The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21


issued by Appleton & Co in
their valuable Expansion Of the Re-
public Series and in every respect it
sustains the reputation gained by the
earlier volumes.
From the time of Balboa's crossing
the continental backbone in Darien to
the completion of the transcontinental
railroads some Of the most wonderful
exploration feats ever accomplished
were carried cut in this country Their
records fill innumerable volumes, many
Of which are as brimful Of brilliant cpl
sodes and quite as entertaining as
any Of the most thrilling romances.
Notwithstanding the abundance of
these exciting works dealing with the
trials and accomplishments of the no
bic army of pioneer heroes who opened
up the fertile Western districts Of
America. we are often reproached with
knowing less of the history of the ex-
ploits Of the great pathfinders of our
own country than we know of the ex-
plorations in remote regions like Asia
or Africa. Probably nothing has con-
tributed to the comparatively general
ldNh VI plENldl1Ol VI NdAll VI hllONl-
edge of the performances of many of
the leading Western explorers than the
very abundance of the literature
their exploits have called forth and the
consequent extensive study that is
necessary to gain a comprehensive
knowledge of their achievements.
Thwaites' aim has been to remove this
difficulty and to place within the reach
Of the busiest reader a clear, concise
account of the main triumphs of the
most notable adventures, and by
short, luminous commentaries to show
how their discoveries formed such i'm
portant links in both the political and
economical development of America.
His work contains the first general
summary of the history Of Western ex-
ploration that has been published.
The author commences by referring
to the attempts to find a short Western
road to India and the Far East by the
hardy navigators of old Spain. He then
briefly notices the conquest Of Mexico
and the futile searches of the Spanish
conquistadores in the Northwest for
the upper coasts Of the South Sea- of
which Aontezuma had frequently told
them. Although they were bafIled in
their attempts to discover channel
leading from the Gulf of Mexico to the
Pacific, their hopes were continually
buoyed up by the enchanting stories
about the marvellous golden cities OF
Cibola that were related to them by the
Indians. This led to the brilliant expe-
ditions into the Painted Desert regions
.r Arf1 la
guidance Of Marcos de Mia and Coro-
nado.
ThWaites then refers to the gallant
attempts of the French in Canada to
discover the northwest passage. In
few pages he describes the wonderful
deeds of the Verendryes, father and
sons, and the adventures of some of.
the early Canadian fur hunters. The
stirring accounts these Canadian ex-
plorers gave of the fertility of the
country they passed through and the
remarkable abundance of game and
fur-bearing animals they met with at
tracted considerable attention in Eng
land and led to the formation Of what
was the most powerful trading cor
poration of the day-the famous Hud-
son Bay Company. This company was
formed in 1867 and had its charter be-
slowed upon it by King Charles II.
Among its shareholders were many of
the most prominent men in England,
including the celebrated Prince Rupert
and the Duke of York. Charles granted
the company imperial rights to the
large territory known as Prince Ruperts
Land and all the region drained by the
waters running into Hudson Bay the
Arctic and the North Pacific slopes. 1t
was TO enjoy the whole, entire and
only liberty and trade and traffic as
their charter said, and to possess the
right to seize upon the property and
persons of all competitors, British or
foreign; make and enforce law. admin
lister Justice, build and garrison forts,
maintain ships of war and exercise mil