Saint Vincent Upon the North-side the streight of Magellan are abundance of winglesse birds that live in holes in the ground fat and good meat they called Pinguins Sir Francis Drake found many good Harbours in the Streight where good fresh waters came but they are not easy to enter for the strong and turbulent windes that raigne there The Land on both sides lies exceeding high and banked with inaccessible Mountains particularly on the South and East where they are ever covered with snow The breadth in some places is of two three or foure leagues in the narrowest of one or of two musket shots 'T is excessive cold and never without snow and ice the trees notwithstanding ever green and laden with fruit From this Streight by Cape Foendo and the White Cape they ascend again into the silver river where begins Brasile in 35 degrees beyond the line reaching to the River of Amazons under the Line This silver river or Paravai Parana and Paraguay disgorging altogether like Cordillera de serra Muada in Peru and Charcas over-flow the whole Countrey so as the Inhabitants for that time live in Canoes fastned to Trees till the floud be retired within the banks At the mouth t is about 35. leagues over but further within the Land fifty being streightened towards the Mouth by reason of the Mountains and compassing a number of Islands this River rises near the Town of Plata towards Potossi whence it takes name Others derive it from the great lake called Eupania where the other Rivers take birth as Maragnon but it should rather be Parana which afterwards falls into the silver River The first that came within the mouth of this River was Americus Vesputius sent by the King of Portugall to discover Brasile in the yeare fifteen hundered and one and supposing it a passage from the South sea to the Moluccas satisfied himselfe and returned without looking farther After that in the yeare fifteen hundered and twelve the King of Spain sent one John Solis who named it Solis In fifteen hundered twenty five Sebastian Ganor made a farther advance up the River and by reason of the silver he found amongst the people or rather because the head of it lies near the Town Plata towards Potossi called it the silver River or Plata The Inhabitants along the River are of large stature long-lived light and nimble of foot use bows and slings in warr and speak the Patagonick Language or the Chicaan of later times the Spaniards have ascended this River as farr as Charcas and Colao The other river I mentioned is above fifty leagues in the mouth and rises amongst the Mountains of Cuntisuya near Cusco the Indians call it Apurimac principall and Capacmaya the Prince of Rivers It runs from South to North above five hundred leagues from his source at the equinoctiall Then it turns to the East for 650. leagues in a right line and goes with windings and turns for above a thousand five hundred leagues two miles to the league This is the greatest River upon the earth which at his infusion keeps the Sea fresh for many leagues first discovered by the Pinsons of Siville in the year 1500. then Orellana sailed it from the source almost to the end in 1543. 't is filled with severall Islands and the Tide mounts above a hundred leagues They find Meragnon to be seventy leagues Southward distant from Orellana that rises from the great Peruian lakes which descend from the Mountains covered with snow others put them both in one it may be falling so close together into the Sea they may joyn waters and Orellana bear the name of both CHAP. XVI Of Brasile the Conquest of it and of the Brasilians c. BRasile is a large Province of America appertaining to the Crown of Portugall extending from 25. degrees to the second from North to South some ten degrees in breadth from East to West from fort Para in the mouth of the great River of Amazons to Plata Maragnon bounds it Northward in two degrees Plata South in thirty five on the East the excelse and inaccessible Mountains of Peru and on the East the Ethiopian or Atalantick Sea as likewise on the North. For the Country the benignity and sweetnesse of the air and water and the fertility of soyle is a miracle in such a Climate and temperature which renders the Inhabitants of so healthfull and long life and though the Climate be under the Torrid there come freshgales from the Sea that moderate it so as it becomes a delicate habitation having every morning some mists and dews which the Sun afterwards dissolves into air Here you meet with nothing but fair open fields pleasant hills fertile mountains fresh valleys green meadows abundance of woods rivers and fountains of excellent waters with infinite plenty of all sorts of trees plants fruits grain cattle sugar balm In a word 't is for necessaries and delights the fullest Country on the earth Of strange Creatures there is the Cerigon in shape and bigness like a Fox betwixt yellow and gray whose belly is like a purse or pocket wherein she saves her young ones when she is hunted another the Portuguese call Pereza for his slow gate in fifteen dayes not going a stones cast nor can any force drive him faster he feeds on nothing but leaves of trees and 't is some dayes work for him to climb up and come down There are Camelions whereof I have spoken in another place Betwixt Brasile and the Cape of bona Esperanza there is a Gulph of 1200. leagues formidable and furious for winds and tempests The Countrey is divided into nine Governments or Captainships wherein are 7. Colonies of Portugueses along the coast that is Tamaraco Pernanbuco Todos santos or San Saluador Puerto seguro espiritu santo Paraibi Genero and others the Capes of S. Augustine and St. Vincent the River St. Francis c. The first discoverers were Vespusius the Pinions Lopez and Cabral about 1500. Pedro Aluarez Cabral made the principall discovery in 1500. being sent by King Emanuel for the East Indies but a tempest cast him here and he named it the countrey of St. Chrosse and the place he landed on Porto Seguro Cabral for that time contented himself with taking possession and the Kings of Portugall being full of concernments in Africa and the East neglected new conquests till Emanuell not long before his death sent thither one Gonzalo Cotello who sailed on along the coast not without trouble and danger and returned without any advantage Afterwards King John the â— sent Christopher Jago who discovered about 1100. leagues upon the coast amongst others the Bay of Todos Santos where in the River Paraguasu he found two French vessels traficking with the Natives which shewes the French men traded with this Nation before the Portugueses had any knowledge of it This Jago barbarously sunk their vessels and murthered all the men done like the Spaniard who though he cannot
draughts of the principal townes in the Indies Persia and Tartary and had leave of the Vice-roy to draw the plots of as many more as he would his design being to compile them in a large volume and present it to the King of Spain but I understood afterwards that returning for Europe he died upon the sea of Scarbut and for that his Comerade had disgusted him he would not give him his memorials and draughts but by Testament bequeathed them to the Captain of the ship he was in Joseph Grogne a Portuguese esteemed a Jew though he dissembled the Christian The Memorials was a great losse for besides the draughts there was abundance of remarkable singularities he had noted in his travailes whereof the Captain made small account for that he had written them in French which he understood not and withall in an imperfect and bad character But the plots and draughts were excellently done and besides the deliniation of the towns he had drawn the inhabitants and their garments to the life I drew some my self though rudely which is not hard to compasse THE SECOND PART OF THE TRAVAILES OF VINCENT le BLANC IN AFRICA CHAP. I. A generall Description of AFRICA HAving left the East Indies as I said in the former part of this work towards the end and having taken the road of Africa Westward the first land we came on was the Isle of S. Laurence Before I relate the particulars either of this Isle or other places I have seen in Africa I conceive it not improper to draw a general Description of this third part of the Universe as well for that I have traversed it from one end to the other in three severall voyages as to shew the errour of modern Geographers who in their Maps of Africa have left out more then fifty kingdoms or Provinces of note as I sometime made appear to the late Mr. du Vair then chief President of the Province and afterwards Keeper of the Great Seale of France And first to take it from the streight of Gibraltar or rather from Porto Farina towards Tunes to the Cape Bona Esperanza the greatest extent from North to South there is found to be seventy degrees which are above two thousand leagues And from Cape-Verd to Cape de Guardafu or Guardafy from East to West there is near upon eighty Degrees which are about two thousand five hundred leagues of Teritory comprehending a space most prodigious such as our Europe is a very small matter in comparison of the greatest part lying betwixt the two Tropicks the rest on this side and beyond For from the kingdom of Budonell passing through the Negres lyes Eastward the Empire of Tombut or Tombotu by the Arabians called Iza containing thirteen large kingdomes watered by the famous River Nigrite or Niger with Senega a part of Guinee Melli and many other Countreyes as far as the Cape Verdi The people here so savage they scarce know how to speak so sordid they eat beast-entrailes uncleansed and so brutish they are more like ravenous dogs then men of reason The people toward the Western Coast are better civilized in the Provinces of Gavaga Azemay Galata by the Arabians called Abugazai or Zenaga and Azanaga and on the Coast of Cape-blanc where they drive a great trade in white salt Senega where the River Niger waters large territories abounds in Crocodills and fish with which it furnishes Budonel Meli Gago Guber Agades Cano Gazena or Cassena Zegzog Zanfara Burneo or Borno Gangara Gaoga and others where it reaches The kingdome of Gangara contains seven others as that of Borneo nine who to gain a single dominion have often come to Battell but in the end satiated with blood were constrained to agree again Then have you the kingdomes or Temian Daouma Medra Benin Gorbani Giafiar or Biafar Amas or Amasen which towards the South fronts Damula and Vangue lying towards the Zaire From Senega towards the North we find Scombaya Musmuda Zenera or Havia Gumea Guzula Hea Sus with others called the Whites of Africa who speak not Arabian but use the tongue of Songay as they term it Likewise the usuall Language in Nueâ—edia through the kingdomes of Terga Gaziga Lemta and Berdoa These people have a black or gray cloth hanging from their Turbith over their face that while they eat their mouth may not be seen which were a great incivility There are moreover the Countries of Guzulan Belu Benin Belbee Toga Afar Alates Crin Beni Gumi Muzali Abubenam Zuir Cazai Dura Zinzaler and others The vast kingdome of Fezor Morocco contains Agar or Agal Elebat Eris Geres Elcanus Elegazar or Elgezair with the kingdomes of Tâ—nes Bugie Constantine â—ipoli Telensin Tremesen Telche Teâ—esâ—e c. There is here a River which issuing from the bowels of Africa passes through many countries and threads Fesse where it seâ— three hundred and threescore mill-wheels of extraordinary compasse at work and gliding from thence under Miquinâ— and Elcassour throwes it self in sea at Mamocre under Arache little distant from Arzille Towards Tombut and Meli on the other side Senega lyes the wide-stretcht kingdome of Gago the King whereof is highly potent compelling in a manner adoration from his people who how great soever speak not to him but on knees holding in their hand a cup of sand which they cast on their head while they prostrate before him and retire without tergiversation He affords not audience to his subjects but at certain houres morning and evening and when they are found guilty in any crime he chastises them with confiscation of goods and sale of their wives and children for slaves to strangers The two great Rivers Niger or Gambra and Senega Wash a very great part of the country overflowing in the same sort and times as Nile doth Budomel which is in like manner a River of the same denomination as the country it travailes through unites it self with Gambra and the kingdome of Melli is upon a branch of Senega environed with dismal deserts and impenetrable Forests This river on the North and South is banked with the Deserts of Gilolef and Jalofel on the West it hath the vast Forest of Abacara and Gago on the West Next you come to Guber Mount Chigi or Gigi or Sierra de Meleguete then Guinga or Guinee or Guinoy These people are all black like quenched coles Salt in the kingdome of Gago is more precious then gold which there abounds as likewise Fruit and Cattle Guber abutts Northward on Cano Eastward on Zeger or Zegzeg a woody and desert country peopled with an infinite heard of beasts In these Deserts you meet with Cassena then drawing towards the Cape of bona Esperonza You enter upon the kingdomes of Benin and Zanfara under the Equatour well inhabited containing in length two hundred and forty leagues where from mid May to the middle of August it rains for the most part and almost constantly from noon till mid-night as I have
dresse in several manners the fruits excell and chiefly the Melons called there Dormous admirable in taste which they eat not but in Summer because they are excessive cooling and as it were freeze the stomack being neverthelesse not ill of digestion or causing chollicks what quantity soever one eats They are for the most part Idolaters except some Mahometans who dissemble their Religion for which cause the Prince hath but a sinister look for them This Prince hath a high veneration from his people who subjugate their shoulders for his support burn perfumes to him when he appeares in publick as they do likewise for all Princes or Potentates who come to visit them But indeed this Prince is most laudable in this particular that he himself will take cognizance of whatsoever is acted by his Governours and Magistrates and if any one impleads other before him it behoves him on the price of his head to be assured of the fact When a complaint is made to him immediately he sends for the party accused If he be a Noble man when he arrives at the Palace gate he gives notice to the Officers of his presencce by the sound of a Cornet who cause him to ascend single before the Prince who with great patience hears hoth parties in presence of his Council If â—oth are found culpable the inferiour is remitted to the ordinary Justice who punisheth him with stripes of cudgell the Grandee is punished by fine But if the Noble-man prove only guilty the King leads him to his chamber where being disrobed prostrate on the ground craving pardon he receives from the Kings own hand certain stripes with a cudgell more or fewer in proportion to the crime and services he hath done Which done he revests kisses the Kings feet and with all humility thanks him for the favour received Then without further shew of any thing attends the King to his Hall who in presence of all the Court gives him a dismission and recommends â—o him administration of Justice to his people causes him to be accompanied out of town with ordinary ceremony so as what hath passed is not perceived by any and this Grandee returns as well content as if he had received a rich treasure The charges of suit are defrayed out of the Kings Coffers or if he please by the criminall without the knowledge of any one When as this King who by his subjects is esteemed a Saint makes a progresse into the Country he is mounted on a horse richly trapp'd and going out of his Palace passes over a new kill'd heifer where the people raise a loud outcry and instantly go view the entrails of the beast to judge by sorcery if this voyage shall be successeful or no. When he makes entrance into any town all the fairest Ladies walk before him with censers of perfumes burning in their hands some singing his encomiums others melodiously playing on Basons with fine nods endeavouring to render themselves as complaisant as possibly they can To conclude their territories confine upon the country of Zangueliac and Ethiopia Aquiloa is a Kingdome with an Isle and a Town of the same appellation where the Portugals have a Fort the Governour whereof drives a main trade by means of the vessels he sends for the Indies The King of Quiloa was Lord heretofore of Mozambique All these are countries of Zanguebar or Zanzibar which comprehends that large extent of ground which lyes between the Oriental and Occidental seas of the people called Cafres Zanzibar properly speaking is an Island which faces directly Monbaze but the country I intend to speak of is Zanguebar named so by the Arabians because in their language this word Zangue signifies black and this country for the greatest part is inhabited by Blacks Mark Pol esteems it an Island of above a thousand leagues in circuit being water'd with many rivers making as it were an Island Concerning the Town of Quiloa 't was built as Tradition sayes above six hundred years past by one Hali son of Hocen King of Siras in Persia who came to live there Women here go exceeding well arrayed richly adorned with Jewels and Ivory bracelets quaintly wrought which upon death of husband and allies they break in signe of sorrow as the men forbear to eat and shave their hair as I before recounted of the East Indies CHAP. V. Of Mozambique the nature of the Inhabitants Cefala Mines of gold in Ophir Belugara HAving passed by Viada where the people for the best part dwell upon the river Dumes or Humes since the vast inundation of this and other rivers in the country upon the day of Saint Abiblicane we entered the kingdome of Mozambique this River runs towards the East passing by the foot of the Mountain Zet out of which issues one of the heads of Nile the other from the Mount Betzoan which ancients called the Mountains of the Moon streaming towards the points Maestro and Tramontanus The branch which runs Southward is divided not far from the head by a rock into two streams the one watering the land of Sefala the other running to disgorge it self in the sea right over against the Isle of Saint Laurence Mozambique is a small Island hard upon the firm land with a Haven and a Fort of the Portugals within fifteen degrees of the Line 'T was subject to the King of Quiloa till the Portugals became Masters where now in their voyages from Portugal to the Indies is one of their securest harbours to rest and refresh themselves The greatest part of the Inhabitants who are all Blacks professe Mahometisme the rest Idolatry They upon the firm land are absolute brutes going stark naked their privities only covered with a cotten cloth Adorers of the Sun like them of Sephala speaking the same language as they their traffick is Gold Ivory and Ebony their chief food the flesh of Elephants They delight much to parget their bodies with a reddish earth perswading themselves that so dawb'd the world shewes not finer men The better sort paint themselves with a certain Folliage which to make azure they use Indico and other compounds There are amongst them who bore their lips like the Americans enchasing some delicate stone Some say this countâ—y in times past depended upon Ethiopia and and 't was hither Salomon sent his Fleets for gold and that the Queen of Saba stil'd her self likewise Queen of Mozambique and Melindo moreover that their speech resembles in some sort that of Senega Though to speak truth 't is more likelihood Salomon fetched his gold from the mines of Sefala which are not farre thence or may be from the East Indies Touching the country of Cefala or Sefala and Zinguebar which takes up in a sort the whole breadth of that end of Africa even to the Cape of Bona Esperanza which coast is inhabited with Blacks called Cafares or Cafres they appertain to the great Empire of Monomotapa of which we are to speak presently In particular
are two more Capor and Tanabasira descending from a high Mountain called Machamala where stands a great rock of Chrystal with divers Pyramids of the same hanging from the top downwards almost entirely in the air two or three spans distant from the ground which seems a great wonder for touching it with the least fillip it sounds like a bell They say 't is a congelation made so by the heat of the Sun which melting the foot of the Rock left these points hanging in the air 'T is for a truth that certain Magicians on a feast carried their Idols thither whither they ran from all sides to the sacrifice two thousand notwithstanding lost their lives and the Priests in the first place for making their sacrifice and suffumigation at the foot of the Chrystall rock the roof at which these Pyramids hung shook so as they broke and crushed to pieces the greater part of them The Devil having not power to hinder the extraordinarie heate of the Sacrifices from dissolving the congelations since which time no one comes near this Chrystall grotte Something farther North there are other great Rivers which render this Province of Serrilyonna as a pack of Islands particularly over against the mouth of one of them there are two very pleasant and good the one called Toro where are rocks called St. Anne which bear pearl oysters yet they go not to fish for them by reason of Sea-monsters which have swallowed some who ventured In one degree to the South lye the Islands Dolos and Tansente inhabited with Dates Sugar-canes Citrons and abundance of Cattell covered with Rice Millet and long Pepper To conclude these Blacks are governed by a King and have Judges who administer justice to them whom they call Foncos At certain times the King in a various coloured robe comes into a room hang'd with mat set round with seats for Counsellours whom they call Seitequi and Advocates to plead for both parties The Counsellors speak their opinion and the King gives sentence which is immediately executed When the King of Guinalla dies who governs many kingdoms there go twelve Seitequi in long gowns of divers colours made of feathers with twelve trumpetters before them sounding the more dolefully by reason of a certain skin they make use of for rendering the note more sharp and proclaim his death whereupon every one comes out of his house mussled in a white cloath while the allyes of the deceased assemble to elect another They take the corps and wash it burn the bowels before their Idol and preserve the ashes to be embalmed with his body His Funerals are not celebrated till the next moon when the people assemble from all parts of his dominion bringing balm incense ambergris white and black musk and other aromaticks to burn and perfume his body which then six principall persons in robes of white silke bear to his Sepulcher flutes and hoboyes sounding mournfully and attended with a concourse of people cloathed in white cloth sadly singing and lamenting The Princes who are in election are mounted on horses caparisoned with white and themselves cloathed with the like The corps laid in the monument well closed and cimented they return to the Palace to feast and make good cheer On the morrow is the election of a new King and as they say 't is made according to divine inspiration without favour or affection Then four Bacharin or twelve Seitequi go to his house bind him and lay him upon a Palanquin four carry him to the Palace where the chief Bachir unbinds him gives him three rude lashes with a whip he being on his knees makes a speech of remonstrance to him then takes him by the beard or ear and sayes to him If I deliver you this Scepter will you bring such a shame upon me as to be a Tyrant to your people whereto he answers nec Bachir that is no my Lord. The other then striking harder sayes do you promise this by the living God he answers Nec Bachis Ameleichina which is before the Almighty God I promise it Then they vest him in Royall robes put a triple Scepter in his right hand a lance in his left then that person casts himself at his feet and craves his pardon this done he goes in triumph through the Town where all rejoyce and bring him presents CHAP. I. The Authours voyage in the West Indies The description length and distances of America THe coast of America taken intirely as it lies on the North Sea from end to end containes near upon six thousand leagues as I have found it in two severall voyages the first when I went from Marseilles in the Salamander laded by one Boudar under the command of James Varin and the other with John Andes who carried me from Marseilles to Cadiz This new world is a continent from the Northern Sea to the Southern and Northward extends to Groneland Island c. from Island they esteem it 200. leagues to Ronevado thence 110. leagues to Cape Maluas the Countrey of Labrador opposite to the Isles of Divels frō Maluas to the cape of Marcos 60. to cape Belgado 50. This coast is of 200. leagues in right line lying on the same bound and buts upon the River St. Laurence where Captain Velasco a Spaniard landed who found it to be a good air the Countrey well peopled and full stocked with cattle in the middle of the River he went upon an Island so covered with pidgeons they could not passe for treading on them He sayes the people called Piperons were giants of ten foot high but kind and affable This Captain Velasco thought this gulf had been an arm of the Sea and sailed upwards above 200. leagues meeting with divers habitations where they live meerly upon venison and fish butter and cheese They presented him divers sheep goats and kids and in lieu Velasco presented Cacique a rich sword and poniard and a watchet-Tassata coat The people wear short cloaks of skins neatly made up and instead of bread have another substance which is very tastefull 't is a root whereof being dryed they make meale then taking odoriferous flowers they boile them together in earthen pots scum them and put thereto a good quantity of milke and salt then binding this close in goat-skins they lay it for two or three daies in the sun and it becomes firm as Parmasan cheese which they eat for excellent bread The disclosure of this River frames a square harbour extending as far as Bacalaos From this harbour or gulf to Florida is 6000. leagues from thence to Baya del Rio 60. leagues thence to the Islands 70. l. in 40. d. to Rio fendo 75. l. in the River of Gama 70. l. 43. d. Cape St. Maria 50. l. Cape de Baco 50. l. Rio di Sancto Antonio 100. l. Cape di Arenos 80. l. passing by the harbour called in those parts Ariousa the Cape whereof is in 23. degrees thence to Cape Alegano or of the Princes 75. leagues to the River
Cambinga or Jordan and 70. to the Cape St. Helen in 32. degrees to Rio secco 40. to La Croix 20. Berugon in the Indies thence to Cagnoval or Cannaveral 40. leagues People of Cano or Cagnoval the point of Cagnoval in 28. degrees and to Florida 40. leagues the tongue of Land extending it self 100. leagues by Sea over against Caba on the East Behame or Lucaros the point of Florida in 15. degrees thence to the Angle di Baccho 100. leagues Ancon du Baxos and to Rio Nives and Rio di Flores 20. leagues and 20. to the harbour of Spirito Sancto by the Indians called Caulatan 70. leagues in 28. degrees and from thence 200. leagues to the River di Palmo 30. leagues over thence to the River of Pescadoros Ind. Sotassi under the Tropick thence to Panonco 35. leagues to villa ricca 70. to San Jouan de Loua a famous port 5. leagues from the Shallous of Vega to the river Aluarado 40. leagues Ind. Papa Jouapan to Cauacalo fl 50. and to Guisalua fl 50. 18. degrees thence to Cape Rotundo 80. leagues by the way stand Chagraton and Lazaro thence to Cape Catuco 90. leagues Jacatan 21. degrees thence to Florida 900. leagues from the gulf of Mexico 60. leagues where there are strange currents and falls of water from the edg of the gulph to Rio grande 120. leagues passing by Punto di Mugeres and the harbour di la Ascension Rio grande bosomes it self in the Sea in 17. degrees thence to Cape Cameroze 150. leagues thus 30. to Queras 30. to Caualles thirty to Trionfada 30. to Honduma and 20. to Camzone thence to Agata or Gratia dios 70. leagues in 14. degrees Cartago is in the middle of the coast of Gratia a dios to di San Guadero 60. leagues which is a great waste out of the Lake Nicaraga thence to Zanbara 40. leagues and to Nombre di dios 60. Vetagua is the mid-way From Nombre de dios to Sucatan is good 500. leagues the Isthmus is but 5. leagues but from Escarpoucos 't is 17. from Nombre de dios to Faralones 70. leagues 8. degrees there was a design to cut this Isthmus but some were of opinion that the South-sea lying higher would fall in and drown all By the way we meet with Aola and the Porto de Missa so called for that the Prince that discovered it caused Masse to be said there in thanks for the success The harbour of Ordea thence to Carthagena 70. thence to St. Martha 50. leagues by the Port of Zembra and Rio grande thence to Cape de vello 50. leagues and thence to Sancto Domingo 100. leagues from Cape de vello to Guiboucas 40. leagues then the Gulph of Venusuela extending it self 80. leagues to Cape St. Romano thence to Gulph Tuste 50. leagues in the middle of the Gulph is Curiana thence to the Gulph Cariari 100. leagues the coast is in 10. degrees There is Porto di Cassia Tistula Chiribichi and Cumana fl the point of Areya Cubaga or the Isle of Pearle or the Margarite from this point to the Salines is 60. leagues thence to Cape Anegades 8. degrees 80. leagues where in a bosome lies the harbour of Paria from Anegades to Ric dolee 50. leagues six degrees thence to Oreglane or di Amazonas fl 110. leagues from Nombre di dios to Oreglane 800. leagues a river that in the mouth is 50. leagues over there the first that arrived to traffick were massacred by the women Douglane and Onaragnen which is 15. leagues broad in 4. degrees are held 100. leagues distant thence 't is 100. leagues to the Angla di S. Luca and a hundred to Cape Promero thence to Cape St. Augustine in 8 degrees 70 leagues the next land to Vfo for from thence to Cape Verde is 500 leagues thence to the Gulph di ' Todos Sanctos 100 leagues in 13 degrees by the way is the river St. Francesco and the river Reali thence to Cape Abralosoios 100 leagues a Coast full of shelves conceal'd rocks and bars of sands very dangerous wherefore they must hold 20 miles off to sea in 13 and 18 degrees from de Fue to the point bono Abrigo thence to the Point St. Michael 50 leagues and 60 to the river St. Francisco six and twenty degrees thence to Tibiquiri one hundered leagues in the road the Port Patos Port Fariol Sigaro Toubanaco c. Thence to Plata fifty leagues five and thirty degrees from St. Augustino there is six hundered and sixty leagues from the Mouth of it to the Point St. Helen sixty five leagues thence to Arenas Gordas thirty leagues to low Anegado fourty to Tierrabaxa fifty to Baya sin fondo sixty a Gulfe in one and fourty to Arifices de Loubos fourty to Cape Saint Domingo five and fourty to Chiquera or Cape Bianco twenty to the river Saint John Serran twenty called Agova de Trabaios nine and fourty degrees thence to the Promont at the thousand Virgins the Streight ends The summe is twelve hundered leagues from Venosuela to Desrado a Cape in the Mouth of the Streight from North to South From Cape Desrado to the mouth of the Straight not far from the Bell a Rock which seems to cover the mouth of it to the South sea 70. leagues the bounds are first Cape Promero 49. degrees thence to Salmas 44. degrees and 165. leagues from Salmas to Cape Hermoso 110. leagues and 44. degrees thence to the River S. Francesco 60. to Rio Sancto 120. leagues to Chirinaca 100. leagues 31. d. not farre off Gest and Rio de Plata◠to Chinca or Rio de Plobados 200. leagues 22. degrees to Arequippa 18. degrees 90. l. to Lima 12. degrees 140. leagues to Cape Anguilla 100. leagues Truxillo and other Ports are upon this coast Thence to Cape Bianco 40. leagues and 60. to Cape Helena 2. degrees thence to Guegemir 70. leagues the Cape Saint Laurenzo They finde it to be thence to Cape S. Augustine 1000. leagues thence to the River of Peru 100. leagues the way lyes by the Gulf S. Matthew the River S. James and S. John of Peru to the gulf S. Michael 70. leagues 6. degrees extending 50. leagues from thence to Panama 8. degrees 155. leagues the 17. of Novemb. de dios Perou of 1000. in breadth and 1200. in length Corrcalatron 4065. leagues from Panama to Teouentepée 650. leagues adding 70. leagues from the coast of Panama to the Point of Aguera From the Bruche 100. leagues from thence 100. to the Cape Bianco where the Port Heiradura and 100. to the Port of the possession of Niqueraga 12. degrees thence to the gulf Fonseca 15. to Cortega 20. to Rio grande 30. to the River of Guali-Mala 45. to Sitoula 50. joyning to the Lake of Cortes which is twenty five long and eight broad from this Lake to Porto Pourado 100. and 40. to Crantepee which runnes from North to South with the River Coasacalco in 13. degrees and there compleat the 650.
time he got to the middle of the Mast the winde had seiz'd him and he cryed out Juro a mi vida Senior que el Viente me despega las manos de las cuerdas I sweare to you Sirs the winde teares my hands from the ropes and with that crying Santiago he fell down upon the Deck he had better have falne besides it for he dyed within three houres after The Tempest continu'd and the Vessell being light could not uphold the Mast against the stupendous force of the storme and the waves which took some of our men over-board whereupon we down with the main Mast but in the fall the cordage broke and is tumbled into the sea and carried some men along with it the vessel reeling quite down on one side with the weight of the mast was immediately filled with water and recoyling to the other side very many were lost without possibility to relieve them the rest of us left desolate to sorrow and distresse The vessel being assaulted by so many several winds cannot move any way except some one wind be mightier than the rest For these vessels are not by half so able as ours are Besides these winds cause so unsufferable a frigidity that one cannot endure to look into the air cut like a razor and make ones limbs stiffe and immoveable as a piece of wood For my part my face was hard and strark as any stone I am of opinion the Devill comes in it for I believe that naturally no wind can break a strong cable as 't were a thread At last as it pleased our good God the tempest ceased and the ordinary Breezes return By good fortune we had one sayle left in reserve which we used to our advantage in the best manner we could scarce finding rope sufficient for it the tempest had so broken our cordage so we then sayled on 'T is true the sea was yet so turbulent and contumacious that we were as fearful as ever for this kind of storm is more dangerous in the end then the begining and we might behold the waves like two engaged armies plying one another with continual assaults without intermission But in fine it became a little calmer and we came in view of Cape S. Anthony a point of the Isle of Cuba discoverable a long way off till we arrived there the storm left us not nor do I know that I had so famous an encounter in all my voyages in Asia and Africa though in my travail to Alexandria three leagues off Candia our ship sunk in the depth of Winter and about mid-night which was nothing compar'd to these diabolical Vracanes for there we contest but with one wind here we are surrounded with all the winds at once whence it comes that few escape Cuba is one of the principal Islands of the Indies in 22. d. in circuit 630. miles 120. miles over 'T is the most fruitful in all America full of fruits of all sorts Mines of gold and brasse and hath Ravana one of the fairest and securest Havens of the world the coming in being narrow flanked on both sides with strong Towers and a town with an impregnable Cittadel Where the Fleets of Peru and Nombre de Dios put in for provisions the Isle abounding in all commodities and plentiful of all properties for maritime travail 'T is as 't were a suburbs to the Indies having not above 130. leagues off sea to S. John de Loua on the firm land in Nova Spania The Island abounds particularly in fish and amongst the rest in a sort of sea Breezes which Spaniards call Besée Espada who is very sanguinary and greedy of mans flesh So as no man dare bathe himselfe for fear of these ravenous creatures the teeth whereof cut like any rasor and upon their back have three Pikes like Partisans He is so greedy of mans flesh that he will follow a vessell three hundred leagues outright without appearing in hope of a corps They likewise call them Taburintes or Tiburins a Captain told me that coming from Florida one followed him 500. leagues without appearing and that arriving at Porâ—o Rico the fish was taken with a sheeps head horns in his belly which he had brought from Florida where 't was cast into the sea They go likewise up into the rivers As to their Crocodiles they are covered with skin so firm 't is impossible to pierce it except under the belly where he is easily vulnerable As I said before in the East Indies Ethiopia they make meat of them the flesh being very good but here they do not In like manner here is abundance of all other sorts of fish as well such as breed in our seas as others This Island was discovered by Columbus in his second navigation and called Juane afterwards Ferdinand and Isabella from Ferdinand King of Spain as before of Juane his daughter 'T is in length 230. leagues on the East it hath the Isle of Hispaniola or Hairi on the West Jucatan and the Gulf of Mexio on the South Jamaica or S. James and Northward the Lucayes and the channel of Bahama There we finde many townes and habitations of Spaniards who began to plant or rather to supplant in the year 1511. For they used such abominable cruelties that in a short time they almost extirpated all the Natives beginning with the King or Catique Haiuey whom they burnt alive for publishing to his subjects the cruelty used by the Spaniards in the Isle of Hairy or Hispaniola The Mines destroyed many of them and Las Cafas sayes that being there he saw in four moneths seven thousand children starved to death for both their fathers and mothers were held so strictly to their labour in the Mines they had not freedom to look after their families The Isle Hispaniola was discovered by the same Columbus in his first navigation in the year 1492. began to be inhabited in 1494. and was otherwise called Hairy Quisquera and Cipaugi or Cibai being in circuit about 400. leagues It abounds in fruit sugar cattle and Mines of gold and copper This Island had many Caciques or potent Kings amongst them the King of Magna or Magana that is Champion or the field was Paramount who is called Guarionexi These Kings lived peaceably without any great State Their chiefest expense was in Dancers Musicians and Wrestlers who were for his Majesties recreation both in his Palace and progresse He was carried by men upon a frame set with feathers of divers fine colours and those dancers danced before him The people held their King for a God and the meanest of them could raise an Army of sixteen thousand men armed with skins of wild beasts Clubbes of wood with a keen stone at the end which they called Courcoumachi they had likewise bows and arrows pil'd with bone Together they were able to raise fourscore thousand men holding good correspondence with one another interchanging visits at 80. or a hundred leagues distance without other
whereas in the East at ten yeares end they are made free-men they have but one day in the weeke free to themselves which they employ industriously in making themselves fine to be acceptable to their Mistresses The Portuguese of St. Thomas following the humour of their Nation have a vanity to have their slaves grow rich and walke with gravity like them and will give them a hundred or two hundred Crownes to buy Turks for their gain and ease They bring the greater part to be baptized and marry together providing them of a livelyhood They celebrate certain feasts like the Basks with drums beaten by hand and songs to them and have their meetings under the shade of trees The slaves yearly choose one amongst them for their Prince to command and govern at their meetings who seats himself in the middle and then they give him one of these drums and with both hands above his head he makes a most harmonious musick together with flutes and other instruments looking on their Mistresses with a thousand munkey tricks while they dance and trip Moresco Sarabrands to them again They go together to fetch their Prince at his Masters who first makes them a collation then bringing forth the Prince decked with flowers a scepter in one hand and a nosegay in the other they carry him on their shoulders in a Palanquin to the place of dancing where their Mistresses meet them The Prince first dances with his Mistresse then the others follow The Prince de la ' amour called the Arcadit salutes his Lady and then with gravity presents her the Posie which she receives and dances with amorous smiles and simpers Afterwards they all attend the Prince to his Masters house where the nuptials are consummated provided they become Christians At that time Sieur de la Courb was there there was a Portuguese Lady widow of a Merchant called Bornauente rich fair and young to whom the chiefest of the Island sued for marriage and she would give ear to none because she would not put her self under subjection She kept divers slaves and there arriving a vessel laden with slaves she bought some and one amongst the rest of so handsome garb and addresse she judged him to be of good extraction whereupon asked whence he was he told her he was of Danieta the Son of a wealthy Nobleman who had intelligence of his captivity and would shortly free him that he was taken fishing in a small boat and enquiring further of his religion she perceived he was an Idolater But the Lady taken with his gracefull behaviour used him with all possible kindnesse and one day her lust bearing her away she resolved to call him to her Chamber and receive a satisfaction from him for which purpose having sent for him in expectation she lay down upon her bed fell fast asleep and in a dream thought something came that rudely pulled the sheet from under her waking affrighted she called her maid and related the vision to her the maid wished her to lay by such troubles and commend her selfe cordially to Almighty God On the morrow she rose early and went to her Confessor to whom she related the whole and he gave her for penance to sell this slave and never to see him more promising he would be her chapman and buy him to be his boatman when he went to take the aire The Lady made her advantage of his proffer and doubting the slave to be some Demon or Magician sent him to the Priest who bought him to his sad misfortune for rowing along by the shore to take the air there came a sudden gust from the land that overturned the boat Now the Priest swimming well made to shore but the slave with a pole dashed his brains out and himself was never heard of after In this Island the Rats do great mischief eating their Sugar loaves whatsoever they can do to prevent it Here upon a Mountain there are certain trees that distill water continually as in the Isle of Iron in the Canaries these trees are ever hooded with a thick cloud which moystens them in such sort that they yield sufficient to water all their fields of Sugar-canes whereas that in the Isle of Iron distills but at certain hours FINIS A Table of the principal and most remarkable things contained in this Book A. ALexandria Page 2. Aleppo Page 30.5 Aman a town ibid. Aman a river ibid. Antioche Page 4 The Authour preserved Page 3 Amon a mountain Page 5 Arnon a torrent Page 8 A sad accident in the deserts Page 10 Apparitions in the deserts ibid. Arabian robbers ibid. The three Arabia's Page 11 Aden Page 13 Arabia the happy Page 18 Alibenali Page 18 Albacoure a mountain Page 23 Aden how fortified Page 24 Asses of Dalascia Page 26 Amarous dames Page 56.30 Reca Page 28 Abrazador ibid. Amurath slain by a Tribullian souldier disguised like a Deruis Page 39 Amicabir Page 40 Amiracor ibid. Ageleps Page 41 Areca a fruit common in the Indies Page 45 An accident Page 47 Anthropophage Page 65 a vast Army Page 72 a prodigious age Page 86 Andreman an Island Page 90 a sad accident ibid. Amber Gris. Page 99 admirable obedience Page 121 Adultry punished Page 141 Accidents to the Authour Page 143 Armies in the East vast Page 148 Apes Page 149.159 Adventures of Amador a Limner Page 176 Asia Page 182 Africa described Page 177 Africans that adore the Sun Page 180 Africa prodigious in greatnesse Page 181 Africa as 't is divided ibid. Aquiloa a Kingdom Town and Island Page 191 Abyssins imprint a crosse upon their flesh Page 196 Agisimba a country The history and strange adventure of Prince Alfondi Page 204 A history of the amours of Princesse Abderane Page 206 The Authours voyage into Ethiope Page 211 The country of the Abyssins known anciently by the name of Ethiope under Egypt Page 212 The Abyssins reverence to sacred places Page 216 Saint Abiblicanus venerable in Bagamidri Page 218 Amazons Page 219 Arietes Apostles Page 226 Amara a mountain Page 238 Archers excellent Page 257 an unfortunate accident to the Authour ibid. Attire of the Ladies in Caire Page 276 Ammon an Oracle Page 279 Alexandria Page 281 The Authours arrival at Marseils Page 284 The Authour taken by the Spaniards Page 287 The Authours hard usage by the Turks Page 288 Alcahir a town in Morocca Page 297 Asgar a country ibid. Bashaw Abrahor Master of the horse to the Sultan Page 311 The Authours sufferings at Sea Page 313 The Authours affront at Gandia Page 314 The Authour cheated Page 316 The Authours voyage for Guinea Page 320 America described the length and distances Page 327 The Americans upon Saint Laurenzo their habit and diet ibid. Antilles Isles of Canibals Page 339 America how divided Page 344 South-America Page 346 A corruptive ayre Page 370 Arma of â—ote for rich Mines Page 371 Amazons Page 379 A peculiar motion of the Sea in the strait Magellan Page 393 B. BUrning sands