The Humming Bird. HI 



May 1497, Americo Vespucci, sont by King Ferdinand of 

 Spain, sailed for tlic Canaries, and from there to Paria, 

 where lie bartered a great store of gold from the natives, in 

 exchange for pins, looking glasses and other trilles. He re- 

 turned to Spain in November li ( J8. 



In 1490, he undertook a second voyage and landed in 

 some of the Islands inhabited by the Cannibals. In one of 

 them, he met some people of high stature with whom he 

 had to flghl. 



He bartered a large quantity of pearls with the natives of 

 Ihe Islands which he visited. In 1500, he returned to Spain 

 and retired to Seoilla, with intent to settle there, but shortly 

 after, Emanuel, King of Portugal, sent for him and gave 

 him the command of three ships to discover new countries, 

 between the Canaries and Africa. 



During this voyage, he got sight of the coast of Brazil and 

 discovered the Patagonian Coast and the Strait of Magellan. 



His fourth expedition happened May 10 Ul 4503. He went 

 first to Sierra Leone (Africa), but could not land. Three degrees 

 beyond the Equator, he discovered an Island two leagues 

 long, and one broad, destitute of inhabitants ; his best ship 

 of six hundred tons split here against a rock. It was entirely 

 lost, but the seamen were saved. 



Three hundred leagues further on, he reached the coast 

 of Brazil, and ascended the river Curubabo and built on its 

 bank a strong fort in which he left twenty men. He spent 

 five months in the building of this fort, after which he 

 returned to Lisbon, with one ship laden with Brazil wood. 

 The inhabitants of the Gily run to meet aud congratulate 

 him for his happy return. 



December 1499. Vincent P.inzon, who had been Com- 

 mander of a ship under Columbus, sailed with four vessels 

 from Palos and explored about eighteen hundred miles of 

 the Brazilian Coast. He returned to Spain in September 1500. 



October 1500. Pedro Alfonso Nino, encouraged by some 

 of those that had been with Columbus to the Isles of Pearls, 

 rigged out a ship at his expense and sailed for the coast 

 of Paria. At Curiana, he bartered an invaluable treasure of 

 pearls with the natives, which he carried back to Spain with 

 him. but, on his arrival there, he was put to prison and at last 

 sent to the Court, where the pearls were declared free prize, 

 because Nino had bartered for them at Curiana, contrary 

 to the King's orders. 



'o 



1500. Discovery of Labrador by Gaspar Gortebealis, a 

 Portuguese gentleman. Some authors think that Sebastian 



