CONTENTS

OF

THE HISTORY OF AMERICA.

VOLUME THE FIRST.

BOOK I.

PROGRESS of Navigation among the ancients
-View of their discoveries as preparatory
to those of the moderns-Imperfection of an-
cient navigation and geography -Doctrine
of the zones-Farther discoveries checked by
the irruption of barbarous nations — Geogra-
phical knowledge still preserved in the East,
and among the Arabians Revival of com-
merce and navigation in Europe - favoured
by the Croisades-extended by travellers into
the East-promoted by the invention of the
mariner's compass · First regular plan of
discovery formed by Portugal-State of that
kingdom-Schemes of Prince Henry-Early
attempts feeble-Progress along the western
coast of Africa- Hopes of discovering a new

route to the East-Indies-Attempts to accom-
plish this-Prospects of success.

BOOK II.

Birth and education of Columbus - - acquires
naval skill in the service of Portugal-con-
ceives hopes of reaching the East-Indies by
holding a westerly course—his system founded
on the ideas of the ancients, and knowledge of
their navigation-and on the discoveries of
the Portuguese· -His negotiations with dif

ferent courts-Obstacles which he had to sur-

mount in Spain Voyage of discovery-

difficulties Success return to Spain

Astonishment of mankind on this discovery of

a New World-Papal grant of it- Second

Voyage-Colony settled- Farther discove-

ries-War with the Indians-First tax im-

posed on them-Third voyage - He disco-

vers the continent-State of the Spanish

colony-Errors in the first system of colo-

nising-Voyage of the Portuguese to the

East-Indies by the Cape of Good Hope -

Effects of this-Discoveries made by private

adventurers in the New World-Name of

America given to it-Machinations against

Columbus-disgraced and sent in chains to

Europe Fourth voyage of Columbus.

His discoveries — disasters—death.

BOOK III.

State of the colony in Hispaniola-New war
with the Indians-Cruelty of the Spaniards
-Fatal regulations concerning the condition
of the Indians-Diminution of that people-
Discoveries and settlements-First colony
planted on the continent-Conquest of Cuba-
Discovery of Florida of the South Sea-
Great expectations raised by this- Causes of
disappointment with respect to these for some
time-Controversy concerning the treatment
of the Indians - Contrary decisions- Zeal
of the ecclesiastics, particularly of Las Casas-
Singular proceedings of Ximenes - Negroes
imported into America- Las Casas's idea of
a new colony-permitted to attempt it-
unsuccessful-Discoveries towards the West
Yucatan Campeachy -New Spain-
preparations for invading it..

VOLUME THE SECOND.

BOOK IV.

View of America when first discovered, and of
the manners and policy of its most uncivilised

inhabitants-Vast extent of America-gran-

deur of the objects it presents to view—its

mountains. -rivers-lakes-its form fa-

-

vourable to commerce temperature - pre-

dominance of cold causes of this

vated-unwholesome its animals

unculti-

soil—

Enquiry how America was peopled-various

theories-what appears most probable

Condition and character of the Americans

All, the Mexicans and Peruvians excepted,

in the state of savages-Enquiry confined to

the uncivilised tribes- Difficulty of obtaining

information various causes of this-Method

observed in the Enquiry I. The bodily con-

stitution of the Americans considered — II.

The qualities of their minds-III. Their
domestic state-IV. Their political state and
institutions-V. Their system of war and public
security-VI. The arts with which they were
acquainted-VII. Their religious ideas and
institutions - VIII. Such singular and de-
tached customs as are not reduceable to any of
the former heads-IX. General review and
estimate of their virtues and defects.

BOOK V.

History of the conquest of New Spain by Cortes.