took the Croisado and were Installed at the Church or Hospital of St. Mary Jerusalem and called Marianites Their Order differed nothing from the Templers of St. John but in form and colour of their Cross After the taking of Jerusalem by Saladine these Knights went to Ptolomais from whence Frederick the Second sent for them into Germany to fight against the Prussians and Livonians who at that time were Pagans which War began in the year 1220. In a little while after these Knights had made themselves Masters of a Country of very large extent and obeyed the Order till 1525 at which time Sigismund King of Poland gave the Investiture of Prussia unto Albert Marquis of Brandenburg In the year 1563 the Great Master became Secular again and took part of the Lands subject to the Order with the Name of Duke of Courland 4. The Bishoprick of Eichstadt or Aichstadt Ala Narisca Ant. Aureatum teste Gasp Brocio near the Danube The chief of the Laicks are the Marquesses of Cullembach and Onsbach the Counts of Holac Wertheim and Erpach or Erbach who find their Original from a Daughter of Charlemagne who married to a Gentleman after she had carried him upon her back through the Court of the Palace The Imperial Towns are 1. Nuremberg Norimberg Nurnberg Germ. Nerobergae Noricorum Mons Norica Caesari A place of great Trade and well frequented by Merchants The fairest most priviledged richest and best Governed in Germany Here the new chosen Emperor ought to hold his first Diet and here are the Ornaments used at the Coronation of the Emperors viz. the Royal Crown The Dalmatick Gown The Imperial Cloak c. Here was Maximilians Wooden Eagle that flew a quarter of a mile and back again And here the Burgers have power to imprison their Children and cast them alive into the River Here Charles the Great designed to make a Communication of passage between the Danube and the Rhine by joyning the Rednitz and the Atmul Rivers whereby there might have been a Commerce by Water from the Low-Countries to Vienna and even unto the Euxine But some inconveniencies in the attempt and his Warlike diversions made him give over that Noble design 2. Frankfort Francfort or Franckfurt Francofurtum Francphordia Helenopotis olim Trajectus Francorum The passage or Ford of the Franks A Free City and reckoned in the Circle of Franconia by most Geographers though I rather take it to be in the Circle of the Higher Rhine It is renowned for its Book-Fairs or Marts in March and in September For its Fortress and for the Election of the Emperor It is a large and strong place divided into two parts Frankfurt and Saxenhausen by the River Maein united by a Stone-Bridg Other Imperial Towns in Franconia are 1. Schweinfurt Suevorum Trajectus Swinphordia Suvinfurtum seated in a fruitful Soil 2. Rotenburg al. Tuberum seated upon the River Tauber which some say is like Jerusalem for its Situation upon Hills and for its many Turrets 3. Weinsheim Vinisima Vinshemia Winshaim 4. Altdorff a University 1623. Of HASSIA ADjoining to Franconia on the North-west is the Landgravedom of Hessen or Hassia of a healthy Air and a fruitful Soil in Corn and Pasturages The greatest part of the Country is now divided into two Families the one of Cassel the other of Darmstat of the youngest House chief places belonging to the Landgraves are Cassel Cassella Cassilia Castella Cattorum Stereontium Ptol. teste Pyramio upon the River Fuld the chief Seat of the Landgraves 2. Marpurg or Martpurg Marpurgum Martis-burgam Mattiacum Ptol. teste Ortel Amasia Baud. upon the River Lohn an University founded in the year 1426 by Lewis Bishop of Munster Here the Landgraves have a stately and magnificent Castle mounted upon a high Hill without the Town enjoying a pleasant prospect and one of their chief places of Residence 3. Darmstad with its Castle is the Seat and Inheritance of the youngest House of the Landgraves Part of this Country of Hessen belongs to the Abbey of Fulda one of the richest and most celebrious in Europe Anno 1640. it was taken by Bannier and here he heard a Voice in the Air Be gone Bannier be gone for now the time is yet he lived to get that Victory at Homberg in Hassia between Fridberg and Francford But at the Battel near the River Sale valorously defending a Bank he was forced to yield and goeth to Halberstade where voiding much Blood and Matter through an Imposthume or breaking of a Vein he put an end to his life and to all his toyl and labours This Abbey was founded by St. Boniface an English man This Abbot is a Prince of the Empire and Arch-Chancellor of the Empress calls himself Primate of Gallia his County is called Buchen Buchovia from the plenty of Beeches To which we may add the Abbey of Hirchfeld betwixt Hessen and the Rhine and intermingled lies the Confederation of Wetteraw or a Combination of many Estates viz. 1. Earls or Counts of Nassaw from whence the Illustrious Grave Maurice and other Princes of Orange are descended 2. Solms well allied 3. Hanaw the Counts whereof have large Estates and a Justice from which their Subjects cannot appeal 4. To this Country belongs the Counts of Waldeck subject to the Lantgraves The Barons of Limborg have a Title of Semperfre The Counts of Swartsbourg are great in Riches with many others Of WESTPHALIA COntiguous on the North of Hessen lies the Circle of Westphalia a Country full of Woods which nourish many Swine which make excellent Bacon and abounding as plentifully in other places with Corn. This Country is divided amongst the Ecclesiasticks Counts and Imperial Cities The Bishops are 1. Munster a City seated on the River Ems Monasterium ol Minigrado Miningrade built by Charles the Great In the year 1533 called New Jerusalem by the Anabaptist and their King John of Leyden King of Sion who being at last besieged and taken was put on the top of a Steeple in an Iron Cage where he was eaten up by Flies and Wasps together with two of his Companions 2. Of Padeborn or Paderborn incolis of a miraculous Foundation 3. Minden Minda once a Bishoprick but now setled upon the Marquess of Brandenburg with the Title of Prince by Munster-Treaty as also is Ferden 4. Of Osnabruck or Osenbrug Osnabrugum seu Osnabrucum so made 776. a Carolo Magno The alternate possession whereof is given to the Duke of Brunswick for his Cession of his Bishoprick of Halberstat The chief Counts of Westphalia are first of East-friezland who in the year 1653 was raised to the Dignity of Prince whose Seat is at Aurick or Auricum 2. The Counts or Prince of Oldenburg Delmenhorst are totally extinguished by the death of Anthony Gunther in the year 1656. However famous in that the Kings of Denmark are descended from it ever since Christian Earl of Oldenburg was chosen King of Denmark Ann. 1448. 3. Of
pleasant Here Money is Coined and here are several Towns but as for the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants they are the same as in Mingrelia The King hath Four good Castles viz. Scander seated upon the side of a Valley Regia and Scorgia both almost inaccessible in the Mountains and naturally fortified 4 Cotatis bearing the Name of the Town and Country round it perhaps the Catatene of Ptol. 90 miles from the mouth of the River Phasis built at the foot of a Hill consisting of about 200 Houses it hath a Fortress built with several Towers and a double Wall. These Three Kingdoms are tributary to the Turks The Tribute of the King of Imiretta is 80 Boys and Girls from Ten to Twenty years of Age. The Prince of Guriel pays 46 Children of both Sexes And the Prince of Mingrelia 60000 Ells of Linen Cloth made in that Country The Princes of Mingrelia give themselves the Title of Dadian that is the head of Justice Of GURGISTAN Georgia by our modern Geographers and the Persians is called Gurgistan by the Georgians Carthuel By some Authors 't is divided into four particular Provinces viz. Imirette and Guriel of which we have spoken of before 3 Caket 4 Carthuel These two last are under the Persian Dominion and this is that which the Persians call Gurgistan and the Georgians Carthueli It is a Country full of Wood and very Mountainous yet encloses a great number of pleasant Plaines and the River Kur the Cyrus of the Ancients runs through the midst of it The Temper of the Air is very kindly their Fair weather begins about May and lasts till the end of November The Soil if well watered produces all sort of Grain Herbs and Fruit in abundance therefore as fertile a Country as can be imagined where a Man may live both deliciously and cheap Their Bread as good as any in the World and their Fruit of all sorts is very delicious Nor is there any part of Europe that produceth fairer Pears and Apples or better tasted nor any part of Asia that brings forth more delicious Pomegranates Their Cattel very good and plentiful their Fowl of all sorts is incomparable There is no better Meat in the world than their young Porkers of which there are abundance The Caspian Sea and Kur River furnish it with all sorts of Salt and Fresh Fish and there is also no Country where they drink more or better Wine No Men are more addicted to their sensual Pleasures and beastial Voluptuousness that is to Drunkenness and Luxury neither are the Women less vitious and wicked having an extraordinary Inclination to the male Sex and contribute more to that torrent of Uncleanness which overflows all the Country Nature saith Sr. John Chardin hath bestowed upon the Women of that Country Graces and Features which are not other where to be seen so that 't is impossible to behold them without loving of their more charming Countenances nor more lovely Statures and Proportions can be pencilled forth by all the Art of man They are Tall clear Limb'd Plump and Full but not over-Fat and extreamly slender in the Waste but that which spoils all is their Nasty Shifts and Painted Faces The Men are naturally witty nor would there be more Learned men or more Ingenious masters in the world were they but improved by the knowledge of Arts and Sciences but their Education is so mean and brutish having nothing but bad Examples that those Parts are altogether drowned in Vice and Ignorance so that they are generally Cheats and Knaves Perfidious Treacherous Ingrateful and Proud. There are several Bishops in Georgia an Arch-bishop and a Patriarch whom they call Catholicos There are also many Churches but nothing remaines of Christianity unless the name of their Fasts for they neither know or practise the least precept of the Law of Jesus Christ The Church-Men also will be as drunk and keep Female Slaves for their Concubines as well as others The Nobility exercise a more Tyrannical power over their Subjects than in Mingrelia challenging a right over their Estates Liberty and Lives if they seize upon them whether Wife or Children they sell them or dispose of them as they please The Province of Carthuel containes no more than four Cities Gori Suram Aly and Teflis Gori or Kori Armatica or Harmastis of old teste Sans is a small City seated in a Plain between two Mountains upon the bank of the River Chur at the foot of a small Hill upon which there is a Fortress built which is garisoned by Native Persians Suram is a small Town but the Fortress is large and well built having 100 Men in garison Teflis Artaxata Plin. Artaxia Tac. Artaxiasata Strab. by the Georgians Cala by some Tebele-cala is called also Darel Melec by P. Jovius Choim the fairest Citie in Georgia seated at the bottom of a Mountain at the foot of which runs the River Cur. The City is encompassed with strong Walls defended with a large Fortress on the South-side it contains about 14 Churches six belonging to the Georgians and the rest to the Armenians The Cathedral which is called Sion is seated upon the bank of the River built of all fair hewen Stone There is not a Mosque in Teflis though the City belongs to a Mahometan Emperor and governed by a Mahometan Prince The Bazars or Market-places are very fair and large built of Stone The Inns or Caravansera's are no less beautiful The Princes Palace is one of the most beautiful Ornaments in Teflis it hath been twice under the power of the Turks once in the Reign of Ishmael the second King of Persia and in the Reign of his Successor Solyman took it almost at the same time as he did Tauris The Kingdom of Caket is at present in subjection to the King of Persia governed by his Viceroy The Cities are all Ruines unless that which is called Caket or Kaket In the Northern part of that Kingdom the Amazons are supposed to have inhabited Ptol. fixes their Country in the Asiatick Sarmatia to the West of Wolga Quintius Curtius saith also that the Kingdom of Thalestris was near to the River Phasis and Strabo speaking of the Expeditions of Pompey and Canidius is of the same opinion Quiria borders upon the Caspian Sea its chief Places are Derbent Caucasiae Portae Plin. or Pylae Iberiae Ortel Demir Temir-Capi Turcis Alexandria Portae Ferreae Caspiae Portae of old now belonging to the Persians it is a great Market for Slaves and is a strong wall'd Town said to be built by Alexander the Great And Tarky at this day under the Duke of Moscovy Some Authors tell us of Stranu or Zambanach which answers to ancient Albana of Zitach or Gorgora thought to be the ancient Getara or Gagara of Ptolomy and Chipeche to be the ancient Chabala It contains the Circassian and Dagestan Tartars The Circassian Country is very fertile producing good store of Fruit and Grain and also good pasture Ground The Men
John de Acre or Jerusalem by Emanuel the Greek Emperor in the year 1308. but in the year 1522. after it had been defended against the Infidels 214 years it was taken by Solyman the Great and after six Months Siege it was surrendred Villerius being the great Master to the general dishonour of the Christian Princes in their tardy Succors 13. Cyprus of old Crypta or Crypton Ptol. It was also called Cerastis Cethin Cethina then Amathusia Paphia Salaminia Macaria Citherea Achamantis Asperia Collinia Erosa It is in circuit according to Strab. 427 Miles To Plin. 375. From the rocky shore of Cilicia 60 Miles and from the Coast of Syria 100. During the Empire of the Persians and Macedonians it contained nine Kingdoms but by Ptol. divided into four parts Salamina Amathusia Lapatha and Paphia so named of their principal Cities 1. Salamis Ptol. Salamine Plin. was built by Teucer when banished by his Father Telamon Afterwards called Constantia Steph. but destroyed by the Jews in the days of the Emperor Trajan And lastly by the Saracens in the Reign of Heraclitus from the Ruines whereof the Hamacostas Fama Augusta now Famagosta was erected by King Costa the Father of King Katharin famous in Story for the unfortunate Valor of the Venetians under the Command of Signior Bragadine against the furious Assaults of the Army of Selymus II. conducted by Mustapha who caused them all to be murdered but the Governor whom he flead alive after the Surrender of the Place upon honourable Conditions In Lapathia where once stood Tremithus Trimethus Ptol. Tremisausa or Tremituge Soph. now stands the Regal City of Nicosia Leucasia Leucotheon Graec. Ledrinsis Leutheon Soph. of a circular Form and five Miles in circumference taken by the aforesaid Mustapha Ann. 1570. with an uncredible Slaughter North of this and upon the Sea stood Ceraunia or Ceronia Cirynia Plin. Carynia Cerinium Ortel now Cerines erected by Cyrus a strong place yet yielded to the Turks before it was besieged Amathus now Limiso Sacred unto Venus and wherein the Rites and Sacrifices of her Adonis were annually celebrated said to be built by Amasis who was the first that conquered Cyprus Our late Navigations tell us that Larricho is the City from whence our Merchandize comes that is laden at Port Salines or Larneca so called of the abundance of Salt that is there made and here the Turk first landed his Army the chief Port in Cyprus Further Westward is a Promontory in form of a Peninsula now called Capo delle Gatte formerly Curias from a City not far distant of the same Name now called Episcopia On this Promontory is the Ruines of a Monastery of Greek Coloieros who breed up Cats to destroy Serpents and to return home upon the Sound of a Bell and therefore by some called the Cape of Cats Phrurium Promont now Bianco is the place from whence they were thrown that but presumed to touch Apollo's Altar in the adjoining Grove Paphos Nova Ptol. Nea Paphos Plin. Palaepaphos Strab. Mela Paphium Polyb. now Buffo or Bapho built by Agapenor five Miles from the old Paphos said by Ovid to be built by the Son of Pigmalion by his Ivory Statue such said to be in regard of her Beauty Others say it was built by Cyneras Father and Grandfather to Adonis who having sworn to assist Menelaus with 50 Ships sent him only one with the Models of the other in Clay to colour his Perjury Both places famous for the Worship of Venus and the Sacrifices which her Votaries of both Sexes did perform in their natural Nakedness But her Temples were razed to the Ground by the procurement of St. Barnaby not only here but throughout the Island Eastwards of Capo St. Pifano formerly Pro. Acamas was the City Arsinoe now Lescare Lusig or Crisoca Alessendretta renowned for the Groves of Jupiter This Island boasts of the Births of Asclapiades Solon Zeno the Stoick Apollonius and Zenophon A Country abounding with all things necessary for Life and therefore called Macaria and afforded matter to build a Ship from the bottom of the Keel to the top of her Top-gallant and to furnish her with Tackle and Munition In Summer exceeding hot and unhealthy annoyed with Serpents The Brooks for Rivers it hath none are often exhausted by the Sun and for 36 years in the time of Constantine it never rained It was first possessed by the Sons of Japhet paid Tribute to the Egyptian Amasis conquered by Belus and governed by the Posterity of Teucer until Cyrus expulsed the nine Kings that there ruled After the Grecians repossest the Sovereignty and kept it until the death of Nicocles then it fell under the Government of the Ptolomi's then the wealth of it allured the Romans to make a Conquest of it restored to Cleopatra and her Sister Arsinoe by Antonius but he overthrown it was made a Roman Province and with the Transmigration of the Empire submitted to the Bizantine Emperors governed by a Succession of Dukes for 800 years when conquered by our Richard I. and given in Exchange for the Titular Kingdom of Jerusalem unto Gâ—y of Lusignan in whose Family it continued until Ann. 1473. It was then by Catharina Cornelia a Venetian Lady the Widow to King James the Bastard who had taken it by Force from his Sister Carlâ—tte resigned to the Venetians who 97 years after lost it to the Turks under whose Yoke it now groaneth 'T is for the most part inhabited by Greeks whose Ecclesiastical Estate is governed by the Archbishop of Nicosia and the 3 Bishops of Famagosta Paphus and Amathus It s chief Mountain is Olympus containing 50 Miles in its Basis now called the Mountain of the Holy Cross cloathed with Trees and stored with Fountains and Monasteries possessed by the Greek Coloicres of the Order of St. Basil Its Commodities are Oil and Grains of several sorts Wine that lasteth for eight years Raisins of the Sun Citrons Oranges Pomgranates Almonds Figs Saffron Coriander Sugar Turpentine Rhubarb Câ—lloquintida Scammony c. Cotton Woolls Chamolets Salt Sope Ashes There are Mines of Brass some Gold and Silver Green Soder Vitriol Alom Orpiment White and Red Lead and Iron divers kinds of precious Stones viz. the Emerald and Turky Thus having described the chief places of the Ottoman Empire I shall also give a short account of their Government Policy Religion c. In order whereunto we need not so much regard their first coming out of Scythia Anno 577. nor when they seized on Armenia Major giving it the Name of Turcomania Anno 844. nor when Tâ—ingrâ—liâ—ix overthrew the Persian Sultan 1030 nor yet when Cutlu Moses revolted from him and made a distinct Kingdom in Arabia But when Ottoman by strange Fortunes and from small Beginnings swallowed up the other Families into the Ogusian Tribe and united them into one Head Anno 1300. from thence must we deduce the first Foundation of the Ottoman Empire They had then no Government but what was
they obtain'd leave to raise a Cittadel which was the first Fort they had in the East-Indies but that Fortress was taken from them by the Hollanders in the year 1662. The Prince of Calicut calls himself Zamorin a Prince of great power and awe and not more black of colour than treacherous in disposition Many deformed Pagotha's are here worshipped but with this ordinary Evasion That they adore not Idols but the Deumo's they represent And the Dutch General who was Cook of a Ship Crowned the King with those hands which had oftner handled a Ladle than a Sword And exacts a Tribute from all the Kings of Malabar but most of them are dispens'd withall from paying it Besides this Prince there are in this Country the Kings of Cananor Tanor Cranganor Cochin Coulan and Travancor and 10 or 12 other considerable ones Cochin Colchin of Ptol. Herb. not much inferior to Goa pays Tribute to the Hollanders who keep the Castle The Harbor is pester'd with Rocks and Shelves Coulan has been much richer and better peopled than it is for it had formerly above 100000 Inhabitants Sopatpa in Arrian and Coâ—â—y in Ptol. Zamoryn valu'd it for its Situation for its Port and its Fidelity Since that the Sands having stop'd up the Port Goa and Calecut have got all the Trade from it Cananor Calligeris Ptol. teste Castal holds also some Islands among the Maldives viz. the Isle Malicut and the five Isles of Diavandorow Onor the Hippocura of Ptol. teste Baud. produces a weighty sort of Pepper and Black Rice accounted better than the White Baticale and Gersopa further in the Land are the Capital Cities of their Kingdoms included under the general Name of Canara To Malabar joins the fishing Coast called the Coast of Manar where they fish for Pearls in April for three weeks together The Country which contains about 30 little Cities is dry and Sun-burnt having no other advantages but by the Fishery for which they keep a Fair at Tuticorin The most part of it is under the Nâ—ic of Madure the Hollanders possessing only the Island of Kings where they have built a Fort and to which there is no coming but by a Chanel for the defence whereof they have rais'd several Works for conservation thereof being of so great importance to them by reason that thereby they are Masters of the Banks of Manar There is also found some Amber-greice and heretofore near to Cape Comâ—rin a Cape well known of old by Ptol. called Cory Calligicum by Strab. Conomencina by Plin. Calusca Colaicum Comar by Arrian in his Periplus Comara extrema or Cape Comryn there was a Pearl found that weighed above 30 Quintals Coromandel or Corobander Cartagar damna Ptol. so called from the abundance of Rice which it produces is famous for the best Ports of India The City of Meliapore Malipur incolis St. Thomaso Lusitanis Mâ—lange Ptol. or the Calurmina of Sophron. and St. Thomas's Anglis where that Apostle wrought many Miracles and where as their Traditions he foretold the coming of White People into that Country It is observed that the Off-spring of those that Martyr'd St. Thomas have one Leg bigger than the other â—â—liour is seated upon a small River having five Foot of Water at the Mouth of it which is about Cannon-shot from the City but small Ships had rather harbor themselves at Pelicate and the great ones at Nâ—gaâ—â—tâ—n which with Meliapor belongs to the Portugalâ— Pâ—licate besides the Town there is a Fort called Geldria that belongs to the Duâ—â—h where they have their chief Factory and where lives the chief Intendent over all the rest that are in the Territories of the King of Gâ—lâ—â—da In the Fort are generally 200 Soldiers besides Merchants The Bastions are well stored with good Guns and the Sea comes up to the very Wall of it Tavernier tells us That when the Inhabitants fetch their Water to drink they stay till the Sea is qâ—â—te gone out then digging holes in the Sand as near the Sea as they can they meet with fresh Water About 7 or 8 Leagues off is Fort St. George which belongs to the English whose Port or Harbor is called Madraspatan The Kingdom of Golconda is a Country abounding in Corn Rice Cattel and other Necessaries for Human Life and Bagnagar is the Name of the Metropolis commonly called Golconda which is the Name of a Fortress about two Leagues from it The City is said to be little less than Orleance seated upon a River which near to Mâ—slipatan falls into the Gulph of Bengala over which River there is a stately and fair Bridge into the City which is adorned with the King's Palace and the Houses of the great Lords and other Persons of Quality the Merchants and Tradesmen living in the Suburbs which are a League in length In this City is to be seen the Foundation of a magnificent Pagod which had it been finished had been the fairest in India there is one Stone which is an entire Rock of such a prodigious Bulk that 5 or 600 Men were five years before they could hew it out of its place and they say that 1400 Oxen were employed to draw it away The Men and Women of Golconda are well proportioned and of comely statures only the Country people swarthy there are said to be 20000 Licensed common Women about the City and Suburbs The present King descended from an ancient Family of the Turcomans is a Mahumetan and of the Sect of Hali and pays the Mogul an annual Tribute of 200000 Pagods Maslipatan is a great City and the most famous Road for Ships in the Gulph of Bengal the Argaric Gulph of old from whence they set Sail for Pegu Siam Aracan c. where Bloom saith the English have setled a Factory Concerning the Kingdoms of Narsinga and Bisnagar which some Authors make two distinct Countries though some others confound them together I shall give you this account That formerly the Territories of the Raja of Narsinga extended from Cape Cormorin all along the Coast of Cormandel as far as the River Guenga that falls into the Bengalan Gulph near the mouth of the Ganges the other Raja's being his Subjects that the last Raja who was at War with Ackbar the Mogul brought into the Field four Armies the first lay in that Province which is now called Golconda the second was quartered in the Province of Visapour the third in Brampore the fourth in Doltabat This Raja dying without Children the four Generals divided amongst them the Country but the Successor of the Mogul conquered again that of Brampore of Doltabat and part of Visapour but the King of Golconda became Tributary to him as was said before so that 't is very probable there are no such Cities as Narsingue or Bisnagar Tavernier in his Travels makes no mention of them The last Relations tell us that Gandicot Tav Guendicot Thev is one of the strongest Cities in the Kingdom of Carnatica about 85 Leagues from Meliapour and
and Sylla and in the Wars of Vespasian and Vitellius Here was the Temple of Janus open in the time of War and shut in the time of Peace which hapned but three times during all their Monarchy 1. In the time of Numa 2. After the Punick War And 3ly in the Reign of Augustus when our Saviour was born Nor must I forget the Ponte Molle a mile out of the City anciently Pons Milvius where Constantine was shewed the Cross with these words In Hoc Signo Vinces This City is seated on the Banks of the River Tyber formerly upon ten Hills though now chiefly in the Campus Martius On the top of the Vatican Hill is the proud Palace of the Popes large enough to Entertain three Soveraign Princes at once and their Attendants beautified and enriched with excellent Paintings and Curiosities with the Garden Beluedere famous for its rare Plants delightful Walks and curious Statues On this Hill is the Church of St. Peter the most splendid and famous in all Rome the most sumptuous stately and magnificent Structure in the World of that Majestick bulk and greatness that it exceeds in all dimensions the most famous Temples of the Ancients in length 520 Foot and 385 in breadth adorned with Paintings Tombs and other choice Reliques My Bounds will not permit to speak of its other Churches Hospitals Monasteries Convents of its Libraries as the Vatican the Jesuites Colledg c. The Palaces of the Cardinals are stately Structures and richly adorned to which are joyned pleasant Gardens Here are several Piazza's abundance of Antiquities and Statues which I shall not name but may not forget the Castle of St. Angelo which for its strength is esteemed impregnable unless starved and here the Pope liveth in more State than any Prince in Christendom The chief of the other Cities and Territories belonging to the Estates of the Church are Bologna alias Bononia famous for its Study of the Civil Law for the Pope's Palace or retiring-place Rich Populous and well Inhabited by Nobility and Gentry the chief University in Italy Ferrara Ferrarea with its Iron Mines beautifully built adorned with many Suburb-Edifices in the midst of it is a spacious Market-place into which do open about twenty Streets uniform and strait and Comachio The once fair Haven Ravenna in the Province of Romandiola when Caesar Augustus kept his Navy here famous for the Seat of the Emperor Honorius and Successors of the Gothish Kings of the Exarchs and of its Patriarch now the Haven is choaked up and its Land covered with Water Cervia invironed with Fens and is famous for its great quantity of Salt as Fienza is for its Earthen Ware. Vrbin Vrbinum seated at the bottom of the Apennine Hills once famous for a sumptuous Palace and a most excellent Library as also for Polydore Virgil the Author of the History of England Rimini Ariminum of old the taking of which so frighted Pompey that he left Rome Other places are Fano the Sea-Port Town to Vrbin Senigaglia the Seno-Gallia of old and Pesaro both Maritine Towns. On the Banks of Metro of old Metaurus was fought the great Battel betwixt Asdrubal the Brother of Hannibal and the two Consuls Livius and Cl. Nero where 56000 of the Carthaginians were slain 5400 taken Prisoners as Livy writeth Ancona in Marchia Anconitana or Strato Marcha del Ancona the best Haven of Italy towards the Adriatick Sea And here I must not forget Loretto or St. Maria Lauretane famous for the Church of the Virgin Mary a stately Structure richly adorned with Presents Offerings and Gifts of Princes Nobles c. whose Organs and other Musick makes an Harmonious Sound to those that go on Pilgrimage thither either for Devotion or Penance Ascoli is the Asculum near which was fought the second Battel between the Romans and Pyrrhus it was also the Seat of the War called Bellum Sociale Macerata the Seat of the Governours of this Province Firmo the Strong Perugia or Perusia is chief of the Province so called seated on the Banks of Tyher in a rich and fruitful Soil Here it was that Augustus Besieged L. Antonius and Fulvia the Wife of M. Antony and near to this City is the Lake de Perugia of old Thrasemene of about 30 miles in compass near whose Banks Hannibal slew Flaminius and 15000 of his Romans Spoleto in the Dutchy of Vmbria of great Antiquity where are yet remaining stately Aquaducts the Temple of Concord and the Ruins of a spacious Theater Here is also the high Orvieto in the Province of Orvietin seated on a high Rock In Terra Sabina are Narni Nequino and Terni In Campania Romana the chief places besides Rome are Ardea now ruined once the Seat of Turnus King of the Rutuli the Rival and Competitor to Aeneas taken by Tarq. Superbus the refuge of the Romans when the Gauls had taken Rome as is also Alba Longa once the Seat of the Sylvian Kings after the Duel between the three Brethren of the Horatii and Curatii it was ruined by Tullus Hostilius Iteranni of old And the River Allia where Brennus with his Gauls overcame the Roman Army of 40000 and marched to Rome and had agreed for 1000 pound weight of Gold to forsake the City but before the payment of the money they were vanquished by Camillus Alba the Seat of the Sylvian Kings Palestrina Praeneste of old the refuge of Marius against Sylla who killed 12000 of the Citizens when he took the Town Ostia built by Ancus Marcius seated at the mouth of Tibur but its Haven stopped up whose Bishop Consecrates the Pope Lavinia so named from Lavinia Daughter to Latinus King of the Laurentini married to Aeneas Trivoli Tibur of the Ancients Chief places in the Patrimony of St. Peter are Veii a City once of great strength wealth and compass In the assault of which 306 of the Fabii were slain in one day only one Child left at home who restored the Family and was the Ancestor of Fabius Maximus the Preserver of Italy against Hannibal After a Siege of ten years this City was taken and destroyed by Furius Camillus Civita Vecchia Maritine Town abounding with Allom. Here are kept the Popes two Gallies maintained by 30000 Duckets the yearly Tribute of 40000 Curtezans Terracina is the ancient Anxur near the Promontorium Circeium now Monte Circello famous for the dwelling of the Enchantress Circe Monte Fiascone where is the so much celebrated Wine near the Lake Volsinii now Bolsena Viterbo is a large and well-situate Town where is the Monument of Pope John 21 in the Domo Here are Sulphure-Wells and hot Springs Intermingled with the Estate of the Church lies the Dutchy of Castro with the Town of Ronciglione the Country of Citta di Castello Strato del Duca di Parma whose chief place is Castellana The Sabatia now il Ducato di Bracciano the Title of the Family of the Vrsines near the Lake so called And lastly the Republick of Marino a little Town on the top
Joktheel 2 Kings 14.7 The Soldans of Egypt for the exceeding strength thereof kept therein all their Treasures Of this place see more in the Description of Canaan and the bordering Countries Bostra now Bussereth is a place of good Esteem I suppose the same with Petra Tor or El Tor upon the Red Sea is a pitiful Haven defended by a Four-square Castle near to it are found Champignons petrified white Coral Seal-skins Small Oysters and somtimes Sea-Monsters like Men. They report that this was the Haven Ezion Geber from which Solomon sent his Ships for Ophir Mount Horeb and Sinai are famous in Scripture Arabia the Desert or Beriara is a place almost quite destitute of Water or if there be any Wells the Water is for little service Ana upon the Euphrates the place where the Grand Signior's Tribute is paid as the Lord of the Country is the best place in it There is one King in Arabia that has a moving and portative City that is to say it consists in Tents which he can command them to carry where he pleases Sumiscasac is thought to be the ancient Saba whence the Magi set forth to adore Christ and the Queen to visit Solomon But Sir Thomas Herbert tells us That after the Flood Nimrod Sovereignizing at Babylon his Brother Havilah seated his Colony in Susiana Seba Raamah and Sabbata in Arabia Seba or Sheba fixed on the Western Coast adjacent to the Red Sea where he built a City after his own Name from whence the Queen came that visited Solomon as he supposeth That Sabata planted the South-part of Arabia and Raamah or Rhegma on the North-East part towards Balsera where they built Cities after their Names mention'd Ezek. 27. In these parts was the Wilderness where the Children of Israel wandered 40 years Here Moses established Ecclesiastical and Political Laws Here was the burning Bush the Water-bearing Rock the Mountains of Sinai and Horeb and Mount Hor where Aaron died The Happy Arabia Hyaman or Aiman Gemen or Giamen Turcis Marmotta Sarracenis Sabaea Plin. carries that Name as being a more fruitful Soil than either of the two It breeds excellent Horses Manna Cinnamon Myrrhe Balsam Benjamin Incense and other Perfumes so that if Aromatick Gums Succulent Fruits Fragrant Flowers and such sort of Delicacies please thy Sense say Arabia is the Phoenix of the East and with Danaeus The Epitome of Delight and with St. Austin Paradise The Air is temperate and healthful The Country enriched with pleasant Streams and Fountains whose Waters are Medicinal Aden is a Town of great Trade standing in a little Peninsula at the foot of a Mountain guarded with two Castles towards the North and a small Fortress at the Entry into the Haven The Portugueses when they first setled themselves in the Indies had a design to make themselves Masters of this City as also of Ormus and Malaca But the Turk prevented them from taking Aden the King whereof they hung at the Yards-Arm of the Admiral 's Gally Since which some other Revolutions have happen'd so that the Natives of the Country have again dispossessed the Turks Mecca and Meâ—ina are famous for the Pilgrimages of the Mahometans For which they that make them are in high esteem among the rest They go particularly to Mecca to pay their Devotions to a Four-square House which they call The House of God and pretend the same to have been built by Abraham This City containing about 6000 Houses stands about a days Journy from the Red Sea being the place where Mahomet was born whose Body was afterwards translated to Medina upon the discovery of Albuquerque the Portuguese's design to have surprized the Port of Ziden otherwise Gidde with an intention to have carried away that Mahometan Relique The Country about Mecca produceth abundance of that sort of Berry of which Coffee is made Kufa or Kalufa the Holy City called Rastack when walled by Omir the Burial place of Mortis-Ali Saint King and Prophet of the Persians Medina is three days Journy from the Red Sea the burying place of Mahomet as the Turks pretend The Sepulchre or Tomb wherein Mahomet lieth is enclosed within an Iron Grate and covered with Green Velvet which is every Year made new and sent by the Grand Signior the old one being by the Priests cut in little pieces and sold at great Rates as Reliques to the Pilgrims In the Temple where this Tomb is placed there are said to be 3000 Lamps of Gold and Silver wherein is Balsam and other rich Odors Ointments and Oils continually kept burning They would impose it for a Miracle that his Tomb should hang in the Air by means of the Loadstone But besides that there is no such thing were it true there were no wonder in it For Democrates the Athenian by the Order of Ptolomy King of Egypt undertook to make the Statue of Arsinoe all of Iron and to hang it up in the same manner And in the Temple of Serapis in Alexandria there was an Iron Sun that hung in the Air by the force of a Loadstone being a rare piece of Workmanship The Prince of Mecca called Sultan Sheriff is one of the most potent Princes in all Arabia His Residence is usually at Almacharana seated on the top of an high Mountain of difficult access Sanaa is one of the greatest fairest and strongest Towns of Arabia adorned with Vineyards Meadows and Gardens Dafar is one of the chief Ports upon the Red Sea next to Zibit near the mouth of the Red Sea which is Fair Rich and of great Trade for Drugs Spices Perfumes c. Once the Residence of a Turkish Beglerbeg before that the Seat of a King beheaded by the Turks at the same time when the King of Aden was hanged at the Yards-Arm of the Admiral 's Ship. The Ports of Dolfar and Pescher are most renowned on the South-Coast for Frankincense The Grand Signior the Persian Sophi and other Mahometan Monarchs oft-times send him Presents and the first allows him also some part of the Revenue of Egypt because he is of the Race of Mahomet and to oblige him to be kind to the Pilgrim Turks Fartach a Kingdom and City near the Sea Caxem Gubelhaman Alibinali Amanziridin Masfate Mascalat and Jemen are so many Sultanies or petty Kingdoms in the Happy Arabia Mascate or Mascatsaif not far from Rozelgate Corodanum Ptol. Macin Amian thought to be Rhaguma Rhegma of Ptol. the Raamah of Ezek. 27.22 formerly belonging to the Portuguese had for a long time all the Trade of the Indies to Mecca through the conveniency of the Cities Elcatif or the ancient Gerra which communicates its Name to the Persian Gulph and Labsa or Lazarch Sohar in the Eastern part had also formerly the Trade but since the same hath been translated to Ormus and Gombron Mocha upon the Red Sea is an open City indifferently well built and fortified with a small Castle In it there live Jews Persians Armenians Indians and Banians So that it is a Town of
City very fair and pretty intire and has in it the remains of an ancient Palace where was no declination of the Magnetick Needle This Province is about 400 miles from the Frontier to the City Vla but all the Cities and Towns are intirely ruined only some few Houses built of Earth or the rubbish of old Buildings and covered with Thatch or Straw That all the Country beyond the Province of Leao-tum is exceeding desert where nothing is to be seen on all sides but Mountains and Vallies Dens of Bears Tigers and other devouring Beasts Here and there a poor Reed-hut upon the side of some Brooks The City Vla on the River Songoro Tart. Sumhoa Chin. lies in 44 Degrees 20 Minutes The Needle there declines from the South to the West 1 Degree 20 Minutes and is the fairest in all this Country and somtimes also the Seat of the Empire of the Tartars But Kirin is about 30 miles from Vla upon the River Songoro which takes it Course from the Moun. Champe Famous for having been the ancient Seat of our Tartars That the Moscovites come oftentimes to the River Songoro to fish for Pearles That the Distance of Kirin from Xin-Yam was 1028 Chinese Stadia containing 369 miles the Chinese Stadium being 360 Geometrical paces I shall only add that by this relation it doth appear to me that Niulhan or Niuche must be the same Country which is here called Leaâ—-tuâ— for the Emperors design was to visit the Sepulchres of his Ancestors Of INDIA THE Name of India is now given to the Empire of the Mogul and to the two Peninsulas one on this side the other beyond Ganges and the Islands scattered in the Indian Sea which are all comprehended under the general name of the East-Indies under which Appellation some Authors do also take in all the Oriental part of Asia The old Inhabitants hereof were by Megasthenes said to be 122 several Nations Originally descended from the Sons of Noah before their journy to the Valley of Shinaar and Heylin saith that the Plantation of India did precede the attempt of Babel Its first invasion was by Semiramis with an Army of above four Millions if Ctesias and Diodorus Siculus say true who was met with by Staurobates an Indian King with as great an Army by whom she was overcome and slain The next Invasion on this Country was by Bacchus the Son of Jupiter companied with Hercules who by force or by Arts overcame them and taught them the use of Wine Oil and the Art of Architecture After this Alexander invaded India beginning first with Clophae Queen of Magaza After with Porus whom he vanquished and took but giving them their Liberty and Kingdoms again he returned into his own Country after this they lived in peace under their several Kings until the year 1587 when discovered by the Portugals after by the English Dutch c. OF THE Empire of the Mogul EMPIRE de MOGOL by Robt. Morden THis vast Empire comprehends the greatest part of the Continent of India The present Mogul who is the Sovereign derives his Original from Great Temarleng or Tamerlan and is the Eleventh in a direct Line descendent from him there are several Indian Kingdoms tributary to him and he is esteemed the richest Prince in the world and the most potent Monarch of Asia The Territories of his Country being his own Hereditary Revenues the great Lords are but his Receivers who give an account to the Governors of the Provinces and they to the chief Treasurers and Comptrollers of the Exchequer He is also the general Heir to all those to whom he gives Pensions and his Will is a Law in the decision of his Subjects Affairs and therefore they carry the Names of their Employments and not of the Lands which they enjoy Sha Jehan who Reigned Forty years left behind him about 5 Millions and the Throne that he made cost an 160 Millions and 500000 Livres besides six other Thrones set all over with Diamonds Rubies Emralds and Pearls Teste Tav The Mony of this Kingdom is of a good Alloy The Mogul is able to bring 100000 Horse into the Field but his Infantry is very inconsiderable either for Number or Experience He has a good number of Elephants which do him great service for they are sure of foot and lie down and rise up very readily The King is a Turkish Mahumetan nevertheless the most part of his Vassals are Pagans But as there are several sorts of People so likewise there are divers sorts of Religions amongst them which I shall briefly mention at the end of the Description of the East-Indies The Mogul's Country is very fertile and well peopled near the great Rivers They make excellent Bread having Corn and Rice in abundance Victuals in general are very cheap however the Inhabitants are very temperate and sober The neighbouring Country to Tartary is full of Mountains and Forests where the Mogul oft-times takes his pleasure in Hunting there being great abundance and variety of wild Beasts And there it was that Alexander cut down the Wood for the Ships which he sent down the Indus into the Ocean As for Remains of Antiquity there are few or none the Moguls having ruin'd all the ancient Cities which according to the Ancients were 30 large Cities 3000 walled Towns and Castles for natural Defence reckoned impregnable which may not be improbable if it were as some affirm the first Seminary or Station of Noah after his descent from Ararat not far hence distant and afterward the delight of Bacchus which some think was the same with Noah and from the wonderful increase of People which appears by that huge Army Staurobates drew out in his defence against Semiramis the Assyrian Empress both Armies containing 3 Millions And so well builded and planted was this part of India that when Alexander by the overthrow of Porus near the River Hydaspis entered India Herodotus and Curtius report that Alexander should say He found greater Cities and more sumptuous Buildings in King Porus 's Dominions than he had observed in all the World besides Indus is Navigable from Lahor to Sende the Natives call'd it Pang-ab by reason of the five Rivers that fall into it toward the upper part of its Course which are now called Rauee Behat Obchan Wihy and Sindar by Ptol. Acesines Cophys Hydaspis Zaradras and Hispalis Ganges was formerly famous for its Gold now for its Water which is very pure The Natives hold that it sanctifies them whether they drink or whether they bathe in it There are in the whole Empire about 37 Kingdoms the Names whereof are almost the same with those of the Capital Cities viz. Agra Attock Bakar Bakisch Bando Bengala Berar Buchar Cabul Kakares Candahar Candis Canduana Cassimere Chitor Delli Gor Guzarate Haiacan Jamba Jenupar Jesselmere Jesual Maluay Mevat Multan Narva Naugracut Patna Pengab Pitan Sambal Siba Soret Tatta Udessa Teste Thev There are also some petty Territories as the Raja's which are of
wind and weather Niencheu Kincheu Chucheu Kinhoa Vencheu Ningpo and Xoahing all chief Cities and bravely adorned not far from Ningpo lies Liampo once much frequented by the Portugals The whole Province of Chekiang is every where cut through with Rivers Rivulets and murmuring streams some natural others artificial The chief River Che which gives name to the Country of which they tell us that annually upon the eighteenth day of the eighth Moon which is our October a prodigious Spring-tide happens roaring extreamly in its ascent beyond the loud murmur of Cataracts or Water-breaks and comes with a head high and strangely mounted above the Waters The Province of Nanking by the Tartars called Kiangnan is the second in honour in magnitude and fertility in all China It is divided into fourteen great Territories having Cities and Towns an hundred and ten Nanking or Kiangning being the Metropolis a City that if she did not exceed most Cities on the Earth in bigness and beauty yet she was inferior to few for her Pagodes her Temples her Porcelane Towers her Palaces and Triumphal Arches Fungiang Sucheu Sunkiang Leucheu Hoaigan Ganking Ningue Hoeicheu are also eminent Places and of great Note and Trade The Province of Quantung lies along upon the Sea-shore having many convenient Havens and Harbors It contains ten Counties and eighty great and small Cities Quancheu or Canton by the Portugals is the Metropolis and chief of the Province exceedingly beautified with Pagodes Palaces stately Structures and Triumphal Arches fortified with strong Walls Towers Bulwarks and Redoubts defended by five Castles Of the greatest Trade and the richest in the whole Kingdom The other great Cities are Xaocheu Hoeicheu Chaocheu Chacking Liencheu and Luicheu The Island of Ainan or Hainan is reckoned for the tenth County it lies in the Bay of Tunking separated from China by a Chanel of about five leagues broad where they fish for Pearls it chief City is Kiuncheu or Ingly fortified with strong Walls handsom Buildings and well seated for Trade and the whole Island produceth all Necessaries for human sustenance Southwards of Canton lie many small Islands in the Sea on one of which or rather a little Rock joyned to a great Island lieth the City Macao once possessed by the Portuguese so naturally fortified that 't is almost invincible being defended with two strong Castles against the attempts of an Enemy The Province of Quansi in Bigness plenty of Merchandise and pleasant Fields may compare with the rest It is divided into eleven great Countries which contain ninety eight Cities great and small the chief whereof is Quilia full of stately Structures other chief Cities are Gucheu Kingyang Cincheu Nunning Taping Chingan and others The Province of Quicheu is divided into eight Counties having great and small Cities to the number of eighty one of which Quiyang is the chief Chinyveng Tunying Liping are the next considerable The Province of Junnan though the last in place is not the least in extent and goodness viz. in the abundance of rich commodities 'T is divided into twelve Provinces contaning eighty seven Cities great and small besides thirteen Garisons The Metropolis Junnan boasts to be one of the best and greatest Cities in all China flourishing in Trade and Riches adorned with fair Structures and Temples Jungning Likiang Yaogan Tali Manhoa Kinghung and Lancand are other chief places In short they reckon in these Counties twelve hundred ninety nine Towns two hundred forty seven great Cities called Cheu and eleven hundred fifty two little Towns called Hien yet as big an ordinary City in Europe Martinius sets down thirteen hundred forty eight Towns whereof one hundred fifty nine are great called Cheu and the other Hien There are also great Garisons or Military Countries every one with lesser Garisons under their commands thirty seven in number also several Forts and Castles to the number of one hundred seventy six Besides these Towns and Fortresses China is very full of innumerable Villages and Hamlets so that it appears to be as one entire City Corea is divided into eight Territories On the North it joins to Nieuche in Tartary the South respects the Island Fungma or Quelpaerts on which in the year 1653 the Ship Sperwer of Batavia was Shipwracked and of sixty four men thirty six got to shore who suffered many extreamities and there found one of their Dutch Country men that had been prisoner twenty seven years The whole Country is exceeding populous full of Towns built after the Chinese manner whose Fashions Language Letters Religion and Government the Coreans follow It s chief City is Pinjang but by the aforesaid Dutch mens Relations Sioor was the Royal City from whence in the year 1666 in a Fishermans bark in ten days eight of them got to Gotto Island and from thence to Nengesaque on the Island Dysma The Isle Formosa once Paccand now under the Tartars abounds with Deer wild-Goats Hares Coneys Swine and Tygers the Woods with Pheasants and Pidgeons and the Ground produceth Rice Wheat Sugar Ginger Cinnamon Coco-Nuts and several other necessaries for human Sustenance Their chief practice or special Virtues are Theft Murder and Adultery but if any of the Women prove with Child before they are thirty seven years of Age when they are ready to be delivered the Midwife kneads it to death in the womb They Write Read and have Registers In Anno 1654 hapned a mighty Earthquake which continued seven weeks with little intermissions In December and January is generally the fairest Weather Their greatest Rains are in July and August The Mousons or stormy Seasons begin in October and continue till March which is called the Northern the other or Southern begins in May and holds till September Against the North-East part of Formosa lies a rich golden Mine surrounded by many Rocks from whence in August the Rains wash down great store of gold Oar not far from the Fort Kelang which the Dutch had in possession Taywan or Tayovan upon the Isle Formosa the utmost North-point being distant almost a league but the Southermost point within a Bow-shot of the Land it is about two leagues and an half in Length and a quarter in Breadth on the North-side upon a Sand-Hill stands the Fort Zelandia built by the Dutch 1632 under the Castle Westward lies another Fort guarded by two points of the Sea A Bow-shot distant lies a strong Outwork being the Key to the Castle called Utrecht Eastward from which stands the Town built by the Dutch On the other side on the main of Formosa stands the Fort and Village Sakkam well planted with Cannon but in the year 1661 Coxinga and his Associates being a crew of Rebels Chineses took both the Island of Formosa and Tayoven from the Dutch after a siege of ten Months where Coxinga found ten Tun of Gold forty pieces of Ordnance and other things to a great value Of JAPAN JAPONAE ac TERRAE IESSONIS Novissima Descriptio Robt. Morden THE Island of Japan
Plenty may be called The Epitom of the World. The City of Bantam lies at the Foot of a Hill environed by 2 Rivulets and divided by another The Port is large and the most frequented of all the Islands of Sonde for it affords all kind of Spices Stones and other Commodities of the East-Indies The Spaniards call Bantam the Geneva of the East Jacatra or Batavia is the Residence of the Consul for the Holland Company ever since the year 1619. It is defended by a good Cittadel with four regulated Bastions it lies in a Bay which being secur'd toward the Sea by some Islands makes the best Road in all the Indies Jortam next to that is one of the best Ports and most frequented Borneo the very biggest Island of all Asia abounds in Mirobalans and Camphire It has several good Ports but few good Cities Some say that this was the Java of Mark Poll of Venice and that the Lesser Java was that already mentioned The City is built upon Piles in the Sea at the Mouth of a fair River having a large and commodious Harbor The Natives have a peculiar King of their own as likewise has Bender-Massin Sambos is the Capital City of the Kingdom affording Diamonds Of the PHILIPPINE Islands The PHILIPINE ISLES By Robt. Morden The PHILIPPINE Islands PHilip the Second gave his own Name to these Islands which are about Forty or fifty great ones for should we reckon up little ones they would make by Relation some Thousands the most part of them very fertile and the Inhabitants pay their Tribute in Soldiers The Council of Spain oftentimes proposed the quitting of those Islands because of the Expences of the Garisons But because they lie convenient for the Trade between China and the Molucca Islands the King was resolved to keep them The Islanders are valiant and preserve their Liberty in several places Luc'on otherwise New-Castile is the biggest of all the Philippine Islands The City Manilla which lends its Name to the whole Body of these Islands is the Seat of the Viceroy and an Archbishop It is but small but neat and well fortified and safe from Mining two thirds of the Town lying upon a River Navigable for Barks and the third part lying upon the Sea. Besides Spaniards and Indians there are several Chineses that resort thither as to the Magazine of the richest Commodities in the world Cavite two Leagues from the City is the principal Haven secured from the Winds and fortified with two wooden Forts The Bay is 40 Leagues in compass where there is a convenience to build great Gallions however the North Winds blow hard upon it the Bottom is bad and Entrance difficult New Segovia or Cagajon is in the most Northern part of the Isle Luc'on Tandaya or Philippina is South-East from the Southermost point of Lucon and the Straight between them is called the Straight of Manilla esteemed the best and most pleasant of all the Islands whose chief place is Achan The Island Mindanao has not been in the Spaniards hands but a little while St. Juan or John lies North-East of Mindanao That of Paragoya or Calamianes of Boterus the Puloam of Maginus who discovered these Islands in 1520 and some others obey their own Kings Cebu and Matan are known the first by the discovery of Magellan the other by the death of Magellan The Spaniards that are bound to the Philippines never sail through our Hemisphere and therefore they would have these Islands as well as the Molucca's to be the Bounds of the West-Indies which they for that Reason would have to reach as far as the Molucca's Other Islands are Mindora which gives Name to a Straight so called Masbat Negoas Panay Kapul or Bohol Abuya or Rebujan From the Philippine Islands Eastward there lie several other Isles called in Spanish by the general Name Islas de las Velas by the Dutch Isles de Ladâ—â—nes or Larrons of which I find nothing memorable except their Names in some Maps And that the Inhabitants are poor naked and great Thieves Of the MOLVCCA Islands The MOLUCCA ILANDS c. By R. Morden The MOLVCCA Islands THere are five of these Islands that carry the particular Name of Molucca's These five Islands are very small seated much about the Equinoctial Line in an unwholsom Air for Strangers They are under several Kings The Hollanders have also some Fortresses there They afford Nutmegs Ginger and Cloves Ternate the biggest of the five little ones is eight Leagues about with a Mountain that casts out Fire It hath besides several Villages uninhabited in times of War three Cities or rather Forts viz. Gammalamme Mayloye now called Orange Tacony by the Dutch William Stad The rest are Tidor very considerable Motir Machoan Bachian The Molucco's are good Soldiers and for the most part Mahumetans Besides the Kings of Ternate Tidor and Bachian there are several others in the Celebes Islands and Gilolo The King of Macassar in the Celebes particularly has a while since extraordinarily fortified his own City He has always given Strangers free entrance into his Ports In 1667 he treated with the Hollanders and quitted the Portugals But in 1668 the Hollanders obliged him to trade with no other Nations but them And there was a Report that the Dutch have since seized upon and taken Macassar The Air of this Country is good but the Heats are insupportable in the Day-time Formerly the Natives of Macassar ate Human Flesh for which Reason the Neighbouring Princes sent them all their Criminals Celebes is fertile in Rice and the Land of Papous yields Gold Ambergreece and Birds of Paradise Banda is an Island towards the South of the Molucco's with five or six other Islands about it to which it gives its Name It is the only Island in the World that produces Nutmegs and Mace There is in it a burning Mountain and in the year 1615 all the great Guns in the Island were spoil'd About four Years before the barbarous proceedings of the Dutch at Amboyna they shot Captain Courtupt in his Boat going from his House and Factory in Polleroon to one of the adjacent Clove Islands called Lantore on which Island not long after some English suffer'd such unparallel'd and barbarous Cruelty by the Dutch as a created Nature was capable of enduring In the Year 1617 the Inhabitants of Banda Island besought Capt. Bal then President at Bantam to receive their Island into his Jurisdiction to defend them from the Tyrannies of the Dutch who murdered them at their pleasures and abused their Wives whilst themselves were enforc'd to look on protesting also that they never gave the least consent to them to possess their Island which was accepted of by the English but in the Year 1622 they were forced by the Dutch to abandon the Banda Islands and it is credibly reported that after the English had left those Islands the numerous shoals of Mackerel which was the chiefest Support to the Inhabitants and which came constantly in their
blood Cordevanis Cedar Wood and a plant call'd Mader It contains three Cities the chief of which is Fouchial or Funghal the Residence of a Governor and a Bishop The City is long and narrow at the foot of a Mountain which is about three quarters of a League high with three Fortresses and a Port like a Crescent where Ships may ride within Pistol shot of the Town The Island contains thirty six Parishes five or six Religious Convents four Hospitals six or seven thousand Houses twenty five thousand Inhabitants and so many Gardens that the whole seems a Garden of pleasure The Island Porto Sancto hath much what the same Commodities with Madera but is not above eight or ten Leagues in circuit thought to be the Cerne of Ptolomy and reckoned for the most remote Colony which the Carthaginians had in the Western Ocean Between the Canaries and the Madera's I find two small Islands called Salvages in some Maps but in the Sea-charts I find only a heap of Sands and no description of them in any Geography CAPE VERDE Ilands by Rt. Morden THE Islands which are in the parallel of Cape Verd are to the number of ten and bear the name of the Cape which lies in the most Western part of all Africa The Antients call'd them Hesperides and Gorgades and the Fables plac'd there the Orchards with Golden Apples which were kept by a Dragon Christopher Columbus said they were falsly nam'd for in his third Voyage he found them to be dry and barren They are for the most part possessed and inhabited by the Portugals who transport thence Salt and Goats-skins of which they make excellent Cordevants There is in one of these Islands called Mayo so great quantity of Salt that it is said it could load above two thousand Sail of Ships so that the Flemings call them all the Islands of Salt. The Principal Island is that of Saint Jago or James's with a City of the same Name which is none of the best inhabited through the unwholesomeness of the Air. The Nine other Islands are Saint Anthony's Saint Vincent Saint Luce Saint Nicholas the Isle of Salt Bona Vista Mayo I. de Fuogo and Brava There are some wherein there are no Inhabitants but only Goats The neighbouring Ocean bears the Name of Green by reason that it is covered with a kind of Green and Yellow weed so that it looks like a Meadow There are four things which to me strongly prove that the Islands of Cape Verd do rather answer to the fortunate Islands of Ptolomy then the Canaries 1. Their difference of Latitude for Ptolomy placeth his fortunate Islands between the tenth and sixteenth Degree of Latitude the Canaries are about twenty eight Degrees of Latitude 2. Their distance in regard of the Coast of Africa which Ptolomy makes the nearest distance to be eight Degrees when as the furthest of the Canaries is not so much 3. The disposition of their Situation from East to West for Ptolomy confines his Fortunate Isles almost under one Meridian the Canaries contain five or six Degrees in Longitude 4. In respect of their Situation from North to South for Ptolomy extends those four or six Degrees of Latitude whereas the Canaries lie all in the same Degree of Latitude however I shall submit to better judgments therein The Isle of Saint Thomas under the Equator affords a great quantity of Sugar but the Air is bad for strangers that come to live there for they never grow bigger than they were at their first arrival The Portugals were the first that subdu'd it The best Town in it is Pavoasan containing about seven hundred Houses with a Fortress in the Eastern part of the Island It has several Trees like those in the Island of Fer which distil Water continually for the use of the Inhabitants Hogs Flesh is more wholesome and nourishing than Fowl by reason they feed their Hogs with Sugar Canes The Island of the Prince so call'd because the Revenue of that Island is appointed for the Maintenance of the Prince of Portugal yields some Fruit Sugar and Ginger Annobon is so called because it was first discovered upon the first day of the year The Portugals live toward the North part thereof it yields Sugars Cottons Cattle and excellent Fruits and Oranges that in the year 1623 weighed twelve ounces Saint Hellens sixteen Leagues in compass in the Ethiopick Sea high and mountainous There is no Island in the World so far distant from the Terra Firma 't is called the Sea-Inn because they that return from the East Indies stop and refresh there and in the Vallies it 's very Fertile the Air so healthful that Sick Persons are in a short time restored to their Health well furnished with good Water which alone is a great refreshment to the Ships and of so great importance that the English keep and possess it in despite of Portugals Spaniards or Dutch or any other that dispute with them the Dominion of the Sea. The Islands of Fernando Saint Matthews and Ascension are not inhabited and of no great account only they afford Fowls Wild Beasts and Fish Zocotora and Behel-Mendel lies toward the Red-Sea where the passage is most convenient from the Coast of Africk Zocotora near Cape Guadarfu is under the Jurisdiction of an Arabian King. It is a good Road and hath very convenient Bays where Ships may ride secure among the very Rocks It affords excellent Fishing Cattle in great abundance and is famous for the goodness and quantity of its Aloes MADAGASCAR or St. LAURANCE by Rob. Morden MAdagascar Madecase by the Natives Sazandib by the Arabs Manuthyas Ptol. Magaster by M. P. Venet. Albagra Thev Dâ— Cerne Merc. Dauphin Island by the French St. Laurence by Trisian d' Acunna the Portugal who discovered it An. Dom. 1508 tho great is the difference in Spanish Writers about the first that landed here lies in the Eastern which we call the Indian Sea it is the biggest of all the Islands that belong to Africa from whence it does not lie above a hundred or ninety Leagues distant Nor is there any Island in the World of so vast an extent For it is in length above three hundred and forty of our Leagues and about one hundred broad It s chief Ports are the Bay of Antongil or St. Anthony the best in all the Island Further towards the North Boamarage towards the South Angoada Cacumbout Manialoufe Manajara or the Port of Prunes Matatane Manapate or the Port of Gallions Manatenga Anamboul Fort des Francois Sancta Clara Bay St. Lucia Fort Dauphin Cape Romain Cape St. Mario Port St. Augustin Port Santiago or St. James Port St. Vincent Terra del Gada Terra de St. Andra Vingagora c. According to our Relations the Air is temperate enough the Soyl produces several sorts of Grains and Trees the Waters are excellent and the Fruits delicious The Mountains are full of Wood Pasturage and Plants of divers sorts and the Champain Country is
with Springs and Rivers of fresh Water Cattle and Fowl are in great plenty and other Lakes and Rivers afford store of Fish Thascala or Los Angelos is a Country very plentiful both of Corn and Cattle full of rich Pastures well watered with Rivers and wonderfully stored with Maize which they make their Bread of Places of most note are first Thascala Situate on an easie ascent betwixt two Rivers encompassed with a large pleasant and fruitful plain said to be so populous before the arrival of the Spaniards that it could number above three hundred thousand Inhabitants Second Angelos a fair City distant from Mexico twenty two Leagues and thirty from Latera Cruz Thirdly La Vera Cruz built by the Cortez a place of great encourse situate near the Gulph from whence there is a through-fair to Mexico from whence it is distant about fifty two Leagues In May 83. about nine hundred or a thousand Privateers at Night landed and through the negligence of the Spanish Centinels surprised the Town and two Forts the one of twelve the other of eight Guns They plundered the Town for three days where they got a great deal of Plate Jewels c. and might also have taken the Castle which is seated about three quarters of a Miles into the Sea and hath thirty Guns mounted Saint John de Vlloa at Vlhua the most noted Port of this Province fenced with a Peer against the fury of the Winds and Sea defended naturally by Rocks and Quick-sands and by two Bulworks well fortified on both sides of his entrance Famous for that it was the first beginning of that great Conquest of the Valiant Cortez Here he first sunk the Ships that brought the Spaniards from Cuba to the intent they might think of nothing but Conquest and here five hundred Spaniards ventured against millions of Enemies and began the Conquest of the fourth part of the World. Xalappa de la Vera Cruz made a Bishops See in the year 1634 said to be worth ten thousand Duckets a year La Rinconada is a House or Inn which the Spaniards call Venla seated in a low Valley the hottest Place in all the Road to Mexico plentiful in Provisions and the sweetness and coolness of the Water is a great refreshment but the swarms of Gnats in the Night are most intolerable Segura de la Frontera was built by Cortez in his Wars with the Culhuacans and Tepeacaes Tlaxcallan a Common-wealth The Inhabitants whereof in one Battel against Cortez had 150000 fighting Men afterwards joyned with Cortez and were the chief Instruments of his unparallel'd Conquest being mortal Enemies to Monteâ—uma the Mexican Emperor and therefore are free from Tribute by the Kings of Spain Nixapa is a Town of eight hundred Inhabitants Spaniards and Indians where is a rich Cloister of Dominican Friers and one of the richest places in the County of Braxuca Tecoantepeque is a small and unfortified Harbor on Mar del Zur Aquatulco and Capaâ—ita are great Towns in a plain Country Taponapeque is a sweet and pleasant Town well stored with Flesh and Fish and Fowl. In this Province are said to be two hundred Towns one thousand Villages twenty five thousand Indians which are priviledged and exempted from all extraordinary Charge and Imposition because of their assisting Cortez in his Conquest of Mexico In the Valley of St. Paul was a Country Man possessed of forty thousand Sheep which were the product of two only which were brought him out of Spain Guaxaca is a Province of a healthful and a sweet Air of a fertile Soil not only in Corn but also in Fruit Cochineil Silk Cassia the Earth well stored with Mines of Gold Silver and other Metals and most of the Rivers stream down Sand-Gold It s chief places are Antequera a Bishoprick adorned with stately buildings and a Magnificent Cathedral Church Aquatulâ—o is a noted and convenient Port on Mar del Zur from whence is transported the Merchandise of Mexico to Peru plundered both by Drake and Cavendish in their Voyages about the World. Gage tells us that Guaxaca is a City and Bishops Seat fair and beautiful sixty Leagues from Mexico and consists of two thousand Inhabitants n t far from the Head of the great River Alvarado upon which are Zapoteâ—as and St. Idlfonso That from thence they went to Antequera a great Town Tavasco or Tabasco is a Coast of one hundred Leagues between Guâ—xaca and Jucatan of an excellent Soil abundant in Maiz and Cacao There are Vines Fig-trees Oranges and Citrons great quantity of Cattle and Fowl besides wild Beasts Apes and Squirrels The Spaniards have but one Colony here which is called Newstra a Signiora de la Victoria so called from the Victory Cortez gained 15 9. The first City in America that defended it self and suffered the Spaniards sword Jucatan is a Peninsula of about four hundred Leagues in compass Situate between the Gulph of Mexico and Honduras whose Cape Catoche is opposite to Cape Saint Anthony in the Island Cuba and distant from it forty odd Leagues In the middle of the Land are to be seen Scales and Shells of Sea Fish its chief Cities are Merida distant from the Sea on either side twelve Leagues the Seat of the Bishop and Governor adorned with great and antient Edifices of Stone with many Figures of Men cut in the Stones resembling those at Merida in Spain 2. Valladolid beautified with a fair Monastery of Franciscans 3. Campeach Situate on the Shore of the Gulph a fair City of about three thousand Houses which in Anno 1596 was surprised and pillaged by the English under the Command of Captain Parker who carried away the Governor and the riches of the City The Audience of Gaudalajara or Kingdom of New Galicia makes the most occident part of New Spain and contains the Provinces of Gaudalajara Xalisco Los Zacatecas Chiamettlan Culiacan and New Biscany The Air of Gaudalajara is temperate and serene except in Summer which is most troubled with Rain The Land rather mountainous than plain very fruitful well furnished with Mines of Silver Copper Lead and Margasites the Pastures are rich feeding abundance of Cattle they have Cittrons Oranges Figs Apples Pears Peaches Olive-trees whose Fruit is often destroyed by Ants as their Corn Maize and Pulse is by the Pies which though no bigger than Sparrows are so numerous that they destroy whole Crops Its Cities are Guadelajara the Residence of the Kings Treasurer dignified with the Courts of Judicature the See of a Bishop beautified with a fair Cathedral Church watered with many Fountains and little Torrents not far from the River Beranja In the Province of Xalisco the chief City is Compostella built by Guzman 1551. Situate in a Barren Country and bad Air. In the Province of Chiametlan is Saint Sebastian nigh to which are many rich Silver Mines The Province of Culiacan hath Saint Michael and that of Chinaloa Saint John where are rich Mines of Silver In Los Zicatecas are several famous
Lodges near the Mines and some Cities as Zacatecas Durango c. In new Biscany there are no Cities but only Mines of Silver as Saint John Barbara and Endes The Audience of Gautemala is divided into these Provinces Gautemala Soconusco Chiapa Vera-paz Honduras Nicaragua Costarica and Veragua Gautimala is a Country hot but rich subject to Earthquakes and hath excellent Balms Amber Bezar and Salt and Indigo Full of rich Pastures stocked with Cattle plenty of Cotton Wool excellent Sulphur store of Medicinal Drugs and abundance of Fruit especially Cacao in vast plenty that it lades many Vessels which serves both for Meat and Drink Chief Cities are Saint Jago de Gautimala Situate on a little River betwixt two Vulcano's one of Water the other of Fire that of Water is higher than the other and yields a pleasant Prospect being almost all the year green and full of Indian Wheat and the Gardens adorned with Roses Lilies and other Flowers all the year and with many sorts of sweet and delicate Fruit. The other Vulcan of Fire is more unpleasant and more dreadful to behold here are Ashes for Beauty Stones and Flints for Fruits and Flowers for Water Whisperings and Fountain Murmurs noise of Thunder and roaring of consuming Metals for sweet and odoriferous Smells a stink of Fire and Brimstone Thus is Gautimala seated between a Paradise and Hell other chief Towns are Mixco Pinola Petapa and Amatitlan The Residence of the Governor the Seat of the Bishop and Court of Audience In 1541 it was almost overwhelmed by a Deluge of boiling Water which descended from that Vulcano which is near it out of which it cast Fire in abundance Soconusco hath only the little City Guevetlan on the Coast nothing of particular or worthy to be noted in it Chiapa is not very fruitful in Corn or Fruits but well stocked with lofty Trees some yielding Rosin others pretious Gums and others Leaves that when dried to Powder make a Sovereign Plaister for sores 'T is full of Snakes and other venemous Creatures Chiapa exceedeth most Provinces of America in fair Towns 't is divided into three parts viz. Chiapa Zeldales and Zoques Chief Places are Chiapa Real and Chiapa de Indies twelve Leagues from the first upon the River Grejavalva St. Bartholomews at the foot of the Cuchumatlanes Mountains Copanabastla noted for its Cotton Wool. Near Chiapa are several Fountains which are strange near Acaxutla is a Well whose Water is observed to rise and fall according to the flowing and Ebbing of the Sea though far from it near St. Bartholomews is a pit into which if one cast a stone tho' never so small it makes a noise as great and terrible as a Clap of Thunder another Fountain that for three years together increaseth though there be no Rain and for three years after diminisheth though there be never so much another that falls in rainy weather and rises in dry another that kills Birds and Beasts that drink it yet cures the Sick. The entrance into Golfe Dulce is straitned with two Rocks or Mountains on each side but within a fine Road and Harbor wide and capacious to secure a thousand Ships Honduras or Comayagua is a Country of pleasant Hills and fruitful Vallies hath Fruits Grains rich Pastures brave Rivers and Mines of Gold and Silver but it s greatest profit is Wool. It s chief places are Vallad lâ—d equally distant between the two Seas situate in a pleasant fruitful Valley 2. Grâ—tias a Dios near the rich Mines of Gold. 3. Saint Juan del poâ—to de los Cavallos once a famous Port. 4. Traxillo both pillaged by the English Nicaragua called Mahomets Paradise by reason of its fertility and store of Gold a Country destitute of Rivers the want whereof is supplyed by a great Lake which Ebbs and Flows like the Sea upon its Banks are seated many pleasant Cities and Villages the chief is Leon near unto a Vulcan of Fire where a Fryer seeking for Treasure met with the end of his design and of his Life the Residence of the Governor and Seat of a Bishop Grenada beautified with a fair Church and Castle Jaen Segovia and Realeo near Mar del Zur The City Granada is one of the richest places in the India's The passage of the Lake Granada or Nicaragua called El Desaguadero is very dangerous Costarica and Veragua are the two most Eastern Provinces of the Audience of Gautimala in the first are the Cities of Carthage seated between the two Seas In the other La Conception La Trinadad and Sancta Fe being the place where the Spaniards melt refine and cast their Gold into Bars and Ingots New MEXICO vel New GRANATA et MARATA et CALIFORNIA by R. Morden WEst of Florida and North of New Spain there are numerous Inhabitants and various Provinces and Countries little known by the Europeans which I call in general New Mexico others comprehend them under the name of New Granada however there have been observed divers people very different in their Languages Manners and Customs some having fixed and setled Habitations others wandring after their Flocks some dwelling in Cities or Towns others in Herds or Troops like the Tartars This Country was first made known to the Spaniards by the Travels of Fryer Marco de Nisa inflamed by whose reports Vasquez di Coranado in the year 1540 undertook the further discovery thereof where not finding what they looked for Gold and Silver hungry honour yielding but poor subsistence the further search of these Countries was quite laid aside almost as little known now as before New Mexico California Anian Quiviria and Libola are the principal parts of it St. Fe or St. Foy is the principal City distant from the the Old Mexico above five hundred Leagues being the Residence of the Spanish Governor where they have a Garison and Silver Mines California once esteemed a Peninsula now thought to be an Island extending in length from the twenty second Degree of Northern Latitude to the forty second but the breadth narrow the Northern Point called Cape Blance of which there is little memorable the most Southern called Cape St. Lucas remarkable for the great prize there taken from the Spaniards by Captain Cavendish in his Circumnavigation of the World Anno 1587. Where is also Nova Albion discovered by Sir Francis Drake Anno 1577 and by him so named in Honor of his own Country once called Albion who caused a Pillar to be erected in the place on which he fastned the Arms of England Opposite to Cape Blanco and the utmost North parts of America lies the supposed Kingdom of Anian from whence the Straits of Anian which are by some thought to part Asia and America do derive their name The riches of Quiviria consist in their Oxen whose Flesh is the ordinary food of the Inhabitants their Skins serve them for cloathing their Hair for Thred of their Nerves and Sinews they make Cords and Bow-strings of their Bones they make Nails and
this Tree is so broad and large that it will cover 15 or 20 Men and keep them dry when it rains and the Pitch within the Tree is good to eat and tastes much like to white Bread. There is also the Kettale-Tree which yields a delicious Juice rarely sweet and pleasant to the Palat which they take from the Tree two or three times a day which Liquor they boil and make a kind of Sugar The Cinnamon-Tree grows wild in the Woods as other Trees and by them no more esteemed being as plenty as Hazel in England The Cinnamon is the Bark or Rind which when on the Tree looks whitish when they pull it off they scrape it and dry it in the Sun. The Wood hath no smell 't is of a white colour and soft like Fir. The Leaf much resembles Laurel both in colour and thickness The young Leaves look red like Scarlet if bruised they will smell more like Cloves than Cinnamon It bears a Fruit which is ripe in September much like an Acorn but smaller it neither tastes nor smells like as the Bark but being boiled in Water it will yield an Oil which when cold is hard as Tallow and white and of an excellent smell and 't is used for Ointment for Aches and Pains and to burn in Lamps There is also the Ovula the Fruit whereof they make use of for Physick in Purges and being beat in pieces in a Mortar and soak'd in Water it will Dye a very good Black and rusty Iron lying one Night in the Water will become bright and the Water black like Ink. The Betel-Tree whose Leaf is so much loved and eaten grows like Ivy twining about Trees or Poles which they stick into the ground for it to run up by and as the Betel grows the Poles grow also Of Roots they have Aloes or Inyames of divers sorts some they plant and others grow wild in the Woods These serve for Food and for Sause or a Relish to their Rice some of them in a year or two will grow as big as a Man's Waste others as big as a Man's Arm. They have Herbs of several sorts some in six months growing to maturity the Stalk as high as a Man can reach and being boiled almost as good as Asparagus They have Coleworts Carrots Radishes Fennel Balsam Spearmint Mustard There is also Fern Indian Corn several sorts of Beans Cucumbers Calabassa's and Pumkins And the Dutch have Lettice Rosemary Sage and other European Herbs and Plants which grow well there The Woods are their Apothecaries Shops where with Herbs Leaves and the Rinds of Trees they make all their Physick and Plaisters with which they will make notable Cures Of Flowers they have great variety growing wild as Roses red and white and several other sorts of sweet smelling Flowers one called the Sendric-mal of a murry colour and white which opens at 4 of the Clock in the Evening and shuts at 4 in the Morning which serves them somtimes instead of a Clock The Pichamauls are a white Flower like our Jasmine well scented the King hath a parcel of them every Morning brought to him wrapt in a white Cloth but the Hon-mauls are the chief Flowers the young People use and are of greatest value among them They have Cows Buffaloes Hogs Goats Deer in great abundance Hares Dogs Jacols Apes Tygers Bears Elephants There are Ants of divers sorts some worthy our Remark viz. the Coura-atch which is a great and black Ant living in the ground making great hollow Holes in the earth and have no sting The Vaco's are the most numerous whose hinder part is white and the head red They eat and devour all they come at except Iron and Stone They creep up the Walls of Houses and build an Arch of Dirt over themselves all the way as they climb be it never so high and in places where there are no Houses they will raise great Hills or Humbosses some 5 or 6 Foot high so hard and strong as not easily digged down with Pickaxes within full of hollow Vaults and Arches where they dwell Their Nests are much like Honey-Combs full of Eggs and young Ones As they encrease in multitude so they also dye in multitude for when they come to maturity they have Wings and in the Evening after Sun-set they issue forth in vast Numbers that they almost darken the Sky flying to such a height as they go out of sight and so keep flying till they fall down dead upon the Earth Of the ISLES of SONDE The Isles of SONDA By Rob t Morden The ISLES of SONDE THE Streight of Sonde gives its Name to the Isles of Sumatra Java and Borneo that lie not far from it It is the ordinary passage for Vessels that are bound for China and the more Eastern Seas the Air of these three Islands is very unwholsom nor do they afford those Provisions which the Continent doth The Inhabitants of the Uplands are Pagans of the Sea-Coasts Mahumetans They have several Kings potent as well by Sea as by Land. They afford rich Commodities especially Spices which the Portugals the Hollanders and the most part of the other Nations of the World fetch from thence Sumatra is the most famous Island in all the East for Largeness and Riches For it is 300 French Leagues long and 70 broad having several Mines of Gold. It lies 10 Leagues from the Continent and the Ancients believ'd it to be a Peninsula by reason of the several little Islands that seem to join it to the Land. Six Kings command it the King of Achem best known to us of Camper Iambi Menancabo and Palimban They have so well defended their Island that the Europeans could never get footing on it There is a Mountain that casts forth Flames like Mount Gibel The Pepper of this Island is better than that of Malabar because the Land is more moist They find Gâ—ld in grains and in little pieces after the great Flouds of water The Inland part is inhabited by Barbarians that will eat the Raw Flesh of their Enemies with Pepper and Salt. The City of Achem is the best in the Island it has been better than it is it lies half a League from the Sea upon a Plain by the side of a River as large as the Seine in France but very shallow There is also a Fortress upon the Bank of the River Java governed by several petty Kings every City having one Among the rest the Kings of Japara Tuban Jottan Panarvan Panarucan and Palambuam Many are Pagans some are Mahumetans and the most part acknowledge the great Materan or the Emperor of Materan who formerly claimed the Sovereignty over the whole Island Upon the Coast grow Oysters that weigh 300 pound The Isle produces such large Canes that one alone suffices to make a Boat. It affords excellent Lignum Aloes Salt from Jottan and Gold and Pepper in abundance The Southern Coast is last known It is one of the largest Islands in Asia and for its
of Physical Drugs especially of Aloes called in Spain Semper vivum Sanguis Draconum Here John the Castro for many days found it high Water at the Moons Rising and low Water when the Moon was Highest Of the AFRICAN Islands IN the Occidental or Atlantick Ocean and not far from Africa we find three different Bodies of Islands and each very considerable viz. the Azores the Canaries and Cape Verde Islands The Isles of AZORES The Isles of AZORES by Rob t Morden Of the AZORES THE Azores are situate betwixt the thirty seventh and forty sixth Degree of Northern Latitude and are nine in number Saint Michael Saint Maries which lies next to Spain Tercera on the North-West then Saint Graciosa Saint Georges Faial and Pico in the middle Câ—ruo and Flores nearest to America Saint Michael directly North of Saint Maries is the largest and of most note among Modern Geographers for the place of the first Meridian about which you may see more in my use of the Globes Tercera is the chief of the rest in regard of its strength of its commodious Haven and well fortified Town Angra the Residence of the Governor and Arch-bishops Sea it is esteemed the Principal of these Islands and communicates its Name unto them the Air of these Islands is generally good They are well stored with Flesh Fish and Fruits but the Wines not very good nor durable The chief Commodities they transport unto other Countries are singing Birds Oad for Dyers which yearly they gather in two places called Los Folhadores and los Altares and a sort of Wood red within and waved admirable beautiful I suppose the same Workmen call Princes Wood. The Isle Tercera is as well fenced by Nature and strengthened by Art as most Islands in the World being every where hard of access having no good Harbor wherein to shelter a Navy and upon every Cove or Watering Place a Fort erected to forbid the approach of an Enemy yet the Marquess of Sancta Cruz after he had shewed himself in the Road of Angra to Emanuel de Sylva and Mons de Chattes who kept it for the use of Don Antonio with five or six thousand Men set Sail suddenly and arrived at Port des Moles and there wan a Fort and landed before Mons Chattes could come to hinder him The difficult landing of our English at Fayal in the year 1597 under the Conduct of Sir W. Rawleigh was as valorously performed as honorably and bravely enterprised but was more of Reputation than Safety These Islands were first discovered by the Flemings but subdued by the Portugals under the conduct of Prince Henry in the year 1414. The CANARIE or FORTVNATE Ilands by Rt. Morden THE Canary Islands are now in number seven by the Antients call'd Insulae fortunatae and by Pliny Ombrio Iunonia Major Iunonia Minor or Theode Canaria Nivaria Capraria Plavialea By Ptolomy they were styled Aprosita Herae Insulae Canaria Pinturia or Conturia Casperia Pluitania or Pluitalia first discovered 1346. But now better known by the names of Lancerota Forteuentura Canaria Teneriffe Palma Ferro and Gomera Lancerota or the inaccessible and enchanted Island because of the difficulty sometimes to make it more than at other times It was the first of these Islands that was made subject to the Crown of Castile discovered 1393. In Forteuentura are said to be the Tarhais trees which bear a Gum of which there is made pure white Salt the Palm tree which bears Dates Olive-trees Mastick-trees and a Fig-tree from which they have a Balm as white as Milk and of great Virtue in Physick Canary Island is exceeding fruitful and the Soil so fertile that they have two Harvests in one Year its Commodities are Hony Wax Sugar Oad Wine and Plantons which bear an Apple like a Cucumber which when ripe eats more deliciously than any Comfit Teneriffe is famous for its high Pike said to be the highest Mountain in the World for its Laurel-trees where the Canary Birds warble their pleasant Notes and for its Dragon-trees out of which they draw a red Liquor well known to Apothecaries by the name of Dragons blood and for its yearly export of twenty thousand Tuns of the most excellent Wine which the World produces Palma abounds in Corn Wines and Sugars and all sorts of Fruits well stored with Cattel therefore the Victualling place of the Spanish Fleet that passeth to Peru and Brasil Fero Isle is famous for a Tree whose Leaves distil Water which serves the Island it would be too tedious for me here to relate the different Relations of Writers about this Island I shall therefore only mention some few One Nichols who had been seven years Factor there saith there is no Fresh Water in the Island only in the middle of the Isle there grows a Tree which being always covered with Clouds drops from its Leaves into a Cistern very good Water and in great abundance One Jackson an English man affirms that the Tree hath neither Flowers nor Fruit that it dries up in the Day that at Night a Cloud hangs over the Tree and distils its Water drop by drop and fills a Reserver of twenty thousand Tuns Jans in his Hydography saith it very rarely rains in the Island Linschot saith there is no fresh Water except about the Sea Coast but this defect is supplied by the Tree In the History of the Conquest of these Islands 't is said that this Island hath great plenty of water and Rain often and in the higher Countries are Trees which drop Water pure and clear which falls into a Ditch the best in the World to drink Ferdinand Suarez saith That this Tree bears a Fruit like an Acorn of a pleasant and aromatick taste and that the Pond or Cistern contains not twenty Tuns Sanutus saith the Cloud begins to rise about Noon and in the Evening quite covereth the Tree Others say that this Water falls from Noon all Night Others will have the Cloud always about the Tree and that its distillation is continually now how to reconcile all these different Relaters in a Verdict of Truth I must leave to the Readers Experience or the more certain informations of time These Canaries are often times the Rendevouz of the Spanish West India Fleet where they receive Orders to what part of Spain they shall make in order to the unlading of their Wealth Madera or Isle of Wood sixty Leagues in compass in the Atlantick Sea and to the North of the Canaries belongs to the Crown of Portugal The Air is very wholesome many Fountains and Rivers refresh the Country so that it is not subject to excessive heats it is called the Queen of the Islands because of its Beauty and the Fertility of the Soil which produces excellent Wine strong and racy and in great abundance for the Vines bear more Clusters than Leaves It bears delicate Fruits excellent Wheat and delicious Sugar the best in the World it affords great store of Quinces and other Sweetmeats Dragons