is related by a part of the Inhabitants that North of the Land there hath at several times appeared a Floating Island not only by the relation of our Predecessours but also by that of those that yet live who verily relate that they have seen it during some hours discerning hills and dales on it and running Rivers flowing through the Valleys and could perspicuously fee that it was green in the Valleys below Last year the 28 of April 1671 came to Feroe a Skipper Paul Badsted with his Ship and both he and two young Priests which he brought over with him to Feroe namely Mr. Gregory Peterson and Mr. Peter Clementson relate that they on their voyage to Feroe being by storm driven out of their course to the south thereof perceived an Island and being come neer to it saw it perfectly with the Hills Promontories and Rivers thereof running down the Island green with Grass towards the sea side with Rocks and Clifts neer the Land not unlike in all Circumstances to the Islands of Feroe but perceiving no other Islands by it they found themselves to be deceived and therefore made to the North and after some sailing found the Islands of Feroe and the Master related that according to his conjecture they had found that Land eleven Leagues from Feroe at south east If there had been any steady Island in that place it would have been found longago those that sail to this Island often sailing by that place and all Ships that come from the South and will go to the North of Heâ—land directing always their Course to Feroe and therefore do necessarily pass by it so that if that Island had been fast it would long since have been discovered The Island of Enckhupson found and so named by the Hollanders which lay under the 65 degree of Northern Latitude 45 Leagues North VVest of Feroe seems to confirm that opinion since it is no more to be found I leave herein every one in his own opinion whether such a mass of hard Rocks could Float and now again sink If it were of the nature of a Pumill Stone it might very well do so but then it would ever Float as Floating Islands in fresh water that are grown together with roots and covered with a little loose Eearth deckt with grass The Inhabitants besides rehearse a Fable of Suinoe that it was at first a Floating Island and believe that if one could come to the Island so often seen and cast Steel thereon it would remain fast which agreeth with the superstition of Duckers or Divers that lay Steel upon what they find at the bottom of the Sea that Spirits may not remove it when they are hoysed up which otherwise they find to be removed Many also tell much of these Floating Islands and believe there are such in Nature but I cannot give faith to any of them nor to any ones superstition If this were not described by the proprieties of many Islands I would say it were a Mountain of see that came Floating from Greenland which if it be not I believe stedfastly it is some deception or illusion of the Devil who is in himself a thousand fold Artisicer for he hath often before deluded them in many other manners it being almost every mans talk in the Land how formerly Satan in the dark when they were risen early in the morning in Winter as they yet always do to go a Fishing did appear to them in the Figure of a Boat with Fishermen and all instruments belonging to Fishing did speak with them gave them Fish baits and told them where there was good Fishing to be found and many can yet relate Satans words when he discover'd them where there was good ground for Fishing If Satan could then in the Figure of a Boat delude the Inhabitants he may also do it now in the Figure of an Island possibly to allure the Children of the unbelievers to him and bring them into mischief This Province of Feroe with the Islands belonging to it above named stretcheth it self in its greatest length from North to South 60 miles and in breadth 40 miles or a little above having at East Stat in Norway at South East Orkeney and Scotland at South Ireland at West the South end of Greenland at North West Island The height of the Pole or Latitude of Feroe according to the supputation of all is at the South end 61 degrees 15 m. and at the North end 62 degrees 10 m. though I have found the Land according to the height of Thors Haven at 62 degrees 2 m. which I have several times taken to lye something more Northwards I have as much as possible sought the Longitude and have found the length from the Meridian of Euraniburgh 20 degrees 20 min. which makes one hour 21 min. so that the Longitude of Thors Haven is 16 degrees 20 min. reckoning from the Pico of Teneriffe in the Canary Islands if I can discover it better in time I shall notifie it where it will be convenient And since the Land lyeth under 62 degrees there is but little night in Summer not fully 5 hours When the Sun is in the Sign of Cancer there is no night perceived for a whole month because the Sun doth not go 18 degrees under the Horizon whence it comes that in the middest of VVinter they have but little day though the Crepusculum and Diluculum are something more longer here then elsewhere especially when the Sun is in the South or Northerly Signs for when it is at highest and makes the longest day after 62 degrees Latitude it riseth at 2 of the Clock and 7 minutes and goeth down at 9 of the clock and 53 m. and then the day is 19 hours and 46 min. long and the night from Sun-setting untill it riseth 4 hours and 14 minutes during which time there is no difference to be perceived between day and night the Sun being then but 4 degrees 29 min. under the Horizon and cannot therefore make any difference for a whole month there being then also but little difference in the Suns declination whence it comes that we have no considerable might untill the 17th of August when the Sun first comes 18 degrees under the Horizon which is its right depth so that one can perceive nothing of its splendour Now the Sun rising in the mid'st of VVinter at 9 of the Clock 53 min. and setting at 2 a Clock and 7 m. and there being therefore but 4 hours and 14 minutes of day The Crepusculum and Diluculum add much to its length since one can perceive something of the day in the mid'st of VVinter at 8 a clock in the morning and at 4 a clock at night whence it comes that they have not in Feroe such tedious long nights as one might well imagine These Islands of Feroe consisting of a hard Stone there is found here and there a Loadstone therein on which if one setteth a Compass it will vary very much in
stilleth it self so that the Inhabitants dare row out on Fishing There is nevertheless an extraordinary great motion every where at Sea so that sometimes they are as it were lifted up to the Heaven and presently come down as it were to the Abyssm as David saith Psal 127. which motion of the Sea they call Alda and certifie that when they are sunk in it they can see no land though it be above 300 Fathoms high As for the motion of Tides themselves they perfect their course according to the Moon here as well as in other places where there are ordinary tides by an ebb of six hours and a Flood of the like space of time Yet their course is different according as they beat against the Rocks and points of Land and as the ground is under them whence it comes that the particular streams alter their course and run directly against the general Tides such streams being called here Ider Concerning the general Currents here the Seaman that is not much acquainted with the Land may have this for information In the first place where the streams run even between the land there is a principal Current as between Suderoefiord Staapenfiord Kalsoefierd Skuofiord and Fugloefiord When the Current runneth here to the West it is called West-fall and when it runneth to the East East-fall but in Kalsoefiord the East-fall runneth Northward and the West-fall Southward because of the points of Land Secondly it doth not run with equall rapidity during the six hours but its course can be divided into three parts In the first third part it runneth prerty fast changing and augmenting its force more and more In the second third part it is very rapid and is here called Braaddew In the last third part it loseth its force by little and little till it comes to turn and then the stream is as it were half dead In the third place the Tide is not allways equally strong but it is strongest in the new and full Moon three days before and three days after losing after of its force till the first and last quarter and it renews its strength again from the first and last quarter till the new and full Moon though according to the Moons vertue it be neither always equally strong but in the Spring and Summer when the Sun acteth most on the earth so that the warmth reflecteth thence and in the Dog days when the air is hottest by reason of the heat of the Canicule it is stronger in every change of the Moon then it useth to be in Autum or Winter from which effect may doubtless be concluded that the Sun together with the Moon and the inward warmth of the Earth doth produce the motion of the Tides For the 4 th when the stream runneth in the Inlets at E. or when it is East-fall it is then West-fall by the land and in the Iders and so quite contrary so that when the Master of a Ship cannot advance his voyage in the middle of the Inlets he must seek his advantage by the Iders for they stretch themselves in some places a mile from the Land Fifthly the Tide beginneth that is the water riseth at West fall and when that is out and it is Braaddew it is Floud or highest water that is West-fall in all the principal streams of every Inlet but afterwards cometh the East-fall from the Land beginning thereby by little and little to grow low water but how high or low the water riseth or falleth in Feroe cannot be exactly described there being a great inequallity in it both by reason of the changes of the seasons of the year and of the Moon wherein the streams are strongest Notwithstanding the stream ariseth much higher at west of the Land then at East usually seven Fathoms at West and but three at East In the sixth place it is very needful for a Pilot to know when it is high water or West-fall in Feroe not that he might thereby run securely over Rocks and grounds for he hath no great need of that in Feroe but that he may know how the stream runneth and advance his voyage accordingly all Marriners having erred therein till this day even the Sea expert Hollanders who in their Sea Mirrour write that a South and North Moon maketh highest water in Feroe Those that have traded in this Country and in their Voyage have taken notice of the Tides have found it otherwise and believe quite contrary that an East and West Moon giveth highest water wherein they doe not much erre but I have enquired about this business of old understanding men who nevertheless take little notice of highest water nor know wherefore it is so observable but only note their West and East fall which they nevertheless only mark by Flood and low water not understanding what an East or West Moon signifieth and they say altogether that the second day after New or Full Moon it is perfect West-fall that is highest water at six of the Clock in the morning and East-fall or Low-water at twelve of the Clock at Noon whence an expert man can conclude that a North East Moon and a South West make highest water the first day the Moon beginneth to fill that is at five a Clock and fifteen minutes in the morning and then they have highest water or West fall in new or full Moon in Feroe a North East and a South West Moon making highest water in all the principal Streams above mentioned In the other particular Streams it is high water at different hours in some before and in some after the ordinary time for in Leerviigs-fiord an East North East and West South West Moon maketh highest water that is when it is four a Clock and a half in the Morning In Nolsoe fiord an North East and South West Moon that is at three a Clock and in Westmans haven and Myggenessfiorda North West and South East Moon that is at nine a Clock in the forenoon so that here is a strange difference in the rising of the water between these many Islands which cometh altogether by reason of the points of Land I dare not undertake to explicate the several Streams with their Iders there being often in one Inlet five different Currents that run against one another so that I verily believe if the Learned Philosopher Aristotle were here himself to undertake that work he would find no less difficulty therein then in his Euripe Nevertheless I cannot forbear writing something of the little stream between Stromoe and Osteroe which seemeth very strange Though that stream on both sides of the water be wholly still and dead and there be a very short way over the grounds between both Lands it runneth nevertheless forward and backward according to the ordinary Changes of the Moon so swiftly that it is impossible to row against it but one must expect till it returneth Whereof the cause is this There goeth neither Ebb nor Tide at South of the stream but at
before and at the same time that huge floud which striketh up high in the Air against the Land We might also discern that by the Suns effect on the Earth for it shineth hotter in the afternoon then before Mid-day not that its heat is then in it self greater then before but because the Sun must in the forenoon drive away the cold from the Horizon but in the afternoon produceth its heat without any hinderance This explication doth very well agree with the name which Seamen give to that time of the Tide calling it Spring as if it sprung by its own force and would not be directed by the Moon Secondly it is plainly proved that the Moon governeth the Sea by the Quadruple motion of it twice to the West and twice to the East in 24 hours and 48. min. according to the course of the Moon though our Master Herbinius will not grant that not thinking there is such a thing in nature as that the Moon by Antipathy could now in 6 hours and 12 min. drive the Sea from it self and afterwards by a Sympathy in six other hours attract that again whilest nothing of all this happeneth by Antipathy in the opinion of Herbinius For according to these principles the Sea is in a perpetual motion to and fro as water in a Vessel between its limits against which if it beats it cannot get over but must appease its proud waves and fall back again which will last as long as the world continues But the God of order that has created and ordained all things according to weight measure and number hath made the Moon to govern thereover not only as a moving cause with the rest in the manner aforesaid but also regulateth its motion according to its own seasons and the Moon having two Motions the one from East to West together with the Sun and other Planets and Stars the other from West to East by which it moveth every day usually 12 degrees from and to the Sun which maketh 48 min. of time so there can be no Antipathy between the Moon and the Motion of the Sea to what side soever it turneth it self And God having made the distance so broad between the Continents that it can be six hours falling back from one Land to another which it would perhaps perform a great deal sooner if it might follow its own propension nay it might well in its fury and rapidity overwhelm the whole Globe of the Earth by reason of the aforesaid causes therefore the Moon is made to hold back by its course that of the Sea that it may not perfect its motion from one Coast to another in six hours or less but in six hours 12 m. which maketh in the four Tides of a day 48. m. so that the Moon governeth the Sea as a man doth a running Horse sometimes putting him forwards sometimes making him go slowly at other times giving him the Bitt and sometimes keeping him back and notwithstanding maketh him so run that it cometh to his Stage at the appointed time This is my poor opinion concerning Ebb and Floud grounded upon my own experience and dilligent enquiry whereby having written it in our Danish Tongue I would specially give Seamen occasion to enquire into nature wheresoever they come after this manuduction which if they do I doubt not but they shall make such observations that this explication will thereby be so confirmed that it will not be easily refuted We will here transport us from the salt Sea to the fresh Water on Land God can never be sufficiently praised that hath so wonderfully and abundantly blessed that Country with well tasting and wholesome Fountain Water Springing some Fathoms high on the top of the highest Mountains which in the greatest drought runneth constantly almost every where so that there is scarce a Cottage but there runneth along a little Spring water or a great Brook gathered of many such Rivelets whose water is generally colder in Summer then in Winter though they have there no healing Fountain for many diseases as in other Countreys except one in Osteroe near Gote which yet is not much made use of this water is of that nature that it is much warmer in Winter then other Water and if one will keep it a whole year it continueth without corruption One might it seems reasonably conclude that since Brimstone is hot and keepeth Wine from corruption that there may be Brimstone in the rock through which the water floweth whereby it is tinged with this quality and therefore there is doubtless a great vertue hidden in that water for the use of man if it were as convenient to come to as it is discomodious Since all what seemeth strange in the beings that God hath created when reason cannot comprehend it is presently taken for a miracle though it be an effect of nature one may also justly hold this for admirable that God by his wonderful wisdome and power hath so ordained it that the mortal body aggravates the soul and the earthly Tabernacle oppresseth the wandering senses so that they scarce reach the things which are on earth and hardly perceive what it hath under hand as the wise man speaketh in the ninth Chapter of his Book of Wisdome whence cometh that many of the Sons of Men that will not trouble their Brains with such deep thoughts do meerly consider such effects of nature as wonders others give themselves no thoughts at all about them making use of them as unreasonable creatures others to whom God and nature hath given more light of understanding do not persist in searching the secrets of nature so as to tire themselves therewith Amongst these secrets of nature there are not the least but the most in water namely its course and its ascent to the top of hills and its flowing down from thence The strange stream between Boetia and the Island of Negropont called Euripe which runneth in and out 7 times in a day troubled so much that accute Philosopher Aristotle in his deep Speculations to comprehend the cause thereof that he as Historians believe took his Death thereupon The said Aristotle hath also taken great pains to understand the natural cause of the Springing of Fountains but he hath been deceived in the invention of his reasoning Scaliger having long since refuted him But the Wise King Solomon in Eccles 1. 7. teacheth us whence the water Springs come and what is their natural cause all waters saith he flow to the Sea from whence they flow again but he teacheth us not the manner how it happeneth nor the cause whereby the water can Ascend from the Sea some hundreds of Fathoms high through the Mountains as it doth generally here on Feroe Magirus in his Physilogia lib. 4 c. 6. bringeth in the opinion of Scaliger in this manner although we know not the cause of this natural thing yet we judge that the water doth not mount up in a direct line but through many turnings and there
the Sea vapours having further inquired after this business and found that the Sheep grew first spotted about their legs afterwards on their thighs then under their Bellyes and finally all over Wherefore the cause is in the earth whether it be Brimstone or Salt Peter which both are found there that causeth it I leave to the judgement of others The riches of the Inhabitants doth consist in their Sheep for those that have many of them though few grow rich thereby those means being very casual for when there cometh a hard Winter and Sheep dye they are almost all equally rich Besides Sheep God hath plentifully blessed the Land with several sorts of Fowle whereof the greatest part serveth for the food of man and are taken every year in great numbers a part of them being Land Fowles and the other part Sea fowles whereof some fly away towards Winter and some stay here the whole year over those that fly away are a kind of Land Fowl being a manner of Snâ—pe called Lofver and Spofver and some water Fowle Those that stay here continually are some profitable as Doves Stares Grellings and Snow Fowle which is seen but one time of the year namely towards the Spring VVhen there cometh sharp Frost and Snow and never else though they tarry continually in the Land and keep themselves on top of the highest Mountains the Damageable ones are Owles Sparrow-Hawkes Crows and Ravens which last doth a great deal of damage on young Lambs and weak Sheep wherefore they are much hated and there hath been an ordinance in the Land which is yet sometimes observed that every man that roweth in a Boat must bring at St. Olaus Tide every year into the Session-house the Beak of a Raven which Beaks are laid on a heap and burn'd and he that hath brought none must pay a Raven-fine that is for every one that hath neglected it one skin which makes two pence half penny Amongst those Ravens there are found some white though few but those that are half white and half black are fit when they are taken young and have the Tongue string cut to be taught to speak I have made a notable experiment upon a young white Raven whole Tongue string was cut and yet I had no thought of teaching him but calling usually in the morning upon my Boy whose Name was Erasmus and the Raven cominually in the morning hearkning to that word Erasmus begun at last to call out Erasmus before the chamber where the Boy lay forming its voice exactly after mine the Boy hearing it answered anon Master and therewith arose and came into the Chamber to know what I would have but I telling him that I had not called him he went to bed again but was again called in the same manner and was so deceived by the Raven several Mornings till we perceived it was the Ravens voice and nevertheless the Boy was often since deceived thereby not being in a long time able to discern whether it was I that called or the Raven When I perceived that the said Raven could speak I begun purposely to teach it and as long as I would inform it would not go from before me though it were the space of two hours and what I taught it in the day time it repeated early in the morning putting the Syllables together till it could at last speak out the whole word as children do when they learn to spell in the Schools This Raven was at last killed without my knowledge for the mischief it did Besides here cometh a Fowl with half a cloven foot that liveth both on Land and Water called a Teale and in Norway a Sea pye it is a Fowle as big as a Crow having a yellow long round and obâ—use bill it is the Ravens enemy for being swift in its flight it flyeth hastily to the Raven striking it with its stump Beak so that the Raven cryeth out wherefore the Raven often hideth it self from it whence it comes that the Country-men make much of the Teile and will not suffer it to be destroyed because it driveth Ravens away amongst Water Fowles some are here continually seen as many sorts of Ducks and Plovers Eiders Maws and Teisters A Teister is a good Bird to eat it changeth its colour in Winter and becometh Grey the Eider cock is brown as the Hen when she is young but when he is old he groweth almost white and is called Eider-blick from this Fowle is gotten Eider down which the Eider plucks off from its Breast and layeth in its nest about the Eggs when it hatcheth them and when they are come out and are fled away with their dame this Downe is taken up from the Nest being then full of Moss and Straw wherefore it is dryed and cleansed over a Basket the Down which is pluckt off at other times from the Eider is good for nothing for it is fat and rotteth Here is besides seen a strange water Fowl called Imbrim that is never found on the Land the Inhabitants take it to be the Halcyon or the Kings Fisher but it doth not agree with the description which Francius hath in his Historia Animalium sacra Chap 17. for he writeth that the Kings Fisher is no bigger then a Sparrow and is blew with other of its qualities that do not at all agree with the properties of this Fowl for this is bigger then a Goose having a long Neck and a pretty long Beak it is grey on the back checquer'd with white spots its neck is also grey something whitish down towards the breast having a white ring about the middle of the neck The cause wherefore it is thought to be the Kings Fisher is they have heard and read that the Kings Fisher hatcheth its young ones on the Sea which they believe the Imbrim doth also since it is never found on Land and can neither come upon it for its feet stand too much back and are so weak that it cannot go with them besides its wings are so little that it cannot fly therewith In the third place there are two holes one under each of its wings capable to hold an Egg wherein they suppose it hatcheth its eggs till the young ones come out neither is it ever seen with more or less then two young ones which conceit seems not unreasonable it being possible that it might be of a larger proportion in cold Countreys then in hot it is often seen near the Land in Harbours when it is either bad weather or like to be so and then it cryes out so that one presently perceiveth its arrival if a man waveth a white linnen to them the young ones will easily be allured to Land that one may shoot them but the old ones are more wary Here cometh also a water Fowle in Summer called Liomen not unlike the Imbrim in bigness and voice its legs hang also back so that it cannot go and its wings are so little that it can hardly fly wherefore when