  CONTAINING Partly a farther prosecution of the Descriptions of some Provinces already treated of in the foregoing Book, partly an Account of some other Discoveries than what have hitherto been deliver’d in any Description of the NEW WORLD. The River De la Plata, by the Natives call’d Paranaguazu, is next to the River of the Amazones, the greatest in the World, and falls into the Northern Ocean between the Capes Antonio and Maria, lying thirty Leagues one from another: It receives from East and West divers Rivers as far as the Lake Xarays, lying three hundred Leagues up in the Countrey from the Mouth of La Plata. Also into the fore-mention’d Lake fall several Streams, which spring out of the Peruvian Mountains Andes. The first that Sail’d into this great River, Anno 1515. to an Island lying in the middle of it, was John Dias de Solis, who rashly going ashore, was kill’d and eaten, together with several Portugueses. Sebastian Gabottus his Expedition. Eleven years after this Accident, Sebastian Gabottus set Sail from Spain to go to the Spicy Islands through the Straights of Magellan, but was forc’d, for want of Provisions, and the unwillingness of his Seamen, to put into the River La Plata; in which being advanc’d thirty Leagues, he Anchor’d near an Island, which he call’d St. Gabriel: from whence going seven farther, he discover’d a Stream which fell into La Plata. This River he call’d St. Salvador, and cast up a Fort at the Mouth of it, where an Inlet afforded a convenient Harbor for Shipping; he found the River La Plata to be generally ten Leagues broad, and full of Isles; and to the Westward of it, the River Zaracaranna, inhabited on the South side by a subtil People call’d Diagnitas. At the place where Zaracaranna disembogues into La Plata he built a Castle, and calling the same Castello di Santo Spirito, went up farther, leaving on the West side the People Tenbues, Mequaretas, Mepenes, and Aigais; to the Eastward, the Quiloacas and Santana, and struck up out of the River La Plata, North-East into Alvares Cabeca not long after following Mendoza’s footsteps, discover’d and peopled the Province Rio de la Plata. The Mouth of the River La Plata Laurence Bikker describes thus: Laurence Bikker’s Description of Rio de la Plata. “Beyond the Cape Santa Maria (saith he) lies the flat Island Castilhos, having scarce a Tree upon it; but on the North side a Rock, not unlike a decay’d Castle; to the Southward of which appear two other Cliffs; directly before the Mouth lies the stonie Island De Lobos, on which nothing is to be found but Sea-Wolves; towards the East a stonie Bank runs a good way into the River, known by the breaking of the Water upon the same.” The Promontory Maria is low and barren, but within the same the Land rises high before the Isles Flores and Maldonado, which last hath a good sandy Shore, Harbor, and fresh Water between the Rocks; but Flores rising with two Hills, produces nothing but Brambles. The Stream Solis also discharges its Waters in La Plata, near the Place where the Mountain Seredo lies. The left Shore of La Plata begins at the Promontory Antonio, and is cut through by the Rivers Ortis and Los Sanctos, where the Town Buenos Ayres is built on a smooth Shore. Martin del Barco’s Description of the same. Martin del Barco proceeding in the Description of La Plata, saith that it is dangerous by reason of the many Shelves that are in the same. The Isles in the River are as followeth: those that bear the Name of St. Gabriel are five in number; Garcia Isle is full of Trees, and for its fertility was peopled by Peter de Mendoza, and afterwards by Juan Ortiz Carate: But less fruitful are the Isles De Lazaro, where the River Vrayg unites with La Plata, being before fill’d with the Waters of Salvador, which receives the black Stream Negro, which gliding slowly from Morasses, is very full of Fish. Moreover, La Plata hath eleven Arms, each very deep and full of Isles, inhabited by the Guaranins. About a hundred Leagues farther the Cherandies have setled themselves on pleasant Isles, lying not far from the City St. Fe, built on the Point which makes the River Bermeio, where it falls into La Plata. Farther up lies the Province Ana, partly well inhabited for its fertility, and partly overflow’d. Next appears the Rock Pennapobre, and not far from the Town Guayra, La Plata falls very high from the Rocks. The several People of this Countrey. But as concerning the Natives of this Countrey, it is inhabited by divers sorts of People, differing from one another both in Customs and Language. On the South side of the fore-mention’d River, from the Promontory Antonio to Buenos Ayres, dwell the Quirandies, a stout, but cruel People, who with the Flesh of many a Spaniard oftentimes keep a merry Feast. Farther into the Countrey run the Juries and Diagnitas. Along La Plata lie also scatter’d the Tenbues, a civil People, who live Nunnez Cabeca his Journey. Alvarez Nunnez Cabeca came from Spain to be Governor here, but was not able, by reason of contrary Winds and Tydes to reach La Plata; wherefore Landing at the River Itabucu, and spending nine days in cutting a Way through thick Brambles, he came to the Jurisdiction of Armiriri, and a days Journey farther to Cipoyay; and not long after to Tocanguazu, where the Guaranies, who are the Natives, have two Harvests every year of Maiz and Cassavi, and breed and keep Geese, Hens and Parrots in their Houses: They are Man-eaters, and very revengeful. Cabeca having given this Countrey the Name of Vera, he proceeded on his Journey over the Rivers Ignazu, Tibagi, and Taquari, on whose Shore appears the Village Abangobi, and somewhat farther Tocanguzir. The Countrey hereabouts is very fruitful, and hath many delightful Plains, pleasant Rivers, and Woods; but beyond appear Hills, Mountains, deep Morasses, dangerous Cane-Fields, Receptacles for wild Beasts, and great Wildernesses. Cabeca having pass’d through them all, came into the fruitful Countrey of the Guaranies, who are a wild People, and possess many large Fields of Maiz and Potato’s, also several Silver Mines. From hence travelling Westwardly over the River Piqueri, he spent eighteen days before he came to the Stream Ignazu, which falls into the Parana, and at last came to the River Paraguay; along whose Shore he found a People of a gigantick Stature, call’d The Agazes, who regarded no manner of Husbandry, but went out continually a robbing in their Canoos. These People, as Martin del Barco relates, were not long after all destroy’d by the Spaniards. Not far from the Agazes dwell the Guaycurues, a valiant People; and somewhat farther the Cacoves, whose Countrey produces Gold and Silver; and yet farther in the Countrey reside the Guaxarapos, who remove yearly to the Paraguay to Fish there when the Water is low; for in the beginning of January the River swells so exceedingly, that the Countrey about it being overflow’d, is cover’d with above six Fathom Water. The Paraguay discharges its Waters into the great Lake Xarayes, full of Islands. Amongst other Rivers that spring out of the Mountains Andes, the Ignazu, along whose Shore the People Xacoaes, Xaquesses, and Chanesses dwell, falls also into the foremention’d Lake. Somewhat farther lies a great piece of drown’d Land, beyond which the Xarayes have convenient Habitations, plant Maiz, and spin Cotton: Their Countrey borders a great Wilderness, which ends about the Province Tapuaguazu, the Inhabitants whereof, call’d Tarapecocies, are furnish’d with plenty of all sorts of Provisions. The Payzunoes, dwelling on one side of them, are not well known as yet. Beyond the Town Assumption dwell the Mayaes, in the Way to Peru, and border at the Tamacoaes, both which possess Silver-Mines. Between Buenos Ayres and Corduba lies the Plain-Countrey Despoplado, ninety Leagues long, without Trees or Houses, but is most Pasture-Ground, which feed many thousands of wild Horses. From hence glide the Streams Luchan, Los Arrechivos, Arreca, Zaracaranna, and others, into La Plata. It is very dangerous for a small Company to travel through this Countrey, because the ranging Furies spare none alive they meet with. Moreover, the River Grande flows with a wide Mouth into the Sea, and spreads North-East beyond Alagoa lie the Islands Catharina and Gale; and in the Bay Tojuqua appear several Isles. The Streams Tajahu and Ytabuca spring out of high Mountains, inhabited by the People Anniriri and Cipopoy. Lastly, the Countrey wash’d by the Stream Ararapira, produces all sorts of Provisions. There are in this Countrey both tame and wild Sheep; the tame ones are call’d Cammel-Sheep, being cover’d with long fine Wool, having Necks four Foot long, their fore Feet cloven into four parts, their hindermost into two, their Mouths very wide, which they open at those that vex them, and make such a stink, that no body is able to abide near them; when tir’d, they fall under their Burdens, and will not rise, though beaten never no much: Their Flesh is tough like that of Horses. The wild Mountain-Sheep are red, and have soft glossy Wool, which makes a Stuff like that of a Chamlet: These Sheep run swifter than a Horse; the Chileses lead them by a Rope put through their Ears. The Grain Teca. This Countrey of Chili not onely produces Wheat, Barley, Maiz, and all manner of Fruit, but also the Teca, which growing half a Yard high, is not unlike Barley; the Grain thereof being dry’d in the Sun, is thresh’d, and parch’d in hot Sand, then ground on a square flat Stone with a round Rowler. This Meal, which is both exceeding wholsom and very nourishing (for a small Measure thereof sufficeth a Man a whole Week,) serves also both for Meat and Drink: for being infus’d in a greater quantity of Water, it becomes a pleasant Drink, and kneaded with a lesser proportion, it is made into Cakes or Loaves. The Fruit Unni. The Fruit Unni, by the Spaniards call’d Murtilla, is like a little red Grape, and hath a tart taste. The Wine press’d out of this Fruit is clear to the Eye, pleasing to the Palate, and good for the Stomach, never causing any Head-ache: It also makes good Vinegar. But the chiefest Benefit of Chili is the rich Gold-Mines. The Countrey for the most part lies desolate, occasion’d by the continual Wars which the valiant People Arauco maintain’d against the Spaniards after such a manner, that in no place of America they met with such resistance, or sustain’d such Losses. They speak an elegant Language, according to the testimony of Elias Herkmans, who having committed to Writing all the most significant Words thereof which were taught him by the Chileses, it will not be altogether amiss to set down some of them, which are these following: A View of the Chilesian Language.
The Seamen who went under Hendrick Brewer’s Command, Anno 1643. from Brasile to Chili, brought the fore-mention’d Vocabulary along with them. Chili is look’d upon as no way inferior to any Countrey in America, enjoying a wholsom Air, fruitful Soil, and abundance of Inhabitants, who often furnish Peru with Provisions; which are the speedier convey’d thither, because the South-Winds always blow along the Coast. The Peruvian Vice-Roy keeps a Deputy to Govern here. It hath two Bishopricks, viz. St. Jago and L’ Imperial. The Nature, Customs, and Manners of the Chileses. Some of the Chileses are under the Spaniards Jurisdiction, and live in Huts; others being wilder, defend their Freedom with the Sword. They have great Heads and flat Noses: The Men continually pull out the Hair on their Faces and Privities with Shells, which they carry about their Necks for that purpose, having beforehand rubb’d the Hair with warm Ashes; the Hair of their Heads hanging downwards is cut close as far as their Ears, the rest growing long, is ty’d with the Ribbon Tariwelonco, to which Persons of Quality fix Silver Plates and Turkoises: Some also cover their Heads with the Skins of Weazels, or the like Beasts, putting the Head over their Foreheads, and the Tail down their Neck; which kind of Covering they call Maniewelonco: Others wear Caps made after some strange manner or other. The Chileses are not the tallest, but strong and well set, betwixt a white and sallow colour: Those that are in the Spaniards Service, wear long Hair, by which they are distinguish’d from the shorn Ucais, who do the Spaniards all the mischief imaginable. The Women are for the most part low of stature, but of a strong Constitution, they go bare-headed, letting their Hair hang loose over their Shoulders, except when they are indispos’d, and then they tie it up: But those that dwell about Castro wear Locks like our English Ladies. In Coquimbo and Loquimbo they go after the same manner as the Peruvian Women: All of them have thick black Hair. Their Apparel, though mean, is neat: The Men wear wide Breeches girt about their Wastes, and a piece of woollen Cloth, three Yards long and two broad, which Their Huts being low, are made of Straw, Canes, and Boughs, and not built for one single Family; for often thirty, fifty, a hundred, or a hundred and twenty dwell under one Roof, and have a Governor, by them call’d Caruca. Their Housholdstuff is little and mean, viz. two or three Cans to keep their Liquor Chica in, Horn Cups, a Stone whereon they grind their Corn, and one or two woodden Stools: The chiefest of them also use Sheep-skins, which they spread on the Ground before their Guests. They live without care, for they neither Sowe nor Plant any more than will serve them a Year. Their Riches consist in Cattel, of which they have no great plenty. About the beginning of October a whole Town meets together to Plough and to Sowe, which the Men perform in two days time, the rest of the Work being left to the care of the Women; for the Men never meddle with Reaping or Harvest. They eat and drink from Morning to Evening, when they do not travel, for then they eat at set-times. Their Liquor is made of Barley-Meal, or Wheat boyl’d in Water. On Festival Days they drink Chica, Brew’d of Maiz chew’d by the Teeth of old Women. They likewise make a Liquor of the Fruit Unni, which tastes like Madera Wine. Their Marriages. Every Man Marries as many Wives as he can buy and maintain, for Maids and Widows must be sold by the Parents, who set not a Price upon them according to their Beauty or Quality, but their skill in managing Houshold Affairs. Their Marriages are perform’d after a strange manner: A Son having no Inheritance, lives on the Charity of his nearest Relations, who Present him, one with a Hog, another with a Cow, a third with a Sheep, and a fourth with somewhat else: thus enrich’d, he goes to his Mistresses Father, and hangs some Turkoises and Plates of Silver about his Neck, and acquainting him with what Estate he can make his Wife, he agrees as well as he can with his intended Father-in-law, to whom he gives ten, fifty, or a hundred Sheep, Oxen, Cows, Hogs, Horses, Poultrey, a Coat, and some Vessels full of Chica; which done, the Father leads his Daughter to the Bridegroom’s House, where he is Entertain’d with Meat, but finds the Drink at his own Cost. Some days after the Celebration of the Wedding, the nearest Relations come to congratulate the young Marry’d Woman, and at Dinner sing an Epithalamium to their Nuptial Deity Maruapeante, all of them sitting on the Ground on Sheep-skins. The Allies often take away a Woman from her Husband, especially when he misuses her; and if a Man kill his Wife, her Death is reveng’d by her Relations. Persons of Quality build a Hut for every one of their Wives, sending word to her whom they have a mind to enjoy: They respect one above the rest, who are in a manner but Slavesses, being forc’d to do all the Drudgery. The Men are exceeding jealous and chollerick, cruelly beating their Wives, if they chance but to look on another Man; and if they take them in the Act of Adultery, they immediately The Spaniards tell us, that their Women, if they continue long in this Countrey, are more and more hardned by the Air, and are as little concern’d at the Birth of a Child as the Natives. A Widow hath free leave to Marry again, provided she hath given to her Children part of what she hath; but if she Marry not, but return to her Parents, then she is highly esteem’d of. Both Men and Women wash themselves in the Rivers in the coldest Weather. Their Religion, and manner of burying their Dead. They adore chiefly their Deity Pillan, and the Devil, who doth them much hurt. They acknowledge no Resurrection, accounting long Life in this World the greatest Good; wherefore when any one dies, the Friends and Relations make a doleful Cry, and suffer the dead Body to lie three, nay, four Moneths before they bury them, stuffing them full of strong smelling Herbs, to keep them from putrifying: Three days before their Interrment the nearest Allies meet, kill a Sheep, make Merry, and throw the Body into a Hole near the Hut in which the Deceased dwelt, putting also a piece of the slain Sheep, and a Jug full of the Liquor Chica, into the Grave. Concerning their Idol Pillan, to whom with strange Gestures they Sing divers Songs, they believe that he is a Spirit of the Air, and Governs all things on Earth. Some suppose him to be Thunder, and therefore they worship him in a most particular manner when they hear it Thunder; for then they stick an Arrow and Stone Ax into the Ground, and take Arms into their Hands, putting themselves into a posture as if they should suddenly be set upon by a mighty Enemy, and look’d upon it heretofore as a fore-running of the Spaniards approach, whose Cruelties they exceedingly dreaded. They call all their Hero’s Pillans, and ascribe Divine powers to them. They take very much strong Tobacco, the Smoak whereof puffing in the Air with strange Gestures, they cry, Receive this, O Pillan. Their cruel usage of Prisoners. When they return home Conquerors from any Victory, they put a Stone Ax into the Ground, and standing Arm’d round about the same, Drink exceedingly, and sing a Song in honor of Pillan. They use their Prisoners very cruelly, for forcing them to Dance and make Merry amongst them, they on a sudden cleave their Heads with an Ax, pull their Hearts out of their Bodies, and bite the same with their Teeth. After the same manner they punish their Robbers and Traitors; but those that have good store of Chica to Present the Governors with, escape the Execution: Yet this cannot buy off Sorcerers or Witches, who are without mercy burnt alive, with all they enjoy’d. They have no Priests, nor any that pretend to any religious Function; onely those that can Sing the Pawary well, are in great esteem amongst them. Their second Deity Maruapeante (they say) informs them in a Dream when they must Marry; but he doth not do them this kindness before they have made themselves Drunk, and sung Sonnets to his praise. The manner of chusing the Nentoque. This Countrey is Govern’d by prime Persons, call’d Ulmen, or peculiar Lords, call’d Curacen. The Ulmens and Curacens Command twenty five, sometimes fifty, a hundred Families: Their Power consists in calling all the People together, and consulting with them about State-Affairs, which they dare not do with any particular After the same manner they chuse an Apocurace or prime Governor; which of late the Uca’s, that they may enjoy the more Priviledge themselves, have not elected. Their Arms. The Chileses Arms consist of Lances as long again as the Europeans, made sharp at the Points. They all use Clubs plated with Iron, and Spanish Swords. The Pulches, who dwell behind the high Mountains Cordilbra, use poyson’d Arrows, make Helmets and Breastplates of Ox-hides, which neither Sword nor Arrow can enter: they all know how to manage a Horse, and the use of a Lance, but are very much afraid of Musquets or Fire-locks. Because they can neither write nor read, the Governor by a faithful Messenger sends to his inferior Officers such Commands as he judges may tend to the most advantage of the Publick both in Peace and War. This Messenger carries an Arrow with a Ribbon, as a Sign of his Employment; the Arrow is held in the Right-hand, and if he who receives it will answer the Message, then he sends back the same Arrow with another; but if he judges it convenient to acquaint any other Curaces and Pulmenes with the same Message, then he sends one of his own Servants to them with the same Arrow. A particular Account of Chili. As touching the Climate and Production of Chili, this Account is given by an Eye-witness: “The Winter Season (saith he) is so tempestuous, that sometimes the Trees are not onely blown up by the Roots, but the Earth it self is rent asunder; some Valleys being fill’d with Snow, swell the Rivers exceedingly when it melts, which overflowing part of the Countrey, makes the same very fruitful. It is also extream cold here, because such sharp Winds blow from the Mountains, that they pierce through the Skin and Flesh of a Man: and indeed these Winds would make the whole Countrey desolate, were not the Mountains overgrown with great Oaken Trees, against which the Wind breaks. Moreover, the Valleys produce Coals, which serve the Inhabitants for Fewel. The Winter bereaves the Trees of Leaves; but not those which grow in the Wildernesses. In March the Fields are full of innumerable sorts of sweet-smelling Flowers; out of some whereof are boyl’d the Angel-Water, so call’d for its smell and wholsom taste. The Grass grows in November and December as high as our standing Corn. Turnips, Mint, Clover, and Mustard-seed, grow naturally for several Leagues together. Likewise excellent Physical Herbs grow here, whose power and operation their Doctors, call’d Maci, keep from the Spaniards. These Maci are in great The Wilderness Atacama, which makes a Boundary betwixt Peru and Chili, extends Northward ninety Leagues, is dry and barren in Summer, and in the Winter exceeding cold, and cover’d with Snow. No Provision is to be found upon it, except a few wild Sheep, call’d Guanacos. About the middle thereof the Brook La Sal rising in the Eastern Mountains, flows Westward through a deep Valley to the Southern Ocean. Troublesom Passage from Peru to Chili. The Water of the fore-mention’d Brook put into any Vessel, immediately turns to Salt, and all along the Shore lie greater or lesser pieces of Salt; so that the Way from Peru to Chili through Atacama is very troublesom: but that which leads thither over the snowy Mountains Andes, is much worse, because it is farther about, and threatens the Traveller with Destruction, if he observe not the right Season of the Year; for in the Winter there blows such a cold Wind on these Mountains, that a Man, being suddenly benumm’d, falls down dead on the Ground, and grows stiff against all putrefaction. Joseph de Acosta tells us, that Bodies have been found there as firm and sound, as if they had been living, which had some years before breath’d their last on the said Mountains. The Valley Copayapo. But Diego Almagro, who first discover’d Chili, Anno 1536. went thither with two Companies of Horse, and five hundred Foot, through the Countreys Charcas, Chicas, Xuxayes, and Chaquana, and having pass’d over a craggy Soil and the snowy Mountains Andes, he entred into the first Chilean Valley Capayapo, having lost no small number of Men and Horses with Hardship and Cold; the inconvenience therefore of both the fore-mention’d Ways between Peru and Chili, forc’d Travellers to go along the Shore wash’d by the Southern Ocean. Copayapo bears that Denomination from the Turkoises which a Mountain produces there in great abundance. The Valley it self is the fruitfullest of all Chili; for in no place the Maiz grows better, and in greater abundance than here, the Ears being half a Yard long, and the Stalks the length of a Lance; each Grain that is Sow’n, yields at least three hundred in Harvest. All Spanish Fruits grow better here than in Spain. Through the midst of Copayapo runs a River of the same Denomination, and twenty Leagues in length from the Andes, and at its Mouth hath a convenient Harbor before the South Sea. The South part of Copayapo borders the Valley Guasco, which is less fruitful than the first, but hath a convenient Haven, into which falls a fresh River, penn’d in by Sluces for the watering of the Cane-Fields. Moreover, there are plenty of Partridges; also wild Sheep and grey Squirrel-skins are of a great value. To the Southward flow also the Rivers Maypo, Chacha Pool, Loro, and Moule. In the Valley Chili, which gives Denomination to the whole Countrey, were formerly the famous Gold-Mines Quillatas, from whence Valdivia, Anno 1544. carry’d an invaluable Treasure. The South Sea makes here a large and convenient Harbor for all manner of Vessels, built two Leagues below the City Serena, at a little River, which so moistens the low Countrey, that it produces all manner of Plants. It rains here not above three times a year. From the Entertainment which Sir Francis Drake met withal here, may sufficiently be conjectur’d the Power of Serena; for when the English Landed here for Water, they were driven away not without great loss by three hundred Castilian Horse, and two hundred Foot that Sally’d out of the City. The Mines, though they inclose much Gold, yet they produce but little, because the Spaniards, according to the testimony of a Chilean Pilot, whom Oliver Van Noort took Prisoner, destroy’d all the ancient Inhabitants that should have help’d them to dig the Gold. The City St. Jago, lying near the Stream Topocalma, receives great benefit by the Haven Valparayso, which makes the fore-mention’d River, because in that Haven all Goods that come from Lima are unladen, and the Goods shipp’d aboard. The Countrey about the same produces plenty of Wines, Apples, Corn, and all sorts of Cattel, and especially Horses in such abundance, that thousands of them run wild. In Valparayso Sir Francis Drake took a Ship from Valdivia, laden with two thousand five hundred Bars of fine Gold. But the Netherland Admiral, Joris Spilbergen, had not such good success, who Sailing thither with five Ships, Anno 1615. discover’d a Spanish Ship in the Harbor; where sending his Boats well Mann’d to fetch off a Vessel that lay hal’d on the Shore, they found it burning, and thereupon Steer’d their Course into a little Inlet full of Rocks, which serv’d the Spaniards in stead of Breast-works; for lying behind them, they fir’d continually on the Hollanders; yet Spilbergen Landing with two hundred Men, met a considerable number of Spanish Soldiers, and Horses drawn out on the Shore, from whom they soon fled. Before the City La Conception lies the Island Quiriquyna, whose Straw Huts Spilbergen laid in Ashes. At the time when Oliver Van Noort came to an Anchor here, the Governor Franciscus de Quinones Commanded seven hundred Spanish Soldiers to reduce the revolted Chileses. Four Leagues from Conception lie the rich Gold-Mines Quilacoya, which formerly produc’d great Riches. Over against the Valley Arauco, which rises out of the Sea, lies the Island Maria, in a large Inlet made by the force of the Waves. Here grows abundance of Wheat and Barley. The Rivers also afford plenty of Fish, amongst which there is one call’d The Lake-Spider, in whose Eyes are to be seen little Specks, which would exceed Pearl, if they were but hard enough. Two Spaniards Command forty Natives on Maria, and keep them in such slavery, that they may neither eat Apples, Pears, Grapes, Poultrey, or Sheep, though they are there in great abundance. Elias Herkmans was once in probability to have taken possession of this Island for the Netherland State, had he not been prevented by an extraordinary occasion. Between the Towns Conception and Imperial lie the Provinces Arauco, Tucapel, and Puren, inhabited by a valiant People, that often alarm the Spaniards. In each Province Valdivia built a Fort in the Year 1551. eight Leagues distant from one another. He also discover’d the rich Gold-Mines De Ongol, and built the Fort Confines there. The Natives hereabouts being exceedingly opprest by the Spaniards, fell upon Description of Arauco. Concerning Arauco, it is a small County, twenty Leagues long and seven broad. The Inhabitants thereof are strangely valiant; those that inhabit the Mountains are call’d Pulches, and are generally of a duller Spirit than those that dwell in the Valleys; all of them use long Pikes, Halberds, Bowes and Arrows, Helmets, and Breastplates of Deer-skins, in the Wars; they know when to close and open their Ranks, and stand in good order according to Martial Discipline, which makes the Spanish King receive little benefit from Arauco, though it is full of rich Mines, because those in Garrison being five hundred in number, dare not come out of their Fort. To Arauco belongs the Island La Mocha, low on the North side, and rocky on the South; against which the Ocean breaks its Billows: in the middle of it rises a split Mountain, out of whose Gap flows a fresh Brook; the fruitful Soyl produces abundance of Pumpcons, Maiz, Potato’s, and all manner of delicious Fruit, as also Oxen, Sheep, and other Cattel, which go grazing up and down in great Herds; the Village that is upon it boasts about fifty Huts, built long of Straw, with a Door in the middle, and round like an Arch on the top. Van Noon’s and Spilbergen’s Entertainment in Mocha. Sir Francis Drake and Candish were formerly somewhat roughly Entertain’d here by the Inhabitants: but they shew’d themselves somewhat more civil to the Dutch Admirals, Oliver Van Noort and Joris Spilbergen: The first coming to an Anchor here Anno 1600. put one John Claeszoon (Condemn’d for some great Crime to be Landed on some strange Place) ashore on La Mocha, with a few Trifles; for which being kindly Entertain’d, the Seamen resolv’d to go ashore the next day, who were likewise civilly Treated. The Governor of Mocha coming aboard, Lodg’d a Night in the Ship, and afterwards conducted the Admiral through the Village, but forbad the Seamen from entring any of the Huts; out of which the Women upon the hearing of a sudden noise, came running out, and kneel’d down on the Ground in three Parties, whilest an old Matron came forth with a Pitcher full of Chica, and gave each of the Netherlanders a Cup full to drink, sitting on Blocks in the Fields. A Man Marries as many Wives here as he can maintain. They all live peaceably one with another, and go Cloth’d with a pair of Breeches, and Frock without Sleeves. The Women tie their Hair in Braids about their Heads, but the Men let it hang down carelesly. Fifteen years after Spilbergen Landing here with four well Mann’d Boats, found the Shore full of People, who had brought all manner of Provisions to barter against Axes and Knives. The Islanders going aboard, wondred to see the Soldiers drawn out in order, and much more when a Gun was fir’d: They furnish’d the Hollanders with a hundred Sheep, amongst which was one with an extraordinary long Neck, and Legs, Hair, Mouth, and Back like a Cammel. About the City Osorno, though lying under a cold Climate, is a Soil full of Gold-Mines, where above two thousand Chileses are under the subjection of the Spaniards. Since Teunis Swarte-Teun conquer’d and ruin’d this Place with small Forces under Spilbergen’s Command, it hath not yet repair’d its Losses: The Ruines of great Buildings are sufficient testimonies of its former splendor. On the utmost Point of the Island, on which Osorno is built, lies the Village Carel-Mappo, burnt by H. Brewer, An. 1643. for he Landing sixty six Men here, under the Command of the Ensign Blauewenhaen, they Engag’d with ninety Spaniards who betook themselves to the Woods, leaving six Men and fifteen Horses behind them. Description of the Sea-Coast of Chili. The Sea-Coast of Chile lies as followeth: It begins on the North with the Valley Copayapo, runs Southerly to the Haven Coquimba, and makes the large Inlet Atongayo; the convenient Harbor Quintero, at the Mouth of the River Concagua, is also to the Southward. Next Quintero follow the Havens Valparaysa, Topocalma, and Penco, known by several Mountains cover’d with Snow. The Stream Labapi disembogues also in the Bay Arauco, where the Sea washing over the Shore, makes good Salt. On the Shore of the River Lebo, Garcias Mendoza built the Town Canete, which not long after was deserted, by reason of the Wars with the Chileses. From the Haven Carnero a Channel runs to the City Confines: also the River Cauten makes a convenient Harbor before the City Imperial. Next appear the Streams Tolten, Queule, Valdivia, Chabin and Bueno; and near the Promontory Gallego, Chili ends to the South. The Province Tucuman. Eastward up into the Countrey lies the great Province Tucuman, inhabited by three sorts of People, viz. Juries, Diagnitas, and Tucumans, from whom the Countrey receives its Denomination, and juts Northward against the Chicas, belonging to the rich Plate-Countrey Potosi, Eastward towards the Province La Plata, and Westward towards the South Sea. The Ground about the City St. Jago del Estero, formerly call’d Vares, being the Bishop’s See, and Residence of the Governors, is brackish and sandy. The Citizens are most of them Weavers; the Natives go Cloth’d, and are of an affable Temper and Disposition. The River Estera yearly overflows the Countrey, which being dung’d with Mud, produces abundance of Maiz, Barley, Wheat, and all manner of Fruits. The Stream Salado runs the same Course as the Estera, from the West to the East through a Plain-Countrey, but hath brackish Water, and abundance of Fish. Between Garcias Mendoza built the Towns Neuva Londres in the Province Calchaqui, and Gorduba in the Territory of the Juries, but they were both of them soon deserted. Behind Peru and La Plata the Plains Omaguaza extend themselves along the Rivers Paraguay and Bermeio, under a temperate Climate, where the Inhabitants go Clothed, and keep abundance of Cattel. Productions of the Countrey, and Nature of the People. In most places hereabouts breed wonderful large Baboons, with long Tails and Beards; which being wounded, pull the Arrows out of the Wound, and throw back the same with a grim Countenance at those that shoot them. The Serpents are likewise so big here, that they swallow whole Deer. The Rivers breed horrid Crocodiles, and the Woods, Lyons and Tygers. The Inhabitants differ both in their Customs and Language: the generality of them are continually Drunk. They keep yearly a great Feast, to reconcile the Souls of their Predecessors to them; to which purpose they bring as many roasted Ostriches as they have Souls to Offer to; then Drink three days after, and on the last they carry the Head of a fair Virgin (who freely offers her self to be kill’d) about the Town, making a sad and lamentable noise for the space of an hour; at the end of which they all begin to laugh, and oftentimes fall a killing one another: which Custom is most observ’d amongst the Matarani. The Abipones go naked in Summer, and in the Winter Clothe themselves with Furrs; they Paint their whole Bodies with Spots like the Tygers, Carve their Bodies all over, making Cut-work of their Skins, into which they stick Ostriches Feathers, as also through their Nostrils, Lips, and Ears, and account Baldness the greatest Beauty. They honor those for their Gods, who patiently endure unsufferable Tortures. The Women hang their Faces and Breasts full of Pearls: They never bring up above two Children, for they kill all above that number. The Planies range up and down without Habitations under the open Skie. The Giants Tobae speak a curious Language, but are very salvage and cruel. Anno 1571. Erouaca, a prime Man amongst them, devour’d his own Sister, Wife, Mother, and Children. When they design to go a Journey, they roast their Sons and Daughters, to serve them for Provisions in stead of other Flesh; and their Sick are upon the least Complaint bury’d alive. The Caaguiaares, who dwell in Huts in great Woods, feed on Woorms, Mice, Apes, Tygers, and wild Honey; most of them are bunch-back’d, and go clad with the Skins of wild Beasts. Northward against Chili and Rio de la Plata juts the Countrey, which from Ferdinand Magaglianus is wrongly call’d Magellanica; to which several Voyages have been made by sundry People from the North-Sea to the Southern Ocean, divers Steering still new Courses: for some follow’d the Straights of Magellan; others Sail’d more or less South-West: By which means Le Mair open’d a new Passage between Mauritius and the States-Island; and H. Brewer, a Way below the States-Island; yet all Steer’d their Course Westerly, so that none of them return’d the same Way, except Elias Herkmans and Capt. Ladrillero, the last of whom coming from Chili to go to the North-Sea, met with such Storms, that he was forc’d to Tack about, and stand back again to Chili, as Herkmans did from Chili to Brasile. Pedro Sarmiento’s Expedition. Anno 1579. Peter Sarmiento weigh’d Anchor with two Ships, and Sailing from Callao de Lima through the Straights of Magellan to Spain, ran by the Isles Felix and Amber, discover’d in one Inlet eighty five Isles, most of them desolate, sounded all the Havens, found abundance of Oysters with Pearls in them, call’d an Inlet Francisco, and a Mountain on the right-hand, Punta de la Gente Rubra, because the Inhabitants thereof painted their Bodies red, found the Havens Misericordia and Candelaria, and the Island Sataynes, where five of the Natives gave him an Account of Sir Francis Drake, for whom he Cruis’d, and had sight of a snowy Mountain, whose top vomited Fire. On the Promontory Ana he erected a woodden Cross, and laid a Writing under the same, wherein he advertis’d all Persons to take notice, that Pope Alexander the Sixth had freely given the King of Spain all the Countreys thereabouts. Not long after he Steer’d through the Straights of Magellan along the Coast of Brasile, to Spain. The Sea-Coast from Chili to Magellanica. Concerning the Sea-Coast, which extends from Chili to Magellanica, it is as followeth: Next to the Promontory Felis lie Cypriaen, Clara, Cabo de las Islas, the Island Socora, the Haven Domingo, the Point Gallego, the Road Stevan, the Cape Andres, and Ochavario, and the Valley Nuestra Sennora, between two Hills. Along the Southern Ocean lie Abra de San Guillen, Punta del Gada, Los Reyes, Innocentes, Augustine, Roia, Catalina, Amaro, and Victoriano; before which the three Isles call’d The Sorlings, are seen in the Mouth of the Straights against the South Sea. Magaglianus Steering hither, Winter’d within the Straights in an Inlet call’d St. Julian, stay’d two Moneths before the Mouth of the River Santa Cruiz, where he took abundance of Fish, and from thence ran along the Shore to the Promontory Las Virgines, which receiv’d that Denomination, because it was discover’d on the Day Consecrated to St. Ursula and her eleven thousand Virgins: Going a League up into the Countrey, he found a Hut, in which above two hundred dead Bodies were bury’d after a strange manner, and on the Shore a great Whale, driven on the Sands by a Storm. He nam’d the Countrey to the Southward, Terra del Fuego, because from the Promontory Severino in the Night he espy’d several Fires. He was exceedingly delighted with the pleasant Coasts on each side of the Straights, which were the more pleasant, by reason of several Hills overgrown with sweet-smelling Trees, whose tops lay cover’d with Snow. The Expedition of Garcias Loaysa, Alcazova, and others. Simon Alcazova Sailing hither nine years after Loaysa, shunn’d the Land on the left-side of the Straights, because it lay most under Water, and was forc’d by his Men to return to the Haven Leones, where he and all his Seamen were put to death. Not long after the Bishop of Placentia fitted out three Sail, which entring the Straights, Anno 1540. lost their Admiral; the Vice-Admiral Wintering at the Inlet Las Zorras, (so call’d, because they took many Foxes on a Champain Countrey without Trees) return’d to Spain without any farther success: the third Ship with much ado arriv’d also at Arequipa. The Voyages of Hawkins, Drake, and Candish. The English Captain, Richard Hawkins, also Sailing hither, found the Land on the South side of the Straights, most broken, and in some places a few Huts. Anno 1578. Sir Francis Drake Sailing hither along the Coast of Brasile, Landing on an Island in the Mouth of the Straights, kill’d above three thousand Birds. Sailing from hence he was miserably toss’d in the South Sea, and discover’d about the middle of the Straights, that the Current out of the Southern and Northern Ocean met at the place where a great Bay bends Southwardly: To three Isles he gave the Name of Elizabeth, Bartholomew, and George, and drove three Weeks without making any Sail, in snowy, misty, and rainy Weather, falling amongst dangerous Rocks, and at last Anchor’d in the Haven Health, which he so call’d, because his sick and wearied Men being refresh’d there, he set Sail from thence and return’d home. Captain Thomas Candish following Sir Francis Drake eight years after, found near a Creek within the City Philip-stadt, built there by the Spaniards, to secure the Passage out of the Northern to the Southern Ocean for themselves; to which purpose they held four hundred Men in Garrison in the said City, which lying near a pleasant Wood, was defended by four Bulwarks, each fortifi’d with a Brass Gun: But the Spaniards not being able to endure the Cold, nor get in their Harvest, which was continually spoil’d by the Natives, were so pinch’d with Hunger, that after three years stay many of them dy’d in their Houses, which caus’d a filthy Stink, and consequently a vile Distemper, not unlike the Small-pox; at last twenty three of them, amongst whom were two Women, judg’d it convenient to bury their great Guns, and march away with their Musquets; a whole Year they travell’d in great want, feeding on the Leaves of Trees, wild Roots, and Fowls which they now and then kill’d; at last they resolv’d to travel by Land to Rio de la Plata, but never any news was heard what became of them, onely one Spaniard, call’d Ferdinand, being stray’d from the rest, was taken by Candish, to whom he gave the foremention’d Relation. Candish entring Philip-stadt, found a Gibbet, on which hung a Malefactor in Chains, a Church, the Houses full of famish’d Bodies, and four Brass Guns, which he digg’d out of the Ground. From hence he ran to a fresh-water River (which disembogues into the Straights,) whose Banks are inhabited by cruel Cannibals, and the Countrey all about plain Pasture Grounds, whereas most Anno 1599. Simon de Cordes Commanding five Netherland Vessels, entring the Straights of Magellan, found in the green Bay, Mussles of a Span long, abundance of Ducks and Geese, and a great many Trees not unlike Laurel, they being onely bigger, and had a sharp biting Shell. The Wind blew exceeding hard here over the Rocks, insomuch that they were sometimes driven from four Anchors. The Bird Pinguyn. A few Moneths after Oliver van Noord follow’d Cordes, and Anchor’d near the Pinguyn Isles, the biggest whereof is call’d Castemme, and the least Talke; the Inhabitants thereof dwell in Caverns under Ground, and feed on the Birds Pinguyns, of whose Skins they make Mantles. These Birds weigh generally fifteen or sixteen Pound, have black Backs, white Bellies, very thick Skins, long Bills like Ravens, short thick Necks, two plum’d Fins in stead of Wings, black Feet like a Goose, and delicate Flesh, notwithstanding they feed on Fish, after which they swim very swift with the fore-mention’d Fins, which hang down on each side along their Bodies when they walk upright on the Shore; they sit generally four together in their Holes, made after such a manner, that a Man which knows not of them, may ere he be aware, sink up to the Knees in the same, and be bitten terribly by the Legs. Cordes his Seamen got in two hours time above nine hundred of these Birds, whilest he discover’d the salvage People Enoo, which inhabit the Countrey Cossi, and are divided into the Families Kemenetes, Kennekas, and Caraike; the first inhabited the Territory Carray; the second Caramay; and the third, Morine: all of them Paint their Cheeks and Forehead. Farther into the Countrey dwell the Trimenes, a gigantick sort of People, eleven Foot high, who maintain continual Wars with their Neighbors. Great Discoveries of the Netherlanders about the Magellan Straights. Moreover, Noord discover’d several Inlets full of Ice and fresh Water in the Straights of Magellan, whither the United Netherlands have since sent the Admirals William Schouten, Joris Spilbergen, and Jaques le Heremite. The common opinion, that the Countrey on the South side of Magellan is of the Main Continent, Experience hath manifested; for Schouten found the same, Anno 1616. who Sailing from Porto Desire, left the Straights of Magellan on the right-hand, and Sail’d Southerly through whitish Water, and in fifty four Degrees discover’d a Channel eight Leagues broad, through which ran a strong Current. The Coast rose with high Mountains, whose tops were cover’d with Snow. The utmost Point was call’d Mauritius, from the Prince of Orange; the broken Coast on the other side, The States-Island; and the Straights it self, Le Maire, upon the Request of the Merchant Jacob Le Maire, whose Father Isaac was chief owner of the two Ships of which Schouten was Commander, who found so many Whales here, that he could scarce Steer clear of them, they swimming by hundreds in a Shoal. The Sea-pies, much bigger than Swans, suffer’d themselves to be caught by the Hands of the Sea-men. Moreover he call’d the barren grey Rocks, and others lesser, lying North-East from the Promontory Hoorn, Barnevields Isles. Sailing beyond the Point Hoorn, he was toss’d by the vast Billows that came rowling out of the West. It was no sooner nois’d abroad, that the Netherlanders had found the Straights Le Maire, but the Spanish King Philip immediately sent two Carvels thither, under the Command of Garcias de Nodal, who took an exact Account of the Heads, Roads, and Inlets belonging to the fore-mention’d Straights, and return’d without performing any other Exploits. Diego Flores his unsuccessful Voyage to the Straights of Magellan. Diego Flores Steer’d four years before Candish to the Straights of Magellan with twenty three Sail of Ships, Mann’d with three thousand five hundred Seamen, besides five hundred old Netherland Soldiers, with which he unhappily weigh’d Anchor from Cales; for before he got out of sight of the Spanish Coast, he lost five of his Ships and eight hundred Men; yet prosecuting his Voyage, he stay’d during the Winter Season on the Coast of Brasile and was surpris’d by so vehement a Storm, near the Island Catalina, that a company of Women, sent under the Charge of Peter Sarmiento to Settle in the Straights of Magellan, were all cast away, with the greatest part of the Ammunition and Provisions. The English Admiral Fenton took three Ships of this Fleet from Flores, two were cast away in the River La Plata, and one ran back to Spain, whilest Flores came into the Straights of Magellan on the last day of March, at which time the whole Countrey lay cover’d with Snow; wherefore seeing no hopes of finding out any place to Settle Sarmiento upon, he stood back with eight Sail to Brasile, and in his Return burnt three French Ships, took two more, and Sail’d home. But his Lieutenant Diego Ribera, and the Governor Peter Sarmiento, Landed the Year after Flores his departure, with four hundred Men, thirty Women, and Provisions for eight Moneths, in the Straights of Magellan; from whence Ribera Sail’d back, whilest Sarmiento built on the North side of the Mouth of the Straights, the Town Nombre de Jesus; and fifty Leagues farther in the narrowest place, Philip-stadt, with four Bulwarks; the Inhabitants of which (as is before related) were destroy’d by Famine. Description of Terra del Fuego. Terra del Fuego, already mention’d, opposite to the Countrey of the Patagones, lying the South between the Straights of Magellan, is a broken Countrey, with high Mountains full of Trees, and wash’d by pleasant Rivulets: four Foot deep in the Ground it begins to be all Rocky. The Air is troubled with exceeding great Winds out of the West. The Inhabitants are pale Countenanc’d, but Paint their Bodies with divers Colours; they have long, thick, and black Hair, and very sharp Teeth; the Men go stark naked; the Women cover their secret Parts with a piece of Leather, and wear Strings full of Shells about their Necks; some also Mantle Lastly, besides the Straights of Le Maire, Henrick Brewer hath found a new Passage to the Eastward above the States-Island, out of the Northern Ocean to the South Sea. The unknown South-Land extends with several Points to the Southern Ocean, which have been more seen than discover’d by divers Nations. Opposite to the East-India Island Gilolo, lies Terra des Papous, to which Jacob Le Maire gave the Denomination of New Guinee. The English Commander, Richard Hawkins, Sailing to the Southward behind Papou, found the Inhabitants black like Negro’s: round about appear several Isles and convenient Harbors. Herrera places here on the East, the Countrey Agnanda, the Road St. Jago, the Island Los Crespos, the Haven Andreas, the River Virginum, and the little Isle La Vellena, before the Mouth of the Stream Augustine. Next you meet Easterly with the Rivers St. Peter and St. Paul, the Havens Hieronymus, the Isles Punta Salida, Abrigo, Malagente, and Maure de Dios, inhabited by white People. Discoveries in Terra Australis incognita. The first that discover’d New Guinee, Anno 1529. was Alvares de Savedra, who, as also several others besides him, suppos’d that some of the Islands Solomons border New Guinee. Eighteen of the many Solomon Isles exceed the rest, of which some are three hundred Leagues in circumference, some two hundred, others one hundred, and some fifty: All that are inhabited have a fruitful Soil, producing all manner of Provisions, particularly Hogs and Poultrey. The Natives differ very much one from another, for some are black, others white or tawny. The fore-mention’d Hawkins in his Voyage towards the Straights of Magellan, supposing it by estimation to be fifty Leagues from the Main Coast of America, discover’d forty Degrees to the Southward of the Equinoctial Line, with a Westerly Wind, the unknown South-Land; which he found to consist of low Land, and to be inhabited, by reason of the many Fires which he saw ashore in the Night. The Spanish Commander, Peter Fernandes de Quiro, and the Admiral Lodowick Paes de Torres, have made a farther Discovery of this Countrey; for Landing on the Fertility, Plenty, and Riches of the Countrey. Here also grow sorts of Platano’s, great abundance of Almonds, Oranges, Citrons, thick Sugar-Canes, Palm-Trees, which yield Wine, Cocoa’s, and Obos, in taste not much unlike Quinces; but the greatest benefit which they receive, is from the Cocoa Nuts, the Pulp whereof is delicious Meat and Drink; the outermost Shells whereof serve for Cups or Dishes, the inner for Ropes and Cordage; of the Leaves they make Sails and Mats, and cover their Houses with the same; of the Body, Oars, Clubs, Pikes, and Props for their Houses. Besides several sorts of Pot-herbs, here grow very high Coleworts and Bledo’s. The Countrey also abounds with Pigeons, Partridges, Ducks, Goats, Hogs, and other ordinary Cattel and Fowls. The Rivers afford them Souls, Salmon, Thornback, Sea-Cocks, Eels, Gurnets, and several other unknown Fishes, very delicate and wholsom. This Countrey also produces Nutmegs, Mastick, Peppers, Ginger, Cinamon, Gold, Silver, Pearls, Silk, Sugar, Anniseed, Honey, Wax, Ebony-wood, Turpentine, Lime-pits, and Marble. Philips-Bay bends twenty Leagues into the Countrey, hath a safe Harbor, and excellent Ground, consisting of black Sand. Two great Rivers discharge their Waters into the said Bay, round about which are pleasant Woods, full of Quails, Parrakito’s, Parrots, Nightingales, and Bulfinches, which Sing very sweetly. The Blossoms, especially of Orange-Trees, and the Herb Alvaca, yield an odoriferous smell. The wholsom Air adds vigor to aged People. Abel Tasman’s Expedition to Terra Australis Incognita. The Southlander’s desperate Attempt upon Tasman’s Ships. Fernandes de Quir delivering the fore-mention’d Account to Philip the Second, King of Spain, mov’d him to Plant the unknown South-Land, and the rather, because he had not found any snowy Mountains, drown’d Land, Crocodiles, Muschito’s, or any hurtful Creature, yet was not regarded; so that no Spaniard hath since that time set Foot on the unknown South-Land. But the East-India Company undertaking the Design with great eagerness, sent thither two Ships, viz. the Hemskerk and Sea-Cock, under the Command of Abel Tasman, to make a farther Discovery of the said South-Land: Anno 1642. on the twelfth of August, they weigh’d Anchor from Batavia, Sail’d through the Straights of Sunda to Maurice-Island, where they Anchor’d in the North-West Haven before the Castle Frederick-Henrick, on the fifth of September in the fore-mention’d Year. On the eighth of Octob. Tasman stood over to the South-Land, near which he was surpris’d by a violent Storm; afterwards, on the twenty fifth of November, he discover’d a barren Shore, against which the Sea beat very furiously; and Steering along this Coast, he found a convenient Inlet, but was forc’d by the hard Weather to stand off to Sea again; yet not long after approaching the Shore, he saw great hollow Trees, and round about them abundance of Mussle-shells, and from the Wood heard a shrill noise of People Singing: Going to the same place again, he put the Orange Flag on a Pole, Carv’d with the East-India Companies Arms, and call’d the Inlet Frederick-Henrick, These People were gross of Body, undaunted, strong, and of a tawny colour; the Hair of their Heads stroak’d up round, was ty’d up on their Crown, on which stuck a stiff white Feather; about their Necks hung a square Plate; they wore in stead of Cloaks, square pieces of Cloth, made fast before on their Breasts. Tasman, by reason of his rough Entertainment call’d this Harbor, Murderers-Bay, and afterwards Sail’d along the Shore till the fifth of January 1643. on which Day he dropt Anchor near a little Rocky Island, from which fell two Streams, with a great noise into the Sea. The Inhabitants, a strong People, beckned to the Seamen to come on Shore; some lean’d on thick Clubs, others Fenc’d one with another. Tasman sending his Sloop ashore for Water with two Drakes, return’d without any, not being able to Land, by reason of the hollow Sea near the Shore; wherefore Sailing from thence he discover’d two low Isles, which were full of Woods of very tall Trees; from the biggest whereof came a little Boat, sharp before and behind, in which three sallow Men, sitting behind one another, Row’d with great swiftness towards the Hemskerk; whereupon Tasman commanded all his Men to go under the Hatches, that the three Southlanders might not be afraid to come aboard; he also threw a piece of Linnen out of his Cabbin Window, which one of them, leaping into the Sea, took up, and as a sign of thankfulness, laid the same on his Head, and being hereby emboldned, they came nearer the Rudder, where they took up a Knife, ty’d to a piece of Wood, out of the Water, and return’d the Seamen a Fishhook of Mother-of-Pearl, ty’d to a Cotton Line. Approaching the Shore, they saw abundance of People running along, with two little Flags on Sticks. Some of the Natives came in their Boats close up with Tasman’s Ship; and one more bold than the rest entring the same, was found to be a tall Man with a broad black Beard, and green Leaves about his Neck, who sat down on the Deck with his Legs under him, and bow’d down his Head oftentimes very low: Tasman returning his Civility, took him by the Hand to Treat him in his Cabbin, but a Interview between Tasman and the Southlander King. This Southlandish King was Habited in a Suit, the Stuff whereof resembled Chinese Paper, doubled and pasted together, and was attended by a great Train of Men, Women, and Children, all of them as black as a Coal; some of them swam after, and others follow’d him in Boats. These Southlanders barter’d their Clothes and Necklaces, which consisted of Mother-of-Pearl and white Cockles, and Fishhooks made also of Mother-of-Pearl, against Nails, Knives, and the like Trifles. Tasman caus’d a Shirt, Breeches, Doublet, and Hat, to be put on an old Orangkay; who being thus Cloth’d, stood a considerable time admiring of himself, and was also much wonder’d at by his Subjects; but going into the Countrey, he came back without his Clothes. Another Orangkay being Presented with a Rummer of Wine, pour’d out the Wine, and setting the Rummer on his Head, went away with great joy. Some of the Governors view’d the Ships, not onely above, but also below the Decks, and being brought to the Guns, they desir’d to know the use of them; whereupon one being Discharg’d, it so affrighted them, that had they not been held, they had all leap’d overboard. Provisions were daily brought by the Southlanders to the Hollanders in great Vessels, surrounded by many lesser; still as they put their Oars into the Water, they made a hideous noise. Tasman bringing some empty Vessels upon the Deck, thereby to make them understand that he wanted fresh Water, the Orangkays pointed to the Shore; whither they went with two Boats, which return’d without Water, the Inhabitants themselves being forc’d to dig Pits to get the same. Mean while other Southlanders coming aboard, the Pilot and Boatswain’s Boy blow’d on their Trumpets, another play’d on a Flute, and a fourth on a Violin, whilst some of the Seamen Dancing, so amaz’d the Natives, that they stood like senseless Creature, gaping with open Mouth upon them. Tasman looking into a Grammar which contain’d the Language of the Solomons Isles, found that many words which were us’d by these People, had a great similitude with those of that Language. Besides these Men, there came likewise a great many Women aboard, all of them extraordinary tall, especially two, who might justly be stil’d Giantesses; On the twenty third of January, a second time Tasman went ashore for Water, carrying Spades and Pick-axes with him, to dig Pits with. Two of the Hollanders Boats going close together, in each of which were three Southlanders, Tasman call’d to his Rowers to pull stoutly; which the Southlanders in Tasman’s Boat observing to tend to their Rowing the swifter, laugh’d and hooted at their Countrey-men that were in the Sea-Cocks Boat, when they chanc’d to get beyond them. Tasman in his going ashore discover’d several Isles at a distance, was kindly Entertain’d, and towards the Evening carry’d by four Men through the Water, on a Mat made fast betwixt two Poles, to his Sloop, whither they also brought nine Hogs, and fresh Water digg’d out of Pits. Tasman being got about the Point of the Island, saw the Hemskerk under Sail; wherefore Rowing aboard the Sea-Cock, he was inform’d that she had slipt her Anchor; whereupon following her, he got sight of another green Island the next day, along the Shore whereof ran several People with Sticks, on which hung white Cloths: some of them came aboard, and brought with them what Provisions the Island afforded. The Inhabitants barter’d Clappes, Pisang, Fowls, Hogs, Mother-of-Pearl Fish-hooks, Stone Axes, little Stools, great Clubs, with a black Point as long as a Man’s Arm, and hooked, against Trifles. The Hollanders were also stor’d here with fresh Water. The People both in Language, Habit, and Customs, were very like those of the first Island, but were not altogether so courteous. One of the Southlanders stealing a Half-pike out of the Boat was forc’d by his Companions to restore the same. The fore-mention’d Haelbos relates, That going ashore with some Soldiers, he saw their Houses, which he found to be built after a strange manner, viz. some of them were round like Towers, Wider at top than at bottom, and without any Holes for Air, but all built close of Canes, which were stuck in the Ground; other Tasman steering his Course towards the high Coast that lay before this Island, was follow’d by several small Vessels from the adjacent Shore, of which some carry’d a Bough of Clappes or Pisang, with white Veins at the ends; but seeing the Ships Sail from them, they threw the same overboard. Tasman standing Westerly, discover’d three Isles, near the last whereof the Sea broke exceedingly, which the Hollanders not without great danger had approached in the Night: after which they discover’d to Leeward of them, a high Coast, which extended it self a great way, but the Sea went so rough, that they durst not venture near the Land; besides, the Sea went very high on a Bank, first ten, then five, three and a half, and again ten, fourteen, and seven Fathom deep; and oftentimes a Man might see the Ground, insomuch that they kept out the Boats belonging to the Hemskerk, which was in most danger, to carry them aboard of the Sea-Cock, if the first should chance to split. Lastly, getting over the Bank, they saw very high Land to Windward, and many hilly Isles to Leeward; the Sea also was full of blind Rocks and Shelves, so that they were in danger every hour, and the rather, because the Wind blew hard every day; yet at last losing sight of Land, they steer’d their Course Westerly in five Degrees Southward of the Line, towards New Guinee. On the two and twentieth of March they discover’d low Land full of Woods of tall Trees, surrounded with a company of Isles, against some of which the Sea brake with great violence, insomuch that they were again in great danger, especially when they were got amongst eighteen Isles, between which the Water being shallow, and the Current running very strongly, drove the Ships towards the Shore: Whilest they were Tacking to and again to get beyond the Shelves, a little Vessel, carrying a great Weathercock on her Star-board, came from the Shore, Row’d by seven Men, who sat on Boards which lay over the same; they were of a brown Complexion, onely girt about with a hairy Girdle, made fast on the top of their Heads; under their Feet they also wore something in stead of Shoes, about their Necks hung Flowers, and their Bodies were Painted black: Among the seven, one who was very fat, and whose Head was adorn’d with two Feathers, stood up and proffer’d the Seamen two Clappes, in return whereof Tasman gave them a Box of Nails and a piece of Sail-cloth, which sinking under Water, an aged Man div’d for the same, and bringing it up, gave it to his six Companions, who made no shew of thankfulness. Their Arms consisted in Bowes and Arrows. Their Clappes they call’d Anieuw, as the other Islanders had done. Tasman Sailing on along the Main Coast, met with eighteen Boats more, the Rowers whereof laid their Oars upon their Heads, and not without strange Gestures call’d aloud, and invited the Hollanders to come ashore: On the Sterns and Heads of these Boats were likewise divers Shapes Painted, upon a white Ground; in some were two, and in others three, four, and five Men; eight of them going into the Hollanders Boats, were made Drunk with Arrack. These Southlanders went stark naked, some onely covering their secret Parts with Leaves; their Skins were black, onely on their Foreheads they drew a red Stroke, which reach’d to their Ears; their brown curl’d Hair was by some colour’d grey, by some red, some let it hang loose over their Sholdiers, others ty’d the same in a Tuft on their Crown, cover’d with a Cap of Pisang Leaves, others wore their Hair scarce two Fingers long, and through the Gristle of their Nose, a piece of Cane or Quill, and a broad Beard without Mustacho’s; they had nothing to barter but large Snail-shells, on which they made a strange noise; and whatsoe’re they receiv’d, they first smell’d on it like Dogs: they fancy’d not Nails, as all the other Southlanders had done. Their manner of Fishing was thus: They ty’d several half Clappes-shells, made fast like a Chain, to a long Reed, shook the same to and again on the Water, to gather the Fish together. In the Boats lay Planks of an oval fashion, which by Ropes ty’d in the middle they held before them in stead of Shields. When these Southlanders went from the Ships, one of them threatned to beat the Seamen, shaking his great Club at them; whereupon they all Row’d with great speed to the Shore, whilest one in every Boat knockt with a Staff against the sides, just as if they had beat an Alarm. Amongst them one had barter’d for an old Doublet, with which he shew’d many antick Tricks, putting it on the wrong way, sometimes on his Head, then his Feet into the two Arm-holes, and anon the Button-holes behind on his Back. The Ships Sailing from hence, ran along a broken Coast, and on the twelfth of April were so terribly shaken by an Earthquake, which lasted an hour and a half, that they seem’d shivering to pieces in the Water, as if they had ran against a Tasman Sailing from hence to Moa, came to an Anchor before the Coast, ten Leagues beyond Jamna, where a great Boat, carrying seventeen Men, coming near the Ship, let flie a great many Arrows at the Seamen; but the next Morning being better reconcil’d, they came aboard, where the Chirurgeon of the Ship gave a Cap to one of the Jamneans, who, as a testimony of his thankfulness for the Present, requested him to sit down; which done, he began to braid his Hair from his Forehead to his Neck, tying the same with a String. Tasman weighing Anchor, Sail’d between New Guinee and the Island Insou, having got nothing but a few Jamnean words from the Islanders, who call’d a Bone, Vertilia; a Hog, Paro; a Knife, Sapera; Beads, Sassera; a Nail, Tortor; Sleep, Moeni; and a Rat, Asphoo. So steering his Course along Arimoa, which is both higher and larger than the neighboring Amoa, and resembles a Seaman’s Cap, he left New Guinee a Stern of him, and Steering on Northerly, Sail’d by Schoutes-Island, where eight large Boats came within Gun-shot of him, each of which had on each side a Wing, under which sat four Rowers, two and two together, with their Feet hanging in the Water; at their approaching near the Ship they put out a long Pole, with a white Flag upon it; whereupon Tasman also commanded his white Ensign to be put forth, and threw a String of Beads, ty’d to a piece of Wood, out of his Cabbin Window; which the Southlanders had no sooner taken up, but in testimony of thankfulness they all broke their Arrows over their Heads, and kept near the sides of the Ship, till such time as the Boatswain thereof sounded a Trumpet, upon the hearing of which they all Row’d away with as much speed as they could possibly. These People were of a sallow Complexion; they broke their Arrows with great Ceremony; for first they pointed with them towards the Skie, then put them into the Water, and breaking each Arrow in two pieces on their Heads, they threw one over the Larboard, and the other over the Starboard; he that broke the Arrow, made a long Speech to the Hollanders, who took the same for an Oath of their Fidelity toward them. In every one of these Boats were twenty eight or thirty Men. Tasman’s farther Voyage into New Guinee. From hence Tasman Sail’d Northerly between many Isles, and a Channel that separates New Guinee from Gilolo, by Cerani, Manipe, Bolao, and Burro, to a narrow Opening, where Pangesane being on his Larboard, rose with exceeding high Rocks, as Botton on the Starboard. These Rocks are most of them overgrown with Trees and Brambles. In the middle of this Channel also lies a Rock, for its shape call’d A Galley, by which Tasman Sailing, bent his Course homeward, and at last, on the fifteenth of June, Anno 1643. cast Anchor before Batavia. Having spoken something of the Terra Australis Incognita, or Unknown South-Land, there remains something to be said of the opposite part, namely, the Terra Borealis, or the Artick Region; which is call’d Incognita in like manner as the Terra Australis, in regard, though very much, as well of the one as of the other, hath been search’d into, and in part discover’d by several Voyagers, yet doubtless there is a very vast Tract of Land, in the Artick Region especially (if it be not rather Sea,) which is altogether unknown, and those parts which have been discover’d, as Groenland, Iseland, Nova Zembla, Spilbergen, Hudson’s Straights and Bay, &c. so imperfectly known, that they may well deserve the Title of Unknown. The several parts of this Artick Region are, 1. Terra Subpolaris Incognita, or that part which lies directly under the Pole, and is otherwise call’d Orbis Arcticus. 2. Groenland. 3. Spilbergen, or Nieuland. 5. Iseland. 6. Nova Zembla. A Description of Terra Subpolaris. The Terra Subpolaris is describ’d by a certain Seaman of Bosleduc, to be a great black Rock, about thirty five Leagues in compass, and of an extraordinary heighth; through the Land adjoyning to which the Sea violently breaking, makes four great and violent Euripi, or Whirlpools, whose Waters driving Northward with so forcible a Stream, that no Ship, though carry’d by never so strong a Gale, is able to stem the Current, are at last swallow’d up in the Earth. It is also reported, Bounds and Situation of Groenland. Groenland is that part of Terra Septentrionalis, which winds about from South to East, and decline Northward from Cape Faruel, in the Deucaledonian Sea; however, Groenland hath been generally taken for an Island; yet many late Navigators think it joyns with the Continent of Tartary, and others leave it in doubt whether it be Island or Continent: It is bounded towards the East with the Deucaledonian Ocean; towards the West, with Hudson’s Straights and Bay, which separate it from America; towards the North its Bounds are altogether unknown, and is not without reason suppos’d to be the utmost part of the World towards the North Pole. There are who believe it to be one Continent with America, and that upon this ground, because several who have attempted to pass through the Straight commonly call’d The Straight of Davis, into the East-Indies, affirm, that they found it to be a Gulph; but one Captain John Monk, who was also a great Undertaker in the North-West Passage through this Straight, or Gulf of Davis, alledges great Probabilities of this Lands being divided by Sea from the Continent of America. The Topography of Groenland from the Danish and Iseland Chronicles. This Countrey hath anciently been divided into two Regions, East-Groenland and West-Groenland; answerable to which Division Errick, surnam’d The Ruddy, the Son of Torvalde, is reported by the Danish Chronicle to have built two Forts or Lodges, Ostrebug and Westrebug, in the Eastern part. The first Planters of Christianity built the City Garde, which became, as the said Chronicle mentions, a City of great Repute and Traffick, and not long after, the Town Albe, and towards the Sea-Coast, a Monastery, dedicated to St. Thomas. The City Garde was a Bishop’s See, to which belong’d a Cathedral Church, by the Title of St. Nicholas, built in the same City, though a certain Iseland Chronicle makes mention of the Church of Strosnes, as the chief Metropolitan and Bishop’s See of Groenland. The Bishop assisted oftentimes in the Assembly of the Estates of Denmark, and held of the Bishop of Nidrosia or Drunthen in Norway, as the Temporal Estate of Groenland held of the Crown of Norway, the Norwegians being the onely known Planters of this Countrey, deriving their Original from the aforesaid Errick, according to the testimony of Mr. Vormius, and also of Angrimus Jonas, in his Specimen Islandicum, and the Vice-Roy of Norway, the Nomophylax (as the said Angrimus calls him,) or Sovereign Judge of the Countrey. The Inhabitants of Westreburg, or the Western Coast of Groenland, are by some call’d Skreglinguers. According to the Iseland Chronicle, the Towns and Places of chief note are Skageford, in the most Eastern part; a little farther West the Port of Funchebuder, so call’d from a Page of St. Olaus King of Norway, who together with several others were cast away upon that place; a little higher, the Roansen, full of white Bears, and other wild Beasts. In the Western Coast, Kindelfiord, an Arm of the Sea; on the right Shore whereof stands Korsekirk, i. e. a Church built cross-ways; also the Town Vandalebug, and not far off a Monastery, dedicated to St. Olaus and St. Augustine; the next Place is Rumpesinfiord, where there is a religious Convent, and divers little Islands, in which are Springs of Water, warm in the winter, and temperate in the Summer, which are accounted Medicinal and of great Vertue in the curing of divers Maladies; upon the same Coast lies Etsnatsfiord; between which and Rumpesinfiord is the Palace Fos, and a great Church, dedicated to St. Nicholas; near the Promontory Clining is another great House call’d This Description of the Countrey, Extracted from the Iseland Chronicle, is look’d upon by a late French Writer of note, as the most particular and faithful; however, the Danish Chronicle differs in many things, and amongst others in this, that not the hundredth part of Groenland is possess’d by the Norwegians, but that there inhabit several different sorts of People, of different Fashions and Governments, altogether unknown to the Norwegians. Temperature of Groenland. Groenland, notwithstanding its Northerly Situation, is reported to be a Countrey not unfertile of Corn, and other Productions of the Earth; and in respect of its verdant Aspect at some Seasons of the Year, above the rest of those Septentrional Regions, it is concluded to have merited the Name of Groenland, i.e. Greenland; nay, so great is the Heat that is said to be there during the Moneths of June, July, and August, by reason of the reverberation of the Sun-beams from the Rocks, that many times there is but six Weeks space betwixt Seed-time and Harvest. What sort of Animals breed there. The Beasts, which are said to breed here in great numbers, are Horses, Deer, Foxes, Hares, Bears, both black and white, common Wolves, and a sort of Beast between a Deer and a Wolf, besides great store of Beavers and Martins, as the Iseland Chronicle testifies, whose Furr in fineness may compare with the Sables of Russia. There are also Gerfalcons in abundance, both white and grey, of so delicate a kind, that they were in ancient times sent to the Kings of Denmark as Presents of great rarity. The Seas about Greenland abound in very many sorts of Fish, as Sea-Wolves, Sea-Dogs, Sea-Calves, and above all, incredible numbers of Whales of a vast bigness. Strange kind of Horn found there. But the most remarkable Commodity of this Countrey, is a kind of Horn, commonly call’d the Licornes, or Unicorns-Horn, which is found there in great quantities, and great store of it is to be seen in Denmark, some whole, some in great pieces, sometimes onely the Ends or Stumps; but since it appears very different from all other kind of Horn, there is great Question made amongst Naturalists, whether it be Horn or Tooth? and if Horn, whether the Horn of a Beast or Fish? but it is discover’d of late to be the Horn, or rather Tusk of a certain Fish, which the Islanders call Narhual, being indeed a kind of Whale, as the Name seems to imply; signifying a Whale which feeds upon Carcases. The chief Voyagers thither. This Countrey is call’d by the Natives, Secanunga; who was the first Discoverer thereof is not certainly known, but the first chief Voyagers thither were, of the Dutch, William Barents, or Barentson, of Amsterdam, who set forth towards those Parts in the Year 1594. and before him, Dithmar Blefkens, in the Year 1563. of the English, Mr. James Hall, who set out from Copenhagen in Denmark, Anno 1605. and in a second Voyage was slain by a Salvage of the Countrey. The Coastings, Havens, and Creeks of Groenland. The Coastings, Courses, Havens and Creeks of Groenland, according as Barentson In Groenland there are divers Hills, wherein are Silver-Mines, multitudes of white An Account of Groenland from Dithmar Blefkens his Journal. In the Journal of Dithmar Blefkens’s Voyage, mention is made of a certain blind Monk, brought up in the Monastery of St. Thomas, who reported several memorable things concerning this Countrey, as that it was call’d Groenland antiphrastically, or by contrariety of Speech, as appearing seldom or never green; and that it abounded with Bears and white Foxes, and was not without Pygmies and Unicorns, which never appear’d till after the Sun was entred into Aries; that in the said Monastery of St. Thomas there was a Fountain of scalding Water, which was convey’d through Pipes of Stones to the Monks several Cells, and serv’d them not onely for Stoves, but for the dressing of their Meat, which was as well boyl’d by means of this Water, as if it had been over a real Fire, and that the Walls of the Monastery were made of a kind of Pumice-stone, upon which if Water were pour’d, it would produce a slimy Matter, commonly us’d in stead of Lime for Mortar, like the Stone of Mount Hecla in Iseland; that two of these Pygmies, a Male and a Female, were kept by the Abbot, and were both endu’d with perfect humane Shape, and overgrown with Hair, even to the outermost Joynts of their Fingers, the Male especially, who had a Beard reaching down to his Knees, but that they seem’d wholly devoid of Reason and Understanding, nor had any distinct use of Speech, onely made a semblance of Hissing of the manner of Geese; lastly, he reported the duration of the Lives of these Creatures to be answerable to the shortness of their Stature; but that concerning their Wars with the Cranes, he had no other knowledge than by Tradition. From Mr. James Hall’s Description. The Description of Groenland left by Mr. James Hall, renders it a high, mountainous, and craggy Region, sufficiently water’d with Rivers, and provided with good Harbors, of a Soil not unfertile in all places where he came, having between the Mountains fruitful Valleys and pleasant Plains, abounding with several sorts of Fowl, as Partridges, Pheasants, Sea-mews, Gulls, Crows, &c. but of Beasts, chiefly black Foxes, and (as was conjectur’d by the plenty of Harts-horns found about their Tents) Rein-Deer, yet not destitute of other Beasts, the Vestigium of one whereof was found to be not less than eight Inches over. As for the Manners and Customs of the Natives, they are by the said Description represented to be a kind of Samoid, or wandring People, still moving from place to place, warlike and active, using Slings and Darts with marvellous dexterity, of a brown Complexion for the most part, and of an indifferent Stature, eating their Meat either quite raw, or onely a little parboyl’d, Clothing themselves with the Skins of such Beasts, or other Creatures, as they kill, especially Seals, or some of the largest size of Fowls, which they Dress very smooth and soft, turning the Feather or Hair side outwards in Summer, and inward in Winter. Their Weapons Bowes, Slings, and Bone or Iron-headed Darts; their Religion Idolatrous, but chiefly Sun-Worship, as was gather’d from their manner of Accost, when any of the English first approach’d them, for they us’d to point up to the Sun, as chief Author of their felicity, and then beat their Breasts, crying, Iliont, which seem’d to signifie as much as I mean no harm, and would not come near till those that met them did the like. Their Houses built of Whales Bones, and the Baulks thereof with Whales Ribs, and cover’d with Earth, but the best sort with Seal-Skins, having Vaults or First Discovery of Spilbergia or Greenland. Spilbergia, so call’d by the Hollanders, from Spilbergen, whom probably they reckon to have been the first Discoverer of it, is the same that we vulgarly call Greenland, and which Sir Hugh Willoughby (if not the first of all, yet at least the first of the English that discover’d any thing of these Parts) nam’d King James’s New-Land. The said Sir Hugh Willoughby set forth Anno 1553. in the Bona Esperanza, accompany’d with two Ships more, viz. the Bonaventure, Richard Challoner Captain, and the Bona Confidentia, and after some time of Coasting up and down those Northern Seas, he Landed with his Company upon the Place, where staying a few days, he sent three Men three days Journey into the Countrey South-West, and three more as far full West, who all, after much hardship in their Travelling, return’d without having met any People by the Way, or seen the least appearance of any Habitation. Sailing hence back for Lapland, they were all frozen to death in the Haven Arzina. Fotherby’s Description of Greenland. A Description of Greenland by one Mr. Robert Fotherby, represents the Nature of this Place contradictory to its Name, as before was observ’d of Groenland: “For certainly (saith he) no part of the World, yet known and discover’d, is less Green than this, both the Mountains and Low-lands being cover’d with Snow till the beginning of June. The Countrey, which is for the most part mountainous, bearing neither Grass nor Tree, save onely Heath or Ling, as it is call’d in the North parts of England, which grows upon the Moors or Heathy Grounds when the Snow begins to melt, and on which in Summer the Deer feed themselves fat in one Moneth; but how they live in the Winter, is a thing beyond any Man’s skill to comprehend, especially during the Sun’s absence under the Horizon, which in the Latitude of seventy seven Degrees continues from the eighteenth of October to the fourth of February.” This Countrey is by many suppos’d never to have been inhabited by Men, yet not altogether uncapable of affording Habitation to such as would bring with them sufficient defensive Weapons against Hunger and Cold: For other Animals, it is found, by the testimony of those that have been upon the Place, not to be destitute; for besides Deer before mention’d, there have been seen Bears and Foxes; and of wild Fowl, Cuthbert Ducks, Willocks, Stints, Sea-Pigeons, Sea-Parrots, Gulls, Noddies, &c. The Southermost part of Greenland, call’d Point Look-out, stands in seventy six Degrees and thirty Minutes. The West side of the Land was discover’d by the first Voyagers Northward as far as eighty Degrees and odd Minutes, and in that compass six or eight good Harbors for the Whale-fishing; the East side as far as seventy eight Degrees, with divers Islands, both great and small, yielding good Harbors, and store of Whales and Sea-Horses. The Voyages of Jonas Pool and others to Greenland. In the Year 1610. Jonas Pool, Master of the Amity fell in with this Land in May, and continu’d upon the Coast, discovering of Harbors, and killing of Morses, till June following: and he is said to have been the first that gave this Countrey the Name of Greenland. The next year he set out again, accompany’d with Thomas Edge, Commander of the Mary Margaret; And since many other Voyages have been made as to a Place known, and a great Trade driven in catching of Whales, not without several Contests with the Dutch and Danes, but nothing of late discover’d considerable more than in the first Voyages. The Harbors, Sounds and Coastings most taken notice of, are Fair Foreland, Cape Cold, Black-Point, Horn-Sound, Knotty-Point, Bell-Sound, Lowness, Cross-Road, Deer-Sound, Fowl-Sound, Close-Cove, Gurnet-Nose, Ice-Sound, and Green-Haven. Cherry-Island. Situation and first Discovery of Iseland. Iseland, so call’d from the continual Ice which is upon it, is a craggy mountainous Countrey; and not onely the Hills, but a great part of the Low-land cover’d with perpetual Snow: It is of a Form somewhat oblong, lying between the fifty fourth and fifty ninth Degree of Northern Latitude, having Norway on the East, the Orcades and Scotland on the South, Grenland on the West, and the Hyperborean, or frozen Sea on the North. It is by Olaus Magnus suppos’d to be twice as big as Sicily, that is to say, about a hundred Leagues in length. It is the most known, and most througly discover’d of all the Countreys of the Artick Region, and is said to have been first found out and peopled in the Year of our Lord 900. by certain of the Nobility of East-Frisia in the Countrey of Breme, in the time of Alebrand, Bishop of that Countrey; but whether or no utterly unpeopled till that time, is a Question not easie to be determin’d, though in all probability so obvious a Place to be found out, could not lie so long totally uninhabited. Not long after several Colonies of Norwegians Setled themselves, some in Hitland, some in Ferow, others (following the Example of these Bremers) in Iseland. The Countrey is full of Rocks and Stones, and (as is credibly reported) not a cultivated Field or Garden in the whole Island, and by consequence no sort of Corn, yet the People living without either Bread or Salt, are very strong, and of a good Complexion: Neither is there a Tree to be seen, except the Birch, which likewise grows but in one place, and exceeds not the heighth of a Man, by reason of the violence of the Winds; yet there is said to be great plenty of Butter, the Grass being so fat, that the Oxen are not suffer’d to stay long at a time in the Pastures for fear of bursting. Till of late there was neither Town, nor any thing that could be call’d a Village, in the whole Island, but stragling Cottages here and there, not above three or four together in a place, most by the Sea side for the convenience of Fishing; they were built pretty deep in the Ground, but artificially fram’d of Whales Bones, with Seats, Benches, and other Utensils of the same; now sometimes they use Fir to the same purpose, which is cast upon the Coast by the force of the Sea from Tartary or elsewhere. For want of Vessels, they lay their Butter in Heaps in the Corners of their Houses like Mortar. In the Winter, wanting Fodder, they feed their Cattel with Fish. Besides these Cattel, which are Kine without Horns, Horses onely fit for carrying of Burthens, and very large Sheep, there are store of white Foxes, and huge Bears of the same colour, and a sort of rough Dogs, very well known, and frequent amongst us by the Name of Shocks, which the Islanders esteem not a little, and will part with their Children at a far easier rate: They keep neither Hogs nor Poultrey, for want of Grain to feed them. Many Rivers in Iseland. The Rivers belonging to this Island are many, and those not unpleasant, affording to the Inhabitants plenty of Fish, especially Sturgeon, Trouts, and Salmons; and one is especially remarkable for a Bridge made over it, which being the onely Bridge of the Countrey, is made of the great Bones of a Whale. The whole Island is one continu’d Desart, without any trodden Path or Road from one end to the other; so that all that have occasion to travel to any part thereof by Land, make use of the Compass, as if they were Voyaging by Sea. Strange Fish on the Coast of Iseland. The Coast of Iseland hath many strange and monstrous Fish worth observation, The next is the Hackfall, which is very fat, and about twelve Inches long. Then the Dog-Fish, which lifting up its Head out of the Sea, Barks, and letting forth its young ones, receives them into her Belly again, when they have sported a while in the Sea. Lastly, another Monster, of a most frightful shape, mention’d by Olaus Magnus, but not by any particular Name. Strange Fountains. In divers Parts of the Island are Fountains of scalding Water, which as soon as taken from the Fountain begins to cool, and when cold, hath a sulphury Substance swimming on the top. At the West end is a smoaky Fountain, very cold, and turning all that is cast into it into Stone. At the place upon the Sea call’d Turlocks Haven, are two Fountains of different quality, the one hot, the other cold, which by Pipes being brought together into one place, make a Bath of an excellent temperature, and of a medicinal Vertue. Not far from Haven Halneford is a Cliff in a Rock of an unknown depth, and no Water to be discern’d by those that look down into it, but if a Stone be cast in, it shall make a noise for half an hour together, as if it were striking against a Brazen Vessel, and all this while the Water will be rising till it comes up to the brim, and then will be so long sinking again as the Stone was falling. Mountains of Iseland. There are also three Mountains in Iseland not to be left unmention’d, the Mountain of the Cross, the Mountain Snenelstockel, and the Mountain Hecla; the two first are chiefly considerable for their wonderful heighth, and for the dreadful noise of Thunder which is heard on the top of them, when in the adjacent parts below, the Air is calm and clear; the third lying in the North of the Island, and not very high, is one of the most prodigious Vulcans in the World, for the casting forth of Flames, black Ashes, and Pumice-Stones, insomuch that there is no possibility of Habitation within six Miles of it round about; and it is a receiv’d Opinion of the Inhabitants, that it is the place of Torment for the Souls of the Damned; from whence there hath risen such a company of strange Stories and Fables, that it would make up a Volume of it self to relate them. The occasion of the great Eruption of this Mountain is not without much reason imputed to the inflammation of the Sulphur, of which there are several Mines or Pits in the Countrey, though none of any sort of Metal. First planting of Christian Religion here. Waldemarus, King of Denmark and Norway, being consequently Master of this amongst the other Norwegian Colonies, Planted the Christian Religion in this Island in the Year of Christ 1398. and Ordain’d two Bishops, one in Schalholden, in the East part, another in Hollen, in the West; and after the Reformation was begun, Christianus, King of Denmark, took care to propagate the Reformed Doctrine there, as well as in other parts of his Dominions; and to that end sent over a Printer thither, that the BIBLE, together with the Works of Philip Melancthon and Urbanus Regius, might be publish’d in the Vulgar Tongue of the Countrey. But these Proceedings were mainly oppos’d by the Bishop of Schalholden, who animating the People to Rebellion, they slew the King’s Lieutenant: Whereupon the next Year Paul Holfelt, a Knight of the Danish Order, being sent over with an Army, overthrew the Rebels, and taking off the chief Heads of the Rebellion, committed the Charge of the Government to another Nobleman of Denmark, whom he left upon the Place. But one Tadde Bonde, a great Man of the Countrey, meditating a Revolt, The People Iseland addicted to Sorcery and Superstition. So much have the People of this Island been ever addicted to Sorcerie and Superstition, that notwithstanding the Profession of Christianity, and the frequent Preaching against those Sins, especially since the Reformation, the generality of them are still wedded to many of those old diabolical Customs, which were practis’d there in time of Paganism; and amongst other things they are said to be serv’d, many of them, by Spirits, which constantly attend them, and as Olaus Magnus writes of the Finlanders, they are oftentimes dealt with by Strangers, to sell them prosperous Winds for Money, and (doubtless by the help of the Devil) perform the same; as also on the contrary, they are said by their Enchantments to stop the Course of a Ship, and make it as it were immovable, though in the Stream of never so prosperous a Gale. They are a proud, haughty People, and for the most part endu’d with vast strength of Body; their Habit so promiscuous, that neither Sex can be distinguish’d by it. They are not onely forward to prostitute their Daughters to those Germans that Trade with them at Hafnefords, but that Virgin who hath had to do with a German, shall be sure to be so much the more esteem’d and Courted. Towns and Places of note. The onely Towns and Buildings of note here, and those created but of late Ages, are 1. Hafnefords, a Haven Town, chiefly frequented by Dutch Merchants for Traffick with the Natives. 2. Bedstede, the Residence of the Lord Lieutenant or Governor for the King of Denmark. 3. The Bishops See of Halsar, having four Monasteries belonging to it, viz. Pingore, Remestede, Modor, and Monkeniere. 4. The Bishops See of Schalholt, to which also doth belong four Monasteries, viz. Vedey, Pernebar, Kirkebar, and Schirde. Their Place and manner of Judicature. The Nobles of Iseland are call’d Bonden; their Justiciaries or Judges, being twelve in number, Lochmaders, that is, Men of Law or Justice, who are said to meet once a year on the twenty ninth of June, to administer Justice in a place ordain’d for that purpose in the midst of the Island, appearing like some feigned Paradice, so pleasant a place it is represented to be at that time of the year, being (as the Tradition goes) from a high burning Mountain like Hecla, consum’d to a Plain, and so environ’d with Rocks, that there was left but a small Passage for one at a time to enter. Here the Governor having first given the Charge, leaves the Trial of all Matters to the Lochmaders, who having diligently heard every Cause argued on both sides, withdraw for a while to Consult together, and then proceed to Sentence, the same Persons being both Jury and Judge; but if any Case of difficulty or scruple arise, they consult the Governor. Angrimus Jonas’s Relation of Iseland. Angrimus Jonas’s Relation of Iseland differing much from what hath been deliver’d by Blefkens, is not to be omitted. He saith it was first discover’d by one Naddocus, a Gardarus’s Voyage to Iseland. Upon the fame of Naddocus’s Discovery, one Gardarus, the Son of Suavarus, a Swede, was desirous to make a Voyage thither, and arriving near the Eastern Shore, Winter’d in the Bay of Skialfanda, or North-Island, in the Year of our Lord 864. and call’d the Haven Huscawick, from the Houses or Wintering-places built there, as the next Haven to it was call’d Nartarawick, from Natrare, an eminent Mariner in this Expedition. Gardarus returning home about the beginning of the Spring, call’d the Countrey from his own Name Gardarsholm. Flocco’s Voyage to the same Place. The next that follow’d his Example, was one Flocco, a famous Pyrate, whose Daughter Geirhilda being drown’d upon the Coast of Schetland (anciently Hietland,) gave the Name of Geirhildarwata to the Sea thereabouts: Not having the use of the Mariners Compass, he made use of Ravens for the steering of his Course, and having sent forth two without success, by the guidance of the third he had sight of the Eastern side of the Island; and Steering Southward, he found a very wide Bay, between the Promontories Renkanes and SnÆfesness; which Bay, from Faxa a Scottish Mariner that accompany’d him, he nam’d Faxaos, that is, The Mouth of Faxa, though from its many Havens it came afterwards to be term’d Hafnafiordur. Sailing along the West side of the Island, he entred the Bay Bredafiord, and took up his Quarters at Watnesfiordur, a Haven in the Province Bardostraund (for by these Names these Places came afterwards to be known:) Having stay’d here two Winters, he return’d back into Norway, and is said to have been the first that gave this Countrey the Name of Iseland, from the great quantities of Ice which fill’d the Seas thereabouts, he also gave it the Name of Rafnaflock, from the Ravens which serv’d him in stead of a Compass. A Plantation setled in Ise by Ingulphus and Hiorleifus. The last and most considerable Adventurer was Ingulfus, the Son of Orn, Duke of Fyrdafilace in Norway, who, together with his Cousin Hiorleifus, that Marry’d his Sister Helca, being adjudg’d to Banishment by Halsten (to the Award of whose Judgment they had submitted themselves) upon the slaughter of his two Brethren, Holmsten and Hersten, (these three Brethren were the Sons of Atlas, one of the prime Noblemen of Norway) in a Quarrel, wherein Halsten was chosen Umpire; and also detesting the Tyranny of Haraldus Pulchricomus, King of Norway, went over Gonfaloniere, or chief Leader of a great Colony of People, whom he rais’d for the setling of a Plantation in some foreign Countrey: Accompany’d with his Cousin Hiorleifus, he took Shipping for Iseland in the Year of our Lord 854. having been over to visit it about four years before; he Landed at a Promontory on the South Shore, which from him took the Name of Ingulfholde, and at Reicharwick setled his Habitation, while Hiorleifus seated himself at the Promontory by him call’d Hiorleifholda, where he built two very large Houses, each being about a hundred and thirty Foot long; then he set himself to Manure and Till the Ground, employing in that Work ten Slaves, whom he brought with him for that purpose out of Norway; but it was not long ere they traiterously set upon him and slew him by an Ambuscade which they had laid for him; after which they betook themselves to certain little Isles, which were nam’d Westmafyar, where before they had well nestled themselves, the whole Race of them were rooted out by Ingulphus, in revenge of his Kinsman’s Death. After this the Island grew daily more and more populous by the coming over of new Families from Norway; so that at this day it is a Place not the least considerable belonging to the Kings of Denmark. The Division of Iseland. The Eastern Bound of Iseland is call’d Austurhorn; the Western, Randesandur; the Northern, Langanes; and the Southern, Reicranes. The Island being divided according to the four Quarters of the World, North-Island is sever’d from East-Island by the aforesaid Promontory of Langanes; from West-Island by Rutafiordur Bay; from South-Island, by vast and unpassable Desarts. Between South-Island and East-Island runneth the River Jocolsu, through the Desarts of Solseimasande. Between South-Island and West-Island a famous River nam’d Albis, which emptieth it self into the Bay of Bargarfiord. Schetland the Thule of the Ancients. ’Tis a vulgar Opinion, that this Island is the same which the Ancients call’d Thule; but upon consideration it will appear, that by the Ultima Thule taken notice of by Virgil, Claudian, Statius, Pythias Massiliensis, Pliny, Seneca, Solinus, Tacitus, and others, is meant one of the British Isles, amongst which were comprehended the Isles on the North of Scotland, as the Orcades, and some others, the utmost of which we call Schetland, and is very probable to be this Ultima Thule of the Ancients. Nova Zembla, when first discover’d. Nova Zembla, lying under seventy six Degrees of Northern Latitude, and a hundred and twelve Degrees and twenty five Minutes of Longitude, and being reckon’d above two hundred Miles in length, was, together with the River Puora, and Straights of Weygats, discover’d, (and, as it is thought, first of all) by Stephen Burrough, who was sent out by the Muscovia Company in the Year 1556. to find out a Way to Cathay by the North-East. Afterwards one Oliver Bunel, a Dutch-man, mov’d with the hope of Gain, went from Enkhuissen to Pecora; where (having first discover’d Costinfarca in Nova Zembla) he lost all by Shipwrack. The States-General nothing discourag’d with the little success of these two Voyagers, sent forth two Ships under the Command of Hugo Linschot, to the Straights of Weygats, and two others under William Barrents, who were to go directly Northwards for Nova Zembla: Linschot went fifty Miles beyond the Straights, but the Northerly Winds and late Season of the year forc’d him to hasten back with all possible speed. William Barents and his Company were necessitated in the Year 1596. being not able to get off, in regard the Ice increas’d upon them more and more, to take up their Winter Quarters there in a Cottage, which they made a shift to cast up for their present necessity, having much ado to defend themselves against the Bears, that continually assaulted them. Description of the Countrey. This Countrey is generally deliver’d to be a barren and desart Countrey, full of Wood indeed, but the Boughs as bare of Leaves, as the Ground of Grass; also very incommodious to be travell’d through, by reason of its desartness, and the danger of Bears, great fierce Foxes, and such like ravenous Beasts, which feed onely upon Flesh, and which are the onely Beasts this Countrey harbors. In a Journal of Mr. Henry Hudson, there is to be found a much more favorable Description of the Countrey: “Generally (saith he) the Land of Nova Zembla that we have seen, is to a Man’s Eye a pleasant Land, much Main High-land with no Snow on it, looking in some places green, and Deer feeding thereon, and the Hills partly cover’d with Snow, and partly bare.” Besides Nova Zembla there is not far from it another Island, known by the Name of Willoughby-Island, from Sir Hugh Willoughby, the first Discoverer; they both are of the Dominions of the Czar of Russia. Several Attempts for the discovery of the North-West Passage.What hath been discover’d of Sea in the North or South parts of the World, is of no less Consequence than what hath been discover’d of Land, and the Straight of Hudson Northward, is no less considerable than the Straight of Magellan South; we shall therefore compleat this Discourse of the Artick Region with a brief Mention of what Capes, Bays, Sounds, &c. have been found out by those that have attempted to find a Passage by the North-West to the East-Indies. Not to insist upon the fabulous Stories of King Arthur’s first conquering Ireland, and then Sailing into the Northern Seas, and subduing Scantia, Iseland, Groenland, and (as the Story saith) many other Islands beyond Norway even under the Pole, or of Malgo’s subduing Ireland, Iseland, the Orcades and Norway, or Octher’s Reports to King Alfred of his Voyages to the North-East parts beyond Norway, or the Voyages of the two famous Venetian Brethren, Nicolo and Antonio Zeni, or of Marcus Paulus Venetus, Odoricus and Vertomannus; the first English-man we hear of, that made an Expedition into those Northern Seas, was Sir Hugh Willoughby, before taken notice of for the Discovery of King James’s Newland and Willoughby-Island, in the Year of our Lord 1553. Stephen Burroughs (as hath been intimated) discover’d amongst other Places, about the Year 1556. the Straight of Vaigats. Queen Elizabeths Foreland. Forbisher’s Straight. In the Year 1576. Sir Martin Forbisher setting forth with two Barques, after he had been out about five Weeks, had sight of a High-land, which he nam’d Queen Elizabeths Foreland: Thence Sailing more Northerly to the heighth of about sixty two Degrees, he descry’d a great Sea or Inlet, which he entred, and thence it took the Appellation of Forbisher’s Straight. About two years after proceeding to a farther discovery of it, he entred a good way into it, and took possession of the utmost Place he went to for Queen Elizabeth, who thereupon gave it the Name of Meta Incognita. Anno 1580. Arthur Pett and Charles Jackman were sent out by the Russian Company, to make a Discovery of the River Ob, and passing the Straight of Waigats, took particular observation of the Islands and Places there, but not being able to pass much farther, by reason of the Ice, towards the latter end of the year they return’d. Davis’s Straight. In prosecution of this Discovery to the North-West, Captain John Davis of Sandruge in Devonshire, made three Voyages; his first Anno 1585. his second, 1587. in which he met with many strange Adventures; but the main thing that accru’d The next that went upon this Design was Captain George Weymouth, who from the Year 1585 to 1602 made several Expeditions, which produc’d large Relations of strange Accidents that befell them, but little of Discovery farther than what had been made before. Cape Christianus. Mr. James Hall, very noted for his Voyages to Groenland, (which before was by Captain Davis call’d Desolation) at his falling in with that Place nam’d a Head-land from the then King of Denmark, Cape Christianus, which some think to be no other than Cape Farewel. Anno 1606. Mr. John Knight was set out by the King of Denmark, of the Passages of whole Voyage little or nothing memorable is recorded. Hudson’s Straight and Bay. The next and most famous Attempter in the discovery of the North-West Passage, was Henry Hudson, who is said to have discover’d farther Northward to the Pole than any before him. From the Year 1607 to 1610 he made several Voyages, being set out by Sir Thomas Smith, Sir Dudley Diggs, and Mr. John Wostenholm, with others that were his great Friends, and Advancers of such publick Designs. In his last Voyage the Isles of Gods Mercy, Prince Henry’s Foreland, King James’s Cape, Queen Annes Cape, Diggs’s Island, Cape Wostenholm, The King’s Foreland, Mount Charles, Cape Salisbury, &c. were first taken notice of and nam’d, and, which were his principal Discoveries, and therefore worthily retaining his Name, Hudson’s Straight and Bay; but in his return homeward he was set upon in his Cabbin by one Green, Wilson, and others of their Conspiracy, and together with his Son John Hudson, Tho. Widdows, Arn. Ludlow, Sidrach Faner, and two or three more, was put over into a small Shallop, in which they were forc’d to seek their Fortune, and in all likelihood perish’d, for they were never heard of after. Not long after Green going on Shore upon a strange Island, was shot from an Ambuscade of Salvages into the Heart; the like End had Wilson, and three more of the Conspirators dy’d of their mortal Wounds, the rest with much ado got home in a very sick and weak Condition, through the Hardships they had sustain’d, and want of Provisions. There was also another Hudson, who Anno 1608. went to the heighth of eighty one Degrees, and gave Names to certain Places, which continue to this day, as Whale-Bay, Hackluit’s Headland, and Hudson’s Touches. Button’s Bay. By the Assistance of Prince Henry, and those other Noble Persons above mention’d, Captain Thomas Button set out in the Year 1612. and is said to have pass’d Hudson’s Straight, and leaving Hudson’s Bay to the South, to have Sail’d two hundred Leagues South-Westward over a Sea above eighty Fathoms deep, which at length he discover’d to be another great Bay, since call’d Button’s Bay; He is said also to have discover’d a great Continent, which he call’d New Wales. Baffin’s Bay. Several other Voyagers there were in this great Attempt of the North-West Passage, as Captain Gibbons, Robert Bylot, William Baffins, and Captain William Hawkridge, who though they all came short of the main Enterprize, yet every one found out some new Cape, Bay, or Promontory, or open’d a farther Passage than had been before, as Bylot made known Cape Comfort; Baffin, the Inlet call’d from him Baffins Bay, as also Sir James Lancaster’s Sound; Hawkridge, a farther Passage into Lumly’s Inlet. From the Year 1616. to 1631. the Business slept, and then a Voyage was undertaken by Captain Luke Fox, who at his Return gave very good hopes and encouragement, that the Work, so long in prosecution, was not impossible to be effected; nevertheless, by reason of the late troublesom Times it was again wholly laid A brief View of what Places are posses’d at this day in the West-Indies by the English, Spaniards, French, Portuguese, and Dutch.The English possess in Northern America, New England, the Bay of Trinity, Chincet, and a part of Terra Nova, or New-found Land; Virginia, part of Florida, now call’d Carolina, the Bermudas, or Summer-Islands, New Holland, which they took from the Dutch An. 1664. with New Amsterdam and Fort Orange; Terra MariÆ, or Mary-Land, part of the Isles call’d Lucaies; among the AntillÆ or Caribbee-Islands, Barbados, Anguilla, part of St. Christophers, Montserrat, Nieves or Mevis, Antego, Dominico, and St. Vincent; the Isle of St. Catherine, otherwise call’d Providence, Jamaica, the Isles of Curacao and Trinity, several Colonies at Surinam and Sinamari, with several Forts upon the Coast of Guiana; and lastly, the Haven Porto Bello, once the Spaniards. The Spaniards possess the greatest and best part of America, wherein they have a vast number of very considerable Towns. In Northern America they have 1. New Spain, in which are the Audiences of Mexico, Guadalajara, and Guatimala. 2. The Islands Cuba and Hispaniola (excepting some parts towards the West, which are in possession of the French), Boriquen, &c. also St. Augustine and St. Matthew in Florida, and a part of New Mexico. In Southern America, Castilla d’ Oro or Golden Castile, otherwise call’d Terra Firma, in which are the Audiences of Panama, and the new Realm of Granada; next Peru, in which are the Audiences of Quito, Lima, and La Plata; lastly, Chili and Paraguay, which comprehends the Countreys of Tucuman and La Plata. The French have in Canada, or Nova Francia, Montreal, the Rivers Quebeck, Tadousack, and some Places upon the great River of St. Lawrence; also Accadie, or Nova Scotia, the Isle of Cape Breton, with the Fort St. Peter, from whence they Traffick to Nepigiquit, with the Salvages of that Coast; part of the Isle of Terre-Neuve, Pemptagoet, St. Jean, Port-Royal, and other Fortresses. Among the Caribbee-Islands, part of St. Christophers, St. Bartholomew, St. Crux, St. Martin, Guadalupe, Deseado, Marigalante, Todos los Sanctos, Martinico, St. Alousie and Granada; likewise some Colonies on the West of Hispaniola. Upon the Continent of Southern America, on the Coast of Guiana, the Isle Cayene, where stands the Fort of St. Michael de Ceperoux, now Fort Louis; also the Colonies of Mathouri and Armire, Courrou, Coonama and Comaribo. The Portuguese possess all the Coast of Brasile in Southern America, with several Capitania’s or PrÆfectures thereof. The Dutch have onely the Isles of St. Eustace and Saba, the Town of Coro in Terra Firma, the Colonies Boron, Esquib, Berebie, Aperwaque, and others, on the Coast of Guiana. FINIS. |
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