A Book of American Explorers

by Thomas Wentworth HIGGINSON (1823 - 1911)

Book I, Part 3, Leif finds Vines, and goes back to Greenland

A Book of American Explorers

This book tells the story of exploration in America in the words of the explorers themselves. It consists of extracts from narratives of the early discoverers and explorers of the American continent from the Northmen in 10th century to 17th century Massachusets Bay Colony. - Summary by Kikisaulite


Listen next episodes of A Book of American Explorers:
Book I, Part 4, Thorvald, Leif’s Brother, goes to Vinland , Book I, Part 5, Karlsefni’s Adventures , Book II, Columbus and his Companions (1492‒1503). Part 1, The First Letter from Columbus , Book II, Part 2, The Second Voyage of Columbus , Book II, Part 3, Columbus reaches the Mainland , Book II, Part 4, Columbus at the Mouth of the Orinoco , Book II, Part 5, Columbus thinks himself near the Earthly Paradise , Book II, Part 6, Daring Deed of Diego Mendez , Book II, Part 7, How Diego Mendez got Food for Columbus , Book II, Part 8, How Diego Mendez saved Columbus , Book II, Part 9, Appeal of Columbus in his Old Age , Book III, Cabot and Verrazzano (1497‒1524). Part 1, First News of John and Sebastian Cabot , Book III, Part 2, Sebastian Cabot’s Voyage , Book III, Part 3, Verrazzano’s Letter to the King , Book IV, Part 2, Cabeza de Vaca saved by Indians , Book IV, Part 3, Cabeza de Vaca’s Captivity , Book IV, Part 4, The Indians of the Gulf of Mexico , Book IV, Part 5, Cabeza de Vaca’s Escape , Book IV, The Strange Voyage of Cabeza de Vaca (1528‒1533). Part 1, The Strange Voyage , Book IX, Part 2, Visit to an Indian Princess , Book IX, Part 3, Adventures of the First Virginia Colony , Book IX, Part 4, The Second English Colony in Virginia , Book IX, Part 5, Search for the Lost Colony , Book IX, The Lost Colonies of Virginia (1584‒1590). Part 1, The First Voyage to Virginia , Book V, Part 2, Cartier sets up a Cross , Book V, Part 3, Cartier ascends the St. Lawrence , Book V, Part 4, How the Indians tried to frighten Cartier , Book V, Part 5, How Cartier reached Hochelaga, now Montreal , Book V, Part 6, The Festivities at Hochelaga , Book V, The French in Canada (1534‒1536). Part 1, Cartier’s Visit to Bay of Chaleur , Book VI, Adventures of De Soto (1538‒1542). Part 1, How De Soto set sail , Book VI, Part 2, De Soto attacks the Indians, and finds a Fellow Countryman , Book VI, Part 3, The Story of John Ortiz , Book VI, Part 4, De Soto discovers the Mississippi , Book VI, Part 5, De Soto’s Vain Attempts to reach the Sea , Book VI, Part 6, Death and Burial of De Soto , Book VII, Part 2, Alone in the New World , Book VII, Part 3, Laudonnière’s Search for the Colonists , Book VII, Part 4, Capture of Fort Caroline by the Spaniards , Book VII, The French in Florida (1562‒1565). Part 1, Jean Ribaut in Florida , Book VIII, Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1583) , Book X, Part 2, Captain Waymouth explores the Penobscot , Book X, Part 3, The Popham Colony on the Kennebec , Book X, Part 4, Captain Gilbert’s Adventure with Indians , Book X, Unsuccessful New England Settlements (1602‒1607). Part 1, Gosnold’s Fort at Cuttyhunk , Book XI, Captain John Smith (1606‒1631). Part 1, The Virginia Colony , Book XI, part 10, The Glories of Fishing , Book XI, part 11, Visit of Pocahontas to London , Book XI, Part 12, First Buildings of the Virginia Colonists , Book XI, Part 13, Captain Smith’s Recollections , Book XI, Part 2, The Colonists , Book XI, Part 3, Captain Smith’s Capture by Indians , Book XI, Part 4, Captain Smith and Pocahontas , Book XI, Part 5, King Powhatan , Book XI, Part 6, A Virginia Princess , Book XI, Part 7, An Indian Dance in Virginia , Book XI, Part 8, Indian Children , Book XI, Part 9, “The Planter’s Pleasure and Profit” , Book XII, Champlain on the War-Path (1609) , Book XIII, Henry Hudson and the New Netherlands (1609‒1626). Part 1, Discovery of the Hudson River , Book XIII, Part 2, Indian Traditions of Hudson’s Arrival , Book XIII, Part 3, Hudson’s Last Voyage, and how he was set adrift in the Ice , Book XIII, Part 4, Dutch Settlement of the New Netherlands , Book XIV, Part 2, Miles Standish at Cape Cod , Book XIV, Part 3, The First Encounter , Book, XIV, Part 4, The Landing on Plymouth Rock , Book XIV, Part 5, Plymouth Village founded , Book XIV, Part 6, “Welcome, Englishmen!” , Book XIV, The Pilgrims at Plymouth (1620‒1621). Part 1, Sailing of the Pilgrims , Book XV, Part 2, The Puritans in Salem Harbor , Book XV, Part 3, The Four Elements in New England , Book XV, Part 4, A Sea-Adventure of the Puritans , Book XV, Part 5, Governor Winthrop’s Night out of Doors , Book XV, Part 6, The Privations of the Puritans , Book XV, The Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629‒1631). Part 1, Voyage of the Massachusetts Colonists