demonstrated by the Terrestrial Globe That it is not above Twenty four hours Sailing from the River of Thames in England to the City of Messina in Sicily at a certain time of the Year providing there be a brisk North Wind a light Frigat and an Azimuth Compass These are the chief Paradoxical Positions in matters of Geography which mainly depend on a thorough Knowledge of the Globe and though it is highly probable that they 'll appear to some as the greatest of Fables yet we may boldly affirm That they 're not only equally certain with the aforesaid Theorems but also we are well-assur'd that there 's no Mathematical Demonstration of Euclid more infallibly true in its self than is every one of them However we think it not fit to pull off the Vizor or expose those masked Truths to publick View since to endeavour the unmasking of them may prove a private Diversion both pleasant and profitable to the Ingenious Reader at his more vacant Hours we hastning in the mean time to the last Thing propos'd viz. SECT V. Concerning Land and Water THE Surface of the Terraqueous Globe to which we intirely restrict our selves both here and in the following Part of this Treatise being always considered by Geographers as a Supersicies compos'd of Land and Water as its sole constituent Parts and these Parts being subdivided page 13. as followeth viz. Land into Continents Isthmus Islands Promontories Peninsula's Mountains Water into Oceans Straits Seas Lakes Gulfs Rivers Of all these separately and in their Order Therefore §. 1. Of CONTINENTS Commonly reckon'd Four viz. those of Europe Africa Asia America Europe North Scandinavia found from W. to E. Muscovia or Russia Middle France found from W. to E. Germany Poland South Spain found from W. to E. Italy Turky in Europe Asia North comprehending the vast Body of Tartary South China found from E. to W. India Persia Turky in Asia Africa Egypt found from N. to S. Barbary Bildulgerid Zaara or the Desert Land of the Negroes Guinea Nubia Ethiopia Interior Exterior America North Mexico or New Spain from S. to N. New Mexico or Nova Granada Florida Terra Canadensis Terra Arctica South Terra Firma from N. to S. Peru Land of the Amazons Brasil Chyli Paraguay Terra Magellanica Terra Antarctica §. 2. Of ISLANDS They belong either to Europe Africa Asia America Europe The Scandinavian Islands Lying in the N. and Baltick-Sea The Island of ice-Ice-land W. of Scandinavia The Britannick Islands N. of France The Azores W. of Spain The Mediterranean Islands S. of Europe Asia The Japan Islands E. of China The Philippin S. W. of Japan The Isles des Larrons E. of the Philippin The Moloccoes S. of the Philippin The Islands of the Sund W. of the Moluccoes Ceylon and the Maldives W. of the Isles of Sund. Africa more Remarkable Madagascar E. of Ethiopia The Isles of Cape Verde W. of Negroland The Canary Islands W. of Bildulgerid The Madera W. of Barbary Less Remarkable The Isles of Comore N. W. of Madagascar St. Thomas's Island W. of Ethiopia Lat. 00 The Princess Island W. of Ethiopia Lat. 3. St. Helena S. W. of St. Thomas Isle of Ascention N. E. of St. Helena America North are California W. of Nova Granada Newfoundland E. of Terra Canadensis Middle are the Antilles Greater Cuba E. of New Spain Jamaica Hispaniola Port-rito Lesser Caribees S. E. of the greater Antilles Lucayes S. E. of Florida Sotovento N. of Terra Firma Bermudas E. of Florida South is Terra del Fuogo S. of Terra Magellanica §. 3. Of PENINSULA's Europe Juitland adjacent to Germany Morea Greece Taurica Chersonesus Little Tartary Asia Peninsula Indiae intra Gangem the Continent of Asia extra Gangem the Continent Mallaca or Chersonese d'or Peninsula Indiae intra Gangem In Africa is none but Africa it self the W. of Asia America Mexico or North America South America Peru or South America North §. 4. Of ISTHMUS In Europe are the Isthmus of Corinth joining Morea to Greece Taurica Chersonesus Taurica Chersonesus to Little Tartary In Asia is the Isthmus of Malacca Malacca to Penins Indiae intra Gangem In Africa is the Isthmus of Swez Africa to Asia In America is the Isthmus of Panama Mexico and Peru. §. 5. Of PROMONTORIES or CAPES In Europe Cape Nord Extending from The Northmost part of Norway Cape la Hogue The N. of France The Lands-End The S. W. of England The Lizard The S. The Start The S. Cape de Finisterra The W. of Spain Cape de Rocca The W. Cape St. Vincent The W. Asia Cape Ningpo The E. of China Cape Comorin Penins Indiae inter Gangem Cape Razalgate S. E. part of Arabia Africa Cape Spartel The W. of Barbary Cape Verde The W. of Negroeland Cape of Good Hope The S. of Ethiopia exterior Cape of Guardifeu The N. E. part of Ethiopia exterior America Cape de Florida The S. of Florida Cape de Coriente The W. of New Spain Cape Froward The S. of Terra Magellanica Cape Hoorn The S. of Terra del Fuogo Cape de S. Augustine The E. of Brasil §. 6. Of MOUNTAINS Remarkable Mountains in Europe The Dolfrine Hills To be seen Between Sweden and Norway Boglowy In the Souther part of Moscovia Hyperborean Mountains In the Norther part The Sevennes In the South part of France Auvergne The Vauge In Lorraine Fitshtelberge In circulating Bohemia Schwartzwaldin In the S. of Germany viz. Suabia The Carpathean Mount In the South parts of Poland The Pyrenaean Hills Between Spain and France The Alps Between Italy and France Germany The Appenine Hills Dividing Italy into East West Vesuvius à Vulcano In the Kingdom of Naples Balkan In the N. of Macedon The Holy Mount In the E. of Macedon Lacha Between Thessaly and Macedon The Grampion Hills In Scotland viz. S. of the River Dee The Cheviot Hills Between Scotland and England Malvern Hills In England viz. Worcestershire The Peake In England viz. Darbyshire Snowdon In Wales viz. Carnarvenshire Plinlimmon In Wales viz. Cardiganshire Knock Patrick In Ireland viz. in the C. Limerick Stromboli à Vulcano In a little Island W. of Naples Aetna à Vulcano In the Island of Sicily Remarkable Mountains in Asia Imaus To be seen In Tartary Caucasus Between Tartary Mogul's Empire Sardonix On the N. of Penin intra Gangem Guaco In Peninsula Indiae intra Gangem Taurus reaching from E. to W. of all Asia Adam's Pike In the Island of Ceylon Africa Montes Lybici Between Zaara and Egypt Atlas In the W. of Barbary Bildulgerid Basili In the N. of the Abyssine Empire Amara Under the Eq. in the same Empire Montes Lunae Between Abyssine Empire Monomotapa Tenerife In the Island of Tenerife America The Apalachin Hills Between Florida Terra Canadensis The Andes In S. America running from S. to N §. 7. Of OCEANS Europ The Hyperborean Ocean Enclosing Europe in the North. The vast Western West Asia Tartarean Ocean Asia on the North. China East Indian South
of Man THIS Island call'd Monoeda by Ptolomy and by Pliny Mondbia enjoys a very cold and sharp Air being expos'd on every side to the bleak piercing Winds from the Sea Its Soil oweth much of its Fertility to the Care and Industry of the Husbandman The Inhabitants a mixture of English Scots and Irish commonly call'd Mankâ—-men have in general a very good Character The ordinary sort of People retain much of the Irish in their Language and way of Living but those of better Rank strive to imitate the English In this they 're peculiarly happy that all litigious Proceedings are banish'd from among 'em all Differences being speedily determin'd by certain Judges call'd Deemsters and that without Writings or Fees If the Case be found very intricate then 't is referr'd to twelve Men whom they term the Keyes of the Island This Island with the Advowson of the Bishoprick belongs to the Earls of Derby who are commonly stil'd Lords of Man though Kings in effect they having all kind of Civil Power and Jurisdiction over the Inhabitants but still under the Fief and Sovereignty of the Crown of England §. 5. Anglesey THIS Island the celebrated Mona of the Romans and Ancient Seat of the Druides is bless'd with a very fruitful Soil producing most sorts of Grain especially Wheat in such abundance that the Welsh commonly term it Môn mam Gymry i. e. Môn the Nursery of Wales because that Principality is frequently suppli'd from thence in unseasonable Years 'T is commonly reckon'd as one of the Counties of North-Wales and acknowledgeth Subjection to the Crown of England §. 6. The Isle of Wight THIS Island term'd by Ptolomy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by the Romans Vecta Vectis or Victesis enjoys a pure healthful Air and is generally reckon'd a very pleasant and fruitful Spot of Ground 'T was once honour'd as the Isle of Man with the Title of Kingdom for Henry Beauchamp Earl of Warwick was Crown'd King of Wight by Henry VI. Anno 1445. but that Title died with himself about two Years after and 't is now reckon'd only a Part of Hampshire and is govern'd in like manner as other of the Lesser Islands §. 7. Jersey Garnsey and Alderney THESE Islands are all of William the Conqueror's Inheritance and Dukedom of Normandy that now remains in Possession of the English Crown Their Soil is sufficiently rich producing in great abundance both Corn and Fruits especially Apples of which they make plenty of Syder and the Air is so healthful to breath in that the Inhabitants have little or no use for Physicians among ' em They chiefly imploy themselves in Agriculture and Knitting of Stockings and during War with France they 're much given to Privateering It 's observable of Garnsey that no venomous Creature can live in it and that the Natives generally look younger by ten Years than they really are These Islands being annext to the English Crown Anno 1108. by Henry I have to their great Honour continued firm in their Allegiance to England ever since that time notwithstanding of several attempts made upon them by the French And so much for the Lesser Britannick Islands But if the Reader desires a larger Account of 'em let him consult the late Edition of Cambden's Britannia from page 1049 to 1116. inclusively Having thus particularly survey'd the Britannick Islands both Greater and Lesser proceed we now according to our propos'd Method to the Second Part of this Section which is to take a View of all other Islands belonging to Europe whether they lie on the North West or South of the main Continent Therefore II. Of all other European Islands European Islands being situated on the North of Europe West South On the North are the Scandinavian Islands West are The Isle of ice-Ice-land The Britannick of which already The Azores South are those in the Mediterranean Sea Of which in their Order §. 1. The Scandinavian Islands Such Islands are those belonging to Sweden Denmark Norway To Sweden are chiefly those of Rugen Chief Town Bergen W to N. E. Bornholn Rottomby Oeland Borkholm Gothland Wishby Oesal Arnsberg Dago Dageroot Aland Castleholm Northward To Denmark are chiefly those of Zealand Chief Town Copenhagen Capital of all Funen Odensee W. to E. Langland Ruthkoping Laland Naxkow Falster Nykoping Mina Stegâ— Fâ—meren Borge S. W. of Laland Aisâ—n Sonderborg Funen To Norway are chiefly those of Carmen Lying W. of Sâ—avanger S. to N. Hiteren W. of Dronthem Sanien Adjacent to Wardhus Suroy Adjacent Of all these Islands Zealand is the most remarkable and that only for the City of Copenhagen as being the Seat Royal of the Kings of Denmark § 2. The Isle of ice-Ice-land THIS Island taken by some for the much controverted Thule of the Ancients is term'd by the Italians Islanda by the Spaniards Tierra elada by the French Islande by the Germans Island and by the English ice-Ice-land so call'd from the abundance of Ice wherewith 't is environed for the greatest part of the Year By reason of the frozen Ocean surrounding this Island and the great quantity of Snow wherewith 't is mostly cover'd the Air must of necessity be very sharp and piercing yet abundantly healthful to breath in especially to those who are accustomed with that cold Climate The opposite Place of the Globe to ice-Ice-land is that part of the vast Antarctick Ocean lying between 180 and 190 Degrees of Longitude with 60 and 70 Degrees of South Latitude Considering only the Situation of ice-Ice-land it lying in the 18th 19th 20th and 21st North Climate we may easily imagine the Soil is none of the best In some Parts where the Ground is level there are indeed several Meadows very good for Pasture but elsewhere the Island is encumbred either with vast Deserts barren Mountains or formidable Rocks So destitute of Grain is it that the poor Inhabitants grind and make Bread of dri'd Fish-bones In the Northern Parts they have the Sun for one Month without Setting and want him intirely another according as he approacheth the Two Tropicks From this cold and barren Island are yearly exported Fish Whale-Oyl Tallow Hides Brimstone and White Foxes Skins which the Natives barter with Strangers for Necessaries of Humane Life Notwithstanding this Island doâ—â— lie in so cold a Climate yet in it are divers hot and scalding Fountains with Hecla a terrible Valcano which though always covered with Snow up to the very Top doth frequently Vomit forth Fire and Sulphurous Matter in great abundance and that sometimes with such a terrible roaring that the loudest Claps of Thunder are hardly so formidable In the Western Parts of the Island is a Lake of a petrifying Nature and towards the middle another which commonly sends up such a pestilentious Vapour as frequently kills Birds that endeavour to fly over it Some also write of Lakes on the Tops of Mountains and those well-stor'd with Salmons In this Island are two Danish Bishopricks viz. those of Schalholt
was one and likeways Gesner the Pliny of Germany being led into the same Error hath pictur'd that Bird accordingly To these Remarkables abovemention'd I may here add that rare Quality of Cloves one of the chief Spices produc'd in these Islands viz. their strange attractive Virtue when laid near any Liquids being able to drain a Hogshead of Wine or Water in a short time whereby some unwary Commanders of Ships have been most unexpectedly depriv'd of their beloved Liquors Archbishopricks Bishopricks Universities None The Natives of these Islands especially such as inhabit the midland Parts are by most esteem'd a treacherous inhumane and base kind of People much given to beastly Pleasures and generally walking Naked but those upon or near the Sea-Coasts who have Commerce with Europeans are pretty well civiliz'd and several of 'em prove very ingenious Their manner of Dealing is all by Bartering they being Strangers as yet to Money All we can find of the Language peculiar to the Natives of these Islands is that 't is as barbarous as they who own it The Trading Persons among 'em in their Dealings with Strangers use the Portugueze Tongue These Islands are subject to many Sovereigns of their own and some particularly Celebes and Gilolo have each of 'em several petty Kings whom they own as Sovereign Lords and Governors The Portugueze formerly had got considerable footing in these Islands but now the Dutch who send thither many of their condemned Criminals to be there imploy'd as perpetual Slaves The Natives of the Moluccoes are for the most part gross Idolaters and intermixt with them are many Mahometans with some who know a little of Christianity which Knowledge hath not been improv'd very briskly in those poor Creatures ever since they happen'd to change their Masters §. 5. The Islands of the Sund. THESE Islands unknown to the Ancients are term'd by the Italians Isola-di Sunda by the Spaniards Islas del Sond by the French let Isles de la Sonde by the Germans die Insuln in Sunde by the English The Islands of the Sonde or Sund so call'd from the Strait of the Sund between the Isles of Java and Sumatra The Air of these Islands is extremely hot they being situated under the same Parallels of Latitude with the Moluccoes and in Sumatra 't is mighty unwholesome by reason of many Lakes wherewith that Island abounds The opposite Place of the Globe to the Isles of the Sund is part of Terra Firma and the Land of the Amazons in South America The Soil of these Islands is generally very good especially in Java and Sumatra affording great plenty of Corn and Fruits mightily abounding with the chiefest of Spices well furnish'd with various kinds of Fowl and wonderfully stor'd with rich Mines of Gold Tin Iron Sulpher and several other Minerals The length of the Days and Nights in these Islands is much the same throughout the whole Year their Latitude either South or Northern being inconsiderable The chief Commodities of these Islands are Gold in great quantities most sorts of Spices plenty of Wax and Honey store of Silks and Cottons some precious Stones and the best kind of Brass In the Island of Java are Serpents of a prodigious length and bigness one being taken at a certain time that was thirteen Yards and a half long and so big that they found a young Boar in his Belly In the same Island is a remarkable Vulcano which sometimes burns with great Rage 2 Towards the middle part of Sumatra is another burning Mountain call'd Mons Balulvanus which vomits forth Fire and Ashes in like manner as Mount Aetna in Sicily or Vesuvius in Naples 3. In the same Island is a very observable Tree call'd Sangali by the Malayans and by the Portuguese Arbor triste de dia so term'd from its remarkable property of putting forth abundance of lovely Buds every Evening which look very pleasant to the Eye and fill the places adjacent with a most fragrant Smell but these fading and falling to the Ground when the Sun ariseth it appears in a melancholy and mourning Dress all day long 4 In the Island of Borneo is a Creature usually known to our English Navigators by the Name of the Savage Man being of all Brutes likest to Man both in Shape Stature and Countenance walking also upright upon his two hinder Legs and that frequently if not always He 's a Creature of great Strength and extremely Swift in Running Many reckon him the Ape peculiar to Borneo and the hunting of him is esteem'd a princely Diversion Archbishopricks Bishopricks Universities None The Natives of these Islands do considerably differ in Point of Manners those of Borneo being generally esteem'd Men of good Wits and approved Integrity those of Java very Treacherous Proud and much given to Lying And the Inhabitants of Sumatra are affirm'd to be good Artificers cunning Merchants and several of 'em expert Mariners The Language in these various Islands is not the same at least it doth mightily differ in variety of Dialects The Trading People who have frequent Dealings with the Franks do understand and speak the Fortugueze Tongue In each of these Islands are several Kings In Borneo two one Mahometan and the other Pagan In Sumatra and Java are many Princes some Mahometan and some Pagan The chief of those in Sumatra is the King of Achem and Materan is the chief in Java The Hollanders and Portugueze have establisht several Factories in these Islands especially the former The Natives of these Islands who reside in the Inland Parts are generally gross Idolaters but those towards the Sea-Coasts are for the most part zealous Professors of the Doctrine of Mahomet in several of its Fundamental Points §. 6. The Maldives and Ceylon THESE Islands unknown in former times except Ceylon which is thought by some to be the Ophit of Solomon and the Taprobane of the Ancients are term'd by the Italians Maldivee Ceylon by the Spaniards Maldivas Ceylon by the French Isles des Maldives Ceylon by the Germans die Maldivische Insuln Ceylon and by the English the Maldives and Ceylon They are call'd Maldives from Male the chief est of 'em and Dive which in their Language signifies an Island But from whence Ceylon derives its Name is not very certain The Air of these Islands notwithstanding of their nearness to the Line is very Temperate there falling a kind of Dew every Night which mightily helps to qualify the same yet frequently mortal to Strangers But in Ceylon 't is so pure and wholesome that the Indians term this Island Temarisin i. e. a Land of Pleasure The opposite Place of the Globe to these Islands is part of Mare del Zur lying between 280 and 290 Degrees of Longitude with the Equator and 10 Degrees of South Latitude The Soil of these Islands is extraordinary fruitful except in Corn whereof the Maldives are said to be
considerable bigness and remarkable for its shining Property in the Dark appearing as a little Lanthorn at a distance whereupon the Natives when oblig'd to Travel a Nights do usually fasten a few of 'em to a Stick and by their Light can clearly see their way We may also add those extraordinary little Birds of this Country call'd Tomineios of whom in Brasile being of so small a Bulk that they surpass not common wild Bees in bigness And finally those prodigious great Birds nam'd Condores who are so large and strong that they 'll set upon and devour an ordinary Calf For all these and several other Remarkables of Peru Vid. J. Acosta his Natural and Moral History of the Indies Here is one Spanish Archbishoprick viz. that of Lima. Bishopricks are those of Cusco Truxillo Quinto Arequipa Guamanga Universities in this Country None The Natives of this Country are reported to be a People that 's for the most part very Simple and grosly Ignorant Those towards the Equator are generally esteem'd more Ingenious than the rest but withal much addicted to two most detestable Vices viz. Dissimulation and Sodomy The Spaniards here residing are much the same with those in Spain The Language of the Natives did formerly consist of several quite different Dialects or rather so many distinct Tongues they being unintelligible to one another but these are much diminish'd and daily grow fewer for the People in the lower Part of this Country being now almost intirely civiliz'd have left their Ancient Jargon and commonly use the Spanish Tongue This rich Country by most probable Conjectures was govern'd by its Incas or Hereditary Kings above three hundred Years before the Spaniards got any footing therein but being fully master'd by them Anno 1533. under the Conduct of Pizarro it hath been ever since accounted a considerable Part of the King of Spain's American Dominions and is govern'd by his Vice-Roy who ordinarily resideth at Lima. In several places the Natives especially those of the Mountains maintain as yet their Liberties and are rul'd by some particular Caciques The Peruvians except those converted to Christianity are gross Idolaters worshipping the Sun Moon Stars Lightning Thunder c. To each of such Deities were formerly erected in this Country very stately Temples whose Remains are still extant in many places besides one almost intire viz. that at Cusco This Temple was dedicated to the Sun but is now a part of the Monastry of St Dominick Its Walls were over-laid with Plates of Gold from top to bottom and in it was set up a glorious Representation of the Sun being a lively Figure of that Caelestial Body in pure Massy Gold Near to this Temple were four others one whereof was dedicated to the Moon whom they call'd Quilla reckoning her either Wife or Sister to the Sun Another to the Planet Venus which they term'd Chasca A third to Thunder and Lightning which went by the common Name of Yllapa And a fourth to Cuychu i. e. Iris or the Rainbow All of them were wonderfully errich'd with either Gold or Silver and besides these were many others through the various Provinces of this once mighty Empire but the most magnificent Temple of all Peru was that spendid piece of Indian Architecture in a certain Island of the Lake Titicaca in which the Incas are believ'd to have hid a great deal of Treasure when the Spaniards invaded their Country SCET. VIII Concerning the Land of the Amazons This vast Country is of no certain Extent nor Division neither hath it any remarkable Town THIS Country discover'd by the Spaniards Anno 1541. is term'd by the Italians Paese di Amazona by the Spaniards Tierra de las Amazonas by the French Pais des Amazones by the Germans Y land van d' Amazones and by the English The Land of the Amazons so call'd from the many warlike Women resembling the Ancient Amazons who appear'd in Arms on the Banks of the River Amazone at the Europeans first entring into this Country The Air of this Country in places as yet discover'd is reported to be very Temperate considering the Latitude of the Country The opposite Place of the Globe to the Land of the Amazons is partly the Gulf of Bengal and partly the Peninsula of Malacca The Soil of this Country it lying in the 1st 2d and 3d South Climate where yet discover'd is very fertil producing great variety of Fruits and Grain Here also are abundance of Mines Sugar-Canes Cacoa and Tobacco The longest Day in the Northmost Parts is about 12-Hours and a little more the shortest in the Southmost is 11 Hours and the Nights proportionably The Commodities of this Country are reckon'd Gold Silver Sugar Cacoa Ebony Tobacco c. but this Part of the World being as yet very slenderly known and little frequented by Strangers these may be rather reckon'd the Product than Staple Commodities of this Country In the River Amazone is a dreadful Cataract a considerable way from the Sea for the Water being penn'd up between two steep Rocks under which is a hideous Precipice the Stream falleth down with great Violence and Noise Yet notwithstanding of this so terrible a Fall there be many of the Natives who 't is reported are so bold as to descend that Stream in their little Canoos In falling they are sure to turn topsy-turvy many times and are severely plung'd in the Deep when down yet such is their Care and Nimbleness that they quickly recover their Canoos and forthwith proceed on their Voyage J. Acosta Archbishopricks Bishopricks Universities None Upon the Banks of the River Amazone as is hinted at already were discover'd about fifty different Nations who seem'd generally to be a fierce and savage sort of People all both Men and Women appearing in Arms at the first approaching of the Spaniards and they still continue as fierce and savage as formerly and many of 'em are reported to be Anthropophagi or eaters of Human Flesh Our knowledge of this as yet ill discover'd Country is so slender and the Commerce between Europeans and this People so little that we can make no Observations on the Nature and Number of their Languages How this People is govern'd or if any Form of Government among them is not yet very certain A further Enquiry into the sume must be referr'd to the better Discovery of Future Ages That the Inhabitants of this Country are in general gross Idolaters is most that can be said of them as yet They are reported to make their Images of Wood and to set them up in the Corners of their Houses having no Temples and do firmly believe That those polish'd Pieces of Timber are really inhabited by some Divinities descended from Heaven being taught the same by their Priests SECT IX Concerning Brasil  d. m. Situated between 322 00 of Long. It s greatest Length from N. E. to S.
failing the Inhabitants for want of Pastors fell off from Christianity and in process of time became either strict Mahometans or Gross Idolaters The Sound of the Blessed Gospel did reach the Nubians and was cordially receiv'd by them in the earliest Ages of the Church SECT VIII Concerning Ethiopia  d. m. Situated between 35 20 of Long. It s greatest Length from N. E. to S. W. is about 3600 Miles 73 20 between 23 00 of Latit Breadth from W. to E. is about 2180 Miles 34 30 It being divided into Ethiopia Interior Exterior Ethiopia Interior comprehends many Provinces the chief of which are Barnagasso Chief Town Barva N. to S. Tigremahon Chaxumo Dobassat Dobas Fatigar Idem Angote Idem Amara Idem S. to N. Beleguanze Idem Bagamedri Idem Exterior comprehends the Kingdoms of Biafara Chief Town Idem N. to S. on the W. of the Abyssins Loango Idem Congo Salvador Angola Idem Empires of Monoemungi Camure N. to S on the South of the Abyssines Monomotapa Idem Coasts of Cafres Cofala Zangucbar Melinda S to N. on the E. of the Abyssins Ajan Brava Abex Erecco THIS vast Complex Body being generally considered as divided into these Two Classes viz. Upper and Lower or rather Ethiopia Interior and Exterior I shall seperately Treat of them both Therefore §. 1. Ethiopia Interior or the Land of the Abyssines THIS Country but badly known to the Ancients and much encroach'd upon of late by Neighbouring Princes is term'd by the Italians and Spaniards Abyssinia by the French l' Empire des Abyssins by the Germans Abyssinen and by the English Ethiopia Interior or The Land of the Abyssines It 's call'd Interior because of its Situation in respect of the other Ethiopia being encompass'd by the same on three sides and Abyssinia either from the River Abas or its Inhabitants whom the Arabians call Abassi a People once residing in Arabia Foelix The Name in the Egyptian Language signifieth Scattered Nations This Country being wholly within the Torrid Zone its Air is generally very hot but yet in some Valleys extreamly cool and temperate by reason of the many and prodigious high Mountains so situated in divers places that at certain times of the Year they intercept the Sun-beams from low Valleys lying between them The opposite Place of the Globe to the Land of the Abyssines is part of Mare de'l Zur and Mare Pacificum lying between 215 and 252 Degrees of Longitude with 10 and 23 Degrees of Southern Latitude The Soil of this Country it lying in the 1st 2d 3d North and 1st 2d 3d South Climate is very different for in some places adjacent to the numerous Branches of the Nile the Ground is sit to produce most sorts of Grain Fruits and Herbs in great plenty but in those that are Mountainous and Remote from the Nile nothing is to be seen but vast Deserts sandy Mountains and formidable Rocks This Land is also said to produce great store of Sugar-Canes Mines of Iron a great quantity of Flax and plenty of Vines but the Inhabitants either know not or care not to make use of these things to any considerable advantage The longest Day in the Northmost Parts is about 13 Hours ½ the shortest in the Southmost 10 Hours ½ and the Nights proportionably The chief Commodities of this Country are Gold Metals some Gems Corn Cattle Salt Flax Wines Sugar-Canes c. Many are the Natural Salt-Pits of excellent Rock-Salt in this Country and in the Confines of Dancala and Tigra two Adjacent Kingdoms is a large Plain of four days Journey one side whereof is intirely crusted over with pure white Salt which serves the Inhabitants of the Country both far and near some hundreds of Camels Asses and Mules being daily imploy'd in carrying of it 2. In the Mountains of Gojame is a great natural hollow Rock opposite to which is another so situated that according to Travellers Accounts of those Parts a Word only whispered on its top is heard at a considerable distance and the joint Voices of several Persons speaking at once appear as loud as a great Shout of a numerous Army 3. Of the many Christian Temples in this vast Empire there are ten stately ones hewen out of the firm Rock which are reported to have been all perfected in twenty four Years and each of 'em are said to be proportionable in all its Parts with Gates and Windows in a most regular manner For the Ichnography of one of those Temples Vid. Comment J. Ludolphi in Historiam suam Ethiopicam lib. 2. cap. 5. page 235. 4. In several Lakes of this Country and the River Nile is frequently seen that amphibious Creature call'd by the Ethiopians Bihat and Hippopotamus by the Greeks because of its having some resemblance to a Horse in several Parts of the Body This is that Creature which goes by the Name of Behemoth in the Book of Job according to the Learned Bochartus De Animalilus S. S. Part 2. cap. 15. who therein differs extreamly from the Vulgar and formerly receiv'd Opinion in this matter 5. In other Lakes and Rivers is sometimes taken the Torpil Fish whose Nature is such that if a Person only touch it he 's suddenly seiz'd with an excessive Cold and Trembling The Natives are said to allay the violent Heat of burning Fevers by touching the Patient therewith 6. Of the many curious Birds in this Country the Pipis is most observable as being the ready Conductor of Hunters to find out their Game for having discover'd any Beast in his luâ—king place he 's said to fly towards the Huntsmen and calling incessantly Fonton Kerre which imports that they should follow him he flies softly before them and is sure to conduct them to their desired Prey 7 Great is the variety of strange Animals to be seen in various Provinces of this vast Empire the most noted of which are these three First That Creature commonly call'd by the Natives Arweharis and by the Arabs Harish or Harshan which hath one long Horn in its Forehead Whereupon some conclude that this is the famous Unicorn of the Ancients Secondly The Cameleopard so term'd from having a Head and Neck like a Camel and a spotted Body as a Leopard which is said to have so long Legs that a Man mounted on an ordinary Horse may easily pass under his Belly without so much as touching him Lastly The Zecora which is generally reckon'd the most comely Creature of all Quadrupeds whatsoever For a particular Account of these and many more in this Country Vid. Ludolphus abovemention'd Lib. 1. Cap. 10. And the Learned Bochartus his Hierozoicon Part 1. Lib. 3. To these Rarities of this Country I might here add the thrice famous Mountain of Amara which ought indeed to lead the Van rather than bring up the Reer if only a tenth part of what hath been related of it were really true As for the Sabbatical River mention'd both by Pliny and Josephus
about their Cattle and Slaves yet unanimous enough to defend themselves against the Invasion of Strangers Some formerly reckon'd six Sovereign Princes or Kings in Madagascar others four but now every Province hath its particular Governor having under him various Filoubei i. e. Governors of Villages and Castles who stand accountable to him in every thing Arms. None The Inhabitants of this Island are either Pagans or Mahometans except those People living upon the Eastern Coasts between fifteen and eighteen Degrees and an half of South Latitude term'd Zaffehibraim i. e. the Race of Abraham and others on the Adjacent Island call'd Nossi-Hibraim i. e. The Isle of Abraham who differ extreamly from their Neighbours in Religious Matters For many of 'em are said to observe the Jewish Sabbath and give not only a faint Account of the Creation of the World and Fall of Man but also a few broken Passages of the Sacred History concerning Noah and Abraham Moses and David Whence divers Travellers conjecture that they 're originally descended of some Jews who might have been droven upon that part of the Island none knows how nor when § 2. Cape Verde Islands THESE Islands the Hesperides of the Ancients are term'd by the Italians Isola di Capo Verde by the Spaniards Islas de Cabo-verde by the French les Isles du Cape Verde by the Germans Cape Verde Insuln and by the English Cape Verde Islands so call'd from the opposite Cape in Negroe-Land which beareth that Name and that because it is or appeareth always of a Green Colour The Air of these Islands is generally reckon'd very unwholesome especially in S. Jago the biggest and chief of them all The opposite Place of the Globe to Cape Verde Islands is part of the West American Ocean lying between 170 and 180 Degrees of Longitude with 10 and 20 Degrees of Southern Latitude The Soil of these various Islands is not the same in all some of 'em being very Fertil and others extreamly Barren The length of the Days and Nights in them is the same as in the Land of the Negroes they both lying under the same Parallels of Latitude From these Islands the Portùgueze transport incredible quantities of Salt as also great numbers of Goat-Skins of which they make excellent Cordevants and likeways from thence may be brought most sorts of pleasant Fruits particularly Lemons Citrons Oranges Coco's Figs and Melons The most remarkable of these Islands is the Isle de Fuego or Fogo so call'd as being a noted Vulcano continually sending up Sulphurious Exhalations and sometimes the Flame breaks out Aetna or Vesuvius like in such a terrible manner and Vomits forth such a number of Pumice-Stones that it annoys all the Adjacent Parts In Insula de Sel are many Natural Salt-pits which yield a prodigious Quantity of Salt from whence the Island derives its Name Archbishopricks Bishopricks Universities None The Inhabitans of these Islands being Portugueze are much the same with those on the Continent The Inhabitants of these Islands being Portugueze as a foresaid do still retain their own Language These Islands at their first discovery being destitute of Inhabitants were peopl'd by their Discoverers the Portugueze and at present belong to the Crown of Portugal and are rul'd by a particular Governor who assumeth the Title of Vice-Roy and commonly resideth in the Island St. Jago The Portugueze here residing are of the same Religion with those in Portugal § 3. The Canary Islands THESE Islands the Insulae Fortunatae of the Ancients are term'd by the Italians Isola di Canaria by the Spaniards Islas Canarias by the French les Isles Canaries by the Germans Canarische Insuln and by the English the Canary Islands so call'd from the chief Island Canaria which deriv'd its Name from Can i. e. Dog in Spanish because a vast number of Dogs were found thereon by the Spaniards at their first discovery of it The Air of these Islands inclining to heat is generally esteem'd extraordinary wholesome The opposite Place of the Globe to the Canary Islands is that part of the vast Occidental Ocean lying between 180 and 190 Degrees of Longitude with 25 and 35 Degrees of South Latitude The Soil of most of 'em is wonderfully fertil In the Island Canaria they have commonly two Harvests in the Year Teneriffe is noted not only for its high Pike of which afterwards but also many Laurel and Dragon Trees where the sweet Singing-birds do daily warble their pleasant Notes These Islands besides their great plenty of Fruits and Grain are famous for producing the best Wine in the World The length of Days and Nights in them is the same as in Bildulgerid on the Continent they both lying under the same Parallels of Latitude The chief Commodities of these Islands are Wine Honey Wax Sugar Oad Plantons Dragons-blood Canary-birds c. Among the Rarities of these Islands is reckon'd a certain Tree in the middle of Fero term'd Garoe by the Natives and by the Spaniards Santo whose Top is said to be encompass'd every Night with a thick misty Cloud which condensing into Water doth drop from the Leaves the next Morning and that in such quantity as sufficiently serveth all the Inhabitants the Island it self being destitute of Springs As for the Isle of Teneriffe 't is famous all the World over for its prodigious Pike which appearing to the Eye as a large Mass of many Rocks promiscuously heap'd up in Form of a ruggid Pyramide is thought by some curious Naturalists to have been rais'd on a sudden by a mighty Conslagration of much subterraneous Sulphurous Matter whose forcible Eruption the very Rocks themselves could not withstand but were thereby pil'd up in the manner they now appear For strengthning of this Conjecture they alledge the great Quantity of Sulphure with which this Island doth still abound especially nigh the foot of the Pike and the Colour of the Rocks themselves many of 'em seeming to Spectators as if long burnt in a Fire In these Islands is only one Bishoprick viz. that of Canaria The Inhabitants of these Islands being mostly Spaniards are much the same in Manners with those on the Continent The few Natives yet remaining term'd Guanchas do mostly reside in Mountains Dens and Caves The Spaniards here residing do still retain their own Language These Islands belong to the King of Spain who for the better ordering of Affairs in them doth always keep a Governor in Canaria the chief Town of the chief Island His Power extendeth over all these Islands in Affairs both Civil and Ecclesiastical The Inhabitants of these Islands as aforesaid being mostly Spaniards are of the same Religion with those in Spain §. 4. Madera or Madera's THIS Island not observable of old is term'd by the Italians and Spaniards Madera by the French Madre by the Germans Maderen and by the English the Madera or Madera's so
15 62 25 1 07 4 30 20 6 30 16 63 22 0 57 5 36 28 6 08 17 64 6 0 44 6 41 22 4 54 18 64 49 0 43 7 45 29 4 07 19 65 2◠0 32 8 49 01 3 32 20 65 47 0 26 9 51 58 2 57 21 66 6 0 19 10 54 27 2 29 22 66 20 0 14 11 56 37 2 10 23 66 28 0 08 12 58 29 1 52 24 66 31 0 03 Climates between the Polar Circles and the Poles d. m. d. m. d. m. d. m d. m. d. m. Par. Lat. Par. Lat. Par. Lat. Par. Lat. Par. Lat. Par. Lat. 67 30 69 30 73 20 78 20 84 00 90 00 Breadth Breadth Breadth Breadth Breadth Breadth 01 00 02 00 03 50 05 00 05 40 06 00 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month Having thus taken a view of the chief Circles belonging to the Terrestrial Globe as also the manner how Latitude and Longitude with Zones and Climates are fram'd proceed we next to the various Positions of the Globe commonly term'd Spheres which are three in Number viz. Parallel Right and Oblique Def. 18. A Parallel Sphere is that Position of the Globe which hath these three Properties viz. 1. The Poles in the Zenith and Nadir 2. The Equator in the Horizon 3. The Parallel Circles parallel to the Horizon The Inhabitants of this Sphere are those if any who live under the two Poles Def. 19. A Right Sphere is that Position of the Globe which hath these three Properties viz. 1. Both the Poles in the Horizon 2. The Equator passing through the Zenith and Nadir 3. The Parallel Circles perpendicular to the Horizon The Inhabitants of this Sphere are they who live under the Equinoctial Line Def. 20. An Oblique Sphere is that Position of the Globe which hath these three Properties viz. 1. One of the Poles above and the other under the Horizon 2. The Equator partly above and partly under the Horizon 3. The Parallel Circles cutting the Horizon obliquely The Inhabitants of this Sphere are they who live on all Parts of the Globe of the Earth except those exactly under the Poles and Equinoctial Line But having no regard to these Positions of the Globe The various Inhabitants of the Earth are likewise considered with respect to the several Meridians and Parallels peculiar to their Habitations and that under these three Titles viz. Antaeci Periaci and Antipodes Def. 21. The Antaeci are those People of the Earth who live under the same Meridian but opposite Parallels Peculiar to such People are these following Particulars viz. 1. They have both the same Elevation of the Pole but not the same Pole 2. They are equally distant from the Equator but on different sides 3 They have both Noon and Midnight at the same time 4 The Days of one are equal to the Nights of the other vice versâ 5. Their Seasons of the Year are contrary it being Winter to one when Summer to the other c. Def. 22 The Perlaeci are those People of the Earth who live under the same Parallels but opposite Meridians Peculiar to such People are these following Particulars viz. 1. One of the Poles is equally elevated to both and the other equally depress'd 2. They are equally distant from the Equator and both on the same side 3. When it's Noon to one it 's Midnight to the other econtra 4 The length of the Day to one is the Compliment of the other's Night vice versâ 5. They both agree in the four Seasons of the Year c. Def. 23. The Antipodes are those People of the Earth who live under opposite Parallels and Meridians Peculiar to such People are these following Particulars viz. 1. They have both the same Elevation of the Pole 2 They are both equally distant from the Equator but on different sides and in opposite Haemispheres 3. When it's Noon to one it 's Midnight to the other vice versâ 4. The longest Day or Night to the one is the shortest to the other 5. Their Seasons of the Year are contrary c. The Inhabitants of the Earth were likewise considered by the Ancients with respect to the Diversity of their Shadows and accordingly reduc'd to three Classes viz. Amphiscii Periscii and Heteroscii Def. 24. Amphiscii were those People of the Earth who liv'd in the Torrid Zone or between the two Tropicks They 're so term'd from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 utrinque and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Umbra because they cast their Shadows on both sides of them viz. North and South according to the Nature of the Sun's Declination Def. 25. Periscii were those People of the Earth who liv'd in the Frigid Zones or between the Polar Circles and the Poles They 're so call'd from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Circà and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Umbra because they cast their Shadows round about them towards all Points of the Compass Def. 26. Heteroscii were those People of the Earth who liv'd in the two Temperate Zones or between the Tropicks and the Polar Circles They 're so call'd from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alto and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Umbra because they cast their Shadows only one way viz. North if in the North temperate or South if in the South temperate Zone But leaving the various Inhabitants of the Earth and to come closer to our main Design let us return to the Globe of the Earth it self consider'd simply as a Spherical Body whose Surface we are to view as compos'd of Land and Water as its sole constituent Parts and those two Parts thus subdivided as followeth to wit Land into Continents Isthmus Islands Promontories Peninsula's Mountains Water into Oceans Straits Seas Lakes Gulfs Rivers Def. 27. A Continent Lat. Continens à Contineo is a large and spacious Space of dry Land comprehending divers Countries Kingdoms and States all join'd together without any intire Separation of its Parts by Water Def. 28. An Island Lat. Insula quasi in salo is a part of dry Land environed round with Water Def. 29. A Peninsula quasi penè Insula otherwise Chersonesus from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Terra and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Insula is a part of the dry Land every where enclosed with Water save one narrow Neck adjoining the same to the Continent Def. 30. An Isthmus ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ingredior is that narrow Neck of Land annexing the Peninsula to the Continent by which People may enter into one from the other Def. 31. A Promontory quasi Mons in mare prominens is a high part of Land stretching it self out in the Sea the Extremity whereof is commonly term'd a Cape or Head-Land Def. 32. A Mountain à moneo vel emineo is a rising part of the dry Land over-topping the adjacent Country and appearing the first at a distance Def. 33. The Ocean Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 citò 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fluo is a mighty Rendesvouz or large Collection of Waters environing a considerable Part of the Main Continent Def. 34. The Sea Lat. Salum à sale quia salsum is a smaller Collection of Waters intermingled with Islands and intirely or mostly environed with Land Def. 35. A Gulf Lat. Sinus quasi sinu suo mare complectens is a part of the Sea every where environed with Land except one Passage whereby it communicates with the neighbouring Sea or main Ocean Def. 36. A Strait Lat. Fretum à ferveo quod ibi ferveat mare propter angustiam is a narrow Passage either joyning a Gulf to the neighbouring Sea or Ocean or one part of the Sea or Ocean to another Def. 37. A Lake Lat. Lacus a Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fossa vel Fovea is a small Collection of deep standing Water intirely surrounded with Land and having no visible or immediate Communication with the Sea Def. 38. A River Lat. Flumen vel Fluvius à fluo is a considerable Stream of fresh Water issuing out of one or various Fountains and continually gliding along in one or more Channels till it disgorgeth it self at last into the gaping Mouth of the thirsty Ocean These being all the necessary Terms commonly us'd in Modern Geography and particularly those that either need or can well admit of a Definition Description or Derivation We proceed in the next place to SECT II. Containing some pleasant Geographical Problems Prob. 1. THE Diameter of the Artificial Globe being given to find its Surface in Square and its Solidity in Cubick Measure Multiply the Diameter by the Circumference or a great Circle dividing the Globe into two equal Parts and the Product will give the first Then Multiply the said Product by ⅙ of the Diameter and the Product of that will give the second After the same manner we may find the Surface and Solidity of the Natural Globe as also the whole Body of the Atmosphere surrounding the same providing it be always and every where of the same height for having found the perpendicular height thereof by that common Experiment of the ascent of Mercury at the foot and top of a Mountain double the said Height and add the same to the Diameter of the Earth then Multiply the whole as a new Diameter by its proper Circumference and from the Product substract the Solidity of the Earth the Remainder will give the Solidity of the Atmosphere Prob. 2. To Rectify the Globe The Globe being set upon a true Plain raise the Pole according to the given Latitude then fix the Quadrant of Altitude in the Zenith and if any Mariner's Compass upon the Pedestal let the Globe be so situated as that the brazen Meridian may stand due South and North according to the two Extremities of the Needle Prob. 3. To find the Longitude and Latitude of any place By Longitude we do not here understand that Opprobrium Navigatorum of Easting and Westing but simply the distance between the given place and the first Meridian inscrib'd on the Surface of the Globe For the finding of which bring the given place to the East-side of the brazen Meridian and observe what Degree of the Equator is just under the said Meridian for that is the Degree of Longitude peculiar to the given place and the Degree of the Meridian exactly above that place is its proper Latitude which is either Southern or Northern according as the place is South or North of the Equinoctial Line Prob. 4. The Longitude and Latitude of any place being given to find that place on the Globe Bring the given Degree of Longitude to the brazen Meridian reckon upon the same Meridian the Degree of given Latitude whether South or North and make a mark with Chalk where the reckoning ends the Point exactly under that Chalk is the place desir'd Prob. 5. The Latitude of any place being given to find all those places that have the same Latitude The Globe being rectify'd according to the Latitude of the given place and that place being brought to the brazen Meridian make a mark exactly above the same and turning the Globe round all those places passing under the said mark have the same Latitude with the given place Prob. 6. To find the Sun 's place in the Ecliptick at any time The Month and Day being given look for the same upon the wooden Horizon and over against the Day you will find the particular Sign and Degree in which the Sun is at that time observing withal the difference between the Julian and Gregorian Kalendar which Sign and Degree being noted in the Ecliptick the same is the Sun's place or pretty near it at the time desired Prob. 7. The Month and Day being given as also the particular time of that Day to find those places of the Globe to which the Sun is in their Meridian at that particular time The Pole being elevated according to the Latitude of the place in which you are and the Sun's Place found in the Ecliptick at the time given bring the same to the brazen Meridian and setting the Index of the Horary Circle at the upper Figure of XII turn the Globe till the said Index point at the given Hour of the Day Which done fix the Globe in that Situation and observe all those places exactly under the brazen Meridian for those are the places desired Prob. 8. To know the Length of the Day and Night in any place of the Earth at any time Elevate the Pole according to the Latitude of the given place find the Sun's place in the Ecliptick at that time which being brought to the East side of the Horizon set the Index of the Horary Circle at Noon or the upper Figure of 12. and turning the Globe about till the aforesaid place of the Ecliptick touch the Western side of the Horizon look upon the Horary Circle and wheresoever the Index pointeth reckon the Number of Hours between the same and the upper Figure of 12. for that is the Length of the Day at the time desir'd the Complement whereof is the Length of the Night Note There is a Mistake in working the 7th Problem for the same ought to be performed thus The Pole being elevated according to the Latitude of the given Place bring the said Place to the brazen Meridian and setting the Index of the Horary Circle at the Hour of the Day in the given Place turn the Globe till the Index point at the upper Figure of XII which done fix the Globe in that Situation and observe what places are exactly under the upper Hemisphere of the brazen Meridian for those are the Places desir'd Prob. 9. To find by the Globe the Antaeci Periaeci and Antipodes of any given place Bring the given Place to the brazen Meridian and finding its true Latitude count upon the Equator the same number of Degrees towards the opposite Pole and observe
13. There is a certain Island in the vast Atlantick Ocean which being descry'd by a Ship at Sea and bearing due East of the said Ship at twelve Leagues distance per Estimation The truest Course for hitting of the said Island is to steer six Leagues due East and just as many due West Par. 14. There is a remarkable Place on the Globe of the Earth of a very pure and wholsome Air to breath in yet of such a strange and detestable Quality that it 's absolutely impossible for two of the intirest Friends that ever breath'd to continue in the same in Mutual Love and Friendship for the space of two Minutes of time Par. 15. There is a certain Island in the Baltick Sea to whose Inhabitants the Body of the Sun is clearly visible in the Morning before he ariseth and likewise in the Evening after he is set Par. 16. There is a certain Village in the Kingdom of Naples situated in a very low Valley and yet the Sun is nearer to the Inhabitants thereof every Noon by 3000 Miles and upwards than when he either riseth or setteth to those of the said Village Par. 17. There is a certain Village in the South of Great Britain to whose Inhabitants the Body of the Sun is less visible about the Winter Solstice than to those who reside upon the Island of ice-Ice-land Par. 18. There is a vast Country in Ethiopia Superior to whose Inhabitants the Body of the Moon doth always appear to be most enlightned when she 's least enlightned and to be least when most Par. 19. There is a certain Island whereof mention is made by several of our latest Geographers whose Inhabitants cannot properly be reckon'd either Male or Female nor altogether Hermaphrodites yet such is their peculiar Quality that they 're seldom liable unto either Hunger or Thirst Cold or Heat Joy or Sorrow Hopes or Fears or any such of the common Attendants of Human Life Par. 20. There is a remarkable Place of the Earth of a considerable Southern Latitude from whose Meridian the Sun removeth not for several Days at a certain time of the Year Par. 21. There is a certain Place of the Earth of a considerable Northern Latitude where though the Days and Nights even when shortest do consist of several Hours yet in that place it's Mid-day or Noon every Quarter of an Hour Par. 22. There are divers Places on the Globe of the Earth where the Sun and Moon yea and all the Planets do actually rise and set according to their various Motions but never any of the fixt Stars Par. 23. There is a large and famous Country on the Continent of Africa many of whose Inhabitants are born perfectly Deaf and others Stone-blind and continue so during their whole Lives and yet such is the amazing Faculty of those Persons that the Deaf are as capable to judge of Sounds as those that hear and the Blind of Colours as they who see Par. 24. There is a certain People in South America who are properly furnish'd with only one of the five Senses viz. that of Touching and yet they can both Hear and See Taste and Smell and that as nicely as we Europeans who have all the Five Par. 25. There is a certain Country in South America many of whose Savage Inhabitants are such unheard-off Canibals that they not only feed upon Human Flesh but also some of them do actually eat themselves and yet they commonly survive that strange Repast Par. 26. There is a remarkable River on the Continent of Europe over which there is a Bridge of such a breadth that above three thousand Men a-breast may pass along upon the same and that without crouding one another in the least Par. 27. There is a large and spacious Plain in a certain Country of Asia able to contain six hundred thousand Men drawn up in Battle Array which number of Men being actually brought thither and there drawn up it were absolutely impossible for any more than one single Person to stand upright upon the said Plain Par. 28. There is a certain European City whose Buildings being generally of firm Stone are for the most part of a prodigious height and exceeding strong and yet it is most certain that the Walls of those Buildings are not parallel to one another nor perpendicular to the Plain on which they are built Par. 29. There is a certain City in the Southern Part of China whose Inhabitants both Male and Female do observe almost the same Posture and Gate in Walking as we Europeans and yet they frequently appear to Strangers as if they walk'd on their Heads Par. 30. There are ten Places of the Earth distant from one another three hundred Miles and upwards and yet none of them hath either Longitude or Latitude Par. 31. There are two distinct Places of the Earth lying under the same Meridian whose Difference of Latitude is sixty Degrees compleatly and yet the true Distance between those two Places doth not really surpass sixty Italian Miles Par. 32. There are also two distinct Places of the Earth lying under the Equinoctial Line whose difference of Longitude is compleatly 86 Degrees ½ and yet the true Distance between those two Places is not full eighty six Italian Miles Par. 33. There are three distinct Places of the Earth all differing both in Longitude and Latitude and distant from one another two thousand Miles compleatly and yet they do all bear upon one and the same Point of the Compass Par. 34. There are three distinct Places on the Continent of Europe equidistant from one another they making a true Equilateral Triangle each of whose sides doth consist of a thousand Miles and yet there is a fourth Place so situated in respect of the other three that a Man may travel on Foot from it to any of the other three in the space of one Artificial Day at a certain time of the Year and that without the least hurry or fatigue whatsoever Par. 35. There are three distinct Places on the Continent of Europe lying under the same Meridian and at such a distance that the Latitude of the third surpasseth that of the second by so many Degrees and Minutes exactly as the second surpasseth the first and yet the true Distance of the first and third from the second or Intermediat Place is not the same by a great many Miles Par. 36. There are two distinct Places on the Continent of Europe so situated in respect of one another that though the first doth lie East from the second yet the second is not West from the first and yet both of them are under the same Parallel of Latitude Par. 37. There is a certain European Island the Northmost Part whereof doth frequently alter both its Longitude and Latitude Par. 38. There is a certain Place in the Island of Great Britain where the Stars are always visible at any time of the Day if the Horizon be not over-cast with Clouds Par. 39. It may be clearly
prop. so call'd Chief Town Prague S. to N. Lusatia higher Northward Soraw 〈◊〉 lower Southward Pantzen Moravia Eastern Weiskirk Olmutz Western Olmutz D. of Silesia higher Southward Troppaw Breslaw lower Northward Breslaw After the 10 Circles of Germany followeth Switzerland comprehending 13 Cantons with several Confederate Cities and Proefectures 1. The thirteen Cantons are those of Zurick Switz Glaris Solothurn Bern Underwald Basil Schafhousen Lucern Zug Friburg Apenzel These Cantons are set down according to their Votes in the general Diets each of them hath a capital City of its own Name except Uri chief Town Altorf and Underwald chief Town Stant and are reduced to three Classes Viz. West comprehending Basil from N. to S. Soloturn Bern Freiburg Middle comprehending Schafhouse from N. to S. Zurich Zug Lucern Switz Underwald Uri East comprehending Apenzil from N. to S. Glaris 2. The chief Confederates of the Switzers are the Grisons ch T. Coire W. of the County of Tirol City of Geneva Lake of Geneva 3. The chief Praefectures of the Switzers are Baden on the W. N. W. of Zurick Bremgarten Mellingen Sargans N. of the Grisons To the German Empire we might here annex the Kingdom of Hungary it being now almost intirely under the Emperour But of it when we come to Turkey in Europe THIS great Body being divided as aforesaid into Ten Circles and the first of these viz. Belgium or the Netherlands being most observable upon several accounts we shall take a particular View of the same as it consists of Holland and Flanders and then treat of all the rest conjunctly under the general Title of Upper Germany Therefore §. 1. HOLLAND THis Country of old Batavia a part of Ancient Belgium is 〈◊〉 by the Italians and Spaniards Holanda by the French Hollande by the Germans and English Holland so call'd as many imagin from Hol and land two Teutonic words signifying a low or hollow sort of Land But others choose rather to dâ—â—ive the Name from Oeland an Island in the Baltick Sea whose Inhabitants being great Pyrats and frequently ranging these Seas at 〈◊〉 did seize upon and settle themselves in this part of the 〈◊〉 The Air of this Country is generally thick and moist by reason of the frequent Fogs which arise from the many Lakes and Channels with which this Country abounds And to Moistness of the Air it is that we may impute the Cause of the â—ency of Agues to which the Inhabitants are so subject The â—site Place of the Globe to Holland is that part of the vast Paciâ—â—â— Ocean between 205 and 210 Degrees of Longitude with 51 and 54 Degrees of South Latitude This Country lying very low and in the Tenth North Climate Its Soil is Naturally wet and fenny but the industrious Inhabitants do so drain it by a vast Multitude of Artificial Channels that the Ground is made very fit both for Pasture and Tillage especially the former they imploying the greatest part of their Land in Grazing vast Herds of Kine The Length of the Days and Nights is the same as in England South of the Humber Although the Commodities of this Country proceeding from its natural Growth may strictly speaking be reckon'd only Butter and Cheese yet by reason of the many useful Manufactures which this People encourage at home the very Materials of which are brought from other Nations and that wonderful Trade which they manage abroad in most Parts of the known World we may reckon it as a Publick Warehouse of the richest and best Commodities of all Nations The chief Remarkables in Holland are these following viz. 1. The vast Multitude of Artificial Sluces and Canals being a Work of prodigious Expence and great Convenience both for Traffick and Travelling 2. The Burg in Leyden being reckon'd a notable Piece of Antiquity with the many rare Curiosities to be seen in the famous University there 3. The Curious Fountains especially that call'd The Basin of Venus and the two great Cascades or Water-falls in the pleasant Gardens belonging to Loo 4. The brazen Font in St. Peter's Church in Zutphen Remarkable for its admirable Workmanship 5. The two brazen Dishes in the Village of Losdun in which were Baptiz'd Anno 1276. by Don William Suffragan Bishop of Treves 365 Children born at one Birth by the Countess of Heneberg Daughter to Florent the 4th Earl of Holland 6. The Remarkable Stone Quarry near Maestricht which looks like a vast Subterraneous Palace it reaching under a large Hill supported by some Thousands of square Pillars commonly 20 Foot high between which are spacious Walks and many private Retirements of great Use in time of War they serving as a sure Refuge to the neighbouring Country People who commonly resort thither with their Goods when alarm'd by an approaching Enemy 7. The Room where the Synod of Dort was held Anno 1619 with the Seats as they then stood is shewn to Strangers as another Curiosity of this Country To these we may add the stately brazen Statue of the famous Desid Erasmus in the City of Rotterdam as also the little obscure House where that Great and Eminent Man was born which is likewise shewn to Strangers having this Distich over its Door Aedibus his ortus Mundum decor avit Erasmus Artibus ingenuis Relligione Fide Here is but one Archbishoprick in this Country viz. Utricht and that only Titulary Under the Archbishop of Utrecht are Five Titular Suffragans viz. Those of Deventer Groningen Harlem Leuwarden Middleburgh Universities in this Country are those of Leyden Utrecht Franeker Groningen Harderwick The Natives of this Country are reckon'd none of the Politest sort of People either in Thought or Behaviour especially the latter in which they so little endeavour to follow the various Modes and nice Punctilio's of Ceremony in Use among their Neighbours the French that they choose rather to run to the other extream The chief if not only Quality of this People besides the singular Neatness of their Houses is that wonderful Genius to a laudable Industry wherewith they seem to be Universally inspir'd Persons of all Ages Sexes and Stations being some way or other usefully imploy'd By which industrious Hand in carrying on several profitable Manufactures at home and managing a prodigious Trade abroad they have of late advanc'd themselves to such a height of Power and Treasure as to become even terrible to crown'd Heads The Language here spoken is the Low Dutch a Dialect of the German having several corrupted French and Latin words intermixt a Language that hath nothing to recommend it to Strangers How it differs from the High German will best appear by their Pater Noster which runs thus Onse Vader die in de hemelen Ziit Uwen Naem werde geheylight Uw ' koninckritche home Uwen wille geschiede geliick in den hemel alsoo oock op der atrden On s ' dagelicks broot geef on s heden Ende vergeeft on s onse schulden geliick
S. Maurice from E. to W. Monstiers Beaufort Constans M. Melian Chambery Arc are those of S. Michael from E. to W. S. Jaen de Maurienne Seran are those of Rumilly from S. to N. Annacy Arve are those of Salanches from E. to W. Cluse Bonne Ville la Roche PIEDMONT Comprehends the Dukedom of Aouste Chief Town Aouste 44 m. N. of Turin Marquisate of Jurea Jurea 22 m. N. Susa Susa 24 m. N. W. County of Asti Asti 26 m. E. Seignory of Vercelli Idem 12 m. N. of â—â—sal Territories of Nizza Idem upon the Sea-Coast Princip of Piedinont properly so called Turin upon the River Po. Piedmont properly so called Comprehends the Territories of Turino Chief Town Idem N. to S. upon the Po. Chieri Idem Carignan Idem Carmagnola Idem Salutzo Idem Cavîgliano Idem Lucerna Idem 5 m. S. of Pignerol Cherasco Idem N. to S. upon the Tanaro Mindovi Idem Ceva Idem Tossano Idem N. to S. upon the Stura Coni Idem MONTFERRAT Comprehends the Territories of Trino Chief Town Idem N. to S. Casal Idem Alba Idem Acqui Idem Spin Idem 8 m. S. W. of Acqui MILAN Comprehends the Territories of Angiera Chief Town Idem from W. to S. E. Novarese Novara Vigevanasco Vigevano Pavese Pavia Lodegiano Lodi Cremonese Cremona Milaneze Milan S. to N. Comese Como Allessandrinese Allessandria W. to E. Laumelline Valenza Tortonese Tortona Bobbiese Bobbio PARMA Comprehends the D. of 〈…〉 so call'd 〈…〉 Idem 〈◊〉 E to W. 〈…〉 Idem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 〈…〉 N. to S. 〈…〉 〈…〉 MODENA Comprehends the D. of Modena prop. so call'd Chief Town Idem Eastward Regto Idem Westward Mirandula Idem Northward Corregie Idem 11 m. N. E. of Regio Principality of Carpi Idem 14 m. MANTOVA Comprehends the D. of Montoua prop. so call'd Chief Town Mantoua Northward Sabionetta Id. 18 m. S. W. of Mantoua 〈…〉 Idem 18 m. S. Principality of Bozzolo Id. 18 m. S. W. Marquisate of Castiglon Castillan-de-Silver 6m N. E. of Mantua VENICE Comprehends the Territories of Dogado Chief Town Venice from E. to W. Paduano Padua Vicentino Vicenza Veronese Verona Brescâ—ano Brescia Bergamasco Bergamo Frluli Uddine W. to E. Istria Cabo d'Istria Aquileija Idem in Friuli 22 m. S E. of Uddin Cremasco Crema 24 m. S. of Bergamo Polâ—sin-de-Rovigo Rovigo 22 m. S. of Padua Marca Trevigiano Trevigio 17 m. N. W. of Venice Trevigiano contains the Territories of Trevigiano prop. Trevigie S. to N. Feltrino Feltri Bellunese Belluno Cadrino Codore GENOVA Comprehends the Principality of 〈◊〉 Chief Town Idem W. to E. Territory of 〈◊〉 Idem Principality of 〈◊〉 Idem Marquisate of 〈◊〉 Idem Territory of 〈…〉 Idem 〈…〉 Idem  〈…〉 Idem 〈…〉 Idem TRENT Comprehends only the Bishoprick of Trent Chief Town Idem upon the A. dige §. 2. In the Middle Part. The Land of the Church of Papacy Comprehends the D. of Ferrara Chief Town Ferrara N. W. to S. E. Bolognese Bologna Prov. of Romagna Ravenn 〈…〉 D. of Urbine Urbino Marq. of Ancona Ancona C. of Citta de Castello Citta de Castello N. to S. Terr of Perugiano Perugia Orvietano Orvieto D. of Castro Castro St. Peters Patrimony Viterbo 14 m. S. E. of Orvieto Campagnia 〈…〉 Rome S. to N. Sabino Magliano 20 m. N. of Rome D. of Spoleto Spoleto TUSCANY Comprehends the Terr of Florence Chief Town Idem N. E. to S. W. Pisa Idem Sienna Idem N. E. to S. W. Princip of Piombino Idem Isle of Elbai Cosmopoli D. of Carrara and Massa Massa 24 m. N. W. of Pisa State of Presidii Orbitello 55 m. E. of Cosmopoli The Republicks of Luca S. Marino Comprehend only the Territories of these two free Cities of Luca Sltuated 8 m. N. E. of Pisa S. Marino 17 m. N. W. of Urbine §. 3. In the Lower Part. The Kingdom of NAPLES Comprehends the Provinces of Abruzzo the 〈◊〉 Chief Town Aquila From N. W. to S. E. upon the Adriatick Gulph Abruzzo the nigher Civitta di Chie Molissa Bojano Capitinate or Puglia Mandfredonia Terra di Bari Bari Terra di Otranto Otranto Terra di Lavoro Naples From N. W. to S. E. upon the Tyrrhenean Sea Further Principate Benevento Nigher Principate Salerno Basilicate Cirenza Calabria the nigher Cosenze Calabria the farther Regie THIS Country known of old by the Names of Hesperia Saturnia Latium Ausonia Oenotria and Janicula is term'd by its Natives and Spaniards Italia by the French Italie by the Germans Italien and by the English Italy so call'd as most Authors conjecture from Italus an Ancient King of the Siculi who leaving their Island came into this Country and possessing themselves of the middle part thereof called the whole Italia from the Name of their Prince The Air of this Country is generally Pure Temperate and Healthful to breathe in except the Land of the Church where 't is ordinarly reckon'd more gross and unwholesome as also the Southern Parts of Naples where for several Months in the Summer 't is scorching Hot being of the like Quality with the Air of those Provinces in Spain which lie under the same Parallels of Latitude The opposite Place of the Globe to Italy is that part of the vast Pacifick Ocean lying between 205 and 220 Degrees of Longitude with 38 and 48 Degrees of South Latitude The Soil of this Country it lying in the 6th and 7th North Climate is very fertile generally yielding in great abundance the choicest of Corn Wines and Fruit. Its Woods are for the most part continually green and well-stor'd with the best of wild and tame Beasts Its Mountains do afford several kinds of Metal particularly those in Tuscany and Naples which are said to yield some rich Mines of Silver and Gold Here is also a great quantity of true Albaster and the purest of Marble In short this Country is generally esteem'd the Garden of Europe and so stately and magnificent are its numerous Cities that I cannot omit the following Epithets commonly bestow'd on divers of them as Rome the Sacred Naples the Noble Florence the Fair Venice the Rich Genoa the Stately Milan the Great Ravenna the Ancient Padua the Learned Bononia the Fat Leghorn the Merchandizing Verona the Charming Luca the Jolly and Casal the Strong The chief Commodities of this Country are Wines Corn Rice Silks Velvets Taffaties Sattins Grograins Fustians Gold-wire Allom Armour Glasses and such like To reckon up all those things in Italy that truly deserve the Epithet of Rare and Curious would far surpass our designed brevity I shall therefore confine my self to one sort of Rarities namely The most noted Remains or Monuments of Reverend Antiquity which in effect are most worthy of our regard they being very useful in giving some Light to several parts of the Roman History In viewing of which Antiquities I shall reduce them all to Three Classes viz. Those that are to be seen in the City of Rome it self Secondly In the Kingdom of Naples And lastly In
appoint The Officers of State are eight in number viz. the Lord High-Chancellor Lord High-Treasurer Lord-President of the Council Lord Secretary of State Lord Treasurer-Deputy Lord Register Lord-Advocate and Lord Justice Clerk The Administration of Justice in Civil Affairs is lodg'd in the Lords of the Session who are Fifteen in number whereof One is President and to those are join'd some Noblemen under the Name of extraordinary Lords of the Session This Court is esteemed one of the most August and Learned Judicatories in Europe From it there lies no Appeal but to the Parliament which is now made up of the Peers the Commissioners of Counties and those of Free Burroughs The King's Person is always represented in Parliament by some Nobleman who bears the Title of Lord High-Commissioner The Distribution of Justice in Criminal Matters is commited to the Court of Justice which is compos'd of the Lord Justice General the Lord Justice Clerk and five or six other Lords of the Session who in this Bench are call'd Commissioners of Justiciary Over and above these two Supreme Courts of Justice there are a great many Subordinate Judicatories both for Civil and Criminal Affairs through the Kingdom as Sheriff Courts Courts of Regality and the like The Royal Arms of this Kingdom together with those of England and Ireland as they compose the Ensigns Armorial of the Monarch of Great Britain shall be particularly express'd when we come to England The Inhabitants of this Country excepting a few who still adhere to the Church of Rome and an inconsiderable number of Quakers are all of the Reform'd Religion yet with considerable Variation among themselves in some private Opinions and various Points of Church Discipline However the numerous Professors thereof are very sincere in their Principles and do generally practise conformable to their Professions No Christian Society in the World doth excel them for their exact Observation of the Sabbath day and few can equal them for their singular Strictness and Impartiality in punishing Scandals But lamentable are their Distractions of late in Matters relating to Ecclesiastical Polity and how fatal such Heats and Divisions both in this and the Neighbouring Kingdom may prove at last is alas but too well known to all thinking Persons among us The smallest Privateer belonging either to Brest or S. Malo's may easily Attack Board and Sink the Royal Britannia her self if she chance only to Spring a Leak under Water when her whole Crew are at Blows between Decks The Christian Faith according to the best Accounts was planted in this Country during the Reign of Dioclesian for by reason of that violent Persecution he rais'd in the Church many Christians are said to have fled from the Continent into the Isle of Great Britain and particularly as an Ancient Author expresly testifieth into that Part thereof In quam Romana Arma nunquam penetrârunt which without all doubt is Scotland especially the Northern Parts of that Country they being still possess'd by the Scots and never subject to the Roman Power St Rule or Regulus is said to have brought over with him the Arm or as some affirm the Lig of St. Andrew the Apostle and to have buried it in that place where now the City of St. Andrews stands These first Propagators of Christianity seem to have been a kind of Monks who afterwards by the beneficence of the first Christian Kings of Scotland came into the Seats and Possessions of the Pagan Druides a sort of Religious Votaries to the Heathen Gods and had their principal Residence or rather Monasteries in the Islands of Man and Jona and passed under the Name of Culdees ENGLAND bu Rob t. Morden ENGLAND  d. m. Situated between 12 00 of Long. its greatest Length from N. to S. is about 320 Miles 20 00 between 50 00 of Latit Breadth from E. to W. is about 290 Miles 55 50 Being divided into Six Circuits viz. Western Circuit Chief Town Salisbury Oxford Circuit Oxford Home Circuit Canterbury Northfolk Circuit Norwich Midland Circuit Lincoln North Circuit York Western-Circuit contains Cornwall Chief Town Launceston W. to E. Devonshire Exeter Dorsetshire Dorchester Hampshire Winchester Sommâ—rsetshire Bristol N. of Dorsetshire Wiltshire Salisbury Oxford Circuit contains Barkshire Redding N. of Hampshire Oxfordshire Oxford E. to W. Glocestershire Glocester Monmouthshire Monmouth Herefordshire Hereford S. to N. E. Worcestershire Worcester Staffordshire Stafford Shropshire Shrewsbury W. of Staffordshire Home-Circuit contains Essex Colchester E. to W. Hartfordshire Hartford Kent Canterbury E. to W. Surry Southwark Sussex Chichester South of Surry 〈◊〉 Norfolk-Circuit contains Norfolk Norwich E. to S. W. Suffolk Ipswich Cambridgeshire Cambridge Huntingtonshire Huntington Bedfordshire Bedford Buckinghamshire Buckingham Midland Circuit contains Lincolnshire Chief Town Lincoln E. to W. Nottinghamshire Nottingham Derbyshire Derby Rutlandshire Okeham E. to W. Leicestershire Leicester Warwickshire Warwick Northamptonshire Northampton S. of Leicestershire Warwickshire North. Circuit contains Yorkshire York S. to N. Durham Idem Northumberland Newcastle Lancashire Lancaster S. to N. Westmorland Appleby Cumberland Carlisle To England we here subjoin the Principality of Wales divided into Four Circuits each Circuit comprehending Three Counties vix 1. Those of Denbighshire Chief Town Denbigh N. to S. Flintshire St. Asaph Montgomeryshire Montgomery 2. Those of Anglesey Beaumaris N. to S. E. Carnarvenshire Carnarven Mâ—rionethshire Harlech 3. Those of Cardiganshire Cardigan N. to S. Carmarthènshire Carmarthen Pembrokeshire Pembrook 4. Those of Radnorshire Radnor N. to S. W. Brecknokshire Brecknock Glamorganshire Cardiff Besides the Six Circuits of England containing Thirty eight Counties and these Four of Wales comprehending Twelve there remain as yet two Counties unmentioned and which are not ordinarily reduc'd to any of these Circuits viz. Middlesex and Cheshire the first because of its Vicinity to London and the other as being a County-Palatine having its own Judges and Counsellors peculiar to it self These Two Counties with the Thirty eight abovemention'd in England and Twelve in Wales make Fifty two in all But since England and Wales are Two distinct Sovereignties one being a Kingdom and the other a Principality we shall seperately Treat of them both Therefore ENGLAND THIS Country the Ancient Anglia which with the rest of the Island made up the Renown'd Britannia or Albion is term'd by the Italians Inghilterra by the Spaniards Inglatierra by the French Angleterre by the Germans engel-Engel-land and by the Natives England which Name is deriv'd from the Angles a People of Lower Saxony who Conquer'd the greatest Part of this Country and divided the same into Seven different Kingdoms But Egbert descended from the Angles having united this divided Nation and being the first Monarch of England after the Saxon Heptarchy ordered by special Edict above 800 Years after the Incarnation that the whole Kingdom should be term'd Engle-lond which Title in process of time hath turn'd into the present Name of England The Air of this Country is far more Mild Sweet and Temperate than
redounding from thence do serve according to the Testimony of a late Traveller to defray the Charges of the Venetian Fleet. In this Island are several remarkable Fountains out of which there bubbles up a pitchy Substance in great quantities In the Monastry of Sancta Maria de la Croce is the Tomb of M. T. Cicero and Terentia his Wise with two several Inscriptions one for him and the other for her found upon a Stone which some time ago was dug out of the Ground nigh the place of the aforesaid Tomb. The Inhabitants reckoning both Greeks and Jews amount to about 20 or 25000 and are govern'd by a Noble Venetian sent thither with full Power from the Senate XII Cephalonia or old Melaena Taphos or Teleboa is likeways under the State of Venice and chiefly abounds in dry Raisins which the Venetians turn to good Advantage and excellent Wines especially Red Muscadels which many call by the Name of Luke Sherry It hath its particular Providitor whose Government lasteth Thirty two Months This Island was bestow'd upon the Republick of Venice Anno 1224. by Gaio then Lord thereof but master'd by the Turks in 1479. and possess'd by them till 1499 when driven thence by the Venetians who re-peopl'd it with Christians and afterwards fortifying the same against future Invasions have hitherto continued Masters thereof Lastly Corfu formerly Corcyra is bless'd with a veary healthful Air and fruitful Soil for Wine and Oyl but not for Corn of which the Inhabitants are suppli'd from the Continent It belongs to the Republick of Venice and is deservedly term'd The Port of the Gulf and Barrier of Italy The Government thereof is lodg'd in six Noble Venetians whose Power lasteth for the space of two Years The first of these Noble Men hath the Title of Baily The second of Providitor and Captain The third and fourth of Counsellors The fifth of Great Captain And the sixth of Castelan or Governor of the Castle de la Campana in the old Town The Greeks are very numerous in this Island and have a Vicar-General whom they stile Proto-papa In the time of Solyman II. no less than 25000 Turks did Land in Corfu under the Command of the Famous Barbarossa yet such was the Conduct of the wise Venitians that they forc'd him to make a shameful Retreat To speak more particularly of each of these Islands and many others reducible to the two Classes of Cyclades and Sporades would far surpass our designed Brevity Conclude we therefore this tedious Section with the following Advertisement That whereas in treating of Islands after we took leave of the Continent of Europe I esteem'd it most methodical to bring all those in the Mediterranean Sea under the Title of European Islands yet the Reader is hereby desir'd to take notice that all of 'em are not usually reckon'd as such the Isle of Malta being generally accounted an African and Cyprus with Rhodes among the Asiatick as are also several others on the Coast of Natolia And so much for Europe and the European Islands Now followeth ASIA a New Description by Robt. Morden CHAP. II. Of ASIA Divided page 43. into Tartary Capital City Chambalu China Pekin or Xuntien India Agra Persia Ispahan Turky in Asia Aleppo To these add the Asiatick Islands Of all which in Order Therefore SECT I. Concerning Tartary  d. m. Situated between 77 10 of Long. its greatest Length from E to W. is about 3000 Miles 163 00 between 37 00 of Latit Breadth from N. to S. is about 2250 Miles 75 04 Tartary comprehends five great Parts Viz. 3 South Kathay Chief Town Chambalu From E. to W. Turkhestan Ihibet Zagathay Samarchand 2 North Tartaria propria Mongul or Tenduc From E. to W. Tartary the Desert Cumbalich THIS Country the greatest Part thereof being reckon'd the Scythia Asiatica of the Ancients is term'd by the Italians and Spaniards Tartaria by the French la Tartarie by the Germans Tartarijen and by the English Tartary so call'd from Tartar or Tatar a River of that Country which is said to empty it self into the vast Northern Ocean But others chuse rather to derive the Name from Tatar or Totar which in the Syriack Language signifieth a Remnant imagining that the Tartars are the remainders of those Israelites who where carried by Salmanasser into Media It 's term'd Tartary the Great to distinguish it from the Lesser in Europe The Air of this Country is very different by reason of its vast Extent from South to North the Southmost Parts thereof having the same Latitude with the middle Provinces of Spain and the Northmost reaching beyond the Arctick Polar Circle What its real Extent from East to West may be is not certainly known as yet only this we will affirm in general that 't is much less than commonly suppos'd if the Relations of some late Travellers in these Parts of the World be found afterwards to hold true The opposite Place of the Globe to Tartary is part of the vast Pacifick Ocean as also the Countries of Chili Paraguay and Terra Magellanica This vast Country towards the North it lying in the 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th c. North Climate is extremely Barren being every where encumber'd with unwholesome Marishes and uninhabited Mountains but in the Southern Parts the Soil is indifferently good for Tillage and Grazing especially the latter and towards the East 't is reported to be abundantly fertil in Corn where duly manur'd and several sorts of Herbs especially Rhubarb The longest Day in the Northmost Parts is about two Months the Sun not Setting for that time when near the Summer Solstice the shortest in the Southmost is about 9 Hours ¼ and the Nights proportionably The chief Commodities of this Country are Sable Martins Silks Comlets Flax Musk Cinnamon and vast Quantities of Rhubarb c. In lieu of the Rarities of this barbarous and little frequented Country we may mention that prodigious Wall dividing Tartary from China erected by the Chineses to hinder the frequent Incursions of their unwelcome Neighbours the Tartars 't was commonly reckon'd Three hundred German Leagues in length Thirty Cubits high in most places and Twelve in breadth The time of its building is computed to be about Two hundred Years before the Incarnation of our Blessed Saviour By our latest Relations of the State and Nature of this Country we find that some remarkable Vulcano's are to be seen in the North and Eastern Parts thereof Archbishopricks Bishopricks Universities in this Country none The Tartars are a People of a swarthy Complexion strong Bodies and middle Stature The generality of 'em are Persons of broad Faces hollow Eyes thin Beards thick Lips slat Noses and ugly Countenances In Behaviour they 're very Rude and Barbarous commonly devouring the Flesh of their Enemies and drinking their Blood so soon as they are in their Power Their ordinary Food is Horse-flesh which they greedily tear and eat up like so many Ravenous
scarce The length of the Days and Nights in them is much the same throughout the whole Year the Latitude of the Northmost of 'em being inconsiderable The chief Commodities of these Islands are Cinamon Gold Silver most sort of Spices Rice Honey Precious Stones c. In Ceylon is that remarkable Mountain commonly call'd Adam's Pike which is of a great height and reported to send forth sometimes from its top both Smoke and Flame In many of the Maldive Islands grows that Tree bearing the Cacoa or India Nuts which is very remarkable for its various uses for out of it is yearly drain'd a large Quantity of Juice which being drawn at certain Seasons and prepared after different manners do taste exactly like excellent Oyl Butter Milk as also some sorts of Wine and Sugar Of the Fruit they usually make Bread and the Leaves serve as Paper to write upon And as for the Trunk of the Tree they imploy it either in building of Houses or Ships These Islands likeways abound with variety of pretty white Shells which are much admir'd and pass current as Money in many Parts of the Adjacent Continent Archbishopricks Bishopricks Universities None The Natives of these Islands being for the most part Tall and Strait of Body are esteem'd a Lazy Proud and Effeminate Sort of People yet some of 'em are reputed to be good Artificers in Metals Most of 'em go stark Naked except what Natural Instinct prompteth them to cover To wear long Hair is the only priviledge of the King and Soldiers The Inhabitants of the Maldives have a peculiar Jargon of their own Those who reside on the Sea-Coasts of Ceylon understand a little Dutch and something of the Portugueze Tongue The Maldives are mostly subject to one Sovereign who hath his ordinary Residence in Male the chief of all those Islands And Ceylon is govern'd by its own King residing at Candea to whom several little Princes are Tributary but much of the Sea-Coasts is possess'd by the Dutch The Maldive Sovereign is said to assume the Title of Sultan King of Thriteen Provinces and Twelve thousand Islands viz. those of the Maldives their number being generally accounted such The Natives of this mighty Cluster of Islands are partly Mahometans partly Idolaters especially the latter Paganism being the most predominant of the two And so much for Asia and the Asiatick Islands Now followeth AFRICA by R. Morden CHAP. III. Of AFRICA Divided page 44. into Egypt Capital City Cairo Barbary Fez. Bildulgerid Dara Zaara or the Desart Zuenziga The Land of the Negroes Tombute Guinea Arda Nubia 〈◊〉 Ethiopia Exterior or Inf. 〈◊〉 Interior or Sup. 〈◊〉 To these add the African Islands Of all which in Order Therefore SECT I. Concerning Egypt  d. m. Situated between 52 06 of Long. It s greatest Length from N. E. to S. W. is about 650 Miles 62 40 between 21 10 of Latit Breadth from E. to W. is about 310 Miles 30 00 It comprehenâ—◠〈◊〉 or the Lower Egypt Chief Town Alexandria Northward Bechria or Middle Egypt Cairo Sahid or Upper Egypt Sahid Southward The Coasts of the Red-Sea Cossir THIS Country much the same with Ancient Egypt and variously nam'd of old as Misraim by the Jews Augustanica by the Romans Oceana by Perosâ—s Ogâ—gâ—a by Xâ—uophon Potamia by Herodotus and Hefostia by Homer c. is term'd by the Italians Egitto by the Spaniards Egypto by the French Egypte by the Germans Egypten and by the English Egypt so call'd as many imagine from Egyptus Son of Belus and Brother to Danaus The Air of this Country is very hot and generally esteem'd extremely unwholesome being always infected with nauseous Vapours ascending from the fat and sâ—imy Soil of the Earth That it never Rains in Egypt as some have boldly affirm'd may deservedly claim a place among the Vulgar Errors of the World The opposite Place of the Globe to Egypt is part of Mare Pacificum lying between 232 and 242 Degrees of Longitude with 21 and 31 Degrees of South Latitude Egypt â— lying in the 4th and 5th North Climate was and is still accounted as fertil a Country as any in the World the Soil being wonderfully fatned by the yearly overflowing of the Nile It 's exceeding plentiful of all sorts of Grain and for its vast abundance of Corn in former times 't was commonly term'd Horreum Populi Romani The longest Day in the Northmost Parts is about 14 Hours ½ the shortest in the Southmost is 10 Hours ½ and the Nights proportionably The chief Commodities of this Country are Sugar Flax Rice all sorts of Grains and Fruits Linnen-Cloath Salt Balfam Senna Cassia Butargio c. In and near to Ancient Alexandria now term'd by the Turks Scanderick or Scanderie are many considerable Remains of Antiquity particularly the ruin'd Walls of that ancient famous City with a considerable number of Towers several of which are almost intire Here also are divers stately Porphyry Pillars and several curious Obelisks of pure Granet especially that which bears the Name of Pompey's Pillar some of 'em still standing others thrown down and all adorn'd with variety of Hieroglyphicks For a particular Account of such Pillars with a curious Draught of divers of 'em representing both their true Dimensions and Hieroglyphick Characters Vid. Philos Trans N. 161. and 178. To these Curiosities we may add the once proud Palace of Cleopatra now wholly in Ruins being so defac'd that 't is hardly discernible if ever such a stately Structure was in that place 2 In the Ancient Castle of Grand Caire are several Remarkables worthy of Observation which Strangers with some difficulty obtain leave to see The chief whereof are these Three First The Arcane which is a frightful dark Dungeon and that as they tell you into which the Patriarch Joseph was thrown down Secondly A very large Ancient Room with about thirty Pillars of Thebaick Stone as yet standing which still bears the Name of Joseph's Hall Lastly In this Castle is a prodigious deep Pit with a Spring of good Water in its bottom a Rarity in Egypt which the Natives term Joseph's Well From this Pit some Travellers are pleas'd to talk of an Artificial Communication under Ground between the Pyramids on one hand and the Town of Swez on the other For a farther account of these Particulars Vid. Thevenot 's Travels Part I. c. 9. 3. A few Miles West of Grand Caire are the Egyptian Pyramids call'd by the Turks Pharaon Doglary and by the Arabs Dgebel Pharaon i. e. Pharaoh's Hills those famous Monuments of Antiquity which 't would seem devouring Time could not consume The biggest of 'em hath these Dimensions viz. Five hundred and twenty Foot high upon a Base of six hundred and two Foot square two hundred and fifty Steps from top to bottom each Step being two Hands broad and almost four high and its Top being flat is able to contain thirty Men. 4. Adjacent to
call'd by the Portugucze at their first Discovery of it Anno 1429. because wholly over grown with Trees the word Madeira signifying a Wood. The Air of Maderas being very Temperate considering the Latitude of the Island is generally esteem'd very healthful to breath in That Place of the Globe opposite to Madera is part of the vast Occidental Ocean between 180 and 182 Degrees of Longitude with 32 and 33 Degrees of Southern Latitude The Soil of this Island is very fertil producing in great plenty most sorts of excellent Fruits and a kind of Wine that 's much esteem'd off being fit to keep for a long time both by Sea and Land The length of the Days and Nights in this Island is much the same as in Zaara on the main Continent they both lying under the same Parallels of Latitude The chief Commodities of this Island are excellent Wine and most sorts of desirable Fruits as also Honey and Wax c. What mostly deserves the Epithet of Rare on this Island is that excellent Quality either of its Air or Soil or both which like our Neighbouring Island Ireland proves mortal to all Venomous Animals none such being found here or able to live if brought thither from abroad In the side of a Hill nigh Fonzal is a remarkable Fountain whose Waters do sometimes issue forth in such abundance that the adjacent Parts of the Island are then subject to a terrible Inundation Archbishopricks None One Bishoprick viz. that of Fonzal or Funchale which is Suffragan to Lisbon The Inhabitants of this Island being Portugueze are much the same in Manners with those on the Continent but more vitiously enclin'd if that can be well suppos'd being mighty Proficients in their common Crimes of Theft and Murther The Portugueze here residing do still retain their own Language This Island belonging to the Crown of Portugal is rul'd by a particular Deputy whose place of Residence is commonly at Tonza The Inhabitants of this Island being Portugueze as aforesaid are of the same Religion with that publickly profess'd in the Kingdom of Portugal Having thus considered in particular the most remarkable of the African Islands proceed we now in pursuance of our propos'd Method to take a General View of all the rest or those that are less remarkable Now such Islands to be very brief being strangely scatter'd up and down the Ethiopick and Atlantick Oceans do mightily differ in their Air and Soil according to the various Climates they lie in and in none of 'em is any remarkable place except only the Isle of Zocotora in which is a Town of the same Name As for the chief Observables relating to their Inhabitants particularly their Manners Language and Religion we may sufficiently learn the same only by naming those several States or Sovereigns on the Continent to whom these Islands belong they being generally peopl'd and possess'd by some of them Their present Possessors then in short are as followeth Less remarkable Islands being Zocotora is possess'd by the Arabians Comore the Natives St. Thomas the Portuguexe The Princes Island the Portugueze Annobon the Portugueze St. Helena the English Ascension Island not inhabited And so much for Africa and the African Islands Now followeth CHAP. IV. Of AMERICA Divided page 44. into North comprehending Mexico or N. Spain Capital City Mexico N. Mex or Granada S. Fee Florida Coca Terra Canadensis Boston Terra Arctica South comprehending Terra Firma S. Feede Bagota Peru Lima. Land of the Amazons Brasil S. Salvador Chyli S. Jago Paraguay Assumption Terra Magellanica Terra Antarctica To these add the American Islands Of all which in Order Therefore SECT I. Concerning Mexico or New Spain  d. m. Situated between 259 00 of Long. its greatest Length from S. E to N. W. is about 2520 Miles 297 00 between 08 50 of Latit Breadth from E. to W. is about 840 Miles 30 00 Divided into Audience of Guadalajara C. T. Idem N. W. to S. E. Audience of Mexico Idem Audience of Guatimala S. Jago de Guat Guadalajara comprehends the Provinces of Cinalod Chief Town S. Juan In the Midland from N. to S. New Biscay Barbara Zacaticas Zacatecas Guadalajara Idem Chiameltan St. Sebastian On the Sea Coast from N. to S. Xalisco Compostella Mexico comprehends the Provinces of Panuco Idem On Sinus Mexicanus from N. W. to S. E. Mexico Idem Mechoacan Idem Los Angelos Idem Antequera Idem Tabasco Port Royal Jucutan Merida Guatimala comprehends the Provinces of Soco Nusco Guevetland from N. W. to S. E. on the South Sea Guatimald S. Jago de Guat Nicaragua Leon Cost a Rica Carthago Veragua Conception Honduras New Valladolid From S. E. on N. W. upon Sinus Mexic Vera Pax Idem Chiapa Cividad real THIS Country discovered at first by John Grijalve but more exactly view'd and at last conquered by the Valiant Ferdinando Cortez Anno 15 18. is term'd by the Italians Spagna Novella by the Spaniards Nueva Espana by the French Nouvelle Espagne by the Germans Neu Spanien and by the English Mexico or New Spain call'd Mexico from the chief City thereof and New Spain to distinguish it from the Kingdom of Spain in Europe Notwithstanding this Country for the most part lieth within the Torrid Zone yet the Air is very temperate and generally reckon'd extraordinary wholsome to breath in being qualifi'd with refreshing Showers in the hottest Months and cool Breezes from the Sea all the Year The opposite Place of the Globe to New Spain is part of the East-India Ocean lying between 80 and 117 Degrees of Longitude with 8 and 30 Degrees of South Latitude This Country lying in the 3d and 4th North Climate is bless'd with a very fertil Soil producing many sorts of Grain as Wheat Barley Pulse and Maize several kinds of Fruits as Pomegranats Oranges Lemons Citrons Malicatons Cherries Pears Apples Figs Cocoa-Nuts and great plenty of Herbs Plants and Roots Here also are some rich Mines of Gold and Silver and vast and spacious Plains affording the best of Pasturage The longest Day in the Northmost Part of this Country is about 13 Hours ¾ the shortest in the Southmost 12½ and the Nights proportionably The chief Commodities of this Country are Wooll Cotton Sugar Silk Cochencel Feathers Honey Balm Amber Salt Tallow Hides Tobacco Ginger and divers Medicinal Drugs About three Leagues from Guayaca is the Stump of a Hollow Tree call'd Tlaco-Chavoya which was of a prodigious bigness when intire being then reckon'd sixteen Fathoms in compass near the Root and somewhat higher twelve Before 't was Thunder struck which occasion'd the hollowness no fewer than a thousand Men 't is said could conveniently shelter themselves from Rain under its wide extended Boughs 2 In several Parts of this Country grows a certain Tree call'd Maguey which may be said to yield Water Oyl Wine Honey and Vinegar For the Body of the Tree being big and hollow
and 157 Degrees of Longitude with 12 and 37 Degrees of North Latitude The Soil of this Country it lying in the 2d 3d 4th and 5th South Climate is esteem'd to be very fertil in most places producing abundance of Corn Wine Fruits and Herbs and here also are several considerable Mines The longest Day in the Northmost Parts is about 13 Hours the shortest in the Southmost is 10 Hours ½ and the Nights proportionably The chief Commodities of this Country at least the Product thereof are reckon'd to be some Gold Silver Brass Iron Sugars Amethists c. Upon Rio de la Plata are frequently seen and sometimes kill'd divers kinds of Serpents of a prodigious bigness 2. Towards the Northern Parts of Paraguay is a certain Champaign Country about six Leagues square which is all over-spread with an excellent sort of Salt and that to a considerable height 3. In the Western Parts of Tucoman is a prodigious high and large Mountain which for its wonderful Glistering in a clear Sun-shine-day is call'd the Chrystal Mountain Under it is extended a hideous Cave-passage through which doth glide a considerable Current of Water with so many windings and turnings that from the time of its entry under the Mountain to its issuing forth on the other side is almost the space of twenty four or thirty Hours according to the Computation of the Portugueses who were so adventurous as to make the Experiment and that by hazarding their Persons upon a Roft made of Canes Vid. Purchas his Pilgrims Part 4. Lib. 6. Here is one Spanish Archbishoprick viz. that of Rio de la Plata To the Archbishoprick of Rio de la Plata are several Suffragans viz those of St. Jago de Lestero Assumption Panama Paraguay As for Universities here are none The Paraguayans though Persons of very big and tall Bodies are nevertheless reported to be very nimble and much given to Running They are said to be somewhat Laborious and less Savage than many others of the adjacent Nations yet a little enclin'd to a revengeful Humour against those who chance to wrong them All we can learn of the Language mostly in use among the Natives is in general that 't is a very harsh and unpleasant Jargon as the Plurality of the Indian Tongues are The Spaniards here residing do commonly use their own Language The Natives of this Country according to our latest Accounts are in a great part subject to their own Captains or Caciques whom they chuse among themselves and under whose Conduct they go out to War A considerable Part of this Country doth belong to the King of Spain who ordinarily keepeth one Governor at St. Jago in Tucoman and another at Assumption in Rio de la Plata both of 'em being answerable to the Vice-Roy of Peru. The Natives of this Country are generally gross Idolaters yet 't is reported of 'em that they 're more capable of learning our Arts and Religion than most of the other Americans And some speak of a Tradition spread among 'em importing that certain Priests shall come into their Country and instruct them of a new Religion whereby they shall be most happy in another World The Spaniards here residing are as in Spain rigid Papists SECT XII Concerning Terra Magellanica THIS Southmost Part of the Continent of South America call'd also Regio Patagonum derives its Title from Ferdinand Magellan a Portuguize who made the first Discovery thereof Anno 1519. as also of that famous Streight which still bears his Name he being the first for ought we know that ever pass'd through the same Many things equally frivolous as ridiculous are related of this Country and its Inhabitants with which I shall neither trouble my self nor the Reader but proceed to SECT XIII Concerning Terra Antarctica BY Terra Antarctica we understand all those unknown and slenderly discover'd Countries towards the Southern Parts of the Globe the chief of which do bear the Names of New Guinea New Zealand New Holland and which may comprehend these and all the rest Terra Australis incognita Which Southern Countries though they belong not to the Continent of America yet we chuse to mention 'em in this place since the Southmost Part of the Continent of South America doth extend it self farther towards the South than any Part or Headland of the old Continent What was said of the Northmost Countries Sect. 5. under the Title of Terra Arctica viz. that our knowledge of them did reach little farther than their bare Names so the same may be affirm'd of those that bear the Title of Terra Antarctica Leaving them therefore to the better Discovery of Future Ages we pass on to SECT XIV Concerning the American Islands Reduc'd page 45. to three Classes North viz. those of California Newfound-Land Middle viz. the Antilles Greater Cuba Jamaica Hispamola Port-rico Lesser Caribees Lucayes Sotovento Bermudas South viz. the Island of Terra del Fuogo Of which Islands distinctly and in their order Therefore §. 1. California THIS Island was formerly esteem'd a Peninsula but now found to be intirely surrounded with Water It s North part was discovered by Sir Francis Drake Anno 1577. and by him call'd New Albion where erecting a Pillar he â—â—stâ—ed thereon the Arms of England The Inland parts thereof were afterwards search'd into and being found to be only a dry barren cold Country Europeans were discourag'd from sending Colonies to the same so that it still remains in the hands of the Natives And there being nothing remarkable relating either to them or it we shall proceed to § 2. New-found Land THIS Island discovered first by the two Cabots at the charge of Henry the 7th of England Anno 1497. but more particularly by Thorn and Eliot of Bristol Anno 1527. and the English Title thereto being renew'd in the name of Queen Elizabeth Anno 1583. a Colony was settl'd therein about 30 years afterwards is term'd by the Italians Terra Novella by the Spaniards Tierra Nueva by the French Terre Neuve by the Germans Newfunden Land and by the English Newfound Land the derivation of which Name is sufficiently express'd in the Name it self Notwithstanding this Island is situated between the Parallels that pass through the Southern part of England and Northern of France yet the Air thereof doth extreamly differ from that in either of these Countries it being subject to a greater excess of heat in the Summer and more pinching cold in the Winter than commonly happens in them The opposite place of the Globe to New found-found-land is that part of Terra Australis incognita between 140 and 150 degrees of Longitude with 45 and 53 degrees of South Latitude This Island for the most part is overspread with Woods which are but slowly cut down because the Country is very thinly inhabited Where the Ground is already clear'd the Soil is not altogether despicable affording variety of Roots and several
sorts of our English Grain and those Parts possess'd by the French produce some plenty of Vines This Island is sufficiently stockt with Deer Hares Otters Foxes c. Here also is abundance of Land and Water-Fowl but above all things its Coasts are surrounded with incredible multitudes of Cod-Fish The length of the days and Nights in New-found-Land is the same as in the Southmost parts of England and Northern of France they all lying under the same Parallels of Latitude The Commodities of this Island are principally Furs Whale-Oyl and Cod-Fish especially the latter whereof there is such plenty that the Fishing and bringing of them to Europe particularly the Streights is now grown to a settl'd and very advantageous Trade Nothing here deserves the Epithet of Rare unless we reckon that prodigious large Bank of Sand upon the South-East of the Island about 300 miles in length and upwards of 75 in breadth where broadest remarkable for those vast multitudes of Bacalaos or Cod-Fish and Peer John which are taken in great numbers by divers European Nations who yearly resort hither for that end So thick do those Fishes sometimes swarm upon this Bank that they retard the passage of Ships sailing over the same Archbishopricks Bishopricks Universities None The Natives of this Island are for the Plurality of 'em Persons of a middle Stature broad-face'd and those of the Masculine Sex are usually beardless They generally colour their Faces with Oker and for Cloathing use Skins of Wild Beasts They live by ten or twelve Families together in poor Cabbins made of Poles in form of our Arbours and cover'd with Skins They ordinarily imploy themselves in Hunting as most of the other Americans usually do The English and French here residing are much the same with those in Europe All that can be said of the Language here commonly us'd among the Natives is that 't is a certain Dialect of the Indian Tongue which prevails among all the Indian Inhabitants with little variation of Accent in the various Parts of the Island The Europeans here residing do still retain the maternal Language of the respective Countries from whence they came In the Year 1623. Sir George Calvert Principal Secretary of State having obtain'd a Patent for a Part of Newfoundland erected the same into a Province call'd Avalon and therein settl'd a Plantation which after him was enjoy'd by his Son Caecilius Lord Baltimore This Island was set upon and master'd by the French in the late tedious War but speedily retaken by the English who are now in full Possession of what they formerly enjoy'd The Natives of this Island upon its first discovery were found to acknowledge a Supreme Being whom they own'd as the Creator of all things but err'd extremely in their Apprehensions about the manner of the Creation alledging that Men and Women were at first made of a certain number of Arrows stuck fast in the Ground They generally believe the Immortality of the Soul and that the Dead go into a far Country there to make merry as they think with their Friends §. 3. Cuba THIS Island discovered by the Spaniards Anno 1494. is term'd by the Italians Spaniards French Germans and English Cuba Which Name is the same it had when first discover'd being so call'd by the Natives and neighbouring Islanders what may be the Etymology of that Indian Appellation we know not The Air of this Island considering its small Latitude is very temperate being mightily qualifi'd by Vapours that daily ascend from the Earth The opposite Place of the Globe to Cuba is that part of the East-Iudian Ocean lying between 110 and 120 Degrees of Longitude with 20 and 23 Degrees of South Latitude This Island lying in the same Climate with the Northern Part of New Spain is not so fertil in Grain as Wood being generally cover'd over with Trees some of which do drop the purest Rozin Here is great plenty of Fish and Flesh and in some Parts are divers kinds of excellent Fruits The length of the Days and Nights in Cuba is much the same as in the North of New Spain they both lying under the same Parallels of Latitude The chief Commodities of this Island are Gold Ginger Cassia Mastick Aloes Cinamon Sugar c. The most remarkable thing in this Island is a noted Bituminous Fountain out of which there flows a sort of Pitchy Substance commonly us'd for calking of Ships Here also is a Valley full of Flint-Stones of different sizes and those by nature so round that they may serve as Bullets for most sorts of Cannons Vid. Heylin's Cosmog page 1079. In this Island is one Bishoprick viz. that of St. Jago Suffragan to the Archbishop of St. Domingo in Hispaniola The Inhabitants of this Island being for the most part Spaniards are the same in Manners with those on the Continent The Spaniards here residing do still retain and commonly use the Spanish Tongue This Island was formerly govern'd by certain Caciques or Captains but is now wholly subject to the King of Spain who still keeps a particular Governor in it whose ordinary Residence is in that Great and Populous City Havana The Spaniards here residing are of the same Religion with that establish'd and universally profess'd in Spain §. 4. Jamaica THIS Island first discovered by Columbus in his Second Voyage to America and brought into Possession of the English by Penn and Venables in the time of Oliver Cremwell is term'd Jamaica by the Italians Spaniards French Germans and English It was at first call'd St. Jago by Columbus which Name was afterwards chang'd into that of Jamaica after King James then Duke of York when it had been subjected for some time to the Crown of England The Air of this Island is more temperate than in most of the neighbouring Islands the Heat thereof being much allay'd by fresh Easterly Breezes that blow in the Day-time and the frequent Showers that fall in the Night Hurricanes and Earthquakes so frequent in the Caribbees are seldom heard of here whereupon we may justly impute that terrible Earthquake Anno 1693. rather to a Moral than a Natural Cause viz. the many and horrid Abominations abounding among the Inhabitants whith without doubt did loudly call for Judgements from Heaven The opposite Place of the Globe to Jamaica is part of the East-Indian Ocean lying between 110 and 120 Degrees of Longitude with 17 and 20 Degrees of South Latitude The Soil of this Island is extraordinary rich and fertil producing great quantity of Corn Herbs and Fruits abounding also in Sugar Cotton Tobacco various kinds of Spices with divers sorts of Physical Drugs and Gums as Sumach Guiacum Aloes Benjamin Sarsaparilla c. The large and pleasant Fields appear constantly Green and Springing they being well stockt with variety of Trees and Plants which are never disrob'd of their Summer-Liveries Here likeways are