Purchas his pilgrimes. part 1 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

[ 50]

§. I. Nauticall Obseruation of places betwixt the Lizard and Saint Augustine in the Ile of Saint Laurence.

FIrst, the Lizard hath in latitude fiftie degrees ten minutes. The Cape Finisterre in Galicia hath in latitude forty three degrees twentie minutes, and longitude from the Meridian of the Lizard, two degrees thirtie sixe minutes West. The Iland of Lancerota hath in latitude twentie eight degrees,* 1.1 forty minutes, and longitude from the Lizard fiue degrees twentie foure degrees West. The variation of the Compasse sixe degrees sixe minutes from North to East. And when you are in [ 60] the latitude of thirtie three degrees thirtie minutes, and chance to haue fiue degrees twentie minutes of variation, you may assure your selfe to be North North-east from the said Iland, and your course is South South-west to goe with it.

* 1.2The Grand Canaria hath in latitude twenty seuen degrees fortie minutes, and longitude from

the Lizard sixe degrees thirtie minutes West. The variation is sixe degrees from North to East. Likewise in the latitude thirty degrees thirty minutes: when you haue fiue degrees and fiftie mi∣nutes variation, you haue the said Iland South and by West from you.

The Iland of Saint Marie, being the Eastermost of the Azores, hath in latitude thirtie seuen degrees; and longitude from the Lizard fourteene degrees West. The variation of the Com∣passe one degree fortie minutes from North to East. But when you are in the latitude of thirtie degrees thirtie minutes comming home-ward, and finde fiue degrees variation, and would see the Ilands in your course, goe North-east for Saint Marie: but it is better to goe more Nor∣therly, and so you shall bee sure to see some of them: for the variation is much vpon that rate in [ 10] the North-east course, till you come in with the Ilands.

The latitude of Sal, which is one of the Ilands of Cape Verde, is ten degrees thirtie minutes,* 1.3 and longitude from the Lizard twelue degrees twelue minutes. The variation three degrees, thir∣tie minutes from North to East.

Bonauista is from Sal sixe leagues.* 1.4 The mid-way betweene the Meridian of Cape Verde and these Ilands in the latitude of nine degrees, you haue two degrees fifteene minutes of variation to the East-ward: and the ne••rer you are to the Maine land, the lesse variation. But when you come in fiue degrees of latitude, if the Ternados doe not meete with you before, there you shall beginne to haue them, which are winds blowing euery-where.

But if you will passe the Equinoctiall, vse what diligence you may,* 1.5 in plying to get from [ 20] these vnhealthfull and troublesome windes: but keepe your selfe so, that you may bee but South and by East, or South South-east from Mai••, because it may bee in your minde, that your much going to the East-ward will bee a helpe when you stand ouer with the generall wind. But you may there spend much time, and get little aduantage. Now assoone as you haue the wind at South South-east, and are in two or three degrees off the Line, stand away with it. For if you may passe the Line in ten degrees of longitude from the Lizard, your variation will be sixe degrees ten minutes from North to East, and you shall feele neither the East South-east streame to hurt you, nor the North-west and by West streame, that setteth ouer to the West-Indies.

But if the wind doe hinder you much, feare not to passe the Line in fourteene degrees of [ 30] longitude from the Lizard,your variation will bee in that place sixe degrees fortie fiue mi∣nutes. And beeing past, make your way to the South-ward as speedily as you may: but if the wind be at East North-east or East, as many times it will bee, doe not goe to the East-ward of the South-east and by East, although in your minde it were the best course: for if you doe, you shall find the wind at South-east and South South-east, and it will bring you downe to your South course againe, although you haue spent so much time as in your South course would haue carried you without the Tropicke into the variable winds way, which is in twentie sixe or twentie eight degrees.

For it is great oddes, when a man may saile thirtie sixe leagues in foure and twentie houres, and will sayle but foure and twentie close vpon a wind. For when you haue brought your selfe [ 40] into the variable winds way, it cannot be long before you haue a slent to get vp to the Cape of Good Hope, where you shall note, that your variation will increase in running South from the Line. For when you come in twentie degrees to the South-ward, you shall haue fifteene degrees of variation, and more to the West-ward fourteene. Whereby if you note it well,* 1.6 you shall perceiue, that in these parts, betweene the Tropickes I meane, it keepeth no method in Easting or Westing, as it doth without them: as you may see at the Ile De Fernando de Lo∣ronha, the latitude whereof is foure degrees South, and longitude from the Lizard nineteene degrees twentie minutes West. The variation is there eight degrees ten minutes, from North to East: if you come there to ride, the Roade is vpon the North-east side, but it is ••ll ground in some place. The depth, nine, eight and seuen fathomes water, sandie grounds, with a stone or [ 50] Rocke heere and there.

This land riseth like Paules steeple, and that land like the steeple will bee when you are in the Roade South South-west from you. There is much broken ground and Ilands by the Ile it selfe. Heere is good refreshing and good water, but dangerous landing for the Sea to sinke your Boats and drowne your men.

The Portugals of Fernamburo haue some few Slaues heere that make Cotton and keepe their Cattell. They haue Guiney Wheate there growing.

The Iland of Santa Helena hath in South latitude sixteen degrees,* 1.7 & longitude from the Lizard foure degrees thirtie minutes East: and from the Cape of Good Hope twentie three degrees thirtie minutes West. The variation is seuen degrees thirtie minutes from North to East. This Iland [ 60] is one of the best for the bignesse thereof for the refreshing of men, that I know in the Sea: it standeth so healthy, and hath so good a Roade for Shippes, as a man can 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The Roade is open to the North-west side: right before the Chappell you may ride in twel••e, tenne, nine, eight, or seuen fathomes water, good ground and no danger, but what you see a long the shoare.

The Iland is little, but very high land, a man may see it eighteene leagues off. Vpon it are all things fitting for a mans comfort, comming with it in distresse. If you will see this Iland, you haue the wind alway at South-east or thereabouts. Therefore keepe your selfe in the latitude of sixteene degrees tenne minutes, or fifteene degrees, and runne West vpon that height, and you cannot misse it: whether it bee day or night you need not feare, but this you may assure your selfe, that in your course from the Cape of Good Hope, there is nothing that will wrong you. I meane no streame nor Current. For I haue seene that my selfe three times comming from the Cape the South-east wind will tak•• you in thirtie degrees, and sometimes before, and will carrie you to the North-ward of the Equi∣noctiall Line.

* 1.8Saldanha, which is the Bay where we doe commonly anchor out-ward bound, hath in lati∣tude [ 10] thirtie foure degrees twentie fiue minutes, and longitude from the Lizard twentie eight degrees East. The variation thirtie minutes from North to East. For the knowing of the land hereabout Saldanha, it is all high land. But commonly when you come from the West-ward it is foggie and darke vpon it, so that you shall see the breach of the shoare, before you can come to make it, or know it. If you see the land when you are in the Offing rise like a Table, and other round hils by it, one like a Sugar-loafe; bring this Table East by South, and then stirre so see, till you come close vnder the land, for this course will bring you in with the point of the Souther land going into the Roade. Now when you see the point it selfe, which is low land, you shall see the Ile of Penguin: but keepe your selfe neerer the point then to Pen∣guin [ 20] Iland, because there are sunken Rockes all toward the Iland: keepe your Lead going, for toward the point you shall haue ground at fifteene fathomes, and then you may bee bold to goe by it in ten fathomes water. Then the Roade is South-east by East from this point in sixe fa∣thomes, or fiue if you list. The Table will bee South South-west the middle of it, and the Sugar-loafe South-west halfe Westerly. The worst winds for that Roade are from the North-west to the North-east. Heere is good watering and fresh victuals, when the people come downe with it.

There is fresh-fish in the Riuer to bee had at sometime of the tyde with a seine: it doth high sometimes fiue foote water, and sometimes sixe, sometimes more, and some∣times lesse. [ 30]

Betweene the Coast of Brasil and this Roade the Compasse hath twentie degrees varia∣tion, and more or lesse as you are to the North-ward or South. For the more you are to the South-ward, the more you haue, and to the North-ward the lesse. But in thirtie three degrees thirty minutes,* 1.9 you haue the highest variation twenty one degrees from North to East, & longi∣tude from the Lizard seuen deg. thirtie minutes, or from the Cape of Good Hope, thirtie fiue deg. thirtie minutes West: Now when you come in eleuen degrees no minutes of variation, you may assure your selfe, if your variation bee good, you are three hundred and thirtie leagues short: and it will keepe a good method in decreasing after the rate of thirtie or eight and twentie leagues to a degree: for when you are in two degrees of variation, you shall bee eight and fortie or fiftie leagues short: and when you haue fortie minutes, and cannot see the land, you are but [ 40] ten leagues off.

Now if you can see the Land close by the waters side, before you can see the other high land, the fogge hanging vpon the shoare, and are in thirtie foure degrees of latitude, you may see white sandie wayes close by the waters side, your course is to the point, if they beare East South-east from you, and beeing neere the shoare is North-east. For these white san∣die wayes are almost three leagues short of that point going into the Roade, and fast by the point to the South-west from the said point going for the Roade, the two points doe lye North-east and South-west. And then the land toward the Cape lyeth South-east and by East, and South South-east. So likewise the land lyeth to the North-ward off the Bay North North-west, and South South-west. [ 50]

Penguin Iland and this Point lye North and by West, and South and by East.

* 1.10To the Northward of this Iland is an Iland called Connie Iland, and it lyeth in latitude thirtie three degrees twentie seuen minutes, and North North-west from Penguine Ile. This Connie Ile hath bad ground about it: but you may goe betweene the Maine and that Iland. If you will anchor, this Ile vpon the Wester-side hath a dangerous ledge of Rockes lying off it to the Seawar••. The Maine all along the shoare is bold, but what you may see.

* 1.11Chapmans Chance hath in latitude thirtie foure degrees tenne minutues, and is an Harbour, which lyeth within the South-west point vnder a little Hill like Charing Crosse, close hanging by the Sea-side of the South South-west-side of the land like a Table, standing in the very bottome of the Bay. [ 60]

This is a very good Harbour for the ships: for the maine land of the Cape will be shut in vpon the Wester-side of the land: and there is good ground, and a good depth to ride in, as ten, nine, eight, seuen, sixe, or fiue fathomes.

This Harbor is not past ten miles ouer land to Soldanha from it: and a man may come away

with that wind that you cannot come forth withall from Soldanha. Wherefore when any shall haue beene there with a ship, they shall better know it. Wee went not in with our ship, because we were all fit to goe about, before wee did know it to bee a Harbor. For wee did suspect it by chance standing in with a scant wind, and being toward night our Captaine Master Edmund Marlow sent one of the Masters Mates in the Pinnasse to see whether it were a Harbor or not, hauing little wind, and by that time hee came in with it, the Sunne was downe, so that he could not see and take that notice he would, for quick returning to the ship.

Cape Falso hath in latitude thirty foure degrees thirty minutes, and is distant from the Cape of Good Hope, nine leagues East South-east.* 1.12

[ 10] Betweene these two Capes there is a deepe Bay, and before it there is a Rocke euen with the water; but it lyeth neere the Cape of Good Hope. In this Bay is the great Riuer called Rio Dolce, that runneth farre vp in the Land. There is good refreshing, as the Hollanders report,* 1.13 for they haue beene there with their sh••ps.

Heere at Cape Falso is no variation that I can find by obseruing South from it.* 1.14 The Land lyeth to the Cape das Aguilhas East South-east from the Cape of Good Hope, and is distant sixe and twentie leagues: no danger is to be seene, but a bould shoare along the coast. And so it is bould sixtie leagues to the Eastward: for so farre I haue sailed to the East-ward of Cape Das Aguilhas the land lyeth East Northerly for one hundred leagues.

The very Cape Das Aguilhas hath in latitude thirtie foure degrees, fiftie minutes [ 20] South, and is very low land. But there is high land to the East-ward of the last named Cape. You may haue ground with your Lead in seuen or eight leagues off the land, for one hundred leagues East, at seuentie, sixtie, sixtie fiue, fiftie fiue, fiftie, fortie fathomes, sandie blacke ground vpon your Leade, which will helpe you much in comming home if you cannot obserue the variation nor latitude. The variation of Cape Das Aguilhas is no degrees thirtie minutes from North to West. And at the Cape of Good Hope the Compasse is varied from North to East fiue and twentie minutes. Assoone as you are to the West-ward of Cape Das A∣guilhas, you shall haue Ozie and deepe water; whereby you may see that this will helpe you well in darke weather to know how the lands are from you, and how to hale in with the Cape of Good Hope.

[ 30] When you saile into the East-India from the Cape of Good Hope, you must bee very care∣full in your course: for till you come vp to haue seuen or eight degrees of variation, you shall find it sometimes very vncertaine, shouts of streames that will set a man sometimes one way, sometimes another as I haue often found it to bee so, and haue had none other meanes to helpe my selfe, but by the variation, which is very sure, if you bee carefull in obseruing.* 1.15 But after you passe eight degrees of variation, you shall not need to seare the streames, if you bee bound to the East-ward, for the streames or tydes doe set betweene the variation afore-said, and the Cape Das Aguilhas.

Now if you find betweene the Cape and this variation of seuen or eight degrees that you doe not alter it to your ship running East; for this is your fittest course, if you bee bound for Bantam, or within for any place of the Ile of Saint Laurence, till you come vp to the va∣riation [ 40] aforesaid, as you may chance at fiue or sixe degrees, assure your selfe you are wrong with it. For the variation will increase by the rate of nine and twentie or thirtie leagues, to the Ile of Saint Laurence. I meane these leagues in Easting from the Meridians, and not the course you saile by, for if you saile North-east and by East, and you shall haue thirtie sixe leagues for one degree and halfe Easting, or longitude, which will alter one degree of variation.

And the more North-ward your course is, the lesse variation you haue,* 1.16 as you shall plainly vnderstand: for in fiue and twentie of latitude in sight of Saint Laurence, you haue sixteene degrees no minutes. And running North by the land to the Riuer of Saint Augustine, you shall haue but fifteene degrees in the latitude of twentie three degrees and thirtie minutes, which is plaine that it is lesse to the North-ward, then to the South-ward. So likewise vp to [ 50] the East-ward in the latitude of eleuen degrees no minutes, the highest variation is twentie three degrees forty minutes. And in the latitude of thirtie three degrees no minutes, the highest varia∣tion is twentie seuen degrees ten minutes, as I haue seene and obserued my self, and in my iudge∣ment in ten leagues Easting and Westing of the same Meridian, as hereafter shall more plainely appeare in their due places.

[ 60]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lancerota.
• * 1.2

  Grand Canaria.
• * 1.3

  Sal.
• * 1.4

  Bonauista.
• * 1.5

  The best course to passe the Equinocti∣all Line,
• * 1.6

  Increase of va∣riation in run∣ning South-ward of the Line.

  The Ile of Fernando de Loronha.
• * 1.7

  The Ile of Santa Helena▪
• * 1.8

  The Bay of Saldanha.
• * 1.9

  The highest variation be∣tweene Brasil and the Cape of Good Hope.
• * 1.10

  Connie Iland.
• * 1.11

  Chapmans Chance.
• * 1.12

  Cape Falso.
• * 1.13

  Rio Dolce.
• * 1.14

  No variation•• Cape das A∣guilhas.
• * 1.15

  The great be∣nefit of the Va∣riation.
• * 1.16

  Note.