Seas to Sail to it there being not any Islands Rocks or Sands between the Lands-End in England and New-found Land and for the most part it is not above three or four Weeks Sail thither and less coming back and is the most commodiously situated for the discovering of the North-West Passage and other Inlets into the South Sea whereby the ordinary Voyages to China Japan and the East-Indies are much eas'd in the expence of Time and Charge and the most open to Trade to all Parts of any Island of the West-Indies On the East side of the Land are the Bays of Trinity and Conception which stretch themselves towards the South-West Tor-Bay and Capelin-Bay lying also on the East stretch themselves towards the West The Bays of Trespassey St. Mary Borrel and Plaisance on the South part of the Land extend their Arms towards the North. The great Bay of St. Peters lying on the South-West side of the Land and Southerly from the great River of Canada being about twenty Leagues distant the same stretcheth toward the East Trinity Harbour lies in near forty nine Degrees of North Latitude being very commodiously seated to receive Shipping in seasonable Weather both to Anchor in and from thence to Sail towards either the East West or South It hath three Arms or Rivers long and large enough for many hundred Sail of Ships to moare fast at Anchor near a Mile from the Harbours Mouth Close adjoyning to the Rivers side and within the Harbour is much open Land well stor'd with Grass sufficient Winter and Summer to maintain great store of ordinary Cattel besides Hogs and Goats if such Beasts were carried thither and it standeth North most of any Harbor in the Land where our Nation practiseth Fishing It is near unto a great Bay lying on the North side of it call'd The Bay of Flowers to which Place no Ships repair to Fish in regard of sundry Rocks and Ledges lying even with the Water and full of danger The bottom of the Bay of Trinity lieth within four Leagues through the Land South-West Southerly from Trinity as by experience is found and it comes near unto the Bay of Trespassey and the bottom of some other Bays Trespassey in like manner is as commodious a Harbour lying in a more temperate Climate almost in forty six Degrees of North Latitude and is both fair and pleasant and a wholsom Coast free from Rocks and Shelves so that of all other Harbours it lies the most South of any in the Land and most conveniently to receive our Shipping passing to and from Virginia and the Bermuda Islands and also any other Shipping that shall pass to and from the River of Canada and the Coast thereof because they usually pass and so return in the sight of the Land of Trespassey and also for some other purposes as shall be partly declar'd in the following Discourse The Soil of this Countrey in the Valleys and sides of the Mountains is so fruitful Fruitful Soil as that in divers places the Summer naturally produceth without Tillage great plenty of green Pease and Fitches fair round full and as wholsom as ours in England Berries and Fruits Of Berries and Fruits there grows Strawberries red and white and as fair Raspice-berries and Goose-berries as there be in England as also Bilberries which are call'd by some Whortes and many other delicate Berries peculiar to the Countrey in great abundance Likewise small Pears Cherries Filberds c. Herbs and Flowers There are also Herbs for Sallets and Broth as Parsly Alexander Sorrel c. and also Flowers as the red and white Damask Rose with other kinds which are most beautiful and delightful both to the sight and smell And questionless the Countrey is stor'd with many Physical Herbs though their Vertues are not known When Corn was first Sow'n here it was observ'd to grow very fair the increase was great and the Grain very good and several sorts of Kitchin Plants that have been Set here have prov'd very well In divers parts of the Countrey there is great store of Deer Beasts and some Hares many Foxes Squerrils Beavers Martins and Otters yielding excellent Furrs Wolves and Bears with other sorts of Beasts serving as well for Necessity as for Profit and Delight Variety both of Land and Water-Fowl is in this Countrey infinite Birds The chief Land-Fowl besides a great number of small Birds that live by scraping their Food from the Earth in the hardest Winter are Hawks great and small Partridges Thrush and Thrussels abundance very fat as also Filladies Nightingales and such like which sing most pleasantly There are also Birds that live by prey as Ravens Gripes Crows c. For Water-Fowl there is certainly so good and as much variety as in any part of the World as Geese Ducks Pigeons Gulls Penguins and many other sorts These Penguins are as big as Geese but do not flye for they have but a little short Wing and they multiply so infinitely upon a certain flat Island that men drive them from thence upon a Board into their Boats by hundreds at a time as if God had made the innocency of so poor a Creature to become such an admirable Instrument for the sustentation of Man And also Godwits Curlews and such like which Fowl do not onely serve those that Trade thither for Food but also they are a great furthering to divers Ships Voyages because the abundance of them is such that the Fisher-men do bait their Hooks with the quarters of Sea-Fowl on them and therewith some Ships do yearly take a great part of their Fishing Voyages with such Bait before they can get others The fresh Waters and Springs of that Countrey are many in number Springs and withall so very pleasant delightful and wholsom that no Countrey in the World hath better And Fewel for Fireing no where more plentiful In like manner there is great abundance of Trees fit to be employ'd in other serviceable uses Trees There are Fir and Spruce-Trees sound good and fit to Mast Ships with and as commodious for Boards and Buildings as those of Norway and out of these come abundance of Turpentine Moreover the Pine and Birch-Trees here are scarce to be compar'd for heighth and greatness The Rivers also and Harbours are generally stor'd with delicate Fish as Salmons Peals Eels Herrings Mackrel Flounders Launce Capelin Cod and Trouts the fairest fattest and sweetest that ever were seen in these Parts The like for Lobsters Cra-fish Mussles and other variety of Shell-fish The Seas likewise all along the Coast do plentifully abound in other sorts of Fish as Whales Spanish Mackrel Dorrel Pales Herrings Hogs Porposes Seals and such like Royal Fish c. But the chief Commodity of New found Land yet known and which is grown to be a setled Trade and that it may be much better'd by an ordinary Plantation there if the Traders thither will take some better course than formerly they have
Description of the Countrey Extracted from the Iseland Chronicle is look'd upon by a late French Writer of note as the most particular and faithful however the Danish Chronicle differs in many things and amongst others in this that not the hundredth part of Groenland is possess'd by the Norwegians but that there inhabit several different sorts of People of different Fashions and Governments altogether unknown to the Norwegians Temperature of Groenland Groenland notwithstanding its Northerly Situation is reported to be a Countrey not unfertile of Corn and other Productions of the Earth and in respect of its verdant Aspect at some Seasons of the Year above the rest of those Septentrional Regions it is concluded to have merited the Name of Groenland i. e. Greenland nay so great is the Heat that is said to be there during the Moneths of June July and August by reason of the reverberation of the Sun-beams from the Rocks that many times there is but six Weeks space betwixt Seed-time and Harvest What sort of Animals breed there The Beasts which are said to breed here in great numbers are Horses Deer Foxes Hares Bears both black and white common Wolves and a sort of Beast between a Deer and a Wolf besides great store of Beavers and Martins as the Iseland Chronicle testifies whose Furr in fineness may compare with the Sables of Russia There are also Gerfalcons in abundance both white and grey of so delicate a kind that they were in ancient times sent to the Kings of Denmark as Presents of great rarity The Seas about Greenland abound in very many sorts of Fish as Sea-Wolves Sea-Dogs Sea-Calves and above all incredible numbers of Whales of a vast bigness Strange kind of Horn found there But the most remarkable Commodity of this Countrey is a kind of Horn commonly call'd the Licornes or Unicorns-Horn which is found there in great quantities and great store of it is to be seen in Denmark some whole some in great pieces sometimes onely the Ends or Stumps but since it appears very different from all other kind of Horn there is great Question made amongst Naturalists whether it be Horn or Tooth and if Horn whether the Horn of a Beast or Fish but it is discover'd of late to be the Horn or rather Tusk of a certain Fish which the Islanders call Narhual being indeed a kind of Whale as the Name seems to imply signifying a Whale which feeds upon Carcases The chief Voyagers thither This Countrey is call'd by the Natives Secanunga who was the first Discoverer thereof is not certainly known but the first chief Voyagers thither were of the Dutch William Barents or Barentson of Amsterdam who set forth towards those Parts in the Year 1594. and before him Dithmar Blefkens in the Year 1563. of the English Mr. James Hall who set out from Copenhagen in Denmark Anno 1605. and in a second Voyage was slain by a Salvage of the Countrey The Coastings Havens and Creeks of Groenland The Coastings Courses Havens and Creeks of Groenland according as Barentson receiv'd an Account of them from Iver Boty a Groenlander written in the Norsh Language as it is call'd are as followeth From Stad in Norway to Hornness the East part of Groenland it is seven days Sailing Between Iseland and Groenland lieth a Riff call'd Gombornse-skare the Ice lying upon which hindreth the Passage Those that Sail from Bergen in Norway South of Rokeness in Iseland come under Swafster a Promontory or high Land in the East part of Groenland and within sight of the high Mount Whitsark between which and Groenland lieth a Headland call'd Hernoldus Hook not far from Sound-Haven formerly much frequented by the Norway Merchants Those that Sail from Iseland to Groenland Steer to Snoffness West of Rokeness and after South-West East of Hernoldus Hook lieth the Village of Skagenford the most Easterly Village of the Island East of Skagenford the Haven Bearford inaccessible by Ships by reason of a great Riff lying at the Mouth thereof This Place is chiefly remarkable for the Whale-fishing the Whales upon the going back of the Tide running into a great Swalth as they call it which is in the Haven East of Bearford is the Haven call'd Allabong-Sound full of little Isles East from the Icy Mountain the aforemention'd Haven Fendobothes Farther East is the Highland Corse Hought where they Hunt white Bears West from Hernoldus Hook is the Village Codosford and hard by the Sea-Coast a fair Church which we conceive to be the same with Korsekirk above spoken of as Codosford may also probably be the same with Kindelfiord A little farther West lieth the Boy or Town of Wartsdale for in the Norsh Language Boy signifies a Town belonging to Petresuik or Peterswike Church Near this Boy or Town standeth a Cloyster or Abbey of Canons Regular dedicated to St. Olafe and St. Augustine Next to Codosford is Rompnesford the same questionless with the above-mention'd Rumpesinfiord where there is a Cloyster of Nuns of the Order of St. Benedict In this Ford lie many small Isles Between Rompness and the next Sound lieth a great Garden call'd Vose belonging to the King of the Countrey as also St. Nicholas Church before mention'd At the entrance into Emnestnesford is the Inlet Southwoderswike and somewhat higher on the same side the little Cape Bloming beyond the Inlet Granwike above that the Garden call'd Daleth belonging to the Cathedral Church and on the right-hand to those that Sail out of the said Sound a great Wood belonging to the same Church where they feed their Oxen Kine and Horses The Highland lying by Emestnesford is call'd The Ramas Hayth from the Rain-Deer which use to be there Hunted And hereabouts is that sort of Stone of which they make large Fat 's or Cisterns as hath been before intimated it is by some call'd the Zevell-Stone being a sort of Marble or as some will have it Load-stone of all colours West from this lieth another Highland call'd Long-Highland The next Sound is call'd Swalterford having a Church belongining to it of the same Name and where there is also a Garden belonging to the King call'd St. Hentelstad Next to that lieth Erricksford and at the entrance thereof the Highland Erricks Hought belonging to Deverskirk the first Parochial Church in Groenland North-West from Erricksford is Megdenford Farther out is a Church call'd Scogelkirk and farther in the Sound Leadenkirk Beyond Erricksford is another Ford or Sound by the Name of Fossa belonging to the Cathedral Church and to the North of it two Villages Ever-boy and Forther-boy From thence farther North lieth Bredaford and after that Lormontford and from thence Westward Icedeep To the North of the Westland lieth a spacious Wilderness call'd Hemel Hatsfelt and Edg'd with massie Rocks and Cliffs towards the Sea side beyond which the Sea is innavigable by reason of the many Swalgen or Whirlpools thereabouts In Groenland there are divers Hills wherein are Silver-Mines multitudes of
And also the Mexicans of their Original giving the Spaniards a far better Account when first they came thither wherein we must a little deviate viz. How they were remov'd from some other place as Robert Comtaeus relates who with many Learned and seemingly true Arguments affirms That the Original of the Americans must be sought for either among the Phenicians Sydonians Tyrians or Carthaginians Lib. 1. cap. 7. being indeed all one People Herodotus saith thus of the Phenicians They liv'd formerly according to their own Relation along the Shore of the Red-Sea from whence removing they planted the Sea-Coast of the Syrians Festus Avienus the Latin Poet agrees with this Opinion where he saith On the Phenicians Coasts the Ocean beats Who through the Red-Sea Sailing chang'd their Seats They were the first that ventur'd through the Seas And freighted Ships with richer Merchandise Fair or foul Weather They without controule Sought Foreign Trade directed by the Pole Original and Habitations of the Phenicians of whom according to serval Learned the Americans are extracted Aristotle from a Greek Word calls them Phenicians from their being red or bloody with the Slaughter of all Strangers that Landed on their Coast but rather and so indeed they are call'd Phenicians or Erythreans from Esau or Edom from whom they are deriv'd for these two Words or Denominations signifie in Greek Red the two last the like in Hebrew Phenix himself first planted all the Countrey lying between the River Eleutherus and the Egyptian City Pelusium and afterwards Damiata wash'd by the Mediterrane But since these Boundaries are alter'd on the North by Judea Westward by the Mediterrane Southerly by Egypt and towards the East by the Desart Arabia The chiefest Cities are Ptolemais otherwise call'd Acon Sidon Arad Great Cana Sarepta Biblis Bothrit Berithus and their Princess Tyre formerly scituate in an Isle but since joyn'd to the main-Main-Land by Alexander the Great None can disown but that the Phenicians have every where been Admirals of the Sea so that they were formidable to the greatest Princes When the Persian King Cambyses came with a vast Army against the Carthaginians Heredot lib. 1. he was forc'd to give over his Design because the Phenicians refus'd to help him with their Fleet being allied to and the City founded by them But they not only built Carthage Salust in Igurtha which strove with Rome to be the Empress of the World but also the famous Cities Leptis Utica Hippo and Adrumetum in Africa with Cadâ—z and Tartessus in Spain nay they sent Plantations of People into the Heart of Iberia and Lybia It will not be amiss to add Q. Curtius his Relation who tells us Where-ever the Phenicians came with their Fleets Wonderful Power of the Phenicians Landing their Men they subdu'd whole Countreys and by that means spread their Colonies over the known World Carthage in Africa Thebes in Boetia and Cadiz near the Western Ocean Aristotle relates That they made such rich Returns of their Merchandize and chiefly of their Oyl in Spain that their Anchors Pins and all Iron Materials belonging to a Ship in stead of that Metal were Silver But to return to our Discourse and disprove the former Testimony That the Phenicians found America The formention'd Comtaeus saith thus None can justly doubt Testimonies that the Americans are deriv'd from the Phenicians but that since the Phenicians took the Command of the Sea from the Rhodians they more and more increas'd their Fleets and growing experter in Navigation passing the Gibraltar Northward became Masters of Cadiz and still prepar'd new Fleets which searching beyond Atlas Southward discover'd the Coasts of Africa and the adjacent Isles driving a great Trade to the Canaries and to those which lay scatter'd along Cape de Verd formerly call'd the Gorgades This way of Trade also was not unknown to the Greeks Iberians and other People but after the Phenicians assum'd it wholly to themselves without any respect or difference of Countreys they sunk all whomsoever they could catch Curtius further adds saying First Testimony I believe that the Phenicians sailing into the Main Ocean have discover'd unknown Countreys And which are those Not the Gorgades or Canary Isles for those were sufficiently known before but a Main Land far beyond Is contradicted But though the Phenicians were most expert yet not skilful enough to make out such Discoveries They indeed were the first that before any other sail'd out of the Mid-land Sea nay they ventur'd a good way into the main Ocean beyond the Straights of Gibraltar or the Herculean Pillars But how far Not to the Gorgades above half way betwixt Spain and America but to the Cassiterides or Flemish Islands which to the number of nine lie in sight of Spain Strabo affirms this Truth Lib. 3. Geogr. saying The Cassiterides are ten lying in order close by one another Flemmish Islands One remains uninhabited on the rest live a swarthy People This way the Phenicians sail'd first when they were in quest for Trade from Cadiz And though he reckons ten there are indeed but nine viz. St. Michael St. Mary St. George Tercera de Pico or Tenariff so call'd from the Mountain which vomits Fire Fayal Las Flores Del Cuervo and Gratiosa Moreover the same Strabo relates Lib. 17. That the Carthaginians did not throw over-board the Traders on the remote Gorgades but those especially that came from Sardinia or Cadiz Salt-Islands how long known Joan. Mariana de Reb. Hispan lib. 1. cap. 20. Mean while we cannot deny but that the Gorgades that lye before Cape de Verd were frequented by the Carthaginians long before the Birth of our Savior but with so much admiration that Hanno their Captain in that Expedition was listed amongst the number of their Heroes hapning thus The Carthaginians sailing for Cadiz to assist the Phenicians against the Spaniards made that the Seat of War which soon drew on a greater Design for Hamilco and Hanno being impowr'd by the Senate at Carthage manag'd the War in Spain Both of them were ambitious to discover new Countreys Hamilco sail'd along the Coast of Spain and Gaule reaching to Batavia Hanno steer'd Southerly Very remarkable Voyage of Hanno the Carthaginian along the Coast of Africa to the Salt-Islands carrying thirty thousand Men of all Trades in his Fleet purposing to build a new City in some place or other and got beyond the Promontory Ampelusium now call'd Cabo Spatil the River Ziloa which washeth the City Arzilla and the Stream Lix now Lusso where the Poets place the Gardens of the Hesperides in the custody of a waking Dragon From thence proceeding on his Voyage he came to an Anchor in the Mouth of the River Subur at this day call'd Subu and afterwards before the City Sala now call'd Salle at that time made very dangerous by the voracious Beasts in the neighboring Woods At last the Fleet reach'd the Foot of the
in the parts of America between the Ocean on the East and the Bay of Chesapeack on the West and divided from the other part thereof by a right Line drawn from the Promontory or Cape of Land call'd Watkin's-Point situate in the aforesaid Bay near the River of Wigcho on the West unto the main Ocean on the East and between that bound on the South unto that part of Delaware Bay on the North which lies under the fortieth Degree of Northerly Latitude from the Equinoctial where New England ends and all that Tract of Land between the bounds aforesaid that is to say passing from the aforesaid Bay call'd Delaware Bay in a right Line by the Degree aforesaid unto the true Meridian of the first Fountains of the River of Patomeck and from thence stretching towards the South unto the furthest Bank of the said River and following the West and South side thereof unto a certain place call'd Cinquack near the Mouth of the said River where it falls into the Bay of Chesapeack and from thence by a streight Line unto the aforesaid Promontory or place call'd Watkins-Point which lies in thirty seven Degrees and fifty Minutes or thereabouts of Northern Latitude By this Patent his Lordship and his Heirs and Assigns are Created the true and absolute Lords and Proprietaries of the said Province Title saving the Allegiance and Soveraign Dominion due to His Majesty His Heirs and Successors so that he hath thereby a Soveraignty Granted to him and his Heirs dependant upon the Sovereignty of the Crown of England The first Seating His Lordship in the Year 1633. sent his second Brother Mr. Leonard Calvert and his third Brother Mr. George Calvert with divers other Gentlemen of Quality and Servants to the number of two hundred Persons at least to settle a Plantation there who set Sail from the Cowes in the Isle of Wight in England on Novemb. 22. in the same Year having made some stay by the way at the Barbadoes and St. Christophers in America they arriv'd at Point Comfort in Virginia on February 24. following from whence shortly after they Sail'd up the Bay of Chesapeack and Patomeck River And having review'd the Country and given Names to several places they pitch'd upon a Town of the Indians for their first Seat call'd Yoacomaco now Saint Maries which the then Governor Mr. Leonard Calvert freely Purchas'd of the Natives there for the Lord Proprietaries use with Commodities brought from England That which facilitated the Treaty and Purchase of the said place from the Indians was a resolution which those Indians had then before taken to remove higher into the Countrey where it was more Populous for fear of the Sansquehanocks another and more Warlike People of the Indians who were their too near Neighbors and inhabit between the Bays of Chesapeack and Delaware there being then actual Wars between them insomuch that many of them were gone thither before the English arriv'd And it hath been the general practice of his Lordship and those who were employ'd by him in the Planting of the said Province rather to purchase the Natives Interest who will agree for the same at easie rates than to take from them by force that which they seem to call their Right and Inheritance to the end all Disputes might be remov'd touching the forcible Incroachment upon others against the Laws of Nature or Nations Thus this Province at the vast Charges and by the unweary'd Industry and endeavor of the present Lord Baltemore the now absolute Lord and Proprietary of the same was at first Planted and hath since been supply'd with People and other Necessaries so effectually The number of Inhabitants that in this present Year 1671. the number of English there amounts to fifteen or twenty thousand Inhabitants for whose Encouragement there is a Fundamental Law establish'd there by his Lordship whereby Liberty of Conscience is allow'd to all that Profess to believe in Jesus Christ so that no Man who is a Christian is in danger of being disturb'd for his Religion and all Persons being satisfi'd touching his Lordships Right as Granted by his Superior Soveraign the King of Great Brittain and possess'd by the consent and agreement of the first Indian Owners every Person who repaireth thither intending to become an Inhabitant finds himself secure as well in the quiet enjoyment of his Property as of his Conscience Mr. Charles Calvert his Lordships onely Son and Heir was in the Year 1661. sent thither by his Lordship to Govern this Province and People who hath hitherto continu'd that Charge of his Lordships Lieutenant there to the general satisfaction and encouragement of all Persons under his Government or otherwise concern'd in the Province The precedent Discourse having given you a short Description of this Province from its Infancy to this day together with an account of his Lordships Patent and Right by which he holds the same we will here speak something of the Nature of the Countrey in general and of the Commodities that are either naturally afforded there or may be procur'd by Industry The Climate is very healthful and agreeable with English Constitutions but New-comers have most of them heretofore had the first year of their Planting there in July and August a Sickness which is call'd there A Seasoning but is indeed no other than an Ague with cold and hot Fits whereof many heretofore us'd to die for want of good Medicines and accommodations of Diet and Lodging and by drinking too much Wine and Strong-waters though many even in those times who were more temperate and that were better accommodated never had any Seasonings at all but of late years since the Countrey hath been more open'd by the cutting down of the Woods and that there is more plenty of English Diet there are very few die of those Agues and many have no Seasonings at all especially those that live in the higher parts of the Country and not near to the Marshes and Salt-water In Summer the heats are equal to those of Spain but qualifi'd daily about Noon at that time of the Year either with some gentle Breezes or small Showres of Rain In Winter there is Frost and Snow and sometimes it is extremely cold insomuch that the Rivers and the Northerly part of the Bay of Chesapeack are Frozen but it seldom lasts long and some Winters are so warm that People have gone in half Shirts and Drawers only at Christmas But in the Spring and Autumn viz. in March April and May September October and November there is generally most pleasant temperate Weather The Winds there are variable from the South comes Heat Gusts and Thunder from the North or North-West cold Weather and in Winter Frost and Snow from the East and South-East Rain The Soyl is very fertile and furnish'd with many pleasant and commodious Rivers Creeks and Harbors The Country is generally plain and even and yet distinguish'd with some pretty small Hills and Risings with variety
lies in Basse-Terre and which is also built full of Store-houses and Dwelling-houses two Stones high The Castle which lies near the City hath four Bulwarks with great Guns The next neighboring Mountain is also crown'd with Garrison'd Fort. The Moubane-Tree The Countrey hereabouts bears Moubane-Trees which produce yellow oval Plumbs with great Stones wherewith the Hogs are exceedingly fatned The Corbary The Corbary which grows higher than the Moubane hath a hard shelly Fruit in which lies a douny Pulp of a Saffron colour The Gum which drops out of the Tree is hardned by the Sun and becomes very clear wherefore the Caribbeeans make use of it for Arm-rings and other Ornaments SECT XVI Deseado Situation of Deseado TEn Leagues to the North-West of Guadalupe and at sixteen Degrees and ten Minutes appears Deseado or Desirado like a Galley of which the north-North-East end hath a low Point to the Northward lie Sand-Hills full of red Veins It was so call'd by Christopher Columbus in his second Voyage from obtaining of his Desire it being the first of the Caribbees which he discover'd as St. Salvador the first Land in all America The Guano The Soil is wholly barren and destitute of Trees and breeds the amphibious Creatures call'd Guano's which in stead of Fins to swim withal have four Feet the biggest of them are fifteen Inches long their Skin full of little Scales shines like Silver and in the Night they make a loud and shrill noise from the Holes in the Rocks The Frigates On this desolate Island are an innumerable company of Fowls call'd Frigates which have a Body like a Duck but larger Wings and flye swifter so soon as they perceive a Fish in the Water they falling upon the same catch them in their Claws and especially devour abundance of flying Fish The Fauves But the Fauves which are much leaner are no way so swift they resemble a Moor-Hen have Feet like Ducks Bills like a Snipe and in rainy Nights rest on the Ships in stead of Rocks so that many times they become an easie prey to the Mariners SECT XVII Marigalante Situation of Marigalante NOt far from hence at fifteen Degrees and forty Minutes appears Marigalante like a Wood in the Water On the South-East side about half a League from the Shore lie black 〈…〉 full of white Specks Westerly the Shore is very plain whither the Governor Monsieur De Howell sent some People from that Island of which twenty were kill'd by the Caribbeeans who had Gardens and Fish-ponds thereon Not long after which Howell built a Fort here and Garrison'd the same with French-men The Woods afford a delightful sight to the Eye as also the Cinamon-Trees whose Leaves never wither a sweet smell to the Nose The Fish Lamantin The Ocean hereabouts produces plenty of Lamantins which are dry'd like Haberdine This Fish grows eighteen Foot long and seven thick the Head thereof is like a Cows with little Eyes and a thick brown Skin rough and speckled in some places and hath two little Feet in stead of Fins it feeds on Weeds which grow on the Rocks and Banks the Females bring two young ones at a time which suck for some days their Flesh palatable and wholsom is streak'd with Fat which when melted never putrifies they are oftner taken in the Mouthes of Rivers than in the Ocean The Sea-Devils About this Isle as well as the rest of the Caribbees are Fishes call'd Sea-Devils four Foot long and proportionably thick their Skins rough their Heads flat their Backs arm'd with Prickles little black Eyes wide Mouthes full of Teeth and two Tusks that stick out of the same four Fins a long slit Tail with which they swim exceeding swift above their Eyes stick broad sharp Horns turn'd towards the Back the Flesh is deadly poyson The Becune The Becune which is eight Foot long falls upon a Fish like a mad Dog biting great pieces of the Flesh out of the Body which occasions present Death its Flesh is likewise poyson SECT XVIII Todos Sanctos Situation of Todos Sanctos SOuthward from Guadalupe and at the same Latitude with Marigalante lie four desolate Isles call'd Todos Sanctos and on their Shores a sort of Shell-fish call'd Lambis from the resemblance of a Tongue Curious sorts of Shells the Shells whereof the Indians Sound in stead of Horns when they give an Alarm as also another sort call'd Porcelenes of which the most esteem'd are without of a Carnation and within of a Silver or Skye-colour mix'd with Golden Beams The next are the Black mix'd with a pale Blue and little Veins But the most remarkable Shells are those whose Back Nature hath mark'd in such a manner with Musical Notes that one might almost express a Tune by them Mother-of-Pearl Oysters Moreover it would amaze the Beholder to see the Mother-of-Pearl Oyster moving at the Foot of a Rock for at the Rising of the Sun they appear above the Water and gape for the Dew of which they have no sooner receiv'd a Drop but they close their Shells and fall to the Ground again SECT XIX De Aves Situation of De Aves VVEstward from Todos Sanctos at fifteen Degrees and forty five Minutes lies the Isle De Aves Besides Ducks Pluvers Moor-hens Geese and the like Fowls that suffer themselves to be catch'd by the Hands of Men which are very strange to them there are here also many rare sorts of Birds as the white Birds call'd Aigrettos Aigrettos which are somewhat bigger than Crows with red Bills and Feet and curious Plumes on their Heads they often flye a great way off at Sea The large Bird call'd The Craw-fowl Craw-fowl which feeds on Fish hath a thick Head a long flat Bill hollow Eyes and a short Neck under which hangs the Maw big enough to contain a Pail full of Water On the Trees along the Sea-side they watch for Fish which swim near the top of the Water and by their attentiveness on their Prey are easily shot themselves Here is likewise the Bird Arras Arras of the bigness of a Pheasant but more resembling a Parraquito their long Tail consists of divers colour'd Feathers some have shining skye-colour'd Heads Backs and Necks their Bellies and Wings of a pale Yellow they are so stout or rather so simple that if they are not hit with the first Shot they will stay for a second They also learn to talk but not so distinctly as the Canides which are no way inferior in beauty to the Arras nay exceed them very much Monsieur du Montell above mention'd seeing one at Corassao describes it after this manner Description of the Canides It deserves to be numbred saith he amongst the most beautiful Birds in the World I took so particular notice of it having had of them in my Hands many times that I have the Idea's of it still fresh in my Memory Under the
towards the Fort whither they were pursu'd with such eagerness that those who were in the Fort lest the Hollanders might get in with them lock'd up the Avenues against their own Men at which they were so amaz'd that some of them climb'd up by the Walls of the Fort but were either kill'd by the Assailants or knock'd on the Head by their own People because several Hollanders went to climb up amongst the Portuguese the rest running about the Fort fell into the midst of the Netherlanders where they were all cut off being in number above a hundred The Hollanders also in this resolute Design had about twenty Men kill'd and fifty wounded after which they put lighted Matches on Sticks in their Enemy's Works as if they had never made any Attempt on the City Parayba Whilest this Expedition fell out so unfortunately Smient performing his Voyage found in the Inlet Trajiciaon a Portuguese Vessel hal'd near the Shore under the protection of two Pallisado's wherefore supposing it best not to make any Attempt on the same he ran to an Anchor before Ubranduba twenty Leagues below the River Grande where the Natives Marcial Tacou Ararova and Matauwe who had been in Holland Landing went to see and speak with their Countrey-men to joyn with the Netherland West-India Company and some days after the Seamen Landing again in the same place met with Tacou together with eight more stout Men and seventeen Women and Children who carry'd a slain Portuguese call'd Juan Perera to the River Grande about whom they had found Letters containing the whole Condition of Siara which the Brasilians imparting to Smient he sent a Ketch thither before and follow'd after himself they Steer'd along the Shore beyond the Shelves Guamare by the Mountains Sailinas and Porto de Mel the Haven De Onces and River Juaguarive to the White Point where the Brasilians Landing spake with their People and towards the Evening brought good tydings and desir'd that they might be Landed at Siara where they would put their Design in practice Smient following their Advice receiv'd them aboard the New Netherland and Sail'd along by the square Fort Siara towards a smooth Shore on each side hedg'd in by thick Woods where the Brasilians intended to Land but the Portuguese and Brasilians belonging to their Party being gotten into the Wood before fir'd so vehemently that they were forc'd to Retreat and Sail five Leagues farther beyond the Cape Opese made dangerous by the many blind Cliffs that lie about the same Smient anchoring here Landed the Brasilians on promise that they would return in two days but the Seamen seeing sometimes ten sometimes fifteen Arm'd Portugueses ashore judg'd that the Brasilians had been slain by them and therefore weighed Anchor to the great dislike of the West-India Company Since this unsuccessful Design on Parayba the Council at Reciffa were no whit discourag'd but resolv'd to make an Attempt on the River Grande with twelve Ships and two Sloops carrying ten Companies of Soldiers besides Seamen but by reason of the difficulty of Landing because the Coast being very Rocky makes the Sea go very hollow the strength of the Place both in respect of its Fortification and number of Defendants and the joyning of the Brasilians with them they were forc'd to return without effecting their Design The Expedition of Nekker Houte-been and others About the same time eight Sail arriv'd at Reciffa from Holland and Jonathan de Nekker Cornelis Corneliszoon alias Houte-been and Reinier Peterszoon set out with three Frigats from the Texel to the Isle Vacca where with Hunting Fishing and gathering of Fruit they refresh'd themselves and afterwards Steer'd to the River Magdalena discernable at three Leagues distance by the thick yellow Water it discharges into the Sea through three Mouths Between the Western and middlemost Mouth lies an Isle in the middle of the River behind which Houte-been came to an Anchor whilest Nekker and Peterszoon kept Guard near Punto Verde where though the Wind blew very fresh in the Night yet the Water remain'd smooth About Day-break Nekker discovering a Sail made chase after the same but not able to come up with her lost her the following Night and in the Morning saw a Barque which running ashore was set on fire by Peterszoon after which Nekker chased two other Ships which likewise getting from him he stood off at Sea out of sight of the Isles Zamba which are low on the West and Hilly at the East-end where the Sea beats vehemently against a Promontory and chased a Barque ashore whither he sent a Boat with eight Men which being beaten to pieces by the Waves drowned four of them and the rest getting ashore were kill'd by the Spaniards Soon after which four Spanish Ships set Sail after Nekker and Peterszoon and had not the Night favor'd them they had been but in a bad Condition for they were not able to get their Sea-men aboard who having taken some Wine ashore had made themselves Drunk about Day-break they descry'd the four Spnish Vessels which were gotten so far from them that they could but just discern them from the Main-top Not long after they took two Barques and came to an Anchor behind Zamba by Houte-been who being driven by a Storm out of the River Magdalena to Jamaica had chased a Barque ashore there and a Ship with four hundred Negro's against St. Martha and since took a rich laden Barque near the River Magdalena In like manner Nekker and Peterszoon took a Ship coming from Caraques leaving Houte-been alone before Magdalena who not long after discover'd eighteen Spanish Ships near the High-land St. Martha which were Steering to Carthagena one whereof belonging to Carthagena he made Prize of but was forc'd to forsake her in a great Storm after the ceasing of which he took another Frigat the Men whereof inform'd him That the Admiral Thomas de Caspure was going with eleven Ships from Cape Antonio to Porto Belo to lade the Peruvian Silver there The Ship with Angolan Negro's taken by Houte-been he set free but kept a Frigat laden with Tallow Hides Tobacco and Flesh which he had taken just before the Coast of Rio Grande and thus he went Privateering up and down when the Plate-Fleet from New Spain weighed Anchor from Juan de Lua the like of which in Riches had never set Sail before for it carry'd 2169340 Ryals of Eight for the Merchants an unvaluable Treasure for the King besides many rich Commodities which several bought upon their own Accounts that were not entred in the Custom-house all which Treasure laden in nine Gallions besides a considerable number of Frigats and small Vessels was committed to the Charge of Miguel de Echacareta but he dying before the Fleet set Sail Manuel Serano de Ribera was chosen Admiral but a dreadful Storm arising as they were Sailing before the Coast of Campeche in their Way to Havana the whole Fleet was in a manner utterly destroy'd with a most unvaluable Treasure The
divers Rivers as far as the Lake Xarays lying three hundred Leagues up in the Countrey from the Mouth of La Plata Also into the foremention'd Lake fall several Streams which spring out of the Peruvian Mountains Andes The first that Sail'd into this great River Anno 1515. to an Island lying in the middle of it was John Dias de Solis who rashly going ashore was kill'd and eaten together with several Portugueses Sebastian Gabottus his Expedition Eleven years after this Accident Sebastian Gabottus set Sail from Spain to go to the Spicy Islands through the Straights of Magellan but was forc'd for want of Provisions and the unwillingness of his Seamen to put into the River La Plata in which being advanc'd thirty Leagues he Anchor'd near an Island which he call'd St. Gabriel from whence going seven farther he discover'd a Stream which fell into La Plata This River he call'd St. Salvador and cast up a Fort at the Mouth of it where an Inlet afforded a convenient Harbor for Shipping he found the River La Plata to be generally ten Leagues broad and full of Isles and to the Westward of it the River Zaracaranna inhabited on the South side by a subtil People call'd Diagnitas At the place where Zaracaranna disembogues into La Plata he built a Castle and calling the same Castello di Santo Spirito went up farther leaving on the West side the People Tenbues Mequaretas Mepenes and Aigais to the Eastward the Quiloacas and Santana and struck up out of the River La Plata North-East into the Stream Parana in which he had gone two hundred Leagues and pass'd by many Isles when he went out of the same into the Stream Paraguay where being set upon by the Countrey People who were busie in Tilling the Ground he lost so many of his Men that he was forc'd without any farther Exploit to return with the Portuguese Pilot Diego Garcia who Sailing up the same River had met with Gabottus in Paria and because both had gotten some Silver they call'd the River from that Metal De la Plata The farther Discovery whereof lay neglected nine years after when Peter Mendoza Sailing with eleven Ships carrying eight hundred Men to the Island Gabriel built the Fort Buenos Ayres on the South side of it where many People dying of Hunger little was done Alvares Cabeca not long after following Mendoza's footsteps discover'd and peopled the Province Rio de la Plata The Mouth of the River La Plata Laurence Bikker describes thus Laurence Bikker 's Description of Rio de la Plata Beyond the Cape Santa Maria saith he lies the flat Island Castilhos having scarce a Tree upon it but on the North side a Rock not unlike a decay'd Castle to the Southward of which appear two other Cliffs directly before the Mouth lies the stonie Island De Lobos on which nothing is to be found but Sea-Wolves towards the East a stonie Bank runs a good way into the River known by the breaking of the Water upon the same The Promontory Maria is low and barren but within the same the Land rises high before the Isles Flores and Maldonado which last hath a good sandy Shore Harbor and fresh Water between the Rocks but Flores rising with two Hills produces nothing but Brambles The Stream Soliâ— also discharges its Waters in La Plata near the Place where the Mountain Seredo lies The left Shore of La Plata begins at the Promontory Antonio and is cut through by the Rivers Ortis and Los Sanctos where the Town Buenos Ayres is built on a smooth Shore Martin del Barco's Description of the same Martin del Barco proceeding in the Description of La Plata saith that it is dangerous by reason of the many Shelves that are in the same The Isles in the River are as followeth those that bear the Name of St. Gabriel are five in number Garcia Isle is full of Trees and for its fertility was peopled by Peter de Mendoza and afterwards by Juan Ortiz Carate But less fruitful are the Isles De Lazaro where the River Vrayg unites with La Plata being before fill'd with the Waters of Salvador which receives the black Stream Negro which gliding slowly from Morasses is very full of Fish Moreover La Plata hath eleven Arms each very deep and full of Isles inhabited by the Guaranins About a hundred Leagues farther the Cherandies have setled themselves on pleasant Isles lying not far from the City St. Fe built on the Point which makes the River Bermeio where it falls into La Plata Farther up lies the Province Ana partly well inhabited for its fertility and partly overflow'd Next appears the Rock Pennapobre and not far from the Town Guayra La Plata falls very high from the Rocks The several People of this Countrey But as concerning the Natives of this Countrey it is inhabited by divers sorts of People differing from one another both in Customs and Language On the South side of the fore-mention'd River from the Promontory Antonio to Buenos Ayres dwell the Quirandies a stout but cruel People who with the Flesh of many a Spaniard oftentimes keep a merry Feast Farther into the Countrey run the Juries and Diagnitas Along La Plata lie also scatter'd the Tenbues a civil People who live by Fishing Near the River Paraguay the Ameguaes observe the same manner of Life But the Carioes keep Cattel and Till their Lands A hundred Leagues farther dwell the Payaguaes and yet farther into the Countrey the Chames and Carcares possess much Gold and Silver with which Juan d' Ayola having enrich'd himself here was destroy'd with all his Men by the Chames Anno 1541. Nunnez Cabeca his Journey Alvarez Nunnez Cabeca came from Spain to be Governor here but was not able by reason or contrary Winds and Tydes to reach La Plata wherefore Landing at the River Itabucu and spending nine days in cutting a Way through thick Brambles he came to the Jurisdiction of Armiriri and a days Journey farther to Cipoyay and not long after to Tocanguazu where the Guaranies who are the Natives have two Harvests every year of Maiz and Cassavi and breed and keep Geese Hens and Parrots in their Houses They are Man-eaters and very revengeful Cabeca having given this Countrey the Name of Vera he proceeded on his Journey over the Rivers Ignazu Tibagi and Taquari on whose Shore appears the Village Abangobi and somewhat farther Tocanguzir The Countrey hereabouts is very fruitful and hath many delightful Plains pleasant Rivers and Woods but beyond appear Hills Mountains deep Morasses dangerous Cane-Fields Receptacles for wild Beasts and great Wildernesses Cabeca having pass'd through them all came into the fruitful Countrey of the Guaranies who are a wild People and possess many large Fields of Maiz and Potato's also several Silver Mines From hence travelling Westwardly over the River Piqueri he spent eighteen days before he came to the Stream
Schouten found the same Anno 1616. who Sailing from Porto Desire left the Straights of Magellan on the right-hand and Sail'd Southerly through whitish Water and in fifty four Degrees discover'd a Channel eight Leagues broad through which ran a strong Current The Coast rose with high Mountains whose tops were cover'd with Snow The utmost Point was call'd Mauritius from the Prince of Orange the broken Coast on the other side The States-Island and the Straights it self Le Maire upon the Request of the Merchant Jacob Le Maire whose Father Isaac was chief owner of the two Ships of which Schouten was Commander who found so many Whales here that he could scarce Steer clear of them they swimming by hundreds in a Shoal The Sea-pies much bigger than Swans suffer'd themselves to be caught by the Hands of the Sea-men Moreover he call'd the barren grey Rocks and others lesser lying North-East from the Promontory Hoorn Barnevields Isles Sailing beyond the Point Hoorn he was toss'd by the vast Billows that came rowling out of the West It was no sooner nois'd abroad that the Netherlanders had found the Straights Le Maire but the Spanish King Philip immediately sent two Carvels thither under the Command of Garcias de Nodal who took an exact Account of the Heads Roads and Inlets belonging to the fore-mention'd Straights and return'd without performing any other Exploits Diego Flores his unsuccessful Voyage to the Straigts of Magellan Diego Flores Steer'd four years before Candish to the Straights of Magellan with twenty three Sail of Ships Mann'd with three thousand five hundred Seamen besides five hundred old Netherland Soldiers with which he unhappily weigh'd Anchor from Cales for before he got out of sight of the Spanish Coast he lost five of his Ships and eight hundred Men yet prosecuting his Voyage he stay'd during the Winter Season on the Coast of Brasile and was surpris'd by so vehement a Storm near the Island Catalina that a company of Women sent under the Charge of Peter Sarmiento to Settle in the Straights of Magellan were all cast away with the greatest part of the Ammunition and Provisions The English Admiral Fenton took three Ships of this Fleet from Flores two were cast away in the River La Plata and one ran back to Spain whilest Flores came into the Straights of Magellan on the last day of March at which time the whole Countrey lay cover'd with Snow wherefore seeing no hopes of finding out any place to Settle Sarmiento upon he stood back with eight Sail to Brasile and in his Return burnt three French Ships took two more and Sail'd home But his Lieutenant Diego Ribera and the Governor Peter Sarmiento Landed the Year after Flores his departure with four hundred Men thirty Women and Provisions for eight Moneths in the Straights of Magellan from whence Ribera Sail'd back whilest Sarmiento built on the North side of the Mouth of the Straights the Town Nombre de Jesus and fifty Leagues farther in the narrowest place Philip-stadt with four Bulwarks the Inhabitants of which as is before related were destroy'd by Famine Description of Terra del Fugo Terra del Fuego already mention'd opposite to the Countrey of the Patagones lyin the South between the Straights of Magellan is a broken Countrey with high Mountains full of Trees and wash'd by pleasant Rivulets four Foot deep in the Ground it begins to be all Rocky The Air is troubled with exceeding great Winds out of the West The Inhabitants are pale Countenanc'd but Paint their Bodies with divers Colours they have long thick and black Hair and very sharp Teeth the Men go stark naked the Women cover their secret Parts with a piece of Leather and wear Strings full of Shells about their Necks some also Mantle themselves with the Skins of wild Beasts which affords but little warmth against the Cold that is here in Winter Their Huts consist of Trees and are made round at bottom and sharp on the top like a Tent having onely a Hole for the Smoak to go out at they are digg'd three Foot deep into the Ground and also heap'd round with Earth within the Huts nothing is to be found but Baskets with Fishing Utensils and Stone Hooks Their offensive Arms the Men always carry about with them because they always maintain Wars with their Neighbors They handle a Quarter-staff very dexterously are good Slingers and Bowemen they also use Lances with sharp Stone Points Moreover they make Boats of the Bark of Trees which they first cut out into a Form then sewing it together bow the same after the manner of a Boat which rises before and behind and being fifteen or sixteen Foot long can carry eight Men going exceeding swift These People are not onely beastial in their Practices but also Murderers Lastly besides the Straights of Le Maire Henrick Brewer hath found a new Passage to the Eastward above the States-Island out of the Northern Ocean to the South Sea CHAP. IV. The unknown south-South-Land THe unknown south-South-Land extends with several Points to the Southern Ocean which have been more seen than discover'd by divers Nations Opposite to the East-India Island Gilolo lies Terra des Papous to which Jacob Le Maire gave the Denomination of New Guinee The English Commander Richard Hawkins Sailing to the Southward behind Papou found the Inhabitants black like Negro's round about appear several Isles and convenient Harbors Herrera places here on the East the Countrey Agnada the Road St. Jago the Island Los Crespos the Haven Andreas the River Virginum and the little Isle La Vellena before the Mouth of the Stream Augustine Next you meet Easterly with the Rivers St. Peter and St. Paul the Havens Hieronymus the Isles Punta Salida Abrigo Malagente and Maure de Dios inhabited by white People Discoveries in Terra Australis Incognâ—a The first that discover'd New Guinee Anno 1529. was Alvares de Savedra who as also several others besides him suppos'd that some of the Islands Solomons border New Guinee Eighteen of the many Solomon Isles exceed the rest of which some are three hundred Leagues in circumference some two hundred others one hundred and some fifty All that are inhabited have a fruitful Soil producing all manner of Provisions particularly Hogs and Poultrey The Natives differ very much one from another for some are black others white or tawny The fore-mention'd Hawkins in his Voyage towards the Straights of Magellan supposing it by estimation to be fifty Leagues from the Main Coast of America discover'd forty Degrees to the Southward of the Equinoctial Line with a Westerly Wind the unknown South-Land which he found to consist of low Land and to be inhabited by reason of the many Fires which he saw ashore in the Night The Spanish Commander Peter Fernandes de Quiro and the Admiral Lodowick Paes de Torres have made a farther Discovery of this Countrey for Landing on the South-Land they met with several People some whereof were
the Aegyptian Isthmus overflow'd by the Sea which afforded him a shorter passage But that is most probable which Strabo delivers that he then went to the borders of Aethiopia when he pass'd up Aegypt to the City of Thebes the Borders of Aethiopia being not far distant from thence in Strabo's time probably very near it in Homer's Aethiope Sidon Erembos found and Lybia where Their Lambs are horn'd their Ews teem thrice a year 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That which the Grecian Geographers relate concerning Ptolomy Euergetes King of Egypt is not to be forgotten That sending Pilots Remarkable Voyage of an Indian into Egypt Commission'd to take the Soundings and settle the Land-marks in the Arabian Gulph they found by chance a forsaken Vessel onely in it one Man half dead lying among several other breathless Bodies of whom being refresh'd with convenient Cordials they enquir'd his Fortune but he being unable to give them any present satisfaction neither understanding what the other said they sent him to the Court where soon having got a smattering of Greek he inform'd Euergetes that he was a Native Indian driven from their course into the place where they found him by stress of Weather and that his company were famish'd all their Provision spent in their Wandrings from their intended Voyage Thus being kindly entertain'd he also promis'd the King to open his Passage if so he pleas'd into India The King slept not upon this Intelligence but immediately prepar'd a Fleet Freighted with such Commodities as were advis'd Of Ptolomy into India with which setting forth by the Conduct of this their Indian Pilot they Anchor'd in their desir'd Port and brought the King in return from thence a rich Cargo of Silk Spices costly Drugs and precious Gems Cleopatra about sixty years after intending not to lose the advantages reap'd by the former discoveries And also of Cleopatra equipp'd another and greater Navy which passing through the Red-Sea found the Stern of a Ship on which was Presented a Horse whereby some of the more knowing Sea-men judg'd that it had been a Gibraltar Vessel and Sailing about Africa there by sad accident suffer'd a Wrack This Stern was afterwards set up and fix'd as a Memorial in the Market-place of Memphis In these later times the first that endeavor'd to drive an European Trade in Africk and held Commerce with India was the State of Venice who Sail'd from thence through the Adriatick into the Mediterranean-Sea The Venetians were the first that drove a trade from Europe to the East-Indies So Steering for Alexandria where unlading their Goods from thence they carry'd them over Land and Shipping again in the Arabian Gulph Sail'd directly for India Thus by Land and Water were exchang'd several Commodities and the Indian Growth and rich Products of the Oriental World plentifully Transported to Venice and from thence all Europe had ample Accommodation How they went their journeys until an Egyptian Sultan suffer'd the Way to be infested by Thieves and Murdering Robbers that so they were enforc'd to remove thence and Dischage their several Cargoes at Aleppo from whence on Mules and Camels they carry'd their Goods to Babylon so to Balsarum and then to Ormus where they Re-ship'd thence directly standing for India Thus they enjoy'd the benefit of so great a Trade and Commerce until the Portuguese found a Passage by Sea saving the Expence and trouble of carrying Goods so far by Land to India Of which here we will a little inlarge By what means the Portuguese came first to discover the Coasts of Africa and India John the first King of Portugal who took from the Moors by force of Arms Septa an African City having five Sons Henry his fourth behav'd himself so gallantly in the Leaguer of Septa that after he became Master of the place this Prince made many bold Excursions in several Parties against the Enemy bringing in daily great store of Booty so growing rich he Rigg'd out two new Vessels to make farther Discoveries along the Coast of Africa Yet this his Expedition went on but slowly being much taken off in Building there a new City then call'd Tarzanabala and since Villa Infantis but being Admonish'd by a Dream and Check'd for his laying thus aside his first Design of Navigation he soon after Anno 1410. set forth the Ships that he intended which he the more accelerated being inform'd by some of his Prisoners Natives that Africa spread from the Basis of Mount-Atlas very far towards the South Why Africa was no further discover'd This Mountain then was the Terminary of Navigation that way because thereabouts a long Ridge or Shelf of Sands thrust its Point under Shallow Waters so far out into the Ocean that none durst venture to Sail into the Offin being out of sight of Land to double this conceal'd Cape Who first ventur'd into the Offin The first that attempted to find Deep Water and get round about discovering several unknown Coasts and Uninhabited Isles belonging to that Region were Joannes Gonsalves Tristan Varseus and Aegidius Annius amongst which were the Madera's Madera's by whom peopled and St. George de Picho which Prince Henry first Planted with Portuguese and others since with Netherlanders He also obtain'd a Grant from Pope Martin the Fifth of all the discover'd Territories East-ward from the Canaries for ever to be the undoubted Right and belonging to the Crown of Portugal After Henry's Decease Anno 1460. the business of Navigation and Discoveries of new Countreys lay neglected because King Alphonso turmoyl'd in a Civil War his Crown being at stake had not leisure to think or look after uncertain improvements by Sea yet at last having quell'd his Enemies he ventur'd forth some Ships who Sail'd as far as the River Zenaga and came to Anchor before the City of Genny By whom Genny was discover'd famous since for Trade which gave its denomination to the Countrey and Coasts of Guiny where they dealing Barter'd for Ivory Gold Slaves and also got so much footing into the Countrey that they suddenly rais'd up a Fort and Man'd it with a strong Garrison Shipping their Slaves for Lisbon John the Second succeeding his Father Alphonso had a great design upon Arabia and India and if possible was ambitious to open a Passage from the Atlantick to the Oriental-Seas But the difficulty lay in Steering so often from sight of Land venturing into the Main Ocean obstructed by so many dangerous Shoals that lay so far out into the Offin At that time flourish'd three famous Mathematician Rhoderick Joseph and Martin Bohemus Pupils bred up by Joannes Monteregius with which the King consulting perswaded that they would by their Art invent some Instrument that by Southern Constellation the Pole
the Prince of Latin Poets Aeneid lib. 6. had known the New-World in these Verses Aeneid lib. 6. There there 's the Prince oft promis'd us before Divine Augustus Caesar who once more Shall Golden Days bring to th' Ausonian Land Kingdoms that once old Saturn did command And shall His power to India extend Beyond the Annual Circle and beyond The Sun 's long Progress where great Atlas bears Laden with Golden Stars the glittering Sphears Hic vir hic est tibi quem promitti saepius audis Augustus Caesar divûm genus aurea condet Saecula qui rursus Latio regnata per arva Saturno quondam super Garamantas Indos Proferet imperium Jacet extra sidera tellus Extra anni Solisque vias ubi coelifer Atlas Axem humero torquet stellis ardentibus aptum America was not known to the Ancients But what of all this Who finds in any of these Writings any Marks of America or the least Description thereof Though we cannot deny that the Antient Sages and Wise Philosophers of former times might easily make out and no question did that the Earth and Sea made the perfect Figure of a Globe first from the round Shadow of the Earth that Ecclipses the Moon the different Risings and Settings of the Celestial Luminaries and the still Variation of the Pole so that the Earth and Sea making one Ball they might easily conjecture that the South-side of the Equinoctial might be Inhabited as well as the North But all this was more grounded upon Natural Reason and Right Judgement than any Experience of theirs or the least certain knowledge thereof which since these later times had the first happiness to obtain so laying these Conjectures aside there have been none more grosly erroneous and so utterly mistaken in this Point than some of the Ancients and especially the Fathers of the Church Lactantius Firmianus Lactant. l. 3. c. 24. and St. Austin who strangely jear'd at as ridiculous and not thinking fit for a Serious Answer the Foolish Opinion of Antipodes or another Habitable World beyond the Equator At which Lactantius Drolling says What Forsooth here is a fine Opinion broach'd indeed an Antipodes heigh-day People whose Feet tread with ours and walk Foot to Foot with us their Heads downwards and yet drop not into the Sky There yes very likely the Trees loaden with Fruit grow downwards and it Rains Hails and Snows upwards the Roofs and Spires of Cities tops of Mountains point at the Sky beneath them and the Rivers revers'd topsi-turvy ready to flow into the Air out of their Channels Lactant. error concerning our Antipodes But these seeming witty Observations of Lactantius though they may serve for a Jest yet are not grounded on any serious Reasons for the Earth and Sea being Globular making one Universal Ball all Materials whatsoever that belong to this great Body sink by a natural Propensity towards its Center so that where-ever we Travel our Feet are downwards and our Heads upwards the Sky above and the Earth beneath neither need they fear that any where the Earth should Moulder and drop into the Clouds As also St. Austin de Civit Del l. 16. c. 9. But St. Austin Reasons better admitting that the Earth and Sea make a Universal Globe yet it no way follows that inhabited Countreys should lye opposite to our Northern nay altogether impossible seeing that side which is our Antipodes is all nothing but Sea and should we allow that there were Land and Water mixt as ours is who could prove that they were Peopled or how could any get thither over such Vast and Immense Seas or possibly pass the extream heat of the Torrid Zone not to be endur'd by any living Creature And what then becomes of Sacred Scripture which says positively That all Men were deriv'd from Adam and after the Floud from Noah and his three Sons Therefore the Nations of the Antipodes must be of another Abstract there being no possibility as they suppos'd of passing from this World to that But since the Discovery of the East and West-Indies Experience the best Mistress hath taught that in the South are mighty Lands and vast Territories and that as far as they have been Penetrated are found to be full of People extending their Dominions from East to West And though St. Austin deny'd this now well-known Truth yet long before his time Cicero Pliny and others amongst the Greeks and Romans divided the Earth under five Zones which Virgil describes thus Five Zones the heav'ns infold hot Sun-beams beat Always on one and burns with raging heat The two Extreams to this on each hand lies Muffled with Storms fetter'd with cruel Ice 'Twixt Cold and Heat two more there are th'aboads Assign'd poor Mortals by th' Immortal Gods Quinque tenent caelum zonae quarum una corusco Semper Sole rubens torrida semper ab igni Quam circum extremae dextra laevaque trahuntur Caerulea glacie concretae atque imbribus atris Has inter mediamque duae mortalibus aegris Munere concessae divum via secta per ambas Obliquus qua se signorum verteret ordo Marcob in Somnio Scipionis l. 2. c. 5. Vide Carpent Geograph With Virgil Pliny and the Prince of Latin Orators agree who saith You see that those that inhabit the Earth dwell in Countreys so separated one from another that it is impossible they should have any Commerce some of them are our Antipodes walking with their Heads downwards some their Feet against our sides others as we with their Heads upright You see how the same Earth seems to be Swath'd about with Rolls of which two separated by the other three are at utmost distance one from the other lying equi-distant under the Vertick Points of Heaven always cover'd with Snow and Ice but the middlemost and greatest is scorch'd by the violent heats of the Sun Two Tracts are Habitable one to the South our Antipodes the other North which we Inhabit And Pliny also affirms Pliny lib. 2. though against the Vulgar Opinion this truth That the Earth is round about inhabited and that people walk Foot to Foot in most parts thereof though every one be ready to ask why our Antipodes drop not into the Sky which question our Antipodes may also ask concerning us But although the Ancients upon these and the like Demonstrations well understood that there was a Habitable World towards the South under our Horizon yet they could not make out or believe that there was any possibility to pass thither And according as St. Austin conceiv'd That the Earth produc'd nothing under either Pole by reason of excessive cold and that the Equinoxs or Middle-Zone was not to be penetrated because of the insufferable heat Macrob. in Somno Scip. lib. 2. And Macrobius saith That the Equinoctial Circle the Artick and Antartick Lines bind the two Habitable Zones and make Temperate by the excessive Neighboring Heats and Colds and
these Countreys onely give Animation and comfortable Enjoyment to all Living Creatures Moreover St. Austin in some places seems to clear his own Doubts saying That People if they could find a means to Sail those Vast and Undiscover'd Seas might make Land raising new Stars under another Sky How beasts came on remote Islands A Learned Father searching after the Original of all sorts of Beasts which multiply by Generation concludes That they must derive themselves from those that were sav'd with Noah in the Ark. But how came they to the Isles To those adjacent and near the Main Land they might easily Swim to the remoter they were Transported And chiefly the wild But this Doubt is not altogether clear'd for the Domestick and other Creatures fit for Humane use and Sustenance were thus brought thither Yet how comes it to pass that Voracious and Wild Creatures are also found there such as Wolves Tigers Lions and other Beasts of Prey This puzzle putting St. Austin to a stand he had no other means to get off but by saying that by God's Commands or Permission the Angels convey'd them thither If so why might not God please to Plant Men there in like manner and the rather the Earth being created for Humane use Austin is contradicted But what needed this when Men can in Ships Transport themselves either of their own accord for curious Inquest to find new Countreys or else enforc'd by stress of Weather to far remoter and altogether unknown Lands How men came to new Countreys Besides though the Earth is here and there divided by large Bays and vast Seas yet nevertheless in other places it is all continu'd Land or at least parted by some narrow In-let or Sea so that there was no difficulty for a crouded Plantation to go over and so ease themselves in another Countrey till then not Inhabited therefore none need to question but that from Adam or nearer from Noah's three Sons Sem Ham and Japhet those as well as we were extracted that Inhabit this our other World Reasons why America was so long unknown But one question is to be observ'd How first after the expiration of so many Ages in these our later times a New-World was discover'd altogether unknown to the Antients when they in the greatness of their Parts and Undertaking Prowess and Prudence were no ways inferior to the Modern and every way as fit for great Designs and grand Exploits Who first sail'd on the Ocean We need not scruple or make the least doubt but the Sea hath been Navigated of old but the first attempters set forth unexperienc'd Several opinions of the Antients concerning it in as pittiful and ill-contriv'd Vessels The Heathens ascribe the Art of Navigation first to the Cretans who under the Conduct of Neptune set forth a Navy to explore Foraign Countries But Pliny long before gives the Invention of this Art to Erythra King of Egypt who upon Pieces of Timber conjoyn'd and brac'd together crept along the Shores and ventur'd to Discover the Isles in the Red-Sea But others give that honor to the Trojans and Micians when with a Fleet by Sea they Invaded Thrace Others Brittains amongst the first Inventors of Navigation to the Brittains who made little Vessels of Leather and were the first that by this Invention found how to Float upon the Waters Some plead that the Samothracians were first Others that Danaeus before all found a way by Sea from Egypt to Greece But without all Contradiction Noah's Ark was the Pattern or Sample that succeeding Ages imitating built their Ships by and the more probable because his Offspring multiplying so fast that they were enforc'd to inlarge their Colonies by passing Seas and other broad Rivers to settle their Super-numeraries there The first Inventers of several things belonging to Shipping So Jason Invented a Ship which he call'd Argos which Sesostris King of Egypt took as his Pattern Next the Biremis a Galley with double Banks of Oar was made by the Erythreans with treble Banks by the Corinthian Amocles the addition of the Quadruple the Carthaginians boast of the Quinqueremis Nesichthon Alexander the Great brought them to twelve Banks Ptolomy Soter to fifteen Demetrius Antigonus Son doubled them to thirty Ptolomy Philadelphus to forty and last of all Philopater rais'd them to fifty Banks of Oars Hippus a Tirian was the first that set Ships upon the Stocks the Rhodians a Ketch and the Batavians a Boat the Copes made the first Oar Dedalus the Mast and Boltsprit Piscus the Beak the Tyrrheans the Anchor Tiphys the Rudder taking example from the motion of a Kites Stern Icarus found Sails fancy'd by the Poets for Wings though some ascribe that honor to his Father Dedalus Why in former Ages no remote Countreys were discover'd Minos was the first that Ingag'd in a Sea-Fight whereby we may easily conjecture that of old none adventur'd far into the Offin or to remote Countreys not daring to trust their so sleight contriv'd Vessels But these later times have strangely and suddenly improv'd this growing Art of Navigation yet pitch'd not to that height at first as boldly to adventure and loose sight of Land The manner of the Antients Sailing The Tyrians first understood how to Steer their Course by the North-Star and when dark and foul Weather had Clouded the Sky that they could neither see Heaven or Earth but onely Sea they directed their Course by the Wind and if they doubted the change thereof they let some Birds flie whom they follow'd supposing that they flood directly to the nearest Land But these are but poor helps and blind Guides to shew you Land from the middle of the boundless Ocean It is certain Of the Romans that the Romans in the time of Julius Caesar and Augustus stretch'd the Bounds of that Empire Eastward to Euphrates Why America was so lately known the Rhyne and the Danube and Westward to the Ocean and Mount Atlas Sailing up and down the Mediterranean with great Fleets which stoutly endur'd the violence both of Waves and Weather but all this made them not so hardy as once to think or look after new Worlds But after the Roman power decreas'd by several Eruptions of the Goths Vandals Huns Normans Lumbards and other Northern Countreys which swarm'd with People that overflow'd all places like a Deluge so that Europe was every where puzzel'd and Imbroyl'd their whole business consisting in conjoyning Forces to withstand such bold Invaders and so vexatious an Enemy And farther East Asia was at the same time little better still trembling at the daily Alarms and Incursions of the Scythians Persians and Saracens and afterwards the Turks growing upon them more than any of the former expected no other than a sad Gatastrophe so that the known World had too much work cut out for them by these Distractions and Alterations of Government then to go in Quest of uncertainties to find they
or happy conclusion of so desperate a Voyage so rashly undertaken and found now so full of eminent danger Yet Columbus bore bravely up and weather'd all their Exclamations although they threatned no less than his Murder At last Articling they came to this Agreement That if after sailing forwards three days more no Land were discover'd they should return But about two a Clock the next Night Columbus saw a glimmering like Fire in the Sky and in the Morning found himself close aboard a most pleasant Coast where Landing with twelve Men he erected a Cross cut out of a Tree Thence he sail'd over to Cuba where the Sea was so rough that he was forc'd to stand off fearing Rocks and Shallow Water Soon after he got to the Northward of the Island Haytin Discovers Hispaniola which he call'd Hispaniola Here his best Ship was bulged upon a Rock on which they had all perish'd had it not been flat on the top so that the Soldiers and the whole Crew of Sea-men were sav'd by the two Vessels The Inhabitants stark naked seeing these Strangers fled to the Woods but the Spaniards overtaking a Woman they entertain'd her with Sweet-meats and Spanish Wine and putting her on a white Shirt sent her again to the rest of the Natives where return'd she told what good Entertainment she had had to her Companions whereupon divers of the Islanders came aboard of the Spaniards Trades with the Natives in Boats made of one piece of Wood where they barter'd Gold for Beads pieces of Glass Knives Shells and other Trifles The King of Guaccanarillo gave testimony of peculiar inclination to the Spaniards helping them to Fish up the remaining Goods of the Wreck and inform'd them That some Rivers flowing from the tops of high Mountains wash'd down the Gold amongst the Sand notwithstanding a strange Prophecy had been told to these Islanders namely That Bearded Men out of remote Countries should destroy their Goods take their Land and massacre their Children He also told them what made them fly and betake them to their Heels at the arrival of the Spaniards because they were oftentimes surpris'd by the Cannibals who snatch'd up all they could lay hold on Their Boys and Striplings they gelded cooping and cramming them up as we our Capons for Feasts The young and well-grown Men they chopp'd to pieces salted and Barrel'd up Young Women they preserv'd for breed and old ones they made Slaves These Cannibals were so terrible to the Inhabitants of Haytin that a thousand of them durst not venture to engage against ten but would run every way dispers'd like Flocks of Sheep before the Wolf Lastly Their King permitted the Spaniards to build a Lodge or Hovel wherein thirty or forty of them might shelter but indeed so taking possession in right of the King of Spain Mean while Columbus return'd in safety to Spain Returns to Spain and was receiv'd with great joy King Ferdinand making him Admiral of the Sea Is highly honor'd and sending his Brother Bartholomew Governor to Haytin now call'd Hispaniola The Gold Parrots Mastick Aloes the strange Bread Jucca whose extracted Juyce is rank Poyson but the Body makes good Meal which kneaded and bak'd yields a fine Manchet and wholesom Food they look'd upon with great delight and admiration but two of the Natives being naked with Gold Rings through their Noses and Ears Ornaments with them of high esteem and signifying their no mean Quality the People old and young came in Throngs to wonder at never weary of gazing upon them But the King encourag'd by this Success took no dilatory Course but suddenly and before any could expect built fourteen stout Carvels and three Frigats Goes with seventeen Sail a second time to Hispaniola and as soon mann'd them with twelve hundred Soldiers besides a great number of Artificers of all forts with their Wives and Children freighting them with Horses Swine Goats Cattel for Breed all sorts of European Corn to sow Fruit-Trees and Vines to plant and some Priests to instruct and convert the Natives to their Religion The second of September Anno 1493. they set sail from Cadiz and Anchor'd before Ferreo the last and furthest of the Canary-Islands where they could get no Water but what dropp'd from the Dew hanging on Trees into Troughs After that Columbus came on the one and twentieth day amongst the Caribby-Islands where he dropp'd Anchor before one which he Call'd Dominico The Barbadoes St. Christophers c. but finding it desolate set sail further and discover'd several other Coasts where he likewise found nothing but very great Porcupines or Hedg-hogs arid sweet-smelling Trees Steering forward he found the Coasts of the Cannibals which inhabited along the Shore in little Huts or Hovels built round of Wood The Huts of the Cannibals and stak'd about on the out-side with long Poles like Palisado's They have also Posts within which are shorter pleited and fastned together with Cotton or long Roots of Trees plyant like our Osiars over which they hang Cloths painted with horrible Figures and strange Representations The Roofs rise like our Canopy'd Tents highest in the middle cover'd with Palm-Tree Leaves to keep off the Rain At the Entrances hang two Hairy Images on Poles not for Religion sake but Ornament Their Bed-steads being high from the Ground are fill'd with a kind of Straw and in long Hovels fitted for that purpose they store their Sugar Columbus landing here found all the Cannibals fled but their Houses full of Stone Vessels Cruises Pans and Pots boyling with Mens Flesh Parrots and Wild-foul the Hanches and Sides of young Men on Spits roasting at the Fire with the Splinters of whose broken Bones they headed their Arrows This Island by the Inhabitants call'd Carucueria Columbus chang'd to Guadalupe because the Mountains rise up with their tops not unlike Estremadura in Spain Island Guadalupe famous there for the wonderful Representation of our Lady as that of the Lady of Loretto in Italy Thirty Women which he had taken from the neighboring Isles he sent with Presents to the fled Canibals which the next day returning made a great appearance hear the Shore but when they had gaz'd a while upon the Spaniards looking stedfastly on one another they suddenly ran back again sheltring themselves in the Covert of the Woods Columbus thinking it not worth his while to expect their return seeing their barbarous Life burnt and destroy'd all their Boats and spoiling whatever ht could sail'd to Matanino Strange Women in Matanino The releas'd Women in Guadalupe that came back again inform'd the Spaniards That Matanino was an Isle onely inhabited by Women which at accustom'd times row'd over to these Cannibals where a while they drove a Trade and Commerce of Love the Product of which if Girls they kept but the Boys they sent over to their Fathers They live in Caves the Mouths and Entrances of which they maintain and stoutly make good with their
Court that were brought over thither by Columbus Moreover Hoieda was inform'd here That this Gold-River took its Original in the Province belonging to Cacicus Caunaboa signifying The King of the Golden Palace Columbus builds a City Mean time Columbus selected a piece of Ground on a rising Hill on the North part of the Isle where he intended to build a City because close by the Hill on one side rises a Mountain pregnant with Stone and Chalk on the other a Plain so exceeding fruitful and pleasant that the Sun scarce shines upon a more delightful and fertile Soil which they found afterwards by experience Here Melons are set and ripe in thirty six days Corn in two Months Strange fruitfulness there twice a Year the Trees and Plants bring forth their several Products the Vines come to maturity and are loaden with Clusters of Grapes in two Years and Sugar-Canes grow as thick as a Mans Arm in fifteen days On this pleasant Soil accommodated with a convenient Haven Columbus afterwards built the City Isabella fortified with Walls and Trenches against all Invasions over which he made his Brother Bartholomew Columbus first Governor Mean while the Admiral Columbus himself march'd up into the Countrey with three hundred Men in quest of the Gold Mines Seventy two Leagues the Valley Cibava lies distant from Isabella to which Columbus pass'd over swift Currents and high Mountains where he built a Fort which he call'd St. Thomas and exchang'd with the Inhabitants Toys and Trifles for Pieces and Ingots of Gold which the Inhabitants as before-mention'd found in the Sand of their Rivers And besides they inform'd him That about half a days Journey further greater Quantities of Gold were to be found in a browner colour'd Soil Whereupon Luxanus one of his Officers was sent with a sufficient Party thither who march'd through a delightful way cool with shady Boughs and pleasant with the prospect of spacious Meadows where they mow'd Grass for their Horses which in four days time grew up again higher than our tallest Wheat Goes to Sea to discover new Countreys Mean time Columbus being return'd with great Riches to his new City Isabella went soon after by Sea with three Vessels to discover new Countreys more remote which his Design fell out also successfully for he fell first upon Jamaica where he found more stout Opposition than elsewhere by the Natives at his Landing but finding themselves over-power'd they came to Agreement and accepting an amicable Composure presently struck up a Peace From thence putting to Sea he next discover'd Cuba which sailing round about he found also to be an Island where Landing in a convenient Harbor on each fenc'd with a high and jutting Rock he espied two little Hovels wherein was abundance of Fish besides two great Snakes or Serpents each having eight Feet spitted and ready to be laid to the Fire to be roasted but neither Man Woman nor Child to be seen they being gone with part of the Fish they had dress'd into the adjacent Woods whither the Spaniards following saw hanging by small Strings on the Branches of Trees abundance of Snakes some of which had their Mouths tied together others their Tongue and Teeth pull'd out Hence marching on a little beyond they saw a Company of the Natives which they judg'd to be about seventy Men covering the top or summit of a Hill to whom the Spaniards made Signs and to entice them near shew'd several of their gawdy Trifles but in vain till at last one adventur'd descending from the Hill to whom one of the Natives who in the first Voyage that the Admiral made was taken from the Island Guanahaini near Cuba carried to Spain and there Christned call'd aloud telling him they need not fear they should have no harm done them which said they came down all together and inform'd them That they were sent by their King to catch Fish for another King which was with him at Dinner and if they had not eaten the Serpents they gave them many thanks for they were provided for the second Course and very scarce to be got being a greater Dainty than any Fish Discovers not without great Accidents several New Countreys Columbus From hence proceeding on further Westward discover'd a fruitful Coast verging the Mouth of a River whose Water runs boyling hot into the Sea Somewhat further he saw very strange Fishes especially the Guaican not unlike an Eel but with an extraordinary great Head over which hangs a Skin like a Bag. This Fish is the Natives Fisher for having a Line or handsom Cord fastned about him so soon as a Turtel or any other of his Prey comes above Water they give him Line whereupon the Guaican like an Arrow out of a Bowe shoots towards the other Fish and then gathering the Mouth of the Bag on his Head like a Purse-net holds them so fast that he lets not loose till hal'd up out of the Water Here the Spaniards having Din'd on delicate Fish went on still Westward and came to an uninhabited Isle but well stor'd with Geese Pelicans and ugly Dogs that could not bark Here they came amongst so many Shoals that the Keels of their Ships raked upon the Ground almost forty Leagues together the Water thick and white like Milk Lastly they came again into deep Water and Landed at the Foot of a high Mountain on the Island Cuba where they found two Springs of very sweet Water A Musqueteer going into the Woods whilst the rest fill'd their Vessels with Water and cut Wood he spied a tall Man in a Coat like a white Fryer's Frock behind whom came two more and soon after thirty more follow'd all alike Habited the Musqueteer running away they beckned him to stay but he march'd off arid informing Columbus of his Adventure he sent a Party well Arm'd to see farther into the Countrey but they neither saw nor heard any Men onely found on the other side of the Wood a great Plain but so overgrown with deep Grass that it was impossible to get through The next day he sent out twenty five more which found nothing else than the Prints of the Steps of great Beasts and Lyons and also abundance of large Grapes which hung on the Branches of Vines clasping about the Bodies of the great Trees Hence Columbus again putting to Sea and Sailing Westerly found a Shore overflow'd with Water and abounding with Pearl-Mussles and after that the whole Countrey full of Mountains whose tops smoaked By this time the Fleet was much damnified by the Shole-water where as we mention'd before they often struck and their Keels rak'd upon the Ground so that having sprung several Leaks and their Provisions growing mouldy with the Damp they were forc'd to return and Tacking about they ran against Turtles which lay as thick in the Sea as if they had been sow'n Columbus now on his return home and Landing once more on Cuba found an antient Man stark naked who speaking to him
a Fryers garb ashore if possible under that disguise to get Provisions which falling out according to their Design they were supply'd with all manner of Victuals After that the Hollanders burnt five Villages on the Island Capull took a Chinesy Vessel one Spanish Barque and a Carvel Laden with Brandy from Cocos and after a great and bloody Fight sunk the Admiral of the Manilla's and so at last with various fortunes arriv'd at Rotterdam having in three years encompass'd the World SECT XVI The Expedition of George Van Spilbergen ANno 1614. the eighth of August the East-India Company of the United Netherlands set out seven Ships under the Command of George Spilbergen who coming to Cape St. Vincent and engaging with the Portuguese took one of their Ships and so proceeded on his Voyage to the Straights of Magellan but by a huge Storm the Fleet was separated Amongst those that were scatter'd was the good Ship call'd Meruw in which some of the crew had conspir'd to have kill'd the Master and seiz'd the Vessel but he having some inkling thereof set so stoutly upon two of the chief Contrivers with his drawn Hanger that he forc'd them to leap over-board and as stoutly ordering the rest set all to rights But Spilbergen Landing on one of the Penguyn Islands Strange Corps found two Dead Bodies just cover'd with Earth about their Necks was a Chain of glistering Snail Shells neatly strung the Grave stuck full of Bowes and Arrows was pleasant to look upon between several high Mountains whose tops lay bury'd in Snow The Fleet came out of the Straights of Magellan but not without great danger for the South-Sea much disturb'd by tempestuous Weather seem'd to raise its Waves up to the Sky so that they had enough to do from being ingag'd among the Rocks But at last with great difficulty wonderfully escaping all danger they Anchor'd before La Mocha an Island which on the North side lies low and on the South defended by Rocks Spilbergen in great danger Spilbergen seeing abundance of Men standing on the Shore Row'd thither to Barter for Merchandize Strange sheep amongst them was a Sheep with a long Neck bunch-Back'd like a Camel a little Mouth and long Legs which Beast serves them in stead of Horses to carry their burthens and perform their Tillage The Americans breed up these Sheep every where by reason of the extraordinary benefit they receive from them some of them keeping no less than eighteen hundred Their Shepherds ride upon a Beast almost like an Ox and carry in their hands Copper-Plates hung round about with Bells which they shake making a different noise when their Sheep shall go in or out and on their Heads wear Feathers like Coronets standing upright From thence St. Maries burnt Spilbergeon departing Landed at last on the Island of St. Mary where he burnt all the Spanish Villages And also Val. Parysa as he did also in Val Parysa After going ashore in the Haven Quintero he saw abundance of Wild Horses drinking out of a Rivulet supply'd with fresh Water from an adjoyning steep Mountain so soon as they espy'd Men they instantly running away were seen no more Having left Quintero and spent a Moneth in Sailing farther they discry'd eight great Ships whereupon the Prisoners inform'd them that it was the Spanish Fleet of which Roderigo de Mendoza was Admiral fitted out on purpose to fight Spilbergen whose coming as we said was known a year before At midnight Mendoza Boarded Spilbergen Bloody fight between the Hollanders and Spanish Fleet. but was so roughly receiv'd that he was forc'd to Retreat with the loss of the Ship St. Francisco At Day-break the Holland Admiral fir'd at Mendoza who answering with equal courage occasion'd a smart Engagement wherein the Spaniards were so hard beset that they put forth a White Flag but it was immediately taken in again by the Commanders aboard choosing rather to die than surrender because they had mock'd at Mendoza when he hinted the difficulty of the Enterprize in the Grand Peruvian Councel saying They went out onely to take a few disabled Hollanders and tying them hand and feet carry them to Execution Yet their high and proud Stomachs prov'd very fatal to them for afterwards totally routed and put to flight most of them sunk by the way This done Calyow de Lima. the Hollanders victoriously Sail'd to Calyow de Lima having a convenient Haven The City adorn'd with curious Houses and Temples is strengthen'd by a Platform Planted with great Guns towards the Sea and the Shore was guarded by eight Troops of Horse and four thousand Foot whereupon Spilbergen who was yet to go so great a Voyage judg'd it no way convenient to adventure the loss of all on the good or bad event of a Battel especially being so much over-power'd by the number of the Enemy Wherefore seeing no hopes of Victory setting forward to Guarma he got some fresh Provisions Against the City Peyta Peyta burnt he play'd his Cannon with such fury that the Townsmen deserted the place which he observing set it on fire and Sail'd to Aquapulque where from the Fort at first the Spaniards fired some Guns at them but soon after changing humor they came to an Accommodation furnishing the Hollanders with convenient Provisions Passing on and coming to Selaques both Natives and Spaniards having suffer'd some of the Hollanders to Land after set upon them treacherously in a Thicket but to their little advantage for they made so good a Defence that the Assailants not able to bear the brunt fled with great loss Spilbergen Sailing from hence to the Manilla's waited there for the Spanish Admiral Juan de Silva who had made is was reported great preparations for him long since but seeing it was in vain at last he return'd to Zealand where he came to an Anchor loaden with Riches in the middle of Summer Anno 1617. SECT XVII The Expedition of William Corneliszon Schouten and Jacob Le Maire SOme Merchants that were call'd the Austrian Company fitted out one Ship with sixty five and a Ketch with two and twenty Sea-men giving the Command thereof to the Captains Schouten and Le Maire Anno 1615 they Weigh'd Anchor from the Texel the first took a view of one of the three Islands call'd Mabrabomma lying before Cape Sierra Leona Mabrabomma what manner of Isle This Island appearing a great height out of the Sea was not inhabited they seeing onely three Wild Buffles many Wild Cats Birds which bark'd like Dogs Wild Palm-Trees Lemon-Trees Turtles Crocodiles Partridges and Storks From hence passing by the dangerous Shelf Abrolbos they ran into Porto Desire where on the Rocks they found abundance of Eggs and Spierings or Smelts and Spiregrass sixten Inches long wherefore they call'd that Inlet Spierings-Bay Their Sloop also brought two Sea-Lions and one hundred and fifty Penguins from the Penguin Isles having Sail'd two Leagues up the River in the interim the
the Seawasting Crooks where it beats upon a moultring Shore yet in some places the Streets are compleat It consisted at first of about sixty Families The sixteenth is in Plymouth Government situate upon the Sea-Coast Dukesbury or Sandwich first nam'd Dukes-bury afterwards Sandwich About the year 1617. a new Supply coming over into these Parts Newhaven and not finding in the Mattachusets Government any commodious place to settle in they after much search took up a place somewhat more Southerly near the Shalle s of Capecod where they found a commodious Harbor for Shipping and a fit place to erect a Town in which they built in a short time with very fair Houses and compleat Streets and shortly after several others Amongst which they erected a new Government which from their first Fronteer Town being the seventeenth was call'd Newhaven The eighteenth is in the Government of the Mattachusets and call'd Dedham Dedham being an Inland Town situate about ten Miles from Boston in the County of Suffolk well water'd with many pleasant Streams and abounding with Gardens and Fruit-Trees It consisted at first of about a hundred Families being generally given to Husbandry The nineteenth being also in this Government is call'd Weymouth Weymouth batter'd on the East with the Sea Waves on the South-West Rocks and Swamps make it delightful to the Deer as the ploughable meadow-Meadow-Lands to the Inhabitants About the Year 1638. Printing was brought over into New England About six Miles from Ipswich North-Eastward Rowly was erected another Town call'd Rowly being the twentieth About the Year 1639. began the one and twentieth Town Hampton Hampton in the County of Norfolk to be built It is situate near the Sea-Coast not far from the River of Merrimeck The great store of salt Marsh did entice the People to set down their Habitations there Not far from this Town of Hampton was erected the two and twentieth Salisbury call'd Salisbury seated upon the broad swift Torrent of Merrimeck-River It lieth on the Northern side over against the Town of Newbury the River between them being about half a Mile broad but hath an Island in the midst thereof which makes it the more easily passable The situation of this Town is very pleasant the Skirts thereof abounding in fair and goodly Meadows with good store of stately Timber in many places upon the Uplands Long-Island Southampton About the Year 1640. by a fresh Supply of People that setled in Long-Island was there erected the twenty third Town call'd Southampton by the Indians Agawom The same Year also the Town of Sudbury being the twenty fourth Sudbury began to be built in the Inland Countrey It is furnish'd with great store of fresh Marsh but lying very low it is much endammag'd with Land-floods About this time there was built at Mount Wollestone Braintree by some old Planters and certain Farmers of the great Town of Boston a Town nam'd Braintree being the twenty fifth within the Mattachusets Government It is well peopled and hath great store of Land in Tillage In the Year 1641. Mr. Richard Blindman coming from Green Harbour Gloucester a Place in Plymouth Patent with some few People of his acquaintance setled in Cape Anne where they built the twenty sixth Town and nam'd it Gloucester There is also situate upon Puscataque River to the North-East of Boston Dover a Town call'd Dover being the twenty seventh the People by voluntary resignation being under the Mattachusets Government In the Year 1642. was erected the eight and twentieth Town Wooburn call'd Wooburn In the Year 1644. Reading the nine and twentieth Town was built Reading being in the Government of the Mattachusets it is well water'd and situated about a great Pond having two Mills a Saw-Mill and a Corn-Mill which stand upon two several Streams A little after was built the thirtieth Town in this Colony Wenham call'd Wenham situate between Salem and Ipswich it is very well water'd as most Inland Towns are and the People live altogether on Husbandry About the Year 1645. one Mr. Pinchin having out of desire to improve his Estate by Trading with the Indians setled himself in a place very remote from any of the Towns of the Mattachusets Colony yet under their Government and great store of People still resorting to him they at last erected a Town upon the River Canectico Spring-field calling it Spring-field being the one and thirtieth Town it is very fitly seated for a Beaver Trade with the Indians in regard it is situate upon this large Navigable River and upon some Rivulets of the same In the Year 1648. was founded the Town of Haverhill Haverhill being the two and thirtieth about a Mile or two from the place where the River of Merrimeck receives into it self the River Shawshin which is one of her three chief Heads Not long after Malden the Town of Malden being the three and thirtieth Town was built by certain People that came out of Charles-Town these two Towns being sever'd the one from the other by the large River of Mistick The rest we shall onely name as 34. Berwick alias Chawun 35 Oxford alias Sagoquas Falmouth alias Totam 36. Bristol 37. Hull alias Passataquack 38. Dartmouth alias Bohanna 39. Norwich alias Segocket 40. Taunton alias Cohannet 41. Greens-Harbour 42. Yarmouth 43. Northam alias Pascataqua 44. Exeter 45. Weymouth The chief Rivers of New England are Pascataway Sagadahoc Pemmaquid Agamentico Merrimeck Tachobacco Mistick Narraganset Mishuwin Connectacut Newichwavoch Kynebequy The present state of the Natives The Indian Natives are now become so weak in number and in some measure reduc'd to a dread of the growth of the English that of late years they have not practis'd any thing against them or at least not justifi'd them by numbers in open Hostility willing rather to purchase their Peace and buy off Injuries committed by them at the Price of their Lands and Possessions And although care and expence hath been many years apply'd to the Conversion of Indians to the Faith however inclinable they seem'd at first to the imbracing thereof not then so well discerning the insincerity of its Professors yet there are so few of late who do imbrace it or persevere in it wanting a good Foundation for instruction in Moral Honesty and perhaps the example of it in those that undertake to instruct them in Religion that Christianity to them seems a Chimera Religion a design to draw them from the libidinous Pleasures of a lazy Life however some there are who make Profession of Christianity and some who are educated in the Schools of New Cambridge to entitle them to Preach the Gospel in their own Language One great hindrance to the Propagation of the Faith amongst those Heathens is the diversity of their Languages for it is commonly known that the Natives themselves do not understand one another if their Habitations are but at forty Miles
extent mention'd in the beginning The first Colony to be undertaken by certain Knights Gentlemen and Merchants in and about the City of London The second to be undertaken and advanc'd by certain Knights Gentlemen and Merchants and their Associates in or about the City of Bristol Exon Plymouth and other parts At the first Colonies Request in the seventh year of the same King a second Patent was Granted to several Noblemen and Gentlemen including Sir Thomas Gates and some of his former Fellow-Patentees bearing Date May 23. 1610. whereby they were made a Corporation and Body Politique and stil'd The Treasurer and Company of Adventurers and Planters of the City of London for the first Colony of Virginia And by this Patent there was Granted to them their Successors and Assigns two hundred Miles to the Southward from a Cape of Land in Virginia call'd Point Comfort and two hundred Miles to the Northward of the said Cape along the Sea-shore and into the Land from Sea to Sea And on March 12. 1612. the said King in the ninth year of his Reign Grants them a third Patent of all Islands lying in the Sea within two hundred Miles of the Shore of that Tract of Land on the Continent granted to them by the said former Patent Jac. 7. In the Year 1615. Captain Smith procur'd by his Interest at Court and the King's Favor a Recommendation from His Majesty and divers of the Nobility to all Cities and Corporations to Adventure in a standing Lottery which was erected for the benefit of this Plantation which was contriv'd in such a manner that of 100000. Pounds which was to be put in 50000. onely or one half was to return to the Adventurers according as the Prizes fell out and the other half to be dispos'd of for the Promotion of the Affairs of Virginia in which though it were three years before it was fully accomplish'd he had in the end no bad Success In the eighteenth Year of the said King's Reign at the Request of the second Colony a Patent was Granted to several Noblemen and Gentlemen of all that Tract of Land lying in the parts of America between the Degrees of forty and forty eight of Northerly Latitude and into the Land from Sea to Sea which was call'd by the Patent New England in America For the better Government whereof one Body-Politick and Corporate was thereby appointed and ordain'd in Plymouth consisting of the said Noblemen Gentlemen and others to the number of forty Persons by the Name of The Council establish'd at Plymouth in the County of Devon for the Planting Ruling Ordering and Governing of New England im America The Patent of Virginia made void The Miscarriages and Misdemeanors of the aforesaid Corporation for the first Colony of Virginia were so many and so great that His said Majesty was forc'd in or about October 1623. to direct a Quo Warranto for the calling in of that former Patent which in Trinity Term following was legally Evinc'd Condemn'd and made Void by Judgment in the Court of the then Kings-Bench as also all other Patents by which the said Corporation claim'd any Interest in Virginia Thus this Corporation of the first Colony of Virginia was dissolv'd and that Plantation hath been since Govern'd and Dispos'd of by Persons Constituted and Impower'd for that purpose from time to time by immediate Commissions from the Kings of England The Patent of Mary-land granted to the Lord Baltem re In the Year of our Lord 1631. the Right Honorable George Lord Baltemore obtain'd a Grant of King Charles the First of Great Britain c. of part of that Land to the Northward which is now call'd Mary-land but this Patent of Mary-land was not perfected till 1632. as you may understand more fully by the precedent Discourse of Mary-land which by express words in the said Patent is separated from and thereby declar'd not to be reputed for the future any part of Virginia The Patent Carolina granted to several Noble Persons And in the fifteenth Year of the Reign of King Charles the Second of Great Britain c. on March 24. 1663. Edward Earl of Clarendon then High-Chancellor of England George Duke of Albemarle William now Earl of Craven John Lord Berkley Anthony Lord Ashley Sir George Carterett Knight and Baronet Sir William Berkley Knight and Sir John Colleton Knight and Baronet obtain'd a Patent from His Majesty of the Province of Carolina which lies to the Southward of Virginia in which is included some part of that Land which formerly belong'd to the said dissolv'd Company of Virginia So that Virginia at present extendeth it self onely and is situated between thirty six and thirty seven Degrees and fifty Minutes or thereabouts of Northern Latitude and is bounded on the North by Mary-land on the South by Carolina on the East by the Ocean and on the West by the South-Seas The Entrance by Sea into this Countrey is the same with that of mary-Mary-land between Cape Henry and Cape Charles plac'd on each side of the Mouth of the Bay of Chesapeak Rivers of Virginia on the West side whereof you first meet with a pleasant and commodious River call'd James-River about three Miles wide at its Entrance and Navigable a hundred and fifty Fourteen Miles from this River Northward lies York-River which is Navigable sixty or seventy Miles but with Ketches and small Barques thirty or forty Miles farther Passing hence to the North you discover a third stately River call'd Rappahanock which is Navigable about a hundred and thirty Miles from whence following the Shore to the North you enter into Patomeck-River which is already describ'd in the precedent Discourse of Mary-land to which Province this River belongs whose Southerly Bank gives Bounds to that part of Virginia and Mary-land To these Rivers many other Inland Branches and Rivulets are reduc'd the chief of which are hereafter specifi'd Nature of the Countrey The Countrey is generally even the Soil fruitful the Climate healthful and agreeable with English Constitutions especially since the increase of Inhabitants and accommodation of good Diet and Lodging which the first Planters found great want of heretofore For many years till of late most New-comerâ— had the first Year in July and August a Disease which is call'd A Seasoning whereof many died like to what is mention'd before in the Description of Mary-land though more mortal and common than in Mary-land because Virgina is a lower Countrey and somewhat hotter insomuch that formerly divers ill of that Distemper have come purposely from Virginia to Mary-land to recover their Health but now since the Countrey is more open and clear from Wood few die of it and many have no Seasonings at all This Countrey affordeth generally all such Roots Herbs Gums and Balsoms as are express'd before in the Relation of Mary-land All sorts of Trees for Building and Husbandry Trees Fruit-Trees Vines c. are found in both Countreys equal in goodness
much better success for he Weighing Anchor for Pernambuc with four Frigats three Ketches and a Sloop set Sail to Truxillo where arriving lay close before the City with his four Frigats which fired very fiercely on the Town the Inhabitants of which not being idle kill'd three Men in one Ship forc'd her to fall farther off from the Castle Whilst the Ketches and Sloop went about a Gun shot Westward beyond the City towards the River Antonio where they Landed two hundred and fifty Soldiers which march'd with all speed up the Hill where the Castle lay which they Scal'd at Noon-day the Besieged being provided with seven Guns shot and threw Stones continually amongst them yet were forc'd to Retreat from the Dutch Hand-granado's During the storm the Admiral himself Landed but before he came out of the Boat the foremention'd Soldiers had made themselves Masters of the Fort with the loss of onely eight Men and were busie Pillaging all places they came at and carrying their gotten Booty to a Watch-house near the Castle on the Shore when on a sudden a Fire happen'd in the East part of Truxillo which increas'd in such a manner that in few hours two third parts of the City lay in Ashes every one then had enough to do to save themselves yet for all the haste they made several Hollanders were kill'd at the blowing up of the Magazine and most of the Booty lost by the Fire insomuch that they carry'd but two hundred thirty nine Skins six Bales of Indigo eight hundred and twenty Pounds of Sarsaparilla seven Brass and three Iron Guns four Clocks and some few trifles with them having before made an agreement for twenty Pound of Silver with the Governor Joan de Miranda who inform'd them that they had not the least knowledge of the Hollanders Fleet till the Evening when the Beacon on Punta La Rye was fir'd Moreover that the City was inhabited by two hundred Spaniards and as many more Mulatoes and Moors and that the Trade thereof was much gone to decay because there had been no Gallies there in two years before Twenty seven Leagues from this City lies the Village Jorgo de Olancho where four thousand Spaniards force Tribute from sixteen thousand Indians who possess much Gold SECT IV. Nicaragua Situation and bounds NIcaragua is a County of this Province border'd Northward with Honduras on the East with the Atlantick Ocean and part of Veragua on the South with Mare del Zur and on the West with Guatimala being call'd by Diego Lopez de Salzado The New Kingdom of Leon and comprizing several little Territories as Nicoya Nequecheri Mabyth Deria Masaya Mandigua Cacoloaque Cepeoco Los Micos Madira and the Contales It hath few Rivers in it the want whereof is supply'd by the benefit of a great Lake in the midst of the Countrey call'd by the Spaniards Laguna de Nicaragua containing as is suppos'd above one hundred Leagues in compass It empties it self by the Port of St. Juan into the Atlantick or North-Sea but reacheth as far as the South or Mare del Zur at least within a very few Leagues and from whence some Spanish Captains are said to have made a passage though with much difficulty into the Lake and from thence to the North-Sea It is abundantly well stor'd with good Fish but withal much haunted with Crocodiles and the Countrey about it so plentiful in all things especially Cattel Cotten-Wool Sugars and all kind of Fruits Amongst which the chiefest is the Zeiba which is of so great a thickness that fifteen Men holding Hand in Hand can scarce encompass the same The Callabashes ripen here in fourteen days time The Sea along the Coast breeds Whales and other Sea-Monsters which are often seen above Water Nature of the Inhabitants The Inhabitants of this Countrey except the Chontales which live on the Mountains and maintain their old Salvage Customs have for the most part learnt the Spanish Tongue and Manners and exercise themselves in all sorts of Arts and Siences especially in Working of Silver making of Clothes Wax-Work and the like From the Mountains they gather Balsom Liquid-Amber Turpentine They also drive a great Trade in Cotton Skins and several sorts of Provisions to Panama and Nombre de Dios. The Lake Laguna de Nicaragua which hath a hundred and seventeen Leagues in Circumference and round about inhabited is by three Leagues of Land separated from the South-Sea and discharges its Waters into the River Desaguadero which falls into the Northern Ocean Alphonsus Calera and Diego Machuca de Zuaso were the first that Sail'd out of the foremention'd Lake into the Sea not without many dangers by reason of the great Water-falls call'd Rondales which fall into the River Desaguadero and forc'd them often times to draw their Barques over the Land The chief City is Cities 1. Leon which is surrounded with Woods and lies close by the Lake hath a great Church five Cloysters belonging to the Monks de la Mercede several Houses for the King's Officers and a hundred and twenty thousand Families of Indians which pay Tribute Three Leagues beyond Leon appears a high spiry Mountain from whose top both Morning and Evening rises a mighty smoke and sometimes casts out great sulphurous Stones over the neighboring Fields and on a sudden mighty Flames A Dominican Monk in hopes to get some melted Gold out of its burning Mouth went up the same with four of his Fraternity and carry'd an Iron Chain and a Kettle which were no sooner let down into the hole but they were immediately melted yet not so discourag'd they resolv'd to venture a second time with stronger Materials which nevertheless had the same or rather worse event for the Fire flew out in such a manner that the Dominicans sadly scorch'd had enough to do to escape with Life since which none durst presume to approach the same But besides the Episcopal City Leon Erected by Franciscus Fernandez 2. Granada acknowledges the same Builder and lying also on the shore of Laguna de Nicaragua is adorn'd with a Castle Church and several Sugar-Mills Not far from it lie the small Lakes Masaya and Lindiri the first which is inclos'd between exceeding high Mountains covers the Foot of the burning Mountain Masaya the other falls into Laguna de Nicaragua near which is the smoky Mountain Munbacho surrounded with Fruit-Trees 3. 4. The Towns Jean and Neuva Segovia which are not far from thence are of little consequence 5. Realeio this is as it were the Chattam of America being a place on the South-Sea where the King of Spain hath all his Ships built that are made of American Timber and inhabited by few or none but Shipwrights Mariners and Men of that kind of Profession 6. 7. Nicoya Avarines 8. Cartage forty Leagues distant from Nicoya and lying almost in the midst of the Isthmus or Streight of Darien equally distant both from the North and South Sea on both which it is
a Pyramid revers'd the Basis whereof that is to say the more Southerly parts of it towards Magellanica and the Straights extend themselves largely both East and West becoming more sharp and streight towards the North and those parts by which it is joyn'd to Mexicana in the whole it is suppos'd to contain a Circuit of seventeen thousand Miles at least and is water'd with four of the greatest Rivers of the World besides abundance of lesser Streams which issuing from the Andes and other Mountains of the Countrey do run from all Parts both into the North and South Sea much fertilizing the Countreys through which they pass the four principal are these following The chief Rivers thereof 1. Orellana so call'd from the first Discovery thereof by Franciscus de Orellana otherwise the River of Amazons from a Generation of warlike Women who as the Tradition goes inhabited certain Countreys lying upon the Banks thereof This riseth in the Province of Peru and runneth a Course of little less than five thousand Miles discharging it self at last into the North Sea through a Channel as some say of threescore Leagues broad and yet with such a violent Current or Stream that it is said to keep its natural colour and taste almost thirty Miles in the Sea 2. Orenoque by some call'd Raliana from Sir Walter Raleigh who endeavor'd to discover it a River of the Province of Guiana whose Head or Spring is not yet discover'd It is said to be Navigable a thousand Miles together by the tallest Ships and no less than two thousand by Pinnaces and smaller Vessels and dischargeth it self likewise into the North Sea by sixteen several Channels or Mouths making thereby several Islands some whereof are said to be of good bigness and to lie at a distance of a hundred Miles or more one from the other 3. Maragnon a River of a yet larger Course than any of the former being as 't is said no less than six thousand Miles from its Head which is out of the Andes in Peru to its Fall which is likewise into the North Sea about Cape Blanco by a Channel of seventy Leagues in breadth 4. Rio de la Plata otherwise call'd Paraguay a River of two thousand Miles Course and falling as the rest into the North Sea by a Channel of threescore Miles over and about thirty Degrees Southward of the Line towards the Straights of Magellane The Mountains Andes The Andes or Mountains before mention'd being the most noted and biggest of all America and indeed of the whole World and thought by Cortesius to be the same with Sephar spoken of in the tenth Chapter of Genesis run above a thousand Leagues in length from Timama a Town of New Granada in the Province of Popayan and are in the narrowest place about twenty Leagues broad and also of equal heighth with if not higher than Caucasus it self the Ascent to them is unpassable except in very few places by reason of craggy Precipices and wild overgrown pathless Woods serving onely for a shelter to Serpents and other poysonous Animals which are there so numerous that a whole Army of one of the Kings of Peru is reported to have been destroy'd by them and what-ever People there are inhabiting in any of these Woods and Fastnesses must needs be in the very utmost degree of rude and brutish salvageness Some divide Southern America into Peruviana and Brasiliana Peruviana they subdivide into Terra Firma and Peru Brasiliana into Brasile and Paraguay But the most receiv'd and commodious Division is into these particular Provinces following all of them wealthy and large viz. 1. Castella Aurea or Golden Castile 2. Nova Granada or The New Kingdom as they call it 3. Peru specially so call'd 4. Chile 5. Paraguay 6. Brasile 7. Guiana 8. Lastly Paria with some lesser Islands adjoyning to all or most of these Provinces and commonly reckon'd as part of them CHAP. II. Castella Aurea otherwise call'd Terra Firma Description of Castella Aurea CAstella del Oro as the Spaniards call it or Golden Castile taketh up all the rest of the Isthmus or Straight of Darien which hath not been yet spoken of being bounded Eastward and to the north-North-East with the Atlantick Ocean and on the West with Mare del Zur and some part of Veragua Southward it hath the new Kingdom of Granada It is call'd sometimes Terra Firma because it was one of the first parts of firm Land which the Spaniards touch'd upon after they had pass'd so many Islands as seem'd for some time to block up and bar them from the Continent of America It is subdivided into these inferior Provinces or Countreys viz. 1. Panama 2. Darien 3. Nova Andaluzia 4. St. Martha 5. Lastly the little Province De la Hacha The chief Rivers of the Province of Panama are 1. Chagre as it was antiently call'd Rivers but afterwards from the great number of Crocodiles that harbor in it Rio de Lagartos falling into the North Sea between Nombre de Dios and Porto Bellano 2. Sardinilla 3. Sardina 4. Rio de Colubros so call'd from the abundance of Snakes breeding thereabouts 5. Rio de Comagre which falls into the same Sea 6. Chepo famous in times past for its Gold-Sands 7. Rio de Balsas whose Banks are shaded with good Timber-Trees 8. Rio de Congo which falls into St. Michaels Bay SECT II. Panama Description of Panama PAnama commonly call'd The District or Circle of Panama is bounded Eastward with the Gulf or Bay of Urraba by which it is separated from the rest of the Continent of this Southern part of America on the West it hath Veragua one of the Provinces of Guatimala being on both the other sides wash'd with the Sea It is suppos'd to contain in length from Carthagena and Popayan to the Confines of Veragua about eighty or ninety Leagues in breadth not above threescore in any part and where it is narrowest viz. betwixt the City of Panama and Nombre de Dios if measur'd by a right Line not above six or seven over from Sea to Sea It lieth almost under the Equinoctial Line but a few Degrees Northward of it and therefore somewhat hot and by the neighborhood of both Seas subject to a foggy and gross Air in comparison of some other parts so that it is not counted generally so healthful a Countrey especially for Strangers and in Summer-time The antient Division of Panama The antient Division of Panama according to the Lordships of the Casiques that then Govern'd were these following Careta Aila Comagre Chiam Coyba Chame Chiru Nata Tobre Trota Haylia Burica and Escotia where the South Sea with the Spring-Tides flowing over the Plains at its return being hardned by the Sea is turn'd into Salt but as it hath always hapned in all other Countreys of the World that with the alteration of Government the Division of the Countrey and the Names of Places have totally chang'd so also here the antient
its Head Not long after Donna Paula being Governess of Payta a Lady famous in Peru for her Beauty and obliging Nature sent Cabbages Oranges Cittrons and other Provisions to the Hollanders and requested the Releasement of some of the Spaniards taken in the Engagement against Mendoza but could not obtain her Request from the uncourtly Dutchmen SECT III. Los Quixos Description of Los Quixos THe Province of Los Quixos lieth South and to the South-East of Quito being border'd more directly Eastward with a part of the Province of Guiana call'd by some El Dorada or The Golden Countrey on the South it hath Lima and Cusco The Canela-â—ruit This Province is subdivided into several lesser Territories viz. Canela Pacomores and St. Juan de Salinas Canela is so call'd because it hath many great Woods which produce the Fruit Canela in great abundance the Owners whereof were most inhumanely dealt with by the Spaniards for Gonsalvo Pizarro supposing to get store of Gold there found nothing but Trees bearing a Fruit like Olives by the Natives call'd Canela with which they us'd to drive a great Trade being otherwise poor and simple People living in Huts which Pizarro pulling down caus'd the Inhabitants to be torn in pieces by his Dogs because they could not furnish him with Gold nor direct him where it was to be had The Granadilla-Apple Besides the Canela-Tree this Countrey also produceth in great plenty the Tree which beareth the Apples Granadilla exceeding good against burning Feavers the Leaves are like Ivy the Blossom resembling the Sun and the long Leaves speckled with Red and White open three hours after Sun-rising and close again before the Evening just as if Nature took care to preserve the beauty of the Flower Towns and Places of chief note In this part of the Province the chief are 1. Baeza otherwise call'd Quixos built in the Year 1559. by Ramires de Avila eighteen Leagues from Cusco 2. Archidona twenty Leagues to the South-East of Baeza 3. Avila 4. Sevilla del Oro all of them Spanish Colonies The Territories Pacomores and Yguansongo otherwise call'd The Countrey of Juan de Salinas are said both to extend above a hundred Leagues in length and little less in breadth The Fields afford store of Pasture for Cattel the Plough'd Lands produce Wheat and all sorts of wholsom Herbs and in some places are also rich Gold-Mines The Governor Layola built four Towns here viz. 1. Valladolid 2. Loyola 3. San Jago de los Montanas and 4. Caruma The Jesuit Acosta relates That not far from Caruma he found great Stones some of which were full of Golden Veins but were hard to be cut from the Rock Most of the Gold is found in the Sand of several Rivers the chiefest whereof flow through Quito New Granada Valdivita in Chili and Caravaya in Peru. On the Point of Quito the River San Jago falls into the Southern Ocean the Ground in the Mouth of the River being very uneven for oftentimes the Ships are fast aground at the Stern and on Head they have above eighty Fathom Water yet nevertheless the Shoals are no ways dangerous South-West from St. Jago lies the spacious Inlet Mattheo and the Promontory Francisco known by its Banks and high Grounds which shew red and white at a great distance Not far from hence exactly under the Equinox appears Cape Passao flat and low between which and Mattheo the great Rivers Los Quiximes fall into the Sea Behind Passao rises the high Mountain Quaque and more Westerly the Bay Caraques affords a secure Harbor for all manner of Vessels Next you come to the Town Puerto Viejo before mention'd lying behind the Island Laurenso Five Leagues off at Sea before Laurenoz lies the Island Plata formerly famous for a Peruvian Temple in which the Natives Sacrifis'd Sheep and sometimes Children and painted the Figures of divers Persons with the Blood to which they also Offer'd Jewels Gold Silver Wooll Cotton Shirts and Cloaks Francisco Pizarro arriving here got an invaluable Mass of Treasure but at present it lying desolate affords nothing but Brambles and wild Trees The next which come in view are the Havens Callo and Zalango where there are safe Harbors good Wood and Water The Cape of St. Helena makes also a secure Road on the North and on its Shore hath a Spring on the top of whose Waters swims a certain Gum by the Natives call'd Copey exceeding good to make Ships tight The River Tumbez falls into a large Bay which on its north-North-East Point near the Main Land hath the Island Puna ten Leagues in circumference The Soyl whereof produces abundance of Maiz Juca and other good Roots besides great Woods full of fruitful Trees and Sarsaparilla The Inhabitants of a brown Complexion and middle Stature wear Cotton Cloaks and Chains of Chaquira and Precious Stones They drive a great Trade and formerly maintain'd Wars with the People inhabiting upon the River Tumbez their great want is fresh Water in the Summer Thomas Candish Landing here Anno 1587. found a Ship hal'd ashore and three Villages in one of which stood a Palace belonging to a Casique surrounded with Stone Galleries and near it a large Store-house full of Tar-pots and Hemp to make Cables of The Village consisted of two hundred Houses and a fair Church with a Steeple in which hung several Bells The Casique Married to a Spanish Woman being fled with the Villagers Candish took many Oxen fat Sheep Pigeons and Ducks the Bells and what else was not convey'd aboard with him and afterwards burnt the whole Town but whilest he was busie in making havock a thousand Spaniards and a considerable number of Peruvians fell upon the English on such a sudden that they kill'd some and took others Prisoners Somewhat farther off at Sea appears the Isle Clara where those of Puna formerly buried their Dead The Inlet into which falls the River Tumbez whose Shores are well inhabited ends Westward at the Promontory Blanco Southward from which lies the Isle Lobos where there are several Springs full of the same Gum or Bitumen a little above mention'd Beyond the Point Agua lie the two Isles Lobos Marinos opposite to a low Coast they are desolate and barren of Grass Trees and all kind of Herbs and destitute of fresh Water but many Pelicans Penguins and other strange Birds The discovering of these Coasts belonging to the Jurisdiction of Quito deserves a short Relation Bevalcazar overcoming Ruminagua takes Quito Whilest Pizarro kept the Inga Attabaliba Prisoner he sent Captain Bevalcazar to the new Fort St. Miguel where eighty Horse and a hundred Foot being arriv'd from Panama and Nicaragua and he being inform'd that there lay a great Treasure in Quito and that the Canares the Spaniards Friends were exceedingly oppress'd by Ruminagua Attabaliba's General immediately march'd thither with the new arriv'd Forces before mention'd to fetch the Booty and to assist the Canares but several things oppos'd him in his Design
Arcisseusky had taken the Fort Real and given Command thereof to Verdoes he set forth with ten Companies and three hundred Brasilians to joyn with Schuppe who Besieg'd the Fort Nazaretta near the Promontory St. Augustine but the Governor Albuquerque fearing he should be surpris'd fled from thence with three hundred Men and left Peter Correa de Gamba and Lewis Barbalho Bizerra in his stead But Schuppe approach'd so near with his Trenches and Granado's that Correa inform'd of Arcisseusky's coming surrendred the Castle upon advantageous Articles OBSIDIO ET REPUGNATIO PORTUS â—â—â—VT A. Castram paracon B. Vrbi C. Basilica D. Castella duo hosti dâ—relickta A great Fleet of Spaniards appears before Reciffa The Year 1635. being almost expir'd one Morning about Day-break thirty two Sail were seen to Steer directly towards Reciffa two Ships of an extraordinary bigness were follow'd by nine Gallions and these by the rest of the Fleet consisting of Pinks Carvels and Barques all which approaching were known to be Spaniards which struck no small amazement to the Inhabitants of Reciffa most of their Ships being Cruising abroad before the Coast of Brasile and their Men a great distance off in the Field onely five Ships fitted for an Engagement being at Anchor and five more deeply laden Mean while the Spanish Admiral approach'd within a Cannon-shot of the Fame Ketch discharg'd one Gun and stood off to Sea again being inform'd that Real and Nazaretta were taken by the Hollanders On the other side all the Places in their possession had notice of this Fleet which Lichthart follow'd with six Ships and two Ketches carrying two Companies of Soldiers besides Seamen and keeping just within sight of them saw them at last come to an Anchor before Paripuera where a part of the Dutch Forces lay under the Command of Arcisseusky and make preparation to Land their Men Whereupon Lichthart Landed also with the Councellor Carpentier and joyning with Arcisseusky took up a valiant Resolution to Sail close up to the Spanish Fleet with his eight Ships whilest Arcisseusky march'd in the Night with six hundred Men to Jaragoa to prevent the Enemy's Landing but having a Portuguese for his Guide was led a wrong Way wherefore returning he secur'd the Way to Paripuera whilest the Portuguese Inhabitants contrary to their Oath refus'd to carry or bring Provisions to the Dutch Forces and joyning together combin'd with the Spanish Seamen and kill'd all the Hollanders which they could meet either on the High-ways or in their Houses making use of the Negro's to carry the Spaniards what Intelligence they could give them of the Hollanders Proceedings Wherefore they thought it the best way to be rid of such Villains to destroy them all that dwelt in the Countrey between Paripuera and Porto Calvo and for the space of ten Leagues burnt all their Sugar-Canes in the Fields their Mills and Houses Arcisseusky caus'd Edicts to be put upon every Church Door That all the Inhabitants should remove from Porto Calvo where the Dutch Army was to Encamp to keep them from the Spanish Oppression That Summer having been so dry that no man ever remembred the like had dry'd up all the Morasses so that the Spaniards marching over them and high Mountains got a back Way into the Countrey In the mean time John Walbeck made a Fort with five Bulwarks on the Island Caracao near the Haven Santa Cruz. Houtebeen also ran with two Ketches the Otter and Brack to Anchor before Curacao and from thence to the Haven St. Jago de Cuba where the Watch made no Alarm because he carry'd Burgundy Colours by which also several others both Portuguese and Spaniards were deceiv'd Not long after he burnt one Barque with Tortoises sunk another and set a third a Drift after which having refresh'd at Jamaica he Engag'd with several Spanish Men of War and took them besides a great number of Prizes in one of which he found such abundance of Copper Indigo Money Canaster Tobacco and Piece-Goods that the two Ketches were not able to load the same Houte-been taken by Dunkirkers but at at last Steering for Holland he was set upon by seven Dunkirkers Commanded by Colaert and after long and stout resistance was taken Captain Abraham Roosendael setting Sail from the Texel met with a Frigat carrying forty six Chests full of Ryals of Eight being in number eighty six thousand design'd to pay the Forces at Porto Rico besides a quantity of Plate which amounted to a considerable sum of Money with all which he arriv'd safe in his desired Port. Arcisseusky fortifi'd himself along the crooked River Paripuera full of Crocodiles which hurt none unless provok'd This River runs five Leagues to the Northward of Punta de Jaragoa where the Spanish Forces Landed Southward from Jaragoa lie the Alagoas del Nort and Zul distinguish'd by a high Tract of Land where the Spanish General Lewis Rochas Borgia left his Guns and a thousand Men under the Command of the Duke Bagnola whilest with three times as many more he went to Porto Calvo to be there before the time which the Hollanders had in their Edicts set the Inhabitants for their removal Schuppe and Arcisseusky judging it no way convenient to fall upon the Enemy in Porto Calvo Garrison'd Paripuera with four hundred Men under the Command of the Captains Day and Philip Andrews whom they furnish'd with Provisions for five Moneths and left Order to defend the Countrey against the Incursions of the Enemy which done they went aboard with eleven hundred Men and took in two Companies of Brasilians at Barra Grande with whom Landing behind the Isle Alexio they came to Serinhain before Day-light and found all the Inhabitants fled into the Woods fearing they would take Revenge on them for murdering of their Sick which they had left there They were no sooner Encamp'd here but they receiv'd Information from John Talibon that the Spanish Army intended to Besiege the Redoubt in Barra Grande which therefore as lying on an ill place and not able to resist long they slighted After which being furnish'd with Provisions out of some Ketches Commanded by the Admiral Lichthart they return'd with Intentions to take up their Quarters in Serinhain during the Winter Season whilest the Enemy lay in Cockau on one side of Una and Serinhain and kept private Correspondence with some of the Portuguese that had taken the. Oath of Allegiance to the Hollanders but Arcisseusky fell so fiercely upon them that they all fled to Porto Calvo and took three Monks Prisoners who had been the chief Authors of this private Correspondence Soon after twenty eight Ships arriving at Reciffa brought fresh Supplies of Men thither from the Maes and Zealand with Ammunition and Provisions which was much wanted also two Councellors Henrich Schild and Paulus Serooskerken This Fleet was scarce got in when in the Evening news was brought that eight hundred Spaniards were broke in through Poyuca and had taken John Paez Baretto's Sugar-Mill and
he chang'd his Resolution SECT IV. The Islands Margareta Cubagua and Coche NOtwithstanding we have already spoken something of the Islands Margareta and Cubagua in regard they are by some reckon'd amongst the Isles of Northern America yet because they are by many accounted to make up a part of the Division of New Andalusia we shall add in this place what we have found most worthy of Re-mention though much to the same purpose as before The Island Margareta discover'd by Christopher Columbus Anno 1498. contains thirty two Leagues in circumference hath many Woods and Pastures yet little fresh Water To the Eastward of it lie the Cliffs Testigos where it is very mountainous as also on the East Round about the same are delicious Fish without which the Natives could not live because the brackish Soil produces but little Provision The Pearl-Fishing of Margareta The chiefest thing for which this Island Margareta is famous is the Pearl-Fishing for which in times past a great Trade was driven though of late it is come to little or nothing The Spaniards with inhumane cruelty taught the Negro's to Dive for the Pearls for those that were not nimble or dextrous enough they beat unmercifully dropt scalding Wax or scalding Oyl upon them or stigmatiz'd them with hot Irons The Pearl-Banks were cover'd with five six seven or eight Fathom Water from whence the Negro's pull'd the Oysters with such force that the Blood gush'd out of their Mouths and Noses when they came above Water to breath after which to refresh them they receiv'd a Glass of Wine and a Pipe of Tobacco The Spanish Kiay receiv'd a fifth part of the best Pearls that were taken here but whether the Oysters have forsaken this Place or their growth hinder'd by often Fishing for them we know not but however it is few Pearls are found here of late years which makes Margareta to be more and more deserted The Nature of the Island of Cubagua Between the Main Continent of Paria lie the Islands Cubagua and Coche the first whereof hath an unfruitful and sultry Soil without either Trees Birds and four-footed Beasts except Pock Wood Sea-Fowls or Parrots and Castilian Hogs being carry'd thither change their Nature strangely for in a short time their Claws grow long and crooked The King of Spain us'd formerly to receive fifteen thousand Ducats yearly for his fifth part of the Pearls chat were taken which Gain invited many thither who built the Town Nova Cadiz on Cabugua in the Year 1521. but when the Arayans demolish'd the Monks Cloyster on Paria The City Nova Cadiz built there but at length totally deserted the Spaniards being three hundred in number fled from Nova Cadiz to Hispaniola where the High Court displeas'd at their cowardly deserting the Place gave them but cool Entertainment and sent five Ships under the Command of Jacomo de Castellan to Cubagua to build new Store-houses in Nova Cadiz which was afterwards re-inhabited but when the Pearl-Fishing ceased the Island and Town was at once deserted Opposite to Margareta lies the Promontory Araya behind which lies a salt Lake in which is found abundance of Salt not onely above but under the Water with which the English Spanish and Dutch Ships are fraighted Da Vern's Description of the Salt-pans on Araya Isaac du Verne describes the Salt-pans on Araya thus Round about the same saith he the Ground is craggy barren and of a brackish taste and destitute of fresh Water which is therefore fetch'd three Leagues farther out of a Brook flowing from the Mountain Bordones into the Bay of Comena likewise all manner of Provisions are brought from other Parts Westward from the Point Araya there is a convenient Harbor where the Ships take in their Salt Three hundred Paces from the Shore lies a great Salt-pan where the Salt being first beat in pices is carry'd in Wheel-barrows to the Ships The little Salt-pan produces less Salt and lies also out of the way which makes few Ships take in their Lading from thence The Countrey is every where overgrown with Brambles and Bushes in which breed Tygers and very poysonous Serpents There are likewise abundance of Stags Bucks Hares and Coneys besides other strange Beasts The Netherlanders beaten out of their Salt-Trade here by the Spaniards Till Anno 1605. the Netherlanders came hither unmolested for Salt when eight Spanish Gallions falling unawares upon them strangely misus'd their Seamen but afterwards the United Netherlands having made an Agreement with Spain for a certain time renew'd their Trade to Araya till the King of Spain having for the better security of the Place built the Fort St. Jago which Commanded the great Salt-pan forbad the Netherlanders from lading any more Salt who thereupon Storm'd the Fort though to their cost for several of them were kill'd and the rest return'd home empty SECT V. Of the Islands of Southern America THe chiefest Islands of note in the Southern part of America that is to say those that lie remote from the Continent in Mare del Zur are Los Ladrones and the Islands Fernandinas for the rest being as we may call them Mediterranean Islands fall naturally under the Description of the Continent The Isles Los Ladrones 1. Los Ladrones in English The Islands of Thieves lie as it were in the mid-way betwixt the Main Land of America and the Philippine Islands but some hundreds of Leagues distant from either in the fourth Degree of Northern Latitude so nam'd by Ferdinand Magellan from the pilfering disposition he observ'd in the Natives when he Sail'd that way for the Moluccae Islands They were a nimble and active sort of People yet light-finger'd tall of stature and going for the most part naked excellent Swimmers and Divers and have not much more to be said in their commendation The Isles Fernandinae 2. The Fernandinae are onely two Islands of no great bigness lying over against the Coast of Chile in the three and thirtieth Degree of Southern Latitude and about a hundred Leagues or three hundred English Miles from the Continent yet well stor'd with some lesser sorts of Cattel as Goats c. good plenty likewise of Venison in the Woods and Fish upon the Coasts for which reason though lying at some distance yet are they not a little frequented by the Spaniards of Peru who find many good Harbors and Roads for Shipping belonging to and about these Islands An Appendix CONTAINING Partly a farther prosecution of the Descriptions of some Provinces already treated of in the foregoing Book partly an Account of some other Discoveries than what have hitherto been deliver'd in any Description of the NEW WORLD CHAP. I. Rio de la Plata THe River De la Plata by the Natives call'd Paranaguazu is next to the River of the Amaszones the greatest in the World and falls into the Northern Ocean between the Capes Antonio and Maria lying thirty Leagues one from another It receives from East and West
Ground about the City St. Jago del Estero formerly call'd Vares being the Bishop's See and Residence of the Governors is brackish and sandy The Citizens are most of them Weavers the Natives go Cloth'd and are of an affable Temper and Disposition The River Estera yearly overflows the Countrey which being dung'd with Mud produces abundance of Maiz Barley Wheat and all manner of Fruits The Stream Salado runs the same Course as the Estera from the West to the East through a Plain-Countrey but hath brackish Water and abundance of Fish Between The Expedition of Garcias Loaysa Alcazova and others Magaglianus was follow'd Anno 1525. by Garcias Loaysa who Sailing into the Straights near the Promontory Virgines endur'd great Colds in the Haven St. George he found store of green Cinamon The People he reported to be of so monstrous a stature that they might well be accounted Giants some of whom went naked others wore a Net of Feathers made fast about their Wastes and others a loose Garment all over their Bodies Loaysa gave this Countrey inhabited by Giants the Denomination of Terra del Patagoni He judg'd the Straights of Magellan to be a hundred and ten Spanish Miles long between the two Promontories Virgines at the North Sea and Deseado at the Southern Ocean Within lie three Inlets which have seven Leagues in breadth Simon Alcazova Sailing hither nine years after Loaysa shunn'd the Land on the left-side of the Straights because it lay most under Water and was forc'd by his Men to return to the Haven Leones where he and all his Seamen were put to death Not long after the Bishop of Placentia fitted out three Sail which entring the Straights Anno 1540. lost their Admiral the Vice-Admiral Wintering at the Inlet Las Zorras so call'd because they took many Foxes on a Champain Countrey without Trees return'd to Spain without any farther success the third Ship with much ado arriv'd also at Arequipa The Voyages of Hawkins Drake and Candish The English Captain Richard Hawkins also Sailing hither found the Land on the South side of the Straights most broken and in some places a few Huts Anno 1578. Sir Francis Drake Sailing hither along the Coast of Brasile Landing on an Island in the Mouth of the Straights kill'd above three thousand Birds Sailing from hence he was miserably toss'd in the South Sea and discover'd about the middle of the Straights that the Current out of the Southern and Northern Ocean met at the place where a great Bay bends Southwardly To three Isles he gave the Name of Elizabeth Bartholomew and George and drove three Weeks without making any Sail in snowy misty and rainy Weather falling amongst dangerous Rocks and at last Anchor'd in the Haven Health which he so call'd because his sick and wearied Men being refresh'd there he set Sail from thence and return'd home Captain Thomas Candish following Sir Francis Drake eight years after found near a Creek within the City Philip-stadt built there by the Spaniards to secure the Passage out of the Northern to the Southern Ocean for themselves to which purpose they held four hundred Men in Garrison in the said City which lying near a pleasant Wood was defended by four Bulwarks each fortifi'd with a Brass Gun But the Spaniards not being able to endure the Cold nor get in their Harvest which was continually spoil'd by the Natives were so pinch'd with Hunger that after three years stay many of them dy'd in their Houses which caus'd a filthy Stink and consequently a vile Distemper not unlike the Small-pox at last twenty three of them amongst whom were two Women judg'd it convenient to bury their great Guns and march away with their Musquets a whole Year they travell'd in great want feeding on the Leaves of Trees wild Roots and Fowls which they now and then kill'd at last they resolv'd to travel by Land to Rio de la Plata but never any news was heard what became of them onely one Spaniard call'd Ferdinand being stray'd from the rest was taken by Candish to whom he gave the foremention'd Relation Candish entring Philip-stadt found a Gibbet on which hung a Malefactor in Chains a Church the Houses full of famish'd Bodies and four Brass Guns which he digg'd out of the Ground From hence he ran to a fresh-water River which disembogues into the Straights whose Banks are inhabited by cruel Cannibals and the Countrey all about plain Pasture Grounds whereas most part of the Shore in the Straights is very mountainous Candish Landing found Spanish Knives and Stilletto's amongst the Man-eaters and lay a whole Moneth at Anchor in the western Mouth of Magellanica by reason of great Storms feeding on Mussles Cockles and Fowl and from thence Sail'd about the World returning home at last with a Booty of twenty Tun of Gold Anno 1599. Simon de Cordes Commanding five Netherland Vessels entring the Straights of Magellan found in the green Bay Mussles of a Span long abundance of Ducks and Geese and a great many Trees not unlike Laurel they being onely bigger and had a sharp biting Shell The Wind blew exceeding hard here over the Rocks insomuch that they were sometimes driven from four Anchors A few Moneths after Oliver van Noord follow'd Cordes and Anchor'd near the Pinguyn Isles the biggest whereof is calll'd Castemme and the least Talke the Inhabitants thereof dwell in Caverns under Ground and feed on the Birds Pinguyns of whose Skins they make Mantles These Birds weigh generally fifteen or sixteen Pound have black Backs white Bellies very thick Skins long Bills like Ravens The Bird Pinguyn short thick Necks two plum'd Fins in stead of Wings black Feet like a Goose and delicate Flesh notwithstanding they feed on Fish after which they swim very swift with the fore-mention'd Fins which hang down on each side along their Bodies when they walk upright on the Shore they sit generally four together in their Holes made after such a manner that a Man which knows not of them may ere he be aware sink up to the Knees in the same and be bitten terribly by the Legs Cordes his Seamen got in two hours time above nine hundred of these Birds whilest he discover'd the salvage People Enoo which inhabit the Countrey Cossi and are divided into the Families Kemenetes Kennekas and Caraike the first inhabited the Territory Carray the second Caramay and the third Morine all of them Paint their Cheeks and Forehead Farther into the Countrey dwell the Trimenes a gigantick sort of People eleven Foot high who maintain continual Wars with their Neighbors Great Discoveries of Netherlanders about the Magellan Straights Moreover Noord discover'd several Inlets full of Ice and fresh Water in the Straights of Magellan whither the United Netherlands have since sent the Admirals William Schouten Joris Spilbergen and Jaques le Heremite The common opinion that the Countrey on the South side of Magellan is of the Main Continent Experience hath manifested for
brown others white and others sallow some had long and lank others short and curl'd Hair They acknowledg'd no King or supream Governor nor were Govern'd by any Laws neither had they any Wall'd Towns or Forts but being divided amongst themselves they continually Encountred one another with Darts Clubs and Staves Their Houses built of Wood were cover'd with the Leaves of Palm-Trees Their Housholdstuff consisted in Earthen Dishes Pots Ropes Fish-nets Flutes Drums and varnish'd Spoons Their Gardens were neatly kept Near their Temples were Burying-places They Row'd very swift in little Boats Their Bread well tasted was made of long thick Roots either roasted or boyl'd Fertility Plenty and Riches of the Countrey Here also grow six sorts of Platano's great abundance of Almonds Oranges Cittrons thick Sugar-Canes Palm-Trees which yield Wine Cocoa's and Obos in taste not much unlike Quinces but the greatest benefit which they receive is from the Cocoa Nuts the Pulp whereof is delicious Meat and Drink the outermost Shells whereof serve for Cups or Dishes the inner for Ropes and Cordage of the Leaves they make Sails and Mats and cover their Houses with the same of the Body Oars Clubs Pikes and Props for their Houses Besides several sorts of Pot-herbs here grow very high Coleworts and Bledo's The Countrey also abounds with Pigeons Partridges Ducks Goats Hogs and other ordinary Cattel and Fowls The Rivers afford them Souls Salmon Thornback Sea-Cocks Eels Gurnets and several other unknown Fishes very delicate and wholsom This Countrey also produces Nutmegs Mastick Peppers Ginger Cinamon Gold Silver Pearls Silk Sugar Anniseed Honey Wax Ebony-wood Turpentine Lime-pits and Marble Philips-Bay bends twenty Leagues into the Countrey hath a safe Harbor and excellent Ground consisting of black Sand. Two great Rivers discharge their Waters into the said Bay round about which are pleasant Woods full of Quails Parrakito's Parrots Nightingales and Bulfinches which Sing very sweetly The Blossoms especially of Orange-Trees and the Herb Alvaca yield an odoriferous smell The wholsom Air adds vigor to aged People Fernandes de Quir delivering the fore-mention'd Account to Philip the Second King of Spain mov'd him to Plant the unknown South-Land and the rather because he had not found any snowy Mountains drown'd Land Crocodiles Muschito's or any hurtful Creature yet was not regarded so that no Spaniard hath since that time set Foot on the unknown South-Land Abel Tasman 's Expedition to Terra Australis Incognita But the East-India Company undertaking the Design with great eagerness sent thither two Ships viz. the Hemskerk and Sea-Cock under the Command of Abel Tasman to make a farther Discovery of the said south-South-Land Anno 1642. on the twelfth of August they weigh'd Anchor from Batavia Sail'd through the Straights of Sunda to Maurice-Island where they Anchor'd in the North-West Haven before the Castle Frederick-Henrick on the fifth of September in the fore-mention'd Year On the eighth of Octob. Tasman stood over to the South-Land near which he was surpris'd by a violent Storm afterwards on the twenty fifth of November he discover'd a barren Shore against which the Sea beat very furiously and Steering along this Coast he found a convenient Inlet but was forc'd by the hard Weather to stand off to Sea again yet not long after approaching the Shore he saw great hollow Trees and round about them abundance of Mussle-shells and from the Wood heard a shrill noise of People Singing Going to the same place again he put the Orange Flag on a Pole Carv'd with the East-India Companies Arms and call'd the Inlet Frederick-Henrick 〈…〉 the whole Coast Anthony van Diemen Sailing from thence Eastward he on the eighteenth of December discover'd a convenient Haven where sending his Sloop to discover the Shore he came back in the Evening being follow'd by a Boat which approach'd nearer and nearer but Night coming upon him he could not well discern what they were that pursu'd him but heard the cry of hoarse Voices and a shrill noise like that of a Trumpet which the Netherland Seamen answer'd by hollowing and blowing on their Trumpets and at last firing a Gun the Southlanders made a hideous noise and blowing their Horns return'd ashore Tasman hereupon call'd his Watch laid Hangers Pikes and Musquets ready Charg'd upon the Decks The next day the Southlanders came in several Boats two and two ty'd together and cover'd with Planks towards the Ships The Southlanders desperate Attemp upon Tasman's Ships the Gunner of the Hemskerk going with six Men in a Boat to help mount some Guns in the Sea-Cock were betwixt both Ships set upon by the Southlanders who approacht with a hideous noise kill'd four of the Hollanders with long Poles and forc'd the other three to save themselves by swimming which they had no sooner done but they Row'd with incredible swiftness towards the Shore insomuch that they were out of the reach of their Guns before they could make ready to fire at them Tasman finding that there was no good to be done here since he hazarded the Lives of his Seamen against a company of wild People he set Sail but was follow'd by divers Boats at which he fir'd his After-Guns with pieces of Iron and Stones which killing some of them made the rest return In the midst of the Boats which were ty'd two and two together sat the Commander who encourag'd the Rowers they all us'd Clubs without Points These People were gross of Body undaunted strong and of a tawny colour the Hair of their Heads stroak'd up round was ty'd up on their Crown on which stuck a stiff white Feather about their Necks hung a square Plate they wore in stead of Cloaks square pieces of Cloth made fast before on their Breasts Tasman by reason of his rough Entertainment call'd this Harbor Murderers-Bay and afterwards Sail'd along the Shore till the fifth of January 1643. on which Day he dropt Anchor near a little Rocky Island from which fell two Streams with a great noise into the Sea The Inhabitants a strong People beckned to the Seamen to come on Shore some lean'd on thick Clubs others Fenc'd one with another Tasman sending his Sloop ashore for Water with two Drakes return'd without any not being able to Land by reason of the hollow Sea near the Shore wherefore Sailing from thence he discover'd two low Isles which were full of Woods of very tall Trees from the biggest whereof came a little Boat sharp before and behind in which three sallow Men sitting behind one another Row'd with great swiftness towards the Hemskerk whereupon Tasman commanded all his Men to go under the Hatches that the three Southlanders might not be afraid to come aboard he also threw a piece of Linnen out of his Cabbin Window which one of them leaping into the Sea took up and as a sign of thankfulness laid the same on his Head and being hereby emboldned they came nearer the Rudder where they took up a Knife ty'd to a piece of
The Land of Pygmies but upon what certain Ground cannot in the least be discover'd for we find not from the Russians to whom the Place by reason of its Vicinity is probable to have been first known any other Account of the Inhabitants but that they are a People wholly destitute of civil Manners and unlimited by Law or Religion saving that they seem to give some kind of Adoration to the Sun Moon and North-star and have some Qualities which speak them national Creatures whereas the Pygmies if there be any such Creatures are thought to have nothing of Humane but their Shape onely Willoughby-Island Besides Nova Zembla there is not far from it another Island known by the Name of Willoughby-Island from Sir Hugh Willoughby the first Discoverer they both are of the Dominions of the Czar of Russia Several Attempts for the discovery of the North-West Passage WHat hath been discover'd of Sea in the North or South parts of the World is of no less Consequence than what hath been discover'd of Land and the Straight of Hudson Northward is no less considerable than the Straight of Magellan South we shall therefore compleat this Discourse of the Artick Region with a brief Mention of what Capes Bays Sounds c. have been found out by those that have attempted to find a Passage by the North-West to the East-Indies Not to insist upon the fabulous Stories of King Arthur's first conquering Ireland and then Sailing into the Northern Seas and subduing Scantia Iseland Groenland and as the Story saith many other Islands beyond Norway even under the Pole or of Malgo's subduing Ireland Iseland the Orcades and Norway or Octher's Reports to King Alfred of his Voyages to the North-East parts beyond Norway or the Voyages of the two famous Venetian Brethren Nicolo and Antonio Zeni or of Marcus Paulus Venetus Odoricus and Vertomannus the first English-man we hear of that made an Expedition into those Northern Seas was Sir Hugh Willoughby before taken notice of for the Discovery of King James's Newland and Willoughby-Island in the Year of our Lord 1553. Stephen Burroughs as hath been intimated discover'd amongst other Places about the Year 1556. the Straight of Vaigats In the Year 1576. Sir Martin Forbisher setting forth with two Barques after he had been out about five Weeks had sight of a high-High-land which he nam'd Queen Elizabeths Foreland Queen Elizabeths Foreland Thence Sailing more Northerly to the heighth of about sixty two Degrees he descry'd a great Sea or Inlet which he entred and thence it took the Appellation of Forbisher's Straight Forbister's Straight About two years after proceeding to a farther discovery of it he entred a good way into it and took possession of the utmost Place he went to for Queen Elizabeth who thereupon gave it the Name of Meta Incognita Anno 1580. Arthur Pett and Charles Jackman were sent out by the Russian Company to make a Discovery of the River Ob and passing the Straight of Waigats took particular observation of the Islands and Places there but not being able to pass much farther by reason of the Ice towards the latter end of the year they return'd In prosecution of this Discovery to the North-West Captain John Davis of Sandruge in Devonshire made three Voyages his first Anno 1585. his second 1587. in which he met with many strange Adventures but the main thing that accru'd from these Voyages was finding of a mighty Through-let between vast and desart Islands to which his Name gave the Appellation of Fretum Davis Davis's Straight or Davis's Straight The next that went upon this Design was Captain George Weymouth who from the Year 1585 to 1602 made several Expeditions which produc'd large Relations of strange Accidents that befell them but little of Discovery farther than what had been made before Mr. James Hall very noted for his Voyages to Groenland which before was by Captain Davis call'd Desolation at his falling in with that Place nam'd a Head-land from then King of Denmark Cape Christianus Cape Christianus which some think to be no other than Cape Farewel Anno 1606. Mr. John Knight was set out by the King of Denmark of the Passages of whose Voyage little or nothing memorable is recorded The next and most famous Attempter in the discovery of the North-Wast Passage was Henry Hudson who is said to have discover'd farther Northward to the Pole than any before him From the Year 1607 to 1610 he made several Voyages being set out by Sir Thomas Smith Sir Dudley Diggs and Mr. John Wostenholm with others that were his great Friends and Advancers of such publick Designs In his last Voyage the Isles of Gods Mercy Prince Henry's Foreland King James's Cape Queen Annes Cape Digg's Island Cape Wostenholm The King 's Foreland Mount Charles Cape Salisbury c. were first taken notice of and nam'd and which were his principal Discoveries and therefore worthily retaining his Name Hudson's Straight and Bay Hudson's Straight and Bay but in his return homeward he was set upon in his Cabbin by one Green Wilson and others of their Conspiracy and together with his Son John Hudson Tho. Widdows Arn. Ludlow Sidrach Faner and two or three more was put over into a small Shallop in which they were forc'd to seek their Fortune and in all likelihood perish'd for they were never heard of after Nor long after Green going on Shore upon a strange Island was shot from an Ambuscade of Salvages into the Heart the like End has Wilson and three more of the Conspirators dy'd of their mortal Wounds the rest with much ado got home in a very sick and weak Condition through the Hardships the had sustain'd and want of Provisions There was also another Hudson who Anno 1608. went to the height of eighty one Degrees and gave Names to certain Places which continue to this day as Whale-Bay Hackluit's Headland and Hudson's Touches By the Assistance of Prince Henry and those other Noble Persons above mention'd Captain Thomas Button set out in the Year 1612. and is said to have pass'd Hudson's Straight and leaving Hudson's Bay to the South to have Sail'd two hundred Leagues South-Westward over a Sea above eighty Fathoms deep which at length he discover'd to be another great Bay since call'd Button's Bay Button's Bay He is said also to have discover'd a great Continent which he call'd New Wales Several other Voyagers there were in this great Attempt of the North-West Passage as Captain Gibbons Robert Bylot William Baffins and Captain William Hawkridge who though they all came short of the main Enterprize yet every one found out some new Cape Bay or Promontory or open'd a farther Passage than had been before as Bylot made known Cape Comfort Baffin Baffin's Bay the Inlet call'd from him Baffins Bay as also Sir James Lancaster's Sound Hawkridge a farther Passage into Lumly's Inlet From the Year 1616. to 1631. the Business slept and then a Voyage
live without the help of any other Countrey for their Clothing for Tradesmen there are none but live happily there as Carpenters Blacksmiths Masons Taylors Weavers Shoemakers Tanners Brickmakers and so any other Trade Them that have no Trade betake themselves to Husbandry get Land of their own and live exceeding well We shall conclude our Discourse of this Countrey with a notable Character given thereof by a late Writer as to the great advantage of happy living in all respects for whosoever shall be pleas'd to betake himself thither to live The Character of a happy Countrey IF there be any terrestrial happiness saith he to be had by any People especially of an inferior rank it must certainly be here Here any one may furnish himself with Land and live Rent-free yea with such a quantity of Land that he may weary himself with walking over his Fields of Corn and all sorts of Grain and let his Stock amount to some hundreds he needs not fear there want of Pasture in the Summer or Fodder in the Winter the Woods affording sufficient supply where you have Grass as high as a Man's Knees nay as high as his Waste interlac'd with Pea-Vines and other Weeds that Cattel much delight in as much as a Man can pass through And these Woods also every Mile or half-Mile are furnish'd with fresh Ponds Brooks or Rivers where all sorts of Cattel during the heat of the day do quench their thirst and cool themselves These Brooks and Rivers being inviron'd of each side with several sorts of Trees and Grape-Vines Arbor-like interchanging places and croding these Rivers do shade and shelter them from the scorching beams of the Sun Such as by their utmost Labors can scarcely get a Living may here procure Inheritances of Lands and Possessions stock themselves with all sorts of Cattel enjoy the benefit of them whilst they live and leave them to their Children when they die Here you need not trouble the Shambles for Meat nor Bakers and Brewers for Beer and Bread nor run to a Linnen-Draper for a supply every one making their own Linnen and a great part of their woollen Cloth for their ordinary wearing And how prodigal if I may so say hath Nature been to furnish this Countrey with all sorts of wild Beasts and Fowl which every one hath an interest in and may Hunt at his pleasure where besides the pleasure in Hunting he may furnish his House with excellent fat Venison Turkies Geese Heath-hens Cranes Swans Ducks Pigeons and the like and wearied with that he may go a Fishing where the Rivers are so furnish'd that he may supply himself with Fish before he can leave off the Recreation Here one may travel by Land upon the same Continent hundreds of Miles and pass through Towns and Villages and never hear the least complaint for want nor hear any ask him for a Farthing Here one may lodge in the Fields and Woods travel from one end of the Countrey to another with as much security as if he were lock'd within his own Chamber And if one chance to meet with an Indian Town they shall give him the best Entertainment they have and upon his desire direct him on his Way But that which adds happiness to all the rest is the healthfulness of the Place where many People in twenty years time never know what Sickness is where they look upon it as a great Mortality if two or three die out of a Town in a years time Besides the sweetness of the Air the Countrey it self sends forth such a fragrant smell that it may be perceiv'd at Sea before they can make the Land No evil Fog or Vapor doth any sooner appear but a North-West or Westerly Wind immediately dissolves it and drives it away Moreover you shall scarce see a House but the South-side is begirt with Hives of Bees which increase after an incredible manner So that if there be any terrestrial Canaan 't is surely here where the Land floweth with Milk and Honey Noua TERRA-MARIAE tabula This Northerne part of Virginia the limitts whereof extend farther Southwards is heere inserted for the better description of the entrance into the Bay of Chesapeack A NEW DESCRIPTION OF MARY-LAND SECT III. BEfore We proceed to the Description of this Countrey it will be first requisite to relate the true occasion and means whereby this part of America came to be erected into a Province and call'd Mary-land In the Year of our Lord 1631. George Lord Baltimore obtain'd of King Charles the First of Great Brittain c. a Grant of that part of America first discover'd by the English which lies between the Degrees of thirty seven and fifty Minutes or thereabouts and forty of Northerly Latitude which is bounded on the South by Virginia on the North by New England and New Jersey The situation part of New York lying on the East side of Delaware Bay on the East by the Ocean and on the West by that part of the Continent which lies in the Longitude of the first Fountains of the River call'd Patomeck In pursuance of this Grant to his said Lordship a Bill was prepar'd and brought to His Majesty to Sign who first ask'd his Lordship what he should call it there being a Blank in the Bill designedly left for the Name which his Lordship intended should have been Crescentia but his Lordship leaving it to His Majesty to give it a Name the King propos'd to have it call'd Terra-Mariae in English Mary-land in honor of his Queen whose Name was Mary which was concluded on and inserted into the Bill which the King then Sign'd and thereby the said Tract of Land was erected into a Province by that Name His Lordship somewhat delaying the speedy passing of it under the Great Seal of England dy'd in the interim before the said Patent was perfected whereupon a Patent of the said Province was shortly afterwards pass'd to his Son and Heir who was Christen'd by the Name of Coecil but afterwards confirm'd by the Name of Coecilius the now Lord Baltemore under the Great Seal of England bearing Date June 20. 1632. in the eighth Year of His said Majesties Reign with all Royal Jurisdictions and Prerogatives both Military and Civil in the said Province as Power to Enact Laws Power of pardoning all manner of Offences Power to confer Honors c. to be held of His said Majesty His Heirs and Successors Kings of England in common Soccage as of His Majesties Honor of Windsor in the County of Berks in England yielding and paying yearly for the same to His Majesty and to His Heirs and Successors for ever two Indian Arrows of those parts at the Castle of Windsor aforesaid on Tuesday in Easter Week and the fifth part of all Gold and Silver Oar which shall happen to be found in the said Province The Bounds By the said Patent is Granted to his Lorship his Heirs and Assigns all that part of a Peninsula lying
white Bears with red Patches on their Heads also white Hawks and all sorts of Fish There are moreover in the Countrey divers Rivers frozen up for the most part of the Year and cover'd with Ice yet it is generally affirm'd that it is not so cold there as in Norway or Iseland On the Hills are said to grow Acorns and Nuts very well tasted and as big as Apples also as good Wheat as is commonly produc'd in other Parts An Account of Groenland from Dithmar Blefkens his Journal In the Journal of Dithmar Blefkens's Voyage mention is made of a certain blind Monk brought up in the Monastery of St. Thomas who reported several memorable things concerning this Countrey as that it was call'd Groenland antiphrastically or by contrariety of Speech as appearing seldom or never green and that it abounded with Bears and white Foxes and was not without Pygmies and Unicorns which never appear'd till after the Sun was entred into Aries that in the said Monastery of St. Thomas there was a Fountain of scalding Water which was convey'd through Pipes of Stones to the Monks several Cells and serv'd them not onely for Stoves but for the dressing of their Meat which was as well boyl'd by means of this Water as if it had been over a real Fire and that the Walls of the Monastery were made of a kind of Pumice-stone upon which if Water were pour'd it would produce a slimy Matter commonly us'd in stead of Lime for Mortar like the Stone of Mount Hecla in Iseland that two of these Pygmies a Male and a Female were kept by the Abbot and were both endu'd with perfect humane Shape and overgrown with Hair even to the outermost Joynts of their Fingers the Male especially who had a Beard reaching down to his Knees but that they seem'd wholly devoid of Reason and Understanding nor had any distinct use of Speech onely made a semblance of Hissing of the manner of Geese lastly he reported the duration of the Lives of these Creatures to be answerable to the shortness of their Stature but that concerning their Wars with the Cranes he had no other knowledge than by Tradition From Mr. James Hall's Description The Description of Groenland left by Mr. James Hall renders it a high mountainous and craggy Region sufficiently water'd with Rivers and provided with good Harbors of a Soil not unfertile in all places where he came having between the Mountains fruitful Valleys and pleasant Plains abounding with several sorts of Fowl as Partridges Pheasants Sea-mews Gulls Crows c. but of Beasts chiefly black Foxes and as was conjectur'd by the plenty of Harts-horns found about their Tents Rein-Deer yet not destitute of other Beasts the Vestigium of one whereof was found to be not less than eight Inches over As for the Manners and Customs of the Natives they are by the said Description represented to be a kind of Samoid or wandring People still moving from place to place warlike and active using Slings and Darts with marvellous dexterity of a brown Complexion for the most part and of an indifferent Stature eating their Meat either quite raw or onely a little parboyl'd Clothing themselves with the Skins of such Beasts or other Creatures as they kill especially Seals or some of the largest size of Fowls which they Dress very smooth and soft turning the Feather or Hair side outwards in Summer and inward in Winter Their Weapons Bowes Slings and Bone or Iron-headed Darts their Religion Idolatrous but chiefly Sun-Worship as was gather'd from their manner of Accost when any of the English first approach'd them for they us'd to point up to the Sun as chief Author of their felicity and then beat their Breasts crying Iliont which seem'd to signifie as much as I mean no harm and would not come near till those that met them did the like Their Houses built of Whales Bones and the Baulks thereof with Whales Ribs and cover'd with Earth but the best sort with Seal-Skins having Vaults or Rooms under Ground four-square and two Yards deep in the Earth Their manner of Burial a Pile of Stones thrown over the Corps being first wrapt up in Seal-Skins First Discovery of Spilbergia or Greenland Spilbergia so call'd by the Hollanders from Spilbergen whom probably they reckon to have been the first Discoverer of it is the same that we vulgarly call Greenland and which Sir Hugh Willoughby if not the first of all yet at least the first of the English that discover'd any thing of these Parts nam'd King James's New-Land The said Sir Hugh Willoughby set forth Anno 1553. in the Bona Esperanza accompany'd with two Ships more viz. the Bonaventure Richard Challoner Captain and the Bona Confidentia and after some time of Coasting up and down those Northern Seas he Landed with his Company upon the Place where staying a few days he sent three Men three days Journey into the Countrey South-West and three more as far full West who all after much hardship in their Travelling return'd without having met any People by the Way or seen the least appearance of any Habitation Sailing hence back for Lapland they were all frozen to death in the Haven Arzina Fotherby's Description of Greenland A Description of Greenland by one Mr. Robert Fotherby represents the Nature of this Place contradictory to its Name as before was observ'd of Groenland For certainly saith he no part of the World yet known and discover'd is less Green than this both the Mountains and Low-lands being cover'd with Snow till the beginning of June The Countrey which is for the most part mountainous bearing neither Grass nor Tree save onely Heath or Ling as it is call'd in the North parts of England which grows upon the Moors or Heathy Grounds when the Snow begins to melt and on which in Summer the Deer feed themselves fat in one Moneth but how they live in the Winter is a thing beyond any Man's skill to comprehend especially during the Sun's absence under the Horizon which in the Latitude of seventy seven Degrees continues from the eighteenth of October to the fourth of February This Countrey is by many suppos'd never to have been inhabited by Men yet not altogether uncapable of affording Habitation to such as would bring with them sufficient defensive Weapons against Hunger and Cold For other Animals it is found by the testimony of those that have been upon the Place not to be destitute for besides Deer before mention'd there have been seen Bears and Foxes and of wild Fowl Cuthbert Ducks Willocks Stints Sea-Pigeons Sea-Parrots Gulls Noddies c. The Southermost part of Greenland call'd Point Look-out stands in seventy six Degrees and thirty Minutes The West side of the Land was discover'd by the first Voyagers Northward as far as eighty Degrees and odd Minutes and in that compass six or eight good Harbors for the Whale-fishing the East side as far as seventy eight Degrees with divers Islands
both great and small yielding good Harbors and store of Whales and Sea-Horses The Voyages of Jonas Pool and others to Greenland In the Year 1610. Jonas Pool Master of the Amity fell in with this Land in May and continu'd upon the Coast discovering of Harbors and killing of Morses till June following and he is said to have been the first that gave this Countrey the Name of Greenland The next year he set out again accompany'd with Thomas Edge Commander of the Mary Margaret And since many other Voyages have been made as to a Place known and a great Trade driven in catching of Whales not without several Contests with the Dutch and Danes but nothing of late discover'd considerable more than in the first Voyages The Harbors Sounds and Coastings most taken notice of are Fair Foreland Cape Cold Black-Point Horn-Sound Knotty-Point Bell-Sound Lowness Cross-Road Deer-Sound Fowl-Sound Close-Cove Gurnet-Nose Ice-Sound and Green-Haven There are few that have Sail'd to Greenland Cherry-Island but make great mention of Cherry Island so call'd as having been first discover'd at the Charges of Sir Francis Cherry an eminent Merchant by others Bear-Island from the multitude of Bears found there it lies in the Latitude of seventy four Degrees and is noted for store of Fowl Foxes like Dogs and upon the Coasts great store of Whales Sea-Horses and Morses It is also said to be furnish'd with Lead-Mines and Pits of Sea-Coal Situation and first Discovery of Iseland Iseland so call'd from the continual Ice which is upon it is a craggy mountainous Countrey and not onely the Hills but a great part of the Low-land cover'd with perpetual Snow It is of a Form somewhat oblong lying between the fifty fourth and fifty ninth Degree of Northern Latitude having Norway on the East the Orcades and Scotland on the South Grenland on the West and the Hyperborean or frozen Sea on the North. It is by Olaus Magnus suppos'd to be twice as big as Sicily that is to say about a hundred Leagues in length It is the most known and most througly discover'd of all the Countreys of the Artick Region and is said to have been first found out and peopled in the Year of our Lord 900. by certain of the Nobility of East-Frisia in the Countrey of Breme in the time of Alebrand Bishop of that Countrey but whether or no utterly unpeopled till that time is a Question not easie to be determin'd though in all probability so obvious a Place to be found out could not lie so long totally uninhabited Not long after several Colonies of Norwegians Setled themselves some in Hitland some in Ferow others following the Example of these Bremers in Iseland The Countrey is full of Rocks and Stones and as is credibly reported not a cultivated Field or Garden in the whole Island and by consequence no sort of Corn yet the People living without either Bread or Salt are very strong and of a good Complexion Neither is there a Tree to be seen except the Birch which likewise grows but in one place and exceeds not the heighth of a Man by reason of the violence of the Winds yet there is said to be great plenty of Butter the Grass being so fat that the Oxen are not suffer'd to stay long at a time in the Pastures for fear of bursting Till of late there was neither Town nor any thing that could be call'd a Village in the whole Island but stragling Cottages here and there not above three or four together in a place most by the Sea side for the convenience of Fishing they were built pretty deep in the Ground but artificially fram'd of Whales Bones with Seats Benches and other Utensils of the same now sometimes they use Fir to the same purpose which is cast upon the Coast by the force of the Sea from Tartary or elsewhere For want of Vessels they lay their Butter in Heaps in the Corners of their Houses like Mortar In the Winter wanting Fodder they feed their Cattel with Fish Besides these Cattel which are Kine without Horns Horses onely fit for carrying of Burthens and very large Sheep there are store of white Foxes and huge Bears of the same colour and a sort of rough Dogs very well known and frequent amongst us by the Name of Shocks which the Islanders esteem not a little and will part with their Children at a far easier rate They keep neither Hogs nor Poultrey for want of Grain to feed them Many Rivers in Iseland The Rivers belonging to this Island are many and those not unpleasant affording to the Inhabitants plenty of Fish especially Sturgeon Trouts and Salmons and one is especially remarkable for a Bridge made over it which being the onely Bridge of the Countrey is made of the great Bones of a Whale The whole Island is one continu'd Desart without any trodden Path or Road from one end to the other so that all that have occasion to travel to any part thereof by Land make use of the Compass as if they were Voyaging by Sea Strange Fish on the Coast of Iseland The Coast of Iseland hath many strange and monstrous Fish worth observation as first the Orca which though nothing near so big as the Whale yet is able to be the death of it for being of the shape of a Ship turn'd upside-down and having sharp long Fins on its Back it pricks the Belly of the Whale therewith till it kills The next is the Hackfall which is very fat and about twelve Inches long Then the Dog-Fish which lifting up its Head out of the Sea Barks and letting forth its young ones receives them into her Belly again when they have sported a while in the Sea Lastly another Monster of a most frightful shape mention'd by Olaus Magnus but not by any particular Name Strange Fountains In divers parts of the Island are Fountains of scalding Water which as soon as taken from the Fountain begins to cool and when cold hath a sulphury Substance swimming on the top At the West end is a smoaky Fountain very cold and turning all that is cast into it into Stone At the place upon the Sea call'd Turlocks Haven are two Fountains of different quality the one hot the other cold which by Pipes being brought together into one place make a Bath of an excellent temperature and of a medicinal Vertue Not far from Haven Halneford is a Cliff in a Rock of an unknown depth and no Water to be discern'd by those that look down into it but if a Stone be cast in it shall make a noise for half an hour together as if it were striking against a Brazen Vessel and all this while the Water will be rising till it comes up to the brim and then will be so long sinking again as the Stone was falling Mountains of Iseland There are also three Mountains in Iseland not to be left unmention'd the Mountain of the Cross the Moutain Snenelstockel