Cambinga or Jordan and 70. to the Cape St. Helen in 32. degrees to Rio secco 40. to La Croix 20. Berugon in the Indies thence to Cagnoval or Cannaveral 40. leagues People of Cano or Cagnoval the point of Cagnoval in 28. degrees and to Florida 40. leagues the tongue of Land extending it self 100. leagues by Sea over against Caba on the East Behame or Lucaros the point of Florida in 15. degrees thence to the Angle di Baccho 100. leagues Ancon du Baxos and to Rio Nives and Rio di Flores 20. leagues and 20. to the harbour of Spirito Sancto by the Indians called Caulatan 70. leagues in 28. degrees and from thence 200. leagues to the River di Palmo 30. leagues over thence to the River of Pescadoros Ind. Sotassi under the Tropick thence to Panonco 35. leagues to villa ricca 70. to San Jouan de Loua a famous port 5. leagues from the Shallous of Vega to the river Aluarado 40. leagues Ind. Papa Jouapan to Cauacalo fl 50. and to Guisalua fl 50. 18. degrees thence to Cape Rotundo 80. leagues by the way stand Chagraton and Lazaro thence to Cape Catuco 90. leagues Jacatan 21. degrees thence to Florida 900. leagues from the gulf of Mexico 60. leagues where there are strange currents and falls of water from the edg of the gulph to Rio grande 120. leagues passing by Punto di Mugeres and the harbour di la Ascension Rio grande bosomes it self in the Sea in 17. degrees thence to Cape Cameroze 150. leagues thus 30. to Queras 30. to Caualles thirty to Trionfada 30. to Honduma and 20. to Camzone thence to Agata or Gratia dios 70. leagues in 14. degrees Cartago is in the middle of the coast of Gratia a dios to di San Guadero 60. leagues which is a great waste out of the Lake Nicaraga thence to Zanbara 40. leagues and to Nombre di dios 60. Vetagua is the mid-way From Nombre de dios to Sucatan is good 500. leagues the Isthmus is but 5. leagues but from Escarpoucos 't is 17. from Nombre de dios to Faralones 70. leagues 8. degrees there was a design to cut this Isthmus but some were of opinion that the South-sea lying higher would fall in and drown all By the way we meet with Aola and the Porto de Missa so called for that the Prince that discovered it caused Masse to be said there in thanks for the success The harbour of Ordea thence to Carthagena 70. thence to St. Martha 50. leagues by the Port of Zembra and Rio grande thence to Cape de vello 50. leagues and thence to Sancto Domingo 100. leagues from Cape de vello to Guiboucas 40. leagues then the Gulph of Venusuela extending it self 80. leagues to Cape St. Romano thence to Gulph Tuste 50. leagues in the middle of the Gulph is Curiana thence to the Gulph Cariari 100. leagues the coast is in 10. degrees There is Porto di Cassia Tistula Chiribichi and Cumana fl the point of Areya Cubaga or the Isle of Pearle or the Margarite from this point to the Salines is 60. leagues thence to Cape Anegades 8. degrees 80. leagues where in a bosome lies the harbour of Paria from Anegades to Ric dolee 50. leagues six degrees thence to Oreglane or di Amazonas fl 110. leagues from Nombre di dios to Oreglane 800. leagues a river that in the mouth is 50. leagues over there the first that arrived to traffick were massacred by the women Douglane and Onaragnen which is 15. leagues broad in 4. degrees are held 100. leagues distant thence 't is 100. leagues to the Angla di S. Luca and a hundred to Cape Promero thence to Cape St. Augustine in 8 degrees 70 leagues the next land to Vfo for from thence to Cape Verde is 500 leagues thence to the Gulph di ' Todos Sanctos 100 leagues in 13 degrees by the way is the river St. Francesco and the river Reali thence to Cape Abralosoios 100 leagues a Coast full of shelves conceal'd rocks and bars of sands very dangerous wherefore they must hold 20 miles off to sea in 13 and 18 degrees from de Fue to the point bono Abrigo thence to the Point St. Michael 50 leagues and 60 to the river St. Francisco six and twenty degrees thence to Tibiquiri one hundered leagues in the road the Port Patos Port Fariol Sigaro Toubanaco c. Thence to Plata fifty leagues five and thirty degrees from St. Augustino there is six hundered and sixty leagues from the Mouth of it to the Point St. Helen sixty five leagues thence to Arenas Gordas thirty leagues to low Anegado fourty to Tierrabaxa fifty to Baya sin fondo sixty a Gulfe in one and fourty to Arifices de Loubos fourty to Cape Saint Domingo five and fourty to Chiquera or Cape Bianco twenty to the river Saint John Serran twenty called Agova de Trabaios nine and fourty degrees thence to the Promont at the thousand Virgins the Streight ends The summe is twelve hundered leagues from Venosuela to Desrado a Cape in the Mouth of the Streight from North to South From Cape Desrado to the mouth of the Straight not far from the Bell a Rock which seems to cover the mouth of it to the South sea 70. leagues the bounds are first Cape Promero 49. degrees thence to Salmas 44. degrees and 165. leagues from Salmas to Cape Hermoso 110. leagues and 44. degrees thence to the River S. Francesco 60. to Rio Sancto 120. leagues to Chirinaca 100. leagues 31. d. not farre off Gest and Rio de Plata◠to Chinca or Rio de Plobados 200. leagues 22. degrees to Arequippa 18. degrees 90. l. to Lima 12. degrees 140. leagues to Cape Anguilla 100. leagues Truxillo and other Ports are upon this coast Thence to Cape Bianco 40. leagues and 60. to Cape Helena 2. degrees thence to Guegemir 70. leagues the Cape Saint Laurenzo They finde it to be thence to Cape S. Augustine 1000. leagues thence to the River of Peru 100. leagues the way lyes by the Gulf S. Matthew the River S. James and S. John of Peru to the gulf S. Michael 70. leagues 6. degrees extending 50. leagues from thence to Panama 8. degrees 155. leagues the 17. of Novemb. de dios Perou of 1000. in breadth and 1200. in length Corrcalatron 4065. leagues from Panama to Teouentepée 650. leagues adding 70. leagues from the coast of Panama to the Point of Aguera From the Bruche 100. leagues from thence 100. to the Cape Bianco where the Port Heiradura and 100. to the Port of the possession of Niqueraga 12. degrees thence to the gulf Fonseca 15. to Cortega 20. to Rio grande 30. to the River of Guali-Mala 45. to Sitoula 50. joyning to the Lake of Cortes which is twenty five long and eight broad from this Lake to Porto Pourado 100. and 40. to Crantepee which runnes from North to South with the River Coasacalco in 13. degrees and there compleat the 650.
draughts of the principal townes in the Indies Persia and Tartary and had leave of the Vice-roy to draw the plots of as many more as he would his design being to compile them in a large volume and present it to the King of Spain but I understood afterwards that returning for Europe he died upon the sea of Scarbut and for that his Comerade had disgusted him he would not give him his memorials and draughts but by Testament bequeathed them to the Captain of the ship he was in Joseph Grogne a Portuguese esteemed a Jew though he dissembled the Christian The Memorials was a great losse for besides the draughts there was abundance of remarkable singularities he had noted in his travailes whereof the Captain made small account for that he had written them in French which he understood not and withall in an imperfect and bad character But the plots and draughts were excellently done and besides the deliniation of the towns he had drawn the inhabitants and their garments to the life I drew some my self though rudely which is not hard to compasse THE SECOND PART OF THE TRAVAILES OF VINCENT le BLANC IN AFRICA CHAP. I. A generall Description of AFRICA HAving left the East Indies as I said in the former part of this work towards the end and having taken the road of Africa Westward the first land we came on was the Isle of S. Laurence Before I relate the particulars either of this Isle or other places I have seen in Africa I conceive it not improper to draw a general Description of this third part of the Universe as well for that I have traversed it from one end to the other in three severall voyages as to shew the errour of modern Geographers who in their Maps of Africa have left out more then fifty kingdoms or Provinces of note as I sometime made appear to the late Mr. du Vair then chief President of the Province and afterwards Keeper of the Great Seale of France And first to take it from the streight of Gibraltar or rather from Porto Farina towards Tunes to the Cape Bona Esperanza the greatest extent from North to South there is found to be seventy degrees which are above two thousand leagues And from Cape-Verd to Cape de Guardafu or Guardafy from East to West there is near upon eighty Degrees which are about two thousand five hundred leagues of Teritory comprehending a space most prodigious such as our Europe is a very small matter in comparison of the greatest part lying betwixt the two Tropicks the rest on this side and beyond For from the kingdom of Budonell passing through the Negres lyes Eastward the Empire of Tombut or Tombotu by the Arabians called Iza containing thirteen large kingdomes watered by the famous River Nigrite or Niger with Senega a part of Guinee Melli and many other Countreyes as far as the Cape Verdi The people here so savage they scarce know how to speak so sordid they eat beast-entrailes uncleansed and so brutish they are more like ravenous dogs then men of reason The people toward the Western Coast are better civilized in the Provinces of Gavaga Azemay Galata by the Arabians called Abugazai or Zenaga and Azanaga and on the Coast of Cape-blanc where they drive a great trade in white salt Senega where the River Niger waters large territories abounds in Crocodills and fish with which it furnishes Budonel Meli Gago Guber Agades Cano Gazena or Cassena Zegzog Zanfara Burneo or Borno Gangara Gaoga and others where it reaches The kingdome of Gangara contains seven others as that of Borneo nine who to gain a single dominion have often come to Battell but in the end satiated with blood were constrained to agree again Then have you the kingdomes or Temian Daouma Medra Benin Gorbani Giafiar or Biafar Amas or Amasen which towards the South fronts Damula and Vangue lying towards the Zaire From Senega towards the North we find Scombaya Musmuda Zenera or Havia Gumea Guzula Hea Sus with others called the Whites of Africa who speak not Arabian but use the tongue of Songay as they term it Likewise the usuall Language in Nueâ—edia through the kingdomes of Terga Gaziga Lemta and Berdoa These people have a black or gray cloth hanging from their Turbith over their face that while they eat their mouth may not be seen which were a great incivility There are moreover the Countries of Guzulan Belu Benin Belbee Toga Afar Alates Crin Beni Gumi Muzali Abubenam Zuir Cazai Dura Zinzaler and others The vast kingdome of Fezor Morocco contains Agar or Agal Elebat Eris Geres Elcanus Elegazar or Elgezair with the kingdomes of Tâ—nes Bugie Constantine â—ipoli Telensin Tremesen Telche Teâ—esâ—e c. There is here a River which issuing from the bowels of Africa passes through many countries and threads Fesse where it seâ— three hundred and threescore mill-wheels of extraordinary compasse at work and gliding from thence under Miquinâ— and Elcassour throwes it self in sea at Mamocre under Arache little distant from Arzille Towards Tombut and Meli on the other side Senega lyes the wide-stretcht kingdome of Gago the King whereof is highly potent compelling in a manner adoration from his people who how great soever speak not to him but on knees holding in their hand a cup of sand which they cast on their head while they prostrate before him and retire without tergiversation He affords not audience to his subjects but at certain houres morning and evening and when they are found guilty in any crime he chastises them with confiscation of goods and sale of their wives and children for slaves to strangers The two great Rivers Niger or Gambra and Senega Wash a very great part of the country overflowing in the same sort and times as Nile doth Budomel which is in like manner a River of the same denomination as the country it travailes through unites it self with Gambra and the kingdome of Melli is upon a branch of Senega environed with dismal deserts and impenetrable Forests This river on the North and South is banked with the Deserts of Gilolef and Jalofel on the West it hath the vast Forest of Abacara and Gago on the West Next you come to Guber Mount Chigi or Gigi or Sierra de Meleguete then Guinga or Guinee or Guinoy These people are all black like quenched coles Salt in the kingdome of Gago is more precious then gold which there abounds as likewise Fruit and Cattle Guber abutts Northward on Cano Eastward on Zeger or Zegzeg a woody and desert country peopled with an infinite heard of beasts In these Deserts you meet with Cassena then drawing towards the Cape of bona Esperonza You enter upon the kingdomes of Benin and Zanfara under the Equatour well inhabited containing in length two hundred and forty leagues where from mid May to the middle of August it rains for the most part and almost constantly from noon till mid-night as I have
the West Indians at Carthagene and Caramel call Jerac which signifies white and laid in the sun becomes as black as the other and though a little different yet hath great vertue and is like a young beane but something longer the grain is inclosed in a little cod as the beane This sort of tree beares no leaves the others which are the ordinary sort beare many both long and large They use it much to heate them and put it in their pottage resting my self one day over a store-house which was full I never felt the like heate The other druggs made in the Territories of Cochin are sold to the Portugais only But to save their pay they passe merchandizes in exchanga 'T is true that every buyer payes some small earnest for if their dealing were discovered their goods would be wholly confiscated to the King and sometime the very ships themselves When the Portugais have bought at certain rates if the Mores offer more the former bargain is void which to prevent the King orders certain punishments to keep them in awe The Prince though not very potent yet can draw three-score thousand men into the field The Town of Cochin is built upon a faire river a mile remote from the sea There is another place called Cochin joyning to the sea which belonging to the Portugueses there are many Christians who to enjoy the priviledges of the City and to be exempted from payments are married there all other Christians pay foure Per Cent. at both the Cochins which are a mile distant one from the other There are many Christians married of severall Nations and Sects as Italians English French Germans Christians of the Girdle of St. Thomas who passe for Portuguesses and are all Merchants The commodities pay severall customes as for the sugars brought from Bengalo the strangers pay eight Per Cent. those married upon the place are freed There are many Amuchies Gentlemen wearing swords and bucklers who upon all occasions expose themselves gallantly to death for the safety of their Prince Their wives are in common and the Natives lend them one another when they enter any house they leave their swords and bucklers at the doore and no man dare enter while another is within All ships bound for Portugall are prepared for Sea in the moneths of December and January from thence they sayle to Coulan 72 miles from Colchin where they have a noble Fort in the Territories of the King of Coulan from thence to the Cape Comori unto the lower part of Chiloa or Chilao about 200. miles near wholly converted by the Fathers of the society of St. Paul at Goa who have built many fair Churches they had made a greater progresse in Calicut had they not been hindred by the malice of the Moors mortall enemies to the Christians since they caused the Cittadell built by the Portuguais to be demolished The Harbour at new Cochin is very large but very rocky The Town is full of fair Churches Monasteries Hospitalls and Colledges The River that waters the soyle is pleasant and large and helps to make up a good haven where ships ride safe On the North is a pretty Isle where the Bishops pallace is of most stately edifice and although many Gentiles inhabit there yet nothing but Christianity is practised amongst them and who ever will idolatrize must remove to old Cochin which stands upon the River joyned with a long row of houses like a Suburb There is great commerce from all parts of the Indies The greatest inconvenience to the vessels is that sometimes they must lie three or four months or more at the mouth of the River because the entrance is filled with sand that choakes her passage which happens from May to September when fall great raines which raise a Sea wind called by the West-Indians Toumacaut which by the help of the flouds blows and bears down those shelves of sand which do dissipate and are spent in the sea Thus 't is almost with all Towns that stand upon Rivers as I observed at Jenibaron in the harbour of the Isle of St. Laurence which carries after this manner all the sand into the Sea and then hath one of the surest havens in the world But before I leave the coast of Cochin and Malabar you must know that the fleet of Portugall once laden at Cochin doth not return to Goa but sailes strait for Portugall passing through Maldiue and all the Armado's Fleets and other vessels whatsoever that come from the South and the Western parts of Goa at 36. leagues from thence are at their journeys end having reached the Cape of Ramos where in sign of joy they pitch their flags and standarts and draw forth their whole artillery as being safe and free from Pirates because in that nook is divided the coast of Malabar from the kingdom of Tacara or Dealcan The like rejoycements make the Fleets that come from the North-side when they reach an Isle thirty six miles from Goa called Quemada Don Sancho Sapatero a Portuguese Captain met not with the like successe who as I have since heard being arrived at the Isle fired some guns in sign of joy and set a plume of feathers upon his mast a certain Captain and Pirate born at Rochelle named Boudard having cast Anchor at Cananor laid wait for a hulk laden with pepper then at Cochin expecting fair weather to put out to Sea for Portugall meeting with another ship bound for Achez for lading was advertized of Don Sancho's passing here which occasioned the Rocheller to expect him with all security pretending to be a Merchant of that Countrey and at his first meeting with Sapatero he gave him a broad-side killed five of his marriners and burnt his plume which so terrified the Captain that his courage being lost he took down his colours and craving his life offered the Rocheller what he had in his ship Here the Rocheller came off magnanimously for having power to enslave him and his and to seize his ship he contented himself seeing the list of goods to take one of the ships laden with certain pieces of cannon and ammunition out of the other ships releasing Capt. Sancho with the rest of his company which much revived him and the more because the prize of those commodities belonged to certain Jewish Portuguese Merchants he thought to bear no losse himself since Boudart took nothing out of his ship but two pieces of cannon and some ammunition with a present of some of the Country rarities But he was much deceived for arrived at Goa he was called in question and the loss appearing to have proceeded through his slender forecast and small courage he being far stronger than his enemies it was ordered that the three ships should equally partake in the losse since they were all preserved from Lisboe and he for the fault he had carelesly committed was forbidden ever to wear feather under pain of forfeiting a 1000.
women are clothed in mantles of the Spanish fashion which reach lower then their girdles and of a purple colour and beneath that have skirts of blew cotton that trayle upon the ground and ten or twelve of them are dressed after this manner The corps this while is laid forth in some great room covered with a rich cloth or pall according to the quality of the person with four of those women waiting whilst the rest of them are sent abroad the town to deplore and lament the dead person the last whereof a little separate from her fellow-sisters declares the name quality and life of the defunct that all persons may prepare themselves to assist at the funerals They ejulate weep and lament with exotick gestures and tortions and in these postures having walked round the town they return to the corps with numbers of people and when the body is borne to the Temple then they raise yet lowder cries and ejulations One of these women makes a Panegyrick of the dead setting forth the great losse he is to his wife children friends and kindred then the multitude expresse their sadnesse acknowledging the losse they howle and cry out so hideously all together that you would think them distracted or at least at the brink of despaire when the body is carried out of the house Flutes Kettles and other Instruments play to the Church whither the Parents Kindred and Friends follow a most pitiful and sad sight CHAP. XXIII Of the Isles of Archi-Pelagus of S. Laurance of the Island of Sumatra of Elephants and other particulars AT the opening of the Gulph Bengale are many Isles great and small which make the Archi-pelagus called S. Lazarey and near 80. leagues in length and end about the Philippines and the Japon the chiefest thereof are Sumatra Javes Boraco Banda the Molukes the Philippines and others Towards Sumatra are the Isles of Andreman or Andemaon which signifies golden mynes inhabited by Antropophayes who warre with one another and eat their prisoners They make the like provision of humane flesh as we do of beef or bacon each of those Isles have their Kings It happened once to a Portuguese vessel having passed the Canall of Micobar and Sombrero called by the Indians Jenibra lying between Sumatra and the Continent the Portuguais call it Call or Canall of Sombrero because the place is covered by the winding and shade of the Isle as it were with a great brimmed hat One night by a sudden storme she was cast upon the Isles of Andreman otherwise Maduca within two leagues whereof is a shelf or bottome of white rock very dangerous hardly possible to sayle by without shipwrack The Portuguais call the place Pedra bianca Those in the shippe foreseeing the danger they were in threw over-board all their Artilery and all other things of weight they had therein and threw away their main Mast and by this means they escaped the shelve and rock being suddenly thrown out of that narrow passage by a great wave but behold their greatest misfortune escaping one danger they fell into another for seeing their ship begin to fill with water having sprung a leake they were forced to commit themselves to the mercy of their fiercest enemy The Captain Don sano Mendo advised them to prepare for land and to resolve to sell their lives dear since there was no hopes for a handful of people to escape the cruelties of so many barbarous villaines they suddenly cut and broak the ship to flitters every one snatching a planck endeavouring to reach the shore which was about halfe a league off and having put themselves in the best order could be expected in the like disorder or confusion with such arms they could carry as swords and axes as they were ready to land these barbarous insularies met them with their bows and arrowes and truncks and killed some 20. at the first onset the remainder of them about sixty having got footing on land by force made a great slaughter amongst the Infidels and seized of two Merchants houses where they fortified themselves the best they could untill their bloody irritated enemy fell upon them and besieged their sconce The Portugais reduced to this sad extremity resolved to sally forth with firebrands in their hands and to fire the adjacent town or village which being built with reeds and covered with palme was presently consumed then they thought to have escaped in boats belonging to the Isle but knowing not how to use them they returned back again and fortified themselves in the Caselba or Temple where with certain provisions they brought thither and others they found they maintained the place eleven or twelve dayes at the end of which time seeing there was no hope of a composition to be made with that furious people they resolved to dye gallantly with their weapons in hand and after a mutual and unanimous preparation and resignation of themselves they threw themselves amongst those barbarous infidels killed double or trebble their number but at last yielded all to the same doome and were eaten and salted by those sanguinary Barbarians Sumatra is one of the fairest Isles in the world sometime Taprobane and Palesimonde some would have it to be that which in old time was the Chersonese of gold and Ophir most renowned for Salomon It is called by some Tasan which signifies a great Isle because she hath 800. leagues compasse The Inhabitants of Malaca say it was formerly joyned to their continent but divided by an earthquake lyes directly under the Equinoctial lyne in the first climate her dayes and nights are all of a length is divided into many Provinces which make three kingdomes the chiefest whereof is Sougar commonly called Pedir and have all mynes of gold silver and other mettals and of the best sorts of Drugges and Spices the Pepper that growes there is larger and more biting then any other growing under the Torrid zone which causes the country to be the most temperate and best inhabited in the world for the reasons I have already spoken of The ayre is very wholesome and people live there very long and with good health the natives are very tractable but of little truth so 't is not safe trading with them for they will falsifie their word for their profit The kingdom of Assy is the richest in gold which is the finest of the world and Achen is the most potent The Isle is inhabited by Gentiles Moores and Jewes Many Turks have of late planted there for the goodnesse of the country and purity of the ayre The Idolaters only are natives all others come from other parts The earth is strangely fruitful in all products the onely inconvenience is the great flouds from rain which incessantly falls from Mid May untill Mid August and from mid-day to mid-night onely as at Bengale and as it happens in most of the countries under that Zone The King of the country discovering his subjects falshood which
souldiers Some say the Bishop of Conimbria dreamed the night before that the battel was lost and that they were all slaves as it came to passe and that upon this alone he sent his treasure and all things he had of value to Arzille which served for his ransom afterwards Malouco the same day about eleven in the fore-noon left his Littar and mounted on horse-back vested in a rich robe of cloth of gold wrought with a folliage a Cimeterre at his side his saddle set over with precious stones and thus went from rank to rank encouraging his men to combat His Army marched in good order like a half-cressent drums of the Morisco very small beat and the Fifes founded a shriller sound then the Trumpet 'T was thought the battels should have been given on Sunday the third but 't was defer'd to the fourth and Sebastian and Mahomet were advised to stay battel till the approach of night because the Arabians promised to come over to them and leave Malouco which proved false and they were so disappointed King Sebastian was armed as the day before in green Armes upon a white horse one of the best in Portugal The Moores Army was rampar'd on the left hand with the River Sebastian thought himself sure of the Arabians assistance and specially of Melouco's Van-guard which was all of Arabians and for this reason stayed till night that they might not be perceived 'T was in a field of above two large leagues every way without either tree or stone Before the Van-guard marched the Light-horse-men mounted on the Arabians horses composing the point of the Cressent and were wholly cut off with the Cannon The Arabians seeing this rout thought good to do the like but not perceiving a man of the other Battalia's fall they set a good face on it by force Muley Hammet being at hand to instigate them The battail at length grew hot and the Arabians performed nothing of what they had promised Molouco employed the remaining houres of his life in giving order for victory The King of Portugal and the Moor remained on the ground as well as Molouco the one slain the other drowned and the third dead of infirmity in his Littar Hamet remaining only victorious and heire of all Don Sebastian did wonders in his own person but overpowred with number he hung his handkercher on the point of a lance in token of yeilding but the rascally Moores ignorant of this practice run upon him and those that stood with him and put them all to the Sword The slaughter was great but chiefly of those who went along with the baggage who were as many or more then all the Army There were some mingled themselves amongst the dead to save their lives 'T was sad to see 200. sucking children and above 800. women boyes and girles who followed father and mother thinking to inhabit this country who had loaded chains and cords to fetter the Moores and served for the Christians themselves of whom there are 17. thousand prisoners the two hundred infants and the eight hundred women not reckon'd As to the kingdom of Fez or Marocca heretofore Mauritania or Tingitania 't is of vast extent and amongst others hath the two potent towns of Fez and Marocca Fez is the Capitall of the kingdom strong in scite and people seated on two great hills being able upon occasion to raise sixty thousand horse of sumptuous edifice of the Persian building embellished with Folliages of gold and azure their walls strong streets cleanly kept being a Captain for every one with strong gates at the ends for their security and crossed with chaines a fair river called also Fez passes through the middle This River is divided into two channels one towards the South which waters Fez the new the other towards the West watering Fez the old besides divers fountains which creep through Subterranean channels The houses for the greatest part are of brick with Towres and Tarrasses where the women prune themselves in the evening for they seldom stirr abroad There are Mosquees of fair building with their Marabouts for their service the Principall called Cairimen is of as large circumference as the Town of Arles with 31. principall gates sustained by 38. large Arches in length and 20. in breadth every night 900. lamps are lighted and on festivall dayes as in their Romadan the feast of S. John the Nativity of our Lord more Lamps without number upon brasse candlesticks where after Mid-night they sing Mattens Sixty leagues from hence is Marocca chief of all other kingdomes under that Empire as Hea Ducalea Gusula Hascora and Trelle as Fez hath under it Tesmenia Asgar Flabat Errif Garet Escaus c. This Town was built or rather augmented by a Prince called Mansor in the year 1024. scituate in a Plain invironed with Date-trees He built there a Magnificent Mosquee there is the high tower with three Spires on which stand three balls of gold of twenty thousand Miticales or two hundred and twenty five pounds weight a piece Muley Malouco would have had them for his warres but the Inhabitants would not permit him whereupon the Janissaries that came from Constantinople to assist Malouco made some Musquet shot and pierced them in divers places He promised them that after a time he would set the like there again but the others answered if he should dye all was lost as his great Grand-father who sold the foundation rents of the Hospitall of Fez and dyed before he could restore them so as 't was lost to the poor CHAP. XXIII Of the Kingdome of Marocca and Fez. MArocca stretches it selfe very farre and the parts Northward joyn upon the countrey of Asgar crossing the Mountaines of Gouraigoura thirty leagues from Fez whence there flowes a lovely River which runnes Westward and joynes with the River Bar where there are vast Plaines and Pastures without stone like the Camargue of Arles The Arabians call this countrey Suambiz a countrey abounding in Cattell and fronts upon another Nation of the Arabians called Aluzar and betwixt these two people there is ever a mortall warre and hatred The People of Asgar confine Northward on the Ocean Westward on the River Buragray which cuts through Forests full of Celoquintida and Oranges rendring a most pleasant odour Southward on the River Bonazar inhabited by those wealthy Arabians called Alalur whence come a brave company of Cavaliers Here there are many faire Townes as Argac Larais and Casar Alcahir or Elcabir that is the Grand Palace built by the great Mansor upon an encounter hee had being lost a hunting and Northward the countrey of Habar The Region of Habat or Elbabat ends also on this side the Ocean beginning from the South to the River Gonarga or Orga and Suerga and from the East to the Straight The Principall City is Azaget or Ezageu which stands upon the hanging of a Hill neare to the River Gourga and hath many other good Townes as Agla Tonser Merga Omar and others upon the
Dominion in North America as Peru in the South Betwixt both lyes Jucatan Hondura Nicaragua Veraga or Nombre de Dios Panama which chain them together Jucatan is a point of land which extends to the 21. degree like a peninsula being in the streightest place from Xicalanco to Chotemal some hundred leagues over the country was first discovered by one Fernandez in one thousand five hundred and seventeen afterwards by Grisalua who came from Cuba to the Isle of Cosumel or Saint Crois thence to Campechia Champatron and Tauasco Hondura was first discovered by Columbus in his last voyage 1502. last by one Casan who setled the Plantation of Tucillo in 1515. Pedrarias d' Avila in 1519. planted the Colonies in Nombre de Dios and Panama towards the South Sea the first discoverer of that sea was Vasco Muntz coming from Dariana in 1513. who with great joy rendred thanks to God and took possession for the King of Spain Betwixt Nombre de Dios and Panama 't is 17. or 18. leagues of Marshes Mountains and craggy asperous rocks full of fierce wild beasts of all kinds and a multitude of Apes that make a very troublesome noyse They transport their Merchandise from sea to sea either by land with convoyes or by the river Chagra to about five leagues from Panama and then by land with Convoy They have often thought of cutting this Isthmus in the streightest place but the difficulty of the Rocks and Mountains by the way besides the doubt if the seas are levell as at the Egyptian Isthmus hindred the proceeding A Colony at Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariana displanted for the unsoundnesse of the ayre for but throwing warm water on the ground toads and other venemous creatures would engender Advancing towards the East we came to the Provinces of Vraba S. Martha Cartagena Popayan Dorado new Estramadora new Granada Venecuela Castilia Doro Bagota new Andolousia Paria Cahaqua Cumana c. South lyes Dariana then the great kingdome of Peru then Chila to the Streight Dariana was planted by one Anchisa there are Cowes with feet like Mules and hornlesse Peru according to some extends from Dariana to Chila others clipping it from Popayan North to Chila South It took name from the River Peru in two degrees Northward the Provinces thereof are Quito Quixos Popayan Canela Pacamores Gualsonge then Collao Carchas Anedas Tecuman to Chila Popayan is about two hundred leagues in length and forty in breadth lying upon new Granada towards the East The Provinces are Antioch Tataho Anserma Arma Pacoura Catapa Quinhaya Calix and Pasto Anserma 70. leagues from Antioch is called by the Indians Ombra but the Spaniards seeing the Inhabitants hold salt in their hand and call it Anser thought the town had been so called and continued that name there is a passage over the river Saint Martha at that town Arma is of note for rich Mines Parmoura hath also silver Mines the Province of Arbi extends to the Mountains of Cordilleras which runs a thousand leagues Southward on that side which stretches to the sea they never have raines by reason the South and South-West winds blowing continually drive the clouds away whereby this part is barren without tree fruit or grasse but the other side onely a league distant by reason of the rains abounds in fruits and all commodities In Quinbaya at the end of the Cordilleras over against Andes there is a famous burning mountain In the Province of Pastro there is a large valley called Arris ever cold both winter and summer All these parts are well peopled and the Inhabitants not so bloody nor man-eaters as in other parts living under a government and obedience to their Prince and believe in the resurrection after death and that they shall live in fields of peace with all sorts of delights Peru extends from Pasto to Chila ends Southward at the River Manto North at Augar Mayo here are vast sandy Plains as far as the Indies where the heat is extreme while snow lyes on the Mountains and the like diversity of the seasons I remember when I went to Sicily walking on the coast of Calabria in the beginning of March winter was so sharp there was not the least sprout of a Vine to be seen whereas in Sicily I found them a span high young beanes good Artichocks and they mowed green corn to give the blades to horses In this part between the sea and the Codilleras called Sanaria for want of wood they get a certain earth out of the water which they dry and make turfes like those in the low countreys the Mountains are the most desert and arduous in the world of long extent running from Panama to the streight they throw down divers Rivers and compose very fertile Valleys At the point of Sagotta at the entrance into those vast plains betwixt the Mountains and the Sea lyes a wide countrey covered with nothing but sand like the deserts of Arabia but not so white some shrubs there are or rather stalks strong as the Caper sprigges in the deserts of Palestine the same we call salt grasse which refreshes the passengers exceedingly and continues till May. The seasons differ but little in Quito Cagnales Santiago de porto Vieio Cusco Cagnata Collao Charcas The Province of Quito is called by the Spaniards Poblada de San Francesco and the capitall town S. Francis of Quito The length of Peru from Quito to Chila is some six hundred leagues the breadth about fifty The countrey is divided into three parts the Plaines upon the sea side about ten leagues over the Mountains and Valleys twenty leagues the Forests and Lawns twenty leagues within which little space of fifty leagues there is such difference that it rains as 't were alwayes in one part in another not at all and in the middle upon the mountaines seldome The Cordileras which run from Pole to Pole by the names of Andes and Sierra are very different though in the same elevation one side covered with woods where it rains and is ever hot the other side bare and cold winter and summer These mountains go for a thousand leagues in view of one another dividing at Cusco where they inclose the Province of Collao a Champaign countrey full of Lakes and Rivers Next Collao lyes Charcas a mountanous countrey rich in Mines Quito is under the Equinoctial abounding in all sorts of fruit whereof they make two harvests in the year The spring lasts from Aprill to November and from October to March their rains which they esteem their winter Here they have of those famous sheep called Pacos which serve as properly for carriage as horses of the height of an ordinary asse long legges deep belly long and risen neck and the head like ours in Europe They draw and do any work the flesh is wholesome and savory fresh or salt these beasts are tame and apt to be brought to labour Out of the Province of Cognata towards the
Saint Vincent Upon the North-side the streight of Magellan are abundance of winglesse birds that live in holes in the ground fat and good meat they called Pinguins Sir Francis Drake found many good Harbours in the Streight where good fresh waters came but they are not easy to enter for the strong and turbulent windes that raigne there The Land on both sides lies exceeding high and banked with inaccessible Mountains particularly on the South and East where they are ever covered with snow The breadth in some places is of two three or foure leagues in the narrowest of one or of two musket shots 'T is excessive cold and never without snow and ice the trees notwithstanding ever green and laden with fruit From this Streight by Cape Foendo and the White Cape they ascend again into the silver river where begins Brasile in 35 degrees beyond the line reaching to the River of Amazons under the Line This silver river or Paravai Parana and Paraguay disgorging altogether like Cordillera de serra Muada in Peru and Charcas over-flow the whole Countrey so as the Inhabitants for that time live in Canoes fastned to Trees till the floud be retired within the banks At the mouth t is about 35. leagues over but further within the Land fifty being streightened towards the Mouth by reason of the Mountains and compassing a number of Islands this River rises near the Town of Plata towards Potossi whence it takes name Others derive it from the great lake called Eupania where the other Rivers take birth as Maragnon but it should rather be Parana which afterwards falls into the silver River The first that came within the mouth of this River was Americus Vesputius sent by the King of Portugall to discover Brasile in the yeare fifteen hundered and one and supposing it a passage from the South sea to the Moluccas satisfied himselfe and returned without looking farther After that in the yeare fifteen hundered and twelve the King of Spain sent one John Solis who named it Solis In fifteen hundered twenty five Sebastian Ganor made a farther advance up the River and by reason of the silver he found amongst the people or rather because the head of it lies near the Town Plata towards Potossi called it the silver River or Plata The Inhabitants along the River are of large stature long-lived light and nimble of foot use bows and slings in warr and speak the Patagonick Language or the Chicaan of later times the Spaniards have ascended this River as farr as Charcas and Colao The other river I mentioned is above fifty leagues in the mouth and rises amongst the Mountains of Cuntisuya near Cusco the Indians call it Apurimac principall and Capacmaya the Prince of Rivers It runs from South to North above five hundred leagues from his source at the equinoctiall Then it turns to the East for 650. leagues in a right line and goes with windings and turns for above a thousand five hundred leagues two miles to the league This is the greatest River upon the earth which at his infusion keeps the Sea fresh for many leagues first discovered by the Pinsons of Siville in the year 1500. then Orellana sailed it from the source almost to the end in 1543. 't is filled with severall Islands and the Tide mounts above a hundred leagues They find Meragnon to be seventy leagues Southward distant from Orellana that rises from the great Peruian lakes which descend from the Mountains covered with snow others put them both in one it may be falling so close together into the Sea they may joyn waters and Orellana bear the name of both CHAP. XVI Of Brasile the Conquest of it and of the Brasilians c. BRasile is a large Province of America appertaining to the Crown of Portugall extending from 25. degrees to the second from North to South some ten degrees in breadth from East to West from fort Para in the mouth of the great River of Amazons to Plata Maragnon bounds it Northward in two degrees Plata South in thirty five on the East the excelse and inaccessible Mountains of Peru and on the East the Ethiopian or Atalantick Sea as likewise on the North. For the Country the benignity and sweetnesse of the air and water and the fertility of soyle is a miracle in such a Climate and temperature which renders the Inhabitants of so healthfull and long life and though the Climate be under the Torrid there come freshgales from the Sea that moderate it so as it becomes a delicate habitation having every morning some mists and dews which the Sun afterwards dissolves into air Here you meet with nothing but fair open fields pleasant hills fertile mountains fresh valleys green meadows abundance of woods rivers and fountains of excellent waters with infinite plenty of all sorts of trees plants fruits grain cattle sugar balm In a word 't is for necessaries and delights the fullest Country on the earth Of strange Creatures there is the Cerigon in shape and bigness like a Fox betwixt yellow and gray whose belly is like a purse or pocket wherein she saves her young ones when she is hunted another the Portuguese call Pereza for his slow gate in fifteen dayes not going a stones cast nor can any force drive him faster he feeds on nothing but leaves of trees and 't is some dayes work for him to climb up and come down There are Camelions whereof I have spoken in another place Betwixt Brasile and the Cape of bona Esperanza there is a Gulph of 1200. leagues formidable and furious for winds and tempests The Countrey is divided into nine Governments or Captainships wherein are 7. Colonies of Portugueses along the coast that is Tamaraco Pernanbuco Todos santos or San Saluador Puerto seguro espiritu santo Paraibi Genero and others the Capes of S. Augustine and St. Vincent the River St. Francis c. The first discoverers were Vespusius the Pinions Lopez and Cabral about 1500. Pedro Aluarez Cabral made the principall discovery in 1500. being sent by King Emanuel for the East Indies but a tempest cast him here and he named it the countrey of St. Chrosse and the place he landed on Porto Seguro Cabral for that time contented himself with taking possession and the Kings of Portugall being full of concernments in Africa and the East neglected new conquests till Emanuell not long before his death sent thither one Gonzalo Cotello who sailed on along the coast not without trouble and danger and returned without any advantage Afterwards King John the â— sent Christopher Jago who discovered about 1100. leagues upon the coast amongst others the Bay of Todos Santos where in the River Paraguasu he found two French vessels traficking with the Natives which shewes the French men traded with this Nation before the Portugueses had any knowledge of it This Jago barbarously sunk their vessels and murthered all the men done like the Spaniard who though he cannot