David H. Montgomery

“ John Cabot named it “The Land First Seen.” Up to this time Columbus had discovered nothing except the West India Islands; but John Cabot now saw the continent of North America. No civilized man1 had ever seen it before. There it lay, a great, lonely land, shaggy with forests, with not a house or a human being in sight.
22. John Cabot takes possession of the country for the king of England.— Cabot went on shore, with his son and some of his crew. In the vast, silent wilderness they set up a large cross. ”

“ These bears were great swimmers, and would dive into the sea and come up with a large fish in their claws. As it did not look to the Cabots as if the polar bears and the icebergs would guide them to the warm countries of Asia and the Spice Islands, they turned about and went south. ”