tions in the colony, they forgave Columbus and restored him to favor, but many of the people believed that he had wasted the public funds and that his work had not been a success. The Fourth Voyage. Two years later he succeeded in making another voyage which is called the fourth. This time he discovered the shore of Central America and some small islands, but he failed to find the India which he so earnestly sought. When he returned to Spain in 1504, after devoting twelve years to the work, he still believed that he had reached the shores of India and China, and did not realize that he had discovered a New World, which was to become in time greater than Spain or India. After many hardships, Columbus died in extreme poverty in the city of Valladolid, Spain. To-day as we look into the records of the time and read of his wonderful plans, his fine common sense, his loyalty and faith, we are impressed with his courage, his noble character, and his splendid achievement; and we realize why Columbus is ranked as one of the greatest characters in history. SPAIN'S CLAIM IN THE NEW WORLD Vespucci. -While Columbus was making his voyages, other explorers began to seek the route to the Indies and to discover new lands. One of these explorers, who sailed under the flag of Spain, was an Italian named Amerigo Vespucci. He made four voyages, explored the coast of Central and South America, and wrote an interesting account of his expeditions. These letters were printed in Germany, and the publisher, Martin Waldseemüller, in a preface to the work, wrote "the fourth part of the globe, which since Americus discovered it, may be called AmerigeAmeric's land or America." Thus the New World received world was depicted, and on it he indicated the route he pro posed to take." And thus it came to pass that he crossed MAGELLAN. the Atlantic, coasted by the shores of South America, entered the straits of Magellan, and set his fleet toward the Pacific Ocean. After many days of constant sailing, Magellan finally reached the Ladrone and the Philippine Islands and claimed these for Spain. On one of these islands, Magellan was killed by a native. His crew, led by Sebastian del Cano, passed by the shores of India and Africa and, at last, after an absence of three years, arrived at Seville, numbering but thirty-one of the two hundred and seventy that had sailed. This voyage marked the first circumnavigation of the globe, and del Cano was granted a coat of arms bearing this motto: "First thou didst encompass me (1522). Colony of Havana. - The first land claimed by Spain was the West India islands, and here on the island of Cuba BALBOA'S FIRST SIGHT OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. was established an important colonial base known as Havana. From this city, as well as from Spain, many expeditions were sent out to discover the unknown lands. We are told that hundreds of official permits were given by the Spanish government to explorers, but we shall mention only those whose work gave Spain her greatest claim. Balboa. In the year 1512 Balboa sailed from the islands and reached the mainland at the Isthmus of Panama; D and, scaling the mountains, he came in sight of the Pacific Ocean, which he took in the name of Spain. Ponce de Leon. In the year that Balboa made his claim to the Pacific, Ponce de Leon, Spanish governor of Hayti, sought the famous fountain of youth of Bimine, believing that its waters would restore his youth and strength. On this quest, de Leon discovered the mainland of North America in the locality of Florida. After making several attempts to go into the interior, de Leon was slain by the natives. For many years Spain claimed all the mainland as far north as Labrador, calling the entire district Florida. Gomez and d'Allyon. Other explorers who confirmed Spain's claim to this region were Gomez and d'Allyon, who coasted along the Atlantic shores and returned favorable reports of the land. Cortez. Spain made very little attempt to settle this region, as her attention at this time was drawn toward |