Precopensis Cambaja Long among which are The Chersonesus of Malacca adjoyning to India Cimbrica or Jutland adhering to Holsatia Borea adjoyning to Tartaria The North and South parts of America California Jucatan The Chersonesus of Thracia Nova Francia Ionia Cindensis Mindensis Of Affinity to Peninsulas Italy Greece Acaia Spain Norway Sweden Lapland Asia minor Arabia Beach a Region of Magellan and New Guiney Indostan Cochinchina New-England Monomotapa Camboia 3. Islands which may be considered in four sorts viz. Great as England Japan Island Canada Sumatra Madagascar Borneo Nova Zembla California Indifferent as Sicilia Ireland Hispaniola Cuba Java Major Celebes Creet Luconia Sardinia Friesland Terra Nova Mindanoa Ceilan Small as Gilolo Amboina Timor Corsica Majorca Cyprus Negropont Sealand Jamaica The very small ones in which we consider 1. The more famous Solitaria Rhodes Malta Lemnos Helena St. Thomas 2. A knot or heap of Isles together as The Canary Isles The Flandrian or Caribbe Isles The Hesperides Those of the Gulph of Mexico Of Maldives Of Japan About Madagascar The Moluccoes and Isles of Bauda The Philippine Isles The Isles of Theeves The Isles in the Aegean Sea The Isles about England The Isles of Solomon 4. The Isthmuses Between Egypt and Arabia or Africa and Asia That of Corinth between Peloponesus and Achaia The Isthmus of Panama or America the longest of all Between Jutland and Holsatia Between Malacca and India OF Absolute Geography SECT III. Wherein the constitution of the Land or the dry part of the Earth in four Chapters is declared CHAP. VIII Concerning the natural division of the parts of the Earth made from the Ocean flowing round about it THE things which in this Chapter we shall deliver concerning the division of the Earth and in the fifteenth Chapter we shall teach touching the division of the Sea will greatly facilitate the young Student in the understanding the distinction of the surface and parts of the Earth and to fix them the faster in the memory they are carefully and fully to be read and to be compared with the Terrestrial Artificial Globe and Maps Proposition I. A certain portion of Earth is covered with Water and a certain part stands out above the Surface of the Water Of parts of the Earth covered and of parts not covered with water but yet there are some parts which at some time are covered with Waters and some parts are free from them and conspicuous as many Islands by Norway Scotland and other Countries Add to these the beds or shelves of Sand and Seashores But seeing these parts are so small we take no account of them at present neither will we move that Question here Whether the Land takes up the greater part of the Superficies of the Earth or whether the Water We will treat of this briefly in the eighteenth Chapter Now we will confider the part standing up or extant above the Waters and we will call it Lands or Islands Proposition II. The Earth standing out above the waters not one but many Lands of which may be five sorts The Land or Earth standing out above the Waters is not one and continual but many Lands divided and disjoyned from one another by the Water flowing it between them We will make five differences of them to wit 1. The greatest Lands or Islands 2. The great ones 3. The mean ones 4. The little ones and 5. The least ones We will treat of the cause and original of these Lands extant or above the Waters or of the Islands in the eighteenth Chapter for there will be a more commodious place to treat of this Matter or Subject But all Lands extant above the Waters were to be called Islands seeing that an Island is no other thing then a Land begirt with Waters All Lands extant above the waters may be called Islands yet the common use of speaking hath taken away from the greatest Lands this name because that they are so great and of such a huge tract and continuance that the Circuit of the Water is thereby the less to be perceived Insomuch that they are usually called the firm Land and also great Continents And indeed by reason of their vast bulk and greatness unto which the magnitude of other Islands being compared is small they deserve this peculiar name therefore we will also call them firm Lands and great Continents Proposition III. The firm Lands four The greatest Lands Continents or Islands not contending with any about their name are four First the Old World Secondly the New World or America Thirdly the Polar Land Artick or Artick World and Fourthly the South-Land or Magellanick Land The old world most famous with its bounds c. The Old World the most famous of those four and only known of the Ancients which we inhabit is commonly divided by the Sea into two parts but joyned together by an Isthmus or narrow neck of Land one whereof is Africa and the other Asia and Europe It is invironed by the Ocean in this manner from the East by the Chinean Ocean and the Pacifick Sea from the South by the Indian Ocean and Aethiopick Sea from the West by the Atlantick Sea and from the North by the Frozen or North Sea the White Sea and Tartarian Ocean The division of this Continent of which we have spoken is made by the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabick Bay or Red-sea Africa divided from Asia and Europe For the distance of the Bays that is the Latitude or breadth of the intercedent Tract is not greater then about 30 miles if which were away Africa would make a peculiar firm Land and would increase the number The distance of the Old World towards the East is but a very little space from the New World or America The distance of the old world from the new about the Streight of Anian if only this be existent in the Universe of Nature And the distance of Europe from America is also very little between Norway and Newfoundland Also the Old World is but a very small distance from the Pole Artick-land about the Streight of Waigats from the South Polar or Magellan about New Guiney The New World or America is thus begirt by the Ocean On the East by the Atlantick Sea The new world with its bounds c. On the South by the Magellanick Streight On the West by the Pacifick Sea and on the North by a Sea unknown or uncertain except Davis Streight This World also wants but little but that it may be cut into two Islands to wit at Panama and Nombre de Dios where the confluence of the Pacifick and Atlantick Ocean is by a small Tract of earth intercepted It is distant from the Old World a very little space as before noted The Polar Artick and South Land with its bounds c. The Polar Artick and the South or Austral Land are begirt round with the Sea the first with the North Sea whose parts are
the Winds 4. From the ruin or subsidency of the Channels or Shoars also if that the bottom of the Channel be made higher in progress of time by the fall of the Sand or Mud. Proposition VII The Ocean hath no Fountains but is contained within the Cavities of the Earth yet it doth not remain always the same The Ocean hath no Fountains Experience testifieth that waters of Rivers proceed from Fountains or Springs and because that this hath been for so many Centuries of years it thence necessarily followeth that that water which continually floweth from the Springs to the Sea returneth through subterranean passages or some other ways to the same Fountain After the same manner there were Philosophers in Old time said that the Sea sprang from certain Fountains Neither could the magnitude and perpetuity of the Ocean withdraw them from this Opinion for they said that it returned unto the same Fountains by some hollowness of the Earth or by some other mode that so they might render a cause of the perpetual flux This Opinion may be answered after this manner If that the Ocean have Fountains they must either be in the extant part of the Earth or in that part which is covered by the Ocean that is in the very Channel or bosom of the Ocean but they are not in the extant part of the Earth for Men have no where found them Neither may you object That peradventure they are in the unknown Lands of the North or South for this would be a part of high confidence to require that to be granted which carrieth no weight of reason with it especially seeing that at not a few of the Northern lands the Sea is found frozen up with Ice and in most of those Regions hitherto discovered no Springs are found Therefore the Fountains of the Ocean are not in the extant part of the Earth It remaineth that we prove that they 〈◊〉 neither in the part of the Earth covered with waters that is in the bosome of the Sea If that they were in this there would be no more distance from the Center of the Earth than the waters of the Ocean it self and therefore there would be no flux from them but the water would rest in them whose nature it is not to be moved from places depressed to places more high For the Fountains of all Rivers are more elevated than the waters that they send forth But some may object That this is a violent motion because that the Channel of the Ocean and the Land is perforated within with many hollownesses and pits call them what you please which proceed for a long Tract under the Earth until they are let into some other place of the Channel of the Ocean So that there are two Orifices of these Channels which may have a sufficient great Latitude and Extension within the Earth going forth into the Channel of the Ocean therefore it may be that the water from the Ocean may flow into one of these two Orifices and some forth of the other as from a Fountain which may be illustrated by an easie Diagram And by that reason that nothing hindreth but that there may be many of these subterraneous passages and no absurdity thence followeth therefore it may seem probable to some that there are many of these Fountains in the very Channel of the Sea But this imagination is vain and not agreable to the properties of water for water having fallen into either of these Channels would not go forth by the other Orifice but would rest filled in it except moved by some violent cause For although water should be pressed and stirred by water forcing in on the Orifice yet it could not exonerate it self by the other Orifice because that water incumbeth on this Orifice also no less than the incumbing water at the former Orifice which may thus be proved by experience See Scheme Let there be in any Vessel water ABCD AB is the superficies of the water lying equally and spherically but let in a stick RPEF into the middle of the vessel which may perforate it by an oblique passage so that the part of the vessel A shall be higher than the whole of the part of the vessel B therefore the water as well on the part A as on the part B should for example flow through g h into this passage and fill it up and should not be effused through either of the Orifices not through g because this is higher nor through h because though it be more depressed than g yet the water flowing from the part B and perpendicularly tending to the bottom of the vessel would prohibit the influx From these it is manifest that the Ocean hath no Fountain but is perpetually contained within its own Channel But somewhat may be objected against this Objections which is worthy of consideration First That at some part or other of the Ocean there is always a violent external moving cause as Winds Fluxes Refluxes mutations of the Earth and the like Therefore these cause that sometimes in some one part of the Ocean and sometimes in another there is a greater Altitude and abundancy of water than in the other parts and therefore that higher water falling into the subterraneous passages is again poured forth into another part of the Channel of the Ocean where there is a lesser Altitude of water by reason of that external cause and where the incumbent water then less resisteth the eruption or efflux because it is moved another way by an external cause for although this may be yet it cannot be proved by experience neither can the contrary that is this be demonstrated to be so therefore at least the truth is uncertain and we must doubt concerning this Problem Now that there are such subterraneous pits or passages in the Channel of the Ocean cannot be denied and those places of the Ocean seem to shew them to wit where there is an immense profundity seeing there is no such in the vicine parts To this I answer although we should admit of those subterraneous passages yet therefore it doth not follow that we should grant that they proceed to another part of the Channel of the Ocean or go forth into it and if that this should be granted yet seeing that there are no such passages in all places and that these external causes sometimes are predominate in one part of the Ocean and sometimes in another there is no consequence from the objection that the Fountains of the Ocean are in any certain place but that it floweth sometimes from one part of the Channel and sometimes from another so that that flux continueth no longer than the external cause continueth 2. Some one may thus seem to argue The flux of the Ocean is perpetually discerned from the Northern Land or quarter toward the South between Europe and the Northern America also between Asia and the Northern America Yet notwithstanding no part of the Ocean or
by reason that the Sea water containeth a fixed salt which is a far more weighty body than fresh water And we have shewed that in divers parts of the Sea there is a divers quantity of salt Yet doth it not follow that water is more heavy by how much it is the more salt which doth not augment the gravity but lesseneth it and yet rendreth the water very salt Proposition XIII Salt water doth not so easily freez as fresh or a greater dègree of cold is required to the congelation of Sea water than of fresh Salt water doth not so soon freez as fresh Experience sufficiently sheweth this against the Aristotelians who defend that water is so much the lesser obnoxious to congelation by how much it is the more pure and therefore should more easily congeal as receding more from the elementary water which is false Now the cause is that in the salt it self their is a certain spirit which resisteth congelation and being seperated from the salt admitteth of no congelation from the hardest frost as those that are skilful in Chymistry know For the spirit of salt is a medicament sufficiently known and of frequent use Proposition XIV Why the Ocean is not bigger seeing that it receiveth so many Rivers The cause is 1. That the water returneth to the Sea through subterraneous passages unto the fountains of the Rivers as shall be explicated in the following Chapter 2. Because that many vapours are elevated from the Ocean whereof many being resolved into rain fall into the Ocean and part on the land Proposition XV. Certain parts of the Ocean differ in colour The water in the Ocean in all places not of one and the same colour Experience testifieth that in the Northern places the Sea seemeth of a more black colour in the Torrid Zone of a duskish colour in other places of a blew About certain shoars of new Guinee the Ocean is found of a white colour in some other place of a yellow In Streights the water appeareth to incline to white at the Shoars of Congi not far from Bay a D'Alvaro Gonzales a Rivulet or an Arm is disburthened into the Sea of somewhat a Redish colour taken from a mine of red earth through which it floweth But the Arabian Gulph called therefore the Red Sea by reason of the property of the colour some will have the denomination taken from King Erythreus others from the splendour which the Raies of the Sun repercussed doth effect But the more probable opinion and that which is confirmed from experience is that the redness doth arise from the sand of a red colour which is found in the bottom of this Sea and on the Shoars and is frequently admixed with the water The water in the Red Sea only red by reason of the red sâ—â—â—â— in it The cause of this admixture which seemeth contrary to the ponderousness of sand is the vehemency of the flux and reflux of the water or its swiftness and agitation in this Sea by which it cometh to pass that the sand or gravel is agitated and moved up and down and so hindred by the continual motion of the Sea that it cannot rest Mariners affirm that the water of this Sea sometimes appeareth as red as blood but if taken up in a vessel the sand will sink down and then the water appeareth otherwise It often happens that storms from the Red Sea rushing into Arabia or Africa carry with them so great an abundance of sand and cast it on the earth that it covereth whole troops of men and beasts whence proceedeth the true Mummie Whether from the same or another cause the Sea between California and America be termed red Vermejo I have not as yet found it observed by Writers Proposition XVI Certain peculiar things are found in certain parts of the Ocean Of things in the Ocean peculiar to certain places The Sea termed Di Sargasso by the Portugals which beginneth not far from Cape Verd in Africa about the Isles of Salt and extendeth it self from the 20th degree of Northern Latitude unto the 34th of South Latitude The colour of this Sea seemeth to be green which is not the colour of the Sea it self but of a certain small leaved herb in the bottom of it called by the Portugals Sargasso The leaves of this weed mutually complicated one into another swim on the face of this Ocean in so continued a tract that the water can hardly be seen so that the Seamen afar off discovering this Ocean take it for an Island and green Land neither can they pass through this knot of weeds except that they be helped by a moderate wind at least the herb beareth a small berry whence it ariseth is not yet known Seeing that this Sea is not so near any land that it should have its original from them neither is it probable that it should come from the bottom of the Sea by reason that the profundity of this Sea is such that in many places it exceedeth the length of any line or cord In the Ocean not far from the Promontory of Good Hope are many floating red-like shrubs of a great thickness discovered unto which the herb Sargasso is implicated Seamen take it for a certain that if they see them thereabouts that they are near to the Promontory of Good Hope or else have just past it Corral found on the Shoar of Madagascar On the Shoar of the Isle of Madagascar the Ocean casteth up red and white Coral which augment like shrubs under the water and although that they be soft in some places yet between Madagascar and Africa there are reported to be Rocks of hard Coral In the Baltick Ocean nigh to the Shoar of Borussia the Shoar casteth forth most excellent succinum which the Inhabitants are taught when certain winds do blow to draw up with certain Iron hooks Amber only in the Ocean in the Torrid Zone The Ocean casteth up Amber only in the Torrid Zone viz. at the Shoar of Brazile where a peece of 500 l. weight was taken up by a Dutch Soldier and presented unto Count Nassaw at the Isle of Madagascar at Cape Verd at the Isle of Maurice at the Isle of Sumatra and other Indian Isles Garcias relateth that a piece of 200 l. weight was found yea that some Islands consist wholly of Amber but he doth not name them In the Aethiopick Ocean at Guinea Congo and Angola this is peculiarly observed that at the sides of the Keil of the Ship whilst that they remain there green Cockles like unto grass do stick which hindreth the sailing of the Ships and eateth the wood On the Coast of Languedock in France Birds unshaped first of all then by degrees they receive form and fixing of their bill in the wood when they begin to move by degrees they are pulled off and swim on the water like Geese The excrement of the Ocean termed the Scum of the Sea is found floating in
a Fountain of so great force that it dissolveth stones Near unto Tours in France are Caves to be seen tearmed commonly Les Caves Gouttieres from the roof of which the water which falleth is formed into divers shapes as Nuts Almonds and the like The hot Fountain of Japan burneth all things and devoureth cloth iron flesh c. The studious may collect divers other examples from other Authors and reduce them to this Classis if that they seem not possible to be reduced to any of the former The Causes must be sought from the peculiar situation and property of each place Proposition XVIII To enumerate those Fountains which break forth at a set time not continually to explain the cause and those which ebb and flow Of Fountains which break forth at a set time not continually This Proposition belongeth not to this Chapter but to the preceding yet because it belongeth to the wonder of waters and was neglected in the former Chapter here it shall be explained In a Fountain situated on the top of an high Hill in the Province of Canaugh in Ireland the water ebbeth and floweth every day with the flux and reflux of the Sea yet the water is fresh The same is observed in the Fountain Louzara which is in the mountainous places of Galaecia called Cabreti 20 miles from the Sea Also in Aquitain in the Village Marsacus is a Fountain which imitateth the swelling of the Sea and swelleth with the increase of Garumnae in Burdeaux Elsewhere there are said to be Fountains which augment and decrease contrary to the swelling of the Sea In Wales near the mouth of the River Severn is a Pool called Linliguna which swalloweth in the Marine floods whilst that they arise but it is by no means filled with the same and the flood of the Sea ceasing then it riseth with a great force and vomiteth out the water with which it covereth the Banks In Biscay there are the four Springs Tamarici whereof three every day are so dried twelve times as if that no water were in them as Pliny reporteth But I question whether they be to be found at this day In Savoy is a Fountain of noted magnitude callen Wonderful which sinketh low twice in an hour and twice floweth and before that it floweth and doth break forth with a great noise it floweth into the Lake Burgites In the Mountains of Foix in Languedoc riseth the River Lers which in the Months June July and August ebbeth and floweth 24 times in a day See Bertius In a Region of Westphalia called Paderborn is a Fountain which ebbeth and floweth twice every day although it sendeth forth so much water that not far from the Fountain the water driveth four Water-mills and it breaketh forth with a mighty noise In the Province of Wallis in Germany is a Fountain called the Fountain of St. Mary it ceaseth to flow in the Autumn at the day dedicated to St. Mary and returneth in May. The Pool or Lake Maron in Palestine is so dry in the Summer and bringeth forth Herbs and Shrubs so high that Lions Wolves and other wild Beasts do abide there In Spain two miles from Valindolid is a Fountain which ariseth in May and falleth in November All Baths flow without any cessation or change except those that are in Rhaetia and are called the Pepper Baths for they flow only in the Summer from the third of May to the fourteenth of September then they cease CHAP. XVIII Of the Mutation of the places of the Water and Land or of the Mutation of the watery superficies into the earthy and the contrary Proposition I. To know the Superficies of the Earth which the water possesseth how great it is and that which the Earth occupieth Of the Superficies of the earth which the water possesseth WE cannot accurately know this because we are ignorant whether the Sea or Land doth possess the Superficies of the North or South Polaryland Moreover because the Superficies of the water as also of the land is terminated on the Globe by an irregular bending of the lines therefore it would be a very difficult task to compute the quantity of the Superficies of the water and land but as far as we are able to collect in gross from the inspection of the Terrestrial Globe the Superficies of the water and land seem almost equal so that the Superficies of the water is half to the Superficies of the land and so also is the Superficies of the land Proposition II. The Superficies of the Water as also of the Land is not at all times of the same magnitude but sometimes greater and sometimes lesser and when the Superficies of the Water is augmented the Superficies of the Land is diminished For the Sea overfloweth sometimes here sometimes there or taketh away and carrieth with it so therefore his Superficies is augmented more or less as it hath overflowed a great or less tract of Land as in times past it did in Thessaly Yet this variety as far as it is yet known hath a very little proportion unto the whole Superficies of the water it may be made great as we shall shew in the eighteenth Proposition Proposition III. To compute what quantity of Water the Earth containeth and what quantity of Land Of the quantity of Land and Water which the Earth containeth For the finding out the accurate and true quantity of water and land first we ought to know both the whole Superficies of the water as also its depth in divers parts of the Sea also the subterraneous heaps of water ought to be examined All which seeing that we cannot find out by any method therefore we cannot find out the accurate quantity of the water or land but only from certain Hypotheses viz. we laid down the Superficies of the water to be half the Superficies of the earth the profundity to be quarter or half a mile neither do we reckon the waters in subterraneous Channels The quantity of water may be thus found out Take a quarter or half a mile from the Semidiameter of the earth and the solidity of the Sphere may be found whose Semidiameter is equal to the residue let this solidity be taken from the solidity of the earth the half of the residue is the quantity of the water the same half substracted from the solidity of the whole earth leaveth the quantity of the earth unto which must be added a fourth or fifth part of the bulk of water or of the former half But these are uncertainties from supposed uncertainties or at least nigh unto truth Proposition IV. The Water may leave the shoar and place of the Earth which it doth occupy for divers causes so that the Land may appear dry where the Water or Sea was before and so a new Land may seem to be generated A Sevenfold Tract of Waters There are a sevenfold Tract of waters viz. 1. the Ocean 2. Gulphs or Bays of the Ocean 3.
of the Caspian Sea which is often called TABARESTAN from the name of this Province It stretches 100 Leagues up the Land containing in its Territory 12 fair Cities of which Asterabad or Starabat which hath something of common with the name of the Province is the principal then Maglasen Zariach and others this Country affords quantity of Silk Province of Gorgian The Province of GORGIAN touches not the Sea the chief City is of the same name then Obscoen Damegan and Semnan Gorgian answers to the ancient Hircania Metropolis Province of Rhoemus The Province of RHOEMVS is in the East of TABARESTAN and GORGIAN It s chief Cities are 1. Bestan then 2. Beyad 3. Zabâ—awer and 4. Thous higher in the Land 5. Feraway 6. Masinon and others toward the Sea and Mouth of the River Gehon Nassir Eddin that excellent Mathematician was a Native of Thous who drove Mustalzin from his Caliphat or dignity of Babylon because Mulstalzin had demanded of him Where were his Horns So dangerous it is to mock a man of Spirit and Courage The City of Thous is esteemed very considerable being large and encompassed with a noble Wall adorned with stately Structures and among others with about 200 or 300 Towers distant from one another a Musquetsâ—ot It is famous for the stately Sepulchre of Iman Risa of the Family of Ali one of the Twelve Persian Saints where great Devotions and Ceremoâ—ies are performed by them which brings in a great Revenue to this City Province of Churdistan The Province of CHVRDISTAN is divided into three Parts or Provinces of which Salmas is the chief City of the first Maraga of the second â—nd Cormaba of the third Besides which there are a great number of fair Cities as 1. Nakziovan 2. Choy 3. Guienche c. Salmas is near the Salt-Lake of Kannudhan which yields Fish only at a certain time of the year This City hath under its Jurisdiction 20 other strong and fair ones yet is not without those wandring People which live under their Tents Maraga is 〈◊〉 or 4 days Journey from Tauris 5 or 6 from Salmas Near Maraga the Perâ—ans were defeated by the Sarazens about the year 650 and their Monarchy â—ell into the hands of the Califfs Cormaba is on the East of Tigris and not â—at from Bagdad and Mosul Its Inhabitants are esteemed the true Curdes as good at incursions as the Arabs who lose nothing they can catch Near Choy are the Calderonian Champains of Chelder renowned for the Battle between Selim Emperour of the Turks and Ismael Sophy of the Persians where this last who had till then almost always been Victor was defeated and lost a great Battel and after it Tauris where was his wife Tallucanum and his Treasures but whilst he prepared new Forces the Turks retired to Amasia At Guienche formerly a City and a Kingdom contains likewise 7 or 〈◊〉 fair Cities the Can Caidogli caused to be builded one of the fairest and strongest Towers that is in Persia besides the Stone making use of the Heads of 540000 Turks which he had defeated in those quarters and which he caused to be bruised among the Morter Province of Ayrack its Commodities c. The Province of AYRACK is the fairest and richest of Persia The Sophies have for sometime past made here their residence formerly at 1. Casbin at present at 2. Hispahan which are two great Cities 3. Cassian 4. Hamadan 5. Dankana 6. Sauwa 7. Com 8. Yesd 9. Soltania 10. Hrey 11. Cochera 12. Kargh with several others are likewise very fair Near Hrey is gathered excellent Manna Soltan hath great quantity of the fairest Fountains and takes its name from the Soltans which sometimes resided here Yesd yields the richest and fairest Tapestries in the World Near this City and on the Mountain Albors there are yet some worshippers of Fire which have used it above 3000 years Hamadan hath born the title of a Kingdom and had 15 Cities under it Casian produceth many Silk and Cotton Manufactures and hath drawn to it all the Traffick that was at Com not suffering any Vagabonds or Beggars Com hath been as great as Constantinople but Tamerlain having ruin'd it it could never regain its splendor The Inhabitants addict themselves to labour in their Vineyards and Gardens It s Bridge is of Stone and the fairest in all Persia Casbin was the residence of Xa-Thamas when the Turks had taken Tauris Some esteem it the ancient Arsacia others Ecbatana It is not well built but great and filled with no less than 100000 Souls its fair Palace it s many Bazars and its Atmaiden are remarkable Bazars are places or great Streets where there are but one sort of Merchants the Atmaiden or greater Market which is about a mile in Circuit Hispahan the chief City of Persia Hispahan the Metropolitan City of the Persian Monarchy seated in the Parthian Territory which in its scituation is pleasant and delightful in its Soil fruitful and well watered by the River Sindery in its Air serene and healthful and for bigness is now become the greatest City in all Persia whose Walls are in circumference a reasonable days Journey Its buildings which are many scarce containing less than 75000 Houses are proud and elegant and was said to be once so populous that it gave entertainment to 500000 Inhabitants But after a certain Revolt for which they were severely chastised by the command of the Prince it hath not had so great a quantity of People yet it is exceeding populous and much frequented by Strangers rich in Trade eminent for all sorts of Exercise and more magnificent as being the residence of the Sophy of the Persians who had here built divers Palaces which are inhabited by his Nobles so rich and stately with Gardens so delightful and magnificent that not the industry of man nay scarce his thought can comprehend or imagine any thing more beautiful This City besides its Walls is fenced about with a Ditch and defended by a strong Castle The chief buildings are the Palaces the Mosques the Hummums or Hot-houses and the Mydan or Market-place which without dispute is the fairest richest and noblest Building in the World being about 1000 Places in length and 200 in breadth The inside resembles our Exchange being filled with Shops where all sorts of rich Commodities are vended and sustained by Arches and below furnished with such things both for Food and Rayment as the Country affordeth Its Palaces and Seraglio's exceeding stately and delightful On the West-side are seated two stately Palaces or Seraglio's for the King and his Ladies far exceeding in state and magnificence all other the proud Buildings in this City the Walls being of Red Marble and pargetted with divers colours and the whole Palace paved with fretted and Checkered work over which it is spread with stately Carpets the Windows are made of Alablaster and white and spotted Marble and the Posts and Wickets of massy Ivory checkered with glittering
the Negroes the Mona's or Mani that is Kings of Congo Monotapa and Emugi and the Soba of Angola in the Lower Ethiopia he of Adel in the Coast of Ajan besides which there are many Xeques of the Arabs many free and vagabond People who for the most part live without Chiess Faith or Law The Kings of Castile and Portugal hold many places on the Coasts of Africa those of Castile hold some on the Mediterranean Sea those of Portugal hold a great number on all parts of the Ocean which encompasses Africa but the Hollanders have taken some from them and others are delivered to the English Languages or Tongues spoken in Africa Amongst a great number of different Tongues that are in Africa the three or four principal and most general ones are the Beribere or African which comes from the Ancient Punick the Arabick and Ethiopian The African and Arabick extend themselves through all Barbary Billedulgerid Egypt and Saara according as the People of these Countries descend from the Africans or Arabs The Ethiopian is in the greatest part of Ethiopia if it be not on the Coast where the commerce and confluence of Strangers hath long since changed the Tongue But the Negroes seem to have a particular Language These Tongues have divers Idioms and very different the one from the other all or at least the three first descending from the Hebrew or Tongues derived from it Their Religions The Religions which have course in Africa may be reduced to four Mahometism Paganism Christianity and Judaism Mohometism possesses Barbary Billedulgerid Egypt Zaara or the Desart part of the Negroes and a good part of the Coast of Zanguebar Paganism holds part of the Negroes and Nubia Guinny and almost all the Lower Ethiopia I comprehend the Cafres with the Pagans part of Zanguebar and some mixture otherwhere Christianity holds in Africa almost the whole Empire of the Abissines part of Egypt but the most part Schismaticks and along all the Coasts of Africa where the Portugals are the strongest they have introduced Christianity as in Congo Angola and some Coasts of the Cafres and Zanguebar As for Judaism it is scattered in many Cities on the Coast of Barbary as at Morocco Fez Algier c. Likewise in Egypt and on the confines of the Abissines and the Negroes they have the Kingdom of Ximen tributary to the Abissines but the Jews are but a small number in Africa in comparison of the others I make account that Africa being divided into 16 equal parts Mahometism would possess 5 or 6 Paganism 6 or 7 Christianity 3 and Judaism only one It s division into Parts as at this day known AFRICA as it is at this day known may be divided into these 8 parts following viz. 1. Barbary in which is found the Kingdoms of Morocco Fez Algier Telensin Tunis Tripoli and Braca 2. Billedulgerid or Numidia 3. Egypt 4. Zaara or Libya Interiour in which is comprehended the Country of the Negroes Guinny with some certain Isles 5. Nubia 6. The Empire of the Abissines or the higher or greater Ethiopia in which I comprehend Zanguebar 7. Ethiopia the Lower in which are found the Kingdoms of Congo the Empire of the Monomotapa the Land of Cafres And 8. and lastly the Isles of Africa And of these in order Under the Name of BARBARY are comprehended several Kingdoms to wit The Kingdom of MOROCCO wherein are several Provinces and which may be considered as they lie On the Sea as Susa Taradante Messa Tagavostum Tojouta Gartguessemum Hea Tednest Teculethum Goza Tefethna Within Land as Guzula Guzula Morocco Morocco Agmer Elguimha Temella Hascora Elmadina Tagodaft Teldes Teiza Tedza Ducala Azamor El Medina Asafi The Kingdom of FEZ with its several Provinces which may be considered as they lie On the Ocean as Temesne Anfa Almansor Rabatt Adendum Fez Fez Mahmora Salla or Sally Asgar Cafar-el-Cabir Lharais On the Streight of Gibraltar Habar Arzila Tangier Tettinguina On the Mediterranean Sea as Errif Gomer Bedia Garret Mellila Fetis Up within Land as Chaus Teza Dubdu Gaâ—sis The Kingdom of ALGIER with its Provinces which may be considered as they lie On the West as Telensin with its Quarters Telesin Telesin Oran Marsalquibiâ— Hanghad Guagida Beni-Rafid Batha Tenez Tenesa Sersela Meliana In the Middle as Algier Algier Temendfufta Taddeles On the East as Bugia Bugia Chollum Gergelum Steffa Constantina Constantina Bona Tabarca Tebessa The Kingdom of TUNIS with its Governments and which may be considered as they lie On the Sea and are Maritim as Benserta Benserta Goletta Tunis Goletta Sousa Susa Hammmetha El-Media or Africa El-Media Within Land as Beija or Bege Beija Urbs Urbs Arbes Musti Marmagena Cayroan Cayroan Cafsa Hama The Kingdom or Province of TRIPOLI whose chief Maritim places are those of Capes Et-Hamma Tripolis the New Lepeda Tripolis the Old The Country of BARCA or LIBYA which may be divided into The Kingdom of BARCA as it regards the Sea and makes the most Eastern Coast of BARBARY whose chief places are Camera Bernichum Torachara Tolometa Zadra Barca Cayroan Boni-Andreas Musolomarus Albertonus Roxâ— Ripaealba The Desart of BARCA within Land more Southward and under the Tropick of Cancer whose chief places are Ammon Gorham Angela Alguechet Erner Sertâ— Ascor Ebâ—ida and Couzza A GENERALL MAPP OF THE COAST OF BARBARIE WHERE IN ARE THE KINGDOMS AND ESTATES OF MOROCCO FEZ ALGIER TUNIS AND TRIPOLIS ALSO THE KINGDOMS ESTATES AND DESERTS OF BARCA EGIPT LIBYA BILEDULGERID SEGELMESSE AND DARHA With the Circumjacent Counteries By Mounsieur Sanson Geographer to the French King and Rendred into English and Illustrated By Richard Blome By his Majesties Especiall Command London Printed for Ric Blome Aº 1667. Francis Lamb Sculpit MOROCCO Kingdom of Morocco its bounds THE Kingdom of MOROCCO is the most Western part of Barbary bounded by the Ocean the River Sus Mount Atlas and the River Ommiraby The Ocean washes it on the West the River Sus separates it from Tesset on the South Mount Atlas divides it from Darrha and Segelmesse on the East and the Ommiraby from the Kingdom of Fez on the North. In Provinces It is divided into 7 Provinces those of Sus Hea Guzula and Morocco are between the Rivers of Sus and Tensift the two first on the Sea and the other within Land The Provinces of Teldes Hascora and Ducala are between Tensift and Ommiraby the two first up in the Land the other on the Ocean and these three last stretch towards the North and East the four first towards the South and West Province of Sus its chief places c. 1. The Province of Sus is about the River Sus and is sometimes extended as far as Cape de Non. Taradante not far from Atlas is esteemed the chief City of this Province its Governours and Kings having here made their residence much enriched of late by the English and French Merchants who have here a Staple for their Sugars The Town is
or Provinces within Land are so near and sometimes so engaged with those of the Coast that I will not change the order I have taken to consider this Kingdom in 5 principal parts in each part observing the Governments Provinces and Kingdoms therein Hunain Haresgol and Marsalquibir on the Coast Telensin Hanghad and Benirafi within Land shall compass the quarter of Telensin Tenes and Sarsell on the Coast and Meliana within Land shall be the quarter of Tenes Algier on the Coast and Cuco within Land that of Algier Bugia and Gilgili on the Coast Stefe Labes Necaus and Mesila withing Land that of Bugia Bona on the Coast Constantina and Thebesse within Land that of Constantine Province of Telensin The City of Telensin which those of the Country now call Tremecen and Tilmisan hath once been chief of a Kingdom of the same name of which the Provinces of Telensin Tenes Algier and Bugia were the parts The City is not above seven or eight Leagues distant from the Sea It hath been one of the greatest and fairest of all Barbary This may appear in that there remains but eight Mosques of consideration it having had 250 but four Bania's of 160 but two Inns for the Franks and four for the Moors of 34 but six Hospitals of thirty or forty It had 16000 Houses about the year 1000 20000 about the year 1200 25000 in the year 1550 and the Jews had ten great Synagogues The divers changes which it suffered and the rude treatment which they received from the Turks hath made many of its Inhabitants retire into Fez and some other where which hath reduced it low That which remains is magnificent its Houses better built its Streets more large and spacious its Gardens more embellished Its People more civil and its Merchants of better credit then those of Algier It hath a Cittadel built after the Modern Fortifications Humain 2. Humain which others call Humanbar and Vnhaim is the ancient Artifiga It s Port is not great but good its Land hath much Figs Oranges Citrons Pomgranates and Cotton of which the Inhabitants make divers Manufactures In 1535 this place was ruined by the Castilians and not restored till long after Haresgol 3. Haresgol is the ancient Siga a Roman Colony the residence of Syphax sometimes King of this Country before he seised the Estates of Massanassa Its scituation is on a Rock whose foot is washed by the Sea and hath no communication with the firm Land but on the South side This City hath been much greater then it is the takings and retakings which it suffered by the Kings of Fiz by the Califfs by the Moors by the Castilians and by the Arabs reduced to the estate it is at present under the Kings of Algier City of Oran who kept a Garrison in its Castle 4. Oran and Marsa-el-Quibir which belongs to the Marquisate of Oran are in the hands of the Catholick King Oran which the Africans call Tuharan the Arab of Nubia Vaharan is the Cuisa of the ancients and Marsa-el-Quibir there Portus Magnus since this name signifies the great Port. This was taken by the Marquess of Comares in the year 1505 the other by the Cardinal Ximenes in the year 1509. At the taking of this last the Castilians lost only 30 men killed 4000 Moors and delivered 20000 Christian Captives This City of Oran before it was taken had above 6000 Houses abundance of Temples Hospitals Canes Bania's c. and had sometimes been the residence of the Catholick Kings The Venetians Genouese Catalonians c. having here so great a Trade that its riches and power inclined its Inhabitants to deny Tribute to the Kings of Telensin and to make some incursions on the Coast of Spain which was the cause of their loss At present it is a Suffragan Bishoprick to the Archbishoprick of Toledo it hath some Convents and Hospitals among others one very rich It is strongly seated on the Mediterranean Shore powerfull at Sea in their Gallies and is a place of some Trade affording most of the Commodities the Country produceth Marsalquibir 5. Masalquibir hath one of the fairest greatest and most secure Ports that is in all Africa The Government or Marquisate of Oran comprehends likewise some Castles and Mountains where there are good Garrisons which keep the Neighborhood in jealousie Mazagran with its Castle on the Coast is in the hands of the Moors Province of Anghad The Quarter of ANGHAD or RANGVAD though for the most part desart yet hath some fertile places where are the Cities Gâ—â—gida and others Guagida hath yet about 3000 Families its Land fruitful in Grains and watred with many Rivers The Desart is possessed by the Arabs and amongst them many Lions Wild-Boars Stags and above all Ostriches in hunting of which the Arabs often exercise themselves making profit of their Feathers eating their Flesh and currying their Skins to carry their Baggage in They keep the heart to make use of in Charms or Witcherasts the Fat to mix in their Medicaments and the Nails or the Horn to make Pendants for the Ears to deck themselves with when they utter the other parts Province of Benirasid BENI-RASID or BENIRAXID hath some Plains towards the North many Mountains toward the South is fruitful almost every where and hath three or four places of some consideration in these Mountains 1. Beni-Arax of Old Bunebora is not walled it contains more then 2000 Inhabitants 2. Calaa or Calat-Haoara of Old Vrbara between two Mountains is strong 3. Moascar of Old Victoria hath a Castle where the Governor of the Countrey resides 4. Batha of Old Vaga on the River Mina having been ruined by the Inhabitants of the Mountain of Guanseris some Morabut out of their opinion of his sanctity restored it in Anno 1520. And 5. Medua Province of Tenes its chief places fertility and people The Province of TENES is between that of Telensin and Algier to whose Kings it hath been subject sometimes to one and sometimes to others and sometimes it self hath born the Title of a Kingdom It s principal places on the Sea are Tenesa and Sargel within Land Meliana 1. Tenesa part on the side of a Hill and part on a Plain descending to the Sea hath a Castle and a Palace formerly the abode of its Kings or Lords now of its Governours Its Inhabitants are addicted to Traffick The Country both in the Mountains and Plains yields them Grains Fruits Hides Wax Hony and some other Commodities 2. Brischa and 3. Sersela East of Tennesa and between Tennes and Algier have many Roman Antiquities The first is the ancient Icosima the other is Rusubricari This hath suffered divers Ruins the Moors driven from Granada rebuilt it and enriched it with their Piracies with their Silks and Fruits The Inhabitants both of the one and the other are for the most part Weavers 4. Meliane or Malliana is on a Mountain where yet the most part of the
that the people pass to and fro as it were in throngs near to this City are Josephs 7 Granaries now brought to ruines yet 4 of them are so repaired as they are made use of to keep the publick Corn. On the South end of this City he saith there yet remaineth a round Tower wherein Pharaohs daughter lived when she found Moses in the River which runs hard by it South West of Grand Cairo on the other side of the Nile about four Leagues distance stands the three oldest and greatest Pyramides the Jews affirming them to be built by Pharaoh who was drowned in the Red Sea the fairest for himself the next for his Wife and the least for his only Daughter The greatest of the three and chief of the Worlds Seven Wonders is made in form Quardangular lessening by equal degrees the Basis of every Square is 300 paces in length and so lessening by degrees ascending by 250 steps each being about 3 feet high the Stones are all of a bigness and hewed four square And in this as also in the others there are several Rooms There are also about 16 or 18 other Pyramides but of less note and not so ancient as these 3 aforesaid are which I shall pass by Nigh to this City in the Plain is the place where they did inter their dead in which they used such art that the bodies of their dead remain to this day perfect sound and these we call Mummies The places where these bodies ly are about ten fathom under ground in Vaults either in the Sand or upon an open stone The Earth is full of dry Sand wherein moisture never comes which together with their art of Embalming them doth thus preserve the bodies for some thousand years past In the brest of these Mummies is set a small Idol some of one shape some of another with Hieroglyphicks on the back side of them This City of Grand Cairo was formerly of a very great Trade but that which hath now ruined it as likewise that of Alexandria is the discovery of the East Indies by the Cape of Good Hope by which the English Portugals and Hollanders at present go to these Indies and bring into the West all those Drugs Spices Precious Stones Pearls and a thousand other Commodities which came before by Aleppo or by Egypt but passing by Cairo let us come to the other Cassilifs The Cassilifs in the lower Egypt In the lower Egypt are those of Garbia Menufia and Callioubech within the Delta and between the Branches of the Nile That of Mansaura without and Eastward towards the Holy Land and Arabia Likewise without and Westward of the Nile is the Cassilif of Bonhera or Baera which stretches it self from the Nile unto the Cape of Bonandrea This last Cassilif is almost quite out of Egypt though within its Government and the length of its Sea Coast not less then that of all Egypt along the Nile But that which is distant from the Nile is subject to the Arabs and very Desart that which is near it is better worth It s Governor is obliged to Mannel a Callech or Channel of 100000 paces in length to carry water from the Nile to Alexandria and when a new Bassa arrives in Egypt this Governor hath likewise to furnish him with Horses and Camels for himself his Train and Baggage and to defray his charges from Alexandria unto Cairo But since the Wars with the Venetians the Bassa's have generally come round by Land and not adventured by Sea to Alexandria Among the Desarts of this Cassilif those of St. Macaire have had 360 and odd Monasteries And here is likewise to be seen a Lake of Mineral Water which converts into Nitre the Wood Bones or Stones that are thrown into it The Cassilifs of Callioubech Menousia and Garbia being between the Branches of the Nile and out of the course of the Arabs ought to be esteemed the best in Egypt and particularly the last which yields more abundantly Sugar Rice Milk Grains Oyl Flax Herbs Honey Fruits c. And Maala one of its principal Cities which they call the Little Medina is a place of great devotion with them where they hold yearly a famous Fair which the Governor opens with great pomp observing many Ceremonies The Cassilif of Mansoura doth produce the same Commodities but not in so great a quantity though of a greater extent then Garbia but more over it yields Cassia These four or five Cassilifs take up the whole Coast of Egypt and of its Government and on this Coast are the Cities of Alexandria Rosetto Damiata and some others The City of Alexandria Alexandria among the Turks Scanderia was built by the command of Alexander the Great and by him peopled with Greeks immediately after the conquest of Egypt and the Moddel traced by the Architect Dinocrates who for want of other matter made use of Wheat-flower to mark out the circuit which was taken for a good Augury It was afterwards beautified by many but especially by Pompey It is scituated Westward of the Delta over against the Isle of Pharos and built upon a Promontory thrusting it self into the Sea with which on the one side and on the other the Lake Mareotis It is a place of good defence its circuit is about 12000 paces adorned with many stately Edifices among which the most famous was the Serapium or the Temple of their god Serapis Which for curious workmanship and the stateliness of the Building was inferior to none but the Roman Capitol then the Library erected by Ptolomy Philadelphus in which there were 200000 Volums which Demetrius promised to augment with 300000 more And this in the War against Julius Caesar was unfortunately burnt And this is that Philadelphus who caused the Bible to be translated into Greek by the 72 Interpreters which were sent him by the High Priest Eleazar In this City in Anno 180 Gantenus read Divinity and Philosophy who as it is thought was the first institutor of Vniversities This City hath been enriched with 400 high and strong Forts and Towers and the Ptolomies or Kings of Egypt having made here their residence after the death of Alexander the Great and caused many stately and magnificent Palaces to be built Under the Houses are Gisterns sustained with Pillars of Marble as also Pavements for their refreshment being their Summer habitation their ancient custom by reason of the heat being to build their Houses as much under ground as above the upper part serving for their Winter habitation It was their custom also to erect great Pillars of Marble or Porphyry among others that of Pompey which stands upon a four square Rocky Foundation without the Walls on the South side of the City It is round and of one intire piece of Marble and of an incredible bigness being above One hundred foot high not far from the place where he was slain in a Boat at Sea and where his ashes were laid In this City are also two
one Will in Christ After the receiving of the Sacrament they hold it unfitting to Spit until Sun-fet Those Beasts which in the Old Law are held unclean are so esteemed with them They keep their Sabbath-day on Saturdays they allow their Priests no yearly means or slipends neither do they suffer them to beg but they are forced to get their livelyhoods by the sweat of their brows and labour of their hands They accept only of the three first General Councils They have moreover a Book which is writ in eight Volumes and as they say by the Apostles assembled at Jerusalem for that purpose the Contents thereof they most strictly keep We have divided AETHIOPIA into the Higher and Lower esteemed the Higher that which is towards the North and the East the Lower that which is towards the South and West We have succinctly discoursed of the Parts of the Higher proceed we now to the Lower Lower Aethiopia its extent and bounds This Lower AETHIOPIA extends it self from the River of the Camaronts where the bottom of the Gulph of St. Thomas is and so turning about the Capes of Negro Bona Esperanza and Des Carientes into the River of Cuama which bounds it from Zanguebar part of the Higher Aethiopia as the other doth from the Kingdom of Benim part of Guiny which is in Libya Interior We have like wise subdivided this Lower Aethiopia into three parts It s division and parts viz. into Congo Monomotapa and the Country of the Cafres We may yet subdivide these three Parts each into two others which will make six The first shall be what is between Guiny and Congo the second Monomotapa and Mona-Emugi and the last the Land of Cafres on this side and Westward and the Land of Cafres beyond and Eastward of the Cape of Good Hope Between Guiny and the Kingdom of Congo there are divers Kingdoms and divers People The Ambosins and Camarones are on the Sea then the Kingdoms of the Capones the Country of Angra the three Kingdoms of Cacombo Gabom and Pongo of which this last is most powerful Among these Estates are the Capes of Lopo Gonsalves up in the Land are the Kingdoms of Biafra Medra Dauma c. The Land of AMBOSINS and CAMARONES are near the River of Camarones a Country very fertil The Lands of Capones and Angra are pleasant because of the many fresh Streams which water them The first are poor the Capones are malicious those of Angra addicted to Arms. The Estates or Kingdoms which are about the Cape of Gonsalves It s People have their People of the same Tongue the same Religion who are Idolaters and the same Manners and their Kings and Lords are in peace and in good intelligence with one another Those nearest the Sea are the most courteous and civil by reason of the confluence of Strangers and when they trade with those of Europe they white their Faces with Chalk their beautiful Garments are made of Mats tissued with the Rind of certain Trees and properly accommodated Those of Biafra more advanced in Land are very barbarous addicting themselves to Witcherafts and sometimes sacrificing their Children to Devils Those of Medra Dauma and some others further off are almost quite unknown and possibly not worth regard The Portugals traded here alone a long time and possessed several Parts on this Coast within few years the Hollanders have taken divers places from them some of which they have since retaken The Kingdom of CONGO Kingdom of Congo with its Parts or Kingdoms described BEyond the Equinoctial Line and unto Cape Negro lies the Kingdom of CONGO under the name of which we comprehend many others which have been Subjects Tributaries or Allies to the King of Congo as are the Kingdoms of Loanga and the Anziquaines to the North of Cacongo and the People Gallas or Giaquas to the East of Angola Malemba Mataman and others to the South Kingdom of Loanga described The Kingdom of LOANGA hath its principal City of the same name others say Banza Loango or simply Banza it is seated on the Sea as is Quilongo Quanvi and Majumba It comprehends six Provinces and is throughout indifferent fertil in Grains affords excellent Fruits Wine of Palms breeds many Cattle and all things necessary for life is found here it is well stored with Elephants having more than any other Country in these parts they have quantity of Ivory but have neither Gold nor Silver The Country is very hot by reason of its lying under the Line but indifferent healthful and well peopled Their King once subject writes himself now but Ally to the King of Congo and is called Mani-Loango and the Governours of the six Provinces likewise Mani that is Lord of such or such a Province Their Subjects are all Bramas who by Religion are Heathens Kingdom of Congo and its Provinces The Kingdom of CONGO may be said to be the fairest of the Lower Aethiopia though those of the Monomotapa and Mono-Emugi have more extent yet hath he alwaies been esteemed the most Polite hath had all his neighbours Subjects and the most part yet his Allies It may have in length 200 Leagues and about 120 on the Coast It is subdivided into six great Provinces to wit Bamba Songo Sunda Pango Batta and Pemba which together hath 30 or 40000 little Towns Songo Sunda and Pango lies upon and mounting from the Sea up the River Zaire Bamba Pemba and Batta are towards the River of Coanza and the Lake of Aquilonda these three last making the most Southern parts the three other the most Northern of the Kingdom and all take their names from the principal places where the Governours of the Provinces reside The Country of BAMBA is well stored with Beasts and Birds Bamba both tame and wild well watered with Rivers hath Mines of Silver and its People exceeding strong It s chief places are Bamba on the River Loze Motole on the River Dorati Bengo also Pavo Lengo and Mussulo on the Sea SONGO lies on both sides the River Zaire Songo which sends forth many turbulent Streams and hath so many Islands that one part of it hath very little to do with the other its chief places are Sonho nigh to Cape de Pedro and on a branch of the Zaire also Bommo Matinga Cabinde Malemba and Cascais which three last are on the Sea SVNDA is indifferent fertil Sunda hath several rich Mines of Metals among the rest the Inhabitants set the greatest esteem upon Iron by reason that of it they make their Materials for War it is parted by the Zaire This Country furnishes forreign Merchants with several rich Furs as Sables Martrons c. It s several chief places are Sunda Betequa Iri and Quincasso PANGO is but barren Pango its Inhabitants barbarous but strong in Arms It s chief places are Pango Cundi-Funquenes and Angote and this Country is watered with the River Zaire BATTA is
of Ships in like manner are they found in the Gulph or Bay of St. Laurence Besides the Cod-fish here are other sorts of Fish in great plenty as Thornback Ling Salmons Oysters c. The greatest of these Isles and which commonly takes the name of New-found-land is 4 or 5 Leagues circuit It is scituate betwixt the degrees of 46 and 53 of Northern Latitude and is severed from the Continent of America by an Arm of the Sea and is distant from England about 600 Leagues A Country ill-inhabited towards the East and South the Inhabitants being retired farther within Land but the English have of late settled some Colonies to maintain their Fishing-Trade Its Inhabitants The Natives are of a reasonable good Stature and well proportioned but full-ey'd broad-faced beardless and of an Oker complexion not over ingenious their Houses are very mean and their Apparel and Furniture worse The Country being for the generality reputed fertil if well cultivated and would yield good Grains is enriched by Nature with plenty of Fish Fowl and wild Beasts and is blest with a wholsom Air though the rigour of the Winter season and the excess of Heats in Summer do something detract from its due praise East of New-found-land is a great Bank a thing as remarkable as any in all Canada This Bank is much different from those which are covered with Water when the Sea is high uncovered and dry on an Ebb Saylors must shun such Banks like death This which we now speak of is like a Country overflown always covered with the Sea and having at least 20 30 or 40 Fathom water for the depth is unequal Off from this Bank on all sides the Sea is no less than 200 Fathom deep and yet this Bank is 200 Leagues long 20 25 and sometimes 50 broad It is on this Bank that the New-found-landers that is those Ships that go to fish for Cods of New-found-land do for the most part stop and make their freight About this great Bank and more towards the Main Land than the Ocean there are some others much less but of the same nature It is almost incredible how many Nations and of each how many Sail of Ships go yearly to fish for these Cods with the prodigious quantity they take a Man being able to take 100 of them in the space of an hour The manner of Fishing They fish with Hooks which are no sooner thrown into the Sea but the greedy Fish snapping the Bait is taken by the Hook and drawn on Ship-board they lay him presently on a Plank one cuts off his head another guts it and takes out its biggest bones another salts and barrels it c. Which being thus ordered is hence transported by the English and other European Nations into all parts of Europe as also into the other three parts of the World They Fish only in the day time the Cod as they say not biting in the night nor doth this Fishing last all Seasons but begins a little before Summer and ends with September In Winter the Fish retires to the bottom of the deep Sea where Storms and Tempests have no power Another kind of Fishing Near New-found-land there is another kind of fishing for the same Fish which they call dried Fish as the other green Fish The Ships retire into some Port and every Morning send forth their Shallops one two or three Leagues into the Sea which fail not to have their load by Noon or a little after They bring them to Land lay them on Tables or Planks and order it as the other but after the Fish hath been some days in salt they take it forth exposing it to the Air and Wind lay it again in heaps and return it from time to time to the open Air till it be dry That this Fish may be good it must be dried in a good and temperate Air Mists moisten it and make it rot the Sun hardens it and makes it yellow At the same time they fish for Cods green or dry the Fishers have the pleasure of taking Fowl without going forth of their Vessels They take them with a Line as they do fish baiting the Hook with the Cods Liver these Fowl being so greedy that they come by flocks and fight who shall get the Bait first which soon proves its death and one taken the Hook is no sooner thrown out again but another is catch'd in the like nature But enough of these and of Cod-fishing In the year 1623 Sir George Calvert Knight the Principal Secretary of State and afterwards Lord Baltimore obtained a Patent of part of New-found-land which was erected into the Province of Avalon where he settled a Plantation and erected a stately House and Fort at Ferry-land where he dwelt some time And after his death it fell to his Son the Right Honourable Caecilius late Lord Baltimore also Proprietor of Mary-land CANADA taken particularly is on the Right hand and towards the lower part of the great River The River Canada and its name is communicated both to the River and Neighbouring Country This River is the largest of America Septentrionalis and one of the fairest in the World It is about 200 Fathom deep and at its Mouth 30 Leagues broad It s course according to the report of those of the Country is already known for 4 or 500 Leagues and there is some likelyhood that we may in the end discover that the Lake which seems to be its head-Spring disburthens it self into the Sea by two or three different courses one towards us which is that of Canada another towards the West and above California the third towards the North and into the Christian Sea and that the Mouth of this may shew us the way we have so long sought to go to the East-Indies by the West People with whom the French Trade Their Colonies The People with whom the French trade here are the Canadans the Hurons the Algonquins the Attiquameques Nipisiriniens Montagnets those of Saguenay Acadia c. And to this purpose they have divers Colonies on the great River at Tadousac at Quebeck at Three-Rivers at Sillery at Richelieu at Montreal and without the Bay of Chaleur at Miscou at Port-Royal c. This Trade is only managed by Exchange they give the Skins of Bevers Otters Martles Sea-Wolfes c. for Bread Pease Beans Plumbs Kettles Cauldrons Hatchets Arrow-heads Pinchers Coverlids c. But to instruct them in Christianity many Ecclesiasticks of Religious Orders have had divers disbursements and residences likewise an Hospital and Seminary of Vrsilines The Jesuits have the chief care of these Houses North of Canada is ESTOTTILAND Estottiland or TERRADE LABRADOR near Hudsons Streight it is called sometimes the Land of Cortereal and sometimes new Britany however I esteem it a part of new France the Country is Mountainous Woody full of wild Beasts well furnished with Rivers rich in Metals of a fertil Soil in most places and would produce
Leagues broad between the Province of Chiapa and the Sea the Country is full of Pools and Marshes towards the Coast Wood and Forests towards the Mountains and the Rains being continual for 8 or 9 Months in the year the Air is very humid and its scituation being much under the Torrid Zone it engenders an infinite number of Vermin Gnats and Insects yet the Soil is excellent It s fertility and commodities It s chief Colony abundant in Mayz and Cocao which is their principal Riches There is observable here but one Colony of the Spaniards which they call Villa de Nuestra a Sennora de la Victoria so called because of the Victory Cortez gained in 1519 against those of the Country when he went to the Conquest of the Kingdom of Mexico It was called Potonchan when it was besieged taken and sacked by Cortez and it is observed this was the first City in America which defended it self and which suffered under the Spaniards Sword The Province of Jucatan with its chief places described JVCATAN is the last Province of the Audience of Mexico towards the East It is a Peninsula of about 400 Leagues circuit scituate between the Gulphs of Mexico and Honduras The Isthmus which joyns it to the Main Land is not above 25 or 30 Leagues over from whence the Country continues enlarging it self from 50 or 75 Leagues breadth and ends at Cape de Cotoche which regards towards the East Cape St. Anthony in the Isle of Cuba at the distance of 60 and odd Leagues The Coasts of JVCATAN are very much cumbred with little Isles which often prove dangerous for Ships but covered with abundance of Sea-Fowl which those of the Neighbouring and far distant Countries come to chase The Isle of Cozumel The Isle of Cozumel to the East hath formerly been famous for its Idol Cozumel which all the People of the Neighbouring Continent went to adore And it was in this Isle or the Continent near unto it that Baldivius unfortunately saved himself having been Shipwreckt near Jamaica he had taken a little Boat like to those used by Fisher-men The Misfortune that befel Baldivius here wherein going with about 20 of his Men he was brought hither by the Sea but no sooner had he set foot on Land but he and his Men were seized by the Natives who immediately led them to the Temple of their Idols where they presently offered up or sacrificed and ate him and four of his Men and the rest they reserved till another time Among these Aquilar who had seen the Ceremony escaping with some others fled to a Cacique who treated him courteously for many years during which time some died others married in the Country Aquilar in the end was fetched thence by Cortez who was of no small use unto him in his Conquest of Mexico because that he had learned their Tongue The Air of Jucatan The Air of Jucatan is hot the Country hath scarce any Rivers yet wants no Water being supplied every where with Wells within the middle of the Land are to be seen quantity of Scales and Shells of Sea-fish which hath made some believe the Country hath been overflowed What it yieldeth They have scarce any of the Corn or Fruits of Europe but some others of the Country and quantity of wild Beasts principally Stags and wild Bears and among their Fowls Peacocks They have yet found no Gold much less Latten which makes it appear that it is not true that the Spaniards found here Crosses of Latten there being none in all America The Cities of Jucatan are four Merida Valladolid Its Cities Campeche and Salamancha 1. Merida is the Metropolis being the Seat of the Bishop and Governour for Tavasco and Jucatan distant from the Sea on each side 12 Leagues The City is adorned with great and ancient Edifices of Stone with many Figures of Men cut in the Stones and because they were resembling those which are at Merida in Spain that name was given it 2. Valladolid beautified with a very fair Monastery of Franciscans and more than 40 thousand Barbarians under its Jurisdiction 3. Campeche scituate on the shoar of the Gulph a fair City of about Three thousand Houses and adorned with many stately and rich Structures which in 1596 was surprized and pillaged by the English under the Command of Captain Parker who carried away with him the Governour the Riches of the City and many Prisoners besides a great Ship laden with Hony Wax Campeche-Wood and other rich Commodities The Conquest of the Kingdom of Mexico was much easier to the Castilians than that of Peru the Kingdom of Peru being Hereditary and its Ynca's loved and almost adored by their Subjects the Kingdom of Mexico being Elective and its Kings hated if not by those of Mexico yet by all the neighbouring Estates and envied by those might aspire to the Royalty This diversity was the cause that Motezuma died and the City of Mexico taken there was nothing more to do or fear as to that Estate In Peru after the death of Guascar and Atabalipa and some other Ynca's the Spaniards could not believe themselves safe so long as there was any remainder of the Race of these Ynca's which made them under divers pretexts persecute banish and put them to death And so much for Mexico or New Spain The Audience of GUADALAJARA or NEW GALLICIA THE Audience of GVADALAJARA or Kingdom of NEW GALLICIA makes the most Occidental part of New-Spain and contains the Provinces of Guadalajara Xalisco Los Zacatecas Chiametlan Culiacan Its Provinces and New-Biscany some others add Cibola and others likewise California Quivira Anian c. that is the Castilians pretend to extend their Power to the farthest part of this New World The Province of Guadalajara and its Cities described The Province of Guadalajara hath only two Cities or Colonies of Spaniards viz. Guadalajara and Sancta Maria de los Lagos of which the first is the chief of the Province built in 1531 by Nonnez de Guzman after he had finished his Conquest It is the residence of the Kings Treasurers dignified with the Courts of Judicature the See of a Bishop beautified with a fair Cathedral Church a Convent of Augustine Friers and another of Franciscans It is scituate in a pleasant and fruitful Plain and watered with divers Fountains and little Torrents not far from the River Baranja the neighbouring Mountains having furnished them with Materials for their Buildings Santa Maria de los Lagos was built by the same Guzman and made a place of great strength only to hinder the Incursions of the Chichimeques who are a barbarous and untamed sort of People who border upon them towards the North-East who live upon the Spoils of other people harbouring in thick Woods and private Caves for the better obtaining their Prey which said Town keeps them in such awe that they dare not molest them The Air of this Province The Inhabitants
Salt-pits near the Point de Salinas The principal Fortress that the Portugals hold here is De los tres Reyes or the three Kings on the right hand of the River The Coast of Brazile from Cape de Frio until on this side of that of St. Augustine and so to the middle of the head of Potengi stretches from South to North and continually regards the East The rest of this Capitany and that of Siara Maranhan and Para extend from East to West regarding the North and are the nearest to the Equinoctial Line The Coast of these four last Capitanies hath no less extent on the Sea than that of all the others together but are worth much less The Capitany of Siara with its Commodities The Capitany of SIARA is among many Barbarous People and therefore not much frequented yet is of some trade by reason of the Cotton Chrystal Precious Stones and many sorts of Wood which are here found They have likewise many Canes of Sugar which are of no use there being no Sugar Engines in the Country The Capitany of Maranhan with its chief places The Capitany of MARANHAN is an Isle which with some others is found in a Gulph about twenty five Leagues long and broad This Isle hath forty five Leagues Circuit hath twenty seven Villages of which Junaparan is the chief and in each Village four five or 600 men so that the French made account of 10000 men in this Island The fertility of the Country with its Commodities The Air serene temperate and healthful the Waters excellent and which scarce ever corrupt on the Sea The Land as fruitful as any in America yielding Brazile-wood Saffron Cotton Red-dye Lake or Rose colour Balm Tobacco Pepper and sometimes Ambergrease is gathered on its Coast The Land is found proper for Sugar and if it were tilled would produce Grains some say it hath Mines of Jasper and white and red Chrystal which for hardness surpasses the Diamonds of Alenzon It is well watered with fresh Rivers and pleasant Streams well cloathed with Woods in which are store of Fowl The people are strong of body Its Inhabitants and Apparel live in good health commonly dying with age the women being fruitful till eighty years of age both Sexes go naked until they are married and then their apparel is only from the Wast to the Knees which is Manufactures of Cotton or Feather-works in which they are very ingenious The Country or the Isle of the Tapouies The Tapouy Tapere that is the Country of the Tapouies is another Isle East of Maraguon at Full-sea it is an Isle on the Ebb only Sands separate it from the Continent The soll is yet better than that of Maranhan it hath but fifteen Villages the chief bearing the name of the Country they are greater and better peopled than those of Maranhan The Country and City of Comma West of Tapouy Tapere and on the firm Land Comma a City River and Country of the same name is of no small value it s fifteen or sixteen Villages are as well peopled as those of Tapouy Tapere Between Comma and Cayetta which approaches Para are divers people descending from the Toupinambous as those of Maranhan and Comma descend from the Tapouyes The French were likewise divers times possessed of the Isle of Maranhan Ribaut was here in 1594. Ravardiere in 1612. This last chose a most commodious place in the Island and built the Fort of St. Lewis the Portugals drove them out in 1614 and built new Forts St. Jago and Neustra Sennora Among the Rivers that full into the Gulph of Maranhan Miari is the greatest then Taboucourou The Capitany of Para with its Commodities The Capitany of PARA hath a square Fort seated on a Rock raised four or five fadom from the neighbouring ground and well walled except towards the River it hath four or five hundred Portugals who gather in the Country Tobacco Cotton and Sugar This Capitany holds beyond the Mouth of the Amazone Corrupa and Estiero and among the Mouths of that River Cogemine Of a temperate Air. Brazile hath an Air sweet and temperate though under the Torrid Zone the daies and nights being almost equal the freshness of the Sea Rivers and ordinary Dews contributing much to its wholsomness They lie very subject to Storms and Thunders and if it lighten in the evening it is without Thunder if it Thunder without Flashes That which likewise proves the goodness of the Air is that their Serpents Snakes Toads c. are not venemous Serpents Toads c. not venemous here but often serve for food to the Inhabitants yet the soil is more proper for the production of Fruits Pastures and Pulse than the Grains or Vines of Europe They carry them Wine and Flowr Corn being subject to spoil on the Sea The Natives use Rice and Manjoche to make their Bread It s fertility and Commodities They have likewise quantity of Pulse Trees which bear excellent Fruits Herbs Four-footed Beasts Birds and Fish in great abundance many of which are not known to us many sorts of Palm-trees which yield them great Commodities they have some Mines of Gold but more of Silver but the riches of Brazile is drawn from the Sugars and the Brazile-wood which comes from their Araboutan a mighty Tree which bears no Fruit. They have abundance of Parroquetos among their Monkeys they have black ones and of divers colours the most part very pleasant The skin of the Tapiroussou curried becomes so hard that it makes Bucklers not to be pierced by the strongest shot Arrow The Inhabitants of Brazile and what they are addicted unto their Customs c. Their Habit. The Brazilians are of a mean stature gross headed large shouldred of a reddish colour their skins tawny they live commonly to a hundred and fifty years and free from diseases caring for nothing but War and Vengeance They wander most part of their time in Hunting Fishing and Feasting in which Manjoche furnishes them with Bread Cumin-seed with Drink and and the Flesh of Beasts or of their Enemies cut in gobbets and some Fish are their most excellent meats The men are very cruel forgetful of courtesies received and mindful of injuries The Women are very lascivious they are delivered with little or no pain and immediately go about their affairs and not observing the custom of a Months lying in as is used among us They let their hair grow long which ordinarily hangeth over their shoulders both Sexes go naked especially till Married They are esteemed excellent Swimmers and divers being able to stay an hour together under water They paint themselves with divers colours all over the body on which they leave no hair not so much as on their Eye-lids but only a Crown about their Head and fasten a Bone which is well polished and some little Stone which is esteemed amongst them in their upper Lip and Cheeks Others cut their skin in Figures and
COSMOGRAPHY AND GEOGRAPHY In Two Parts THE FIRST Containing the General and Absolute Part of COSMOGRAPHY and GEOGRAPHY BEING A TRANSLATION From that Eminent and much Esteemed GEOGRAPHER VARENIVS Wherein are at large handled All such Arts as are necessary to be understood for the true knowledge thereof To which is added the much wanted Schemes omitted by the Author THE SECOND PART Being a Geographical Description of all the WORLD Taken from the Notes and Works of the Famous Monsieur SANSON Late GEOGRAPHER to the French King To which are added About an Hundred Cosmographical Geographical and Hydrographical TABLES of several Kingdoms and Isles in the World with their Chief Cities Seaports Bays c. drawn from the MAPS of the said SANSON Illustrated with MAPS LONDON Printed by S. Roycroft for Richard Blome MDCLXXXII To the Right Noble CHRISTOPHER DUKE OF ALBEMARLE Earl of Torrington Baron Monk of Potheridge Beauchamp and Teys Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter Lord Lieutenant of Devonshire and Essex Captain of His MAJESTIES Life Guards and Guards of Horse One of the Gentlemen of His Bed Chamber and One of His Most Honurable Privy-Council MY LORD WHEN I consider You are the Duke of ALBEMARLE the very Title is so Great that it puts a damp on my Quill and disables me from making any sufficient Apology for this presumptuous Dedication But on the other hand when I consider that You are Heir to Your now Glorious Fathers Vertues as well as to his Titles and Dignities and that his Goodness and Humility are entailed on You his only Son I cannot want a Motive to this Ambition My Lord This Volume is a Cosmographical and Geographical Description of the WORLD in which Your Name is great and precious and although in it self is excellent yet being Countenanced by Your Protection will admit of no Equals This being granted by Your Grace's Favour I have no more to beg but that Your Fathers Magnanimity Valour Grandure and Heroick Actions may be so deeply imprinted on You that these Kingdoms may not only love and admire You but that Your Name and Memory may be precious to future Ages which is the Prayer of MY LORD Your Graces most Obedient Servant RICHARD BLOME THE Preface to the Reader AMongst all those Arts or Sciences which Man ought to have a Knowledge of the Description of the Earth and Heavens which is termed COSMOGRAPHY and GEOGRAPHY for the Vtility and Dignity thence arising ought not to have the least estimate the Soul being naturally inclined to the exploration of COSMOGRAPHY and GEOGRAPHY as a necessary inherent in it which seems evident in that Men of undoubted Judgments out of a singular desire to propagate this Study and sparing no Cost or Labour have travelled over the greatest part of the Universe Vnto this we add That seeing the Earth was created by God to be the habitation of Man if by brevity of Life and Humane imbecility we cannot so well Travel with the Body yet at least-wise we would visit behold and contemplate it in our Minds for its beauty admirable elegancy and the Honour of the Creator There are many other Forceable Arguments by which it appears all Men are generally inclined to the knowledge thereof As the Commodities of every Nation are peculiar to it self so that according to Divine Providence one Nation cannot well subsist without the help of another to which end they are transported by way of Exchange and Traffick unto other Countries But to shew the use of it in all Arts and Sciences there being none but receive some light and assistance from COSMOGRAPHY and GEOGRAPHY To this the immortal Stagyrite and Divine Plato flieth as a refuge when a numberless multitude and variety of Natures secrets in Lands disjoyned and the profound Ocean sometimes nonpluseth or staggers their Capacities The Moral PHILOSOPHER is a Non-essence being unskilled herein for how can he search into or inform himself of the Genius Natures Inclinations or Studies of Men and what is most proper for every distinct Nation or People being his adequate subject without this Chart to stear by The PHYSITIAN is necessitated to have a great insight in this Noble Study both for observing the Drugs and Medicaments transported from Foreign Parts c. judging their Natures and Effects from the several Climates c. but especially for the variety of Bodies or Constitutions which are habituated according to the Climate and Soil of the Country Take this away from the MARTIALIST his Stratagems fail and his whole Knowledge is in a feeble condition The MERCHANT and NAVIGATOR are compelled unto an insight herein for the knowing the Scituation and Climate of Countries their Circumferences the Latitude and Longitude of Places the Currents of Rivers what Commodities each Region aboundeth in and what they are deficient of and the Manners Customs and Dispositions of the Inhabitants Without COSMOGRAPHY and GEOGRAPHY all History is a thing of little use the affinity of them both being such that they seem to center both in one And to come more home to the matter the History of the Scythians Indians Aethiopians and Americans are only expressed unto us by Geographers Farther Historiographers make use of Geographical Descriptions for the better and more full illustration of their History And lastly in reference unto POLICY or Management of State no Wars Societies or Leagues can be well made with a Foreign State or Kingdom except there be first a perfect knowledge of the Nature Disposition Manners Customs Strength c. of the Nation or Pâ—â—ple with which such a Combination or League c. is to be made and established Henry King of Castile though much weakned by Sickness yet neglected not to send frequent Embassadors into Asia that he might have a continual information of the Manners and Strength of those Provinces And the same was done by Moses before his setting foot into Palestine Now Nature which exhibiteth and discovereth her elegancy and force in the production of variety of things hath not only diversly distinguished the Faces and Physiognomy but also the Souls and Minds of Men The Modes Genius's Customs and Natures of Nations being vastly different unto this very end she hath variously disposed the causes themselves GEOGRAPHERS have divided the World into Climates and every Climate is distinctly subject to the Dominion of some Planet as the chief cause of this Diversity where observe that the first Climate which extendeth through the Meroë an Isle made so by the River Nilus is subject to Saturn Those under the second Climate is attributed to Jupiter and passeth through Siene a City in Aegypt Those inhabiting under the third is subject to Mars and extendeth through Alexandria Those under the fourth is appropriated to the Sun and stretcheth through Rhodes and the middle of Greece Those under the fifth which passeth through Rome and divideth Italy from Savoy is attributed to Venus Those under the sixth where Mercury is predominate passeth through France And
place of a Ship in a Voyage p. 361 Lib. 1. c. 2. A Half English foot A Half Dutch and also an old Roman half foot A Half foot of Paris in French And also a half Greek foot A Half foot of Antwerp in Handers A Half Aegyptian foot from Alexandria A Half Babylonian foot mentioned by Historians A Half foot of Venice A Half foot of Toledo in Spaine A Half foot of Vienna in Austria The Proportion of diverse Miles according to theire compaired Length Lib. 1. c. 2. An Indian Mile A Russian Mile A Mile of Cambaja An English Mile A French Mile And allmost an old Arabian League A Holland Mile A Spanish League A German Mile A Swedish Mile THE ABSOLUTE OR COMPLEAT PART OF General Geography BOOK I. SECT I. CHAP. I. Concerning the Precognita's or things known before the handling of the Art it self as the Definition Division Object Properties Principles Order Method Original Excellency and other affections of GEOGRAPHY to be spoken of by way of Preface A Preface to an Art very necessary THE Custom or fashion hath for a long time prevailed that they who compleatly treat of and handle any Art or Science do in the first place declare some things touching the Conditions Method Constitution and other properties of their Doctrine Neither do I think that this is done by them without reason so that it be performed without any Sophistical encroachment seeing that by such like fore-had Instruction the Readers Understanding may before-hand conceive a certain Idea or Platform of the whole Art or Science to be afterwards handled or at least may understand the Argument or Contents thereof and withal may gather thereby how he ought to order himself in the studying the same I therefore shall in this Chapter deliver some few passages concerning the same The Definition of Geography GEOGRAPHY is called a mixt Mathematical Science which teacheth the affections or qualities of the Earth and the parts thereof depending of quantity that is to say the figure place magnitude and other like properties Geography by some but too strictly is taken for the only description and plâ—cing the Countrys of the Earth And on the contrary by others it is extended but too largely to the political description of every Country But these Men are easily excused seeing they do it to retain and stir up the Readers affections who otherwise by a bare account and naked description of those Countrys would be made drowsie and heedless The Division of Geography We will divide Geography into General and Special or Universal and Particular General or Vniversal Geography is that which doth generally consider the Earth and declare its properties without any respect of particular Countrys Special or Particular Geography is that which teacheth the constitution and placing of all single Countrys or every Country by it self And this particular Geography is twofold Particular Geography twofold Chorographical and Topographical General Geography and its parts to wit Chorography and Topography Chorography proposeth the description of any Country having at least a mean magnitude Topography describeth any little tract of Land or place In this Book we will present you with a General Geography which we have distributed into Three parts to wit the Absolute part the Respective part and the Comparative part In the Absolute part we will consider the very Body of the Earth with its parts and proper affections and qualities as figure magnitude motion Lands Seas Rivers c. In the Respective part we will contemplate those properties and accidents which from Celestial causes happen to the Earth And lastly the Comparative part shall contain an explication of those properties which arise from the comparing of divers places of the Earth The Object of Geography The Object of Geography or Subject about which it is employed is the Earth but principally its Superficies and parts The Properties of Geography Those things which deserve to be considered in every Country seem to be of a triple kind to wit Celestial Terrestrial and Human and therefore may be declared in the particular Geography for every Country with the profit of Learners and Readers The Celestial properties of Geography I call those Celestial properties which depend on the apparent motion of the Sun Stars and other Planets and seem to be Eight 1. The elevation of the Pole the distance of the place from the Equator and from the Pole 2. The obliquity or wriness of the daily motion of the Stars above the Horizon of that place 3. The Quantity of the longest and shortest day 4. The Climate and Zone 5. Heat and Cold and the Seasons of the year also Rain Snow Winds and other Meteors for although these things may be referred to Terrestrial properties yet because they have a great affinity with the four Seasons of the Year and motions of the Sun therefore we have marshalled them in the order and rank of Celestials 6. The rising of the Stars their appearance and continuance above the Horizon 7. The Stars passing through the Vertical point of the place 8. The quantity or swiftness of the Motion wherewith according to Copernicus his Hypothesis each one is very hour wheeled about According to Astrologers a Ninth property may be added because they do appoint one of the Twelve Signs of the Zodiack and the peculiar Planet of that Sign to rule and govern every Country But this Doctrine hath ever seemed to me frivolous neither can I perceive any ground for it nevertheless at the end of our Special or Particular Geography we will reckon up this their distribution These may suffice for the Celestial affections or properties I call those Terrestrial properties which are considered in the place of every Country it self of which I shall note Ten. 1. The bounds and circumference of the Country 2 It s Figure 3 It s Magnitude 4 Its Mountains 5 Its Waters as Rivers Springs Bays of the Sea 6 The Woods and Deserts 7 The Fruitfulness and Barrenness as also the kinds of Fruits 8 The Minerals or things dig'd out of the Earth 9 The living Creatures 10 The Longitude of the Place which ought to be added to the first Terrestrial property to wit the Circumference The Humane properties of Geography I make the third kind of Properties which are to be considered in every Country to be Humane which do depend of the Men or Natives and Inhabitants of the Countries of which Humane properties about Ten also may be made 1. The stature of the Natives as to their shape colour length of life Original Meat Drink c. 2 Their Trafficks and Arts in which the Inhabitants are employed 3 Their vertues Vices Learning Wit c. 4 Their Customs in Marriages Christnings Burials c. 5 Their Speech and Language 6 Their State-Government 7 Their Religion and Church-Government 8 Their Cities and most renowned Places 9 Their memorable Histories And10 Their famous Men Artifices and Inventions of the Natives of all Countries
A Peninsula A Peninsula or Chersonese that is such a Tract of Land that is almost encompassed by the Sea except at one only narrow place where with a strait neck of Land called an Isthmus it is knit to the Main Land An Isthmus An Isthmus is that narrow or strait neck of Land that couples and joyns the Peninsula to the Continent or Main-land and that by which we pass out of one broad Land into another The Peninsula's Chersonesusses or Chersoneses that is running out Lands are these following to wit 1. Italy 2. Spain 3. Part of England Of Lands which are or may be termd Peninsula's 4. All Greece and Macedonia 5. Norway and Swedeland with Lapland 6. Asia minor 7. India 8. Camboia 9. New Guiney of the South-land 10. Beach a Country of the same Land 11. Part of Virginia and New-England 12. The Tongue of Africa c. Proposition X. Other Lands termed Peninsula's The Chersoneses of the Ancients We will number up further fourteen Peninsula's or Chersoneses and these we will divide into longish ones and somewhat round ones The longish ones are first the Golden Chersonese of the Ancients now called the Malaccan Chersonese and joyns to the Indies 2. The Cymbrick Chersonese now called Jutland adjoyning to Holsatia 3. California on the Western side of North America near the Sea Vermejo But late Observations report it to be an Island 4. New France on the Eastern side of North America 5. The Jucatan Chersonese in the Bay of Mexico 6. The Thracian Chersonese on the Hellespont 7. The Cassandrian Chersonese by the Bay of Thessalonica in the Grecian Sea There are also certain Peninsula's less celebrious of the lesser Asia to wit Ionia or the Smyrnensian Peninsule 2. The Cnidensian or the Countrey of Doris and 3. The Mindensian Peninsula's Concerning Corea it is doubtful whether it be a compleat Island or a Peninsula Some Maps joyn it to Tartary some again begirt it round with the Sea yet notwithstanding the latest Observations make it a Peninsule The somewhat round Peninsula's are 1. Africa her self a huge part of the Old World is such an one it is environed with the Mediterranean Sea the Atlantick Ocean the Aethiopick Indian and Red-sea It sticketh fast to Asia by a narrow Tract of Land at Egypt 2. Three parts of America to wit Mexican and Peru stick fast together at Panama by a narrow passage of the Earth 3. Peloponnesus now called the Morea being part of Greece 4. Taurick Chersonese or Peninsula in the Euxine Sea and the mouth of the Fen Maeotis now called the Precopensian Tartary 5. Cambaia in India Proposition XI Of the chief Peninsula's We reckon as many Isthmusses as Peninsula's the more famous are five in number 1. The Isthmus between Egypt and Asia whereby Africa joyneth to Asia 2. The Corinthian Isthmus between Peloponnesus and Greece 3. The Panamensian Isthmus between Mexico America and Peruvia 4. The Isthmus between the Chersonesus Aurea or Golden Chersonesus and the Indies 5. The Isthmus of the Taurick Chersonese CHAP. IX Of Mountains and Hills in General Of Mountains and Hills TOuching Mountains very many things worthy to be known in Geography will here occur and meet us partly because they seem to hinder the roundness of the Earth and partly because divers things amongst renowned Authors are here delivered concerning them Proposition I. But a Mountain or Hill is said to be a part of the Earth rising aloft which if it be lesser is called a Hillock or Clift Of Promontories and Rocks Also a Promontory is said to be a Hill or Mountain running out at length into the Sea Rocks are called parts jutting or appearing forth in the Sea or also arising up out of huge stony Bulks or Bodies But it must be generally known that the parts of the Earth which appear plain are not all of the same height but some are sunk lower especially at or near the Sea shores insomuch as the height encreaseth from Maritine places or such as abutt upon the Sea even to the Inland Regions This also is proved by the Fountains and flowing Streams of Rivers For seeing that that part of the Earth to which the water floweth is lower than that from which it floweth and that the Fountain-heads and Springs of Rivers are seldom in the Inland places and such as are far remote from the Sea It is clearly manifest thereby that the Inland places are more elevated than those adjoyning to the Sea Coasts Inland places higher than those near the Sea-coasts So Bohemia is higher then Holsatia which is perceived by the streaming course of the River Elbe which floweth from Bohemia to Holsatia In like manner we take apparent Signs and Arguments of the greater height of Inland places from the Rivers Danubius Visurgis Rhene Mosa c. The Swishers and Rhetians Countries are judged by some men to be the highest of all Europe because the Rivers Rhene Roan and the greater Danou do flow and stream down from thence Moreover look how great the declivity or bearing downwards of the Rivers are so great is the height of the Inland places above the Maritine places Proposition II. To finde out the height of a Mountain by Geodesie or Land-measuring commonly called Surveying This is performed in the same manner which we use in the searching out the height of Towers if so be the top of the Mountain or Hill is remarkable by some peculiar sign For the finding out the height of a Mountain by Geodesie Let A B be the Mountains height A the foot B the conspicuous head thereof We will take the line F C by a mean distance from it so that neither of the Angles A F C A C F may be made very acute but may in a manner be equal Then let the Angles A F C A C F be observed by a collimation or levelling with winking be made to B and these being subtracted to 180 degrees the remaining degrees shall shew forth the Angle C A F. After that the distance of the stations of F C is exquisitely to be measured See Scheme and let it be wrought As the sign of the Angle F A C to the sign of the Angle C F A or F C A if you would take F A so F C to A C the distance of the Mountain from C. Then the Instrument being hanged up or placed upright in C and levelling with the Eye to B let the Angle B C A be taken And because the Triangle C A B is strait angled to wit the Angle B A C is strait therefore also the Angle A B C of 90 degrees shall be given Let it therefore be wrought by the Triangle BAC As the whole sign 10000000 to the Tangent of the Angle B C A so the distance A C to the perpendicular height of the Mountain A B. The height of the Mountain Olympus measured by Xenagoras For Example Let us put it that
therefore when that the Spaniards first arrived in this golden Kingdom which for that reason they have fortified with strong Castles and Forts in many Cities especially the Regal City called Cusco they beheld many Houses spread within and without with Plates of Gold The most rich Mine of Silver is in the Mountain Potosi in which 20000 men are employed to digg the Earth descending by at least 400 steps and by these Mines the King of Spain receiveth a vast Revenue annually to the envy of all other Emperours and Potentates 2. The most excellent Silver Mines are in the Isles of Japan hence termed by the Spaniards the Silver Islands There are also Mines of Gold found there but now less rich than formerly 3. Arabia had more abundance of Mines of Gold than at this day 4. In the mountainous parts of Persia as also in China there are certain Mines of Silver 5. In Guiney are many Mountains producing Gold but yet remote from the shore This Gold is called Seed Gold The Gold is not dugg up that cometh from thence but is gathered by other ways Every one of their Kings are said to have their proper Mines and sell the Gold for which the Europeans give in exchange other Commodities 6. In Monomotapa there are found rich Mines of Gold and Silver as also in Angola 7. Of all the Provinces of Europe Germany is the most rich in abundance of Mines whereof some afford some little Gold divers Silver and very many Copper Iron Lead Vitriol Antinomy and the like Rich Mines in England 8. In many parts of England are rich Mines of Lead and Tin which are sound very profitable to the Kingdom not only by that which is used here at home but also by the great quantities which are transported to other Countries Likewise Mines of Iron Coals some of Silver c. 9. Sweden hath the most rich Copper Mine of any hitherto known in a vast Mountain which they call Den Copperberg such a great quantity of Copper is dugg that it is said to make up the third part of the King's Revenue There are also Mines of Silver and Iron but they hardly discharge the expences in digging it Mines of Jewels 10. Mines of Jewels are found in the Island of Ceiland where there is also a Silver Mine and a great Marble Mine 11. In the Region of Chili are rich Mines of Jewels as also of Silver and Gold but the warlike Natives having more esteem to Iron Weapons than to Gold and Silver have vanquished the Spaniards and demolished the Mines 12. In the Isle of Madagascar Iron and Gold doth much abound there is a moderate quantity of Silver little Gold no Lead whence it cometh to pass that the Natives more value leaden dishes and spoons than those of silver 13. In the Isle of Sumatra they write that there are large Mines of Gold Silver Brass and Iron insomuch that their King in the Year 1620. had by him 1000 l. weight of Gold 14. In the Philippine Isles Java Hispaniola Cuba and the rest Histories record that Mines of Gold Silver Copper and Iron are found In the Mountains of Siam also they relate that Gold Silver and Tin are found Salt Mines 15. Mines of Salt are found in Poland at Pochâ—iam four miles from Cracovia where they cut of huge lumps of lucid and white Salt from the Earth In Transilvania in the County of Triol in Spain in Asia minor in Kilisim a Mountain of Persia in places near the Caspian Sea not far from the River Volga where is the Island Kostowata Hence the Russians digg their Salt and boyle it up to a more pure Substance and transport it throughout all Russia There is a salt Mountain in Cuba All the Mountains of the Isles of Ormus in the entrance of the Persian Gulph consist of a Christalline salt yea the whole Isle is almost nothing else but salt out of which they make the Walls of their Houses In Africa there is no other salt but what is dugg out of the salt parts of Caves as Marble is of a white red and ashy colour In Peru 80 miles from Lima in a certain Valley great plenty of Salt is found whence every one may take what they please because it continually encreaseth neither doth it seem possible ever to be exhausted In the Kingdom of Musulipatan near the City Baganaga great abundance of salt is dugg up whence all the Indians fetch it Of salt Fountains we shall speak in another Chapter Proposition II. A Wood is a multitude of Trees stretched forth in a long and continued Tract of Earth and propagated without any Culture or dressing and planting Of Woods Most Woods have only Trees of one sort and are denominated from them and seeing that there is great variety of Trees there are also various differences of Woods as a Wood consisting of Palm-trees is termed Palmetum of Oak Quercetum and the like Although these terms are frequently used for Groves or less Woods But they are divers in several Regions especially in those more remote In Africa at Cape Verd are Woods of Citrian and Orange-trees such as are also found in other places In France are whole Woods of Chesnut-trees In the Isle of Ceiland are Trees whose bark doth afford Cinamon In Banda are Nuces Muscatae In Brasil are Woods of Trees called Brasil of great use for Diers In Madagascar are Tamerind Trees as also in other places Cedars on Mount Lebanus of which whole Woods are also found in Japan so that they use them for Masts for Ships In Spain France and Italy are Olive and Mirtle Trees In Germany the Woods consist of Beech Oak Alder Pine Juniper Maple Firr Ash and Elm. The most noted Woods or Forests are that of Hercinia which in times past almost overspread all Germany part of it is the Bohemian Wood and Bacen or Semana in the Dukedom of Brunswick Gabrata Martiana and others In England the Woods consist of Oak Elm Ash Beech and Maple Trees In Scotland the famous Wood called Caledonia and others in other places especially in Norway where there is an abundance of vast Trees above all other Countries in Europe called Firr Trees whence all the Masts of Ships almost throughout Europe are made Lithuania hath almost nought else but Trees whence the King of Poland hath a great Revenue Proposition III. Desarts are vast Tracts of Land not inhabited by man They are twofold those properly so termed and those improperly The former are those whose soil or earth is steril Of Desarts The latter which indeed is fertil but not inhabited by man as in many places in Muscovia about the Caspian Sea from the shore of Volga are many fertil and fat Fields which lie uncultivated and chiefly by reason of the sloath of the Inhabitants as also by reason of the Wars of Tamerlane by which those Countries were depopulated but these are less properly termed Desarts Of those properly so termed
Southern Ocean 2. The Pacifick Ocean lieth between the Occidental Coast of America and Asia in a long tract even to the Isles of India and to China 3. The Hyperboreal Ocean about the North Polary Land 4. The Southern Ocean about the South Continent part of which Ocean is the Indian Ocean Other Geographers make the four parts of the Ocean by another difference or division one of which they make the Atlantick but extend it not beyond the Equator for here they begin the second which they call the Ethiopick For the third they reckon the Pacifick with us the fourth they make to be the Indian Ocean But we in our division have regard unto the four great Continents of the Earth or to the greatest Isles We may make three parts viz. the Atlantick the Pacifick and the Indian Ocean but then we extend the Atlantick further The matter is of no great moment so that either may be chosen for this division rather dependeth on our Invention than on Nature Proposition IV. The parts of the Ocean receive denominations from the names of the Lands they pass by So we say the Cantabrian the British German Indian Chinesan Ocean and the like Proposition V. The Bays of the Ocean are twofold long and broad The Bays in the Ocean they are also twofold in another respect to wit primarily and secondarily they begin from the Ocean these from another Bay or they are a part of the primary Bay The long primary are these Mediterranean Sea 1. The Mediterranean Sea it breaketh in from the Ocean between Spain and Barbary and for a long space runneth between Europe and Africa even to Syria Asia Minor and Thrace It is called the Internal Sea It maketh many secundary Bays viz. the Adriatick Gulph of Venice the Bay of Thessalonia the Aegean Sea and the like Euxine Sea As for the Euxine Sea we may doubt whether it may be said to be a part of this primary Sinus of which see Chapter Fifteen The Mediterranean Sea is distinguished by divers Names taken from various Regions that it watereth for towards the North it hath Spain France Italy Sicilie Illyricum Greece Creet Thrace and Asia minor towards the South Morocco Fess Tunis Algier Tripoli and Egypt Thence are the Names of the Iberian Gallick Ligustick Sicilian Baledrian and Cretian Sea It is extended from the West to the East Baltick Sea 2. The Baltick Sea or Sinus Codanus breaketh in from the Ocean between the Lands betwixt Zeland and Jutland first it floweth by a long way from the North to the South and then reflecting by a long space it runneth forth to the North between the Provinces of Germany Megapolis Pomerania Cassubia Borussia Livonia c. from one side viz. the Oriental quarter On the Occidental quarter it hath Sweden and Lapland It maketh three secondary Bays whereof two are long viz. the Botnick and Finnick the third is broad viz. the Livonick It receiveth Rivers of great Magnitude The Red Sea 5. The Red Sea Arabian Gulph or Sea of Mecca floweth from the Indian Ocean between the Promontory of Arabia to the City Aden and between the Promontory of Africa and runneth between Africa towards the West and Arabia towards the East it stoppeth at the Isthmus of Africa at the City Suez where is the station or harbour of the Turkish Navy it receiveth very few Rivers and those of small Magnitude but none from Africa as some observe It extendeth from the South quarter of the East to the collateral quarter of the North quarter towards the West The Persian Gulph 4. The Persian Gulph runneth between Arabia and Persia from the Indian Ocean about the Isle of Ormus It hath Persia on the East and Arabia on the West it stoppeth at Chaldaea It extendeth from East and by South to the West and by North quarter and receiveth very few Rivers except Euphrates and Tigris long before conjoyned The Bay of California 5. The Sinus or Bay of California Mer Vermejo runneth between California and the Occidental Coast of Mexico from the South towards the North it is terminated at the unknown Province of America Tatonteac It receiveth few Rivers The Modern Mariners affirm California to be an Isle and if so this tract of Water cannot be a Sinus Gulph or Bay but a Streight The Bay of Nanquin 6. The Bay of Nanquin runneth between Corea and the Coast of China and Tartary unto the Northern parts of Tartary where Tenduc the Kingdom of Cathay is placed yet falsly as those suppose who will have Corea to be an Isle It receiveth few Rivers it extendeth from West to North. These are the long Gulphs unto which lesser may be added as the Gulph of Cambaia and others The four last rehearsed do not afford secondary Gulphs viz. Arabia Persia California and Nanquin but only the Mediterranean and Baltick Proposition VI. Broad Gulphs are in number Seven viz. Gulph of Mexico 1. The Gulph of Mexico floweth from the Atlantick Ocean between the North and South parts of America which it separateth from the Oriental quarter to the Occidental It stoppeth at a long Isthmus between those Lands which impedeth the conjunction of the Pacifick and Atlantick Ocean on this quarter It receiveth many Rivers and for multitude of Isles may compare with the Aegean Sea Gulph of Ganges 2. The Gulph of Ganges Gulph of Bengala floweth between India and the Chersonesus of Malacca from the Indian Ocean it stoppeth at the Kingdoms of India Bengala Pegu and others It receiveth noted Rivers besides the Ganges 3. The Gulph between Malacca and Camboja not far from the Gulph of Bengala and likewise floweth from the South towards the North it stoppeth at the Kingdom of Siam The Gulph Lantchidolinum 4. The Russian Gulph or White Sea floweth from the North Ocean between Lapland and the utmost Coasts of Russia towards the South it is terminated partly at Finland and partly at the Kingdom of Moscovia it maketh a certain small long Gulph which is extended to Lapland where is that noted and well frequented Mart Archangelo It receiveth eminent Rivers The Gulph Lantchidolinum 5 6. The Gulph Lantchidolinum floweth from the Indian Ocean between the Provinces of the South Country Beach and New Guiney it stretcheth from the North to the South and terminateth at the unknown parts of the South Continent Another Gulph is near unto it towards the West between Beach and the other procurrent Land of the South where is the Land called Anthonij à Diemen which is the Name of a Dutch Master of a Ship by whom it was discovered Hudson's Sea 7. Hudson's Sea is a Gulph between New France and Canada and other parts of the Northern America it is terminated at Estotiland Proposition VII Fretum or Streights are threefold For either they conjoyn the Ocean with the Ocean or the Ocean with a Gulph Of Streights or a Gulph with a Gulph We will
hindred doth flow from more high places to places more low If therefore the place about the Shore was not so high as in the middle of the Ocean part of the Sea would flow from the middle of the Ocean to the Shore and would neither consist or be calm which yet is not found in the tranquillity of the Air. 2. If that the Ocean far remote from the Shores were more high than the Sea at the Shore that Altitude would be discovered a far longer interval than a Spherical Superficies doth admit of yea it would be seen from the same distance from which the parts of the Ocean intercepted between that Altitude and the Shore are seen And experience testifieth that it cannot be beheld from a greater distance but that by degrees the more remote part is detected after the more near when we come to Mediterranean places to the Shore And by how much any part is more vicine to the shore by so much it is first or by a larger interval beheld from the shore Therefore the part of the Ocean removed from the shore is not higher than that part that is nigh unto it Wherefore the Ocean is of the same Altitude every where both in the middle and at the shore and not higher than the Earth 3. Mariners in the midst of the Ocean and deep Sea although they apply their Mathematical Instruments yet find it no higher there than in the parts near the shore which certainly could not be if that the Sea had any Altitude elevated as a Tower or Mountain For as by Instruments we find the Altitude of Towers or Mountains above the subjected parts of the Earth so also if that there were any Altitude of the middle Ocean above the vicine parts it could not be obstructed and avoid the subtilty of Instruments 4. Also here and there in the middle of the Ocean are found Islands and that in great number in some parts which are near to the Continents or great Islands Therefore the middle of the Ocean is not higher than the Earth because it is not higher than the Shores of those Islands 5. No cause can be shew'd why Water in the middle of the Ocean should be higher and not flow into the Chanels of Rivers if that their Waters be more depresâ—ed For by experience we find that Water any where scituated moveth to the vicine parts and these are less high which have been the cause of so many inundations From these I think we sufficiently collect that the Waters of the Ocean are not higher than the shoars of the Land Seeing therefore the Altitude of very few shoars is elevated little more than the vicine Mediterranean Land and in most lesser seeing that the Altitude of the Lands from the shoars to the Mediterranean places increaseth and riseth into Hills thence we conclude that the superficies of the Ocean is not higher than the superficies of the Land Now that the Altitude of the Land from the shoars to the Mediterranean places augmenteth or that the Mediterranean places are higher than the shoars is proved from the flux of Rivers most of which arise in Mediterranean places and flow to the Ocean So then at least the Mediterranean parts are somewhat more elevated than the shoars because the flux is from these unto them for Water floweth from the more high parts to places more inferiour Now that some are somewhat depressed lower than the Water we shall not go about to deny but they are either defended by the height of their shoars or by banks or other interposed earth Now these Banks are raised for the most part not because of the great Altitude of the Ocean being tranquillous and in its natural state but by reason of its impetuous motion caused by the Winds or from some other cause Corollary Corollary Therefore they are deceived who will have the Waters of the Ocean to be higher than the Earth and flie to a miraculous providence by which the inundation of the Ocean on the Land and drowning of the World is hindred and restrained For we have shewed that the superficies of the Water and Earth are one and almost the same to wit spherical and that many parts of the Earth at least the shoars have a greater Altitude than the middle of the Ocean and that this is the cause that the Ocean cannot overflow the Lands Which greater Altitude if it be elevated in some shoars the Banks being broken or the Water being augmented or forced to them in great abundance cause inundations Neither is it altogether impossible or contrary to nature that the whole Earth should be covered with Water as we shall shew in the end of the Chapter Proposition III. Why the Sea being beheld from the shoar seemeth to arise in a greater Altitude and tumor by how much it is more remote The middle of the Ocean by some said to be many miles higher than the Shoars It is a fallacy of the sight or of the estimating faculty which hath brought many into this errour so that they have endeavoured to defend that the middle of the Ocean is many miles higher than the Shoars But it is a wonder that none of them have taken notice of daily Experiments in the ordinary course of our life in which this fallacy is sufficiently manifest For if that we look on any Pavement or floor stretched at length or any row of Pillars the more remote parts of the Pavement will appear more high than the vicine parts so that from thence from our place to the most remote the Floor will seem by degrees more and more to elevate which yet notwithstanding it is every where of the same Altitude After the same mode it is with the Waters of the Ocean for if on the Shoar you use a Geodetical Instrument commodious to measure places withal you shall find no elevation of the remote part of the Ocean above the Shoar but rather a little depression so that the Waters sink beneath the Horizon of the Shoars Those that are versed in the Opticks declare the cause of the fallacy Let A be the Eye See Scheme and let it survey the pavement or superficies of the Water extended at length unto the long space a e. Let the Angle a A e be divided into equal parts or four Angles which are e A d d A c c A b b A a from the right drawn A b A c A d to wit the more remote shall be far more great as appeareth from the Diagram viz. e d is greater than d e and d e greater than b c and b c than a h. Although these parts are very unequal yet they will appear equal because they appear under the equal Angles a A b b A c c A d d A c and the Estimative faculty will judge them to be removed an equal distance from the Eye A in which there is a great deception and therefore will judge the lines A b A c A d
Salt but this is a deceitful sign The 4th Cause 4. The fourth Cause of the unequal saltness is the frequency or scarcity of Rains unto which we may add Snow and in the Northern places Snow and Rain is frequent in the places of the Torrid Zone they are less frequent in some parts of the year and in othersome they are almost continual And therefore in these places in the pluvial Months the water of the Ocean is not so salt on the shoar and hath less Salt in it than in the dry Months Yea in many Regions of the Coast of Malabar the Ocean is fresh in the pluvial Months by reason of the abundance of water that floweth from the top of the Mountain Gatis and falleth into the Sea for this very reason in divers Seasons of the year the same Ocean is of a various saltness yet because in the Northern places the Rains and Snows are continual throughout the whole year therefore this Sea is less salt than in the Torrid Zone The 5th Cause 5. The fifth Cause is the dissimilary solution or unequal faculty of the Water to dissolve this Salt and unite it to its self for hot water sooner uniteth Salt unto it self than cold Water although therefore in the Northern places of the Ocean the shoars and Channels of the same contain more or the like quantity of Salt that those places of the Torrid Zone do yet because the water is there more cold it is not so able to dissolve and unite the Salt to it self so subtily us the water in the Torrid Zone which is more hot The 6th Cause 6. The sixth cause is the exoneration of many and great Rivers into the Sea but this cause only taketh place in the parts of the Ocean that are vicine to the shoars but is not discovered in the remote parts So Mariners affirm that the Ocean on the Coast of Brasilia where the Silver-River disburtheneth it self loseth it saltness and affordeth fresh waters fifteen miles distant from the shoar The same is observed of the African Ocean on the Coasts of Congi where the River Zaire exonerateth it self and of many more Rivers Unto these add runing Fountains in some parts of the bottom of the Ocean These are the Causes which seem to concur to the variety and diversity of saltness in divers parts of the Ocean from which the saltness of every one of the Seas may be explained From whence also it is easy to give an account why the water of the German and Northern Ocean is less apt to separate Salt from it self by coction than the water of the Spanish Ocean the Canary Isles and that of Cape Verd whence the Dutch fetch Salt in great abundance and transport it into the Northern Regions viz. this Ocean is more near the Torrid Zone and receiveth water from the Ocean of the Torrid Zone the other is more remote from the Frigid Zone yet I cannot deny the constitution of the Channels themselves to be more or less saline The Sea-water at Guinee in the Ethiopick Ocean affordeth Salt at one coction as white as snow such as neither the Spanish Ocean nor any other in Europe do produce at one coction or boyling Proposition XI Why Rain-water in the middle of the Ocean is found sweet but the water which we separate from the Marine or Salt-water either by decoction or distillation is yet notwithstanding found salt when yet the Rain-water proceedeth from the Vapours exhaled from the Sea Fresh-water abstracted from Salt-water The Learned Chymists or true Naturalists have hitherto laboured in vain that they might find out an Art by which they might distill and abstract fresh water from the water of the Ocean which would be of great advantage but as yet their Labours have proved fruitless for although as well in the decoction as distillation Salt may be left in the bottom of the Vessel yet the water separated by decoction as well as distillation is yet found salt and not fit for men to drink which seemeth wonderful unto those that are ignorant of the cause Yet Chymistry that is true Philosophy hath taught the reason for by the benefit of this we know that there is a twofold salt in Bodies or two kinds of salt which although they agree in tast yet they much differ in other qualities one of these Artists term fixed the other volatile salt The fixed salt by reason of its gravity is not elevated in distillation but remaineth in the bottom of the Vessel but the volatile salt is full of spirit and indeed is nothing else but a most subtile spirit that is elevated by a very light fire and therefore in the distillation ascendeth with the fresh water and is more firmly united by reason of the subtilty of the Attoms neither is this volatile salt found only with fixed salt in Sea-water but almost in all bodies as Chymistry proveth by experience but in some in a greater and in othersome in a lesser quantity in a greater quantity in sharp tasted Herbs in a lesser in oily Herbs Therefore difficulty consisteth in the separation of this salt spirit or volatile salt from the water But why the pluvial water in the midst of the Sea is no less fresh than on the Land seeing that yet it is generated by abstraction of the exhalations of the Ocean caused by the fervour of the Sun or from some subterraneous fire which evaporation doth little differ from distillation The cause seemeth to be Fourfold 1. A slow operation by which the tenuous part is only elevated from the Ocean which although it containeth a saline volatile spirit yet it hath it in less quantity than if that this exhalation were caused by a more forcible heat 2. The long way that this vapour passeth through before that it arriveth unto that Region of the Air where it is condensated into rain in passage it is possible that the saline spirit is by degrees separated from the watery particles 3. The admixture of other watery particles existing in the air 4. A Refrigeration Coition and condensation of the vapour for these exhalations exhaled from the Ocean by degrees are more and more refrigerated and being conjoyned with other obvious and admixed vapours they condense into a more thick vapour or cloud in this Refrigeration and condensation or coition of the saline spirit with the fiery particles they fly into the more exalted part of the Air. Now why the same is not performed in distillation where the vapours exalted are also condensed the cause is 1. That by reason of the small passage the saline spirit is as yet over straitly conjoyned to the watery particles 2. That the vapour restrained in the vessel admitteth not a free passage to the evolant spirit Proposition XII Sea-water is more ponderous than fresh water and the water of one Sea is more heavy than another Sea water more heavy than fresh water The cause is manifest from what hath been said
Earthquakes By which it is manifest that sometimes Mountains are sent forth of the Earth and sometimes swallowed up the same is manifest from Warlike Mines where the Wind breaketh up great Towers and Walls and carrieth them into the Air. If that therefore such an Island of a sudden springing in the Sea adhere to the bottom of the Sea we must necessarily say that it was forced upwards by the violence of some subterraneous Wind As some write that Mountains sometimes are thrust forth of the Earth but if that it no longer adhere to the bottom as well the Wind as the violence of the water may separate it from the bottom so that at length by its own levity it is carried upwards to the superficies Proposition XIV Whence another doubt doth arise viz. whether that there be certain Islands that swim on the Sea as Thales supposed the whole Earth to swim on the Ocean For the Opinion of Thales it is sufficiently refuted seeing that the Channel of the Sea is found continuous to the Land but reason perswades us that there may be swiming Islands if that the Land be light and sulphureous Seneca addeth Experience for he saith that he saw the Isle Catylias swiming which had Trees and brought forth Grass and Herbs that the water sustained it and that it was not only driven hither and thither by the wind but also by the Air and that it continued not in one station either by Day or by Night Moreover there was another Island in the Lake Vadimon another in the Lake Station So the Ancients relate that Delos and all the Cyclades formerly swam in the Sea Neither may you object why do not those Islands swim at this day For unto this the Answer is easie That such a swiming cannot continue long for seeing that those Islands almost touch at the bottom of the Sea whilst that they are moved hither and thither they are carried more or less elevated to the Sands or Channels especially if that they come in the midst between two Sands that motion is stopped and other collected Earths are united with this Sand-bank or Channel and so of swiming Islands they become firm In Fondura a Country in America at this day is a Lake in which are many Hills which are moved to and fro with the wind In the great Lake of Scotland called Loumond is an Isle that swimeth and is moved about although that it be apt for Pasturage as Boetius writeth Hitherto we have treated of the generation of the Lands or of the Acid part of the Earth that is extant on the superficies we shall now consider how the Ocean and Waters may change their places and possess new Proposition XV. Rivers possess certain tracts of Land which they possessed not before and that for divers reasons Certain tracts of Land which Rivers possess which they possessed not before 1. When that they first arise from their Fountains and receive a Channel either from Nature or by Art of which we have spoken in the fifteenth Chapter 2. If that a River maketh another Channel for it self or sendeth forth a branch from it self which is most commonly done by men viz. that they may bring part of the Rivers unto Cities or into another River Examples of which we have alledged in the forecited Chapter 3. If that Rivers more and more possess the banks in progress of time which hapneth 1. If that the Channel become higher from the sinking down of the Earth or Sand. 2. If that it eateth off the sides of the Bank by its swift course 3. If that it be augmented by another River and by an abundance of Rain or an Exhydria or impetuous wind accompanied with a mighty fall of water 4. If that they overflow the Earth which if not going back again but do more and more augment they become Lakes or if they return to their Ancient Channel the water being effused into the Fields becometh a Marsh if that there be great abundance of it Corollary It is probable therefore then that there was a time in which those tracts of Land which now the Rhine Elbe and the Nile possess as also other Rivers were dry and possessed by the Earth Proposition XVI Lakes Marishes and standing-Pools occupy parts of the Earth that before they possessed not Lakes Marishes and Pools possess parts of the Earth which formerly they did not 1. When that they first spring up and are augmented in progress of time of which we have spoken in the fifteenth Chapter 2. If that abundance of Rain fall 3. If that Rivers bring store of water with force into the Lakes 4. If that the Channel become more high 5. If that the Lakes being agitated by often and more vehement floods by degrees do more eat the banks and cover the land with water So the Lake of Harlem within thirty or forty years hath extended beyond its former Bank about the space of the twentieth part of a mile Corollary Therefore it is probable that there was a time when those tracts of land which now the Lake Zaire Lemanus Parina Harlem Maeotis or the Marishes of Westphalia and all others formerly possessed were dry Lands Proposition XVII The Ocean possesseth part of the Land which formerly it did not possess Land possessed by the Ocean which formerâ—y it did not possess This hapneth after various manners 1. When that breaking through the middle of the land it maketh Streights and Gulphs as the Mediterranean the Arabian that of Bengala Camboja and such like So the Streight between Sicily and Italy between Geilan and India between Greece and Euboeja between Manilla and Magellan and also the Danish c. Neither is it improbable but that the Atlantick Ocean was so generated and that America was so divided from the Old World or at least from Europe which some do the more easily embrace that they may thence only deduct the Original of the American Nations from Adam Indeed the Aegyptian Priests related unto Solon about six hundred years before Christ as you may see in the Dialogue of Plato termed Timons that there was formerly opposite to the Herculean Streight of Gibralter an Isle bigger than Asia and Europe together called Atlantis and that part of it afterwards by a great Earthquake and a great deluge of one day and one night was swallowed up in the Ocean From which Narration we may collect that in former times amongst the Aegyptians there was a fame especially amongst those that were Learned of the separation of America from our World made many Ages before But it is far more likely that the North part of America in which is New France New England Canada and the like did in former Ages adhere to Ireland The Ancients write that the Streights of Gibralter were dug through by Hercules 2. When with a violent Wind the Ocean is forced and overfloweth the land by breaking through or over the banks that are made by Nature and Art There are
quarter by North-west West and a quarter by South west North-west and a quarter by West South-west and a quarter by West The Measures in which are to be considered that the least part that can be described upon the Terrestrial Globe is a Point many Points described and continued right the one to the other make a Line twelve Lines continued together are esteemed to make an Inch or Thumbs breadth twelve Inches make a Foot two Foot and half make a common Pace and two common Paces a Geometrical Pace one hundred twenty five Geometrical Paces make a Stade or certain measure of ground eight Stades or one thousand Geometrical Paces is one thousand Roman Paces or the Italian Mile one thousand fifty six Geometrical Paces make an English Mile one thousand two hundred sixty seven Paces make a Scotish Mile two thousand four hundred or 2500 Geometrical Paces make a Spanish League four thousand Geometrical Paces make a Dutch League or Miles five thousand Geometrical Paces make a Swedish League or Miles six thousand Geometrical Paces make an Hungarian League or Miles 24 or 25 French Leagues or 60000 Geometrical Paces make a degree of Latitude on the Aequator three hundred and sixty degrees of Longitude on the Aequator make the great circle of the Terrestrial Globe the great circle of the Terr Globe multiplyed by his Diameter make the Superficies of the Terrestrial Globe Geographical and Hydrographical TABLES The Terrestrial Globe hath all its Surface in LAND which discovereth it self in Two Continents whereof Ours or the most Ancient and Superiour containeth three great parts to wit Europe where are the Kingdoms or parts of Turkey in Asia Arabia Persia India China Tartaria Asia where are the Kingdoms or Countreys of Italy Turkey in Europe France Germany Low Countreys Poland Scandinavia Russia or Moscovia Africa where are the Kingdoms or Countreys of Rarbary Biledulgerid Egypt Sara or Desart of Saara the Land of the Negroes Guinee Nubia the Emperour of the Abyssines Zanguebar Congo Monomotapa Caffreria Spain The other or New and Inferiour is called AMERICA America Septentrionalis where are the Kingdoms of Canada or New France New Mexico New Spain America Meridionalis where are the Kingdoms of Peru Brazil Paragua Many Isles of which the most famous are About our Continent and part of Europe as those in the Mediterranean Sea the Western Ocean called the British Isles part of Asia as those of Japon the Philippins the Moluccoes Sonde Ceylan and the Maldives c. part of Africa as those of Madagascar or St. Lawrence St. Thomas Cape Verd the Canaries c. Between the one and the other Continent as the Azores About the other Continent and towards America Septentrionalis as those of Terra Neuves California the Antilles towards America Meridionalis the Magellanick Isles And in some Lands and Isles the most part unknown towards the one and the other Pole among the which are Groenland Izland c. Terra Australis Nova Guiney c. WATER which is found in SEA and which may be called Ocean about our Continent Oriental or Indian where are the Seas of China India Arabia Southern or Aethiopian where are the Seas of Barbaria or of Zangucbar Cafreria Congo Western or Atlantick where are the Seas of Guinee Cape Verd the Canaries Spain France Great Britany Northern or Frozen where are the Seas of Denmark Moscovy Tartaria Sea about the other Continents North-Sea or Seas of Canada or New France Mexico or New Spain Brazil Magellanick-Sea or Seas of Paraguay Magellanick Pacifick-Sea or Seas of Peru New Mexico Gulphs or Seas between the Lands of our Continent the Baltick Sea the Mediterranean Sea between the Lands of the other Continent the Gulph of Mexico the Gulph of Hudson Lakes or Seas in the midst of our Continent the Caspian Sea in the midst of the other Continent the Lake or Sea of Parime Streights to wit between the one and the other Contin of Anian between the other Contin and the J. M. of Magellan between Europe and Africa of Gibraltar RIVERS of which the most famous are In our Continent as In Europe the Tage the Loire the Rhine the Elbe the Danube the Boristene the Don or Tanais the Volga In Asia the Tigre and the Euphrates the Indus the Ganges the Quiam or Jamsuquiam the Oby In Africa the Nile the Niger In America Septentrional as the River Canada or St. Lawrence Meridional as the River Paria or Orinoque the River Amazones the River of Plates The Water in the surface of the Terrestrial Globe is for the most part in Seas and which may be called Ocean and about our Continent to wit the Indian or Eastern where are the Sea of China Indian Sea Arabian Sea Aethiopian or Southern wherein are the Sea of Barbary or of Zanguebar Sea of Caffreria Sea of Congo Western or Atlantick where are the Sea of Guinee Sea of Cape Verd Sea of the Canaries or Gulph of Yeguas Sea of Spain Sea of France Sea of Great Britain Northern Frozen or Scythick where are the Sea of Denmark or Mourmanskoi-More Sea of Moscovy or Petzorke-More Sea of Tartrria or Niaren-More Sea and about the other Continent to wit the North or Sea of Canada or New France Sea of Mexico or New Spain Sea of Brazil or North-Sea Magellanick or Sea of Paraguay Magellanick Sea Sea of Chili South or Pacifick or Sea of Peru or South-Sea Sea of California or New Mexico Between the one and the other Continent and towards the Artick Pole are the Archipelague of St. Lazare the Sea of Groenland Gulphs among which there where the Ocean washeth them and About our Continent are these Gulphs and Seas as the Gulph of Nanquin Gulph of Cochinchina Gulph of Sian or Cambogue Gulph of Bengala Gulph of Ormus and Balsora Gulph of the Red-Sea or Sea of Mecca Gulph of Aethiopia or St. Thomas Sea of Guascagne White-Sea or Bella-more there where the Mediterranean Sea entreth and within our Continent are these Gulphs and Seas as the Gulph of Lyon Gulph of Venice Archipelague or White-Sea Sea of Marmora Black Sea or Sea of Majeure Levant Sea there where the Baltick Sea entreth and within our Continent are these Gulphs and Seas as the Gulph of Bolnia Gulph of Findland Gulph of Rhiga Gulph of Dantzick Gulph of Lubeck there where the Sea washeth them and About the other Continent are the Gulph of Hudson Gulph of St. Lawrence Gulph of Mexico Gulph of Hondutas Gulph of Panama Streights among which there where the Ocean and the See washeth and About the other Continent are these Streights Seas c. as the Streight of Anian Sea of Vermejo Streight of Magellan Channel of Bahama Streight of Hudson Streight of Davis About our Continent are the Streight of Nassau or Vaygatz Pasâ— or Streight of Calaâ—is Streight of Bebelmandeâ— Streight of Mocandan Streight of Manar Streight of Malacca Streight of Sonde there where the Baltick Sea is and In our Continent are the Streight of
Sound Streight of Belt there where the Mediterranean Sea is and In our Continent are the Streight of Gibraltar Fars or Haven of Messiâ—a Eurâ—pe or tourn passage of Negroponte Streight of Gallipoli or the Dardanelles Str. of Constantinople or Channel of the Black Sea Streight of Cassa or Vospero Lakes and which may be called Seas as In our Continent the Sea of Bachu or Sala Sea of Zabaque or Tana In the other Continent the Lake or Sea of Parime Lakes as In Europe the Lake of Earne Lake of Werner Lake of Ladoga Lake of Geneve Lake of Constance Lake of Balaton Lake of Majeur In Asia the Lake of Sodom or the Dead-Sea Lake of Astamar or Vastan Lake of Burgian Lake of Kithay Lake of Chiamay Lake of Cincui-Hay In Africa the Lake of Zaire and Zambere Lake of Zafflan Lake of Niger Lake of Bouchaira In America Septenâ—rional the great Lake of Canada Lake of Mechoacan Lake of Chapala Lake of Mexico Lake of Nicaragua Meridional the Lake of Maracaybo Lake of Titicaca Lake of Eupana or de los Xarajes The most famous RIVERS In our Continent and its Isles are to wit in EUROPE and in the Kingdoms Countreys or Regions of Spain as the Douro the Tagus the Guadiana the Guadalquivir the Ebro or Iberus Italy as the Tiber the Arno the Po. Turkey in Europe as the Danube or Donaw the Drin the Orfee or Alfee the Vardar the Marize France as the Loire the Garone the Rhosne the Seyne Low-Countreys as the Escault the Meuse Germany as the Rhine the Weser the Elbe the Oder Poland as the Weisser or Vistule the Niemen the Duna or Dzwina the Niester the Nieper or Boristene Sweden as the Torne Moscovia as the Wolga the Dwine the Don or Tana England as the Thames the Severn the Trent Scotland as the Tay. Ireland as the Shennon ASIA and in the Kingdoms Countreys or Religions of Turkey in Asia as the Euphrates the Pactolus the Tygris the Acheron the Jordaine the Orontes the Lali the Chrysorhous Georgia as the Araxes and the Farza Arabia as the Caybar and the Astan Persia as the Tiritiri the Gehun the Bendimir and the Tostar India as the Indus the Tapta the Ganges the Gemeni the Mecon and the Pegu. China as the Quiam or Jamsuquiam Tartaria as the Oby the Gehan the Tartar the Palisanga the Jeniscey the Albiamu the Chesel and the Jaick AFRICA and in the Kingdoms Countreys or Regions of Morocco as the Tensift and the Sus. Fez as the Ommiraby Suba the Mullulus and the Cherser Barbary as the Mulvia the Maber the Magrada the Capes the Rio Major the Chol the Suffegmarus the Masurius the Tefflisus and the Mina Aegypt as the Nile Bilidulgerid as the Suz the Buzedota the Darha and the Albus Zaara as the Ghir and the Equestris the Negroes as the Niger which is divided in the Senega the Gambia the Rio Grande and the Cano. Higher Aethiopia as the Quilmanci Nubia the Zaire and the Marabus Lower Aethiopia as the Zambere divided in the Curama the Barame the Spiritu Sancto the Rio dos Infantos In the other Continent or in AMERICA Septentrionale and in the Kingdoms Countreys c. of Canada or New France as those of Canada or St. Lawrence Toppahanock Penobscot Pautuâ—xat Nansamud Chesapeac or Pouharan May la Trinite Apamatuck Pamanuc and Patawomeck Florida as those of Rio de Flores Rio de Spirito Sancto Rio de Neives and Rio grande Mexico or New Spain as those of Spiritu Sancto towards the East Spiritu Sancto towards the West Panuco Guaxacoalco Baranja Zacatula Desaguadero of Nicaragua AMERICA Meridionale and in the Kingdoms Countreys c. of Terra Firma Guiana and Peru as those of Darien Viapoco St. Martha Cayanna Corritine Brebice Orinoque Apuruvaca Essequebe Madelaine Desaguadero of Peru. Brazil as those of Orethane or the Amazons Maragnon or Miari Taboucorou Rio Janiero Rio grande or Potengi Rio Real Parayba Paraguay as those of Paraguay or de la Plata All the Kingdoms Regions Countries Isles c. in the World may be comprehended under these two Heads viz. Known Anciently and in our Continent as EUROPE with its Kingdoms Estates Isles c. may be considered in three times three parts and then The three most Southern parts are the Kingdoms Estates and Isles of Spain and Portugal with its Isles of Majorca Minorca c. Italy with its Estates and Isles of Sicily Sardinia Corsica Isles of Naples c. Turkey in Europe with its Estates and Isles The 3 Innermost parts and within the Continent are the Kingdoms and Estates of France Germany and Belgium with its several Estates as the Swisses the Grisont c. Poland with its several Estates towards the Danube as Transylvania Moldavia c. The three most Northern parts or Kingdoms and Isles of Great Britain and Ireland Scandinavia or Denmark Sweden Norway Moscovy with its Dutchies and Kingdoms ASIA with its Kingdoms Countreys Isles c. as they are found In firm Land as Turkey in Asia with its Countreys Isles c. Georgla Arabia Persia India as it is divided into the China Empire of the great Mogul Peninsula of India within the Ganges Peninsula of India without the Ganges Tartaria the Land of Jesso the Land of Papous In Isles as In the Ocean aâ— the Isles of Japon Isles of Larrons Isles of Sonde Philippine Isles Isles of Ceylan and the Maldives In the Mediterranean Sea as in the Levant Sea in the Archipelago About China Persia Arabia c. AFRICA with its Kingdoms Isles c. as it is divided and found in Africa or Lybia Exteriour or outwards as Barbary Bilidulgerid Aegypt Interiour or inwards as Zaara or Desart the Countries of the Negroes Guinee Aethiopia higher as Nubia Aethiopia or the Empire of the Abyssines lower as Congo Monomotapa Caffres And divers Isles which are found In the Mediterranean Sea as the Isle of Malta c. In the Western Ocean as the Canary Isles the Isles of Cape Verd the Isles of St. Thomas In the Eastern Ocean as the Isle of Madaga car the Isle of Zocotora c. Lately and in the other Continent as AMERICA with its Kingdoms Regions Countreys Isles c. as they are divided and found in America Septentrionale as Canadian or the Artick Lands as Groen and Eslotiâ—and Izland c. Canada or New France with its Estates Isles c. Florida Mexican or Mexico or New Spain with its Audiences of Mexico Guadalajara Guatemala and St. Domingo The Caribbe Isles America Meridionale as Peruvian or Terra Firma with its Estates Provinces and Isles Guiana Peru with its Audiences of Quito Lima Dela Plata Chili with its Jurisdictions Brasilian or Bâ—â—zil with its Capitaneâ— Paraguay or Rio de la Plata with its Parts or Provinces the Magellanick Land c. Unknown or not fully discovered and lieth either under the Artick or Circles as Antartick Circles as Nova Guinea Terra del Fuego Maletur Psitracorum Regio and the
of St. Michael Metz Toul Verdun and Nancy also part of Artois of Haynault and Luxembourg where are the Cities of Arras Avesnes Moutmedy c. Likewise the Principalities of Sedan and Arches whose chief place is Charleville also Rousillon on the Coast of Spain whose chief places are Perpignan Elne Collioure Salces c. Alsatia on the side of Germany and the Principality of Bress belonging to Mademoiselle d'Orleance but being to treat of these places in Germany and elsewhere I shall omit the description of them here Bishops Parliaments c. in France All France hath 15 Archbishops 105 Bishops 10 Parliaments amongst which the power of that of Paris extends as far as all the rest Under these Parliaments are 105 and odd Balliages or Justices-Royal immediate dependants on these Parliaments 24 Generalities and about 250 Elections and Receipts of Royal-Money And in the general Governments of the Militia about 2 or 300 Governments Chief Rivers This Kingdom is for the generality exceedingly furnished with Rivers the principal amongst which are the Loire Roane Garonne and Seine ALLEMAGNIA or GERMANY which may be considered in three great Parts whereof The first about the RHINE may be subdivided into three other parts to wit On this side the RHINE where are The French County Besanson Dole Lorraine Metz Nancy The Catholick Low Countries Anvers or Antwerp Brusselles Gand or Gaunt Lille Arras Upon the RHINE where are Alsace or Alsatia Strasbourg Fribourg Brisac Haguenau Palatinate of the Rhine Hildeberg Wormes Spire The Electorates of Mayence Treves Cologne The Estates of Cleves and Juliers Dusseldrop Wesel Juliers The Estates of the United Provinces Amsterdam Utrecht the Hague Beyond the RHINE where are Franconia Wirzbourg Nuremberg Francfort Hessie Cassel Marpurg Westphalie Munster Embden Soest The second about the DANUBE may be also divided into three other parts to wit Higher or SOVABIA which is divided into Suisse or Switzerland Basle Berne Zurich Geneve Coire Sovabia Ausbourg Constance Ulme Lindau Stutgard Mean or BAVARIA which is divided into Tirol Inspruck Feldkirck Dutchy of Bavaria Munick Lanshout Ratisbone Saltisbourg Passau Palatinate of Bavaria Amberg Lower or AUSTRICHE or AUSTRIA where are The Archbishoprick of Austria Vienne Lintz Crems The Hereditary Lands of Austria Stirie Creacz Carinthie St. Veit Carniola Lau-bach Cilley Cilley Vindis Marche Metling The third about the ELâ—E and ODER may be divided into two parts to wit The Highest comprehendeth the Estates of BOHEMIA where are the Kingdom of Bohemia Prague Cottenberg Pilsen Coningracz Budweiss Glatz Provinces incorperated to Bohemia as Silicle Breslau Lignitz Neisse Gros Glogau Lusacia Baudisseu Gorlitz Soraw Moravia Olmutz Brynne The Lowest comprehendeth SAXONY in general which may be divided inco into the Higher Saxony where are The Estates of Saxony Wittenberg Dreide Lipsick Erford The Marquisate of Brandenbourg Stendai Brandenbourg Berlin Lansperg Pomerania Stettin Straelsond Lower Saxony where are Two Archbishopricks Magdebourg Breme Three Bishopricks Ferden Hildesheim Halberstat Several Dutchies among which are those of Holsace Kille Gluckstad Meclebourg Rostock Suerin Lauvenbourg Lauvenbourg Lunenbourg Lunenbourg Brunswick Brunswick Wolsenbuttel Imperial Cities Lubeek Hambourg Gosâ—aâ— GERMANY about the Rhine may be considered On this side the RHINE in three Parts to wit FRANCHE COUNTY or BURGUNDY where are The Balliages of Amont Gray Dole Dole Aval Salins And some Mannors of the Empire as The Archbishopr and City of Besanson The County of Monbeliard LORRAINE where are the Dutchies c. of BARROIS Royal Bar-le-Duc Ducal St. Michael LORRAINE where are the Balliages of Francois Nancy Allemand Vaudrevange Vauge Mirecourt Bishopricks and Imperial Cities Metz Toul Verdun The CATHOLICK Low Country where are The Dutchies of Brabant Louvain Brusselles Limbourg Limbourg Mastciâ—h Luxembourg Luxembourg Thionville The Counties or Earldoms of Flanders Gand or Gaunt Brugge Lille Artois Arras St. Omer Hayâ—â—aut Mons Valenciennes Namur Namur The Marquisate of the Empire Anvers or Autwerp The Signiory of Malines Malines Also the Archbishoprick and Imperial City of Cambray Bishoprick and Imperial City of Liege Upon the RHINE in five Parts viz. ALSACE or ALSATIA On this side the Rhine where are The Sungou Altkirck The Higher Alsace Ensisheim Blome The Lower Alsace Strasbourg Haguenau Beyond the Rhine where are The Brisgou Fribourg Brissac The Mormau Offenbourg The Marquisate of Bade Durlach The PALATINATE of the Rhine under the name of which may be understood The Estates of the Palatinate Heidelberg Frankenâ—al The Estates of the Princes of the House Palatinate Zweibruâ—k Simmereâ— The Bishopricks and Imperial Cities of Spires Wormes The ELECTORATES Ecclesiasticks or Archbishopricks of Mayence Mayence Aschassenbourg Treves Treves Coblenz Cologne Cologne Bonne The Estates of the Succession of CLEVES and JULIERS To the Marquess of Brandenbourg as The Dutchy of Cleves Wesel The County of Marck Hamme To the Palatinate of New bourg as The Dutchy of Juliers Juliers The Dutchy of Bergâ—or Monâ— Dusseldrop The Estates of the UNITED PROVINCES of the Low Countries where are The Dutchy of Guelders Nieumegue Arnheim The Counties of Holland Amsterdam Dordrechâ— the Hague Zeland Mildebourg Zutphen Zutphen The Signiories of West Friezland Lievarden Groningue Groningue Utrecht Utrecht Over-Ysel Doventer And part of the Dutchy of Brabant Bosteduc Beyond the RHINE in three Parts to wit FRANCONIA where are The Ecclesiasticks or The Bishopricks of Wirtzbourg Bamberg The Order of Teut Mergetheim The Laicks or The Marquisate of Cullembach Onspach The Counties of Holac Weickersâ—eim Wertheim Wertheim The Imperial Cities of Nuremberg Francfort Schweifurt HESSE or HESSIA as it is divided into Hesse or Hessia Langraviat of Cassel Marpurg County of Waldeck Corbach Abbey of Fulde Witteravia divers Counties Nassau Solins Hanau Isenbourg WESTPHALIA where are The Ecclesiasticks or The Bishopricks of Munster Paderborne Minde The D. of Westphalia Arensberg The Counties c. of Embden Aurick Oldenbourg Oldenbourg Hoye Nienbourg Lippe Lipstad Ravensberg Herwood Benthem Benthem The Imperial Cities as Embden Zoest The Countries which consisteth of Seventeen Provinces to wit of Four Duchies to wit BRABANT where are the Quarters of Louvain Louvain Tilemond Ascot Brusselles Brusselles Nivelles Anvers Breda Berg op Zom Lire Saint Ulit Bosleduc Bosleduc Grave LIMBO'URG where are Limbourg Limbourg Vic de Mastric Adjacent Lands Fauquemont Dalem Rolduc LUXEMBOURG Luxembourg Thionville Arlon Bastoigne Monmedi Dam Villers GUELDRES where are four Quarters but that of ZUTPHEN is among the Counties Betuve Nieumegue Bommel Fort de Schenck Veluve Arnhem Harderwick Gueldres Ruremonde Gueldres Venlo Stefanswerdt Seven Counties viz. FLANDERS which is divided in Flanders Teutone Gand or Gaunt Bruges Ipres Gravelines Dunkirke Ostend Newport Scluce Flanders Wallone Lille Douay Tournay Orchies Flanders Imperlale Alost Hulst Axel ARTOIS Wallone Arras Hesdinfert Bappaumes St. Pol. Flamingant St. Omer Aire Bethune HAYNAUT Mons Valenciennes Maubeuge Avesnes Landrechies Philippeville Marienbourg NAMUR Namur Charlemont HOLLAND which is divided into North Holland Alemar Inchuse Horne South Holland Dort Delft Leyde or Leyden Harlem Amsterdam
Dukedom of Holstein HOLSTEIN or HOLSATIA a woody low and Marshy Country is severed into the Parts of Holsatia especially so called Wagrie Stormarch and Dilmarch HOLSTEIN or HOLSATIA hath for its chief places 1. Kiel seated on a navigable Arm of the Baltick where it hath a large Haven being a Town of a good Trade 2. Rendesborg said to be the strongest Town in all the Province 3. Wilsted and 4. Nienmunster WAGRIE hath for its chief places 1. Lubeck an Imperial and free City enjoying the priviledges of a Hans-Town it is pleasantly seated on the confluence of the Billew and on the North-banks of the Trane severing it from Germany and empty themselves into the Baltick being capable to receive Ships of a great burthen which they lade and unlade at Tremuren the Maritim Port at about a miles distance it is built on all sides upon a rising Hill on the Summit whereof is placed a fair and beautiful Church called St. Maries being the Cathedral from whence on an easie descent there are Streets which lead to all the Gates of the City which afford a fair prospect to the Eye besides which it is adorned with 9 other Churches one of which being a decayed Monastery is converted to an Armory to keep their Ammunition for War It is about 6 miles in compass encircling within its Walls divers fair and uniform Streets beautified with good Brick-buildings is very populous and well inhabited by Citizens and Merchants who drive a considerable Trade on the Baltick Seas But this City as also Hamburgh is esteemed rather part of Lower Saxony in Germany where I have also treated of them 2. Segeberg 3. Odesloe 4. Niestad and 5. Oldenborg STORMARCH hath for its chief places 1. Hambourg an ancient City built by the Saxons since made an Imperial City enjoying the Priviledges of a Hans-Town seated on the North-banks of the Albis which divides it from Germany of which it is reckoned a part or member and there treated of in the description of the Lower Saxony to which I refer the Reader 2. Krempe seated on a River of the same name which emptieth it self into the Store a strong and well fortified Town being reckoned for one of the Keys of the Kingdom 3. Bredenberg a Town of great strength belonging to the Rantzoves 4. Gluckstade seated on a Bay or Creek of the German Ocean and therefore well fortified to command the passage up the Elbe and 5. Tychenberg seated on the Elbe being so well fortified that it is now held the strongest Town in this Kingdom DILMARCH or DITMARCH hath for its chief places 1. Meldrop seated on the Sea a place of some account and the chief of the Province 2. Heide and 3. Lunden a Haven Town seated on the Eider which rising in this Peninsula here emptieth it self into the Ocean The BALTICK ISLES THese Islands which are between Juitland and the Coast and farther in the Baltick Sea are in number 35 and are so called as being dispersed in these Seas The Baltick Sea begins at the narrow passage called the Sound and interlacing the Countries of Denmark Poland Germany and Sweden extendeth to Livonia and Lithuania The reason according to the Opinion of many why this Sea which is so large doth neither ebb nor flow may be as well from its Northern scituation whereby the Celestial influences have the less predominancy as also from the narrowness of the Streight which receiveth the Ocean The chief of these Isles I have set down in the Geographical Table of this Kingdom of which a word or two and first with Zeland ZELAND anciently Codanonia from the Codani its Inhabitants Zeland the Isle is very fertil the greatest and of most importance of any in the Baltick to the King of Denmark as lying not above three miles from the main Land of Scandia which narrow Streight is called the Sound through which all Ships must pass that have any Trade into the Baltick all paying to the said King a certain Toll according to the bigness or Bills of Lading by which ariseth a great Revenue unto him and for the security of this passage there are built two exceeding strong Castles the one in this Isle called Cronenberg and the other in Scandia called Hilsemberg of which more anon In this Isle are 7 strong Castles and 13 Cities or walled Towns the chief of which are 1. Copenhagen or Haffen the chief of the Isle seated near the Sea having a commodious Port it is built orbicular of a good strength being defended by a powerful Castle its Houses are but meanly built yet it hath a spacious Market-place and is dignified with the residence of the King for the Winter season whose Palace is built of Freestone quadrangular but of no great splendor as also with the only Vniversity in the Kingdom 2. Elsenour seated on the Sea side of it self but a poor Village were it not for the great resort of Sea-men in their passage through the Sound into the Baltick this being the place where they pay their Toll and in this Village is the stately and well fortified Castle of Cronenburg built in the very Ocean and bravely resisting the fury of its Waves now the ordinary residence of the King being a pleasant prospect into the Sea on the South-side of this Castle is a large and commodious Road for Shipping 3. Roschilt once a rich City now only famous for being the Sepulchre of the Danish Kings where in the Cathedral Church they have their Tombs it is also dignified with the See of a Bishop 4. Fredericksbourg a Fortress built in a pleasant Plain often visited by the King in his retirement where he hath a delightful House seated in a Park 5. Warborg 6. Ringstede 7. Holbeck 8. Slages c. FVINEN or FIONIE seated betwixt Zeland and Juitland Fuinen and almost joyning to the main-Main-land it is of a fextil Soil and pleasant scituation being in length about 12 Dutch miles and 4 in breadth It s chief places are 1. Osel or Ottonium so called from Otho the Great who founded here an Episcopal See seated in the midst of the Isle from which the other Towns are of an equal distance which renders it very commodious for Traffick it is not large having but two Churches and its Buildings are neat and ornamental enough 2. Niborg 3. Swinborg 4. Kartemunde 5. Woborg and 6. Ascens all or most of them seated on some convenient Creek or Haven FIMERA a very fertil and well peopled Isle Fimera and here it was that Tycho Brache the famous Mathematician built an Artificial Tower in which are or were many rare Mathematical Instruments its chief place is Petersborne of some importance to the King of Denmark ALSEN a small Isle appertaining to the Dukedom of Sleswick Alsen is very populous contains 13 Parishes and 4 Towns viz. Osterholme Gammelgard Norbarch and Sunderburg dignified with the residence of the Duke of Sleswick TVSINGE a very small Isle Tusinge and of
of the Dutchy of Lancaster and hath a Market on Saturdays Doncaster seated on the Done and on the great Road to London Doncaster an ancient Town of good Antiquity once defended by a Castle now reduced to ruins and in Anno 759 this Town suffered much great part with its Cittadel being consumed with Fire but was rebuilt with a fair Church erected in the place where the Cittadel stood It is a large well-built and inhabited Town Corporate governed by a Major and Aldermen enjoyeth a good Trade especially for Stockings Knit-Waistcoats Petticoats and Gloves and hath a very good Market for Corn Cattle and Provisions on Saturdays Selby honoured in giving birth to King Henry the First seated on the Owse Selby which gives passage for small Vessels to York which doth occasion it to be a Town of some Trade and hath a good Market for Provisions and Merchandize on Mondays Ponfract very delightfully seated in a dry tract of ground Pontfract a neat Town Corporate beautified with good Buildings was once strengthned with a strong and stately Castle which was demolished in the late Wars It is governed by a Major and Aldermen sends Burgesses to Parliament and hath a very great Market for Corn Cattle Provisions and divers Country-commodities on Saturdays Wakefield seated in a large Lordship so called having its Steward Wakefield It is a large Town of good antiquity beautified with well built Stone-houses it is a place well known for its Clothing here made and hath a great Market on Thursdays and Fridays for Cloth Corn Provisions and divers Country-commodities Leeds seated on the Are an ancient Town Leeds where the Kings had formerly their Royal Palace and here Oswy King of the Northumbers put to flight Penda the Mercian It is a large and well built Town Corporate governed by a Major and Aldermen with sub-Officers electeth Parliament men is very well inhabited especially by wealthy Clothiers who drive a great Trade for their Cloth and hath two considerable Markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays which are well traded unto for Corn Provisions Woollen-Cloth and divers good Commodities Knaresbrough Knaresbrough delightfully seated on the Nid and on a ragged rough Rock on which is seated a Castle It is a well-built Town Corporate electing Parliament men and hath a good Market for Corn and Provisions on Wednesdays Nigh unto this place in a Moorish boggy-ground ariseth a Spring of Vitrioline tast and odour and not far off is also a Sulphur-Well which is good for several Diseases here is also a droping petrefying-Well which turns Wood Moss c. into Stone Rippon Rippon feated between the Yore and a Branch thereof over which are two Bridges It is a place of good antiquity and of much same for its Religious Houses but especially for its stately Monastery built by Wilfrid Archbishop of York It is at present a large and well-built Town Corporate governed by a Major and Aldermen hath the election of Parliament men the Town is well inhabited by Gentry and its Market which is on Thursdays is very great for Cattle Corn Provisions and chiefly for Wool which is much bought up by the Cloathiers of Leeds This Town is beautified with a very fine Cathedral Church with a lofty Spire-Steeple and in this Church was St. Winfrids Needle a place famous in our Fore-fathers days being a narrow Hole in the close Vaulted-room under ground in which place as 't is reported but not Recorded for Truth Womens Honesty was used to be tried for according to the story those that were Chast could easily pass through but the kind-hearted Souls were by an unknown means held fast and could not pass through WALES THE Island of great Britain in ancient time was severed into three Parts the first fairest and greatest contained all within the French Seas the Rivers of Severn Dee and Humber and was called Lhoyger which name in Welsh it still retaineth and in English England The second took up all the Land Northwards from the Humber to the Orkney Isles and was called Mare Caledonium or Deucaledonium and now Scotland And the third lying between the Irish Seas the Rivers of Severn and Dee was anciently called Cambria and now Wales to which the Britains being outed of their Country were forced to retire and there fortified themselves The Bounds This Country of Wales is bounded on all sides by the Sea except towards England from which it is severed by the River Dee and a Line drawn to the River Wye but anciently it was extended to the River Severn Eastward for Offa King of the Mercians forced them to quit the Plain Countries beyond that River which now is called the Marches of Wales and to betake themselves to the Mountains which he caused to be separated from England by a great Ditch called Offa's Dike in Welsh Claudh Offa in many places yet to be seen which Dike beginneth at the influx of the Wye into the Severn and reacheth unto Chester which is about 84 miles where the Dee disburthens it self into the Sea And over this Dike by a Law made by Harald no Welshman was permitted to pass with a Weapon upon pain of losing his Right hand Very Mountainous and Barren The whole Country is Mountainous and Barren yet affordeth several good Commodities and is not without many fertil Valleys which bear good Corn and breed great abundance of small Cattle with which they furnish England as also with Butter Cheese Woollen-Cloths called Welsh-Frizes Cottons Bays Herrings both White and Red Calve-skins Hides Hony Wax c. and the Country is well stored with Quarries of Free-stone for building and Mill-stones as also hath Mines of Lead Lead-Oar Coals and some of Silver and Tin And these Commodities are generally brought to Shrewsbury Oswestre Bristol Worcester and other adjacent parts and thence dispersed into England It s Ancient division About the year of Christ 870 Rodericus Magnus King of Wales divided this Country into three Regions Territories or Talaiths which were so many Kingdoms to wit Gwineth Venedotia or North-Wales and this part he gave to Anarawd his eldest Son Deheubarth or South-Wales which he gave to Cadelh his second Son and Powis or powis-Powis-Land which he gave to Mervin his third Son and in each of these three Kingdoms he appointed a Royal Palace as at Aberffraw in the Isle of Anglesey for North-Wales at Dynefar or Dynevowr-Castle not far from Carmarthen for South-Wales and at Matravan in Montgomery-shire for Powis-Land Present division But at present according to Act of Parliament made in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth it is severed into two Parts to wit North-Wales and South-Wales both which have as it were devoured all Powis-Land and in each of these parts there are 6 Counties in the North those of Anglesey Caernarvon Denbigh Flint Merioneth and Montgomery and in the South those of Brecknock Cardigan Carmarden Glamorgan Pembroke and Radnor Again Wales like unto
of 8 Market Towns Cardiff the fairest Town in all South Wales well seated on the River Tave Cardiff or Taff over which it hath a fair Bridge to which Vessels of small burthen do come to lade or unlade their goods and in a rich and fertil Soil both for Tillage and Pasturage It is a large and well built Town with good ordered and clean Streets containing within its Walls two Parishes but hath but one Church without the East-Gate is a large Suburb called Crockerton without the North-Gate stands the White-Friers and without the West-Gate a small Suburb adjoyning to the Black-Friers and in this part is seated the Castle which is a strong spacious and stately Building It is a Town Corporate governed by a Constable 12 Aldermen as many Capital Burgeffes a Steward Town-Clerk with sub-Officers enjoyeth several Immunities electeth a Parliament man is the place where the Assizes are kept is well frequented and traded unto its Inhabitants having a great intercourse of Traffick with Bristol and its Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays are very good especially that on Saturdays which is the best in the County and very considerable for Gattle Corn Swine Sheep and all sorts of Provisions in great plenty and at easie rates Llandaff a City seated on the Taff but of a small extent Llandaff scarce comparable to an indifferent Town having not so much as a Market kept which is occasioned by its vicinity to Cardiff It s Cathedral is a spacious and superb Structure and near adjoyning are the Ruins of an Old Castle which was the ancient Palace of the Bishops Neath seated on a River so called over which it hath a Bridge Neath to which small Vessels come for the lading of Coals here had in great plenty to the profit of its Inhabitants It is a Town of great antiquity and of a good extent yet is it indifferent large is governed by a Port-Reve and hath a good Market for Provisions Swansey commodiously seated on the Sea-shoar Swansey an ancient Port-Reve Town which is large and well built which for Riches and Trade is esteemed the chief in the County and that by reason of their Coal-Pits and the great industry of its Inhabitants It hath weekly two Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays which are very well frequented and traded unto affording great plenty of Commodities and Provisions County of Pembroke described PEMBROKE-SHIRE is of fertil Soil both for Tillage and Pasturage is well stored with Cattle and replenished with Rivers which with the Sea plentifully serveth the Inhabitants with Fish and Fowl and in the bowels of the Earth are plenty of Pit-Coal It is well inhabited and garnished with Towns numbring 145 Parish Churches and is traded unto by 8 Market Towns Pembrook Pembrook the chief Shire-Town seated on the Eastern and innermost Creek of Milford-Haven over which it hath two fair Bridges for the conveniency of passage It is a place of good account well frequented and inhabited by Gentlemen and Tradesmen is much resorted unto by Shipping by reason of which they have a Custom-house It is a place of good strength being fortified with a Wall on which are several Towers having three Gates for entrance and also with a strong Castle seated on a Rock It is a large Town Corporate containing two Parish Churches is graced with well built Houses is governed by a Major with other sub-Officers enjoyeth several Immunities sendeth a Burgess to Parliament and its Market which is on Saturdays is very good and well served with Provisions c. This Milford-Haven is esteemed the best in all England Milford-Haven not only for its largeness being capacious enough to give entertainment to about 1000 Sail of Ships at one time and to ride secure at a good distance one from the other but also for its variety of deep and safe Creeks and nooked Bays for Ships to harbour in having within it 13 Roads 16 Creeks and 5 Bays all which are known by their several names St. Davids St. Davids seated within a mile of the Sea in a barren Soil and very destitute of Wood. It was once a City of good account but at present is very small but thinly inhabited and its Market disused yet is it the See of a Bishop and its Cathedral kept in good order but the Bishops Palace is much ruinated Near unto St. Davids is a Promontory called St. Davids Land or Head from whence in a clear day Ireland may be seen and on the Rocks in these parts the Falcons have their Airies and breed Also here is Whitesand-Bay and at the extream point of the Promontory Ramsey Isle sheweth it self nigh to which are several small ones which together bear the name of the Bishop and his Clerks Haverford-West Haverford-West a Town and County of it self commodiously seated on the side of a Hill and on a Creek of Milford-Haven over which it hath a good Stone-Bridge which leadeth to Prendergast where there is a Church It is a very large and fair Town Corporate containing three Parish Churches is beautified with good Houses is well inhabited enjoyeth a good Trade having several Vessels belonging to the Town is the place where the Assizes are held and the County Gaol kept and hath weekly two Markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays which are very great for Cattle and Provisions It is governed by a Major a Sheriff and Common Council with Justices of the Peace it enjoyeth several Immunities keeping Courts and sending a Burgess to Parliament and near to this Town divers Gentlemen have their Seats Tenby Tenby seated on the Sea-shoar where it hath a commodious Haven or Road for Ships being formerly much frequented especially by Fishermen having a good Key enjoyeth a considerable Trade and its Inhabitants were wealthy but the Spoils it suffered in the late Wars hath much impoverished it notwithstanding it keeps its two Markets weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays which are very well resorted unto for Corn Provisions and Fish Newport Newport seated near the Sea-shoar and on the foot of a high Hill a large but ill built and inhabited Town governed by a Port-Reeve and a Bailiff and hath a good Market for Corn Cattle and Provisions and here is a Wear for Fishing County of Radnor described RADNOR-SHIRE This County is of a sharp and piercing Air and very ungraceful to the Husbandman as being so Mountainous and Rocky yet is it well watered with Rivers It hath but 52 Parish Churches and is traded unto with three Market Towns New Radnor New Radnor well seated near the Spring-head of the Somergil and in a pleasant Valley at the foot of a profitable Hill for the feeding of Sheep and Cattle called the Forrest of Radnor It is a very ancient Town Corporate whose Jurisdiction reacheth 10 or 12 miles in compass is governed by a Bailiff and 25 Burgesses enjoyeth large Immunities and hath the election of a Parliament man It had formerly a Market
great plenty of Wheat A place so surfeiting of Delights that the vile Impostor Mahomet would never enter into it lest by the ravishing Pleasures of this place he should forget the business he was sent about and make this his Paradise This City is famous first for her Founders who were Abrahams Servants next for the Temple of Zacharias which was garnished with 40 stately Porches and adorned with about 9000 Lanthorns of Gold and Silver and last of all for the Conversion of St. Paul who here first preached the Gospel for which he was forced to make his escape out of the House being let down the Walls in a Basket Josephus believeth that it was built by Vs the Son of Abraham Grandchild to Noah However it were after Type and Sidon began to decay this began to be in some repute and hath been esteemed the chief City of Phoenicia and sometimes of all Syria It is beyond Mount Libanus in respect to Tyre and Sidon seated in a Soll so fertil and delightful by reason of the Rivers and Fountains that in Holy Scripture it is called a famous City a City of Joy a House of Delight and Pleasure and some Authors call it the Paradise of the World Yet hath it felt very great changes as well as Tyre and Sidon It hath been taken retaken ruined and re-established divers times by the Assyrians Babylonians Persians Macedonians Romans Parthians Saracens Tartars by the Soldans of Egypt and in fine by the Turks in whose hands it is at present very flourishing and rich The Houses of private persons are not so fair without as within the publick Buildings are very beautiful the Castle is in the middle of the City built by a Florentine 4. Serepta seated on the Sea Coast betwixt Tyre and Sidon memorable in Holy Scripture for the Prophet Elijah in raising from death the poor Widows Son Here is found excellent Wines accounted as good as those of Grece 5. Acre of old Acon and Ptolemais is bounded with the Sea on two sides the third is joyned to a Plain of the Continent The City is very strong being walled with a double Wall fortified throughout on the out-side with Towers and Bulwarks and in the middle of the City a strong Castle on the top of which there was every Night set Lights which served to direct Ships at Sea to their Port. The Plain is fertil and well watered with Streams which descend from the Neighbouring Mountains The Christians took lost and retook this place divers times when they made War into the Holy Land in which none more famous than Richard the First and Edward the First both Kings of England The same did likewise the Saracens the Soldans of Egypt ruined it and after re-built it and at present it remains in the hands of the Turks 6. Tripoli of Syria for distinction from Tripoli of Barbary seated in a rich Plain is at this day by some esteemed the Metropolis of Phoenicia thought it hath three times more Ruins than whole Houses and seated about two miles from the Sea but not above half a mile from its Haven which formerly served for a Port to Aleppo but since removed to Alexandretta or Scanderone But yet a place of some small Trade affording Corn Cotton-Wool Yarn Silk some Drugs Pot-Ashes and other Commodities The Buildings are generally low and the Streets narrow excepting those which lead towards Aleppo which are fair and broad having many pleasant Gardens which are watered with delightful Streams in which Gardens they keep great quantities of Silk-Worms The Soil is excellent good if it were well tilled but the Air is unhealthful 7. Biblus now Gibbeleth was the habitation of Ciniras the Father of Myrrha Mother to the fair Adonis from whence the neighbouring River took its name remarkable in the infancy of Christianity for being the See of a Bishop but now by the Turks made desolate And 8. Barutt or Beryte a place formerly of great Trade but now of great concourse and much frequented by Merchants and others it being the Road for all those Caravans that travel from Aleppo Damascus and Jerusalem to Cairo and Mecca It is subject to the Grand Signior Near to this Town is that noted Valley where as some Authors say St. George by killing the Dragon which had his abode in a Cave here redeemed the Kings Daughter which was to be delivered to his fury PALESTINE Palestine bounded PALESTINE formerly called Judaea Canaan or the Holy Land is bounded on the East with Mount Hermon so much spoken of in Holy Scripture on the South with part of Arabia Petraea on the West with the Mediterranean Sea and part of Phoenicia and on the North with the Anti-Libanus which separates it from Syria and the rest of Phoenicia It s scituation is between the Third and Fourth Climates which makes the longest day to be 14 hours and a quarter So populous that before the coming in of the Israelites they had 30 Kings and afterwards David numbred 1300000 Fighting men besides those of the Tribe of Benjamin and Levi. This last and most Meridional part of Syria which we call Palestine first received the name of the Land of Canaan because the Children of Canaan first seised it and parted it amongst them when God had promised it to Abraham and his Posterity it was called the Land of Promise but when it fell into the hands of the Hebrews after their return from Egypt and that they had divided it by Tribes it took the name of the Land of the Hebrews under which it was governed by Prophets Judges and Kings but under these Kings it was soon divided into two Realms which they called Judah and Israel Under the Romans it was only known by the name of Judea or Palestine of Judea because that the Tribe of Judah was always the most powerful of the Twelve and the Kingdom of Judah the most noble and preserved it self longer than that of Israel of Palestina because the Philistines which possessed a part of the Maritim Coast of Judea were powerful and very well known to Strangers After the death of our Saviour Jesus Christ all this Country was called the Holy Land A description of the Jews and their Religion The People which anciently possest this Country were the Jews being of a middle stature strong of body of a black complexion goggle-ey'd a subtle and ingenious people and such as will live in any place much given to Traffick Usury and Brokage not lending without Pledges and taking the forfeitures of them Their Law or Religion was given them by God the Father which with the several Ceremonies and Rites c. prescribed to them may be found in the five first Books of Moses their Synagogues are neither fair within nor without save only adorned with a Curtain at the upper end together with several Lamps and in the midst is placed a Scaffold in form of a Reading-Desk for their Priest which readeth their Law and sings their Liturgy
they read in a strange tone and sing as bad during the time of their Service their heads are veiled with Linnen fringed with Knots answerable to the number of their Laws and observing a continual motion of their body to and fro and often jumping up which they account for great zeal in their devotion they observe much reverence to all the names of God but especially to Jehovah insomuch that they do never use it in vain talk Their ancient Language was Hebrew they keep their Sabbath on Saturday in which they are very strict they marry their Daughters at the Age of 12 years as not affecting a single life The fertility of the Country This Country is so fertil in all things that it was termed a Land flowing with Milk and Hony adorned with pleasant Mountains and luxurious Valleys enriched with pleasant Streams and where the Inhabitants are neither scorched with Heats nor pinched with Colds To speak of all the memorable transactions that have happen'd in this Country would require a Volume by it self I shall only run over some of the chief and then proceed to the description of some of the Cities and Places of most note that are found therein It is famous for bringing our Saviour Jesus Christ into the World where he wrought so many Miracles but infamous for their horrid action of crucifying him Memorable Transactions in this Country the Lord of Life Here it was that the Lord appeared to Jacob here out of the Plains of Moab the Ark was built of Sittim Wood here on Mount Tabor Christ was transfigured on Mount Moriah Isaac was to be sacrificed on Mount Sion was the Tower of David on Mount Calvary as some aver was the Burial-place of Adam our Forefather Here over the Brook Kedron David passed in his flight from Absalom over which our Saviour when he went to his Passion passed Here runneth the River of Jordan sufficiently famous nigh to which stood the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrha Here at a place called Endor Saul consulted with a Witch near to Sichem Jacob had his Wells Here at Ashdod in the Temple of Dagon the Ark of the Lord was brought when taken upon the entrance of which their Idol fell down Here at Hebron is the Plain of Mamre where Abraham sitting in his Tent was visited by God from Heaven in the likeness of a Man this City he bought for a Burial-place for him and his Posterity where Sarah his Wife was first interr'd And on Mount Seir was the habitation of Esau after his departure from Canaan I shall cease to trouble the Reader with the mentioning of many more remarkable Passages which were here transacted but only refer them to the Books of the Old and New Testament where they shall find them recorded also great satisfaction may be received from Josephus a Book of good repute This Country is at present possessed by the Turks as Masters of it but inhabited by Moors Arabians Greeks Turks Jews nay I may say with People of all Nations and Religions But setting aside matters of History let us proceed to say something of the principal places found herein and first with Jerusalem Jerusalem its chief Places Jerusalem is so well known in the Holy Scriptures that we must confess it hath been not only one of the greatest but one of the fairest Cities in the World being called the City of the Lord. Its Kings High-Priests Temple and Royal Palaces have made it famous even amongst the remotest people Its circuit was onto 50 Furlongs which are only 6250 Geometrical Paces but so well builded that it was capable of the receiving of 150000 Families It s Temple and Palaces especially those of Solomon were the fairest greatest and most magnificent which ever eye beheld Its Gates Walls Towers Ditches cut out of the Rock and its scituation in the Mountains made it seem impregnable This City once sacred and glorious elected by God for his Seat placing it in the midst of Nations like a Diadem crowning the head of the Mountains the Theater of Mysteries and Miracles was once the glory of the World but its Pride and other horrid Sins in the end lost it divers times Nebuchadonozor was the first that ruinâ—d it Pompey contented himself to dismantle it of its Walls and to fill up the Ditches Vespasian and Titus Caesar utterly razed it and destroyed in the place 1100000 People that were assembled to the Pass-over Adrian ruined likewise some Towers and Walls which had been left to lodge the Roman Garrison and after caused a new City to be built partly on its ancient Ruins and partly without them But with the divers changes it hath since fallen under its beauty and magnificence is quite decayed Yet is it not so lost but that there are several Places yet remaining worthy of note together with several others that were since built as on Mount Calvary where Christ the Saviour of the World was Crucified there is a rich magnificent and large Temple built by the vertuous Helena Daughter to Coilus a British King and Mother to Constantine the Great which not only possesseth the Mount but also all the Garden below where his Sepulchre was and in this Temple there are several rich Structures as one where Christ was imprisoned before his Crucifixion another where Christ was nailed to the Cross another where he was Crucified also one where the Sepulchre was the Altar of the Holy Cross the Altar of the Scourging the Chapel of the Apparition the Chapel of the Angels the Chapel of the division of his Garments the Chapel of St. Helena who built this Temple the Chapel of St. John the Sepulchre of Joseph of Arimathea under ground together with several others too long to recite To this place there is a great resort as well of Protestants as Papists though for sundry ends which brings a great Revenue none being permitted to enter without paying some Mony which the Jews here inhabiting do Farm of the Grand Signior at a large yearly Revenue and so become Masters thereof making a great profit by shewing them to Strangers which come hither from all Nations Several other places are yet remaining as the Castle of the Pisans the Monastery of the Franciscans the Church of St. James the Church of St. Mark where once stood his House a Mosque where stood the House of Zebedaeus a Chapel where stood the House of St. Thomas the Church of the Angels where the Palace of Annas the High-Priest stood the Church of St. Saviour where the Palace of Caiphas stood the Court of Solomons Temple yet remaining but in the room of the Temple a Mosque Near about Jerusalem there are several places of note yet remaining as in the way between Jerusalem and the City of Bethlem there are the Ruins of Davids Tower the Tower of Simeon Bathsheba's Fountain the Cistern of Saget the Monastery of Elias Jacobs House the Sepulchre of Rachel the Cistern of David the House of Joseph the
Marins sometimes made here their residence and gave it to their second Son as well because of the beauty of the City and the civility of its Inhabitants as for the goodness of the Air and the abundance of all sorts of Fruits which they gather there 2. Turet is beyond the River Mulvia and on the River Quhas so advanced on the Frontiers that the King of Fez and Telensin have often carried it the one from the other It is seated on a Hill in the midst of a Plain but encompassed about with Desarts very advantagiously inclosed with strong Walls well built within and filled with about 3000 Houses 3. Dubdu is on the side of a high Mountain from which many Fountains descend and run through the City 4. Garsis And 5. Haddaggia are on the Mulvia 6. Gherselvin only is beyong the Atlas and on the borders of Segellesse it is handsom within but beautiful without c. The Inhabitants of its Mountains Among the Inhabitants of the Mountains there are some rich who pay little or nothing others poor and over burthened with Tribute The Plains of Sabhelmarga hath almost nothing but Charcoal-men by reason of the adjacent Woods that of Asgari-Cameren Shepherds because the Grass grows all the year that of Guregra Husbandmen the Land being proper for Grain In this Province there is a remarkable Bridge over the River Sebu which runs between Rocks so high A strange Bridge that this Bridge is 150 yards from the Water It is a Basket or Pannier hung upon two Cords which turn upon two Pullies fastned to the ends of two great Piles of Wood on each side of the Valley And those who are in the Basket there may go about ten persons draw themselves from one side to other by the Cords which are made of Sea-Bulrush as well as the Basket The Country of Fez and Morocco of a different nature The Kindoms of Fez and Morocco ought to be considered in four sorts of Lands Mountains Vallies Plains and Coasts and the most part of their Provinces have these sour sorts The Mountains are almost all in the hands of the Arabs and Bereberes who live partly free partly tributary The Vallies are almost all the same according as they are more or less engaged in the Mountains or near the Plains The Plains are all obedient The Coasts in part belong to the Kings of Fez and Morocco in part to the Portugals and Spaniards these holding what is on the Mediterranean Sea the others on the Ocean So that considering the Continent of these two Kingdoms even when they were united there was always a quarter or third part which obeyed not the Xeriffs or Kings of Fez and Morocco But if they had been absolute in these two Kingdoms they might easily have brought into the field One hundred thousand Horse and more then so many Foot The Moors of this Kingdom and their disposition The Moors of Fez and Morocco are well disposed strong Active and yet melancholly they may marry four Wives and repudiate them when they will giving them the Dowry they promised when they espoused them And if they would be rid of them better cheap they treat them ill and these Women may forsake their Husbands quitting their Dowry Besides these four Wives they may have as many Concubines as they can keep but the Law permits them not to lie but with the one or the other of the four Wives Persons of Estate spend so much on their Weddings that they say commonly That the Christians spend the greatest part of their Goods in Law-suits the Jews in their Paschal-Feasts and the Moors in their Nuptials They enterr their dead in Virgin-Earth that is where no person hath been before enterred fearing least at the general Resurrection it should be difficult to unmix all their pieces Arabs here inhabiting which much annoy the Countrey Besides these Moors in the Estates of Fez and Morocco there are many Arabs which go by Cabilles or Lineal Descent and which make War and Peace as they please between themselves and with the Moors Wandering continually and pillaging now one Coast and then another They either assault or convoy the Caravans according to their interest sometimes serving the Kings of Morocco sometimes making War upon them Those that are in the highest Mountains of Atlas are so rude and barbarous that the Ancients have believed them to be Satyrs Pans Aegipans that is Half Devils In some Cities there are quantity of Jews almost no Christians except they be Slaves or some Merchants The Kingdom of ALGIER and TELENSIN The Kingdom of Algier THe Kingdom of ALGIER is at present the most famous or rather the most infamous on the whole Coast of Barbary As well for its Riches and Forces as for those Pyracies it exercises towards the Christians and the barbarousness it useth towards its Captives It s name is taken from the principal City seated in the midst of its Coast on the Mediterranean Sea towards the West it is separated from the Kingdom of Fez by the Rivers of Zhas and Mulvia towards the East divided from that of Tunis by the Guad-il-Barbar The Northern Coast is washed by the Mediterranean Sea the South confined by the Mountains of Atlas which divide it from Segelmesse Tegorarin and Zeb parts of Billedulgered It s length from West to East is near 300 Leagues its breadth 50 60 or 75 Leagues It s Division and parts We will divide it into five parts of which that of Algier shall make the middle one Telensin and Tenes shall be on the west Bugia and Constantina on the East The Turks as Grammajus saith hath established 20 Governments whereof 10 are on the Coast and 10 others within Land On the Coast there are 5 West ward of Algier and 5 Eastward of Algier Sargel Tenes Marsalquibir Hunain and Haresgol advance towards the West Algier Bugia Gigell Constantina and Bona towards the East Of the 10 Governments which are within Land Grammajus places 6 in the Mountains of Telensin or Benrasid Tenes Algier Bugia Constantina and Bona. These names of Mountains being taken from Cities neighboring on them and almost all on the Coast The 4 Governments remaining are Steffa Necab or Necaus Mezella or Mesila and Mastin which are the names of their chief places But Grammajus not contenting himself with this division within Land makes yet other 10 of which 4 he calls Kingdoms and which are only Tributary Huerguela or Guergela Cuco Tricarta or Techcort and Labes 2 Provinces Benirasid and Tebesse 2 Dynasties or Signiories Meliana and Angat And likewise 2 Kingdoms subject Telensin and Tenes Of these 10 pieces Telensin Angat Benirori Tenes and Meliana are towards the West Coco Labes and Tebesse towards the East Guerguela and Techcort far towards the South These 2 last are so engaged in Billedulgerid that I cannot well describe them with the Kingdom of Algier though they be Tributary to it And the Governments
on the top thereof grow certain Strings which resemble Hair the great end of the Branches appearing like Hands extended forth and the Dates as Fingers And so much for Egypt LIBYA INTERIOR which doth comprehend ZAHARA or SAARA with its Parts or Provinces of ZANHAGA Tegassa ZUENZIGA Zuenziga Ziz Ghir TARGA Hair Targa LEMPTA Lempta Dighir Agades BERDOA Berdoa BORNO Borno Kaugha Amasen GAOGA Gaoga The Land of NEGROES with its Parts or Kingdoms as they lie On this side the Niger as GUALATA Guadia Angra Arguya GENEHOA Genehoa Walade Ganar Samba-Lamech TOMBUT Tombut Salla Berissa Guegneve AGADES Agades Deghir Mura CANUM Cano Tassana Germa CASSENA Cassena Nebrina Tirca GANGARA Gangara Semegonda Between the Branches and about the Mouth of the Niger as JALOFFES Emboule Lambaya Yagoa Bersola Nabare Besu Catcheo Boyla Codan Julieto GAMBIA CASANGUAS BIAFARES Emboule Lambaya Yagoa Bersola Nabare Besu Catcheo Boyla Codan Julieto Beyond the Niger as MELLI Melli. SOUSOS Beria MANDINGUE Mandinga Tocrur GAGO Gago Dau. GUBER Guber ZEGZEG Zegzeg Channara ZANFARA Zanfara Reghebil GUINY and regarding the Atlantick Ocean with its Parts or Kingdoms of MELEGUETTE with its chief Places as they lie On the Sea as Bugos Timaa Bagga Serbora Masfah Faly Hamaya Samwyn Crou and Growaly Within Land as Bolombere Quinamora GUINY particularly so called or the IVORY or GOLD Coast with its chief places as they lie On the Sea as Tabo Taboe Petoy Wetoe Moure Nassau St. George del Mina Cormantir Berku Pompena Within Land as Laboure Uxoo Quinimburm Acanes Grandes Dauma Aâ—â—â—raus Adios St. Eaurenco Zabandu Buma Roggis Jamo BENIN with its chief Places as they lie On the Sea as Popou Jackeyn Loebo Fosko Borli Bodi and Cesge Within Land as Bâ—din Oâ—verre Aâ—ovon and Curamo ZAHARA That is DESART Zahara its name and description of the Country IN our Africa or Libya Interior we have placed ZAHARA the Country of the NEGROES and GVINY Zahara is an Arab name and signifies Desart and this name is taken from the quality of the Country so the Arabs divide the Land into three sorts Cehel Zahara and Azgar Cehel hath only Sand very small without any Green Zahara hath Gravel and little Stones and but little Green Azgar hath some Marshes some Grass and little Shrubs The Country is generally hot and dry it hath almost no Water except some few Wells and those Salt if there fall great Rains the Land is much better But besides the leanness of the Soil there is sometimes such vast quantities of Grasshoppers that they eat and ruin all that the Earth produceth Through this Country the Caravans pass which adds no small advantage unto it It is so barren and ill inhabited that a Man may travel above a week together without seeing a Tree or scarce any Grass as also without finding any Water and that Water they have is drawn out of Pits which oft-times is covered with Sand and tastes very brackish so that many times Men die for want of it which knowing the defect those Merchants which travel in this Country carry their Water as well as other Provisions on their Camels backs It s People The People are Bereberes and Africans likewise Abexes and Arabs of which the first are seated in the most moist places the others wander after their Flocks Some have their Cheques or Lords almost all follow Mahometism Though the Air be very hot yet it is so healthful that from Barbary the Country of the Negroes and other places Sick people come as to their last remedy It s division and parts described This great Desart is divided into seven principal Parts of which the three Western are Zanhaga Zuenziga and Targa or Hair The four towards the East are Lempta Berdoa Gaoga and Borno Almost every part reaches the full breadth and all together make but the length of this Desart ZANHAGA is most Westward Zanhaga and touches the Ocean with this Desart are comprehended those of Azaoad and Tegazza This last yields Salt like Marble which is taken from a Rock and carried 2 3 4 or 500 Leagues into the Land of the Negroes and serves in some places for Money and for this they buy their Victuals These People use it every moment letting it melt in their Mouths to hinder their Gums from corrupting which often happens either because of the heat which continually reigns or because their food corrupts in less than nothing In the Desart of Azaoad and in the way from Dara to Tombut are to be seen two Tombs the one of a rich Merchant and the other of a Carrier The Merchants Water being all gone and ready to die for want buys of the Carrier who had not overmuch one Glass full for which he gave him 10000 Ducats a poor little for so great a Sum but what would not a man do in necessity yet at the end the Carrier repented his bargain for both the one and the other died for want of Water before they could get out of the Desart Those near the Sea have some Trade with the Portugals with whom they change their Gold of Tibar for divers Wares To the Hono ble the Governour Sub Governour Deputy Governour Court of Assistants of the Hono ble Company of Royall Adventurers of England tradeing into Affrica This Mapp is humbly dedicated by Ric. Blome â—FRICA or LIBIA ULTERIOUR Where are the COUNTRIES of SAARA DESERT â—he COUNTRIE of NEGROES and GUINE With the Circumjacent Countries and Kingdoms Designed by Monsieur Sanson Geographer to the French King and Rendered into English by Richard Blome By the Kings Especiall Command Printed for Richard Blome The Country or Desert of ZVENZIGA Zuenziga under the name of which passes that of Cogdenu and is more troublesom and dangerous than that of Zanbaga as also more destitute of Water and yet it hath many People among others certain Arabs feared by all their Neighbours and particularly by the Negroes whom those Arabs take and sell for Slaves in the Kingdom of Fez But in revenge when they fall into the hands of the Negroes they are cut into so many pieces that the biggest that remains are their two Ears It s chief places are Zuenziga and Ghir The Desart of TARGA or HAIR some esteem this last the name of the Principal Place Targa and the other of the People is not so dry nor troublesom as the two others There are found many Herbs for Pastures the Soil indifferent fruitful and of a temperate Air. They have some Wells whose Water is good In the Morning there falls store of Manna which they find fresh and healthful of which they transport quantity to Agades and other places It s chief places are Targa and Hair LEMPTA is likewise esteemed the name of a People Lempta and its principal place also Digir This Desart is dry and more troublesom than that of Targa and its People haughty brutish and dangerous to them that cross it going from Constantina
petty Kingdoms and all subject to their Concho or Emperour among which that of Bena hath seven others under it It s quarter is Mountainous covered with Trees and well watered with Rivers It hath some Towns its chief takes its name from the Kingdom and yields Corn Cattle Fruits c. Kingdom of Mandingue MANDINGVE begins at the River Gambea and reaches near 200 Leagues up in the Land They have quantity of Gold good Ships of War and Cavalry and there are divers Kings or Lords in Guiny which are his Tributaries Kingdom of Gago GAGO hath store of Gold Corn Rice Fruits and Cottle but no Salt besides what is brought from other places and which is ordinarily as dear as Gold The People are idle and ignorant but bear so great a respect to their King that how great soever they be they speak to him on their knees and when they are faulty the King seises on their Goods and sells their Wives and Children to Strangers who remain Slaves all their lives But besides these there is here as well as in other parts of the Negroes great Traffick for Slaves either of certain Neighbouring people which those of the Country can take or of the Malefactors of the Country or of the Children whom the Fathers or Mothers sell when they are in need or when they please them not And these Slaves are bought by many people of Africa but more by the Europeans who transport them into the Isles of St. Thomas Cape Verd the Canaries Brasil and the English to the Barbadoes Carolina Jamaica and elsewhere for Slaves They have many Towns and Villages among others that of Gago is the chief and is the residence of their King as also of many Merchants and containing about 4 or 5000 Houses but unwalled Kingdom of Guber GVBER is well fenced with Mountains doth produce Rice and Pulse and above all have exceeding great flocks of Cattle from which they get their livelyhood This Kingdom is very populous and well stored with Towns its chief bearing the name of the Kingdom which is well inhabited by Merchants and containing about 6000 Houses being also the residence of their King The People are ingenious good Artificers and make several rich Manufactures And the Kingdoms of Zegzeg and Zanfara ZEGZEG and ZANFARA are barren the People idle and ignorant have some Towns whose chief are so called the Land yields Corn Grass c. and feeds great quantities of Horses The fertility of the Land of the Negroes The Country of the Negroes is esteemed as fertil as those watered with the Nile It bears twice a year and each time sufficient to furnish them with Corn for five whole years which makes them not sow their Lands but when they judge they shall have need They keep their Corn in Pits and Ditches under Ground which they call Matamores GVINEA or GVINY The Coast of Guiny its extent and bounds GVINY is the Coast of Africa which is found between the River Niger and the Equinoctial Line Some give it a larger extent some a less There are they who begin it on this side the Niger and continue it unto the Kingdom of Congo We have comprehended in the Country of the Negroes that which is about the Niger and in the Lower Aethiopia that which is beyond the Gulph of St. Thomas And so Guiny will remain between the Cape of Serre Leon which will bound it on the West and against the Negroes to the River of Camarones which is on the East will separate it from the Lower Aethiopia This Coast right from East to West is 7 or 800 Leagues long and not above 100 or 150 in breadth The form being much more long than broad we will divide it into three principal parts which we will call MELEGVETE Its parts described GVINY and BENIM This the most Eastward the first the most West and the other in the middle yet each of these three parts separated make the breadth and the three together the length of this Guiny After this Guiny we will speak something of what is on this side towards the Niger and of some Isles which are beyond The Parts of Meleguete and Guiny as St. Thomas c. Under the name of MELEGVETE we comprehend that which is between the Capes of Serre Leon and of Palmes Under the particular name of GVINY we esteem not only that which is between the Capes of Palmes and of Three Points but likewise that which advances to the River Volta and beyond where the Kingdom of Benim begins and ends not till the River Camerones Of these 3 parts Guiny is the largest and best known communicating its name to the rest It s Coast which is between the Capes of Palmes and that of Three Points is called the Coast of Ivory that which is beyond the Cape of Three Points the Coast of Gold for the abundance of Gold and Ivory found in the one and the other The Ivory and Gold Coasts and their Trade The Coast of IVORY is very commodious and well inhabited The English French Hollanders and Hanse-Towns trade likewise in divers Ports on the same Coast fetching thence Gold Ivory Hides Wax Amber-greece c. On the Gold Coast are divers Kingdoms or Realms as of SABOV FOETV ACCARA and others The Kingdom of SABOV is esteemed the most powerful of all and that his Estates extend sixty and odd Leagues on the Coast and near 200 up in the Land In 1482 the Portugals built on the Coast of FOETV the Fort of St. George de la Mina and long time after the Hollanders that of Nassau adjoyning to the Town of Moure on the Coast of Sabou the one and the other to maintain their Traffick It s other places and which are within Land are Labore Vxoo and Quinimburm The Part of Meleguete MELEGVETE took its name from the abundance of Meleguete here gathered of divers sorts It is a Spice in form like French Wheat some of a taste as strong and biting as Pepper from which the Portugals receive great gain but the English French and Hollanders bring it The Portugals call it Pimienta-del-Rabo the Italians Pepe della Coda Tail Pepper that is Long Pepper Of their Palm Trees they make Wine as strong as the best of ours They have likewise Gold Ivory Cotton c. It s chief place is Bugos on the Cape of Sierre Leonne The Kingdom of Benim with its Inhabitants described The Kingdom of BENIM hath more than 250 Leagues of the Coast Cape Formoso dividing it into two parts That which is on the West forms a Gulph into the middle of which the River Benim disburthens it self and more to the West that of Lagoa That which is on the East extends it self on a right line where the Rio Real de Calabari and the Rio del Rey disburthen themselves near to that of Camarones which ends the Estate towards the East This last part is more healthful than
or the LOWER AETHIOPIA where are the Kingdoms or Provinces of TIGREMAHON Chuxumum Saibana ANGOTA Angotina Bugano St. Maria. XOA Xoa FATIGARA Mundinae CANCALA Degibeldara Degibelcora BAGAMEDRI Chilcut Ermita Azuga Baza Machanda GOYAME Chilcut Ermita Azuga Baza Machanda AMBIAN Cemenia Ambiami Amasen Syre DAMBEA Ambadara Chedaflan VANGUE Matagazi Vangue DAMOUT Damute Harode Gaga AMARA Amara Fungi Baraena Burn. AMBIAM Ambiam Therva Azuga Ougne Losa Sesila Agola GEMEN Gemen Dara Jaflan GORGA Gorga Bara Gafat GAVI-GASA Gasabella NAREA Falaccia Gavi Zet GAFATES Cafates Maurama FUNGI Fungi QUARA Quara Nova AGAG Agag Gorava Giarva A MAPP OF THE HIGHER AND LOWER AETHIOPIA COMPREHEND Y E SEVERAL KINGDOMES c IN EACH TO WITT IN THE EMPIRE OF THE ABISSINES THE COAST OF ZANGUEBAR ABEX AND AIAN WITH THE KINGDOMES OF NUBIA AND BIAFARA c IN THE LOWER AETHIOPIA THE KINGDOM OF CONGO Y E EMPIRE OF MONOMOTAâ— AND MONOEMUGY yâ— COAST AND LANDS OF CAFRES AND OF THIS SIDE CAPE NEGRES With the Isles of Madagasoar c by Monsieur Sanson Geograper to the French King To the Rt. Worshipfull Sr. William Glynne of Bissister in Oxfordshire of Hawarden in Flintshire Bart. This Mapp is humbly DD by R.B. THE EMPIRE OF THE ABYSSINGS Or THE Higher Aethiopia Empire of the Abissins its extent length breadth ABYSSIN or the Empire of the ABYSSINS is commonly called the Higher and Great AETHIOPIA because it makes the greatest and better part of the one and the other Aethiopia and is the greatest and most considerable Estate of all Africa under one name It extends it self on this side and beyond the Equinoctial Line from the Mountains of the Moon and the Springs of the Nile even near unto Egypt and from the Kingdoms and Estates of Congo and the Negroes unto the Coasts of Zanguebar Ajan and Habex It s greatest length from South to North is 800 Leagues It s breadth from West to East 4 5 and sometimes 600 and in Circuit about 2500. Its parts Some divide this great Estate into many Kingdoms and Provinces as are set down in the Geopraphical Table of the Higher Aethiopia we shall observe the most known Kingdom of Barnagasso described BARNAGASSO signifies King of the Sea because formerly all this Kingdom or Government held all the Coast of the Red Sea from Egypt unto the Kingdom of Dancala which is 250 Leagues At present the Turks hold this Coast where are Suaquen Mezzua Arquico which we will describe with Zanguebar under the name of the Coast of Habex Barva or Daburova is esteemed the chief of Barnagasso after which some put Canfila Daffila and Emacen others esteem Canfila and Daffila Provinces or Governments and Emacen a City of the Government of Daffila 20 Leagues from Barva 50 from Suaquen Chaxumo is the chief of Tigre a fair City and according to the common opinion the Ordinary Residence of the Queen of Sheba or Saba that came to see Solomon Both the City and Quarter of Sabain not far from Chaxumo seem to retain the name There are every where here abouts found a great many fair Churches Angotine is a City in the Kingdom of Angota and here they use Salt or little pieces of Iron instead of Money Kingdom of Amara described The Kingdom of AMARA is farnous by reason of its Mountain where the Children and nearest of Kinred to the Grand Negus are guarded This Mountain is very high of a great circuit and whose approaches are very difficult being craggy on all sides and easie to defend which made this use be made of it to keep those which may cause any commotion in the Estate The top of the Mountain is formed into a great Plain where there are fair Buildings many Cisterns a rich Monastery c. Some speak wonders of this Mountain and that the Grand Negus being deceased they take thence him who is the trueinterior if he be capable to govern the Estate if not the second or third c. in order Others say that there are no such things as they put here neither Monastery Library Gold Precious Stones c. Kingdom of Bagamedri with its Provinces c. described BAGAMEDRI is subdivided into Provinces like to Tigre hath a greater extent and should be better lying along the Nile The Prince resides often at Dambea which is beyond the Nile as well as Damout Some place the Springs of the Nile in Goyame others in Cafates The one and the other Kingdom being about the Lake of Zaire Goyame where this Lake reduces it self into a River which is the Nile Cafates on one of the principal Rivers of those that fall into the Lake which apparently should be called the Nile Narea is between the Lake of Zaire and Zafflan which are two Lakes from whence descend the principal Rivers which make the Nile The Air fertility commodities c. of the Abissin The Air of Abissin is very temperate considering its situation Tigremaâ—on particularly is esteemed so by reason of the Northerst Winds which reâ—â—esh it All the Country is in Plains except some Mountains which are espeâ—â—ally towards its bounds The Soyl is generally good fruitful in Grains and Pulse of which it hath excellent not known to us they have few Vines as also few Herbs the Grasshoppers much annoying them The Land feeds many tame and wild Beasts and much Fowl among others an infinite number of Turtles Their Rivers have Croâ—odiles and River-Hoâ—ses which they call Gomaras it is a hardy Fish and will assault men in the Water It hath much Metals as Gold Silver Lead Tin and the Mountains so full of Sulphur that they may afford wherewith to make Salt-peter more then any Country in the World Tigremahon hath Mines of Gold Silver Iron Lead Copper and Sulphur Damout hath more Gold then all the rest Bagamedri and Goyame hath likewise Gold The Inhabitants are generally black some more some less they are for the most part of a good stature flat nosed woolly haired of a nimble spirit and very jovial They have scarce any thing of Literature neither do they much desire to attain to any They Coyn neither Gold nor Silver but receive it by weight Some Authors make this Prince so rich that there is scarce any in the World hath so much present Gold in his Coffers Sanutus saith that he once offered to the Kings of Portugal a Million of Drams of Gold and as many men to exterminate the Infidels It s People And Queen Helena writing to Emanuel of Portugal and speaking for her Grand-child David saith that if the King of Portugal would furnish them with 1000 Vessels of War and People fit for the Sea that she would on her part Its Kings very rich and powerful furnish them with all things necessary for the War and give them 200 Millions of Gold and that she had Men Gold and Provisions in suchgreat number and plenty as there were Sands in the Sea or Stars in
Children only leaving a small vent for the issuing forth of their Urine And thus sowed they keep them carefully at home until they be married and those that are by their Husbands found not to have this sign of their perpetual Virginity are sent to their Parents with all kind of ignominy and by their Parents are as disgracefully received The Country though unhealthful to the Europeans ought to be esteemed good since the Inhabitants are rich the Soil fruitful in Grains and Fruits feeding many Beasts and Fowl Its Forests full of Game and its Neighbouring Sea full of excellent Fish The Isle and City of Mombaze MOMZAMBE is 150 Leagues from Quiloa seated on a little Hill and an in Island at the bottom of a Gulph where great Ships may ride safe at Anchor This City was formerly great being about a League in circuit encompassed with a strong Wall and fortifled with a good Castle well Peopled of a good Trade its Streets in good order and its Houses high and well built with Stone and Chalk appearing almost all towards the Sea It was found out when Vasco de Gama was in the Indies and afterwards taken and retaken divers times by the Portugals who keep a Fort by reason of the goodness of the Haven and to maintain their trade The Isle of Mombaze is but small The Kingdom of Melinda described MELINDA is another Kingdom but of a small extent yet made considerable by the good intelligence it hath always preserved with the Portugals Since Vasco de Gama passed there the first time in 1489 until this present which hath stood it in good stead the Neighbouring States having been taken pillaged and burned divers times This kept entire maintaiming its Trade with the Portugals and with the East It s chief City bears the name of the Kingdom seated in a fruitful and delightful Soil yielding great plenty of Rice Millet Flesh good store of Fruits as Lemmons Citrons Oranges c. But not well furnished with Corn the greatest part whereof is broughtout of Cambaya a Province in India This City is fair well Walled and the Houses built after the Moorish manner with many Windows and Terrasses It s People The Inhabitants on the Sea Coasts are of the Arabian breed and of the same Religion Those of the Inlands which are the Original Natives are for the most part Heathens and of an Olive colour but inclining to white and their Women of a very white Complexion as in other places They are said to be more civil in their Habit Course of life and entertainment in their Houses than the rest of this Country and great Friends to the Portugals who return the like kind usage to them This Kingdom of Melinda is not distant from Mombaza above 30 Leagues by Land and 60 by Sea whose People are of the same nature and disposition with those of Melinda Estates of Lamon Pate and Chilicia The Estates of LAMON PATE and CHELICIA and likewise some others are under the Government of Melinda Panebaxira King of Lamon and Brother to the King of Chelicia surprized in 1589 Rock Brito Governour of Melinda and some other Portugals whom they sold to the Turks The Admiral Thomas Sousa Cotinho assaulted them took and cut off the Head of the King of Lamon quartered the others and hung them up in divers places to serve for example These Kings are almost all Mahometans yet here are found some few Christians which inhabit among them We have observed on the Coast of Zanguebar but five or six different Estates or Kingdoms there are some others but of lesser note and all Tributary or in good Intelligence and trading with the Portugals The Coast of Ajan described Thee Coast of AJAN contains the Republick of BRAVA which Sanutus calls Barraboa then the Kingdoms of MAGADOXA ADEA and ADELL some of their People on the Coast are White BRAVA is well built an indifferent Mart rich and pays Tribute to the Portugals It is the only Republick at present in Africa being governed by 12 Councellors or Statesmen MAGADOXA is its chief City and hath sometimes been so powerful that it ruled over all this Coast it is scituate in a delightful and fruitful Soil and neighboured by a safe and large Haven which is much frequented by the Portugals and is very rich affording Gold Hony Wax and above all Abyssin Slaves which by the Portugals are held in great value for which they bring them in exchange the Silks Spices Drugs c. of India ADEA extends it self but little towards the Sea The Country is fertil in Grains as Wheat Barley Rice c. It is well shaded with Woods and large Forrests which are plentifully furnished both with Fruits and Cattle besides a greatincrease of Horses The Inhabitants are of the Mahometan Religion It s People and follow the Arabians in many of their Customs from whom they were descended keeping much of their Language and in their Habit naked save only from the middle downwards Of Complexion for the most part of an Olive colour and well proportioned not very expert in Arms except in poysoned Arrows It s other chief places are Barraboa and Quilmanca seated on the Sea which is called the Coast of Ajan as is Magadoxa ADELL within these few years is become the most powerful of all these Kingdoms Its Estates extending both on the Arabian Gulph or Red Sea and on the Great Ocean stretching 200 Leagues on each side Cape Guardafuy ending both the one and the other towards the East regards in the Sea the Isle of Zocotora famous for the quantity and goodness of the Aloes here gathered which they call Zocotorin about which are several other Isles but not so considerable being small and many not inhabited The Arab of Nubia would make us believe that Alexander the Great was in this Island drove thence the Inhabitants and planted Greeks the better to manage the Aloes which Aristotle had so much prized to him It s chief City takes its name from the Kingdom its others places of most note are 1. Zeila of old Avalis and its Gulph Avalatis Sinus is one of the best places of the Kingdom of Adell though about the City there wants Water yet the Country farther off furnishes Wheat Barley Millet Oil of Sesamum Honey Wax Fruits Gold Ivory and Incense They fell to the Turks and Arabs abundance of Abyssin Slaves which they take in War and in exchange receive Arms Horses c. This Zeila is a noted Port Town well frequented with Merchants by reason of the variety of good Commodities that it yields Once of great beauty and esteem till in the year 1516 it was sacked and burned by the Portugals before which it was esteemed the most remarkable Empire of all AEthiopia for the Indian Trade 2. Barbora and 3. Meta are two of the most noted Sea-Port Towns in all Adell both under the Turks Jurisdiction The first is seated on the same Sea Coast as
with the Mono-Motapa of which he seems once to have been a part is in peace with the King of Zanguebar that he may have commerce to the Sea for he hath much Gold Silver Ivory and the same Commodities as Mono-Motapa but its People are more barbarous and brutish The chief places in the Mono-Emugi are Agag Astagoa Leuma Camur Beif Bagametro and Zembre seated on the bottom of the Lake Zaire CAFRERIA or the Land of CAFRES The Land of Cafreria described CAFRERIA or the Land of CAFRES makes the most Southern Coast of all Aethiopia winding like a Semicircle about the Cape of Good Hope some begin it from Cape Negro and continue it unto the River of Cuama this separating it from Zanguebar and the other from Congo or what we have esteemed with Congo Others begin it and end it with the Tropick of Capricorn as well on this side as beyond the Cape of Good Hope I esteem under the name of Cafres all the Coasts which environ the Mono-Motapa both towards the West South and East so that we may call these Cafres Occidental Meridional and Oriental This distinction being taken in regard of the natural scituation in which these People are from the Mono-Motapa or we may chuse rather to consider them in Occidental or Oriental as we have already done the Cape of Good Hope then keeping the one from the other It hath formerly been believed that these People had neither Kings Law nor Faith and therefore were called Cafres that is without Law But it hath since been known that they have divers Kings and Lords as those of Mataman where there are divers Metals Chrystal c. And of Melemba among the Occidentals those of Chicanga Sedanda Quiteva and Zefala among the Orientals and others we know not towards the South and Cape of Good Hope On the Coast of Cafres are these places and Isles viz. St. Nicolai Piscarius the Port of Carascalis the Cape of Good Hope St. Martins Bay and the Cape of St. Lucia Also these Isles 4 bearing the name of St. Lucia 2 of St. Christophers 5 of Crucis and 3 of Aride Many of which as likewise the Capes are well known by Sea-men especially the Cape of Good Hope All these Coasts of Cafreria are bounded within Land by a Chain of Mountains formed by the Mountains of the Moon and which inclose Mono-Motapa That part of these Mountains which advance towards the Cape of Good Hope are called by the Portugals The Cape of Good Hope Picos Fragos that is Watry Points or Rocks This Cape is the most remarkable piece in Cafreria the most Southern point of Africa and of our Continent and the most famous Promontory of the whole World Vasco de Gama knew it in 1498 and after having doubled it found the way by the East-Indies to the Great Sea and from hence the Portugals boast to have been the first that had the knowledge of this Cape But we have made appear in the general discourse of Africa that the Ancients have both known and spoke of it Near the Cape of Good Hope and farther towards the South is the Cape of Needles which should be more famous since it is more Southernly than the other by 12 or 15 Leagues But the name Cape of Good Hope is given to all that Head of Land which is the most Southern of Africa The Air Fertility Commodities c. of the Country The Air of this Country is sometimes temperate and sometimes cold by reason of the Mountains which are covered with Snow and Ice from whence descends quantity of cold Waters The Vallies and Lower Countries pleasant and fertil hath store of Woods and Forests in which are abundance of Beasts and Fowls as Deer Antilopes Baboons Foxes Hares c. Also Ostriches Herons Pelicans Pheasants Partridges Geese Ducks c. They are well supplied with good Water feed much Cattle which they truck with Strangers for Knives Scizzars Spoons and divers Toys they have likewise much Fish in their Rivers The People and their Trade The Inhabitants are Black have thick Lips flat Noses long Ears and in a word very ill-shapen They are more barbarous and brutish than the rest of Africa they are Man-eaters their chief ornaments in their Apparel are Chains of Iron Brass Beads Bells or the like and cutting and slashing their Skins in several shapes Clothing they have none only in the Cold season they wrap themselves about with Skins of Beasts Towns they have none or very few for the most part living in the Woods and Forests like brute Beasts But the Cafres on the East are much more civil than the others most of them have made a part and are yet subject to the Mono-Motapa who about 50 years ago divided his Estate into four parts giving to his eldest Son what is within Land and by much the greatest part and to his three younger Sons Zuiteva Sedanda and Chicanga towards the Sea-Coast for their Portions Cefala or Zefala seems to make its piece apart whose King pays Tribute both to the Mono-Motapa and the Portugals and these have divers Fortresses on the Coast Sena Tete Cuama c. Zefala is so abundant in Gold and Elephants that some take it for the Ophir whither Solomon sent his Fleet every three years And they give for a reason that the Gold Ivory Apes c. which that Fleet brought are here found in abundance That this Fleet parting from the Red Sea there is no likelyhood it should go to Peru which some take for this Ophir besides that there is there neither Ivory nor Apes but that it was rather to some part of Asia or Africa They add that there remains not far from Zefala some footsteps of ancient Buildings and Inscriptions left there by Strangers long time ago Nay likewise that there is some notes and Books how Solomon sent thither his Fleet. Moreover the Septuagint translate Sophira instead of Ophir and the name of Sophira is not overmuch different from Sopholo However it be there is here store of Gold both in the Mountains and Rivers and often very clean and pure as well in Powder as Sand and this Gold is esteemed the best and finest in Africa ours seeming but Brass in comparison of it The Country is healthful and pleasant seated only on the Coast the Mono-Motapa confining it within Land A part of its now Inhabitants are not the Natives but descended from that Coast which belonged to the Mono-Motapa The Natives as I said before are Black and Idolaters or Cafres the others very swarthy and for the most part Mahometans They have a great Trade on this Coast for their Gold two or three Millions being yearly brought hence and that for Toys and things of a very small value which are carried them from divers parts of Asia and Europe and some parts of Africa The ISLES of AFRICA as they lie and are found In the Mediterranean Sea And on the Coast of BARBARY as the ISLES of
our Coast into the other Continent It may likewise be believed that others have passed from the other Coast that is to say from Asia Whence it comes that some believe that the Inhabitants of Peru and Mexico descend rather from the Chinois and Japanois than from the Europeans or Africans But this subject will be too tedious to handle let us therefore content our selves to speak a word or two of this America in general before we descend to particulars AMERICA considered in its whole Body is part on this side and part beyond the Equator It stretches it self to near 54 degrees beyond and extends it self to 80 or more on this side which are more than 130 degrees of Latitude our Continent not having much more than 100 But the breadth of America is very unequal this Continent being composed of two great Peninsula's almost divided the one from the other by the Equator its breadth here is not in some places of above 30 40 or 50 Leagues The bigness of America though in other places 1000 or 1200 and possibly much more in America Septentrionalis if the Land of Jesso be contiguous to it The scituation and Land of Jesso This Land of JESSO or YEDSO is between America and Asia and we know not yet whether it joyn upon Asia or America or make a Piece apart if it be divided both from the one and the other and that New Denmark and Greenland are upon it as there is much reason to believe it makes a Piece not less than the three parts of our Continent or of the two of the other but possibly it makes a third part of the other Continent Let us proceed to the two parts of America as they are esteemed and known at present AMERICA SEPTENTRIONALIS AMERICA SEPTENTRIONALIS is that part of America which is not only the most Northern of the two America's but likewise doth all lie between the Equator and the North The length and breadth of America Septentrionalis it extends it self from the 8th or 10th degree of Latitude even beyond the Artick Circle and if we comprehend the Artick Lands with America it advances at least to the 88th degree of Latitude which are 70 degrees for its height from South to North. Its length from West to East possesses near all the degrees of Longitude of the other Hemisphere to wit from about the 180th where ours end even beyond the 300th which is the end of the other The Mer del Nort is on the East of it the Mer del Sud on its West towards the North its bounds are unknown there being Land found even beyond the 80th degree of Latitude Its bounds with appearance that they extend yet farther towards the Pole so that we cannot judge to what degree or whether it be contiguous to New Denmark and Greenland or whether it be in Islands and on the South it makes America Meridionalis We will divide this America Septentrionalis into Canadiana and Mexicana Under the name of Canadiana is understood that part of America which is about Canada where the English French Hollanders Danes and Swedes have divers Colonies And under the name of Mexicana It s division according to Mons Sanson that part of America which the King of Spain doth almost alone possess and where he hath established abundance of Colonies subdividing Canadiana into the Artick Lands and Canada or New France and Mexicana into New Mexico and Mexico or New Spain Of these four parts Mexico or New Spain is the most advanced towards the Equator and the South the Artick Lands towards the North It s scituation the other two parts rest in the middle Canada or New France towards the East and New Mexico towards the West The first is under and about the Tropick of Cancer the second under or about the Polar Circle the two others lie from 25 or 30 unto 60 degrees of Latitude so that the first is within or very near the Torrid Zone the second within or near the Frozen Zone and the two in the middle quite in the Temperate Zone The first and most Southernly ought to be called Mexico or New Spain Mexico because Mexico is by much the fairest City and the Dominion of the ancient Kings of Mexico extended over the best part of it New Spain because the King of Spain possesses near all of it having established a great many Colonies a Vice-Roy divers Archbishops Bishops Audiences and Governments the Natives of the Country that are left being almost all Tributaries to him The second may be called the Arctick Lands because it approaches the Arctick Pole Arctick Lands and is for the most part comprehended within the Arctick Circle these are but little known We understand well that they are divided by some Streights and that it apparently consists in many and divers Isles which hath been the cause a Passage hath been sought to go this way to China and the East-Indies The Natives do here enjoy a full and entire liberty the People of Europe not thinking it worth their pains to establish Colonies Of the two middle parts the most Easternly and nearest to Europe ought to be esteemed under the general name of Canada or New France Canada or New France of Canada because in that particular Region the Europeans first Landed of New France because the French did first establish themselves here before any other Europeans The most Western and farthest from Europe may in general be called New Mexico because the Spaniards of Mexico or New Spain discovered it not till after they had been sometime settled in this other Of these four parts of America Septentrionalis to wit Mexico or New Spain New Mexico Canada or New France and America Arctica New Spain is washed by Mer del Nort and Mer del Sud America Arctica likewise by both Seas New France only by Mer del Nort and New Mexico only by Mer del Sud These four great parts are subdivided into many less which we call Regions Peoples Provinces c. We will observe the chief of them the most clearly and succinctly as possibly we can but because New Spain touches on America Meridionalis we will begin our America Septentrionalis by the Arctick and New France so proceeding to the one and the other Mexico that we may pass in order to the parts bordering on America Meridionalis And likewise because the Arctick Lands of America are very little known and that we cannot judge to make a particular discourse of them we will content our selves to speak something here before we pass to the other parts That part of America which is comprised for the most part between the Arctick Pole and Circle or which at most descends unto the 60th or 55th degree of Latitude is named according to our method America Arctica In all this part we know only some Coasts and Gulphs of that which is most towards Europe There we have the Isles of Iseland and
Groenland we might likewise put Shetland which we know not whether Isles or parts of the New Continent as we are likewise ignorant of all the rest of America Arctica ISELAND Iseland subject to the King of Denmark is 150 Leagues long and little less than 100 broad Its Inhabitants Its Inhabitants are very lusty and live above an 100 years they scarce addict themselves to any thing but the feeding of their Beasts and Fishing The Coast toward the South is much better and best inhabited The Governour of the Island resides at Bellested on the Coast Scalhold and Holdon Bellested Scalhold and Holdon its chief Towns within Land are Bishops Sees The Mountains of Hecla and Helga often vomit Fire though the Circle of the Pole Arctick passes over this Island and incloses part of it in the Frozen Zone leaving the other in the Temperate if that can possibly be which lies so contiguous and near to the Frozen yet doth it not hinder them from enjoying many rare things in their Mountains in their Lands in their Fountains and Rivers in their Beasts and in their Fish Iseland doth in my Judgment apparently answer to the Thule of the Ancients though some Authors of the Country maintain the contrary Groenlandt or Greenland GROENLANDT that is GREENLAND hath been long known to those of Iseland and Norway Account is made that one Torwald and his Son Errick of Norway passed into Iseland about the year 800 and that from Iseland Errick and his Son Lieffe passed a little after into Groenlandt where they established some Colonies of Norwegians And the same History saith that Lieffe had some Combats with the Ancient Sekreglingres and Native Inhabitants of the Country and that those of Norway held but a small part in the East Coast of Groenlandt the Sekreglingres keeping the rest within the Country and that what the Norwegians possessed and knew in Groenlandt was not the hundreth part but that there were divers People governed by several Lords of which the Norwegians had no knowledge It s Fertility They say that in several parts of Groenlandt there are Lands which bear as good Wheat as any Ground in the World and Chestnuts so large that their Kernels are as big as Apples that the Mountains yield Marble of all sorts of colours that the Grass for Pastures is good and feeds quantities of great and small Cattle that there are Horses Stags Wolves Foxes Black and White Bears Beavers Martles c. That the Sea is full of great Fishes as Sea-Wolves Dogs and Calves but above all of Whales that the white Bears live more on the Sea than on the Land and that as the Black ones feed only on Flesh the White ones do on Fish and are especially greedy of little Whales which causes a great Antipathy between them and Whales who pursue them where-ever they can scent them The Marhval a strange kind of Fish That their Fish Marhval carrieth a Tooth or Horn so strong and long that it fights against and pierces the Whale as the Rhinoceros does the Elephant and they assure us that the Horn is of the same greatness form and matter and hath the same properties as those which we here esteem in the Vnicorns The Norwegians and Danes who sometime since have passed into Groenlandt say that the Language of its Inhabitants is so different from that of Norway or Denmark that there is little appearance they could descend either from the one or the other and that if formerly there have been any Colonies of Norwegians they are quite extinct In 1636 the Danes which went thither to Trade demanded by signs if beyond that ridge of Mountains there were any Men the Savages made them to understand they were innumerable higher Its Inhabitants and stronger than they and that they used great Bows and Arrows and would not have any Commerce nor suffer the sight of Strangers The Habits of those with whom the Danes traded some of which they brought into Denmark were of Skins of Wild Beasts their Shirts of the Entrails of Fish and their Wastcoats of the Skins of Birds with their Feathers These same Relations make mention of an Old and New Groenlandt this descending towards the South the other mounting towards the North but that some years since the North Seas have been so loaden with Ice that the first ones not being melted before Winter and the other having continued from time to time to add to them and lie in heaps one upon the other the Sun in the end hath not had power to break them and in succession of time this way hath been stopt up and the communication of Iseland with Old Groenlandt lost CANADIANE In which may be considered The ARCTICK LANDS called AMERICA ARTICA with its chief places and such are ISELAND Bellested Schalhod Holdon GROENLAND Bearesord Mudder Point Trime Point Warusick Foreland Warwick Sound Cape Farwel Resolution Isle NORTH WALES Seahorse Point Cape Pembrook SOUTH WALES Hudsons Bay James Bay Cape Henretta Marie CANADA or NEW FRANCE with its chief Parts and Places and such are those of ESTOTILAND Sir Tho. Smiths Foreland Merchants Isles Cape Charles King James Foreland Cape Prince Henry Hope advanced Ganse Bay Slapers Haven Clapmuts Bay Orang Bay Hollandsche Bay SAGUANA Quebeck Tadousac Bay Savage Brest Port de Quartier Port de St. Nicholas Chichekedec Port Neuf Jaus Coudres Isle of Orleance Sillery CANADA Mont Real Richelieu Point Verte Croipapequiac Cape de l'Evesque Assumpsion Isle Isle of Plate Isle of Birds Isle of Ramec New-found-land Isle of Brien Isle of Cap. Breton Isle of St. John ACADIE Martengo Macomode Paspay Port de Rosignal Cape de Sable Port Royal Cape de Mines Isles of Forchu de Sable NEW ENGLAND Boston Plimouth Charles-Town Dorchester Cambridge Ulielands Isle Long Isle MARY-LAND Maries Town Calverton Herrington NEW YORK New York VIRGINIA James Town Elizabeth Town Dales Gift Wicocomoco Pouhatan Bermuda Secotam Cape Henry Smiths Isle Isle of Paquiwock Croatoan Wokokon CAROLINA Charles-Town The HURONS St. Peter St. Francis Alexis St. Michael St. Joseph Isle of BERMUDES Southampton Harington Pagets FLORIDA St. Hellens Port Royal St. Matthews St. Augustine St. Jago CANADA OR New France UNder the name of CANADA or New France we esteem that which is on both sides the great River of Canada or St. Laurence with the Isles that are before its Mouth unto and so far as this River is known and from the Gulphs and Streights of Davis and Hudson unto New Spain or Mexico In this extent we have the Isles of New-found-land Terra di Librador Canada which communicates its name to the rest Acadia Saguenay the Irocois the Hurons the Algonquins with about a hundred other sorts of people whose names are known The Isles of NEW-FOVND-LAND or according to the Biscains New-found-land of Bacallaos that is of God-fish are so called by reason of these Fishes here found in such great quantity that sometimes they seem to hinder the sayling
for their ordinary Guard and having been able to raise 2 or 300000 Foot among the 25 or 30 Kings which were his Tributaries some could arm 100000 Men their Revenues vast which they raised out all Commodities as well of Natural as Artificial which the King received in kind participating of the Fruits of all Mens labour and sharing with them in their Riches Their Palaces were magnificent both that within the City and those in divers parts of the Kingdom they kept great Attendance lived in great Pomp were much reverenced of their Subjects in their Vestments stately being adorned with Gold Pearl and Precious Stones wearing a rich Crown resembling that of a Duke their Coronations held with great pomp at which times they used bloody Sacrifices of Men and Children which for the most part were their Enemies but sometimes their own their Temples were stately with many Idols whom they worshipped which were attended with abundance of Sacrificers or Priests and to excite their Souldiers to valour they used three degrees of Honour or Orders of Knighthood which according to their merit were conferr'd upon them the first was distinguished by a red Ribband the second called the Tyger or Lion-Knight and the third the Gray-Knight which among other things were priviledged to apparel themselves in Cotton in a different habit and to adorn themselves with Gold and Silver which things are prohibited to others The descent of the Mexicans Moreover the present Mexicans descended not from the Ancient Inhabitants of the Country but from divers People which had their residence in the North and not unlikely from that which we call New Mexico The History they produce of the manner how they came from these quarters at divers times of the time which the one and the other and particularly of him whom they last employed in their Voyages those Ceremonies they observed and likewise the name of their chief Mexi seems to accord somewhat with the Voyage of Moses and the Hebrews when he led them to the Land of Promise These People becoming Masters of Mexico formed a considerable Government and gave it divers Kings Montezuma under whom Ferdinand Cortez entred the Country was but the ninth in number The story of the Ynca-Mango-Capac and his Wife Coya Mama-Oelho The Ynca-Mango-Capac and his Wife Coya Mama-Oelho were the first that led them to a human and civil life they made themselves be believed to be Brother and Sister Children of the Sun and Moon and that they had been sent here below for the good of Men. And with this belief they withdrew them from the Mountains Caves and Forrests and gave them the first knowledge of the Law of Nature Ynca-Mango-Capac taught Men how to till the Earth to graft Plants to feed Flocks to gather the best Fruits to build Houses and Cities c. Coya Mama-Oelho learnt Women how to Spin Weave Sow make Habits c. and above all instructed that their principal care ought to be to serve and obey their Husbands and feed and instruct their Children And these People finding themselves in a better and more reasonable way of living than before easily submitted themselves to the Government of these Ynca's addicted themselves to the Religion they taught them which was to adore the Sun as that Star which above all the rest did most visible good to Men Beasts Grains Fruits Plants c. and so soon as these Ynca's knew the affection of the People they raised Arms assembled Troops and reduced to the same Government and the same Religion many neighbouring People but still more by sweetness than force and in the end composed an Estate or Empire which for its greatness and riches and likewise for its Laws was one of the most considerable of the World And if we should put in parallel the Politicks of the Ynca's of Peru or of those of Mexico with them of the Greeks and Romans Acosta maintains that these would have the advantage and that the Ynca's had so great a care of the good and repose of their Subjects that there cannot be found in all History any King or Emperour that ever bore himself with so much sweetness freedom and liberality towards his People as did the Ynca's Kings of Peru and Mexico So soon as a Province entred under their Obedience they made Channels every where to water the Lands and that these Lands might be the more commodious for Tillage they caused to be laid level what was unequal evening by degrees what was too steep The Lands proper for Tillage were divided into three parts viz. for the Sun for the King and for the Inhabitants of the Country and if these were in so great number that the third part of the Land was not sufficient for their food so much taken from the Third of the Sun and of the King as was needful The Lands being equally parted according to the ability of every Family the labour began with those of the Orphans Widows the old and impotent and Souldiers when they were in War after these every one laboured and cultivated his own then those of the Curacca's or Governours which were to be after the Private persons those of the King and of the Sun were the last And this Order was so religiously observed that a Governour having caused the Field of a Kinsman of his to be tilled before that of a poor Widow was hanged in the Field he caused to be tilled before its degrees so careful were they of the Poor Besides this labour for the Tillage of the Lands of the Sun and the Ynca's Private persons were obliged to make Cloaths Hose Shoes and Arms for the Souldiers as also for those whom Age or Sickness made incapable of Travel or Labour The Wool or Cotton was taken from the Flocks and on the Lands belonging to the Sun and the Ynca's and each Province gave only what was easie and common and each Private person only his labour young Men under 25 years Men above 50 Women and Lame people were exempt from these Tributes They made no account of Gold Silver or precious Stones but for their adornment beauty and splendor nor needing wherewith to buy Victuals or Cloaths their Lands and ordinary Occupation yielding and furnishing them with what ever was necessary Yet if at their hours of leasure they could discover any they made a Present of it to their Curaca's these to the Ynca when they went to salute him at Cusco or when the Ynca visited his Estates and then it was employed either for the Ornaments of the Royal-house or the Temples of the Sun The Temple of the Sun at Cusco The Temple of the Sun at Cusco was so stately and enriched with so much Gold Silver and precious Stones that it is incredible In this Temple besides the principal Apartment which was for the Sun there was others for the Moon Stars Lightning Thunder Thunderbolt and Rainbow which was the device of the Ynca's They esteemed the Stars as waiting-Maids
of the said Company Jamaica described JAMAICA is an Isle of a large extent being from East to West 170 miles in length and from North to South where it is broadest about 70 being of an Oval form and waxing narrower and narrower at both extream ends It is seated betwixt the Tropicks in the 17 and 18 degrees of Northern Latitude It s scituation Extent and beareth from off the Isle of Hispaniola Eastwards about 35 Leagues In the midst of the Isle from East to West runs a continued ridge of lofty Mountains which are well stored with fresh Springs whence flow the many Rivers that so plentifully water the Island Well watered to the great benefit of the Inhabitants The Air is observed to be more temperate than any of the Caribe Isles and of as mild a temperature as any place betwixt the Tropicks being alwaies refreshed with cool breezes frequent showers and great dews in the nights that it may be deemed Temperate and by its continual verdure exceeding delightful The Weather The weather is less certain than in the Caribe Isles the most observable wet seasons are in November and May there being no seemable Winter but by a little more rain and thunder in the Winter months nor is there scarce any sensible lengthning or shortning of the Days or Nights Hurricanes are here never known It s fertility and commodities This Isle in most parts especially the North is of a Fertil and rich soil and liberally answers the Cultivators cost and pains for what is planted The chief Commodities that it produceth are Sugars which are so good that they out sell those of the Barbados 5 s. per cent Cocao the richest Commodity of the Island Indico Cotton Tobacco but indifferent Hides Copper great variety of Woods for Dyers also Cedar Brasilletto Lignum vitae Ebony c. Tortoises in exceeding great plenty whose flesh is excellent good and nourishing but those that are troubled with the French man it is dangerous to eat Salt Salt-Peter Ginger Cod-pepper Piemente being an excellent Aromatick spice of a curious gusto having the mixt tast of divers Spices Cocheneil divers excellent Druggs Gumms and Balsoms many of which are not yet known by their names Here are greater abundance of Cattle than in most of the English Plantations as Horses Cows Hoggs Sheep Goats Asnegroes Mules Great plenty of Cattle which came from the breed of those put into the Woods by the Spaniards when they were first Masters of the Island which for want of Masters became wild but since the English have had to do here they are much wasted to what they were The Bays Rivers Roads and Creeks Fish Fowl are well stored with excellent Fish of sundry sorts appropriate to the Indies Likewise great store of Fowl both tame and wild the chief of which are Ducks Teal Wigeon Geese Turkyes Pigeons Hens Plovers c. Here are great plenty of excellent Fruits as Oranges Fruits Cocarnuts Pomegranates Limes Guavers Mammes Alumee-Supotas Avocatas Cashues Prickle-Apples Prickle Pears Grapes Sower sops Custard-Apples Dildoes Plantains Pines c. And Herbs Roots Herbs and Roots and Flowers common to England grow here very well Here are very noxious Beasts or Insects found those most dangerous are the Alegators Hurtful things some of which are fifteen and twenty foot long here is also Manchonele which is a kind of Crab likewise Snakes and Guianas but not poysonous as also Muskettoes and Merrywings a sort of stinging Flies found very troublesome to the Inhabitants The Diseases that Strangers are most incident unto are Dropsies occasioned by ill Dyet Drunkenness Diseases and Sloathfulness Calentures too frequently the product of Surfeits also Fevers and Agues but it is experimentally sound that if a good Dyet and moderate Exercises are used without excess of Drinking they may enjoy a competent measure of health and the reason of the great mortality of the Army at their arrival was the want of Provisions together with an unwillingness to labouror exercise joyned with discontent This Island is divided into Fourteen Precincts Divisions or Parishes It s division in to Precincts or Parishes many of which are well Inhabited especially the Southern part so far as the ridge of Mountains which runneth in the midst nor are its Southern parts especially near the Sea without Plantations though not so thick as about St. Jago and of late years the Island is much increased in its Inhabitants and Plantations being likely to prove the Potentest Colony the English are Masters of in America being able to bring into the Field upon occasion about eight or ten thousand men This Isle abounds with goods Bays Roads and Harbours the chief amongst which are Port Royal formerly Cagway It s chief places Port Royal. seated on the extream end of that long point of Land which makes the Harbour which is exceeding commodious for Shipping and secured by a strong Castle and land lock't by a point of land that runs twelve miles South-East from the main of the Island having the great River that runs by los Angelos and St. Jago falling into it where Ships do commonly water and conveniently wood The Harbour is two or three Leagues broad in most places with good Anchorage and so deep that a Ship of one thousand Tun may lay her sides to the Shoar of the point and load and unload with Planks afloat which commodiousness doth make it much resorted unto and as well Inhabited by the Merchants Store-house-keepers and other Inhabitants this being the only noted place in the Isle for Traffick and resort being said to contain about 12 or 1500 well built houses which are as dear rented as if they stood in well traded streets in London yet its scituation is very unpleasant and uncommodious having neither Earth Wood or fresh water but only made up of a hot loose sand which renders it more unhealthful than up in the Country and Provisions are very dear about 12 miles up in the Land from this Town is St. Jago St. Jago or St. Jago de la vega which when the Spaniards were Masters of it was large containing about 2000 houses which were destroyed and reduced to about 500 when the English first seized the Isle and here the Governour resideth and where the chief Courts of Judicature are held which makes it to be well resorted and inhabited where they live in great pleasure recreating themselves in their Coaches and on Horseback in the evenings in the Savana near adjoyning as the Gentry do here in Hide-Park The present Governour is his Excellency Charles Earl of Carslile Viscount Howard of Acorpeth Lord Dacres of Gilsland one of the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council a person for prudence and noble qualifications every way beâ—itting such a place Six miles Southward of this Town is seated Passage at the mouth of the River Passage which at six miles course falleth into the Harbour of
Mer del Sud Granada with its Cities described The new Kingdom of GRANADA lies almost all along the River Magdelane and from its Springs to the middle of its course are found a great many Cities as Sancta Fe de Bogata the Metropolis of this Kingdom of Granada the residence of the Governour and the See of an Archbishop a City well inhabited by Spaniards as well as the Natives St. Michael de Sancta Fe about 12 Leagues from Sancta Fe de Bogata Tocayma seated on the Banks of the River Pati La Palma de los Colimas a Town built by the Spaniards Tunia built on the top of a Hill being now a place of great strength serving for a Fortress against the Savages it is also a wealthy Town enjoying a good Trade La Trinidad de los Musos seated on a River of some note by reason of the Veins of Chrystal Emeralds and Adamants that are in its adjacent Fields St. John de los Linos seated in a corner full of Veins of Gold also Velez Ybagua Mariquita and Nuestra Sennora de los Remedios and these four last are on the left hand of the River the other seven on the right Distant from this River and between the Governments of Sancta Martha and Venezuela are likewise Pampelona rich in Mines of Gold Cattle and Herbs Merida and St. Christopher Tudela between la Trinidad and la Palma hath bâ—en transported to St. John de los Lianos Gonzalo Ximenes and Ferdinand Cortiz gained great Riches out of these parts â—n 1536 Gonzalo Ximenes over-run a great part of this new Kingdom of Granada and made booty of about 250000 Pezo's of Gold of which near 200000 were exceeding pure and besides the Gold 1800 Emeralds of divers sizes In another Incursion made by Ferdinand Cortez into these quarters were found five Emeralds of a vast price They were cut into divers fashions one into the form of a Fish another into a Bugle or small Horn a third into a little Bird a fourth into a Bell whose Clapper was a large Pearl fashioned like a Pear and the last into a Cup for which alone a Genouese Lapidary proffered 40000 Ducats with hopes of gaining great profit by it Many rich Mines of Gold Silver and other Metals The Air of this Government inclines to Heat the Valleys have Grains and Pastures but no Wine the Mountains have many rich Mines of Gold and other Metals the Silver Mines of St. Agatha are rich those de los Remedios have store of Gold and there are 12 or 15000 Negroes which labour in them Those of Musos near la Trinity and those of Pampilona St. Christopher and Merida are likewise of some esteem but above all the Mine of Emeralds near la Trinity where there is a Rock full GVIANA taken in general comprehends all that is found between the Rivers of Orinoque and of the Amazons from the Mountains which are above the Lake of Parima unto the Mer del Nort. These Mountains towards the South divide it from what is above the River of Amazons Orinoque divides it from Terra-Firma or New Andalousia on the West and the River of Amazons from Brazil on the East The length of this Guiana is near 400 Leagues the breadth 150 and in some places 200 The length and breadth of â—uiana and if we would divide Guiana into Guiana and Caribane this last would possess all the Coast and Guiana the parts within Land The Coast hath at divers times been frequented by the Spaniards English Hollanders and French who have all endeavoured to establish some Colonies what in one place what in another and all with design to have commerce with those within the Country where they hope to find a new Peru I mean the Kingdom of Manoa or El Dorado which they esteem very rich in Gold Rivers in Guiana with their Springs Cataracts length and breadth The Essequebe And they have observed exactly the Rivers Gulphs and Capes which present themselves on this Coast Among these Rivers the fairest and greatest are Essequebe Brebice Corretine Marruvine Cayanna the Aparuvaca or Cape Ruvaca and the Viapoco The Spring of the Essequebe according to the report of its Inhabitants is not above a days journey distant from the famous Lake of Parima and thence takes its course for 20 days journey to the Sea into which it discharges it self It is interrupted by divers Cataracts which hinders its being navigable for any considerable way which causes the Inland Country not to be so perfectly discovered as it might be were it otherwise The Brebice and Corretine The Brebice and Corretine have little less course than the Essequebe and no fewer Cataracts the last hath its Mouth to the Sea very large but not deep The Maruvine The Marruvine is no less than 4 or 5000 Geometrical Paces broad at its Mouth and the length of its course is esteemed to be 30 or 40 days journey The English who have mounted this River farther than any others have observed abundance of Rivers which lose themselves in it and say that here is found the Sensitive Plant or Herb which hath this natural property to close if never so little touched and to shut up its Flowers and fade if the least sprig be took from it not opening its Leaves till a good while after All these Rivers for the most part have their Cataracts under the same Parallel within 4 or 5 degrees of Latitude on this side the Equator which may make us judge that there is some ridge of Mountains or at least a continued Eminence which makes these Countries within Land of a higher scituation than those Parts neighboured by the Sea Cayanna Cayanna hath likewise in it those Mountains which are near the Lake of Parima and from its Spring to the Sea is no less than 100 Leagues in a strait line and twice as much according to its course It embraces an Isle where the French have endeavoured to settle a Colony which in time may come to good effect The Apuruvaca Apuruvaca or Caperuvaca hath a longer course than Cayanna It forms a great Lake not far from its Spring and embraces an Island near its Mouth When Harcourt an Englishman was on this River he found many People and those much different from one another Keymish another Englishman who was with the worthy Sir Walter Rawleigh who took so much pains to find out the Kingdom of Manoa assures us that in his time they could find no such People which makes it appear that these People are sometimes on one Coast and sometimes on another There are here found Paroquetto's and other very rare and beautiful Birds with pretty Apes and Monkies The Viapoco Viapoco hath a longer course than the Cayanna a shorter than the Apuruvaca and like all the others of this Coast suffers a fall 18 or 20 Leagues from the Sea where it disburthens it self with other Rivers into a little
Natives and others that work in the Mines It is seated below the Mountain which bears the same name from whence they have their Silver A City esteemed free because of its large and ample priviledges the Officers for the Treasure of the Province residing here being also much frequented by Merchants which come hither to trade for their Silver bringing them several Commodities in exchange that they have need of so that I may say it is plentifully furnished with all Commodities as well for delight as necessity The other Cities are Neuestra Sennora de la Pax or Villanueva Oropesa and Chicuito a City of Indians Then Sancta Crux de la Sierra and in Tucuman St. Jago del Estera Neuestra Sennora de Talavera and St. Michael or Tucuman This Province rich in Mines of Silver That which is most observable in this Province are the Silver Mines de la Plata de Porco and above all those of Potossi being the most famous in the world though yielding nothing but Silver It is observed of this Mine that it hath four principal veins the first which is called the rich was Registred the 21 of April 1545. and the others in little time after These Enregisters are made to take notice of the time granted to those which discover the Mines to whom they belong defraying the charge and paying to the King the right of a fifth part It is said that the rich Mine had its Metal out of the Earth in fashion of a Rock or like a Chrest of 300 Foot long 12 or 15 broad and 10 or 12 deep And that which is likewise observable is that all these Veins are towards the Sun rising and not one towards its setting they have now exhausted all that was the best and easiest to take away and the Miners are descended into the Earth some to 500 others to 10 or 1200 Degrees of depth The Rich vein yielded the moiety of good Silver but now scarce will Quintal of Ore yield two Ounces of pure Silver yet some will say that the Catholick King receives for his fifth part near two millions of Crowns yearly Account is made of 20000 men working in these Mines and of 50000 Indians which go and come to the City of Potossi to trade SANCTA CRVX DE LA SIERRA or the Holy Cross of the chief Mountain of its little Province is East of Potossi but inclosed with many barbarous Nations on the West and South among others the Chirigudgues which are a sort of People not to be reduced to order though between La Sierra and Tucuman The Country is hot but sometimes oppressed with cold and sharp winds the Land hath Grains Mayz Wine and feeds much Venison The riches of the Ynca's of Peru. Their Policy Their Forces The Ynca Garcilasso de la Vega hath given us a very fine History of Peru of its Ynca's or Kings with their Riches great Revenues Policies and Forces as to their Wealth it was shewed by the vast Treasures which the Spaniards became Masters of all their moveables besides Rooms full of several sorts of Images being of Gold and Silver together with several Rooms filled with Treasure Their Policy was shewed in the management of their Affairs and enlargement of their Territories treating their Subjects kindly and lovingly and allowing them share in the spoils of other Countries meerly to endear them and gain their affections and by these and the like means they were much reverenced and faithfully served by their Subjects And lastly as to their Forces we may conclude them to have been great if we look back upon their great and many victories they have gained as also of the Civil Wars maintained between the first Spanish Chiefs that Conquered this great Empire though with no small pains Its Inhabitants expences and loss of men The People are said to be of a strong and healthy constitution couragious and warlike great Dissemblers ignorant of Letters much given to Drink were formerly so barbarous that they adored only Beasts or those inanimate things which they might make use of or which they feared might hurt them sacrificing not only Fruits and Beasts but likewise Men and Women taken in War and sometimes their own Children Two rare Plants worthy of note Among the rarities of this Country here is a Plant which if put into the hands of a Sick person will immediately discover whether he shall die or recover for if he at the putting it to his hand look of a chearful countenance then it is a sign of his recovery but if sad and troubled a sure sign of death They have another Plant of which the North-part regarding the Mountains beareth its Fruits only in Summer and the Southern-parts towards the Sea in the Winter season only CHILI Chili bounded It s length and breadth CHILI is between Peru which is North of it and the Patagons which are on its South towards the Streight of Magellan and between Paragua and the Magellanick-Land which are on the East of it and the Mer del Sud which washes it on the West its length from North to South extends from the 26 Degree of Latitude unto the 46 and reaches 500 Leagues It s breadth from West to East is between the 296 and 302 and sometimes 305 306 307 Degrees of Latitude and sometimes likewise stretches 500 Leagues But the Andes bounding it almost all along the East these Mountains in some places advance so near the Sea that they leave it but a small breadth Chili divided into three quarters which are subdivided into 13 Jurisdictions Chili is divined into three Quarters and these Quarters into thirteen Jurisdictions one of the three Quarters retains the name of Chili and contains the Jurisdictions of Serena Quillata and St. Jago de Chili extending it self from the River of Copiapo unto that of Maule where are on the Coast the Ports of Copiapo of Guasco of Coquimbo where Sir Francis Drake was repulsed and of Valpayraso where he surprised a Vessel laden with 25000 Pezo's of Gold of Valdivia and a great quantity of Wines The second Quarter advances from the River of Maule unto that of Gallegos and is called the Imperial from one of its principal Cities The Jurisdictions of this part are those of Conception of Ongol or de los Infantos of the Imperial of Villarica of Valdivia of Osorno and of Chilva The Conception Valdivia and Chilva have their Ports of the same name that of Canten serves for the Imperial These two Quarters of Chili and the Imperial are between the Mer del Sud and the Andes Beyond these Mountains in the last Quarter Chicuito or Cuyo where are the Jurisdictions of Mendoza and St. Juan de la Frontera All these Jurisdictions take their Names from the principal Cities besides which they have some others But a word or two of some of the chief Cities in Chili It s chief Cities described and first of Copiapo seated in a Fertil
Plata hath been given by the Spaniards and signifieth Silver because the first that came to them from Peru came down this River Chaco described with its several Inhabitants CHACO hath its soil fat fruitful and enterlaced with many Rivers It is inhabited by divers Nations whose Idioms are very different The Tobares have about fifty thousand souls The Mathaguaici's thirty thousand but not so valiant as the Chiriguanes a Nation much esteemed and which will not suffer the Spaniards to inhabit amongst them they are in continual War with the Mathaguaici's making Slaves of as many as they can catch which made these call the Spaniards to their aid The Moconios and Zipatalagars have no sewer people then the Tobares and all so valiant in War that the Chiriguanes dare not assault them There is likewise another Nation whose Language as they say scarce yields to the Latine but the beauty of the Orechons is in the greatness of their Ears The most part of these people are well-made very tall most of them being about six foot high they are of an airy and lively spirit Tucuman bounded and described TVCVMAN is very large being no less then three hundred Leagues long and broad yet it touches not the Sea on any side la Plata bounds it on the East Chili on the West Peru and Chaco on the North and the Magellanick Land on the South The Air and Soil should be excellent this Country disingaging it self from the Torrid Zone and advancing towards the middle of the Temperate Zone and almost all the Rivers having their courses towards the East which brings some refreshment And moreover they have but two seasons in the year each of six months the Summer from about the twentieth of March unto the twentieth of September and the Winter from September to March The Tucumans famous Among the People of these quarters the Tucumans are the most famous since they have given their name to the Province then the Zuries Diaguites c. The Castilians have established here divers Colonies that the Province de la Plata might have communication with those of Peru and Chili St. Jago del Estero St. Jago del Estero formerly Varco is in the mid-way between Buenos Ayres and ' Potossi two hundred and fifty Leagues from this and little less from the other This place is honoured with the seat of the Governour of the Province as also with a Bishops See and divers other Officers of the King The Land is furnished with Wool Its Commodities Cotton Wood with which they make and dye their Manufactures Cocheneile c. which they carry to the nearest Capitanies of Brazibe making great profit by them Several places of note in the way to Peru described with their Commodities fertility of the Country After St. Jago del Estero there is likewise on the way to Peru 1. St. Michael de Tucuman seated at the foot of a rocky Mountain but near a fertile Soil both for Corn and Pasturage 2. Nuestra Sennora de Talavera scituate on the River Salado in a fruitful Soil abounding plentifully in Cotton of which the Inhabitants make several Manufactures in which they are so industrious that they have gained by their Trade to the Mines of Potossi a hundred and forty Leagues distant and other places great riches 3. Las Juntas 4. St. Salvador 5. Salta 6. Corduba on another side and there where two great Waies meet the one of Buenos Ayres to Potossi by St. Jago del Estero and the other of Sancto be and Spiritu Sancto to St. Jago del Estremadura in Chili by St. Luyz which makes this place of some consideration Besides that the Air is temperate and the Soil fruitful and pleasant and which yields Grains and Fruits it is well watred with fresh streams in which are good Fish In their Woods they have Fowls much Venison and other Beasts they have Wine Salt and in their Mountains appearance of some Mines of Silver The Colony is of three hundred others say six hundred Spaniards Their principal trade is on Peru and Chili side The Natives are much civilized both in habit and manners imitating the Spaniards from whom they are willing to receive instructions Its Inhabitants The provinces of Parana Guayr Vraig The Provinces of PARANA GVAYR and VRAIG pass under the name of Paraguay in the relations which the Fathers Jesuits give It says that these Fathers having long observed that there was an innumerable company of Souls which might be converted to Christianity they cast themselves among these Barbarians learned their tongue drew them from the Woods Mountains and hidden Caves assembled them in divers habitation and by this means lead them to a sociable life taught them first Tillage and the most necessary Arts and Manufactures then to read and write to musick singing and dancing but above all instructed them in the Christian Religion and Piety Several good orders observed by them These Habitations are composed of near a thousand Families and each Family besides the Father Mother and the Children receive often some aged person not able to work or some Orphan So soon as a Habitation is established the Fathers introduce the Government they are to follow give them Magistrates and Officers chosen among the most capable of their Body declare to them the polity and rules they are to observe take care that the fields assigned to each family be tilled and sowed in due time that their flocks be well kept and if there happen any contest among them what the Fathers ordain stands as a sentence without revocation Of these Habitations Parana hath six St. Ignatius on the River of Tibiquari Itapoa or the Incarnation and the Holy Sacrament on the River of Parana N. D. de Yguazu on that of Iguazu Acaraig or la Nativita de N. D. likewise on the Parana The Air in all these Habitations is good the Soil fertile they have too much Wood little Pasturage and near Yguazu little Fish by reason of the Cataract The province of Guayr with its Colonies Habitations described The Province of Guayr is under the Tropick of Capricorn advancing it self unto Brazile There hath been here for a good continuance of time two or three Colonies of Castilians Cividad Real or Ontiveros and sometimes Guayr after the name of the Province Villarica and St. Paul which some esteem in Brazile The habitations for those of the Country are Nuestra Sennora de Loretto and St. Ignatius on the Parana St. Francis Xavier L Incarnation and St. Joseph on the Tibagiva the seven Arch-Angels and St. Paul in the Land of great Tajoba towards Brazile The River Parana Below Cividad Real there where is the separation of the two Provinces of Parama and Guayr the River Parana makes a Cataract as remarkable as any in the World This River precipitating it self from a very high Rock finds it self likewise engaged among very high Rocks for the space of
vicine place is to be found whereby it may come unto those Northern Regions Seeing that therefore this flux is perpetual neither doth the water come by a manifest way unto those Regions whence the flux is made therefore it seemeth necessary to conclude that the waters come through subterraneous passages unto those Northern Regions and so there to be effused from the holes of the Channel as from a spring and that the water moveth hence towards the South There falleth in another cause taken from the former For the water of the Ocean in the Torrid Zone is more heavy than that in the Northern places by reason of the great abundance of Salt as we have proved in the Eighth and Twelfth Proposition Therefore the water or Ocean in the Torrid Zone doth more press through the Orifices of the Subterranean passages than in the Northern places and therefore in these places the water less resisting suffereth the water to flow from the Orifices of the Channels Unto this I answer That that flux of the Ocean is not only from the North as the Objection seemeth to inferr and as some especially the Ancients conceived of it who would have the water to flow in four Channels from the very Pole as also some Geographical Maps do exhibit it neither is it continual but is observed by reason of the frequency of Northern Winds moreover the great and perpetual abundance of Snow and Rain in those places augmenteth the water and causeth it to flow towards the South Add likewise that in other parts another motion of the Ocean is found concerning which see the following Chapter 3. It seemeth not absurd but rather most true that all the Fountains of Rivers taken together disburthening themselves into the Ocean are the very Fountains of the Ocean For seeing that in perpetual progress of time so great an abundance of water floweth from them into the Ocean questionless the water cometh from the Ocean to the very Springs and Channels of the Rivers partly through the Subterranean passages and partly by Rains 4. It may seem to prove that the Fountains of the Ocean may be in the very Channel because that in the bottom of the Ocean in some parts sweet or fresh water is found which could not be but by some Fountains flowing in the bottom Linschaten relateth that in Ormus fresh water is drawn by divers in the Ocean at the depth of four or five Orgya and the like Fountains are found in other parts of the Ocean and Bays Unto this I answer That few such Springs have yet been found which suffice not the vast Ocean Neither do we dispute concerning these Fountains as we have said before Hence it is manifest that in some sort it is true and we may well say that the Ocean hath Springs but not in that sense that we are wont to speak concerning the Springs of Rivers and in which we would have our Proposition to be taken Hence also it is manifest what we ought to think concerning that Question viz. Whether the Sea is always one and the same and perpetually so remaineth or whether it be another thing whose parts are perpetually consumed and generated again Proposition VIII The saltness of the Waters proceedeth from the particles of Salt which are mixed with it but whence they may exist or are so augmented is the doubt Of the Saltness of the Sea-water Experlence proveth the first member of the Proposition by which it is commonly known that Salt is made of Sea-water by decoction of the water or by the heat of the Sun or the fervour of the Fire In Germany and other places the water is separated by the help of the Fire In France the greater heat of the Sun performeth the same the Ocean being let into certain Trenches made in which in the space of some Months the water being exhaled by the force of the Sun Of Salt and of what made concreted and hard Salt is found On the shoars of many Regions as of England and other parts plenty of Bay-Salt is found the Sea-water continually overflowing those shoars leaveth daily some particles or humors from which the water exhaleth and concrete Salt is left whose blackness is taken away by boyling although it be washed away and dissolved from many Coasts by the violence of the Ocean which is the cause that it is not found on all Coasts Seeing therefore that this Experiment is common Aristotle had small reason to alledge a false Experiment concerning a waxen Vessel let down into the Sea Hence it is manifest that the proximate cause of the Saltness of the Sea-water or the true subject of this saltness is the Saline particles which are contained in that water Therefore the Aristotelians with their Master spake improperly and obscuredly without cause when they defend and say That the saltness of the Sea proceedeth from the adustion of the Sea caused by the Sun or from the adust particles But of this more anon The chief difficulty and controversie is concerning the other member of the Proposition Whence these Salt particles of the Ocean exist Aristotle supposeth that dry exhalations or fumes all which he saith are of an adust and Saline nature elevated from the Earth are mixed with humid vapours and when that these have met together in Rain they fall with these into the Sea and that thence proceedeth the saltness and Salt particles in the Sea See Aristotle lib. 2. chap. 7. and on this account he seemeth to defend this Opinion because that from thence he may render a reason why the Sea is always salt But other Peripateticks will have it and so do endeavour to draw Aristotle to their part that this saltness is in the Sea it self by reason that it is perpetually scorched by the heat of the Sun a sign of which is that the water is found by so much the less salt by how much it is more deep or remote from the superficies for in the superficies we discover it to be most salt Both these Opinions are obstructed with great difficulties and absurdities so that it seemeth wonderful that the minds of Philosophers and Learned men could acquiesce in them First the opinion of Aristotle is thus obstructed that Salt-rain should be found in the Ocean which never yet was found to be void of all tast of salt Secondly the Sea should be less salt when it raineth not for a long time the contrary of which yet is found The other Opinion hath these difficulties 1. It is false that the waters of the Ocean are found the less salt by how much they are nigh to the bottom for there are few places viz. in those bottoms where Springs of fresh water do flow 2. Experience testifieth that fresh water although long exposed to the Sun or heat of the Fire yet doth not become salt This Objection Scaliger endeavoureth to avoid by an over-nice subtilty for he saith that this hapneth in these Observations by reason of
principal Xecque that is a Chief which conducts and commands them they living almost in the same manner as the 12 Tribes of Israel did in the Desarts They preserve a good Intelligence amongst themselves their chief design being only upon Strangers They assault likewise the Caravans if they think themselves able enough to master them or snatch any thing from them Their Horses commonly are little lean and sparing Feeders yet couragious swift and of great labour They are so skilful in managing them that they command them as they please and themselves are so active that at full speed they will shoot an Arrow within the breadth of a Shilling take from the ground those Arrows they have shot and avoid an Arrow flying directly towards them nor do they manage less skilfully the Sling either in charging retiring or flying The first rise of Mahometism Mahomet came not into the World till about the year 570 after Christ and began not to publish and shew abroad his Doctrine till a little after the year 600 a Doctrine intermixed with Christianity Judaism and Paganism that he might draw both the one and the other and which established its principal end in Delights carnal and sensual Pleasures whereto the Oriental People were very much inclined and withal he found the means to make use of Arms for the establishment of this Doctrine his Califs or Successors in a short time carried their Government and Religion into the best parts of Asia and Africa and into some places of Europe It s People are almost all Mahometans There are 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 unhappy in having the fewest yet the Portugals hold Mascates Calasates and some places about it which are Catholicks PERSIA or the Empire of the SOPHY of PERSIA with its several Provinces as they lie Towards the CASPIAN Sea or Sea of BACCU and SALA which makes the Northern part of PERSIA and are those of Servan Tauris Sammachi Servan Ardevil Serga Bacca â—â—kâ—era Gilan Rast Gaxhar Mazandaran Layon Mosun Gilan Cassabi Gadiour Dilemon Allamoed Dilemon Thalekan Tabarestan Aâ—â—erâ—â—ad Zarâ—â—â—â—â— Magâ—â—â—â—n Gorgian Gorgian Obâ—â—oen Darâ—egan Semnan Rhoemus Bestan Bâ—yâ—â— Zabrawar Thous Masâ—ndn Feraway In the MIDDLE to wit those of Churdistan Naksivan Merend Choy Maraga Salmas Ourmaya Cormaba Ayrack or Yerack-Agemi Hispahan Casbin Saltania Dankane Hamadan Hrey Sauwa Kom or Com Kargh Cassian Yesd Chorasan Thabs Gilack Kayem Thon Zuzan Mexat Nichabour Zarchas Firabad Maruwe Bonregian Balch Herat. Sablestan Zarang Bost Necbesaet Gisna-Cassaby Tocharestan Thaalan Candahar Candahar Patanes Grees Bach Balch Towards the South and washed by the ARABIAN or INDIAN Ocean and by the Gulph of BALSORA and ORMUS and are those of Chusistan Souster Askar Moukeraâ— Ardgan Hawecz Ramhormoz Siapour Saurac Fars Chiraef Aftackar Lar Darabegred Stahabonon Gombroun Kherman Cherman Girost Zirgian Mocheston Guadel Nahyan Patanis Sigistan Sistan Mackeran Mackeran Basir Together with several ISLES as they lie in the Gulph of BALSORA and nigh unto PERSIA the chief among which are Ormus Ormus Queixome Pulor Coyar Ficor Lar. Mulugan Garge PERSIA THe Kingdom or Empire of the Sophy of the PERSIANS is one of the most famous and greatest of all Asia it extends it self from the Tigris and Euphrates on the West almost to the River Indus on 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 now the Sea of Baccu or Tabarestan which are its Northern limits The extent bounds scituation c. of Persia so containing about 600 Leagues of length and 500 of breadth being seated under the third fourth fifth and sixth Climats Nevertheless this is but a part of the ancient Empire of the Persians for the Assyrians having ordinarily held in Asia all that which both Turk and Persian at present possess and that Monarchy having begun under Ninus and lasted under thirty and odd Kings 13 or 1400 years ending in Sardanapalus divided itself into that of the Medes and Babylonians who continued it little less than 300 years afterwards the Persians made themselves Masters of it and these during 200 and odd years which they Reigned remitted to it the best part of what the Medes and Babylonians had possessed But when they would have passed into Europe and have seized on Greece the Macedonians and Greeks leagued themselves together The Persian Empire formerly much larger than now it is and naming Alexander King of Macedon their Chief descended into Asia several times defeated Darius ruined the Empire of the Persians and gave a beginning to that of the Macedonians Alexander the Great held this Empire but few years and dying it was divided among many of his Captains who took in the end the title of Kings and waged War against each other till the Romans seized the Western and the Parthians the Oriental part of that Monarchy these Parthians freed themselves from the Rule of the Macedonians 250 years before the Birth of Jesus Christ and Reigned near 500 years Artaxerxes restored the Persians 228 years after Christs Nativity The Caliphs of Bagdat became Masters about the year 650. The Tartars in 1257 or 58. The Turcomans in 1478. Xa or Xecque Ismael-sophy re-established the Persians a little after the year 1500 and though they possess only the Oriental part of the ancient Empire of the Persians yet it is still very great and powerful The several Parts or Regions of Persia And we find at present under it all that the Ancients knew under the names of Media Hircania Margiana Assyria in part Parthia Aria Paraponisa Chaldea or Babylonia in part Susiana Persia Caramania Drangiana Arachosia and Gedrosia all these Regions taken apart being great fair rich and populous To the Right Worshipfull Sr William Courteney of Powderham Castle in Devonshire Bart. This Mapp is Hu-mbly didicated by RB A MAPP OF THE EMPIRE OF THE SOPHIE OF PERSIA WITH ITS SEUERALL PROUINCES Designed by Moncr. Sanson Geographer to the French King Province of Gilan and its chief places c. The Province of GILAN or GVEYLAN contains five Governments of which the chief Cities are Rast Gaxhar Layon Gilan Mosun and Gadiour besides about 30 fair and rich Cities Mazandaran which some separate from others joyn to Gilan hath in its Government 25 Cities and in the City of Mazandaran about 50000 Souls All these quarters would have revolted in 1594. but Xa Abbas soon brought them to their duty and chastised them for their offence Province of Dilemon The Province of DILEMON hath its Metropolis of the same name then Allamoed Gowar and Thalekan In the description that those of the Country give us of these places Allamoed seems to answer to Dilemon Province of Tabarestan The Province or TABARESTAN extends more than 60 Leagues on the Coast