beautiful country he had found, and to get permission to conquer and settle it. His request was granted and he was appointed governor of the new colonies. After he had subdued the Caribs who were making trouble at that time, he was to take the vessels and men used in that service to help in the conquest and settlement of "the Island of Bimini and the Island of Florida." But the Carib war lasted much longer than was expected and Ponce de Leon was kept busy for a number

EARLY SPANISH SETTLEMENT IN FLORIDA

of years before he could prepare for his second visit to Florida. In the meantime several exploring trips had been made by various Spaniards along both the east and west coasts of Florida, and it had been found that Florida is not an island, but a large region of country which might contain in the interior the rich kingdoms of

which the Spaniards had heard. Cortes had lately discovered a rich empire in Mexico and Ponce De Leon, though getting quite old, thought he might still conquer such a kingdom and leave a great name.

It was in February, 1521, that Ponce de Leon at last set out for his province. "He went prepared to settle, carrying clergymen for the colonists, friars to found Indian missions, and horses, cattle, sheep, and swine."1 After enduring severe storms, he landed again on the east coast and had himself proclaimed its master. But the fierce tribes had no disposition to acknowledge his authority. They attacked his company with such boldness and success that they killed many Spaniards and even wounded the governor himself. Discouraged by this hostility of the natives and suffering severely with his wound, the old man decided to abandon the attempt. He sailed back to Cuba where, sick and heartbroken, he soon afterward died. His son inherited his rights but made no attempt to take possession of them by conquer-. ing Florida.

1 Winsor's "Narrative and Critical History of America," Vol. II, p. 236.

CHAPTER XI

GEORGE WASHINGTON 1

WHEN George Washington was born, in the year 1732, his father, Augustine Washington, was living on a plantation near the Poto

mac River. Soon after this

time the house in which

the father lived was burnt and he moved with his family to another plantation, on the Rappahannock River, and here George Washington lived until he was eleven years old.

In those days there were no large towns in Virginia. The people lived on great plantations along the rivers where boats could easily

reach them, for travelling through the new country was very difficult except by water. The owners of these

66

1 Authorities: Scudder's George Washington;" Irving's "Life of Washington."

plantations grew tobacco, which was in great demand in England. The country was covered with trees which had to be cut down to make room for the tobacco fields. A traveller could tell when he was approaching a plantation by these clearings, or by the dead trees which had been girdled so that they might be cut away to clear ground for new fields. The fields were surrounded by tall rail fences which could be easily moved when the field was made larger.

The house of the planter was usually a long two-story building with a broad veranda in front and a huge chimney built upon the outside at each end. The halls and rooms were large and were simply furnished. To keep the house cool in the summer the kitchen was built at some distance from it. The owner of the plantation was usually an Englishman who kept up in America as nearly as possible the customs of an English country house.

Not far from the house one could see what looked like a small village. A great many people were needed to work the tobacco fields. The plants while growing had to be pruned once a week and a worm which ate the plant had to be picked from it. The planter found it very convenient to keep negro slaves to do the work of the plantation, and these slaves lived in the small huts near the master's house.

As there were no markets where the planter could buy the things necessary to farm with and to provide for so large a household, each plantation furnished its own supplies. There were workshops where the negro carpenters, smiths, shoemakers, and tailors worked ; smoke-houses where meat was smoked and hams cured. Down by a brook would be found a spring-house where milk and butter and eggs were kept cool in buckets standing in running water. There were also large wooden buildings where the tobacco was hung upon poles to dry in the sun and air; and there were mills for grinding wheat and Indian corn, of which large fields were cultivated for the use of the family and the negro slaves. The good furniture, silver, china, wines, and clothing were brought over from England in the ships that carried back the tobacco in exchange.

Although the owner of the plantation kept an overseer to look after the negroes and the work planned for them, he was by no means an idle man. He spent much of his time riding about his plantation seeing that the work was well done and what improvements could be made. Then his accounts must be looked after and that meant no light task in so large a household. His stock took much care, for he always had many fine horses in his stables and each planter was anxious to have the best. Good dogs were kept for the hunt,