Laurona of Floro which Sertorius besieged and burnt when Pompey with his whole Army stood nigh and yet durst not succour it Xelua is by Florian. the Incibilis or Indibilis of Livi where Hanno was overcome by Scipio but Baud. saith Incibilis is now Trayguera 20 Spanish Leagues distant from Xelua or Chelua Gandia gives title to the Dukes of the House of Borgia Segorbe or Segorve is the Segobrega of Strab. and Plin. testae Vasae Clus and Tarap but the confusion of Authors makes me uncertain what it now is The Islands of Majorque and Menorque are the antient Baleares the Inhabitants whereof were exquisite Slingers and great Pyrates they accustom their Children to hit down their Breakfast with a Sling or else to go without it and yet as nimble as they were they were constrain'd to beg aid of Augustus against the Rabbets that destroyed their Lands The Books of knowledg writ by Raymund Lulâ—y are very much studi'd at Majorque The Soil of Yvica has a peculiar quality to destroy the Serpents that are bred in the Island Tormentera Arragon is overrun with the Branches of the Pyrenean and Idubeda Mountains and is in most parts dry and scanty of water yet the River Iberus runs through the middle of it It s chief places are Saragoca Caes Augusta of Ptol. Strab. Plin. Ant. c. a Colony and Municipium of the Romans before called Salduba Under the Moors it was the Head of a particular Kingdom recovered in the year 1118. by the Christians and made the Residence of the Kings of Arragon an Arch-Bishops See and University and Seat of the Inquisition and Vice-Roy for the Province Taracona or Tarazona the Turiaso Ptol. Turiasso Plin. is a Bishops See. Calatajut upon the River Xalo founded by Ajub a Sarazen Prince half a mile from which was the ancient Bilbis of Ptol. and Bilbilis of Strab. the Country of the Poet Martial Fraga upon the River Senga Gallica Flava Ptol. Gallicum of Ant. Balbastro is the Burtina of Ptol. Bortina of Ant. Huesca the Osca of Strab. Ptol. Ant. was the place where Sertorius in Plutarch kept the Children of the Spanish Nobility as Hostages for their Fathers fidelity but the Fathers revolting the Children were cruelly murthered Jacca amongst the Mountains was the first Seat of the Kings of Arragon Ainsa and Benhuari have been the Capitals of two little Kingdoms Sobrarbia and Ribagorca or Riba Curtia Monzon is a place where formerly the States of Arragon were wont to Assemble Navarr was the second Kingdom for Antiquity in Spain but surprised and taken by Ferdinand the Catholick Anno 1512. without one blow given The King and Queen of Navarr being at that time both French Subjects the Country is plain yet on all sides environed with mighty Mountains well watered with Rivers and fruitful Chiefer Towns are Pampelona Pompelon of Ptol. Strab. Ant. first founded by Pompey the Great after the Wars ended with Sertorius a Bishops See and Seat of the Vice-Roys seated in a Plain upon the River Arga. At the Siege of which Ignatius Loiola a Cantabrian defending it against the French was almost killed by a wound of his Leg which occasion'd a New Order to the Church viz. the Society of the Jesuits vide Monferrat in Catalonia 2. Viana the Title of the Navarren Prince Nigh this place Caesar Borgia Son to Pope Alexander the Sixth was slain by an Ambush Teste Guicciardine 3. Victoria is the chief of the little Country called Olava or Olaba between Navarr and Biscay first built or rather reedified out of the Ruins of the ancient Villica of Ptol. Anno 1180. by Sanctius King of Navarr This Country is divided into six Merindida's or Governments one of which lying on the other side of the Pyreneans is called Low Navarr and is in the hands of the French King. The Kingdom of Castilia was at first named Bardulia and was the most prevailing Kingdom of all Spain either by Conquest or Intermarriages divided into Castillia la Veia or old Castille and Castillia la Nueva or New Castile Chiefer places in Old Castile are Burgos Bravum Masburgi Ptol. teste Tarapha Burgi once the Royal Seats of the Kings of Castile now an Arch-Bishop See. Avila the Abala of Ptol. of which Tostatus Sirnamed Abulensis was Bishop who is said to have writ as many sheets as he lived days Soria is the place where the great Standard of the Kingdom is kept not far from which towards the Springs of the Douro stood sometimes that famous Numantia in which 4000 Soldiers withstood 40000 Romans for 14 years and at last gathering all their Money Goods Armour c. together laid them on a Pile which being fired they all voluntarily buried themselves in the flame leaving Scipio nothing but the name of Numantia to adorn his Triumph Segovia is the Segubia of Ptol. Segobia Plin. Ant. a Bishops See near which yet standeth an ancient Aquaeduct of the Romans Calahora upon the Ebro was the Calagorina of Ptol. Calaguris of Str. and Calagurris of Ant. a Town of the Vascones and of the Orator Quintilian Logronnio upon the said River was the Juliobriga of Ptol. and Juliobrica of Plin. New Castile is a Country for the most part Champian and plain affording sufficient plenty of Corn Fruits and other necessary provision Chiefer Towns are 1. Madrid the Mantua of Ptol. Madritum al. the Seat of the Kings of Spain and now one of the most fair and populous places of the Kingdom well built with good Brick-Houses many having Glass-Windows which is very rare in all Spain the most considerable Buildings are the Piazza the Prison the Kings Chappel and Palace the Palaces of the Duke of Alva of Medina de los Torres c. The English Colledg of Theatines Il Retiro c. Out of Town St. Perdo and the Escurial or the Magnificent Monastry of St. Laurence which is about seven or eight Leagues from Madrid amongst the Spaniards passeth for the Eighth Wonder of the World and is said to have cost King Philip the Second above twenty Millions of Gold no great Sum for a Prince who is said to have expended 700 Millions of Gold during his Reign 2. Toledo the Tâ—lâ—tum of Plin. and Ant. then the chief City of the Carpetani mounted upon a steep and uneven Rock upon the right shore of the River Taio with whose circling streams it is almost encompassed By the Goths it was made the Chamber and Royal Seat of their Kings Under the Moors it became a petty Kingdom and their strongest hold in those parts after five years Siege in the year 1085. recovered by Alphonsus the Sixth King of Castile and Leon. Now an University and Arch-Bishops See the richest in Europe whose Bishop is Primate and Chancellor of Spain Alcala de Henares is the Complutum of Ptol. and Ant. an University founded by F. Ximenes Cardinal and Arch-Bishop of Toledo Calatrava upon the River Gaudiana abandoned by the Templers and
plentiful even to Admiration but causeth an infinite encrease in all sorts of Cattel that water there and breeds a prolifick faculty in Men and Women even to Admiration as makes Wonder stand amazed to see Nature turn prodigal This made the Gymnosophists of Aegypt to make it one of their chief Numens which they worshipped under the name of the Goddess Isis This also was the cause of those noble Epithets bestowed on it viz. the Gift of Jupiter the Tears of the Gods the Veines of Paradise the Seed of the Gods c. The Moors and Negroes often call it The Fountain of Heavenly Water and the Arabian Poets style it The Life of the Earth Mr. Sands tells us that in the year 1610 at Cairo it usually did rise 23 Cubits it rises generally sixteen Cubits It is perceived by the retiring of the Cattel by the marks which are in their wells and by the weight of the slime of the River which the people lay out at their windows to receive the Dew which falls and Prognosticates the increase The cause of this overflowing of Nile is variously conjectur'd some say that the Tempests of the Sea swell the River others affirm that the Sand which gathers at the month stops the Stream and that the Northeâ—â— Wind drive it back again Many Moderns believe that it is swell'd and increas'd by the melting of the Snow and the Rains that fall in great abundance and at certain seasons in Aethiopia and in regard that in Aegypt it is Winter when Summer in Aethiopia they say that the Nile encreases when other Rivers decrease Of late it hath been asserted that the Nitre which abounds in this River is the true natural reason of all these marvellous effects which being melted by the heat of the Sun mixes with the Water troubles it ferments it and swells it and makes it exceed its bounds so that the Mud which the Nile carries along with it neither comes very far nor raises the banks any higher The Niger retains the Name which it received from those people whose Country it runs through somtimes it runs under ground and before it falls into the Atlantick Ocean divides itself into three principal Members Senega Gambia and Rio Grande Enfertiles all the Countries through which it passes and in the Sand are found good store of Grains of Gold. The Water having the same virtue as Nile has made some believe that these two Waters somwhere meet together The Zaire is considerable for its Sweetness and for its plenty of Water The Zambera divides itself into three Currents Cuama Spirito Sancto and Rio De los Infantes The Ghir loses itself often in the Sand and as many times retreives itself again The greatest Lakes are Zair Zambere and Zaflan all three in Aethiopia The Mountains of most Remark are the Great and Lesser Atlas the Christal Mountains Mountains of the Sun Saltpetre Hill Sierra Liona Amara Mount Table and Isle Picos Fragosos Montes Lunae c. The Great Atlas by the Natives Aydvacal teste Marmot by Aug. Curio Anchisai by Olearius Majuste runs through Africa as Taurus through Asia beginning in Marmarica about 20 miles from Alexandria extending Westward with many Gaps and Breaks to the Atlantick Ocean dividing Barbary from Belidulgerid No Mountains in Africa are more celebrated for its wondrous height that seems to reach to the Skie The Poets feign'd that Atlas sustained Heaven upon his Shoulders by reason of its excessive height Or else because that Atlas King of Mauritania was the first that studied the motion of the Heavens The Lesser Atlas Coasts with the Midland Sea extending from Gibralter to Bona by the Spaniards Montes Claros The Christal Mountains are in Congo near which is that of the Sun Eastward appears Saltpeâ—re Hill. On the borders of Guinea appears Sierra Leona Amara is the most noted of Aethiopia Table Mount appears near the Cape of Good Hope not far off are those called Ospicos Fragosos And those of the Moon lie between the two Aethiopia's and are the highest in Africa and called by the Inhabitants Betsh The Ancients took these Mountains to be the limits of the World. The Isthmus of Sues which keeps Africa from being a perfect Island is about nine Leagues in breadth between the Red Sea and the Chanel of Nile for from one Sea to the other is above thirty five Leagues Stories relate that one of the Ptolomies Queen Cleopatra some of the Soldans and others that have been masters of Aegypt have assay'd in vain to dig through that Isthmus and that they gave over the enterprise as well by reason of the prodigiousness of the Toyle as for fear of being greatly endamaged by the Red Sea which was found to be higher than the Mediterranean Sea and which with its bitterness would have tainted the River Nile the only drink of the Aegyptians And indeed all Authors agree that the Waters of the Nile are sweet healthful and nourishing Ptolomy's design was to perform a work of Fame by making Africa an Island Cleopatra's intention was to carry her Ships into the Red Sea without any danger of falling into Augustus's hands The contrivance of the Soldans was to carry the Trade of the Europeans into the East Indies through their Territories in hopes of some great Tribute But none of them were able to attain their Ends. Africa is the barrennest and worst peopl'd part of our Continent Hâ—r great Rivers are full of Crocodiles Her Mountains and Deserts fill'd with Lions and other wild and cruel Beasts the scarcity of Water producing many Monsters while Creatures of several species couple and engender at the watring-places where they often meet There is no Creature in the World that grows so big from so small a beginning as the Crocodile for it is hatch'd in an Egg and grows every day as long as it lives which is said to be an hundred years The Elephants are very serviceable to the Africans as also are their Camels and great Baboons Dromedaries are a sort of Camels less and swifter than the others They have also wild Asses Unicorns Barbary Horses Cameleons little Monkeys and Parrots Their Ostriches afford them fine Feathers and their Civet Cats are esteemed for the excellency of their Scents Amongst a great number of different Tongues that are in Africa the most general are the Beribere or African which comes from the Ancient Punick and the Arabick these two extend through all Barbary Billedulgerid Aegygt and Sarra the Aethi pian in the greatest part of Aethiopia The Language of the Negro's which is different and hath divers Idioms Their Religions in Africa are for the most part Idolatrous as Paganism and Mahometanism though there are also mixed amongst them vast numbers of Jews and Christians of several sorts At this day Africa is possessed by five sorts of Religions viz. Christians Jews Caffers Idolaters and Mahumetans The Christians are partly Strangers and partly Natives whereof some are Slaves to the Turks and
but gentle Showers and a fine Skie From thence to this present Month which endeth Summer commonly speaking we have had extraordinary Heats yet mitigated sometimes by cool Breezes And whatever Mists Fogs or Vapors foul the Heavens by Easterly or Southerly Winds in two hours time are blown away by the North-West the one is always followed by the other A Remedy that seems to have peculiar Providence in it to the Inhabitants V. The natural produce of the Country of Vegetables is Trees Fruits Plants Flowers The Trees of most note are the Black-Walnut Cedar Cyprus Chesnut Poplar Gumwood Hickery Sassafrax Ash Beech and Oak of divers sorts as Red White and Black Spanish Chesnut and Swamp the most durable of all which there is plenty for the use of Man. The Fruits that I find in the Woods are the White and Black Mulbery Chesnut Walnut Plums Strawberries Cranberries Hurtleberries and Grapes of divers sorts The great red Grape is in it self an extraordinary Grape and by Art doubtless may be cultivated to an excellent Wine if not so sweet yet little inferior to the Frontiniack as it is not much unlike in taste There is a white kind of Muskedel and a little black Grape like the Cluster Grape of England not yet so ripe as the other but they tell me when ripe sweeter and that they only want skilful Vinerous to make good use of them Here are also Peaches and very good and in great quantities not an Indian Plantation without them but whether naturally here at first I know not however one may have them by Bushels for little they make a pleasant Drink and I think not inferior to any Peach you have in England except the true Newington VI. The Artificial produce of the Country is Wheat Barley Oats Rye Pease Beans Squashes Pumkins Water-Melons Musk-Melons and all Herbs and Roots that our Gardens in England usually bring forth VII of living Creatures Fish Fowl and the Beasts of the Woods here are divers sorts some for Food and Profit and some for Profit only VIII We have no want of Horses and some are very good and shapely enough two Ships have been freighted to Barbadoes with Horses and Pipe-staves since my coming in Here is also plenty of Cow-Cattel and some Sheep the People plow mostly with Oxen. IX There are divers Plants that only not the Indians tells us but we have had occasion to prove by Swellings Burnings Cuts c. that they are of great Virtue suddenly curing the Patient And for smell I have observed several especially one the wild Mirtle the other I know not what to call but are most fragrant X. The Woods are adorned with lovely Flowers for Colour Greatness Figure and Variety I have seen the Gardens of London best stored with that sort of Beauty but think they may be improved by our Woods XI The first Planters in these parts were the Dutch and soon after them the Sweeds and Finns The Dutch applied themselves to Traffick the Sweeds and Finns to Husbandry XII The Dutch inhabit mostly those parts of the Province that lie upon or near to the Bay and the Sweeds the Freshes of the River Delaware As they are People proper and strong of Body so they have fine Children and almost every House full rare to find one of them without three or four Boys and as many Girls some six seven and eight Sons And I must do that right I see few young Men more sober and laborious XIII The Dutch have a Meeting-place for Religious Worship at New Castle and the Sweeds three one at Christiana one at Tenecum and one at Wicoco within half a Mile of this Town XIV The Country lieth bounded on the East by the River and Bay of Delaware and Eastern Sea it hath the advantage of many Creeks or Rivers rather that run into the main River or Bay some Navigable for great Ships some for small Craft Those of most Eminency are Christiana Brandywine Skillpot and Skulkill any one of which have room to lay up the Royal Navy of England there being from four to eight Fathom Water XV. The lesser Creeks or Rivers yet convenient for Sloops and Ketches of good burthen are Lewis Mespilion Cedar Dover Cranbrook Feversham and Georges below and Chichester Chester Toacawny Pemmapecka Portquessin Neshimenek and Pennberry in the Freshes many lesser that admit Boats and Shallops Our People are most setled upon the upper Rivers which are pleasant and sweet and generally bounded with good Land. The planted part of the Province and Territories is cast into six Counties Philadelphia Buckingham Chester New Castle Kent and Sussex containing about four thousand Souls Two General Assemblies have been held and with such Concord and Dispatch that they sate but three Weeks and at least seventy Laws were past without one Dissent in any material thing And for the well Government of the said Counties Courts of Justice are estabisht in every County with proper Officers as Justices Sheriffs Clarks Constables c. which Courts are held every two Months But to prevent Law Suits there are three Peace-makers chosen by each County-Court in the nature of Common Arbitrators to hear differences betwixt Man and Man and Spring and Fall there is an Orphans Court in each County to inspect and regulate the Affairs of Orphans and Widows XVI Philadelphia the expectation of those that are concerned in this Province is at last laid out to the great content of those here that are any ways interested therein The Situation is a Neck of Land and lieth between two Navigable Rivers Delaware and Skulkill whereby it hath two Fronts upon the Water each a Mile and two from River to River Delaware is a glorious River but the Skulkill being an hundred Miles Boatable above the Falls and its course North-East toward the Fountain of Susquahannab that tends to the heart of the Province and both sides our own it is like to be a great part of the settlement of this Age. But this I will say for the good Providence of God that of all the many places I have seen in the World I remember not one better seared so that it seems to me to have been appointed for a Town whether we regard the Rivers or the conveniency of the Coves Docks Springs the loftiness and soundness of the Land and the Air held by the People of these parts to be very good Of West New Jarsey THIS Province of West Jarsey with that call'd East Jarsey among other Tracts of Lands and Territories was granted by the late King to the present King James the Second when Duke of York and to his Heirs and Assigns for ever who granted the whole Premises entire unto John Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret to be holden in common And the Lord Berkley being minded to dispose of his Moiety or half part Edward Byllynge bought the same of him Whereupon that each Party might hold their Country in severalty it was mutually agreed by Sir George Carteret
quantity of Tapers which they light before their Images and which the Muscovites who are very apt to be drunk take no care to put out Musco which is the Capital City and the Residence of the Grand Duke seems rather to be a huge heap of Hamlets than a good City It had above 40000 Houses but now there are far less since it has been so often plundred by the Lesser Tartars and the Poles and especially since the last fire that happened there It hath three Walls one of Brick another of Stone a third of Wood separating the four Quarters of the Town The greatest Ornament of the City are the Churches of which St. Michael's is the chief in which the Tombs of the Tzars are placed the Steeples of the Churches are covered with Copper whose glittering seems to redouble the brightness of the Sun called Cremelena The Tzars Castle is about two miles in Circumference and contains two fair Palaces one of Stone and the other of Wood built after the Italian fashion besides the Imperial Court there are several other spacious Palaces for the Bojor's or Nobility as also for Priests amongst which that of the Patriarch is the most Magnificent and over against the Czars Palace is a fair Church built after the Model of the Temple of Jerusalem from whence it is so called near to which is the great Market for all Wares and Merchandizes Volodimere the Residence of the Prince before Musco was lies in the most fertile part of all Muscovy defended by a Castle The Rivers of Musco and Occa are those whereby the Merchants convey their Goods by Water to the Volga Little Novogrode is the last Village in Europe toward the East Pleskou is well Fortified as being the Bulwark against the Poles and Swedes Novogrode the Great has been one of the four Magazines of the Hans Towns and a Town so Rich and Potent that the Inhabitants were wont to say Who can withstand God and great Novogorod But in the year 1577 the Great Duke Ivan Vasilowitz took it and carried away as 't is reported a hundred Waggons laden with Gold and Silver yet it is still a Town of great Trade in the year 1611 it was taken by the Swedish General Pontus de la Gardie and in the year 1613 redelivered to the Tzar of Muscovy upon the Articles of Peace Archangel is the Staple of all Muscovy by reason of its Haven The Duties paid at coming in and going out amount to above six hundred thousand Crowns a year The English were the first that began to send their Ships thither since they have been followed by other Nations of Europe Formerly the Trade of Muscovy was driven by passing through the Sound and putting in at Nerva but the great Impositions put upon the Merchandizes by the Princes through whose Countries they were to pass made them forsake that place Rezan was the place that held out when the Tartars had taken Muscow the Governour whereof when he had got the Original of the Articles of the Treaty Signed by the Grand Czar from the Tartarian General refused to surrender the Town or deliver back the Schedule which was the occasion of the Tartars overthrow and the recovery of Moscovy and the taking of Casan Astracan c. St. Nicholas also drives a great Trade at the entry of the Duvine These are the only places that belong to the Grand Duke upon the Ocean Troitza near Muscow is the most beautiful Convent in all Muscovia whether the Grand Tzars do usually go in Pilgrimage twice every year Colmogorod is renowned for the Fairs that are kept there in Winter time The Duvine bears great Vessels to that place so called Oustioug is in the middle of the Country where it drives a good Trade as being Seated in a place where two Rivers meet Besides the White Sea is full of Shoals and Rocks at the entry into it and then the Snows melting and the Torrents swelling in the Spring-time carry the Water with such an impetuosity that Ships can hardly get in however there is great store of Salmon caught there Kola and Pitzora in Lapland receive Trading Vessels As for the Conquests of the Great Duke in Asiatic Tartary the principal places we Astracan and Casan which bear the Title of Kingdoms besides Zavolha and Nagaia Then Casan is a great City with Walls and Towers of wood seated upon a Hill. 'T is Inhabited by Russians and Tartars but the Cittadel is Walled with Stone and kept only by Russians Astracan was formerly the Seat of the Nagayan Tartars it lyes at the mouth of the River Volga in the Island Delgoy 50 Dutch Leagues from the Caspian Sea 't is environed with a strong Stone-wall upon which are seated 500 Brass Cannon besides a strong Garison It s many Towers and lofty Piles of Buildings makes a noble prospect 'T is a place of great Traffick especially for Silk In this Country grows the Plant Zoophyte that resembles a Lamb it devours all the Herbs round about the Root and if it be cut it yields a liquor as red as blood the Wolves devour it as greedily as if it were Mutton Locomoria toward the Obi is inhabited by People who they say are Frozen up six months in the year because they live in Tents environ'd with Snow and never stir forth till it be melted They are broad faced with little Eyes their Heads on one side and bigger than the proportion of their Bodies requires short Legs and Feet extreamly big Thus they appear clad in Skins with a piece of wood instead of Shoes these Skins they wear in the Winter with the hairy side inward in Summer with the hair outward to sew them they make use of the small bones of Fish and the Nerves of Beasts instead of Needles and Thred they are the best Archers in the world The Fingoeses express their thoughts better by their throats than by their tongues These Countries go all under the Name of Siberia a Province which affords the fairest and the richest Furrs and whither the Lords in disgrace are banisht The River Pesida bounds it for no man dares go beyond it though Horses and several other things have been seen which make us believe that it is as considerable as Cathay which cannot be far from it Of Poland POLAND by Robt. Morden POLONIA or Poland which was formerly but a part of Sarmatia is now a Kingdom of as large extent as any in Europe It is an aggregate Body consisting of many distinct Provinces United into one Estate of which Poland the Chief hath given Name to the rest It is 800 miles in length and the breadth comprehending Livonia is almost as much According to the Polish and Bohemian Historians they were with the Bohemians Originally Croatians descended from the Sclaves and brought into these parts by Zechus and Lechus two Brethren banished out of their own Country But this is refuted by Cromerus The more general opinion is that they were Sarmatians who
runneth a long Course of about 400 miles through Carinthia and Hungary falleth into the Danube at Drazat over against Erdoed or Erdewdy the old Teutoburgium of Ant. and Ptol. D. Brown tells us that it is a good stream as high as Villach where there is a Bridg over it and at Clagenfart he passed over it upon two long Wooden Bridges and an Island in the middle between them 5. The Savus Ptol. Saus Strab. in MS. Sheldeni 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sabus Solin La Sava Ital. Saw Germ. Le Save Gal. is a noble River arising in the Mountains between Carinthia and Carniola and swelling by the accession of many Rivers after a Course of above 350 miles entereth the Danube at Belgrade At Crainburg not far distant from the Head it was a considerable stream which afterwards so enlarged as to make remarkable Islands one at Sissex by Zagrabia the other Metubarris at the West of old Sarmium 6. Upon the North of Hungary are the Rivers arising from the Capathian Mountains which divide Poland from Hungary viz. the Gran and Ipola which uniting together runneth into the Danube over against Strigonium or Gran. 6. The Neytra which passing by Newhausel entereth the Danube over against Komara 8. The Wagg or Vagus which Stuckius saith equals the Po in Italy at Fristat 50 miles from its entrance into the Danube it is a very large River and hath a long Bridg over it And at Trenschin it hath a considerable Bridg over it 9. Besides these there are others esteemed Fluvii non ignobiles viz. the Leytha which entereth the Danube at Altemburg or Owar and the Bounds of Austria 10. The Sarvitza or Orpanus arising near Vesprinium and passing Alba Regalis runneth into the Danube at Jeni or Nova Palanka over against Bathmonster 11. Curassus or Crasso fatal to Lewis the second King of Hungary 12. Walpo or Vulpanus over which there is a Bridg at Walcovar 13. The River Bosnath Boswetha or Bacunthus which falleth into the Savus not far from the old Surmium As this Country excelleth in Rivers so it hath many considerable and long Bridges not to mention the Bridg of Boats over the Danube between Gran and Barchan nor of that Bridg of Boats between Buda and Pest where the Danube is half a mile over which is so contrived as to open a passage for Boats and Vessels of Burthen to pass nor shall I name those already mentioned There is a handsome and well contrived Bridg at Calotza But that over the Danube at Esseck is scarce to be parallel'd by any other Built partly over the Dravus and partly over the Fens which are often overflowed and is five miles in length Having Towers built upon it at the distance of every quarter of a mile supported by great Trees erected under it nine or ten in a rank unto each Arch and handsomely Railed on each side It cost the Turks 300000 Dollars and six years time to build it That part of the Bridg which was over the Dravus was burnt down by Count Serini in the late Turkish Wars between Leopold the Emperor and Sultan Mahomet 4th and is now supplied by a Bridg of Boats somewhat below the former As Hungary aboundeth in Rivers so 't is not without its notable Lakes viz. the Lake Balaton or Platzee the Volcaea of old extending a great length between Vesprinium and the Dravus with some strong Forts upon it which put a stop unto the cruelty of Solyman's Soldiers when they destroyed all from Buda unto this Lake There is also the Newsidlar Sea by the Hungarians Terteu by Plin. Peiso A pleasant Lake seven German miles long and three broad in the Commotions of Botscay 14 Villages about this Lake were burnt by the Turks Tartars and Rebellious Heyducks The Rivers and Lakes of Hungary are abundant in Fishes The Tibissus or Teisse is esteemed the most Fishy River in Europe if not in the World. 'T is commonly said that it consisteth of two parts of Water and one of Fish and the River Bodrack which runs into the Tibiscus as aforesaid not far from Tokay is so full of Fish that in Summer-time when the River is low the people say the Water smells of Fish tho the River is thirty fathom broad and eight and a half deep This exceeding fertility some ascribe unto the Saline Tinctures both of its own stream and others accessionary unto it which lick the many Salt Mines under ground and so may carry some principles of faecundity with them The Danube aboundeth with many good Fishes as Trouts Perches large and delicious Carps a Fish called Scheyden much exceeding a Pike At some seasons great store of Hausans some 20 foot long esteemed a good Dish and somewhat like Sturgeon with many other sorts And as the Rivers are full of Fish so in the Winter they are covered with many sorts of Fowls The most considerable Cities of Hungary are Buda Hung. Aquincum or Acincum Ptol. Ant. teste Clev. Sicambria Curta aliis By the Germans called Offen by the French Bude by the Spaniards Italians and English Buda so called as some tell us from Buda the Brother of Attilla Anno Dom. 401. Others suppose it so called from Budini a famous Scythian people who engaged with Attilla in his famous Expedition Yet others tell us it was called Bada from the so many Renowned Baths in it 'T is distant from Belgrade 49 German miles and from Vienna 54 teste Baud. First taken from the Heathen Successors of Attila by Charles the Great 791 taken from the Hungarians by Sultan Solyman Anno Dom. 1526. Recovered the year following by King Ferdinand Brother to the Emperor Charles the Fifth who was Elected King by the four Orders of the States of the Kingdom But in the year 1529 it was retaken by Solyman and committed to John Zapolia Prince of Transylvania Ann. 1541 K. Ferdinand sent his General Roggendorf with an Army of 40000 men and 40 Cannon But the Turks coming in to their Assistance with a numerous Army the Germans were forced to raise the Siege Whereupon the Sultan politickly seized upon the City sent the young Prince Sigismund with the Princess his Mother into Transylvania and kept the Town in his own hands and made it the Seat of a Biglerbeg or Vice-Roy whose authority extended over all the Bashaws of Hungary In the year 1542 it was besieged by Joachim Elector of Brandenburgh who was forced to draw off and quit the Siege 1598 or 9 Count Swartzenburgh besieged it but the attempt miscarried Anno 1602 General Rosworm also with the Imperial Army attacked it in vain Whosoever shall read of the Sieges of 1684 and 1686 will find the Story of the most famous Sieges in the World where Blood was spilt like water and many brave men found their Graves where the Assailants equalling if not surpassing Titus storming Jerusalem and Abdi Bashaw no less bravely obstinate in defending his Trust than Villerius upon the Walls of
took the Croisado and were Installed at the Church or Hospital of St. Mary Jerusalem and called Marianites Their Order differed nothing from the Templers of St. John but in form and colour of their Cross After the taking of Jerusalem by Saladine these Knights went to Ptolomais from whence Frederick the Second sent for them into Germany to fight against the Prussians and Livonians who at that time were Pagans which War began in the year 1220. In a little while after these Knights had made themselves Masters of a Country of very large extent and obeyed the Order till 1525 at which time Sigismund King of Poland gave the Investiture of Prussia unto Albert Marquis of Brandenburg In the year 1563 the Great Master became Secular again and took part of the Lands subject to the Order with the Name of Duke of Courland 4. The Bishoprick of Eichstadt or Aichstadt Ala Narisca Ant. Aureatum teste Gasp Brocio near the Danube The chief of the Laicks are the Marquesses of Cullembach and Onsbach the Counts of Holac Wertheim and Erpach or Erbach who find their Original from a Daughter of Charlemagne who married to a Gentleman after she had carried him upon her back through the Court of the Palace The Imperial Towns are 1. Nuremberg Norimberg Nurnberg Germ. Nerobergae Noricorum Mons Norica Caesari A place of great Trade and well frequented by Merchants The fairest most priviledged richest and best Governed in Germany Here the new chosen Emperor ought to hold his first Diet and here are the Ornaments used at the Coronation of the Emperors viz. the Royal Crown The Dalmatick Gown The Imperial Cloak c. Here was Maximilians Wooden Eagle that flew a quarter of a mile and back again And here the Burgers have power to imprison their Children and cast them alive into the River Here Charles the Great designed to make a Communication of passage between the Danube and the Rhine by joyning the Rednitz and the Atmul Rivers whereby there might have been a Commerce by Water from the Low-Countries to Vienna and even unto the Euxine But some inconveniencies in the attempt and his Warlike diversions made him give over that Noble design 2. Frankfort Francfort or Franckfurt Francofurtum Francphordia Helenopotis olim Trajectus Francorum The passage or Ford of the Franks A Free City and reckoned in the Circle of Franconia by most Geographers though I rather take it to be in the Circle of the Higher Rhine It is renowned for its Book-Fairs or Marts in March and in September For its Fortress and for the Election of the Emperor It is a large and strong place divided into two parts Frankfurt and Saxenhausen by the River Maein united by a Stone-Bridg Other Imperial Towns in Franconia are 1. Schweinfurt Suevorum Trajectus Swinphordia Suvinfurtum seated in a fruitful Soil 2. Rotenburg al. Tuberum seated upon the River Tauber which some say is like Jerusalem for its Situation upon Hills and for its many Turrets 3. Weinsheim Vinisima Vinshemia Winshaim 4. Altdorff a University 1623. Of HASSIA ADjoining to Franconia on the North-west is the Landgravedom of Hessen or Hassia of a healthy Air and a fruitful Soil in Corn and Pasturages The greatest part of the Country is now divided into two Families the one of Cassel the other of Darmstat of the youngest House chief places belonging to the Landgraves are Cassel Cassella Cassilia Castella Cattorum Stereontium Ptol. teste Pyramio upon the River Fuld the chief Seat of the Landgraves 2. Marpurg or Martpurg Marpurgum Martis-burgam Mattiacum Ptol. teste Ortel Amasia Baud. upon the River Lohn an University founded in the year 1426 by Lewis Bishop of Munster Here the Landgraves have a stately and magnificent Castle mounted upon a high Hill without the Town enjoying a pleasant prospect and one of their chief places of Residence 3. Darmstad with its Castle is the Seat and Inheritance of the youngest House of the Landgraves Part of this Country of Hessen belongs to the Abbey of Fulda one of the richest and most celebrious in Europe Anno 1640. it was taken by Bannier and here he heard a Voice in the Air Be gone Bannier be gone for now the time is yet he lived to get that Victory at Homberg in Hassia between Fridberg and Francford But at the Battel near the River Sale valorously defending a Bank he was forced to yield and goeth to Halberstade where voiding much Blood and Matter through an Imposthume or breaking of a Vein he put an end to his life and to all his toyl and labours This Abbey was founded by St. Boniface an English man This Abbot is a Prince of the Empire and Arch-Chancellor of the Empress calls himself Primate of Gallia his County is called Buchen Buchovia from the plenty of Beeches To which we may add the Abbey of Hirchfeld betwixt Hessen and the Rhine and intermingled lies the Confederation of Wetteraw or a Combination of many Estates viz. 1. Earls or Counts of Nassaw from whence the Illustrious Grave Maurice and other Princes of Orange are descended 2. Solms well allied 3. Hanaw the Counts whereof have large Estates and a Justice from which their Subjects cannot appeal 4. To this Country belongs the Counts of Waldeck subject to the Lantgraves The Barons of Limborg have a Title of Semperfre The Counts of Swartsbourg are great in Riches with many others Of WESTPHALIA COntiguous on the North of Hessen lies the Circle of Westphalia a Country full of Woods which nourish many Swine which make excellent Bacon and abounding as plentifully in other places with Corn. This Country is divided amongst the Ecclesiasticks Counts and Imperial Cities The Bishops are 1. Munster a City seated on the River Ems Monasterium ol Minigrado Miningrade built by Charles the Great In the year 1533 called New Jerusalem by the Anabaptist and their King John of Leyden King of Sion who being at last besieged and taken was put on the top of a Steeple in an Iron Cage where he was eaten up by Flies and Wasps together with two of his Companions 2. Of Padeborn or Paderborn incolis of a miraculous Foundation 3. Minden Minda once a Bishoprick but now setled upon the Marquess of Brandenburg with the Title of Prince by Munster-Treaty as also is Ferden 4. Of Osnabruck or Osenbrug Osnabrugum seu Osnabrucum so made 776. a Carolo Magno The alternate possession whereof is given to the Duke of Brunswick for his Cession of his Bishoprick of Halberstat The chief Counts of Westphalia are first of East-friezland who in the year 1653 was raised to the Dignity of Prince whose Seat is at Aurick or Auricum 2. The Counts or Prince of Oldenburg Delmenhorst are totally extinguished by the death of Anthony Gunther in the year 1656. However famous in that the Kings of Denmark are descended from it ever since Christian Earl of Oldenburg was chosen King of Denmark Ann. 1448. 3. Of
Peerships and divers of new Creation a great number of Principalities Dukedoms Marquisates Earldomes Baronies and other Lordships Eleven Parliaments eight Chambers of Accounts 22 Generalities or Publick places of Receipt of the Kings Revenue There are four Principal Rivers the Seine whose Water is accounted the strongest in the World and more wholesome to drink than fountain-Fountain-water The Loire King of the French Rivers the Garonne most Navigable and the Rhone or Rosne most rapid By others thus Characterized the Loire the sweetest the Rhone the swiftest the Garonne the greatest and the Seine the richest The Seine riseth in Burgundy watering Paris and Roan disburdening it self into the English Channel The Sequana of Caesar The Loyre riseth about the Mountains of Avergne being the highest in France watering Nantes and Orleance and augmented with 72 lesser Rivers mingleth its sweet Waters in the Biscain or Gascogne Sea. The Ligeris of Caesar The Rhone or Rhosne springeth up about three miles from the Head of the Rhine watering Lions Avignon c. and taking in 13 lesser Rivers falleth into the Mediterranean Sea near Arles The Rhodanus of Caesar The Garone running from the Pyrenean Hills glideth by the Walls of Bourdeaux and Tholouse and with the addition of 16 other Rivers dilates it self into the Aquitain now Biscain Ocean The Garumna of Caesar The Mountains by Ancient Authors were the Gebâ—nna by Caesar Cammani Ptol. Ital. running along by Languedâ—c Chevennes and Avergne now les Sevennes The Jura Caes Jurassus Ptol. which divideth the French County from Savoy and the Swisses now called by several Names The Vogesus almost Encircling Lorrain and dividing it from Alsatia and Bourgondie now Dauge Mons c. There are several Divisions of France which respect the Church the Nobility the Courts of Justice and the Finances But it suffices here to say that the general state of the Kingdom was held Anno 1614 after the Majesty of Lovis the XIII and that then all the Provinces met under 12 great Governments Four of these Governments lie toward the North upon the Seine and those other Rivers that fall into it viz. Picardy Normandy the Isle of France and Champagne Towards the middle adjoyning to the Loire Bretagne Orlenoise Bourgogne Liâ—nnoise The other four toward the South near the Garonne viz. Guienne Languedoc Dauphine and Provence Under the Orlenoise is comprehended Maine Perche and Beauce On this side of the Loire Nivernois Tâ—uraine and Anjâ—u above the said River beyond it Poiciou Angoumois and Bâ—rry Burgundy hath Brest Under Lionnois are comprehended Lionnois Auvergne Bourbonnois and Marche Under Guienne is Bearne Gascogne and Guienne it self Saintonge Perigort Limâ—sin Querci and Rovergue Under Languedâ—c is Cevennes In each of these Governments are several great Cities the chief of which I shall speak of in Order viz. In Picardy the Storehouse of Paris for Corn is 1. Calais called by Caesar Portus Tecius Portus Britannicus Morinerum Plin. Prom. Icium Ptol. held by the English near 200 Years being taken by Edward the III. after eleven Months Siege in Anno 1347. and unfortunately lost by Queen Mary 1557. seated opposite to Dover in England from which it is distant about ten Leagues A strong Town of great Importance and accounted the Key of France Not far from Calais at a place called Agincourt was the Flower of the French Nobility taken and slain by King Henry the Fifth of England viz. 5 Dukes 8 Earls 25 Lords 8000 Knights and Gentlemen and 15000 common Soldiers 2. Bulloign Cesoriacum Navale Ptol. Portus Morinorum Plin. Civit. Bononensium Ant. Portus Gessoriacus of Caesar a strong Frontier-Town taken by Henry the VIII of England 1544. at which time the Emperor Maximilian bore Arms under the English Cross 3. Amiens Samarobrina Caes Samarobriga Ptol. Civit. Ambianensis Ant. a Walled Town seated upon the Seine well Fortified with an Impregnable Cittadel built by Henry the IV. But most Famous for its Cathedral so beautified within and adorned without that 't is the fairest and most lovely Structure in the West of Europe 4. St. Quintin Augusta Romanduorum Ptol. Civit. Veromannorum Ant. Quinctinopolis Fanum St. Quinctine in Scriptis Gall. two Leagues from Augusta Veromanduorum now Vermand Baud. Crecie the French Cannae famous for their great Overthrow and the Victory of the English in the Reign of Philip the Sixth A strong Frontier-Town Memorable for the Battel there Anno 1557. where King Philip the II. of Spain with the English under the Command of the Earl of Pembroke overthrew the whole Forces of the French. Laon a Bishops Sea whose Bishop is one of the Twelve Peers of France Laudunum Ant. Soissons Augustata Vessonum Ptol. a Bishops See the last place the Romans held in Gaul driven out by Clovis the Fifth 5. Guise of most Note for the Dukes of Guise a Family that in a little time produced two Cardinals and six Dukes besides many Daughters married into the best Houses of France In Normandy formerly Neustria are 1. Rouen or Roan Rothamagus Ptol. Rotomagentium Ant. seated on the Banks of the River Seine over which there is a Famous Bridge of Boats. Taken by Henry the Fifth after six Months Siege where were famished 50000 and 12000 Starvelings turned out of the Town An Arch-Bishops See and Parliament In the Chief Church called Nostre-Dame is the Sepulchre of John Duke of Bedford It is a place of as great a Trade as any in France and one of the Principal Cities where Exchanges are used 2. Dieppe a City of some Trade being a common Landing-place for the English in their Passage into France And is famous for its fidelity and allegiance to Henry the Fourth when the Guisian Faction in derision called him King of Dieppe 3. Falaise once a strong Town Memorable for the Story of Arlet the Skinners Daughters of whom Duke Robert begat William the Conqueror in spight to whom and disgrace to his Mother the English call Whores Harlots Here also was the Roy d' Juidot and Verneil when besieged by Philip the Second of France King Richard the First of England to keep his promise broke through the Palace of Westminster and raised the Siege Haure de Grace Newhaven by the English in Latin Franciscopolis a Cautionary Town to Queen Elizabeth Portus Gratiae of old Auranches Ingena Ptol. Civit. Abrincantum Ant. Constances Constantia Ant. Cherbourg Caesaris Burgum a strong Sea-coast Town Bayeux Cit. Bajocassium Ant. Caen Cadomum graced with a University founded by King Henry the Fifth King of England and the Abbey with the Tombs of William the Conqueror and Maud his Wife Lyseux Cit. Lexoviorum Ant. Eureux Mediolanum Ptol. c. The third Government is the Isle of France whose City is Paris formerly Lutetia because seated in a Clayie Soil A City that for its Riches Power and Number of Inhabitants may contend with any in Europe Seated on the Seine and on a Soil so fertile that no City knows such Plenty 't
Catholick and are most strict to the Rites of the Roman Church and of the Faith and Doctrine therein professed the Inquisition being introduced against all other beliefs only there are some Churches in Toledo where the Mus Arabic Office is used The Language is not the same in all places in some parts it hath a mixture of the French in Granado and part of Andaluzia it partakes much of the Moorish In other parts there is the Gothish Arabick and old Spanish but that which is common to them all is the Vulgar Spanish or Castilian which hath much affinity with the Latin and is said to be a brave lofty swelling Speech Their Civil and Imperial Laws generally used among them are inter-mixed with many Customs of the Goths the Edicts and Constitutions of their several Kings those of the Goths first committed unto writing and to order by Euricus first King of the Goths those of Castile digested by Ferdinand the Fifth into seven Books called Partidas which are read and disputed on in the publick Schools as well as the Decretals the Code the Pandects or any other part of Civil or Common Law. The Country is not very fertil in Corn or Cattel but where it is productive of the Fruits of Nature it yields to no part of Europe for Delight and Pleasure but for the most part it is either over-grown with Woods or cumbred with Rocky Mountains the Soil of a hot and Sandy Nature and deficient in Water their chief Food being Sallets and Fruits which appear in greater Ripeness and Perfection than in other places In Recompence of Corn and Flesh they have several Rich Commodities viz. Wines Oyls Sugar several Metals Rice Silk Licoras Honey Wax Saffron Anniseed Raisons Almonds Oranges Limons Cork Soap Anchovies Soda Barrellia Samack Wool Lambskins Tobacco c. besides the Gold and Silver which they bring out of America whereby they furnish themselves with those other Conveniences which they want In the year 1618 it was affirmed that since the first Discovery thereof by Columbus the Spaniard had drawn out of it above fifteen hundred and thirty six Millions of Gold of which the European Merchants share the greatest part And their Necessity of Purchasing Foreign Commodities empties their Purses and their getting of this Gold and Silver depopulates and weakens the Country The Horses of this Country are in general Esteem but those of Andaluzia more than the rest however they Travel upon Mules and Asses by reason of the roughness of the Mountains Here lived in ancient times the Giants Geryon and Cacus overcome by Hercules Seneca the Tragedian and Seneca the Philosopher Quintilian the Orator Lucian and Martial Pomponius Mela the Geographer Fulgentius and Isidore Bishops Arius Montanus Osorius Tostatus Masius For Soldiers it had Theodosius the Great Barnard del Carpio Cid Rues Dias Sancho of Navarr Ferdinand the Catholick and Charles the Emperor The Mountains of Spain may be distinguished into six greater Ridges continued and knit together and whereof the rest are parts The first are the Pyrenei Montes Strab. Mons Pyrenaeus Plin. Pyrene Ptol. Los Montes Pyreneus Hisp Les Montes Pyrenees Gal. Monti Pyrenei Ital. extending from the Cantabrian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea once the Bounds between France and Spain which in several places have divers Names which we shall not here mention The second are the Idubeda of Strab. Mela. Ptol. aliis the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Seld. extending from the Pyrenes near the Springs of the River Ebro Southwards towards the Levant Sea having divers Names in several places A third Row of Mountains are coasting all along the Shore of the Cantabrian Ocean the Juga Asturum Plin. a more eminent top hereof is the Mountain St. Adrian from whose top Vasaeus Brugensis saith he saw both the Cantabrian and Mediterranean Seas now Sierra d'las Asturias Monte d'Oca Vill. Sierra d'Oviedo Coquo Vindius Mons Ptol. A fourth Ridg or Branch of Mountains are the Orospeda of Strab. the Ortospeda of Ptol. which at Alcaraz part into two Branches the one tending towards Murcia and the Levant Sea. The other passing through Granada ends at the Strait of Gibralter the Extreme Point whereof was called Calpe One of the two Famous Pillars of Hercules opposite to which on the African side of the Straits was the Mountain Abila the other Pillar the narrow Sea between was from hence called Fretum Herculeum now the Straits of Gibralter Out of the Orospeda about the Town of Alcaraz brancheth the fifth Ridg of the Mountain called Sierra Morena running along the River Guadalquiver until it ends at the Atlantique Ocean The Mons Marianus of Ptol. and the Saltus Castulonensis of Caesar The Scene of the Warlike Exploits of Don Quixot de la Mancha The sixth Branch begins about the Springs of the Duero and keeping the River Taio upon the left-side parteth New Castile from the Old and divides Portugal into two parts ending at the Town Sintra some 30 miles from Lisbon Some Authors reckon this the Idubeda Branch But we find not any known Name new or ancient only part hereof in Castile was by Pliny called Juga Carpetanta and part of it in Portugal Lunoe Mons by Ptol. The chief of its New Names are Sierra de Tornas Vaccas Montas d'Avela Sierra Molina The Principal Rivers of Spain the Duero Durius Plin. very full of Fish The Tagus Strab. now Taio Renowned for its Golden Sand. The Guadiana Anas Strab. which they say runs under Ground The Gualdalquiver Baetis Strab. the deepest of all The Ebro Iberus Strab. famous by its Name They all of them have their Sources in Castile but are not so Navigable as those in France The Guadiana has given occasion to the Spaniards to say that they have the Richest Bridge in the World upon which generally feed above 10000 Sheep and over which a good Army may March in Battel-array The Ancients may have seem'd to have called this River very properly Anas by reason it dives into the Earth and rises out again as a Duck does in the Water Some of the Moderns say that they are certain Mountains that swallow up this River Others affirm that it only falls into the Dikes and Graffs which the Country People make to Water the Country which is very Barren however this is certain that this running under Ground happens to be near the Springs of Guadiana and not towards Merida as marked down in the Old Maps To say truth this is one of the three Miracles of Spain of which the two others are a City encompassed in fire that is with Walls of Flint-stones as Madrid and a Bridg over which the Water runs as is the Aquaduct of Segovia The Cities of this Kingdom have their Names from their Excellency Sevil the Merchandizing Granada the Great Valencia the Fair Barcelona the Rich Saragossa the Contented Valadolid the Gentile Toledo the Ancient Madrid the Royal. It comprehends 8 Arch-Bishopricks and 45 Bishopricks The Arch-Bishopricks are
born Asmere is famous for the Sepulchre of Hogi Hendown Bando and Janupar are three Provinces near Agra and Delli Rotas is one of the strongest places in Asia Brampore Baramatis Ptol. is a great City but much ruined with a Castle in the midst of it of a great Trade for Calicuts some painted with Flowers of divers Colours others white and clear and some striped with Gold and Silver Chytor is a City upon a high Rock claiming Precedency for Antiquity amongst all the Cities of India of old Taxilla supposed to be the Metropolis whence King Porus issued against great Alexander After which Battel Alexander celebrated the Bacchanalia at the Mount Maeres and for 15 days glutted his Army with those mystick Fopperies and constituted his Argyâ—aspides And at Nyssa built by Bacchus upon the Bank of the Hydaspis a Branch of the River Indus Alexander reposed famous in those days for the Sacred Mount and incomparable Vines there abounding which some think to be the first Plantation of the Patriarch Noâ—h Scronge and Chitpour are of great Trade for painted Calicuts called Chites those of Seronge are the most lively Colours and lasting Hallabas or Elabasse the Chrysoborca in Plin. by some Nisua teste Herb. is a great City upon the Confluence of Jeminy and Ganges which River there is no broader than the Seine before the Loure and at some times in the year so little water that it will not bear a small Boat much resorted to by the Bannyans for the Relicks of divers deformed Pagothia's These Bannyans swarm in multitudes all over the Indies sucking in the sweetness of Gain by an immeasurable thirst and industry But the Moors and Gentiles often ravish it from them for the Bannyan is no Hestor nor Fighter but morally honest courteous in Behaviour temperate in Passion decent in Apparel abstemious in their Diet industrious in their Callings charitable to the Needy humble to all and so innocent as not to take away the life of the smallest Vermin believing the Transanimation of Souls into Beasts a Persuasion though strange to us was not to our Country-men the Druidae of old Elora not much above three hours from Doltabad is famous for the many Pagods of Gigantick Figures of Men and Women cut in the Rock so that if one considers the number of spacious Temples full of Pillars and Plasters and the many Thousands of Figures all cut out of a Natural Rock it may be truly said That they are Works surpassing Human Force The River Ganges having received an infinite number of Brooks and Rivers from the North-East and West discharges itself by several Mouths into the Gulph of Bengala making several pleasant Islands containing many Towns covered with lovely Indian Trees Patna is one of the greatest Cities of India upon the Banks of Ganges about two Leagues long where the Hollanders have an House because of their Trade in Salt-petre Daca is a great Town about two Leagues long by the side of Ganges where the English and Hollanders have very fair Houses for their Goods and Trade reckon'd the Capital City of Bengala At Ouguely is the general Factory of the Dutch and at Kâ—ssen Baser is the House of the Director of all the Holland Factories in Bâ—ngala Kachemire Cachmir and Kichmir Thev is esteemed the little Paradise of India by reason of its Beauty At Banareus upon the Banks of Ganges and Jaganate upon the mouth of it are the ch ef Pagods than which nothing can be more magnificent by reason of the quantity of Gold and Jewels wherewith they are adorned and millions of People repair thither to celebrate their Festivals Bengala famous for its temperate Air for the Fertility of the Soil for the great store of Rice for its Cane or Bamboo's and its Calamba wood which yields the most pleasant scent in the world It gives its Name to one of the most famous Gulphs of Asia called Golfo de Bengala the Sinus Gangeticus of Ptol. It s yearly Revenue paid to the Mogul comes to a Million and 500000 Roupies clear the chief City thereof is Bengala by some Satigan Gange Ptol. Ganges Strabo Thevenot calls this Province Oulesser the Idolaters Jaganat Besides these Countries I find mention made by Mr. Tavernier 1. Of the Kingdom of Bouton of a large Extent famous for Musk Rhubarb Wormseed and Furrs and the Caravan is three months travelling from Patna to Boutan the way being generally through Forests and over Mountains which after you have passed the Country is good abounding in Rice Corn Pulse and Wine They have had for a long time the use of Musquets and Cannon and their Gunpowder is long but of great Force The Natives are strong and well proportioned but their Noses and Faces are somwhat flat and there is no King in the world more feared and more respected than the King of Boutan 2. Of the Kingdom of Tipra adjoining to Pegu of whose extent there is no certain Conjecture to be made there is a Mine of Gold but course as also a sort of course Silk which is the greatest Revenue the King hath 3. Of the Kingdom of Asem which is one of the best Countries in all Asia producing all things necessary for human sustenance yet Dogs flesh is the greatest delicacy there are Mines of Gold Silver Lead Iron and store of Silk and Gumlake Kenerof is the Name of the City where the King keeps his Court and at Azo are the Tombs of the Kings of Asem and 't is thought that these are the first Inventers of Guns and Powder which from thence spread into China They have Vines but make no Wine but dry their Grapes to make Aquavitae and of the Leaves of Adam's Fig-tree they make Salt. The Men and Women are generally well-complexioned but swarthy subject to Wens in their Throats as well as those of Bouton and Tipra They go Naked only covering their Privy Parts and a Blue Bonnet or Cap upon their Heads with Bracelets upon their Ears Arms and Legs The PENINSULA On this side GANGES INDIA on this side GANGES by R. Morden Cancer THis Peninsula is comprehended between the Mouths of Indus and Ganges and advances Northwards from the Estate of the Mogul to Cape Cormorin in the South and on the East and West it is washed by the Ocean or Indian Sea. It is divided into two parts by the Mountains of Gata which stretch themselves from the North to the South with several fair Plains on the top and occasion several Seasons at the same time for many times it is Winter on the one side and Summer on the other It belongs to above fifty Kings the potentest of which by degrees subdueth the rest The Portugals English and Hollanders have several places near the Sea with Fortresses for the security of their Trade which is generally in Spices Jewels Pearls and Cotten-Linen The other places upon the Land are inhabited by the Natives whose Petty Sovereigns not being able to hinder the Settlement of the Europeans
this Tree is so broad and large that it will cover 15 or 20 Men and keep them dry when it rains and the Pitch within the Tree is good to eat and tastes much like to white Bread. There is also the Kettale-Tree which yields a delicious Juice rarely sweet and pleasant to the Palat which they take from the Tree two or three times a day which Liquor they boil and make a kind of Sugar The Cinnamon-Tree grows wild in the Woods as other Trees and by them no more esteemed being as plenty as Hazel in England The Cinnamon is the Bark or Rind which when on the Tree looks whitish when they pull it off they scrape it and dry it in the Sun. The Wood hath no smell 't is of a white colour and soft like Fir. The Leaf much resembles Laurel both in colour and thickness The young Leaves look red like Scarlet if bruised they will smell more like Cloves than Cinnamon It bears a Fruit which is ripe in September much like an Acorn but smaller it neither tastes nor smells like as the Bark but being boiled in Water it will yield an Oil which when cold is hard as Tallow and white and of an excellent smell and 't is used for Ointment for Aches and Pains and to burn in Lamps There is also the Ovula the Fruit whereof they make use of for Physick in Purges and being beat in pieces in a Mortar and soak'd in Water it will Dye a very good Black and rusty Iron lying one Night in the Water will become bright and the Water black like Ink. The Betel-Tree whose Leaf is so much loved and eaten grows like Ivy twining about Trees or Poles which they stick into the ground for it to run up by and as the Betel grows the Poles grow also Of Roots they have Aloes or Inyames of divers sorts some they plant and others grow wild in the Woods These serve for Food and for Sause or a Relish to their Rice some of them in a year or two will grow as big as a Man's Waste others as big as a Man's Arm. They have Herbs of several sorts some in six months growing to maturity the Stalk as high as a Man can reach and being boiled almost as good as Asparagus They have Coleworts Carrots Radishes Fennel Balsam Spearmint Mustard There is also Fern Indian Corn several sorts of Beans Cucumbers Calabassa's and Pumkins And the Dutch have Lettice Rosemary Sage and other European Herbs and Plants which grow well there The Woods are their Apothecaries Shops where with Herbs Leaves and the Rinds of Trees they make all their Physick and Plaisters with which they will make notable Cures Of Flowers they have great variety growing wild as Roses red and white and several other sorts of sweet smelling Flowers one called the Sendric-mal of a murry colour and white which opens at 4 of the Clock in the Evening and shuts at 4 in the Morning which serves them somtimes instead of a Clock The Pichamauls are a white Flower like our Jasmine well scented the King hath a parcel of them every Morning brought to him wrapt in a white Cloth but the Hon-mauls are the chief Flowers the young People use and are of greatest value among them They have Cows Buffaloes Hogs Goats Deer in great abundance Hares Dogs Jacols Apes Tygers Bears Elephants There are Ants of divers sorts some worthy our Remark viz. the Coura-atch which is a great and black Ant living in the ground making great hollow Holes in the earth and have no sting The Vaco's are the most numerous whose hinder part is white and the head red They eat and devour all they come at except Iron and Stone They creep up the Walls of Houses and build an Arch of Dirt over themselves all the way as they climb be it never so high and in places where there are no Houses they will raise great Hills or Humbosses some 5 or 6 Foot high so hard and strong as not easily digged down with Pickaxes within full of hollow Vaults and Arches where they dwell Their Nests are much like Honey-Combs full of Eggs and young Ones As they encrease in multitude so they also dye in multitude for when they come to maturity they have Wings and in the Evening after Sun-set they issue forth in vast Numbers that they almost darken the Sky flying to such a height as they go out of sight and so keep flying till they fall down dead upon the Earth Of the ISLES of SONDE The Isles of SONDA By Rob t Morden The ISLES of SONDE THE Streight of Sonde gives its Name to the Isles of Sumatra Java and Borneo that lie not far from it It is the ordinary passage for Vessels that are bound for China and the more Eastern Seas the Air of these three Islands is very unwholsom nor do they afford those Provisions which the Continent doth The Inhabitants of the Uplands are Pagans of the Sea-Coasts Mahumetans They have several Kings potent as well by Sea as by Land. They afford rich Commodities especially Spices which the Portugals the Hollanders and the most part of the other Nations of the World fetch from thence Sumatra is the most famous Island in all the East for Largeness and Riches For it is 300 French Leagues long and 70 broad having several Mines of Gold. It lies 10 Leagues from the Continent and the Ancients believ'd it to be a Peninsula by reason of the several little Islands that seem to join it to the Land. Six Kings command it the King of Achem best known to us of Camper Iambi Menancabo and Palimban They have so well defended their Island that the Europeans could never get footing on it There is a Mountain that casts forth Flames like Mount Gibel The Pepper of this Island is better than that of Malabar because the Land is more moist They find Gâ—ld in grains and in little pieces after the great Flouds of water The Inland part is inhabited by Barbarians that will eat the Raw Flesh of their Enemies with Pepper and Salt. The City of Achem is the best in the Island it has been better than it is it lies half a League from the Sea upon a Plain by the side of a River as large as the Seine in France but very shallow There is also a Fortress upon the Bank of the River Java governed by several petty Kings every City having one Among the rest the Kings of Japara Tuban Jottan Panarvan Panarucan and Palambuam Many are Pagans some are Mahumetans and the most part acknowledge the great Materan or the Emperor of Materan who formerly claimed the Sovereignty over the whole Island Upon the Coast grow Oysters that weigh 300 pound The Isle produces such large Canes that one alone suffices to make a Boat. It affords excellent Lignum Aloes Salt from Jottan and Gold and Pepper in abundance The Southern Coast is last known It is one of the largest Islands in Asia and for its
Teguleth Tejeut are places of Trade Tesegfeldt the Tamasida or Thamusida of Ant. teste Marmol and Xleusugagen are the most considerable of those in the Mountains The Isle Mogador near the Cape of Ocem is distant from the Coast about two Leagues where is built a Fort to guard the Mines of Gold and Silver which are in the neighbouring Mountains Gozoporto is the Suriga of Ptol. teste Curione Ducala Province is the most Northern part of the Kingdom of Morocco whose chief Cities are Azamer taken by the Portugals 1613 since retaken by the Moors who have a strong Garison there the Thymaterium Hanno Thymiateria Steph. teste J. Marian. Ramusio Magazan is so strongly fortified by the Portugals that 200000 have in vain besieged it Tite was by them dismantled Asafi or Saffa hath a French Consul The Province of Hascora hath Elmadine for its chief City once accounted the Capital of the Country whose Inhabitants addict themselves to Arts Traffick and Manufactures Tegodaft hath fair Women Elgiumuha is governed by Artizans as Tegodaft admits of none but Nobles Bzo is a place of some Trade The Province of Teldes hath the rich City of Tefza built by the old African Moors beautified with many Mahometan Mosques and its Walls a kind of Marble In these two Provinces are great quantities of Goats of whose Skins are made the Cordovants and of their Hair plain and watered Camolets Their Grapes are said to be as big as Pullets Eggs. The chief Rivers of Morocco are the Sus the Una of Ptol. teste Marmol that waters the Southern part the Tensift that divides it in the middle the Asama of the Ancients the Ommiraby which separates it from Fez the Rusibis Ptol. Rusubi Vic. Uticensi Rutubis Plin. Umarabea teste Marmol The Asifnual that makes an Abyss or Gulph like to that of Sivoli in Italy The Agmet loseth itself under-ground The Commodities of this Country bearing the Name of Mercantil are Flax Hemp Honey Wax Sugar Hydes Marokins or Cordavants Course Twine Dates Almonds Camolets and other Manufactures as Mats of a curious Straw Mantles Alheicks and in some places store of Saltpetre As for the fabulous abundance of Gold there is no Truth in it The Kingdoms of Fez and Morocco ought to be considered in three sorts of Lands Mountains Campaigns and Coasts The Mountains and Vallies are almost all in the hands of the Alarbes and Barabars who live partly Free and partly Tributary to the Zeriffs The Coasts in part belong to the Moors and part to the Spaniards and Portugals these holding those on the Atlantick the other on the Mediterranean Sea. The Alarbes are by the Europeans called Mountaineers living in Haimas or Tents more rudely and rovingly shifting from Mountain to Mountain according to their Exigences or Fickle Humors carrying with them their Itinerary Habitations Robbery being their best Livelihood The other sort of Moors are called Barabars or Brebers these have fixed Dwellings and live in Neighborhood and gather into Aldea's Cavila's or Villages Over these Barabars are subordinate Governors or Almocadens to whom they pay a dutiful Observance their Vocation is Tillage and Grazing The Moors are of a large Stature strong Constitution stately Carriage differing in Complexion according to their conversing with the Sun and Air jealous and revengeful implacable in their hatred and impatient till they have avenged an Injury The Female Moors if preserved from the Injuries of the Sun and Weather are generally well complexioned full bodied and of good Symmetry those that live in Towns are enclined to Paleness seldom stirring abroad unless to visit the Sepulchres of their deceased Friends in Devotion to pray for their Felicity and in the Night-time to the Baths for Health and Cleanliness but always closely vailed that no part is visible but an Eye In the state of Matrimony their principal study is to please their Husbands and to render themselves delightful to their Conversation Those Husbands that are able allow their Wives Negro's or Black Women to do all the servile Offices in the Family yet there is no Quality that sit idle for the chief of the Morisco Dames employ their time in some thrifty Housewifery In their Visits one to another no Man though never so near a Relation can be admitted into their Society to prevent which she that makes the Visit first sends to know whether the Husband be at home if not then she goes to her Gossips Apartment where she is entertained with a Liberality that never injures her Husband And if the Husband chanceth to return home in the interim of the Visit he is careful to give no Interruption but upon Notice quickly departs the House which intimated to the Visitant she also shortens the Visit This prevents the custom of expensive Gossippings with which in some Nations so many Wives are debauched and Husbands beggar'd The Women are indeed kept in great subjection and retirement which makes Adultery a Stranger to their Bed Nor can it reasonably be otherwise seeing that the Wife is fully assured that the very Attempt to pilfer a Pleasure if discovered will cost her her Life There is a great appearance of Piety in the customary Expressions and Salutations of the Moors in the beginning of any Labour or Journy with Zeal and Humility they will look up to Heaven and with a low Voice say Bismillah that is In the Name of God Intimating That nothing ought to be enterprized but in the power and hope of the Divine Favor and Help And when the Work or Journy is finished they say Ham der Illah Thanks be unto God denying all Ascriptions of Success to themselves When they meet upon the Road their Greeting is El ham dillah al salam tipsi i. e. God be praised that I see thee well In passing by one another Salem alleque Peace be with thee At the hearing of one another sneeze they say God be your Keeper The like Air and Genius of Devotion and Piety is observable in their Letters This Country abounds with Giamma's Moschs or Churches to which the Moors perform a great Reverence and Liberality never suffering them to be prophaned nor to want a competent Stock to keep them in Repair their Situation is East and West In greater Towns there are many Giamma's in Tituan 15 in Alcazar more in Arzilla 5 and in Fez 700. The Moors have at this day no Schools of Science like the European Universities and Colleges As for the College called Amarodock in Fez whose Structure cost King Aba Henan 480000 Crowns and which has been so often celebrated for its delightful Situation Mosaick Arches and Brazen Gates it is now wholly destitute of Students There are only petty Schools to write and read and when the Pupil can read the Alcoran with perspicuity and understand the principal Points it contains and bears good a affection to the Priesthood and is informed of the Rites of the Giamma which are few and easie and is deemed competent for Age and Learning
there is little or no Rain there are few or no Fountains and that where there is much they abound He tells us that Nilus which for the length of its Course the abundance of its Waters its sweetness wholsomness and fertility exceeds all the Rivers of the World owes its rise to the Kingdom of Gojam in Habâ—ssinia found out by the Travels of the Portugals and by the sedulity of the Fathers which was so long and unsuccessfully sought for by the Antients and Kircher hath described them from the relation of P ter Pays who saw them himself which differs not much from what Gregory an Ethiopian hath written of it viz. That it hath five Heads that it encircles Gojam and passing by several Kingdoms of Habassia reviews the Kingdom of Senna and travels to the Country of Dengala Thence it turns to the right hand and comes to a Country called Abaim before it arives in Nubia where by reason of Clifts and Rocks its Stream is divided into two Branches one running South to drench the thirsty Fields of Egypt the other West to quench the drowth of those Sands in the Country of the Negrites It is called in the Scripture Shibber from its darkness because it carries Waters troubled with Mud from the Fields of Ethiopia and by the Greeks for the same reason 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Habessines Abawi in their vulgar Language but in the Ethiopick Gejon or Gewon from a mistake of the Greek Gâ—on and Hebrew Gebon He says the antient Geographers tâ—ought it to take its rise beyond the Equinoctial in I know not what Mountains of the Moon thinking it might receive its increase by the Winter Rains of those Regions For they could not persuade themselves that the Sun being in the Northern Signs there could be Winter and Rain enough so near to raise so great a River from them After it has past about forty Leagues from its source which is in an elevated but trembling and moorish Ground it enters a vast Lake in Dembeâ— and passes it without mixing its Waters as the Rhâ—â—e does the Lake Lemanus and the Rhine Aeronius The cause of the Inundation of Nile is from the great Rains falling in many Regions of the Torrid-Zone upon the Suns retiring back into the Winter Signs It has been the opinion of some that it has been formerly in the power of the King of the Habessines to divert Nilus from its course into Egypt and to drive it into the Red-Sea there being at a certain place an absolute fall of Land to convey it thither only one Mountain being cut through though now that place where it could be diverted is possest by others He mentions another River in Ethiopia called Hawas which passing a great way from its Source sinks at length into the Sands never going to the Sea as other Rivers do Also that the Rivers Melegi and Tacazae abounding with Crocodiles fall into the Nilus That the River Mareb rising in Tygrâ— encompassing great part of the Kingdom hides its self under ground and then rises and after a continued course it disperses and leaves its divided Waters in the Sands of Dequin The Soyl is so fertile that in some places they sow and have Crops twice and in others thrice a Summer They make Bread of a sort of Corn called Tâ—f thought to be the same with our Rye though they have Wheat Barley c. They make no Winter Provisions for Cattle the Soyl yielding always Herbage enough nor lay up any stores for other years for themselves confiding in the fertility of their Soyl for their Fields are always pleasant and always smiling with a Flowry Grace He says they have an Herb called Assazoe which by its touch or even shadow so stupifies all Serpents and venemous Creatures that you may handle them without offence and that he who has eaten the Root of it is secured from them for many years And he is of opinion that the Psylli of Africa had the Virtue of curing the bitings of Serpents by the touch through the use of this Herb. The Amadmagda that cures broken and disjoynted Bones as the Ossifraga of Norway snâ—ps the Bones of Cattle that tread upon it They have a Tree called â—uâ—ets resembling the Indian Fig tree which is four yards thick if shrowded it sprouts forth with a world of young Shoots which are all good Food so that this Tree need not bear any Fruit being indeed all Fruit if sliced and boiled it assuages thirst He tells us that by reason of the plenty of Herbage and the heat of the Climate Quadrupedes and 〈◊〉 are much bigger in Ethiopia and India than with us They have strong and excellent Horses but never shoe them nor use them but in War employing Mules in all their drudgâ—ry They have the known sort of Sheep with great Tails of which some weigh above forty pounds They have multitudes of Elephants but never use them To say they have Lyons Tygers Panthers Wolves Hyaena's Camel Panthers higher than Elephants c. it 's no more than other Countries yield But he says they have a Beast called Zecora or Zembra exceeding in beauty all Quadrupeds it is about the bigness of a Mule and naturally gentle his Body is all encompast with interchangeable Circles of Black and of a lively Ash colour and this with such an Elegancy and Order that they surpass the Art of the best Painter to imitate them His Ears only are a little disproportionate being too long One of them was sold by the Basha of Bâ—â—quena for two thousand Venetian pieces for a present to the Great Mogul They have thousands of Apes feeding chiefly on Worms which they find under Stones Hence in the Mountains where they use you will scarce find a Stone unturned be it never so grâ—at for if two or three cannot move it they call more aiâ— They eat also Ants and sometimes devour whole Fields of Fruit. They have also an innocent and very pleasant Animal being a sort of little Monkey of which there is an elegant Ethiopick Rhime in Latin thus Hominem non laedo frumentum non edo oderunt me frustra It is of a various colour full of greyish specks They are extreme tender so that unless they are cloathed and kept warm they cannot be brought to us He tells us also of some that have seen the fam'd Unicorn there an Animal of the form and size of a midling Horse of a bright Bay Colour with a black Mane and Tail and with a fair Horn in his Forehead five Palms in length being somewhat whitish For Water and Amphibious Animals he says they have the Hippopotamus thought to be the Behemoth in Job and the Sea-Horse of the Greeks the Crocodile the Water-Lizard and amongst others the Torpedo with which they cure Tertian and Quarian Agues The way is thus They bind the Patient fast on a Table and then apply the Torpedo to his Joints which causes a very cruel torture in all his
form approaches near a Triangle whose sides are almost equal It s situation is for the most part under the Torrid Zone the rest under the Antartick temperate Zone The Coasts of this part of the World are in part known to us but the Inlands very little And here I must beg pardon for my digression from the usual Order and Method of Geographers for being necessarily oblidg'd to wait upon some of our North American Proprietors for a more exact Description than what is generally extant And the haste of the Press pressing me for more Work I was forced to take this Course to begin at the most Southern part of America and to proceed to the more Northerly and so finish this Circle of Geography Come we therefore to TERRA MAGELLANICA By Rob Morden MAgellanica lies upon the South of America near the Streight of Magellan whose name it still retains though sometimes call'd the Country of the Patagâ—ns It is a very poor Country and subject to cold by reason of the high Mountains where the Snow lies almost all the year As for the Natives they live in Caves and adore the Devil that he may do them no harm The Spaniards English and Dutch have given various Names to the Places where they have been In the first part of the Reign of King Philip the Second the Spaniards built Câ—â—dâ—d deâ— Rey Philippe and several other Forts upon the Eastern Entrance in the Straits of Magellan to hinder their Enemies from passing that way but all signified little or nothing because of the wideness of the Streight and the whole Colony perished for want of Provisions For which reason that City was afterwards called the Port of Hunger Port Saint Julian where Magellan winter'd and punished his Mutineers Port Desire upon the Eastern Coast This Port otherwise called Bay de los Trabayos has an entrance about half a League broad with two little Islands and two Rocks which are not to be seen at high Water The Soil is a white Sand without Trees However there is fresh Water of which the Ships provide themselves that are bound toward the Streight Magellan Drake Cavendish Oliver of the North Maire Schouten and others have all passed the same Streight The relations of the Spaniards affirm that there are Men there ten foot high Those relations add Demi-Giants that will carry each of them a Tun of Wine c. They call them Patagons The English who lately passed the Magellan Streight report things quite contrary and say that the Natives of that Country are no bigger than our Europeans In the year 1669 his Majesty of Great Britan his Royal Highness the Duke of York and several others of the Nobility designed a better discovery of the Southern part of Chili In order whereunto were two Ships sent out the one called the Sweepstakes under the conduct of the adventurous and worthy Commander Sir John Narborough and the other the Batchelor who proceeding on their Voyage near the Streights of Magellan about Rio S. Julian losing one the other the Batchelor returned home with an apprehension that his Consort was lost But contrarily the Sweepstakes very honourably proceeded on her Voyage passed through the Streights into Mar-del Zur and failed all along the Coast of Chili unto Baldivia which is under the Command of the Spaniards who by a pretended friendship betrayed and detained four of the English all endeavors of Sir John for their relief being ineffectual he was forced to leave them behind and so he returned back through the Streights and in June 1671 came to London giving great hopes and expectation of a very advantageous Trade in those Parts by reason of the abundance of Gold and Silver in that Country Out of whose Journals I have taken these following Memorials That the difference of Longitude from St. Jago to Penguin Island was 46d 38 m and Meridian distant was 2321 Miles 7 / 10. Soals Bay in Latitude â—8 d 15 m at the North end of this Bay was a Rocky Island full of Seals therefore called Seals Bay. In Spiring Bay lie three Rocky Islands On the North side of Spiring Bay Penguin Island about a Mile and a half from the Main so full of Penguins that they knocked them down with sticks and are about the bigness of a Goose they cannot fly nor go very fast having no Wings but small Stumps that they swim with that they get their Food out of the Sea. Port Desire lies in the Latitude 47d 30 m and from St. Jago 46d 38 m Longitude where is six Fathom Water at low Water Northward Off Port Desire there lies a League of Rocks and are about a League from the Shore And on the South side is Penguin Island and just at the entrance of it on the South side is a spired Rock much like a Steeple or Watch Tower which is a good Mark and stands about ½ a Mile from the Sea side and the River runs up about thirty Miles A barren Land little Wood or fresh Water and no People were seen by the English There were great store of Weyetnacks or Spanish Sheep plenty of Hares and Estriches abundance of Ducks Mallards also Ducks Curlews Black-shanks White-breasts and great blew Ducks as big as Geese and store of Seals upon an Island up the River the English found a piece of Lead nailed to a Post and a Tin-Box with a Paper left by Captain Jagus Lamir dated December 8. 1615. It is high Water at twelve of the Clock upon the Full Moon or Change and at Spring Tides it Ebbs and Flows about three Fathoms right up and down the Harbors mouth is but narrow being about a Musket shot from side to side Port Julian lies in the Latitude of 49d 00 m A Mile within the Narrow there is nine Fathom Water at high Water and but four Fathom at low Water the Chanel going in lies S. W. and N. E. and when in the Harbor it lies S. S. W. and N. N. E. 'T is high Water at half an hour past eleven at full Moon or at Change the Water riseth and falls about four Fathom and a half In the Harbor there are several Islands and also two Ponds within a Bow-shot of the Water side the one is Salt Water the other Fresh The Harbor affords great store of Wild Fowl as at Port Desire And the Land Weyetnacks Estriches Hares c. Here were seen five or six Indians and about nine Miles W. from the Harbors Mouth was found a great large Salt Pond full of good Salt about three Miles long and one Mile in breadth Beach Head in Latitude 50l 00 m from which about ten Miles lies the Hill of St. Ives Cape Virgin in Latitude 52d 15 m South Latitude from the pitch of this Cape S. W. there lies a Beachy Point about a League into the Sea that has little Bushes growing upon the top thereof The first Narrow of the Magellan Streights which is about three Leagues in length and in the
narrowest part about one League over The Water deep no ground with forty fathom of Line At the Mouth of the entrance it was high Water at eight of Clock on the Full Moon and on the Change. The distance between the first and second Narrow is about ten Leagues and in breadth about six Leagues The second Narrow is about three Leagues in length and four or five Miles broad in which were Queen Elizabeths Island upon which were seen thirty Indians St. Georges Island St. Bartholomews Island c. About Port Famine the Hills are very high and covered with Snow but the Land towards the Water side was lower and full of good Timber Trees In Fortiscus Bay or Port Gallant Water floweth ten Foot and 't is high Water about ten of the Clock on the Full Moon About Cape Munday was observed sixteen or seventeen Degrees Variation and is about thirteen Leagues from Cape Desire The English went up Segars River by Boat about nine Miles and two by Land but could see no Inhabitants From Cape Blanko to the Lizard the difference of Longitude was found to be 60d 45 m 5 / 10 and Meridian distance eight hundred and forty Leagues The West Entrance of the Streights of Magellan is 5â— d of South Lat. and the East Entrance lies in 52d 20 m The length is an hundred and ten Leagues The breadth in some places two Leagues in others not two Miles over and is famous for the passage of Magellan Drake Cavendish Oliver Van North Scouton c. There is another passage between the South Sea and the Atlantick Ocean call'd Fretum le Maire found out in the year 16â—5 much more convenient than the former being about ten or twelve Leagues of length and breadth and then a large Sea formerly supposed to be Terra Australis or Terra Incognita That of Brewers discovered in the year 1643 hath the same advantages as that of La Maire CHILI and PARAGAY by Robt. Morden CHili bears the name of one of her Valleys though some say it is so called by reason of the cold weather in the Mountains which inviron it toward the North and East The difficulty of passing through these Mountains obliges the Spaniards to go by Sea when they have business at Chili They have possessed it ever since the year 1554 at which time they conquered it under one of the Almagres In some parts of this Country the Soil is so fertile and pleasant that no part of all America more resembles Europe It yields Ostriches Copper the finest Gold in the World and there are so many Mines that Chili is reckon'd but one plate of Gold which makes the King of Spain take more than ordinary care for its preservation So that it costs him more to defend that place than all the rest of America The cold is however so excessive that Almagre lost more Men and Horses by the Cold than by the Sword at the end of four Months after he invaded it the Inhabitants found some of his Horsemen that were dead and sate in a living posture as fresh as if they had but newly taken Horse Their Rivers run only in the day being frozen all the night long notwithstanding there are several Mountains that cast forth Fire The Spaniards have a Governor there who is under the Vice-Roy of Peru. The Savages being governed by their Captains The Arauques above all the rest made such a resistance that the Spaniards were forced to make a Peace with them in the year 1641. In all America there are no people more Valiant or more Warlike than those Arauques They know how to make Swords Muskets and Cuirasses as also how to range themselves in Battel to fight retreating to encamp to advantage to fortifie and to use Stratagems all which they learn by having seen but once They have often surpriz'd and ruin'd Cities massacred Garisons and demolished the Fortresses Araucho Puren and Tu-Capel In short an Arauque will not be afraid at any time to encounter a Spaniard St. Jago La Conceptio and Imperiale are the principal Cities of Chili La Conceptio is the Residence of the Governor by reason of the neighbourhood of the Arauques Valparaiso is an excellent Port for the City of Saint Jago Mocha five Leagues from the Continent is a little Island upon the Coast where the Ships oft-times take in fresh Water and whither many of the Inhabitants retired from the cruelty of the Spaniards La Sarena taken and fired by the Buccaniers It had seven Churches and one Chappel the Houses neatly furnished In the Gardens were Strawberries as big as Walnuts At Isle de Juan Fernandez in Latitude 3â— d 40 m neither Fowl nor Fish At El Guasco the Buâ—caniers got store of Sheep and Goats Lat. 28d 40m. Near Point St. Helena is a Rock which runneth into the Water for half a Mile distant about eight Leagues called Chanday where many Ships are lost Of Paraguay Rio de la Plata THE Name of Pâ—ata is common to the Country and to a great River that waters it 't was given there â—nto in consideration of the Mines and the Silver which they first got from thence The Country is very pleasant and delightful for it abounds in Corn Vineyards Fruit-trees and Cattel in abundance Assumption is the chief Place in the Country where the Spaniard keeps a Garison near to which is a great Lake in the midst whereof is a great Rock said to be two Fathom above the Water The true Paraguay lies towards the head of the River that bears the same name which in our Language signifies the River of Feathers Parana lies along by the River side wherein there are Cataracts or falls of Water above a hundred Cubits high Buenos Aires is one of the best Colonies by reason of its Commerce with Brasil from whence it receives the Merchandizes of Europe Which is the reason that invites the Spaniards thither from Potosi to exchange their Ingots for such necessaries as they want notwithstanding the rigorous Prohibitions of their King whose duties are lost by that means Chaco is a fruitful Country interlaced with many Rivers The Tobares were about fifty thousand and a valiant People The Chiraguanes will not suffer the Spaniards to live amongst them In this Country grow great Trees of which the Natives make Boats all of a piece They mark out their High-ways by the sellings of their Trees and in regard these Trees are some black some green some red some yellow the Forests afford a pleasant prospect The Orochons are remarkable for the bigness of their Ears According to the relations of the year 1627. there are in Plata a more civiliz'd People and more capable to learn our Arts and our Religion than in all the other parts of America For they say that according to a Tradition delivered to their Fathers by Saint Thomas whom they call St. Sume certain Priests shall come into their Country and instruct them in the way of their Salvation Tuâ—uman
with Springs and Rivers of fresh Water Cattle and Fowl are in great plenty and other Lakes and Rivers afford store of Fish Thascala or Los Angelos is a Country very plentiful both of Corn and Cattle full of rich Pastures well watered with Rivers and wonderfully stored with Maize which they make their Bread of Places of most note are first Thascala Situate on an easie ascent betwixt two Rivers encompassed with a large pleasant and fruitful plain said to be so populous before the arrival of the Spaniards that it could number above three hundred thousand Inhabitants Second Angelos a fair City distant from Mexico twenty two Leagues and thirty from Latera Cruz Thirdly La Vera Cruz built by the Cortez a place of great encourse situate near the Gulph from whence there is a through-fair to Mexico from whence it is distant about fifty two Leagues In May 83. about nine hundred or a thousand Privateers at Night landed and through the negligence of the Spanish Centinels surprised the Town and two Forts the one of twelve the other of eight Guns They plundered the Town for three days where they got a great deal of Plate Jewels c. and might also have taken the Castle which is seated about three quarters of a Miles into the Sea and hath thirty Guns mounted Saint John de Vlloa at Vlhua the most noted Port of this Province fenced with a Peer against the fury of the Winds and Sea defended naturally by Rocks and Quick-sands and by two Bulworks well fortified on both sides of his entrance Famous for that it was the first beginning of that great Conquest of the Valiant Cortez Here he first sunk the Ships that brought the Spaniards from Cuba to the intent they might think of nothing but Conquest and here five hundred Spaniards ventured against millions of Enemies and began the Conquest of the fourth part of the World. Xalappa de la Vera Cruz made a Bishops See in the year 1634 said to be worth ten thousand Duckets a year La Rinconada is a House or Inn which the Spaniards call Venla seated in a low Valley the hottest Place in all the Road to Mexico plentiful in Provisions and the sweetness and coolness of the Water is a great refreshment but the swarms of Gnats in the Night are most intolerable Segura de la Frontera was built by Cortez in his Wars with the Culhuacans and Tepeacaes Tlaxcallan a Common-wealth The Inhabitants whereof in one Battel against Cortez had 150000 fighting Men afterwards joyned with Cortez and were the chief Instruments of his unparallel'd Conquest being mortal Enemies to Monteâ—uma the Mexican Emperor and therefore are free from Tribute by the Kings of Spain Nixapa is a Town of eight hundred Inhabitants Spaniards and Indians where is a rich Cloister of Dominican Friers and one of the richest places in the County of Braxuca Tecoantepeque is a small and unfortified Harbor on Mar del Zur Aquatulco and Capaâ—ita are great Towns in a plain Country Taponapeque is a sweet and pleasant Town well stored with Flesh and Fish and Fowl. In this Province are said to be two hundred Towns one thousand Villages twenty five thousand Indians which are priviledged and exempted from all extraordinary Charge and Imposition because of their assisting Cortez in his Conquest of Mexico In the Valley of St. Paul was a Country Man possessed of forty thousand Sheep which were the product of two only which were brought him out of Spain Guaxaca is a Province of a healthful and a sweet Air of a fertile Soil not only in Corn but also in Fruit Cochineil Silk Cassia the Earth well stored with Mines of Gold Silver and other Metals and most of the Rivers stream down Sand-Gold It s chief places are Antequera a Bishoprick adorned with stately buildings and a Magnificent Cathedral Church Aquatulâ—o is a noted and convenient Port on Mar del Zur from whence is transported the Merchandise of Mexico to Peru plundered both by Drake and Cavendish in their Voyages about the World. Gage tells us that Guaxaca is a City and Bishops Seat fair and beautiful sixty Leagues from Mexico and consists of two thousand Inhabitants n t far from the Head of the great River Alvarado upon which are Zapoteâ—as and St. Idlfonso That from thence they went to Antequera a great Town Tavasco or Tabasco is a Coast of one hundred Leagues between Guâ—xaca and Jucatan of an excellent Soil abundant in Maiz and Cacao There are Vines Fig-trees Oranges and Citrons great quantity of Cattle and Fowl besides wild Beasts Apes and Squirrels The Spaniards have but one Colony here which is called Newstra a Signiora de la Victoria so called from the Victory Cortez gained 15 9. The first City in America that defended it self and suffered the Spaniards sword Jucatan is a Peninsula of about four hundred Leagues in compass Situate between the Gulph of Mexico and Honduras whose Cape Catoche is opposite to Cape Saint Anthony in the Island Cuba and distant from it forty odd Leagues In the middle of the Land are to be seen Scales and Shells of Sea Fish its chief Cities are Merida distant from the Sea on either side twelve Leagues the Seat of the Bishop and Governor adorned with great and antient Edifices of Stone with many Figures of Men cut in the Stones resembling those at Merida in Spain 2. Valladolid beautified with a fair Monastery of Franciscans 3. Campeach Situate on the Shore of the Gulph a fair City of about three thousand Houses which in Anno 1596 was surprised and pillaged by the English under the Command of Captain Parker who carried away the Governor and the riches of the City The Audience of Gaudalajara or Kingdom of New Galicia makes the most occident part of New Spain and contains the Provinces of Gaudalajara Xalisco Los Zacatecas Chiamettlan Culiacan and New Biscany The Air of Gaudalajara is temperate and serene except in Summer which is most troubled with Rain The Land rather mountainous than plain very fruitful well furnished with Mines of Silver Copper Lead and Margasites the Pastures are rich feeding abundance of Cattle they have Cittrons Oranges Figs Apples Pears Peaches Olive-trees whose Fruit is often destroyed by Ants as their Corn Maize and Pulse is by the Pies which though no bigger than Sparrows are so numerous that they destroy whole Crops Its Cities are Guadelajara the Residence of the Kings Treasurer dignified with the Courts of Judicature the See of a Bishop beautified with a fair Cathedral Church watered with many Fountains and little Torrents not far from the River Beranja In the Province of Xalisco the chief City is Compostella built by Guzman 1551. Situate in a Barren Country and bad Air. In the Province of Chiametlan is Saint Sebastian nigh to which are many rich Silver Mines The Province of Culiacan hath Saint Michael and that of Chinaloa Saint John where are rich Mines of Silver In Los Zicatecas are several famous
Bodkins of their Horns Trumpets of their Bladders Vessels to keep Water in and their Dung when dried serves for Fire In Cibola Granada Acoma and some other places the Natives live in Fortresses upon the Mountains with Palisadoes and Moats calling their Villages by the names of their Cacicks which last no longer than their lives therefore to us uncertain The River of Nort which in all other Maps is made to fall into Mar del Vermejo or Mar del California falls with three Mouths into the Mexican Gulf. A Map of FLORIDA and the Great Lakes of CANADA By Robt. Morden FLorida was first discovered by the English under the Conduct of Sebastian Cabot 1479. Afterwards farther searched into by John Depony a Spaniard who took possession of it in the name of that King 1527 by him called Florida Its Coast is on the Gulph of Mexico which flows on its South it extends it self now from the River Palmas which bounds it on the Province of Panuco in New Spain unto Bay Saint Matheo on Mar del Nort between this Gulph and the Sea. Florida stretches out a Peninsula towards the South where the Cape of Florida is not distant from the Island Cuba above thirty five or forty Leagues Others only give the name of Florida to the Peninsula of Tegeste which advances to the South and contributes to form the Great Gulph of Mexico and the Chanel of Bahama The Air of Florida and Carolina is so temperate that Men live to the Age of two hundred and fifty years while the Children of five Generations are all alive at the same time The Soil is very fertile full of Fruit-Trees and the Towns the best peopled in all America The principal River is that of the Holy Ghost which falls into the Gulph of Mexico The Coast is very inconvenient for great Vessels by reason of the shallowness of the Water The Inland Country is possessed by the Savages under the Jurisdiction of Paroustis who are their Lords They are of an Olive Colour great Stature well proportionable their Hair black and long their Women of good shape and handsome they adore the Sun and the Moon and though they make War one with another nevertheless the Europeans cannot master them They have publick places where they meet for the distribution of Corn which they give to every Family that stands in need of it The Spaniards are possessed upon the Coast of Saint Austins and Saint Mathews two inconsiderable Colonies though there is a Castle belonging to each of them Saint Austin is of most consequence by reason of the Bahama through which the Spanish Fleets usually pass when they return from Havana into Europe The Situation of this County may be seen in the Map containing all those Lakes and Rivers of Canada as they have of late years been discovered by the French and English I had long waited for a new Description of the Country and of those vast Inland Seas and Rivers so advantagiously situated for Trade and Commerce that it must needs be one of the finest Plantations in the World. But at present the Proprietors and those that are concerned are not willing to publish any thing of it and therefore I must be silent A New Map of CAROLINA By Robert Morden CArolina about the year 1660 was by his Majesty the King of Great Britain c. united to his Imperial Crown and he by his Royal Grant established it a Province or Proprietorship dignified it a Principality and granted it by Patent to the Lord Chancellor Clarendon to the Lord Duke of Albemarle to the Earl of Craven to the Lord Ashley Cooper Earl of Shaftsbury to John Lord Barkley to Sir William Barkley and to Sir John Colleton Knight and Baronet to their Heirs and Successors c. It contains that part of the Continent of America which by the French was called Florida from her florid and fragrant Fields verdant Meadows delightful Savana's garded with stately Woods It extends it self from the River St. Matheo to Caratue inlet near Virginia In this large Tract of Land are many Navigable Rivers the chief whereof are Albemarle River Naratoke River Pentego River Neuse or Nus River Clarendon River Watere River Craven or Santee River Ashley River Cooper River Stono River Edisto River Colleton River Cambabe and Westro River May and Matheo River many safe commodious and spacious Harbors and for lesser Rivers and Brooks it hath innumerable It contains two principal settlements the one called Albemarle otherwise Roanoke situated in about thirty five Degrees of Northern Latitude from whence as good Beef and Pork have been stored and sent to other Plantations as Art and Industry can improve 't is a large and spacious settlement consisting at present of some two or three hundred upon a fertile Soil But the late and flourishing Plantation or Settlement lies more Southerly upon the Navigable Rivers of Ashley and Cooper known to the Natives by the Names of Wando and Kiawah Carolina is of a fertile and fruitful Soil where the Natives are a strong lively and well-shapen People well-humor'd and generally kind to the English They live a long and pleasant life taking little care for the future Their old Women plant their Mays And for the rest the Rivers afford them good Fish enough And in the Woods they have plenty of Provisions It s chief place is Charles Town Neither is the heat so sultry nor offensive as in places of the same Latitude of the old World nor is the Winter so pinching Yet enough to correct the humors of Mens Bodies to strengthen and preserve them in health and enough also to put such a stop to the Rise and Sap and the budding of Plants as to make them Bud and Blossom in their distinct Seasons and keep even pace till they be gathered Which makes it also proper for Wine and Oyl of both which they may in time have good quantities Liberty of Conscience is there allowed also but Atheism Irreligion and vitious Lives are condemned The English Proprietors have a Register of all Grants and Conveyances of Land to prevent Suits and Controversies And in sum their frame of Government is generally so well put together that judicious Men that have seen it say it 's the best for the People that live under it of any they have read To conclude here the Savana's are crowded with Deer large and stately Herds and Cattle parol the Meadows Here the pleasant Pastures abound with Sheep and Oxen the Fields are replenished with English and Indian Corn. The Gardens as in Asia and Europe are imbellished with the choicest Fruits and Flowers Here the Heavens shine with a Sovereign ray of Health a serene Air and a lofty Skie defends it from the noxious Infections and common Distempers that are incident to other parts of the World. In a word 't is a salubrious Air to the Sick a generous retirement and shelter to the injured and oppressed 'T is a Fund and Treasury to them that would
integrating part of the Earth 2. Or of some one Region and so it is properly called Chorography 3. Or of some particular place in a Region or Country which is Topography According to the greater integrating parts thereof the Ancients divided the whole Earth into three great parts viz. Europe Asia and Africa to which is now added a fourth viz. America these are again divided into Provinces Countries Kingdoms c. And each of these are again subdivided into Earldoms Baronies Lordships c. These three kind or parts make up the perfect Subject of Geography Again every part and place of the Earth is considered in its self or according to its Adjuncts and so it is either Continent or Island A Continent is a great quantity of Land in which many great Kingdoms and Countries are conjoyned together and not separated one from another by any Sea as Europe Asia c. An Island is a part of the Earth compassed and environed round about with Water as Great Britain and Ireland These again are observable parts both of Continents and Islands viz. Peninsula Isthmus Promontorium Peninsula quasi pene Insula is a part of Land which being almost environed and encompassed round with Water is yet joyned to the firm Land by some little Isthmus as Africa is joyned to Asia or Morea to Greece An Isthmus is a narrow neck of Land betwixt two Seas joyning the Peninsula to the Continent as that of Darien in America or Corinth in Greece A Promontory is a high Hill or Mountain lying out as an elbow of Land into the Sea the utmost end of which is called a Cape as the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Verde The Adjuncts of a place are either such as respect the Earth it self or the Heavens Those that agree to a place in respect of the Earth are three in number viz. the Magnitude or Extent of a Country the Bounds or Limits the Quality The Magnitude comprehends the length and breadth of a place The Bounds of a Country is a Line terminating it round about distinguishing it from the bordering Lands or Waters The Quality of a place is the Natural Temper and Disposition thereof A Place in regard of the Heavens is either East West North or South Those places are properly East which lie in the Eastern Hemisphere terminated by the first Meridian or where the Sun riseth Those are West which lye Westerly of the said Meridian or towards the setting of the Sun. Those places are properly North which lie betwixt the Equator and Artick-Pole Those South which are betwixt the Equator and the Antartick Pole. The Ancients did also distinguish the Inhabitants of the Earth from the diversity of shadows of Bodies into three sorts viz. Periscii Heteroscii and Amphiscii the Inhabitants of the Frigid Zone if any such are were termed Periscii because the shadow of Bodies have there a Circular motion in 24 hours the Sun neither rising nor setting but in a greater portion of time The Inhabitants of the Temperate Zones they called Heteroscii because the Meridian shadows bend towards either Pole towards the North among those that dwell within the Tropick of Cancer and the Artick Circle towards the South amongst those that dwell within the Tropick of Capricorn and the Antartick Circle The Inhabitants of the Torrid Zone they called Amphiscii because the Noon or Mid-day shadow according to the time of Year doth sometimes fall towards the North sometimes towards the South when the Sun is in the Northern Signs it falleth towards the South and towards the North when in the Southern Signs And because of the different site of opposite Habitations the Ancients have divided the Inhabitants of the Earth into Periaeci Antaeci and Antipodes The Periaeci are such as live under the same parallel being equally distant from the Equator but in opposite points of the same parallel The Antaeci are such as have the same Meridian and parallel equally distant from the Equator but the one North and the other South The Antipodes are such as Inhabit two places of the Earth which are Diametrically opposite one to the other The Ancients did also divide the Earth into Climates and Parallels A Climate is a space of Earth comprehended betwixt any two places whose longest day differ in quantity half an hour A Parallel is a space of Earth wherein the days increase in length a quarter of an hour so that every Climate contains two Parallels These Climates and Parallels are not of equal quantity for the first is longer than the second and the second likewise greater than the third c. At the Latitude where the longest days are increased half an hour longer than at the Equator viz. longer than 12 hours The first Climate begins which is at the Latitude of 8 degrees 34 minutes and in the Latitude of 16 degrees 43 minutes where the days are increased an hour longer than at the Equator The second Climate begins and so onwards But because the Ancients and also Ptolomy supposed that part of the Earth which lies under the Equator to be inhabitable therefore they placed the first Climate at the Latitude of 12 degrees 43 minutes where the longest day is 12 hours ¾ long and the second Climate to begin at the Latitude of 20 degrees 34 minutes where the longest day is 13 hours and ¼ long c. 'T is needless indeed to take any more notice of them than thus much only that they that describe the Situation of places by Climes and Parallels had as good say nothing The Terraqueous Globe is but an Imaginary point compared to the vast expansion of the Universe though of it self of great Magnitude for Geographers divide it into 360 parts or degrees and each degree into 60 minutes which are so many Italian Miles so that the Circumference thereof is 21600 miles and the Diameter or Axis is 6875 miles and its Superficies in square miles is Reckoned to amount to 148510584 of the same measure 'T is a common Opinion that 5 of our English feet make a Geometrical pace 1000 of these paces make an Italian mile and 60 of these miles in any great Circle upon the Spherical surface of the Earth or Sea make a degree so that a degree of the Heavens contains upon the surface of the Earth according to this account 60 Italian miles 20 French or Dutch Leagues 15 German miles 17 ½ Spanish Leagues But according to several Experiments made the quantity of a degree is thus variously found to be By Albazard the Arabian 73 by Fernilius 68 by Withrordus 70 by Gassendus 73 by Picard 73 Italian miles and by Norwood 69 ½ English miles which is much as the same of 73 Italian miles and is the nearest measure yet found by these Experiments to answer to a degree of the Heavens so that the circumference of the Earth then is 26280 miles the Diameter 8365 and 184 parts Or supposing 1000 paces or 5000 English Feet to a mile then 73
such miles are exactly equal to a Degree I shall here note that no Country doth in all parts of its Territories make use of the same extent in measuring The Germans have their great little and ordinary miles the Leagues of France and Spain are of different lengths and so are the miles in our own Country The Earth as was said before is encompassed about with the Water which washing and surrounding the dry Land cuts out and shapes so many winding Bays Creeks and meandring Inlets and seems no where so much confined and penned as in the Straits of Magellan from whence again expatiating it spreads its self into two immense and almost boundless Oceans which give Terminaries to the four Regions of the Earth and extending it self round them all is but one continued Ocean The Water is either Ocean Seas Straits Creeks Lakes or Rivers The Ocean is a general Collection or Rendezvouz of all Waters The Sea is a part of the Ocean and is either exterior lying open to the shore as the British or Arabian Seas or interior lying within the Land to which you must pass through some Strait as the Mediterranean or Baltick Seas A Strait is a narrow part or Arm of the Ocean lying betwixt two Shores and opening a way into the Sea as the Straits of Gibralter the Hellespont c. A Creek is a small narrow part of the Sea that goeth up but a little way into the Land otherwise called a Bay a Station or Road for Ships A Lake is that which continually retains and keeps Water in it as the Lakes Nicurgua in America and Zaire in Africa A River is a small Branch of the Sea flowing into the Land courting the Banks whilst they their Arms display to embrace her silver waves Of the Names of the Ocean According to the four Quarters it had four Names From the East it was called the Eastern or Oriental Ocean from the West the Western or Occidental Ocean from the North the Northern or Septentrional and from the South the Southern or Meridional Ocean But besides these more general Names it hath other particular Appellations according to the Countries it boundeth upon and the Nature of the Sea As it lies extended towards the East it is called the Chinean Sea from the adjacent Country of China Towards the South 't is called Oceanus Indicus or the Indian Sea because upon it lies the Indians Where it touches the Coast of Persia it is called Mare Persicum So also Mare Arabicum from Arabia So towards the West is the Ethiopian Sea. Then the Atlantick Ocean from Atlas a Mountain or Promontory in Africa but more Westward near to America it is called by the Spaniards Mar del Nort and on the other side of America it is called Mar del Zur or Mare Pacificum Where it toucheth upon Spain it is called Oceanus Hispanicus by the English the Bay of Biscay The Sea between England and France is called the Channel between England and Ireland the Irish Sea Between England and Holland it is called by some the German or rather the British Ocean Beyond Scotland it is called Mare Caledonium higher towards the North it is called the Hyperborean or Frozen Sea more Eastward upon the Coast of Tartary the Tartarian Sea or Scythian Ocean c. The Names of the Inland Seas are 1. The Baltick Sea by the Dutch called the Oast Zee by the Inhabitants Die Belth lying between Denmark and Sweden the chief Entrance whereof is called the Sound 2. Pontus Euxinus or the Black Sea to which joyns Meâ—tis Palus now Mar de Zabacke The third is the Caspian or Hircanian Sea. The fourth is the Arabian Gulf Mare Erythaeum Mare Rubeum or the Red Sea. The fifth is the Persian Gulf or the Gulf de Elcatif The sixth is Mare Mediterraneum by the English the Straits by the Spaniards Mar de Levant the beginning or entrance of it is called the Straits of Gibralter rather Gibal-Tarif Now that all Places Cities Towns Seas Rivers Lakes c. may be readily found out upon the Globe or Map all Geographers do or should place them according to their Longitude and Latitude the use of which in the absolute sense is to make out the position of any Place in respect of the whole Globe or to shew the Scituation and distance of one place from and in respect of any other Longitude is the distance of a place from the first Meridian reckoned in the degrees of the Equator beginning by some at the Canaries by others at the Azores by reason of which Confusion I have made the Longitudes in this English Geography to begin from London and are reckoned Eastward and Westward according as they are situated from London on the top of the Map. And have also added the Longitude from the Tenerif round about the Globe of the Earth at the bottom of the Map as usually in the Dutch Maps that so you may by inspection only see the Truth or Error if you compare them with the Tables or Maps formerly Extant The Latitude of a place is the distance of the Equator from that place reckoned in the degrees of the great Meridian and is either North or South according as it lies between the North and South-Poles of the Equator EVROPE is divided into these Kingdoms or Estates  Cities Modern Cities Old. Northwards The Isles of Great Britain or England Scotland Wales and Ireland c. London Londinium Edinburgh Alata Castra Welshpool Trillinum Dublin Eblana Scandinavia contains the Kingdoms of Denmark Norway Sweden Copenhagen Haphnia Berghen Bergae Stockholm Holmia The several Kingdoms of Russia or Moscovia L'Arcangel Archangelopolis Moskow Moscha The Estates of the Kingdom of Poland Cracow and Cracovia Dantzick Gedanum In the Middle The Northern Estates of Turkie in Europe Tartaria Europa Walachia Moldavia Transilvania Hungaria Caffa Theodosia Tarvis Targoviscum Jassy Jassium Weissemburg Alba Julia Buda Sicambia The Empire of Germany Vienna Ala Flaviana The Estates or Republicks of Switzerland 7Vnited Provinces 10 Spanish Provinc Zurick Tigurium Amsterdam Amsterodamum Antwerpen Andoverpum Kingdom or 12 Gover. of France Paris Lutetia Southwards Kingdoms Principal of Spain Madrid Madritum The Kingdom of Portugal Lisbon Olysippo Estates of the Duke of Savoy c. Chambery Cameriacum Kingdoms and Estates in Italy Rome Roma The Kingdom and Isle of Sicily Messina Messana The Southern Estates of Turkie in Europe Sclavonia Croatia Dalmatia Ragusa Bosnia Servia Bulgaria Romania Zagrab Sisopa Vihitz Vihitza Zara Jadera Ragusa Epidaurus Bosna Serai Jayeza Belgrade Alba Graeca Sophia Sardica Constantinople Byzantium The Estates of Greece Athini Athaenae The Islands of Negropont Candia Sardinia c. Negropont Eubaea Candia Matium Cagliari Calaris Of Europe EVROPE by Robt. Morden EVROPE one of the four great Parts of the World is also the most considerable in Respect of the Beauty of her Kingdoms and Commonwealths the Politeness of her Inhabitants the Excellent Government of her Cities as also in Regard
situate on the Mouth of the River Don and dignified with an Episcopal See and a University Aberdonia olim Devana 9. Coldingham Coldana Beda Colania Ptol. famous for its choice Nuns Peblis and Selkirk are Sherifdoms for the Vallies Jedburg and Roxburg are Sherifdoms the last fatal to the Scots by the death of King James the second slain in that siege by the English Annan and Castle-Maban are the two chief Towns near Solway Frith the Ituna Aestivariam of the Ancients Abercon gives title of Earldom to the Duke Hamilton Dunbar Bara Ptol. or Vara. Dumbarum is memorable for the Battel of 1650 Sept. 23. Dunfreis is a rich and well traded Emporie upon the River Nith Nobius of Ptol. and at the mouth is Caerlaverâ—ck Castle Corâ—antorigum of old was the House of the Lord Maxwels Higher up the River is Morton naming the Earls Morton of the Name of Douglas Higher is Sanghuar-Castle whereof are intitled the Lord Sanghuer of the House or Name of the Creichtons A little remote from the River is seated Glencarne the Earls whereof are of the House of the Cuninghams Kircoubright is a commodious Haven Wighton a Sherifdom Whithern is the Leucopibia of Ptol. and Candida Casa of Beda Bargeny is the Berigonium of Ant. Cassil Cast the Seat of the Earls of the House of the Kennedyes Air is a Sherifdom and a noted Port and Empory Jiâ—win a small Port. Eglington-Castle gives the Title to the Montgomeries Douglas upon the River Douglas in Douglas-Dale names the ancient and Noble Families of the Douglasses Lanric Lanarcum a Sherifdom at the Confluence of the Douglas and Cluyd Hamilton Castle upon the Cluyd the Clata or Glota of Ptol. naming the House and Marquesses of Hamilton Bothwel an Earldom upon the Cluyd as is also Crawford of the Clune of Lindley Renfrew Vanduara is a Sherifdom and Barony Hereditary to the Lord Sempits Dunblane a Bishops See upon the Taich Lower down at the mouth of the Fâ—ith of Ferth lie the Sherifdoms of Clackmannan and Kinros Aberneth Victaria at the fall of the River Ern into the Tay was the chief Seat of the Kings of Picts Arrol upon the Tay the Seat of the Earls of Arrol Athol was sometimes part of the Calidonian Wood strong Fastnesses of Picts and Northern Britons Forfar Orrhea of old is the Seat of the Sherifs Dundee Alectum Dei Donum a rich and noted Port at the mouth of the Tay. Brechin upon the Eske is a Bishops See. Montross gives name to the Earls of Montross Dunnotyr-Castle in Mern seated upon a steep and inaccessible Rock is the Seat of the Sherif Between Loquabuir and Marr riseth the high Country of Badgenoth In Buquhan lie the small Countries and Prefectâ—res of Bamfsraithâ—ogye and Boyn places of Note in Murray are Rothes Castle giving Names to the Earls of Rothes Elgin Forres Nirn are Sherifdoms about the Lake Ness and part of the M. Grampius of Tac. extending to the Lake Lomond In Rosse is the Country of Ardmeanuch which giveth Title to the second Sons of the Kings of Scotland Châ—nâ—ury is the seat of the Bishop Cromerty is a Sherifd m. Dun Robin Castle the seat sometimes of the Earls of Sunderland Rosmarcheum of old Girnego Castle the seat of the Earls of Cathenes Durâ— ck and Wick the seats of the Bishops Vara or Varar Aestuarium is Murry-â—rth In this Realm of Scotland there are two Famous and Wonderful Loughs Nessa and Lomond the first never freezeth in the extreamest Cold and the Waters of the second rage in the calmest Weather The Islands adjacent and belonging to Scotland are 1. The Hâ—brides lying on the West-side thereof and are 44 in Number the chief whereof are Illa Jona Mula Lewis c. Plentiful of Wood Corn Salmons Herrings Conies Deer Sheep in some with in others without Owners 2. The Orcades of Tac. or the Islands of Orkney in Number 31 lying from the North and North-East point of Scotland The greatest and chiefest Island is now called Mainland formerly Pomâ—nia well stored with Lead and Tin whose Chief Town is Kirkwall fortified with two Castles and dignified with the See of a Bishop the Inhabitants commonly called Red-shanks 3. Shotland Islands or Schetland the Thule or Thyle of the Ancients lying about 20 Leagues Northwards from the Orkney being many in Number the chief of which is called Shotland being about 60 miles in length The Inhabitants are partly Scots and partly a mixt People of Danes and Scots Their Commodities are Ling and Cod. Towards North Barwick near the shore lyeth Bas Island which appears to be a High craggy Rock and is Remarkable for the great number of Soland-Geese by some called Barnacles and vulgarly thought to be ingendred by the Fruit of certain Trees dropt into the Water But the Hollanders report that the Barnacles which they call Rot-Gausen are bred in the Northern parts and that they couple together lay and hatch their Eggs. And Gerard de Veeo in his third Navigation to Greenland affirms that with his Companions they have driven them from their Nests and taken and eaten of their Eggs. Besides Anatomy discovers in their bodies where the differences of Sexes do visibly appear the Males having all the same parts as the common Drakes and the Females having their Ovaria as other Birds Between the Islands of Orkney and Shotland lye two Islands one called Fair-Hill the other Fulo about ten Leagues one from the other Thus much in brief as to the Situation Length Breadth Division Fertility People Government Chief Towns and Islands of Scotland Of Ireland IRELAND By Rob. Morden THE first Inhabitants to omit the Fables of the Irish Chronicles upon probable Circumstances were the Britans together with the mixt Nations of the Goths Gauls Africans c. though most Geographers are of Opinion that its first People came wholly out of Britain being the nighest to it Ireland lyeth betwixt the 51 and 56 degrees of Northern Latitude or betwixt the middle parallel of the eighth Clime where the longest day hath 16 hours and a half and the 24th parallel or end of the 10th Clime where the same hath 17 hours and an half The first Inhabitants the Irish for more ancient we find not were by Ptolomy distinguished into sundry lesser People and Names The Rhobognii Darnii Voluntii Vennienii and Erdinii now containing Vlster The Auteri Gangani and Nagnatae inhabiting Câ—naught The Veliâ—ori Vterni Vodiae and Coriondi now Munster The Menapii Câ—uei Bâ—ii and Brigantes now Leinster whose Cities were Rhigia Rheba Macolicum Dunum Laberus Juernis Nagnata Regia altera Manapia Wexford and Eblana Dublin whose Interpretations unless the two last we let pass as very uncertain Towards the wain of the Roman Empire they are named Scots the occasion or reason hereof we find not subduing the neighbouring Picts and Caledonians and giving the Name of Scotland to the Northern part of the British Continent Leaving there this new affected name they lastly resume and return here unto
but its chief place is Rosienne whose houses are built of Mud and Straw-walls teste Sans Polaquia communicates her Name to the Polanders who call themselves Polacks as Descended from Lechus their first Prince It s chief places are Bietskâ— the strong Augustow and the well Fortified Tycassin or Tywckzin where the Kings Treasure is kept Russia Nigra has several Names some call it Black Russia by Reason of the Woods others Red because of the colour of the Earth and some Meridional because of its Situation towards the South Leopol or Lemberg an Archbishoprick is the Principal City but Zamoski the stronger it contains also the Castelwicks of Chilm and Blez and this is by most Geographers esteemed to be in the Higher Poland Volhinia claims for her Capital Kiou Polonis Kioff Germanis an Ancient City having once 300 fair Churches but destroyed by the Tartars still a Bishops See acknowledging the Patriarch of Moschow and of the Communion of the Greek Church Seated upon the Borysthenes where the Cossacks have often had their Retreats It was once the Seat of the Russian Emperors Taken and destroyed by the Tartars 1615 and now said to be taken by the Turks in the War 1678. In Podolia stands the well Fortified and Impregnable Kamienick olim Clepidava teste Cleaver which has formerly withstood the Armies of the Turks the Lesser Tartars the Transylvanians and the Walachians but at length was forced to yield to the Power of the Grand Signior in the Year 1672 since re-taken by the Poles but by the last Treaty delivered to the Turks as is also Oczakow the Axiace of Strab. Plin. Ptol. 1684. the Fortress of Jaslowic in Podolia was surrendred which consisted of 500 men And Dassow at the Mouth of the Borysthenes In the year 1626 the Cossacks entred the Bosphorus with 150 Sail of Saicks or Boats each Boat carrying 50 armed men and have 20 Oars on a side and two men to an Oar and on the Grecian-shore burnt Boyno-devi and Yenichioi on the Asian-side Stenia and put Constantinople into a general Consternation On the Banks of the River Niester Count Esterhasi fell upon the reer of the Turks killed 500 on the place took their Baggage with divers Prisoners and gave liberty to many Christian slaves The next day he charged another party kill'd a great Number and got a considerable Booty And afterwards having got more Recruit he joyned Battel with them and slew 1200 on the place gave liberty to 1400 Christians took divers of their Commanders with their Bag and Baggage with much Gold and Silver in Plate and Money 1624 forty thousand Horse of Tartars enters into Podolia and made Incursions as far as Socal but at Burstinow were overthrown thirty thousand slain and two thousand Prisoners taken the greatest defeat that was ever given to the Tartars Upon a Hill between Tyr River and Chocin the Turks an Tartars being 60000 under Abassa received a great loss by Konispotzki the Polish General with 2500 Horse 1684. Lesser Tartary TARTARIA in EUROPE by Rob t Morden THE Lesser Tartary which lyes in Europe is so called to distinguish it from the Grand which makes part of Asia it is also called Percopensis and Crim from the names of the principal Cities situated in the Peninsula formerly called Taurica Chersonesus The Nogays Tartars must not be omitted that lye between Tanais and Volga nor the Tartars of Ocziakou between the mouth of Borysthenes and the Niester nor the Tartars of Budziack already mentioned to the East of Moldavia between the mouths of the Niester and Donaw Besides all these there are some that are settled also in Lithuania and the Vkraine adjoyning to the Black Sea. The Black Sea is very Tempestuous so named and so famed from the terrible and frequent Shipwracks that happen in it for want of skilful Pilots and good Havens And the people that Inhabit about it are naturally barbarous and wicked without any Religion and under no Government The Circumference of this Sea was reckoned by Eratostenes Hecataeus Ptol. and Ammianus Marcellinus to be 23000 Stadia or 2875 miles The Thracian Bosphorus is certainly one of the comeliest parts of the World the Chanel is about 15 miles in length and about two in breadth in most parts The Shores consist of rising grounds covered over with Houses of Pleasure Woods Gardens Parks delightful Prospects lovely Wildernesses watered with thousands of Springs and Fountains upon it are seated four Castles well fortified with great Guns two eight miles from the Black Sea and the other two near the mouth of the Chanel built not above forty years ago to prevent the Cossacks c. from making Inroads with their Barks Palus Maeotis is by the Turks called Baluck Denguis that is Mare Piscium for 't is incredible what a number of Fish is caught in that Lake And 't is reported that they usually take Fish there which weigh eight or nine hundred pounds and of which they make three or 400 weight of Caveer Their Fishing lasts from October to April The waters do not rise or fall though it partakes of the River Tanais and the intercourse of the Euxine Sea. From the Chanel of Palus Maeotis to Mingrelia 't is reckoned 600 miles along the Coast which consist of pleasant Mountains covered with Woods Inhabited by the Circassians by the Turks called Cherks by the Ancients Zageans by P. Mela Sargacians a Country reckoned by the Turks not worth the Conquering nor the charge of keeping The Commodities that the Turks exchange for with the Inhabitants are Slaves Honey Wax Leather Chacal-skins a Beast like a Fox but bigger and Zerdavas which is a Fur that resembles a Martin with the Furs of other Beasts that breed in the Circassan Mountains The Cherks are a people altogether Savage of no Religion unfaithful and perfidious They live in Wooden Huts and go almost naked And the women till and manure the Ground They are sworn enemies to those that live next to them and make slaves one of another They live upon a kind of Paste made of a very small grain like to a Millet But of this Country little is known to us and what is discovered is by means of the Slaves that are brought from thence into Turkia who are in a manner Savages from whom nothing of certainty is to be expected Crim Tartary is a Peninsula about 200 miles in length and 50 in breadth wonderfully populous and exceeding fruitful abounding in Corn and Grass but Wood and Fuel is scarce The Towns on the Sea-side are Precop Lus lowa Mancup Crim Caffa Kers and Arbotka which lies between the Black and Moeotan or Ratten Seas near to which is a great field 50 miles long enclosed with water where the Tartars in Winter do keep their Hergees or Horses Within the Land are Carasu and Bakessy Seray The Town of Astamgorod stands upon the Neiper in former times there dwelt in it two Brothers Ingul and Vngul who falling at variance and that ending in
Rhodes But upon the second of September 1686 the same day of the year when it was taken by Solyman after it had groaned under the Tyrannous yoke of the Ottoman 145 years was this great and strong City the Capital of Hungary reduced under the obedience of the Emperor Leopold the First by the Prudence Constancy and Conduct of the Couragious Duke of Lorrain the Terror of the Musselmen and the Greatest General of this Age. The Turks have formerly experienced the Valour of Huniades and Scanderbergh They have feared the Courage of the Duke of Merceur They have trembled at the Conduct and slaughter of the Valiant Count Serini but much more reason have they to dread the Martial Duke of Lorrain He it was that near Preshurg routed the Rebellious Army of Teckley He it was that defeated the Turks near Calenburgh He it was with the King of Poland that raised the Siege of Vienna He it was that vanquished the Enemy near Barkan and rescued the King of Poland when the Polish Army was in Confusion He it was that relieved the City of Gran and routed the Army of Zeitan Ibraim Basha and lastly He it was that whilest the Grand Vizier Soliman looked on with a potent Army won this Glorious Conquest Buda Not far from Buda in the year 1578 was fought a Battel of so strange a fortune between the Christians and the Turks that the Conquerors were conquered and the vanquished got the Victory Other Cities are Poson Hungaris Presburg Germanis Pesonium Pessonium the Flexum of Ptol. Ant. The City is pleasant the Castle stately where the highly-esteemed Crown of Hungary is kept the Labyrinth Fish-Ponds and Fountains are Noble it is the Capital of what the House of Austria possesses ten German miles from Vienna Since the Loss of Alba Regalis it is the place of Election and Coronation of the Kings of Hungary Cassovia Chaschaw incolis Caschow lies towards the Mountains having the fairest Arsenal in the Country Eperies Eperiae is much frequented by reason of the Fairs which are there kept where also there is a Salt-Mine about 180 Fathom deep the veins of Salt are large and there are pieces of 10000 l. weight the colour of the Salt-stone is somewhat gray but grinded to powder it becomes white nor is the Salt always of one colour but of divers there are some pieces so clear and hard that they carve them into divers Figures Sabaria of Plin. Ptol. Amm. Stain am Angern Germ. Szombatel Hung. teste Lazio but by Cluver it is Sarwar Hung. Rothenturn Ger. of Old the Metropolis of Pannonia Superior the Birth-place of St. Martin Some Report and others believe that Ovid was Buried there in his Return towards Italy Nittria Hung. Neytracht Ger. a Bishops See. Freistat or Calgotz Hung. a fair large Town but Burned by the Turks Schemnitz the greatest of the Mine-Towns in Hungary and where great quantity of Silver Ore is every day digged It hath three fair Churches and three Castles and several Mines those of Windschacht and Trinity are the chief the last 70 Fathom deep the one is much esteemed and of a black colour covered with a white Earth There is also often found a Red Substance which grows to the Ore called Cinnaber of Silver which being grinded with Oyl maketh a Vermilion as good as the Cinnaber made by Sublimation There are also found in these Mines Crystals Amethysts and Amethystine mixtures as also Vitriol Naturally Crystalliz'd in the Earth And as there is great variety in the Silver Ore as to its mixtures with Earth Stones Marchasite Cinnaber Vitriol c. so also in its Richness some holding a great Proportion of Silver in respect of others A hundred pound-weight of Ore sometimes yields but half an Ounce or an Ounce of Silver sometimes two Ounces 3 4 5 and so to 20 Ounces what is Richer is very rare Most of the Schemnitz Ore holds some Gold which they separate by melting the Silver then granulating it and after by dissolving it in Aqua-fortis made out of a peculiar Vitriol prepared at Chremnitz whereby the Gold is left at the bottom and is afterwards melted and the Aqua-fortis is Distilled from the Silver and serveth again for Use Chremnitz Carpates of old is the Oldest Mine-Town and the Richest in Gold of all the rest 965 years they have Worked there the Mine is about 10 English miles in length and there is one Cuniculus or Horizontal Passage 800 Fathoms long and the depth is about 170 Fathoms and the Leopold Pit is 150 Fathoms deep Of the Gold Ore some is white some black some red some yellow that with black spots within white is esteemed the best There is also a Vitriol Mine at Chremnitz about 80 Fathom deep the Ore whereof is reddish and sometimes greenish This Ore is infused in water and after three days the water is poured off and boiled seven days in a Leaden Vessel till it comes to a thick granualated whitish Substance which is afterwards reduced to a Calx in an Oven and serveth in the making of Aqua-fortis or the separating water used at Schremnitz Newsol or Bistricia has the greatest Copper-works in Hungary the Copper being very strongly united to its stone-bed or Ore the Separation is effected with great labour and difficulty it being burned and melted 14 times before it becomes fit for Use At a little Village called Smalnik there is a Rivulet which changes particles of Iron into Copper The leaves of Oaks that are by the bank-side falling into the water are insensibly eaten through and the most gross particles of this water getting therein it is turned into a leaf of Copper which being exposed to the Sun or only to the Air hardens and always retains its former figure of an Oaken leaf At Glas-Hitten seven English miles from Schemnitz there was once a rich Gold Mine but since the over-running of the Country by Bethlem Gabor it is lost 'T is much frequented by reason of its natural hot Baths Eisenbach four miles English from Glas-Hitten and five or six from Schemnitz is also noted for its Hot Baths the sediment of which is red and turneth into Stone and it turneth Wood into Stone At Hern-Grundt an Hungarian mile from Newsol in that Mine were two Springs of a Vitriolate water which turn Iron into Copper The seven chief Mine-Towns are Schemnitz Chremnitz Newsol Koningsberg Bochantz Libeten Tiln The strongest places belonging to the House of Austria were Javarin Comara and Leopolstat the Bulwarks of Christendom Javarin Gallis Raab stands in the Plain out of sight environed by the Danow and Raab Germanis Gewer Hungaris Giavarin Italis Rab. Incolis Yanick Turcis It was the Arabo of Ant. the Narabo of Ptol. Is Fortified with seven large Bastions covered with Brick and four Cavilliers or Ravelins between It was Besieged by Sinan Bassa in the time of Sultan Murat the Third who at one Assault lost 1200 Men but by the Treachery of Count Herdeck
in Sumatra who say that God is far off but the King is near at hand The Wealth of this King is very vast as appear'd by the Treasure which Alexander found in the Coffers of Darius And to descend towards our Times Sha Sephi one of their last Kings had no less than 7400 Marhes of gold-Plate for the ordinary Service of his Court. The King deceasing the Eldest Son ascends the Throne whilst his Brothers are kept in the Haram and their Eyes put out and oftentimes the Children of the King's Brothers and Sisters also to avoid Competition for the Sovereignty and Rebellion The State of Persia is distinguished like most of the European States into three Bodies The first of the Sword which answers to the Nobility The second is that of the Gown which answers to the Law and Religion The third is composed of Merchants Handicraftsmen and Labourers The Athemat Doulet is the Prime Minister in Temporals the Sedre in Spirituals whose Offices are much the same with the Grand Visier's and the Mufty in Turky The greatest part of the Lands in Persia belong to the King and are farmed by private persons the rest are measured and pay so much a measure The King hath also a vast Income by Merchandises that pay Custom and Toll The Commerce of this mighty Empire consists in the Trade of the Country and Foreign Traffick The Country Trade is in the hands of Persians and Jews The Foreign Trade in the hands of the Armenians who are Factors for the King and Noblemen Their Commodities are curious Silks exquisite Carpets and Tissues with other Manufactures of Gold Silk and Silver great quantities of Linen Cloth of all sorts of Colours Their Seal-skins and Goat-skins are transported by the Hollanders into India and Japan as also into Moscovy and Poland The famous Ronas Root is transported over all India great store of dried Fruits of candid Quinces and Boxes of Marmalet made at Balsera Fruits pickled in Vinegar sweet Water Almonds Raisins and purgative Prunes They vend abundance of their Camels into Turky great store of Horses and Mules into India and a prodigious number of Sheep and Lambs into Natolia and Romania The natural Complexion of the Persians is Tawney as may be seen by the Gaures the original Inhabitants of the Country but the present Persians by reason of their frequent Marriages with fair Georgian Women have contracted a better degree of Comeliness and Beauty The Justice among them is very exact and speedy Suits being determined upon the place Murther severely punished and extraordinary Care taken for the security of the High-ways for Thieves find no mercy and if a Merchant be robbed the Governor of the Province makes good the Loss The Air of Persia varies according to the diversity of its situation the Country of Edzerbeitzan is very sharp and cold but healthy the Air of Kilan is very unwholsom but the Province of Mazandran from September to March seems a kind of Terrestrial Paradise At Ispahan in the middle of Persia there are six months of hot and six months of cold weather In the Southern Provinces the Heats are very excessive In some parts the Snow falls three or four times in a Season and somtimes very thick but Rain there is very little As for Woods there are none in all the Country and Springs are very scarce to Travellers 'T is a Country generally mountainous out of some of which they dig Salt as Stones out of a Quarry and there are some Plains there where the Sand is nothing but Salt. Of late several Copper Mines have been found out of which the Natives make all sort of Kitchin Houshold-stuff their Lead comes from Kerman their Iron and Steel from Corazan and Kasbin some Mines of Gold and Silver there were but the Expence is more than the Profit The Provinces of Guilan and Mazandran furnish'd all Persia with Oil. Armenia Mengrelia Georgia and Media abound in Vineyards but their Vines they bury all Winter and take them up in the Spring The Flowers of Persia are not comparable to those of Europe for Variety or Beauty nor are their Apples Pears Oranges Granates Prunes Cherries Quinces Chesnuts Medlers and other sorts of Fruits so well tasted as ours yet their Apricots the better sort are better than ours which when you open the Stone cleaves in two and the Kernel which is only a small Skin as white as Snow is most pleasant to the Taste so likewise their Melons are most excellent very plentiful and more wholsom than ours Their Fowl are much the same as we have in Europe and their Poultry are very plentiful only there are no Turkies All sorts of Water-Fowl are common in some parts of the Country and as for Birds of Prey it wants none The Native Inhabitants are generally very inquisitive after future Events consulting their Astrologers like Oracles much addicted to ill Language but never blaspheme God nor subject to swear naturally great Dissemblers and Flatterers excessive in their Luxury and Expences much accustomed to Tobacco and Coffee and to make mutual Visits generally addicted to Play and Pastimes yet Men never dance nor do they use walking to and again as we do The two great Sects amongst the Followers of Mahomet which are most violent against each other are the Turks and Persians The first hold Mahomet to be the chief and ultimate Prophet the later prefer Haly before him and esteem his Inspirations greater and his Interpretations of the Law more perfect and divine and their grand Festival is the Feast of Hocen and Husscin The King permits the Carmelites Capuchins Austin-Fryers and other Orders to have their Houses and Churches in his Royal City of Ispahan where their Superiors live in nature of Ambassadors for the Christian Princes They are as superstitious as the Turks and believe material enjoyments in Paradise though others more refined affirm That Beatitude consists in the perfect knowledge of the Sciences and for the Senses they shall have their satisfaction according to their quality Their Women are esteemed the handsomest in all Asia their Horse the nimblest their Camels the strongest And in the Country they commend the Bread of Yezdecas the Wine of Schiras and the Women of Yez'd The Persian Language is so sweet that it is only in use among the Women and Poets the King and the Nobility generally speaking the Turkish Tongue The greatest Trade is at Bagdat for Turky and at Gombron for the Indies The Kings of Persia permit Strangers to trade upon their Coasts but not to build Forts And the Mogul and Emperor of China observe the same Policy in their Dominions They lie between two potent Neighbors the Turk and the Great Mogul The strength of their Kingdom consists chiefly in its Situation being surrounded by high Mountains and vast Deserts Ishmael Sophi brought into the Field an Army of 300000 Men against Selim Emperor of the Turks And other Persian Kings have had Armies of 7 or 800000 Men
another Quadrangle of 400 paces at the end of which stand three stately Houses Beyond this a third and farther a fourth Court all paved with Free-stone and being 400 spaces square In this stands the Emperor's Throne and four stately Edifices curiously built and covered with costly Roofs adorned with gilded Galleries Beyond this Court are several Orchards and Gardens planted with all sorts of Trees and adorned with curious Buildings And thus flourished the Palace of Pekin rebuilt by the Tartars in Anno 1645. In or near the Place of Paoting the Emperor Hoangti anciently planted the Seat of his Kingdom and on the East-side of the City Hokien stands a great Temple in the middle of which is a stately and great Image Chinting is great and populous Jenkin and Junyping are strong places for the defence of the Empire The Garizon Tiencin lies on the Bay Xang it is a Port or Haven Town to Peking and of a great Trade and on the North-side lies the great Garison Xanghaie on the Island Cue Westward beyond the Province of Pecking lies Xansi on the North whereof lies the great Wall and behind that the Tartar Kingdom of Tangu and the Desert Xamo This Province is divided into five Counties having eighty six Cities and though not very big yet is pleasant The City Taiyven is the Metropolis which for its Antiquity of Building stately and brave Edifices is accounted amongst the best Cities of China At the City Pingiany the Emperor Jau kept his Court within the Walls and without the Gates of Fuencheu stands two stately ancient and magnificent Buildings The Province of Xensi extends to the Kingdoms of Prester John Cascar and Thebet which the Chineses in a general name call Sifan it is a large Province and is divided into eight Counties having one hundred and eighty Cities Sigan is the Metropolis of the whole seated on the River Guei in a most pleasant and delightful place of a noble Prospect and good Trade In the year 1625 a stone was found in digging a Foundation for a house inscribed with the Old Chinese and Syriack Characters which contained the Christian Religion Cungchand Fungciang Hanchung Kingyang and Linyao are the chief Cities of the Countries of the same names Socheu is a strong hold and well fortified and Xancheu or Cancheu is very strong and the residence of a Vice Roy. Xantung may justly be esteemed an Island being washed by the Sea on one side and separated by several Rivers on the other and is divided into six Countries Chinan the Metropolis of the whole Province is very large and full of stately Houses having two Lakes within its walls out of which flow several little streams through the whole City it is also adorned with several stately Temples Among the great Cities of this Province Lincing exceeds in Inhabitants Buildings and Trade but above all for its Porcelane Tower ninety cubits high curiously adorned with Imagery and painting without and within laid with Marble of divers colours smoothly polished on the Top stands an Image cast of Copper and gilt thirty foot high The Province of Honan by the Chineses thought to lie in the middle of the World because it lies in the midst of China it is divided into nine Territories or Countries having one hundred and eight Cities The chief City Caifung lies about two Leagues from the Yellow River whose Water is said to be higher than the City The other chief Cities are Qunte Changte Honan Nunyang and Juning Suchuen is a great Province and separated by the River Kiang and is divided into eight Countries containing one hundred and fifty Cities besides Garisons Cingtu is the Metropolis and lieth in an Island yet includes several Moats over which are many Bridges Paining Xunking Sincheu Chungking Quicheu Luggan are the chief Cities of the other parts of this Province The Province Huqâ—â—ng is divided also in the middle by the River Kiang The Chineses call it the land of Fish and Rice and the Store-house of China and have a Proverb that the rest of the Provinces affords them but one Meal but that of Huquang feeds them all the year long it is divided into fifteen Countries containing one hundred Cities great and small and eleven Garisons The Metropolis whereof is Vuchang on the south shore of the River Kiang Hanyang Siangyang Tegan Hâ—angcheu Kingcheu Jocheu Changxa Paoking Hancheu Chante Xincheu Iungcheu Chingyang and Chingtien are the other chief Cities and Chingcheu is the chief City of a little Territory of the same Name Kiangsi is divided into thirteen Countries contaning 67 Cities the chief whereof is Nanchang once the Metropolis of the Empire Iaocheu Quaâ—sin Kicukiang Kienchang Linkiang Kiegan Kancheu are other chief Cities In this Province near Iaocheu and no where else is that Water to be found which brings Porcelane to perfection especially when they intend it an Azure Vermillion or yellow Tincture The last Travellers into China tell us that Porcelane is made of a particular Sand or Earth which is fetched out of the County of the City Hoiecheu in the Province of Nanking nor is it necessary that the Earth should be buried a whole Age together as others idly affirm for the Chinesâ—s only knead this Sand or Earth together and make Vessels of it which they bake in Furnaces for fifteen days but the colouring of it is one of the chief Arts or Secrets which they conceal from Strangers The Province of Fâ—kien is divided into eight Counties and contains sixty Cities and Towns Focheu or Hocksieu is the Metropolis and chief of the Country it is seated about fifteen Leagues westward from the Sea on the Southern shore of the River Min which with a wide mouth falls into the Sea and brings both small and great Vessels up to the City walls it is populous and of great Trade where the Dutch also had somtime a Factory in the year 1662. The City Chiencheu lies near the Sea in a delightful Plain with a large Bay that the greatest Ships ride close under the walls Chaucheu of great Trade for all rich and foreign commodities Kienning upon the River Min is a place or great Trade for all commodities pass through it Hinhoa is neatly built adorned with many triumphant Arches and Colledges for the encouragement of Learning Xaouw and Tincheu are also considerable Foning is also fair and large lying near the Sea. The Castle Ganhui near Changeheu hath a convenient Haven for Ships And Tinyan is a Fort for the defence of the Sea-coast The Province of Chekiang exceeds all the rest in fertility of Soil delightfulness in Prospects and in plenty of Silk it is divided into eleven great Countries having eighty three Cities or Towns besides unwalled places Castles and populous Villages Hanchew is the chiefest City thought to be the ancient Quinzay Kiahing is moted about with Rivulets of Water full of stately and well built Structures all the Streets are arched under which they walk as in a Piazzo free from
The last Kings of Tombote were reported to have great store of Gold in Bars and Ingots The Kingdom of Guâ—lâ—ta affords Millet Genehâ—a is rich in Cotton In that of Agades stands a City indifferently well built Borno formerly the Country oâ— the Garamanâ—es is inhabited by a People that have all things in common every particular person acknowledging them for his Children which are most like 'em the most flat nos'd being acconuted the most beautiful They of Senega trade in Slaves Gold-dust Hides Gums and Civets The Negro's there are very strong and therefore bear a better price those of Guiny are good but not so strong for which reason they are usua ly put to work within doors 'T is the Proverb That he that would have good service from a Negro must give him little Meat keep him to hard Labor and beat him often To the South of Niger lie several little Kingdoms that of Melli with a City containing six thousand Houses Gago abounding in Gold. Zâ—â—râ—g considerable for its â—rade Zâ—nfara fertile in Corn. To reckon any more of their Towns would be as tedious as unnecessary as being neither well peopl'd nor of any Trade And indeed all these Kingdoms and People are so little known that 't is not worth the time and pains to speak more of them I shall only say That the Arabian Geographer tells Wonders of Ghana or Cano of its Greatness Riches and Trade of its King Government Palace c. But how far to be credited must be left to those who have been in those parts the Portugals and Hollanders having been the chief Traders on these Coasts Of GVINY Giny is a long Coast of Land contained between the Cape of Sirra Leone on the West and the River Camerones on the East containing about seven or eight hundred Leagues in length and not above one hundred or one hundred and fifty in breadth It is divided into three principal Parts called Maleguete Guiny and Benin Under the Name of Malaguete is contained all that Land between the Capes of Sirra Leona and Palmâ—s and is so called from the abundance of Mâ—leguete a sort of Spice like Pepper but much stronger than that of India and of their Palm-trees they make Wine as strong as the best of ours Guiny extends from Cape Palmas to the River Voltas it is the largest and best known of all the three Parts its Coast from Cape Palmas to Cape three Punctas is called the Ivory Coast that which is beyond it is called the Cold Coast where are the Kingdoms of Sabou Foetu Accara and others The Kingdom of Benin which is the third Part hath more than two hundred and fifty Leagues in length Cape Formosa dividing it into two parts its principal City so called is esteemed the greatest and best built of any in Guiny the King thereof is said to keep five or six hundred Wives The whole Coast of Guiny is subject to such excessive heats that were it not for the Rains and the coolness of the Nights it would be altogether unhabitable It furnishes other Countries with Parrats Apes White Salt Elephants Teeth Hides Cotton Wax Ambergreefe Gold and Slaves The Natives are reputed to be presumptuous Thieves Idolaters and ver superstitious keeping their Festisoes day or Sabbath on the Thursday there is Saint George of the Mine built by the Portugals but now in the possession of the Hollander as also the Ports Nassau Cormentin and Axima To the English among others belongs Cape Corse and to the Danes Frederic's burgh The best City that belongs to the Negro's is Ardra toward the Coast in Benin 〈…〉 Govern'd by a King who sent an Embassador to Paris toward the end of the year 1670 for the settlement of a Trade The Baboons in Guiny do the Natives very great pieces of service For they fetch Water turn the Spit and wait at Table c. Nubia is three hundred Leagues in length and two hundred in breadth It preserves some remains of Christianism in the old Churches and in their Ceremonies of Baptism The Nubians are under a King who always keeps a Body of Horse upon the Frontiers of his Kingdom as having potent Enemies to his Neighbours the Abâ—ssius and Turkish Historians credibly relates that an Army of one hundred thousand Horse was rais'd and lead against one of the Governors of Egypt by a King of Nubia Out of this Country the Merchants export Gold Civet Sandal-wood Ivory Arms and Cloath The Nubians trade chiefly with the Egyptians of Caire and other Cities of that Country They have a subtile and penetrating Poyson an ounce whereof is valued at a hundred Ducats Insomuch that one of the principal Revenues of the King is in the Duties which he receives for the Exportation of this Poyson They sell it to strangers upon condition they shall not make use of it within the Kingdom There grow Sugar-Canes in the Country but the Natives know not what to do with them There are among them a sort of Bereberes of the Musselman Religion who travel in Troops to Cairo where they put themselves into service and return again as soon as they have got ten or twelve Piasters together The Capital Cities are Nubia and Dancala near to Nile The rest so little known that it suffices to see their names in the Maps A Relation made in the year 16 7 tell us That the King of Dancala pays a Tribute in Linen Cloath to the King of the Abyssius Geography is in some measure beholding to this Country as being the place that gave birth to that famous Nubian Geographer Of ETHIOPIA Or HABESSINIA HABESSINIA Seu ABASSIA at ETHIOPIA By R. Morden So little of Truth hath been communicated to this part of the World concerning Ethiopia that having met with the Ethiopick History of Job Ludolfus which is the most exact Account extant I have been the larger in taking an Abstract of it 'T is seated as this Author tells us in Africa above Egypt beyond Nubia between the eighth and sixteenth Degree of North Latitude contrary to all our Maps extant which extends it self to the fourteenth or fifteenth Degree South Latitude So that the length of it from North to South is not more than four hundred and eighty Miles of sixty to a Degree but according to the old Maps it was more than one thousand eight hundred of the same Miles and the length of it is about six hundred Miles from the Red-Sea at the Port of Bailleur to the River Nilus at the farthest limits of Dembea Towards the North it joyns to the Kingdom of Fund or Sennar by the Portugals Fungi a part of the antient Nubia towards the Fast it was formerly bounded by the Red-Sea But now the Turks are Masters of Arkiko the Island Matzua and all that Coast only the Prince of Dancale who commands the Port of Baylur is a Friend to the Abessines But the King of Adel a Mahumetan upon the straits of Bab-elman dab the Dreadful Mouth
of Physical Drugs especially of Aloes called in Spain Semper vivum Sanguis Draconum Here John the Castro for many days found it high Water at the Moons Rising and low Water when the Moon was Highest Of the AFRICAN Islands IN the Occidental or Atlantick Ocean and not far from Africa we find three different Bodies of Islands and each very considerable viz. the Azores the Canaries and Cape Verde Islands The Isles of AZORES The Isles of AZORES by Rob t Morden Of the AZORES THE Azores are situate betwixt the thirty seventh and forty sixth Degree of Northern Latitude and are nine in number Saint Michael Saint Maries which lies next to Spain Tercera on the North-West then Saint Graciosa Saint Georges Faial and Pico in the middle Câ—ruo and Flores nearest to America Saint Michael directly North of Saint Maries is the largest and of most note among Modern Geographers for the place of the first Meridian about which you may see more in my use of the Globes Tercera is the chief of the rest in regard of its strength of its commodious Haven and well fortified Town Angra the Residence of the Governor and Arch-bishops Sea it is esteemed the Principal of these Islands and communicates its Name unto them the Air of these Islands is generally good They are well stored with Flesh Fish and Fruits but the Wines not very good nor durable The chief Commodities they transport unto other Countries are singing Birds Oad for Dyers which yearly they gather in two places called Los Folhadores and los Altares and a sort of Wood red within and waved admirable beautiful I suppose the same Workmen call Princes Wood. The Isle Tercera is as well fenced by Nature and strengthened by Art as most Islands in the World being every where hard of access having no good Harbor wherein to shelter a Navy and upon every Cove or Watering Place a Fort erected to forbid the approach of an Enemy yet the Marquess of Sancta Cruz after he had shewed himself in the Road of Angra to Emanuel de Sylva and Mons de Chattes who kept it for the use of Don Antonio with five or six thousand Men set Sail suddenly and arrived at Port des Moles and there wan a Fort and landed before Mons Chattes could come to hinder him The difficult landing of our English at Fayal in the year 1597 under the Conduct of Sir W. Rawleigh was as valorously performed as honorably and bravely enterprised but was more of Reputation than Safety These Islands were first discovered by the Flemings but subdued by the Portugals under the conduct of Prince Henry in the year 1414. The CANARIE or FORTVNATE Ilands by Rt. Morden THE Canary Islands are now in number seven by the Antients call'd Insulae fortunatae and by Pliny Ombrio Iunonia Major Iunonia Minor or Theode Canaria Nivaria Capraria Plavialea By Ptolomy they were styled Aprosita Herae Insulae Canaria Pinturia or Conturia Casperia Pluitania or Pluitalia first discovered 1346. But now better known by the names of Lancerota Forteuentura Canaria Teneriffe Palma Ferro and Gomera Lancerota or the inaccessible and enchanted Island because of the difficulty sometimes to make it more than at other times It was the first of these Islands that was made subject to the Crown of Castile discovered 1393. In Forteuentura are said to be the Tarhais trees which bear a Gum of which there is made pure white Salt the Palm tree which bears Dates Olive-trees Mastick-trees and a Fig-tree from which they have a Balm as white as Milk and of great Virtue in Physick Canary Island is exceeding fruitful and the Soil so fertile that they have two Harvests in one Year its Commodities are Hony Wax Sugar Oad Wine and Plantons which bear an Apple like a Cucumber which when ripe eats more deliciously than any Comfit Teneriffe is famous for its high Pike said to be the highest Mountain in the World for its Laurel-trees where the Canary Birds warble their pleasant Notes and for its Dragon-trees out of which they draw a red Liquor well known to Apothecaries by the name of Dragons blood and for its yearly export of twenty thousand Tuns of the most excellent Wine which the World produces Palma abounds in Corn Wines and Sugars and all sorts of Fruits well stored with Cattel therefore the Victualling place of the Spanish Fleet that passeth to Peru and Brasil Fero Isle is famous for a Tree whose Leaves distil Water which serves the Island it would be too tedious for me here to relate the different Relations of Writers about this Island I shall therefore only mention some few One Nichols who had been seven years Factor there saith there is no Fresh Water in the Island only in the middle of the Isle there grows a Tree which being always covered with Clouds drops from its Leaves into a Cistern very good Water and in great abundance One Jackson an English man affirms that the Tree hath neither Flowers nor Fruit that it dries up in the Day that at Night a Cloud hangs over the Tree and distils its Water drop by drop and fills a Reserver of twenty thousand Tuns Jans in his Hydography saith it very rarely rains in the Island Linschot saith there is no fresh Water except about the Sea Coast but this defect is supplied by the Tree In the History of the Conquest of these Islands 't is said that this Island hath great plenty of water and Rain often and in the higher Countries are Trees which drop Water pure and clear which falls into a Ditch the best in the World to drink Ferdinand Suarez saith That this Tree bears a Fruit like an Acorn of a pleasant and aromatick taste and that the Pond or Cistern contains not twenty Tuns Sanutus saith the Cloud begins to rise about Noon and in the Evening quite covereth the Tree Others say that this Water falls from Noon all Night Others will have the Cloud always about the Tree and that its distillation is continually now how to reconcile all these different Relaters in a Verdict of Truth I must leave to the Readers Experience or the more certain informations of time These Canaries are often times the Rendevouz of the Spanish West India Fleet where they receive Orders to what part of Spain they shall make in order to the unlading of their Wealth Madera or Isle of Wood sixty Leagues in compass in the Atlantick Sea and to the North of the Canaries belongs to the Crown of Portugal The Air is very wholesome many Fountains and Rivers refresh the Country so that it is not subject to excessive heats it is called the Queen of the Islands because of its Beauty and the Fertility of the Soil which produces excellent Wine strong and racy and in great abundance for the Vines bear more Clusters than Leaves It bears delicate Fruits excellent Wheat and delicious Sugar the best in the World it affords great store of Quinces and other Sweetmeats Dragons
is a very ten perate Country interdivided with several Rivers which having water'd the Plains fall into the great River of Plata The Inhabitants are docible lovers of peace rather than War So that the Spanish Captain that subdu'd them had no great need of any considerable force for that purpose They have many Cities where they live under the Jurisdiction of the Caciques and their Wealth consists rather in Cattel than Mines The Spaniards have a Governor there and the principal City is St. Jago de Estero in the mid-way between Buenos Ayres and Potosi Then St. Miguel de Tucumen N. S. de Talevera on the River Salado Corduba on the Road from Bueyos Ayres and Potosi and from Sancta Fee to St Jago in Chili The Quirandies to the Meridional part partake apparently of the Scithian humor For they live in Huts that move upon Wheels and have always made great resistance against the Spaniards The Trapalandes the Juries and Diaquites are the most famous BRAZILE A New Decription by Robt. Morden BRasile was called the Country of the Holy Cross when it was first discovered which was in the year 1501 in the name of the King of Portugal it extends it self all along upon the North Sea toward the North and East with great Rocks near the Shore under Water the distances between which make several good Ports The bounds thereof towards the West are not known The Southern bounds are variously placed according to the wills of Portugals and the Spaniards for both the one and the other interpret according to their own sense the Regulation that was made in the year 1493 and both claim the possession of the River of Plata and the Molucca Islands making to that effect Geographical Maps to their own advantage By this Regulation Alexander the Sixth whom Sixtus the Fifth extols for one of the three greatest Popes of the Church invested Ferdinand King of Arragon and Isabel Queen of Castile his Wife in all the Lands to the West of an Imaginary Line drawn from one Pole to the other one hundred Leagues beyond the Isles of Azores That was discovered to the East of this Line was to belong to the King of Portugal the difficulty was to put it in execution for on the one side the Castillians began to count these hundred Leagues from the most Occidental part of the Azores and the Portugueses reckon'd from the most Oriental with a design to exchange the Deserts of America for the Possession of the wealthy Molucca's which were afterwards engaged to their King by the Emperor Charles the Fifth for three hundred and fifty thousand Duckers At length because these two Nations could no more agree in this particular than in many others the Portugals accounted Brasile all that which extends from the River Maranhaon to the River of Plata Southward and the Spaniards placed the Southern bounds thereof at Cape St. Vincents Though Brasile lie under the Torrid Zone nevertheless the Air is temperate and the Water the best in the World so that the People live often to the Age of an hundred and fifty years Besides Brasile the Country produces Amber Balsom Tobacco Train-Oil Cattle Sweet-meats above all things Sugar in abundance The neighbourhood of Plata gives the Portugueses great opportunities of sucking the Spaniards Silver from Peru. There are in Brasile living Creatures Trees Fruits and Roots not to be found any where else The Serpents Adders and Toads have Poison in them and therefore the Natives feed upon them The Plains are destin'd for Sugar the Hills for Wood the Valleys for Tobacco for Fruits and Mandroche which is a certain Root of which they make Bread. The most part of the Villages do not contain above an hundred or sixscore Houses The Coast of Brasil is divided into several Capitanies which belong at this day all to the Portugals The French had formerly something to do there but the Hollanders lost all their footing in the year 1654 their Wars with England not permitting them to send any relief and the Portugals being far more numerous than they Nevertheless in the year 16 2 the Portuga s treated with them to allow them some damages to preserve their friendship when they were to defend themselves against the Spaniards Among all the Capitanies Tamaraca is the most antient though the smallest Fernanbuco is esteemed the Terrestrial Parâ—â—â—se by reason of the beauty of its Soil Bahia de Todos los Santos contains the City of San Salvador the Residence of the Governor which was taken in 1624 by the Hollanders who got so much Plunder there that every Common Soldier had for his share above fifteen thousand Crowns But this good Fortune was the cause of their retreat and their retreat gave the Portugals opportunity to retake it The Capitanie of Rio Janeiro which the Savages call Ganabara is a great Rendevouz for Ships by means of a navigable River or rather an Arm of the Sea that runs up ten or twelve Leagues into the Land some seven or eight Leagues broad In the year 16â—8 a Silver Mine was found in that Capitanie That of San Vincent contains Mines of Gold and Silver The City of Santos is able to harbor Vessels of four hundred Tuns in its Port in the year 1591 it was assaulted by Sir Thomas Cavendish The People of Brasil go naked for the most part and will cross great Rivers by the help of a Pannier and a Cord. The Chief are the Toupinambous Les Margajas Tapuyes and others who differ in Manners and Languages and are generally distinguished by the wearing of their hair They were more numerous before the coming of the Portugals but several Toupinambous to preserve their liberty crossed the great Deserts and went to live near the River Maranabon The Tapuyes are more difficult to be civilized than the Brasilians which inhabit the Aldees The Aldees are certain Villages which contain not above six or seven Houses but very large and able to contain five or six hundred Persons The most part of the Inhabitants of Brasil have so well defended themselves that notwithstanding the Wars they have had among themselves they have however hindred the Europeans from making any progress in the Conquest of their Lands And have also several times ruined the Plantations and Engines belonging the Sugar-works that are upon the Coast CASTILLA del Or GVIANA PERV The Country of the Amasones by Robt. Morden THE River Amazone is the greatest and swiftest River in America It begins at the foot of the Cordellier Mountains eight or ten Leagues from Quitoâ— From its Springs to its approaches to the Sea is according to its course eleven or twelve hundred Leagues at its mouth it is fifty or sixty Leagues wide It is inhabited by abundance of People and receives an innumerable company of Rivers The Voyages of Texeira tells us that the Counties about the Amazone enjoy a temperate Air. That the Annual Inundations like to those of Nile the great quantity of Trees and
into the Fort set fire to their Magazine of Powder by which the Vice-Admiral Binches fifteen Officers and about three hundred Soldiers were kill'd and the rest surrendred the Fort was destroyed two hundred Pieces of Cannon taken and four Dutch-men of War in the Port. Martin possessed by the French and Dutch. St. Martinique Desseada Marigatanta St. Lucia possessed by the French. AESTIVARUM INSULAE at BARMUDAS Lat. 32D 25m 3300 miles from London 500 from Roaneak in Virginia by R Morden THE Bermuda's are a certain number of small Islands first discovered by one John Bermudas since called the Summer Islands from the Shipwrack which Sir George Summers and Sir Thomas Gates suffered Anno 1609. Of these Islands the greatest to which the Name of Bermudas is more generally given is about 5 Leagues long and 2 Miles broad all the rest being very small The whole cluster together do form a Body much like a Crescent and inclose several good Ports the chief whereof are the Great Sound Harrington's Sound Southampton Harbor guarded with several Forts taking their Names from the several Noblemen that were concerned as Undertakers which are set down in the Map as also the Names of some of the biggest Islands Since the English first setled in these Islands they have now established a powerful Colony consisting of above 4 or 5000 Inhabitants who have strongly fortified the Approaches by the aforesaid Forts which with the Rocks in the Seas render them secure and impregnable so that without knowledge of the Passages a Boat of 10 Tuns cannot be brought into the Haven yet by the assistance of a skilful Pilot there is entrance for Ships of the greatest Burden The Earth in these Isles is exceeding fertile yielding two Crops every year which they gather in about July and December They have no fresh Water but that in Wells and Pits which ebbs and flows with the Sea there being neither Fountain nor Stream in these Islands nor venomous Beasts neither will they live if brought thither nor are their Spiders poysonous but of sundry and various Colours and in hot weather make their Webs so strong that the small Birds are sometimes entangled and caught therein The Sky is generally serene and clear and the Air so temperate and healthy that 't is rarely any one dieth of any distemper than that of old Age So that the Inhabitants enjoy a long and healthy Life When the Sky is at any time darken'd with Clouds it thunders and lightens and is very stormy and tempestuous The North and Northwest Winds cause Winter in December January and February which yet is so very moderate that young Birds and Fruits and other Concomitants of the Spring are seen there in those Months They have several sorts of excellent Fruits as Oranges Dates Mulberries both white and red in the Trees whereof breed abundance of Silk-worms which produce much Silk There is also plenty of Tortoise whose Flesh is very delicious There is good store of Hogs and great variety of Fowls and Birds There is also a sort of Cedar Trees which differ from all others in the world the Wood whereof is sweet and well-scented Their chief Commodities are Oranges Cochineil and Tobacco with some kind of Pearls and Ambergreece of which last 't is reported that the three Men left there after the Death of Sir George Summers found in Somerset Island as much of it as was worth 9 or 10000 Pounds Sterling And now they keep Dogs for the finding of it out by its scent These Isles are now divided into Tribes or Counties and the whole reduced to a setled Government both in Church and State and is still improving to greater perfection Place this between page 544 and 545. Of the LVCAYES ARE so called from Lucayon the name of the biggest which is amongst them Bahama lends its name to a very rapid Chanel running from South to North and is remarkable for the passage of the Spanish Fleets in their return from Mexico into Europe A Passage as fatal to the Spaniards by many Shipwracks of their rich laden Plate Ships as kind to some English Undertakers of late years who by Diving get up vast quantities of that Plate which for many years have laid close hugg'd in her rocky and precipitous embraces Binini hardly accessible is said to have a Fountain that renews Youth being stored with handsome Women for whose sake it is much resorted to Guanahani is that Island which was discovered by Columbus for which reason he called it St. Salvador in regard it saved him from the Conspiracy of his Men who a little before would have thrown him over board New Providence a late erected Colony of the English by Patent from his Majesty to the Proprietors of Carolina and is found to produce the same Commodities Fruits Plants Beasts Fowls Birds c. Of an Air healthful and agreeable to English Bodies that since their Settlement few or none have died of the Distempers or Diseases incident to other Colonies Mexico or NEW SPAINE by Robt. Morden THE Indians call this Country Mexico the Spaniards New Spain the Latins Nova Hispania a Country abundantly enriched with inexhaustible Mines of Gold and Silver the Air exceeding Temperate though seated in the Torrid Zone Its Soil is so fertile that no Country in the World feeds so much Cattel The Riches of the Country besides their Gold and Silver Copper and Iron are their Grains as Wheat Barley Pulse and Mayz Their Fruits as Pomegranats Oranges Lemmons Cittorns Malicaâ—ons Cherries Pears Apples Figs Coco-nuts and variety of Herbs Plants and Roots There is also Wool Cotton Sugar Silk Cochenel From thence is likewise exported the Grains of Scarlet Feathers Hony Balm Amber Salt Tallow Hides Tobacco Ginger and divers Medicinal Drugs Among the rarities there is the most admirable Plant called Magney of whose Leaves they make Pepper Flax Thread Cordage Girdles Shoes Mats Mantles Stuffs c. It s Bark if roasted makes an excellent Plaister for Wounds from the top branches comes a Gum which is a Soveragin Antidote against Poison from the top a juyce like Syrup which if boil'd will become Hony if purified Sugar they make out of it also Wine and Vinegar and it affordeth good Wood to Build with As also two Mountains one of which vomits Flames of Fire like Aetna the other sendeth forth two burning Streams the one of black Pitch the other of red to which I may add their fine Pictures made with the Feathers of their Cinâ—ons which is a little Bird living only on dew so excellently are their Colours placed that the best Painters of Europe admire the delicacy thereof far exceeding a piece of Painting It was once an Elective Kingdom full of great Cities well governed civilized Should we saith Acosta parallel the Politicks of the Vncas or Kings of Peru and Mexico with those of the Greeks and Romans these would have the advantage but the best of these good Laws and Policies were abolished when the Spaniards became
undertake it Of Canada or Nova Francia CAnada so called from the River Canada which hath its Fountains in the undiscovered parts of this Western Tract sometimes inlarging it self into greater Lakes and presently contracted into a narrow Chanel with many great windings and falls having embosomed almost all the rest of the Rivers After a known Eastern course of near fifteen hundred Miles it empties it self into the great Bay of St. Lawrence over against the Isle of Assumption being at the Mouth thirty Leagues in breadth and one hundred and fifty fathom deep On the Northside whereof the French following the Tract of the said Cabot made a further discovery of the said Northern parts by the Name of Nova Francia The Country is full of Stags Bears Hares Martins and Foxes store of Conies Fowl and Fish not very fruitful or fit for Tillage the Air more cold than in other Countries of the same Latitude The chief places are Brest Quebeck and Taduosac a safe but small Haven The French Trade here for Bever Mouse-skins and Furs and are said to be about five thousand what discoveries have been made of late years of the Southern parts of this Country may be seen in the Map of Florida c. Nova Scotia COntains that part of Land which the French call Accadie or Cadie being so much of the main Land as lieth between the River Canada and the large Bay called Bay Francoise from the River of St. Croix upon the West to the Isle of Assumption on the East first discovered by Sebastian Cabot who setting sail from Bristol at the charge of King Henry the Seventh made a discovery of it unto the Latitude of sixty seven and a half Which being neglected after this the French planted on the North-side of the River Canada And after that Monsieur du Monts settled on part of that Land called Nova Scotia but in the year 1613 was outed by Sir Samuel Argal And in the year 1621 King James by Letters Patents made a donation of it to Sir William Alexander afterwards Lord Secretary of Scotland calling it Nova Scotia in pursuance of which Grant he in the year 1622 sent a Colony thither And I am informed that it was after by Acts of Parliament annexed to the Crown and Kingdom of Scotland however I think the French have now a Colony at Port Royal and are the only possessors of that Country Of Newfoundland THIS was first discovered by the two Cabots John and his Son Sâ—bastian employed by King Henry the seventh 1497 the business laid aside was afterward revived by Thorn and Elliot two of Bristol who ascribed to themselves the discovery of it and animated King Henry unto the enterprise Anno 1527. In the mean time the French and Portugals resorted to it But the English would not relinquish their pretensions to the Primier Seisin and therefore in the year 1583 Sir Humphrey Gilbert took possession of it in the name of the Queen of England who being Shipwrack'd in his return the sending of a Colony was discontinued till the year 1608 when undertook by John Guy a Merchant of Bristol and in the year 1626 Sir George Calvert Knight then principal Secretary of State afterward Lord Baltimore obtained a Patent of part of Newfoundland which was erected into a Province and called Avalon where he caused a Plantation to be setled and a stately House and Fort to he built at Ferriland 'T is an Island for extent they say equalizing England from whence it is distant about five hundred and forty Leagues situate between the Degrees of forty five and fifty three Northern Latitude and is only severed from the Continent of America by an Arm of the Sea as England is from France It is famous for many excellent Bays and Harbors it hath great plenty of Fish Land and Water Fowl and is sufficiently stockt with Deers Hares Otters and Foxes which yield great Fur it affords stately Trees fit for Timber Masts Planks and other uses The Soil is esteemed fertile the Climate wholsom but the rigor of Winter and excessive Heats of Summer much detract from its praise Before the Island at the distance of twenty Leagues from the Raze lieth a long Bank or Ridge of Ground extending in length about two hundred and forty Leagues in breadth in the broadest place about five and twenty Leagues by Cabot called Bacalaos from the great multitude of Codfish which swarmed there so numerous that they hindred the passage of the Ships and is now called the Grand Bank where our Ships salt and dry their Fish There is no part of Newfoundland more happy for multiplicity of excellent Bays and Harbors than the Province of Avalon and there are vast quantities of Fish yearly caught by the English at Ferriland and at the Bay of Bulls though the whole Coast affords infinite plenty of Cod and Poor John which is grown to a setled Trade and were the English diligent to inspect the advantage of setling Plantations upon the Isle and raising Fortifications for the security of the place they might ingross the whole Fishery Of ICE-LAND ICe Land or the antient Thule supposed by some to be as large as Ireland Our English Masters who have fished there many years give this Account of it That the most Southerly part of it called Ingulf foot is in the Latitude of sixty four Degrees and twenty five Minutes And the most Northerly part is Rag-point in the Latitude of sixty six Degrees and five Minutes whereas our Maps as also the Great Atlas makes the Island above eighty eight Degrees of Nothern Latitude which gross mistake is refuted not only by Observation but also by the Suns continuance two hours above the Horizon in the middle of December in the most Northern part of the Island It is seated North Westerly from the North of Scotland viz. from the Start or Head Land of Orkney to the S. W. Head of Fero is fifty five Leagues and from thence to Ingulf-foot is eighty five Leagues more It hath four remarkable Mountains in it of which Hecla is the most famous which burns continually with a Blew Brimstone-like and most dreadful Flame vomiting up vast quantities of Brimstone and that when it burns with greatest vehemency it makes a terrible rumbling like the noise of loud Thunder and a fearful Crackling and Tearing that may be heard a great way off See more of this in Martineres Northern Voyage page 134. In the Philosophical Transaction Number 103 Dr. Paul Biornonius Resident informs us That it abounds with hot Springs of which some are so Hot that in a quarter of an hours time they will sufficiently boil a piece of Beef Arugreim Jonas tell us It was inhabited by the Norwegians Anno 874 afterwards by the Danes under whose Government and Religion it now is The Island is well peopled but they live only in the Vallies and towards the Sea-shore Their Dwellings are rather Caves than Houses The Inhabitants are said to be a Lusty
Comely Affable People faithful in their Dealings addicted to Learning having three Universities such as they are But their Law allows of no Physitians but admit of some Chyrurgeons to cure their Wounds The Air is healthy but the changes of Weather are very uncertain for sometimes it Snows and Hails in the midst of Summer and the Winds are often in that season most furious Their Commodities are Sheep Cows and Horses Great plenty of most sort of Sea-fish all the year round their Coast There are Lakes upon the high Mountains well stored with Fresh-Water-Fish and their Rivers with Salmon In Summer time they have plenty of of Wild Fowl as Mallard Duck Teal Partridge Wild Geese Plowers In Winter time Ravens Eagles Wild Ducks Swans c. Their Drink is Milk mingled with Water Their Bread is Cod caught in the Winter time and dried in the Frost commonly called Stock-Fish as also Hokettle or the Nurse-Fish with the Livers they make Oil to burn in their Caves under Ground the other parts they cut into pieces and bury them four or five Weeks under Ground then wash them and dry them in their Stoves and this serves instead of Bread if broiled on the Coals it serves for Meat and of the Skins of the Fish they make their Shooes The general Employment of the People is either Fishery or the making of Wad-moll or a course sort of Woollen Cloth of which they make Gowns Coats Caps Mittins for Seamen and Fishermen There is also little Shock Dogs said to be the Whelps of ordinary Bitches lined by Foxes that come on over the Ice There is only one Fort which is upon one of the chief of the West Mâ—â—ny Isles ten Leagues from Merchants Foreland with twelve Iron Guns in it and there their Courts are held and the Bishop has his Residence As for their Government and Laws see Dithmar Belfkins and Arugreine Jonas or Purchas in his Pilgrimage Sometimes Danes Hamburgers and Lubekers put into the Island and furnish the Islanders with such Provisions as they want The chiefest places where the Ships stay are the Havens of Haneford and Keplawick and the Governor resides at Belested the Danes bring from thence dried Fish Train-Oil Butter Tallow Sulphur Raw Hides and particularly a sort of Whales Teeth which some esteem as much as Ivory Betwixt Cape Farewel and Cape Sumay lieth a great Sea dilating it self both towards the North South and West giving great hopes of a North West passage to China and the East Indies much searched into by many English Worthies Frobisher Weymouth Hudson Button Baffin Smith James and others who have sailed therein some one way some another and given names to many places as may be seen in the Map and in the year 1667 an Honourable and Worthy Design was renewed and undertaken by several of the Nobility of England and divers Merchants of London for the discovery of this North West passage and to settle a Trade with the Indians there Captain Zachariah Gillam being Commander who in the Nonsuch Ketch passed through Hudsons Straights then into Baffins Bay from thence Southerly into the Latitude of fifty one Degrees or thereabouts in a River now called Prince Ruperts River he there found a friendly correspondence with the Natives Built a Fort called Charles Fort returned with good success and laid the Foundation of an advantageous Trade in those parts But in the year 1687 seised upon by the French. The North West Part of AMERICA by R. Morden Atâ—â— Atlas in Cornhill Of GREENLAND GReenland is a Country of vast extent an unknown Tract and not yet fully discovered for notwithstanding several Voyages and many Ships have touched upon its Coasts yet it still lies obscured in a Northern Mist unless the names of certain Bays Capes c. viz. Cape Farewel Cape Comfort Cape Desolation Warwicks Foreland and Bearsford where 't is said the King of Denmark hath a Governor Of GREENLAND TOwards the North East lies a Tract of Land called Greenland by the English Spitsburg by the Dutch seated between seventy six Degrees and eighty two of Northern Latitude but whether an Island or Continent is not yet known The whole Land is so compassed with Ice that it is difficult to be approached sometimes in the middle of June tho' ordinarily the Ice breaks in May. The Soil is in most places nothing but Rocks or heaps of vast Stones many of them so high that the upper half seems to be above the Clouds The little Vallies between them are nothing else but broken Stones and Ice heaped up from many Generations About Roefield and Maple Haven is the greatest quantity of low Land which also is full of Rocks Stony and for the most part covered with Snow and Ice which when melted as in Summer discovers nothing but a barren Ground producing Heath Moss and some few Plants as a kind of Cabbage Lettice Scurvy-Grass Sorrel Snakeweed Hartsease a kind of Strawberry divers sorts of Ranunculus and of semper Vives in the Mountains that are exposed to a warm Air and Sun-beams in the Holes and Rocks infinite quantity of Fowls Nest whose Dung with the Moss washed down by the melted Snow makes a Mould in the Vallies or Clefts which produceth those Plants aforesaid For tho' it hath the Sun for half a year yet never about thirty three Degrees and forty Minutes above the Horizon the power of its Beams are insufficient to dispel the Cold or dissolve the Ice so that the Vapors from the Earth are not hot enough to warm the Air nor thin enough to rise to any considerable height but hang continually in thick dark Mists about the Land that sometimes you cannot see the length of your Ship. 'T is also remarkable that at Cherry in June 1608 it was so hot that melted Pitch ran down the sides of the Ships and that the Ice is raised above the Water many Fathoms and many times above thirty Fathom under Water and sometimes 't is frozen to the bottom of the Sea. The freezing and breaking of the Ice makes a great and terrible noise sometimes it breaks into great pieces and sometimes it shatters at once into small pieces with more noise but less danger The Beasts of the Country are Foxes of divers Colours Raindeer Bears six Foot high and fourteen Foot long Of Water Fowl there is great variety and in so great abundance that with their flight they darken the Sun viz. Ducks Willocks Stints Sea-pidgeons Sea-Parrots Gulls Noddees There are also great quantities of Fishes as Seals Dog Fishes Lobsters Gernels Star-Fish Macarel Dolfins Unicorns Whales c. Our Men that wintered in Greenland Anno 163â— lost the Light of the Sun October the fourteenth and saw it not again till February the third Those that staid there 1633 say that October the fifth was the last day they saw the Sun tho' they had Twilight till the seventeenth and on the twenty second the Stars were plainly to be seen and so continued for all
Masters of the Country dividing it into several Parts or Provinces viz. New Galicia Guadalaira New Biscay Mexico Mechoacan Panuco Jucatan Guatimala Honduras Nicaregua Costaricca Veragua and others they have established Parliaments at Mexico Guadalaria and Guatimala New Mexico properly so called lying round about the City of Mexico is the best and best peopled part of all America that City suffered a dreaful loss in the year 1629 all the Dams and most part of the Houses being carried away by the violence of the Streams for it is situated upon a salt Lake about twenty five or thirty Leagues in compass into which falls another Lake of fresh Water and both together are forty five or fifty Leagues circuit in which are said to be fifty thousand Ferries continually rowing about to carry Passengers having about fifty Towns on their Banks some say eighty Towns many of them count five thousand Houses some ten thousand The salt Lake Ebbeth and Floweth according to the Wind yielding no kind of Fish In Mexico are said to be four thousand Spaniards and thirty thousand Indians it is the Residence of the Vice-Roy and Arch-Bishop Before the Spaniards took possession of the Country there were several considerable places near to Mexico The Siege of Mexico lasted about three Months wherein Cortez had near 200000 Indians nine hundred Spaniards eighty Horses seventeen or eighteen Pieces of Ordnance sixteen or eighteen Vergantines and at least six thousand Canou's where were slain fifty Spaniards six Horses and about eight thousand Indians on Cortez side Of Mexicans were slain 120000 besides those that dyed with Famine and Pestilence The Vergentines wherewith Cortez besieged Mexico by Water were brought by land in pieces from Tlaxcallen to Tezcuco and 400000 Men fifty days employed in the finishing of them and making a Sluce or Trench and lanching of them into the Lake At that Siege Montezuma the Emperor was taken by Cortez out of his own Palace and made Prisoner which caused the Mexicans to rebel against Cortez and the Spaniards and fought a fierce and bloody Battel two or three days together crying out for their Emperor whereupon Cortez desired him to go to the Window to shew himself and command his Subjects to cease their fury who so doing was hit on the Head with a Stone with which blow he fell down dead to the Ground and this was the end of that great Emperor who was of the greatest Blood and the greatest King in Estate that ever was in Mexico slain by his own Subjects against their wills in the City of his greatest Glory and in the custody of a foreign and strange Nation After the death of Montezuma they made Quabutamoc their Emperor and persisting in their furious Battery against Cortez his Palace caused him and all his Spaniards to flie out of Mexico But the Spaniards having made sixteen or eighteen Vergentines at Tlaxcallen and got new Supplies they again so besieged Mexico by Water and Land that it was reduced to great necessity with Hunger and Sickness and tho' in this extream misery yet they would not yield no not when they saw the Kings Houses burned and the greatest part of their City consumed so long as they could keep one Street Tower or Temple and though the Spaniards had won the Market-place and most of the City And tho' their Houses were full with dead Bodies and all the Trees and Roots gnawn by those hungry wretches that survived yet would they not accept of peace but desired death so that when the Spaniards thought there had not been five thousand in all the City yet were there that day slain and taken Prisoners 400000 Persons and Quahutamoc their King taken Prisoner who told Cortez he had done his best endeavor to save and defend himself and Vassals but considering you may now do what you please with me I beseech you to kill me which is my only request But Cortez comforted him with fair words and required him to command his Subjects to yield which he did And at that time after so many were slain and starved so many Prisoners taken yet there were about 700000 who threw down their Arms and submitted Thus did Cortez win the famous City of Mexico on the thirteenth day of August An. Dom. 1521. Chulula enclosed about twenty thousand Houses with as many Temples as there are days in the year And the Inhabitants sacrificed every year above six thousand of their Children to their accursed Idols Tezcuco was said to be as big as Mexico which was said to contain sixty or eighty thousand Houses and is famous among the Spaniards for that it was the first that received a Christian King Hâ—rnando son to Nezavalpincintli Cortez being his God Father Quaretaro had a Fountain out of which the Water floweth for four years together and the next four years seemed to be empty Los Angelos upon the Road from La Vera Cruz first built and inhabited in the year 1530 by Don Antonio de Mendoza Vice-Roy of Mexico famous for the Cloth that is there made as good as any in Segovia which is the best in Spain And a Glass House which is the rarity in all those parts It is a City containing six thousand Inhabitants to which there belongs a Bishoprick endowed with sixty thousand Crown a year Guacocinga is the chief Town between the City of Mexico and Los Angelos consisting of above five thousand Indians and one thousand Spaniards and is priviledged by the Kings of Spain for that it joyned with the Tlazcellans against the Mexicans Acapulco upon the South Sea is a well sheltered Bay distant from Mexico one hundred Leagues from hence the Spaniard drives a rich Trade to the Philippine Isles and to China from whence they are distant three thousand Leagues Jucatan is a Peninsula between two Gulphs where stands the antient Merida In Panueo the Castillians have only three Colonies of which Saint Steven del puerto is the Metropolis twelve Leagues from the Sea and a Town of great Traffick next is Saint Jago de los Vallos thirdly Lewes de Tempico They have Mines of Gold in the Country which are not wrought Salt-pits out of which they draw the greatest profit Mechoaian the Metropolis of the Province so called now the seat of the Arch-Bishop since removed from Valadolid seated upon a Lake as large as that of Mexico This Country is said to be so healthful and of so sweat an Air that Sick People come thither to recover their health Near Colima is found the Plant Cozometcath or Olcacazan which takes blood-shot from the Eyes preserves the strength of the Body cures the Tooth and Head-ach resists all poisons and is most excellent against all Diseases This Province is of a fertile Soil yielding great encrease of all sorts of Grain Fruits c. It produceth Cotton Amber-Greece Gold Silver Copper Black Stones so shining that they serve instead of Looking-Glasses store of Plants medicinal Herbs Silk Hony Wax c. It is well stored