十六世纪初,欧洲人探索了大部分的北美东海岸,从布雷顿角一直到佛罗里达。他们和几年前的约翰·卡伯特一样,希望找到通往太平洋的水路。他们仍然认为北美洲是块狭长的陆地,距离亚洲不远。结果发现,他们探察的每条水路都只是内陆河。最有希望的是开阔的圣劳伦斯湾,这是在1535年由加奎斯·卡蒂埃率领法国探险队发现的。十七世纪时,法国人便移民到当时称为下加拿大的圣劳伦斯河谷。西班牙人则继续向南推进,从加勒比海的殖民地航行到佛罗里达,接着深入内地。他们发现了另一条重要的水道——密西西比河,但没有人发觉它是一条进入北美洲的“公路”。总之,西班牙人只对金子感兴趣。黄金城的梦想和传说,引诱了许多西班牙人前进。殊不知等待他们的往往是死亡之神。 Early in the sixteenth century, Europeans explored most of the east coast of North America, from Cape Breton to Florida. Like John Cabot, a few years ago, they wanted to find a waterway to the Pacific Ocean. They still think North America is a strip of land, not far from Asia. As a result, they found that every waterway they explored was only a river inland. Most promising is the open Gulf of St. Lawrence, which was discovered by the French expedition in 1535 by Jacques Caterier. At the turn of the seventeenth century, the French immigrated to the then-St. Lawrence River, which was then called Lower Canada. The Spaniards continued to move southwards, sailing from the Caribbean colonies to Florida and then into the interior. They found another important watercourse, the Mississippi, but no one spotted it as a “road” into North America. In short, Spaniards are only interested in gold. Golden City’s dreams and legends have lured many Spaniards forward. Do not know waiting for them is often the god of death.