DISCOVERY & SETTLEMENT.—BOOK I. 
13 
Yf part of America was equally rich in mines of precious metals, 
will account bot^for the readiness with which adventurers, em¬ 
barked in colonizing enterprises, and the ill success of the first 
attempts; for instead of cultivating the earth, the greater part 
of their time was spent in running about in search of gold and 
silver. 
The admiral, not discouraged by the failure of this attempt, 
soon succeeded in preparing another armament, consisting of 
three vessels provided with every thing which might be requir¬ 
ed by a young colony, and gave the command to Rene de Lau- 
dame re. Fifty thousand crowns were advanced to this expedi¬ 
tion by the king. Several gentlemen of fortune, and young per¬ 
sons of family were desirous of making this voyage at their own 
expense ; and there were joined to it some detachments of sol¬ 
diers chosen from among the veteran corps. On the 26th of 
June 1564, he entered the Dauphin river, but did not land, to 
the great regret of the Indians who appeared disposed to receive 
them in the most friendly manner. He continued his course to 
the May river where he landed, ascended some distance, and, 
being well received by the natives, commenced an establishment. 
Notwithstanding all these advantages, and flattering auspices* 
the same fate attended this colony as the first. The colonists 
■tvere soon carried away by the delusion of searching after gold. 
This became almost a mania, and was taken advantage of by a 
neighbouring Paraoxjsti, who succeeded in drawing them into 
a war with his enemies, a powerful tribe. This chief perceiving 
the thirst after gold and silver which prevailed, exhibited some 
pieces of silver, and informed that he had procured them from 
Ills enemies, who had the same metal in abundance. The colony 
now began to feel the usual calamities, from dissention, famine 
from neglect of tillage, and at the same time an Indian war which 
they had unjustly provoked. In this state they at length came 
to the resolution of re-embarking, when of a sudden, to the gen¬ 
eral surprise, seven brigantines, appeared in the river. It prov¬ 
ed to be Ribaut who had brought succors to the colony. 
About this time the attempt of France to colonize Florida, be¬ 
came known in Spain, who claimed the country in virtue of the 
Pope’s bull, and the particular discoveries of Pontio de Leon and 
