTES 189

derful towers with wings, moving lightly on the sea,
and of the men with white faces and shining raiment,
and thought they might be gods, perhaps the emissaries
of the sun god, for whom they had waited so long.
\yThe Aztecs worshipped a god of good and one of
evil. To the evil one they offered human sacrifices to
keep him good-natured. Between Quetzalcoatl, the good
god, and Tezcatlipoca, the evil god, there was endless
warfare. "The latter deity had once been the sun, but
Quetzalcoatl had knocked him out of the sky with a
big club, and jumping into his place had become the
sun instead of him. Tezcatlipoca, after tumbling into
the sea, rose again in the night sky as the Great Bear,
anc? so things went on for a while, until suddenly the
Kvii One changed himself into a tiger, and with a blow
of his paw struck Quetzalcoatl from the sky." r Long
was the struggle between these two gods, say the old
legends, but finally Quetzalcoatl was outwitted and
obliged to forsake the land. With a few young friends
he had gone to the eastern shore. Here he bade them
good-by, saying that he must go farther, but would return
some day from the east, with men as fair skinned as
himself, and would take possession of the country. His
coming would, of course, do away with the sacrifice of
human beings, as he believed that the perfume of flowers

1 Fiske's " Discovery of America."

190 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

and incense, offered to the gods, was enough without
the shedding of blood. He also did not believe in war.
These newcomers had appeared at almost the spot where
Quetzalcoatl had disappeared and it was natural for the
worshippers to think that their god had returned as he
had promised.

Cortes did not, at the time, understand all these
things that aided him in his invasion of these new
countries, but he saw that some of the pueblos paid
their tribute to Montezuma unwillingly and this feeling
he encouraged whenever possible. At one large town, he
persuaded the chief to arrest Montezuma's tax-gatherers,
and then he quietly released them and sent them to their
great chief with many kind words.

"<x" The messengers sent to Montezuma returned, in a
short time, with rich gifts of gold and jewels and were
accompanied by an embassy from Montezuma. The
ambassadors entered Cortes' pavilion with great pomp,
their attendants carrying censers which sent up clouds
of incense. After saluting Cortes and his officers with
much respect, touching the ground with their hands and
then carrying them to their heads, they ordered their
slaves to open the mats in which the presents were
wrapped. There were shields, helmets, cuirasses em
bossed with plates and ornaments of pure gold; collars
and bracelets of gold, sandals, fans, head ornaments of

HERNANDO CORTES 191

different colored feathers intermingled with gold and
silver threads, and sprinkled with pearls and precious
stones, imitations of birds and animals in wrought and
cast gold and silver of finest workmanship ; curtains,
coverlets, and robes of cotton, fine as silk, of many
colors, and interwoven with feather work. There were
more than thirty loads of cotton cloth and a Spanish
helmet that the messengers had carried to the capital
was returned filled with grains of gold. But the things
that most pleased the Spaniards were two circular plates
of gold and silver as large as carriage wheels.1

Cortes and his followers were delighted with these
presents but much disappointed with the message which
Montezuma sent. He refused to see them and hoped
that they would soon return to their own land.
^Cortes decided to found a colony. As the country
around San Juan de Ulloa was low and marshy, he
sent an exploring party to find a better location. A
place was selected a little north of the present site of
Vera Cruz. The foundations were laid and a govern
ment was formed. The new city was called Villa Rica
de Vera Cruz — "The Rich Town of the True Cross."

Now Cortes resigned his commission from Velasquez
and was at once elected governor of his colony. He
was to have for his own one-fifth of the gold and

1 Prescott's " Conquest of Mexico."

192 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

silver which might thereafter be obtained from the
natives by commerce or conquest. He sent his flag-ship
to Spain with some of his friends to ask the favor of
the king. ^ Fearing from the conduct of some of his
followers that they might mutiny and return to Spain,
he hit upon a bold plan to prevent such a calamity.
One after another he had his ships scuttled and sunk,
until but one was left. It was supposed, at first, that
the storms had injured them and the worms had so
eaten into the sides and bottoms that they were un-
seaworthy ; but some of the discontented ones in camp
found out that the ships had been purposely sunken
and complained to Cortes. He asked them for whom
but cowards was retreat necessary. "As for me, I have
chosen my part. I will remain here while there is one
to bear me company. If there be any so craven as to
shrink from sharing the dangers of our glorious enter
prise, let them go home, in God's name. There is still
one vessel left. Let them take that and return to
Cuba. They can tell there how they deserted their
commander and their comrades, and patiently wait till
we return loaded with the spoils of the Aztecs." 1 They
all decided to stay with him. Then he suggested that,
as this was the last ship, it might as well be destroyed ;
all agreed and the vessel was destroyed at once. Then,

1 Prescott's " Conquest of Mexico."

HEKNANDO COKTES 193

with 450 men, many of them clad in mail, half a dozen
small cannon, and fifteen horses, Cortes pushed on toward
Tenochtitlan. Several hundred Indians, from the towns
along the way, went with them.

Their progress was a peaceful one. "It was not
enough that the Spanish soldier of that day was a bull
dog for strength and courage, or that his armor was proof
against stone and arrows, or that he wielded a Toledo
blade that could cut through silken cushions, or that his
arquebus and cannon were not only death-dealing weapons
but objects of superstitious awe." l None of these things
frightened the Indians so much as those unknown crea
tures, those frightful monsters, the horses. Before them,
men, women, and children fled in horror.^/ Their fear of
the supernatural overcame their bravery. The horses be
longed to the god, Quetzalcoatl, who had come back- to
win his kingdom from the evil one. When Cortes threw
down the idols from the temple and set free the victims
held for sacrifice, the action seemed a natural one to the
Indians, for Quetzalcoatl did not believe in human sacri
fice. Then the cross which Cortes set up in place of the
idols happened to be one of their god's emblems.

The Spaniards passed through many cities where they
were treated with kindness. In one large city fifty men
were sacrificed to them as deities and cakes dipped in the

1 Fiske's " Discovery of America."

194 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

blood of the victims were offered them to eat. As the
invaders went on, they climbed gradually to a great pla
teau, the climate growing colder and the vegetation chang
ing from tropical to that of the temperate zone. They
finally reached Tlascala, one of the important towns upon
the plateau of Anahuac, more than seven thousand feet
above the level of the sea.

The Tlascalans were a powerful tribe and were enemies
of Montezuma. Their stronghold was well fortified and
the Aztecs had been unable to subdue them. When they
heard of the approach of the strangers one chieftain ad
vised his people to admit them, as they were doubtless
gods and it would do no good to resist them. Another
chief thought, however, so long as there was any doubt
about the matter, it was worth while to fight. The num
ber of the strangers was small and the men of Tlascala
could not be defeated. This advice was taken and the
warriors, some five thousand strong, went out to fight.
The chief warriors wore quilted cotton doublets which
protected the body, and some of the wealthier chiefs wore
over this a sort of armor of thin gold or silver plate.
Cloaks made of bright-colored feathers were often thrown
over the armor, and a headpiece of wood or leather to
represent the head of some wild animal protected the
head and gave a fierce appearance to the wearer. The
shields of the natives were frameworks of reeds or

HERNANDO CORTES 195

bamboo, covered with leather or quilted cotton and gayly
decorated with feathers. They fought with slings, bows
and arrows tipped with obsidian, lances with copper
points, and wooden swords with sharp blades of obsidian
inserted on both sides, making a dangerous weapon. The
common people wore no armor and their bodies were
painted with the colors of the chieftains that they
followed.

For two days fierce fighting was carried on and many
Indians were slain. One or two Spaniards were killed
and several wounded. The deaths were carefully con
cealed from the enemy. A horse that was killed was
taken by the Tlascalans as a trophy. Cortes was afraid
this would destroy the fear and awe the natives felt for
the horses and had two others that were killed secretly
buried. The Indian allies the Spaniards had gathered on
their journey were of great service to them.

The Tlascalans now decided that the strangers were
more than mortal but the chief who had advised war,
after counsel with the soothsayers, suggested that as sun-
gods, they might lose their strength at night and be
more easily conquered. A night attack was planned but
Cortes was not surprised. In the moonlight one of the
sentinels saw the Indians stealthily creeping toward the
camp. In a few moments the Spaniards were in arms.
The battle-cry was sounded as they quickly ran down the

196 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

hill to meet their foes. The Indians were so astounded
that they fled, after one feeble volley of arrows, to their
stronghold.

The next day a party of Tlascalans came to the Span
ish camp with presents from their chief, who, they said,
was tired of war and wished the friendship of the Span
iards. Cortes received them kindly but their behavior
made him suspicious and he finally arrested them as
spies. They were sure that only gods could read men's
thoughts and made a full confession. They were to
watch things carefully and bring back a report. Some
were to stay in camp and at a given signal set fire to it.
Cortes waited until nightfall, then cut off the thumbs of
the spies and sent them back to tell their chief that they
would find the white man as strong by night as by day.

It was clear that it was useless to oppose these chil
dren of the sun. The soothsayers who advised the night
attack were sacrificed and the tribal council decided to
make an alliance with these " wielders of thunder and
lightning " against their old enemy, the Aztecs. The
Aztecs were greatly alarmed by this alliance and were
convinced that beings who could ^o easily defeat the
Tlascalans must be more than human.

From Tlascala, Cortes went on to Cholula, a strong
pueblo belonging to the Aztecs. Here they were re
ceived with much friendliness and invited into the town.

HERNANDO CORTES 197

But secretly, and with the approval of Montezuma's
emissaries, a plan was made for trapping the Spaniards.
But with Cortes was a young Indian woman called
Marina, from Tabasco, who not only understood the
native languages but soon learned to speak Spanish.
She was very fond of Cortes and aided him in every
possible way. She had become the friend of one of the
Cholulan women and this woman, wishing to save her
new-found friend, hinted that danger was near. Marina
told Cortes what she feared and together they discovered
the whole plot. Cortes called the principal chiefs of
Cholula together and told them that he intended to start
next day for Tenochtitlan, and would like to have them
furnish him a supply of food and a force of Cholulans to
go with him. The chiefs were delighted with his plan,
for they expected to surprise the Spaniards with a great
force of men as they left the city and so destroy them.
A large army of Mexicans was quartered a short distance
from the city to assist the chiefs, and all sorts of obstruc
tions had been placed in the streets to confuse the depart
ing Spaniards. The natives thought the white men for
once did not see everything.

Several three-year-old babes were sacrificed that day by
the Cholulans and the signs were favorable for success.
The chiefs spent the night in arranging their plans for
getting rid of the strangers, while Cortes saw that his

198 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

cannon were placed in a suitable position for raking
the streets. In the morning the warriors crowded the
square where the Spaniards were quartered, and the chiefs
felt so safe that thirty or more accepted an invitation to
meet Cortes in private and receive his parting blessing.
When they were gathered together Cortes told them that
he knew of their plot. He also knew that all had not
favored it and these he would spare. He had heard that
Montezuma approved of it, but he would not believe
so wise a chief could be guilty of such a thing, and he
would spare his emissaries. Then the noise of artillery,
never before heard in Cholula, startled the waiting crowd.
The warriors in the courtyard were mowed down like
grain before the sickle. Those who attempted to escape
by scaling the walls afforded a still better mark for the
musket. The cannon cleared the streets of all who
attempted to assist their friends, and the Tlascalan war
riors who were camped outside the city rushed in to help
in the slaughter. Hundreds were slain, including the
head war chief. Some of the captured chiefs were burnt
at the stake. Cortes found many victims caged for
sacrifice. These he released and resumed his march.

As the army went on its way toward Tenochtitlan,
they were met by the chiefs of some of the towns they
passed, asking for help against the tyranny of the Aztecs.
One of the towns, Cuitlahuac, was built upon the cause-

HERNANDO CORTES 199

way leading across the Lake of Chalco and reminded
them of Venice. " It was built over the water, with
canals for streets. Its floating gardens and its houses
glistening in their stucco of white gypsum delighted the
eye of the Spaniards." Crossing the causeway they
reached, on the 7th of November, 1519, a point from
which they could see Tenochtitlan. Diaz, a Spaniard
with the party, says : " And when we beheld so many
cities and towns rising up from the water, and other
populous places situated on terra firma, and that cause
way, straight as a level, which went into Mexico, we
remained astonished, and said to one another that it
appeared like the enchanted castles which they tell
of in the book of Amadis, by reason of the great towers,
temples, and edifices which there were in the water, and
all of them work of masonry. Some of our soldiers asked
if this that they saw was not a thing in a dream."
^ "The City of Mexico stood in a salt lake, and was
approached by three causeways of solid masonry, each as
the Spanish soldiers said, two lances in breadth, which
might mean from twenty to thirty feet. Being from
four to five miles in length, and assailable on both sides
by the canoes of the city's defenders, they were very
dangerous avenues for an enemy, whether advancing or
retreating. Near the city these causeways were inter
rupted by wooden drawbridges. Then they were con-

200 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

tinned into the city as main thoroughfares, and met in the
great square where the temple stood. The city was also
connected with the mainland by an aqueduct in solid
masonry leading down from Chapultepec. The streets
might have reminded one of Venice, in so far as some
were canals alive with canoes, while others were dry
footpaths paved with hard cement, and the footways often
crossed the canals on bridges."

The houses were built of stone, usually covered with a
shining white stucco. They were large enough to afford
living room for some two hundred families and were
built about great courtyards. They were never more
than two stories high and often only one. The flat roofs
were sometimes covered with flower-gardens and were
protected by parapets of stone, so that each house was a
fortress. " The windows were mere loop-holes, and they
as well as the doorways were open. The entrance to the
house could be barricaded, but doors had not been
invented. It was customary to carve upon the jambs, on
either side of the doorway, enormous serpents with
gaping mouths." 1

The partitions and ceilings of the houses were made of
cedar and other fine woods. The rooms were decorated
with tapestries made of the bright feathers of the many
birds which were kept in an immense aviary for that pur-

1 Fiske's " Discovery of America."

HERNANDO CORTES 201

pose. Cardinal birds, parrots, humming-birds, and others
of brilliant plumage were carefully looked after, and during
the moulting season the feathers were collected for this
gorgeous feather- work.

" Except a few small tables and stools, there was not
much furniture. Palm-leaf mats piled on the hard
cemented floor served as beds, and sometimes there were
coverlets of cotton or feather-work. Resinous torches
were used for lights. The principal meal of the day was
served on low tables, the people sitting on mats or
cushions in long rows around the sides of the room, with
their backs against the wall. A lighted brazier stood in
the middle, and before tasting the food each person threw
a morsel into the brazier as an offering to the fire god.
The commonest meat was the turkey." l

Loaves of bread were made of Indian corn and eggs,
also little cakes baked on heated stones. The Aztecs had
plenty of fresh fish and game. The meats were highly
seasoned with tabasco and chile sauce. One Spaniard
counted thirty dishes upon Montezuma's table made of
stewed meats thus seasoned. " One favorite mess was
frog spawn and stewed ants peppered with chile; another
was human flesh cooked in like manner. . . . These
viands were kept hot by means of chafing dishes and were
served on earthenware bowls or plates, . , . chocolate,

1 Fiske's " Discovery of America."

202 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

flavored with vanilla, was the ordinary beverage. Food
was handled with the fingers, but bowls of water and
towels were brought in at the end of the meal." *

The people were dressed in garments of fine cotton.
The men had long cloaks and ample sashes often em
broidered with rich figures and edged with fringe. The
women wore skirts with gay borders of embroidery
and over them robes, reaching to the ankles. In cold
weather robes of fur or of feather-work were worn. The
faces were sometimes painted, and the teeth stained with
cochineal. The hair was usually worn long. Bracelets
and anklets were made of gold and silver, as well as rings
for fingers, ears, and nose. These were worn by both
men and women.

There were no shops in this pueblo, but two great
market-places, where all the trading was carried on.
Every fifth day there was a fair and the city was crowded
with people who came not only from the neighborhood
but from leagues around. Here could be seen, displayed
for trade, foods, cloths, and jewels ; tools, weapons, and
building materials; mats and stools, dye-stuffs and
pottery, drugs, and razors made of obsidian. People
from the country around brought their product in canoes
or upon litters, — the only kind of wagon used. The ex
changes were made partly by barter and partly with the

1 Fiske's " Discovery of America."

HERNANDO CORTES 20$

•>

currency of the country. This was bits of tin or copper
shaped like the letter T, or little bags of cocoa seed, or
quills filled with gold-dust.

V Near the principal market and in the centre of the
pueblo was the great enclosure of the temple. Within
a stone wall eight feet in height and entered by four
gateways, were not fewer than twenty teocallis or pyramids,
the largest of which was that of the war god. This
pyramid was about 100 feet high and was built in five
stories. The top of it was reached by stone stairs on the
outside. The Spaniards counted 114 steps. The first
flight went up to a terrace or platform at the base of the
second story. Then it was necessary to walk around the
platform to the other side to reach the second flight, which
led to the third story. This construction was continued
so that one had to pass around the building four times to
reach the top. When the religious processions with their
many priests and musicians marched round and round to
the summit, the sight was an imposing one.

On the top was a broad platform paved with flat stones,
and here was the large block of jasper where the human
victim was laid for sacrifice. Here also were two towers
in which the images of the gods were kept. Before each
sanctuary stood an altar upon which burned an undying
fire ; for if this fire should go out, great trouble would come
to the Aztecs. " On these altars smoked fresh human

204 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

hearts, of which the gods were fond, while other parts oi
the body were prepared for the communal houses below.
. . . The walls and floor of the great temple were clotted
with blood and shreds of human flesh, and the snieli was
like that of a slaughter house."

Early in November the white visitors entered this
strange city and were politely received by Montezuma,
not because he was glad to see them but because he could
do nothing else. A great house near the temple was
given them for their lodging. This house was large
enough to hold the 450 Spaniards and 1000 or more of
their Tlascalan allies. Cortes at once placed sentinels
along the parapet and pat his cannon where they would
be most effective.

When Cortes had been in the city for nearly a week,
studying it and its people, he began to feel very uneasy
about his position. How long he would enjoy the friend
liness of Montezuma and his followers was uncertain. He
finally decided to bring Montezuma to the Spanish quar
ters and keep him where he could control his actions. As
long as Montezuma was with the Spaniards, his people
would hardly dare to attack them. As in other places
Cortes had entered, there were here two parties, one bitterly
opposed to the strangers. The priests of the evil god
(Tezcatlipoca) hated these friends of the good god (Quet

1 Fiske's " Discovery of America."

206 PIONEEKS ON LAND AND SEA

zalcoatl) and would do all they could to destroy them.
Cortes had noticed that in other towns the capture of a
few chiefs seemed to paralyze the people. This was doubt
less due to the fact that some religious rites were thought
necessary that could not be performed without the help of
the chief. With Montezuma in his charge he felt that
the Spaniards would be reasonably safe from the dangers
that surrounded them.

Cortes now looked for an excuse for carrying out his
plan. This was soon found. A few Spaniards had been
left at Yera Cruz. In a quarrel with an Aztec chief sev
eral white men were killed, though the Spaniards were
victorious. This was most unfortunate, as it was now
known that the strangers were mortal. Cortes decided
that this affair gave an excellent excuse for taking posses
sion of Montezuma' s person. With five of his bravest
men, all clad in armor, and Marina, his interpreter, he
visited Montezuma. Some thirty of the soldiers were to
follow in groups of three or four, that they might not
attract attention. The party was received with kindness
by Montezuma. As soon as the soldiers were assembled,
Cortes stated the object of his visit. Of course, he said,
he did not think Montezuma was guilty of the murder of
the men at Vera Cruz, but until the matter was settled, he
would like to have him transfer his residence to the house
occupied by the Spaniards. Montezuma protested but

HERNANDO CORTES 207

was forced to return with his visitors. He was paid
every mark of respect and the tribal council was allowed
to meet with him to do public business. Sometimes he
was allowed to visit the temple but on such occasions a
large body of armed Spaniards went with him. Cortes
was now acting governor of Tenochtitlan and its allied
towns, with Montezuma as his mouthpiece.

When the offending chief was brought up from the
coast by Montezuma' s order, Cortes had him, with several
of his friends, burned in the public square before the Span
iards' house. A plan for the release of Montezuma was
made by his brother (Cuitlazhuatzin) and the tribal chiefs
of Tezcuco and Tlacopan, but Cortes discovered it and
soon had the chiefs in prison.

The custom of offering human sacrifices to their gods
greatly shocked Cortes, " as men are wont to be shocked
by any kind of wickedness with which they are unfamiliar."
He took possession of one of the great pyramids, threw
down the idols, cleansed the bloody altar, sprinkled it
with holy water, then set up a crucifix and an image of
the virgin. As the natives were still uncertain that this
was not the desire of their sun god, they did not resent
this action but watched with doubtful faces the service
that followed.

The long winter passed quietly and it was April when
picture-writing sent up from the coast gave alarming

208 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

news. Narvaez, with 18 ships, and not fewer than 1200
soldiers, had been sent from Cuba by Velasquez, with
orders to arrest Cortes.

Cortes wasted no time. He left Pedro de Alvarado
with 150 men to take charge of Montezuma and Mexico.
With the remaining 300 men he hurried to the coast, sur
prised, defeated, and captured Narvaez, then persuaded
the men to join his own army. With his increased force
he marched back to Mexico. On his way he met messen
gers from Alvarado with bad news. In May the Aztecs
celebrated a great festival in honor of their war god. They
assembled in the court of the temple, near the Spanish
quarters, in gala dress, to the number of 600. Alvarado,
fearing they were planning an attack, surprised them in
the midst of their dance and killed them all. Among
them were many chiefs and the warriors belonged to
families of note. The Aztecs were at once aroused and
attacked the Spaniards with fury. Montezuma was com
pelled to go out upon the roof and quiet the outbreak.
The Spaniards were besieged in their fortress and the
brigantines built by Cortes to use in time of danger were
Burned on the lake.

When Cortes entered the city on the 24th of June, he
found the streets deserted, the markets closed, and many
of the drawbridges raised. But few Indians were to be
seen. When he met Alvarado, Cortes told him that his

HERNANDO CORTES 209

conduct was that of a madman ; but it was now the turn
of Cortes to make a mistake. Montezuma's brother, who
stood next in line of succession, was the prisoner of Cortes,
who did not understand the danger of letting him out.
There was not food enough in the fortress for the larger
army and Cortes sent this brother to order the mar
kets opened. Some say that Montezuma suggested this
plan. This at once brought matters to a crisis. The
brother called together the tribal council, which instantly
deposed Montezuma and elected him in his place.

Early next morning came the outbreak. From the
parapet surrounding the enclosure, the Spaniards could
see every avenue leading toward them black with the
masses of warriors, while every pyramid and flat house
top was swarming with the enemy. They attacked with
arrows, slings, and javelins, and many Spaniards were
killed or wounded. The Spanish cannon swept the
streets with terrible effect but the Indians pressed on
under the very muzzles of the guns. They shot burning
arrows into the fort and some of the woodwork caught
fire. The besieged had but little water with which to
put out the flames and part of the wall was torn down
to check the fire. The breach was protected by heavy
guns and a constant fire was kept up through the open
ing. At Cortes' direction Montezuma appeared upon the
parapet and tried to quiet the people but he found his

210 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

power was ended. Stones and darts were hurled at him ;
he was struck down by a heavy stone and died a few
days afterward.

Before Montezuma's death and after several days'
fighting, Cortes, with three hundred chosen men, made a
sortie and after a terrific fight drove the enemy from
the temple that overlooked the Spaniards' quarters. From
this temple the enemy had sent such a volley of stones
and arrows that the Spaniards could not for a moment
leave their defences. Reaching the summit of the temple,
the Spaniards hurled the idols among the people and
burned the bloody shrines.

It was the last day of June that Montezurna died and
on the evening of the next day, fearing lest his army
should be blockaded and starved, Cortes left the city.
The Aztecs did not fight at night and the Spaniards
hoped that the causeway might be crossed before their
plan was discovered. All the treasure that had been
collected was brought out and the soldiers were allowed
to help themselves, after the share belonging to the crown
had been placed in charge of careful officers.

The night was cloudy and a drizzling rain was falling.
The troops marched through quiet and deserted streets
till they reached the great causeway leading to Tlacopan.
Its three drawbridges had all been destroyed but the
Spaniards had made a portable bridge which was placed

HERNANDO CORTES 211

across the breach. The Spaniards started across. Before
they had all crossed this narrow passage the splashing
of many oars was heard through the darkness. Then
came a few stones and arrows, striking at random among
the hurrying troops. They fell every moment faster and
more furious and the lake seemed to be swarming with
warriors. The Spaniards pushed on as rapidly as possible
anxious to make their escape. When the natives climbed
up the sides of the causeway and broke into their ranks,
the horsemen shook them off and rode over them, while
the men on foot with their swords or the butts of their
pieces drove them headlong into the water. When the
head of the long column reached the second opening in
the causeway, the rear had not yet crossed the first.
Here a pause was necessary and the suffering from arrows
of the enemy was intense. Repeated messages were sent
to the rear for the portable bridge. When, finally, all had
crossed, an attempt was made to lift the bridge to send
it to the front, but it stuck fast to the sides of the dike
and could not be raised. As this news was passed from
man to man and its meaning understood, a cry of despair
arose, which for a moment drowned all noise of the con
flict. All means of retreat were cut off. Order was at
an end. Each thought only of his own life. Some suc
ceeded in swimming their horses across. Others failed
and rolled headlong with their steeds into the lake. The

212 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

infantry followed pell-mell, falling one upon the other,
and frequently pierced by the shafts, or struck down by
the war clubs of the Aztecs. The struggle was long and
deadly. The warriors, running their canoes alongside,
leaped upon the land and grappled the enemy until both
rolled down the side of the causeway together.

In time the opening in the causeway was filled with
the wreckage of the ammunition wagons, heavy guns,
bales of rich stuffs, chests of gold, and bodies of men and
horses. Over this dismal ruin a passage was formed and
those in the rear passed over to the other side. Then all
pressed forward to the last opening. It was wide and
deep but not so thickly beset by the enemy. Cortes, who
it is said had reached the place through the water, tried to
encourage his men to pass. The cavaliers again set the
example by plunging into the water. Horse and foot
followed as they could, some swimming, others clinging
to the manes and tails of the struggling animals.
Cortes, with a few of his faithful friends, still kept
in advance. As morning dawned the remnant of the
army reached land. This terrible night has ever
since been known in history as la noche triste, or
the melancholy night. Cortes had started the evening
before with 1250 Spaniards, 6000 Tlascalans, and 80
horses. Next morning, after reaching land, he had
500 Spaniards, 2000 Tlascalans, and 20 horses. All

HERNANDO CORTES 213

his cannon were sunk in the lake. Then Cortes sat
down upon a rock and wept.

But Cortes did not give up his purpose of taking
Mexico. In a few days the Indians from that and neigh
boring pueblos attacked him, hoping to destroy his army,
but he won a decided victory. This was fortunate, for
the Tlascalans, almost persuaded by Aztec envoys, were
talking of deserting Cortes. After this victory they de
cided to keep up their alliance with him. During the
autumn Cortes had many encounters with the smaller
pueblos, defeating those that resisted him and making
alliances with the enemies of Tenochtitlan. " Cortes now
found ships useful. Taking some of those that had come
with Narvaez, he sent them to Hispaniola for horses,
cannon, and soldiers. By Christmas eve he found himself
at the head of a thoroughly equipped army of TOO infantry
armed with pikes and crossbows, 118 arquebusiers, 86
cavalry, a dozen cannon, and several thousand Indian
allies." l

Starting at Christmas on his final march against the
mighty pueblo, Cortes first went to Tezcuco. There had
been quarrels among chiefs of the Aztec confederacy and
the new war chief of Tezcuco, being offended with the
pueblo across the lake, admitted Cortes into his town and
entertained him hospitably. This move placed all the

1 Fiske's " Discovery of America."

214 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

warriors of Tezcuco at the command of Cortes and made
it possible for him to build a new fleet of brigantines on
the lake. Meanwhile, smallpox had carried off Cuitlaz-
huatzin and his nephew was now " chief of men." He
was a brave warrior and made a gallant defence of his
city. " For ferocious courage the Aztecs were not sur
passed by any other Indians on the continent, and when
Cortes at length began the siege of Mexico, April 28, 1521,
the fighting that ensued was incessant and terrible. The
fresh-water supply was soon cut off, and then slowly but
surely the besiegers upon the three causeways and in the
brigantines closed in upon their prey. Points of advan
tage were sometimes lost by the Aztecs through their
excessive anxiety to capture Spaniards alive. Occasion
ally they succeeded, and then from the top of the great
pyramid would resound the awful tones of the sacrificial
drum made of serpent skins, a sound that could be heard
in every quarter of this horrible city ; and the souls of the
soldiers sickened as they saw their wretched comrades
dragged up the long staircase, to be offered as sacrifices to
Satan. ... At last resistance came to an end. Canals
and footways were choked with corpses, and a great part
of the city lay in ruins." 1

When the conquerors entered the city, their first work
was to cleanse and rebuild. Mexico soon looked like a

1 Fiske's " Discovery of America."

HERNANDO CORTES 215

Spanish town. Where the heathen temple had stood, a
Gothic church was built. This was replaced in 1573 by
the cathedral which still stands there. The palace of
Cortes was built of hewn stone, and seven thousand cedar
beams are said to have been used for the interior.

Cortes also had a strong fortress built. When it was
finished, he found himself in need of artillery and ammu
nition. His enemies in Spain prevented the sending of
supplies, so he had cannon cast in his own foundries,
made of the copper which was common in Mexico and of
tin which came from more distant mines. With these
and a few brought from the ships, he soon had the walls
mounted with seventy pieces of ordnance. Stone balls
were used for the cannon. Nitre for making powder was
easily found and sulphur was brought from the crater of
a volcano.

To bring inhabitants to the city, Cortes made liberal
grants of land and houses to the Spaniards. About two
thousand Spanish families settled in the City of Mexico,
besides three thousand native families. The natives were
allowed to live under their own chiefs and given many
privileges. Markets were established, displaying all the
different products and manufactures of the surrounding
country. Colonies were made in different parts of the
country. A system of slavery was thought necessary to
secure workmen. The Tlascalans, in gratitude for their

216 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

services, were not enslaved. In order to encourage agri
culture Cortes asked that all vessels coming over from
Spain should bring seeds and plants. Under the sun of
the tropics, the peach, the almond, the orange, the vine,
and the olive, before unknown there, flourished in the
gardens of the table-land.

Cortes did not give up the idea of further discovery and
conquest. It was very desirable that a strait should be
found connecting the two oceans. He was fitting out a
fleet on the Pacific coast to explore the shore of that great
sea, but, when nearly completed, it was burned in the
dockyards. Cortez at once began to repair the loss. He
writes to the emperor that another squadron will soon be
got ready at the same port, and "he doubts not will put
his Majesty in possession of more lands and kingdoms
than the nation has ever heard of." Cortes wrote further
to Charles V, "Your Majesty may be assured, that, as I
know how much you have at heart the discovery of this
great secret of a strait, I shall postpone all interests and
projects of rny own, some of them of the highest moment,
for the fulfilment of this great object."

For this purpose a fleet was sent along the eastern coast
under the command of Olid, one of Cortes' brave officers.
He was to plant a colony on the northern coast of Hon
duras and explore the coast farther south. Hearing that
Olid was acting too independently, Cortes sent a trusty

HERNANDO CORTES 217

Kinsman to arrest him. Not getting any news for a long
time, Cortes left the City of Mexico in the hands of men
chosen by him, marched south, and for nearly two years
wandered through mountains and swamps, building
bridges and suffering extreme hardships, till he reached
the settlement and took charge of it.

When Cortes left the City of Mexico, he had placed the
management of his colonies in the hands of several men.
Soon after his departure quarrels arose among those left
in charge. Tidings were received that Cortes and his
men had perished in the -swamps. This news was readily
believed and after proclaiming his death and performing
funeral ceremonies in his honor, the members of the gov
ernment took possession of his property and that of others
engaged in the expedition.

On arriving at the southern settlement, Cortes gave
up all thought of further conquest and .soon embarked
for home. He was delayed by storms and sickness and it
was not until the 16th of May, 1526, that he reached San
Juan de Ulloa. He hurried on to the capital ; his prog
ress was a triumphal procession amid public rejoicing.
His entrance to the city was made in great state. It was
nearly two years since Cortes had left Mexico and he
was welcomed back as one who had risen from the dead.

His triumph did not last long. In July he heard that
his enemies had been busy at court and that he was to be

218 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

removed from his office while an examination was made
of his conduct of affairs. The bishop, Fonseca, who had
been Columbus's enemy, had listened to the complaints of
Velasquez and others who were envious of Cortes' success,
and was doing all he could to disgrace him. Cortes was
accused of secreting the treasures of Montezuma and of
using for himself gold which belonged to the crown. The
Mexicans, during the siege, had destroyed, buried, or
thrown into the lake, everything possible, and the Span
iards were greatly disappointed upon entering the city to
find so little of value left. Even then the discontented
had hinted that Cortes had more than his share and their
complaints soon reached his enemies at court. He was
accused also of making false reports of the provinces he
had conquered, so that he might defraud the government
of its lawful revenues. He had given offices to his fa
vorites and had fortified the capital and his own palace
so that he might at any time throw off his allegiance to
Spain and declare himself an independent sovereign in
New Spain.

Before receiving a summons from the king requiring
him to return, Cortes had decided to go to Spain to ask
justice of the king. After a brief and prosperous voy
age he entered the little port of Valos in May, 1528.
His return seemed to remove the prejudices against him
and he was shown great honors.

HERNANDO CORTES 219

With him Cortes had brought several Aztec and Tlasca-
]an chiefs, among them a son of Montezuma. He had also
a large collection of plants and minerals, as specimens of
the natural resources of the country, several wild ani
mals and birds of gaudy plumage, various fabrics of deli
cate workmanship, especially the gorgeous feather-work,
and lastly a rich treasure of jewels, gold, and silver.
After some delay he reached Toledo, where he was ad
mitted to an audience by the emperor. The emperor re
ceived him kindly and asked him many questions about
the country he had conquered. He seemed pleased with
the answers and consulted Cortes on the best mode of
governing the new colonies. Several important changes
were made according to Cortes' advice.

In July, 1529, the emperor made Cortes Marquis of the
Valley of Oaxaca and granted him a vast tract of land in
the province, together with large estates in the City of
Mexico. This grant was made because of his services to
the crown and because it is " the duty of princes to honor
and reward those who serve them well and loyally, in
order that the memory of their great deeds should be per
petuated, and others be incited by their example to the
performance of the like illustrious exploits." Though
willing to show Cortes these honors the emperor refused
to reinstate him as governor. He did, however, make
him Captain General of New Spain and the South Sea,

220 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

He encouraged him to make further discoveries and prom
ised him that he should be governor of any new countries
that he might find. In the spring of 1530 Cortes em
barked for New Spain. With him he took his bride, the
young and beautiful daughter of one of the nobles who
had been his friend at court. To her he gave a beautiful
jewel of five emeralds, of wonderful size and brilliancy,
doubtless a part of the treasure of Montezuma that had
escaped the wreck of "the melancholy night." For a while
after reaching his estates he devoted himself to their cul
tivation, but this did not long content his restless and
adventurous spirit. In the years 1532 and 1533 Cortes
fitted out two squadrons that were sent on a voyage of
discovery to the northwest. The peninsula of California
was reached by one of these squadrons and a landing
made on its southern point. In 1539 another expedition
sent out by him went to the head of the Gulf of California,
then doubling the peninsula, followed the coast as far north
as the twenty-eighth or twenty-ninth degree of latitude.

Cortes now decided to fit out another expedition for the
purpose of seeking a country in the north, where it was
said great gold-fields existed. But Mendoza, who at this
time controlled affairs in New Spain, wanted the glory of
this discovery for himself and objected to Cortes' plan.
Cortes decided to go again to Spain for justice. In 1540,
with his eight-year-old son and heir, Don Martin, he

HERNANDO CORTES 221

sailed for his native land. Keaching the capital, he found
the emperor absent from the country. Although he was
kindly received, nothing was done to right his wrongs.
After waiting a year Cortes joined an expedition against
Algiers. To his disgust nothing was accomplished in
this attack upon the Corsairs. During a storm the ves
sel in which he and his son had embarked was wrecked
and their lives were saved by swimming. At this time
the valuable jewels he carried with him were lost, — "a
loss," says an old writer, " that made the expedition fall
more heavily on the Marquis of the Valley than on any
other man in the kingdom except the emperor."

After the expedition returned to Castile, Cortes lost no
time in laying his case before the emperor. But the em
peror received him coldly. Cortes was growing old and
was not likely to be of future service to the country. His
undertakings, since his former visit, had been singularly
unfortunate. Then Peru was returning so much more
wealth from her gold mines than had as yet come from
the mines of Mexico that his former successes did not
seem so wonderful. In vain Cortes wrote to the emperor
asking for attention to bis suit. After three years of
weary waiting he decided to return to Mexico. With his
son he had gone as far as Seville when he fell ill of
indigestion, caused, probably, by mental trouble. He
sank rapidly, and on the 2d of December, 1547, he died.

CHAPTER X

PONCE DE LEON

PONCE DE LEON came with Columbus on the latter's
second voyage to America. He served as a soldier in
Cuba and other parts of the West Indies and was deemed
worthy to be put in charge of the conquest of Porto Rico.
He had been many years among the beautiful islands
of the West and was growing old. Rumors came to
him of a marvellous land of wealth lying to the north,
where gold and treasures were in plenty, — a land of lakes
and rivers, among whose glades was a spring fabled to
possess the power of making an old man young again.

In the year 1512 the king of Spain gave to Ponce de
Leon the right " to proceed to discover and settle the
Island of Bimini." This was a name given by the Ind
ians to a large tract of land which they said lay to the
north of them, upon which the fountain of youth was to
be found. Some trouble with the Indians in Porto Rico
delayed Ponce de Leon for a time, and it was not until
March, 1513, that he sailed from Porto Rico with three
vessels in search of this land of promise. He first sailed
among the groups of the Bahama Islands, searching for

222

PONCE DE LEON

223

the Island of Bimini ; but not finding an island that ful
filled his hopes, he turned toward the northwest across
the narrow seas separating him from a larger land.
" One Sunday, the 27th of March, 1513, he sighted an
unknown, low-lying coast. It was covered with a heavy
growth of rich foliage, and flowering vines, even at this
early season, spread themselves over and among the
trees, and the whole land was full of beauty and fra
grance. He happened to sight the land on Easter Sun
day, called in Spanish Pascua Florida, and named it
Florida.

Sailing slowly up the coast, on the 2d of April he
landed (in latitude 30° 8',ja little above St. Augustine.
As usual, he planted a
cross and went through
the ceremony of claiming
all the land for his king,
spreading the Spanish
flag to the breeze and
promising obedience.

After this ceremony
the vessels sailed south
ward. They followed ROUTE OF PONCE DE LEON

the coast until the 20th of April, then landed. When
the vessels tried to sail away again, they met with
so strong a current that they could not go on and

224 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

were forced to anchor. One of the vessels was driven
out of sight. Landing as soon as possible, the Spaniards
found the natives so unfriendly that they had to
drive them away. Finally getting away from this
point, they sailed around the southern part of Florida
and along the western coast as far north as Tampa Bay
and possibly farther.

During this time Ponce de Leon made several trips
inland. But on account of its flat and swampy char
acter the country was not easily surveyed. The thickets
of woods and vines and the oozy marshlands made it
hard to get about and there was no sign of cities or of
a wealthy kingdom. The fabled spring did not appear at
all. The people dwelling in this new country showed
themselves fierce and unfriendly. In fact they were
quite dangerous and the Spaniards had constantly to be
on guard against them.

It was September when Ponce de Leon again reached
Porto Rico. It is said that while among the Bahamas
he sent a ship under one of his captains and his pilot,
who as a boy had sailed with Columbus, to look still
further for Bimini; and these people when they came
back thought they had found the island but they did
not find the fountain of youth.

Ponce de Leon was so well pleased with his discovery
that he soon after went to Spain to tell the king of the

PONCE DE LEON

225

beautiful country he had found, and to get permission to
conquer and settle it. His request was granted and he
was appointed governor of the new colonies. After he
had subdued the Caribs who were making trouble at
that time, he was to take the vessels and men used
in that service to help in the conquest and settlement
of " the Island of Bimini and the Island of Florida."
But the Carib war lasted much longer than was ex
pected and Ponce de Leon was kept busy for a number

EARLY SPANISH SETTLEMENT IN FLORIDA

of years before he could prepare for his second visit to
Florida. In the meantime several exploring trips had
been made by various Spaniards along both the east and
west coasts of Florida, and it had been found that
Florida is not an island, but a large region of country
which might contain in the interior the rich kingdoms of

226 PIONKKKS ON LAM) AND SEA

which the Spaniards had heard. Cortes had lately dis
covered a rich empire in Mexico and Ponce De Leon,
though getting quite old, thought he might still conquer
such a kingdom and leave a great name.

It was in February, 1521, that Ponce de Leon at last
set out for his province. "He went prepared to settle,
carrying clergymen for the colonists, friars to found
Indian missions, and horses, cattle, sheep, and swine."
After enduring severe storms, he landed again on the
east coast and had himself proclaimed its master. But
the fierce tribes had no disposition to acknowledge his
authority. They attacked his company with such bold
ness and success that they killed many Spaniards and
even wounded the governor himself. Discouraged by
this hostility of the natives and suffering severely with
his wound, the old man decided to abandon the attempt.
He sailed back to Cuba where, sick and heartbroken, he
soon afterward died. His son inherited his rights but
made no attempt to take possession of them by conquer
ing Florida.

1 Winsor's '< Narrative and Critical History of America," Vol. II, p. 236.

CHAPTER XI

GEORGE WASHINGTON*

George Washington was born, in the year 1732,
ms father, Augustine Washington, was living on a
plantation near the Poto
mac River. Soon after this
time the house in which
the father lived was burnt
and he moved with his
family to another planta
tion, on the Rappahannock
River, and here George
Washington lived until he
was eleven years old.

In those days there were
no large towns in Virginia.
The people lived on great

MONUMENT AT WAKKFIELD MARKING

plantations along the rivers THE BIRTHPLACE OF GEORGE

where boats could easily WASHINGTON

reach them, for travelling through the new country was

very difficult except by water. The owners of these

1 Authorities : Scudder's "George Washington;" living's "Life of
Washington."

227

228 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

plantations grew tobacco, which was in great demand in
England. The country was covered with trees which
had to be cut down to make room for the tobacco fields.
A traveller could tell when he was approaching a planta
tion by these clearings, or by the dead trees which had
been girdled so that they might be cut away to clear
ground for new fields. The fields were surrounded by tall
rail fences which could be easily moved when the field
was made larger.

The house of the planter was usually a long two-story
building with a broad veranda in front and a huge
chimney built upon the outside at each end. The halls
and rooms were large and were simply furnished. To
keep the house cool in the summer the kitchen was built
at some distance from it. The owner of the plantation
was usually an Englishman who kept up in America
as nearly as possible the customs of an English country
house.

Not far from the house one could see what looked like
a small village. A great many people were needed to
work the tobacco fields. The plants while growing had
to be pruned once a week and a worm which ate the
plant had to be picked from it. The planter found it
very convenient to keep negro slaves to do the work
of the plantation, and these slaves lived in the small huts
near the master's house.

GEORGE WASHINGTON 229

As there were no markets where the planter could
buy the things necessary to farm with and to provide
for so large a household, each plantation furnished its
own supplies. There were workshops where the negro
carpenters, smiths, shoemakers, and tailors worked ;
smoke-houses where meat was smoked and hams cured.
Down by a brook would be found a spring-house where
milk and butter and eggs were kept cool in buckets
standing in running water. There were also large
wooden buildings where the tobacco was hung upon
poles to dry in the sun and air ; and there were mills
for grinding wheat and Indian corn, of which large
fields were cultivated for the use of the family and the
negro slaves. The good furniture, silver, china, wines,
and clothing were brought over from England in the
ships that carried back the tobacco in exchange.

Although the owner of the plantation kept- an over
seer to look after the negroes and the work planned
for them, he was by no means an idle man. He spent
much of his time riding about his plantation seeing
that the work was well done and what improvements
could be made. Then his accounts must be looked after
and that meant no light task in so large a household.
His stock took much care, for he always had many
fine horses in his stables and each planter was anxious
to have the best. Good dogs were kept for the hunt,

230 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

which not only was a favorite amusement, but added
much to the household stores, for the woods abounded
with deer and other game.

Amid such surroundings George Washington lived
much of his life. As a child he went to school to a
man named Hobby, who was sexton of the parish church.
Here he learned to read, write, and cipher. Among his
playmates was a boy named Richard Henry Lee, who
wrote to him when the boys were about nine years old:

" Richard Henry Lee to George Washington:
" Pa brought me two pretty books full of pictures he
got them in Alexandria they have pictures of dogs and
cats and tigers and elefants and ever so many pretty
things cousin bids me send you one of them it has a
picture of an elefent and a little Indian boy on his
back like uncle jo's sam pa says if I learn my tasks
good he will let uncle jo bring me to see you will you
ask your ma to let you come to see me.

" RICHARD HENRY LEE."

" George Washington to Richard Henry Lee :
" Dear Dickey, I thank you very much for the pretty
picture-book you gave me. Sam asked me to show him
the pictures and I showed him all the pictures in it;
and I read to him how the tame elephant took care
of the master's little boy, and put him on his back and

GEORGE WASHINGTON 231

would not let anybody touch his master's little son. T
can read three or four pages sometimes without missing
a word. Ma says I may go to see you, and stay all day
with you next week if it be not rainy. She says I
may ride my pony Hero if Uncle Ben will go with me
and lead Hero. I have a little piece of poetry about
the picture book you gave me, but I mustn't tell you
who wrote the poetry.

" G. W.'s compliments to E. H. L.,
And he likes his book full well,
Henceforth will count him his friend,
And hopes many happy days he may spend.

" Your good friend,

" GEORGE WASHINGTON.

" I am going to get a whip top soon, and you may see
it and whip it."

" Kichard Henry Lee's letter was probably sent just as
it was written, but George Washington's letter looks as
if it had been corrected by a careful mother or teacher,
and copied before it -was sent."1

When George Washington was eleven years old his
father died and he was left to his mother's care. She
was a woman well able to care for herself and her chil
dren. Her son was like her in many ways. From her

1 Scudder's " George Washington."

232 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

he got his high temper and from her he learned to con
trol it. She taught him many useful things and gave
him many excellent rules to guide him ; but she herself,
honest, high-spirited, and truthful, helped the boy more
than the rules she gave him.

There is a story told of George Washington's boy
hood that shows the character of both mother and son.
The father had kept many fine horses. The mother
was anxious to keep the stock pure and took much in
terest in their care. Among them were several colts
that were not yet broken. - One of them, a " sorrel,"
was thought to be very vicious. One morning George
Washington, with several other boys, went out to the
pasture to see these colts. Washington told the boys
that he would ride the sorrel if they would help him
to catch it. They soon surrounded the colt and suc
ceeded in getting the bit into its mouth. Washington
mounted and away the angry animal went. It made
every possible effort to throw its burden but the rider
kept his seat, never once losing his control of the ani
mal nor of himself. Suddenly, as if determined to rid
itself of its rider, the colt sprang into the air with a
great bound. The effort broke a blood-vessel and it
dropped dead.

The boys were frightened and when at breakfast the
mother, knowing that they had been in the field, began

GEORGE WASHINGTON 233

to ask after her stock, no one liked to speak. She
repeated her question. "Have you seen my blooded
colts in your rambles ? I hope they are well taken care
of. My favorite, I am told, is as large as his sire."

"The sorrel is dead, madam," said her son. "I
killed him." Then he told all that had happened that
morning. The mother, upon hearing the adventure,
flushed with anger, but controlling herself, said quietly,
" It is well ; but while I regret the loss of my favorite,
I rejoice in my son who always speaks the truth." l

George Washington was a strong, active boy, fond of
outdoor sports. He took an active part in the games
that were common then, — he pitched heavy bars, tossed
quoits, ran, leaped, and wrestled. His playmates used
to show- the place by the Rappahannock, near Fred-
ericksburg, where he stood and threw a stone to the
opposite bank. At the Natural Bridge in Virginia, they
always tell that George Washington threw a stone to
the top of the arch, which is two hundred feet high.
One of the favorite games was war, for the boys heard
much of the wars with France and of the fights with the
Indians. As George Washington was a generous, fair-
minded boy, he was often chosen leader in the sports.
He formed a military company, which he drilled with
care. From his brother, Lawrence, who had joined the

1 Scudder's " George Washington.1'

234 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

British army in the West Indies for a time, he learned
much of military tactics and used his knowledge in
training his comrades at school.

This brother, Lawrence, had been sent to England to
school when George was very young. When he came
back George was seven or eight years old and learned
many things from the big brother who had been to
England.

Soon after the father's death the elder brothers, Law
rence and Augustine, married. Lawrence took the estate
upon the Potomac, left him by his father, and named it
Mount Yernon for the Admiral Yernon under whom he
had served in the wars in the West Indies. Augustine
took the estate at Bridges Creek and here Washington
spent some time in school, as the teacher was better
than the one at home. His education was plain and
practical. His manuscript school-books still exist and
are models of neatness and accuracy. Before he was
thirteen years of age, he had copied into a volume forms
of all kinds of mercantile and legal papers, bills of ex
change, notes of hand, deeds, bonds, and the like.

At Mount Yernon George Washington was always a
welcome visitor. He admired his brother Lawrence and,
doubtless, tried to imitate him in many ways. Here
he heard much about the wars, for Lawrence Washing
ton had many of his soldier friends for guests, after he

GEOKGE

left the army. George decided that he would be a
soldier. As he was too young for the army, being only
fifteen, his brother got him a place in the navy as
midshipman. When his luggage was packed and he
was ready to board a man-of-war anchored in the
Potomac, his mother decided that she could not let her
boy go to sea. So the plan was given up and George

AN OLD VIEW OF MOUNT VERNON

went back to school for another year. He spent much
of this year studying surveying. In a new country
where the land is to be divided among the settlers, sur
veying is an important occupation. It requires exact
ness, a love of order, and much outdoor work, and
George Washington found it very attractive. As it
would be six years before he could come into the prop
erty left him by his father and managed by his mother,

236 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

he was glad to have something to do that would bring
him in money. So he studied geometry and trigonome
try; he made calculations and he surveyed all the
fields about the schoolhouse, plotting them and setting
down everything with great exactness.

Near Mount Vernon lived William Fairfax, the father
of Anne, the wife of Lawrence Washington. He was
a man of education and wealth and fond of society.
His house was more richly furnished than those of
most of the Virginia planters. The floors were cov
ered with carpets and the rooms were lighted with wax
candles. Servants in livery moved about to wait on the
guests and Virginia ladies were fond of visiting there.

George Washington, coming to visit his brother Law
rence, was often a guest there. He was fifteen years
old when first thrown into this gay society. He was
a reserved, shy, awkward schoolboy, but was so tall,
large-limbed, and serious that he seemed much older
than he really was. He took his place among the men
in sports and hunting. The ladies all liked the tall,
thoughtful boy. It may be that for guidance in this
society Washington wrote out the " Rules of Civility
and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation,"
found in one of his manuscript books. There are in
all 110 rules. A few will show what was expected of
boys in those days.

GEORGE WASHINGTON 237

" Every action in company ought to be with some
sign of respect to those present. When you meet with
one of greater quality than yourself, stop and retire,
especially if it be at a door or any strait place, to give
room to him to pass."

u Think before you speak ; pronounce not imperfectly
nor bring out your words too hastily, but orderly and
distinctly."

"Speak not evil of the absent, for it is unjust."

" Make no show of taking great delight in your vict
uals, feed not with greediness, cut your bread with ?,
knife; lean not on the table; neither find fault with
what you eat."

"Let your recreations be manful, not sinful."

Here in Virginia George Washington met Lord Fairfax,
who was sixty years old, and who had come out to rest
in the wilderness after he had grown tired of the gay
life in England. He liked the free out-of-door life and
the excitement of the hunt. Between him and the tall,
grave lad who rode and hunted so well, grew up a strong
friendship.

Neither Lord Fairfax* nor his cousin William knew
the extent of the land each owned beyond the Blue
Ridge. They decided to have it surveyed and gave the
task to their young friend, George Washington. George
Fairfax, the son of William Fairfax, was at the head

238 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

of the expedition sent out. He was six years older
than Washington but the two were warm friends.

Just a month after George Washington's sixteenth
birthday, in March, 1748, the two young men set out
on their errand. On horseback they crossed the Blue
Ridge by Ashby's Gap and entered the Shenandoah
Valley. They followed the Shenandoah to its junction
with the Potomac and then ascended that river and
went some seventy miles up the South Branch, return
ing over the mountains. They had plenty of adventure.
They camped out in the wildest storms, swam their
horses over swollen streams, and shot deer and wild tur
keys which they cooked upon forked sticks held over
the fire. Chips of wood were used for dishes. At
one time their tent was blown down ; at another they
were driven out of it by smoke. One night the straw
upon which Washington was sleeping caught fire and he
was awakened by a companion just in time to escape a
scorching. At one place the travellers saw a party of
thirty Indians, who had been on the war-path, come in.
"We had some liquor with us," Washington says, "of
which we gave them a part. This elevating their spirits,
put them in the humor of dancing." So they had a grand
war-dance. Their music consisted of two pieces, — a pot
half full of water, over which a deerskin was stretched,
and a gourd with some shot in it used as a rattle.

'/ut<C <rf* ?n-*"t«

OPENING PAGE OF WASHINGTON'S JOURNAL OF HIS JOURNEY OVER THB

MOUNTAINS

240 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

The work lasted more than a month. It was cold
and stormy much of the time and the young Virginian
felt many discomforts. But he was glad to earn his
own living. He was paid according to the amount of
work he did and sometimes earned as much as $20
a day. His work was so well done that soon after
his return the governor of Virginia made him public
surveyor. This meant that his surveys were to be
recorded and to stand as authority when lands were
bought and sold. It was necessary that the work
should be carefully done. People soon found that the
young surveyor made no mistakes, and he had all the
work he could do.

For three years he carried on this work, spending
much of his time in the wilderness where he became
well acquainted with the rough life of the backwoods
men, and learned much of the habits of the Indians.
During the winter months, when it was too cold
to work out of doors, he visited his mother and
friends or read the books of his friend, Lord Fairfax.

While most of the English lived east of the Alle-
ghany Mountains, a few had explored the land west of
the mountains, had hunted and traded with the
Indians along the valley of the Ohio River, and de
cided that it would be well for the English to possess
the land and the friendship of the Indians. The

GEORGE WASHINGTON 241

French who lived along the St. Lawrence had made
friends of the northern tribes and of those along the
Mississippi, and had tried to gain the good-will of those
tribes who lived along the Ohio. They claimed this
country because they had explored the Mississippi and
they said that all the land along this river and its
tributaries belonged to them. The English said all the
country between the Mississippi River and the Atlantic
Ocean was theirs because they had conquered the Ind
ians that owned it, and these Indians had granted
them the land upon the payment of ,£400. A number
of men, among them Washington's two brothers, got a
grant from the king, giving them the country along
the Ohio and its tributaries for settlement and to
carry on trade with the Indians.

The French paid no attention to the claims of the
British and took possession of the country in the name
of their king. The English soon saw that they would
have to settle the dispute by war and began to form
companies and train men for service. Lawrence Wash
ington was not well enough to take an active part in
the preparation for war, but through his influence his
brother George was made military commander of one
of the districts into which the colony was divided.
His duty was to bring the men together and train
them for service. He himself took lessons in the art

242 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

of war from an old friend of his brother. He read
books upon military tactics and took lessons in fencing
from another friend, a Dutchman named Von Braam.

The French, with their Indian allies, still claimed
the valley of the Ohio and built a chain of forts from
the Mississippi to Lake Erie. The governor of Vir
ginia decided to send a message to the commander of
a French fort on Lake Erie, stating the English claim
and asking the French to leave the country belonging
to the English. The way to Lake Erie was a long
and dangerous one and it was important that the man
sent on this mission should be strong, brave, and
skilled in woodcraft. It was decided that George
Washington, though he was only twenty-one years
old, was the most suitable person to send and the
commission was given to him.

Washington left Williamsburg on the thirteenth, day
of October. He stopped at Fredericksburg for his friend,
Von Braam, who was to act as his interpreter. Wash
ington knew no French, while his old master of fencing
claimed to know it well, and it was not until later that
Washington found that he knew neither French nor
English very well. At Alexandria Washington laid
in the necessary supplies for such a journey ; and at
Winchester, on the frontier, he provided himself with
horses and tents. At Wills Creek, now Cumberland, in

GEORGE WASHINGTON 24o

Maryland, he was joined by Christopher Gist, an ex
perienced woodsman, an Indian interpreter, and four
frontiersmen. On the 15th of November the party
started for Logstown, an Indian village not far from
the present site of Pittsburg. Here they met several
Indian chiefs, who promised their friendship and gave
an escort to the French fort. The weather was bad and
they suffered many delays but finally reached the fort.
Here Washington was politely received, and after some
delay an answer was given him to return to the governor
of Virginia, and his party started home.

The horses had grown so weak with the hard journey
and lack of food that they carried only the necessary sup
plies while Washington and his men walked. So slowly
did they travel that Washington and Gist decided to go
on alone across the country the shortest way to Virginia.
An Indian guide who started with them fired upon them
soon after they left the path. They pretended to think
the firing was an accident but sent the Indian home
that night. Fearing that he would rally his friends and
pursue them, they walked all night and the next day,
reaching the Ohio River at dark. Here they rested over
night.

They had expected to find the river frozen over but it
was frozen only near the shore, while the centre was full
of great blocks of floating ice. " There was no way of

244 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

getting over," says Washington in his journal, " but on a
raft, which we set about, with but one poor hatchet, and
finished just after sun-setting. This was a whole day's
work ; we next got it launched, then went on board of it,
and set off; but before we were halfway over, we were
jammed in the ice in such a manner that we expected
every moment our raft to sink and ourselves to perish. I
put out my setting-pole to try to stop the raft, that the
ice might pass by, when the rapidity of the stream threw
it with so much violence against the pole that it jerked
me out into ten feet of water ; but I fortunately saved my
self by catching hold of one of the raft-logs. Notwith
standing all our efforts, we could not get to either shore,
but were obliged, as we were near an island, to quit our
raft and to make it. The cold was so extremely severe
that Mr. Gist had all his fingers and some of his toes
frozen, and the water was shut up so hard that we found
no difficulty in getting off the island on the ice in the
morning." 1

After crossing the river they were able to get horses
and in due time reached Williamsburg. Washington's
report of all that he had seen and done upon this diffi
cult journey pleased the governor and his friends. They
felt that they had found a young man who was brave and
who could be trusted.

1 Sc udder's "George Washington."

GEORGE WASHINGTON 245

While on this journey Washington noticed that the best
point for a fort was at the junction of the Monongahela
River with the Ohio, and advised the governor to build it
in order to hold the land against the French. The Ohio
Company began a fort there, when the French came down
the river with a force of about a thousand men, took
possession, and, finishing it, called it Fort Duquesne.
The force of the English, some three hundred men under
Colonel Fry, with Washington as second in command,
was, after many delays, started for the Ohio. Wash
ington, with a small body of men, went ahead to break
the path. After crossing the mountains, he discovered a
small body of the French. Fearing an ambuscade, he
surprised them at a place called Great Meadows, and
attacked them, killing the commander at the first fire.
Ten of the French were killed, one wounded, and twenty-
one captured. In a letter to his brother, Washington
wrote, "I heard the bullets whistle, and, believe me, there
is something charming in the sound." When asked many
years after if he had really said this, he replied, " If I said
so, it was when I was young."

Before advancing farther Washington built a palisaded
fortress, called Fort Necessity, to make safe his retreat in
case of defeat. By the death of Colonel Fry, Washington
became commander of the whole force. He had been
reenforced by a small company of artillery with nine

246 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

swivels, which had been dragged with great difficulty
over the rough roads, He advanced about thirteen miles
from the fort, but hearing that a large French force was
coming out to meet him, he retreated to Fort Necessity.
Here he was attacked by the French and lost twelve men,
while forty-one were wounded. The French loss was
greater, but as their force was much larger, about four to
one, and as the little garrison was almost without food,
Washington was obliged to surrender. His troops were
allowed to march out with the honors of war. They took
with them everything but their artillery and made their
way, in safety, home. Fort Necessity surrendered on the
4th of July, 1754.

After Washington's return to Virginia he gave up his
commission and went to Mount Vernon, intending to put
in his time looking after his plantation. His brother,
Lawrence, meantime had died and had left him this estate.
But the next year General Braddock was sent over from
England with a large army to drive the French out of the
Ohio Valley.

The preparations for war were carried on actively in
the neighborhood of Mount Vernon. Washington could
3ee the ships and transports, carrying men and arms,
going up and down the Potomac, and often rode over
to Alexandria, where General Braddock had his head
quarters. Governor Dinwiddie told the general of

GEOKGE WASHINGTON 247

Washington, of his good service, and his knowledge of
the country, and Washington was invited to join the
army as aide-de-camp. He accepted at once, as he was
anxious to have the training in war under so experienced
a commander. He was kindly received by General
Braddock. He was surprised at the preparations that
were being made to carry supplies through the moun
tains, and remembering the difficulties he met with his
scanty stores and nine swivels, he said to General Brad-
dock, "If our march is to be regulated by the slow
movements of the train, it will be tedious, very tedious
indeed." 1 But Braddock smiled at him, thinking the
young provincial officer knew but little of the march
of great armies.

There were many delays before the army finally
started. It was almost impossible to find wagons to
carry the stores and the supplies promised by the
governors of the colony were slow in coming in, so
that Braddock complained bitterly of the provincials.
Benjamin Franklin came from Philadelphia to see what
ne could do to help and offered to get horses and wagons
from the German farmers of Pennsylvania. He was
asked to contract for 150 wagons, with four horses to
each wagon, and 1500 saddle or pack horses for the
service of his Majesty's forces.

1 Sounder's " George Washington."

248 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

Benjamin Franklin writes of General Braddock : " In
conversation with him one day he was giving me some
account of his intended progress. ' After taking Fort
Duquesne I am to proceed to Niagara ; and having taken
that, to Frontenac, if the season will allow time ; and
I suppose it will, for Duquesne can hardly detain me
above three or four days, and then I can see nothing
that can obstruct my march to Niagara.'

"Having before resolved in my mind," continues
Franklin, " the long line his army must make in their
march by a very narrow road to be cut for them through
the woods and bushes, and also what I had heard of a
former defeat of fifteen hundred French who invaded
the Illinois country, I had conceived some doubts and
some fears of the event of the campaign; but I ven
tured only to say : < To be sure, sir, if you arrive well
before Duquesne with these fine troops, so well provided
with artillery, the fort, though completely fortified, and
assisted with a very strong garrison, can probably make
but a short resistance. The only danger I apprehend
of obstruction to your march is from the ambuscades
of the Indians, who, by constant practice, are dexterous
in laying and executing them; and the slender line,
nearly four miles long, which your army must make,
may expose it to be attacked by surprise on its flanks,
and to be cut like thread into several pieces, which, from

GEORGE WASHINGTON 249

the distance, cannot come up in time to support one
another/

" He smiled at my ignorance, and replied, * These
savages may indeed be a formidable enemy to raw
American militia, but upon the king's regular and
disciplined troops, sir, it is impossible they should make
an impression.' '

On the 19th of May the forces reached Fort Cumber
land. The two regiments of one thousand men from
England had been increased by four hundred men from
Maryland and Virginia, the troops of Virginia light-
horse commanded by Captain Stewart, two companies
of carpenters, thirty men each, with subalterns and cap
tains, a company of guides, a detachment of thirty sailors
with their officers, and the remnants of two independent
companies from New York, commanded by Captain Gates.
The Indians who were to help them did not come.

During the halt at Fort Cumberland, Washington was
sent to Williamsburg to bring on £4000 for the mili
tary chest. After an absence of two weeks he returned,
escorted from Winchester by eight men, "which eight
men," he writes, " were two days assembling, but I be
lieve would not have been more than as many seconds
dispersing, if I had been attacked."

Braddock was disgusted with the provinces of Penn
sylvania and Virginia because they failed to furnish

250 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

promptly the supplies, build the roads through the
mountains, and furnish the horses, wagons, and baggage
trains needed for his army. Several hundred Indians
had also been promised as allies by Governor Dinwiddie,
only about fifty of whom ever arrived. These finally
deserted the camp because they were not consulted and
employed in military affairs. Brad dock tried to give
the Virginia militia a strict military drill, but they were
so slouchy-looking a set and so careless in manner that
he had a poor opinion of them as soldiers.

While the army was waiting for supplies and horses
at Fort Cumberland, Washington had an opportunity
to see strict military discipline practised. Each day
the roll of the company was called, at morning, noon,
and night, their arms inspected, and the drills executed.
The morals of the camp were strictly upheld, drunken
ness and theft severely punished, and the chaplain led
religious services every Sunday morning at the head of
each regiment.

Washington was chagrined at the stubbornness of
Braddock and the inability of the general and his officers
to adapt themselves to the hardships and necessities of
a campaign in the wilderness. Braddock had travelled
in a chariot as far as Fort Cumberland, attended by
his staff and a body-guard of light-horse. Many of
the best horses were employed by the officers as pack

GEORGE WASHINGTON (after a portrait by C. W. Peale — the earliest known
portrait of Washington)

252 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

animals for their luxuries. Washington advised Brad-
dock to leave all but the most necessary things and
push forward rapidly. After leaving Fort Cumberland
the army struggled along over rough mountain roads,
dragging the heavy wagons arid cannon, till Braddock
himself began to see the value of Washington's advice
and consulted him as to the future march.

Washington advised that the army be divided into
two parts; the choicest troops, equipped as lightly as
possible, should move forward rapidly and capture Fort
Duquesne before the French should receive reenforce-
ments. The rest of the army, with the baggage train,
could come up more slowly by easy marches. This was
then decided upon. But the officers kept two hundred
horses for their private baggage, while Washington, fol
lowing his own advice, " retained no more clothing and
effects with him than would about half fill a portmanteau,
and gave up his best steed as a packhorse, which he
nevsr heard of afterward."

About this time the famous Indian fighter, Captain
Jack, with his band of forest rangers, came into camp,
66 equipped with rifle, knife, hunting-shirts, leggings and
moccasins, and looking almost like a band of Indians.

" The captain asked an interview with the general, by
whom it would seem he was not expected. Braddock
received him in his tent in his usual stiff and stately

GEORGE WASHINGTON 253

manner. The ' black rifle ' spoke of himself and his
followers as men inured to hardships, and accustomed to
deal with Indians, who preferred stealth and stratagem to
open warfare. He requested that his company should be
employed as a reconnoitring party to beat up the Indians
in their lurking-places and ambuscades.

"Braddock, who had a sovereign contempt for the
chivalry of the woods and despised their boasted strategy,
replied to the hero of the Pennsylvania settlements in a
manner to which he had not been accustomed. ' There
was time enough,' he said, ' for making arrangements ; and
he had experienced troops on whom he could completely
rely for all purposes.'

"Captain Jack withdrew, indignant at so haughty a
reception, and informed his leathern-clad followers of his
rebuff. They forthwith shouldered their rifles, turned
their backs upon the camp, and, headed by the
captain, departed in Indian file through the woods for
the usual scene of their exploits where men knew their
value." l

The first division of the army now pushed forward but
while Braddock had adopted Washington's advice, he did
not follow it vigorously. Washington said, " I found that,
instead of pushing on with vigor, without regarding a
little rough road, they were halting to level every mole-

1 Washington Irving's " Life of Washington."

254 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

hill and to erect bridges over every brook, by which
means we were four days in getting twelve miles."

About this time Washington was overtaken by a severe
fever and headache and he became so ill that he had to
be borne in a covered wagon. At last, on account of his
serious condition, General Braddock required him to
remain at one of the camping-places in the charge of a
physician and with a sufficient guard. Permission was
granted, however, that he should overtake the army
before the attack on Fort Duquesne.

With great toil and effort the army kept on the march
over the mountain roads. Several stragglers and scouts
were killed by the Indians. Deserted campfires of the
French and Indians were passed. "In fact, it was
the Indian boast that throughout this march of Braddock
they saw him every day from the mountains and expected
to be able to shoot down his soldiers like pigeons."

For about ten days Washington remained in camp with
his physician, when he was rejoiced by the arrival of a
troop of a hundred men bringing provisions to Braddock' s
advance army. Washington now felt strong enough to
go with them, though he had still to be borne in a covered
wagon. The party overtook Braddock on the 8th of
July, about fifteen miles from Fort Duquesne.

Braddock had planned to reach and attack the fort the
next day. The line of march made it necessary to cross

GEORGE WASHINGTON 255

the Monongahela River twice at fords about five miles
apart. Washington, though still weak from illness,
mounted his horse and joined the general's staff. " As it
was supposed the enemy would be on the watch for the
crossing of the troops, it had been agreed that they should
do it in the greatest order, with bayonets fixed, colors
flying, and drums and fifes beating and playing. They
accordingly made a gallant appearance as they forded the
Monongahela, and wound along its banks and through
the open forests, gleaming and glittering in morning
sunshine, and stepping buoyantly to the ' Grenadiers'

March.' a«aoftLibiw»

"Washington, with his keen and youthful relish for
military affairs, was delighted with their perfect order and
equipment, so different from the rough bush-fighters to
which he had been accustomed. Roused to new life, he
forgot his recent ailments, and broke forth in expressions
of enjoyment and admiration, as he rode in company with
his fellow aides-de-camp, Orme and Morris. Often, in
after life, he used to speak of the effect upon him of the
first sight of a well-disciplined European army, march
ing in high confidence and bright array, on the eve of a
battle."

After making the second crossing the army was ar
ranged in line of march. Washington had suggested the
day before that the Virginia rangers should be sent out

256 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

to scour the country in advance ; but General Braddock
had rejected the sensible advice. The road, about twelve
feet wide, led over a level ground skirted by high grass and
bushes, while scattering forest trees stood on both sides.
A half mile from the river a wooded slope rose to a range
of hills.

The vanguard were pushing along this road and
reached the slope of the hill, when they were suddenly
attacked by the French and Indians in ambuscade.
Irving says : " The van of the advance had indeed been
taken by surprise. It was composed of two companies of
carpenters or pioneers to cut the road, and two flank
companies of grenadiers to protect them. Suddenly the
engineer who preceded them to mark out the road gave
the alarm, ' French and Indians ! ' A body of them was
approaching rapidly, cheered on by a Frenchman in gayly
fringed hunting-shirt, whose gorget showed him to be an
officer. There was sharp firing on both sides at first.
Several of the enemy fell, among them their leader ; but
a murderous fire broke out among trees and a ravine on
the right, and the woods resounded with unearthly whoops
and yellings. The Indian rifle was at work, levelled by
unseen hands. Most of the grenadiers and many of the
pioneers were shot down. The survivors were driven in
on the advance."

Colonel Gage ordered his men to advanced with fixed

GEORGE WASHINGTON 257

bayonets up the hillside but the regulars refused to obey.
They were frightened by the confusion and by the fearful
yells of the savages. The soldiers fired at random wherever
they saw a smoke, as they could not see the enemy.

As soon as Braddock heard the firing in front he
ordered Colonel Benton forward with the main body, eight
hundred strong. As they were forming to face the ris
ing ground, the advance guard fell back upon them in
disorder and spread confusion among them. Braddock
came up and attempted to rally his men and get them
into order ; the other officers also attempted to form the
lines but the men could not be prevailed upon to obey
orders. They fired at random, killing some of their own
men in advance.

The Virginia troops took to the woods in Indian
fashion and did much to protect the regular troops.
Washington urged Braddock to follow the same tactics
and distribute his men in the woods; but Braddock re
fused and stormed at his men as cowards for deserting
the ranks and taking to the trees. The men were hud
dled together and offered so much better target for the
enemy. The officers conducted themselves with great
bravery. Washington was surprised to see them expose
themselves to the utmost dangers in trying to rally the
men or in dashing forward to the attack. Great num
bers of the officers were slain.

258 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

Washington was kept very busy. Early in the battle
the other aides, Orme and Morris, were wounded and dis
abled, so that Washington had to move all about the
battle-ground carrying the general's orders. Two horses
were killed under him and four bullets passed through
his coat. The Indians were constantly directing their
aim against officers and men on horseback. Washing
ton, as he rode about the field, was a striking figure,
and it is remarkable that he was not struck by the
bullets of these sharpshooters. "At one time he was
sent to the main body to bring the artillery into action.
All there was likewise in confusion; for the Indians
had extended themselves along the ravine so as to
flank the reserve and carry slaughter into the ranks.
Sir Peter Halket had been shot down at the head of
his regiment. The men who should have served the
guns were paralyzed. Had they raked the ravines with
grapeshot the day might have been saved. In his ardor
Washington sprang from his horse, wheeled and pointed
a brass field piece with his own hand, and directed an
effective discharge into the woods ; but neither his
efforts nor example were of avail. The men could not
be kept to the guns.

66 Braddock still remained in the centre of the field,
in the desperate hope of retrieving the fortunes of the
day. The Virginia rangers, who had been most efficient

GEORGE WASHINGTON 259

in covering his position, were nearly all killed or wounded.
His secretary, Shirley, had fallen by his side. Many of
his officers had been slain within his sight and many of
his guard of Virginia light-horse. Five horses had been
killed under him; still he kept his ground, vainly en
deavoring to check the flight of his men, or, at least, to
effect their retreat in good order. At length a bullet
passed through his right arm and lodged itself in his
lungs. He fell from his horse but was caught by Cap
tain Stewart, of the Virginia guards, who, with the
assistance of another American and a servant, placed
him in a tumbrel. It was with much difficulty they
got him out of the field — in his despair he desired to
be left there.

"The rout now became complete. Baggage, stores,
artillery, everything, was abandoned. The wagoners
took each a horse out of his team and fled. The offi
cers were swept off with the men in this headlong flight.
It was rendered more precipitate by the shouts and yells
of the savages, numbers of whom rushed forth from their
coverts and pursued the fugitives to the riverside, kill
ing several as they dashed across in tumultuous confu
sion. Fortunately for the latter, the victors gave up
the pursuit in their eagerness to collect the spoil."

What was -left of the army retreated across the river
but even there no effective force could be collected.

260 PIONEERS ON LAND AND SEA

More than seven hundred men had been killed or
wounded. Out of eighty-six officers twenty-six had
been killed and thirty-six wounded. The Virginia
troops had suffered most in the number lost.

Washington was sent back to Dunbar's division, forty
miles, to bring up provisions, hospital stores, and wagons,
with two companies for guard. On July 13 Braddock
and his wounded officers reached Great Meadows. That
night Braddock died and was buried quietly, Washing
ton reading the funeral service over his grave.

On the 17th Washington arrived with his wounded
companions at Fort Cumberland. Fearing that his
family might be in great anxiety about him, he wrote
to his brother from Fort Cumberland. "As I have
heard, since my arrival at this place, a circumstantial
account of my death and dying speech, I take this
early opportunity of contradicting the first, and of as
suring you that I have not composed the latter. But,
by the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have
been protected beyond all human probability or expecta
tion ; for I had four bullets through my coat and two
horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, though death
was levelling my companions on every side of me !

" We have been most scandalously beaten by a trifling
body of men, but fatigue and want of time prevent me
from giving you any of the details until I have the

GEOKGE WASHINGTON 2(Jl

happiness of seeing you at Mount Vernon, which I now
most earnestly wish for, since we are driven in thus
far. A feeble state of health obliges me to halt here
for two or three days to recover a little strength, that
I may thereby be enabled to proceed homeward with

more ease."

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For Elementary Schools* Arranged with Special
Reference to Holidays

By LUCY LANGDON WILLIAMS WILSON, Ph.D.
Cloth i6mo Illustrated 60 cents

"I am more than pleased with it. In my judgment it is by far the best of
the books of its kind that has come to my notice. It shall be the very first
to be put in our school for supplementary reading." — F. A. BRACKET, Prin*
cipal of Northeast School, Hartford, Conn.

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY

66 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

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Full text of "Pioneers on land and sea; stories of the eastern states and of ocean explorers"

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