[ 75 ] 
whence they came into America , and at what 
time. Perhaps it may be equally hard to dis- 
prove or to prove that they were orginally 
placed here by the fame creator who made the 
world, as foon as this part of it became ha- 
bitable, for it is reafonable to fuppofe the 
almighty power provided for the peopling 
of this as well as of the other fide of the 
globe, by a Suitable ftock of the human 
fpecies. 
However if we are to account for their 
paffing from what is called the old world, 
there are many relations of voyages hither 
from the North of Europe , previous to that of 
Columbus , which though dark and uncertain, 
are neither evidently fabulous, nor even im- 
probable from either the length or difficulties 
of the way. That the Norwegians , the pof- 
feffors of Iceland , for many ages paft had 
colonies in Greenland , is a fadl too well 
attefted to admit a doubt, from Greenland 
the fhort paffage crofs Daon's S heights brings 
us into the continent of Amevica. If thefe 
colonies be put out of the queftion, it is fcarce 
poffible to think,' that of the numerous fleets 
with which the Danes and Norwegians ter- 
rified continually the reft of Europe , none 
tempted by the hopes of gain, or drove by ftrefs 
of weather, fhould ever fall in with the coafts 
of Newfoundland or Gulph of St. Lawrence. 
If it be objected that the navigators of thofe 
