210 THE OCEAN. 



THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



When the astonishing sagacity and enterprise of the 

 Genoese had discovered the confines of a new world 

 across the trackless Atlantic, it was without hesitation 

 concluded, not only by himself, but by all Europe, 

 that the new land formed the extreme eastern shore 

 of Asia ; and hence the name of Indies, by this 

 mistake, was given to these islands, which has been 

 perpetuated even to the present time. Aware of the 

 round form of the earth, the geographers of that age 

 could well conceive the possibility of reaching India 

 by a westerly course ; but, ignorant of the magnitude 

 of the globe, they had formed a very inadequate idea 

 of its existence, being totally unaware of the vast 

 continent, and still vaster ocean, which separated 

 Asia from the Atlantic. But as, impelled by an 

 insatiable thirst for gold, the unprincipled Spaniards 

 pushed their career of robbery and murder farther 

 and farther into the continent, they began to hear 

 tidings of a boundless sea, which stretched away to the 

 south and west, beyond the horizon of the setting sun. 

 Balboa, one of the reckless spirits who sought fortune 

 and fame at all hazards in the newly-found regions, 

 boldly determined to seek the sea of which the 

 Indians spake. At the head of a little band of 



