118 THE SEA. 



Towards the close of t'he fourteenth century, Nicolo Zeno, a member of a distinguished 

 Venetian family, sailed on a voyage of discovery in the northern seas. Wrecked on 

 the Faroe Islands, Sinclair, the Earl of Orkney and Caithness, a noble pirate, ambitious as 

 any sovereign for conquest, took him into his service as pilot, and, later, Nicolo was joined 

 by his brother Antonio. Many of the journals and documents of the Zeni were subsequently 

 lost, and their narrations were edited by a descendant, who mixed with them much of 

 the false geography of the day and conjectures of his own. This was the point of trouble. 

 The narrative cleared of a mass of error by Mr. Major's investigations, there can now be 

 no doubt that Nicolo visited Greenland, where he found a monastery of friars, preachers, 

 and a church of St. Thomas close by a volcanic hill. There was also a hot-water spring, 

 which the monks used for heating the church and the entire monastery, and by which 

 they cooked their meat and baked their bread. By a judicious use of this hot water they 

 raised in their small covered gardens the flowers, fruits, and herbs of more temperate 

 climates, thereby gaining much respect from their neighbours, who brought them presents 

 of meat, chickens, &c. They were indebted, the narrative says, to the volcano for the very 

 materials of their buildings, for by throwing water on the burning stones while still hot 

 they converted them into a tenacious and indestructible substance, which they used as mortar. 

 They had not much rain, as there was a settled frost all through their nine months' winter. 

 They lived on wild fowl and fish, which were attracted by the warmth of that part of the 

 sea into which the hot water fell, and which formed a commodious harbour. The houses 

 were built all round the hill, and were circular in form and tapering to the top, \vhere was a 

 little hole for light and air, the ground below supplying all necessary heat. In summer time 

 they were visited by ships from the neighbouring islands and from Trondheim, which 

 "brought them corn, cloths, and other necessaries in exchange for fish and skins. The narra- 

 tive goes on to speak of the fishermen's boats, in shape like a weaver's shuttle, and made 

 of the skins and bones of fishes, and other points indicating a confirmation of the facts 

 .already mentioned concerning the early history of Greenland. On the death of Nicolo 

 .Zeno, his brother Antonio succeeded to his property, dignities, and honours, with which 

 latter, it seems, he would have gladly dispensed, wishing to return to his own country, 

 but the earl would not hear of it. Antonio therefore remained in his service, and 

 has recorded the accounts of some fishermen who had undoubtedly reached North 

 America; as also a voyage made by the Earl Sinclair and himself, wherein the 

 former at least appears to have reached Newfoundland and Labrador. A part of these 

 voyages may with more propriety be considered when we come to the discoveries in regard 

 to the New World made by Columbus and the Cabots. And here a fact little known may 

 be briefly recorded, on account of the absence of almost any history, that Cristoforo Colon 

 (Columbus), prior to those great voyages which have made his name immortal, did un- 

 doubtedly make a northern voyage, visiting both Greenland and Iceland. The object of 

 this voyage is unknown ; but, judging from the ruling ambition of the navigators of those 

 days, it was to attempt a north-west or north-east passage to the Indies. As our next 

 voyage will show, it is a question to whom belongs the honour of having first made 

 this attempt. 



Giovanni Cabota, or Cabot, a Venetian, had settled in Bristol during the reign of 



