Page:The Life of George Washington, Volume 1.djvu/52

 22 INTRODUCTION. chap. i. unimportant in their consequences, until the 1602. year 1602, when one was undertaken by Bar- tholomew Gosnald, which contributed greatly to revive in the nation, the theretofore unsuc- cessful, and then dormant spirit, of colonizing in the new world. He sailed from Falmouth in a small bark with thirty-two men; and avoiding the usual, but circuitous course by the West Indies, steered as nearly west as the winds would per- mit, and reached the American continent on the 11th of May, in nearly forty-three degrees of north latitude. Here some Indians in a shallop with a mast and sails (supposed to have been obtained from Biscay an fishermen) came fear- lessly on board. Finding no good harbour at this place, Gosnald put to sea again, and stood to the southward. The next morning he descried a promontory which he called cape Cod, and holding his course along the coast as it stretched to the southwest, he touched at two islands, the first of which he named Martha's Vineyard, and the second, Elizabeth's island. Having passed some time at these places, examining the country, and trading with the natives, he returned to England. 5 This voyage which was completed in less than four months, was attended with important s Robertson.,.. Chalmer....Stith.