The North-West Passage, however, proved a delusion. The men
turned their attention to the narrow isthmus by which the two vast
continents of North and South America are joined. And soon the idea
of cutting a canal through this narrow barrier began to be talked
of. But time went on and the Spaniards who held sway over the
isthmus did no more than talk. Then an adventurous Scotsman was
seized with the idea of founding a colony at Darien. He meant to
build a great harbour where all the ships of the world would come.
Merchandise was to be carried across the isthmus by camels, and
soon his colony would be the key of all the commerce of the world.
Such was his golden dream, but it ended in utter failure.
Still the idea grew. Men of many nations began to discuss the
possibility of building the canal. And at length the French got
leave from the Government of Columbia and work on the canal was
begun. But after working for many years the French gave up the
undertaking, which was far more difficult, and had cost far more
money than they had expected. Meanwhile the Americans had become
much interested in the scheme, and they had begun to think of
cutting a canal through the isthmus at Nicaragua. Then when the
French company went bankrupt they offered to sell all their rights
to the canal to the United States. There was a good deal of discussion
over the matter.
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