,'34 DISCOVERIES OF 1497- 



beean therefore to sail toward the north-west, not 

 thinking to find any other land than that of 

 Cathay, and from thence to turn toward India; 

 but after ccrtaine dayes I found that the land 

 ranne toward the north, which was to me a great 

 displeasure. Nevertheless, sayling along by the 

 coast to see if I could finde any gulfe that turned, 

 I found the lande still continued to the 66 degree 

 under our pole. And seeing that there the coast 

 turned to the east, despairing to find the passage, 

 I turned backe again, and sailed downe by the 

 coast of that land toward the equinoctiall, (ever 

 with intent to finde the saide passage to India,) 

 and came to that part of this firme lande which is 

 nowe called Florida, where my victuals failing, I 

 departed from thence and returned into England, 

 where I found great tumults among the people 

 and preparations for warres in Scotland, by reason 

 whereof there was no more consideration had to 

 this voyage."* 



The probability therefore is, that the father and 

 son jointly, in their first voyage, discovered New- 

 foundland, to which they gave the name of Prima 

 Vista, " the first seen." They describe the natives 

 as being clothed in skins of beasts, and using, as 

 arms, bows and arrows, clubs and pikes. They 

 saw bears and large deer, caught plenty of seals, 

 fine salmon, and soles above a yard in length ; but 



*Ramusio; and Hakluyt's voyages. 



