THE FIRST ACCOUNT OF AMERICA PRINTED IN ENGLISH

The discovery of Florida by Ponce de Leon.  Parkman’s Account

The discovery of the pacific by Balboa.  By Manuel Jose Quintana

The voyage of Magellan to the pacific.  By John Fiske

The discovery of new York harbor by Verazzano.  Verazzano’s Own Account

Cartier’s exploration of the st. Lawrence: 

    I. The Account Given by John A. Doyle
   II.  Cartier’s Own Account

Searches for the “Seven cities of Cibola.”  By Reuben Gold Thwaites

Cabeza de Vaca’s journey to the south-west. De Vaca’s Own Account

The expedition of Coronado to the south-west. Coronado’s Own Account

The discovery of the Mississippi by de Soto.  Parkman’s Account

The death of de Soto.  By One of De Soto’s Companions

Drake’s visit to California.  By One of Drake’s Companions

Hudson’s discovery of the Hudson river.  By Robert Juet, Hudson’s Secretary

Champlain’s battle with the Iroquois on lake Champlain.  By Champlain
Himself

Marquette’s discovery of the Mississippi.  Marquette’s Own Account

The death of Marquette.  By Father Claude Dablon

The discovery of Niagara falls.  By Father Louis Hennepin

La Salle’s voyage to the mouth of the Mississippi.  By Francis Parkman

VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY AND EARLY EXPLORATIONS

1000 A.D.—­1682

DISCOVERIES BEFORE COLUMBUS

I

The men from Asia and from Norway[1]

BY JUSTIN WINSOR

There is not a race of eastern Asia—­Siberian, Tatar, Chinese, Japanese, Malay, with the Polynesians—­which has not been claimed as discoverers, intending or accidental, of American shores, or as progenitors, more or less perfect or remote, of American peoples; and there is no good reason why any one of them may not have done all that is claimed.  The historical evidence, however, is not such as is based on documentary proofs of indisputable character, and the recitals advanced are often far from precise enough to be convincing in details, if their general authenticity is allowed.