HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY DISCOVERERS OF AMERICA, AND THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS UPON THE DELAWARE.

Supposition that Ancient Ophir was America-Swedes' and Goths' Discovery of America-Discovery by Madoc, an Englishman - Discovery by Christopher Columbus - By Americus Vespucius — By Sebastian Cabot― Virginia visited by Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh - Whence its Name Discovery of Delaware Bay-Whence its Name - London and Bristol Companies - Advent of the Hollanders - Their First Fort-Settlement by the Swedes - Their Religion - Houses - Furniture - Food - Drinks - First Indian Speech to Europeans.

ARIOUS opinions have long prevailed respecting when, and by whom, America was first discovered. Some believe that America, though not known by that name, was a place of trade in the days of King Solomon, and that the Ophir to which he sent his ships on three-years' voyages, “which returned with silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks, and four hundred and fifty talents of gold," was on some part of what is now called the American Continent. This opinion is supported by some plausible arguments like the following: the place to which they sailed must have been at a great distance, as it required so much time to complete the voyage, which would not have been the case, had they gone to the East Indies, they being not far from Solomon's dominions. They traded at some rich country, evidently; and no part of the world abounded in

1 2 Chron. viii., ix.

gold, silver, apes, peacocks, and other precious treasure, more than some portions of the American Continent. If this supposition were true, it might suggest the method by which "the ten tribes" became the first inhabitants of America, according to the opinion of Gov. Boudinot, of New Jersey, and others.

The Swedes and Goths visited America, A.D. 996, and called it Vinland the Good, and, also, Skrællingaland. It is therefore evident that the Northmen visited some part of North America before the Spaniards and Portuguese went to South America.1

Holm, another Swedish historian, says "That the same discoverers of 996 called it Wineland the Good, and Skralinggaland, which was found written in six different chapters of the ancient history of Gothland under the great King Olof Tyrgwasson, or Snorre Sturleson, published by the celebrated antiquary John Peringskiöld, in the year 1697; from which, for the sake of brevity, we shall only extract the names of those who visited Wineland the Good; and afterwards we shall briefly relate what they have said respecting that country; so that one may know what was the state of America in those times.

The first who travelled into that country was called Lief Erikson. He was sent to Greenland by King Olof Tyrgwasson of Norway, to instruct the people of that island in the Christian religion. Afterwards he sailed for America with thirtyfive men, built a house there, and staid over the winter.

The second was Thorwald Erikson, Lief's brother. He went to the same place with thirty men, and remained there during the winter.

The third was Torsten Erikson, who, after his brother Thorwald's death, went thither with his wife Gudrid and a company of fifty strong and active men chosen for that purpose.

The fourth was Karel Semne, who sailed for that country with his wife Gudrid and with sixty men and five women. They took with them all sorts of cattle, and settled themselves upon the land.

The fifth was Freidis, Erik's daughter, with her two brothers,

1 Acrelius: translated by Reynolds, p. 17.

Helge and Finboga. They took with them thirty active men, besides women. They first sailed to Greenland, and afterwards went to the New World, to which they gave the name of Wineland the Good.

The circumstances which are related respecting that country are the following:

1st, That the country was fair, covered with wood, and there was but little space between the woods and the sea.

2d, That there were many islands and inland seas, or lakes, on the shores of which there was white sand.

3d, That in the lakes and rivers there were salmon, and all other kinds of fish.

4th, That at that time there were found whales, which were cast ashore by the flood.

5th, That the country produced excellent fruit, and that corn grew spontaneously in the fields.

6th, That the dew which fell in the morning on the grass was very sweet.

7th, That the country was very fruitful, and produced grapevines, and also abundance of fish and other riches.

8th, That there was no hard frost in the country; so that the grass suffered very little in the winter, and the cattle did not want food.

9th, That the days were longer than in Greenland and Iceland, and the sun rose at breakfast-time when the days were shortest.

10th, That the inhabitants made use of bows and arrows for their weapons, with which they made war, and fought against the Norwegians.

11th, That they crossed the water with canoes made of the bark of trees.

12th, That they took with them burdens and packages, consisting of squirrel and sable skins, and all other kinds of peltry, which they offered to the Norwegians in the way of trade.

13th, That at first they desired to have arms in exchange for their goods; but, after they had tasted milk, they would not have any thing else.

14th, That they were much frightened by the bellowing of

the bulls which the Norwegians brought with them, and, when they heard them, they would run away.

15th, That they wondered much at the arms of the Norwegians, and were afraid of them, &c.

That the said Wineland the Good can be no other than America, is also maintained by the learned professor, O. Werelius, as may be seen in his notes to Hervor's History, p. 27. It is probable that the part of Greenland whence those men sailed over to America is very near to that continent, as may be seen, as well in the place above quoted from the said Sturleson, as in Jöns Larssons Wolff's "Norrigia Illustrata," published in Danish, at Copenhagen, in the year 1651, which was communicated to me, amongst other things, by the celebrated professor of antiquities, E. Brenner. It is there mentioned that some travellers were permitted by King Frederick the Second, and Christian the Fourth of Denmark, to go to Greenland; but they went to America, believing it to be Greenland, as may be seen in the same work, p. 273. That part of Greenland is at present unknown, so that no man at present can find it; because, according to some, a great quantity of ice was driven, by some storm, out of the Sea of Tartary, which has intercepted the passage. It is supposed that the people who lived there abandoned their habitations, and, as the learned Grotius believes, travelled farther into the country, until, at last, they reached America, a part of whose inhabitants is, without doubt, descended from them."

Some Englishmen believe that America was discovered, 1190, by Madoc, son of Owen Gwynneth, Prince of Wales, and that he made two voyages to this country, and that he built a fortress in Florida or Virginia, others say in Mexico; and they adduce, as proof of this, a number of British words found in use among the Mexicans.'

Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa, discovered America in 1492, the first land which he made being Guanahani, one of the Lucayos, to which he gave the name of San Salvador. On this same voyage, he discovered Cuba and Hispaniola : on the latter he built a fort, and left it in the possession of

1 Holm: translated by Du Ponceau, p. 28.