wealth in some places they have good VVines and Corn. Of Italy I Taly is the most famous Region of Europe very much Resembling the form of a mans legg A most Pleasant Countrey Commodious for Traffique and Exceeding fertile 'T is bounded on the East with the Adriatick Sea South and West with the Tyrrhene Sea on the North with the Alps being in length 1020 Miles and in Breadth not above 440. in the Broadest place It abounds with Corre Wine and Oyl yields plenty of Almonds Pomegranats c. The whole Countrey seeming as an intire Garden The People were Anciently famous for their Valour and Prudence and are still Courteous and Grave and very Obliging to Strangers yet much Enclining to Jealousy and Wantonness and sharp Revenge sparing in Diet but neat their greatest Expences are about their Gardens Here about 1600 year agoe the Latine tongue Florish'd being vulgarly spoken but afterwards by the Invasions of the Gothes and Vandales and other Barbarous Nations the Common Speech became mixed and degenerated which at this day we call the Italian and is still a most Delicate Noble and Courtly Language The Capitall City is Rome once Mistris of the World in Temporalls and still pretending to be so in Spiritualls in Compass about 11 Miles but full of Gardens and waste ground so that its supposed not to Contain above 250000 Soules two parts in three of whom are Clergy men and Curtezans But in the Flourishing of the Roman Empire it contained 50 Miles in Compass and not Fewer then 3 or 4 Millions of People as is found in Authentick History After the Emperours removed their Seat to Constantinople the Bishop of Rome taking Advantage by their absence by pretended Donation from Constantine made himself absolute Prince of a great part of Italy called St. Peters Patrimony and the Lands of the Church and the rest in time became Cantonized into severall Petty Principalities and States In the Bottom of the Adriatick now called the Gulf of Venice stands the famous City and Virgin Commonwealth of Venice Situate on many Islands and the water running through every street being in compass 8 Miles Containing 70 Parishes many Excellent Pallaces and Curious Buildings Of the Principal Islands in the Mediteranean Sea Of Sicilia THis Island is the chiefest of all the others in the Mediterranean Sea and is a Kingdom of it self it is in Circuit about 780 Miles it is of a Triangular Shape It is very plentiful and abundant in most things especially Corn it yields most Delicate Wines sweet Oyl Sugar Honey Silk Safron great store of Salt and by reason of the sweet Temperature they have all Sorts of Fruits as also Mines of Gold Silver Iron and Allom there are also found Emeraulds and Agates and other Precious Stones The Countrey breeds an Excellent Race of Horses and amongst the Hills and Mountaines there is the famous Mount Etna now called Mount Gibello although it lyes covered with Snow et from the topp Issues forth flame and smoke and sometimes casteth forth such a quantity of Ashes that the fields are Covered therewith There are at present 12 Episcopall Cityes the three whereof as Palermo Messina and Monwale are Arch Bishopricks all very rich Palermo is the Royal seat of the whole Kingdome The Sicilians are very Ingenious and sharpe witted People Eloquent and Pleasant desirous of Honour the Island is under the Power of the King of Spain Of Sardinia THe Island of Sardinia lyeth in the Mediterranean or Tyrrhenean Sea whose Circuit is 560 Miles it is Divided into two parts one is more Hilly then the other the Island produce 〈◊〉 Excellent Wines and abundance of Cattell and great store of Cheese they have good Horses but not very high here are many hot Bathes Salt pitts Mineâ— of Silver Brimstone and Allom. This Island hath two Arch Bishopricks the one is Cagliari and is the chief City Seated on a Mountain having a fair Port the other is Oristano very meanly Inhabited by reason of a bad Ayre is has a Port and a great River The Sardes are a Rude People and uncivil well able to endure Labour and hardness good Hunters not daynty in food not Curious in Apparell They formerly had a language of their own but now Corrupted and in the the Cities they speak Spanish Of Corsica THis Island hath been Inhabited with divers Sorts of People it is in length 120 Miles It is Divided into two parts the Easterne part is called the Interior and the other on the West called the Exterior side the Island is every where Enclosed with Rocky Clifts and within the land very Hilly it produceth Horses of a fierce Nature and Hounds of a wonderfull Bigness First this Island was possessed by the Tyrheans and afterwards by the Carthaginians but they were driven out by the Romans which were also Expulsed by the Saracens which were likewise subdued by the Genoeses under whose Jurisdiction it remaines Of Malta THis Island is renowned for the residence of the great Master of the Knights of Jerusalem the Circuit is 60 Miles the land is Stony without River in it they have store of Sheep Goats Oxen Asses Mules Coneyes and Partridges the Inhabitants â—re very brown swarthy Colour by reason of the heat of Summer the Women are fair but they hate Company and when they goe abroad they are Covered Upon this Island was the Shipwrack of St. Paul the chief town and seat of the Bishop is called Malta Of Corfu COrsu is one of the Islands in the Ionian Sea in Circuit 300 Miles and 40. in length the South part Hilly but the North part plain one Mountain Excepted which stands neer the Sea on whose top is seated Castle Nova underneath it Castle Vechio and at the foot of the Hill lyes the City of Corfu shut in and enclosed between those two Castles the Aire is very sweet and good it abounds with Cedar trees Orange trees and other Fruits it is Plentifull in Honey Wax Wine and Oyl Fish and wild Fowl and wild Beasts to the great pleasure and pastime of the Inhabitants in their Hunting and Hawking Recreations Of Candia THis Island is one of the most famous in the Mediterranean Sea it reaches 270 Miles in length and 50 Miles in breadth This Isle was ormerly called Crete and had at that time 100 Cities it is Hilly in the Easterne part it abounds with Olive trees Oranges Cedars and Excellent Wine called Malmsey or Muscadine and in their Valleyes Exceeding fair Pastures This Island hath been lately famous for the great and eninent defence it made against the Turk but at last was forc'd to yield the Conquest thereof to them so the Venetians lost it after a long and tedious siege The Chiefe City of the Island is called Candia Of Cyprus THis Island is 550 Miles in Circumference in length it is 200 and in breadth 65 Miles It is Divided into two parts by a Mountain which runs through it from East and West the Ayre is very hot
Iron Copper Tarr Furrs Sweden Comprehends seven parts which are 1. Halland Schonen and Bleking all which goe under the name of South Gothland The Chief Towns Lunden Malmugen Landskroon and Christianstadt 2. The North part of Gothland is divided into Ostro Gothland and Westro Gothland The Chief Towns Calmar Gottenburgh and Linkopen 3. Sweden containing eight or nine Provinces The Chief Cities are Stockholme Vpsal and Nikopen 4. Lapland is Divided into five Regions or Terrâ—tories viz. Vma Piiha Lula Tormia and Lapmark with the Towns of the same name whereof Tormia is of most importance 5. The great Province of Finland subdivided into several small Provinces The Chief Towns are Abbo Wiburg and Roseburg 6. Ingria The Chief Towns Noteburg and Juanagrâ—d 7. Livania or Liffland The Chief Town Riga Derpt and Revel The Crown of Swedland is also possessed of several Islands in the Baltick Sea And in Germany the Dukedoms of Pomeren Bremen and Ferden The Town of Wismar and the Island of Rugen In the North Part of Sweden Tormia and Kimi are the most Considerable Rivers of Scandinavia The Country is full of Mountains and Woods The Commodities of the Country are Copper Buttet Tallow Hides Skins Pitch Rosin Timber and Boards There are so few sick people among them that Physitians and Apothecaries have little or no Practice The Air is so sharp and salubrious that it is ordinary for men to live an hundred years Their Religion Lutheran Of Denmark DEnmaark Consists of three Parts to wit Jutland which is a great Peninsula or Chersonesus annexed to Germany Jutland is Divided into North and South Jutland 1. North Jutland includs four Lutheran Diocesses which are 1. The Diocess of Rypen 2. Of Arhusen 3. Of Wiburg and Alburg and Schagen the North Cape of Denmark 2. South Jutland Comprehends two Dukedoms 1. The Dukedom of Holstein Included within the Circle of Lower Saxony 2. The Dukedom of Sleswick the Chief Town of the same name with the Castles of Gottorp Tonningen and Fiendsburg The most Remarkable Islands of the Baltick are 1. Zeland the Chief City Copenhagen the Residence of the King whose Brother Prince George was Marryed to the Illustrious Lady ANN Daughter to his Royal Highness the DUKE of York Anno 1683. 2. The Island Fuinen the Chief Towns Odensee Middlefort and Niburg The Islands and Countries in the Northern Sea which depends upon the Kingdom of Denmark are a great Island of Iselandia the Chief Town Hola a Bishoprick The Islands Fezo The Kingdom of Norway c. Of Poland THe Elective Kingdom of Poland lies to the Eastward of Germany on the North of Hungary Transilvania and Moldavia and South-westward from Muscovia It Contains two Estates that of true Poland with the Provinces Annexed thereto and the great Dutchy of Lithuania with its Dependancies which is now united to the Crown of Poland The whole Kingdom is divided into twelve Provinces as may appear in the Table It is in Compass 2600 miles very fruitful in Barley and Cattle Hemp Wax Pitch Tarr and other Merchandize The Inhabitants Excellent Souldiers They are all pestered with factions that they can attempt no great matter only to defend themselves from the Turks They are much addicted to the Latine Tongue They have of all Religions amongst them but the Present King seems much to favour Popery and was Eminently service able in the late War in the relief of Vienna and the regaming of Hungary from the Turk Of Lithuania LIthuania is the Greatest Province of all those which Compose the Estates of the Crown of Poland It has the Tittle of a Grand Dukedome wherein there are as many great Officers as in the Kingdome of Poland The Country is full of Marshes and Sloughs that there is no travelling in the Winter for Ice Samogitia a Countrey in this Dukdome whose Inhabitants live very poorely Volhinia the Chief City Kiou an Ancient place having once 300 fair Churches but destroyed by the Tartars still a Bishops See acknowledging the Partriarch of Mosco and of the Communion of the Greek Church seated on the Borysthenes where the Cossacks have often had their Retreats It was lately in the hands of the Muscovite but now said to be the Turks in the year 1678. In Podolia stands the well fortified and Impregnable Caminiack which formerly withstood the Armyes of the Turkes the lesser Tartars the Transylvanians and the Walachians but at length was forced to yield to the Grand Seignior in the year 1672. since Retaken by the Poles but by the last Treaty delivered to the Turks as also Orzanthow and Dussow at the mouth of the Borysthenes Of Muscovia MVscovia is the vastest Empire in Europe 3300 miles long and 3000 broad The whole Countrey is over spread with Woods and Lakes The People for the most part fat and Corpulent strong of Body and good proportion only Great Bellyes and Broad Beards are in Fashion The Women love not their Husbands unless they beat them They only teach their Children to Write and Read They wear long Robes under which they have close coats down to their knees but they tye their Girdles under their bellyes The Religion of the Muscovite is of the Greek Church all their Images are in flat painting The Grand Duke bears the Title of Czar as much as to say Cezar The Habits which he is said to wear makes him look like a Priest The Embassadors of Forreign Princes are at the greatest trouble in the World to give him his right Titles One of his Pedeceisers was so Barbarous that he caused the Hat of a French Embassador to be nailed to his Head because he refus'd to be uncovered in his presence but Queen Elizabeth sent an Embassador thither soon after a man so Couragious that he stood also in his presence covered and undauntedly told the Czar to his Face that if he touch'd a hair of his Head his great Mistris would make his Empire to tremble and made the Titles of his Mistris the Queen of England Exceed the number of the Czars Tittles Stiling her The Mâ—st high and Mighty Monarch ELIZABETH Queen of England France and Ireland Northumberland Westmorland Cumberland York-shire Lancashire Cheshire c. Runing through all the Countyes and shires in England the length of which Titles Amazed the Czar and he acquainted the Embassador That he had a great Esteem for her Majesty and for her Subjects and declared his willingness to suffer her Subjects to trade in any part of his Empire without paying any Dutyes which great Priviledge was Continued to our English Merchants until the Martyrdome of King CHARLES the first of glorious Memory he mightely resenting that Horrid Act and that Priviledge hath not been yet regained Muscovia is Divided into two parts the Northern and the Southern Mosco it the Capital City and the Residence of the Czar There are at this present two Czars who not long since sent two Embassadors one from each to his Majesty of Great Britain 1683. Of Turky
Euphrates divides Armenia and Mesopotamia from Asia Minor Syria and Arabia Tygris descends from the Georgian Mountaines falls into divers lakes loses it self divers times in the Earth cutts through the Mountaines and divides Mesopotamia from Assyria washes the Ruines of Nineveh receives the branches of the Euphrates and disembogues it self into the Persian Gulf. Syria and Phenicia Two Adjoining Provinces wherein is Mount Libanus famous in Scripture for goodly Cedars The Chief Cities Damascus Antioch Tyre and Sidon and those now more renowned for Commerce are Aleppo and Scandaroone The Countrey abounds with Wheat Oyl Balm c. Canaan or Palestine in length but 200 miles and in breadth not above 50 yet so Fruitful that we read in Holy writ it once sustained 1300000 fighting Men besides the tribes of Levi and Benjamin but now it is nothing so plentiful 'T is now under the Turk Inhabited by mixt People pretending to Christianity shewing divers of the places mentioned in the Scripture Mesopotamia or Diarbeck lying between Euphrates and Tygris the Soil is exceeding Fertile and from hence supposed to be the place where the Garden of Eden was Upon Tygris stands Babylon now called Bagdat where happened the Confusion of Languages after the Flood and is only a great Ruinous heap near which place stood the Tower of Babel Babylon was built by Nimrod much Augmented by Nebuchadnezzar it was taken by Cyrus Darius and by Alexander the great who died there In the year 1638 when Amurath the fourth retook it from the Persians he caused three Men out of every Tent throughout his Army to be cast into the Mote and over them a vast number of Bavins and Woolsacks that he might the more easily assault the place Armenia now called Turcomania taking its name from the Turks who being a People of Schythia and too populous to get food sufficient in so Barren a Country broke through the Caspian Sea and seated themselves here in the year Anno Domini 844. Georgia not so called from St. George whom yet here they greatly reverence but from the Georgi who long ago Inhabited the Adjacent Countreys the People now though Tributaryes to the Turk Profess Christianity and agree in most points with the Greek Church It is seated between the Euxine and the Caspian Sea Of Arabia ARabia is bounded on the East with the Persian Gulph and Chaldea and on the South the Ocean and on the West the Red Sea and some part of Egypt and on the North the River Euphrates with some part of Palestine It is Commonly divided into three parts viz. Arabia the Stony Arabia the Desert and Arabia the Happy Arabia the Stony lies near the Holy-Land Arabia the Desart lies near Chaldea and the Euphrates Arabia the Happy advances it self between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulph which divides it from Persia and this part is the greatest and Richest and best Inhabited of all Arabia the Stony hath for its chief City Herat which signifies a Rock whereon it was built with an advantagious Scituation a place of great strength On the Coast of the Red Sea is the Castle Tar a Walled Town and a Port very famous and it is believed the Israelites having passed the Red Sea Entered the Desarts this way and it is likewise a Passage where the Carravans stop at their return from Mecca Arabia the Desart so called by reason of the vast Sandy Desarts and the uninhabitableness thereof of scarce offerding either food for Man or Beast So that those which travel those Countreys are forced to carry their Provisions with them and guide themselves to the place designed by the help of the Stars or Marriners Compass as they do at Sea and go in great Companies for fear of being robbed or rifled by the wild Arabs The People are much addicted to Theft by which they get their living being stout and warlike Men their Chief food being Venison Milk and Herbs they go half naked their Wives they hire for what time they please Arabia the Happy may properly be so called by Reason of the Fruitfulness and Richness of the Soil which Produceth plenty of Corn Wine Fruit and Odoriferous Spices great increase of Cattel also abounding in Gold Pearles Balsom Myrrhe Frankinsence and several forts of Druggs These People are very Faithful and Punctual in their Promises here are great quantities of Ostriches which for the most parts abide in the Desarts In the Province of Hagiaz the Chief Cities towards the Red Sea are Medina and Mecca this last being the Birth-Place of Mahomet and the other his Burying-Place Medina though Scituated in a Barren and Desolate Place adjoyning on Arabia the Stony yet by Reason of its being the Sepulcher of Mahomet is become a fair City containing about 6000 Houses being a place of great Trading and resort by Reason of the Pilgrims which flock thither to pay their Blind Devotions This Sepulcher or Tomb wherein their Prophet lieth is Enclosed within an Iron grate and Covered with green Velvet having the supply of a new one every year from the Grand Seignior and the old one becomes the fees of the Priests which they sell in small pieces and shreds for great Reliques to the Pilgrims which brings them in great Revenues In this Temple are about 3000 Lamps of Gold and Silver wherein is Balsam and such other rich Odours Oyntments and Oyls which are Continually kept burning The People for the most part are of a mean Stature Lean Swarthy Complexioned Effeminate voices very Swist of foot and very Expert in the Bow and Dart. The Horses are also little and lean and spare in feeding yet Couragious Swift and of great Labour The People are almost all Mahometans except some Greek Christians towards the Mounts of Sinai and Horeb likewise towards the Red Sea and in the Desarts of Arabia the Stony and Arabia the Desart Arabia the Happy is the unhappiest by having the fewest Of Persia THe Kingdom or Empire of the Sophy of Persia is one of the greatest and most famous of all Asia it Extends from Tygris and Euphrates on the west almost to the River Indus in the East And from the Gulph of Persia and the Arabian and Indian Sea which bounds it on the South unto the River Gehon and to the Caspian Sea which are its Bounds of the North so Containing about 600 leagues in length and 500 in breadth The Persian Monarchy began under Ninus and lasted under 30 and odd Kings 13 or 1400 years ending in Sardanapalus It divided it self into Medes and Babylonians afterwards the Persians made themselves Masters of it Alexander the Great held this Empire but few Years and dying it was divided amongst many of his Captaines who at last took upon them the Title of Kings Hispahan the Metropolitan City of the Persian Monarchy seated in the Parthian Territory which in its Situation is pleasant and delightful and in its Soil Fruitful its air Serene and Healthful and for bigness is now become the greatest City in
A NEW SYSTEME OF Geography Designed in a Most Plain and Easy Method for the better Understanding of that Science Accommodated With NEW MAPPS OF ALL THE Countreys Regions Empires Monarchie Kingdoms Principalities Dukedoms Marquesates Dominions Estates Republiques Soveraignties Governments Seignories Provinces and Countreys in the whole World WITH Geographical Tables Explaining the Divisions in Each Mapp By John Seller Hydrographer to the King And are Sold at his Shop on the West-side of the Royal Exchange A New Systeme of GEOGRAPHY Reduced to a Plain Easy Method For the Ready finding out any Empire Kingdom Principality or Government in the whole World By John Seller Hydrographer to the King Europe Asia Africa America A New SYSTEME OF Geography The Elements and Principles of Geography CHAP. I. Of the Nature and Division of Geography GEOGRAPHY is a Science shewing the Divisions and Distinctions of the Earthly Globe as it is a Spherical Body Composed of Earth and Water for that both these do together make one Globe 2. And hence the Parts of Geography are two the one concerns the Earthy and the other the Watry part 3. The Earthy part of the Globe may be divided into Continents and Islands 4. A Continent is a great quantity of Land not Separated by any Sea from the rest of the World as the whole Continent of Europe Asia and Africa 5. An Island is a part of Land Environed with some Sea or other as the Islands of Great-Britain and Ireland with the Ocean The Island of Sicilia with the Mediterranean 6. Both those are Subdivided into Peninsula Isthmus Promontorium 7. Peninsula is a Tract of Land which being almost Encompassed round by Water is joined with some little part or neck of Land 8. Isthmus is that narrow neck of Land which joineth the Peninsula to the Continent thus is Africa joined to Asia only by that small neck of Land that is Contained between the Mediterranean and the Arabian Gulf called the Red Sea 9. Promontorium is a high Mountain which shooteth it self into the Sea the utmost end thereof is called a Cape as Cape Bona Esperance in Africa 10. The Watery part of the Globe is Destinguished by Divers Names as Oceanus Maro Fretum Sinus Lacus and Fluvius 1. Oceanus or Ocean is that Great general Collection of Waters that Encompasseth the Earth on every side 2. Mare the Sea is a part of the Main Ocean to which we cannot come but through some Fretum or Strait as Mare Meditterraneum and sometimes takes its Name from the Adjacent Shore as Mare Adriaticum from the City of Adria or from a first Discoverer as Mare Magelanicum 3. Fretum or Strait Is a part of the Ocean straitned between some Narrow bounds and opening the Way to some Sea as the Straits of Gibralter the Straits of Magelan c. 4. Sinus Is a Gulf or Bay or any Indraught of Water as the Gulf of Venice the Gulf of Mexico the Bay of Biscaia and the Bay of Bengale in the East-Indies 5. Lacus or a Lake is a Body or Collection of Waters which hath no visible Intercourse with the Sea or Influx into it as the Lake of Geneva and the Lake of Asphaltites or Dead Sea in the Land of Canaan 6. Fluvius or River is a Water-course Issuing from some Spring or Lake And Emptyeth it self into some part of the Sea a great River as the Rhine the Thames c. CHAP. II. Of the Circles of the Sphere THere are ten Circles of the Sphere six great and four lesser The Six great Circles are the Meridian the Horizon the Equinoctial the Ecliptick the two Colures all which divide the Sphere into two Equal parts The four lesser Circles are the two Tropiques and the two Polar Circles each of which Divides the Sphere into two unequal parts The Meridian is a great Circle which passeth through both the Poles of the World and through the Zenith and Nadir Points and sheweth the Latitudes of all places on the Earth The Horizon is also a great Circle which divideth the visible part of the Heavens which we see from those we see not The Equinoctial is a great Circle 90 Degrees from either Pole in which Circle are reckoned the Longitude of all places on the Earth from any certain Meridian Assigned which Primary Meridian from whence the Longitude of places in all the Mapps in this Treatise doth Commence is that which passeth through the Island of Pico Teneriffa and from thence Reckoned Eastward round the World The Ecliptique is a great Circle divided by the Equinoctial into two Equal Parts one declining towards the North and the other towards the South the greatest Obliquity being 23 Degrees 30 Minutes The Colures are two great Circles of the Sphere Intersecting each other at Right Angles in the Poles of the World One is called the Solstitial the other the Equinoctial Colure The Solstitial Colure is that which passeth through the Poles of the World and cutteth the Ecliptique in the Points of Cancer and Capricorne The Equinoctial Colure passeth through the Poles of the World and cutteth the Ecliptique and the Equator in the Points of Aries and Libra by which Points the four Seasons of the Year are Distinguished A MAPP OF THE FIVE ZONES The Four Lesser Circles of the Sphere The four lesser Circles of the Sphere are the two Tropiques and the two Polar Circles which Circles Divides the Earth into five broad Spaces called Zones which are distinguished in the following Chapter CHAP. III. Of the Division of the Earth by Zones A Zone is a broad Space of the Earth limited by the Tropiques and the Polar Circles and are five in Number one Torrid or burning Zone two Temperate and two Frozen Zones 1. The Torrid or Burning Zone is that Space of Earth and Sea Contained between the two Tropiques and is 47 Degrees in Breadth 2. The two Temperate Zones are that Space Contained between each Tropique and the Polar Circles one called the North and the other the South Temperate Zone And are each of them 43 Degrees in Breadth 3. The two Frozen Zones are those Spaces Contained between each Polar Circle and the Poles of the world 4. The Inhabitants of those Zones in Respect of the Diversity of their Noon Shadowes are Divided into three Kindes Amphiscii Heteroscii and Periscii 5. Those that inhabit in the Torrid Zone are called Amphiscii because their Noon-shadows are Diversly cast sometimes towards the North and sometimes towards the South according to the Position of the Sun when it is on the North or South side of their Zenith or Vertical Point and their Shadows are cast accordingly viz. If the Sun be to the Northward then their Shadow is cast to the Southward and so on the Contrary 6. Those Inhabitants that live in the Temperate Zones are called Heteroscii because their Noon Shadows are cast but one way and that either North or South Those who live in the North Temperate Zone their Noon Shadows are alwaies cast towards
East South East and by East South East and by South South West by South South West and by West North West and by West North West by North. The Figure of the Marriners Compass is here Annexed Of Measures Twelve Inches makes a Foot One Foot and a half one Cubit Two Foot and a half a Common Pace Two Common Paces one Geometrical Pace Three Foot one Yard Six Foot one Fathom Sixteen Foot and a half one Pole or Perch Forty Perches makes one Furlong Eight Furlongs or 320 Perches make one English Mile 125 Geometrical Paces makes one Stade Eight Stades or 1000 Geometrical Paces is equal to an Italian Mile 1250 Geometrical Paces is one English Mile 60 English Miles hath Vulgarly been accounted one Degree on the Earth but really and truly As hath appeared by very Worthy Experiments that 69 Miles and a half of our Statute Miles makes one Degree on the Earth But according to the Vulgar Measure the Compass of the Globe of the Earth is 21600 Miles and the Diameter thereof is 6875 Miles and 4528 parts which Diameter being Multiplyed by the Circumference gives the quantity of Miles in the Superficies of the Earth and Water And the Superficies being Multiplyed by â…™ of the Diameter gives the Solidity in English Miles 2500 Geometrical Paces make one Scotch Mile 2500 Geometrical Paces make one Common French League 3400 Geometrical Paces makes a Spanish League 4000 Geometrical Paces makes a German League 5000 Geometrical Paces makes one Swedes or Swisses League 6000 Geometrical Paces makes one Hungarian League CHAP. VII Of the Vse of the Mapps and Tables Contained in this Book THat which hath been already discoursed hath been in the Nature of an Introduction to give you some Light and Understanding in the Principles and Elements of Geography that Concernes the several Distinctions and Divisions of the Earthly Globe by Circles Zones and Climates Discovering the various Positions of the Inhabitants in Respect of their Shadows and Contrariety of Seasons c. Which may very well serve as a good Introduction to that which follows Therefore take notice that to each Mapp there is a Table that is as an Index to shew you what Divisions are in the Mapp and is as it were an Explanation thereoff which you will find very useful for the understanding of them As for Example In the Mapp of the World the Table Informs you of the General Division of the World which is thus worded The Mapp of the World is divided into two Continents The Continent of Europe Asia and Africa The Continent of North America South America Now if you cast your Eye upon the Mapp you may there plainly perceive the same Divisions Circumscribed with one intire Colour with the Name in the midst thereof in Remarkable Capital Letters Then if you desire to know how any of the Quarters are Divided Pitch upon what Quarter you please Suppose Europe Then Apply your self to the Table and there you will find the General Divisions of Europe into the Empires Kingdoms Principalities and Dominions c. Contained in the same with the Principal Cities in each Country then turne to the Mapp and you will see each Respective Division Exactly Answer thereunto as it is Exprest in the Table An Instrument for finding the hour of the Day at all times in any part of the World An Example of the Use of this Instrument If it be 9 a Clock at London what hour is it at any other part of the World therefore turn London to 9 the hour given Then shall the present hour be shewn at all thos places Exprest in the Rundle as you see it is 11 at Constantinople 12 at Aleppo c. A MAPP of the WORLD Shewing what a Clock it is at any time in any part of the World And to know where the People are Riseing and where they are at Dinner wher e at Supper and where going to Bed all over the World Now if you would yet descend into the knowledge of any one particular Countrey or Subdivision in this or any other Empire or Kingdom that is Exprest in the General Table you are to proceed in the same Order and manner as is before Directed CHAP. VIII Shewing the Vse of a Mapp of the World that gives the hour of the day at any time in any part of the World and to know where the People are Rising where they are at Dinner where at Supper and where going to Bed being an Opperation most Diverting and Pleasant to be performed by a Map IT is in all Respects as other Mapps of the World save only that this is Divided into 24 Merididians or hour Circles-Numbred in the Equinoctial with I. II. III. IIII. V. VI. c. to XXIIII the hour Circle of XII passing through the Zenith of London The Vses Follow To find the hour of the Day at any time in any part of the World Having the Mapp before you you may take notice that when it is Twelve a Clock at London then wheresoever you cast your eye it is the same hour at Every Place as is Exprest in the Mapp viz. It is one a Clock at Venice Two a Clock at Constantinople Three at Aleppo and Four at Madagascar c. In the Eastern Hemisphere and in the Western Hemisphere Six a Clock at Jamaica Three a Clock at Califournia c. But Suppose it be any other hour with us at London then for a more ready finding the hour in other places I Refer you to this Adjoining Instrument the Use of which may be made plain by one Example As Suppose it were Eleven a Clock at London then turn London on the moveable plate to the hour of Eleven in the hour Circle then will it shew at that very time the present hour at all those places in the moveable Plate it will be Twelve a Clock at Venice One a Clock at Constantinople and Two at Aleppo c. So the same Rule will tell you at any time the hour of the Day in any part of the World by turning London to the present hour there and all the rest will fall successively as in the foregoing Example To know by the aforesaid Mapp where the People are Rising and where they are at Dinner where at Supper and where going to Bed and where it is Midnight in any part of the World This Problem is grounded upon this Hypothesis that Six a Clock in the Morning may be taken for time of Rising and Twelve a Clock for Dinner time and Six a Clock in the Evening for Supper and Ten a Clock at Night for time of going to Bed and Twelve a Clock for Midnight Therefore Note when it is Dinner time with us at London then they are Rising at Jamaica and at Supper at Surrat and going to bed in the Phillipina Islands a little to the Eastward of China and Midnight in the Pacifick Sea and by the same Rule and Reason you may know the same things at any
other hour at London The forementioned Instrument doth most readily perform the same Operations by Noting what hour stands against any place in the Moveable Rundle as suppose you turn London to Twelve a Clock then you will find the hour of Rising Supper time of going to Bed and Midnight at the places before Mentioned There is also another Pleasant Operation to be performed by this Mapp to know what company we have of Divers Nations to rise with us to go to Dinner when we do and to Sup and go to bed at the same time with us that is to say all those Inhabitants that dwell under our Meridian or hour Circle which are French Spaniards Moores and Negroes all which Nations Rise Dine Sup and go to bed when we do CHAP. IX Giving the Content or Quantity of the whole World in Acres and of every Kingdom and Province thereof THe Globe of the World is supposed to be one third part water and Seas And one third part not Inhabited And one third part inhabited which Containeth in Acres as followeth In Europe England 29000568. Acres Scotland 14000432. Acres Ireland 18000000. Acres The Ten Spanish Provinces 7197000. Acres The Seven United Provinces 3599000. Acres France 82879000. Acres Spain 67000535. Acres Italy 44000257. Acres Vnder Spain Naples 11704000. Acres Lumbardy 1640000. Acres Savoy 1910000. Acres Piedmont 1160000. Acres Under Venice Trevisano 2584000. acres Verona 480000. acres Friul 1047000. acres Mantua 480000. acres Tuscany 4785000. acres Suria and Florence 1480000. acres Mercia Ancona 1412000. acres Parma 885000. acres Sicilia 3113000. acres Under Rome Liguria 1415000. acres Romania 1085000. acres Heturia 540000. acres Latium 480000. acres Cyprus 1601000. acres Corsica 1395000. acres Sardinia 4089000. acres Candia Under the Turk 2060000. acres Under Germany Saxony 3484000. acres Misnia 3249000. acres Turingia 1093000. acres Lnsatia 2572000. acres Bavaria 3249000. acres Holsatia 3644000. acres Helvetia 1232000. acres Basil 842000. acres Sweburgh 2109000. acres Saltsburgh 1063000. acres Trier Mentz Spires 4237000. acres Stratsburgh and Wormes 4237000. acres Juliers 348000. acres Cleve 258000. acres West-Phalia 2300000. acres Osnah 358. acres Silesia 5706000. acres Bohemia 7024000. acres Austria 6121000. acres Moravia 4114000. acres Pomerania 3249000. acres Brandenburg 6208000. acres Mecklenburg 2107000. acres Franconia 6361000. acres Tyrol 3249000. acres Carinthia 1588000. acres Stiria 1779000. acres Palatine of the Rhine 4361000. acres Wortemburg 1223000. acres Emden 230000. acres Oldenbourg 449000. acres Liege 548000. acres Cologne 215000. acres In all 93000646. acres Russia 9607000. acres Voshinia 5762000. acres Massovia 196000. acres Livonia 34115000. acres Poland 19205000. acres The Dominions of Denmark Danmark 10426000. acres Norway 28492000. acres Holstein 1065000. acres Ditmarsh 337000. acres The Dominions of Sweden Swoden 57430000. acres Finland 7531000. acres Gothia 20936000. acres Hungaria 385367000. acres Dalmatia 385367000. acres Transilvania 385367000. acres and all Turky 385367000. acres in Europe 385367000. acres Part of Russia or Muscovia 232558000. acres in Europe Contains 232558000. acres Part of Muscovia in Asia Contains 128817000. acres Tartary 299110000. acres Persia 385367000. acres East-Indies 587200000. acres In Africa Africa 1541883000. acres In America North part of America 1152400000. acres South part of America 1349133000. acres So that the whole Sum of the Habitable Part of the World is six Milliars six hundred and 23 Millions and Seventy thousand Acres ☞ Note that a Milliar is one Thousand Millions A Table shewing the bearing Distance and Longest day and difference of Meridians of most of the principal Cities in the World from the Famous City of London Names of the places The way or Point of bearing Dist in miles Longest day Differ meridi    H. M. H. M. Alexandria-in Egypt s e. by e. 2196 14 00 1 42 Amsterdam in Holland e. by no. 266 16 40 0 28 Athens in Greece s e. by e. 1641 14 40 0 56 Antwerp in Brabant East fere 248 26 28 0 24 Barwick in England Nor. fere 267 17 24 0 2 Babylon in Chaldea ea so ea 2724 14 25 3 56 Bethsaida in Canaan s e. by e. 2365 14 6 2 29 Bermudas West Ocean w. so w. 3409 14 10 4 56 Caliâ—ute in East-Iudia s e. by e. 5214 12 20 6 8 Calis in France ea by so 86 16 25 0 9 Constantinople in Turky ea so ea 1547 15 15 2 24 Dublin in Ireland n.w. by w. 296 17 15 0 26 Dantzick in Prusia ea no. ea 961 17 5 1 44 Damascus Turky in Asia ea so ea 2404 14 15 3 16 Edenburgh in Scotland North 328 17 40 0 0 Ephesus in Greece e. s e. 1808 14 40 2 30 Florence in Italy sou east 801 15 10 0 57 Frankford in Germany East fere 448 16 15 0 47 Hamburgh in Germany ea no. ea 538 18 0 0 56 Hierusalem in Canaan s e. by e. 2352 14 8 3 3 Isleland in the N. sea n. n. w. 930 21 44 0 52 Joppa in Canaan s e. by e. 2938 14 6 5 0 Lisbone in Portugal so so w. 985 14 45 1 0 Middleburgh in Zeland East 295 16 30 0 20 Mentx in Germany East 410 16 25 0 45 Millain in Italy s e. fere 645 15 22 0 48 Morocco in Barbary so by w. 1449 14 0 0 28 Mexico in America w. by so 6844 13 20 9 59 Naples in Italy So. by e. 1051 14 50 0 16 Niniveh in Asia e. so ea 2635 14 30 3 52 Paris in France s s e. 215 15 57 0 20 Philippi in Macedonia e. s e. 1395 15 10 2 10 Prague in Bohemie East fere 700 16 15 1 14 Quinzai the greatest City in the world E. by S. 7272 13 35 u 28 Rome in Italy s e. by e. 887 15 4 1 7 Spiers in Germany c. by s 430 16 2 0 46 Strawsborough ea by s 432 16 0 2 41 Toledo in Spain so by w. 934 14 30 5 36 Troy in Greece e. s e. 1605 15 0 2 25 Venice in Italy e. s e. 744 15 28 1 3 Sivil in Spain so by w. 950 14 40 0 52 York in England No. fere 150 17 0 0 4 LONDON   16 26 0 0 FINIS A Geographical Description OF THE WORLD CHAP. I. Of the World in General THe surfare of the Earth is Divided into two great Continents one of which is Divided into Europe Asia and Africa and the other into two viz. North and South America as are plainly soen in the Mapp of the World with their names in the midst in Capital Letters There is but little difficulty about the bounds after that which joyns Europe and Asia is Considered for bating the little Isthmus made by the Mediterranean and Mare Rubrum which containes the Limits of Asia and Africa there is no part of the said Quarters which is not Surrounded by the Sea For the separation then or Boundary between Europe and Asia Geographers are of various Opinions Concerning this Division Some Divide it thus with a line drawn through the Egean Sea and Helespont through the Euxine
and but little water there falls little raine it abounds with all things needfull for life it produceth great store of Corn and other Pulse and Grain Oyl excellent Wine Sugar and Cotten-Wool Honey Turpentine Verdigreace Brass and all Sort of Mettals Salt and Grogrames of Goats hayre the Women Lascivious This Kingdome is Divided into 11 Provinces the Chief City is Nicosia adorned with sair Churches and sumptuous Pallaces it was once in the Possession of the Venetians but now under the Turk Of Majorca and Minorca TWo Istands about 60 miles from Spain the first 300 the second is 150 Miles in Circuit and both Indifferent Fruitfull Of Cephalonia and Zant THese Islands each of them are in Compass 60 Miles or there abouts they have plenty of Currans and Oyl and Wine and are under the Venetians Of Germany GErmany is Divided into two parts High and Low High Germany is bounded on the West with France and Belgium on the North with Denmark and the Baltique Sea on the East with Prussia Poland and Hungary and on the South with the Alps and Italy The Country is almost Square each side being 650 Miles it hath one General Governour called the Emperour a Name derived from the Ancient Roman Emperours but retains very little of that Power for most of the other Princes are absolute in their Respective Dominions whence this mighty Body by Reason of Various Interests and Differences becomes nothing so formidable as it would be if firmly united under one Soveraign Monarch The Principal Regions are presented to you in the Table of Germany the whole Country abounds with most things necessary for Life Its Commodities are Mines of Silver an other Inferiour Metals Wines and fresh Fish Quick-Silver Allom c. The People are Honest Laborious and Sincere Stout Drinkers and Good Souldiers The Women of Indifferent Complexions but somewhat corpulent as for their Diet There is this Proverb The Germans have much meat but Sluttishly drest The French little but neatly Cookt The Spaniards neither one nor the other The Title of the Father descends to all the Children every Son of a Duke is a Duke every Daughter a Dutchess For Religion some are Papists others Protestants which latter are again divided into Lutherans and Calvinists Of the Seventeen Provinces LOwer Germany is that which is called Belgium or the Netherlands and is bounded on the East with the River Ems and part of High Germany on the West with the German Sea on the North with East Freesland and on the South with the Some Champaign and Lorrain containing in all Seventeen Provinces But we shall only speak here of the seven United Provinces or Dutch Common-Wealth The Names of which are Holland Zealand Vtrecht Over-Issel Zutphen Gronixgen and West-Friesland which was first made in the year 1581. on their Revolt from their Ancient Soveraign the King of Spain against whom by the great Assistance of the English and Princes of Orange they Waged War many years so successfully that he was at last forced to treat with them as a Free State These Countries are exceeding Populous being a People very Industrious they have attempted to Grasp the Trade of this part of the World into their hands In these Provinces the Women govern all both within doors and without and make all bargains which makes them injurious and Troublesom the Eldest Daughter is of the greatest Reputation yet hath no larger Portion then the rest they Marry Noble with Ignoble young with old Master with Servants and into strange Townes and Forreign Countrys There are within Holland also a great Number of Lakes and standing Waters They want both Corn Wine Oyl Wood Wool Hemp Flax and almost all other Commodities and yet there is not any Countrey in the North which abounds so much as Holland and Zealand in almost all the forementioned Commodities so great is the Advantages these Provinces receive by the Sea The ten Catholick Provinces or Spanish Netherlands THe ten Spanish Provinces are these Flanders Limburg Luxenburg Brabant the Marquesate of the Holy Empire Artots Henault Namurs Meckline and Gerderland The Soil is very Fruitful and mightily Peopled but exceedingly wasted and impoverished by the late Wars and Incursions made in their Country by the French King In these Countrys belonging to the King of Spain are 208. Walled Townes 150. Townes priviledged as walled Townes 6300. Villages with Parish Churches besides a great Number of Villages and Hamblets There are five principle Rivers in the seventeen Provinces The Rhine the Meuse the Scheld the Haa and Emes The Meuse affords abundance of Sturgeon so big that some of them weigh four hundred and some four hundred and twenty pounds and are twelve foot long of Antwerp Measure The Scheld doth also abound with most sorts of Fish They have divers Forrests and Woods well stored with Red and Fallow Deer Goates Wild Boares Hares Coneys Badgers Wolves Foxes c. which yeild good Furrs The Fowl in these Countries are Partridges Feasants Turtle-Doves Quailes and any sort of Birds as we have in England The two Principal Cities in these Countreys are Amsterdam in the Seven United Provinces and Antwerp in the Ten Provinces Amsterdam standeth upon the Gulf Tye and is built upon Piles under the Ground as Venice is so that the buildings under ground are more chargable then above It is very rich in Merchandise the buildings are very Sumptuous and Fair. Antwerp lyes on the right side of the Scheld it flourisheth exceedingly in the Number of Inhabitants in beautiful Buildings and in Merchandizing which is chiefly occasioned by the the Commodiousness of the Scheld it being a River of so great bredth and depth and Ebbing and Flowing so far into the Sea Of Norway Norway the Western parts of Scandanavia is a place very Barren and Mountainous so that instead of bread the People eat dried Fish which we call Stock-fish They export Furs Train-Oyl Timber Deals Clapboard It is a Kingdom of it self and divided into five Governments or Provinces 1. The Government of Bahus the chief Towns Bahus and Maerstrand 2. That of Agger the chief Towns is Agger Opslo and Frederick Stadt 3. That of Bergen the chief Town Bergen the Residence of the Vice-Roy 4. The Government of Dronthem the chief Town Dronthem the Seat of the Ancient Kings of Norway 5. Wardhuyse the chief Town Wardhuyse near the North Cape of Norway The Normegians are little given to siâ—kness and are of a strong Constitution their great inclination to Sorcery makes them have the Reputation of selling the VVinds to the Scamen Of Sweden THe Kingdom of Sweden hath on the East Muscovia On the West the Dofriae-Hills that part that side from Norway on the North the Frozen Seas and on the South the Baltick The Country is little less then Italy and France put together The People are good VVarriers and live hardly the Ayr is sharp but so salubrious that it is ordinary for men to live 100 years It aboundeth with Lead
in Europe THat part of the Ottoman Empire which is Turky in Europe Containes the greatest parts of Hungary and all Transylvania Moldavia Bessarabie Walachia Bulgoria Servia Bosnia Sclavonia Albania Romania Macedonia Thessaly Epirus Achaia and Morea with the Aegean and Jonian Islands And in the year 1683 the Grand Segnior brought an Army of 100000 men in Austria where with he thought to have Conquered not only the small part of Hungary that is left to the Emperor but the greatest part of the Empire also The Conduct of which army was Committed to the Grand Visier and past by all the strong Cityes in Hungary as Raab Komorra c. and sate down before Vienna the 8th of July in hopes to have taken it by Surprize The Imperial Army under the Conduct of the Duke of Lorrain their General very oppertunely Convey'd his Infanry into the City consisting of 15000 men who having Count Staremburg for their Governour a man famous for his Valour and and Conduct that the great fury the Turks shewed in their several Assaults Redounded to their own loss and the encouragement of the Besieged and were repulsed with a very great slaughter some say with no less then 15 or 20000 men whose dead Bodies proved so great an Annoyance to the Turkish Army that the Grand Visier desired three days Truce to bury his dead which being denyed by the Worthy Governour caused him to remove his Camp at a further distance for fear of infecting his Army and finding himself deceived in his Intelligence the Garrison being stronger than he was informed he proceeded to a formal Siege which he Continued for the space of nine Weeks with more then ordinary Toyl and Labour working with his Mines day and night in hopes to have Carryed the place before any Relief could come to them and having sprang several of them by which the place was Assaultable he stormed it several times but was still beaten off with great loss and having at last sprung one under the Baston Lobel he continued his Assault with greater fury and vigour though without success so that after so long a time and so many Continued Assaluts the Governour finding himself reduced to great Extremity made the Appointed Sign to the Duke of Lorraine for Relief VVhereupon the King of Poland being joyned with the Emperiall Forces made up an Army of 85000 Men Horse and Foot It was Resolved at a General Councel of Warr to Attaque the Turkish Camp upon the 12th of September new stile And Accordingly it was put in Execution The King of Poland having the Attacked the Grand Visiers Quarters The Duke of Lorraine on the side of the Bastion of the Court and Prince Waldeck that which leads to the Scotish gate The Attaque being warmly begun and Count Staremburgh Sallying out at the same time soon put the Infantry into disorder upon with their Horses fled and with them the Grand Visier leaving them to the Mercy of the Christians who cut them all to pieces and remained Master of their Camp with their Tents the Pavilion of the Grand Visier Their Artillery and Ammunition and a Considerable sum of Money in this Action the English that were there behaved themselves very Gallantly to the great Commendation of our Nation After the relief of Vienna the two Armies under the King of Poland and the Duke of Lorrain continued the Pursuit and with great Success and regained all the strong Holds in Hungary that were possessed by the Turks and in all this great Action the Turks did not Rally their Army to Face the Christians But did Continually fly before them THE General Description of ASIA ASIA is a very Considerable part of the World in regard First That Man was therein Created Secondly Here our blessed Saviour was born wrought his Miracles and Suffered for the Redemption of the World Thirdly Here was Transacted the most Remarkable Occurences mentioned in the Old and New Testament and from hence all Nations of the World and all Arts and Sciences had their first beginning Many are the Religions here Followed but the Jews Mahometans and Idolaters excel the Christians in number Mahometisme is received by the four Principal Nations of Asia viz. the Turks Arabians Persians and Tartars The Turks gives most Liberty the Arabians are the most Superstitious the Persians most Rational and the Tartars most simple The Turks follow the Doctrine of Omar and have their Partriarch at Badgat The Persians follow the Doctrine of Haly and have their Partriarch at Ispahan The Greeks also have their Partriarchs here one Residing at Antioch and the other at Jerusalem As to the Division of Asia from Europe it hath already been discoursed of in the Description of Europe The Principal Seas within the Land are the Caspian the Euxine and the Persian Sea The Principal Rivers are the Euphrates Tigris Indus Ganges Crocas Kiang c. The Air of Asia is almost every where Temperate and abounds with Gold and Silver Precious Stones Spices and Silks Asia is in Subjection under four mighty Monarchs viz. The Grand Senior the Sultan of Persia the Cham of Tartary and now King of China and the Great Mogul A great part of Asia Consists in a great multitude of Islands of which are Maldives Ceylon Sumatra Java Borneo Aynam Japan the Philippines the Moluccaes c. And the Island of Cyprus and Rhodes and some others in the Mediterranean Sea Of Turky in Asia THe Turk by his Puissance having over-run a great share of two of the Considerable parts of the World Possesseth in Asia these Countreys Anatolia Syria Mesopotamia Armenia and Georgia 1. Anatolia vulgarly Natolia and Anciently Asia the less a Countrey once of great Fertility but now wast and almost desolate there were the seven Churches to whom St. John Directs his Book of the Revelation as Ephesus Smyrna Pergamas Sardis c. Formerly the Air was Exceeding sound and Healthfull now every six years the Pestilence destroys Millions of People The Mahometan Religion is chiefly professed in most places thereof Ephesus once famous for the Temple of Diana of 425 foot in length 220 in breadth supported with 127 Marble Pillars 70 foot high 220 years in building seven times fired Smirna a place of great Plenty the Soil abounding with Wine and Oyl The heats are very Excessive in Summer and would be unsupportable were it not for the Breezes that come off the Sea about 10 a clock and continues till evening and is followed with the Pestilence and Malignant Fevers Pergamus and Sardit have been Royall Cities Pergamus is famous for the wealth of Attalus for the Invention of Parchment and the Birth place of Galen for its Tapestry and for its being one of the seven Churches Sardis for the Residence of the Kings of Lydia and also one of the 7 Churches The most Renowned Mountaines of the lesser Asia are Taurus which divides Asia into two parts and is the most famous Mountain in the World for its heigth and length
all Persia whose Walls are in Circumference a reasonable Days Journey containing not less then 75000 Houses The Inhabitants do all their affairs on Horse-back as well Publique as Private in the buying and vending their Comodities But the Slaves never Ride which makes the difference between them The Native Comodities of Persia are Gold and Silver Raw-Silk in such great Quantities that they furnish most part of the East The heats in these parts in the Summer season are so great especially towards the South part of the Mountains that the Inhabitants are forced to forsake the Cities and retire into the Mountains for coolness The Persians are of low Stature yet have great limbs and strong they are of an Olive Colour hawk'd Nosed and Black Hair'd which they shave every Eight Days they paint their Hands and Nails of a Reddish Colour In their Habits they follow much of the Turks their Clothes have no proportion to their Bodies hanging loose and large much in the Fashion of the Women their Garments they Gird about their Waists with a Scarf Their Turbants are Red. The Women in their streets go with white Vailes over their Faces down to their knees they are very Neat and Rich in their Clothes and Houses The Persians are very Strict Superstitious and Ceremonious in their Religion as the Turk is They Bury their Dead three hours after they are departed Except they Dye in the night They wash or bathe the Bodies of their Dead before they are interred in a great Cistern which they have for the same purpose near the Mosque to which place they are Carried on a Bier in their Clothes and after they are stript and washt they put them in clean Linnen Anoint them and so bear them to the Grave being accompanied with his Friends Relations Servants c. The King of Persia Governs by an absolute Power disposing of the Lives and Estates of his Subjects as best pleaseth him making his Will his Law not daring to Murmur though his Actions are never so unjust The Administration of Justice is decided by the King but first tryed by the Secular Judges who Examine the same and deliver up their Opinion to the King They have several Severe and strict Punishments which they inflict upon the Offenders according to the Hainousness of the Crimes for some Offences they cut off their Ears and Nose sometimes their Foot and Hands for others to be Beheaded for some again they are tyed between two boards and so sawed asunder with several other cruell Deaths too tedious to name In their Military affairs they are well Experienced their Army consisting only of Horse who have for their Armour Darts and Javelins yet have they some in the Nature of our Dragoones They have great quantity of all Sorts of Cattle Grain and Fruits amongst their Fruit Trees they have great quantities of black and white Mulberry-Trees which grow not above five or six Foot high which serves for Food for their Silk Worms which makes them great store of Silk Of the Empire of the Great Mogul THe Great Mogul is one of the greatest and most Powerful Princes of Asia whose vast Empire Comprehends the Greatest part of the Continent of India In which large Territories there are several Indian Kingdomes Tributary to him He is esteemed the Richest Prince of the World Sha Johan who Raigned 40 Years lest him behind him five Millions of Livers And the Throne that he made cost one hundred and Sixty Millions and Five-Hundred-Thousand Livers besides six other Thrones set all over with Diamonds Rubyes Emeralds and Pearles He is able to bring into the Field One-Hundred-Thousand Horse and Two-Hundred-Thousand Foot and two or three thousand Elephants The Great Moguls Ordinary Guard Consists of about twelve-Thousand Men besides Six-Hundred of his Life Guard he never stirs abroad to Hunt take the Air or the like without the Atendance of Ten-Thousand Men of all Degrees besides to make his State the Greater there are one Hundred Elephants Richly trapt and covered with Scarlet Velvet or the like on each of these Elephants there are seated two Men the one to guide him and the other Supports a large Banner of Silk richly Embroidered with Gold and Silver after these Hundred Elephants comes the Mogul either mounted on an Excellent Horse or else in a Coach or Sedan attended by his Nobles and other Courtiers After whom comes about Five-Hundred Elephants Camels and Waggons which are to Carry the Baggage For he Commonly Encamps in the Field to have the Benefit of the Coolness of the Air The Mogul Celebrates with great Pomp and State the first Day of the Year The Emperour himself is a Turkish Mahometan although the most part of his Vassals are Pagans For as there are several sorts of People so there are divers sorts of Religions amongst them The Country is very Fertile yielding great store of Corn and Rice and all Sorts of Provisions are very Cheap and the Inhabitants very Sober and Temperate It is conceived to be the largest Country of any one name in the World Except China and Tartaria The whole Countrey is Divided into two Peninsula's one Peninsula is accounted on this side the River Ganges called India Intra-Gangem and the other Peninsula beyond the Ganges called India-Extra-Gangem of each we shall take a Brief Survey Of India on this side the Ganges called India-Intra-Gangem INdia-Intra-Gangem is bounded on the East with the River Ganges till the fall thereof into the Sea And after that with that large and spacious Bay called the Gulf of Bengala On the West with the Territories of the Persian Empire and part of the Arabian Seas On the North where it is broadest with Mount Taurus On the South with the Indian Ocean ending in a sharp point or Promontory as you may see in the Map We Divide this Peninsula into ten parts or Divisions being under several Kings Governments and Religions In the Kingdom of Cuncan are Goa Visapore Dabul and Rejapore Carapatan and Mongrelia Goa is a City as fair Rich and of as great Traffick as any in the East Indies being Situated on an Island of the same name taken by the Portugals in the Year 1510 and have since that Established themselves so Powerfully there that their Vice-Roy Bishop and their Council for the East Indies have their Residence there Their streets are large their Houses fair especially their Palaces and Publick Buildings which are very Magnificent their Churches are Stately and Richly Adorned The City is 15 Miles in Compass The Portugals live here in all manner of Delight and Pleasure Here on this Coast is also Situated Surrat and Bombay two great Factoryes of the English Merchants The whole Countrey is under the Government of the Sâ—vagee who is a Tributary to the great Mogul The People bloudy and treacherous addicted much to the Art of Poysonning and do Fight commonly with Poysoned Arrows A notable Instance of their Treachery I shall give you Which was in the Year
1683. There was three of their Ships and four Grabs man'd with 1500 of their Men which the Suvagee afterwards by way of Excuse pretended to be Arabians and took the Ship to be a Portuguese and as a token of their Resentment Imprisoned the Chief of them They set upon one of our East India Ships call'd the President Captain Jonathan Hide Commander whom they Attaqued very desperately and was as Briskly received by the English and as bravely Repulsed with a great Slaughter of the Indians And Recovered their Ship to the great Comendations of all that were there in Which brave Souls had not the Happiness to Enjoy the Honour of that Action in their own Countrey The Ship being unfortunately cast away in February following and all their Men lost but two as they were coming into the Chanel to the great grief and sorrow of the Merchants and Owners as well as their Particular Friends and Relations Malabar extends its self from the River Gangeraco to Cape Comarine 300 miles in length but is not above 50 in breadth and ending towards the Cape in a Point The Countrey is more Populous for the bigness then any in India enjoying a very Temperate Air and a Fruitful Soil well Watered and indented with many Creeks The Ground unfit for Corn but Plentiful in Rice and all manner of Spices as Ginger Cinnamon Cassia Pepper and most Excellent Fruits The People on this part of India are of a blacker Complexion then the rest of the Indians well Limbed wearing their Hair long and Curled About their Heads they wear a Hankerchief wrought with Gold and Silver and about their middle a Cloth which hangeth down to conceal their Nakedness The Natives on the whole Coast of India are of Nature Treacherous and Bloudy more properly to be termed Desperate than Stout and Valiant in their Wars they use Poysoned Arrows as they do in their Pyrating and Thieving both by Sea and Land The Kingdom of Bisnagar seated in the Bay of Bengala between twelve and fifteen Degrees of North Latitude in which Kingdom is the great Factory of our East India Company called Fort St. George almost all the People are Idolaters some Mahumetans and a sew Catholiques Amongst the Customes of those Heathens they have the Inhumane Custome for the Women to Burn themselves with the Corps of their deceased Husbands in this manner the Husband being Dead the Wife prepares her self for her Funeral Habite in Transparent Lawn Her Nose Ears and Fingers she Adorns with Precious Stones in one hand She holds a Ball and in the other a Nosegay of Flowers both as Emblems of Parâ—dise And being thus Habited She is Accompanied to the place by her Relations Friends and Acquaintance and all the way Going the Priest denotes the Joys She is to Possess together with the Assurance of Enjoying her Husband which does Excite her to Valour so that when She cometh to the Place seeth the Flame and the Carcass of her Dead Husband whom She longeth to be with and being as it were Transported with Joy She takes leave of her Friends and Relations and Jumps into the Flame in which the Corps of her Husband was first put both which is soon Reduced to Ashes during which time they have several sorts of Musick to Drown the Cryes of the poor Wretch casting in store of sweet Wood and Oil into the Fire to take away the Unsavory smell Of the Island Ceylon THe Island Ceylon lyeth to the Eastward of Cape Comarine of an Oval form divided from the Main by a shallow Chanel The Havens Refreshing it with their Dews The Air with Fragrant freshness The Land stored with whole Woods of Cinamon besides Fruits Lemons and Oranges c. Of Fowls and Beasts great Plenty both Wild and Tame It so abounding with all Contentments that the Indians hold it to be a Paradise In this Island is a mighty high Hill called Adam's Pico reputed to be seven Leagues high The People for the most part Tall and Strait of Body in matters of Religion they are generally Idolaters very Active and well Skilled in Jugling This Island is Divided into several Kingdoms as of Candâ—e c. And a City of that Name the Seat of the King This Island is memorable for the 20 Years Captivity of Captain Knox and of his Miraculous Escape which when he Returned to England he wrote a large Treatise of the Nature of this Island and the Manners and Customes of the Inhabitants to which I refer you Of the Maldive Islands NEar unto the Coast of Malabar lieth a great Number of Islands called Maldive from Mal the City of those Islands and Dive which signifies an Island They are Divided into 13 divisions divided by certain Channels From hence the King of Maldives terms himself King of 13 Provinces in which are Contained Eleven-Thousand Islands as is Reported by some that have been there here they take Multitudes of little shells called Couries which pass in many places for Money The King Resides in the Isle of Mal which is one of the greatest but not above a League and a half In Circumference but it is a most Fruitful place strangers frequent it because of the Court There Grows on these Islands neither Rice nor Wheat yet all sorts of Provisions are Cheaper here then in other parts of India There are here abundance of Cocoe Nuts they have little Beef or Mutton no Dogs for they Abhor them they have great store of Fish The Inhabitants are very Industrious and Sober People Of India beyond the Ganges called India-Extra Gangem INdia Extra-Gangem is that part of the great Continent of India which lieth on the East-side of the River Ganges In this Peninsula are a great Number of Kingdomes but I shall only discourse of the Principal ones that are Contained in the Table which are Arracan Pegu Martaban Siam Cambodia Couchin China Malacca and Tanquin The Kingdom of Arracan is Situated on the East-side of the Bay of Bengala extending it self from the Tropick of Cancer to the sixteenth Degree of North Latitude it being a brave and Fruitful Country The Kingdom of Pegu when in its Splendor was so Rich and Powerful that some would equal it to China They have in many places Mines of Gold Silver and Precious Stones Besides Grains Fruits Herbs Fowl and Beasts which are here found Excellent And without doubt it is the Richest Country of all the Indies and for the same Reason one of the best Peopled and most Powerful The Chief City of this Kingdom is Pegu the Metropolis The Houses well Built The Palace-Royal is Seated in the midst of the City having its partitular Wall-Moat and other Fortifications The Habit of the Natives is but mean contenting themselves for the most part with a piece of Linnen to Cover their Nakedness They all black their Teeth because they say Dogs Teeth are white They are Generally all Pagans Those that Marry Buy their Wives of their Parents The Kingdom of Martaban
towards the Gulf of Bengala is Contiguous to Pegu to which it hath been Subject at present to Siam this Kingdom hath many Ports frequented for Trade for besides its Grains Fruits Oyls and Medicinal Herbs it is Rich in Mines of Gold Silver Copper c. The Kingdom of Siam hath several Cities of Note but we shall for Brevity sake only treat of Siam as the Metropolis being a City of large Extent and of so great strength that in the Year 1567. they stoutly defended themselves against an Army of 1400000 Fighting Men which the King of Pegu brought against them for twenty Months together The Comodities of this City and Kingdom are Cotton Linnen of several sorts Benjamin Lacque of which they make Excellent hard Wax The Kingdom of Cambodia which lieth between the Gulfs of Siam and Couchin-China The Principal Cities Ravecca and Camboja The People in their manners and Customes Resemble those of Siam whose Subjects they have been The Kingdom of Couchin-China lieth to the Eastward of Camboja its Name signifies west China and was supposed formerly to belong to China whose Language Manners Customes Government Religion and other Ceremonies they yet retain All the Countrey is Fertile abounding in Rice Fruits and Herbs They have Gold Silver Silk Porcelain and many other valuable Commodities The Air Healthful and the Soil so Abundant in all things that the Inhabitants know nothing of Contagion or Famine They are Courteous Liberal kind to Strangers and Faithful in their dealings In the Peninsula of Malacca are diverse Kingdoms which are Tributary to Siam Except the City of Mallacca The whole Country is well Traded by Reason of its Archepelago which contains several Islands and of its Isthmus which facilitates the Transportation of Merchandise from one Sea to another and of its Ports which are Commodious Patane within few Years is grown Famous The Kingdome being frequented by diverse Nations perticularly the Chinois who bring thither Parcelain and divers Manufactures and Instruments of Husbandry The Soil is good producing Fruit every Month in the Year Their Hens Ducks and Geese often lay Eggs twice a Day Ihor is Situated on the utmost point of the Peninsula its Chief City was taken and ruined by the Portugals in 1603. who took from thence Fifteen-Hundred brass Cannons The Kingdom of Tanquin divides China from Couchin-China and hath about 150 Leagues of Sea Coast This Kingdom contains 7 Provinces The King of Tanquin Ordinarily entertaines a Militia of 50000 Men. The Land hath Beautiful Plaines and Watered with many great Rivers They have neither Asses nor Sheep but many Horses Elephants and Rhinocerotes whose Flesh Skins Bones Teeth Nails and Horns serve for Antidotes against Poyson The Catholique Religion was so Introduced some Years past that there was estimated to be more then 200000 Christned Souls Two-Hundred great Churches and great Quantities of Chapels and Oratories but since there hath hapened great Changes in those Kingdomes the Portugals have several Towns and Cities by which they have a great Revenue Of the Island of Sumatra THe Island of Sumatra lieth on the North of Java Major and a long the West-side of Mallacca the length thereof Extends from the North-West to the South-East about 800 miles and is 200 in breadth The Air is very hot and unwholsome by Reason of the gross Vapours drawn from the many Fens and Rivers which are found to be in it The Soil not Capable of such Grain as in other places except Rice and Millet it Affords great plenty of Wax and Honey store of Silks and Cottons Rich Mines not only of Tin Iron Copper Sulphur and other Minerals But of Gold such quantity that some conceive this Island to be Solomons Ophir for one of the Kings thereof wrote a Letter to King James wherein he hinted the Riches of his Country Abounding in Gold and that he had in his Dominions a Mountain of Gold King of which Golden Mountain he Intituled himself in his Regal Stile his Title is also King of Achem. His Covernment is Absolute and meerly Arbitrary executing what he hath a mind to without form of Law So Cantelous that without his Placard no Stranger can have Ingress into his Dominions nor is Admittance to his Presence granted to any whom he first sends not for by an Officer with a Gilded Staff He is conceived to be strong both by Sea and Land his Country Populous his Elephants many and well Trained Of the Island Borneo THe Island Borneo is Situate under the Aequator and is Adjudged to be more then 2200 miles in Circumference The People Generally more white then the rest of the Indians of good Wits and Aproved Integrity The Country is said to be provided Naturally with all things Necessary But unfurnished with Asses Oxen Herds of Cattel except only Horses and those but small of Stature the great Riches of it being Camphir Agarick and some Mines of Adamants The Island is divided between two Kings of two Religions The King of Borneo and his Subjects are all Mahumetans and those of Laus still Remaining in their Ancient Gentilisme These think the Sun and Moon to be Man and Wife and the Stars their Children Ascribing to each of them Divine Honours to the Sun especially whom they Salute at his first Rising with great Reverence Their Publique businesses are Treated of commonly in the Night The King of Borneo keeps the Greater State not to be spoken with but by the Mouth of some of his own Interpreters and in his Palace Served by no other Atendants than Maids or Women Of the Island Lucon THe Island of Lucon begineth at the thirteenth Degree and continueth up to the Ninteenth Degree of North Latitude lying South from China Manilla is its Chief City well Built after the Modern way and its Houses are of free Stone Built by the Spaniards this being one of the Philippine Islands So called from Philip King of Spain The Governour or Vice Roy of these Islands as also an Arch Bishop who hath a Spiritual Jurisdiction over all these Islands which he exercises by three Suffagan Bishops This City is very populous here commonly refiding 15000 Chinois besides Japoneses and Spaniards which drive a Trade in several good Commodities Of the Island Paragoa THe Island Paragoa stretcheth it self Southwest and North-East in length above 100 Leagues not having above Ten Fifteen or Twenty Five in breadth it begins almost at the Eighth Degree and ends not till the Eleventh Degree of North Latitude It is said that it bears Figs as thick as ones Arm. Its King is a Vassal to him of Borneo Of China CHina is bounded on the North with Altay and the Eastern Tartars from which Continued with a Chain of Hills part of those of Ar a at and where that Chain is broken off or interrupted with a great wall extended 400 Leagues in Length On the south part with Couchin China and partly with the Ocean on the East with the Oriental Ocean and on the West with part
of India It is said to contain in Circuit 3000 Leagues Containing not less then Sixteen Provinces at this day The Country is very Rich and Fertile so that in some places they have two and in some three Harvests in a year The People are for the most part of a Swarthy Complexion short nosed black eyed and very thin beards they wear their Garments very long with long loose sleeves and their hair long they drink their drink hot and eat their meat with two sticks of Ivory or Ebony The Son is bound to follow his fathers occupation The People are good Artificers Ingenious and Excellent in all things they take in hand as the Purcelian Dishes curious Carvings and the fine painted works which comes over from thence doth manifest They are effeminated with ease and pleasure and are not much given to Wars Of both Sexes there is thought to be Contained in this Country not fewer then Seventy Minions In Matters of Religion are generally all Gentiles The Forces which this King is able to draw into the Field must needs be infinite Considering that incredible number of Subjects under his Command for whereas France is thought to Contain Fifteen Millions of People Italy with the Isles as many Germany with the Switzers and Belgick Provinces about that Proportion Spain not above Seven Millions and the Kingdom of England and VVales not above Five Millions which is in all 57 Millions his people is 13 Millions more then all these put together The Government of this Kingdom is Tyrannical there being no Lord but the King no Title of Dignity or Nobility known amongst them nor Toll or Duty paid to any but to him The Dignity of the Crown is Hereditary falling to the Eldest Son after his decease The King they highly reverence calling him the Son of Heaven and the Son of God c. The great City of Pequin now the Seat of the King is of a vast bigness Containing within its Walls 3300 Pogodes or Temples wherein are continually sacrificed a great number of Wild Beasts and Birds In the Walls which encompasseth this City are 360 Gates to each of which is joyned a small Fort where a Guard is continually kept as also a Register to take the names of persons that pass thereat each of the streets having its Captain and other Officers who are to look after the same and every night to shut up the Gates Here are about 120 Aquaducts and Canals upon which are near 1800 Fair Bridges sustained on Arches This City is the Residence of the King when he is in the Northern Provinces as Nanquin is in the Southern Of Tartary TArtary is seated on the most Northern part of Asia and extends it self from East to West from the River Volga and Oby that separates it from Euprope unto the streight of Jesso which separates it from America Their Neighbours are the Muscovites on the West on the North the Tartarian Sea and the Persians the Mogolls and the Chinois on the South on the East the Straits of Jesso or Anian not yet certainly known The People are of an indifferent Stature ugly Countenances thick Lips Hollow Ey'd Flat Noses broad faced very strong Stout Valiant and good Warriers very Active Vigilant exceeding quick of foot patient in all afflictions they are very Rude Barbarous and revengeful do eat their Enemies and drink their blood as Wine at Feasts Their Habit is mean made of Course stuff reaches but to their Knees yet they are very Proud and think their Cham to be the greatest Prince in the World In Matters of Religion they are generally Pagans and Mahometans The Pagan being the best Gentleman being of the Elder House Their Food is mean and sluttishly drest they eat Horses and drink Mares Milk The Government is Tyrannical their Great Cham being Lord of all in whose Breast lyeth their Laws Every man hath the liberty of having two or three Wives which they never choose but out of their own Tribe The Country is very Fertile in most places abounding in Wheat Rice Wool Hemp Silk Musk Rubarb great Herds of Camells and Horses which they vend to the Chinois Mogolls and other Indians that comes thither to Trasick A General Description OF AFRICA CHAP. I. AFRICA is a Peninsula so great that is makes the third and most southerly part of our Continent It is bounded on all sides by the Sea it is by the Latines called Africa and the Greeks Lybia It approaches so near to Spain that onely the Straights of Gibralter divides them and is joyned to Asia only by a small Isthmus of Thirty or Forty Leagues between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean It is every where Inhabited though not so well as Europe and Asia partly by reason of the unsupportable heats and partly for want of water in many dry Countryes As to its divisions In the higher part of Africa is Barbary Billedulgerid and Egypt further South is the desarts of Zaara the Country of Negroes and Guinea in the higher Ethiopia or under Egypt are Nubia Abissina and Zanguebar In the lower or Inferiour Ethiopia Congo Mono Motapa and the Cafrees Barbary extends it self along the Mediterranean-Sea from the Ocean to Egypt and is bounded on the South by Mount Atlas Billedulgerid lies along this Mountain likewise from the Ocean unto Egypt bounded by Zaara or desart Egypt is only one valley from the Cataracts of Nile unto the Mediterranean-Sea Likewise Zaara the desart the Country of the Negroes and Guinea stretch themselves from the Ocean unto the high and low Ethiopia We have divided Ethiopia into the higher and lower placing in the Higher Nubia Abissina and Zanguebar in the lower Congo Monomotapa and Cafrees The Mountains in Africa are in great number and are very remarkable for their heighth and the Mettals wherewith they abound The most famous are Mount Atlas those of the Moon and Siere Lione Atlas was the most famous amongst the Ancients who believed it bounded the world on the South The Mountains of the Moon are higher than any in Europe and are alwayes covered with Snow and Ice The largest and most famous Rivers of Africa are the Nile and the Niger The Emperors Kings and Princes which at present possess Africa are in very great number The most powerful and Considerable are the great Turk or Sultan of the Ottomans who hold all Egypâ— a great part of Barbary and almost all the Coast that touches the Red Sea The Negus of the Abissines who possesses the fairest and greatest part of the Higher Ethiopia the Xeriffs of Fez and Morocco which have held those two Kingdoms in Barbary in which Country was situated the City and Garrison of Tangier belonging to his Imperial Majesty of Great Britain which was demolished in the year 1684. managed by the prudent Conduct of the Right Honourable George Lord Dartmouth in the Ship of Grafton and several others under his Command The Religions in Africa may be reduced to four viz. Mahometism Christianity Paganism