Part 1
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[Illustration: AMERICA]
AMERICA: BEING THE LATEST, AND MOST ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE NEVV VVORLD; CONTAINING The Original of the Inhabitants, and the Remarkable Voyages thither. THE CONQUEST OF THE VAST EMPIRES OF Mexico and Peru, AND OTHER LARGE PROVINCES and TERRITORIES, WITH THE SEVERAL _EUROPEAN_ PLANTATIONS IN THOSE PARTS. ALSO Their Cities, Fortresses, Towns, Temples, Mountains, and Rivers. Their Habits, Customs, Manners, and Religions. Their Plants, Beasts, Birds, and Serpents. WITH An _APPENDIX_, containing, besides several other considerable Additions, a brief Survey of what hath been discover’d of the _Unknown South-Land_ and the _Arctick Region_.
Collected from most Authentick Authors, Augmented with later Observations, and Adorn’d with Maps and Sculptures, by _JOHN OGILBY_ Esq; His Majesty’s _Cosmographer_, _Geographick Printer_, and Master of the _Revels_ in the Kingdom of _IRELAND_.
_LONDON_, Printed by the Author, and are to be had at his House in _White Fryers, M. DC. LXXI_.
[Illustration]
A Catalogue of the Authors, which are either mention’d, or made use of in this Volume of _America_.
_Abraham Mellinus_ _Abraham Mylius_ _Adriaen vander Donk_ _Ælian_ _Albertus Magnus_ _Aldrete_ _Ælius Lampridius_ _Alexander Aphrodiensis_ _Alexander ab Alexandro_ _Alexander Guaginus_ _Alonso Garcia_ _Alonso de Ouagli_ _Andræas Cæsariensis_ _Angrin Jonas_ _Antonio de Herrera_ _Apuleius_ _Aristonicus Grammaticus_ _Aristotle_ _Athanasius Kircher_ _Augustinus_ _Augustin de Tarcate_ _Augustus Thuanus_ _Ayton of Armenia_
_Balthazar de Amizquita_ _Barnaba Cabo_ _Bartholomæo de las Casas_ _Benjamin Tudalensis_
_Caspar Barlæus_ _Castaldus_ _Charles Rochfort_ _Christopher Arcisseuski_ _Cicero_ _Claude de Abbeville_ _Clemens Alexandrinus_ _Conradus Gesner_ _Cornelius Nepos_ _Cornelius Witfleet_ _Ctesias_ _Curtius_ _Cyrianus_
_David Ingran_ _David Powel_ _Diodorus Siculus_ _Dionysius Halicarnassæus_ _Dirk Ruiters_ _Dithmar Blefken_ _Duarte Mendez Seraon_
_Egydius Fletcher_ _Emanuel de Moraez_ _Erasmus Stella_ _Erick Roothaer_ _Everhard Reid_ _Eusebius_ _Euthymius Zibagenus_
_Festus Avienus_ _Francisc. Burmannus_ _Francisc. Delapuente_ _Francisc. de Gomara_ _Francisc. Lopes de Gomesa_ _Francisc. Raphelingius_ _Francisc. Soarez_ _Francisc. Tirolmonte_ _Francisc. Xaverius_ _Fullerus_
_Galenus_ _Garcilasso de la Vega_ _Genebrardus_ _Gerardus Joannes Vossius_ _Guido de Brez_ _Guilielm. Piso_ _Guilielm. Postellus_
_Harmannus Moded_ _Henrick Haelbos_ _Henrick Hawks_ _Hernando de Leon_ _Herodotus_ _Hesychius_ _Hieronim. Benzo_ _Hieronim. Cardanus_ _Homer_ _Hugo Grotius_ _Hugo Linschot_
_Jacob Bontius_ _Jacob Panensis_ _Jacob Rabbi_ _Inca Garcilasso_ _Joannes Ardenois_ _Joannes Bertius_ _Joannes Chilton_ _Joannes Gysius_ _Joannes Johnstonus_ _Jean de Laet_ _Joannes de Ledesma_ _Joannes Leonclavius_ _Joannes Lery_ _Joannes Mariana_ _Joannes Nieuwhof_ _Joan. van de Sande_ _Joseph. Acosta_ _Joseph. Anchieta_ _Joseph. Scaliger_ _Isaacus Pontanus_ _Isaac. du Verne_ _Isidorus Mendes Sequera_ _Julius Cæsar_ _Julius Cæsar Scaliger_
_Lactantius_ _Lauren. Ananias_ _Lauren. Bikker_ _Lauren. Guascus Gerascius_ _Lauren. Keymis_ _Levinus Lemmius_ _Lieven Aizma_ _Lopez Vaz_ _Lucan_ _Lucretius_ _Lodowick Leo_ _Lysander_
_Manethon Persa_ _Marcus Zeno_ _Martin del Barco_ _Martin Perez_ _Matthæus van den Broeke_ _Matthiolus_ _Melchior Soiterus_ _Mich. Lithower_ _Michovius_ _Miles Philips_ _Moses_
_Nicolaus Zeno_
_Olympiodorus_
_Paulus Venetus_ _Pedro de Ancieta_ _Pedro Pizarro_ _Pedro Fernandez de Quir_ _Pedro Maria_ _Peter Martyr_ _Pedro Ordonnes de Cevallos_ _Peter van Gendt_ _Philo Judæus_ _Philippus Cluverius_ _Philippus Mornæus_ _Phylarchus_ _Piere Moreau_ _Pinedas_ _Plato_ _Pliny_ _Plutarch_ _Pomponius Mela_ _Proclus_ _Procopius_
_Quarterius_
_Rabbi Simeon_ _Robertus Comtæus_
_Sam. Purchas_ _Sebastiaen Schroten_ _Simplicius_ _Salust_ _Sigismond Baro_ _Strabo_
_Theodosio_ _Theopompus_ _Thevet_ _Tertullian_ _Trigaut_
_Vegetius_ _Virgil_
[Illustration]
THE CONTENTS of the several CHAPTERS and SECTIONS.
The first Book.
America _unknown to the Ancients_ Fol. 1
_Of the Original of the Americans, whence they came, when, how, and from what People Planted_ 11
_First Discoverers of_ America, _with_ Christopher Colonus _his Expedition_ 43
Pedro Alphonso Nigno _his Voyage_ 56
_The Voyage of_ Vincent Agnes Pinzon 58
_The Expedition of_ Americus Vesputius 60
_The Expedition of_ Alphonso Fogeda, Diego Nicuesa, Ancisus, _and_ Roderick Colmenares 65
Peter Arias _his Expedition, and the remarkable Passages of_ Vascus Nunnez 69
_The Expedition of_ Francisco Fernandez, Lupo Caizedo, Christophero Morantes, Bernardo Igniguez, _and_ Juan Grisalva 76
_The Expedition of_ Ferdinand Magaglian, _commonly call’d_ Magellan 79
Ferdinando Cortez _his Voyage_ 81
Diego Gottierez _his Expedition_ 92
_The Expedition of_ Pedro Alvarado, Francisco _and_ Gonzalvo Pizarro, _and_ Diego de Almagro 95
_The Expeditions of_ John Stade _and_ Nicholas Durando Villegagnon 103
_The Expedition of_ John Ribald, Renatus Laudonier, _and_ Gurgie 105
_Four_ English _Expeditions, under the Command of our famous Sea-Captains_, Martin Forbisher, _Sir_ Francis Drake, Thomas Candish, _and_ John Smith 108
_A_ Netherland _Expedition, by_ Jaques Mahu _and_ Simon de Cordes 110
_The Expedition of_ Oliver van Noord 113
_The Expedition of_ George van Spilbergen 115
_The Expedition of_ Corneliszoon Schouten _and_ Jacob Le Maire 117
_The Voyage of the_ Nassavian _Fleet, under the Command of_ Jaques le Heremite _and_ Hugo Schapenham 120
Henry Brewer _his Voyage_ 122
The Second Book.
_Of the Bounds of_ America, _and of the Division of the_ Mexican, Fol. _or Northern part thereof_ 125
Estotiland 126
Terra Laboratoris 128
Canada, _or_ New France 129
Accadia, _or_ Nova Scotia 133
Norumbegua 138
New England 139
New Netherland, _now call’d_ New York 168
_A new Description of_ Mary-Land 183
Virginia 192
_The Relation of Captain_ Smith’_s being taken Prisoner by_ Powhatan, _and his deliverance by his Daughter_ Pocahonta 202
Carolina 205
Florida 213
Jucatan 222
Guatimala 224
Vera Paz 227
Honduras 229
Nicaragua 232
Costarica 235
Veragua ibid.
Guatimala, _properly so call’d_ ibid.
_The Kingdom of_ Mexico, _or_ New Spain 238
Mechoacan 261
Tlascalla 264
Guaxata 268
Panuco 270
Tabasco 273
New Gallicia 281
Guadalajara 284
Xalisco 285
Chiametla ibid.
Couliacan 286
Cinoloa 288
Zacatecas 289
New Biscay 290
New Mexico 291
Cibola, Tontonteac, _and_ Nova Granada 298
Quivira 301
Terra Nova, _or_ New-found Land, _with the Island of_ Assumption 304
_The_ Bermudas, _or_ Summer-Islands 311
Hispaniola 314
Porto Rico, _and_ Monico 327
Cuba 331
Jamaica 337
_The Islands call’d_ The Lucaies 344
_The_ Caribbee-Islands 345
Anegada _and_ Sombrero 362
Las Virgines 363
Anguilla ibid.
Saba 364
St. Crux ibid.
St. Martin 365
St. Bartholomew 367
Barboude 368
Rotonda ibid.
Nevis ibid.
Eustathius 369
Antego 370
Montserrat ibid.
Guadalupe 371
Deseado 372
Marigalante ibid.
Todos Sanctos 373
De Aves ibid.
Dominico 375
Martinico 376
St. Lucia 377
Barbados ibid.
St. Vincent 380
Bekia 381
Granada ibid.
Tabago 382
St. Christophers 383
The Islands Sotavento, and the Isle Trinidado 387
Cubagua 388
California 389
The Third Book.
A Description of Peruana or, Southern America Fol. 393
Castella Aurea, _otherwise call’d_ Terra Firma 394
Panama 395
Darien 399
New Andaluzia 400
St. Martha 403
Rio de la Hacha 405
New Granada 406
Granada 408
Popayana 409
Peru 412
Quito 441
Los Quixos 446
Lima 450
Cusco 456
Los Charcas 462
Collao 466
Chile 471
Chile, _properly so call’d_ 472
Magellanica 473
Paraguay, _or_ Rio de la Plata 475
Rio de la Plata, _properly so call’d_ 476
Tucuman ibid.
La Crux de Sierra 477
Brasile ibid.
St. Vincent 495
Rio de Janeiro 496
De Spirito Santo 497
Porto Seguro 498
Los Isleos 501
Bahia de Todos los Sanctos 502
Pernambuco 505
Parayba 508
Maragnan 511
_The Lordships_ Tamarica, Rio Grande, Siara, _and_ Para 517
_A Relation of the Proceedings of the_ Netherland West-India _Company in_ Brasile, _to the Year_ 1658 518
_The Journey of_ Rodulphus Baron, _with the Description of the Customs and Manners of the_ Tapuyans 595
Grave Maurice _his Account of_ Brasile, _so far as it concern’d the_ West-India _Company_ 600
_The Councellor_ Dussen’s _Relation of so much of_ Brasile _as concern’d the_ West-India _Company_ 601
_A Description of the Palace_ Freyburgh, _two Bridges, and a Banquetting-house, all built by_ Grave Maurice 605
Guiana 607
_A Relation of the Journey of_ Francisco Orellana ibid.
Paria, _or_ New Andalusia 620
Cumana 621
Venezuela 624
_The Islands_ Margareta, Cubagua, _and_ Coche 627
_Of the Islands of_ Southern America 628
In the Appendix.
Rio de la Plata Fol. 631
Chili 634
_A View of the_ Chilesian _Language_ 635
Magellanica 649
_The_ Unknown South-Land 653
Terra Borealis, _or_ The Arctick Region 661
_Several Attempts for the discovery of the_ North-West Passage 672
_A brief View of what Places are possess’d at this day in the_ West-Indies, _by the_ English, Spaniards, French, Portuguese, _and_ Dutch 674
[Illustration]
[Illustration: Novissima et Accuratissima TOTIUS AMERICÆ DESCRIPTIO per JOHAHEM OGILUIUM Cosmographum Regium]
[Illustration]
AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF AMERICA.
CHAP. I. America, _unknown to the Antients_.
[Sidenote: Description of the Ocean.]
The Sea, that takes several Denominations from the Countreys which it washeth, and surrounding the dry Land, cuts out, and shapes so many winding Bays, Creeks, and Meandring Inlets, seems no where so much confin’d and penn’d into so narrow a Channel, as the _Straights_ of _Magellan_: From whence again, soon expatiating, it spreads it self into two immense, and almost boundless Oceans, that which opens to the North, gives terminaries to the four Regions of the Earth; that to the South, onely to _Asia_ and _America_; both which, indeed, are but one continu’d Sea, extending it self round the Universal Globe.
This watry part of the World, that almost through all Ages lay Fallow, hath in these later times been Furrow’d by several Expert and Stout Captains, who now by their Art and Industry, have given a good Account of, and made clear Discoveries from East to West, where-ever the Sun rises or sets.
The Northern Bounds under the _Artick-Zone_, have been hitherto so obstructed with Ice, that the undertakings of such as adventur’d either to find by the North-East or North-West a Passage to _India_, have been utterly frustrate. Of the Southern, no such pains hath as yet been taken in the Discovery, so that for the most part it is yet unknown how far the Water, either deep or shallow, overspreads the Earth, onely thus much Experience hath made out, that the _Antartick_ needs lesser Line to Fathom, than the _Artick-Ocean_.
[Sidenote: The Ancients had little knowledge in Navigation.]
The antient _Greeks_, _Phenicians_, and _Romans_, or whosoever that were Renown’d by Antiquity, and Listed in the number of their famous Navigators, were no less Timerous than Ignorant concerning Maritim Affairs, and are not fit to stand in the least degree of competition with our later Voyagers.
[Sidenote: Navigation is very ancient.]
Of old, by an inviolable Law, made by Custom, according to _Pliny_, _Vigetius_ and others, the Sea was lock’d up, from the eleventh of _October_, to the tenth of _March_, no Ships daring to venture forth, dreading short Nights, and foul Weather; neither in Summer, did they so much as once offer, unless driven by Storms, to attempt the _Offin_, or loose sight of Land; yet there is no question, but that several Nations in former Ages, made it their business, spending their whole time, and wearying themselves in the Practical Art of Navigation.
[Sidenote: _Geograph._ lib. 1.]
[Sidenote: _Hist. Nat._ lib. 2. cap. 67.]
[Sidenote: _Ultima Thule_, suppos’d by some to be _Ireland_. _Vide Georgic._]
[Sidenote: The Voyage of _Hanno_.]
[Sidenote: Of _Eudoxus_, _Strab._ l. 2.]
The Sacred Scripture testifies, That the Kings of _Judea_, _Solomon_, _Jehosaphat_, _Ozias_, and others, prepar’d several Fleets that Sail’d through remote Seas, freighting themselves with Gold from _Ophir_, and other Rarities, which were Imported to supply and enrich the _Holy-Land_. And _Strabo_ also tells us, That King _Solomon_ being contemporary with _Homer_, then discover’d _India_. And _Pliny_ relates, That the _Romans_, in the Reign of _Augustus_, passing the _Straights_ of _Gibraltar_, and sleighting the _Ne plus ultra_, Coasted _Spain_, _France_, and _Belgium_, leaving not at the Promontory of the _Cimbrians_ (now call’d _Shager-Riff_) but also ventur’d into the Northern Ocean, which washes _Norwey_ and _Lapland_: But long before this, as _Athenæus_ relates, _Phileas Taurominites_, a _Grecian_ Captain, and several others pass’d the _Herculean-Pillars_, penetrating the Northern Seas as far as _Britain_, and adventuring, made the first Discovery of _Thule_: And to the Southward the _African_ Coasts without _Gibraltar_, and beyond _Atlas_, were now and then explor’d by several expert Captains. But more remarkable is the Voyage of _Hanno_ a _Carthaginian_, who out-sail’d these, and inspected the Coasts of _Africa_, as far as the _Gorgades_: And _Eudoxus Cyzicenus_, flying from King _Lathyrus_, set Sail from the _Arabian_ Gulph, and passing the _Great-Cape_, came to an Anchor at last in the Mouth of _Gibraltar_, having discover’d all the Eastern, Southern, and Western parts of _Africa_.
[Sidenote: Strange Voyage of some _Indians_.]
[Sidenote: Of _Menelaus_.]
Moreover, it deserves special observation, That an antient _Swedish_ King, as _Cornelius Nepos_ relates, sent as a Rarity and great Present to the _Roman_ Consul _Metellus Celer_, some _Indians_, who loosing their course, hatter’d up and down with perpetual Storms and stress of Weather, were at last driven into the Northern Ocean, where they suffer’d Shipwrack; yet saving themselves, Landed on his Coast: _Aristonicus Gramaticus_ relates, That _Menelaus_ Sailing from the _Sack_ of _Troy_, became so great a Voyager, that leaving the _Straights_, he surrounded _Africa_, and discovering _India_, after eight years re-measuring the same way he went, return’d with great Riches in safety to his own Kingdom: Which is consentaneous to _Homer_, who saith, _Odyss._ l. 4.
——_None must compare Mansions with_ Jove, _his Seats Celestial are: But with me any may, who eight years tost Through Worlds of Miseries from Coast to Coast, ’Mongst unknown Seas, of my Return small hope_, Cyprus, Phœnicia, Ægypt,[1] Æthiope, Sidon, Erembos _found, and_ Lybia, _where Their Lambs are horn’d, their Ews teem thrice a year._
——Ἤτοι ζηνὶ βροτῶν οὐκ ἄντις ἐρίζοι. Ἀθάνατοι γὰρ τοῦ γε δόμοι καὶ κτήματ ἔασιν. Ἀνδρῶν δ’ ἤκεν τίς μοί ἐρίζεται ἠὲ, καὶ οὐκὶ Κτήμασιν; ἦ γὰρ πολλὰ παθὼν, καὶ πόλλ’ ἐπαληθεὶς Ἠγαγόμην ἐν νηυσὶ, καὶ ὀγδοάτω ἔτει ἦλθον Κύπρον, φοίνικην τε καὶ ἀιγυπτίους ἐπαληθεὶς, Ἀιθιοπάς θ’ ἱκόμην, καὶ σιδονίους καὶ ἐρεμβοὺς Καὶ Λιβύην, ἵνα τ’ ἄρνευ ἄφαρ κεραοὶ τελέθουσι, Τρὶς γὰρ τίκτει μῆλα τελευφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν.
Footnote 1:
The Commentators on _Homer_ have been very inquisitive to find out _Menelaus_ Voyage into _Æthiopia_. _Crates_ suppos’d that he pass’d out at the _Straights_, doubled the Southern _Cape_, and so arriv’d thither. _Eratosthenes_ conjectures, that in the time of _Homer_ the _Straights_ Mouth was an Isthmus, and the _Ægyptian_ Isthmus overflow’d by the Sea, which afforded him a shorter passage. But that is most probable which _Strabo_ delivers, that he then went to the borders of _Æthiopia_, when he pass’d up _Ægypt_ to the City of _Thebes_; the Borders of _Æthiopia_ being not far distant from thence in _Strabo_’s time, probably very near it in _Homer_’s.
[Sidenote: Remarkable Voyage of an _Indian_ into _Egypt_,]
[Sidenote: Of _Ptolemy_]
[Sidenote: And also of _Cleopatra_.]
That which the _Grecian_ Geographers relate concerning _Ptolomy Euergetes_, King of _Egypt_, is not to be forgotten, That sending Pilots, Commission’d to take the Soundings, and settle the Land-marks in the _Arabian_ Gulph, they found by chance a forsaken Vessel, onely in it one Man half dead, lying among several other breathless Bodies, of whom, being refresh’d with convenient Cordials, they enquir’d his Fortune, but he being unable to give them any present satisfaction, neither understanding what the other said, they sent him to the Court, where soon having got a smattering of Greek, he inform’d _Euergetes_, that he was a Native _Indian_, driven from their course into the place where they found him by stress of Weather, and that his company were famish’d, all their Provision spent in their Wandrings from their intended Voyage; Thus being kindly entertain’d, he also promis’d the King to open his Passage (if so he pleas’d) into _India_. The King slept not upon this Intelligence, but immediately prepar’d a Fleet Freighted with such Commodities as were advis’d; with which setting forth by the Conduct of this their _Indian_ Pilot, they Anchor’d in their desir’d Port, and brought the King in return from thence a rich _Cargo_ of Silk, Spices, costly Drugs, and precious Gems. _Cleopatra_, about sixty years after, intending not to lose the advantages reap’d by the former discoveries, equipp’d another and greater Navy; which passing through the Red-Sea, found the Stern of a Ship, on which was Presented a Horse, whereby some of the more knowing Sea-men judg’d, that it had been a _Gibraltar_ Vessel, and Sailing about _Africa_, there by sad accident suffer’d a Wrack. This Stern was afterwards set up, and fix’d as a Memorial in the Market-place of _Memphis_.
[Sidenote: The _Venetians_ were the first that drove a trade from _Europe_ to the _East-Indies_.]
[Sidenote: How they went their journeys.]
In these later times, the first that endeavor’d to drive an _European_ Trade in _Africk_, and held Commerce with _India_, was the State of _Venice_, who Sail’d from thence through the _Adriatick_, into the _Mediterranean-Sea_: So Steering for _Alexandria_, where unlading their Goods, from thence they carry’d them over Land, and Shipping again in the _Arabian_ Gulph, Sail’d directly for _India_. Thus by Land and Water, were exchang’d several Commodities, and the _Indian_ Growth and rich Products of the Oriental World plentifully Transported to _Venice_, and from thence, all _Europe_ had ample Accommodation, until an _Egyptian Sultan_ suffer’d the Way to be infested by Thieves and Murdering Robbers, that so they were enforc’d to remove thence, and Discharge their several Cargoes at _Aleppo_; from whence, on Mules and Camels, they carry’d their Goods to _Babylon_, so to _Balsarum_, and then to _Ormus_, where they Re-ship’d thence, directly standing for _India_.
Thus they enjoy’d the benefit of so great a Trade and Commerce, until the _Portuguese_ found a Passage by Sea, saving the Expence and trouble of carrying Goods so far by Land to _India_; Of which here we will a little inlarge.
[Sidenote: By what means the _Portuguese_ came first to discover the Coasts of _Africa_ and _India_.]
[Sidenote: Why _Africa_ was no further discover’d.]
_John_, the first King of _Portugal_, who took from the _Moors_, by force of Arms, _Septa_, an _African_ City, having five Sons; _Henry_ his fourth behav’d himself so gallantly in the Leaguer of _Septa_, that after he became Master of the place, this Prince made many bold Excursions in several Parties against the Enemy, bringing in daily great store of Booty; so growing rich, he Rigg’d out two new Vessels to make farther Discoveries along the Coast of _Africa_. Yet this his Expedition went on but slowly, being much taken off in Building there a new City, then call’d _Tarzanabala_, and since _Villa Infantis_; but being Admonish’d by a Dream, and Check’d for his laying thus aside his first Design of Navigation; he soon after, _Anno 1410._ set forth the Ships that he intended, which he the more accelerated, being inform’d by some of his Prisoners Natives, that _Africa_ spread from the Basis of _Mount-Atlas_, very far towards the South: This Mountain then was the Terminary of Navigation that way, because thereabouts a long Ridge or Shelf of Sands thrust its Point under Shallow Waters so far out into the Ocean, that none durst venture to Sail into the _Offin_, being out of sight of Land to double this conceal’d _Cape_.
[Sidenote: Who first ventur’d into the _Offin_.]
[Sidenote: _Madera_’s, by whom peopled.]
The first that attempted to find Deep Water, and get round about, discovering several unknown Coasts, and Uninhabited Isles belonging to that Region, were _Joannes Gonsalves_, _Tristan Varseus_, and _Ægidius Annius_; amongst which were the _Madera_’s, and _St. George de Picho_, which Prince _Henry_ first Planted with _Portuguese_, and others since with _Netherlanders_. He also obtain’d a Grant from Pope _Martin_ the Fifth, of all the discover’d Territories East-ward from the _Canaries_, for ever to be the undoubted Right, and belonging to the Crown of _Portugal_.
[Sidenote: By whom _Genny_ was discover’d.]
After _Henry_’s Decease, _Anno 1460._ the business of Navigation and Discoveries of new Countreys, lay neglected, because King _Alphonso_ turmoyl’d in a Civil War, his Crown being at stake, had not leisure to think or look after uncertain improvements by Sea; yet at last having quell’d his Enemies, he ventur’d forth some Ships, who Sail’d as far as the River _Zenaga_, and came to Anchor before the City of _Genny_, famous since for Trade, which gave its denomination to the Countrey and Coasts of _Guiny_, where they dealing, Barter’d for Ivory, Gold, Slaves, and also got so much footing into the Countrey, that they suddenly rais’d up a Fort, and Man’d it with a strong Garrison, Shipping their Slaves for _Lisbon_.
_John_ the Second succeeding his Father _Alphonso_, had a great design upon _Arabia_ and _India_, and if possible, was ambitious to open a Passage from the _Atlantick_, to the _Oriental-Seas_. But the difficulty lay in Steering so often from sight of Land, venturing into the Main Ocean, obstructed by so many dangerous Shoals that lay so far out into the _Offin_.
[Sidenote: For the Northern Constellations the _Astrolabe_ was in use long before.]
At that time flourish’d three famous Mathematicians, _Rhoderick_, _Joseph_, and _Martin Bohemus_, Pupils bred up by _Joannes Monteregius_; with which the King consulting, perswaded, that they would by their Art invent some Instrument, that by Southern Constellations, the Pole being depress’d, the Navigator might know where he was, and in what height; so guessing what distance they were from this or that Countrey; they accordingly Club’d Learning, and by their great Study, found out what since hath prov’d so useful and beneficial to Seamen, the _Astrolabe_; which help having obtain’d, the Sailers encourag’d, more frequently ventur’d into remote and unknown Seas.
[Sidenote: Remarkable passage of _Jaques Cano_.]
[Sidenote: Discovery of _Congo_.]
[Sidenote: _John_ the Second, seeks to discover _India_ by water.]
After these, King _John_ of _Portugal_ sent _Jaques Cano_ with a Fleet, who Sailing, found the River _Zaires_, where he erected a Pillar with an Inscription, _Latin_ and _Portuguese_, signifying by whom, and in what Kings Reign these _African_ Coasts were discover’d: Here he also met some of the Natives, who more civiliz’d than the rest, told him, That they had a mighty King, who Raigning over them, kept his Court some few days Journey up in the Countrey, to whom _Cano_ sending his Agents, detain’d four _Africans_ as Pledges, which he carry’d with their free consent to _Portugal_, promising to bring them back in fifteen Months, who before that time having got some smatterings of their Tongue, inform’d them, that their Native Soyl was call’d _Congo_, whither returning by the appointed time, they were according to their agreement, exchang’d for the _Portuguese_, and _Cano_ address’d himself with rich Presents to their King, whom he found sitting in their manner on an Ivory Throne, being from the middle upward Naked, his nether parts cover’d with long Silken Skirts, a Golden Armlet on his left Arm, athwart his Shoulders hung a Horses Tail, their Badge of Royal Dignity: _Cano_ humbly laid the Presents down at the Kings feet, amongst which was a Gilded Flag, or Pennon with a Cross, which Pope _Innocent_ the Eighth had Consecrated with great Ceremony. After this, many of that Nation became Christians, and the King himself receiv’d Baptism. But in short time, by the Instigations of their Diabolical Priests, and others, Christianity loosing ground, grew out of countenance: Mean while, King _John_ the Second vigorously Prosecuted the business of Discovery, sending _Jews_ and _Christians_ by Land from _Alexandria_ and other parts of _Egypt_ to _India_, and from thence to explore the Coasts on the Eastern side of _Africa_, to the _Great-Cape_; if so a way might be found fit for Navigators, having doubled that Point, to Traffick with the Oriental parts of the World.
[Sidenote: _Vasques de Gama_, his expedition.]
After this Princes Death the Work lay sill a while, but in short time, King _Emanuel_ his Successor freshly undertook the business once more, sending _Vasques de Gama_ with four Ships, who passing through many Dangers with great Difficulties, Anchor’d at last before _Calecut_, and was the first of the _Europeans_ that found a way to the _East-Indies_.
[Sidenote: _Christopher Columbus_’s.]
[Sidenote: Dividing of the earth.]