its Gold and Silver Mines lies Northward of Chili East of the South or Pacifick Sea and is parted from North to South almost in the midst by the huge Mountains called Andes The Country is about 600. Leagues in length from North to South but the breadth from East to West is not proportionable From hence it is that some can the whole Peninfule by the name of Peruana as they call the other from Mexico Mexicana This great and rich Kingdom was Conquered by the Spaniards ten years after that of Mexico viz. in the year 1522. Pizarro was the Man imployed in Chief in the Conquest of it a Man basely extracted and as sordidly brought up who was fain at last to steal for shelter into America Where being grown Rich and Bold by his Adventures and being well informed of the Wealth of Peru he undertook the Conquest of it and at last per fas nefas got it for the Crown of Spain Since which Time the Spaniards have divided it into three Audiencas or Prefectures Viz. Audienca de Quito which takes up the Northern Parts Audienca de los Reyes which contains the middle Parts where you will find Peru properly so called and Audienca de los Charcas which takes up the Southern Parts By Amazonia I mean all those Inland and Unknown Countrys which lye betwixt Peru on the West and Brasil on the East bounded North-wards with Terra-firma Southward with Paraguay and Part of Peru. Called Amazonia from the Amazone that great and prodigious River which runs through the North Parts of this Country from West to East into Mar del Nort or North Sea Thus you have Philalethes a general Account of the Known Parts of the World In Terra Polaris Arâ—ctica you will find Greenland first discovered in the year 982 by Ericus Rufus but little of it besides the Sea-Coast is known Famous most of all for the Fishing of Whales hereabouts East of Greenland lies Nova Zemla of which nothing is discovered as yet besides the Western Shore So that it is not known whether it be an Island or part of the Continent In Terra Australis or towards it you will find these Country 's as imperfectly discovered as those Viz. the Land of Papous East of the Molucca's and New Guinea East of that But some take the Land of Papous to be part of New Guinea South of these is New Holland not long since discovered by the Hollanders But whether it is an Island or Continent we are as yet to seek Phil. I think we have run pretty well over the World It is high time for us to rest our selves But I desire next time we meet to learn the Meaning of the Circles that so I may understand the use of Globes and Maps Sophr. With all my heart The Seventh Discourse Of the Vse of Globes and Maps with their several Circles SOphronius In our former Discourses you have had a general Account of the Real Parts of the Earth Now I come to the Imaginary ones I mean those Lines or Circles supposed to go about the World and accordingly drawn in Terrestrial Globes and Maps for the better teaching and learning of Geography Phil. Pray let me have their Definition Sophr. A Globe is a compendious Representation of the Earth in its round Figure with several Circles and an exact Situation with the Names of its several Country's Seas chief Lakes and Rivers Hills Towns or City's A Map is either general or particular By a general Map is meant a Planisphere or a Map of the whole Earth describing the Old and New World by themselves the first on the right hand and the other on the left A particular Map is a Representation of a particular Part of the World as of Europe Asia on Africa the Northern or Southern America Which are but particular Maps in respect of a Map of the whole World 'T is true there are Maps indeed more particular such as give an account of a particular Country or of one Province or more of that Country In which respect the Maps of Europe Asia Africk and America be said to be general And so I come to the Circles But first I begin with the Axel-tree of the World which is a right Line imagined to pass through the Center or midst of the World from one end of it to the other The upper end of which Axel-tree is called the Pole Arctick or North Pole and the nether end opposite to that the Pole Antarctick or South Pole Phil. How many Circles are there Sophr. There are eight principal Circles four greater and four lesser The greater Circles are The Equinoxial The great Meridian The Zodiack The Horeon The lesser Circles The Tropick of Cancer The Tropick of Capricorn The Arctick The Antarctick The Equinoctial otherwise called Aequator and by Mariners the Line is a great Circle going round the. Globe in the very midst betwixt the two Poles It is called Equinoctial because when the Sun is come to this Circle then is the Equinox that is the day and night are of an equal length And it hath the name of Aequator because it divides the World into two equal Parts the one Northwards the other Southwards From whence comes the Distinction of Northern and Southern Latitude that reaching from this Circle as far as the North Pole and this from the same Circle as far as the South-Pole Now this Circle is divided into 360. Parts called Degrees of Longitude as shewing the Length of the World Whereof the first 90. Degrees run from West to East then 180. Degrees by the back-side of the Globe from East to West and at last 90. Degrees more from West to East all which make up the number of 360. Degrees The great Meridian is a Circle that go's round the Poles and so divides the World likewise into two equal Parts In Globes it is made commonly of Brass The same has got the name of Meridian from the Latine Meridies that is Noon day because when the Sun is come to that Circle then 't is Noon in the Place whereof it is the Meridian And it is called great Meridian in opposition to those lesser Meridians which are to be seen in Globes and Maps This is the Circle wherein are set down the 360. Degrees of Latitude or Breadth of the World divided into four times 90. Now the Question is which is the most proper place for the great or first Meridian to pass through For our Modern Geographers differ much about it which causes a great Confusion Some follow still Ptolomy who placed it in the Canary Islands others have removed it more Westward to the Azores Neither do these agree amongst themselves For some will have it pass through S. Michael and S. Mary others through Corvo and Flores For my part I don't admire an Innovation that causes so much Distraction and whatever they pretend to the Remedy to be sure is worse than the Disease Therefore it were much to be wished
Ambition and Avarice the World cannot satiate These are the Idols that will not be appeased without Humane Sacrifices These the wild Boars that waste our Arcadia's But where is the Hercules And now to give you a Geographical Account of this Earth I must tell you in the first place that the Earth and Waters together make a round Body commonly called Terrestrial but more properly Terr-Aqueous Globe Terr-Aqueous because it consists of Earth and Waters and Globe from its Figure Now this Globe is all surrounded with the Air and hangs in the midst of it Phil. How is it possible for the Earth and Waters together to make a round Body when there are so many Mountains and some of them of a prodigious height Sophr. Those Mountains in respect to the Globe are nothing if compared to the greatness of it Witness el Pico one of the highest Hills in the known World and yet not above two Leagues high perpendicularly And what is I pray the disproportion of two Leagues in a Body which no less than 1200. only to the Center or the middle point Phil. Do you say so How big is then the Terr-Aqueous Globe about Sophr. It is no less than 360. Degrees which at 20. Leagues or 60. miles a Degree comes to 7200. leagues or 21600. miles And yet 't is all but a Point if compared with Heaven Now the Diameter being in all round Bodies the third part of the Circumference it follows that the Diameter of the Terrestrial Globe is 2400. leagues and consequently the Semi-Diameter which reaches but to the Center 1200. leagues Phil. I am satisfied as to that but I am gravelled upon another account For I cannot conceive how so great and so heavy a Body as is the Terr-Aqueous Globe as you call it should hang in the Air without any support when if we throw but a stone into the Air it presently falls down Sophr. The Reason is because all heavy things do naturally incline to their Center which is thought to have an attractive faculty to that purpose The next Thing we must consider is that one part of the Earth is visible and the other part under Water Now the Question is you will say which of the two Superficies is greater that of the Earth or that of the Water But this we cannot tell certainly because one great Part of the Terr-Aqueous Globe is as yet unknown to us And if we speak only of that Part which is known there is no doubt in case that we do reckon Lakes and Rivers but that the Superficies of the Water exceeds that of the Land Otherwise I find no great odds betwixt the Sea and the Land 'T is true the Sea gets ground now and then and incroaches upon the Land but 't is as true on the other side that it leaves some places dry Witness Zealand which formerly was under the Sea as we may guess by the great Bonefishes and Anchors that have been digged up there and now is a pleasant fertile and populous Countrey But however all this is nothing if compared to the whole Superficies of the Earth and Waters And so Philalethes we have hitherto spoke of the Earth and Waters as an Aggregate Body now we must treat of them separately First You must know the Land as it is more or less incompassed with Water is principally divided Into Continents Islands Peninsules A Continent otherwise called Firm Land is a great part of Earth but partly watered by the Sea as France and Germany An Island is a part of Earth invironed round about with Water as great Britain and Ireland A Peninsule is a part of Earth almost surrounded with Water and only joyned to the Continent by a narrow neck of Land as Morea in Greece Now in Continents Islands and Peninsule's are to be considered these natural Parts following Viz. Isthmus or Neck of Land Cape or Promontory Point or Foreland Coast or Sea-Coast Shore or Bank Hill Mount or Mountain Valley or Dale Pit or Precipice Marsh Mere or Fens Plain or Champaign Ground Downs Heaths Forrest or Wood. Desart or Wilderness An Isthmus is a narrow Neck of Land that joyns a Peninsule to a Continent A Cape or Promontory is a Hill that shoots forth into the Sea A Point or Foreland is a narrow piece of Ground that runs point-wise into the Sea A Coast or Sea-Coast is that part of a Country which lies by the Sea-side A Shore the very extremity of Land that borders upon any Water and if raised much higher than the Water then it is termed a Bank A Hill is a part of Earth rising more or less above the neighbouring Ground but if it be of a great height or extent then it is also called by the name of Mount or Mountain A Valley or a Dale is a low Ground that lies at the bottom of a Hill or betwixt two distinct Hills A Pit or Precipice is a great fall of Earth apt to strike with horror those that look down into it Marsh Meers Fens or Marshy Ground a Quantity of Land so intermixt with Water that it is not passable but in a great Drought or hard Frost A Plain or Champaign Ground is a great plot of Ground lying level and open Which if upon a Hill is called Downs and if overgrown with Heath is named a Heath By a Forrest or Wood is properly meant a great Plot of Ground covered with Trees unplanted and growing of their own accord Lastly we call a Desart or Wilderness a vast quantity of Barren and uninhabited Land Phil. To make some useful Reflections upon what is said I desire to know in the first place which are the chiefest and most remarkable Islands Sophr. To answer your Desire there is first in Europe Great Brittain and Ireland both surrounded with the Ocean These are the two largest Islands of Europe and great Brittain as it is one of the best so 't is one of the greatest Islands in the World Then in the Mediterranean if you begin from the Streights you will find these goodly Islands East of Spain viz. Yvica Majorca and Minorca the two last being the Baleares Insulae of the Ancients Further Eastward you will meet with Sardinia and North of that with Corsica Then at the very Foot of Italy is Sicily the greatest Island in the Mediterranean Not much Inferiour to which is Candia formerly called Creet lying South-East of Morea in Greece In the Archipelago or the Aegean Sea a Sea which swarms with Islands the principal Island for bigness is the Negropont formerly known by the name of Euboea As to the Northern Sea called the Baltick there are few Islands of any great note besides Zealand and Fuinen which make part of Denmark and in the first of which you will find Copenhagen the Royal Seat of that Kingdom Secondly In Asia the chief Islands for bigness and first in the Mediterranean are Cyprus in the furthest parts of the Sea towards the East Next to which is the Isle of
Rhodes lying Westward from it But in the Ocean you will find besides Ceylan a considerable Island in the East-Indies these following incomparably bigger viz. Borneo Sumatra Java Celebes Mindanao Lucon or Manille and East of China Japan Africk cannot boast of any great Island besides that of Madagascar which indeed is a vast Island lying South-East-ward In the New World or America you will find near the Month of the River Canada a great Island called New-found-Land and in the Gulf of Mexico Cuba and Hispaniola West of Mare Vermejo or the Vermilion Sea there 's an Island as big as those three which is called California and South of the Streights of Magellan is also a large Island called Terra del Fuego or the Land of Fire The Rest are not to be compared in bigness to any of those But towards Terra Borealis North of America you will find three great but wild Islands called Cumberlands Isles lying betwixt the Streights of Hudson and Davis and another near Furbisher's Streights Further towards the East is Iseland another great Island belonging to the King of Denmark which is but thinly Inhabited The Arctick Circle passes through the middle of it Phil. What do you think Sophronius of Europe Asia and Africk Are they not surrounded with the Sea Sophr. They are so But because of their vast Extent they are usually called by the name of Continents Phil. I have heard say of Sicily that it was credibly supposed to have been in former times joyned to Italy Pray what ground is there for it Sophr. The Narrowness of the Streights and the Shallowness of it besides that the Land on both sides is very brittle First the Streight is so narrow that where narrowest it is not above a mile and a half broad and 't is observed that at the taking of Messina by the Carthaginians many of the Inhabitants saved themselves by swimming over into Italy Secondly It is so Shallow that upon a diligent Sounding 'tis found not to be above eight Fathom deep Thirdly the Land on both sides is so very brittle and so full of hollow Caverns and Chinks that it is lookt upon as the effects of a working Sea on this separation To which add that on the Italian Coast there stands a City of old called Rhegium and now Regio from the Greek Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to break off or pull asunder supposed to be so called upon this occasion The Poets themselves give us to understand as much when they tell us that Neptune with his Trident broke this Island off from the Continent in savour of Jocastus the Son of Aeolus that so he might Inhabit there with the greater safety And indeed if by Neptune we understand the Sea and by Aeolus the Winds we may easily with some help from the Mythologists make a Story good enough of that Poetical Fiction Phil. By what you said the Thing seems very probable And who knows but that our Island here was once joyn'd to the Continent of France and broke off from it by the violence of the Sea and the fury of blustering Winds or perhaps by some Earthquake 'T is you know but twenty miles over Sophr. That 's a great way Philalethes and I look upon that distance as the greatest Argument against it though I know there be those who are apt to believe it But let there be a Demurr upon that Subject and if you will let us now take a Survey of the chief Peninsules First I begin with Africk the largest and truest Peninsule of all being every where surrounded with Seas except where it joyns to Asia by the narrow Isthmus of Sues As for Europe and Asia you may call them if you will Peninsules but not so properly as Africk For though they be almost surrounded with Seas yet there is more than an Isthmus in the case Europe being joyned to Asia a good way by Land and this last besides to Africk by the aforesaid Isthmus But the Northern and Southern America make of themselves two large and perfect Peninsules every where incompassed with Seas but where they joyn together in the middle by the Isthmus of Panama Besides those great Peninsules there are others of a less compass and yet much taken notice of As 1. Jutland in Denmark known amongst the Ancients by the name of Cimbrica Chersonesus Chersonesus being Originally a Greek Word for a Peninsule 2. The Taurick Chersonese from the Latin Taurica Chersonesus which is properly the European Tartary lying betwixt the Black Sea and Palus Maeotis 3. The Thracian Chersonese from the Latin Thracica Chersonesus a Peninsule which runs North from the Hellespont in Greece 4. Morea formerly called Peloponesus in the Southern parts of Greece this Peninsule being joyned but by a very little Isthmus called the Corinthian Isthmus to the Continent of Greece 5. The Golden Chersonese from the Latin Aurea Chersonesus a famous Peninsule in the East-Indies where now lies the Kingdom of Malacca and the South part of that of Siam 6. The Peninsule of Corea in the North-East parts of China 7. Those of Acadia Florida and Yucatan in the Northern America the first lying Southward of St. Laurence's Gulf the second in Florida North of the Island Cuba and the third being part of Mexico or New Spain Now among the Istmus's that joyn these Peninsules to their several Continents there are three of special note viz. the Isthmus of Sues the Corinthian Isthmus and that of Panama And it is observable first as to the Corinthian Isthmus that there was a Design of old to cut it through being but six miles in breadth and so make a perfect Island of Morea This was attempted but in vain first by Demetrius King of Macedon then by Julius Caesar afterwards by Caius Caligula and most of all by the Emperour Nero. Who to hearten his Soldiers took himself a Spade in hand and began the Work But at last they being frighted with the Blood which abundantly broke forth with the Groans and Roarings they continually heard and with the Hobgoblins and Furies which were always in their sight as if God had not been pleased with so proud an Enterprize perswaded the Emperour to give over this unprofitable Design as had done the former Princes on the like Discouragements As to that of Panama which is twenty Leagues in breadth a small Ligament for so great a Body as the Northern and Southern America there has been also some thoughts of cutting a Navigable Channel through that Isthmus whereby those two Peninsules should be turned into Islands and the long Voyages to China and the Molucca's might be very much shortned The Thing it self has been oftentimes moved to the Council of Spain But it was not thought convenient to attempt it In Aegypt Sesostris King of that Countrey attempted to cut a main Channel from the Red Sea to the River Nilus fit for Ships of great Burthen the marks of which proud Attempt are remaining still His Project was seconded
by Darius the great Persian Monarch and one of the Ptolomies But they all gave it over for this Reason lest by letting in the Red Sea they should drown the Country that Sea being found to be much higher than the Mediterranean and the Flats of Aegypt Phil. So perhaps a second Deluge was prevented Sophr. I could tell you more of these Projects which never came to perfection As that of Nicanor King of Syria to have made a Channel from the Caspian to the Euxine or Black Sea which was a prodigious Project That of Lucius Verus who intended to joyn the Rhine and the Rhone and the Project of Charles the Great to let the Rhine into the Danube There is none but great Lewis the now Almighty King of France who by a long and chargeable Channel carry'd through his Dominions has at last joyned the Ocean to the Mediterranean I should now resume Philalethes the thread of our Discourse but that I am loth to pass by the strange and famous Adventure of John Oxenham an English man in his Passage over the Isthmus of Panama by Land An Adventure not to be forgotten and recorded by Spanish Writers with much Admiration This Man one of the Followers of Sir Francis Drake being arrived in a small Barque with seventy of his Companions a little above Nombre de Dios the chiefest Town of all the Isthmus drew his Barque on Land covered it with Boughs and marched over the Land with his Company guided by Negroes till he came to a River There he cut down Wood made him a Pinnace entred the South Sea and went to the Isle of Pearls where he stay'd some days During which he intercepted in two Spanish Ships who feared no Enemy on that side 60000 pound weight of Gold 200000 pound weight in Bars of Silver and so returned in safety to the Land Phil. The Attempt was bold the Success strange and the Booty prodigious But what became of the Adventurer at last Sophr. It happen'd by the Mutiny of some of his Company that he never lived to return unto his Ship nor into his own Country Thus having done Philalethes with Isthmus's shall I now give you an Account of such Capes as are most famous amongst us Phil. With all my heart Sophr. Then to begin with Europe there is in Lap-land the North Cape being the most Northern part of Europe in the 72. Degree of Northern Latitude In Galicia a Province of Spain the Cape of Finisterra in the 44th Degree of the same Latitude In Algarve the most Southern Province of Portugal the Cape of St. Vincent in the 37th Degree of the same Latitude And in the most Southern part of Greece the Capes of Gallo and Matapan in the 35th Degree of the same Latitude In Asia Cape Raz the most Eastern part of Arabia in the 22th Degree of Northern Latitude Cape Mosandan upon the Streights of the Persian Gulf in the 27th Degree of the same Latitude Cape Comori in the most Southern part of Malabar in India and in the 8th Degree of Northern Latitude In Africk the Cape of Bone upon the Mediterranean South and by West of Sicily and towards the Streights Cabo de las tres furcas Then upon the Atlantick Sea Cape Cantin in the Kingdom of Morocco and in the 32d Degree of Northern Latitude Cabo biance or the white Cape in the Negro's Land and in the 21th Degree of the same Latitude Cape verd or the green Cape also in the Negro's Land but in the 15th Degree of Northern Latitude And Cabo Formoso or the Fair Cape in Guinea and in the 4th Degree of the same Latitnde Then Cabo Negro or the Black Cape upon the Coast of Cafraria and in the 17th Degree of Southern Latitude And in the most Southern Parts of Africk the famous Cape of good Hope being in the 35th Degree of Southern Latitude First Discovered Anno. 1487. by Bartholomew de Diez a Portuguese whom John 11. King of Portugal imployed to find out the way to the East-Indies But he went no further and returned home again either discouraged by cross Winds or unruly Seas or the untractableness of his Mariners or by all together Vasques de Gama was the Man to whom the Honour of this Enterprize was reserved Who being imployed in this Service by Emanuel King of Portugal in the year 1497. doubled the Cape and called it Cabo de Buena Speranza or the Cape of good Hope because of the good hope it gave him of finding the desired Way to the Trade of India Wherein he was so successfull that having found there the Port of Calicut he with infinite Joy and Honour returned to Lisbon in the year 1500 and so opened the way to the East-India Trade by Sea Upon the Eastern Coast there are two noted Capes that of Corrientes and the Cape of Guardafuy this last being the most Eastern part of Africk 130 Leagues East of the Streights of Babelmandel and in the 12th Degree of the Northern Latitude In the Northern America near Hudscn's Streights you will find Cape Worsnam Cape Charles and Cape Henry In Virginia another Cape Charles and in an Island near the Coast of Florida the Cape of Canaveral In the Southern America Cabo de la Vela upon the Gulf of Mexico and Cabo Raz or North Cape in Caribana In Brazil the Cape of St. Augustine and further Southward Cape Erio On the South-side of the mouth of Rio de la Plata St. Anthony's Cape and further Southward St. Andrews Cape Lastly the Cape of Virgins upon the Streights of Magellan and the Cape of Victory on the West end of those Streights Towards and upon the Coast of Greenland you may take notice of these Capes first found out by the English Viz. Cape Discord Cape Farewell Cape Christian Cape Desolation Cape Comfort Cape Chidley Cape Walsingham c. And so I have done with Capes a Thing of great use to Mariners Now I am resolved to divert you with Hills and Mountains Phil. You are more like to fright me with the Height and Steepness of them Sophr. The highest Hill we know of is el Pico aforesaid a prodigious high Hill of Tenariffe one of the Canary Islands West of Africk It has been reckoned by some 15. miles high by others 40 and more but with little credit Warenius allows it to be 2. Leagues that is six miles high perpendicularly and 't is said that it may be seen 80 Leagues at Sea in a fair clear day The form of it is Pyramidal in shape agreeing to those Wonders of Art the Egyptian Pyramids The Top whereof ending in a sharp point called the Pike of Tenariffe is never without Snow But there are other great Hills famous not only for their Height but also for their vast Extent As in Europe 1. The Alpes that part Italy from France and Germany 2. The Pyrenees that divide Spain from France 3. The Apennine that part Italy almost in the very middle 4. The Carpathian Hills
Armiro Salonichi Aiomama or St. Anna Monte Santo Contessa and Caridia all upon the Coast of Greece As to the Baltick Sea besides the great Gulfs of Bothnia and Finland in which it ends those of most note are the Gulfs of Lubeck Dantzick and Riga And so I proceed to Streights From what has been said before it doth appear that there are three sorts of Streights Some that afford a Passage out of one part of the Ocean into another some out of the Ocean into an Inland Sea and others out of one Inland Sea into another Phil. Pray let us have them all together Sophr. As to Those that make way from one part of the Ocean into another there is none of note either in Europe or Africk Unless we should reckon in Europe the Channel for one and the Irish Sea for another In Asia there are many as the Streights of Weygatz betwixt Nova Zemla in Terra Borealis and some North Parts of the Asian Tartary of Uriez near the Land of Jesso of Zungar betwixt Japon and Yupi in Tartary of Manille South of a great Island of that name the chief of the Philippine of Macassar South of Celebes another great Island in the Indian Sea of Palambua East of the great Island called Java of Bantam betwixt Java and Sumatra of Malacca betwixt Malacca in the Golden Chersonese and the Island Sumatra and lastly of Chilao betwixt the Indian Peninsule on this side Ganges and the Island called Ceylon In America there 's the Streights of Magellan betwixt the Southern America and del Fuego To which we may add Mare Vermejo or the Vermilion Sea betwixt New Mexico an Island of California which though never so long is properly but a Streight of this nature Those that make way from the Ocean into Inland Seas are in Europe the Sund which gives an entrance into the Baltick and betwixt Europe and Africk the famous Streights of Gibraltar otherwise called only the Streights which is an Inlet into the Mediterranean In Asia there is the Streights of Babelmandel which afford a Passage into the Red Sea and of Mossandan into the Persian Gulf North of America you will find the Streights of Davis that lead into Baffin's Bay and That of Hudson which brings one into Hudson's Bay Lastly there are three Streights that afford a Passage out of one Inland Sea into another Viz. the Hellespont now called the Streights of Gallipoli and by the French les Dardanelles or le Bras S. George betwixt the Archipelago and the Propontis or Sea of Marmora Then the Thracian Bosphorus or the Streights of Constantinople betwixt the said Propontis and the Euxine or Black Sea Thirdly Bosphorus Cimmerius now the Streights of Caffa betwixt that Sea and Palus Maeotis Phil. Is not the Hellespont that little Channel about a mile broad over which the Persian King Xerxes intending to Invade all Greece made a Bridge of Ships and so wasted over his propigious Army of above two Millions of Men Sophr. The very same But a Sudden Tempest being risen whereby this Prodigious Bridg was dangerously battered Xerxes was so incensed against this Sea that he caused it to be beaten with 300. Stripes and cast a pair of Fetters into it to make it know to whom it was Subject Yet at last his Fleet was so broken both by the Valour of the Greeks and the Fury of the Sea that he was fain to fly away over this Hellespont and to make use of a poor Fisher-boat Phil. So the proud King was fain to stoop at last and run away with shame A very fit Reward for so extravagant a Pride Sophr. Thus having taken a Survey of the Seas Gulfs and Streights now we shall make if you think fit some Useful Reflections upon the Sea and examine its Height Depth Colour Tast and several Motions Phil. Do you believe Sophronius the Sea is higher than the Land or no Sophr. There are many that do and who conclude it therefore a Miracle that the Land is not overflown For my part I do allow of a Globosity in the Sea but not such as may indanger the Land except where the Ground by the Sea-side is lower than ordinary And in such a case the Inhabitants truly don 't rely upon Miracles but are fain to raise Banks in order to prevent an Invasion of the Sea which never fails to incroach upon the Land when there is any way for it But the very Course of the Rivers down to the Sea does manifestly prove the Sea to be no higher than the Land but rather lower In short we must conclude that if the Sea were higher than the Rivers that would certainly come down into their Channels and drown not only the Land but the Rivers So natural it is for Water where there is the least descent to move that way one part following still another without intermission Phil. I am very well satisfied as to this Point Let us now proceed if you please to the Depth of the Sea Sophr. It s Depth is very unequal For as the Land has Hills both great and small Valleys and Precipices so there are in the Sea Shelves Rocks Whirl-pools and Places not to be fadomed To be short the further from Land is the Sea the deeper it is commonly and in some places it has been found no less than five or six miles deep As for the Colour of the Sea it appears generally to be of a Sky-colour But Northward it looks darkish in the Torrid Zone Brownish and in some other Places Whitish and Yellowish Phil. I wonder Sophronius you should forget the Red Colour amongst all the rest Or else how comes the Red Sea to be so called Sophr. Not from the Redness of the Waters nor from that of the Sands as some conceiv'd the Sea and Sands being found by latter Observation to be coloured here as in other places But you must know this Sea was originally called the Sea of Edom because it took beginning on the Coasts of that Countrey Now Edom in Hebrew signifies Red as appears Gen 25.30 A Nick-name first given to Esau and from him afterwards to Mount Seir or the Land of Edom Gen. 36.31 and then to the Neighbouring Sea Which by the Greeks was rendred Erythraeum and by the Latines Rubrum Whence the Name of the Red Sea became known to all but the Reason of the Name to few So the White Sea in the Northern Parts of Europe is probably so called because it washes the Shore of White Russia or Moscovy For I guess it must be from hence the Moscovites call it Bella More and we accordingly White Sea I am sure by my own Experience that it cannot be from any Whiteness it has Neither has the Black Sea took that Name from its Blackness but either from the great Mists that arise from thence or from the frequent Shipwracks that happen there the Shore being very dangerous by reason of its Rocks and Sands How Mare Vermejo or the Vermilion Sea that
runs betwixt the Northern America and the Island of California came to be so called I am as yet to seek But towards Cabo Verde in Africk the Atlantick Ocean looks so green with a kind of herb that in calm weather one would take it to be Land and from that herb which is something like Water-cresses the Portugueze call this Sea Mare di Sargasso In the Year 1599. the Sea towards the Mouth of Rio de la Plata in the Southern America appeared as red as Blood to the Hollanders that were upon that Road but then it was occasioned by certain red Worms wherewith the Sea was covered and which they saw swim upon the Water Now from the Depth and Colour of the Sea I proceed to its Saltness For it is generally Salt but chiefly in the Torrid Zone except where great Rivers disimbogue themselves into the Sea by several Mouth And it is observable that the Salter the Sea is the heavier it is and less apt to be frozen Lastly there are several Motions of the Sea and first a general Motion from East to West Secondly the Tide or the Flux and Reflux when the Sea flows in for some hours and then go's off again The Cause of which is Arcanum Naturae a Secret of Nature which puzzles still the ablest Philosophers Now the greatest Tides are upon a Full Moon and New Moon and likewise in the Spring and Fall But in some Places the Flux is greater than in others and there is some Seas where it is scarce discernable The Baltick Sea has none and the Mediterranean so little that except the Gulf of Venice 't is hardly to be seen To be short in most Places where there is a Tide the Sea flows constantly during 6 hours and 12 minutes and then ebbs in the same proportion of time Whereas in the Garonne one of the chief Rivers of France 't is flowing water during seven hours and ebbing water but five And towards Zenega a branch of the River Niger in Africk the Tide flows but four hours and ebbs as long again The Sea has also some proper Currents in some Places As between the Cape of Good Hope and Madagascar the great African Island where the Sea moves Southwestward so strongly that it is hard to overcome that Current even with a fair Wind. Whereas from Madagascar to the Cape a Ship may come with ease by the savour of that strong Current without the help of any Wind. In the West Indies there is also a violent Current that is the Streights of Bahama so called from an Island of that name towards Florida The same it is with those Places where great Rivers fall into the Sea As betwixt Loango and Congo in Africa where the great River Zaire empty's it self into the Ocean with such a rapidity that no Ship as my Author say's can get above half a League a day forward towards the Shore Phil. I long to know the nature of Whirlpools Sophr. This is another Motion of the Sea proper to some particular Places As that of the Aegean Sea in the famous Euripus of old betwixt Eubaea an Island now known by the name of Negropont and Achaia in Greece Reported to ebb and flow seven times in one day The Reason of which when Aristotle could not find it is said but hardly believed that he threw himself into the Sea with these words Quia ego non Capio te tu Copies me Sicily has been also most famous for her Charybdis a Gulf or Whirlpool of which and Scylla opposite to it in Italy many fabulous Things are reported by the ancient Poets Wherefore Florus the Historian calls the Fare of Messina Fabulosis infame Monstris Fretum However it is said of this Charybdis that it attracts and devours all Vessels that come too nigh it then casts up their Wracks at the Shore of Tauromenium now called Taormina And as to Scylla 't is but a Rock that stands dangerously on the side of Italy with many little Rocks that shoot out at the foot of it On which the Water beating very strongly makes that Noise the Poets seigned to be the Barking of Dogs Now the Passage between these two being to unskilfull Mariners exceeding Perillous gave beginning to the Proverb Incidit in Scyllam cupiens vitare Charybdim Upon the Coast of Normandy in France and not far from Havre de Grace there is a kind of Whirl-pool which draws a Ship to it with great Force but beats her off at last But the greatest of all the Whirlpools we know of is the Maelstroom upon the Coast of Norway This is some four Leagues about and for the space of six hours it swallows up whatever comes near it then brings it up again six hours after with a dreadful noise Phil. What other Motion of the Sea have you to speak of Sophr. That which is caused by the Winds And these you know when strong and violent make the Sea rage and foam with an hideous noise A fearful Object to see this Element which in a Calm looks like an Azure Field become in a Storm a continual Series of tumbling Mountains and Abysses of Water Me miserum quanti Montes volvuntur aquarum Jam jam tacturos Sydera summa putes Quantae diducto subsidunt Aequore Valles Jam jam tacturos Tartara nigra putes Thus Ovid bemoans himself in his Book De Tristibus where he makes an excellent Description of a Storm he met with in his way to Pontus Phil. I understand you Sophronius and certainly a Man must be void of Sense that exposes himself voluntarily to the Mercy of that Element Sophr. Not so neither Philalethes The Sea as well as the Land was made for the service of Man and from it we reap many great Advantages By the Sea we have the opportunity of an Intercourse with the remotest Country's And if all men had been of your Temper how should so many fair Islands have been peopled that are now flourishing In fine if no Body had had Courage enough to venture upon the Sea how should we be acquainted with the Wonders of it Phil. For my part I confess I am not cut out for the Sea I love to go upon sure Ground and I am for that Element which is most proper for Mankind In short I like the Proverb Praise the Sea but keep on Land Sophr. There is nothing to the World so formidable but one may use himself to it If the Sea be sometimes troublesome and cruel it is as often pleasant and delightful and those that are used to it can hardly live from it Phil. Well I wish 'em well to do Trahit sua quemque Voluptas every one as he likes I have kit a puking Stomack I cannot indure to be tossed And when all is done those that go to Sea are in continual Danger of Fire Water and Pirats If one be Sea-sick what Agony and what help is there for it Who can expect a Relief in such a Case either
Negroponte are the chiefest 2. Moesia containing Servia Bulgaria and Bessarabia 3. the South parts of Podolia in Poland and Caffa in the Taurick Chersonese 4. Bosnia with the greatest part of Hungary Sclavonia Croatia and Dalmatia And lastly though the Grand-Signior be not fully possessed of Moldavia Valachia and Transylvania yet the respective Princes thereof are Tributary to Him And so is the Cham of Tartary the lesser As to the Kingdom of Norway it belongs to the Crown of Denmark and the greatest part of Livonia to Sweden The great Dukedom of Lithuania is united to the Crown of Poland Lapland is divided betwixt the Czar of Moscovy and the Kings of Sweden and Denmark Savoy within the Alps belongs to the Duke of that Name Adjoyning to which is Valesia and the Country of Grisons Now most of the Country's aforesaid are subdivided into several Provinces and some of these into lesser Parts But I shall forbear at present those Subdivisions and leave that till another time My Design is only to give you a general Account of the World till I have more time to come to Particulars Phil. Then let us proceed to Asia Sophr. Asia the greatest of the five Parts of the World is a Peninsule almost as big again as Europe and every way incompassed by the Ocean except on the West side Northwards the Ocean parts it as it doth Europe from Terra Borealis Eastwards from America and Southwards from Terra Australis Then on the West 't is bounded with the Red Sea which parts it from Africk Next to that with the narrow Isthmus of Sues where Asia joyns to Africk afterwards with the East end of the Mediterranean and lastly with those Seas and Streights c. that part it from Europe for which I refer you thither The same as I hinted before was first called Asia by the Europeans from the nearest part to Greece called by that name Which spread it self from that Lydian Asia to Asia properly so called whereof that was but a Part the proper Asia to the whole Body of Anatolia and this to the whole Continent Now this being known by the name of Asia occasioned the Distinction of Asia the greater and Asia the lesser by which last name Anatolia is still called amongst us Phil. Now Sophronius let me know upon what Grounds Asia should have as you think the Precedency Sophr. Not to insist upon the Largenest of its Extent or the Riches of its Soil I think Asia ought to be had in special honour for these Reasons following First for the Creation of Man who had his first making in this Part of the World For here stood the Garden of Eden the first place of his Habitation and from hence all Nations of the World had their first beginning Secondly because here flourished the two first great Monarchies of the Assyrians and Persians the first signified by the Image with the Golden Head in Daniel and the last by the Arms and Breast of Silver Thirdly because it was the Scene of almost all the memorable Actions recorded in the Scriptures And lastly because that here our Saviour Christ was born wrought his Divine Miracles and accomplished the great Work of our Redemption Phil. I am very well satisfied with your Reasons The next Thing I desire to know is the Division of Asia Sophr. Asia is chiefly divided Into Turky in Asia Arabia Persia India China Tartary Besides the Islands Turky in Asia comprehends 1. Asia the less or Anatolia now called by contraction Natolia which anciently was divided into these Provinces so noted in History Some Maritime ones as Pontus Bithynia Phrygia the lesser Mysia Aeolis and Ionia Caria and Doris Lycia Pamphylia Cilicia And these Inland Provinces Viz. Isauria Armenia the lesser Cappadocia Galatia Paphlagonia Phrygia the greater Lydia Pisidia Lycaonia 2. It contains Armenia the greater now called Turcomania 3. Chaldea Assyria and Mesopotamia which three Provinces together did properly and originally constitute the Assyrian Empire 4. Syria and Palestine the first containing Syria propria Coelo-Syria Phoenicia Palmyrene and Palestine being otherwise called the Land of Canaan or the Land of Promise Judaea and Israel The Northern part of which when possessed by the Tribes of Asser Nephthalim Zabulon and Issachar went properly by the name of Galilee 5. part of Arabia Now Arabia is divided into Petraea or Stony Deserta or Desart and Faelix or Happy this last of a vast extent Persia a large Continent was anciently divided into Persis Susiana Carmania Gedrosia Drangiana Aria Arachosia Paropamisus Parthia Hyrcania Margiana and Bactria To Persia may be also referred Media and Georgia Media contained Atropatia and Georgia comprehended Iberia Colchis and Albania India was divided from the River Ganges into India intra Gangem or India on this side Ganges and India extra Gangem or India beyond Ganges Here is amongst other Kingdoms the vast Empire of the great Mogol China and Tartary are also two vast Continents but this last especially which altogether takes up above one third part of Asia As for the chief Islands of Asia you have had an Account of them in the fourth Discourse So I shall proceed to a general Account of Africk Phil. I am ready to hear you Sophr. Africk a compleat Peninsule is bounded on the North with the Streights of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean which part it from Europe on the South with the Southern Ocean which separates it from Terra Australis Eastward with the Ocean likewise for the most part then with the Red-Sea which parts it from Asia and lastly with the foresaid Isthmus of Sues where it joyns to Asia and without which Africk would be a compleat Island It contains in chief Berbary Biledulgerid Zara The Negroes Land Guinea Congo Cafraria Monomotapa Monomugi Zanguebar Abissinia Nubia Egypt Barbary which runs as Far as Aegypt along the Mediterranean contains the Kingdom of Morocco Westward upon the Atlantick Ocean the Kingdom of Fesse partly upon that Ocean partly upon the Streights and the Mediterranean Then still going Eastward you will find the States of Algier Tunis Tripoli and the Kingdom of Barca Now Mauritania took up the Western Part of Barbary And as the Kingdom of Tunis was the Africa propria of the Ancients so you will find their Cyrehe and Marmarica in the Kingdom of Barca Biledulgerid anciently called Numidia being part of Lybia Interior ly's South of Barbary and runs also from West to East as far as Aegypt Zara or Libya Deserta anciently counted likewise as part of Libya Interior ly's South of Biledulgerid South of that you will find the Negroes Land which runs also a great way from the Atlantick Eastward and is divided into several Kingdoms And Southward is Guinea a Sea Coast Country The first of note amongst other Things for the Negroes that are commonly imployed in the New World to do the Europeans Drudgery This for the Gold that is brought from thence Congo Cafraria Monomotapa and Monomugi went all amongst