with the Mono-Motapa of which he seems once to have been a part is in peace with the King of Zanguebar that he may have commerce to the Sea for he hath much Gold Silver Ivory and the same Commodities as Mono-Motapa but its People are more barbarous and brutish The chief places in the Mono-Emugi are Agag Astagoa Leuma Camur Beif Bagametro and Zembre seated on the bottom of the Lake Zaire CAFRERIA or the Land of CAFRES The Land of Cafreria described CAFRERIA or the Land of CAFRES makes the most Southern Coast of all Aethiopia winding like a Semicircle about the Cape of Good Hope some begin it from Cape Negro and continue it unto the River of Cuama this separating it from Zanguebar and the other from Congo or what we have esteemed with Congo Others begin it and end it with the Tropick of Capricorn as well on this side as beyond the Cape of Good Hope I esteem under the name of Cafres all the Coasts which environ the Mono-Motapa both towards the West South and East so that we may call these Cafres Occidental Meridional and Oriental This distinction being taken in regard of the natural scituation in which these People are from the Mono-Motapa or we may chuse rather to consider them in Occidental or Oriental as we have already done the Cape of Good Hope then keeping the one from the other It hath formerly been believed that these People had neither Kings Law nor Faith and therefore were called Cafres that is without Law But it hath since been known that they have divers Kings and Lords as those of Mataman where there are divers Metals Chrystal c. And of Melemba among the Occidentals those of Chicanga Sedanda Quiteva and Zefala among the Orientals and others we know not towards the South and Cape of Good Hope On the Coast of Cafres are these places and Isles viz. St. Nicolai Piscarius the Port of Carascalis the Cape of Good Hope St. Martins Bay and the Cape of St. Lucia Also these Isles 4 bearing the name of St. Lucia 2 of St. Christophers 5 of Crucis and 3 of Aride Many of which as likewise the Capes are well known by Sea-men especially the Cape of Good Hope All these Coasts of Cafreria are bounded within Land by a Chain of Mountains formed by the Mountains of the Moon and which inclose Mono-Motapa That part of these Mountains which advance towards the Cape of Good Hope are called by the Portugals The Cape of Good Hope Picos Fragos that is Watry Points or Rocks This Cape is the most remarkable piece in Cafreria the most Southern point of Africa and of our Continent and the most famous Promontory of the whole World Vasco de Gama knew it in 1498 and after having doubled it found the way by the East-Indies to the Great Sea and from hence the Portugals boast to have been the first that had the knowledge of this Cape But we have made appear in the general discourse of Africa that the Ancients have both known and spoke of it Near the Cape of Good Hope and farther towards the South is the Cape of Needles which should be more famous since it is more Southernly than the other by 12 or 15 Leagues But the name Cape of Good Hope is given to all that Head of Land which is the most Southern of Africa The Air Fertility Commodities c. of the Country The Air of this Country is sometimes temperate and sometimes cold by reason of the Mountains which are covered with Snow and Ice from whence descends quantity of cold Waters The Vallies and Lower Countries pleasant and fertil hath store of Woods and Forests in which are abundance of Beasts and Fowls as Deer Antilopes Baboons Foxes Hares c. Also Ostriches Herons Pelicans Pheasants Partridges Geese Ducks c. They are well supplied with good Water feed much Cattle which they truck with Strangers for Knives Scizzars Spoons and divers Toys they have likewise much Fish in their Rivers The People and their Trade The Inhabitants are Black have thick Lips flat Noses long Ears and in a word very ill-shapen They are more barbarous and brutish than the rest of Africa they are Man-eaters their chief ornaments in their Apparel are Chains of Iron Brass Beads Bells or the like and cutting and slashing their Skins in several shapes Clothing they have none only in the Cold season they wrap themselves about with Skins of Beasts Towns they have none or very few for the most part living in the Woods and Forests like brute Beasts But the Cafres on the East are much more civil than the others most of them have made a part and are yet subject to the Mono-Motapa who about 50 years ago divided his Estate into four parts giving to his eldest Son what is within Land and by much the greatest part and to his three younger Sons Zuiteva Sedanda and Chicanga towards the Sea-Coast for their Portions Cefala or Zefala seems to make its piece apart whose King pays Tribute both to the Mono-Motapa and the Portugals and these have divers Fortresses on the Coast Sena Tete Cuama c. Zefala is so abundant in Gold and Elephants that some take it for the Ophir whither Solomon sent his Fleet every three years And they give for a reason that the Gold Ivory Apes c. which that Fleet brought are here found in abundance That this Fleet parting from the Red Sea there is no likelyhood it should go to Peru which some take for this Ophir besides that there is there neither Ivory nor Apes but that it was rather to some part of Asia or Africa They add that there remains not far from Zefala some footsteps of ancient Buildings and Inscriptions left there by Strangers long time ago Nay likewise that there is some notes and Books how Solomon sent thither his Fleet. Moreover the Septuagint translate Sophira instead of Ophir and the name of Sophira is not overmuch different from Sopholo However it be there is here store of Gold both in the Mountains and Rivers and often very clean and pure as well in Powder as Sand and this Gold is esteemed the best and finest in Africa ours seeming but Brass in comparison of it The Country is healthful and pleasant seated only on the Coast the Mono-Motapa confining it within Land A part of its now Inhabitants are not the Natives but descended from that Coast which belonged to the Mono-Motapa The Natives as I said before are Black and Idolaters or Cafres the others very swarthy and for the most part Mahometans They have a great Trade on this Coast for their Gold two or three Millions being yearly brought hence and that for Toys and things of a very small value which are carried them from divers parts of Asia and Europe and some parts of Africa The ISLES of AFRICA as they lie and are found In the Mediterranean Sea And on the Coast of BARBARY as the ISLES of
our Coast into the other Continent It may likewise be believed that others have passed from the other Coast that is to say from Asia Whence it comes that some believe that the Inhabitants of Peru and Mexico descend rather from the Chinois and Japanois than from the Europeans or Africans But this subject will be too tedious to handle let us therefore content our selves to speak a word or two of this America in general before we descend to particulars AMERICA considered in its whole Body is part on this side and part beyond the Equator It stretches it self to near 54 degrees beyond and extends it self to 80 or more on this side which are more than 130 degrees of Latitude our Continent not having much more than 100 But the breadth of America is very unequal this Continent being composed of two great Peninsula's almost divided the one from the other by the Equator its breadth here is not in some places of above 30 40 or 50 Leagues The bigness of America though in other places 1000 or 1200 and possibly much more in America Septentrionalis if the Land of Jesso be contiguous to it The scituation and Land of Jesso This Land of JESSO or YEDSO is between America and Asia and we know not yet whether it joyn upon Asia or America or make a Piece apart if it be divided both from the one and the other and that New Denmark and Greenland are upon it as there is much reason to believe it makes a Piece not less than the three parts of our Continent or of the two of the other but possibly it makes a third part of the other Continent Let us proceed to the two parts of America as they are esteemed and known at present AMERICA SEPTENTRIONALIS AMERICA SEPTENTRIONALIS is that part of America which is not only the most Northern of the two America's but likewise doth all lie between the Equator and the North The length and breadth of America Septentrionalis it extends it self from the 8th or 10th degree of Latitude even beyond the Artick Circle and if we comprehend the Artick Lands with America it advances at least to the 88th degree of Latitude which are 70 degrees for its height from South to North. Its length from West to East possesses near all the degrees of Longitude of the other Hemisphere to wit from about the 180th where ours end even beyond the 300th which is the end of the other The Mer del Nort is on the East of it the Mer del Sud on its West towards the North its bounds are unknown there being Land found even beyond the 80th degree of Latitude Its bounds with appearance that they extend yet farther towards the Pole so that we cannot judge to what degree or whether it be contiguous to New Denmark and Greenland or whether it be in Islands and on the South it makes America Meridionalis We will divide this America Septentrionalis into Canadiana and Mexicana Under the name of Canadiana is understood that part of America which is about Canada where the English French Hollanders Danes and Swedes have divers Colonies And under the name of Mexicana It s division according to Mons Sanson that part of America which the King of Spain doth almost alone possess and where he hath established abundance of Colonies subdividing Canadiana into the Artick Lands and Canada or New France and Mexicana into New Mexico and Mexico or New Spain Of these four parts Mexico or New Spain is the most advanced towards the Equator and the South the Artick Lands towards the North It s scituation the other two parts rest in the middle Canada or New France towards the East and New Mexico towards the West The first is under and about the Tropick of Cancer the second under or about the Polar Circle the two others lie from 25 or 30 unto 60 degrees of Latitude so that the first is within or very near the Torrid Zone the second within or near the Frozen Zone and the two in the middle quite in the Temperate Zone The first and most Southernly ought to be called Mexico or New Spain Mexico because Mexico is by much the fairest City and the Dominion of the ancient Kings of Mexico extended over the best part of it New Spain because the King of Spain possesses near all of it having established a great many Colonies a Vice-Roy divers Archbishops Bishops Audiences and Governments the Natives of the Country that are left being almost all Tributaries to him The second may be called the Arctick Lands because it approaches the Arctick Pole Arctick Lands and is for the most part comprehended within the Arctick Circle these are but little known We understand well that they are divided by some Streights and that it apparently consists in many and divers Isles which hath been the cause a Passage hath been sought to go this way to China and the East-Indies The Natives do here enjoy a full and entire liberty the People of Europe not thinking it worth their pains to establish Colonies Of the two middle parts the most Easternly and nearest to Europe ought to be esteemed under the general name of Canada or New France Canada or New France of Canada because in that particular Region the Europeans first Landed of New France because the French did first establish themselves here before any other Europeans The most Western and farthest from Europe may in general be called New Mexico because the Spaniards of Mexico or New Spain discovered it not till after they had been sometime settled in this other Of these four parts of America Septentrionalis to wit Mexico or New Spain New Mexico Canada or New France and America Arctica New Spain is washed by Mer del Nort and Mer del Sud America Arctica likewise by both Seas New France only by Mer del Nort and New Mexico only by Mer del Sud These four great parts are subdivided into many less which we call Regions Peoples Provinces c. We will observe the chief of them the most clearly and succinctly as possibly we can but because New Spain touches on America Meridionalis we will begin our America Septentrionalis by the Arctick and New France so proceeding to the one and the other Mexico that we may pass in order to the parts bordering on America Meridionalis And likewise because the Arctick Lands of America are very little known and that we cannot judge to make a particular discourse of them we will content our selves to speak something here before we pass to the other parts That part of America which is comprised for the most part between the Arctick Pole and Circle or which at most descends unto the 60th or 55th degree of Latitude is named according to our method America Arctica In all this part we know only some Coasts and Gulphs of that which is most towards Europe There we have the Isles of Iseland and
that the people pass to and fro as it were in throngs near to this City are Josephs 7 Granaries now brought to ruines yet 4 of them are so repaired as they are made use of to keep the publick Corn. On the South end of this City he saith there yet remaineth a round Tower wherein Pharaohs daughter lived when she found Moses in the River which runs hard by it South West of Grand Cairo on the other side of the Nile about four Leagues distance stands the three oldest and greatest Pyramides the Jews affirming them to be built by Pharaoh who was drowned in the Red Sea the fairest for himself the next for his Wife and the least for his only Daughter The greatest of the three and chief of the Worlds Seven Wonders is made in form Quardangular lessening by equal degrees the Basis of every Square is 300 paces in length and so lessening by degrees ascending by 250 steps each being about 3 feet high the Stones are all of a bigness and hewed four square And in this as also in the others there are several Rooms There are also about 16 or 18 other Pyramides but of less note and not so ancient as these 3 aforesaid are which I shall pass by Nigh to this City in the Plain is the place where they did inter their dead in which they used such art that the bodies of their dead remain to this day perfect sound and these we call Mummies The places where these bodies ly are about ten fathom under ground in Vaults either in the Sand or upon an open stone The Earth is full of dry Sand wherein moisture never comes which together with their art of Embalming them doth thus preserve the bodies for some thousand years past In the brest of these Mummies is set a small Idol some of one shape some of another with Hieroglyphicks on the back side of them This City of Grand Cairo was formerly of a very great Trade but that which hath now ruined it as likewise that of Alexandria is the discovery of the East Indies by the Cape of Good Hope by which the English Portugals and Hollanders at present go to these Indies and bring into the West all those Drugs Spices Precious Stones Pearls and a thousand other Commodities which came before by Aleppo or by Egypt but passing by Cairo let us come to the other Cassilifs The Cassilifs in the lower Egypt In the lower Egypt are those of Garbia Menufia and Callioubech within the Delta and between the Branches of the Nile That of Mansaura without and Eastward towards the Holy Land and Arabia Likewise without and Westward of the Nile is the Cassilif of Bonhera or Baera which stretches it self from the Nile unto the Cape of Bonandrea This last Cassilif is almost quite out of Egypt though within its Government and the length of its Sea Coast not less then that of all Egypt along the Nile But that which is distant from the Nile is subject to the Arabs and very Desart that which is near it is better worth It s Governor is obliged to Mannel a Callech or Channel of 100000 paces in length to carry water from the Nile to Alexandria and when a new Bassa arrives in Egypt this Governor hath likewise to furnish him with Horses and Camels for himself his Train and Baggage and to defray his charges from Alexandria unto Cairo But since the Wars with the Venetians the Bassa's have generally come round by Land and not adventured by Sea to Alexandria Among the Desarts of this Cassilif those of St. Macaire have had 360 and odd Monasteries And here is likewise to be seen a Lake of Mineral Water which converts into Nitre the Wood Bones or Stones that are thrown into it The Cassilifs of Callioubech Menousia and Garbia being between the Branches of the Nile and out of the course of the Arabs ought to be esteemed the best in Egypt and particularly the last which yields more abundantly Sugar Rice Milk Grains Oyl Flax Herbs Honey Fruits c. And Maala one of its principal Cities which they call the Little Medina is a place of great devotion with them where they hold yearly a famous Fair which the Governor opens with great pomp observing many Ceremonies The Cassilif of Mansoura doth produce the same Commodities but not in so great a quantity though of a greater extent then Garbia but more over it yields Cassia These four or five Cassilifs take up the whole Coast of Egypt and of its Government and on this Coast are the Cities of Alexandria Rosetto Damiata and some others The City of Alexandria Alexandria among the Turks Scanderia was built by the command of Alexander the Great and by him peopled with Greeks immediately after the conquest of Egypt and the Moddel traced by the Architect Dinocrates who for want of other matter made use of Wheat-flower to mark out the circuit which was taken for a good Augury It was afterwards beautified by many but especially by Pompey It is scituated Westward of the Delta over against the Isle of Pharos and built upon a Promontory thrusting it self into the Sea with which on the one side and on the other the Lake Mareotis It is a place of good defence its circuit is about 12000 paces adorned with many stately Edifices among which the most famous was the Serapium or the Temple of their god Serapis Which for curious workmanship and the stateliness of the Building was inferior to none but the Roman Capitol then the Library erected by Ptolomy Philadelphus in which there were 200000 Volums which Demetrius promised to augment with 300000 more And this in the War against Julius Caesar was unfortunately burnt And this is that Philadelphus who caused the Bible to be translated into Greek by the 72 Interpreters which were sent him by the High Priest Eleazar In this City in Anno 180 Gantenus read Divinity and Philosophy who as it is thought was the first institutor of Vniversities This City hath been enriched with 400 high and strong Forts and Towers and the Ptolomies or Kings of Egypt having made here their residence after the death of Alexander the Great and caused many stately and magnificent Palaces to be built Under the Houses are Gisterns sustained with Pillars of Marble as also Pavements for their refreshment being their Summer habitation their ancient custom by reason of the heat being to build their Houses as much under ground as above the upper part serving for their Winter habitation It was their custom also to erect great Pillars of Marble or Porphyry among others that of Pompey which stands upon a four square Rocky Foundation without the Walls on the South side of the City It is round and of one intire piece of Marble and of an incredible bigness being above One hundred foot high not far from the place where he was slain in a Boat at Sea and where his ashes were laid In this City are also two
above Dalmatia the Dalmation Hills and they are stretched out through Macedonia to Thrace and Pontus But because there cometh in a little space between the Julian and Dalmatian Hills therefore some men determine and make the end of the Alpes to be in the Julian Mountains It sendeth out one Arm with continual chains and yokes of Hills and with a winding course like a crescent passing through all Italy and dividing it into two parts it runneth along even to the Sicilian Sea Neither doth it march forward in one form every where but in many parts it putteth forth collateral or side-Companions and fellow Branches as it also sendeth forth some Mountains styled with several Names as the Mountain Massicus the Hill Gaurus Monte di Capua or the Mountain of Capua and the burning Vesuvius c. The Hills of Peru. 2. The Hills of Peru or Peruviana the longest of all others for they pass through the whole South America even from the Equator to the Magellanick streigths and do separate the Kingdom of Peru from other Provinces insomuch that the whole tract of this Chain of Hills is about 800 German miles And the heads or cliffs of the Hills are so high that they are reported to weary Birds in their flight over them and there is but one only passage over these Hills which as yet is discovered and that very cumbersom Many of those are covered with perpetual Snows as well in Summer as Winter and many of them are also wrapt up and involved with the Clouds and some likewise are elevated beyond the middle Region of the Air. Truly it hath hapned the Spaniards sometimes passing out of Nicaragua into Peru that many of them These Mountains exceeding Cold. together with their Horses on the tops of those interposed Mountains have suddenly died and if they had become stiff with cold Frost they remained there immovable like standing Images The cause of which seemeth-to have been the want of Air such as our breath or Lungs require There are also found in these Mountains Sulphury and smoking Hills The Hills between Peru and Brasil 3. There are very many other Mountains between Peru and Brasil which also stretch themselves out through the Country of China to the Magellanick streights where the high tops of the Hills are perpetually hidden with Snows although they lie under the Latitude of 52 degrees The Hills of Canada and New England 4. Add to these Chains of Hills those of Canada and New England and very many others in North America covered with continual Snow although they are less famous The Mountain Taurus 5. The top of Taurus a Mountain in Asia This was amongst ancient Writers accounted the most noble and greatest Mountain of the World It riseth up in Asia Minor from the Pamphilian Sea nigh to the Chelidonian Islands and thence marcheth along through divers Countries and great Kingdoms under divers Names from the West into the East unto India and divideth all Asia into two parts one whereof which looketh to the North is called Asia within Taurus and the other which faceth the West is named Asia without Taurus It is fenced in on either side with many Companions amongst which the famous and most notable ones are the greater and the lesser Anti-Taurus which cut and divide the greater and lesser Armenia into two parts where Taurus it self passeth between Armenia and Mesopotamia it sendeth forth many Arms towards the North and South The Mountain Imaus 6. The Mountain Imaus marcheth forth in form of a Cross two ways as well towards the East and VVest as towards the North and South The Northern part is now called Alkai It is stretched out forward towards the South even to the very ends of the Indies and the fountain heads of the River Ganges in length about four hundred German Miles It divideth the Asian Scythia into two parts of which that which looketh on the west is called Scythia within the Mountain Imaus but that which beholdeth the East is named Scythia without the Mountain Imaus The Mountain Caucasus 7. The top of the Mountain Caucasus is stretched out from the North to the South towards Pontus Euxinus from the Caspian Sea to whom it is a neighbour at the breadth of fifty miles and to those that sail in the Caspian Sea it is an infallible mark to govern and steer their course by It reacheth to Mount Ararat in Armenia where Noah's Ark rested which the Turks and Persians believe to be there kept to this day But the Mountains of Ararat are neighbours to Taurus because all these Mountains are contiguous VVe will speak of the height of Caucasus in the Thirtieth Chapter The Hill of China 8. The Hill of China which embraceth and comprehends the Damasian Mountains so called by the Ancients towards the VVest and Ottoroâ—ora towards the North. This Clift or Chain of Hills consisteth of many Mountains not indeed continually yoked together but here and there affording a passage between them And the Mountains of Camboja seem to be a part of that gang of Hills The Mountains of Arabia 9. The Hills of Arabia which march forward in a triple rank of whom the Holy Mount Sinai is a part The Mount Atlas 10. The most famous Hill and which is celebrated with innumerable figments of the Greek Poets is Mount Atlas in Africa It riseth at the shore of the Western Ocean of Africa and extends it self through all Africa even to the borders of Egypt It hath the Fountains and Springs of almost all the Rivers of Africa in many places it is full of Snow and Cold although it lieth in the Torrid Zone The Mountains of the Moon 11. The Clift of Africa nigh to Monomotapa which is called the Mountains of the Moon It compasseth in almost all Monomotapa and the arms or branches thereof are many as the Hill Zeth and the Snowy Mountains There are found very many and in a manner innumerable other yoaks or chains of Mountains in Africa severed and disjoyned by a small space insomuch that they are almost all contiguous and seem to be parts of one Chain of Hills The Riphean Mountains of Europe 12. The Riphean Mountains of Europe which are also called the Obian Hills they march on forward from the White Sea or Muscovian Bay to the very mouth of the River Ob and the Muscovites call them Weliki Kameypoyas that is the great Stony Girdle because they think that the whole World is girted in with them There is here another yoak of Hills which the Russians call Joegoria It beginneth at the Southern boundary of Tartaria and extends it self unto the North Sea and very many Rivers rise and spring out of this viz. the Rivers Wissagda Neem Wissera and Petsora the greatest of all Besides a triple yoak of Hills runneth down betwen Siberia and Russia from the North towards the South One of them the Russians call Coosvinscoy Camen whose breadth or
Maffaeus relateth there is a Mountain which continually vomiteth Flames on the top of which the Evil Spirit sheweth himself to certain Persons after that they have macerated themselves for a Vow sake 10. Many Vulcanelloes are found in the Isles of Japan distant 70 miles from Ferando Also in a certain small Isle which lieth between Tanaxuma and the Isles called the Sisters a burning Mountain is discovered at other times smoaking Certain Vulcanes in the Isle Tendai 11. In Tendai one of the Philippine Isles where the Promontory of the Holy Spirit is certain Vulcans are found One also in the Isle Marindique another of the Philippine Isles 12. In Nicaragna a Province in America a lofty Mountain casteth forth flames in such great abundance that they may be seen 10 miles distant Vulcan Mountains in Cordillera 13. In the Ridge of Peru called Cordillera here and there are certain Rocks and Vulcan Mountains partly smoaking and partly burning and they are said to cast out fire Especially in the Province of Carrapa there is a Mountain from whose top when the Heaven is serene much smoak is discovered to be elevated Others in Peru 14. Near to Arequipa a City of Peru 90 miles distant from Lima a certain Sulphureous Mountain continually ejaculateth fire which is found dangerous to the City 15. In Peru near the Valley Mulahallow about 50 Leagues from Quito there is a Vulcan which once rending cast forth great Stones and terrified also the remote places with the huge noise Other Vulcans 16. In one of the Islands which they call Papoys which Le Maire discovered except peradventure it may adhere to the South Continent on the Oriental Coast of New Guiney is a Vulcan which at that time burned 17. Certain Mountains lying on the Oriental Shore of the River Jeniscea in the Country of the Tingesi beyond Ob towards the East by a journey of some weeks there are Vulcans as the Muscovites do report 18. Certain Mountains at the River Pesida beyond the Region of the Tingaesi A Vulcan in Liburnia 19. In Liburnia near the City Apollonia is a rocky Mountain from the top of which continually issueth smoak and flame In the Land adjoyning there are hot Fountains there are also certain Mountains which have now ceased to burn So the Isle Queimoda on the Coast of Brasil not far from the mouth of the Silver River in time past did burn so the Mountains in Congo or Angola which they term Vesbrande Bergen In the Isles of the Azores especially Tercera and St. Michael formerly the Earth burned in many places but now the smoak in some places is sometimes expelled hence also they have often Earthquakes The Isles of St. Helena and of the Ascension have also its Earth like unto these viz. a Dust Embers and Ashes so that in times past it is probably the Mountains of these Isles burned which is also manifest from the Sulphureous Earth and Coals which they call Smitskolen Now the cause of these Vulcans or burning Mountains is a Sulphureous bituminous Substance which is contained in such like Mountains Proposition VI. The Tanges of the Mountains some admit of no passage or opening some of many other some of one or another only Of the Tanges of the Mountains They are called Portae and also Thermopylae Of which the more noted are 1. The Thermopylae in Phocis from which this name was communicated to the rest 2. The Caspian Portae which as through a narrow passage are admitted into the Caspian Mountains 3. The Port of the Mountain Cordillera in Peru. 4. The Port of the Mountain which is extended between Abyssiue and Arabia Troglodytica through which they carry Provision and Grain from that Region unto this 5. In Caucasus the Sarmatick and Albanian Ports Proposition VII That Mountain is termed a Promontory which runneth forth in a certain Tract to the Sea or on the Shore is elevated above the adjacent places Of Promontories or Capes In Mapps they are called Capes or Heads among which the more noted are Cape of Good-hope 1. The Cape of Good-hope in Africa which must be passed by those that sail into India Cape Victoria 2. Cape Victoria in the end of the Streights of Magellan Cape Verd. 3. Cape Verd in the Angle or Point of Africa where the Shore windeth from West to East Cape Vincent 4. Cape Vincent in Spain Promontory or Cape of Atlas 5. The Promontory of Atlas so anciently called not a Cape because that Mariners some Ages past supposed that it could not be passable or that if any one had sailed beyond it yet he could not return back safe therefore this was the bound of their Navigation on the Coast of Africa Other Promontories may be seen in the Mapps Proposition VIII Vnto Mountains are opposed Caves and deep Abysses which are found in few places of the Earth Of Caves or deep Abysses In times past that Mephitick Cave in Island called the Cave of St. Patrick and that Cave in Italy called Grotta del Cane was famous In the Mountain of Fessano Beni Guazeval is a Cave that vomiteth forth fire In the Island Baruch adjoynig to Wales in England near the Sea is a Rock in which there is a Cave unto which if you apply your ear a noise like stroaks of Hammers upon Iron as in a Smith's shop may be heard Not far from the City Bessa in Aquitain is a Cave vulgarly called Du Souley in which in the Summer season a noise is heard like unto Thunder In many places betwixt the midst of the Mountains there are found Valleys so profound that they strike the Beholders with horrour and cause a giddiness CHAP. XI Of Mines Woods and Desarts MInes Woods and Desarts do ennoble certain Parts or Tracts of the Earth Of Mines Woods and Desarts concerning which although little can be proposed yet for an exact knowledge of the Terrestrial Superficies it will not be unnecessary to consider those Places and to design the Tracts and Limits of them which we shall briefly perform in this Chapter Proposition I. A Mine is a place in the Earth from which Metals Minerals or other sorts of Earth are dugg But because what is dugg up out of the Earth is various therefore all these Mines receive various denominations Of Mines as Mines of Gold Silver Copper Iron Marble Mines of precious Stones and the like The most famous of the Gold and Silver Mines are those of Peru and Castella Aurea Peru and Castella Aurea and Potosi rich in Mines the richest in the world for throughout all the Provinces of Peru are found Mines abounding with Gold and Silver yet not excluding the other Metals so that the Natives of Peru and the Spaniards in times past did boast that the Ground or Soyl of this Kingdom was Gold and Silver Girava a Spanish Writer testifieth at the City Quito are Mines which yield more Gold than Earth
to wit In the South-East and North-East or in the quarters more near to the North and South its cause seemeth to be referred either to the divers scituation of the places in which the Snow and the more thick Clouds are there collected or rather unto a general wind which is very forcible to attract those Motions unto another quarter For seeing that a general wind of its own nature tendeth directly from the East to the West and these Motions tend from one Pole unto the other thence ariseth a mutual hindrance and thence it may come to pass that the wind may gain an intermedial quarter between the East and South and East and North. The South-West and North-West Motions are unconstant rare and weak and therefore are scarce reckoned amongst Motions when that the North and South by accident seem to decline sometimes to the West but they are attracted to the East by a general wind Now to render a reason concerning the great diversity of these Motions in divers places more accurate observations are required and those not of one year but of many with the notation of the Winter Rainy Snowy Seasons and the Mountains of these places from the quarters of which these state winds do blow we should also know the Phasis and Motion of the Moon and what variation this maketh Several winds blow at certain times in set places 2. In July South winds blow at Cape Verd for then there is the Winter in the time of Rain and this seemeth to produce from no other Cause than that by which in our Zone North winds blow in the Winter 3. At the Promontory of Good-hope in September the North-East wind bloweth 4. At Patanen in India in November December and January continual Rains and a North-East wind predominateth but in other Months an East wind bloweth and it is Summer 5. About Sumatra there is a mutation of the Motions in November and December 6. In the Isle of Mayo one of the Azores in the end of August a vehement wind bloweth from the South and bringeth Rain which moistens the Earth otherwise dry and then first of all Grass springeth up which feedeth many Goats at the end of December 7. In Congo from the middle of March to September at what time it is Winter there the North and north-North-West wind blow or other intermedial winds which force and gather the Clouds on the tops of the Mountains and generate an obscure Air with Rain But from September to March the South and South-East and other intermedial winds blow that are contrary to the former See the following Proposition We have taken these differences of the state and Anniversary winds from the Observation of Mariners that term them Moussons or Motions if that they blow in a long tract of the Sea And now we should Treat of their Causes but that we are ignorant of the Mountains of the Regions of the times of the Snows and their meltings and many other matters Moreover those Observations of Seamen are not sufficiently accurate so that they deserve a diligent inquisition concerning their Causes The more noted Motions are these More noted Motions 1. In the Indian Ocean between Africa and India and to the very Moluccos in an Oriental Motion towards the West which begineth in January and bloweth for six Months even to the begining of June In August and September a contrary Motion begineth viz. Western winds In June July and August is a mutation of Motions and great Tempests from the North. Now when that we speak of Oriental and Occidental winds we do not only understand the East and West winds but also the Collateral winds 2. The Oriental motion varieth very much at the Shoars so that Ships can only Sail from India on this side Gatis or on the Coasts of Malabar from January to the middle of May to Persia Arabia Mecha and Africa for seeing that in the end of May and all June July and August the Tempests rage violently and often a North wind or furious North-East wind frequently intermixing it self therefore in these Months no Ships pass from India on this side Gatis but on the Coast of India beyond the Gatis or Ganges that is on the East quarter or on the Coasts of Choromandel such Tempests are not known A Voyage is undertaken from Ceilan Java and other Isles to the Moluccoes in September because that then the Oriental motion begineth which hindereth the general wind But when you depart to 15 degrees of South Latitude beyond the Aequator this Occidental motion is not discovered in the Indian Ocean but a general South East wind filleth the Sails 3. From Cochin to Malacca that is from the West to the East they begin their Voyage in March because that then there the Western motion begineth or rather the North West wind frequently bloweth 4. In the Kingdom of Guzurat half the year the North winds blow from March to September and in the other half the South winds and that without any other hindrance caused by other winds 5. The Dutch set Sail from Java for the most part in January or February when that they return for Europe then they Sail with an Easterly wind even to 18 degrees of South Latitude and here the South or South-East wind begineth to blow by which they Sail even to St. Helena 6. Although in the Indian Ocean from January even to June the motion be Oriental and then from August to January the motion be Occidental yet nevertheless in divers parts of it when we must Sail from one place to another divers seasons are discovered more or less convenient by reason that the Collateral winds do more or less blow or the motion is more or less vehement at those times or other winds more often or more seldom intermix at that time therefore those that are to Sail from Cochin to Malacca observe another motion another from Malacca to Maccou the Emporium of China another from Maccou to Japan 7. At Banda the Western winds cease with the end of March and at the end of April there are variable winds and calms with the Month of May violent Easternly winds with Rain begin 8. At Ceilan about the Promontory called Punto Gullo on the 14th of March the first Occidental wind beginneth viz. the west-south-West-South-West then the South-West constant and continnual from the end of March to the first of October then the North-East begineth which bloweth there even to March but some daies at ten or also more these State-winds or motions happen sooner or later 9. In the Voyage from Mozambique to Goa in May and June the South-East winds are predominate even to the Aequator but from the Aequator to Goa the South-West and South winds reign in July August and the following Months 10. In the 35 deg of the Elevation of the Meridian which passeth through the Isle of Tristan de Conha in May on the New Moon the West wind reigneth 11. At the 2 â…• of
collect the increase or decrease of the Declination of the Sun from the Aequator or of the Points of the Ecliptick to be the Cause of this unequal increase of the days but in the places of the Aequator it self all days are equal and therefore here is no increase or decrease although the Sun seem to stand about the days of the Solstice that is a little changing the Meridian Altitude Now it is manifest that the greater inequality of this encrease and decrease of the days is to be found where the places are more remote from the Aequator if that the Pole be Elevated for the distance of the divers places from the Aequator and the Arches of the Parallels Elevated above the Horizon be considered in both scituations Proposition XXV In the places of the Torrid Zone or those scituated in the Aequator or in the midst of the Torrid Zone the Sun much sooner departeth from the Vertex than in places near the Tropick of Cancer or Capricorn Of the departure of the Sun in places of the Torrid zone Let any Degree in the Brazen Meridian of the Globe be noted for Example the Fifth Degree from the Aequator and another place in the Torrid Zone being taken for Example one whose Latitude is 18 Degrees Let this be brought to the Meridian make a sign with a Chalk in this and let 5 Degrees from this towards the Tropick be reckoned on the Brazen Meridian and here again make a sign with a Chalk We must shew that the Sun in fewer days is removed from the Vertex of the places of the Aequator 5 Degrees in the Meridies than from the Vertex of another place so many Degrees Let the Globe be turned until some Point of the Ecliptick come under some noted Point of the Meridian near to the Aequator And let the Degrees of the Ecliptick between the first of Aries and Libra and between that Point and the Arches here to be noted Then let the Globe be turned again until some Point of the Ecliptick pass through the Note made in the Meridian for the place and let this Point of the Ecliptick be noted then let the Globe be turned again until another Point of the Ecliptick pass through by that Point removed five Degrees which is noted which must again be noted and let the Arch between the two last Points of the Ecliptick be reckoned which will be found to be much bigger than that which was first noted and thence the Sun shall stay in this Arch more days than in the former and therefore he more slowly recedeth from the Vertex of the second place than from the Vertex of the place taken in the Aequator THE THIRD BOOK OF General Geography TO WIT THE COMPARATIVE PART Of the Affections from Comparing of Places CHAP. XXXI Of the Longitude of a place Definitions 1. _â—HE Circle of the Longitude of any place in the Earth Definition is a Circle passing through that place and both the Poles of the Earth It is also termed the Meridian Circle because the Meridian of a place and the Circle of the Longitude of a place are one and the same Circle But they are only rationally distinguished because the Meridian hath respect to the Motion of the Stars the Circle of the Longitude to the extension of the Earth having no respect to the Celestial Motions But the use of the term Meridian is more frequent and convenient and therefore we shall also use the word They are conspicuous in Globes and Maps passing through every Ten Degrees of the Aequator 2. The distance of a place from a certain Meridian is termed the Longitude of a place or else it is the Arch of the Aequator or Parallel intercepted between the Meridian of that place and a certain other Meridian This Meridian from which the Meridians of other places are reckoned from West towards the East is called the first Meridian The Longitude of the Earth it self is termed its extension from West to East conceived according to the Line of the Aequator The first Meridian in the Maps and Globes is notable above the rest for Magnitude and Colour and it is apparent to the eyes 3. The distance of one place from another is a very short Line intercepted between those two places in the Superficies of the Earth 4. Any Point in the Globe and Maps is truly said to represent and exhibit any place of the Earth if that it hath that Scituation and distance to the other points of the Maps such as the place of the Earth which it ought to represent hath to the other places of the Earth which are represented by the other Points of the Earth Proposition I. Nature hath put no beginning or end to the dimension of the Earth or of the extension from the West to the East or according to the Aequator but all and every one of the places may be taken for a beginning and the first Meridian may be placed in them For the better understanding of this the matter must be more fully searched into No beginning or end of the Dimension of the Earth c. because that some I know not upon what account suppose great mysterias to lâ—e herein that every Superficies as well plane as crooked as a Line â—y one and a Body by three is measured and terminated by two Dimensions or extensions as is evident from Principles of Geometry and common use of which extension one is termed the Longitude of the extension or figure and the other the Latitude and the one is conceived perpendicular to the other Neither do these extensions differ in their nature but that which we take for Longitude may also be taken for Latitude and so on the contrary but yet for the most part if these two extensions be unequal we take the longest for Longitude and the shortest for Latitude But in Ordinate Figures as in the Aequilateral Triangle a Quadrate and the like the two extensions are equal neither is there any difference between Longitude and Latitude For the Figure of the Superficies of the Earth is Spherical and Latitude doth not truly differ from Longitude which we so conceive in it for the more distinct cognition Now those two extensions in the Spherical Superficies are commodiously so conceived as in other crooked Superficies if that first the Periphery of the Semicricle be taken in it drawn from one point to the opposite point and this Line be made one extension of the Superficies then for the other extension you shall take another Periphery cutting the former Periphery in the middle at Right Angles for so Longitude and Latitude are taken in all Figures and this must be conceived to extend about the whole Superficies until it return to it self that so a crooked Superficies may be supposed to be extended into a plane Because therefore the first assumed Periphery or extension is only the Semicircle that shall be the Latitude of the Globe the
latter or other extension shall be the Longitude of the Globe because it is longer than the former extension as returning into it self and being the Periphery of the whole Circle Others render another cause of the Appellation 〈◊〉 that the lesser part of the Earth was known to the Ancients from Pole to Pole the greater from the East to the West Concerning the Latitude and Longitude of the Earth and of places Moreover in the Superficies of the Globe we may take any Semipeniphery for the extension of Latitude and his perpendicular for the extension of Longitude and therefore we may do the same also on the Superficies of the Earth but because it is better for memory if that the Peripheries be assumed whose bounds or selfe those Peripheries before the other Peripheries which have somewhat peculiar in the Superficies therefore in the Superficies of the Earth for the extension of Latitude some one Periphery is deservedly taken drawn amongst the Poles of the Earth and because no other Periphery is perpendicular to this Periphery which may pass together through its Medium except the Line of the Aequator therefore the Aequator it self must be taken for the extension of the Longitude of the Earth So I think it is clearly explained for what reason the Latitude of the Earth between the Poles is measured for Longitude by the assumed Line of the Aequator This Latitude and Longitude of the Earth must not be confounded with the Latitude and Longitude of places or Points in the Earth therefore they are expressed by the same terms because the Latitude of places or Points is taken in the Periphery of the Latitude of the Earth it self and is part of it but the Longitude of places or Points is taken in the Periphery of the Longitude of the Earth viz. in the Aequator it self and its Parallels Yet this is an improper acceptation of the terms because Latitude and Longitude properly as hath been said only agreeth to the Figures and Superficies but a Point hath neither Latitude nor Longitude and therefore this different acceptation of the words Latitude and Longitude ought to be observed because they are so frequently met with in the reading of Geographers viz. the use and acceptation otherwise when we say the Latitude and Longitude of France Spain and the like Because then the words are taken in their proper signification for it is the Figure of France or Spain and so Longitude then signifieth the outmost or longest extension but Latitude the shortest which acceptation doth agree with that wherein we said before that so much Latitude and so much Longitude must be assigned to the Superficies of the Earth But the signification is otherwise when we say the Latitude or Longitude of this place if by places we understand any Point City or Famous Place because then Latitude denoteth the distance of the place from the Aequator and the Longitude its distance from a certain Meridian And indeed in my Judgment for the avoyding of confusion The Authors Judgment about the words Latitude and Longitude it were better to abstain from the use of these words Longitude and Latitude and to use these in their stead the distance from the Aequator and the distance from the Meridian but seeing that for so many Ages this hath been received therefore it will be a hard matter to abolish it wherefore in the following Discourse I shall also use the said terms Latitude and Longitude Moreover the Latitude of a place as the Latitude of the whole Earth hath some noted Points of the Earth for the beginning of the Numeration viz. the Poles and the Aequator but the Longitude of the Earth because it is extended about the whole Earth hath no certain beginning or end but the beginning and end is every where because the Periphery is like to an infinite Line Wherefore any Point of the Aequator may be taken for the beginning of the Longitude of the Earth and the Meridian passing through that Point for the first Meridian from whence the Meridians of all the Points of the Earth are numbred or the Longitude of them Calculated Now why we require these two distances in every Point of the Earth viz. one from the Aequator and the other from a certain Meridian shall be shewed in the Third Proposition Proposition II. To place and determinate the first Meridian and the beginning of the Numeration for the Longitude of the places in the Globe of the Earth We have said in the preceeding Proposition that every Point of the Aequator may be taken for the beginning of the extension of the Earth according to Longitude See Proposition 1. and that from its Meridian the Longitudes of places must be reckoned but because we cannot take all at once it is better to fix one beginning or to choose some certain Point but that is left to the choice of persons Therefore Geographers have taken a certain place in the Superficies of the Earth through which the first Meridian shall be drawn and should shew in the Aequator where it cutteth it this beginning of reckoning of the Longitude of places But all have not taken the same place for the first Meridian but divers Ptolomy hath taken that near to the Fortunate Islands which he removeth but only one deg from the first and hence towards the Oriental quarter through Africa and Asia he reckoneth the rest of the Meridians The Longitude of places where begun by Ptolomy and Longitude of places For seeing it was less free to place a beginning the Ancients chose rather to have an account of the places of the Earth which they knew were inhabited which portion doth not return into it self as the Superficies of the Earth and therefore in that portion or part a beginning of Longitude and end may be assigned in another Point Because therefore in the time of Ptolomy the Fortunate Isles where the ultimate ones in the Occidental Quarter of all the Earth or Lands then known Therefore from that bound Ptolomy beginneth to reckon the Longitude of the Earth and having gone forwards to the Oriental Regions he maketh the end of his Numeration of the Meridians in Sina the ultimate Shoar of Asia But in process of time many Regions of the Earth were found to be Inhabited towards the Occid and America was discovered then some Geographers promoted the beginning of Numeration of Longitude towards the Occid For some made the first Meridian at the Isle of St. Nicholas adjacent to Cape Verd in Africa but Hondius chose the Isle of St. James in his Maps The Longitude of places where begun by Hondius Mercator and others Some chose the Meridian of one of the Islands of the Azores which is called Del Corvo for the first Meridian because that in this Isle and the adjoyning Sea the Magnetick Needle is found to have no Declination from the Meridian Line and that it sheweth the Northern and Southern quarter Mercator
others given than to be used for the making of an intire Globe for it useth the distances of places Let the greatest Periphery or the Arch of the greatest Periphery be drawn through the Globe and in this from the given point let the Arch be taken as much as the distance of the other place is from the place first given the term of the Arch shall be other place Then if you will design any third place take by the interval of the Compass the distance of that third place from the other two even now designed and from these as from Centers let the Arches be described by these intervals of the Compass The point in which these Arches mutually cut one another is the point of the third place But as I have said that this Mode is not commodious for the intire designation of the Globe but when we will design any place in the Globe now made which is not yet in it and desire to do it from the only noted distance of that place from the two others which are found in the Globe because it is easy and we have not time by reason of Calculation to search the Longitude and Latitude of this third unknown place For thus we shall easily find the scituation of this point or place in the Globe and also the Longitude and Latitude then the Problem is this The distance of a place being given from two places that are found on the Globe to design the scituation of that place on the Globe whose distance is given of which in the following Chapter The third Mode the Vulgar one of Artificers The third Mode of making of Globes The third Mode of exhibiting and representing the Superficies and places of the Earth in the given Globe is that which Artificers use in the making of all Globes both Celestial and Terrestrial except those great ones of which I have now spoken which have nothing of compendiousness or commendation from the facility if that the places of the Earth be but only to be represented from one Superficies of the Globe but it is to be done on the Superficies of the Globes of the same Magnitude this practice hath great Prerogative before the other for the Mode is thus the Superficies of the Globe and the Earth is conceived to be divided into twelve parts or more if the Globe be to be made of a larger form through the Meridians drawn from Pole to Pole so that in any two Meridians the 12th part of a Superficies is included from Pole to Pole Then on a Plain let the like Figure be included in such a part of the 12 in two Arches which then in the Globe make the half Periphery of the Meridians And in many Meridians drawn through every degree of the Aequator and divided into portions and segments of the Parallels affordeth a kind of lettice work the portion of the Aequator is in the midst all the Meridians end in the Poles then c. e Meridian being taken for the first which the Tables of Lonâ—itude acknowledge let the degrees be noted from it in the Aequator the numbers being ascribed so that the degrees of Longitude of every place may â—e accounted Then in every one of these places representing the 12 parts of the Superficies of the Globe let the places be noted for the places of the Earth every one at his degrees of Longitude and Latitude which are extracted from the Table and the name is ascribed to the Table and the tracts of the Rivers and Bays drawn as also of the Lands these being thus described on Paper or Wood then make an incision and engrave according to that exemplar in Plates of Brass which then is fit for the Printing Press Which are afterwards applyed and joyned to the Superficies of the Globe so that its ends may touch the Axis or Poles of the Globe yet in many the Papers do not touch the Poles but are so made only to touch the Artick or Antarctick Circles and peculiar Papers are taken for the Polary Spaces For so they are more easily applyed especially in great ones so in the Superficies of this Globe all the places of the Earth are exhibited to which is then added a Brass Meridian and Horizon with a Foot Horary Circle and an Index The things worthy of note in this Mode There are two things in this description which require a more full explication all the rest I suppose to be plain and intelligible First after what Mode these 12 or 24 parts are to be described according to the Example of which the engraving in Brass must be made Secondly how plain Paper can be applyed to the Superficies of the Globe The first is thus donâ—â—ommodiously enough For Example let the 12 portion of the Hemisphere from the Pole to the Aequator be applyed to the Globe First from the known Diameter of the Globe let the quantity of the greatest Periphery be found out according to the proportion of Archimedes or the other proportion of the Periphery to the Diameter For Example let the Diameter of the Globe be two Foot and let the Longitude of the Foot in the noted Paper be divided into 10 digits and the 10 digits into 10 grains that there may be 100 parts in a Foot Let it be done so that as 7 is to 22 so 200 is to 628 4 7 parts or 6 28 200 Foot for the Periphery the fourth part of this that is the Quadrant of the Periphery shall be of 157 1 7 hundred or 1 57 10071 Feet and the 12th part of 52 19 21 hundreds or ½ a Foot and 2 hundreds and 19 21 of an hundred These being found let a long Line of 52 19 21 hundreds be drawn on the Paper from the ascribed Scale from the middle of this Line let a long perpendicular of 157 19 21 hundred be erected which shall be the Quadrant its extremity shall be the Pole and may be divided into degrees you have the Longitude of one degree if you divide 628 â— 7 by 360 Then let a Periphery be described from the Pole through the beginning of every degree or of every tenth they shall be Parallels in these Peripheries from both parts of the drawn perpendicular let that part be cut off by the Compass as much as is the 1 24 of the Periphery Now how great it is in the opposite Scale is known from the proportion of the Parallels to the Aequator which we have delivered in the end of the IV. Chapter See Chap. 4. So the points being signed in every Periphery and Arch you please a Line must be drawn through them and part of the Paper perminated by these Lines must be cut off For this being applyed to the Globe will possess 1 12 of the Hemisphere Now the application is easily performed viz. if that the portions be small for in these the distance between streight and Crooked is little discovered especially of the Earth when the Paper hath first
See and a famous Vniversity 7. Porto seated at the mouth of the Duero now called Portuport a Town of good Trade and affords an excellent strong Wine 8. Bragansa 9. Lamego 10. Guarda 11. Evora 11. Portalegre and 13. Leiria South of Portugal is ALGARVE which was united by the Marriage of Alphonso the Third of Portugal who had it in Dowry with his wife Beatrix Daughter to Alphonso the Fourth of Castile and Tenth of Leon. It s chief places are 1. Pharo a Port-Town towards the Streights of Gibraltar and Silvis anciently the Seat of its Kings within Land The utmost end 〈◊〉 this Country is called the Cape of St. Vincent because the Bones of St. Vincent which the Christians kept sacred were by the Saracens the then Masters of the Country burnt and scattered about the Earth This Kingdom of Portugal is much coveted by the King of Spain who esteems it the chiefest Pearl of his Cabinet and as the chiefest Flower in his Garland and which to regain he hath oft times waged War against them but to no purpose Kingdom of Andalousia ANDALOVSIA the most rich and fruitful Country in all Spain and well watered with Rivers It hath on the East and South Granada and the Sea and adding the Country of Estremadura it reacheth Northwards to the Castiles The chief Places are Sevilla or Sevil the most beautiful of all this Continent It is in compass six Miles and environed with stately Walls and adorned with no less magnificent Buildings as Palaces Churches and Monasteries It is severed in two parts by the River Boetis which are joyned together by a stately Bridge From this place the Spaniards set forth their West-India Fleet and do hither return to unlade and the Trade of this City is of that greatness that some have dared to say that the Customs are worth to the King of Spain the yearly Revenue of about half a Million of Gold and indeed this City and Lisbon in Portugal may be said to be the chief Cities for Trade in this Continent this for the West-Indies and Lisbon for the East It is dignified with a flourishing Vniversity and the See of an Archbishop whose Revenue is said to be 100000 Crowns yearly and is esteemed the next to him of Toledo In this City are said to be kept 30000 Genets for the service of the King of Spain which are ready upon all occasions And here resteth the body of Christopher Columbus famous for his Navigations and discoveries of the New World 2. Cordova once the Royal Seat of the Moorish Kings from hence cometh that excellent Cordovant-Leather Not far from this City was fought that famous Battle between Coesar and the Sons of Pompey where Caesar gained the day and made an end of the Civil Wars 3. Marchena famous for its Genets 4. Medina Sidonia whose Duke was General of the Invincible Armado in Anno 1588. 5. Xeres de la Fontera a Sea-port Town from whence comes our Sherry Sack and 6. Cadiz seated in an Isle below Sevil a Colony of the Carthagenians Country of Estremadura ESTREMADVRA Whis is part of Andalousia hath for its Chief places 1. Merida built and made a Colony by Augustus and 2. Guadalcanal famous for its Mines of Silver Kingdom of Granada GRANADA bounded on the South with the Mediterranean Sea It s Chief places are Granada a stately City where is yet to be seen the Palace of the Moorish Kings indented with Mosaical work and guilt its Buildings are of Freestone fenced about with a strong Wall on which are 130 Turrets It is an Inland Town yet famous for being the residence of the Parliament and Court of Justice for all the Southern parts of Spain as Valadolid is for the North. 2. Malaga a famous Sea-port Town seated on the Mediterranean abounding in Raisins and a rich Wine called Malaga Sack 3. Almeria seated on the Sea-shoar This Country was the last that the Moors were expelled out of which may be attributed to its barrenness and being so Mountainous Kingdom of Murcia MVRCIA bounded on the East with the Mediterranean Sea a fertile Country and well stored with Fruits It s Chief places are 1. Alicant seated on the Mediterranean where it enjoyeth a commodious road for Shipping is a place well frequented enjoyeth a good Trade and affordeth for Merchandize great quantities of excellent Wines and several good Commodities 2. Cartagena seated also on the Mediterranean Sea built by Asdrubal of Carthage at present one of the most famous Havens in Spain and 3. Murcia which takes its name from the Country a City of good account Kingdom of Navarre ARRAGON divided in the midst by the River Iberus the Chief places are 1. Caragosa or Saragoz seated on the Iberus or Ebro anciently called Caesar Augustus by whom it was first founded It is a famous Vniversity and once the Seat of the Moorish Kings 1. Lerida seated on the River Cinga which hath its Spring-head in the Pyrenaean Hills it is an Vniversity 3. Huesca also an Vniversity 4. Mosons which gives entertainment to the King of Spain every third year at which time the People of Arragon Valentia and Catalonia make the King a Present of 600000 Crowns and this is all the Taxes or Moneys they pay to the King for three years 5. Jacca 6. Borio 7. Galajud and 8. Daroca Kingdom of Catalonia CATALONIA near the Pyrenaean Mountains on the North It s chief places are 1. Barcelona seated on the Mediterranean shoar a place of good strength and Antiquity being built out of the ruins of Rubicata an old Colony of the Africans and now dignified with the Seat of the Vicegerent 2. Girona seated on the River Baetulus the ancient Seat of the Arragon Princes Kingdom of Valence VALENCE or VALENCIA encompassed with Murcia Castile Arragon and the Sea It s chief places are 1. Valencia scituate near the mouth of the River Guadalangar and about two miles from the Sea where there is an open but ill commodious road for Ships called la Greno yet as being the chief City in the Country enjoyeth a good Trade Here is an University in which St. Dominic the Institutor of the Dominican Order studied 2. Morvedre 3. Segobre and 4. Zativa The BALEARE ISLES The Islands of the Baleares or Kingdom of Majorca comprehend that of Majorca and Minorca both seated in the Mediterranean Sea Island of Majorca MAJORCA about sixty miles from Spain It is about 300 miles in circuit and hath for its chief places Majorca where there is a University and Palomera which gave birth to Raymundus Lullius Isle of Minorca MINORCA distant from Majorca nine miles and is about half the extent of Majorca It s chief place is Citadelli and its chief Port Mahon which is very large and commodious These Isles are indifferent fertil in Corn Wine and Oil which are three good Commodities Nigh to these Isles are two other small ones Isle of Yvisa YVISA or
square Obelisks full of Egyptian Hieroglyphicks of a vast bigness and each of one entire piece of Stone said to be thrice as big as that at Rome or that at Constantinople Near these Obelisks as Sir Henry Blunt relateth are the ruines of Cleopatra's Palace high upon the shore with the private Gate whereat she received Mark Antony after their overthrow at Actium And he saith That about a bow shoot further upon another Rock on the shore is yet a round Tower which was part of Alexanders Palace This City after the Romans were Masters of Egypt was steemed the second of their Empire And when the Arabs seised it there was counted 12000 Sellers of Herbs 4000 Bathing-houses 400 Play-houses c. Thus was the former state of this City but at present almost a heap of ruines especially the East and South parts not the moyety of the City being inhabited And were it not for some conveniencies of Trade or the like more then any pleasure of the place by reason of the evil Air which reigns there it would be soon left wholly desolate It is now inhabited by a mixture of Nations as Turks Jews Greeks Moors Copties and Christians Now remarkable for a Mosque in which St. Mark their first Bishop was said to be buried Yet their rests still within and near the City many Obelisks Columus Footsteps of pround Building c. The City of Rosetto Raschit or Rosetto a pritty little City seated on the Nile four miles from the Mediterranean Sea a place of no strength but of a great Trade and well furnished with several sorts of Commodities Its Buildings are stately both within and without and is only defended by a Castle being without Walls or other Fortifications This City in ancient times was noted for a place of all kinds of Beastliness and Luxury Damiata is a fair City The City of Damiata and its Land excellent famous for the often Sieges laid unto it by the Christian Armies in Anno 1220. Who for 18 Moneths continuance did stoutly defend themselves till in the end the Enemy hearing no noise some of them did adventure to Scale the Walls who finding no resistance the Army marched in who then found in every house and corner heaps of dead bodies and none to give them burial and searching them found them to die of Famine and of the Pestilence which grievously raged amongst them Which lamentable spectacle must needs add terror to the beholder This City was built as some Authors say out of the ruines of Pelusium which was built by Peleus the Father of Achilles who for the murther of his Brother Phocus was by the gods commanded to purge himself in the adjoyning Lake This place as Heylin noteth was the Episcopal See of St. Isidore sirnamed Pelusiotes whose Pious and Rhetorical Epistles are yet extant And at this place Ptolomy the famous Geographer drew his first breath And these three Cities after Cairo are at present the fairest of Egypt There are abundance of other Cities which are yet in some repute as Suez and Cossir seated on the Red Sea Suez noted for its Arsenal and Cossir for its reception of the Merchandizes of the East and Saiet a fair Town not far from Cairo on the Nile by some said to be the dwelling place of Joseph and Mary whither they sled with Christ for fear of Herod where are yet the ruines of a fair and beautiful Temple which as they say was built by Helena the Mother of Constantine with several others too tedious to name But to speak truth Egypt is nothing in regard of what it was under its first Kings with several other as I have set down in my Geographical Tables as they are found in the said Twelve Cassiliffs and are all commodiously and pleasantly seated on the Banks of the Nile which traverses the whole Countrey dividing it self into several streams especially in the Higher Egypt where with several Mouths it fullâ— into or receives the Mideterranean Sea Also I have noted several Cities seated on the Red Sea to which I refer the Reader The Lakes of Bucheira and Moeris In this Countrey are two Lakes the one is called The Lake of Bucheira in the Territory of Alexandria and is about twelve Leagues in length and seven in breadth the other is called The Lake of Moeris in the Cassilifs of Giza and Fium and is about 27 Leagues in length and 20 15 10 5 and 3 in breadth Thus much for the Description of the Countrey In the next place I shall treat of the Inhabitants as to their Laws Religion Customs Antiquities Hieroglyphicks Stature Habit c. Also the Fertility and Rarities of the Countrey amongst which I shall end with the Description of the Nile Their Laws execution of Justice Their Laws as to Justice and Government are perfectly Turkish and therefore I shall refer the Reader to the Description of the Turks as ye may find it treated of in the Description of Constantinople their Metropolitan City Yet for rigor in their punishments they exceed other parts of Turkey and that by reason of the treacherous malicious and base dispositions of them their executions being different according to the quality of the Crime for some offences they use slaying alive for others impaling cutting them off with a red hot Iron at the Waist for others oynting with Honey in the Sun also some they hang by the Foot and the like cruelties The ancient People of this Countrey were Heathens worshipping the Sun Moon and Stars sacrificing to Apollo Jupiter Hercules and the rest of the gods also attributing divine honors to Serpents Crocodiles as also to Garlick Onions and Leeks But the god which thay most adored was Apis a coal-black Ox with a white Star in his Fore-head two Hairs only in his Tail and the form of an Eagle on his back but now Mahometism is much received amongst them The Christian Faith was here first planted by St Mark who was the first Bishop of Alexandria And these Christians are all of the Jacobites Sect observing the same Customs and Forms of Ceremonies in their Religion as those formerly treated of in Asia Its antiquities Among the many Rarities or Antiquities of this Countrey are the Pyramides as also the Obelisks and Columns spoken of before next on the Banks of the River Nile stood that famous Labyrinth built by Psamnicus a place of an exceeding great bigness containing 1000 Houses besides 12 Royal Palaces within an intire Wall Which had but one entrance but exceeding many turnings and windings which caused the way to be exceeding difficult to find the building being as much under ground as above The buildings were of Marble and adorned with stately Columns The Rooms were fair and large especially a Hall which was the place of their general Conventions which was adorned with the Statues of their gods and composed of polished Marble Not far from the Pyramides doth stand the Colossus being in form of an
West and advancing a little towards the South So that St. Anthony and Brava make the two Ends or Points towards the West Bona Vista makes the middle of the half Circle towards the East SANCTA LVCIA St. Nicholas St. NICHOLAS and St. JAGO are the greatest having each 100 or 120000 paces of length 15 20 or 30000 of breadth and 200 or 250000 paces of circuit St. Anthonio and St. Vincent are less by more then half and not of above 100000 paces in circuit the rest which are the least have not above 30 40 or 50000 paces I make no account of seven or eight others whose names have not been given us and which are rather Rocks than Isles St. JAGO is the greatest and the chief of all having a Bishops seat in the City of the same name St. Jago besides which are Ribera Grande with a good Port towards the West Praya towards the East St. Mary towards the North all with their Ports Some place likewise St. Thomas whose Port is dangerous others St. Domingo others St. Michael possibly these fall under some of the others Ribera Grande hath 500 Houses the Air is unhealthful the Land hilly but the Valleys fruitful in Grains Vines Fruits Sugar Canes Millons c. Feeding much Fowl and Cattle and particularly Goats in abundance These Beasts bringing forth young every four Moneths and three of four at a time and the Kids are very fat and delicate Sancta Lucia St. Vincent St. Anthony SANCTA LVCIA is the best peopled after that of St. Jago St. Nicholas St. Vincent and St. Anthony have been esteemed Desert yet they appear to have many Inhabitants though not so many as they could feed The Ships of the Vnited Provinces passing here in 1622. found in that of St Anthony 500 persons Men Women and Children all Aethiopians St. Vincent and St. Nicholas had no less At Mayo these Aethiopians are strong and of good stature but it is to be believed that every where are some Portugals to keep the rest in aw Salt Bona Vista The Isles of SALT of BONA VISTA of MAYO and of St. JAGO yield so great quantity of Salt which is made naturally of the Water which the Sea from time to time leaves that besides what they consume in the Countrey they laded every year more then 100 Ships which is transported into other Countreys and yet there remains six times as much which becomes useless It is reported that the Isle of Mayo could make alone lading for two thousand Sail of Ships yearly and the others not much less The other riches of the Countrey lies in the Skins of their Goats which are in so great quantity through all these Isles that many flocks are seen of 1000 Head The Skins are sent to Brasil Portugal and other places and make excellent Cordovants The Flesh is salted in the Countrey and sold to Ships going and returning from Brasil to the Indies Besides the Salt and Woats which are the principal riches of the Countrey they have many Wild Horses Oxen Apes c. also Cotton whereof they make several Manufactures Also Rice and many sorts of Grains Among their Fowl they have one kind particular to them which they call Flamencos the Feathers of their Bodies are all White and those of their Wings Red as Blood Their Tortoises are not above two or three foot long they come out of the Sea and lay their Eggs in the night covering them with Sand and the heat of the Sun hatches them Fuego Brava In Fuego and Brava they gather Wines which yield little to those of the Canaries The Sargasso Sea Between the Islands of Cape Verde and the main Land inclining towards the Canaries the Sea is called Sargasso because from the 20 to the 24 degree and for the length of 30 40 or 50 Leagues the Sea is covered with an herb like to that which is found in the bottom of Wells and which the Portugals call Sargasso This Herb except that it is more Yellow resembles Sea-Parsley bearing certain Grains or Fruit at the end but of neither taste nor substance Many have been much troubled to know from whence these Weeds come which are distant from the Isles and from the firm Land more then 60 Leagues and in a part of the Sea where there is no bottom found Nevertheless they are so close and in so great quantity that the Water seems rather a Meadow or Green Field then a Sea Ships which fall among these Weeds had need of a good Wind to disingage themselves and I believe it was these which hindred Sataspes from finishing his course about Africa and were the cause of his misfortune This Sataspes Son of Teaspes one of the Achemenides A story of Sataspes having ravished the Daughter of Zopyrus the Son of Magabises was condemned by Xerxes to be crucified His Mother the Sister of Darius caused this punishment to be changed into another to wit he was caused to make the Circumnavigation of Africa which could not be done without great difficulty and hazard He embarked in Egypt passed the Pillars of Hercules entred into the Occidental Ocean and passed far to the South along Africa but knowing that it would yet require much time and pains to end this course he returned into Egypt and thence to the Court where he said he had met with somewhat that hindred his Ship from passing farther Xerxes took him for a liar and made him suffer the death he was before condemned to But to continue The Isles of Cape Verde The Position wherein the Isles of Cape Verde are now found answers much better to the Position of the Fortunate Isles of Ptolomy then that of the Canaries Ptolomy places his Fortunate Isles between the 10 and 16 degree of Latitude the Isles of Cape Verde are between the 13 and 19 the Canaries beyond the 26. The Meridian of the Fortunate Isles of Ptolomy is at 8 degrees of Longitude from the Coast of Africa and towards the West The least Meridian of the Isles of Cape Verde is at 8 degrees of Longitude from the same Coast and towards the same side The least Meridian of the Canaries touches the Coast of Africa Ptolomy confines his Fortunate Isles under one Meridian and extends them from South to North between the tenth to the sixteenth parallel or degrees of Latitude which are five degrees of Latitude The Isles of Cape Verde are not justly under one Meridian but under two or three and extend themselves from the 13 ½ to the 19 which are five degrees of Latitude The Canaries on the contrary are all couched from West to East and almost under the same parallel or degree of Latitude which is the 27 lengthning themselves from the first to the 6 of Longitude These four Reasons are very strong to prove that the Isles of Cape Verde do rather answer to the Fortunate Isles of Ptolomy then the Canaries Their distance in regard of the Aequator is
of Ships in like manner are they found in the Gulph or Bay of St. Laurence Besides the Cod-fish here are other sorts of Fish in great plenty as Thornback Ling Salmons Oysters c. The greatest of these Isles and which commonly takes the name of New-found-land is 4 or 5 Leagues circuit It is scituate betwixt the degrees of 46 and 53 of Northern Latitude and is severed from the Continent of America by an Arm of the Sea and is distant from England about 600 Leagues A Country ill-inhabited towards the East and South the Inhabitants being retired farther within Land but the English have of late settled some Colonies to maintain their Fishing-Trade Its Inhabitants The Natives are of a reasonable good Stature and well proportioned but full-ey'd broad-faced beardless and of an Oker complexion not over ingenious their Houses are very mean and their Apparel and Furniture worse The Country being for the generality reputed fertil if well cultivated and would yield good Grains is enriched by Nature with plenty of Fish Fowl and wild Beasts and is blest with a wholsom Air though the rigour of the Winter season and the excess of Heats in Summer do something detract from its due praise East of New-found-land is a great Bank a thing as remarkable as any in all Canada This Bank is much different from those which are covered with Water when the Sea is high uncovered and dry on an Ebb Saylors must shun such Banks like death This which we now speak of is like a Country overflown always covered with the Sea and having at least 20 30 or 40 Fathom water for the depth is unequal Off from this Bank on all sides the Sea is no less than 200 Fathom deep and yet this Bank is 200 Leagues long 20 25 and sometimes 50 broad It is on this Bank that the New-found-landers that is those Ships that go to fish for Cods of New-found-land do for the most part stop and make their freight About this great Bank and more towards the Main Land than the Ocean there are some others much less but of the same nature It is almost incredible how many Nations and of each how many Sail of Ships go yearly to fish for these Cods with the prodigious quantity they take a Man being able to take 100 of them in the space of an hour The manner of Fishing They fish with Hooks which are no sooner thrown into the Sea but the greedy Fish snapping the Bait is taken by the Hook and drawn on Ship-board they lay him presently on a Plank one cuts off his head another guts it and takes out its biggest bones another salts and barrels it c. Which being thus ordered is hence transported by the English and other European Nations into all parts of Europe as also into the other three parts of the World They Fish only in the day time the Cod as they say not biting in the night nor doth this Fishing last all Seasons but begins a little before Summer and ends with September In Winter the Fish retires to the bottom of the deep Sea where Storms and Tempests have no power Another kind of Fishing Near New-found-land there is another kind of fishing for the same Fish which they call dried Fish as the other green Fish The Ships retire into some Port and every Morning send forth their Shallops one two or three Leagues into the Sea which fail not to have their load by Noon or a little after They bring them to Land lay them on Tables or Planks and order it as the other but after the Fish hath been some days in salt they take it forth exposing it to the Air and Wind lay it again in heaps and return it from time to time to the open Air till it be dry That this Fish may be good it must be dried in a good and temperate Air Mists moisten it and make it rot the Sun hardens it and makes it yellow At the same time they fish for Cods green or dry the Fishers have the pleasure of taking Fowl without going forth of their Vessels They take them with a Line as they do fish baiting the Hook with the Cods Liver these Fowl being so greedy that they come by flocks and fight who shall get the Bait first which soon proves its death and one taken the Hook is no sooner thrown out again but another is catch'd in the like nature But enough of these and of Cod-fishing In the year 1623 Sir George Calvert Knight the Principal Secretary of State and afterwards Lord Baltimore obtained a Patent of part of New-found-land which was erected into the Province of Avalon where he settled a Plantation and erected a stately House and Fort at Ferry-land where he dwelt some time And after his death it fell to his Son the Right Honourable Caecilius late Lord Baltimore also Proprietor of Mary-land CANADA taken particularly is on the Right hand and towards the lower part of the great River The River Canada and its name is communicated both to the River and Neighbouring Country This River is the largest of America Septentrionalis and one of the fairest in the World It is about 200 Fathom deep and at its Mouth 30 Leagues broad It s course according to the report of those of the Country is already known for 4 or 500 Leagues and there is some likelyhood that we may in the end discover that the Lake which seems to be its head-Spring disburthens it self into the Sea by two or three different courses one towards us which is that of Canada another towards the West and above California the third towards the North and into the Christian Sea and that the Mouth of this may shew us the way we have so long sought to go to the East-Indies by the West People with whom the French Trade Their Colonies The People with whom the French trade here are the Canadans the Hurons the Algonquins the Attiquameques Nipisiriniens Montagnets those of Saguenay Acadia c. And to this purpose they have divers Colonies on the great River at Tadousac at Quebeck at Three-Rivers at Sillery at Richelieu at Montreal and without the Bay of Chaleur at Miscou at Port-Royal c. This Trade is only managed by Exchange they give the Skins of Bevers Otters Martles Sea-Wolfes c. for Bread Pease Beans Plumbs Kettles Cauldrons Hatchets Arrow-heads Pinchers Coverlids c. But to instruct them in Christianity many Ecclesiasticks of Religious Orders have had divers disbursements and residences likewise an Hospital and Seminary of Vrsilines The Jesuits have the chief care of these Houses North of Canada is ESTOTTILAND Estottiland or TERRADE LABRADOR near Hudsons Streight it is called sometimes the Land of Cortereal and sometimes new Britany however I esteem it a part of new France the Country is Mountainous Woody full of wild Beasts well furnished with Rivers rich in Metals of a fertil Soil in most places and would produce
Leagues broad between the Province of Chiapa and the Sea the Country is full of Pools and Marshes towards the Coast Wood and Forests towards the Mountains and the Rains being continual for 8 or 9 Months in the year the Air is very humid and its scituation being much under the Torrid Zone it engenders an infinite number of Vermin Gnats and Insects yet the Soil is excellent It s fertility and commodities It s chief Colony abundant in Mayz and Cocao which is their principal Riches There is observable here but one Colony of the Spaniards which they call Villa de Nuestra a Sennora de la Victoria so called because of the Victory Cortez gained in 1519 against those of the Country when he went to the Conquest of the Kingdom of Mexico It was called Potonchan when it was besieged taken and sacked by Cortez and it is observed this was the first City in America which defended it self and which suffered under the Spaniards Sword The Province of Jucatan with its chief places described JVCATAN is the last Province of the Audience of Mexico towards the East It is a Peninsula of about 400 Leagues circuit scituate between the Gulphs of Mexico and Honduras The Isthmus which joyns it to the Main Land is not above 25 or 30 Leagues over from whence the Country continues enlarging it self from 50 or 75 Leagues breadth and ends at Cape de Cotoche which regards towards the East Cape St. Anthony in the Isle of Cuba at the distance of 60 and odd Leagues The Coasts of JVCATAN are very much cumbred with little Isles which often prove dangerous for Ships but covered with abundance of Sea-Fowl which those of the Neighbouring and far distant Countries come to chase The Isle of Cozumel The Isle of Cozumel to the East hath formerly been famous for its Idol Cozumel which all the People of the Neighbouring Continent went to adore And it was in this Isle or the Continent near unto it that Baldivius unfortunately saved himself having been Shipwreckt near Jamaica he had taken a little Boat like to those used by Fisher-men The Misfortune that befel Baldivius here wherein going with about 20 of his Men he was brought hither by the Sea but no sooner had he set foot on Land but he and his Men were seized by the Natives who immediately led them to the Temple of their Idols where they presently offered up or sacrificed and ate him and four of his Men and the rest they reserved till another time Among these Aquilar who had seen the Ceremony escaping with some others fled to a Cacique who treated him courteously for many years during which time some died others married in the Country Aquilar in the end was fetched thence by Cortez who was of no small use unto him in his Conquest of Mexico because that he had learned their Tongue The Air of Jucatan The Air of Jucatan is hot the Country hath scarce any Rivers yet wants no Water being supplied every where with Wells within the middle of the Land are to be seen quantity of Scales and Shells of Sea-fish which hath made some believe the Country hath been overflowed What it yieldeth They have scarce any of the Corn or Fruits of Europe but some others of the Country and quantity of wild Beasts principally Stags and wild Bears and among their Fowls Peacocks They have yet found no Gold much less Latten which makes it appear that it is not true that the Spaniards found here Crosses of Latten there being none in all America The Cities of Jucatan are four Merida Valladolid Its Cities Campeche and Salamancha 1. Merida is the Metropolis being the Seat of the Bishop and Governour for Tavasco and Jucatan distant from the Sea on each side 12 Leagues The City is adorned with great and ancient Edifices of Stone with many Figures of Men cut in the Stones and because they were resembling those which are at Merida in Spain that name was given it 2. Valladolid beautified with a very fair Monastery of Franciscans and more than 40 thousand Barbarians under its Jurisdiction 3. Campeche scituate on the shoar of the Gulph a fair City of about Three thousand Houses and adorned with many stately and rich Structures which in 1596 was surprized and pillaged by the English under the Command of Captain Parker who carried away with him the Governour the Riches of the City and many Prisoners besides a great Ship laden with Hony Wax Campeche-Wood and other rich Commodities The Conquest of the Kingdom of Mexico was much easier to the Castilians than that of Peru the Kingdom of Peru being Hereditary and its Ynca's loved and almost adored by their Subjects the Kingdom of Mexico being Elective and its Kings hated if not by those of Mexico yet by all the neighbouring Estates and envied by those might aspire to the Royalty This diversity was the cause that Motezuma died and the City of Mexico taken there was nothing more to do or fear as to that Estate In Peru after the death of Guascar and Atabalipa and some other Ynca's the Spaniards could not believe themselves safe so long as there was any remainder of the Race of these Ynca's which made them under divers pretexts persecute banish and put them to death And so much for Mexico or New Spain The Audience of GUADALAJARA or NEW GALLICIA THE Audience of GVADALAJARA or Kingdom of NEW GALLICIA makes the most Occidental part of New-Spain and contains the Provinces of Guadalajara Xalisco Los Zacatecas Chiametlan Culiacan Its Provinces and New-Biscany some others add Cibola and others likewise California Quivira Anian c. that is the Castilians pretend to extend their Power to the farthest part of this New World The Province of Guadalajara and its Cities described The Province of Guadalajara hath only two Cities or Colonies of Spaniards viz. Guadalajara and Sancta Maria de los Lagos of which the first is the chief of the Province built in 1531 by Nonnez de Guzman after he had finished his Conquest It is the residence of the Kings Treasurers dignified with the Courts of Judicature the See of a Bishop beautified with a fair Cathedral Church a Convent of Augustine Friers and another of Franciscans It is scituate in a pleasant and fruitful Plain and watered with divers Fountains and little Torrents not far from the River Baranja the neighbouring Mountains having furnished them with Materials for their Buildings Santa Maria de los Lagos was built by the same Guzman and made a place of great strength only to hinder the Incursions of the Chichimeques who are a barbarous and untamed sort of People who border upon them towards the North-East who live upon the Spoils of other people harbouring in thick Woods and private Caves for the better obtaining their Prey which said Town keeps them in such awe that they dare not molest them The Air of this Province The Inhabitants
of the said Company Jamaica described JAMAICA is an Isle of a large extent being from East to West 170 miles in length and from North to South where it is broadest about 70 being of an Oval form and waxing narrower and narrower at both extream ends It is seated betwixt the Tropicks in the 17 and 18 degrees of Northern Latitude It s scituation Extent and beareth from off the Isle of Hispaniola Eastwards about 35 Leagues In the midst of the Isle from East to West runs a continued ridge of lofty Mountains which are well stored with fresh Springs whence flow the many Rivers that so plentifully water the Island Well watered to the great benefit of the Inhabitants The Air is observed to be more temperate than any of the Caribe Isles and of as mild a temperature as any place betwixt the Tropicks being alwaies refreshed with cool breezes frequent showers and great dews in the nights that it may be deemed Temperate and by its continual verdure exceeding delightful The Weather The weather is less certain than in the Caribe Isles the most observable wet seasons are in November and May there being no seemable Winter but by a little more rain and thunder in the Winter months nor is there scarce any sensible lengthning or shortning of the Days or Nights Hurricanes are here never known It s fertility and commodities This Isle in most parts especially the North is of a Fertil and rich soil and liberally answers the Cultivators cost and pains for what is planted The chief Commodities that it produceth are Sugars which are so good that they out sell those of the Barbados 5 s. per cent Cocao the richest Commodity of the Island Indico Cotton Tobacco but indifferent Hides Copper great variety of Woods for Dyers also Cedar Brasilletto Lignum vitae Ebony c. Tortoises in exceeding great plenty whose flesh is excellent good and nourishing but those that are troubled with the French man it is dangerous to eat Salt Salt-Peter Ginger Cod-pepper Piemente being an excellent Aromatick spice of a curious gusto having the mixt tast of divers Spices Cocheneil divers excellent Druggs Gumms and Balsoms many of which are not yet known by their names Here are greater abundance of Cattle than in most of the English Plantations as Horses Cows Hoggs Sheep Goats Asnegroes Mules Great plenty of Cattle which came from the breed of those put into the Woods by the Spaniards when they were first Masters of the Island which for want of Masters became wild but since the English have had to do here they are much wasted to what they were The Bays Rivers Roads and Creeks Fish Fowl are well stored with excellent Fish of sundry sorts appropriate to the Indies Likewise great store of Fowl both tame and wild the chief of which are Ducks Teal Wigeon Geese Turkyes Pigeons Hens Plovers c. Here are great plenty of excellent Fruits as Oranges Fruits Cocarnuts Pomegranates Limes Guavers Mammes Alumee-Supotas Avocatas Cashues Prickle-Apples Prickle Pears Grapes Sower sops Custard-Apples Dildoes Plantains Pines c. And Herbs Roots Herbs and Roots and Flowers common to England grow here very well Here are very noxious Beasts or Insects found those most dangerous are the Alegators Hurtful things some of which are fifteen and twenty foot long here is also Manchonele which is a kind of Crab likewise Snakes and Guianas but not poysonous as also Muskettoes and Merrywings a sort of stinging Flies found very troublesome to the Inhabitants The Diseases that Strangers are most incident unto are Dropsies occasioned by ill Dyet Drunkenness Diseases and Sloathfulness Calentures too frequently the product of Surfeits also Fevers and Agues but it is experimentally sound that if a good Dyet and moderate Exercises are used without excess of Drinking they may enjoy a competent measure of health and the reason of the great mortality of the Army at their arrival was the want of Provisions together with an unwillingness to labouror exercise joyned with discontent This Island is divided into Fourteen Precincts Divisions or Parishes It s division in to Precincts or Parishes many of which are well Inhabited especially the Southern part so far as the ridge of Mountains which runneth in the midst nor are its Southern parts especially near the Sea without Plantations though not so thick as about St. Jago and of late years the Island is much increased in its Inhabitants and Plantations being likely to prove the Potentest Colony the English are Masters of in America being able to bring into the Field upon occasion about eight or ten thousand men This Isle abounds with goods Bays Roads and Harbours the chief amongst which are Port Royal formerly Cagway It s chief places Port Royal. seated on the extream end of that long point of Land which makes the Harbour which is exceeding commodious for Shipping and secured by a strong Castle and land lock't by a point of land that runs twelve miles South-East from the main of the Island having the great River that runs by los Angelos and St. Jago falling into it where Ships do commonly water and conveniently wood The Harbour is two or three Leagues broad in most places with good Anchorage and so deep that a Ship of one thousand Tun may lay her sides to the Shoar of the point and load and unload with Planks afloat which commodiousness doth make it much resorted unto and as well Inhabited by the Merchants Store-house-keepers and other Inhabitants this being the only noted place in the Isle for Traffick and resort being said to contain about 12 or 1500 well built houses which are as dear rented as if they stood in well traded streets in London yet its scituation is very unpleasant and uncommodious having neither Earth Wood or fresh water but only made up of a hot loose sand which renders it more unhealthful than up in the Country and Provisions are very dear about 12 miles up in the Land from this Town is St. Jago St. Jago or St. Jago de la vega which when the Spaniards were Masters of it was large containing about 2000 houses which were destroyed and reduced to about 500 when the English first seized the Isle and here the Governour resideth and where the chief Courts of Judicature are held which makes it to be well resorted and inhabited where they live in great pleasure recreating themselves in their Coaches and on Horseback in the evenings in the Savana near adjoyning as the Gentry do here in Hide-Park The present Governour is his Excellency Charles Earl of Carslile Viscount Howard of Acorpeth Lord Dacres of Gilsland one of the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council a person for prudence and noble qualifications every way beâ—itting such a place Six miles Southward of this Town is seated Passage at the mouth of the River Passage which at six miles course falleth into the Harbour of