their way through the pathless forests, and over rocks and mountains. A fierce tribe of Indians opposed their progress; but, defeating these with the aid of their fire-arms and bloodhounds, they pushed on. Many, however, had to stop by the way from sickness and fatigue; and with less than half of his party Balboa found himself ascending the peak from the top of which the guides said that the great water could be seen.

2. When near the top, Balboa ordered his men to halt, and climbed alone to the summit. There he saw the mighty Pacific

Balboa start? What difficulties were encountered? 2. When near the top.

1513]

MAGELLAN.

17

rolling away as far as eye could reach. His first act was to thank God for the discovery. He afterwards descended to the shore, and, with his sword in one hand and his country's flag in the other, wading out knee-deep into the water, took possession of it in the name of the King of Spain, and declared that he would defend it with his arms.

3. Pacific means peaceful. The ocean discovered by Balboa received this name on account of its freedom from storms compared with the Atlantic. It was so called by Ma-gel'-lan, a Portuguese, who was the first to sail a ship on its waters. He entered it through a strait at the south of South America, since called from him the Strait of Magellan.

4. Magellan lost his life on this voyage. One of his ships, however, continued to sail west, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and reached home after an absence of three years. This was the first vessel that ever sailed round the globe.-What did this voyage prove respecting the shape of the earth?

5. Next followed the conquest of Mexico, in 1519. Mexico was a vast empire. Its people were far more civilized than the natives in other parts of North America. They had laws and courts of justice, public schools, splendid temples, and large cities. They tilled the ground, worked their rich mines of gold and silver, and were acquainted with many of the arts and sciences. Their Emperor lived in a magnificent palace in the city of Mexico. He was waited on by six hundred nobles. His dishes and goblets were of gold. He called himself lord of the whole world, and made the neighboring tribes pay him tribute. The Mexicans did not worship the true God, but bowed down to idols of wood and stone. To these false gods they cruelly sacrificed the captives that they took in war.

6. The Spaniards, who were now quite numerous in Cuba and

what did Balboa do? What did he see? What was his first act? What did he afterwards do ?-3. What does the word pacific mean? Why was the ocean so called? Who gave it this name? How did Magellan enter the Pacific?4. What became of Magellan? What was done by one of his ships?-5. What conquest next followed? When? Give an account of the Mexicans and their Emperor. What did they worship?-6. What did the Spaniards resolve to do?

the neighboring islands, heard of this rich empire, and resolved to conquer it. They raised about six hundred men, and placed at their head a brave but cruel man named Cortez. Sixteen of the party had horses, and a few were armed with muskets. The rest carried swords, spears, and bows. With this small force and ten cannon, Cortez set out to conquer a great empire containing several millions of people.

7. As soon as the Mexican Emperor heard that the Spaniards had landed, he sent messengers to them with rich presents, but with orders that they should leave the country. Cortez received the presents, but paid no attention to the orders. Having burned his ships, that his men might not think of returning, he pushed into the interior.

8. Before reaching the capital, several battles were fought with immense armies of natives; but the Spaniards were always successful. The poor natives were dismayed by the muskets and cannon, breathing forth fire and mowing down their ranks. They were also frightened by Cortez' horsemen, whom they took for horrible monsters, half men and half beasts. Horses had never before been seen on the American Continent.

9. After a great deal of hard fighting, in the course of which he was once driven out of the city with great loss, Cortez at last got possession of the capital, the Emperor, and the principal nobles. He treated his captives very cruelly. Gold was his great object; and he was wicked enough to stretch the poor Mexicans on beds of hot coals, to make them tell where they had hidden their treasures. He put a great many to death, and subIdued the whole nation. From this time Mexico remained a Spanish province for about three hundred years.

What preparations did they make for conquering Mexico?-7. What did the Mexican Emperor do, when he heard the Spaniards had landed? What was done by Cortez ?-8. What took place before the Spaniards reached the capital? What was the result of these battles ? What frightened the natives ?-9. After much hard fighting, what did Cortez succeed in doing? How did he treat his captives? How long did Mexico remain a Spanish province ?

1524]

FRENCH DISCOVERIES.-DE SOTO.

19

FRENCH

LESSON VI.

DISCOVERIES.--D E SOTO.

1. Other countries now began to send out ships to the new world, as well as Spain and England. In 1524, a navigator in the service of the King of France, explored the coast from Carolina to Newfoundland. He called the whole region New France. Ten years afterwards, a Frenchman named Cartier [car-te-a'] made several voyages to America. He entered the River St. Lawrence, and sailed up to a large Indian village, which stood where Montreal has since been built. The Indians were at first very friendly, but he made them enemies by carrying off their chief.

2. Shortly after this, a number of Frenchmen sailed to the new world, and settled on the St. Lawrence River. They found it so cold and uninviting, however, that after passing one winter there they were glad to return. Several other settlements were attempted by the French in the south, but without success.

3. Meanwhile the Spaniards, eager for gold, which they heard was plenty in the interior of the country, were constantly sending out exploring parties. One of the most famous of these was led by a governor of Cuba, named De So'-to. He landed on the coast of Florida, with six hundred men in complete arDe Soto took with him a blacksmith's forge, so that when his weapons wore out he could make new ones. That his men might not want for food, he drove a great number of hogs before him through the woods. Thus prepared, and well furnished with horses and supplies, De Soto and his party set out on their journey of discovery.

mor.

1. In 1524, who explored the coast of America? What name did he give the region he visited? Give an account of Cartier's discoveries. How did he treat the Indians ?-2. Where did some Frenchmen attempt to settle? What made them return? Where were other settlements attempted by the French? -3. Meanwhile, what were the Spaniards doing? Who led a famous expedition? Where did De Soto land? How many men had he? What did he take

4. For many months they wandered to and fro, over what is now Alabama and Georgia. They met many Indians, who would have been friendly if the Spaniards had not, like Cortez, treated them cruelly. They were disappointed because they could not find any gold, and they wreaked their anger on the innocent natives. They robbed them of whatever they wanted, and for the slightest cause burned their villages, cut off their hands, and gave them to their bloodhounds to tear in pieces.

5. Such treatment provoked the Indians, and at last a battle was fought. The Spaniards, with the aid of their fire-arms and horses, were victorious, and killed a great many of the natives. Some months afterwards, the Spaniards having seized on the

village of a tribe in the north of what is now Mississippi, the natives revenged themselves by setting fire to their own wig

with him?-4. Where did De Soto wander for many months? How did he treat the Indians?-5. What was the consequence of the Spaniards' cruelty? What was the result of the battle? How did a Mississippi tribe revenge them