226 



HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



occupy our attention from 1510 to 1514, — Ponce de Leon, Juan 

 Diaz de Solis, and Vasco Nunez de Balboa. 



Juan Ponce, surnamed de Leon from his native province, was 

 one of the Spanish captains who emigrated to Hispaniola shortly 

 after its discovery by Columbus. After an active and pros- 

 perous career, he found himself, in 1510, by the withdrawal of 

 the king's favor, without place or occupation. He was, however, 

 rich, and resolved to attempt to regain his credit by means of 

 discoveries. He was avaricious, too, and would willingly have 

 augmented his already large possessions. He had heard from 

 the Indians of Cuba of the existence, to the north of His- 

 paniola, of an island named Bimini, where, they asserted, was 

 a spring whose waters had the virtue of restoring youth to 

 the aged and vigor to the decrepit. Ponce thought that if 

 he could discover and seize this fountain it would be an inex- 

 haustible source of revenue to him, as he could levy a tax 

 upon all who derived benefit from its influence. He deter- 

 mined to set out in search of it, and fitted out two stout ships 

 at his own expense. With these he left St. Genevieve, in Porto 

 Rico, on the 1st of March, 1512, and steered boldly through 

 the intricate group of the Lucayos. Wherever he stopped, he 

 drank of all the running streams and standing pools, whether 

 their waters were fresh or stagnant, that he might not miss the 

 famous spring. He inquired of all the natives he met where he 

 could find the wondrous Fountain of Youth. 



At last he discovered a land till then unknown to Europeans. 

 Early in April, and in Easter week, he touched what he sup- 

 posed was an island, but what in reality was a portion of the 

 continent. As the landscape was covered with flowers, he named 

 the spot "Florida." He had several severe fights with the In- 

 dians, one of whom he made prisoner, that he might learn Span- 

 ish and give him information concerning- the country. He now 

 sailed to the south and doubled Cape Florida ©n the 8th of May,, 

 which, on account of the currents, he named Cabo de las Corri- 



