A relation of the voyage to Siam performed by six Jesuits, sent by the French King, to the Indies and China, in the year, 1685 : with their astrological observations, and their remarks of natural philosophy, geography, hydrography, and history / published in the original, by the express orders of His Most Christian Majesty ; and now made English, and illustrated with sculptures.

A VOYAGE TO SIAM. The First BOOK. (Book 1)

The Voyage from Brest, to the Cape of Good-Hope. (Book 1)

SInce the time the King setled a Royal Aca∣demy at Paris, for improving Arts and Sciences within his Kingdom, the Mem∣bers that compose it, have not hit upon any means more proper for accomplishing that Design, than the sending out of Learned Men to make Observations in foreign Countries, whereby they might correct the Geographical Maps, facilitate Navigation, and raise Astrono∣my to its Perfection. In that Prospect, not a few of the Learnedst Men of that Illustrious So∣ciety,

were, by his Majesties Orders, sent into several Kingdoms: Some went into Denmark, o∣thers to England; some were sent to the Isle of Cayana, and other Isles of America, Cape Verd, nay, and to the chief Ports and Coasts of the King∣dom, whilst others in the Observatory at Home, kept pace, and entertained all necessary Corre∣spondencies with them.

It was desired that an Occasion might offer of sending more Observators into several Parts of Europe, to the Isle of Foroy, where they have fix∣ed the first Meridian, the East-Indies, and chiefly into China, where it was known that Arts had flourished for these four thousand years, where there are Books upon all Subjects, and Libraries that may compare with the fairest in Europe, from which the Kings Bibliothic might be en∣riched.

* 1.1This Desire grew stronger in the chief Mem∣bers of the Academy, after they had conversed with Father Philip Couplet, a Flemish Jesuit, who upon his Return from China, posted by Paris on his way to Rome, whither he was sent about the Affairs of the Mission.

The Marquis de Louvoy, Minister and Secretary of State, who besides the Affairs of War, and Oversight of the Kings Buildings, was likewise charged with the Concerns of Arts and Sciences, ordered, in his Majesties Name, the Members of the Royal Academy to draw up a Memoire of the most remarkable things they desired to be in∣formed of from China, to be given and recom∣mended to Father Couplet, who was to return thi∣ther the year following.

The Duke of Mayne favoured also the Design with a great Zeal for Religion, and a Curiosi∣ty suitable to his Wit, calculated for Knowledg, and far above his years.

But the King surpassing all in Zeal for the Improvement of Arts and Sciences, especially of such, which in those Countries might most con∣tribute to the Growth of Religion, being af∣fected with the Necessity of Missions, was re∣solved to assist them with his Protection and Liberalities. He was informed by Father Cou∣plet, that almost all the French Jesuits, who a∣bove thirty years since went to China with Fa∣ther Alexander of Rhodes, were dead, labour∣ing in the Missions of that Kingdom; that there were but a very few Missionaries re∣maining; that the Emperour, in the mean time, continued to them his Protection, and that in imitation of him, the Vice-Roys and Governours of Provinces were also very kind to them; and that in short, there was a great want of Gospel-Labourers, not only for cul∣tivating the Christians, who are already very numerous there, but also for reaping the Fruit of the certain hopes, which at present more than ever, good men have of spreading the Faith in that vast Empire. He had already gone so far, as to assign a considerable Sum of Mo∣ney for the French Jesuits who were to accompany Father Couplet; and all the care was, how they might be sent under his Ma∣jesties Authority, when Divine Providence presented a most favourable occasion for it.

Hardly was Father Couplet departed for Rome, when two Siam Mandarins, with a Priest of the Foreign Missions setled in Siam named Monsieur le Vachet, arrived in France. They were sent by the Ministers of the King of Siam, to learn News of the Embassie which the King their Master had sent to his Majesty, with magnificent Presents, on board a Ship belong∣ing to the East-India Company, called the Sun of the East, which was reported to have been cast away.

His Majesty perceiving what Advances the King of Siam made in seeking his Friendship, and that there was hopes besides he might turn Christian, if there were an Ambassador sent to him, resolved to do it; and by the same way sends Jesuits into China, which hath a great com∣merce with the Kingdom of Siam, from whence it is not above five or six hundred Leagues dis∣stant.

* 1.2The King having thereupon declared his In∣tentions to the Marques de Louvoy and Father de la Chaize, they forthwith demanded of our Supe∣riors, four Fathers at least, that might be capa∣ble of labouring in consort with the Academy Royal, in the Improvement of Arts and Sciences, and at the same time employ themselves with the Missionaries of China in advancing the Christian Religion; adding, that they must needs be ready to depart within six weeks, in the Ship that was to carry the French Ambassador to Siam.

It was no hard matter for our Superiours to find men that were willing to contribute to the furthering of that design. Amongst many who

offered themselves, six were chosen, who, tho of different Provinces, were happily at that time in the Jesuits College at Paris; as if Di∣vine Providence had only brought them together for obtaining a happiness which they earnestly longed for. The Superiour named to be over them was Father Fontenay, who for eight years past taught the Mathematics in that College. The other five were, Father Gerbillon, Father l'Compte, Father Visdelou, Father Couvet and my self.

So soon as the thing was resolved upon,* 1.3 we had private notice given us, to prepare for our departure within two Months at farthest. Next day we went together to Mount-Martre to thank God by the Mediation of the Holy Virgin and Holy Martyrs, for the favour that was done us, and to Offer our selves up to Jesus Christ more particularly in that place, where St. Igna∣tius and his Companions made their first Vows, and which is looked upon as the Cradle of the Society, that from its birth hath devoted it self in a most particular manner to Foreign Missions. That's the reason that they who constitute it, have ever since consecrated themselves to that duty by a solemn Vow; so that every one think∣ing himself in particular destiny'd to it, ought accordingly to prepare himself from his youth upward, by all the Exercises of Piety and Mor∣tification, and by the study of the Sciences and long Voyages that may most fit him for it. And this is practised with so great a Blessing, that the same vigour of Spirit that was at first may be said still to be in the Order.

* 1.4The design of our Voyage being made pub∣lic at Paris, the Members of the Academy, who concerned themselves most in it, did us the Honour to admit us into that Society, by a particular Privilege; and we took our places there some days before our departure. The most proper means for executing the Orders of the King were thought on, and it was resolved that besides the Instructions which the Marquess of Louvoy had prepared, to be given to Father Coup∣let, when he should return to China, and which was forthwith put into our hands, the chief Mem∣bers of the Academy, should furnish us with particular Memoirs relating to the Observations that might be proper to be made in China, and the things that were to be sent home to France, as well for enriching the King's Library, as for the emprovement of Arts.

* 1.5Every one of these Members took upon them∣selves to furnish us with such as concerned the Arts and Sciences they were most versed in; and we thereupon had several Conferences with them. We agreed upon the Astronomical Ob∣servations that we should make in China and on our Voyage. They gave us the Tables of the Satellites of Jupiter, which have been made with so great labour, and which at present serve for determining the Longitudes of Places. They al∣so presented us with several large Telescopes of 12, 15, 18, 25, 50, and eighty Foot, whereof we were to leave some in the Observatory of Peguin. They imparted to us besides several Memoires in Natural Philosophy, Anatomy, and con∣cerning Plants. There were Sea-Charts of the Course we were to follow in the Kings Library,

which had served in other Voyages, we had Copies of them given us, and they proved very useful to us in our Sailing. They gave us very good and ample instructions concerning Navi∣gation, Architecture, and other Arts, concern∣ing the Books that were to be sent to France, and the Observations that it would be proper for us to make. In short, of all the Members of that Learned Academy, there was none who ap∣peared not in that affair with particular zeal and application, seeing the success of it would not a little contribute to the glory and satisfaction of the King. All these Memoires being examined in several meetings of the Academy Royal, were given in to us before our departure. And these Gentlemen having promised to communicate their Discoveries to us, we engaged our selves to send them our Observations, to the end that acting in consort, and making but one Body of Academicians, some in France, and others in Chi∣na, we might joyntly labour in the encreasing and improvement of Sciences, under the protection of so great a Monarch.

In the mean time we were much taken up in preparing all the Instruments that were necessary for us; and seeing we were to leave Paris within a Month, we had made for us in that time,* 1.6 two Quadrants of ninety degrees, the one of eighteen inches the Radius, and the other of twenty six; three great Pendulums with Seconds, an Instru∣ment for finding out at the same time the right Ascension and the Declination of Stars; an Equi∣noctial Dial that marked the Hours to the very Minutes, having underneath a large Compass for finding out all hours of the day the declination of

the Load-stone. All these Instruments were to be made use of in Astronomical Observations.

We had also two bows or half circles, divi∣ded very exactly into six and six minutes, for Geometrical Operations, the one had only Sights, and the other Glasses. When we went to take our leave of the Duke of Mayne, he had the good∣ness to give us a third and bigger, divided by three and three minutes, which he had made for his own use. We cannot sufficiently acknowledge the obligations we have to that Prince for the good∣ness he exprest towards us on that occasion.

Besides the Engines I have been mentioning, we carried with us two repetition-pendulum-Clocks, Burning-glasses of twelve, and twenty inches Di∣ameter, Load-stones, Microscopes, several Ther∣mometers and Barometers, all the Tubes and Machines that serve in making experiments of vacuity, a Dial upon an inclining place, the two Machines of Romer, one of which represents the motion of the Planets, and the other the Eclipses of the Sun and Moon. They gave us also for our use several Books out of the Kings Library.

In the mean time our Pensions were setled by Orders from the King, who caused also his Let∣ters-Patents to be expeded for us, whereby his Majesty made us his Mathematicians in the Indies and China.

* 1.7We arrived at Brest, February 10. and some days after Orders came from Court to hasten our Embarquing, because the Season was already far spent. They were obeyed with so much dili∣gence, that every thing almost was in a readiness, when the Chevalier de Chaumont named by the King for the Embassie of Siam arrived at Brest.

This Gentleman well known in the Kingdom for his particular merit, and the Nobility of an ancient and Illustrious Family, was in his youth bred up a Calvinist, but God did him the Grace to Convert him and his Brothers one after another at different times. The last of all having for many years served in the Armies with the approbation of a brave Gentleman, and good Officer, being at length cloyed with the World, and desirous to work out his own salvation, put himself into our Society, where he lived and died like a Saint, having edified all that knew him by rare Exam∣ples of all sorts of Virtues, and especially of an heroick patience under the pains and trouble which he felt by the wounds that he had formerly recei∣ved in the Wars. The Chevalier de Chaumont of whom we are now speaking, was his elder Brother, at first he served at Land, where his singular Merit made him known, and particularly beloved of the King whilst he was but young. He was af∣terwards sent to Thoulon, there to command the Main-guards or Reformades, and to instruct them in all Exercises necessary for Gentlemen who are to Command his Majesties Ships. Since that he was made Captain of a Man of War, and Major General of the Kings Naval-Forces in the Levant. His zeal for his Princes Service hath nothing lessen∣ed his continual application to the service of God; and all gave him his due when they looked upon him as a Man of singular Prudence and Piety. Therefore it was that his Majesty, who propo∣sed to himself chiefly the good of Religion, and the Conversion of the King of Siam by the Embassie which he resolved to send to him, pitched upon the Chevalier de Thaumont for so glo∣rious

an employment; being perswaded that the good examples which he would give in that Country, would be so many proofs of the sanctity of Christianity, that might fully convince that King of the truth of our Religion.

* 1.8Next day after he came we had the honour to salute him in his Lodgings, and received from his hands the Patents which it pleased the King to give every one of us in particular, sending us in quality of his Mathematicians into the Indies and China. They were Signed and Sealed with the Great Seal of yellow Wax, and conceived in these terms.

LOUIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre: To all who shall see these pre∣sent Letters; Greeting. Being very willing to contri∣bute on Our part to any thing that may more and more establish the security of Navigation, and improve Arts and Sciences; We have thought that for the surer at∣taining to that, it was necessary to send to the Indies and China some knowing and Learned Persons, capa∣ble of making there the Observations of Europe: and Judging that for that effect we could not make a bet∣ter choice than of F. N. a Jesuit, by the particular knowledg we have of his extraordinary capacity. For these and other causes thereto moving Ʋs, of Our spe∣cial Grace, full power and Royal Authority, We have Ordained and Constituted, and by these Presents Signed with Our Hand, do Ordain and constitute the said F.N. our Mathematician. Our Will is, that in that qua∣lity he go to the Indies and China, there to make all Observations necessary, for the improvement and curio∣sity of Arts and Sciences, the exactness of Geography, and the surer establishment of Navigation.

We therefore Charge and Command Our most dearly beloved Son the Count of Thoulouse Admiral of France, our Vice-admirals and Lieutenant-Generals in our Naval Forces, Commanders of Squadrons of the same, particular Governors of our Towns and strong Places, Maiors, Consuls, and all our other Officers to whom it belongs, to give to the said F. N. all the Aid, Favour and assistance that is needful to him for the execution of these Presents, without permitting any Lett or Hindrance to be given him that may retard his Voyage, for such is Our Will and Pleasure. In Witness whereof, We have caused Our Seal to be put to these Presents; We Pray and Require all Kings, Princes, Potentates, States, Republicks, our Friends, Allies and Confederates, their Officers and Subjects to give the said F. N. all sort of succour and assistance for the accomplishment of a design which equally con∣cerns the advantage of all Nations, without suffering any thing to be exacted from him contrary to the liber∣ty of his Function, and the Customs and Rights of the Kingdom.

Given at Versailles January 28. 1685. and the two and fortieth year of our Reign.

Signed Louis, and upon the fold, Colbert.

Though all things were ready for Embarquing,* 2.1 and the Wind very fair for putting out to Sea, yet it behoved us to stay, till the Frigat called the Maligne, mounted with thirty Guns, which was lately ordered by the King to accompany the first Ship, should be fitted and made ready to follow us: when the news of these Orders came to Brest, it caused so much Joy amongst all that

were to go the Voyage, and was received with so great applause; that it was in every bodies mouth, that now we could not but expect a pros∣perous Voyage. The truth is, without that assi∣stance it would have been impossible to have car∣ried the Kings Presents, the Equipage of the Em∣bassador, and of the Officers of the Ship, and Passengers, and above all, necessary Provisions for so long a Voyage, not to speak of a great many Bales of all sorts of Curiosities which the King of Siam had sent for, both from France and En∣gland.

About that time we had advice that at Lisbonne, they had granted the Pass-ports which had been demanded for us,* 2.2 and which we earnestly desired; because the differences that happened betwixt Por∣tugal and the French Ecclesiastics not being as yet made up, we were in fear lest the Portuguese Of∣ficers might from thence take occasion to stop us on our way. Monsieur de Saint Romain extraordi∣nary Ambassador from the King in Portugal, who very well knew the Kings mind as to that, took notice of it in a discourse he made to the King of Portugal for obtaining the Passports. These were his very words.

SIR,

I Have by the last Courier from France recei∣ved Orders, to acquaint your Majesty with the resolution the King my Master has of sending by Sea an Ambassador to the King of Siam, in correspondence with the Civilities of that Prince; and that taking advantage of that occasion, he'll send on Board the same Man of War six French Jesuits who are to go from Siam to Macao in China.

These Religious have in Commission to observe in their Travels by Sea and Land, the Longitudes of the chief Places, the Declinations and Variati∣ons of the Needle, and all that can serve to cer∣tifie and improve our Charts and Navigation, and to make an exact search of all sorts of curi∣ous Books for the Library of the King my Master. I am commanded to tell your Majesty that they have express Orders to entertain a good corres∣pondence with your Subjects in what place soever they may meet them, and to have all due deference and submissions for the Portuguese Prelates. The King my Master makes no doubt but that your Majesty desires also on your part, that your Subjects in the East should give to these Religious the Suc∣cours and Assistances that they may stand in need of for the accomplishment of their Voyage and Commission: and to the end they may be inform∣ed of it, the King my Master has ordered me to demand, as I do with confidence, of your Majesty, a Passport for these Religious, in the most ample and favourable form that may be. The Ship that is to carry the Ambassador of France and the Jesuits to Siam, will infallibly set out before the end of March, and I most humbly beg your Ma∣jesty that it would please you to order that Pass∣port speedily to be expeded, and presently after delivered.

In the same Packet they sent us this Letter,* 3.1 which Father la Chaize wrote in the Kings name to Father Ferdinand Verbiest of our Company, Missionary of China, and President of the Mathe∣matics in that vast Empire.

Reverend Father,

WIth great joy do I acquit my self of the Commands of the greatest King in Christendom, in addressing my self to your Reverence, to recommend to you six of our Fathers his Subjects Men of extraordi∣nary Merit and Capacity, that under your Prote∣ction they may carry to China and Tartary, the knowledg of the true Faith, and get from thence all the observations of Astronomy, and all the knowledg of the Arts and Sciences of a Nation, for which the Reverend Father Philip Couplet, whom his Majesty had the pleasure to see here, hath wrought in him a very particular esteem. All the six besides a great zeal and rare virtue, have con∣siderable advantage as to Languages and Sciences, and the skill they have in the Mathematics, hath made his Majesty make choice of them for his Mathematicians, for which he hath given them all Letters Patents under the Great Seal of the Chancery. Your Reverence will have the satis∣faction, by means of these Fathers to contract a kind of Commerce, in favour of the Sciences, betwixt two of the most powerful Sovereigns of the World, and the greatest protectors of Scien∣ces. There is so great a resemblance betwixt the Prudence and Happiness of their Government, the strength and number of their Armies, the oeco∣nomy and good order of their States, the Blessing God gives their undertakings, the Magnificence of their Courts, the greatness and nobleness of their thoughts, that it would seem those two ad∣mirable Princes finding nothing upon Earth so Great and August as themselves, and being both

born for the Glory of their age, and the wellfare of their people, ought to be as much united by the same heroic virtues and qualities which they have received from Heaven, as they are sepera∣ted by the vast space of Seas and Land that dis∣joyn their Territories on Earth, May the Su∣preme Lord of all Kings and Emperors, who hath made them both the Defenders of the true Worship of God, and Protectors of his Altars, give them also the same thoughts as to Religion, the same zeal for the propagation of the true Faith, and the same earnestness in the publication and practice of the Gospel, that the great Emperor of China may not be inferior to ours in that only es∣sential point of true Grandeur, which is want∣ing to the Dignity of his Person, and the Hap∣piness of his Reign, all holy and zealous persons of this flourishing Kingdom, wherein Louis the Great does sedulously establish the unity of the Catholic Faith, Virtue and Piety by his Exam∣ples, his Cares, his Edicts and continual liberali∣ties, incessantly beg of Heaven the same Grace for your great Emperor: We continually offer up our Prayers and Sacrifices to the true God for that. We cannot believe that so many Virtues as he already possesses, will be for ever without a reward, for want of the Virtues of Christia∣nity, with which we hope he will consummate that great Merit, which procures him so fair a Reputation all over the Earth. I beseech you R. F. that for the satisfaction of our Great King, which God hath given to Europe for a defender and restorer of the true Faith, and whom ac∣cording to all Prophecies he designs for the de∣struction of Mahometism, you would still give

us the best information you can, of the Virtues, Sentiments and Actions of your great Emperour, for whom he hath already conceived so particu∣lar an esteem. I likewise adjure you to Protect, As∣sist and Favour, as much as lies in your power, those Zealous and Learned Missionaries whom he hath sent you, and at whose Head he has placed Father Fautenay, whose merit you know, and who was looked upon by all the Learned Mathe∣maticians of the Royal Academy of Scien∣ces, that is here entertained by the Liberalities of his Majesty, as an extraordinary Man, and one that was an honour to their Nation. They bring you all the Observations and Curiosities of the Sciences of Europe in their greatest Perfection, and are sent to you as pledges of other greater matters that his Majesty would do, and without doubt will do hereafter for the satisfaction of your Great Monarch, and of your self in particular, so soon as he hath heard how his Mathematicians have been received and treated in China and what aids and assistances have been given them for put∣ing in execution the orders that are enjoyned them. I cannot express to your Reverence what advanta∣geous consequences I do presage from the sending of these Fathers to you, if it please God to give a Blessing to it. Since they all set out from Court, and the Capital City of this Realm, where they have been bred for some time, and highly consi∣dered for their Merit; they will acquaint you with many things that will content your zeal and curiosity, better than I can relate them in writing, above all things I beg of your Reverence to be∣lieve them, when they assure you that no Man li∣ving is more respectfully and more cordially than

I am in the union of your Sacrifices, and of your Apostolick Labour,

Reverend Father,

your most humble and obedient Servant, DE LA CHAISE. Of the Society of Jesus.

SOme days after they adjusted the number of those that were to go in the Ship with the Ambassador; Besides the Abbot of Choisy who is well known in France by his Birth and Merit, and who was to continue with the King of Siam in quality of Ambassador until his Baptism, in case he should be converted. The two Siam Man∣darins, Monsieur le Vachet,* 4.1 who came with them into France, four other Churchmen, and the six Jesuits, were also taken on Board. Monsieur le Vaudricourt commanded the Ship; he is one of the oldest and ablest Sea-Captains the King has; and has distinguished himself on several occasions, both in the Chanel against the Dutch, and in the Mediterranean in the War of Messina, during twenty years that he hath served at Sea, having never missed a Campaign wherein he was not actually in his Majesties Service. We are particularly obliged to him for his Civilities, and the good Offices he did us during our whole Voyage in such a manner as engages us to the highest acknowledgment; M. Coriton was our second Captain; we had two Lieutenants, M. de Forbin, and M. de Cibois, and an Ensign called M. de Chamorean.

Of the twelve Gentlemen named by the King to wait on the Ambassador, three were put on Board of us; and the rest of the Frigat Com∣manded by Monsieur Joyeux, Lieutenant of the Port of Brest, who had already made several Voy∣ages to the Indies.

* 4.2In fine, the day of Embarquing being come, on the first of March my Lord Ambassador accompa∣nied by the Count of Chasteau-Renaud Comman∣der of a Squadron, and most of the Nobility and Gentry that were then at Brest, went into the Kings Chaloupe, and so on Board, with sound of Trumpets. Monsieur de Vaudricourt with all the Officers at the Head of the Soldiers and Sea∣men were in readiness to receive him on Board with the Colours, Streamers and Pendants abroad. Upon his entry the Ship saluted him with thirteen Guns, and the Frigat with nine. The Compa∣nies of both Vessels by their many reiterated Huz∣za's, shewed the joy they had to perform the Voyage under a Commander of so great worth; all the day following was allowed for preparing to be gone.

* 4.3We weighed Anchor in the night time, and Saturday morning, the third of March by break of day made sail. So in leaving France we parted with the sweetness and repose of a Religious life, which till then we had enjoyed, that we might go to the end of the World, to find an occasion of glorifying God and consecrating our selves to the Conversion of Infidels, in prosecution of the Or∣ders laid upon us by our great Monarch.

As we put out of the Road of Brest we had a fair wind; but it failing us by that time we were got seven or eight Leagues from the Port, about

noon we dropt Anchor, untill five or six a clock in the Evening that the wind blowing again from the same Corner, we again set Sail.

The entry and coming out of the Gullet as Ships put out from Brest, is a very difficult passage,* 4.4 by reason of hidden works which run out a good way into the Sea, on both sides of the Shoar; but our Pilots being well acquainted with the Coast made no scruple to put out in the night time.

From that time till within five or six Degrees of the Line, we had as good weather, and as favourable winds as we could have desired; Di∣vine Providence taking pleasure, it seems, to fa∣vour a Voyage undertaken for the sake of Reli∣gion, in a time when the most expert Sea-Com∣manders were of Opinion that we had let slip the Season proper for setting out by three whole Weeks. We had at first so strong a wind on Poop, that with a single Sail abroad we made a∣bove threescore Leagues in four and twenty hours. So that without any danger we doubled Cape Ʋshan and Cape Finistere so dreadful to our Sea∣men, because of the frequent Storms that arise a∣bout those places. The truth is, we found a very rough and rouling Sea there.

Thursday the eighth, at the heigth of Cape Fi∣nistere, we saw a Dutch Vessel standing in to the Channel of England which had been forced to lie by and drive because of the contrary winds. Both our Pilots and Officers assured us that Ships were many times above three weeks before they could double that Cape.

They who have been at Sea well know how great trouble and sickness Men endure, the first time they meet with a rough Sea; but it is impos∣sible

to make those who never felt it sensible of the same: one finds himself quite stunned with a violent Head-ach, the Stomach reaches, the Heart faints, and it would seem that the rouling of the Ship overturns the whole frame and con∣stitution of the Body, such pains it causes in the Bowels. We were almost all of us grievously tor∣mented with this Sea-sickness for the first five or six days.

* 4.5From that time forward until we arrived at Siam we said Mass for most part every day, and I make no doubt but that the happy success of our Voyage ought to be attributed to that august Sacrifice which was so often offered up on Board, and to which all came with singular Devotion. There passed no Sunday nor Holy-day whereon se∣veral did not participate of the Holy Mysteries; This zeal was the effect of the good examples of my Lord Ambassador, who communicated once every eight days with extraordinary Humility and Piety. Every Holy-day and Sunday before publick Vespers which were sung with much De∣votion, the secular and regular Churchmen by turns made a Sermon to the Ships Company. A Jesuit took the care upon him of Catechising the Officers men, Soldiers, and Seamen, three times a week. That exercise was begun and ended by a Spiritual Hymn, sung by two Seamen who had pretty good Voices, and all the rest made an∣swer upon their knees about the Main-mast. These good examples, these regular instructions and exercises of Piety, besides the visiting of the Sick, and the small assistances that were given them several times aday, so wrought upon the hearts of those poor people, that there was none of them

almost but that made a general Confession, and came to the Sacrament on the principal Holy∣days.

Before we came to the Cape of Good-Hope,* 4.6 we had a little calm and much contrary wind, which made the Ambassador resolve to have nine Mas∣ses said to the honour of the Holy Virgin, that by her intercession we might obtain favourable weather, because the heats which are commonly left in those places, began to occasion many Di∣seases in the Ship.

One of the Jesuits laid hold on that occasion to introduce on Board a laudable custom of saying the Litanies of the most Holy Virgin,* 4.7 which is practised on Board the ships that are Commanded by the Mareshall D'Estree: five or six Soldiers, and as many Sea-men divided into two Companies up∣on the Poop and Fore-castle began that Devotion a little before the first watch was set in the Even∣ing, and within a few days, all were ready to joyn in it, so that upon our return it was made, as it were, a publick exercise of Obligation, which was performed so zealously, that neither cold nor rain could hinder it.

To all these Holy Practises we added the Chaplet. Our Fathers took the pains to divide themselves into several parts of the Ship to cause it to be said, and God so blessed their zeal, that there was hardly any Seaman or Souldier but who every day said his Beads. Besides the time that we allowed to publick instruction, we daily said 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Breviary together, and we had an hour 〈…〉〈…〉 ••rence about cases of Conscience; 〈…〉〈…〉 day was employed in study wit•• 〈…〉〈…〉 ••tion and assiduity as if we had 〈…〉〈…〉

These were our ordinary exercises during the whole Voyage.

* 4.8Sunday the eleventh we past in sight of the Isle of Madera, where we plainly observed a great deal of Snow upon the hill that was nearest to us. After noon three small English Vessels return∣ing into Europe past to the leward of us; it was thought they came from the Canaries, because they had not as yet haled in their Boats. Much there∣abouts we met with the Trade-winds so much desired by the Seamen, and so agreeable to all people; being winds that blow always one way betwixt North and East, the Ship does not require much working; besides being temperate they qualifie the heats of the Zone, which otherwise would be insupportable. They are commonly met with about the Latitude of Madera. The Sea then becoming smooth, and the wind steddy and fixed, Ships carry a great deal of Sail, and make commonly betwixt forty and fifty Leagues from noon to noon without any rouling of the Ship or Sea; so that if Sailing were never more trouble∣some nor dangerous, Voyages to the Indies would be but long and pleasant recreations.

* 4.9The thirteenth we discovered the Isle of Palmes of and sailed within four or five leagues of it, ac∣cording to the reckoning of our Pilots: there we called to mind the happy lot of Father Ignatius A∣zebedo and his nine and thirty Companions all Je∣suits, who going together to preach the Gospel in Brazile, had all the happiness to die in sight of this Isle, which was literally to them a fortunate Island, since there they found the Palm of Mar∣tyrdom, which they were going to look for in the New World. They were all put to death in

hatred of the Faith by Calvinist Pirates, who ha∣ving made themselves Masters of the Ship where∣in they were, called the St. James, put them all to death either by Water or Sword, to hinder, as they said, these Papists the declared Enemies of their Reformation, from going to infect the Bar∣barians with their pernicious Doctrine. One and all of us envied the happy lot of these generous Defenders of the Catholic Faith, and would have been ravished to have finished our course for so Holy a Cause: but it is not just to desire the Crown before one hath run the Race. We saw also the Isle of Fera, the most Western Island of the Canaries, where our Geographers have placed their first Meridian, afterwards we doubled Cape Verd, and the Isles of that name, which are ten in num∣ber.

According as we drew nearer and nearer to the Line, we took pleasure to Observe that as the Stars of the Artic Pole lowr'd these of the Antar∣tic Pole were elevated over our heads,* 4.10 of all the new Stars which we discovered to the South, we were at first most taken with those of the Croziers, so called, because the chief four are so disposed that they make a kind of cross. The biggest of all is twenty seven degrees from the Pole; by these Seamen steer their Course, and sometimes take their Latitude. Seeing our Course stood still on that way, and that we daily discovered new Stars, we had time enough to consider them, and to compare that new Region of the Firma∣ment with the Astronomical Map of Father Par∣dies; but we found little or no conformity betwixt them. That Map needs much to be reformed, and one might begin with the Crosiers, the Arms

whereof are more unequal in the Firmament than in the Map. The Wolf and Centaur are so care∣lesly and unfaithfully set down in it, that with much ado can one know them in the Heavens, tho, in the mean time, they render the place they possess very bright and sparkling, by reason of the great number of Stars that compose them, and which seem to make but one Constellation. But in the Map it is nothing less, where the two Constellations, can, at most, pass but for ordina∣ry. The stars of the Southern Triangle, seem in∣deed to stand in the Firmament in that very sci∣tuation which the Map gives them as to one ano∣ther; but they seem to be ill placed in relation to other Constellations. The stars of the Bull are nothing near so fair, as they appear to be in the Map, though the disposition of them be much the same, the Crane, in my Opinion, is the Con∣stellation the best represented of any on that side, and to see it once upon the Map, is enough to make one immediately find it out in the Hea∣vens: The Bee, the Apodus or Bird of Paradise, and the Chamelion, tho they be small, yet are pretty well set down. Something also would be reformed in the Figure and Scituation of the Clouds and other Meridional Constellations, wherein many more defects might be found out by means of in∣struments. If we had the pleasure, as you may see, to observe the grosser faults, we had the trouble at the same time, that we could not tell how to remedy them; the tossing of the Ship not suffering us to make use of our Instruments, for re∣forming that Map, so as to make it a new one; which otherwise would not have been hard to be done. However we made a new one only by the eye,

which, though it be not so defective as the for∣mer, yet cannot be so exact as such works re∣quire to be, wherein one cannot well succeed without the assistance of Instruments.

This was our usual Employment for the first hours of the night and an hour or two before day, when the Sky was clear. However that was not all our diversion; for in the day time we had the pleasure of Fishing. It is true we we did not be∣gin to find plenty of Fish till we came within five or six Degrees of the Line.* 4.11 Before that we had taken a kind of Tortoise which the Seamen call a Turtle, weighing about three or four score pound weight, which was brought to Table three or four times, several ways drest. Many liked the taste of it pretty well, and others could hardly en∣dure the smell thereof. But in the whole space of twelve Degrees; that is to say of 120 Leagues on each side of the Line, we daily saw, for most part, a vast quantity of all sorts of Fish, and especially of Porposses which swam in shoals about the Ship. To see the fishing of these, which was the most common, served to recreate us af∣ter our Studies. In several parts of the Ship, and especially in the Head, there were many Sea∣men with each a harping-Iron, which is a kind of a big Javelin fastned to the end of a Line about the thickness of ones little finger. As the Porposses past by them, they struck them so home, that some∣times they pierced them through and through. When once they had darted the Harping-Iron,* 4.12 they left it sticking in the wound, keeping hold of it by the Line to which it was fastned, and which they veared out to play the wounded Fish, until the Porposs weakned by the loss of blood, suffered

it self to be haled aboard without any resistance, we took many in this manner. They were about four or five foot long, and proportionably big. It is an An∣nimal that much resembles a Pig, not only in the flesh and fat, but also in the internal and ex∣ternal Figure; the flesh of it is not delicate, and tastes Oylie.

* 4.13We had a fair occasion then to undeceive a great many who having never seen Porposses could not believe that their blood was hot, or that they breathed, tho' they had sometimes heard those who had made tryal of it say so; some of those had the curiosity to thrust their hand into the bel∣ly of the Fish when it was opened, and they aver∣red that the Entrails of it were very near as hot as those of a Pig. Nor did they make any more doub•• but that they breathed, when they saw that it had Lungs as fit for respiration, as the Lungs of Animals that live out of the Water are. And indeed Nature having given it no Gills like other Fish; but only two holes on the two sides of the head to let in the Air; that undoubtedly is the reason, why these Fish ever now and then raise the head, and sometimes the whole body above the Water, and that they always swim against the wind. Hence also it is that when Seamen see the Porposses move any way during a Calm, they fail not to say that they will have the wind from that corner which they swim towards. Whatever pre∣sentment they may have, we sometimes luckily found the Seamens predictions to be true.

* 4.14I have been often told, nay and have observed in a Voyage that I made to America, that when one of these Fish is mortally wounded, and has strength enough to struggle it self off of the Harp∣ing-Iron,

the rest follow it by the tract its blood makes which it sheds in abundance, and never leave it till it be dead, that so they may devour it. I was confirmed in that opinion; for one day a Porposs which had been struck kept so great a strugling, that it wrought the Harping-Iron out of its belly, and escaped out of our hands. At that time there were many more about the Ship; but so soon as this which had been wounded, fled for it, all the rest disappeared, and there was not one more to be seen all that day.

Now we are upon Fishing, I must here speak of what sport we had that way, and of the fish we saw, which are not so well known in Europe. I will begin with the Shark,* 4.15 because it is a fish often seen, and most easily taken. We have some∣times taken six of them in one day. This fish is a kind of Sea Dog which hath a very large and flat head, the mouth very low because of the lower Jaw which lies a great way under the up∣per; so that when it would bite, it is forced to lie upon one side, and sometimes upon the back. Those we took were about four foot long, and very thick, a little below the head the skin of it is a kind of chagrine, that hath a very rough grain, with six openings on each side, which are shut by means of a kind of very thin skin, that stands it instead of Gills. It is certainly the most voraci∣ous Animal living: tho' it hath been struck with the Hook three or four times, and the mouth of it be all bloody, yet still it returns again with the same greediness, untill it be taken, or hath carried away the bait. Now if it chance to seize a Man, he is gone, it never quits its hold, and therefore it is, say some, that the Sea-men call it

Shark. The cause of that extraordinary greedi∣ness is the greatness of its Liver; it consists of two lappets drawing round at the end, being a foot and a half long and four fingers b••ood, but not at all thick; besides it hath but one 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and that a very short one too and almost streight. We found one with a piece of Board in its belly four fingers broad and a foot and a half long. It hath no Lungs, and the heart of it is placed in a concavity made by the concourse of two bones near the head. It hath three rows of teeth, of which some do bend, some are strait, and others of different Figures, nay it hath also a row of triangular teeth which are very thin, and terminate like a Saw. There are three concavi∣ties in the head of it, one on each side, which contain a white substance that hath some consi∣stence; it afterwards grows hard, and is called the Sharks stone: our Chirugeons attribute great virtues to it, and I take their word. The third concavity, that is in the middle of the head holds the brain, which is much about the bigness of a pullets egg. The substance thereof appeared to us to be very watrish, and it was with much ado that we could distinguish the callous body, from the medullary. It hath a very little Cerebel, and betwixt the Brain and the Cerebel, a very soft Glandule which bears upon two other smal∣ler ones.

* 4.16The Shark is always attended by several small Fish that make its Retinue, and which adhere so inseparably to him, that they will chuse rather to be taken with him than to abandon him: They are called his Pilot-fish; because it is pretended, that they serve him for Guides to lead him to those

places, where they discover any prey. It is a vulgar error to imagine that these fish perform that good office to him without any interest; they only stick so close to him, because of the food they find there. For besides that, they make the best of the reversions of his prey, they stick close to his skin by means of a cartalaginous little skin of an oval Figure, which they have upon the head and which is straked and armed with a great many fibres, wherewith belike they attract some juice; and that's the reason why some call them sucking fish: When they have a mind to swim off, they must keep without reach of his teeth, otherwise they would fare no better than other fish do. I have seen some Sharks attempt to catch them, and it was well for the sucking fish that they got as soon as possibly they could to their usual Sanctuary. When they are pulled up with the Shark it is no easie matter to separate them; if they be put upon a Table, they will stick to it as they do to the Sea-Dog; and in that scituation which is natural to them, the under-side of their Gills and their Belly is upwards. There are two kinds of them, some white, which are much of the shape of a Rochet-fish, and others blackish that are very small: of these last chiefly I speak.

We found also a great many Bonitoes therea∣bouts which are the implacable enemies of the Flying-fish, whom they continually pursue.* 4.17 It is the best sort of Fish that we took in all our Voyage: they are about the bigness of our larg∣est Carps, but much thicker, have no scales, but the skin a little silvered, and the back marked with long, obscure, and gold-like streaks. We also took Albacores, so called by the Portuguese be∣cause

of their whitish colour. They are a kind of Bonitoe, but three times bigger than the others: the fish, colour, and taste are much the same. Seeing both of them are great lovers of the fly∣ing-fish, the Sea-men make a thing like a flying-fish, which they fasten to the end of a Line to catch them with. They make that Figure dance up∣on the surface of the water before the Bonitoes and Albacores, which leap out of the water so greedily to snap it, that many times they will take thirty or forty of them in an hours time with two or three lines only.

We met not with so many Bonitoes as Sailers commonly do, because, perhaps, the number of Flying-fish was not then so great in those Seas. However, we saw many shoals of them rise up in the Air eight or ten foot high, and fly fifty or sixty paces before they fell again into the wa∣ter to moisten their wings, and recruit their strength to avoid the Bonitoes, which many times catch them at their fall, or leap out of the water and take them upon wing. They meet with certain Birds of prey also that fall upon them, when they rise out of the Water to escape from the Bonitoes.

One of these Fish being hotly pursued one day leaped into our Ship and struck against one of our Mates heads. Tho' I had seen of them be∣fore, yet I took pleasure to consider it: it was of the shape, colour and bigness of a Herring, the back somewhat thicker, and the fore-part of the head round like the Pocket-fish with wings much like to those of Bats.

These are the sorts of fish that we saw most about the Line. We had had the Sun apeek, that is to say, just over head the nine and twenti∣eth

day of March towards the third Degree of the North-Latitude.

The weather being very clear that day; we had the pleasure to observe, that at noon the Masts and every thing else in the Ship made no shadow, After that we were becalmed for seven or eight days; and we made the remaining threescore and ten Leagues to the Line, only by short gusts of wind, which Clouds and Tempests brought with them. After all, we heard none of those great Thun∣der-claps thereabouts, wherewith they threatned us so much in France: but we saw much Lightning in the night time, and so frequently, that the Sky and Sea seemed to be all on a fire.

Seeing we were not very much incommoded by the heats and calms in those climates, we had but very few sick Men on board, and in all our passage from Brest to the Cape of Good-hope, we lost but one Man; nay, and he too came on Board, tho' no body knew of it, with a Bloody-flux upon him, whereof he died.

It was certainly our duty to give God great thanks for the good weather he was pleased to send us about the Line:* 4.18 for had we been stopped by the calms so long as many times Ships are weather-bound there, all our wa∣ter, Bread, and Victuals would soon have been spoiled, and have occasioned many Distempers, that must needs have carried off many of our Men: as it happened this year to a Dutch Ship. This Vessel put out from Europe above two Months before us, and nevertheless they found us at an Anchor before Batavia; where we were in∣formed that the Ships Company had been so incommoded with calms about the Line, for six

whole weeks time, that most part of them falling sick, thirty seven of about forty eight that were aboard died; among whom were the Captain and two chief Mates: so that the surviving eleven not being able to Sail the Ship to the Port whi∣ther they were bound, were obliged to put in to the Isle of Sumatra, and to look for Men there to carry them to the Road of Batavia, where we saw them come in.

* 4.19Our Victuals and Water were not spoiled, nor did we hardly suffer any thing by bad weather nor calms; and the heats of the torrid Zone ap∣peared not to us to be much greater than the heats that are felt in France about Midsomer. Thus without any incommodity we passed the Line the seventh of April, being Saturday, with an easie North-west-wind, about the three hundred and fifty eighth Degree of Longitude. It being already late, the solemn Ceremonies which Sea∣men never fail to perform upon that occasion, was put off till next morning after Mass. It is an in∣vention devised by the Masters, Mates, and other Officers of Ships, to get a little Money to buy fresh Provisions with for themselves and company, to which they give, (but very improperly) the name of Baptism.

The Ambassador would have no Ceremonies acted that did any ways allude to sacred things. Every one gave what he thought fit; and the rest came off for some buckets full of water which were thrown upon their Bodies: but it being very hot there, they were not much the worse for it.

From the time we past the Line, till we came to the Tropick of Capricorn, we had bad winds, and sometimes none at all; for we were becalmed

about the twentieth degree of South-Latitude, where we suffered the scorching heats of the tor∣rid Zone until the thirtieth of April that we past the Tropick.

After that we had for most part changeable winds and so easie that a small Boat might have followed us without any danger. It is true that un∣der the Zone we met two or three times with those boisterous Gusts which the Portuguese call Trava∣das or Troadas; because they are always accom∣panied with Thunder and Lightning:* 4.20 but see∣ing we had them a stern of us, they did us but little harm, and made us run a good way on head. During one of these Travadas, there appeared at two several times upon the Masts, Yards, and Guns of our Ship, some of those little Fires of a Piramidal figure, which the Portuguese call the fire of St. Telme and not St. Helme. Some Sea∣men look upon them as the Soul of the Saint of that name, whom then they invoke with all their might, joyned hands, and many other marks of re∣spect. Nay, there are some of them, who take them for a certain sign that the Storm will soon be over, without doing them any damage. These are the very same fires which heretofore the Pagans Adored under the name of Castor and Pollux; and It is strange that that Superstition should be in∣troduced also amongst Christians:

March 12. about Noon we discovered one of those Phenomena called a weather-gall or Ox Eye be∣cause of its Figure. They are lookt upon com∣monly at Sea as certain forerunners of a Storm. It is a great round Cloud opposite to the Sun and distant from him eighty or ninety Degrees; and upon it the Sun paints the colours of the Rainbow,

but very lively. They appear, perhaps to have so great a lustre and brightness, because that wea∣ther-gall is environed on all sides with thick and dark Clouds. However it be, I dare say that I never found any thing falser than the Progno∣sticks of that apparition. I formerly saw one of them when I was near the Continent of America, but which was followed, as this was, with fair and serene weather, that lasted several days.

* 4.21Since we are speaking of Phenomena's or Appa∣ritions, I must not here forget a pretty rare one which we observed betwixt the Line and Tropick of Capricorn; and which seems to be diffi∣cult to be explained. It was one of those great whirl-winds which the Seamen call Spouts or wa∣ter-dragons. They are like to long Tubes or Cylin∣ders made of thick Vapours which with one end touch the Clouds, and with the other the Sea that seems to boil all round it. Much after this man∣ner are these Dragons formed.

* 4.22At first you see a great thick Cloud, from which a part breaks off; and this separated part being driven by an impetuous wind, insensibly changes its shape, and takes the figure of a long pillar, which descends as low as the Surface of the Sea; continuing so much the longer in the Air, as the violence of the Wind retains it there, or as the lower parts of it support those that are above. So when that long spout of water comes to be cut by the Yards or Masts of the Ship entring into it, when one cannot avoid the same; or the motion of the wind comes to be interrupted by rarifying the neighbouring air with Canon or Musquet-shot: the water being then no longer supported, falls in prodigious quantity, and im∣mediately

all the Dragon is dispersed.* 4.23 They do all they can at Sea to avoid them, it being dan∣gerous to meet them in their way, not only be∣cause of the water which falls into the Ship, but also by reason of the sudden violence and extra∣ordinary weight of the whirlwind that blows it, which is able to unmast the greatest Ships, and even put them in danger of being lost. Though at a distance these spouts seem to be pretty small, and like to pillars of six or seven foot diameter, they are nevertheless of far greater extent. I saw two or three of them near the Berlingues in Portu∣gal, within a Pistol-shot of me; and they seemed to me to be above an hundred foot in circumfe∣rence.

We observed besides other Phenomenas not much different from these last:* 4.24 they are called Siphons because of their long Figure pretty like in shape to some Pumps: They appear about Sun-rising and Sun-setting, towards the same place where the Sun then is. They are long and thick Clouds environed with other clear and transparent ones, and fall not; but in process of time are all con∣founded together, and by little and little scatter∣ed, whereas the Dragons are impetuously driven, last a long while, and are always accompanied with rain and whirlwinds, which make the Sea to boil and cover it with froth.

The Rainbows of the Moon in those places have far more lively colours then those that are seen in France.* 4.25 But the Sun forms rare ones upon the drops of Sea-water which are driven by the wind like a very small Rain, or like fine dust when two waves beating against one another break. When one looks down upon these Iris's from a high place

they seem to be reversed, and sometimes it happens that a Cloud passing over it, and being ready to dissolve into Rain, another Rainbow is formed, the extremities whereof seem to be continued with the extremities of the reversed Iris, and so makes a Circle of Rain-bow almost entire.

* 4.26The Sea hath its Phenomena as well as the Air, fires many times appear upon it, especially be∣twixt the Tropicks: We have seen it sometimes in the night-time covered all over with sparks, when it is a little high and the water breaks with a topping Sea: we observed also a great light a∣stern of the Ship, especially if she made quick way; for then the wake or tract of the Ship appeared like a River of Light, and if any thing were thrown into the Sea, it glittered and shone all over. I think the cause of that light need no where else to be searched for, but in the very na∣ture of the Sea-water it self, which being full of Salt, Nitre, and more particularly of that water whereof the Chimists make the chief part of their Phosphorus, which being agitated is immediately inflamed and appears Luminous, ought also by the same reason to sparkle when it is put into mo∣tion. So small a matter is enough to make fire come out of Sea-water, that handling a Line or small Rope that hath been steeped in it, one will force out an infinite number of sparks like to the light of Glow-worms that is to say, lively and blewish.

* 4.27It is not only when the Sea is in agitation that these glancings are to be seen, we saw of them near the Line, in a dead Calm after Sun-set: they seemed to us to be like a vast number of small flashes of faint Lightning coming out of the Sea,

and immediately after disappearing. The cause of that we attributed to the heat of the Sun, who having in a manner impregnated and filled the Sea in the day time with an infinite number of igneous and luminous spirits, these spirits uniting together in the evening, that they might get out of the violent state whereunto they were forced by the Sun, endeavoured in his absence to regain their liberty, and formed those little flashes as they made their escape by the favour of the night.

Besides these transient glances of a minutes con∣tinuance, we saw others also during C••••••s, which might be called permanent, because they are not dispersed as the former were. There are of them of different sizes and shapes, round and oval above a foot and a half diameter, which pas∣sed along the Ships side, and were kept in view above two hundred paces, by what one could guess in seeing them pass nine or ten paces from the Ships side. They were thought to be ••nly slime or some unctuous substance, which by some natural cause or other unknown to us might be formed in the Sea. Some would needs have had them to be Fish asleep, and these glitter naturally. It is true that twice in the Morning we had seen above twenty such glittering things following one another in a strait line, and shaped like our Pikes; nay many who had been much at Sea took them to be real fish, but one cannot be positive as to that.

Let us now pursue our Course again,* 4.28 the tenth of May in the morning we made a small English Ship, which hailed and spoke to the Mal••gne that was nearer it than we, she was returning

from the Isles of America, and going to take in Slaves at Madagascar. They did what they could to keep up with us, but the wind being good, and we carrying much Sail, the same day we lost sight of her.

May 17. We were got into the 33 d. Degree of South Latitude, and the 19th. of Longitude according to our Mates reckoning. There we began to see Fowl of various shapes and weeds with great greenish Rushes ten or twelve foot long which they call Trunks, because their stalk which grows and tapers insensibly to the top where it ends in leaves of the same colour, represents pretty well the shape of an Elephants Trunk. The Sea-weeds are a kind of herb inclining to green, not unlike to Hay, whereof the sprigs are very long and interwoven one within another. Some think that these weeds come from the bottom of the Sea, being by the Waves forced from thence, and raised to the surface of the water. Others will have them to grow in the water, because they see them far out at Sea, and they cannot believe that the Sea can be so agitated as to carry its waves to the bottom and so beat off the weeds from thence. Besides that they are found in so great plenty upon the surface of the Sea, that it looks like a great Meadow. Lastly, others main∣tain, and that is the Opinion which seems to me most plausible and consonant to truth, that these weeds come from the neighbouring Coasts, from whence the waves force them so that they are car∣ried put into the open Sea, but not very far from Land, either by the Tydes, Currents, or the pre∣vailing winds. Upon that perswasion it was that Christopher Columbus so famous for his Discoveries

in America, seeing one night the Sea about his Ship all covered over with these weeds, encoura∣ged his Men who thought themselves lost, taking those weeds for Flats, and promised to make them suddenly see Land; which accordingly he did two days after.

These extraordinary Birds,* 4.29 Trunks and Weeds, are the surest signs of ones approaching the Cape. This shows that Men have intimati∣ons of it at a pretty good distance, seeing the first time that we saw of them, we were in the nin∣teenth degree of Longitude, and the thirty third of South Latitude, that is to say, that we were near three hundred Leagues from the Cape of Good Hope.

They said that if instead of keeping along the Coast of Africa, as we did, we had stood out to Sea, to the West-ward, we had met with those Signs farther off at Sea. This made me judge that the Currents that carry them along with them run stronger towards the West than North. We found the same things two days after we set out from the Cape of Good Hope, steering away East South-East, but in far greater quantity. That continued all the third day, though we had a good wind, and made a great deal of way.

The days following we saw the same Birds in a greater number,* 4.30 which forsook us not till we were got a great way beyond the Cape. Some of them were black on the back, and white on the belly, the back of their wings being speckled with those two colours, much like to a chequer; and therefore the French call them Damiers; they are somewhat bigger than a Pigeon. There are others bigger than these, blackish above, and all

white below, except the tip of their wings which appears to be of a Velveted-black, and therefore the Portuguese call them Mangas de veludo, Velvet sleeves. After these we saw Flocks of others somewhat less than the former. The Portuguese call them Boralhos, because they are of an Ash-coloured-grey. I shall not speak of certain big Fowls which because of their whiteness may be called Sea-Swans, nor of the Ravens and Rooks, which are to be found in these places, nor yet of a kind of Birds which they call Boobies, because they are so little upon their guards, that they suf∣fer themselves to be taken with the hand.

The North-wind blowing much stronger, on the twenty eighth we were obliged to lye under a Main Course for fear of running ashore, which we did not think to be far off. Indeed next day about noon a Sea-man that was aloft to look out, with all his force cried Land, Land, and present∣ly came down to ask of my Lord Ambassador the reward which he had promised to him who should first make Land. He confidently af∣firmed that he had made it before in the Morn∣ing, not daring to say so, because he was not ve∣ry sure of it, but that at present it was past all doubt: Nevertheless hardly any body could dis∣cern the Mountain which he show'd, and it was a long while before they would believe him. But, at length, three or four hours after we easily saw the Mountains of the Cape of Good Hope, which might be fifteen or twenty Leagues a head of us.

Next day, the one and twentieth, the day of our Lords Ascension, after we had said our usual Prayers and sung Mass to thank God for the good

success of our Voyage; we viewed the Land with our Glasses, and saw it distinctly, not being a∣bove three Leagues off. How Barbarous and Barren soever it seemed to be to us, it was never∣theless a delightful sight for Men who had seen no Land from the Canary Islands, which we sailed by the thirteenth of March.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Father parted from Macao, Decem∣ber 5. 1681, in a Dutch Ship, and arrived in Holland in October 1682.
• * 1.2

  The King or∣ders six Je∣suits, Mathe∣maticians, to be sent to China.
• * 1.3

  The prepara∣tions for their departure.
• * 1.4

  They are ad∣mitted into the Royal A∣cademy of Sci∣ences.
• * 1.5

  Divers instru∣ctions are gi∣ven unto them for the improvement of Ats and Sciences.
• * 1.6

  The various Instruments they take with them for their Obser∣vations.
• * 1.7

  The arrival of the Cheva∣lier de Chau∣mont at Brest.
• * 1.8

  The King sends the Je∣suits Patents of Mathema∣ticians.
• * 2.1

  A Frigat is joyned to the first Ship.
• * 2.2

  The King or∣dered his Am∣bassadors at Lisbonne to demand Pass∣ports for the Jesuits from the Kingdom of Portugall.
• * 3.1

  The Letter of Father La Chaize to Fa∣ther Verbiest at Peguin.
• * 4.1

  Monsieur de Vaudricourt made Captain of the Ship.
• * 4.2

  The Ambassa∣dor goes on Board the Oy∣seau.
• * 4.3

  Departure from the Road of Brest.
• * 4.4

  The Gullet is a very strait passage from the Road of Brest to the Sea.
• * 4.5

  How the Churchmen and Jesuits spent their time during the Voyage.
• * 4.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 under the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Zone.
• * 4.7

  The Devoti∣on of the whole Ships Company to∣wards the Ho∣ly Virgin.
• * 4.8

  In sight of the Isle of Madera.
• * 4.9

  In sight of the Isle of Palmes.
• * 4.10

  The Maps of the South part of the Heavens are not exact.
• * 4.11

  Plenty of Fish about the E∣quinoctial-Line.
• * 4.12

  The way of catching Por∣posses.
• * 4.13

  The blood of Porposses is hot.
• * 4.14

  Porposses de∣vour one ano∣ther.
• * 4.15

  A description of the Shark.
• * 4.16

  Sucking-Fish called by the Seamen Pilot-fish.
• * 4.17

  The Bonitos pursues the Flying-fish
• * 4.18

  Gods parti∣cular Prote∣ction of all that were in the ship.
• * 4.19

  Apil 7. passed the Equinocti∣al Line.
• * 4.20

  What Trova∣das and the fire of S. Helm are.
• * 4.21

  Several Phe∣nomena's ob∣served during the Voyage.
• * 4.22

  The manner how Spouts are formed.
• * 4.23

  Which are dangerous to be met with:
• * 4.24

  Spouts of ano∣ther kind.
• * 4.25

  Extraordina∣ry Rain-bows to be seen at Sea!
• * 4.26

  Phenomena that are to be seen in the water of the Sea.
• * 4.27

  Lights that come out of the Sea in the night time.
• * 4.28

  An Engish Ship made off at Sea.
• * 4.29

  Marks to know the nearness of the Cape of good hope.
• * 4.30

  Divers Birds to be seen at Sea in ap∣proaching to the Cape of Good Hope.