of Candis Between the Kingdoms of Cambaya and Bengala are those of Candis Chitor Malway Berar Gualeor Narvar Ranas and Berar Brampore is the chief City of Candis seated on the River Tapta which descends into the Gulph of Cambaya below Surat The City is great but ill built unhealthful and a place which hath been unfortunate to many Children of the Great Mogolls In the old City of Mandow are the Sepulchres and Remains of the Palace of its Ancient Kings the new City is better built but less Province of Chitor The Province of CHITOR with its City of the same name is quite engaged in the Mountains which meet in the way of Amedebat and Cambaya to Agra The City was of 5 Leagues circuit before Ekebar took it from Raja Cana and ruined it It hath now little more then the Remains of 100 and odd Temples and of a great number of Buildings which have been stately and magnificent The Castle was in a place so advantagious and strong that the Kings of Delli could never take it and Sultan Alandin was constrained to raise the siege after having been 12 years before it Province of Malway The Province of MALWAY hath its Territory fruitful and for its principal place Rantipore others put Vgen or Ougell It s chief Fortress is Narvar whose City is near the Spring-head of a River and at the Foot of Mountains of the same name and which stretch themselves from the Kingdom of Guzurate unto that of Agra and Narvar and in these Mountains abide some Princes which obey not the Mogoll Province of Gualeor The Province of GVALEOR takes its name from its chief City where there is one of the best Cittadels or Fortresses of the Estate wherein the Mogoll confines such as are Prisoners of State and those Lords of which he hath any jealousie and where he also keeps a great part of his Treasure Province of Ranas The Province of RANAS hath for its chief place Gurchitto seated on a high Hill Province of Narvar The Province of NARVAR hath for its chief City Gehud seated on a River which falls into the Ganges and touches on the Mountains of Narvar Province of Berar The Province of BERAR hath for its capital place Shapor which reaches Southward and touches that of Guzurate and the Mountain of Rana Several other Provinces In the midst of all the Mogolls Estates are the provinces of JENVPAR HENDOWNES JESSELMERE and BANDO The Province of Jenupar takes its name from its chief City Hendowns of Hendowns which is towards the Indies Jesselmere whose chief City is so called in whose Castle Ammer in 1548. Zimlebege Wife of Hymayon flying into Persia Lay in of Ekebar who restored the Mogolls and made their Estates so great and powerful in the Indies And lastly the Province of Bando whose chief City bears the same name is between the Cities of Jesselmere Delli and Agra at 70 or 80 Leagues from the one and the other besides its City of the same name Asmere is famous for the Sepulchre of Hogimondee a Mahumetan whom the Mogolls esteem a Saint and there where Ekebar made his devotions to the end he might obtain a Son to succeed in his Estate and afterwards caused to be set up at every Leagues end a Pillar of Stone and several Lodgings to be built on the way to receive Passengers and Pilgrims The extent bounds c. of the Great Mogolls Countrey These are the Provinces or Kingdoms which the Great Mogoll possesses whose Empire stretches from South to North 500 Leagues and from West to East 6 or 700 is bounded either with Mountains or the Sea Its Neighbours are the Vsbeck the Cascar the Thibet and the Turquestan parts of Tartary towards the North the People of Maug and others which have been of Pegu towards the East the Persians towards the West and the Kingdom of Decan and Golconda towards the South The Indian Ocean where are the Gulfs of Indus and Cambaya on one side and that of Bengala on the other side wash the rest The Tartars Persians very troublesome to the Mogol Of all his Neighbors the Tartars and Persians are the most powerful The Tartars nevertheless being divided into many Estates where they border on him are more likely to damage him by Inroads then by open War The Persian regained from him Candahar some years past which he lost not again till he had at the same time to deal with the Mogolls and Turks The others have much ado to defend themselves against him as the Kings of Golconda and Decan this last having lost some part of his Estates and the other giving him some present in the way of Tribute But the great Mogoll would make nothing to seise both these Kingdoms if he were not often perplexed with intestine War and if there remained not in his Estates divers Princes which they call Rahias or Kings and many people of whom he cannot absolutely dispose neither the one nor the other obeying him or paying any Tribute to him but by constraint and the greatest part paying it only when and how they please and sometimes not at all Amongst these little Kings and People are the Rahia Bossou Petty Kings people under the Mogoll who resides at Temery 50 Leagues from Lahor The Rahia Tulluck Chan who resides at Naugracut 80 Leagues from Lahor The Rahia Decomperga is 150 Leagues from Agra residing at Calsery the Rahia Mansa is 200 Leagues from Agra residing at Serimgar The Rahia Rodorou is beyond the Ganges residing at Camayo The Muggi likewise beyond the Ganges to the South of Rahia Rodorou is very powerful as well as the two last between the Armes of the Ganges is a Prince of the ancient family of the Kings of Delli who likewise maintains himself Above Cassimere the Rahia Tibbon acknowledges neither Mogoll nor Tartar descending often and making incursions both on the one and the other The People called Balloches or Bulloques do unpunished live like Vagabonds in the Province of Haiacan likewise the Aguvanes and the Patanes in Candahar likewise the Quilles or Colles and the Resbutes in the Mountains between Cambaya and Decan and sometimes the Colles of Decan the Rebustes of Cambaya and the Patanes of Candahar have raised Tribute These Kings and People are almost all Pagans descending from divers Kings and People which possessed divers parts of the Indies before the Mogolls There is one Rahia of the Colles above Amadebat another the Rahia Partaspha near Breampure who hath some time taken and pillaged Cambaya The Rahia Rana resides at Gorchitto and after having well defended himself against the ancient Kings of India yields now some Tribute to the Mogoll Yet is the Great Mogoll one of the greatest and most powerful Princes of Asia Mogol very potent he can bring into the field 200000 Horse 500000 Foot and 2 or 3000 Elephants he gives pensions to the greatest part of the
now this Problem is the same with that to find out the Meridian Line and the North and South quarters for these being known it is easy to know the rest First by the Stars viz. in the night the Bear or the Helice and Polary Star so called in the extremity of the tail of the Vrsa Minor of great same amongst the Ancients which shewed the North quarter whence all the rest are found for the face being turned to the North the East is at the right hand and the West on the left the Line of which quarters at Right Angles cutteth the Line of the North and South And these Cardinal quarters being found it is easy to find the intermedial quarters unto which purpose that there may be no need of a description they had a Circle made with the quarters whose Northern Line being placed above the Northern Line of any place the other quarters at one sight are discovered But in the day they sought out the quarter by the rising or setting of the Sun as we have shewed in the XXVIII Chapter See Chap. 28. 2. The other Method of the Antients for the knowing of quarters was the knowledge of the scituation or extension of the Shoars and one Promontory to the other For seeing the quarter of this extension was known to them either from the Maps or from Observation and Experience they might in Navigation by seeing them know the other quarters For one quarter being known all the rest are known therefore the Ancients did not far depart from the Coasts viz. that they might know the quarter by the benefit of the known quarter of the extension of Shoars For they could not always use the Method of the Stars and the rising and setting of the Sun 3. The third Method of the Ancients of the knowledge of the quarters was the observed course of the Ship For going from any place and guiding the Ship to the known quarter they were able from the mutation of the course of the Ship to know the quarters 4. Hence it is manifest that the chief cause of the dangerous and imperfect Navigation of the Ancients was the ignorance of a Method by which every where in the middle of the vast Ocean they might know the quarters and so that quarter unto which the Ship was to be steered For as I have said the Method by the Stars and the rising and setting Sun cannot be applied on all days and on the hours of every day for the mark from the scituation of the Shoars faileth in the mid Seas in the night neither is it safe enough in the day time The third Method from the observed course of the Ship hath not place when the Ship is tossed by boysterous winds and tempests from one quarter to another And in this casually lyeth the chief difficulty This I thought fit to admonish concerning the Modes of the Ancients for the finding out the Meridian Line and the North and South by reason that the imperfection of these was the cause of the dangerous and small Navigation of the Ancients seeing that they were never able to commit themselves to the vast Ocean and therefore never knew those Regions between which the Ocean is interposed of which the chief is all America never yet fully known But at this day the Method of knowing the quarters in all places and of finding out the Line of the North and South is facile by the benefit of the admirable propriety which the Loadstone and all Iron touched by it hath been found to have Viz. that all Magneticks not hindred by others in any place direct their points almost to the same quarters For there are two opposite points in the Loadstone whereof one always and in all places turneth it self to the North or the adjacent quarter the other to the South and so also the other points of the Magnes respect the other quarters viz. every point its particular quarter but all of them are not considered but only those two points which as I have said do convert themselves to the North and South which are termed the Poles of the Magnes one Northern the other Southern And the same virtue much to admiration is communicated to the Needle but by an inverted and contrary operation of nature For the end of the Lamine or Needle which is touched at the North Pole of the Magnes doth not convert it self to the North but to the South and that end which is rubbed at the South Pole of the Loadstone turneth not to the South but to the North. These points of the Needle are also termed the Poles The virtue of the Loadstone Although therefore the Loadstone and the Iron touched by it have very many notable properties yet all may be referred to two species or heads one is that virtue which doth extract the Iron the other by which in every place it directeth the two points of its Superficies to the North and South The former faculty the Ancients were not ignorant of but only this latter Seeing therefore the Magnes hath this property therefore by its help it is easy to find in any part of the Earth or Sea where the North or South is whence all the other quarters are soon known For if those points of the North and South be noted in any Loadstone or the North and South Pole and we have this Magnes in the Ship where we are in the Sea when we desire to know the quarters the Loadstone being hung by a Cord that it may easily move it self will so direct its Poles to the quarter of the North and South that it will shew the quarters demanded But the Magnetick Needle is more easy for use whose end is touched at the South Pole of the Magnes For if that this Needle be placed in the middle upon a sharp perpendicular pin so that it can freely turn round the Needle resting will shew by one of its ends the North quarter and by the other the South From what hath been said it is easy to make a Nautical Instrument Proposition II. To make a Mariners Compass Of the making the Mariners Compass Let the described Circle on any Paper be divided into 32 Quarters or degrees and let one of these deg being taken for the North Quarter be ascribed with these appellations Viz. with a peculiar Sign the Flower de Luce and the found out points for the other Quarters viz. South East West North-East North-West as we have propounded them in the Diagram in the XX Chapter Mariners term this Chart the Rose Then let the Magnetick Needle be so affixed beneath the Chart that the middle of the Needle may be beneath its Center and the North Pole of the Needle may be subjected to the Line of the Paper unto which we ascribe the Northern Quarter Moreover the Paper being so made with the Needle lying under let it be put upon the pointed pin that it may have a free Circumrotation So the Index of the
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-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 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
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
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
the fire It s Sap infused in Water heated and taken luke-warm purges Flegm and cures Venerial distempers Their Fruits Among their Fruits they have Damsons twice as big as ours Mirabolans of many kinds Anana's Citrons Oranges Pomegranates Grapes Dates Coco-Nuts c. They gather Maniguet Ginger and divers Roots which they eat instead of Bread and which serves for divers other uses they have quantity of Rice Millet Beans Pease French-Beans both red white green and all sorts of Pulse The Sensitive Herb is found among the Tapates whose Leaf touched they all close and shut up one within anothen hanging towards the ground and not raising up nor opening themselves again till a good while after and that by little and little It s chief places The Isles hath many good Roads and commodious Ports and every where are found good Water and Victuals but the Air is unhealthful to the Europeans by reason of the great Heat which here reigneth it lying under the Torrid Zone yet the French have established a Colony sometimes in one place and sometimes in another The Bay of Anton-Gil or of St. Anthony is the best in all the Island On the same Coast and farther towards the North is Boamarage more towards the South Arganda and continuing Cacambout Manialoufe Manajara or the Port of Pruâ—es Matatane Manapate or the Port of Gallions Manatenga Andâ—â—boul Romag near the Port St. Cace and Antipere or Sancta Clara near Cape St. Romain All these places or Ports are builded with Wood covered with Leaves and inclosed with Pallisadoes as throughout all the Isle On the other side towards the West and directly opposite to the Coast of Africa are Vingagora St. Andreâ—â—â— the Bay of Pracel St. Vincent St. James the Port or Guâ—ph of St. Augustine the best next to Antongil Tombaja c. The middle of the Isle rises into Mountains covered with Wood where is Ebony Saunders Orange-Trees Citron-Trees c. The Isle of Sancta Mary described About Madagascar are a great many of Isles as that of SANCTA MARY near the Bay of Anton-Gil about ten or twelve Leagues in circuit is fair and fertile affords store of Provisions and Potters Earth and their Seas quantity of Whales which they catch by darting on them a certain Iron fixed to the end of a Cord which when they have tired themselves they make to the shore and of these Whales they make Oyl with which as also with their Provisions and Potters Earth they drive a Trade The Isles of Comeres described The Isles of COMERES are Five principal ones as St. Christophers St. Esprit Loura Comera and Gasidsa The Inhabitants of this last are perfidious the others more civil and under one King alone who resides at Ansuvanny where there is some Trade the most part are Mahometans the Soil is pleasant and fertile because of the Rivers which descend from the Mountains and water their Fields They have all sorts of Birds they have no Iron they fetch from Madagascar Rice Millet Amber-greece and Slaves which they transport into Arabia and the Red Sea from whence they bring Stuffs and Indian Habits Amfium or Opium In 1613. the Hollanders tauched on this Island and received great refreshment It is observed that for a Quire of common Paper they had an Ox for a common Looking-Glass another for a Dozen of Little Bells which they fastned to Hawks Legs another for a Bar of Iron three Oxen c. The Isle of Maurico described The Isle MAVRICE or SANCTA APPOLLINA between 19 and 20 degrees seems to have been inhabited before the Hollanders established a Colony It is about 15 Leagues in compass Mandelslo saith that this Island hath a good Haven both deep and large enough for fifty Said of great Ships to harbor in which makes it to be very pleasant having many Mountains which are well cloathed with Trees and always green among which some are so lofty that they seem to overtop the Clouds And its Valleys as pleasant and green and adorned with several sorts of Trees as well those that bear Fruits as Cocoes Dates Oranges Citrons c. as those which yield none as great quantity of excellent Ebony and other Trees some of whose wood is Yellow others Red others mixt and all with fair and lively colours The Leaves of their Palm-trees are large enough to cover a man the Birds are here so tame that they suffer themselves to be taken with the hand or killed with a stick They have Tortoises strong enough to bear a man but fourfooted Beasts they have none Besides these Isles aforesaid there are several others which are seated about the Isle of Madagascar as Two bearing the name of Deigosoares Two by the name of Nunni Pereirae Three by the name of Deigo Roix Four by Sancta Clara Two by St. Romanus Three by St. Julianus Three by St. Jacobus Nine by St. Vincent Three by St. Christophers Three by Comora And eight by the name of Bugi Also the Isles of Boamarage St. Anthony St. Maria Radix Mascarenhae Johannis de Lisboa Syrtium and Mosambicha-Nova with some others The Banks of India very dangerous for Shipwracks Between the Isle of Madagascar and the main Land about 70 Leagues from the Isle 100 from Cefala and 150 from Mozambique are the Banks of India infamous for Shipwracks and particularly for that of the Admiral Fernando Mendoza in 1586. The Banks and Rocks are of sharp Stones and with divers points like to Coral some black others white others green but all horrible even to behold There rests a great number of Islands to the North and East and between the North and East of Madagascar and among these Isles many Banks and Rocks We will omit a particular description of them as unnecessary and only say that the French have often designed to establish a powerful Colony in the Countrey encouraged by its Commodities and the great Commerce it is like to maintain The Isles of CAPE VERDE The Isles of Cape Verde described viz. ONe hundred and fifty Leagues from Cape Verde and towards the West are a body of Islands which extend themselves from 13 ½ unto the 19 degree of Latitude and from 153 ½ unto 157 or thereabout of Longitude They are called in general the Isles of Cape Verde because that Cape is the nearest main Land to them Amongst these Isles there are 10 in some consideration though a part of them not inhabited they are ranged almost in form of a Cressant or Semi-Circle of which the convex part regards the Continent and the two Points the Ocean That which makes the Point towards North and West is that of St. Antonio which those of St. Vincent St. Nicholas and Sancta Lucia follow advancing between East and South then those of Salt Bona Vista and Maya descend from North to South and are the most Easterly of all Those of St. Jago of Fuego and Brava the most Southern returning from East to
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