days we came to Cape Nona where we took in fresh water and seven dayes after we arrived at the white Cape a main shelter in the winter season where the fish lye so thick the ship brushes and rubbes upon them as 't were sayling through a shelf of sand There we found two vessels a Fleming and a Marseillian the Master whereof was John Baptista le vust called Servat who for his Merchant employed Aurigues the 15. of November we were upon a River of Guinea called Senega I ever carried with me a little memorial or diurnall where I set down all the curiosities I met with for which purpose I informed my self of the scituation of the countrey the quality of the Prince and government of which I will make a brief relation Guinea on the West is bounded with the River Senega which ingulfs into the Ocean at sixteen degrees to the North and the borders of Angela are at thirteen Guinea is divided into the high and the low the high Guinea inclines to the North the lower lyes along the Senega which they call Jeni and reaches to the kingdome Manicongo that begins at the first degree of the Line Upon the coast of Cape Verde are many Islands of one appellation the principal is of S. James in the hands of the Portuguese since the year 1446. where they have a well-fortified town and a Bishoprick stil'd Civitad an Island of 60. miles in length and 36. in breadth a mountanous country where they have never rain but in September and October which comprehend their winter The valleyes are fertile and afford excellent Melons the year round Dates and Sugar-canes in abundance flesh of all sorts Fowle and Venison with beards of horses and special good 'T is inhabited as that of S. Thomas by a conflux of all nations and the ayre being unwholesome they transport their infirm to an Island two leagues distant called Praya under a fine climate the ayr healthful and a commodious Haven betwixt two fair Rivers which compose two gulphs for harbours one whereof is capable to containe many vessels in security having before the mouth of it a little Island which guards it from the Maritime gusts and the land lying high defends it from windes by shore The other Islanders affect to land at this Port for that the rest are pester'd with sands and chiefly Borlouento and S. Thomas where there is ever some vessel cast away This Isle lyes close upon the Isle of Mago otherwise called Barlouento and near to Bona Vista Saint Nicholas Saint Anthony Saint Vincent Saint Lucie and Fell Islands plentifull of Cattle and Venison the inhabitants applying themselves onely to the chase powdering the flesh to sell to strangers as the skinnes likewise A little Eastward lyes the Isle del Fuego where they get as good wine as in the Canaries next is the Isle of Braua full of Venison and wilde Beeves whereof the Hydes are much sought after as being thick and tough But to Guinea the kingdome of the Jalofes is the first which beginnes Northward at the River Senega hath the Ocean on the West the Jalofes called Fonlogageias on the East and the kingdom of Barbessin on the South 't is above a hundred and fifty leagues in length of several commodities there is abundance as gold and silver which the natives conceale with all care from strangeers though in dealing with them 't is plain they have store for that by whiles they produce some unfined Taboucaton is their chief town They are Blacks but of good shape the women comely round-faced with eyes lively and attractive The men are martial dextrous in throwing a Javelin which they will throw with as exact arm as we shoot with our Gunnes They ride on good horses clothe as the African in short breeches a large Harnus like a sheet of wollen covers them from head to foot shod with Date-tree Sandals Vpon the coast they have the good and well-fortified Haven Beziguche whose entrance is skreen'd with a fair Island much frequented with strangers trading for the Indies Here are many Portuguese setled amongst them some married others who think of nothing but to heap up gold living something after the Barbarian Many of the Blacks go naked painted with dissolved gold their bodies carved and drawn with a various tincture as azure red and yellow which hold their life-time There are amongst them maids adorned in the same manner with great pendants in their ears and their lips pierced like the Brasilians they are generally libidinous and given over to luxury They who are thus engraved and inlay'd with paints or juyce of hearbs most commonly do it for want and this curiosiry is their attire Throughout the coast we find abundance of leather wax gold silver ivory and Amber-gris which is the reason the English Hollanders and Flemings visit them so oft The Jalofes are easie of belief and inclined to Christianity when they behold the Moon they make strong ejulations with sorts of adoration They adore yet some other Idols which neverthelesse fixe not their faith the Mahometans on one side who impugne them with their law on the other the Portuguese preaching ours and their own Priests charming them with their delusions and Idolatries They make their sacrifices in the woods making large hollow trees their Temples where they keep many Idols to which they sacrifice pulse Mill Rice and the blood of beasts whose flesh they eat The countrey of Bracala confines upon the rapide River of Gambra which in the mouth is five good leagues over ships cannot enter it without a direct wind with which they may advance three hundred leagues within the Countrey This River cuts the great kingdome of Mandinga in the middle peopled with Blacks Idolaters and abundance of Sorcerers wicked treacherous and base people When they hold a counsel t is in a cavern under ground to secure them from the prying of strangers They have store of Brasil wood as good as they of America and upon the river many townes and villages where they mantain many vessels of Warre to encounter with any whatsoever but upon advantage This countrey ends Southward at the Cape of S. Mary 30. leagues from the river Chougala by the Portuguese called S. Dominick There are two nations of the same quality the Barbachins called Ariates and Falupes who trade in nothing but fish and cattel They have an excellent way to take the sea-oxe the skins whereof they make great use of They apply themselves to till the soyle and get Mill Rice Pulse and other graine Out of this countrey comes the River Casamanca bounded Northward with the Jabundos on the South with the people of Bemum who on the East have the Casangas Of late yeares the Portuguese have discovered a way by an Arme of the Sea to Casangas and for this purpose have erected a good Fort upon the cheek of it called S. Philips This kingdome reaches Northward to Jaren and together do homage to the Sultanship
Saint Vincent Upon the North-side the streight of Magellan are abundance of winglesse birds that live in holes in the ground fat and good meat they called Pinguins Sir Francis Drake found many good Harbours in the Streight where good fresh waters came but they are not easy to enter for the strong and turbulent windes that raigne there The Land on both sides lies exceeding high and banked with inaccessible Mountains particularly on the South and East where they are ever covered with snow The breadth in some places is of two three or foure leagues in the narrowest of one or of two musket shots 'T is excessive cold and never without snow and ice the trees notwithstanding ever green and laden with fruit From this Streight by Cape Foendo and the White Cape they ascend again into the silver river where begins Brasile in 35 degrees beyond the line reaching to the River of Amazons under the Line This silver river or Paravai Parana and Paraguay disgorging altogether like Cordillera de serra Muada in Peru and Charcas over-flow the whole Countrey so as the Inhabitants for that time live in Canoes fastned to Trees till the floud be retired within the banks At the mouth t is about 35. leagues over but further within the Land fifty being streightened towards the Mouth by reason of the Mountains and compassing a number of Islands this River rises near the Town of Plata towards Potossi whence it takes name Others derive it from the great lake called Eupania where the other Rivers take birth as Maragnon but it should rather be Parana which afterwards falls into the silver River The first that came within the mouth of this River was Americus Vesputius sent by the King of Portugall to discover Brasile in the yeare fifteen hundered and one and supposing it a passage from the South sea to the Moluccas satisfied himselfe and returned without looking farther After that in the yeare fifteen hundered and twelve the King of Spain sent one John Solis who named it Solis In fifteen hundered twenty five Sebastian Ganor made a farther advance up the River and by reason of the silver he found amongst the people or rather because the head of it lies near the Town Plata towards Potossi called it the silver River or Plata The Inhabitants along the River are of large stature long-lived light and nimble of foot use bows and slings in warr and speak the Patagonick Language or the Chicaan of later times the Spaniards have ascended this River as farr as Charcas and Colao The other river I mentioned is above fifty leagues in the mouth and rises amongst the Mountains of Cuntisuya near Cusco the Indians call it Apurimac principall and Capacmaya the Prince of Rivers It runs from South to North above five hundred leagues from his source at the equinoctiall Then it turns to the East for 650. leagues in a right line and goes with windings and turns for above a thousand five hundred leagues two miles to the league This is the greatest River upon the earth which at his infusion keeps the Sea fresh for many leagues first discovered by the Pinsons of Siville in the year 1500. then Orellana sailed it from the source almost to the end in 1543. 't is filled with severall Islands and the Tide mounts above a hundred leagues They find Meragnon to be seventy leagues Southward distant from Orellana that rises from the great Peruian lakes which descend from the Mountains covered with snow others put them both in one it may be falling so close together into the Sea they may joyn waters and Orellana bear the name of both CHAP. XVI Of Brasile the Conquest of it and of the Brasilians c. BRasile is a large Province of America appertaining to the Crown of Portugall extending from 25. degrees to the second from North to South some ten degrees in breadth from East to West from fort Para in the mouth of the great River of Amazons to Plata Maragnon bounds it Northward in two degrees Plata South in thirty five on the East the excelse and inaccessible Mountains of Peru and on the East the Ethiopian or Atalantick Sea as likewise on the North. For the Country the benignity and sweetnesse of the air and water and the fertility of soyle is a miracle in such a Climate and temperature which renders the Inhabitants of so healthfull and long life and though the Climate be under the Torrid there come freshgales from the Sea that moderate it so as it becomes a delicate habitation having every morning some mists and dews which the Sun afterwards dissolves into air Here you meet with nothing but fair open fields pleasant hills fertile mountains fresh valleys green meadows abundance of woods rivers and fountains of excellent waters with infinite plenty of all sorts of trees plants fruits grain cattle sugar balm In a word 't is for necessaries and delights the fullest Country on the earth Of strange Creatures there is the Cerigon in shape and bigness like a Fox betwixt yellow and gray whose belly is like a purse or pocket wherein she saves her young ones when she is hunted another the Portuguese call Pereza for his slow gate in fifteen dayes not going a stones cast nor can any force drive him faster he feeds on nothing but leaves of trees and 't is some dayes work for him to climb up and come down There are Camelions whereof I have spoken in another place Betwixt Brasile and the Cape of bona Esperanza there is a Gulph of 1200. leagues formidable and furious for winds and tempests The Countrey is divided into nine Governments or Captainships wherein are 7. Colonies of Portugueses along the coast that is Tamaraco Pernanbuco Todos santos or San Saluador Puerto seguro espiritu santo Paraibi Genero and others the Capes of S. Augustine and St. Vincent the River St. Francis c. The first discoverers were Vespusius the Pinions Lopez and Cabral about 1500. Pedro Aluarez Cabral made the principall discovery in 1500. being sent by King Emanuel for the East Indies but a tempest cast him here and he named it the countrey of St. Chrosse and the place he landed on Porto Seguro Cabral for that time contented himself with taking possession and the Kings of Portugall being full of concernments in Africa and the East neglected new conquests till Emanuell not long before his death sent thither one Gonzalo Cotello who sailed on along the coast not without trouble and danger and returned without any advantage Afterwards King John the â— sent Christopher Jago who discovered about 1100. leagues upon the coast amongst others the Bay of Todos Santos where in the River Paraguasu he found two French vessels traficking with the Natives which shewes the French men traded with this Nation before the Portugueses had any knowledge of it This Jago barbarously sunk their vessels and murthered all the men done like the Spaniard who though he cannot
Sequemir as you may say Holy Lord for his goodnesse and clemency because he puts none to death except prisoners of warre but when a person hath committed a crime he keeps him fetter'd in prison during life without debarring him from the sight of the Sunne saying that God hath liberally distributed that light to all persons without exception there have been twenty thousand prisoners in irons at one and the same time His Court is stately and magnificent he hath a great number of men devoted to his service who freely offer up their lives for him at his command believing they go streight to heaven dying for their Prince They relate of a Turkish Emperour returning home from the Persick war through this country desired the sight of the Prince Sequemir and of his Salsidas or Saldridas for so his devotes were called having visited him in his towne of Samacara capital of that country after many Caresses and a Princely entertainment he desired the sight of his Salsidas and a proof of that great love and fidelity they bore unto their Prince Sequemir called some of them in and only spoke these words Amissi Barou and instantly four of them threw themselves out of the window and more of them attempting it were hindred by the Grand Seignior satisfied with the proof he had already made which he held so admirable that he demanded twelve of them to take back into his Country which the Sequemir willingly granted and being asked whether they would have as great an affection for a new Master and if they would as willingly dye for him as for their old Lord one of them made answer to the Turk if our Prince commands us to dye for thee we are from this very instant ready to obey him The Turk told them in time he should have need of them and that he would preserve them and esteem them his best friends and taking them away with him he maintained them handsomely and near his person but after the death of the Turkish Emperour they all returned back to their old Master esteeming it the greatest happinesse and safety to be near unto that Prince They accompany him yearly to Meka upon the three and twentieth of May to celebrate their great feast of Romadan Sequemir wears alwayes a sheeps-skin before and behind in imitation of Saint John Baptist who is there in great respect and honour he travels a foot with his whole Court yet his Courtiers go as they please carrying their wives and other trains upon able and good horses This King is Lord of the Soltania's of Fertac Siligni Dâ—efar and other places he was once Master of the entire happy Arabia but the Turk and the Persian have got several Provinces from him his chief residence is at Almacarama or Samacara a town very strong and impregnable scituate upon the top of a high hill but two wayes leading unto it and those craggy and easily maintained against the foe the town is big and well peopled and full of Nobility and Gentry there he keeps his treasure and his women this Prince cannot be made King but by the consent of the Califf of Bagdet likewise as the Prince of Mefra in pursuance of an ancient Law for that Califf though at present retaines nothing but the bare name yet keeps his ancient and undoubted right to elect and confirm the Kings of Assyria Arabia and others and Soliman himself passing through Babylon for form-sake was installed by his hand Next unto the Sequemir are severall Officers as the Gouvera Armicahir Almiracher the Cayet the Sidibir the Admimia the Bosoldar Amiseriech the Tababait and several others the Tacay Pacou is Master of the house CHAP. VIII Of Babylon the red sea Homerites Aden a strong Town and famous Haven Cameran and other places in the red sea WE travel'd stil through Arabia from town to town venting and trucking our commodities with an earnest desire to reach Persia all the towns of Arabia are fair ones and yield a great revenue to the Sequemir between Zidem and Zibit there are several and well peopled and from thence to Aden many more Zibit is not so near Aden as by some shee is said to be as they relate Dalatia in Aethiopia to be opposite to Meka and they stand three hundred leagues asunder This Arabia joynes to Persia Northward and the way thither lyes through Taeza Sanna Soufar Erit Almacara and other towns Almacara stands upon a hill but Eastward upon Gaza a bigge town and well inhabited where there is weekly a Fair or Market kept by night by reason of the heats and there all sorts of Merchandizes are exposed to sale perfumes especially The Nobility of the Country affect much to eat Ambar Musk and other sweets the Soudan of Aden subject to Sequemir spends yearly six thousand Duccats therein for his self wife and family their kitchins may be taken for perfumers shops so sweet and odoriferous The Red Seas coast towards Aden is thick of good towns and well traded and among the Merchants are many thieves which you must have a care on you see the towns called Ahra Damican Coubita Erit Aridan Magora Rabon Salta and others with many villages subjects to the Sequemir who commands six Soltania's or kingdomes all fill'd with good towns upon the Sea side grow store of reeds or Canes which in time make little Islands rendring the landing difficult and from thence the Hebrewes call that Sea Souf which signifies a reed Caravanes come to a town called Albir or Debir and there load their wares they carry unto Babylon as we found several travelling thither I intreated one of them to furnish me with as many Maps of the chiefest cities he could conveniently for I was very desirous of them and amongst the rest he procured me the Mappe of Babylon or Bagdet printed upon a Cotton which Mappe is made in a kinde of ceremony when the Sequemir receives his Crown and blessing from the Califf of Bagdet as the most ancient of Meka and to instruct him in his way they delineate Samacara from whence he sets forth for Babylon he goes through Byr then in twelve dayes reaches Falouchia in a flat boat from thence to Babylon in one day more As we were making sale of our commodities with intention to visit the East India's amongst other things we got some pieces of Velvet which we had in exchange for our wares I shall by the way advise those who intend to make the voyage of Arabia to store themselves with great horse bits for that is a commodity goes off there at a good rate you may make your own price not exceeding ten Duccats a piece Thus we travelled through Sanna passing through many fine towns as Adimar one of the fairest of all Arabia with intention to passe over into the Isle of Cameran where were three Portugais vessels bound for Calicut but we had so ill a passage that we altered our resolutions and sailed
the coast of Avisa then to Mount Bacour where we sold our Camels upon condition they should carry our goods in to Aden within two leagues of that place The Red Sea from Suez to the Cape Cardafu is in the eighteenth degree in length four hundred leagues and in breadth fifty is navigable but not without great danger especially by night because 't is full of shelvy rocks reeds and Isles and by day besides the common Pilot they have a man placed upon the Mast to discover and direct the ship from Cameran 't is not so dangerous but we were forced to make this voyage by land to escape the dangers at Sea the water to my thinking was of the colour of other Sea-water both in her Superficies and bottom the name of red onely excepted which was given her by allusion to the name of King Erithreus who named it so or because of the sands which in some places are of a reddish colour The Moors call it Babar Corzum which signifies an inclosed sea the havens upon it are at Babel-Mandel which is in the twelfth degree 't is called by some the sea of Meka Arabia upon the red sea side was formerly inhabited by several people principally the Sabaeans since called the Homerites they received the Christian Faith in the dayes of the Emperour Constantius and some will have it that rather from thence then Aethiopia came Queen Saba and since Queen Candaces Eunuch At the end of this Sea in the Streights of Babel-Mandel is the town and Haven of Aden called by those of that countrey Adedoun a town of the greatest fame in all the East and one of the strongest of Arabia and of greatest importance by reason of the trade and concourse of all the Nations of the Indies Persia Tartary Arabia Aethiopia and the Levant she was formerly subject to Sequemir since conquered by the Portugais and now in the possession of the Turk on the land side stands that famous Mountaine Albacoure or Dartzira which must be travell'd over to reach hither the passage is streight and difficult defended by two strong Castles on each side of the way one from the top of the hill you discover Aden standing in a large plain her Haven is great and good butting upon the Cape Gardafu the Town is grown famous since the Portugais set footing in the East Indies for the Merchants leaving the red sea for feare of the Portugais rest here in their journy to the Indies whereas before they went throughout without landing here Here are unladen from the Indies and other places the Spices Aloes Brasil Pearles and pretious stones Myrobolan Safron Wax Steel Sugars Rice Purcelaines Linnens Quick-silver Vermillions Cottons Silks Scarlets Chamlets Musk Amber Beniamin Storax Azure and other Commodities vented in several places Here time out of mind were the Spices landed and from hence by the red sea and the Nile transported into Alexandria formerly they say that the Soudan Governour of this place was so puissant as to send an Army of thirty thousand horse and forty thousand Cammels to assist the Soudan of Egypt against the Christians and waged ordinary warre besides against the Abyssins Aden is well walled and fortified with several Castles on the East side on the North stands Bacoure which divides her from the Happy Arabia and on all other sides she is incompast with the sea Westward the sea enters the land so far through a gulf that you would think the Mountaigne were an Island the Haven is Eastward and large scituate under the foot of the Hill coming from Arabia you would take the towne to stand upon the top of the hill whereas it stands in a plain almost surrounded with the Sea guarded by a strong Block-house in a little Isle adjacent that defends the Towne and the mouth of the Haven as by the side of the Hill there are severall Forts that command those passages The opposite to Aden of this side of the Isle and streight of Babel-Mandel is in Aethiopia subject most of it to the grand Neguz with a creek of Sea and a fair Haven and the Cape called Foubical or Guardufu anciently the Promontory called Aromata from one side to the other the streight is forty thousand paces over and in the midst stands this little Island in length some two leagues the mouth is very dangerous to enter at low water by reason of Shelves Rocks and Reeds and a number of Isles of different bignesse some of them inhabited some not wee travelled most of them and the chiefest I saw was Cameran near the coast of Arabia in the fifteenth degree of Elevation fifteene miles round or thereabouts she hath plenty of fresh water and her Haven is of the continent side but two leagues off or thereabouts the Town is small but increases dayly subject to the Sequemir and inhabited by Moores On the other side in Aethiopia is Dalascia or Dalaca a faire Town inhabited by an Idolatrous King tributary to the King of the Abyssins since the conquest that Alexander the Preste John made of it which hath ever since obeyed his Lawes together with Rocca or Eroca where there is a faire Haven inhabited by Christians Abyssins very good people they weep for joy to see any Christians of these parts they call them Romatas or Roume make very much of them and distribute what they have amongst them according to the charitable practise of the Primitive Church They have a little higher another faire Isle called Mesua or Mezuan peopled with Christians where there is a good Haven that saves many good ships from shipwrack sayling in this dangerous sea a little above Mesua is another Isle called Ibrani on Aethiopia side where there is a good Haven and most of the Inhabitants fishermen beyond that is the Isle of Camera subject to the Preste John she hath two Havens one southward the other eastward hath good water and a good well two hundered paces from the Sea in an orchard called Magodu or Magot conteyning twenty or thirty houses and every house a boate ready to take the water to fish which is their onely livelihood CHAP. IX Of Dalascia Town belonging to the Grand Neguz of the Isle of Socotora with a description of a prodigious tempest THe Caravans that come from the Abyssins Countrey are imbarked at Dalascia or Dalaca or at the Isle of Suachen belonging to the Grand Neguz and bound from thence for the Holy Land most of these places are inhabited by Christians Suachen is an Island in the eighteenth degree of latitude drawing from east to south within a bow shoote off the Continent Dalascia belongs to the Neguz governed by a Mahometan tributary to him and allowes liberty of conscience They have fair Churches their Priests marrying as the Grecians do who are subordinate to the Abuma or Patriark of Ethiopia The air is exceeding benign and productive of all excellent fruits
say the earth were higher then the heavens which notwithstanding must needs be if we allow Antipodes That the Poles held immovable are not so but that these two starres turn within two degrees round the Pole That 't is an errour the Sun should by night go hide himself under us that the two Poles are not diametrically opposite since as they say they may be seen at the same time upon sea and land though very low neverthelesse That if there were Antipodes that must be the bottom of the earth and all rivers would naturally run thither contrary to experience and a thousand other opinions as strange as absurd for want of knowledge in the spheare and Astronomy So they laugh as at a thing childish and fabulous at the opinion of the Ancients and Moderns on this side of the rotundity of the earth in the middle of the world and the Ubiquitary habitation and that the Sun turns quite round from East to West They hold for certain that the Sunne rises in all other points as they observe in Tazatay where they imagine it to rise as 't were North and North-West They think to prove their phantastical imaginations when they describe the Iliaca a bright starre in the West and opposite to that Biliaca which appears beyond the Line and is that the shepheards fear so much by the Persians called Zobona so mortiferous to cattle for which cause they house them while that starre raignes and the better to preserve them they make them turn tayle to the starre for if they face it it makes them languish and dye in the end They say that these two opposite starres may be seen in a Line at the same time through a trunck and that each moves about his Pole in twenty four houres but that these are not the same as the North and the Crusero The North being no more distant from the Pole then two degrees and a quarter and one of the other two a degree and a half onely And whereas the ancients observed onely two Poles each in his Hemisphere they make six Poles in the same Hemispheare which are Casara the pole of the World that of the Zodiack the Artick and Antartick and these two starrs and a thousand other fancies as incomprehensible as they are farr from the sence of reason and experience And that which confirmes them in their errors is that they can discerne the two polar starrs from the same place as in Japaca seven degrees beyond the Line in Java and the like in Sumatra and other parts and accordingly in travell they make a strange calculation of the distances of places They jeer likewise at the frame of our spheare and the division of the Zodiack into twelve signes some to the North some to the South and understand not this but after their own way They call the Zodiack Cazatoni that is Significator The signes they call Ant Ronia Amiessem Emisen Courpsa Cheoser Irat Metrias Escorgat Tamasee Besir Bizihir Azourac Persan the highest spheare Birquen Emine the Ecliptick Zoberna that is obscurity because Ecclipses proceed thence That the Zodiack is an oblike circle and that from thence and the Region of fire the Sun takes his course and thence makes generation of all inferiour things Like some of the ancients likewise they hold that the Heaven stands like a vault over the earth and floates and swimmes upon the waters In breife I shewed them the work of Paul Rao the Italian who speakes of all this Astronomy of the Ancients which supposes the Equinoctiall divides the Zodiack in two parts South and North at which they scoffed and grew cholerick saying so base a book was fit for the fire that held nothing but errors and wondered our Prince would suffer such frauds and impostures as they called them to be published in his Dominions they believing as well the lands inhabited from East to West as from South to North are in view of the pole Artick and that it is false there should be any part of India under the Antartick since as they think they have the North as much elevated as we in Europe and many extravagancies hereupon which I leave to be argued and confuted by the learned in Astronomy and Cosmography Hearkning to these Indian opinions I have been told that the Chineses that speculative Nation hold the Heavens to be round but the Earth square and the Empire of China stands punctually in the middle as being the excellence and Principality of the World other parts being but as the skirts and accessaries so as they were a little cholerick when they saw our cards designe their Countrey in the extremity of the East as an indignity to the Grandeur and Majesty of their Country and King whom they call the sonne of the sun And truly these poore Indians wanting the knowledg of sciences and experience are not so much to be blamed for their opinions since in the middle of sage and learned Greece there were of the ancient Philosophers that maintained almost the same that the earth was not round but some as Lucipus that it was like a drum others that it was hollow like a barke as Heraelitus others like a Cilinder or Roler as Anaximandrus and Democritus others that it was absolutely flat as Empodocles and Anaximines some have wandered as far as this Paradox to release it from the center and make it run in the heavens about the immovable sun which with no less extravagancy hath been renewed in our times But for the Antipodes they who held the rotundity of the earth allowed them not for all that holding those parts inhabitable either for being covered with innavigable seas or for the insupportable heats of the Torrid Zone even some of the ancient fathers have for other considerations been taken with this opinion as Lactantius St. Augustine and others and they say a learned Germane Bishop was accused of Heresie for maintaining there was Antipodes But besides the reasons of science experience of Navigation and modern voyages shewes sufficiently the truth of this matter whereof I leave the large discourse to the more learned CHAP. XXXVII Of Tartary Frightfull deserts fierce dogs a strange History of two lovers the Empire of the Tartars and their Religion OF Grand Tartary which lies on the North of all the Provinces I have spoken of I know nothing but by the relation I received in these parts and by the Memorialls of a certain Hollander who was at Pegu. The Inhabitants of these Countreys then tould me that beyond the Kingdom of Tazatay Mandranella Transiana and Casubi towards the North are vast solitudes and sandy deserts which you must travell for many dayes before you can arrive at a Kingdom called Sinabo which at one end towards the East confines with Cochinchina subject to the great King of Tabin or China To passe these vast sands there must be made good provision of victualls water and beast for as
observed it to do in other countries under the same line In fine so fertile are these countries that like those water'd by the river Nile they yield two harvests annually and each harvest of sufficiency to furnish the people with provision for five years Whence it comes that storing up their corn in Cavernes under ground which the Moores call Mattamorres calked against moysture with a cement made of Sea-shels where being first dryed in the Sun they keep it what time they please they never think of sowing more while they have any thing to live on so as the land being thus laid up at rest becomes more fertile Their sheep breed twice a year and often two or three lambs at a time The Cape of Palmes is in the territory of Isma towards Guinnee with the Castle of Mina which the Portugues built upon this coast drawing towards the Cape de bona Esperanza the kingdom of Manicongo extends it self from the River Val de Biraco or da Borca as far as the River of S. Paul This River da Borca otherwise called Rio de Los Reyes is a quarter of a dayes journey from that of Agina or Asicera True it is there are Maps which place it near to Biafar though it be distant thence more then five hundred leagues Biafar lying near to Amasan and Medra the cause of this errour is that they take it for the River called the Infanta of Portugal which on the East hath the River Angra which waters the Town of Masire or Maciera directly over against the Isle of S. Thomas and fronts the great kingdome of Damute through the middle whereof passes the River of Bancara Vibris and Vamta with a branch of Noir all which conjoyne in Zaire Zaire overflowes like Nilus and runs through many countries some Mahometan some Pagan who adore the Sun and about the break of day compose themselves on some eminent place to make their Salema that is their prayer at his Rising casting themselves covered with a large cloth a hundred times to the ground and kissing it most devoutly Some say that these two great kingdomes Damute and Monicongo bound upon Goyame or Guiame which by reason of their great distance is most incredible It is rather on one side for on the South and West side Monicongo is divided by the River Bancara which lyes three degrees on the other side the line and two from Cape de Lopo or Loubo at his disgorging near the river Gouan or Gabam not far from the Cape Gonzal and the Cape St Catherine directly opposite to Cape Primaco something near the Torrent of Fremo which the Natives call Gouira The last Cape of Damute is Almada or Almadias into the Gulph whereof one branch of Zaire and the River of Saint Helen issuing forth at the same place do cast themselves having on the North Abidara which joynes it self to the Cataracts On the West the land of Jair and Gubara on the East Cogira where begins the Cape de Corrientes twenty four degrees from the South Next we come to the great Empire of the Abissins containing more then thirty five kingdomes insomuch as some would have it equall with all Europe The people for the greatest part are grosse and bruitish clothed with beasts skins though the country abound with gold which the Rivers wash in with their streams The women carry their Infants at their back in Goat skins and never go into the field without their staffe and victualls and cast their hanging breasts over their shoulders for their children to suck For the generality they are a very wretched people subjects to the great Neguz who Commissions certain Deputies for administration of Justice amongst them But these Deputies finding them so voyd of reason retire themselves to Townes twenty or thirty leagues distant and the others will not afford the paines to go so far so as when any difference happens they entreat the next Passenger to decide it and in case he refuses they way-lay him with bow and arrows and by force oblige him to give sentence which be it good or bad is observed most religiously for recompense presenting him with some beast to carry his baggadge most commonly with a Dent which is much like to a little Mule only it hath a hogs taile and little horns which grow only skin deep which it moves as the eares and is much more swift travelling on the sands his hoof will burn and cleave so as 't is impossible to get him wag a foot then their only way is to make meat of him his flesh being exceeding delicate though without salt not long to be kept from corrupting to worms The greatnesse of this part of the world is particularly seen in that we find within it a hundred and fifty large kingdoms without reckoning many more of lesse quantity which people this vast Peninsula of above two thousand leagues in length and latitude It is water'd with many fair rivers some whereof have their overflowes like the River Nile and as beneficiall others role before them sands of gold besides Lakes Marshes and impenetrable Forests rich gold mines numerous heards of cattle double harvests the horrible monsters the diversity of people some civilized others so bruitish they know neither religion nor articulate language some christians of various Sects others Mahometans and a great part Gentiles and Idolaters under the dominion of several Princes of which the chiefest are the Grand Seigniour who possesses Egypt wholly with great part of the Coast of Barbary The great King of the Abissins who holds almost all the intestine Africa with both the strands of Nile The great Monomotapa Lord of almost all the Southerne Verges even to the Cape de bona Esperanza The potent King of Fez and Marocco and a multitude of other Kings and particular Princes as those of Tombut Ganga Borno who possesse many kingdomes Of this so spacious and populous Africa the Ancients had discovered but some few countries under the name of Egypt Cirenaica Numidia Libia Mauritania Ethiopia Nigrites Garamantes Atlantes and very few more The Arabians at this day make a quadrupart division of it notwithstanding that it is not intirely known by reason of the dismal deserts which shut up passages and deprive us of discovery The first begins at the Cape of Babouchi or Guardafuni where they insert many countries out of Africa taken in by a Prince named Tramurat who subdued Arabia Felix and went in Arms as far as Carmanio to which they call Erac and amongst these are the kingdomes of Macran and Guadel which are contained herein The second called Biledugerid heretofore Numidia terminates Egypt at the Town Eleocat The third is a vast and horrid wildernesse which stretches it self to the bounds of Lible by them called Saria or the Desert because it takes beginning at Nile and ends at the Desert of Saria The fourth begins at the kingdome of Gonaga and ends at the kingdome of Galata Some
dresse in several manners the fruits excell and chiefly the Melons called there Dormous admirable in taste which they eat not but in Summer because they are excessive cooling and as it were freeze the stomack being neverthelesse not ill of digestion or causing chollicks what quantity soever one eats They are for the most part Idolaters except some Mahometans who dissemble their Religion for which cause the Prince hath but a sinister look for them This Prince hath a high veneration from his people who subjugate their shoulders for his support burn perfumes to him when he appeares in publick as they do likewise for all Princes or Potentates who come to visit them But indeed this Prince is most laudable in this particular that he himself will take cognizance of whatsoever is acted by his Governours and Magistrates and if any one impleads other before him it behoves him on the price of his head to be assured of the fact When a complaint is made to him immediately he sends for the party accused If he be a Noble man when he arrives at the Palace gate he gives notice to the Officers of his presencce by the sound of a Cornet who cause him to ascend single before the Prince who with great patience hears hoth parties in presence of his Council If â—oth are found culpable the inferiour is remitted to the ordinary Justice who punisheth him with stripes of cudgell the Grandee is punished by fine But if the Noble-man prove only guilty the King leads him to his chamber where being disrobed prostrate on the ground craving pardon he receives from the Kings own hand certain stripes with a cudgell more or fewer in proportion to the crime and services he hath done Which done he revests kisses the Kings feet and with all humility thanks him for the favour received Then without further shew of any thing attends the King to his Hall who in presence of all the Court gives him a dismission and recommends â—o him administration of Justice to his people causes him to be accompanied out of town with ordinary ceremony so as what hath passed is not perceived by any and this Grandee returns as well content as if he had received a rich treasure The charges of suit are defrayed out of the Kings Coffers or if he please by the criminall without the knowledge of any one When as this King who by his subjects is esteemed a Saint makes a progresse into the Country he is mounted on a horse richly trapp'd and going out of his Palace passes over a new kill'd heifer where the people raise a loud outcry and instantly go view the entrails of the beast to judge by sorcery if this voyage shall be successeful or no. When he makes entrance into any town all the fairest Ladies walk before him with censers of perfumes burning in their hands some singing his encomiums others melodiously playing on Basons with fine nods endeavouring to render themselves as complaisant as possibly they can To conclude their territories confine upon the country of Zangueliac and Ethiopia Aquiloa is a Kingdome with an Isle and a Town of the same appellation where the Portugals have a Fort the Governour whereof drives a main trade by means of the vessels he sends for the Indies The King of Quiloa was Lord heretofore of Mozambique All these are countries of Zanguebar or Zanzibar which comprehends that large extent of ground which lyes between the Oriental and Occidental seas of the people called Cafres Zanzibar properly speaking is an Island which faces directly Monbaze but the country I intend to speak of is Zanguebar named so by the Arabians because in their language this word Zangue signifies black and this country for the greatest part is inhabited by Blacks Mark Pol esteems it an Island of above a thousand leagues in circuit being water'd with many rivers making as it were an Island Concerning the Town of Quiloa 't was built as Tradition sayes above six hundred years past by one Hali son of Hocen King of Siras in Persia who came to live there Women here go exceeding well arrayed richly adorned with Jewels and Ivory bracelets quaintly wrought which upon death of husband and allies they break in signe of sorrow as the men forbear to eat and shave their hair as I before recounted of the East Indies CHAP. V. Of Mozambique the nature of the Inhabitants Cefala Mines of gold in Ophir Belugara HAving passed by Viada where the people for the best part dwell upon the river Dumes or Humes since the vast inundation of this and other rivers in the country upon the day of Saint Abiblicane we entered the kingdome of Mozambique this River runs towards the East passing by the foot of the Mountain Zet out of which issues one of the heads of Nile the other from the Mount Betzoan which ancients called the Mountains of the Moon streaming towards the points Maestro and Tramontanus The branch which runs Southward is divided not far from the head by a rock into two streams the one watering the land of Sefala the other running to disgorge it self in the sea right over against the Isle of Saint Laurence Mozambique is a small Island hard upon the firm land with a Haven and a Fort of the Portugals within fifteen degrees of the Line 'T was subject to the King of Quiloa till the Portugals became Masters where now in their voyages from Portugal to the Indies is one of their securest harbours to rest and refresh themselves The greatest part of the Inhabitants who are all Blacks professe Mahometisme the rest Idolatry They upon the firm land are absolute brutes going stark naked their privities only covered with a cotten cloth Adorers of the Sun like them of Sephala speaking the same language as they their traffick is Gold Ivory and Ebony their chief food the flesh of Elephants They delight much to parget their bodies with a reddish earth perswading themselves that so dawb'd the world shewes not finer men The better sort paint themselves with a certain Folliage which to make azure they use Indico and other compounds There are amongst them who bore their lips like the Americans enchasing some delicate stone Some say this countâ—y in times past depended upon Ethiopia and and 't was hither Salomon sent his Fleets for gold and that the Queen of Saba stil'd her self likewise Queen of Mozambique and Melindo moreover that their speech resembles in some sort that of Senega Though to speak truth 't is more likelihood Salomon fetched his gold from the mines of Sefala which are not farre thence or may be from the East Indies Touching the country of Cefala or Sefala and Zinguebar which takes up in a sort the whole breadth of that end of Africa even to the Cape of Bona Esperanza which coast is inhabited with Blacks called Cafares or Cafres they appertain to the great Empire of Monomotapa of which we are to speak presently In particular
businesse then to be merry They are a strenuous people docile and capable of religion were it not for the unsufferable Tyranny of the Spaniard who of four hundred thousand soules found on this Island have left scarce the hundreth part which is the cause you meet scarce with any thing but desolation and dead mens bones The first of these kingdomes is called Mangna a fertile soyle with many good and large rivers in length 80. leagues from the South sea to the North invironed with mountaines amongst which are these Cibar where are gold mines of 23. Carats and a half the second kingdome is Sigouaya the third Magana or Magnane the fourth Xantiga the fifth Hegay Magana abounds in gold and sugar and different from the rest the King is created by election The King dead foure Tabusamin who are principal Peeres assemble the people at the Palace of Bibical a Conquerour and establisher of the state This Bibical was the miracle of his time for strength who came hither from Mecheoarin on the Continent in Mexico to visit his brother servant to the King of Mangna and one of his chief dancers being here would needs see the other dominions of the Island at Sigouaya where the exercise of wrestling is much in request he made some stay as indeed in war it self the matter is decided as much or more by vigour of arm as weapon and being very perfect he entered lists with the best amongst them and in the Princes presence came off with such advantage that he gained the honour of a Lions skin a matter so considerable with them that in warre 't is worne by none but persons of quality Invited by the King he stayed at Court but the King of Mangna with whom his brother was having notice he sent expressely to have him return and that he would find an honourable employment for him withall sent him an ample present not in wealth but Mexican curiosities as Jewels to hang in the ears and lips and the like the people not prizing so much gold as innocent and simple gaity and with great reason liberty above all All the Kings civilities nor his brothers entreaties could draw him from the Prince of Sigouay who had designed him to march with a hundred Indians into the kingdom of Magana and take a strong town called Saalan for that it maintained it self a free town and would submit to no Prince With much joy Bibical received the Commission and by his valour reduced the place to his Princes obedience with many famous gallantries putting numbers to the sword and the rest to flight Their Bastion called Courcoumeca barrocadoed with timber twice mans height he took by assault By this means not the town alone but the whole countrey was subjugated to the King of Sigouaya who repayed Bibical with collation of honours and erected him monumental trophies of stone with this inscription Aray jourcoumac Bifical that is a man worthy of principality Gibbeleca the Kings sister became so passionate a lover of him that she resolved to marry him though her brother in displeasure secur'd her in a secret prison Biblical freed her married her and carried her to Magana where he made himselfe King of the Countrey which so incensed the brother he used all meanes to destroy him for which purpose he suborned an Indian who from an ambush shot him on the high way with a poysoned shaft this so moved Biblical that he invaded him with a vigorous and violent warre assisted by his brother Gouayquibal and at last overthrew him but the venome of the wound he had formerly received by degrees so prevailed over him that he dyed swelled and black as a coale leaving no child behind him The people petitioned the Dowager she would marry again that they might have a Prince to govern them whereto though with difficulty she at last condescended and called a Councel where 't was ordered that the most strong and active should succeed and marry the Queen Then they proclaimed an Assembly at all exercises of strength as leaping wrestling and Clubbe-fight in which amongst them all one Calips prov'd eminent and was made King For his chief Councel he elected the deceased Kings brother to whom he gave his sister in marriage and since that time the Kings have been elected by strength which custome continued to Moulsamberc who died at the Spaniards invasion This Island was heretofore exceedingly vexed with the Canibales of the Antilles and other neighbour-Islands who come to hunt men and women as others do savage beasts the men to eat them and the women for procreation This Island though under the torrid Zone enjoyes a temperate ayre and almost a perpetual spring by meanes of Mountains which shelter it from the North and refresh it as in most parts under the Zone The Fecundity of the soyle is such that corn sowed produces most great and long eares of above a thousand cornes in an ear Besides it yields Gold Mastick Aloes Cotton Silk Sugars Spices Pepper and Ginger with Jucan and Cassaue whereof they make their bread 'T was from hence the Spaniards first took and brought into Europe the Morbus and remedy Guaicum Here chiefly raign the furious winds called Vracans or Foracanes furies that rend trees dash the waves against the sky destroying Navies and other prodigies But as these people were delivered from the cruelty of the Canibales they fell under that of the Spaniards a hundred times worse who laid the Island with the rest of her neighbours desert and depopulate though the Natives at their landing used them with all humanity but they fell presently to bloudy butchery carrying them slaves to other Countries and reduced them to such despair that the wretches thought better to use violence on themselves and children then to be led slaves under these Salbins thieves and tyrants As one of these miserable Kings was going to be burnt a Father of St. Francis exhorted him to baptism he liked well of all he told him of eternal life and heaven but understanding the Spaniards went thither also he lost his vocation saying in his language Heiti siltiba Salbin Spaniards in heaven and I with them fie fie adding he had rather live with the Yares the Devil and so dyed they destroyed all generally being glutted weary with slaughter they made markets of the rest as of Cattle to toyle and carry burthens not regarding any countermands of the Spanish King to keep them slaves These new guests at first they called children of the Sun but afterwards they changed their stile and called them Solbins and Devils and with good reason when these new-comes would lay insupportable burthens on them and when they failed or fainted cut off their heads to save a labour of unlocking an iron collar about their neck to put upon another Notwithstanding they were a people very capable of religion and doctrine as appeared in such as were converted who proved very pious Christians but
one another For arms they have staves bows and slings wherein they are very effectual being strong and good wrestlers They lead into the field troops of fierce and strong dogs and fling them the head hands and feet of an enemy for reward they only spare their wives to whom they yield all honour and marry with them There is not amongst them any sort of Science Learning or Character they believe the soul immortal and that the Sun created the world whom they call Courcourant and the Moon Beleida live like brothers without any Law of property every man hath his wife and with her is satisfied no distinction of sin amongst them vice nor vertue all equal onely a particular reverence to one chief as their King whom they call Caraybalan They shave their head and beard with a root called Meite which dryed at the Sun they make into powder and apply it plaister-wise all night Maids deflowr'd before Matrimony never marry though the fact is no dishonour to them Their Singay by the advantage of their mountains often fall upon them they have a sort of trunks through which they will blow their poysoned arrowes with strange vigour and wound incurably They are of admirable Footmanship and will fly like Grayhounds before a pursuing enemy and on such occasions their dogges stand them in good stead They scatter about the fields certain poysoned paste for the enemies dogges and lest their own should be taken with it they hold them up tyed he that hath two with him thinks himself secure When the dogge winds any thing if the Master cryes Taip the dogge stayes till his Master hath viewed his prey they carry burthens like horses Their houses are of straw and their burrowes are fortified with Timber-Palizadoes which they poyson against the invading enemy Of the same straw they cover their houses they make bridges and never make bridge of stone which straw-bridges are of good firmnesse They have some houses made of earth mingled with chopt straw The Charaybalan or King walks through the country with no attendance but dogges and allowes no man to approach him These dogges are his guard being very fierce and when they find any thing they first look on their Masters face to understand if they should eat it or not and stand for good servants the enemy hath strong apprehension of them These dogges have great tayles like Bulles and it hath been knowne that they have assaulted and defeated a good body of men so as the race of them is prized at a high rate CHAP. VII Of Virginia and Florida Fountains of youth dangerous love ON the South and East of all these parts lyes Virginia discovered by Sir Walter Rawleigh and the English and Florida first found by Sebastian Cabot an English Navigator in the yeare 1496. as he looked for another matter and more perfectly afterwards discovered by John Ponce of Lyons who so christened it because he arrived on Palme-Sunday in French called Flowre-Sunday or else because he found the land fragrant and spread with flowers This is a country of wide circuit towards 34. degrees having on the East the Channel of Bahama the Lucays and Virginia on the West Mexico and the gulph Panuco on the South it looks upon Cuba or Jucatan and on that side extends above 200. leagues to the 24. degree on the North lyes Canada New France and the Auanares towards this point or tongue of land in form of an Isthmus 't is dangerous sayling for the opposite winds and currents of water The natives are strong and turbulent eat their enemies of war but their friends and confederates never not for any extremity The men eradicate their beards to appear more lovely and pleasing to the women pierce their nose and ears and hang in rings and jewels they marry not till 40 years of age and the woman 25. holding that the children will be more robustious Women before matrimony observe not chastity and without dishonour but after marriage they will forfeit life as soon as their fidelity North they border on the Aunares and beyond them the Abardaos a cruell and wicked people continually in warre and use a thousand subtleties to ensnare their enemies but especially by night first laying their Engines or Caltrops then give the Alarme and seem to flye so the enemies pursuing are often taken in these trappes as they likewise take wilde beasts as they on the other side make conceal'd pits for them to fall in There are also the Jagares a people so swift they boast they can take a Deere in plain running and indeed the Deere there are not so wilde For they feed in fields in Heards like Cows whereof they make their ordinary sustenance Ponce de Leon sayes he sent one of these people with a letter and some provision to his company and in few houres he went and came thirty 1. They are cloathed with skins of beasts but cheifly Deere which they dresse very artificially Then there are the Apalchen and Chahamo people intirely barbarous and brutish who adore and sacrifice to devills that appeare to them in diverse formes The whole Countrey abounds in all Commodities as flesh of all sorts and fish and they say there are Mines of Gold and Silver whereof they make no great account They have a King whom foure of the Principall amongst them beare in the skin of a Saliabe a beast like a Hart apparrelled with skins and set with feathers they adore the Sun and believe the immortality of the soule and that some go to Heaven and others to the bowells of the earth Towards the Promontory of Baxos there is a fishing of ordinary pearles neither so fine nor great as in the River of Palmes and Margarita nor do the Natives much esteem them and value more a measure of Sperma Caetae then a handfull of pearles The people of Canada maâ—â— a greater account of them for the women weare them in their eares In many places they build their houses in forme of a Cressant in Honour of the Moone and cover them with barkes of trees or sea reeds For Armes they use Bows and poysoned Arrowes as doth the greater part of America They are much given to Hunt and Fish For more of the description of the Country and the manners of the people I refer my selfe to the French and Spanish relations I will only make mention of one miracle in the Countrey attested by the Licentiados Ayllon Figuerra and other Spaniards of Quality 't is a fountain of Youth whereof the water being drunke not only mitigates all maladies but makes the old young again restoring decayed strength and vigour whereof they saw the experience in an old decrepid man quite worne out who became vigorous and lusty that married and got children The Spaniards advanced not into the Country finding the People Martiall bloody and violent enemies to them which I suppose proceeded rather from cruelties they themselves exercised then the inclinations of the people whom the
held the Spaniards in play with good order and military discipline they had learnt of one Lanearo an Indian sometime page to Valdiuia and afterwards revolted against him This Arauco is a small division in Chila not above ten leagues in length and seven broad upon the Sea-side and breeds the most warlike people of the Indies upon which account the Spaniards stiled it El estado in domito wherein are contained the vales of Ponco Purto Tucapol Angol Cauten c. and the Towns of the Conception and the Imperiall In 1599. the Arucans took and demolished the Town and Fort Valdiuia and others putting all the Spaniards to sword man woman and child and sacked and burnt all and had repossessed the rest of the Country had they not been repulsed This constant war with the Araucans gave occasion to the famous Poet Alonzo de Ercilla to make his Poem the Auracana where he describes the Countrey and their war with the Spaniard and begins with this vanity truely poetical and Romantick Spaniard-like No Las damas Amor no gentilezas Di cavalieros canto enamorados Ni las Maestras regales y ternezas De amorosos a feijos y cay dados Mas el valor los huecos las proesas De aquelles Espagnoles esbercadòs Que a la cermi de Arauco no do madae Pasieron duro y ago per la espada Here I observe a singularity amongst these people in election of their Chief or Captain Generall who is the man that can carry longest a great tree like a date tree upon his shoulders as one Canpolican who was chosen did for three dayes together without the least rest CHAP. XV. Of the streight of Magellan FRom Chila the next is the streight of Magellan of about 100. leagues in length and not much more in breadth or any waies which is not to be survey'd till you are well within the land The tides are strong and dangerous principally from the South sea by reason of the narrow entrance in the mouth and a multitude of rocks and mountains before the mouth of it which render the passage hard to find and being but a little out at sea one can perceive nothing of it so as you must go cast about with the cock-boat though otherwise you know the way and the true heighth which is about 52. degrees There is one very high Mountain hard upon the mouth called la campana being in form like a bell The shallowest place is fifteen or twenty fathoms and a very good bottom The South sea enters thirty leagues within amongst very high Mountains covered with snow the North sea enters it seventy leagues on the other side where they find bottoms in many places as on the contrary on the South side the depth is such no ship can ride at anchor On the North side there are expatiate plains and champians upon the firm land and divers Rivers that fall into this streight shaded with odoriferous trees which shews the goodnesse of the soyle It containes some Islands not to be ventured on without discretion The Inhabitants on the South side are exceeding little on the North of Gyants stature whom in Magellan they call Paragous for their great feet they clothe with skins of sheep and other beasts for the rigidnesse of the Climate These are a people without civility law or policy wandring up and down without any certain abode reposing in Cabins and no other arms than bow and arrows when we speak to them and they understand not the language they lift their eyes to heaven They live upon flesh dried in the Sun enemies to none but give themselves wholly to chase and fishing This Streight is vexed with forcible tides from both sides which like two Cells encounter with a most obstreperous fragour where the danger is great and chiefly in winter when the winds rage there with more violence for the Streight is never free from winds no not in summer divers vessels perish in crossing the Rocks which seem an Archipelagus of Islands both those on the South-sea-side and those which come from Lima. The immense depth on the South side renders the sea more navigable and on the North the length of the fall breaks the force of the waves so as there is no great danger but in the narrowest and in some places of not above a musket shot In the winter the Sea is higher than in Summer and the passage wider notwithstanding the sailing is nothing more secure by reason of the crosse winds and colds Some are of opinion that the Tides do not meet at the same time but as it flowes on one side it ebbs on the other by a locall remotion of the sea but they are deceived for 't is certain that the floud comes in and goes out on both sides at the same time like as the boyling of a pot rising from the center disperses to all parts and cooling ceases all together this hath been proved by experience that at the same time the floud came thirty leagues form the South and seventy from the North the Sea swelling from both parts as the Pilots observed following the course of the Moon the Tides augmenting or diminishing according to her state the Tide and Ebbe coming sooner or later by three quarters of an hour daily conformable to the course of that plannet The Spaniards call the high-tide at the new-moon Cabeza de aguas the tide at the full Aguas viuas the low tides in the wane Aguas muertas This so admirable motion of the Sea seems rather a combat or like the boiling of water in a pot over a fire then a locall remotion which neverthelesse I refer to Naturalists The streight begins Northward at the Cape of eleven thousand Virgins as Magellan called it and ends Southward at Cape Victoria in the middle stood the Towne and Fortresse of St. Philip which afterwards the Inhabitants perishing with hunger and cold was called the Port of Famine The first that passed this streight was Ferdinand Magallanes a Portuguese who had both heard and seen something of it in their cards 'T was in 1519. when he went to find a road to the Moluccas that way for Charles the fifth Afterwards one Pedro Sarmicates passed the streight from North to South from South to North few passe for the danger and difficulty to find the way Since that the famous Argonautes who went round the world by Sea as Sir Francis Drake in one thousand five hundred seventy nine Candish in one thousand five hundred eighty five Oliuier de Nort in one thousand five hundred ninety nine and of fresher memory Spilberg le Maire Hermita and others But le Maire in 1618. a little further in some fifty six or fifty seven degrees towards the South found the new Streight called by his own name much shorter and much easier than the other not being above eight leagues in length and the breadth wide and facile the Spaniards came thither afterwards and gave it the name
tastes like turned milk but in some places for a dainty the maids chew the root then boyle it and make a most exquisit drink In some parts there is a sort of root called Elcout of the taste of a nut which I hold the best amongst them 't is of great vertues but the excesse dries infused with another called Monqueil it purges without violence they have an herb that growes low with leaves a hand-broad that cures all sorts of soares and wounds of which I had once a triall For falling from a rock I got seven or eight very troublesome hurts and an Indian with this leafe cured me in three dayes I have seen the same in Egypt in Italy also and believe 't is in France Another root they have called a Jehearit that purges like Rhubarbe but more gently I believe 't is the same that comes from new Spain called Mechouacan Another that purges being laid Emplaister-wise on the stomack women lay it on the heads of their daughters to emit their Mestruits making them stand with their feet together upon a stone and a sleight incision to draw that blood without pain Brasilians and chiefly the Toupinaâ—ba are kinde to strangers specially the French and freely part with their victuals to them A woman when she would be kinde or entertain one she seats her self on the ground and weeps as she had been beaten then on a suddain addresses her self with a thousand blandishments inviting him freely to the pleasure of her daughters I have knowne some so base amongst us that buckled with these idolatrous girles a thing most detestable They are absolutely without letters or characters and in pronunciation use not F. L. R. So as we may thence derive they are without Faith without Law and without Royalty They are addicted to Divinations and superstitions and their Priests are sorcerers by an ancient tradition they have some obscure knowledge of the deluge some believe reward and punishment of good and evill after death others not but all believe the immortality of the soule and that they shall remain the same they were in this life and at the houre of their death they interre their dead and for several dayes lay meat in the Sepulcher with a cotton bed they have no King nor superiour to command them every linage living apart in a several valley and change their habitation according to fancy many families living under the same roof great hunters fishers and swimmers exceeding vindicative of a turbulent spirit and inclined to Warre the same in prosperity and adversity endure hunger with patience when they have nothing to eat and when they have they gourmandize and drink drunk after their fashion The good or evill that befalls them some attribute to destiny others to fortune or chance They are divided into several nations and for the most part enemies as the Sourons and the Carmils and the Tapus whom they call Savages who are enemies to all as more wilde and bloody then the rest The Cariges are more soft and humane who inhabit beyond the Winter Tropick two leagues from the Sea they inhabit on high ground and sow the Mandior then there are the Oeuetacas Margaiars Toupinanbas and others these last are those our French have had commerce withall of whom we have ample printed relations and there might have had good plantations had we made use of our time and moderated our passions CHAP. XVII The Isle of S. Thomas according to a description made to the Authour by Sieur de la Courb and Cassis THis Island is under the Equinoctiall between the Isles of Prince and Anchan discovered by the Portuguese in their first navigation to the East The Isle of Saint Thomas hath fifty leagues of sound land was discovered on Saint Thomas day that gave name of it It beares little more then Sugar-Canes planted by the Portuguese but the trees are ever green The Portuguese built here the town Pauoazan The Haven whereof looks towards Ethiopia At first all Nations inhabited there but at present the Portuguese will have none but themselves and the French who are exceedingly beloved for a French Jesuite who propagated Religion exceedingly in this Isle The natives are some white some black and marry still in their own colour The town is pleasant and the whole land is full of Sugar-Canes which fill the Island with flyes as Arabia is infested with the same creatures by reason of the Cassia there Sugar is so cheap that for eight Realls you may have a hundred weight but it has this fault 't will not easily dry in exchange they carry thither Wines Cheese Leather Clothes because neither Vine nor Corne will prosper there Upon a Vine there the grape will be green on one side and ripe on the other and blossoms at the same time Their Gardens produce all sorts of herbes and fruit but stone-fruit but above all Figges and Melons The root Igname growes there in abundance very wholesome boyled or raw Likewise Millet which they call Zaboucou whereof they make excellent things with Sugar the soyle is strong inclining to a yellow and in some parts reddish where the dew of the night tempers it like waxe so as it never comes to dust They bend their Sugar-Canes to the East and say they prosper best then they may have there some seventy Sugar-mills These Engines or Mills resemble the Samaritane at Pont-neuf in Paris easily rising and falling That which displeases is they pour it into great caldrons and it is like honey then they make it in loaves hardly dry you never seeing any so solid from thence as from Madero nor is it worth so much though they use all possible art to refine it They purify it with cindars At the plantations far from water the Blacks fetch water to set the mills at work The sugar being drawn they give the canes to the swine which fattens them and makes the flesh of excellent taste and wholsome from mid-May to mid-August they have Eastern winds wherewith they dry their Sugars without which they could never do it for all other windes are adversaries to them because of the raines they stirr up in the other months The Island is unhealthfull by reason of the corrupted ayr their houses are good built and covered with timber out of the abundance of huge high trees All nations heretofore went thither by reason of franck traffick but now they must pay tribute all but the French who enjoy the same immunities as the Portuguese They have many slaves from Guinea brought by the Corsairs to be sold Captain Ribaut Diepois took a vessell with diverse whole families men women and children whom he set free on land but caused two Blacks to hang the Master and five Marriners 'T is a cruell inhumanity to carry the Father away by violence into perpetuall slavery while his poor family is exposed to misery and starving They marry the slaves amongst themselves for breed like a race of horses who continue slaves by inheritance
Mexican wheel Page 363 Their superstitions ibid. Mappes of Africa defective Page 178 Monbaze a country Page 188 Monbaze in extent Page 189 A merry passage ibid. How in Monbaze they receive Embassadours ibid. Melinde a town kingdom Page 190 Melons of Excellency ibid. The Prince of Melinde a grave Justiciar ibid. Mozambique a kingdome Page 191 The Inhabitants of Mozambique Page 192 Magnice a River Monopotapa an Empire Page 198 Monopotapians Idolaters ibid. Magicians proceedings in Monopotapa Page 199 Mexican festivals and dances Page 363 Mexican sacrifices and ceremonies ibid. Mountains burning Page 365.376 Mexican Mascarades called Quacones ibid. Mexico by whom conquered Page 367 The King of Mexico 's state and strength ibid. Wealth of Mexico ibid. Monkeys Page 374 Mines in Potossi Page 375 Mines of silver and gold the nature and manner of working in them Page 383 N NIcotiana Page 39 Nahassan Page 40 Nutmegs Page 100 Nestorians Page 126 Number of nine amongst the Tartars Page 177 Niger and Gambra rivers flowing as Nile Page 179 The Negus his triumphant entrance Page 227 Service at the Negus table Page 226 Navasse an Island Page 334 new-found-New-found-lands what Page 349 O OReb Page 11 Ormus Page 30 31.13.29 Outor Page 17 Ostander Page 40 Oyl of cinamon Page 68 Ostridges Page 115 An oraculous Idol Page 123 Ordinance in China from antiquity Page 243 Oximinchus famous for multitude of religious persons Page 279 Obsequies of the King of Guinalla Page 326 An order of knighthood Page 359 Orellana the greatest of rivers Page 395 P A Just punishment of the perfidious Page 3 St. Paul's imprisonment Page 6 Provision for the deserts Page 9 The Prophets City Page 10 Pecher a Haven Page 19 Persia and the bounds Page 31 Pitch Page 33 The Powerfull State of the Kings of Persia Page 37 Plucciander Page 40 Places in the Indies Page 41 The Portuguese conquest in the East Page 42 Purcelans Page 51 A sad fate of Pirats Page 52 Presumption of the Portugals Page 55 A strange History of a Portugais Captain Page 63 An unheard of curtesie from the hand of a Pirat Page 64 Punishment of the wicked ibid. Perfidiousness of Pirats Page 65 Pearle fishing Page 68 The manner of pearle fishing Page 72 Polouis the Divells Isles Page 71 Subtle poyson Page 85 Pirats how taken Page 85 Pegu. Page 112.108 109 Peguan Armies Page 121 Punishments for crimes Page 124 Peguans whence derived Page 128 The Peguan Creed ibid. The Peguans diet Page 131 The Peguan salutations Page 132 The Peguans Military exercises ibid. The Peguan Kings Coronation Page 133 Peguan ceremonies at creation of their King Page 135 The King of Pegues Revenues Page 139 Peguan Justice Page 140 A Peguan policy Page 141 Priests dispose of war Page 144 The Peguan yeare Page 147 Philosophy of the Indians Page 171 The point of St. Anthony Page 183 Persipolis and the ruines of structures Page 194 A passage Magicall Page 199 No prison in Monopotapa Page 200 Poyson common and deare in Monopotapa and the reason Page 203 Preste Johns Mansion Page 220 Preste John's Justice ibid. Priests singing Psalmes in state Page 225 A Princesse prisoner restored to her lover Page 229 A figurative peare ibid. Perfumed meat Page 230 Prostitution of wives Page 233 Paraguary hath the like inundations as Nile Page 277 Piramids of prodigious structure Page 277 Piperons Giants Page 327 Pit the highest mount in the world Page 331 Peru why so called and the description Page 371 Peru in extent ibid. A passage so cold 't is extremely dangerous Page 375 Plumes in use Page 380 Peru discovered Page 387 Peru by whom civilized Page 388 Peru taken by the Spaniard Page 390 Paragous people Page 392 Q. QUinsay Page 103 Queen Tyrada Page 104 Quiloa a town of antiquity Page 191 A Queen and nine sons massacred for worshipping the Devill Page 235 Quite a Province Page 372 R. RImadan Page 21 Rivers of Persia Page 32 Religious orders amongst the Turks Page 39 Resolution in extremity Page 91 Continual rains ibid. Rubarbe Page 106 Respect to strangers Page 134 Repudiation Page 141 Reward of valour Page 144 Reconcilements Page 156 The Rhinocerot of the Escuriel Page 260 Rivers in Suama Page 194 Manica a gold Mine ibid. Manica a mount and the ruines of structures there of strange thicknesse ibid. The Religion of the Abyssins Page 215 Religions of several orders in Abissina ibid. Rivers in Abissina Page 216 Reception of the Portugal Embassadour at the Negus 's Court Page 231 An heroick restoration of captive women Page 236 Religion of the Ethiopians Page 245 Religion of Saba Page 253 A miraculous cure ibid. Religion and customes of the Sarabomians· Page 258 A wild Rhinocerot Page 259 Religion of the Jalofes Page 323 Rauana the securest Haven Page 336 Religious devoured by Savages Page 357 Rivers in Peru. Page 179 Good natural reasons from Savages Page 401 S. SHipwrack of the Authour in Candia Page 2 A malicious shipwrack Page 3 Sahanir a mountain Page 5 Silks Page 5 The Sea of Sodome Page 10 Mount Sina Page 11 Sarazins whence called Page 14 Black sand Page 19 Storax ibid. Sabea ibid. Sequemir his state Page 20 Salsidas devotes Page 20.40 Read Sea Page 23 Sabeans ibid. Spices Page 24 Suachan Page 25 Santal Page 26 Socotoro famous for Ambargris Page 28 A Stratagem Page 34 Sumachia Page 35 Samarcant Page 37 Sotismel Sinbarate Page 37 Seleres Page 38 Sophy Page 38 Sacar Page 39 Sanosaraden Page 49 Samorin Page 57 Seraglio Page 85 Sartagan a town Page 88 Siam a kingdom Page 103 Statues of beaten gold Page 110 Sacrifices for the dead Page 127 Superstitious salutations Page 128 Sacathy a mortiferous plant Page 130 Sodomy not prohibited Page 139 Sacrifices of proper children Page 142 Sugar used in building Page 150 Sinabo a kingdom Page 163 Serpents good meat Page 174 Sonderia an Island Page 183 Secora ibid. A superstitious ceremony Page 191 The state the Negus is received into towns with Page 224 Scanfourin the capital town of Mongibir Page 234 Salt exceeding precious Page 249 Sorcerers Page 247 Subtilty of Crocodiles ibid. A star in Ethiopia mortiferous Page 250 Salete a fair town and a most pleasant garden there Page 251 Saba Queen ibid. Saba or Soua a town Page 252 Swine for carriage like horses Page 256 Saraboma a famous Island Page 258 Sebastian king of Portugal defeated and slain by the Moors Page 292 Familiarity with Serpents Page 301 Examples of Sorcery Page 303 Seraglio of Constantinople Page 306 Temple of Saint Sophia Page 307 Seraglio described Page 310 Serri Leonna a country Page 325 Sarboul a fruit growing all the year Page 333 Frozen sea Page 347 A Stratagem Page 360 Spanish vanity Page 368 Seasons of the year in Peru. Page 372 Sheep for carrige Page 382 The Strait of Magellan Page 392 Sugar exceeding cheap Page 404 T. TRade in Arabia Page 23 A strange tempest Page 27 Trade from Ormus Page 30 Tauris a town Page 34