The new found vvorlde, or Antarctike wherin is contained wo[n]derful and strange things, as well of humaine creatures, as beastes, fishes, foules, and serpents, trées, plants, mines of golde and siluer: garnished with many learned aucthorities, trauailed and written in the French tong, by that excellent learned man, master Andrevve Theuet. And now newly translated into Englishe, wherein is reformed the errours of the auncient cosmographers.

Of our arriuall to Fraunce Antartike, otherwise named America, to the place named Caape Defria. Cap. 24. (Book 24)

AFter that by deuine prouidence, with so many tra∣uailes common and ordinarie to so long a Nauiga∣tion, we were come to the maine land, not so soone as our heartes desired, which was the tenth day of No∣uember, and in stead of taking our rest, it behoued vs to discouer & séeke out proper places, to make or reare newe siedges, being no lesse astonied or amazed, that the Troy∣ans were at their arriuall into Italie. Hauing therefore stayed but a while at the former place, where as we lan∣ded, as in the former Chapter we haue shewed, we spred againe our sa-les,* 1.1 sailing towarde Caape Defria, wheras we were well receiued of the Indians or wilde men of the Countrey, shewing according to their manner, euident signes of ioy: neuerthelesse we stayed ther but .iij. dayes, they welcomed vs one after an other, according to their custome, with this word Carainbe, which is as muche to say as welcome, or ye are welcome. And for to shew their good wils,* 1.2 one of their great Morbicha Onassonb, that is to say, King, feasted vs with a kinde of meale made of rootes, and with their Cahonin, which is a drinke made of

Mill is named Auaty, and it is great like a pease: there is bothe white and blacke. And for to make this drinke, they let this Mill boile with other rootes, the which af∣ter it is boyled, hath a coloure like to Claret wine: and these Indians finde it so good, that therewith they will be dronken, as men will be with wine in our Countrey. It is thicke like to wine lées. Héere I wil shew you a super∣stition that they vse, to make this drink, after the straun∣gest maner in the world.* 1.3 After that it hath boyled in car∣then vessels made for that purpose, there shall come cer∣taine virgins or maidens that shall chawe or champe in their mouthes this Mill being so boyled or sodden, then they shall put it into a nother vessel therunto appointed, or if that a woman be called therto, she must first abstain certaine dayes from hir husband: otherwise they thinke that this Byuerige or drinke, will neuer come to good perfection. This being done, they will make it boyle a∣gaine, vntill that it be purged or cleansed, as we sée the wine boyling in the tunne: & then within certaine dayes after they drinke thereof. Now after that they had enter∣tained vs after this sorte, they brought vs afterwarde to sée a large stone of fiue féete long or there about, in the which appeared certaine strokes of a rod or small wand, and the print of two féete, the which they affirme to be of their great Caraibe, whome they haue in as great reue∣rence, as the Turks haue Mahomet, for bicause (say they) that he hath giuen them the vse and knowledge of fire, likewise to plant rootes, for before they liued but with leaues, as doe the brute beastes. Being thus guided and led about by their King, we forgate not diligently to know and visite the place, wheras among other commo∣dities requisite and necessary, we founde that there was no freshe water to be had but far from thence, the which

letted vs to stay ther any long time, for y^e which we were sorie considering the bounty of the countrey.* 1.4 In this place there is a Riuer of salt water passing betwene two hills, separated the one from the other about a stones throwe, and entreth into the countrey about .36. leagues. This Riuer hath great quantitie of good fish of diuers kindes, chiefly greate moulets, so that whilest we were there we sawe the Indians catche of these fishes aboue a thousand in a shorte space.* 1.5 Furthermore there are many birdes of diuers kindes with strange fethers, some as red as fine scarlet, others white, ashey, and other colours. And with these fethers the wilde men or Indians, make hats, and garments, either for to couer them or for beauty. When they goe a warfare or when they haue any skirmish with their enimies. Others also make them Gownes and Caps,* 1.6 after their maner: and for a manifest truth it may be knowen by a gowne that I brought home, with the which gowne I made present to Monsieur Troisteux, a gentleman of the house of my Lorde, the right reuerend Cardinall of Sens. Among these number of birdes al dif∣fering from those of our Himisperia, there is one which they name in their language, Arat, the which is a very hearon in proportion,* 1.7 sauing that his fethers are red as Dragons bloud. Furthermore there are sene trées with∣out number being gréene all the yeare long, of the which the moste parte rendreth diuers kindes of gumme, as well in coiour as otherwise. Also there is growing on the sea bankes little vines (which is a kinde of cockle of the greatnesse of a pease) the which the wilde men beare or hang about their necke like pearles, specially when they are sicke, for they say it prouoketh the belly, and serueth for a purgation, some of them make powder thereof and eate it. Moreouer they say, that it is good to

stay a bloudy flixe, the which semeth to me contrary to his purging vertue. Neuerthelesse it may haue bothe, bi∣cause of the diuersitie of his substances. And therefore the women beare it more oftener at their neckes adn armes than the men. Likewise there is found in that countrey, and on the sea borders on the sande greate plenty, and a kinde of fruite that the Spaniards name sea beanes, being rounde lyke a Teston, but more greater and more thic∣ker of a ruddy colour, so that if you sawe them you wold say they were Artificiall: the people of the countrey set nought by them, neuerthelesse the Spaniards cary them into their countrey, and the Womē and Maydens, com∣monly hang them about their necke, being set in gold or siluer, the which they say hath vertue against the collicke, the payne in the head, and others. To be short, this place is pleasant and fruitfull, and they that enter farther into that countrey shall finde a flat countrey, couered with strange kinde of trées, the like are not in Europe, being al∣so beautified with fayre Riuers and springs and very cleare waters: among the which there is a fish very mon∣strous for a freshe water fish, this fish is of the largenesse and greatnesse of a herring, armed from the head to the tayle, like a little beaste of the earth, named Taton, the heade without comparison greater than the body, hauing thrée bones in the chyne, and very good to eate, at the least the Indians eate of them, and they name it in their language Tamonhata.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caape Defria.
• * 1.2

  Cahonin, a drinke in A∣merica.
• * 1.3

  The supersti∣tion of these Indians in making this drinke.
• * 1.4

  A Riuer of salt water.
• * 1.5

  Birdes with diuers colou∣red fethers.
• * 1.6

  A gown made of fethers brought from America.
• * 1.7

  Arat a red bird.