1. PART I
DISCOVERY OF AMERICA
1. Saga of a Wineland Baby[1]
BY HAUK ERLENDSSON (ABOUT 1000)
ONE summer a ship came from Norway to Greenland.
The skipper's name was Thorning Karlsefni, and he was the
son of Thord called "Horsehead," and a grandson of Snorri.
Thorning Karlsefni, who was a very wealthy man, passed
the winter there in Greenland, with Lief Ericsson. He very
soon set his heart upon a maiden called Gudrid, and sought
her hand in marriage.
That same winter a new discussion arose concerning a Wineland
voyage.[2] The people urged Karlsefni to make
the bold venture, so he determined to undertake the voyage, and gathered
a company of sixty men and five women. He entered into an agreement with
his shipmates that they should each share equally in all the spoils.
They took with them all kinds of cattle, as they intended to settle the
country if they could. Karlsefni asked Lief for his house in
Wineland.[3] Lief replied that he would lend it
but not give it.
They sailed out to sea with the ship and arrived safe and sound
at Lief's booths,[4] and carried their hammocks
ashore there. They were soon provided with an abundant supply of food,
for a whale of good size and quality was driven ashore and they secured
it. Their cattle were turned out upon the land. Karlsefni ordered trees
to be felled; for he needed timber wherewith to load his ships. They
gathered some of all the products of the land, grapes, all kinds of
game, fish, and other good things.[5]
In the summer after the first winter the Skrellings were
discovered.[6] A great throng of men came forth
from the woods; the cattle were close by and the bull began to bellow
and roar with a great noise. At this the Skrellings were frightened and
ran away with their packs, wherein were gray furs, sables, and all kinds
of skins. They fled towards Karlsefni's dwelling and tried to get into
the house, but Karlsefni caused the doors to be defended. Neither people
could understand the other's language. The Skrellings put down their
packs, then opened them and offered their wares, in exchange for
weapons, but Karlsefni forbade his men to sell their weapons. He bade
the women to carry out milk to the Skrellings; as soon as these people
had tasted the milk, they wanted to buy it and nothing
else.
[7]
Now it is to be told that Karlsefni caused a strong wooden
palisade to be constructed and set up around the house. It was at this
time that a baby boy was born to Gudrid and Karlsefni and he was called
Snorri.[8] In the early part of the second
winter the Skrellings came to them again in greater numbers than before,
and brought with them the same kind of wares to exchange. Then said
Karlsefni to the women, "Do ye carry out now the same thing which
proved so profitable before and nothing else." The Skrellings seemed
contented at first, but soon after, while Gudrid was sitting in the
doorway beside the cradle of her infant son, Snorri, she heard a great
crash made by one of the Skrellings who had tried to seize a man's
weapons. One of Karlsefni's followers killed him for it. "Now we must
needs take counsel together," said Karlsefni, "for I believe they will
visit us a third time in greater numbers. Let us now adopt this plan:
when the tribe approaches from the forest, ten of our number shall go
out upon the cape in front of our houses and show themselves there,
while the remainder of our company shall go into the woods back of our
houses and hew a clearing for our cattle. Then we will take our bull
and let him go in advance of us to meet the enemy." The next time the
Skrellings came they found Karlsefni's men ready and fled helter-skelter
into the woods. Karlsefni and his party remained there throughout the
winter, but in the spring Karlsefni announced that he did not intend to
remain there longer, for he wished to return with his wife and son to
Greenland. They now made ready for the voyage and carried away with them
much in vines and grapes and skins.[9]
[[1]]
This story was handed down by tradition for many
centuries; but it describes a real settlement, the first by Europeans in
America nine centuries ago.
[[2]]
I.e. to a place called Wineland.
[[3]]
Lief had already made a voyage to Wineland and built a
house there.
[[4]]
The name of Lief's place.
[[5]]
The ships which had brought out the colonists were
sent back with a cargo from Wineland.
[[6]]
The Skrellings were natives, probably Esquimaux or
other northern tribes.
[[7]]
The Skrellings had neither cows nor goats, so that
milk was a novel luxury for them.
[[8]]
The first child of European race born in
America.
[[9]]
We do not know what became of these people.
2. Throngs of Children to see Columbus[10]
BY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (1492)
THIRTY-THREE days after my departure from Cadiz I reached the Indian
Sea, where I discovered many islands which were thickly peopled. I took
possession of these without resistance in the name of our most
illustrious Monarch,[11] by a public
proclamation and with unfurled banners. To the first of these islands,
which is called by the Indians Guanahani, I gave the name of the blessed
Saviour, San Salvador,[12] relying upon whose
protection I had reached this as well as the other islands. As soon as
we arrived at the great island, which I have said was named
Juana,[13] I proceeded along its coast a short
distance westward, and found it to be so large and apparently without
termination, that I could not suppose it to be an island, but the
continental province of Cathay.[14] In the
meantime I had learned from some Indians whom I had seized, that that
country was certainly an island: and therefore I sailed towards the
east, coasting to the distance of three hundred and twenty-two miles,
which brought us to the extremity of it. From this point I saw lying
eastwards another island, fifty-four miles distant from Juana, to which
I gave the name of Espanola.[15] All these
islands are very beautiful; they are filled with a great variety of
trees of immense height which retain their foliage in all seasons, I
believe, for when I saw them they were as verdant and luxuriant as they
usually are in Spain in the month of May.
Some of them were blossoming, some bearing fruit, and all
flourishing in the greatest perfection. Yet the islands are
not so thickly wooded as to be impassable. The nightingale
and various birds were singing
in countless numbers, and that in November, the month
in which I arrived there.
The inhabitants are very simple and honest, and
exceedingly liberal with all they have; none of them
refusing anything he may possess when he is asked
for it; but on the contrary inviting us to ask them. They
exhibit great love towards all others in preference to
themselves: they also give objects of area value for trifles,
and content themselves with very little in return. I, however,
forbade that these trifles and articles of no value, such as
pieces of dishes, plates, and glass, keys, and leather straps
should be given to them; although if they could obtain them,
they imagined themselves to be possessed of the most
beautiful trinkets in the world.
On my arrival in the new world I took some Indians
by force from the first island to which I came, in order that
they might learn our language. These men are still travelling
with me, and although they have been with us now for a long
time, they continue to entertain the idea that I have
descended from heaven. On our arrival at any new place they
publish this, crying out immediately with a loud voice to the
other Indians, "Come, come and look upon beings of a
celestial race": upon which both women and men, children
and adults, young men and old, when they get rid of the fear
they at first entertain, will come out in throngs, crowding the
roads to see us, some bringing food and others drink, with
astonishing affection and kindness.[16]
[[10]]
This extract is part of Columbus's own account of
his discovery of the new world.
[[11]]
King Ferdinand of Spain.
[[12]]
I.e., one of the names applied to Jesus
Christ.
[[14]]
Cathay = China, which Columbus had expected to
reach.
[[15]]
Or Hispanola, now San Domingo.
[[16]]
The friendly people were soon after made slaves by
the Spaniards, and in a few years were almost all dead from the cruel
treatment of their masters.
3. A Father dressed in Silk
BY TWO ITALIAN GENTLEMEN (1497)
LONDON, 23d August, 1497.
OUR Venetian, John Cabot, who went with a small ship from Bristol
to find new islands, has come back, and says that he has discovered,
seven hundred leagues off, the mainland of the country of
China.[17] He coasted along it for three hundred
leagues,[18] and landed but did not see any
people. But he has brought here to the king certain snares spread to
take game, and a needle for making nets. He found some notched trees,
from which he judged that people lived about there. Being in doubt, he
came back to the ship. He had been away three months on the voyage, and,
in returning, he saw two islands to the right; but he did not wish to
land, lest he should lose time, for he was in want of provisions. The
king of this country has been much
pleased.[19] He has promised for another time ten armed
ships such as Cabot desires, and has given him all the prisoners, except
such as are confined for high treason, to go with
him.[20] The king has granted him money also, with which
to amuse himself till then. Meanwhile, he is with his Venetian wife and
his sons at Bristol. His name is John Cabot and he is called the Great
Admiral; great honor is paid to him, and he goes about dressed in silk.
The English are ready to go with him, and so are many of our
rascals.[21] As discoverer of these things,
Cabot has planted a large cross in the ground with a banner of England,
and one of St. Mark, as he is a Venetian;[22]
so that our flag has been hoisted very far away.
18th December, 1497.
Perhaps amidst so many occupations of your Excellency it will not
be unwelcome to learn how the King of England has gained a part of Asia
without drawing his sword.[23] In this kingdom there is a certain Venetian
named John Cabot, of gentle disposition, very expert in navigation, who,
seeing that the most serene Kings of Portugal and Spain had occupied
unknown islands, wished to gain new territory for the English king.
Having obtained the king's promise that he might have the lordship of
the dominions which he might discover, Cabot embarked in a small vessel
with a crew of eighteen persons, and set out from Bristol, a port in the
western part of this kingdom. He wandered for a long time; at length he
came to land, where he hoisted the royal standard, and took possession
for his Highness; then, having obtained various proofs of his discovery,
he returned.
Since John was a foreigner and poor, he would not have been
believed if the crew, who are nearly all English, and belong to Bristol,
had not testified that what he said was the truth. This Cabot has the
description of the world on a chart, and also on a solid sphere which he
has made. On this he shows where he has been. They say that the new land
is excellent and the climate is temperate; they also say that perhaps
dye-wood and silk grow there. They affirm that the sea is full of fish
which are taken not only with a net, but also with a basket, which has a
stone fastened to it in order to keep it in the water. This I have heard
John Cabot himself say. People look upon him as a
prince.[24]
[[17]]
John Cabot was sent out by Henry VII, King of
England, and this was the first English voyage to America.
[[18]]
A league = three miles.
[[19]]
Henry VII of England.
[[20]]
I.e. let Cabot take them as seamen, so as to
relieve the crowded English prisons.
[[21]]
Rascals = poor men.
[[22]]
St. Mark is the patron saint of Venice.
[[23]]
It was still supposed that the coast of America was
a part of China or Japan.
[[24]]
These two letters were written to the governments of
Venice and Milan.
4. The Name America[25]
BY HYLACOMYLUS (1507)
AND the fourth part of the world having been discovered by Americus,
it may be called Amerige; that is, the land of Americus or America.
Now truly, since these regions are more widely
explored, and another fourth part is discovered by Americus
Vesputius, as may be learned from the following letters, I do
not see why any one may justly forbid it to be named
Amerige, that is, Americ's Land, after Americus the
discoverer, who is a man of sagacious mind; or call it
America, since both Europa and Asia derived their names
from women.
[[25]]
The first man to suggest the name of America was a German
schoolmaster whose name means "Miller of the Wood Pond." Really Americus
Vespucius discovered very little, and does not deserve to have the
continents named for him.
5. How to find an Ocean
BY ANTONIO HERRERA (1513)
BALBOA, having resolved to march over to the South
Sea, and having provided all things necessary for it, set out
from Darien in the beginning of September,
1513.[26] He went
by sea as far as the land of the Cacique Careta. There he left
the brigantines and the canoes and advanced towards the
mountain. Careta who was friendly to him commanded some
of his subjects to attend Balboa. A neighboring Cacique,
Ponca, by name, who had spies abroad, was informed that the
Spaniards were coming up his mountain, and hid himself in
an out of the way part of his territory. Balboa sent some of
the Careta Indians to assure him that he was doing no harm
but would be his friend as he was Careta's. So Ponca came,
bringing a present of gold.
Balboa received him with much joy because he did not wish to leave an
enemy behind. He gave him an abundance of beads, looking glasses, and
some iron axes. In return, Balboa demanded of Ponca some guides and men
to carry burdens. The Cacique
[27] granted all
he desired, and gave him plenty of provisions.
Then Balboa proceeded to the top of the mountain
whence he had been told that the other sea might be seen.
From Ponca's land to the top was about six days' journey; but
they spent twenty-five days because of the roughness of the
land, and because they were short of provisions. At length
they arrived at the top of the high mountain, on the
twenty-fifth of September, 1513 , whence the sea could be
seen. Balboa was given notice a little while before they came
to the top that they were very near it. Commanding all to halt
there, Balboa went up alone and saw the South Sea; then,
with uplifted hands and on his knees, he returned thanks to
heaven for being the first who had seen this sea.
After performing this act of devotion he called his
men and repeated the same, and they followed his example,
while the Indians stood amazed to see them so overjoyed.
Balboa praised Camegra's son for giving him this news, and
promised all his followers much wealth and happiness. They
all believed him, for he was very much beloved because he
made no difference between himself and the common soldiers,
He always showed sympathy for the sick and wounded, every
one of whom he visited and comforted. He was himself
undaunted in dangers, never showing the least fear in the
greatest perils.
Balboa next ordered that a certificate should be
drawn of his taking possession of that sea and all
that was in it for the Crown of Castile;
[28]
as a testimony of this he cut down trees, raised crosses and heaps of
stones, and cut the name of the King of Spain on some of the trees. He
then resolved to go down the mountains to observe what there was on them
and on the sea-coast. He sent Captain Francis Pizarro to view the
sea-coast and the country round about.
[29]
John Escaray and Alonzo Martin, with twelve men each, he sent to find
the shortest way to this sea.
Alonzo Martin hit upon the shortest road and in two days came to
a place where he found two canoes upon dry land, yet saw no sea; but
whilst he was considering how those canoes were up on the land, the sea
water came in and lifted them up about a fathom in
height;[30] for upon that coast the sea ebbs and flows
every six hours, two or three fathoms, so that great ships are left dry
and no sea water appears for half a league at least. Alonzo Martin,
seeing the canoes begin to swim, went into one of them and bid his
companions to bear witness that he was the first to enter the South Sea.
Another man whose name was Atienza did the like and bid them bear
witness that he was the second. They returned to Balboa with the news,
which made them all rejoice.[31]
[[26]]
The South Sea, which we call the Pacific Ocean,
which washed the eastern shores of India and China, was what most of the
early European Explorers set out to find. Balboa, a Spanish officer,
had heard from a native chief that there was a great sea across the
mountains.
[[28]]
The state of Castile was a part of Ferdinand's
Spanish kingdom.
[[29]]
We shall meet Pizarro again presently.
[[30]]
The tide rose a fathom—that is, 6 feet.
[[31]]
Nobody then guessed that there was an opening south of
the land, by which they could sail into the Pacific Ocean.
6. A Room Full of Gold
BY FRANCISCO XERES (1533)
GOVERNOR PIZARRO received news from the natives that the way to Cuzco
passed through very populous districts which were rich and
fertile;[32] that there was an inhabited valley called
Caxamalca ten or twelve
days' journey from the settlement where Atahuallpa, the greatest lord
among these natives, resided.
[33] When
Atahuallpa had come to the province of Caxamalca years before he found
it to be so rich and pleasant that he settled there and continued to
conquer other lands from thence. This lord was held so much in dread,
that the natives of the valley did not dare to leave his service for the
service of the king of Spain; so they told the Christians and their
leader, Governor Pizarro, that a small detachment of Atahuallpa's army
would be sufficient to kill all the Christians. Governor Pizarro
thereupon resolved to march in search of Atahuallpa to reduce him to the
service of the king of Spain and to win over the surrounding countries.
The Governor departed from the city of San Miguel in search of
Atahuallpa on the twenty-fourth of September,
1532.[34] He arrived at the town of Caxamalca two months
later at the hour of vespers. In the middle of the town there was a
great open space surrounded by walls and houses. The Governor occupied
this position and sent a messenger to Atahuallpa to announce his
arrival, to arrange a meeting, and in order that he might show him where
to lodge; meanwhile he ordered the town to be examined with a view to
discovering a strong position where he might pitch his camp. He ordered
all the troops to be stationed in the open space and the cavalry to
remain mounted until it was seen whether Atahuallpa would come.
This town, which is the principal place in the valley,
is situated on the edge of a mountain, with an open plain in
front of it. Two rivers flow through the valley, which is level
and well peopled with
about two thousand inhabitants. Near the entrance there are two bridges
because two rivers flow past: The plaza
[35] is
larger than any in Spain, surrounded by a wall and entered by two
doorways which open upon the streets of the town. The houses are more
than two hundred paces in length, very well built, being surrounded by
strong walls, three times the height of a
man.
[36] The roofs are covered with straw and wood, the
interiors are divided into eight rooms, much better than any we had seen
before. Their walls are of well cut stones, and each lodging is
surrounded by a wall of masonry with doorways, and has its fountain of
water in an open court brought from a distance by pipes for the supply
of the house.
Atahuallapa feared that the Spaniards would kill him, so he told
Governor Pizarro that he would give his captors a great quantity of gold
and silver.[37] The Governor asked him: "How
much can you give and in what time ?" Atahuallapa said: "I will give
gold enough to fill a room twenty-two feet long and seventeen wide up to
a white line which is half way up the wall. The height will be once and
a half that of a man's stature." Atahuallapa also said, that up to that
mark he would fill the room with different kinds of golden vessels, such
as jars, pots, vases, besides lumps and other pieces. As for silver, he
said that he would fill a whole chamber with it twice over. He undertook
to do this in two months. Governor Pizarro told him to send off
messengers for this purpose, and that when it was accomplished he need
have no fear.
Then Atahuallapa sent messages to his captains who were in
the city of Cuzco, ordering them to send two thousand
Indians, laden with gold and silver. After
some days, several of the family of Atahuallapa arrived. There was his
brother, who came from Cuzco, and sisters and wives. The brother brought
many vases, jars, and pots of gold and much silver, and he said that
there were more on the road; but that as the journey was long, the
Indians who were bringing the treasure became tired and could not come
so quickly, but that every day more gold and silver would arrive . And
it came. On some days twenty thousand, on others fifty or sixty
thousand
pesos of gold arrived.
[38] The
Governor ordered it to be put in the house where Atahuallapa had his
guard, and to be stored there until he had accomplished what he had
promised.
And so the gold was delivered to the Christians by little and
little and slowly, because it was necessary to employ many Indians who
had to go from village to village to collect
it.[39] The Governor ordered the pieces of gold to be
counted, and the gold vessels and plates to be melted down and weighed.
It was found
that there was over three million
pesos of good gold.
Of this, Governor Pizarro had as his share two hundred
thousand
pesos of gold and fifty thousand of silver.
The "royal fifth" was set aside for the Spanish king. All the
rest was divided among all the conquerors who had
accompanied Governor Pizarro, and the men who had been
friendly to them during the expedition. Thus every one of
Pizarro's helpers in the country received something out of
this room full of gold.
[40]
[[32]]
Pizarro was a Spanish officer who had got permission
from Spain to conquer the region in South America which we call Peru.
Cuzco was the native capital.
[[33]]
Atahuallpa was king of the natives.
[[34]]
Pizarro had only 213 men and 63 horses.
[[35]]
Plaza = the Spanish name for public square.
[[36]]
A pace is about three feet.
[[37]]
A great battle between Atahuallapa's forces and
Pizarro's took place, in which Atahuallapa was taken prisoner.
Throughout his captivity he was kindly treated, but he felt uneasy about
his safety.
[[38]]
A peso = a dollar.
[[39]]
Worth about $17,500,000 in our money. The Spanish king
demanded a certain fixed share of treasures found in the new
world.
[[40]]
Having got the gold, Pizarro murdered Atahuallpa, and
enslaved the people.
7. Buried in the Mississippi
BY A PORTUGUESE GENTLEMAN OF ELVAS (1542)
CAPTAIN DE SOTO was the son of a Spanish squire. He went into the
Spanish Indies when Peter Arias was governor of the West
Indies.[41] There he was without anything of his own save
his sword and shield. For his good qualities and valor, Peter Arias made
him captain of a troop of horsemen, and by his own command De Soto went
with Fernando Pizarro to the conquest of Peru. Afterwards the Spanish
Emperor made him governor of the Isle of Cuba and President of Florida,
with the title of Marquis over a certain part of the lands which he
might conquer.
On Sunday, the eighteenth day of May, in the year 1539, President
De Soto departed from Havana in Cuba with his fleet, which consisted of
nine vessels, five great ships, two caravels and two
brigantines.[42] They sailed for seven days with a prosperous
wind. On Friday they landed on the western coast of Florida.
De Soto left Captain Caldero there with thirty horsemen and
seventy footmen with provisions for
two years. Then he himself with all the rest of his men
marched into the mainland in search of the "Great River";
and after many adventures they found the river; but the
natives were hostile and the country was poor.
After many weary and dangerous marches, the
governor fell into great dumps to see how hard it was to get
down the Mississippi to the sea. It seemed even worse,
because the number of his men and horses was every day
diminished, as they could not find enough food to sustain
them in this country. Discouraged by that thought De Soto
fell sick. Before he took his bed, he sent an Indian to the
cacique at Quigalta to tell him that he, Fernando De Soto,
was the Child of the Sun, and that all the way on his journey
thither, all men had obeyed and served him; that he requested
him to accept of his friendship, and come to him, for he
should be very glad to see him; and in sign of love and
obedience to bring something with him of that which in his
country was most prized. The cacique answered by the same
Indian, saying that whereas De Soto said that he was the
Child of the Sun, if he would dry up the Great River he
would believe him; and touching the rest, that he was wont to
visit none; but rather that all those of whom he had notice did
visit him, served, obeyed, and paid him tributes willingly or
perforce. Therefore, if De Soto desired to see him, it were
best he should come to his place. That if he came in peace, he
would receive him with special good will. Or if De Soto
came in war, even then the chief told him to come and find
the Indians in the town where, they were, adding, that for De
Soto or any other person he would not shrink one foot back.
By the time the Indian returned with this answer, the governor
had betaken himself to bed, very ill with fever and much grieved that he
was not able to pass over the river and seek this cacique to see if he
could lessen that pride of his. But the current of the river was very
strong in those parts, where it was nearly half a league broad and
sixteen fathoms deep.[43] On both sides there
were many Indians, and his power was not now so great but that he had
need to help himself when he could by flight rather than by force.
Before he could do either, on the twenty-first of May, in the
year 1542, Don Fernando De Soto, the valorous, virtuous,
and valiant captain, Governor of Cuba, and President of
Florida, departed out of this life. He departed in such a place
and at such a time that during his sickness he had had but
little comfort, and the danger wherein all his people found
themselves of perishing in that strange country, is the reason
why they did not visit nor stay with him as they ought to have
done.
Luys de Moscoso[44] determined to
conceal this death from the Indians because Fernando De Soto had made
them believe that the Christians were immortal; and, since they had
considered him to be hardy, wise, and valiant, Moscoso feared that if
they should know that he was dead they would be bold to set upon the
Christians, even if the Spaniards tried to live peaceably among them.
As soon as De Soto was dead, therefore, Luys de Moscoso
commanded the men to put him in a house secretly. Here he
remained for three days. Removing him thence, Moscoso
commanded them to bury him in the night at one of the gates
of the town
just within the wall. As the Indians had seen De Soto sick
and had missed him, they suspected what had happened.
Passing by the place where he was buried and seeing the
earth disturbed, they looked and spoke one to another. Luys
de Moscoso, understanding it, gave the order that De Soto
should be taken up by night and a great deal of sand cast into
the mantles wherein he was wrapped. Then De Soto was
carried in a canoe and thrown into the midst of the Great
River.
The cacique of Guachaya inquired for him, demanding what was
become of his brother, the governor. Luys de Moscoso told him that he
had gone to heaven as he had many other times, and because he was to
stay there certain days, he had left him in his place.
The cacique still thought that the governor was dead, and
commanded two young and well proportioned Indians to be
brought thither, praying Luys to command them to be
beheaded that they might attend and serve his lord and
brother after his death. Luys told him that the governor was
not dead but had gone to heaven and that he had taken such
of his own Christian soldiers as he needed away with him;
but the Indians believed nothing of what he
said.[45]
[[41]]
This is one of the unsuccessful expeditions made by the
Spaniards. De Soto expected to find gold as Pizarro had done.
[[42]]
Caravel = a four masted ship.
[[43]]
A mile and a half wide and hundred feet deep.
[[44]]
Next in command in the expedition.
[[45]]
A small remnant of the proud expedition, at last
escaped to the sea. Neither De Soto's pride nor Moscoso's lies helped
them.
8. Esquimaux Foot-ball
BY RICHARD HAKLUYT (ABOUT 1590)
I FIND that in the manner of living the people of the northeast and
those of the northwest are alike.[46] They
have an olive complexion, are very active and nimble men, and are a
strong, warlike people; for even in our sight on the tops of the hills
they
would muster themselves, and in a mimic skirmish scamper over the
ground very nimbly. They man. age their bows and arrows with great
dexterity.
They go about clad in skins of beasts such as seals, deer, bears,
foxes, and hares.[47] They have also some
garments of feathers, finely sewed and
fastened together. In summer they wear the hairy side of the skins
outward, and in winter they wear four or five thicknesses with the
hairy sides turned inward.
These people are by nature subtle and sharp-witted, ready to
understand our meaning by signs and make answers that can be well
understood. If they have not seen the thing whereof we ask, they will
wink or cover their eyes with their hands as if to say it had been hid
from sight. If they do not understand what you ask them, they will stop
their ears. They are willing to teach us the names of anything in their
language which we desire to know, and are quick to learn anything of us.
They delight in music and will keep time and stroke to any tune which we
may sing, both with their voice, head, hands, and feet, and will sing
the same tune after us.
They live in caves in the earth and hunt for their dinners just
as the bears and other wild beasts do. They eat raw flesh and fish.
On the twenty-first of August the captain of our ship sent a boat
on shore for wood with six of our men who had friendly dealings with
these Esquimaux. After that, they beckoned us on shore several times to
play foot-ball with them, and some of our company went on shore to play
with them; but nimble as they were, as often as they struck at the ball
our men won the game.
[[46]]
That is, of two ports of the northern lands visited by
English explorers.
[[47]]
The Esquimaux still wear such garments.