hereof as was in the possession of the Tribes of Israel And of this sort are 1. Canaan oâ— the Land of Canaan so called from Canaan the Sonne of Cham by whom first peopled after the flood 2. The Land of Promise because by God promised to Abraham and his feed for an habitation 3. Israel from the Israelites or Sonnes of Jncob whose surname was Israel 4. Judaea and by us Jewry from the Jews or people of the Tribe of Jadah the most prevalent of the Tribes of Israel And 5. Terrâ—s Sancta or the Holy Land because the subject of the greatest part of the Holy Scripture and that the work of our Redemption was herein accomplished by our Lord and Saviour Which notwithstanding we must know that though these names do many times by a Synechdoche express the whole Countrey of Palestineâ— yet neither the Canaanites or the Israelites were ever Masters of the whole except onely in the times of David and of some of the Maccabean Princes as also in some part of the reign of Herod the Great all which had the good fortune to command it totally But being the most considerable People of it were the Tribes of Israel we will first look upon the Countrey People under that capacity And for so much hereof as was held by them it is situate between the third and fourth Climats the longest day being fourteen hours and a quarter the whole length but 200 miles and not above 80 in the breadth yet was of such a fruitful soil that before the comming in of the Israelites it had 30 Kings and after the comming in of that people so extreamly populous that David numbred on Million and 300000 fighting men besides those of the Tribes of Levi and Benjamiâ— But of the fruitfulness hereof more shortly As for the People they were by composition of a midle stature but strong of bodie in their best times a murmuring and stiff-necked genneration never well pleased either with God or man with their Priests or Princes seldome conform unto the Commandments of their God nor very much constant to themselves So crippled in their goings betwixt superstitions and Idolatry that they knew not how to walk uprightly Idolatrous above measure and incorrigible in it till their coming back from the Captivity of Babylon and after that as superstitious and severe in the point of their Sabbath as they had formerly been exorbitant in the worship of Idols No Medium on either side but extream in both Divided antiently into these four ranks that is to say 1. Jews 2. Hellenists 3. Proselytes and 4. Samaritans all of them pretending a right unto this Countrey though not all of them dwelling in it Of these the first called Jews from Judah the predominant Tribe and Hebrews from Heber the Sonne of Sela grand-sonne of Sem and one of the Ancestors of Abraham were such as naturally descended of the Tribes of Israel and lived for the most part in their own Countrey adhering to the Law of Moses and embracing the whole Canon of the Old Testament from the book of Genesis to the book of the Prophet Malachi Called also Israelites because descended from the loins of their Father 〈◊〉 to whom God gave the name of Israel for his greater honour but after the ten Tribes were carryed away by Salmâ—inassar to an endlesse captivity and the two tribes with the remainder of the rest returned from that temporary one which they found in Babylon the name of Israelites was laid by and that of Jâ—â—s assumed as more proper to them These read the Scriptures and executed all Divine Offices in their natural Hebrew 2. The Hellenists were such as were Jews by parentage but lived dispersed in most Provinces of the Roman Empire called by that name we may English it the Graecizing Jews because they read the Scriptures in the Greek or Septuagints translation and performed all publique offices in that lanquage also In other things as superstitious in their Sabbaths as tenacious of their Circumcision and others of the rites and ceremonies of the law of Moses as the Jews of Palestine and for that reason scorned and derided by the Genâ—iles amongst whom they lived Credit Indaerus apella saith one of their Poets relating to their circumcising Recuâ—ing Sabbat a palles saith another of them with scorn enough unto their Sabbaths Noviâ—illie ritus coetets mortalibus conâ—rarâ— saith Tacitus a graver Author of the whole body of their Rituals or Acts of worship 3. The Proselytes were such as not being Iews by birth or discent of parentage conformed themselves unto their customes and desired to be admitted into their Religion And these were also of two sorts the one called Proselyri Portae and the other Proselyti foederis The first of these admitted by the Iews to the worship of God and instructed in the hopes of the life to come were onely tied to those precepts which the Hebrew Doctors call the Precepts of the sonnes of Noah but were neither circumcised nor otherwise conform to the Law of Moses Which Precepts of the Sonnes of Noah so called because supposed to be given by Noah unto his Sonnes when he came out of the Ark were seven in number that is to say 1. That they dealt uprightly with every man 2. That they blessed and magnified the name of God 3. That they worshipped not any false Gods but to abstain from Idolatry 4. To refrain from all unlawful lusts and copulations 5. To keep themselves from theft and robbery 6. From shedding bloud And 7. not to eat the flesh or member of any beast taken from it when it was alive by which all cruelty was forbidden These though they were admitted to the worship of God and might repair unto the Temple yet because of their Uncircumcision they were not suffered to converse with the Iews nor to come into the same Court of the Temple with them but were accounted as unclean and had their Court apart assigned them in the worship of God which was called Atriam Gentium or Immundoruâ— and was the outermost of all The other Proselytes which were called Proselyti foederis conformed in all things to the Iews as in Circumcision Sabbath-keeping and all other Ceremonies and were accounted of as adopted Iews privileged as they were to worship in the Inner Court bound as they were from eating or drinking with a Gentile and in a word partakers with them in all things both divine and humane and different in nothing from them but their race or parentage These last in the New Testament called simply Proselytes without any addition the former by the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the worshipping Gentiles of which see Acts 16. v. 14. chap. 17. v. 4. 17. chap. 18. v. 4. c. 4. As for the Samaritans they possessed a great part of this Countrey which the Proselytes did not yet were not so much Iews as they But of these more anon when we come to Samaria the proper place
Geographia Sacra Out of whose learned labours and some Animadversions of mine own I shall here say somewhat concerning the Plantation of the World by the Sons of Noah leaving the more exact and punctuall description of it unto the History of those severall Lands and Countries which were planted by them First therefore to begin with the posterity of Sem as those who fixed themselves in Asia without wandring further we finde Sem to have had five sons that is to say Elam Assur Arphaxad Lud and Aram of whom there is no issue on Record in holy Scripture but onely of Arphaxad and Aram And of these two there are but four sonnes given to Aram viz Uz Hul Gether and Mesech and but one to Arphaxad which was Selah To Selah was born Heber to Heber Phales the Ancester of Abrabam and Ioktan the father of those thirteen sonnes whose names we shall rehearse hereafter if occasion be From Elam who is first named did descend the Elamites a people bordering on the Medes and therefore oft-times joyned together in the Scriptures as Go up O Elam besiege O Media Es 21. v. 2. And all the Kings of Elam all the Kings of the Medes Ier. 25. v. 25. And in the second of the Acts Parthians and Medes and Elamites march in rank and file as being Nations bordering upon one another The principall City of this people was called Elymais mention whereof is made in the second of Maccab. cap. 6. v. 2. Sufficiently famous for the rich and magnificent Temple which was there consecrated to Diana A City seated on the banks of the River Eulaeus and neighbouring close to Susiana which therefore is sometimes included in the name of Elam as Dan. 8. ver 2. I was saith he 〈…〉 not taken for the Province of the 〈…〉 but as it gave denomination unto all these Nations whom they after mastered 〈…〉 of Sem is Assur of whom there is no question made amongst the Learned but 〈…〉 was the Father of the Assyrians called Assyres in some old Greek Writers Not of the whole 〈◊〉 of that great and unwieldy Empire who sometimes generally passe by the name of Assyâ—â—â— but of the people of Assyria strictly and properly so called as it denotes the Country 〈…〉 the Regall City of that Empire which after was called Adiabene Iuxta hunc Circuicum Adiabene Assyria priscis temporibus vocata as in Ammianus Marcellinus lib. 33. Arphaxad comes next after Assur and him Iosephus makes to be the Father of the Chaldaeans called antiently Arphaxadaeâ— if he tell us true But others tells us and that more probably perhaps that he planted in that part of Assyria which was first called Arphaxitis afterwards Arrapachitis by which name it occurreth in the Tables of Ptolomie Lud the fourth son is generally said to be the Father of the Lydians a people of Asia the lesse the names of Lud and Lydi or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Grecians call them being much alike And it is possible enough that some of the posterity of this Lud might afterwards settle in those parts and call the Country by the name of Lud their common Ancestor as the posteritie of Abraham took unto themselves the name of Hebrews from Heber one of the Progenitors of their father Abraham But that Lud should in person go so far from the rest of the sonnes of Sem I cannot easily imagine For Aram the fift and last as they stand in order of the Text sets himself down close by his Brethren in the Land of Syria which in the Hebrew is called Aram and from thence the name of Aramites was given to the Inhabitants of it Of which and of the severall Provinces which were hence denominated we shall hereafter speak more fully when we come to Syria Onely take now this testimony and acknowledgment from the pen of Strabo Quos nos Syros vocamus ipsi Syri Aramenios Arameos vocant Those saith he which we now call Syrians do call themselves Arameans or Aramentans In and about the same parts did the four Sons of Aram set themselves and their Families Uz in that part of Syria which is called Syria Damascena or Aram Dammesek the building of the great Citie of Damascus being generally ascribed unto him and the Land of Uz bordering South upon Damascus taking denomination from him The like did Hul or Chul the next son of Aram whom both Josephus and St. Hierome setle in Armenia or Aramenia as in Strabo And that not improbably considering that there is a Region in Armenia which Stephanus calls Cholobetene and divers Cities in that tract which still preserve the Radicals of Hul or Chul as Cholus Cholnata Cholimna Colsa and Colana whereof mention is made in the Tables of Ptolomie For Gether the third son of Aram it is not yet agreed on where to find his dwelling Josephus contrary to all reason placeth him in Bactria and Mercer with as little in Caria a Province of the lesser Asia and Acarnania of Greece Junius sets him down in the Province of Cassiotis and Seleucis neer his Father Aram where Ptolomie placeth Gindarus and the Nation called by Plinie Gindareni Bochartus on the banks of the River Centrites which divides Armenia from the Carduchi as it is in Xenophon Which River if it were called originally Getri as he conjectureth it might be the controversie were at an end But being that we find in Ptolomie a City of Albania which bordererh on Armenia called Getara and a River of the same Country called Getras I see no cause why we should seek further for the seat of Gether though the Greek Copies more subject to corruption in the times of ignorance than the Latin were insteed of Getara read Gagara But if this be too far to set him we shall find Mas or Mesch the last Son planted neerer hand even in the Northern part of Syria towards Mesopotamia neer the Hill called Masius at the foot whereof there is a people which Stephanus calls Masieni and thereabouts a River which in Xenophon is named Masca Both which do evidently declare from what root they come Come we next to the second branch of the house of Sem derived from Arphaxad whom we left setled in the Region of Arrapachitis in or neer Assyria Not far from which in Susiana a Province of the Persian Empire there is a Citie of chief note called Sela mention of which is made both in Ptolomies Tables and the 23 Book of Ammianus Marcell nus Adde unto this the autoritie of Eustathius Antiochenus who briefly thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The People of Susiana came from Sala But this as I conceive must be understood onely of that part of this people which lived in and about the Citie of Sela and not of the whole Nation of the Susians or Susiani which borrowed their nomination from another root To Sela was born Heber from whom the people of the Hebraei or Hebrews do derive their name And to him Phaleg his
first-born who in all probabilitie gave name to the Town called Phalga situate on the River Euphrates not far from Seleucia Mention whereof is made by Stephanus in his Book de Urbibus and by Ptolomie in his Geography where it is placed right on the banks of Euphrates where the River Chaboras mingles waters with it but there corruptly called Pharga instead of Phalga But the great increase of Sems posteritie came by Jocktan the second Son of Eber the Father of no fewer than thirteen Sons whose names are on record in the tenth of Genesis where it is said that their dwelling was from Mesha as thou goest to Sephar a Mount in the East And here I must crave leave to differ from Bochartus who hath thronged Jocktan and his Sons into a little corner of Arabia Felix where I can find no room for them and less reason to place them For being that Chus the son of Cham and the Chiefs of his posteritie eight in number were planted in Arabia as himself confesseth it must needs be that they had spread themselves over all the Country before any of the sons of Jocktan were of age sufficient to be the Fathers of Families and lead Colonies thither Jocktan is credibly supposed not to have been born when such of Noahs posteritie as are mentioned Gen. 10. dispersed themselves into new Plantations but iâ— is evident from the Text that none of his children were then born if their Father were And this Bochartus doh acknowledge in two severall places First granting that neither Phaleg nor Jocktan were present at the building of Babel multo minus Jocktanis filii post aliquoâ— annos geniti much less the Sonnes of Joktan begot many yeares after Lib. 1. cap. 16. And Secondly affirming that Jocktan and his children came not within the curse of Confounded Languages quia nondum erant geniti because then unborn Cap. 15. Hereupon I conclude it to be very improbable that Jocktan and his children should find room in the best parts of Arabia Felix which Chus and his posteritie had inhabited so long before And as it is improbable that the Sons of Chus would plant themselves in the worst part of the Country for so many Ages and leave the best and richest of it for some new Adventurers So it is impossible that the Sons of Jocktan should either be removed so far from the rest of the house of Arphaxad who were all planted on the East of the River Tigris as was before shewed or that they should be able had they been so minded to break thorough the whole Countries of the Assyrians Chusites and other Nations to come unto the utmost corners of Arabia Felix He that believes they did or could must have a stronger Faith than mine but it shall never conduce any thing to his justification Nor am I moved at all with that which seems to me to be his weightiest Argument namely that the Arabians particularly Joseph Ben Abdallatif and Mahomet Ben Jacob two of their chief Writers affirm that Jocktan was the Founder of their Tongue and Nation no more than I am woved to think that the Saracens are derived from Sara the Wife and not from Hagar the Concubine and servant of Abraham because that people so report it for their greater glory And for the severall Nations of Arabia Felix whose original he ascribes to the sons of Jocktan I see so many transpositions of Syllables alterations even of Radicall Letters such and so many wrested Originations as by the like libertie of making quidlibet ex quolibet it were no difficult matter to find place for them in any Country whatsoever For how extorted and unnaturall are the derivations of the Allumaeotae from Almodad of the Manitae from Abimail of the Jobaritae from Jobab How impossible is it that Jarach should give name to the Isle which Prolomie calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Insula Ieracum or Accipitrum as the Latin hath it that is to say the Isle of Hawks from the abundance of Hawks which are therein bred There being another Island of the same name neer unto Sardinia so called for the self same reason and a Town called Ierax in Hammoniaca a Region of Egypt to which Jarach might as well lay claim if that would carry it as to this Ieracum or Accipitrum in the Gulf of Arabia How improbable that Ophir should give name to Urphire a poor Isle of the Red Sea Obal to Sinus Avalites in Aethiopia on the other side of that Gulf Or that Dicla must be fixed in Arabia for no other reason but because the word signifieth a Palm-tree of which that Country yeelds good plenty as if some other Countries did not yeeld as much These and some other reasons hereafter following have made me bold to differ from that learned man in this particular whose industry and abilities I do otherwise honour and rather to look for Joktan and his sonnes in the East part of the World where the Scriptures place them than in the South with reference to the Wilderness or land of Madian in one of which the Book of Genesis was witten where Bochartus placeth them Yet so far I must yeeld to that learned man that some of the Descendants of Joktan in long tract of time moved with the rarities of the place might come from India and plant themselves upon the Sea-coasts of Arabia Felix as the Arabians at this day moved with the wealth and trade of India have possessed themselves of many of the Ports and peeces on the shores thereof Now the Text telleth us of the Sonnes of Joktan that their dwelling was from Mesha as thou goest to Sephar a Mount of the East so that by these two boundaries Mesha and Sephar their habitation must be found I know Bochartus wonld have Mesha to be Musa a noted Porâ—-Town on the South-West of Arabia Felix and Sephar to be the Citie of Saphar in the South-East of that Country that Citie giving name to some Mount adjoyning But being they both lie directly South of the place in which Moses wrote I cannot see how this position can agree with the word of Scripture and therefore we must look for both in some other place And first to find out Mesha we need go no further than Bochartus himself who maketh Mesh the last of the Sonnes of Aram the Sonne of Sem according to the generall opinion of most Writers else to be planted in the mountainous tracts of Mesopotamia from him called Mons Masius more of which before And then for Sephar which the Text calleth a Mount of the East if it be the Southern part of Mount Imaus by Ptolomy named Bitigo by the Moderns Gates extending from Mount Caucasus to the Cape Comari in the hither India as Postellus a right learned man doth conceive it to be We have without more difficulty found out the dwellings of the sonnes of Jocktan according to the bounds laid down in Holy Scripture But for fear this may not satisfie for
that is to say from the sending it home by the Philistims till brought to Hierusalem by David 8. Beth-semes to which the Aâ—â— was brought by a yoke of Kine turned loose by the Philistims for irreverent looking into which there were slain by the immediate hand of God no fewer then 50070 persons of this City 9. Tsarah neer which is a fountain called the Fountain of Ethiopia because Philip there baptized the Ethiopian Eunuch 10. Caspin taken with great slaughter by Iudas Maccabaeus 11. Lachis remarkable for the death of Amaziah King of Iudah 12. Aialon a City of the Levites also in the valley whereof the Moon is said to have stood still at the prayers of Iosuah as the Sun did over the City of Gibeon the motion of the Heavens being said that he might have the more time for execution on the Kings of the Canaanites To this Tribe also belonged the Town and Territory of Dan or Leshem afterwards called Caesarea Philippi in the Tribe of NEPHTHALIM whereof we have there spoke already 3. The Tribe of SIMEON was so called from Simeon the second Sonne of Iâ—cob by his first wife Leah of whom were found at the first muster 59300 able men and but 22200 at the second muster when they came into Canaan Where they enjoyed but a small Territory to themselves their lot falling amongst the Philistims whom they were not able to expell and therefore they were taken into the Tribe of Iudah where they were permitted to enjoy some Towns and Villages intermixed with that more potent Tribe Afterwards in the reign of King Hezekiah some of them possessed themselves of Gedar belonging to the Children of Ham and others passing Southwards into Idumaea smote the Amaleâ—ites which inhabited in the Mountains thereof and dwelt in the places by them conquered But for all this wanting room for themselves and their Children many of them undertook the Office of Scribes or Scriveners and dispersed themselves amongst the rest of the Tribes teaching their Children to write and giving themselves to the employment of Publick Notaries God herein verifying the curse which Iacob had denounced on Simeon that he should be divided and scattered in Israel But for their fixed habitation which fell to them by lot it lay betwixt Dan upon the North and Idumaea on the South the Tribe of Iudah on the East and the Philistims upon the West Places of most observation in it 1. Gerar the Royall seat of the two Abimelechs Kings of the Philistims with whom Abraham and Isaac had to do and probably of some other of their Kings and Princes till subdued by the Israelites Situate in the South border of Canaan not far from the Wildernesse of Beersheba but in a very healthfull air called therefore Regio Salutaris in the times succeeding 2. Siceleg or Ziglag belonging to the Philistims till the time of David to whom given by Achish King of Gath for his place of retreat when persecuted by Saul from whom flying he lodged here all his goods and carriages sacked by the Amalekites but the booty recovered from them speedily by the diligence and good fortune of David 3. Haiin a City of the Levites 4. Cariath 〈◊〉 that is to say the City of Books seated within the bounds of Simeon but belonging to Iudah which some hold to be the University or Academie of old Palestine A Citie of the Levites also and at first possessed by the Sonnes of Anak or men of a Gigantine stature but taken by Othomel the Sonne of Kenâ— on the promise and encouragement which was given by Caleb that whosoever took it should have his Daughter Achsah to wife Afterwards it was called Debir Iudg. 1. 11. known in the time of Saint Hierome by the name of Daema 5. Chorma conceived by some to be that place mentioned 〈◊〉 14. 45 to which the Canaanites and Amalekites pursued those of Israel 6. Beershab or 〈◊〉 â—uramenti so called of the Well of waters and the oath which was there sworn betwixt Abraham and Abimelech Gen. 21. 31. Memorable in the Scripture for the Grove which Abraham there planted the wandring of Hagar thereabouts when she was cast out of Abrahams house with her young sonne â—â—mad and the dwelling of Isaac for which cause called the City of Isaac Situate in the extreme South border of the Land of Canaan the length whereof is often measured in the Scripture from this Town to Daâ— and for that cause well fortified by the Western Christians when they were possessed of this Countrey as standing on the borders of Idumaea and the Desarts of Arabia in the way from Egypt 4. The Tribe of IVDAH was so called from Iudah the fourth sonne of Iacob by his wife Leah of whom there were numbred at the first generall muster taken neer Mount Sinai 76600 fighting men and no fewer than 76500 at their entrance into the Land of Canaan The greatest Tribe and therefore answerably fitted with the largest territory bordering on the Dead Sea East upon Simeon West and the Tribe of Benjamin on the North and the Idumaeans on the South Comparatively large with reference to the other Tribes but otherwise unable to contain or feed those infinite multitudes without the extraordinary providence of Almighty God which are recorded to be in it King David mustering 470000 fighting men of this Tribe alone which was more than half the number found in the rest of the Tribes A Tribe which had a native Sovereignty over all the others the Scepter the Legislative power and the worlds Messiah being all promised unto this Places of most observation in it 1. Arad situate in the entrance of Iudaea in the way from the Wilderness of Edom. 2. Hebron one of the antientest Cities of Canaan the seat of Giants called Anakim or the sonnes of Anak This word Anak signifieth a chain worn for ornament and it seemeth that this Anak enriched with the spoils of his enemies wore a chain of Gold leaving both the custome and name to his posterity We read the like of Manlius Torquatus in the Roman Histories This Town did Abraham buy for a buriall place for his dead and in it his wife Sarah was first buried and after her four of the Patriarchs Adjoyning to this town is the plain of Mamre where Abraham the Father of the faithfull sitting in his Tent was visited from Heaven by God in the shape of man Here David kept his Court before the winning of Hierusalem to this place came the Tribes to anoint him King over Israel and hither came Absalon under the pretence of paying his vowes to usurp the Kingdome of his Father 3. Tecoa the City of Amos the Prophet and also of that woman who by the words which Ioab put into her mouth perswaded the King to call Absolon from exile In the Wilderness of this Tecoa there assembled the Inhabitants of Moab Ammon and Mount Seir to overthrow Iuda But the Lord being appeased by the publique Fast proclamed and kept by Iehosaphat and
seated in the Northern parts of Assyria and Mesopotamia and it were strange that Terah should be planted so far from the rest of his kindred 3. Because from Vr in Mesopotamia neer the banks of Tigris the way to Canaan to which Terah did intend to go was directly by Haran whereas if he had dwelt as some say he did by the Lakes of Chaldaea his way had been directly West thorow Arabia Deserta and not to have travelled with his family so far North as Haran and then to have fallen back as much Southward as he had gone Northward crossing Euphrates twice with his herds and Cattel 5. Haran the place to which Terah did remove when he went from Vr and from which Abraham did remove when he went towards Canaan so named in memory of Haran the sonne of Terah but called afterwards by the name of Carrae and by that name well known to the Roman Writers for the death of Crassus that wealthy Roman whose estate besides the tenth which he offered to Hercules and three moneths corn distributed amongst the poor amounted to 7100. Talents which comes in our money to one Million 331250. l. But all his wealth could not preserve him from the slaughter slain neer this City with the routing of his Army also by Horodes King of Parthia of which briefly Lncan miscrando funere Crassus Assyrias Latio maculavit sanguine Carras Which may be Englished to this purpose By a defeat lamented Crassus stains With Roman blood the Assyrian Carras Plai Called the Assyrian Carrae by Poeticall Licence because the Assyrians formerly had been Lords thereof And no less memorable was it in the times foregoing for a famous Temple of the Moon worshipped here but in no place else under both Sexes some honouring it as female Deity then called Dea Luna and others in the shape and dress of a man and called Deus Lunus But with this fortune and success as faith Spartianus qut Lunam foemineo nomine putabat nuncupandam is mulieribus semper inserviat that they who worshipped it in the form of a Woman should be alwaies subject to their Wives I trow there were but few of that Religion qui vero Marem deum crederet is uxori dominetur but he that worshipped it as a man should preserve the masterie 6. Amida neer the River Tigris the Metropolis of Mesopotamia when one Province only and before it fell into the hands of the Romans much beautified by Constantius the Sonne of Constantine by whom named Constantias But that new name dying with him the old revived of great strength as a strontire Town against the Persians and by them much aimed at Honoured of late times with the Residence of the Patriatch of the Jacobite Christians as the chief City of this Province for this cause also made the dwelling of the Pseudo-Patriarch of the Nestorians or Nostranes of the Popes erection and the chief Seat also of the Bassa or other Officer governing this Countrey for the Turks by whom called Caramit or Kara Amida that is to say Amidae the black because it was walled with black stone 7. Phalga or Phaliga at the meeting of Chaberas with Euphrates not far from Carrae mentioned by Stephanus and Arrianus and by Ptolomy mistakingly called Pharga the seat or first plantation of Phaleg one of Abrahams Ancestors Serug another of them giving name to 8. Sarug about a daies journey off from Haran spoken of by some later writers 9. Singara on the River so named a well fortified City in the time of Ammianus by whom mentioned lib. 20. 10. Berabde mentioned by the same Author by whom said to have been a very strong Fort seated on a pretty high hill and bending towards the banks of Tigris before whose times it had antiently bin called Phoenicha 11. Virta supposed to have been the work of Alexander the Great circled with walls environed with half-moones and Bulwarks and made unaccessible in vain besieged by Sapores the Persian King after the taking of Bezabde The same perhaps with the Birtha of Ptolomy 12. Merdin not far from which in the Monastery of Saphran is the Patriarchall See of the Jacobite Sectaries The first Inhabitants of these Countries though united from the first begining under the same Princes and form of Government came from severall Families all the three sonnes of Noah concurring as it were in this plantation From Nimrod Havilah and others of the posterity of Chus the sonne of Ham came the Babylonians with whom Chesed the Sonne of Nachor of the house of Sem intermingling families or being the Author of their language or of some other signall benefit gave to them the name of Chaldim whence came that of Chaldaeans From Assur Arphaxad and those of Arphaxads posterity intermingled with the Sonnes of Mash the sonne of Aram came the Mesopotamians and Assyrians And that Japhet also and his Children may put in for a part the neighbourhood of the Medes and Albanese descended from him makes it somewhat probable But whatsoever parents they descended from Nimrod the Sonne of Chus made so bold with them as to bring them under his command planting in Chaldaea the Cities of Babylon and Calne in Assyria Ninive Rhesem and Calach and finally Rehoboth if that were Birtha as some think it was in Mesopotamia By these strong Forts he curbed the natives and assured his power being the first that altered the Paternall form of Government and drew unto himself the government of severall Nations not having any dependance upon one another The foundation thus laid by him his Successors soon raised the building to a wondrous height advancing the Assyrian Empire from the Mediterranean Sea to the River Indus and that too in a shorter time than could be imagined but that the world was then divided into petit States not cemented together with the ligaments of power and policy for though there be litle found of Belus the Sonne of Nimrod but that he spent most of his time in draining the marishes and making firm ground of those vast fennes which lay neer to Babylon which were works of peace yet by those and the like works of peace he so setled his affairs at home that he gave his Sonne Ninus the better opportunity to look abroad who mightily improved his Empire and was the greatest and most powerfull of all that line extending his dominions from the River Indus to the Mediterranean and from the Caspian Sea to the Southern Ocean His Successors we shall find in the following Catalogue of The Assyrian Monarchs A. M. 1798 1. Nimrod called by some Saturnus Babylonius the Sonne of Chus and Nephew of Cham was the first who altered the Paternal government and usurped dominion over others making Babylon his Imperiall City 47. 1845. 2. Belus or Jupiter Babylonicus the Sonne of Nimrod whose Image was worshipped by the old Idolaters under the names of Bel and Baal 62. 1907. 3. Ninus the Sonne of Belus conquered Armenia Syria Media Bactria and the
friends to seek out some other place of dwelling far enough from the Romans But from this Anthonie who fled after her and vainly hoped for a change of fortunes did at last disswade her The Form hereof is like a Pyramis reversed the Basis of which from Tanger on the Streit of Gibraltar to the point where it joyneth unto Asia is reckoned at the breadth of 1920 Italian miles the Conus of it very narrow But from the Conus or Pyris to the most Northern part of the Bâ—sis it extendeth it self the space of 4155 miles being much lesse then Asia and far bigger then Europe By the Grecians it is called most commonly Libya of which more hereafter part of it taken for the whole by the Aethiopians Alkebu-lam by the Indians Besecath But the most noted name thereof is Africa which Josephus out of Cleodenus and Polyhistor deriveth from Epher or Apher one of the Nephews of Abraham by Midian the son of Keturah The Arabians by whom it is called Ifrichia derive it from the Verb Faruch signifying to divide because more visibly divided both from their own Country and the rest of the World then any other part thereof which was known unto them Some of the Greek Fablers setch it from one Afer a Companion of Hercules whom he attended unto Spain Some fetch it out of Aphar an Hebrew word signifying Dust agreeable to its sandie and dustie soile Festus an old Grammarian from A Privativum and the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which imports a Country void of cold as suitable to the fiery temper of the Aire By Bochartus who brings all from the old Phaenician it is said to be derived from Peruc Spica an Ear of corn which mollified into Feric came at last to Africk that is to say a Country plentifull in Corn. Which Etymologie of his may receive some countenance from that great plenty of Corn which was bred in this Country especially in those parts hereof which the Romans called the Proper Africk whereof we shall speak more when we come to Barbary the whole Continent taking from that Province the name of Africk But in my mind if that from the Hebrew Epher or Aphar be not worth accepting I should prefer the Etymon of Festus before any other unlesse we might be sure that Carthage anciently was called Africa as Suidas telleth us it was for then without all peradventure we would seek no further For other more particular names by which it hath been called in some elder writers i.e. Olympia Oceanica Eschatica Coryphe Ammonis Hesperia Ortygia and perhaps some others it is enough to our design to take notice of them It is situate for the most part under the Torrid Zone the Aequator crossing it almost in the very midst and for that cause supposed by many of the Ancients not to be inhabited at all or but very â—hinly in the middle and more Southern parts of it or if at all with such strange people as hardly did deserve to be counted men Pomponius among others was of this opinion guessing the inward parts thereof to be taken up by such strange Brutes as the Cynophanes who had heads like dogs 2. The Sciapodae who with the shadow of their Foot could and did use to hide themselves from the heats of the Sun 3. The Gamosaphantes a naked people ignorant of the use of weapons and therefore fearfully avoiding the sight of men 4. The Blemmyae who being without heads had their eyes and mouths in their breasts 5. The Aegypani who had no other humane quality to declare them to be men but the shape and making of their bodies These people as they thought possessed some small portion of the mid-land parts of this great Country the rest they knew not or conceived to be unhabitable in regard of the great heats thereof But late discoveries and navigations have found the contrary the Country proving in most parts to be well inhabited and the coolnesse of the nights by mists dewes and gentle gales of wind to mitigate the heat of the day Quodque die Solis vehementi excanduit aestu Humida nox resicit paribusque refrigerat horis That is to say What the Sun burns by day the Night renewes And doth as much refresh with moystning dewes For notwithstanding that it be in some places full of sandy desarts a disease incident to some parts of Arabia Persia and other Countries of a more Northernly situation yet it is said by some who speak it upon knowledge that the greatest part of those Regions which lie under the Line or near it both in America and here have so many goodly Fountains Rivers and little Brooks such abundance of Cedars and other stately Trees of shade so many sorts of delicate Fruits ever bearing and at all times beautified with blossoms as may make them hold comparison with any others supposed to be of a more temperate situation But as was said before the Ancients knew not much of this Country and therefore spoke upon conjecture or more doubtful hear-say For though Hanno a noble Carthaginian imployed by that State discovered much of the Western Shores of this great Peninsula yet he ventured not much into the Land nor did his Journal either suppressed by the Romans or not much took notice of give any great light to other Nations to pursue those Voyages being writ in the Carthaginian tongue but since translated into Greek and published at Basil by Sigismund Gelenius ann 1533. As little credit did it find in former times that some Phoenicians in the dayes of Pharao Neco passing down the Red Sea should sail about the Coasts of Africk to the Streits of Gibraltar and so return again to Egypt by the Mediterranean as we find in Herodotus that they did But what those Ages disbelieved or esteemed impossible is now grown ordinary the Circumnavigations about this Country being very frequent since first performed by Vasques de Gama an Adventurous Portugal in the year 1497. by means whereof these latter Ages are better instructed in the particulars of it then the former were who knew not much beyond the limits of the Roman Empire and some parts adjoyning upon Egypt more then the strange Beasts and more strange Reports which they had from hence occasioning hereby the By-word Africa semper aliquid apportat novi Touching the State of Christianity in this great Continent it is very weak most of those Regions which Christian religion had once gained from Idolâ—try Mahometism having since regained from Christianity Insomuch that not only the North-part of Africk near the Mediterranean from Spain to Egypt where the Gospel once so exceedingly flourished that three hundred Catholike Bishops were at one time banished thence by Gensericus King of the Vandals is at this present utterly void of Christians except some few Towns belonging to the King of Spain but even in all this vast Country thrice as big as Europe there is not any one Region entirely Christian but the
please might be preserved in Egypt on pillars of brass or stone or otherwise transmitted by tradition unto Cham the Father of Mizraim by whom this Country was first planted after the Confusion of Babel But that old stock of Kings and People being destroyed in the general Deluge the Children of Mizraim succeeded next in their desolate dwellings yet so that the posterity of Chus and Lâ—habim two others of the sons of Cham had their shares therein From the first of which descended the Inhabitants of those parts of Egypt which lay along the shores of the Red-Sea or Golf of Arabia in which respect not only one of the Nomi or Divisions bordering on the Isthmus had the name of Arabia but the people dwelling on those shores were called Arabes divided into the Arabes Azarei and Arabes Adei And from the other came that mixture of Nations called Liby-Aegyptii or Libyans and Egyptians intermixt together inhabiting in Maraeotica and the Western parts But though these People were derived from several Ancestors they made one Nation in the totall Subject to Mizraim as their chief and after his decease unto his Successors in the Kingdom of Egypt Concerning whom we may observe that in Cham our greatest Antiquaries finde the name of Iupiter Hammon Mizraim they guess to be Osiris the great God of Egypt To him succeeded Typhon not by right of blood but by usurpation Who dispossed by Lehabim the brother of Mizraim whom the Greeks call Hercules Egyptius the Kingdom was restored to Orus the son of Osiris During the time of these few Princes hapned all those things which are recorded in the Scriptures concerning Egypt from the first going down of Abraham in the time of Osiris to the advancement of Ioseph in the Reign of Orus in which there passed the 15. 16. 17. Dynasties of Regal Vice Royes Lieutenants only as I take it to those mighty Princes The Kings themselves called generally by the name of Pharaoh though they had all their proper and peculiar names as afterwards their Successors here had the name of Ptolomy and the Roman Emperours that of Caesar Not troubling our selves therefore with their many Dynasties we will lay down the Succession of their Kings as well as we can the disagreement of Historians and Chronologers touching this Succession being irreconcileable The Pharaohs or Kings of Egypt of Egyptian Race A. M. 1. Mizraim the son of Cham by the Gricians called Osiris in whose time Abraham went into Egypt 2 Typhon an Usurper 3 Orus the son of Osiris restored unto the Kingdom by his Uncle Lehabim the Advancer of Ioseph 2207. 4 Amasis Themosis or Amos in whose time Iacob went down into Egypt 25. 2233. 5 Chebron 12. 2245. 6 Amenophis or Amenophthis 21. 2266. 7 Amarsis the sister of Amenophthis 22. 2288. 8 Mephres 2300. 9 Mespharmuthesis 25. 2325. 10 Thamosis or Thuthmosis 10. 2335. 11 Amenophthis II. supposed to be Memnon and the Vocal Statue 31. 2366. 12 Orus II. the Busiris of the Grecians a bloody Tyrant who commanded the male-children of Israel to be slain 37. 2403. 13 Acencheres by some called Thermutis the daughter of Amenophthis the second and afterwards the wife of Orus who preserved Moses 12. 2416. 14 Rathosis the son of Orus 6. 2422. 15 Acencherus 12. 2449. 16 Cenchres by some called Arenasis Bocchoris by others drowned in the Red-Sea with his horse and chariots 16. 2453. 17 Acherres 8. 2462. 18 Cherres 10. 1472. 19 Armais by the Grecians called Danaus whose 50. daughters being married to the 50. sons of his brother Egyptos murdered their husbands for which cause Danaus being forced out of Egypt passed into Greece where attaining to the Kingdom of Argos he gave unto the Grecians the name of Danai 1575. 20 Rameses surnamed Egyptus the brother of Danaus 1550. 21 Amenophthis III. 2590. 22 Sethos or Sesothis 55. 2645. 23 Rhapsaces or Ranses 66. 2711. 24 Amenophthis IV. 40. 2751. 25 Rameses II. 26. 2777. 26 Thuoris 7. After whose death succeeded a Race of twelve Kings called the Diospolitani who held the Kingdom for the space of 177 yeares their names we find not but that one of the latest of them whose daughter Solomon married was called Vaphra and perhaps Ogdoos who removed the Royal Seat from Thebes to Memphis might be another and the eighth as his name importeth 2961. 39 Smendes the Sisac of the Scriptures who made War upon Rehoboam the son of Solomon conceived to be the Sesostris of Herodotus and others of the ancient Writers Of whom it is reported that being a king of great wealth and puissance he had brought under subjection all his neighbouring Princes whom he compelled in turns to draw his Chariot It hapned that one of these unfortunate Princes cast his eye many times on the Coach wheels and being by Sesostris demanded the cause of his so doing he replyed that the falling of that spoke lowest which but just before was in the height of the wheel put him in minde of the instability of Fortune The King deeply weighing the parable would never after be so drawn in his Chariot He also was the first that encountred the Scythians in battel having already in conceit conquered them before he led his Army against them The Scythians much marvelled that a King of so great Revenues would wage War against a Nation so poor with whom the fight would be doubtful the Victory unprofitable but to be vanquished a perpetual infamy and disgrace For their parts they resolved to meet him as an Enemy whose overthrow would enrich them When the Armies came to joyn the Egyptians were discomfited and pursued even to their own doors by the Enemy But the Scythians could not enter the Countrey because of the â—ens with whose passage they were unacquainted and so they returned 2987. 40 Pseusenes conceived to be the Cheops of Herodotus founder of the vast Pyramis before described 41. 3028. 41 Nepher-Cherres 4. 3032. 42 Amnoiphtis V. 3041. 43 Opsochon the Asychis of Herodotus 3047. 44 Psamuchos 9. 3056. 45 Psusennes II. 14. 3070. 46 Sesonchis 21. 3091. 47 Vsorthon 15. 3106. 48 Takellotis 13. 3119. 49 Patubastis 40. 3159. 50 Osorchon the second Hercules Aegyptius as some will have it 8. 3167. 51 Psamnis 15. 3185. 52 Bochoris called So 2 King 17. 4. taken and burnt by Sabacon the King of Ethiopia 44. 3229. 53 Sabacon King of Ethiopia 8. 3238. 54 Sevachus son of Sabacon 14. 3252. 55 Tarachon falsly supposed to be the Therah of the Scriptures 18. 3270. 56 Stephinates 7. 3277. 57 Niclupses 6. 3288. 58 Psamniticus who first made the Grecians acquainted with Egypt 54. 3335. 59 Necho who slew Josiah at the battel of Megiddo 25. 3360. 60 Psamnis II. 6. 3366. 61 Aprios called Hophra Ier. 44 subdued by Nebuchadnezzar and deposed by Amasis 25. 3391. 62 Amasis II. 44. 3435. 63 Psamnites or Psamniticus II. a King of six moneths only vanquished by Cambyses the second Monarch of Persia who united Egypt to that Empire under which
unto Helistheus as Justin his Successour did unto Archetas the then Kings of this Country to crave their brotherly assistance against the Persians Of their Conversion to the Faith in the reign of a second Candace unless as Plinie thinketh Candace was the general name of all their Queens we have spoke already To which the Aethiopians adde that after the baptizing of their first Philip the son of that Candace by the hands of the Eunuch the Emperours succeeding had the name of Philip. Till the religious life of John a Cotemporary of the Emperour Constans honoured as a Saint after his decease made them take his name Some building upon this Tradition have to the name of John prefixed that of Presbyter because as they affirm he executeth as well the Sacerdotall as the Regall Office Rex idem hominum Divumque Sacerdos the very Anius of the Poet And this so commonly received that he is vulgarly called by the name of Prester John and his estate the Empire of Prester John with no truth at all Others more probably conceive that this vulgar name of Prester-John is but a corruption or mistake for Praetegian or Precious John and that the word Prete by which his Subjects call him importeth no less And yet I more incline to those who finding that the word Prestegan signifieth an Apostle in the Persian tongue and Prestigani an Apostlical man do thereupon inferâ— that the title of Padescha Prestigiani an Apostolick King was given unto him for the Orthodoxie of his belief which not being understood by some instead of Preste-gian they have made Priest John in Latine Presbyter Johannes as by a like mistake one Pregent or Pragian as the French pronounce it commander of some Gallies under Lewis the 12. was by the English of those times called Prior John Prestegian then not Priest-John is his proper adjunct contractedly but commonly called the Prete by the Modern French who usually leave out s before a consonant Their Empire greater heretofore then it is at the present shrewdly impaired of late times by the Turks and Arabians of which the first have taken from him all his Countries from the Isle of Meroe unto Egypt with all the Sea-coasts of Barnagasso the later as much encroaching on them on the rest of the Maritine parts of his Dominions But from none have they suffred more then the Kings of Adel who have divers times laid waste their Country discomfited some of them in the open Field and in the year 1558. slain their King in battell Not cured of those wounds to this very day For Adam who succeeded Claudius that was slain in battell was so far from being able to revenge the death of his Predecessour that being suspected to incline to Mahometanism he was defeated by the under king of Barnagasso Since which time they have so languished by intestine dissentions that though Alexander the third if there were ever such a King which I finde much doubted is said to have setled his affaâ—rs by the aide of the Portugals and that some strange successes have been since reported of a later Emperour yet the truth is that the estate hereof hath been so imbroiled in civil Wars and so many of their Emperours successively murdered that the power and reputation of it is exceedingly weakened and the Countrey made a prey to impuissant Enemies For in the year Anno 1603. the Emperour Melech Gogad succeeding in the throne by the deposition and imprisonment of his Predecessour under colour of Bastardie was not long after slain by one Zezelezeus and James or Jacob advanced unto the Empire James not long after vanquished and slain by one Sazinosius and he so terribly disquieted with Treasons and Conspiracies that in the year 1607 he was fain to sue for aide to the King of Spain and tender a submission of the Abossine Churches to the Pope of Rome But the spirit of Rebellion being conjured up could not so easily be laid down though there followed a long calm between but that it brake out again within few yeers past that is to say about the year 1648 more violently then it did before a powerfull Rebell starting up who dispossessed the Prete of almost all his Kingdoms and reduced the issue of the war unto one Town only in which he had besieged his person And in all probability he had got that too and with that the Empire had not a French man then living in the Country found means to put himself into it who training the people of the place to the use of Arms according to the way of Europe made a fally out upon the Enemy routed him and so raised the siege and by that means preserved the Emperour and the Empire from most certain ruine Yet notwithstanding these disasters these later Emperors have still preserved their majesty amongst their Subjects whom they hold in servitude enough though they keep not such a distance as in former Ages when the Prete was honoured as a God and used to shew himself but thrice in a year viz. on Christmas Easter and Holirood day by which retiredness it was thought that he made his presence more acceptable some holding nothing to be more derogatory from the Majesty of a King then to make himself too common an object for the eye of the vulgar The like kind of state was once kept by those Kings of France of the first Merovignian line who withdrawing themselves from all publike affairs used only to shew themselves as we have already said on May-day A greater retiredness then this was that which Valleda Queen of the Tencteri a people of the Rhene is reported by Tacitus to have used for when the rest of the Germans then in arms sent Ambassadors to her to inform her of their victory against the Romans they were prohibited either to speak to her or to see her Arcebantur aspectu quo venerationis plus inesset Such a keeping of state the politick Prince Tiberius used when the German legions mutined for he daigned not himself to see them pacified but sent his son the reason was quia majestati major è longinquo reverentia And no doubt the same keeping of distance swayed much with him when he forsook Rome and kept Court privately at Caprea though I deny not but a propension to follow his unnatural pleasures the more securely together with his deformities on his face had also their powers upon his resolutior The title of this great and mighty Emperour but neither so great or mighty in power as in title runneth thus N. N. Supreme of his Kingdoms and the Beloved of GOD the Pillar of Faith sprung from the stock of Judah the son of David the son of Solomon the son of the Column of Sion the son of the seed of Jacob the son of the hand of Mary the son of Nahu after the flesh the son of S. Peter and Paul after the spirit Emperour of the higher and lesser Aethiopia and of the most mighty Kingdoms Dominions
to have inhabited on the banks thereof The Fountain of it in Peru the fall in the North Sea or Mare del Nort. A River of so long a course that the said Orellana is reported to have sailed in it 5000 miles the several windings and turnings of it being reckoned in and of so violent a current that it is said to keep its natural tast and colour above 30 miles after it falleth into the Sea the channel of it of that breadth where it leaveth the Land that it is accompted 60 Leagues from one point to the other 2 Orenoque navigable 1000 miles by ships of burden and 2000 miles by Boats and Pinnaces having received into it an hundred Rivers openeth into the same Sea with 16 mouths which part the Earth into many Ilands some equal to the Isle of Wight the most remote of those Channels 300 miles distant from one another By some it is called Raliana from Sir Walter Raleigh who took great pains in the discovery and description of it or rather in discovering it so far as to be able to describe it 3 Maragnon of a longer course then any of the other affirmed to measure at the least 6000 miles from his first â—ising to his fall and at his fall into the Sea to be no less then 70 Leagues from one side to the other More properly to be called a Sea then many of those great Lakes or largest Bays which usually enjoy that name 4 Rio de la Placa a River of a less course then the other but equall unto most in the world besides in length from its first Fountain 2000 mile in breadth at his fall into the Sea about 60 Leagues and of so violent a stream that the sea for many Leagues together altereth not the taste of it All these as they do end their Race in the Atlantick so they begin it from the main body of the Andes or at the least some Spur or branch of that great body But before we venture further on more particulars we are to tell you of these Andes that they are the greatest and most noted Mountains of all America beginning at Timama a Town of Popayan in the New Realm of Granada and thence extended Southwards to the straits of Magellan for the space of 1000 Leagues and upwards In breadth about 20 Leagues where they are at the narrowest and of so vast an height withall that they are said to be higher then the Alpes or the head of Caucasus or any of the most noted Mountains in other parts of the VVorld Not easie of ascent but in certain Paths by reason of the thick and unpassable VVoods with which covered in all parts thereof which lie towards Peru for how it is on the other side or by what People it is neighboured is not yet discovered barren and craggie too withall but so full of venemous Beasts and poysonous Serpents that they are said to have destroyed a whole Army of one of the Kings of Peru in his match that way Inhabited by a People as rude and savage as the place and as little hospitable The most noted Mountains of America as before was said and indeed the greatest of the World Of â—ame sufficient of themselves not to be greatned by the addition of impossible Figments or improbable Fictions Among which last I reckon that of Abraham Ortelius a right learned man who will have these Mountains to be that which the Scripture calleth by the name of Sephar Gen. 10. 30. and there affirmed to be the utmost Eastern limit of the sons of Joktan the vanity and inconsequences of which strange conceit we have already noted when we were in India Proceed we now unto the particular descriptions of this great Peninsula comprehending those large and wealthy Countries which are known to us by the names of 1 Castella Aurea 2 The New Realm of Granada 3 Peru 4 Chile 5 Paragnay 6 Brasil 7 Guyana and 8 Paria with their severall Ilands Such other Isles as fall not properly and naturally under some of these must be referred unto the generall head of the American Ilands in the close of all OF CASTELLA DEL ORO CASTELLA del ORO Golden Castile Aurea Castella as the Latines is bounded on the East and North with Mare del Noort on the West with Mare del Zur and some part of Veragua on the South with the New Realm of Granada Called by the name of Castile with reference to Castile in Spain under the favour and good fortune of the Kings whereof it was first discovered Aurea was added to it partly for distinctions sake and partly in regard of that plenty of Gold which the first Discoverers found in it It is also called Terra Firma because one of the first parts of Firm land which the Spaniards touched at having before discovered nothing but some Ilands only The Soâ—l and People being of such several tempers as not to be included in one common Character we wâ—ll consider both apart in the several Provinces of 1 Panama 2 Darien 3 Nova Andaluzia 4 〈◊〉 5 the little Province De la Hacha 1 PANAMA or the District of Panama is bounded on the East with the Golf of Vraba by which parted from the main land of this large Peninsula on the VVest with Veragua one of the Proviâ—ces of Guatimala in Mexicana washed on both the other sides with the Sea So called of Panama the town of most esteem herein and the Juridical Resort of Castella Aurea It taketh up the narrowest part of the Streit or Isthmus which joyns both Peninsulas together not above 7 or 8 leagues over in the narrowest place betwixt Panama and Porto Bello if measured by a straâ—t line from one town to the other though 18 leagues according to the course of the Road betwixt them which by reason of the hils and rivers is full of turnings Of some attempts to dig a Channel through this Isthmus to let the one Sea into the other and of the memorable expedition of John 〈◊〉 â—ver it by land we have spoke already The Air hereof â—oggie but exceeding hot and consequently very unhealthy chiefly from May unto November the Soil either mountainous and barren or low and miery naturally so unfit for grain that 〈…〉 nothing but Maize and that but sparingly better for pasturage in regard of its plenty of grass and the goodness of it so full of Swine at the Spaniards first coming hither that they thought they never should destroy them now they complain as much of their want or paucitie As for the Inhabitants whatsoever they were formerly is not now material most of the old stock rooted out by the Spaniards and no new ones planted in their room so that the Country in all parts except towards the Sea is almost desolated or forsaken The Country as before was said of little breadth and yet full of Rivers the principal whereof 1 〈◊〉 by the Spaniards called Rio de Lagartos or the River of Crocodiles