The voyage of Verrazzano : $b a chapter in the early history of maritime discovery in AmericaMurphy, Henry Cruse
History
The voyage of Verrazzano : $b a chapter in the early history of maritime discovery in America
Murphy, Henry Cruse
America -- Discovery and exploration -- French; Verrazzano, Giovanni da, 1485-1528
SECOND. "Seeing the coast still stretched to the south we resolved
to change our course and stand to the northward, and as we still had
the same difficulty, we drew in with the land, and sent a boat
ashore. Many people, who were seen coming to the sea-side, fled at
our approach. We found not far from this people another. This
country is plentifully supplied with lakes and ponds of running
water and being in the latitude of 34, the air is salubrious, pure
and temperate, and free from the extreme both of heat and cold. We
set sail from this place continuing to coast along the shore, which
we found stretching out to the west (east?) While at anchor on this
coast, there being NO HARBOR to enter, we sent the boat on shore
with twenty-five men to obtain water. Departing hence, and always
following the shore, which stretched to the NORTH, we came in the
space of FIFTY LEAGUES to another land which appeared beautiful and 50
full of the largest forests."
THIRD. "After having remained here three days riding at anchor on
the coast, as we could find no harbor we determined to depart, and
coast along the shore to the NORTHEAST. After proceeding ONE HUNDRED
LEAGUES, we found a very pleasant situation among some STEEP HILLS
THROUGH WHICH A VERY LARGE RIVER, deep at its mouth forced its way 100
to the sea."
FOURTH. "We took the boat and entering the river we found the
country on its banks well peopled. All of a sudden a violent
contrary wind blew in from the sea, and forced us to return to our
ship. Weighing anchor, we sailed EIGHTY LEAGUES TOWARDS THE EAST, as
the coast stretched in that direction, and always in sight of it. At
length we discovered an island, triangular in form, about ten
leagues from the mainland. We gave it the name of your majesty's 80
illustrious mother."
FIFTH. "We did not land there, as the weather was unfavorable, but
proceeded to another place, FIFTEEN LEAGUES distant from the island,
where we found a very excellent harbor. It looks towards the south,
on which side the harbor is half a league broad. Afterwards, upon
entering it, the extent between the east and the north is twelve
leagues, and then enlarging itself, forms a VERY LARGE BAY, twenty 15
leagues in circumference."
SIXTH. "Having supplied ourselves with every thing necessary, on the
sixth of May we departed from the port and sailed one hundred and
fifty leagues, keeping so close to the coast as never to lose it
from our sight. WE DID NOT STOP TO LAND, as the weather was very
favorable for pursuing our voyage, and the country presented no 150
variety. The shore stretched to the EAST"
SEVENTH. "And FIFTY LEAGUES beyond, MORE TO the NORTH, where we
found a MORE ELEVATED COUNTRY. The people were entirely different
from the others we had seen, so rude and barbarous that we were
unable by any signs we could make, to hold communication with them.
Against their will WE PENETRATED TWO OR THREE LEAGUES INTO THE 50
INTERIOR with twenty-five men."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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