Iland but they may fréelie vse them vpon the firme land and secretly in their houses thereby to shunne and auoid all occasions of dislike that might be giuen to Christians which are but newlie baptised but touching the worldly policie or good gouernement of the countrie and executing of iustice as also for the ruling of the townes men in the citie it is common to them all and they are vnder the Portingales law and he that is once christened and is after found to vse any heathenish superstitions is subiect to the Inquisition what so euer he be or for any point of Religion what so euer The Iland hath nothing of it self to nourish it withall but onely some cattle hennes goates doues c. but very fewe because of the barrennesse and euil situation of the place which is a most hillie barren and wild countrie and full of wast ground all their necessaries as beastes hennes hogges egges milke c. come from Salsette and Bardes but most part out of the firme land Corne Rice and other grayne also Oyle and all other necessaries come from other countries and are brought in by the Riuer as frō Cambaia on the North side and from the coast of Malabar and other places as in the description of the coast we haue in part declared of wyne called wyne of palme trées they haue inough and so much that they haue to spare for other places They haue but little fresh water but only one Well called Banganiin which stādeth about a quarter of a mile with out the Cittie wherewith the whole towne is serued which the slaues fetch in pots sel it in the towne and is verie good to drinke for water to dresse meat wash and doe other thinges withall they commonly haue Wels within their houses the land of it self is verie stonie and drie hauing a kinde of red earth so that some Italian Alchymistes haue promised to get Copper Gold out of the same which neither y e king nor Vice-roy would euer cōsēt vnto fearing least the report of such treasure would be occasion of greater troble vnto them by their enemies that are round about them through the desire that they haue of riches and therefore they haue deferred to séeke for it by the mappe hereafter following you may sée the situation of the Iland and Towne of Goa with all the stréetes Churches and places liuely described The 29. Chapter Of the customes of the Portingales and such as are issued from them called Mesticos or half countrimen as wel of Goa as of all the Oriental countries THe Portingales in India are many of them marryed with the naturall borne women of the countrie and the children procéeding of them are called Mesticos that is half countrimen These Mesticos are commonlie of yelowish colour notwithstanding there are manie women among them that are faire and well formed The children of the Portingales both boyes and gyrls which are borne in India are called Castisos and are in all things like vnto the Portingales onely somewhat differing in colour for they draw towards a yealow colour the children of those Castisos are yealow and altogether like the Mesticos and the children of Mesticos are of colour and fashion like the naturall borne Countrimen or Decaniins of the countrie so that the posteritie of the Portingales both men and womē being in the third degrée doe séeme to be naturall Indians both in colour fashion Their liuings and daylie traffiques are to Bengala Pegu Malacca Cambaia China and euerie way both North and South also in Goa there is holden a daylie assemblie or méeting together as wel of the Citizens and Inhabitants as of all nations throughout India and of the countries bordering on the same which is like the méeting vpō the burse in Andwarpe yet differeth much from that for that hether in Goa there come as well Gentlemen as marchants and others and there are all kindes of Indian commodities to sell so that in a manner it is like a Faire This méeting is onely before Noone euerie day in the yeare except Sondayes and holie dayes it beginneth in y e morning at 7. of the clocke and continueth till 9. of the clocke but not in the heate of the day nor after Noone in the principal stréete of the Citie named the straight stréete and is called the Leylon which is as much to say as an outroop there are certain cryers appointed by the Citie for y e purpose which haue of al things to be cryed and sold these goe all the time of the Leylon or outroop all behangd about with all sorts of gold chaines all kindes of costly Iewels pearles rings and precious stones likewise they haue running about them many sorts of captiues and slaues both men and women young and old which are daylie sould there as beasts are sold with vs where euerie one may chuse which liketh him best euerie one at a certaine price There are also Arabian horses all kinde of spices and dryed drugges sweet gummes and such like things fine and costly couerlets and many curious things out of Cambaia Sinde Bēgala China c. and it is wonderfull to sée in what sort many of them get their liuinges which euery day come thether to buy wares and at an other time sel them again And when any man dieth all his goods are brought thether sold to the last pennie worth in the same outroop who soeuer they be yea although they were the Viceroyes goods and this is done to doe right and iustice vnto Orphanes widdows and that it may be sold with the first where euerie man may sée it so that euerie yeare there is great quantitie of ware sold within that Citie for that there die many men within the Towne by meanes of their disordered liuing together with the hotenes of the coūtry the like assemblie is holden in all places of India where the Portingales inhabite There are some married Portingales that get their liuings by their slaues both men and women wherof some haue 12 some 20 and some 30 for it costeth them but little to kéepe them These slaues for money doe labour for such as haue néede of their helpe some fetch fresh water and sell it for money about the stréetes the women slaues make all sorts of confectures and conserues of Indian fruites much fyne néedle worke both cut and wrought workes and thē their maister send the fairest and the youngest of them well drest vp with their wares about the stréetes to sell the same that by the neatnes bewtie of the said women slaues men might be moued to buy which happeneth more for the affection they haue to the slaues to fulfill their pleasure with them then for any desire to the conserues or néedle workes for these slaues doe neuer refuse them but make their daylie liuing thereby and with the gaines that they by that meanes bring home their maisters may well kéepe and maintaine them There are others that
more specially if it come safe home The ships their frayghting with condition to builde them and the prouision of all necessaries for them are also farmed by themselues and all at the aduenture of the Farmers and if the ship come safe home they giue the King a certaine summe of money for euery ship and euery yeare furnish fiue shippes likewise at their owne charges but such Souldiers as are appointed to goe in them are bound to sayle for y e King and haue but onely meate and drinke at the Farmers charge the Officers and Saylers being placed therein by the Kings Admiraltie which the Farmers may not once denie or refuse so that the King aduentureth nothing neither in Pepper nor in ships but only if the ships be cast away he looseth the money that hee should haue had for the farme of euery ship if it had returned safe the gaine of the Pepper that should haue beene deliuered him at a certaine price Whereupon the Admiraltie of Portingall are now waren verie carelesse to see them well conueied as they vsed to be during the times of the Kings of Portingal when all the Pepper came for the Kings own accounts And although the king hath promised continually to send his Nauie by Sea as far as the Flemish Ilands there to stay for the comming of the Indian ships and from thence to conueye them vnto Lisbone yet since they were Farmed out there are few fleetes sent forth so that they are but little thought vpon but howsoeuer it is in the payment of the fée Farme for Pepper the King will not loose a pennie of his due nor once abate them any thing The sixth of December wee had taken in our lading of Pepper which was 67â—0 Quintales of the best that is in all Malabar and verie ful The same day we set sayle from thence keeping close vnder the coast because that ordinarily in that countrie euerie day from twelue of the clocke of the night till twelue at noone there bloweth an Easterly winde which commeth out of the land and then commeth a West wind out of the Sea to the land ward and with those two windes we performe our Viage but the East winde is alwaies mightier and stronger then the West and therefore the shippes keepe themselues close vnder the shore for when they put further into the Sea they can hardly get the coast againe because the West wind is not of so great force as it chanced vnto vs for that hauing put somewhat from the coast we had much to doe before wee could get the coast againe by the which meanes often times they loose their Viages into Portingal as by experience it hath béene found All the coast of Malabar is verie pleasant to behold for that they sayle so close vnto it that a man may tell euerie hill valley and trée that is therein being verie greene and faire land The eleauenth of December wee came to Cananor another fortresse of the Portingales as we haue told you in the description of this coast There we lay a day and a halfe to take in certaine Mastes with other prouision y t we were to vse which is there in great abundance so wee set sayle againe keeping along the coast and passed by Calecut Paâ—ane and certaine other places vntill the twentie foure of December when wee arriued at Cochijn where we lay till the twentie of Ianuarie after in Anno 158â— In the meane time our shippe was prouided of all things necessarie and then we stayed till our turne came to set sayle because the other shippes according to the contract were to set sayle before vs one after the other which custome I will here partly set down in briefe You shall vnderstand that as soone as the shippe hath taken in her lading of Pepper which is done with great care and diligent watch as well in the Kings behalfe as of the Farmers and is laden in the two nether Oorlopes that is vpon the Balast and in the Oorlop next ouer it laying Deale boords vpon the Balast and making certaine places and deuisions for the purpose with a hole ouer each place to shutte in the Pepper leauing roome by the maine Mast to passe by it so that there is at the least thirtie seuerall places which they call Payoos and all vnder the two lower Oorlopes as I said before Which beeing all filled with Pepper they shut the holes of those places verie close with Ocam and Pitch and so are marked with numbers how many there are and vpon ech place his waight of Peper These two Oorloppes being thus laden there is left a place aboute the maine Mast to bestow water wine woode and other necessaries for the shippe which are dayly vsed In the thirde Oorlop and on both sides therof there are diuers places seuerally made that belong vnto the Officers of the shippe as the Captaine Master Pilot Factor Purser c. and of all the rest of the Saylors that are allowed places which they sell or let out vnto the Marchants to lade goods therein whereof they make good profite Vpon the same Oorlop from the Mast vnto the sterne are the places wher they put their Poulder Bisket Sayles clothes and other prouisions for the ship The other Oorlopes aboue these are laden by the Marchants with all sorts of wares which are in Chestes Fattes Balles and Packes and are placed in this sort that is to say As soone as the Pepper is laden there is presently sent into the shippe two waiters and one that stoweth the goodes as a Porter on the Kings behalfe and he hath ten or twelue Porters vnder him that must onely lade and stow the goodes in the shippe the Master nor any other not once hauing any thing to doe with it sauing onely the chiefe Boteswaine who is to looke vnto it and yet commaundeth nothing No goods may bee laden whatsoeuer or how small so euer they bee but they must bee Registred in the Kinges bookes and they must bring a Billet from the Veador da Faâ—enda that is to saye the Surueighor of the businesse being chief Officer for the King wherein must be certified euerie kind of ware by peece meale which they lade together with y e name of the ship wherein it is to be laden for without that Certiâ—iâ—at the stowers and Porters will not take it in and although you haue your Billet yet must you bribe the waiters before you can get it abord the shippe and some thing must be giuen likewise to the porters besides their duties if you desire to stow your goods well otherwise they will let it stand and he that giueth most hath the best place in the shippe yea and they stow the ship so miserablie full that there is not a hole or an emptie place to be found but it is full stuffed and for all their profit it is often times seene that the chief Porter that doth onlie command and looke ouer the rest getteth for
into the Iland as there doe and they may kill them with stones and staues by reason of the gret numbers of them Now for fruites as Portingall Figges Pomgranets Oranges Lemons Citrons and such like fruites there are so many that growe without planting or setting that all the valleyes are full of them which is a great pleasure to beholde so that it séemeth to bee an earthly Paradise It hath fruite all the yeare long because it raineth there by showers at the least fiue or six times euerie day and then againe the Sunne shineth so that whatsoeuer is planted there it groweth verie well but because the Portingales are not ouer curious of new things there groweth not of al sorts of fruites of Portingall and India in that Iland for assuredly without any doubt they would growe well in that land because of the good temperature of the ayre besides this they haue so great abundance of Fish round about the Iland that it séemeth a wonder wrought of God for with crooked nayles they may take as much Fish as they will so that all the shippes doe prouide themselues of Fish of all sorts in that place which is hanged vp and dried and is of as good a taste and sauor as any Fish that euer I eate and this euery man that hath beene there affirmeth to be true And the better to serue their turnes vpon the Rockes they find salt which serueth them for their necessarie prouisions so that to conclude it is an earthly Paradise for y e Portingall shippes and seemeth to haue been miraculously discouered for the refreshing and seruice of the same considering the smalnesse and highnesse of the land lying in the middle of the Ocean seas and so far from the firme land or any other Ilands that it séemeth to be a Boye placed in the midle of the Spanish Seas for if this Iland were not it were impossible for the shippes to make any good or prosperous Viage for it hath often fallen out that some shippes which haue missed thereof haue endured the greatest miserie in y e world and were forced to put into the coast of Guinea there to stay the falling of the raine and so to get fresh water and afterwardes came halfe dead and spoyled into Portingall It is the fashion that all the sicke persons that are in the shippes and can not wel sayle in them are left there in the Iland with some prouision of Rice Bisket Oyle and some Spices for Fish and flesh they may haue enough for when the ships are gone then all the beastes which by reason of the great number of people fly into the mountaines come downe againe into the valleyes where they may take them with their handes and kill them as they list those sicke men stay there till the next yeare till other ships come thether which take them with them they are commonly soone healed in that Iland as being a verie sound and pleasant countrie and it is verie seldome seene that any of them dyeth there because they haue alwaies a temperate ayre and coole winde and alwayes fruite throughout the whoâ—â— yeare The king will not suffer any man to dwell in it because they should not destroye spoyle the countrie and holde it as their owne but will haue it common for euerie man to take what he hath neede of In time past there dwelt an Hermet in the I le who continued there for certaine yeares vnder pretence of doing penance and to vphold the Church hee killed many of the Goates and Buckes so that euerie yeare hee sold at the least fiue or sixe hundred skinnes and made great profit therof which the King hearing caused him presently to bee brought from thence into Portingall Likewise vpon a certaine time two Caâ—â—ares or blacke people of Mosambique and one Iauer with two women slaues stoale out of the shippes and hid themselues in the Rockes of this Iland which are verie high and wilde whereby men can hardly passe them They liued there together and begot children so that in the ende they were at the least twentie persons who when the ships were gone ran throughout the Iland and did much hurt making their houses dweling places betweene some of the hilles where not any of the Portingales had beene nor yet could easily come at them and therein they hid themselues vntill the shippes were gone but in the end they were perceiued and the Portingales vsed all the meanes they could to take them but they knew so well how to hide and defend themselues that in many yeares they could not be taken in the end fearing that they might in time be hurtfull vnto them and hinder them much by expresse commaundement of the King after long and great labour they tooke them all and brought them prisoners into Portingall so that at this present no man dwelleth therein but onely the sicke men as I told you before When the ships come thether euerie man maketh his lodging vnder a trée setting a Tent about it for that the trees are there so thicke that it presently séemeth a little towne or an armie lying in the fielde Euerie man prouideth for himselfe both flesh fish fruite and woode for there is enough for them all and euerie one washeth Linnen There they hold a generall fasting and prayer with Masse euerie daye which is done with great deuotion with procession and thankesgiuing and other Himnes thanking God that hee hath preserued them from the danger of the Cape de Bona Speranza and brought them to that Iland in safetie There they vse oftentimes to Carus their names and markes in trees plants for a perpetuall memorie whereof many hundredth are there to be found which letters with the growing of the trées doe also grow bigger and bigger we found names that had been there since the yeare of the Lord 1510. 1515. and euerie yeare orderly following which names stoode vpon Figge trées euery letter being of the bignesse of a spanne by reason of the age and growing of the trées This shal suffice for the description of the Iland of Saint Helena The 21. of May being Saint Helenas day and Whitsunday after we had taken in all our fresh water and other necessaries we set sayle altogether in companie and directed Th◠〈…〉 Pâ—â—ntâ—d 〈◊〉 London by â—ohn Wolfe 〈◊〉 by William Rogers THE TRVE Description of the ISLAND of 〈◊〉 lyeiâ—g 〈◊〉 by â— degrees on y e Sâ—uth syde of y e Equinoctiall lyne Printed at London by Iohn Wolfe Gâ—â—uen by William Rogers our course towardes Portingall leauing about fiftéene sicke men in the Ilande some slaues that ranne out of the ships The 26. of May in the Euening wee spake with the Saint Mary and the next day with the Gallion of Malacca the same Morning and in the after noone with the Admirall who willed vs to follow him vnto the Iland of the Ascention The same day one of our slaues fell ouer bord although we vsed all the
all places There is likewise great store of Sugar which is much esteemed and also caryed into all countries of Christendome which causeth great trafficke vnto those Ilands as well by Spaniardes and Portingalles as other nations and is the common staple for the shippes that sayle out of Spayne into the West Indies and refreshe themselues there and also take in such Wyne as they commonly vse to carry with them to the West Indies They haue also great abundance of Cattle and Cammelles and are now inhabited by Spanyardes hauing yet therein many of the naturall borne inhabitantes which they doe call Guanchas who by reason of their long conuersation with the Spaniardes doe wholly vse their customes and manner of apparell The chiefe of these Islands is great Canaria where there is a Bishop and the inquisition with the tribunal Royall and it hath the gouernment ouer all the other Islandes that are called the Canaries The 6. of Iulie wee were vnder 32. degrees where wee lost the generall North-East wind and had a calme and saw much of the hearbe called Sargasso which couered all the sea The 〈◊〉 of the same month we got againe before the wind being vnder 34. degrees and then we saw no more of the hearbe Sargasso but a faire cleare sea The eighteenth of Iulie wee were vnder 39. degrees vnder which height lieth the Iland called de Coruo and the Island of Tercera and also the riuer of Lisbone all these dayes we had many calmes The next day wee had a West winde being a right fore-wind and saw many flying fishes almost as great as Haddockes that flew thrée or foure fadomes high aboue the water The 22. of Iuly the winde continuing about noone we saw the Ilands called Flores and de Coruo which lie one close to the other from thence to the Island of Tercera Eastward are 70. miles At that time wee began to haue many sick men that is to say some sicke in their eyes and some in their breaste and bellies by reason of the long voiage and because their victuals began to loose the taste sauour and many wanted meat whereby diuers of them through want were compelled to seeth rice with salt water so that some of them died which many times were found vnder the fore deck that had laine â—ead two or three dayes no man knowing it which was a pittifull sight to behold considering the miserie they indured aboard those ships There died in our ship from India vnto that place of slaues and others to the number of 24. persons The same day about Euening being hy the Islandes of Flores and Coruo wee perceiued thrée shippes that made towards vs which came from vnder the land which put vs in great feare for they came close by our Admiral shot diuers times at him at another ship of our companie whereby wee perceiued them to be English men for they bare an English flagge vpon their maine tops but none of them shewed to be aboue 60. tunnes in greatnes About Euening they followed after vs and all night bore lanternes with Candles buâ—ning in them at their sternes although the Moone shined The same night passing hard by the Island of Fayarl the next day being betwéene the Island of S. George that lay on our right hand and the small Island called Câ—oâ—o on our left hand we esspied the thrée English ships still following vs that tooke counsell together whereof one sayled backwards thinking that some other ship had come after vs without company for a small time was out of sight but it was not long before it came againe to the other two wherewith they tooke counsell came all thrée together against our shippe because we lay in the lée of all our ships and had the Island of S. George on the one side in steede of a sconce thinking to deale so with vs that in the end we should be constrained to runne vppon the shore whereof wee wanted not much and in that manner with their flagges openly displayed came lustily towardes vs sounding their Trumpets and sayled at the least three times about vs beating vs with Musket and Caliuer and some great péeces and did vs hurt in the body of our shippe but spoyled all our sayles and ropes and to conclude we were so plagued by them that no man durst put forth his head and when wee shot off a peece we had at the least an houres worke to lade it againe whereby wee had so great a noise and crie in the ship as if we had all bin cast away whereat the English men themselues beganne to mocke vs and with a thousand iesting words called vnto vs. In the meane time the other shippes hoised all their sailes did the best they could to saile to the Island of Tercera not looking once behinde them to help vs doubting they should come too late thether not caring for vs but thinking themselues to haue done sufficiently so they saued their own stakes whereby it may easily be séene what company they kéepe one with the other what order is among them In the end the English men perceiuing small aduantage against vs little knowing in what case and feare we were as also because we were not far froÌ„ Tercera left vs which made vs not a litle to reioyce as thinking our selues to be risen from death to life although we were not well assured neither yet voide of feare till we lay in the road before Tercera vnder the safetie of the Portingales fort that we might get thether in good time we made all the sailes we could on the other side we were in great doubt because wee knew not what they did in the Island nor whether they were our friendes or enemies and wee doubted so much the more because wee found no men of war nor any Caruels of aduise froÌ„ Portingal as we made our accounts to doe that might conuay vs from thence or giue vs aduise as in that countrie ordinarilie they vse to do because the English men had bin so victorious in those parts it made vs suspect that it went not well with Spaine they of the Iland of Tercera were in no lesse feare then we for that séeing our deer they thought vs to be Englishmen that we came to ouer run the Iland because the 3. English meÌ„ had bouÌ„d vp their flags came in company with vs for the which cause the Iland sent out 2. Caruels that lay there with aduise from the King for the Indian ships that should come thither Those Caruels came to view vs and perceiuing what wee were made after vs wherevppon the English ships left vs made towardes them because the Caruels thought them to be friends and shunned them not as supposing them to be of our company but we shot foure or fiue times and made signes vnto them that they should make towards the Island which they presently did The English men perceiuing that did put forwards into
the declination those are the miles and the way that you haue sayled that is if the Sunne be risen or descended 6. degrées more or lesse so haue you likewise so much furthered or gone on your way Q. If you were by y e land in any place vnder one degrée on the Coast lying East West holding your course 89. miles from thence West west by North vnder what height and how far shal you as then be from y e land A. Vnder the height of two degrées and 15. Dutch 17. Spanish miles and a halfe from the land Q. If the Sunne were in the one Tropicus you in the other what height should you then make in taking of the Sunne A. The sunne is as then distant from y e Equinoctiall line 23. deg ½ with 23. deg and ◠more that you are distant from it which make 47. degrées then there wanteth thrée 43. degrées to make vp 90. deg those you must take by the Astrolabe those you shall compare or ad to the declination which is 23. deg and ½ it maketh 66. ½ then there wanteth 23. 1 ◠degr to make 90. and that is your height Q. If you were in a place knew y e height thereof but not the declination of the day how would you know it without your book A. Take the height of the Sun by your Astrolabe and that you find you must adde to the height that the place lyeth vnder and whatsoeuer it amounteth vnto aboue 90. degrées or that it wanteth of 90. degrées is the declination of the day Q. Which are the places of y e world wherin it is 6. monthes day 6. monthes night A. Vnder the Poles of the worlde Q. What is the height A. All that the Sunne riseth from morning to noone likewise the height is the degrees that you haue from the Pole to the Horizon also the height is all the distance you haue from the Equinoctiall line Q. How shall you know the declination of the Sunne A. You shall take the height of the Sun vpon the 21. of Iune Stilo nouo and then stayed till the 23. of December after vpon the which day again you shal take the height of the Sunne which done you must subtract the least number out of the greatest and that which resteth you shall deuide in the middle in this sort you shall find the declination Q. What is the greatest declination that the sunne maketh in one day A. Foure and twentie minutes Q. How many degrees doe account for a strike or line of the Compasse A. Eleuen ◠for 32. times 11. ¼ maketh 360. degrees which is the Compasse of the world Q. How far is the southstarre distant from the Pole A. Thirtie degrees keeping neither neerer nor further off Q. What doth the Compasse signifie A. The Horizon with the Compasse of the world deuided into 32. degrees Q. What is the Sea Carde A. The land and the Sea Q. What is the Astrolabe A. The 4. part of y e world which is 90. deg Q. Wherefore are the lines of the Compasse or in the nauigation euen and alike and passe altogether through the Center of one length without difference in greatnesse or compasse of roundnes wherefore thē doe you recken more miles vpon one degree and line then vpon the other for y t by order they should haue as many miles as the other A. The great circles or compassing lines which y e Equinoctiall naturally hath that is the 32. deg are altogether euē alike ech being 15. Dutch 17. Spanish miles and ½ but the smal circles or comparing lines haue some more some lesse according to y e eleuation of y e Pole in such maner y t the nearer you be to y e Equinoctial line so much longer your way wil be the nearer you go to the Poles the shorter will be your way for the Pole riseth or descēdeth one degrée running along by the line it neither riseth nor declineth Q. How shall you at noone time knowe how much the sunne declineth Northeast in Northwest in any place of the world whatsoeuer you shal be A. You shal make a rounde circle or Ring vpon the ground set a néedle or any other thing in the middle thereof so stay the rising of y e Sun in the first comming out thereof you may mark where y e shadow lyeth which hauing marked you shal stay til euening vntill the Sun goeth down thē looke where y e shadow of the néedle is marke it as before whereby you shal make your account in this sort you shal measure how much there is frō the one marke to y e other so deuide it crosse wise in equall distance which shall bee your North south now when the shadow of the Sunne commeth vpon those lines or strikes then it is noone now to know how much the néedle of y e Compas lieth northeast or northwest set the Compasse by thē you shal presently sée where the needle declineth whether it be eastward or westward and how much whereupon you may make your account Q. Where is the needle of the Compasse euen and alike A. Vnder the Meridian or at noone time The end of the 3 Booke THE FOVRTH BOOKE A most true and certaine Extract and Summarie of all the Rents Demaines Tolles Taxes Impostes Tributes Tenthes third-pennies incommings of the King of Spaine throughout all his Kingdoms lands Prouinces and Lordships as they are collected out of the originall Registers of his Chamber of accompts Together with a briefe and cleere description of the gouernment power and pedegree of the Kings of Portingall Translated out of Spanish into Low-Dutch by Iohn Hughen of Linschoten And out of Dutch into English by W. P. HISPANIA LONDON Imprinted by John Wolfe 1598. The fourth Booke A most true and certain extract summarie of all the Rents Demaines Tolles Taxes Impostes Tributes Tenthes third-pennies and incommings of the King of Spaine throughout all his kingdomes lands prouinces Lord shippes as they are collected out of the originall Registers of his seuerall Chambers of accomptes together with a briefe and cleare description of the gouernment power and pedegree of the Kings of Portingall To the Reader FOrasmuch as this mine itinerario or nauigation is onely a Treatise of the lands and coasts of the East-Indies Orientall Countries all which are at this day vnder the Gouernment and command of the king of Spaine so do I thinke it not impertinent nor from the purpose to ioyne herewithall an Extract and Summarie of all the Rents Demaynes and Reuenewes of the same king in all his Kingdomes Lands Prouinces and Lordships euen as I haue drawne them all out of the Originall Registers of his seuerall Chambers of accounts and translated out of Spanish into the Low-Dutch tungue wherein there are declared not onely the reuenewes of euerie Prouince and iurisdiction by themseues but
had made with the laÌ„d about one houre or more wee perceiued land right before vs and were within two miles thereof which by reason of the darke and misty weather we could no sooner perceiue which put vs in great feare for our iudgement was cleane contrarie but the weather beginning to cleare vp we knew the land for it was a part or bank of the point called Cabo Falso which is about fiftéene miles on this side the cape de Bona Speranza towards Mossambique the cape de Bona Speranza lieth vnder 34. degrées southward there wee had a calme and faire weather which continuing about halfe a day in the meane time with our lines we got great store of fishes vppon the same land at ten or twelue fadoms water it is an excellent fish much like to Haddocks the Portingales call them Pescados The twenty of the same month wee met againe with Saint Francisco and spake with her and so kept company together till the 24. of Iune when wee lost her againe The same day wee stroke all our sayles because wee had a contrarie wind and lay two dayes still driuing vp and downe not to loose anie way meane time wee were against the high land of Tarradonaâ—al which beginneth in 32. degrees and endeth in 30. and is distant from Capo de Bona Speranza 150. miles in this place they coÌ„monly vse to takâ— counsell of all the officers of the ship whether it is best for theÌ„ to sayle through within the land of S. Laurenso or without it for that within the land they sayle to Mossambique and from thence to Goa and sayling without it they cannot come at Goa by reason they fal down by meanes of the streame and so must sayle vnto Cochin which lieth 100. miles lower then Goa and as the ships leaue the cape then it is not good to make towards Mossambique because they cannot come in time to Goa by reason of the great calmes that are within the land but they that passe the Cape in the month of Iuly may well goe to Mossambique because they haue time inough there to refresh themselues and to take in fresh water and other victuals and so to lie at anker ten or twelue dayes together but such as passe the cape in the month of August doe come too late and must sayle about towardes Cochin thereby to loose no time yet it is dangerous much more combersome for that commonly they are sicke of swolen legges sore bellies and other diseases The 30. of Iuly wee were against the point of the cape called Das Corentes which are 130. miles distant from Terra Donatal and lieth vnder 24. degrées Southwarde there they begin to passe betwéene the Ilands The Ile Madagascar otherwise called Saint Laurence The Iland of S. Laurenso is by Marcus Paulus named the great Iland of Magastar by Andrea Theuet it is called Madagascar and is the greatest of all the East Ilandes for it is greater in compasse then eyther of the Kingdomes of Castile or Portingale and lieth on the other side of Africa as we passe the cape de Bona Speranza it containeth in length as Theuet describeth 72 degrees and in bredth eleauen degrees and is in coÌ„passe as some hold opinion 3000 Italian miles and as some write 4000. which should bee sixe or eight hundred Dutch miles This Iland is iudged to be very temperate and therefore well peopled but beleeue in Mahomet Marcus Paulus sayeth that the Iland is gouerned by foure ancient men it is full of wilde beasts and strange foules whereof he writeth many fables not worthie the rehearsall This Iland hath Elephants all kind of beasts which haue but one horn wherof one is called an Indian asse with whole feet vncloueÌ„ an other is called Orix with clouen feet it hath many snakes efftes great store of woodes of redde Sandale which are there little esteemed for the great abundance there the Sea yeeldeth much Amber it aboundeth also in Rice Barley Oranges Lemons Citrons Millons which are so great that a man can hardly gripe them both red white yellow and better then ours and much ginger which they eate greene Hony Sugar in such abundance that they know not whether to send it Saffron many medicinable hearbs and Indian nuts It likewise yeeldeth Siluer and hath manie Riuers beautifull Fountaines and diuers Hauens whether many Sarasins Mores doe bring their Marchandise as clothes of gold Siluer Linnen made of cotton wooll and such like From S. Laurenso to Mossambique which lieth from the firme land of Das Corentes 120. miles and is an Iland of 220. miles long stretching north south and in breadth 70. miles beginning from the first point vntill you come at the cape in 26. degrees and endeth in the North in 11. degrées The people of the Iland are blacke like those of Mossambique and goe naked but the haire of their heades is not so much curled as theirs of Mossambique and not full so blacke The Portingales haue no speciall traffique there because there is not much to be had for as yet it is not very well known The 1. of August we passed the flats called os Baixos de Iudea that is the Flats of the Iewes which are distant from the cape das Corentes 30. miles and lie betwéen the Iland of S. Laurence the firme land that is from the Iland fiftie miles and from the firme land seauenty miles which Flats begin vnder 22. degrées and a halfe and continue to twentie one degrées there is great care to bee taken lest men fall vpon them for they are very dangerous and many ships haue bin lost there and of late in Anno 1585. a ship comming from Portingale called S. Iago beeing Admirall of the Fleet and was the same that the first voiage went with vs from Lisbone for vice Admirall as in another place we shall declare The fourth of August we discried the land of Mossambique which is distant from the Flattes of the Iewes nintie miles vnder fifteene degrées southwards The next day we entred into the road of Mossambique and as we entered we espied the foresaid ship called S. Iago which entered with vs and it was not aboue one houre after we had descried it beeing the first time wee had séene it since it left vs at the Iland of Madera where we seperated our selues There wee found likewise two more of our ships Saint Laureâ—zo and Saint Francisco which the day before were come thether with a small ship that was to sayle to Malacca which commonly setteth out of Portingale a month before any of the ships do set sayle for India only because they haue a longer voiage to make yet doe they ordinarily sayle to Mossambique to take in sweete water fresh victuals as their voiage falleth out or their victuals scanteth If they goe not thether theÌ„ they saile about on the back side of y e Iland of saint Laurenso not setting their course for
visited by many Turkes and Arabians This entery is also called the redde sea not that the water is redde but onely because there are certain redde hilles lying about the same that yéeld redde marble stones and because the sand in some places is redde it is the same sea which Moyses with the children of Israel passed through on dry land From the hooke or cape de Guardafum which lesseneth and is narrow inwardes towardes Sues in time past called Arsinoe which is the vttermost town where the narrownesse or straight endeth are 360. miles and from thence ouer land to the Mediterranean sea in Italie are 90. myles the straight or narrownes is in the entraÌ„ce also within the broadest place 40. miles and in some places narrower it hath also diuers Islands and on the one side inwarde by Sues Northward Arabia deserta on the other side south ward Aegipt where the riuer Nilus hath her course and somewhat lower towardes the Indian seas Arabia Felix and on the other side right against it the countrey of Abexynes or Prester Iohns land vpon the hooke or corner of Arabia Felix the Portingals in time past helde a fort called Aden but nowe they haue none whereby at this present the Turks come out of the straight or mouth of the redde sea with Gallies that are made in Sues and doe much hurt and iniurie vppon the coast of Abex or Melinde as when time serueth we shall declare Hauing againe passed the line we had the sight of the North Star whereof vpon the coast of Guinea from the Island of S. Thomas vntill this tyme wee had lost the fight The 4. of September wee espyed a shippe of our owne fléete and spake with him it was the S. Francisco which sayled with vs till the 7. day and then left vs. The 13. of September wee saw an other shippe which was the S. Iacob which sailed out of sight again and spake not to vs. The 20. of September we perceiued many Snakes swimming in the sea being as great as Eeles and other thinges like the scales of fish which the Portingals call Vintijns which are halfe Ryalles of siluer Portingall money because they are like vnto it these swimme and driue vpon the sea in great quantities which is a certain sign token of the Indian coast Not long after with great ioy we descried land and found ground at 47. fâ—dome déepe being the land of Bardes which is the vttermost ende and corner of the enterie of the Riuer Goa of being about thrée miles from the Citie it is a high land where the shippes of India do anker and vnlade and from thence by boates their wares are carryed to the towne That day we ankered without in the sea about thrée miles from the land because it was calme and the fludde was past yet it is not without danger and hath round about a faire and fast land to anker in for as then it beganne in those places to be summer The 21. being y e next day there came vnto vs diuers boats called Almadias which borded vs bringing w t theÌ„ all maner of fresh victuailes from the land as fresh bread fruit some of them were Indians that are christened there came likewise a Galley to fetch the Archbishoppe and brought him to a place called Pangijn which is in the middle way betwéene Goa and the roade of Bardes and lyeth vpon the same Riuer Here hee was welcommed and visited by the Vice Roy of India named Don Francisco Mascarenias and by all the Lordes and Gentlemen of the countrey as well spirituall as temporall The Magistrates of the towne desired him to stay there ten or twelue dayes while preparation might bee made to receiue him with triumph into the cittie as their manner is which hee granted them The same day in the afternoone we entred the Riuer into the roade vnder the lande of Bardes being the 21. of September Anno 1583. being fiue monthes and 13. dayes after our putting forth of the Riuer of Lisbone hauing stayed 15. daies at Mosambique which was one of the spéediest and shortest voyages that in many yeares before and since that time was euer performed There we founde the shippe named Saint Laurence which arriued there a day before vs The 22. day the S. Iacob came thither and the next day after arriued the S. Francis There dyed in our shippe 30. persons among the which some of them were slaues and one high Dutchman that had beene one of the King of Spaines garde euery man had beene sicke once or twice and let bloode This is commonly the number of men that ordinarily dyed in the ships sometimes more sometimes lesse About ten or twelue years since it chaunced that a Vice Roy for the King named Ruy Lorenso Detauora sayled for India that had in his shippe 1100. men and there happened a sicknes among them so that there dyed thereof to the number of 900. and all throwne ouer borde into the sea before they came to Mosambique the Vice Roy himselfe being one Which was an extraordinarie sicknesse and it is to be thought that the great number of men in the ship were the cause of bréeding the same therefore in these dayes the shippes take no more so many men into them for that with the number they carrie they haue stinking ayre and filth enough to clense within the shippe The 30. of September the Archbishoppe my maister with great triumph was brought into the towne of Goa and by the Gentlemen and Rulers of the countrey led vnto the cathedrall Church singing Te Deum laudamus and after many ceremonies and auncient customes they conuayed him to his pallace which is close by the Church The 20. of Nouember our Admirall S. Phillip arriued at Cochin without staying to land in any place hauing indured much miserie by the meanes before rehearsed hauing béene seuen monthes and twelue daies vnder saile The last of the same month of Nouember the shippes sayled from Goa to the coast of Malabar and Cochin there to receiue their lading of Pepper and other spices some take in their lading on the coast of Malabar as at Onor Mangator Cananor c. and some at Cochin which can alwayes lade two shippes with Pepper Cochin lyeth from Goa Southwarde about 90. miles The shippes vnlade all their Portingall commodities in Goa where the Marchantes and Factors are resident and from thence the ships do sayle along the coast to take in their lading in Pepper and to Cochin as it is said before Each shippe doeth commonly lade eyght thousande Quintales of Pepper little more or lesse Portingall waight euery Quintale is 128. pound Then they come to Cochin whither the Factors also do trauell and lade in them Cloues Sinamon and other Indian wares as in my voyage homewarde I will particularly declare together with the manner of the same In the monthes of Ianuary and Februarie Anno 1584. the shippes with their lading returned from Cochin some before
and other such like oyntments wherewith they ease themselues This sicknes consumeth many Portingalles euery yeare some because they haue little to eat lesse to drink of any meat or drink that is nourishing vse much company of womeÌ„ because y e land is naturall to prouoke theÌ„ thervnto as also y e most part of the soldiers by such means haue their liuing and their maintenance which often times costeth them both life and limme for although men were of iron or steele the vnchaste life of a woman with her vnsatiable lustes were able to grinde him to powder and swéep him away like dust which costeth many a mans life as the Kinges Hospitall can wel beare witnes wherein they lodge whensoeuer they are sicke where euery yeare at the least there entered 500. liue men and neuer come forth till they are dead and they are only Portingals for no other sick person may lodge therin I mean such as are called white men for the other Indians haue an Hospitall by themselues In this Hospitall they are verie well looked vnto by Iesuites and Gentlemen whereof euery month one of the best is chosen and appointed who personally is there by them and giueth the sicke persons whatsoeuer they will desire and sometimes spend more by foure or fiue hundred Duckats of their owne purses then the Kings allowance reacheth vnto which they doe more of pride and vaine glorie then for compassion onely to haue the praise and commendation of liberalitie It is no shame there to lie in the Hospitall for many men go thether willingly although they haue wherewith to keepe themselues in their houses and haue both wife and children These Hospitals in India are very necessarie for the Portingals otherwise they shold consume away like miserable men but by y e means they are relieued whatsoeuer they haue eyther sicknesse wounds secrete diseases pockes piles or any such like there they are healed and sometimes visited by the Viceroy himselfe when he thinketh vpon them and that his commodities come in He that wil not lie there and hath any woundes or priuie diseases may come thether twice euery day and be drest goe his way againe without any question or deniall When they die therein they are by two slaues carried into the Church yarde without eyther singing or ringing onely one man followeth after them throweth some holy water vppon the graue but if the sicke man chanceth to leaue any goods behind him and speaketh vnto the Priestes to bring him to his graue and to say Masses for his soule then they runne thither by heapes and burie him like a man of countenance eyther in the Church or chauncell according to his will and then hath hee singing and ringing enough But returning to our matter of sicknesse pockâ—s and piles with other secret diseases they are in those countries verie common not hidden or concealed for they thinke it no shame more then to haue any other disease They heale them with the roote China there are some that haue had them at the least thrée or foure times and are not any thing at all shunned or disliked for the same but dare both boast and bragge thereof It is not any thing perillous for the bodie insomuch that they had rather haue them and feare them lesse then any of the foresaid diseases The plague hath neuer béen in India neither is it known vnto the Indians but poysoning witchcraft such like whereby some lose their healthes and some their liues is their dayly exercise and very common with them The stone grauel and rupture raigneth much among them specially among married men by reason of the great quantitie of water that they drinke being giuen to all pleasure and riotousnes enioying all what their hearts desire sitting alwayes with their bellies open in their shirtes in a gallerie recreating themselues with the wind which cooleth them sometimes hauing a slaue to scratch and pare their nayles and féete another the head the third holds a Fan to driue away the flées Their is the common vse for two houres after noone where likewise they take an afternoones sléepe and euer as they haue thirst they bring him a dish of conserues or other comfets that the water shoulde not worke too much in his bodie but taste the better With such and the like exercises they do passe the day til night comes on so that commonly they haue all swollen bellies like Bacchus whereby the soldiers and other Indians call them Barrigois that is bellies or great bellies The day both Summer and Winter is there all of a length not much difference onely in the chaunge they haue about an houres difference The sunne riseth at sixe and setteth at sixe When it is noone commonly they haue the Sunne in the middle of the element iust ouer their heades and it giueth no shadowe although it stretcheth somewhat out as the Sunne taketh his course In Goa you may sée both the Poles of the world the North and South starres stande not farre aboue the Horizon And this shall suffice for the times and seasons of the yeare sicknesses and other diseases in India as breuitie requireth The 35. Chapter Of the money waight and measure of India and Goa THe principall and commonest money is called Pardaus Xeraphiins and is siluer but very brasse and is coyned in Goa They haue Saint Sebastian on the one side and thrée or foure arrowes in a bundle on the other side which is as much as thrée Testones or thrée hundred Reijs Portingall money and riseth and falleth little lesse or more according to the exchange There is also a kinde of reckoning of money which is called Tangas not that there is any such coined but are so named onely in telling fiue Tangas is one Pardaw or Xeraphin badde money for you must vnderstande that in telling they haue two kinds of money good and badde for foure Tangas good money are as much as fiue Tangas bad money Wherfore when they buy and sell they bargaine for good or badde money There is likewise a reckoning of Vintiins which is not likewise in coyne but onely named in telling of these foure good and fiue badde doe make a Tangas The lowest and smallest money is called Bazaruco these are fiftéene badde and eightéene good to a Vintiin and three Bazarucos are as much as two Reiâ—s Portingal money It is molten money of badde Tinne so that 375. Bazarucos are one Pardaw or Xeraphiin There is also a kinde of money out of Persia called Lariins which are long very good and fine siluer without any allay These are worth 105. and 108. Bazarucos as the exchaunge goeth little more or lesse They haue a kind of money called Pagodes which is of Gold of two or three sortes and are aboue eight Tangas in value They are Indian and Heathenish money with the picture of a Diuell vpon them and therefore are called Pagodes There is another kinde of gold money which
stand a side vntill hee be past where soeuer they meete The Nayros weare the nayls of their hands very long wherby they shew that they are Gentlemen because the longnesse of the nayles doth let and hinder men from working or doing any labour They say likewise that they do it the better and faster to gripe a thing in their hands and to holde their Rapiers which some Portingales and Mesticos doe likewise vse and hold the same opinion with the Nayros whereof there are many in India which let their nayles grow for the same cause The principallest or chiefest of those Nayros which are leaders or Captaines of certaine numbers of Nayros weare a Gold or Siluer bracelet or ring about their armes aboue their elbowes as also their Gouernours Ambassadours and Kings whereby they are knowne from other men for otherwise they goe all naked Also their Kings rulers and other Captaines and leaders when they goe abroad are garded and accompanied by other Nayros They are verie good and stout souldiers and wil set vpon a man verie fiercely they are also verie full of reuenge so that whensoeuer they fight against their enemies either by water or by lande and that they chaunce to bee thrust into the body with a Pike they are not presently therewith content to lie downe but if they cannot spéedily plucke the Pike forth they will not spare to pull it forth with both their hands and draw it through their bodies therewith to set vpon them that gaue them the wound and to be reuenged on them Habitus et facies Mercatorum Goensium Indorum qui mutandis mercibus valde industrij Habyt en gedaente der â—ndiaensche Coopluyden welcke in hare handel seer cloeck zyn Banjanes e Cambaja populus â—sâ—andis gemmis scribendo supputandoque valdé â—ercitatus Banjanen vun Cambajen in t keâ— van gesteenten schryven en rekenen zeer geâ— Bramenes Idolorum in India Sacerdotes Bramenes der Indiuenscher affgoden Papen ofte Priesters Mâ—aniere van bruylost in t Lant van Ballagate achter Goa gelegen Bramenes cum mortuus est secundum eorum legem crematur uxor autem ejus proe amore sese vivam in ignem cum illo conjicit De Bramene do ot wesende wort nae haer wet verbrant en zyn vrouwe wt liefde haers mans verbrant haer levendich met hem Agricola Indus Canaryn dictus Een Indiaens sant ofte bouwman genaemt Canaryn Indorum liberi pro eorum consuetuâ—â—â—â— pudendis tantum rariori tela contectis Indiaensche kinderen al 's slants manier is 〈…〉 en die scha melheyt met een dun linnen doecksken be 〈…〉 hebbende Miles Indus quem lascarin nominant Een Indiaens soldaet lascarin geheeten Inda meretrix saltando et canendo victum queritans Een Indiaensche lichte vrouwe met dans sen en singen haer cost winnende Legati Regis Ballagatte in urbe Goa comitatus Die staet des Ambassateurs van den Coninck van Ballagatte binnen Goa Scaphae piscatoriae Goensium et Cochinensium alterae ex solido trunco exca vatae alterae e pluribus funibus coagmentatae priores Almadias alteras Tones et Paleguas vocant implent et hashâ—drijs aquae recentis quam ad naves deferentes di vendant quarum magnus illic numerus S 〈…〉 huÿten diemen te Goa en Cochÿn gebruÿckt om te visschen d'eene wt een hout wtgeholt lander wt veel struÿcken met coorden tsamen gebonden déerste worden Almadias â—'andere Tones en Paseguas genaemt die daer in groot getal zÿn welcken verladen â—et cruÿcken vol soet waters daer in gestort om aende schepen te vercoopen Naute Arabes quibus naves suas regendas Lusitani committunt in quibus cum uxoribus ut plurimum habitant Arâ—bischer scheepluÿden welcke die Portugeesen haer schepen vertrouwen te regeren in welcken sij oock met haer wyven meest woonen Habitus Abissinorum quibus loco S. Baptismatis frons nutiritur Habÿten der Abissÿnen wt paep tan slant welcke in plaets van doop gebruÿcken brantmercken in t aensicht Moerianen wt Mocambÿcke en die omliggende contreÿen diemen Caffres noemt sommighe zÿn Christenen sommighe Heydenen en tâ—neestendeel Machometisten The other common people of the Malabares called Polyas are such as are the couÌ„trie husband men and labourers men of occupations fishers and such like those are much contemned and dispised they liue very miserably and may weare no kind of weapon neyther yet touch or be coÌ„uersant with the Nayros for as the Nayros go on the stréetes and they heare him call they step aside bowing their armes and stooping with their heades down to the ground not daring so much as once looke vp before the Nayros be past in other thinges they obserue the customes of the other Indians for that euery man followeth the occupation of his Elders and may not change it for any thing The 43. Chapter Of the Moores and Iewes in India THere are great numbers of Moores and Iewes in al places of India as at Goa Cochin within the land some coming out of other places and the rest borne of Iewes and Moores in that country and so by birth right Indians who in times past by conuersation and company of those Iewes Moores haue bene brought to their sect and opinion In their houses and apparell they follow the manner of the land wherein they are resident amongst the Indians they haue their Churches Synagogues and Mesquitas wherein they vse all ceremonies according to their law but in the places where the Portingales inhabite and gouern it is not permitted vnto them to vse them openly neither to any Indian although they haue their families and dwelling houses and get their liuings and deal one with the other but secretly in their houses they may doe what they will so that no man take offence thereat without the townes and where the Portingales haue no commandement they may fréely vse and exercise their ceremonies and superstitions euery one as liketh him best without any man to let or deny them but if they be founde openlie doing it in the Portingales townes and iurisdictions or that they haue any point of Christian ceremonies mingled among theirs both men and womeÌ„ die for it vnlesse they turne vnto the christian faith as it oftentimes happeneth without the towne of Cochin where the King kéepeth his Court there the Iewes and Moores haue frée libertie to vse their sects and ceremonies openlie for there the Iewes haue made and built very fair stone houses and are rich marchants and of the king of Cochins néerest Counsellers there they haue their synagogue with their hebrue Bible and Moses Lawe which I haue had in my hand they are most white of colour like men of Europa haue many faire women There are manie of them that came out of the country of Palestina Ierusalem thether and speake ouer all the Exchange verie perfect and good Spanish they obserue the Saboth day and other iudiciall ceremonies and hope for the
such like chances happen dayly by those fishes in India as well in the sea as in the Riuers specially among the Fishers for Pearles whereof many loose their liues In the Riuer of Goa in Winter time when the mouth of the Riuer was shut vp as commonly at that time it is the fishermen tooke a fish of a most wonderfull and strange forme such as I thinke was neuer seene eyther in India or in any other place which for the strangenes therof was presented to my Lord the Archbishop the picture whereof by his commandement was painted and for a wonder sent to the King of Spaine It was in bignes as great as a middle sized Dogge with a snout like a hogge small eies no eares but two holes where his eares should bee it had foure féet like an Elephant the tayle beginning somewhat vppon the backe broad and then flatte and at the verie end round and somewhat sharpe It ranne a a long the hall vppon the flore and in euerie place of the house snorting like a hogge The whole body head taile legs being couered with sâ—ales of a thumb breadth harder than Iron or steele Wee hewed and layd vppon them with weapons as if men should beate vpon an Anuill and when wee stroke vppon him hee rouled himselfe in a heape head and féete altogether so that hee lay like a round ball wee not beeing able to iudge where hee closed himselfe together neyther could wee with anie instrument or strength of hands open him againe but letting him alone and not touching him hee opened himselfe and ranne away as I said before And because I am now in hand with Fishes of India I will here declare a short and true Historie of a Fish although to some it may seeme incredible but it standeth painted in the Viceroyes Pallace in India and was set downe by true and credible witnesses that it was so and therefore it standeth there for memorie of a wonderfull thing together with the names and surnames of the ship Captaine day yere when it was done and as yet there are many men liuing at this day that were in the same shippe and aduenture for that it is not long since and it was thus That a ship sayling from Mosambique into India and they hauing faire weather a good fore winde as much as the Sayles might beare before the winde for the space of fourteene dayes together directing their course towards the Equinoctiall line euery day as they tooke the height of the Sunne in stead of diminishing or lessening their degrées according to the Winde and course they had and held they found them selues still contrarie and euery day further backewards then they were to the great admiration and wondering of them all and contrarie to all reason and mans vnderstanding so that they did not only wonder theraf but were much abasht beeing stedfastly perswaded that they were bewitched for they knew very well by experience that the streame or course of the water in those countries did not driue them backe nor withholde them contrarie to all Art of Nauigation whereupon they were all in great perplexity and feare standing still and beholding each other not once knowing the cause thereof At y e last the chiefe Boteson whoÌ„ they call the masters mate looking by chance ouerbord towards the beakhead of the ship he espied a great broad taile of a Fish that had winded it selfe as it were about the beake-head the body therof beeing vnder the keele and the heade vnder the Ruther swimming in that manner and drawing the shippe with her against the wind and their right course whereby presently they knewe the cause of their so going backewards so that hauing at the last stricken long with staues and other weapons vppon the fishes taile in the ende they stroke it off and thereby the fish left the ship after it had layne 14 dayes vnder the same drawing the ship with it against wind and weather for which cause the Viceroy in Goa caused it to be painted in his pallace for a perpetuall memory where I haue often read it with the day and time and the name both of the shippe and Captaine which I can not well remember although it bee no great matter There are many other fishes in those seas and riuers In the Riuer of Bengala called Gâ—aâ— and by Malacca there are Crocodiles and other sea Serpents of an vnspeakeable greatnes which often times doe ouerturne smal fisher boates and other sentes and deuoure the men that are therein and some of them creeping out of the water vnto the lande do snatch vppe diuers men which they hale after them and then kill them and eate them as it dayly happeneth in those Countries There are by Malacca certaine fish shelles found on the shore much like Scalop shelles so great and so heauie that two strong men haue enough to doe with a Leauer to draw one of them after them Within them there is a fish which they of Malacca do eate There were some of those shelles in the ballast of the shippe that came from Malacca kept company with vs from the Island of S. Hâ—lenâ— to the Islande of Tercera where the shippe was cast away and some of the shelles taken out of her which the Iesuites of Malacca had sent vnto Lisbone to set in the wals of their church and Cloyster which they there had caused to bee made and most sumptuously built The like happened to a shippe called S. Peter that sayled from Coâ— towardes Portingall that fell vpon a sande which at this day is called after the same ships name S. Peters sande lying from Goa South Southeast vnder 6. degrees vpon the South side where it was cast away but all the men saued themselues and of the woode of the shippe that was cast away they made a small Barke or Caruell wherewith they all arriued in India while they were busied about building of their ship they found such great Crabbes vpon that sand and in so great numbers that they were constrained to make a sconce and by good watch to defend themselues from theÌ„ for that they were of an vnreasonable greatnes so that whomsoeuer they got vnder their claws it cost him his life this is most true and not long since done for that in the same shippe wherein I came out of India into Portingal there were two of the Saylors that had beene in the same shippe called S. Peter and affirmed it for a truth as it is likewise paynted in diuers places in Goa for a perpetual memory which I thought good to set downe to shewe the strangenesse of those fishes and it is to be thought that there are many other fishes and sea monsters as yet to vs not known which are dayly found by such as continually vse to sea and doo often meete with them And this shall be sufficient for the fishes sea monsters of India The 49. Chapter Of all fruits trees plants and common hearbs
according to their manner and after many other wordes hee willed them to bring some Iron saying they should haue teeth for it which hauing done he brought forth his teeth This riuer as I saide is verie broad and full of Crocodiles and sea horses it hath many creekes and as they sailed from Crementun it lyeth Southeast where in the night they lauered 2. or 3. houres and came twice on ground and â—â— sayling forwardes they passed by an Island called Caraceâ—â—bo lying in the mouth of the riuer as there are many being verie low and flat land and ful of trees From that Island there came a Caâ—utien aboord their ship and in it eighteene persons and with them they had a smal drum of a hollow stocke whereon they played and being by the ship foure or fiue of them stept in whereof one of them vppon his face breast and armes was al white he bore a greene branch of a tree with a little bel and some whiting in his hand which hee strowed about the ship ringing the bel when they or any of our men spake hee made shewe as it were to consecrate and blesse the ship which done sirting downe and stammering in his words like a man possessed with some sprite or one that had a shaking feuer There was a great pot of Palme wine brought forth whereof they dranke one vnto the other which continued for the space of halfe an houre which done they went into their scâ—te rowed to land making signes to our men to come on shore and to barter with them for their wares which they did carrying them some Iron and other marchandise and went into the gouernors house being in a village where among other things they saw a little cottage about three foote high couered with straw and opeÌ„ on the side vnder the which stood a little gibet wheron hung a little horne with certaine stuffe therein which they would not lette them see by no meanes and vnder the gibet stood a staffe with a dead childes scul fixed vpon it hauing in the one eye a bone much like the bone that is founde in the head of a â—addocke whereof with vs they make horses bridles and collars for degs at the foote of the staff lay al sorts of bones both of fishes and beasts and among the rest the â—awes of a Prisâ—â— which in our countrey is called a sword fish without teeth which the master tooke away brought it vnto me our men asking what y t might signifie they said there lay a dead carcas and being in another village as they passed forwarde they sawe at the least twentie men sitting at the doore of one of their houses whereof some seemed to bee of the principal commanders and within that house there was a noyse of singing both by great and smal that it made them muse whereupon they asked what it meant they saide there was one dead The women being in trauel are not any thing ashamed but euery one both yong and old men and women run vnto her the doore standing wide open but one thing is to be wondered at that the children are al circumcised and yet they haue neither law order nor knowledge of God The countrey is fruitful and ful of al strange fruites and abounding in al kinds of beasts and birds of diners formes both great and smal There are some trees where vpon one branch there hang at the least 100. birdes nests altogether most pleasant to behold They hang by certaine strawes made fast vnto the boughes because snakes should not creepe in and suck their egges many of those nests were brought vnto me This shall suffice for the discription of the coast of Guinea after the which followeth the mightie kingdome of Congo The ancient writers helde opinion that this lande was not inhabited calling it Torriâ—â—am Zonam that is a place in the earth that through the heate of the sunne is burnt vp but they were altogether deceiued for as Odoardus Lopez a Portingale witnesseth hauing with many other Portingales long time inhabited therein There is good dwelling and the aire coÌ„trarie to al mens iudgements very temperate and that in winter there is no extreame cold but onely such weather as it is in haruest time at Rome They vse no linings nor shirte bandes nor change of clothes neither care they for the fire it is likewise no colder on the tops of the hilles then in the vallies but generally it is warmer with them in the winter then in the summer onely because of the continual raines specially about the middle of the day two houres before and as much after dinner which heat is very euill for our meÌ„ to endure The people of the countrie are black but part of the women fear what â—â—llow their haire for the most part is blacke and curled and some haue red haire they are of a mean stature therin not much vnlike the Portingales the balles of theyr eyes being of diuers colours blacke and sea colour their lips not so thicke as those of Nâ—bâ—a other Moores their faces of al proportions fat leane and indifferent betweene both like the Portingales and not like other Moores of Guinea that are foule and deformed The length of the day and night is in a maâ—er al one for that it differeth not one quarter of an houre to anie mans iudgement throughout the whole yeare their winter beginneth in our lent about the middle of March and their summer in the middle of September â— in winter it raigneth there continually for the space of fiue moneths that is Aprill May Iune Iuly August in which time there are but few faire daies and there the raine falleth in such great drops that it is wonderful which water is al dronke vp into the earth with the drienesse of the land in summer time wherein it raineth scarce once in sixe moneths with the raine likewise the riuer is filled with thick muddie water so that it floweth ouer the banks and moystneth the ground The windes that in summer doo continually blow in those countries are as Hippocrates and after him Iulius the first emperor of Rome naming them with a greek name Eâ—esâ—oâ— Northwest by the Portingales called Venâ—o Maestro or general wiâ—d as being ordinarie at that time of the yeare in all those countries which are likewise causes of the raines by driuing vp of mâ—stes and vapors vppon the tops of the hils which being there and resoluing into water doo fil the earth with raine and those continual raines are likewise causes of the growing and increasing of the great riuers that are in Egypt and Ethiopia as Niger and Nylus and al the riuers there abouts some running into the Mediterranean others into y e great Ocean seas by reason of their slime fattines and because in our sumer which is their winter for the most part it raineth throughout the countryes of Congo and Ethiopia it is not to be wondered at if the riuers be greater
likewise be iudged by the history of Francisco Xeresio who writeth that in Cusco there were houses hauing the gates walls and roofe couered with plates of golde Besides this Giraua writeth that the inhabitantes of Anzerma hadde their weapons breastplates necke peeces and peeces for their shinnes all of massy gold he likewise writeth that about Quito there were gold hilles that yeeld more gold then earth the like do all Historiographers witnesse that write of king Atabalidas ransome which was so great that the like was neuer heard of for that he caused the chamber wherein he was kept prisoner beeing of twoo and twentie foot long and seuenteene foot broad to be filled so full of gold that hee standing vpright therein and stretching his armes and fingers aboue his head as high as hee could reach the gold couered them offering that if they would haue siluer and leaue the gold he would fill the Chamber twice full but the Spaniards tooke the gold whereof the kings duty being a fift part amounted to sixe hundred and seuenteene thousand six hundred fortie seuen Carolus gyldernes 30000. marks of siluer euery horseman had 12000. castilians euerie Castillian of fourteene rialles besides siluer and euerie footeman 1450. castillians besides siluer being 180. markes so that to conclude the golde onely ammounted vnto in Flemish money the summe of three millions eighty eight thousand two hundred fiue carolus gylderns besides the siluer wherby may be knowne the great aboundance of gold and siluer that is in those countries and although Atabalida payed so great a treasour for his ransome yet was it not comparable vnto y e which his elder brother promised to pay so that he might saue his life for that he had all the treasor of his predecessors and also his fathers which were not knowne to Atabalida when he first entered into the kingdome from whence by force he hadde driuen his brother and placed him selfe therein We reade likewise that when the Spaniards first entred that country they shooed their horses with shooes of golde and what it yeeldeth yeerly at this present doth sufficiently appeare by the Armada that came from thence into Spaine the last yeere whiche needeth not heerein to bee declared But now proceeding to the description of the coast of Panama to Peru you must first vnderstand that Panama and Nombre de Dios are two townes lying one right ouer against the other the one on the north sea or north side of Peru the other on the south sea seuenteene miles distant one from the other Panama lying in a little valley so neere vnto the sea that when the moone is in the full the sea entereth into the houses lying neerest to the shore the houses thereof are part of reeds and partly made of other substances mixed together most couered with tiles but there are not many houses in the towne There is in this towne a very fitte and safe hauen but very small where with the streame or floud the shippes doe enter and with an ebbe they go out but not heauy laden for that such as are deepe laden would be in danger to fall vpon the flattes in this hauen there runneth both a great floud and ebbe so that where the water is very deepe within an houre after it will bee drie sand whereby the shippes must keepe somewhat from the land discharging and lading their shippes by little scutes as well such as come out of Spaine thither as that goe from thence into Spaine This Towne hath from Peru maiz meale hennes and hony it hath of it selfe kine and hogges oranges lemons coleworts onions lettuce melons and such like things in great abundance This prouince of Panama in time past was much inhabited and haunted by the Indians and al the riuers yeelded gold but now by the Spaniards are most fished drie When men will trauel by land from Panama to Nombre de Dios the first dayes iorney is faire and good way the next day you enter into woods which continue till you come to Nombre de Dios. In the middle of this way you come vnto a water which in three houres can hardly be passed ouer because of the many crookings windings thereof and many are cast away therein the streame specially in winter when there falleth much raine running most swiftly Such as compare this towne to Venice are much deceiued for that both of them put together with many other townes erected by the Spaniardes in those countries wil not make the compasse or greatnesse of the Cittie of Venice although euery man may iudge as pleaseth him As touching the maner of sayling from Panama to Peru as also at what times of the yeare you must vnderstand that the best and fittest times of the yeere are in the three first moneths that is Ianuary February and March vntill the moneth of Aprill for as then the Sea is open summer comming on and many of the Brisen which are east and northweast windes doe blowe no weast or southerly windes as then stirring whereby the ships do easily performe their voyages and commonly ariue at their desired hauens before any other winde specially south winde which for the most part of the yeare vpon the coast of Peru doe blowe They may likewise put out in the moneths of August and September but make not so good ariuage as in the moneths aforesaide and if any ships do put out of Panama at other times than in the moneths aforesaide they are sure to haue a long and tedious voyage and commonly som one of them is forced to turne backe againe not being able to gette the coast and are by reason of the southern winds which for the most part of the whole yeere blow vpon the coast as I said before as likewise because of the great contrarie streame many of them are brought into great danger It is very good with the wind blowing from Peru to sayle to Panama Nicaragua and other quarters thereabouts but to sayle to Peru from Panama it is very dangerous and vncertayne The ships that are laden with Spanish wares and depart from Panama first come to â—aboga and the Ilands bordering on the same which haue receiued their names from the Pearles where they take in fresh water in those Islands that are at the least fiue and twentie or thirtie together The Spaniardes in times past founde many Pearles whereof they helde the name of Islas de Paâ—las They lie hardly vnder eight degrées northward The greatest of them in times past was woont to be inhabited but not now because the fishing for pearles beginneth to decay and such as are owners of those Islandes there in keepe slaues of Nicaragua and Cubagâ—a that looke to their beastes and sowe the ground as being very fruitfull from thence they put into the sea westward then see y e poynt called Carrachine which lieth northwest and southest from the great Island of pearles called Taboga distant about thirty Italian miles which are seuen Spanish
where they keepe their cattell their douehouses vineyards but no good grapes because of the grounde gardens of pleasure not onely full of all those countrie fruits but also of Spanish fruites as figges poundgarnats lemons oranges melons beanes pease and sugar canes all verie good and sauorie and better then in Spaine and to say the truth to passe a mans life in quietnesse were it not for the reporte that runneth of the Spaniards that they make warre against those people without a cause I thinke it the best and most pleasant place in all the world the aire being so temperate that all the yeare long there is no extremitie either of heate or cold and it was neuer heard that euer they had famine plague or any raine thunder or lightning but to the contrarie alwayes a cleare and faire skie it was builded by the Admirall Don Francisco Pizarro in the yeare of our Lord 1535. and was called 〈◊〉 Kings towne because they arriued therein vpon twelfe day by vs so called Touching victualles besides fish which they haue both out of the sea and the Riuer in great aboundance as also flesh and fruits of trees and of the earth as I saide before they haue no lesse quantitie of wheate and the foure moneths of summer in Spaine are winter with them onely somewhat colder then the summer in those soure moneths of winter there falleth euerie day in the forenoone a small dew or mist but not vnholsome as with vs for that those that haue any paine in their heades washing their heades therewith it healeth the ach it is verie likelie that this towne of Lima will daily increase in people and houses for many yeares together there were not aboue 500. houses therein yet the place is great inough to containe 2000. houses for the streetes are verie broade and the market as bigge as a great fielde euerie house is eightie foote broade and a hundred and sixtie foote long and because there is no conuenient woodde whereof to make chambers for that al their wood within two or three yeares is cleane consumed by wormes therefore the houses be but of one storie high yet verie costly and sumptuous with many chambers halles and parlers both fitte to dwell in and also to receiue strangers the walles of the houses are made of a certaine stuffe baked hard together and filled with earth They couer their houses with painted mattes or else with painted linnen and round about and aboue vppon the walles they make arbours of greene boughes wherein they sit to keepe themselues from the sunne for raine they neede not care for there it neuer raineth this Citie hath vnder it al these townes hereafter named where there are Bishops as Quito Cusco Guamanga Arequipa Pax Pâ—ata Trugillo Guanuco Chachapoâ—a Portus Vetus Guaiaquil Popatan Carchi Saint Michael and S. Francis Before it was saide that Peru is diuided into three prouinces in flat or plaine land on the sea coast in hillie lande that runneth through the middle of Peru in other lands lying beyonde the hilles touching the flat lande on the sea shore I haue hitherto spoken beginning from the line and the Cape Pasâ—ao hitherto so you must vnderstand that from Tumbez not onelie to Lima but also further southward the sea coast is full of many great droughts and wilde sandie places where for the space often miles it neuer thundereth lightneth nor raineth but beyonde that or all the space that is betweene those tenne miles and the hilles it thundereth lightneth and raigneth In this flatte land there are no fountaines nor welles but foure or fiue standing waters that are brackish because they are neare the sea the inhabitants vse the riuer waters that run out of the hilles which spring of the snow and raine that falleth on the hilles and not out of fountaines that stande among the hils The distance of these riuers are alreadie partly described lying seuen eight ten twelue fifteene and twentie miles one from the other yet most part seueÌ„ or eight wherby such as trauaile direct their course because they haue no other waters on both sides of these riuers about a mile broade or further and sometimes more or lesse according to the scituation of the countrey are diuers fruitfull trees and corne landes which are planted and sowed by the people of the countrey which they may do all the yeare long also there groweth about those riuers many wilde trees cotten reeds thistles and Lâ—s and since the Spaniards subdued the countrey they sowe wheate moystning the lande by certaine channels made out of the Riuers and because they runne with so great force out of the high hilles that without helpe men can hardly passe them and many are drowned such as trauaile in that flat countrey go so neare to the sea coast that they haue them alwayes in their sight when it is winter in the hilles and that it raineth much it is dangerous trauailing in those countries specially to passe the riuers which they must either do vpon drifts which they haue for the purpose or with a net which they fil with canworden or goords whereupon the trauailer must lie and one of the Indians swimmeth before him drawing the net or drift and an other behinde that steereth it The people in the flat land dwell in houses made of boughes the men weare shirts and cloathes vppon their knees and ouer it they cast an vpper garment or mantle the women weare a kinde of cotten pettiecoate from the head to the foot and although their manner of apparrel is in euerie place almost alike yet they vse certain differences in the attiring of their heades some wearing nothing but plaine hairelaces some double and wreathed others of one colour and some of diuers colours and there is no man but he weareth some thing vppon his head and all different according to the manner of the country Those Peruuians of the plaine countrie are diuided into three manner of people-ech hauing a different name wherof the first are called Iungas those are such as dwell in the hot country the second Tallanes and the third Mochicas ech hauing a seuerall speech only that the Lordes could speake the Cuscan speech as our Courtiers speake French the cause thereof is that their Kinges helde it for a dishonour vnto them to speake to their subiects by an interpreter for the which cause Guaynacapa father to Atabaleba commanded that all the ble men of the countrey shoulde send theyr children to his Court vnder pretence as he saide to serue him to learne that speech although his intent was none such but onely thereby to assure himselfe of his kingdome against such as might rise vp against him which they would not do he hauing theyr children in his power and by this same meanes al the noble men learned the speech commonly vsed in the Court wherewith a man may trauaile cleane through the countrie Of the windes that blow in the plain countrie of Peru also the
find the ground full of bankes for from Coulaon to Batecola that is by Onor not farre from Goa the ground is bankie and you may Anker at 8. fadome without feare from Batecola to Goa the ground in some places deeper whereby you may gouerne your selfe Touching your Ankerage from Cochijn to Cananor you néede not feare onely to take héede of the Iland called Ilha Cagado lying Southward from Cananor seuen miles and thrée miles Northward from the fortresse of Mangalor there lyeth a row of Ilands Cliffes and Rockes along the coast vntill you come to the fortresse of Barcelor from thence to Batecola you haue certaine Cliffes but they are close to the land and the two Ilands of Batecola you may passe betwéene the first of them and the Firme land without feare for it is 15. or 16. Fadome déepe a little further lyeth the Iland of Honor close to the Firme land then followeth the Ilandes of Angediua which reach as the coast doth and if it bee late in the yeare you shal not put farre into the Créeke of Ancola for as then there is no Terreinhos or land winds to driue you out againe therfore it is then better to runne something far from the coast for you haue many times the Viracoins or Sea winds somwhat farre off and being néere the shore they would not much helpe you This must be from the twentie of March forward If you chance to be by Angediua and had néede of a Road or harber you must enter into Angediua on the North side as far from that land as from the Firme land and rather somewhat néerer the Iland then the Firme land where you haue a good Road or harber for there many times diuers shippes doe winter being constrained therevnto within it is sixe fadome déepe a little further from Angediua lie foure or fiue Ilands from the ryuer Sanguisijn close by the Firme land and from thence about halfe a mile further forward lyeth the Iland of Goa Velha that is old Goa and then there are no other Ilands heerein to bee noted You must vnderstand that oftentimes it happeneth that along the coast you shall find the wind Northwest and North Northwest without chāging which bloweth very strong with the which wind I aduise you not to set sayle although it blow out of the North but if it be cleare day then you may hoyse Anker and put to Sea wards and if the wind commeth not about to Northeast being foure miles from the land and before noone about nine or ten of the clocke you shall Anker till it be noone till the Viracoins or Sea winds come therewith to sayle againe towards the land for in this sort you shall get aduantage to loofeward although it bee with paine and labour as likewise the time will shewe you what you shall doe I must further aduertise you that when you are by the coast of Seylon it being about the fifteene of Februarie or past then you néede not sayle further then to the Ilands Verberijn and from thence to the Cape de Comorijn for as then you néede neither to feare water nor streames to driue you outward yet you must not bee negligent therin for some yeares the stormes come later sometimes sooner as the winds blow whereof you must be carefull and being the fiftéene of Februarie or past you must remember not to runne inwards but kéepe out for as then the streames runne inwards which might deceiue you and the later it is in Februarie the stronger they draw inward comming to Cochijn betwéene the 15. and 20. of March you may wel get from thence to Goa although the Viage is some thing doubtfull but being past the twentie of March I would not counsell you to do it for that of late many years together there hath béene vpon the coast of India in Aprill and May diuers blustering stormes of crosse winds blowing towards the coast with darke and cloudie skies which would bring you in great danger therefore against that time it is best to chuse a good Hauen neuerthelesse God can send faire weather winds when it pleaseth him To put into the Hauen of the fortresse of Barcelor in the coast of Malabar aforesaide you must vnderstande that when you see a round Houell vppon the end of the hil of Batecola towards y e Northeast and Northeast and by East then you are right against the fortresse of Barcelor may put in at 7. fadome so you haue the fortresse East and halfe a stricke to East and by North from you and you shall sée all the Cliffes lying along the coast to the Ilands as Ilhas de Saint Maria which are altogether stonie Cliffes but they stand close to the land The 19. Chapter A description of all the Hauens places coastes and Sands vpon the East and South side of the Ilands Seylon with their heights courses stretchings situations with the course from thence to the fortresse of Columbo holden by the Portingales FIrst I will beginne with Trinquanamale which lyeth vnder nine degrées vppon the East side of the Iland Seylon eight myles from thence Southwarde lyeth a smal ryuer and before you come at it putting from Trinquanamale ther are some Ilands that with Birds fileings looke white and in the mouth of the riuer aforesaid lie two smal Ilands full of trées from Trinquanamale to this ryuer the course is North and South and North and by East and South and by West and running along the coast towards this ryuer then you shall leaue the Ilands aforesaid on the land side sayling without thē for that betwéene them and the land are many stones and Cliffes this ryuer and Trinquanamale lie distant from each other eight or nine miles at the furthest From the saide ryuer with the Ilands in the entrie thereof to the ryuer of Mataqualou are 12. myles and lieth vnder the hight of seuen degrées and 1 ◠The course from the one to the other is Northwest and Southeast being past this ryuer comming betwéene the Ilands the mouth therof you may go as néere the shore as you will for it is without danger within a great shotte of the land it is 20. fadome déepe From Mataqualou about fiue or sixe miles the course is North and South till you come to the point or hooke and from this point fiue or sixe miles further you runne along the coast North and South and North and by East and South and by West further forward towards the first Sand about fiue or sixe miles Northward there standeth a woode of Palme trées and comming right ouer against it the coast runneth North Northeast and South southwest and somewhat North and by East and South and by West from those fiue miles to the first sand the course is North East and southwest and Northeast and by East and Southwest and by West and before you come within foure or fiue miles of these Sandes you shall sée some Houels and hillockes of red
a mile from the land it is but a fadome and a halfe déepe being hard stones The people of y e country passe ouer it with nailed barkes with pitched or loopes two péeces sailes of réeds or mats an yron dreg with sharpe téeth This coast reacheth Northeast to foure and thirtie degrées where there lieth a great riuer that commeth from Nanquyn within the mouth or entry hath an Island that is inhabited by many people both horse and footemen This Island maketh the Riuer to haue two mouths or entries from thence forward the land reacheth North Northeast and by East and comming to that part which lieth Southeast there the land hath an end or point and by that meanes it maketh a great Créeke From this point forward the coast runneth North again after turning again Northwestward Into the which coast those of Iapon doe ordinarily come to Trafficke with the Countrey people called Cooray and there you haue Hauens and harbors hauing a kind of small open péeces of wouen worke which the Iapons fetch from thence whereof I am certainely informed as also touching the nauigation vnto that land by Pilots that haue sailed and searched cleane through it as followeth From this point of the Creeke of Nanquyn twenty miles Southeastward there lyeth certaine Islands at the end whereof on the East side there lyeth a very great and high Island much inhabited as well by horse as footemen These Islands by the Portingales are called As Ilhas de core but the great Island Core is called Chausien on the Northwest side it hath a small Créeke wherein there lyeth an Island which is the Hauen but it is not very déepe There the lord of the country hath his pallace and is continually resident Fiue and twenty miles Southeast from this Island lieth the Island of Goto one of the Islands of Iapon which lyeth from the point of the Créeke of Nanquyn East and by North to Seaward sixtie miles or somewhat more This instruction I had from a Nobleman of Portingale called Pero da cunha that hath séene and trauelled through all the Countrey hauing by him all aduise seruing for the purpose as being of great experience hauing arriued and stayed in the Countrey aforesaid by tempest and stormy weather against their wils minding to sayle to Iapon and from thence againe to the aforesaide Island of Goto the Islands lying from this Island towards the land betwéene them and close about them all ouer are many riffes and stones The instruction of the Créeke of Nanquyn I had from an expert Pilote borne in the lande of Algaine in Spaigne that lost his Shippe vpon the Sands that sticke out from the Riuer of Nanquyn hauing runne round about all this Créeke with a Barke and hée saide that being within when the Sunne rose it came from ouer the land and that from the riuer of Nanquyn there ranne some sands and droughts reaching southward to two and thirty degrées and to the middle way of the Goulfe of Iapon Here endeth the description of the furthest parts that the Portingales haue sailed along by the Coasts lands and Islands of the Kingdome of China being that part thereof which at this day is knowne and discouered The 31. Chapter The description of a voiage made by a Portingale Pilote from Liampo to Iapon in a Chinchea Soma that is a Chinchon ship with the description of the coast of Bungo Miaco Cacay the Island Toca all countries of Iapon ON Wednesday the thirty of Iune being the third day of the new moone in the morning we set sayle out of the northeast chanell of the Island Siongicam with a southeast wind and being without the Island we had the wind South Southeast and ran east and somewhat East and by North about euening we had a South Southwest wind running East East and by South and East southeast with very great billowes out of the south whereby we could hardly kéepe on our course sayling with our sayles but halfe vp and in the morning we ran halfe a strike east and by south and east southeast because the wind came some what ful to the South west with shoures of raine and great billowes that rose very high by which means the waters and streames in these countries run Northward we made our account to haue sailed in the course of East and East and by North 26 miles in one meale tide which was til thursday at noone being the first of Iuly We had alwaies great and mighty waues because it was a Spring tyde all the night hauing great lightnings out of the East and in all the points of the Compasse from North to South On thursday the first of Iuly from noone to night we had a southwest wind running East and East and by South and somwhat East Southeast with great showres of raine without any high wind and being two houres within night the skie closed round about and became close with a great raine wherwith the wind beganne to be calme turning Northward which the officers of the Soma perceiuing being men of China they began to be in great feare for the Chinais doe hold for certaine that in the Moone of the moneth of Iuly vntill it bee 12. dayes old all along the coast of China there will follow great stormes and as I thinke it is till S. Iames day till when they alwaies looke for stormes and foule weather for that I my selfe vpon the same day haue passed two great stormes And touching our North wind y e began still to encrease they perceiuing it put presently Westward againe towardes the Islands and had sayled from noone to that time about ten miles in such manner that as wee gessed we were 36. miles from the land of China and so wée held our course in that manner West and West and by North after that hauing a close skie with little wind whereby we made very litle way On Friday the North wind beganne to blowe higher wee running so till noone and in that Westerly course wée sayled about sixe miles From Friday at noone we sailed with this North wind all that euening and by night til Saterday in the morning then the wind came Northeast then East and so West till noone whereby wee made our account to haue sailed eightéene miles letting the shippe goe West and West and by North and in all that time wée had neither Sunne nor Starre to take the height On Saterday two or thrée houres after noone the wind fell South the weather beginning to cleare vp and so wée ranne one glasse and perceiuing the weather to settle we turned againe towards Iapon being as then in mine opinion about 12. myles from the coast of China and so we held our course that euening and all the next night East and East and by South with a small wind and calme Sea The next day being Sonday at noone we tooke the height of the Sunne at 30. degrées 1 ◠part lesse wée set out
vnder 29. degrées and ◠accounting for one mealetide thirtéene miles so that I gessed as then to be 25. myles from China On Sonday after noone we held our course in the same sort East and East and by South for all that euening and the night following till the next day at noone with a still winde and water and had no Sunne to take the height but I made my account of eightéen miles for a meale tide at halfe a strike to the East and East and by North the wind being scant South From Monday at noon we still had a calme South wind which continued so that euening and all night and about Tuesday morning the wind was somwhat fuller till noone whē I tooke the height of the Sunne and found vs to be vnder 29. degrees and ¾ running East and East and by South for the space of 22. miles From Tuesday at noone being vnder the height aforesaid I willed them to saile east hauing the same wind but somewhat calmer all that night to Wednesday at noone and then we began to sée driuing in the sea some Sea-scumme or Cuttle bones hauing sayled fiftéene myles making my account to be yet 30. miles from the Island Tanaxuma hauing neither Sunne nor Starres to take the heights From Wednesday at noone the wind began to blow somwhat full South Southwest and because it was signified vnto me that the streames in that countrey ranne towardes the Island of Lequeo and perceiuing likewise in some places a certaine yellowe skumme driuing vpon the water which appeared vnto vs like ripe Limons I willed them presently to holde East Northeast and about euening wée sawe many signes of land as péeces of réedes risen and such like things At night I badde them runne East and East and by North but the first watch béeing done when the Chinish Pilot should watch his course hée had gone a great way out of the course hauing runne Eastward till the morning when againe I willed them to sayle East and by North the winde béeing as it was till Thursday at ten of the clocke and then although it was darke and close weather wee beganne to sée a land that séemed verie cloudie and couered with dampie mistes lying Southeast from vs and were about thrée myles from it Along by the same lande there lay two Islandes wée holding our course in the same sort vntill by the first land Eastward wee sawe another great high and long lande and at the end of the aforesaid high land Eastward wée sawe two other Islandes whereof the one was verie great stretching Northeast and Southwest and the other close by it stretching North and South being the smallest with many pointes On the North side of this small Island about a mile from thence there are fiue small Islands or stonie Cliffes vpon a rowe from the first Island that we sawe which is the last Island of those that are called As Sete Irmaas that is the seuen sisters lying on the Northeast side to the aforesaid small Island with many pointes it may be about sixe myles Eastward as we were right against the aforesaid first Island of Stonie Cliffes it might bée about fiue houres after noone hauing run as we thought since wee had sight of land about twentie and foure miles The Thursday aforesaid in the morning wée tooke the height of the North Starre being vnder thirtie degrees and ⅙ Comming within two myles of the Island that wée saw first of the Islands of stonie Cliffes wee ranne Northeast and Northeast and by East and when wee were right against it whereby it laie Southward from vs béeing about thrée myles from it on the North side thereof wée sawe another great high and long Iland with many trees which as wée learned is called Icoo it reacheth East and West and wée were about three miles from it but by reason of the darke weather and mistes wee could not discerne it and comming somewhat néerer to it wée sawe another Island lying close by the West point of the aforesaid Iland beeing lesse than the other and because wée were by the aforesaid West point betweene both wee were fully determined to runne through the channell that shewed betweene the said two Islandes but because there was no man in the shippe that had any knowledge thereof fearing Riffes and shallowes wee durst not aduenture but wound vp to the East point to passe by the winde about the high Island running as much as wée might with a Southerly winde hauing great waues that put vs to the lande and so wee sayled East Southeast hauing yet about two myles to passe by the Island but night came on beeing verie darke so that wee could discerne no land although wee were close by it and to keepe from it wee ranne the same course till about one of the clocke after midnight then the moone shined yet wée could not see the Island but made Northward towardes it with fewe Sailes to the Island of Tanaxuma which according to my account should lie right before vs wherewith wée passed ouer the rest of the night till the morning when we sawe the Island Tanaxuma that laye right before vs beeing about two myles from it it beeing verie cloudie and wée made Northward towardes it to passe by the West side thereof but wée could not doe it by reason that the winde was Southwest and wee were by the South point thereof running along by the East side about halfe a mile from it This Island reacheth North and South beeing long and lowe ground hauing white sandie strandes with a verie gréene countrey of valleyes it hath many Pine trees but they stand scattering from each other and verie open it is about seuen or eight myles long hauing in the middle way on the East side close by the land an Island or stonie Cliffe which farre off sheweth like a Foist vnder Saile This Island lyeth vnder thirtie degrees and ½ right in the middle it is all saire and cleare ground From this Island of Tanaxuma Northwarde wée sawe a verie great and high lande reaching East and West about eight miles making as it seemed on the same coast Northeast and Northeast and by North from Tanaxuma an opening which is the mouth of the creeke called Xabuxij This Créeke hath for a marke that the lande on the East side thereof runneth all stéeping to the hooke or point of the Creeke beeing a flatte ground and on the West side the land is as high as the first that wee sawe lying North and South with Tanaxuma This coast aforesaid may lie distāt ouerthwart from the Island of Tanaxuma about seuen or eight myles From the North point of this Island wee made towardes the Créeke and béeing in the middle of our way the wind fell West Southwest whereby wee were enforced to lye by it the weather béeing calme so that the water that with the flood ranne Eastward draue vs off that wée could hardly get the Hauen but the ebbe that
which you commonly finde in those voyages from China to Iapon If you faile of it at sometime it is not often it commeth and beginneth from one point and so runneth with a continuall storme almost about all the points in compasse blowing most stiffely whereby the poore Sailers haue worke ynough in hande and in such sort that not any stormes throughout all the orientall Indies is comparable vnto it wherefore it is necessary to looke well to it and to chuse your times that by calmes sodainely you bee not vnaduisedly ouertaken as euery man that hath sayled those wayes can sufficiently showe you and euery one or most part of them haue found it to be so When you are right against the Island A Ilha Fermosa then runne Northeast by the which course you shall goe right vpon the straight of Arima which is a good way and as soone as you finde ground on the loofe side and haue seuentie fiue fadome water then you shall goe right vpon the middle of the Island of Meaxuma and hauing lesse depth then your course is not good but of force you must séeke another course to sayle the better but being too loofeward it is good especially when you see the Island Sancta Clare which is a smal Island on the Northeast side thereof hauing two or thrée Cliffes and somewhat farther forward the Island Coâ—aquyn which is very great being deuided into thrée parts I haue passed by the land side thereof which is a very good way and there you néede not feare any thing but onely certaine stones that lye along by the Island which you may easily perceiue for the Sea breaketh vpon them You must holde your course along by it leauing the stones on the larboorâ— side about the length of the shot of a Base from you and when you are past them then kéepe aloofe as much as you may inward to Sea thereby to shunne thrée Islandes or Cliffes which lye on the other side right ouer against the thicke and great Lande for betwéene them and it it is all full of Riffes And therefore your best course is to runne to Seaward from the Island of Coiaquyn in the middle way from the aforesaid great thicke Lande that lyeth before the Islandes or Cliffes of the Riffes lyeth the Hauen of Amacusa which is very great where the Créeke of Arima beginneth From thence North North westward from you you shall presently sée the Island of Cabexuma When you are right against Cabexuma somewhat beyond it you shall sée sixe Islands or Cliffes which you shall passe on the Sea side and then East-warde and East and by North you shall sée the Island called Ilha dos Cauallos or of Horses which on the Sea side hath a great houell and on the other side towardes the Island of Firando two Cliffes lying along by the coast which shew like two Ships vnder sayle Also further forward towards Firando there is two flat Islands lying along the coast called the Islands of Resting as that is the Islands of Riffes If when you come out of the Sea you haue cause to anker before you put into the Hauen being by the Islands or Cliffes then put out newe Cables making them fast that you loose not your ankers for there it is very déepe and sharpe Being right against the aforesaid six or seuen Islands or Cliffes then runne right vpon the Island Dos Cauallos and when you are by it that is inward of the point You shall along by the Island sée a Sand aboue the water all the other Islandes and Cliffes that you shall sée shall lye on the lareboord side which is vpon the side of the Island Facunda and so you shall runne till you enter into the Hauen of Langasaque hauing nothing to feare then that you sée before your eyes for there you haue both Sea and ground as it is vpon the coast of Spaine The 36. Chapter A voyage made from Macau in China to the hauen of Langasaque or Nangasache in the Island of Iapon in the shippe called the S. crus the captaine being a Portingall called Francisco Pais and the Gunner Dericke Geritson of Enchuisen in the yeare of our Lord 1585 written by the Pilote of the same shippe THe fift of Iuly Anno 1585 vpon a Friday in the morning wée set sayle from the point that lyeth right against the Cloister of S. Frauncis minding to runne to Loofeward from a round Island or Cliffe lying East Southeast from thence but because the wind was so scant wee could not doe it so that we were forced to driue so to get through the Channell of Lanton as wee did The depth that wee found therein was from fiue to sixe fadome water and that was close by the round Island that lyeth to Seaward from the Island of Lanton and from thence forward it beginneth to bee déeper being eightéene twenty fadome and that depth wee found till wee were without the Island called A Ilha de Leme that is the Island of the Harquebush This Island of Lanton as you make towards it hath a point where the wind fell very scarce in such manner that wee could hardly kéepe of an Island lying on the left hand of the chanell if the streame had not beene so strong that it draue the shippe ouerthwart to Loofeward otherwise we had indured great labor and trouble to passe through the channell because that towards night we were about foure miles from the Island Ilha do Leme the course wee held that night was East and East and by South because wee had a sharpe wind hauing twenty and sixe and twenty fadome déep muddy ground about sunne rising wée sawe right before vs the Island of Branco or the white cliffe and because of the depths aforesaid wée gessed that we were about half a mile beyond it The sixt of Iuly being Saterday we could not take the height of the sunne because it was right ouer our heads hauing a Southeast and South Southeast wind with very hote weather by day but by night it was somewat colder we held our course East Northeast East and east and by North as the winde blewe and about noone we found fiue and twenty and seuen twenty fadome water with small black sandy ground being in sight of lande and at Sunne rising we sawe the Land of Lamon which is a long flat land like a Table or plaine field on the East Northeast side hauing a thin point of Land reaching inward to the Sea and on the West southwest side there runneth out another thinne point of sand into the sea and hard by against the thickest part thereof you sée the forme of a white place which is the Island of Lamon to Seaward whereof lyeth thrée Cliffes Lying at the end of the Riffe of the Island of Lamon there wée call forth our Leade and found 27 fadome water with small white and some blacke sand with small shels among it being about seuen or eight miles from the
the greater it séemeth This Island is very high in the middle and descendeth downeward towards the end The Northeast point is lower then the southeast so that it maketh as it were a tongue sticking out which is very lowe From thence East Northeastward are certaine Islands shewing like cliffes The depth in that place is fiue and twenty fadome muddy ground Wednesday being the seuentéenth we had a North Northeast wind and then it came North-east and began to blowe so stiffe that we were forced to strike all our sailes letting the shippe driue all that day Southeastward and by night wee willed the man at the helme to steere northwest and about morning the winde began to blowe so stiffe with so great waues that we were forced to go with half our foukesaile with all our cords wel bound made fast and the storm or Tuffon was so great that wee were forced to bind all that wee had on boord els it was presently stricken in péeces This Tempest began first North Northeast and so ranne about till it was North Northwest At the departure whereof it was so boysterous that the waues séemed to touch the clowdes This was vpon Thursday being the two and twentith day of the new Moone the next night following the wind came west but because as then the Sea ranne verie high we let not our sailes fall but in the morning we had the wind southwest and then we let fall our sailes minding to follow on our course with great ioy throughout our ship thinking certainely wee had the windes of the Monson but towards night it was calme againe and then wee had a North wind holding our course eastward but not long after it was altogither calme notwithstanding the waues ranne out of the South so that about two of the clocke we had the wind southeast wherewith we hoised sailes running northeast and Northeast and by North and when it began to be day we saw the Island called Dos Reys Magos that is the thrée kings lying South about tenne or twelue miles from vs and there I found the heigth of the sunne to be 26 degrées and ⅔ being the one and twenty day of the Moone The day before wee sawe the Island Fermosa which is a very high Land and séemeth to reach vnto the cloudes there wee had fiue and fortie and fiftie fadome water muddy ground On friday at sunne rising we cast out our lead and found one and twentie fadome with blacke sande The first token that we had of the aforesaid Tempest was a small Raine-bowe close by the Horizon on the Sea side being a faire russet colour with two other greater Rainebowes whereof the point or end shewed almost like the cloud called Olhos de Bois that is Cats eyes which are small clouds which at the first shewe seeme no greater then a mans fist about the Cape De bona Speranza which by the sailors that saile in the East Indian Seas are much marked for they are tokens of suddaine falling Tempestes and cruell stormes as in the voyage from India to Portingale is alreadie partly declared wherefore it is good to bée aduertised thereof the better to looke vnto it and to watch for them to y e which end I thought it not from the matter to speake of them in this place But returning vnto our matter I aduertise you that when you are come into those countries as long as the winde commeth out of the North and so Southwest you are to make no account thereof for it will presently bée North Northeast and East but when it is calme then you shall haue a Southeast winde and then South and Southwest which are the monson and windes of that time but if it beginne againe to be calme it may so fall out that it will bée East Southeast but it will presently be southeast againe with faire weather which wée also found in this Monson of Iuly Anno 1585. Monday the two and twentie day wée tooke the height of the Sunne at 27. degrées and 1 ◠hauing a Southeast Southsoutheast winde with good weather and helde our course Northeast and as I gessed wée had runne after wée had faire weather and wind about two and twentie miles béeing from the lande of China from the Cape called Sumbor about 12. myles being yet about an hundred miles from the Island of Meaxuma and that day wée cast out the Lead and found 55. and 57. fadome water and sawe many blacke and white Sea foules that helde thereabout the blacke birdes by the Portingales being called Alcatrases The thrée and twentie beeing Tuesday wée had verie good weather in such manner that at that mealetide wée sailed about fiftéene miles béeing about twelue miles from the firme land of China In the morning we cast out the Lead and found one and fiftie fadome with white and blacke sand Wednesday being the four and twentie day wee had the height of the Sunne at 29. degrées with an East Southeast and Southeast winde and good weather holding our course Northeast and Northeast and by North and sometimes but not much Northeast and by East I made my account to haue holden Northeast and by North and so to haue sailed 16. miles being yet from the Island of Meaxuma about 70. miles lying Northeast from vs and there we cast out our Lead and found 49. fadome déepe sandie muddy ground Thursday the 25. of Iuly wee tooke not the height of the Sunne because wee lay driuing without sayles with an East wind winding Southward and so helde till the 26. day and draue Westward finding two fadome lesse in our depth The 26. we wound Northward without sailes yet not long after wee let our foresaile fall but wholly against my mind but onely at the importunate desire of the Chinish Pilat saying that the same day wee should haue the winde larger which was not so but cleane contrarie so that all the way wee made in that sort was more troublesome vnto bs wherefore it is better for such as finde themselues in those countries of 29. degrées to stay for Southeast windes and then to runne North Northeast Northeast and Northeast and by North because the waters and streames runne verie strong towards Liampo and when you are vnder 30. and 31. degrées hauing a South Southeast winde then you shall haue great labour and much paine to get the Island Meaxuma for so it happened vnto vs because the wind was so strong that we could beare but our foresaile and halfe the maine top-saile as also because the Sea ranne very high and hollow and put our shippe out of course and that the streames ranne Southeast This is about 25. or 30. miles from the Island Meaxuma But as soone as the winde came full whereby wee ranne East East and by North and East Northeast at 40. and 34. fadome water the ground being verie smal sand holding as much Eastward as possibly we might and sometimes east and by South wherby we
better assured you may send a boat in before you which shall lie there where y e riuer is narrowest thereby to serue you for a Baye or Sea-marke The 38. Chapter The right course to saile from the Island Meaxuma to the Hauen of Cochinochy and to Facunda with the scituation of the Places WHen you sée the Island Meaxuma go within a mile and a halfe or two miles néere it or somewhat closer if you will for there you néed feare nothing but what you sée before you and desiring to saile from thence to Cochinochy then you shall hold your course East and East and by North stil kéeping Eastward whereby you shall come to the Créeke of Arima and if it bée by night and that you desire to knowe when you are by the land then cast your Lead continually out and béeing at fortie fadome then you are about two miles and a halfe or thrée miles from the lande and béeing in the mouth of the Créeke you shall finde hard and great Sand and when you are at fortie fadome you may anker if the weather be faire if you thinke it bée falling water and so stay till it bée daye for there the streame runneth verie strong into the Sea your Lead will direct you what you shall doe If it bée day you shall presently sée the Lande of Cabexuma to Seawarde from you lyeth a Cliffe which sheweth like a Saile This Cliffe you can not sée but when you are close by the point to Léewarde from this point Northward lyeth certaine stonie cliffes but it is not best for you that you sée them when you goe to Cochinochy because they lie to Lée-warde as I saide before And wen you sée lande which is at fortie fadome water then you shall presently discouer the Créeke of Arima as also the point of Cabexuma on the one side and the lande of Amacusa and Xiquy on the other side which is very high This lande lyeth on the South side and Cabexuma on the North side when you sée the point of Cabexuma goe within a mile of it because of a stonie cliffe which lyeth in the mouth of the Creeke holding your course close by Cabexuma about a mile and a halfe from it or along by the land of Amacusa If the winde within this Créeke bée sharpe then stay vntill the floode commeth which shall bring you where you desire to be and being there you haue Cochinochy right before you where you shall haue Barks and Scutes great store to bring you in Hée that desireth to goe to Facunda must hold his course East Northeast and Northeast and by east and when you are close by the land you shall find the depths aforesaid and beeing to Léewarde from Cabexuma you shall there finde harde ground and if it be right ouer against the mouth of the creeke you shall haue sandie ground as aforesaid and when you see the point of Cabexuma then make towards the lande and by the lande about a mile distant you shall sée certaine stonie cliffes by the which you shall holde your course to Seaward from them by these first stonie cliffes lyeth a round Island with a trée in it and somewhat beyond this Island with one Trée there is another Island stretching Northwest and Southeast called Ilha dos Cauallos that is the Island of Horses you must make towards the Island to a point of land that lyeth out on the North side of the same Island This Island on the Northwest side hath for a marke certaine Pine trées when you are close by the aforesaid Northerly point then from thence hold East Northeast till you put in where you shall find a Creeke and right ouer against this Island North Northeast lieth a sharpe pointed Houell reaching to Seawarde which you must shun for half a mile from thence forward lieth two stones which you shall presently see when you enter into the creeke going within an Island or cliffe which will be East Northeast from you you must put towards it about the length of the shot of a great péece and so runne along by it till you be in and within on the right hand vpon the lande you shall sée certaine downes and on the left hand a groue hauing on the sea side as you passe along many stones like Kefell stones Right ouer against this Island on the left hand lie the two stones aforesaid which you can not see then with an ebbe of a spring tide and running in after this manner you shall see a crosse standing vpon a point of land and right ouer against this crosse is the Rode and from this crosse Eastward there is a verie good Hauen where you must make your ship fast and sure from the South side that is the Hauen of Facunda The 39. Chapter An instruction of the course out of the Hauen of Langasaque or Nangasache to the cape de Sumber in the coast of China where the Portingales are resident SAiling out of the hauen of Langâ—saque to China hauing a North wind if you haue cause to anker below by the thrée Islands or cliffes béeing right ouer against the Island dos Cauallos on the side of Facunda then anker there along for it is déepe enough all ouer as I with my lead haue prooued there you shall stay the first night that in the morning very early you may haue the winde from off the lande wherewith you shall set saile loosing as much as you can vntill you be gotten about the Island dos Cauallos for because we did it not being in the ship of Tristan Vaas da Veiga we were in danger not to haue béene able to get about the Island Béeing past the Island dos Cauallos you must hold your course West West and by South and West Southwest and if the wind be bigge then put not towards the Island Guoto for that there at that time you haue certaine South windes which I knowe for certaine because I haue béen there at other times in the ship of Manoel Trauassos in great trouble because it is crosse wind right vpoÌ„ the coast and there you haue no ground as also by night not to fall by the Pannellas which are called Pottes and by some Cliffes wherefore your best course is to runne to Loofeward from the Island Meaxuma Along by the Southwest side of the Island of Meaxuma lieth a cliffe from thence forwarde you shall holde your course West Southwest although you haue the wind scant yet you may hold that course for that being halfe way from the gulfe to the coast you shall without doubt finde the wind large enough In this way kéeping well to Loofewarde about 35. or 40. miles from the Cape de Sumbor you shall find a Banke of 35.37 and 38. fadome déepe which by such as knewe it not might bee taken for the ground of the land of China Being past this Banke you find more depthes but when after that the depthes begin to lessen then looke to your selfe for
haue stopped their mouthes with money There wée vnderstood that the Island of Guoto hath sixe or seuen Hauens that are very good running from the one side to the other but the Hauen aforesaid had no issue but so much pleasure it did vs that there we had the new Moone which was the first of March and the third day wee set sayle againe it being Shroue Tuesday with a North Northeast winde and a verie cléere morning and béeing out wée helde our course Southwest following on our course wherewith wée sawe the Island Meaxuma and the Pannellas or Pots lying South Southeast from vs wée tell right vpon the middle thereof Those Panellas are two small stones and Meaxuma is an Island and when you are Northeast and Southwest right ouer against it it sheweth like two or three Islands wherof that on the Northeast side is long and the greatest and sheweth as if it had a Cliffe This Island is the longest but not verie high and that in the middle is small hauing thrée sharp points like Organ pipes with a Cliffe likewise lying Northeastward The other Island on the Southwest side is round and plain stéepe lande shewing higher then all the other and séemeth to haue Cliffes round about it On the other side lie the Panellas aâ—oresaide and although I said before they are but two stones yet they are three two standing togither and the other somewhat further from them and lie with the Island Meaxuma Northwest and Southeast From thence forward wee held our course to China and Macau in such manner as I shewed in another place and hereafter once againe I will declare The 41. Chapter Another voiage made out of the Hauen of Langasaque from the Island of Iapon to Macau in China in the Santacrus the Gunner being Diricke Geriâ—son of Enckehusâ—n in Ann. 1586. THE 20. of March we departed out of the Hauen of Langasaque it being the first day of the newe Moone vpon a Thursday with a northeast and North Northeast winde and by nine of the clocke in the morning wée were as farre as the Island dos Cauallos running West Southwest and being two myles beyond the Island Dos Cauallos wee had a calme and then the wind came Northwest in such sort that wee ranne Southwest and Southwest and by west and sometimes halfe a strike with a slacke winde The next day in the morning we saw the Islands of Corequyn and Guoto and about eight of the clock in the forenoone we saw the Island Meaxumâ— so that we sawe those three Islands all at once and about twilight we were east Southeast and West Southwest with the Island of Meaxuma and so helde our course Southwest hauing a hard Northeast wind with raine the aire being very darke and close yet the Rackes came out of the Southwest Vpon Sunday we cast out the Leade and found somewhat more then forty fadome water muddye ground and was about forty myles from Meaxuma This depth is a banke lying in the middle way betwéene the Island Meaxuma and Cabo de Suâ—â—bor in the firme land of China Vpon munday the foure and twentith day wée tooke not the height of the sunne because we saw it not hauing so small a winde that the ship might stéere vpright and because we made little way wee cast out the lead and found forty fadome muddy ground this was at noone and at night about sunne setting we cast it out againe and founâ— fiue and fifty fadome whereby we perceiued that wee began to passe ouer a banke at that time we had all one wind being Northeast and North North-east with a good blast and yet the clouds came South-west and South South-west so strong that they put vs in feare doubting the wind would be there but we had certaine men in our shippe that had seene and found it so in that place and yet no alteration whereby they put vs in some comfort in such sort that wee followed on our course with that wind Vpon Tuesday at noone wée tooke the height of the Sunne not full nine and twenty degrées hauing not long before as I gessed marked one point in the Card and estéemed that wee had sayled a hundred myles from the Hauen of â—angasaque but by the Sunne it was not so The sixe and twenty being Wednesday wee tooke not the heigth of the sunne because it was a close day but wee had a good Northeast wind and made good way so that wee seemed to make thirtie myles â—n one mealetide but I made account but of fiue and twenty myles because wee thought the ship sailed not ouer fast that day we sawe many Cuttle bones driuing vpon the water held our course Southwest till morning and because the winde beganne to bee stiffe I thought it good to make towards the land to know it therefore as day appeared wee ran West till it was euening without knowing Land by reason of the mistineâ—â—e of the aire but by the depths our gessing wee thought wee were about 5 or 6 miles from the land our depth was 37 fadome and being towards night with cloudy weather we ran southwest and southwest and by south all that night and when day came being thursday wee gessed to bee ouer against the Lagaâ—to or Crocodille a cliffe so called about fiue or sixe miles to Seaward from it but wee found it to be somewhat more Thursday being the seuen and twenty as soone as day appeared we ranâ—e West towards the Land and about foure of the clocke in the afternoone we saw the land being the Islands Dos Camaroâ—s that is the Islands of Granata those Islanâ—s are not too high as soone as we saw them wee helde our course South Southwest and hauing sailed a little way we saw another round Island called Ilha do Bâ—boxâ—â— which lay right before vs as soone as wee saw it we presently ran South to shun it because we were not aboue a quarter of a mile from it there wee found so strong a streame and course of water which ranne with vs that in short time we were two or three myles from the aforesaid Island in such manner that all that night wee ranne South and South and by West and South Southwest and when the moone rose we held our course southwest The eight and twenty being Friday about morning we began to runne West Southwest west and west and by South and at noon or thereabouts we cast out the Lead and found nine and twenty fadome muddy ground and running so with that course for a little time we saw land but it was so close and misty that we could not know it but about two or three of y e clock in the afternoone it began to cleare vp and then we knew it to be the Island of Chinchon being North from vs and there wee cast out the Lead and found nineteene fadome water sandy ground and not long after we sawe the whole coast and firme Land of China and so we ran all
in great danger The 45. Chapter Of the tides and increasing of the waters of Malacca IN the entry of the Hauen of Patane lying on the East side of the country and coast of Mallacca to the Island of Bintao which lyeth by the straight of Singa Pura vnder the Equinoctiall line the streames doe alwaies runne Southward in the months of Nouember and December From the Island Pulo Condor lying right against the hauen and land of Camboia to the Island Pulo Timao lying on the East side of the coast of Malacca at such time as you come froÌ„ China holding your course halfe a strike from the south the streams run towards the Island Borneo and being halfe a strike Southwestward then the streames run towards the coast of Pan which lyeth on the coast of the East side of Mallacca From Pulo Condor to the Island Pulo Sesir lying right against the coast of Camboia the streames run Eastward and by Pulo Sesir in the way towards China the streames runne to the coast of Champa and from the Falce Varella which is distant from the right Varella fiftéen miles lying on the coast of Camboia y e streames runne Eastward about fiue or sixe myles from the coast which is at the end of Iuly and in the month of August In the Monson of the South windes when you saile from Mallacca to China the streames from the Gulfe of Pulo Catao and the Island Aynao runne to the créeke of Enseada da Cauchinchina vntill the last of December and from Ianuary forward then the streams in that Gulfe and countrey runne towards the Sands that lie ouer against the coast of Champa in Camboia from the other side and the later it is in the yeare from the Month of Ianuary forward the stronger they run towards the sands In the Monson of China when you saile from China to Mallacca then the streams run very strong from the Island Pulo Catao to y e Island Puto Cambir both lying on the coast of Camboia or Champa It happeneth oftentimes that from the eight and twenty of Iuly to the fourth of August from the Varella to Pulo Catao you haue calme sea and then you haue the Terreinhos which are Windes blowing from the land out of the West and northwest and the Viracoins which are winds that come from the Sea out of the East Southeast and east Northeast being in the North they presently change into the south whervpon it becommeth calme till the Terreinhos or land winds doe come again and thus they hold about two miles from the coast and not further for they are winds that do only blow vpon y e coast as in other places it is already sufficiently declared in speaking of the Terreinhos and Viracoins When you saile by the Island of Lequeo Pequeno or small Lequeo towards the land of Bungo in the Island of Iapon the streames in that country do run eastward to the Island of Tanaxuma From 30 degrées Northward a little further theÌ„ to the middle way to Iapon the streames from that country to the coast of China run northward towards the créeke A Enseada de Nanguyn in the monson of the south and southwest winds In this monson of South and Southwest winds the streams from the Island Pulo Tayo lying by the Island Aynao in the coast of China run Southwestward to the Islands of Sanchoan and Cantao The 46. Chapter Of the tides both for ebbe and flood by the daies and houres of the Moone in the haueÌ„ of Macau in China with the height of the same Hauen found by experience of an expert Pilot. THe 19. of September I marked the course of the Tides of China within the hauen of Macau it being Full Moone and I found it to be full sea about halfe an houre and somewhat more after eight of the clocke in the morning which I tryed at the Full moone to sée if it would agrée with the New Moone The 3. of Februarie An. 1585. I tooke the height of the Sunne which as then was about 13. degrées from the line and I found that the Hauen of Macau lieth full vndec 22. degrées 1 â— and as then I likewise tried the tides of the same hauen and found it to be full Sea a little after 12. of the clock the moone being thrée daies old in such sort that by the same account with a new Moone it is full sea in that hauen at ten a clocke and 2 â— in the morning which I also tried by the new Moone The 16. of Februarie Anno 1585. I marked the Tides within the Hauen of Macau it being then full moone and found the first day of the full moone that it was high water at eleuen of the clocke and a halfe before noone The 2. of Iune Ann. 1585. I marked the tides in the Hauen of Macau found it to be full Sea iust at 12. of the clocke at noâ—ne the moone being foure dayes old so that after the same account it is full sea at nine of the clocke in the morning béeing new moone but these Tides of China fall not out iustly vnlesse it be foure daies before and fiue daies after the changing of the Moone for then there is as much water as vpon the third day which I affirme to be most true because I haue often and many times tryed it to be so The cause is for that before it it is all Islands and Channels so that when the waters beginne to fall they ebbe not aboue thrée houres but with an East wind they ebbe with a greater course The 47. Chapter Of the signes and tokens of the tides waters and windes vpon the coast of China and in the way to Iapon IN the time of the monson of the South and Southwest windes it is most certaine in the whole coast of China and the way to Iapon that when the winds of the monson blow and from thence run into the East that they turne not againe out of the East into the south but from thence into the North and hauing continued there for a certaine time they turne againe into the east and from thence into the South if it be a Northeast wind then it turneth often times into the Southwest and not into the East but not often but the surest is as aforesaid It changeth also often times from North to South and not into the East which is very common and when the Sunne setteth and hath some red carnation cloudes about it and that many beames issueth from the Sunne in such manner that it séemeth to blaze then it is a signe of great stormes and tempests Likewise in the rising and going downe of the Moone if it sheweth in the like maner it is a signe of stormes and tempests When the Sunne riseth so faire and cléere that you may in a manner sée into it and perfectly discerne the compasse thereof then it signifieth good weather The like doth it signifie in the setting of
the Sunne and when the Sunne in the rising or setting is red and of a dead couler and so darke that you may sée it round about not casting forth any beames it signifieth calme weather The like doth the Moone In the time of the monson when the Northeast winds doe commonly blowe and that the clouds at the Sun-setting bée red then it signifieth North winds when in diuers places of the sea you sée skumme driuing vpon the water as white as Cotton being about a finger long then it signifieth tempests and foule weather This skum procéedeth of the small waues that breake wherof there are many in y e place In the moneth of Iuly there bloweth other winds in those places then the monson running from one place to the other till in the end they be northeast then it is certain it will be tempest foule weather If from the Island of Lamao to the Cape of Sumbor in the manson of the South and Southwest winds you find an East winde with great heate and same great droppes of water it signifieth foule weather The 48. Chapter In what dayes and moneths you find tempests and foule weather in the coast of China FRom the seuenth to the eleuenth of Iune often and commonly vpon the coast of China there are great tēpests From the beginning of Iuly to the 26. of the same moneth you are neuer frée nor out of danger of tempests and foule weather for that all that time you haue foule stormie weather the wind neuer staying in one place but running round about the compasse From the 12. of August forward in the whole Moone of September to the end of October all that time there is continually foule weather The 49. Chapter Of the times of faire weather vpon the coast of China THe whole moneth of Iune except it be from the seuenth to the eleuenth day there is very litle soule weather for that vnlesse it be vpon the daies aforesaid you haue the windes of the monson with faire and cléere weather without stormes to saile from the Island Pulo Cantao to the Islandes Cantao and Macau without stormes you must set saile on the 26. of Iuly and saile till the 12. of August and all that time you are without tempests In the middle way from the Island of Iapon to the coast and land of Liampo you haue alwaies West windes which blowe in Iapon in the moneths of Nouember and December The 50. Chapter A briefe description of the course from Macau in China to Noua Spaigna with the scituations of the countries PVtting out of the East channell of the Hauen of Macau then you must hold inward to sea as much as you may and hauing a contrarie winde runne as long as the wind giues you leaue to kéep that course but if the winde be scant whereby you may not holde your course Northeast or Northeast and by North then turne on the other side as long as the wind serueth that you may run Southeast for the space of thrée or foure daies for it is better to kéepe Southeast then to run Northward This course you shall holde as the winde serueth you vntill you think you are 300. miles from the land and being there you must run 200. or more miles beyond Iapon and although you holde your course North yet you néed not feare any thing kéeping good account of the wracking or winding of your compasse towardes the West for it might hinder you much running as often as you can Southeast or to Loofeward as also not leauing y e course of Northeast as often as you can vntill you be vnder the height In the gulfe you shal sée certaine great blacke birds which is a signe that you are farre to Seaward and if you sée them about euening that they stretch their legs out along by their tailes then looke to your selfe for it signifieth foule weather When you come within 200. miles or more of the other land then you shall loose the sight of those birdes and if the wind and weather driue you vnder many heights and that you sée many heapes of wéeds driuing vpon the water which are commonly séene when you are 100. and 120. myles inwarde to sea then you must runne on the outside of Iapon Southeastward till you be vnder 31. and 32. degrées and as then knowing the land which will lie hard by whē you see it first you must runne without it and beware you run not vpon the Island called Ilha de Sedros that is the Island of Cedar trées and make no account by the course of the Sea or compasse for the Island of Cedars lyeth by the Cape of S. Lucas béeing verie false in the course because the land if it lay by it doth come more and likelier out then it doth towardes the South The Cape of Saint Lucas is a high land and sheweth when you are hard by it as if it had stonie cliffes sticking out of it the end thereof béeing verie blacke shining and darke the Land thereof presently running inwards towards the North and if you néed fresh water within the cliffes of the said Cape of S. Lucas there is a great sandie strande where you haue a verie good Rode to anker where close by the sea you find great store of fresh water From thence you shall crosse ouer to the other side vpon the Southeast bough without the Marias which is a better course then inward all the coast is faire and good so that you may well runne along by it vntill you come to certaine cliffes lying by the Hauen called El Puerto de la Natiuidad where within the créeke you presently finde the Hauen of Saint Iago de Colima the marks wherof are those On the East side it hath a round houell that descendeth downward if you be forced to put into it you must vnderstand that it hath a great mouth or entrie aboue two or thrée miles wide wherin you haue no cause to feare any thing but that you sée before your eies you must runne into it till you be cleane within the point where you haue a riuer of fresh water that runneth into the Sea where you shall find Spanish Fishermen if you desire to saile further you must frō thence to the hauen of Acapulco run for the space of 80. miles along by the shore for it is verie faire and cleare till you be at the end of the high land that is to the Hauen called El Puerto del Marques which a farre off sheweth like an Island but when you goe so néere it that you may well discerne it to be firme land then on the vpper part thereof you shall sée some white stones which shewe like white Runderen that goe in the way you may fréely runne towardes it till you begin to sée the mouth therof and then put into it This in briefe in my opinion is the best course that you may bold in this voiage which I would likewise haue holden if I
behinde them and sailed but foure in companie that of Nuno da Silua béeing one till they came to the Baye called Baya de las Islas that is the Baye of the Islands lying vnder nine and fortie degrées where it is said that Magellanes lay and wintered there with his Shippe when hée first discouered the Straight which now holdeth his name In this Bay being the twentie of Iune they entred and there ankered so close to the land that they might send to it with a Harquebush shot and there they saw the land to be inhabited with Indians that were apparelled with skinnes with their legges from the knées downwarde and their armes from the elbows downward couered all the rest of their bodies béeing naked with bowes and arrowes in their handes being subtill great and well formed people and strong and high of stature where sixe of the English men went on land to fetch fresh water and before they leapt on land foure of the Indians came vnto their boate to whome the English men gaue bread and wine and when the Indians had well eaten and drunke they departed thence and going somwhat farre from them one of the Indians cryed to them and saide Magallanes Esta heminha Terra that is Magallanes this is my countrey and because the English men followed them it séemed the Indians fledde-vpward into the lande and béeing somewhat farre off they turned backe againe and with their arrowes slewe two of the English Shippers one being an English man the other a Netherlander the rest came backe againe and saued themselues in the boate wherewith they presently put off from the shoare and there they stayed till the seuentéenth of August vpon the which day they set saile running along by the coast about a mile and a halfe from the lande for there it is all faire and good ground at twentie and fiue and twentie fadome déepe and were about foure or fiue dayes before they came to the mouth or entrie of the Straightes but because the winde was contrarie they stayed till the foure and twentie of August before they entred The entrie or mouth of the Straight is about a myle broad on both sides béeing bare and flat land on the North side they sawe Indians making great fires but on the South side they saw no people stirring The foure and twentie day aforesaide they beganne to enter into the straights with an East Northeast wind This Straight may be about an hundred and ten miles long and in breadth a mile about the entry of the Straight and halfe way into it it runneth right forth without any windings or turnings and from thence about eight or ten miles towardes the end it hath some boughes and windings among the which there is one so great a hooke or running in that it séemeth to runne into the other land and there it is lesse then a mile broad from one lande to the other and from thence forwarde it runneth straight out againe And although you finde some crookings yet they are nothing to speake of The issue of the Straight lieth westward and about eight or ten miles before you come to the end then the Straight beginneth to be broader and it is all high lande to the end thereof after you are eight miles within the Straight for the first eight myles after you enter is low flat land as I saide before and in the entrie of the Straight you finde the streame to runne from the South sea to the North sea and after they began to saile in with the East Northeast winde being entred they passed along without any let or hinderance either of wind or weather and because the high land on both sides lay couered with snow and that all the Straight is faire and cleare they held their course a Harquebush shot in length from off the North side hauing nine and ten fadome déepe with good ground as I said before where if neede require a man may anker the hilles on both sides béeing full of trées some of the hilles and trées reaching downe to the sea side in some places hauing plaine and euen land and there they saw not any great riueâ—s but some small riuers that issued out of the Riffes and Breaches of the lande and in the country where the great Bough or crooking is on the South side they saw certaine Indian Fishermen in their Canoas or Scutes being such as they sawe first on the North side but more people they saw not on the South side Beeing out of the Straight on the other side béeing vpon the sixt of September of the aforesaide yeere they held their course Northwest for the space of thrée dayes and the third day they had a northeast winde that by force draue them West Southwest which course they helde for the space of ten or twelue dayes with fewe sailes vp and because the winde began to be verie great they tooke in all their sailes and lay driuing till the last of September The foure and twentie day of the same moneth hauing lost the sight of their pinnace which was about an hundred tunne then againe they hoised saile because they came better holding their course Northeast for the space of seuen dayes and at the end of the said seuen dayes they had the sight of certaine Islands which they made towards for to anker but the weather would not permit them and béeing there the winde fell Northwest whereby they sailed West Southwest The next day they lost the sight of another of their companie which ship was about three hundred and sixtie tunnes for it was very foule weather so that in the end the Admirals shippe was left alone for the Ship of Nuno da Silua was left in the Baye where they wintered before they entred into the Straights and with this foule weather they ranne till they were vnder seuen fiftie degrees where they entred into a Hauen of an Island and ankered about the length of the shot of a great peece from the land at twentie fadome deepe where they staied thrée or foure dayes and the winde comming Southward they hoysed anker holding their course Northward for the space of two dayes and then they espied a small vnhabited Island where béeing arriued they stroke sayles and hoised out their boat and there they tooke many birds and Sea wolues The next day they set saile againe holding their course North Northeast and North to â—nother Island lying fiue or six myles from the firme lande on the North side of the Straight where they ankered about a quarter of a mile from the lande at twelue fadome water This Island is small and lowe lande and full of Indians the Island being altogither built and inhabited by them where they hoysed out their boate wherein the Admirall and twelue English men were entred going to fetch fresh water and to séeke for victuals and beeing landed vpon the Island the Indians in exchange of other things brought two Spanish shéepe and a little Mais
them passing forward with it on their course the Captaine sayling along the shore with his Pinnace and the Shippe keeping about a myle from him to Seaward to séeke for a shippe whereof they had intelligence and hauing in that manner sailed about fiue and forty myles they found the shippe that lay at anker in a hauen who about two houres before had beene aduertised of an English Pirate or Sea-rouer and had discharged eight hundred Bharres of siluer out of her and hidden it on the Land which siluer belonged to the King of Spaine of the which siluer the Englishmen had receiued some intelligence but they durst not goe on land because there were many Indians and Spaniards that stood to guard it and they found nothing in the ship but thrée Pipes of water the shippe they tooke with them and being about a mile in the Sea they hoised vp all her sailes let her driue doing the like with the Shippe that they had taken in Azijcka as also the other of Saint Iago which likewise they let driue following on their course with their owne ship and the Pinnace Being seuen or eight myles from the Hauen of Callan de Lyma they espied thrée Shippes and boording one of them they tooke thrée men out of her and so helde on their course towards Callan de Lyma where they entred being about two or thrée houres within night sayling in betwéene all the shippes that lay there being seuentéene in number and being among the ships they asked for the ship that had laden the siluer but wheÌ„ answere was made them that the siluer was laid on land they cut the cables of the ships and the masts of two of the greatest ships and so left them At the same time there arriued a Shippe from Panama laden with wares and Marchaundise of Spaigne that ankered close by the English Ship which was while the English Captaine sought in the other Shippes for the siluer As soone as the shippe of Panama had ankered there came a Boat from the shoare to search it but because it was in the night they let it alone till morning and comming to the English shippe they asked what shippe it was wherevpon one of the Spanish prisoners by the English Captaines commandement answered and said it was the shippe of Michiel Angelo that came from Chile which they of the boat hearing sent a man on boord who climbing vp light vpon one of the great Péeces wherewith hee was afraid and presently stept backe againe into the boate because the Shippes that lay there and that sayled in those Countries vsed to carry no great shotte and therewith they were abashed and made from it which the shippe of Panama hearing that was newely come in shee iudged it to bée a Rouer and therewith cutting her Cables shée put to Sea which the Englishmen perceiuing shipped certaine men in their Pinnace and followed her and being hard by her they baddde her strike which they of the shippe refused to doe and with a Harquebush shotte killed one of the Englishmen wherewith they turned againe into their shippe and presently set sayle following after the shippe which not long after they ouertooke which they of the Shippe perceiuing hoised out their Boate and leaping into it rowed to Land leauing the shippe with all the goods which the Englishmen presentlie tooke and with her sayled on their course The next day they sawe a boat with sayles making towards them whereby they presentlie mistrusted it to bee a Spye and not long after they perceaued two great shippes comming towards them which made the English thinke they came to fight with them wherevpon they let the Shippe of Panama driue therein leauing Iohn de Greicke With the two that they had taken the same day they entred into Callan de Lyma as I said before and presently hoised all their sailes and sailed forward not once setting eye againe vpon the aforesaid shippes for they made towards the shippe of Panama which the Englishmen let driue From thence they sayled againe along the coast following on their course and hauing sailed certaine dayes they met a Frigate that went towards Lyma laden with wares and Marchandises of the Countrey from whence the Englishmen tooke a Lampe and a Fountaine of siluer and asked the Pilote being a Spaniard if they met not with a Shippe that they vnderstoode should bee laden with siluer but the one Pilote said he met her not and the other said hee sawe her about thrée dayes before This Frigate came not to the shippe but to the Pinnace wherein the Captaine sayled for the Pinnace ranne close by the shoare and the shippe kept a myle and a halfe from the Lande wherewith they let the Frigate goe following on their course Two dayes after they came to the Hauen called Payta where they found a Shippe laden with Spanish wares which the Pinnace boorded and tooke it without any resistance for as soone as the Spaniards perceaued the Englishmen they presently made to Land with their Boat and two of them leapt into the Sea none staying in the shippe but the Maister Pilote and some Moores out of the which shippe the Englishmen tooke the Pilote and all the Bread Hens and a Hogge and so sayled forward with the Shippe but being about two Harquebush shotte to Seaward they let it goe againe not taking any thing out of it and asking after the shippe which they sought for they told them that about two daies before shee departed from that place wherewith they followed on their course and before night they met with a Shippe of Panama which they presently boorded but tooke nothing from her but onely a Moore and so left it holding on their course The next day being the first of February they met another Shippe that sayled to Panama laden with Fish and other victuals fortie Bharres of siluer and some golde but I knowe not howe much which they tooke and sent the passengers with two Friers that were in her in a boat to Land The next day they hanged a man of the Shippe because hee would not confesse two plates of golde that hée had taken which after they found about him which done they let the Shippe driue following on their course The first of March towards noone they espied the shippe laden with the siluer béeing about foure myles to Seaward from them and because the English Shippe was somewhat heauy before whereby it sayled not as they would haue it they tooke a company of Bottigas or Spanish Pots for Oyle and filling them with water hung them by ropes at the sterne of the Shippe to make her sayle the better and the shippe that sayled towards Panama made towards the English Shippe to knowe what she was thinking it to bee one of the shippes that vsed to saile along the coasts and to traâ—ficke in the country and being hard by her the English Captaine bad them strike but the other refusing to doe it with a great Peece
S. German which are very high but not so high as those of Loquillo From this point of Cabo Roxo you must hold your course west and west and by North whereby you shal discouer the Island called De la mona that is the Island of the ape and you must run along by the southside thereof The Island La Mona is a low land and reacheth East and West on the sea side being a plaine land descending downward on the north-side it hath a Cliffe or small Island called Monica or the little ape Betwéene it and the Island you may passe On the West side of Mona there is a Roade of faire and good ground hauing likewise such another Roade by the Point that lyeth Southwest From the Island De la Mona to the Island De la Sahona if that it be by day you shall hold your course Southwest and by night West and West and by South and you must vnderstand that the Point called Cabo de Enganno that is the deceitfull Point is altogether like the Point of Sahona hauing a clouen houell on the vpper part of the Island being betweene the lowest Lande thereof that lieth on the Sea side Betwéene Cabo del Enganno and Sahona lyeth a small Island called the little S. Catalyna the reason why you must there runne West and South is because the Streames runne towards the Créeke The markes of the Island Sahona are these It is a lowe Island full of Trees so that as you come towardes it you first sée the Trées before you perceaue the land thereof it stretcheth East Northeast and West Southwest on the South side it hath certaine Riffes which run halfe a mile into the Sea if you fall vpon this lande comming out of the Sea and that ouer the Islandes you sée certaine hilles then they are the hils of Niquea which you shall likewise sée betwéen great Sancta Catalina and La Sahona this Island Sahona on the West side hath a Rode of eight or ten fadome deep to saile from Sahona to Santo Domingos it beeing thrée miles to seaward from Sahona you shall hold your course Northwest and Northwest and by West From thence to Santo Domingos it is altogither low land on the sea side descending downward and is the land which in that place reacheth furthest East and West The markes of Santo Domingos are these that when you are Northwest and Southeast with the old mines then you are North and South with the riuer of Santo Domingos and ouer the riuer you shall see two houels which shewe like the teates of a womans breastes when those houels are North and North and by west from you then you are to loofeward from the riuer so that by those teates you shall knowe whether you be past or to Loofeward from it On the East point of the entrie of the Riuer standeth a Tower which serueth for a guarde or beakon for the shippes that come out of the sea From this point aforesaide runneth a hidden cliffe which you must shunne and so you must runne in but go not to neere the Al Matadero that is the Slaughter house for there it is shallow and being within the aforesaid hidden cliffe you haue foure fadome déepe and so you shall holde your course to the Sandie strand lying on the East side shunning the Cliffes of the fortresse and going from the Fortresse inward then you must let fall your ankers right against the Admiraltie in the middle of the riuer where the best place and Rode is From Santo Domingo being 4. miles to Seaward you shall holde your course Southwest and Southwest and by west vntill you be North and South with the Island of Niqueo and to goe from thence to the hauen of Oquoa leaue not the coast but run close by it with all your sailes till you be past the riuer for if you get off frō it without touching the Palma which is a certaine banke so called where the ships vse to anker then you must not anker being in the riuer you must looke wel before you that when you anker to make your ship fast with an anker both out to Landward and to Seaward and then you are safe Sayling from this Hauen and Bay of Oquoa you shall runne outwarde to the South vntill you be about the point and thrée miles into the sea and then you shall hold your course Southwest and Southwest and by South wherby you shall discouer an Island called De la Beata that is the blessed Island which is a lowe Island stretching East and west Two miles Westwarde from Beata lieth an Island or cliffe called Altobello which by night sheweth like a ship when you are past Beata and Altobello then you must runne West and West and by North to the point called Cabo de Tubaron that is the point of the hedge In this créeke are thrée or foure Islands or rocks which are called Los Frayles that is the Friers Before you come to Cabo de Tubaron there is a Créeke wherein lieth an Island called Iabaque with more cliffes and Riffes lying about it being foule ground Behind this Island you see certaine hilles called Las Sierras de dona Maria otherwise Las Sierras de Sabana when you are right against Iabaque then you must run West Northwest The Cabo de Tubaron is a blacke shining Houell on the sea side being clouen vpon it hauing certaine white places like water beakes Within this point or Cape lieth a riuer of fresh water where you haue stones for Ballast as you haue in the Riuer of Mynijcka From thence to the point of Cabo de Crus you must hold your course Northwest vntill you are past the Island of Nabassa running on the North side thereof and if the streames chaunce to driue you on the south side then you must obserue certain times if you be in a great ship holding a good way into the Northwest from it to shun the sands that sticke out from the point de Morante and reach betweene this point and Nabassa there in some places you haue aboue foure fadome déepe and at the end thereof you may run from 15. to 20. fadome déepe Nabassa is a round and lowe Island on the Sea side being all flat and plain land running on the North side of this Island you shall hold your course Northwest and Northwest and by West and if you desire to passe along by the Cape De Crus it is a point sticking out which as you come toward it out of the sea sheweth as if on the top it were full of Trées but it is inward to Lande On the East side of this Point lyeth the hauen of Cabo de Crus Now to sayle to the Island De Pinos you must runne West Northwest wherby you shall discouer the Island This Island De Pinos is a low land ful of Trées so that as you come out of the Sea you sée the Trées before you sée the land it stretcheth East and West and
The 67. Chapter The course right marke of the nauigatioÌ„ from the point called Cabo de Lopo Gonsalues to the riuer of Coâ—go in Angola southwards in the coasts of Guinea and Ethiopia with the situation of the countries SAyling from the point called Cabo de Lopo Gonsalues which lyeth full vnder 1. deg on the south side of the Equinoctial line in the Coast of Guinea or Ethiopia the coast froÌ„ thence forward stretcheth northwest southeast being a flat long land you haue the depthes of 10. and 9. fadome déepe water towards the land being all ground like sand of sand lopers all through the country except it be by the point Cabo de Catarina where you haue great sand some stones if you will make any hast being vpon this coast and voyage then euery night you must anker till you haue the Terreintios which are the winds blowing from off the land holding your course in that manner till you haue the Viracoins which are y e winds out of the sea therwith again to make towards the land vntil it be calme or that y e are at 10. fadom déep theÌ„ you must anker til the comming of the land winds which come dayly at their times as aforesaid if the streames run w t the wind theÌ„ you may wind from the one bough to the other holding to léeward as aforesaid the coniunction or time wheÌ„ the streames run with the winds is with a new Moone about 2. dayes before or after and 3. dayes before it is ful if you desire to run from one bough to the other y t must rule your selfe in such maÌ„ner that you be euery morning by the coast to get before the winds that as then blow off the land the marks of the long land are these it hath certain great thicke houels called As Sierras de santo Espirito that is the hils of the holy Ghost and somwhat further you haue 2 other houels which are very easy to be knowne in this country you haue muddy ground further forward you shal sée a high hill within the créek called Palmella for that it is like to Palmela the which lyeth betweene Lisbon and Setuval you shal likewise sée somewhat further in the créeke a land which stretcheth North south as you passe along by it close by the strand it hath a thicke flat houel which is called Cascars because it is like Cascais by Lisbon you must vnderstand that before you hoyse vp anker in that countrie you must let fal your sayles to see if the shippe may get out and if it cannot get out then lie still till you haue the Viracoins that blow out of the sea for in those countries the streames runne very stronglie out of the riuer of Congo into the sea wherby the shippe can hardlie get out when you are so far as the place called a Palmeirinâ—a that is the woods of Palme trees then let your best anker fall for the groundes in this crosse way is stiffe muddy ground whereby the ankers oftentimes will hardly holde fast but ship out againe And when you are in the riuer of Congo being at the depth of 30. or 40 fadome then you shall loofe the ground then you shall turne your howreglasse and when it is runne out then cast out your lead and you shall find 10 or 12 fadome water on the other side of the riuer of Congo and you shal sayle about the length of a stone cast from the land and the best course is close by the land for otherwise you could not get into the riuer by meanes of the great force of the streames wherby many men are much troubled as being the greatest stroÌ„gest streams that are found in any place and run aboue 12. miles into the sea Sayling from Congo to Angola in maner aforesaid and being 35. miles on your way you shal sée a high hill by the which ther lieth an IlaÌ„d called A Ilha de Loanda but if you be not very close by y e laÌ„d you shal not sée the Iland for it is very low flat if you chance to be by the land at 6. 7. deg then you shal be at the mouth of the riuer of Congo and 10. myles to seaward from it you shal sée many tokens signes thereof as great streames thicke réeds herbs with many cutle bones and wheÌ„ you are by the land at 7. 8. degr ½ then you shall sée a flat land with trées al ouer it and in this country in euery place at 18. 20. fadome you shal haue good ground from 2. to two miles and a halfe from the land on the sea side you haue white downes which shew like sandy strandes the ground by it is sandy with some stones that is from 7. to 8. deg and you must vnderstand that the land from 5 deg southwarde is altogether high all the ground being muddy and a mile from it it is 30. and 35 fadom deepe good ground being a cleare and faire coast with cause of feare of more then is séen before your dayes that is from 7 to 9 deg and the land from 8. degrees southward is verie high if you come out of the sea to the land vnder 7. degr and ½ then you shal sée 7. hils or Houels which stretch Northwest and southeast called As sete serras that is the 7. hils if you come to the land vnder 8. degr ¼ then you shall see a hie land lying eastwarde from you this point in shew hath the forme of cape S. Vincent in the coast of Spaine comming to the land not full vnder 9 degrées then north or northeast you shal sée the aforesaid point hauing vnder it some whit downs that strike somewhat out into the sea but you need not feare them for it is faire and cleare and therefore you may fréely go neere the land theÌ„ better to know it being vnder the hight aforesaid of scarce 9 deg then eastwarde to land you shal see a round hil called monte Pasqual when the point aforesaid is northeast from you then the other land shall stretch southwest which is the furthest land lying without the Iland of Loanda the land that lyeth southwarde from you is a greate thicke land at the foot thereof hauing some red and white downes with certaine small trees vppon it which show like figge trees of Algaruen in Spaine now to runne within y e land of Loâ—ndâ— you must hold your course right vpon the land that lyeth southward so you may go close coâ—t about half a mile froÌ„ it being there southwestward from the Iland you shal discouer the Iland which is very flat and of white sand whereby you can hardlie see it but when you are close by it that is the hauen of Angola This Iland of Loanda is like an Iland called A Ilha das Caruns lying by the cape called Cabo de santa Maria in the land of Algaruen vpon the coast