WHO FOUND AMERICA ?

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 4, 5 July 1922, Page 6

WHO FOUND AMERICA ?

CLAIMANTS OF TWELVE NATIONS. ; Th« marvelloo* growth and development of the United States, s»y» a correspondent in a. letter to the New York limes, seem to have excited a covetous eye in many European nations. No less than twelve nations have laid claim to the discovery of America through one avenue or another, until it is becoming a matter of wonderment as to the possible underlying motives for ao many conflicting claims. The Spanish, the Portuguese, the Italians, the Jews, and the Catholics (Knights of Columbus) have all vaanted claims based on the voyages of Christopher Colombus. The Phoenicians, Greeks, and Welsh have in times past trotted out their heroes and legends but received little credence because of a dire lack of acceptable evidence.

Recently several letters in the press, also contributions to the Hirshfield History Commission, have urged recognition of an Irish claim, founded on an ancient legend surrounding a seafaring monk by the name of St. Brandon (or Brendan, as some have it). This monk, who, incidentally, hailed from Scotland, is said to have built a ship and made several voyages to neighbouring islands (Shetland, Faroe, and Hebrides), and to the mainland, of .Europe. He is also credited with having discovered what came to be known on many pre-Columbian maps as "St. Brendan's Land"—a suppositional island south of the mythical "Antilla" and west of the Cape Verde Islands. It is this "St. Brendan's Land" which the Irish _ claimants are interpreting as America.

Washington Irving in his work "Columbus and His Companions," banishes this claim and its supporters in grand style. No one yet having referred to Irving as an authority in the matter under discussion, I beg to call attention to the pertinent part in this treatise (Vol. 1, pp. 45-46): "The island, it is true, was only seen at intervals; while at other times and in the clearest weather, not a vestige of it was to'be described. When it did appear, however, it was always in the same place and under the same form. So persuaded were the inhabitants of the Canaries of its reality that application was made to the King of Portugal for permission to discover and take possession of it; and it actually became the object of several expeditions. The island, however, was never to be found, though it continued occasionally to cheat the eye. There were all kinds of wild and fantastic notions concerning this imaginary land, i Some supposed it to be the Antilla mentioned by Aristotle; others, the island of Seven Cities, while some considered it another legendary island on which it was said a Scottish priest by the name of St. Brandon had landed in the sixth century. The last legend passed into current belief. . . . The islands of St. Brandon, of Antilla and of the Seven Cities have long since proved to be fabulous tales or atmospherical delusions." Aside from the mythical aspects of the Irish claim, we must consider the logical improbability of a transoceanic voyage prior to the development of the keel and round bottom boat which was originated by the Norse Vikings' in the ninth century. One who has traversed the Atlantic in whatever kind of a vessel can imagine for himself what sort of chances he would have in a small flat-bottom scow or coracle, as was the type of ship used by the ancients in the sixth century, depending, as they did, on crude sails and oars for propulsion. Remember, too,, the expanse of the Atlantic (more than 3000 miles) and the fact that it took Columbus more than two months' sailing before favourable winds and in the best cara--vela built up to his time. ■. . - If would-be history revisers have an honest motive at heart, let them examine the records of the Norse discovery of Vineland (America) in the year iOOO. Then, recognising the fact that there can be but one discoverer, they will supplant the credit generally given to Columbus with all that is honourably due to :Leif Ericson. , ■ ' . ■ . . :;

A message from Paris states that:the late Prince of Monaco bequeathed a million francs to the Academy of Science.