A New Description of the World, Section 5
A Description of the Islands of Europe, and their various Scituations in their sundry Seas, &c.
Great Britain Described.
GREAT BRITAIN, being in a manner known to most that Inhabit it, may occasion some to reflect upon this brief Description as superfluous; however, having undertaken to omit nothing material in this great Undertaking, which indeed wanted nothing but the permission of a larger Scope, to render it more Illustrious, we will not be wanting to give a modest Account of the Princess of Islands, or Epitome of the Universe, being properly, and not without just Reason stiled, the World Minature; and in this case we must divide it into two Parts, viz. England, Wales, &c. and Scotland, comprehending the Ocean Islands.
England, described, &c.
ENGLAND has for its Eastern boundard the German Ocean; on the West the Irish Sea; on the South the British Ocean; and on the North, parting it from Scotland, the River Tweed and Solway; Invironed as to the whole Island, with the main Sea, guarded in most parts by such Rocks, as render it Inaccessible from Forreign Invaders, if the Shoars be but indifferently Defended, though its Walls consists in its many more Powerful and Impregnable Defendants, than those of Stone; which notwithstanding it had not always to defend it, as appears by its becoming a Prey to the Romans, its being harassed by the Picts, Scots, and wild Irish, and the Subjection it was brought under by the Saxons, Danes, and Normans; but at this day the often Languishing Island lifts up her head as high as the tallest of the Daughters of the Nations upon Earth.
As for the Soil, improved by industrious hands, it is in most parts exceeding Fruitful, as well in Grain as Herbage, Fruit Trees, Rich Pastures, &c. as all other things necessary, and conducing to the support of Life; with Mines of Iron, Tin, …ead, &c. but exceeds other Nations in the Woollen Manufacture; nor is making of Stuffs, Silks, and other Curious Arts wanting in a great measure, but more especially the Traffick abroad, where for our Native Commodities, we command the most valuable things in the Universe.
ENGLAND in particular, holds from 50 to 54 degrees of North Latitude; the Air Pleasant and Temperate, by vicissitude of Heat and Cold, as also the varying of Night and Day; but more for the wholesome Laws, good Constitution of the Established Government and Nature of the People, whose Generosity and Valour has famed them in all parts of the known World, and the whole divided into 39 Shires or Divisions, viz. Middlesex, Essex, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, or the County of Southampton, Surry, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgshire, Cheshire, Cornwal, Cumberland, Darbyshire, Dorsetshire, Durham, Glocestershire, Huntingtonshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Notinghamshire, Rutlandshire, Shropshire, Somersetshire, Wiltshire, Warwickshire, Westmorland, Yorkshire, Norfolk, Northumberland, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Barkshire, Devonshire, Hartfordshire, Suffolk, and Worcestershiye, Herefordshire; all of them extreamly replenished with Woods, Parks, Rivers, Cities, and Towns of Note, insomuch, that of considerable Rivers there are found 352, and on them 847 Bridges of Note, Cities 25, Market Towns 588, Parishes 8760, Arch-Bishopricks 2, Bishopricks 23. Forrests 61, Parks 752, Chaces 12, and had before the grand unnatural Rebellion, 134 Castles, but during that tedious VVar, many of them were demolished; the whole Countrey consisting of pleasant Valleys, moderately rising Hills, flourishing Fields and Medows, that it may suffice to live upon its own plenty, without the help or assistance of any other Nation, and for stately Buildings and many other Curiosities too many to be contained in a much larger Volume; if no other Countreys were spoken of: We must wave them, seeing we are at home, and suffer the Experience of the knowing Reader to supply the omission.
WALES is properly a part of England, but seeing it is generally divided, or accounted a Principality, &c. we think it not amiss to speak of it by it self, viz. This Countrey is from East to West about a 100 Miles, and from North to South 120; and in it are found 965 Parishes, 55 Market Towns, 4 Bishopricks, 67 Castles, 230 Rivers, 99 Bridges of note, 28 Parks, 6 Forrests, and 1 Chase, and is divided into the Shires of Brecknock, Anglesey, Cardigan, Carmaerthen, Carnarvan, Denbigh, Flint, Radnor, Glamorgan, Merioneth, Montgomery, Pembrook and Monmouth, containing both North and South Wales, stretching into the Sea like a large Promontory, Fruitful in many places, where the Mountains raise not their Heads, especially the Isle of Anglesey, which of it self is held sufficient to feed the whole Countrey, for its store of Cattle and abundance of Corn; this Countrey yielding sundry Commodious Harbours and Landing Places, commercing at once with England and Ireland; and has for its Chief Towns, Radnor, Carnarvan, Brecon, St. Davids, Cardriff, Carmaerthen and Monmouth, most of them very pleasantly seated, and of considerable Trade; the Natives very Industrious and much given to Labour, Frugal, and for the most part Thrifty; nor may we spare to sum up these two Countreys, so mostly distinguished in the Epitome of the Poet, viz.
For Mountains, Bridges, Rivers, Churches fair;
Women and Wooll, they both are past compare.
SCOTLAND is the next considerable part that compacts the British Empire or Kingdom of Great Britain, separated from it only by the Tweed and Solway, and the Hills extending from one to the other, and is held to be 406 Miles in Length, tho in Breadth not proportionable, being in some parts but 60 from Sea to Sea, divided properly into two parts by the River Tay, viz. South and North, the former Division being both Fruitful and Populous, and again sub-divided into the Counties of Merch, Tevi[]tdale, Lothian, Liddesdale, Eskedale, Annandale, Niddesdale, Galloway, Carrick, Kyle, Cunningham, Arran, Cliddesdale, Lennox, Sterling, Fife, Stratherne, Menteith, Argile, Cantire, Lorn, all comprehended in South Scotland: Loquabrea, Braidalbin, Perth, Athole, Angus, Merns, Mar, Buquhan, Murrey, Rosse, Southerland, Cathaness, and Strathavern, North Scotland; and in this Kingdom are found Two Arch-bishopricks, viz. St. Andrews and Glascow, under whom are Eleven Suffragan Bishops; and here the Chief City is Edenburg, a City principally composed of one large Street, about a Mile in length, of very good Building; the rest less considerable, tho throughout the whole Kingdom are many fair Cities, Towns, and Villages.
The Principal Islands lying upon the coast of Great Britain and Subject to it, are the Islands of Wight, Man, Anglesey, Jersey, Guernsey, the Orcades or Isles of Orkney 30 in Number; the Chief of which are Pomania, Hethy, and Sheathland, all very Fruitful, abounding with Cattle and Corn: The Hebrides 40 in number, but many of them rather Rocks than Islands, the Chief being Illa and Jona, the ancient Burying place of the Scottish Kings: Mulla, where the Redshanks Inhabited, once so frightful to the English: The Sorlings containing 145 Islands, but none of note, except Armath, Sansod, and Scilly, after the name of which the rest are called for the most part; some others there are on this Coast, but scarcely worth noting, as yielding little Trade or Commodity.
IRELAND, a Kingdom in Subjection to Britain by right of Conquest, separate from England only by a tempestuous Sea, of about a days Sail; and is as all other Islands of note, scituate in the Ocean, or invironed with Sea, &c. containing in Length 400, and in Breadth 200 miles; and especially divided into four Provinces, viz. 1. Munster, divided again into the Counties of Limrick, Kery, Cork, Waterford, Desmond, and Holy Cross in Tipperary, 2 Lemster again divided into the Counties of the East and West Meaths, Kilkenny, Caterlough, Kings County, Queens County, Kildare, Weixford, Dublin, and Wicklock; 3. Connaught, divided into the Counties of Clare, Thumond, Galloway, Majo, Slego Letrim and Roscommon. 4. Vlster, divided into the Counties of Tyrconnel, or Dunhal, Tyrone the upper and nether, Fermanagh, Cavan or Cravan, Monaghan, Colrane, Antrim, Down, Armagh and Lough. And of this Kingdom the chief City is Dublin, mostly inhabited by the English, pleasantly seated and very commodious for Trade, which renders it the chief Seat of Justice, and a Bishops See; besides which are Waterford, Tredagh, Limrick, Armagh, and others of lesser note. The Country is in many parts very fruitful but being incumbred with Hills and Boggs, a great deal of it lies waste, and the more for the sluggishness of the Natives, who agree not with Labour, though otherwise Sharp and Crafty, hardy of Temper, and Living upon slender Fare; however the Rivers abound with Fish, especially Salmon, and the Hills and Valleys with Cattle; insomuch that a Cow or a Horse may be purchased at about half a piece of our Money; and one thing remarkable here is, that no poisonous Creature can sive upon this Coast, and of such force is even the Wood brought from Ireland into England and other Countries, that no Spider will fasten a Cob-web on it.
The Isle of Oleron, is scituate against the French Province of Xaintoigne, South of the Isle of Rhee, famous for the Maritime Laws, established here by Richard King of England; tho for nothing more than the quantities of Salt sent hence into France, and other parts.
RHEE or REE, is a pleasant Island about 10 English Miles in length, and 5 in bredth, and has in it the Towns of La Butte, de Mont, St. John de Mont, St. Hillary and St. Martins, famous for the defence, the Protestants made here against the power of France, but fatal to the English in their attempt to rescue them.
ALDERNY is an Island distant about 6 miles from Cape Hagge in Normandy, very Rockey and hard of access, and not exceeding 8 miles in compass consists but of one considerable Town, called from the name of the Haven Lacrab; it not containing above 100 Families, nor is the Island of any considerable Trade.
The SARK is an Island about 6 Miles in compass not much distant from the former; and is subject to it, being of little Trade or Moment, and these being all of note in the Neighbouring Seas, we pr… ceed to those more Northern and Remote, which are
GROEN-LAND under the Frigid Zone, where the Cold is so extream that it is scarce habitable, though accounted in length 600 miles; yet having St. Thomas, and Alba for its chief Towns supported mostly by the Fishing trade.
ISELAND an extream cold Country, extending 400 Miles, yet thinly Inhabited; and from this Region come the Shock Dogs, so much in esteem; and here contrary to other Countries, the Oxen and Kine have no Horns; the Trade to it being mostly upon the account of the Fishery, and that for Ling; few Trees except Juniper growing in the Country.
FREEZ-LAND is an Island resorted to by the English, Flemings, Danes, Scots, and Hansmen, upon the account of the Fishery.
NOVA-ZEMBLA lies extream North, under 78 Degrees, so cold that no Human Creature is capable of Inhabiting of it in Winter, unless driven by Distress, or Fatal Necessity; as were once about 14 Dutch-men, who during their abode there, strugled with so many Miseries, as are almost unexpressible; however Bears and Foxes are found here, and great store of Sea Fowl, &c.
SIR HVGH WILLOVGHBY's Island, rather infamous than famous, as having its Name only from that Adventurous Gentleman's being found Frozen to Death in his Ship, upon the Coast.
GREEN-LAND, doubtful whether Island or Continent, noted only for the Whale Fishery, &c. otherways so extream Cold, as not to be Habitable after the Season, unless by force; which Fate several English found, by overstaying the Ship, &c. and were forced to subsist on the Flesh of Bears, Foxes, and Whale Fretters, in a little Hutt under Ground, induring a lingring Torment, worse than Death, till the Ships returned; at what time some of them (though unexpectedly) were found alive.
Having thus far proceeded briefly to the Northern Islands, we now proceed to the more Eastern Islands.
TENEDOS is an Island seated in Pontus Euxinus, or the Black Sea, so called from the dark Mists that arise, where it charges name into that of the H…llespont, not very big, but Fruitful, and pretty well inhabited, famed for nothing more than its being taken upon the Greeks Expedition against the Trojans.
SAMOTHRACIA, called by some Samos, from Samia the name of its Chief Town, seated in the Aegean Sea, as also are Lemnos, Lesbos, or Mittelene, Chios, or Scio, Eubaea, Scyror, Salamis, the Sporades, and the Cyclades, or the Isles of the Arches, most of them in the hands of the Turks, and of no considerable note, though heretofore divers of them were independant, and notable Sea-faring Islands, famed for many Wonders, and other strange matters by the Poets, tho at this day they are exceeding Fruitful, many of them bearing Lemons, Oranges, Dates, Figgs, Grapes, Olives, Apricocks, Mulberries, &c. affording a great number of Silk-worms, which yield much Silk; the Towns which are generally Havens or Sea-ports, are pretty numerous, inhabited mostly by the Greek Christians, Turks, and Jews; and from Lemnos is that Earth brought, so much in use for curing Wounds, stopping Fluxes, and expelling Poisons; and indeed all these Islands standing like Studs in the Sea, are so well refreshed and tempered by a mild and healthy Air, that for their Fruitfulness, they may be termed little Paradises of Delight, most of them having Towns or Cities of the same name for their Metropolises or Chiefs. The Sporades, tho under one seeming denomination, are in number 12; and the Chief of these are Milo, Canaton, and Assine; and the Chief of the Cyclades, are Delos and Coos, as likewise Patmos, where St. John was banished and wrote his Revelation: Giarras and some few others of little note, lying some in Greece, and some in Asia; so accounted, as lying farther or nearer the shoar of either Countrey; especially in this case it cannot be distinguished to which of the… properly the Island belongs, especially if it be free from the Jurisdiction of any Monarch reigning upon the Continent.
A Description of the Isle of Creet, and other Islands.
THe Isle of Creet was very famous in former times, for being Mistress of those Seas, nor less for its Fruitfulness, and commodious Scituation for Traffick, as being posited between the Ionian, Libyque, Aegean, and Carpathian Seas, and is now better known by the name of Candia, taken at several times by the Turks from the Venetians; and is in circuit about 650 Miles, abounding with Oyl, Wine, Corn, Cattle, and many other things of value, which made the Turks contend with the loss of much Blood, to possess themselves of the whole, when they had found the sweetness of a part of it: As for Hills, Mountains, and Rivers of note, this Island affords not many, but has for its Chief Cities Rhetimo, Candia, and Canea, or New Candy, built by the Turks to secure their first possession in the Island; and in this plenteous Countrey Titus was Bishop: As for the other Islands lying about it there are only Claudia and Egelia; very Fruitful by reason of their scituation, but not considerable by reason of their smallness.
The Islands in the Ionian Sea described, &c.
THe Islands in this Sea are chiefly these, viz. CYTHERA commonly called Serigo, held Sacred by the Poets to Venus, who took her other name from hence, lying about 5 Miles from Cape Mello in Peloponnesus; and altho it is not above 60 Miles in Compass, yet it yields such store of Fruits, Corn, and other Commodities of value, that it is esteemed the Jewel of this Sea, and was formerly called Porphyrus from the abundance of that sort of Stone digged out of its Mountains; and has for its Chief Town Capsalo, scituate on a small Haven, tho not so much frequented, by reason of its shallowness.
The Strophades are a brace of Islands, where Vlisses and Aeneas are said to find the Harpy's, and indeed fit for such kind of Creatures only, by reason of their Rockiness, which renders them so barren, that only a few Greeks, and some others (out of a desire to exercise their Religion without molestation) possess them.
ZANT, an Island of the Venetians, not exceeding 60 Miles in Circumference, is yet so abundantly Fruitful, that it almost exceeds the credit of Report, producing the Grocery sort of Currants, for which it is famed above all other Places; also Pomegranates, Citrons, Oranges, Lemons, Olives, Granadires, Grapes, that make strong Wine, both white and red, and has for the Defence of its Haven a strong City and Castle, Inhabited by Greeks and Venetians, yet has the Misfortune to be subject to Earth-quakes, though not extraordinary; and indeed the Country is not so Fruitful, but the major part of the Inhabitants are as wicked, not making it a scruple to Murther any, against whom they have conceived a Grudge.
The Echinades are five small Islands, supposed to be made by the Seas casting up Sand Banks, and the Mud that comes out of the River Achelous, according to Poets speaking in the Name of that River, viz.
Fluctus Nostri que Maris que &c.
The Fury of the Sea Waves, and my own,
Continual heaps of Earth and Mud drew down,
Which parted by the Inter-running Seas,
Made as thou seest the five Echinades.
And indeed they are rather Rocks, or hardened Earth, than any Island of note and so we leave them.
CEPHALONIA is in Circumference about 156 Miles, and contrary to the Echinades, very Fruitful, as yielding Figgs, Olives, Rasins, Currants, Hony, Sweet Water, Mulberries, Pine, Date, Malvasi, Muscadel, Vino Leatico, Wooll, Cheese, Turkeys, Drugs, and Dyes, besides Cattle, Corn, and Rich Pastures; and has for its chief Towns, held under the Venetians, Guiscardo, Nolo, and Argostoli, Inhabited by Greeks and Venetians; the people Civil, and very honest Dealers.
CORFV is another Island in the Ionian Sea, 44 Miles in Length, and 24 in Breadth; taking its name from the City of Corfu, seated at the foot of a large Mountain, on which to strengthen it, tho strong in it self, are two Fortresses, but chiefly out of the natural Rock; and tho the Southern part of this Island be mountainous and subject to hot Blasts, yet the whole in general produces Corn, Oranges, Lemons, Pomegranets, Fig Trees, Olives, Wax, Honey, some Drugs, and many other pleasant Fruits, tho it has not in it any Rivers of note.
ITHACA is a small Island giving a name to Vlysses, who was born there, tho now it has lost its own name, and is called Val de Campare; in compass not above 56 Miles, and of little note, unless for the Reception of Pyrats that haunt this Sea.
St. MAVRO, formerly called Leucadia, is a small Island inhabited mostly by Jews, formerly the Venetians, but taken from them by the Turks; and altho at present it is not much set by, yet formerly was it of such esteem, that the Inhabitants cut an Isthmus of Two Miles breadth, that joyned it to the Continent, and was famous for the Temple of Apollo seated in it; from the top of which, those that leaped into the Sea were held to be cured of extravagant Love; better believed than experienced.
Of the Adriatick Sea, and the Islands therein.
THe Adriatick Sea is that at the bottom of which the City of Venice is seated, it being accounted 700 Miles in Length, and 104 in Breadth, and has in it these Isles, viz.
MESINA, an Island about 150 Miles in Circumference, yielding considerable Plenty, and has only a strong Fortress for its Defence, the Towns being mostly unwalled, and but indifferently stored with Houses or Inhabitants.
LISSA or Clissa, is another of the Adriatick Islands 20 Miles over, and 60 in Circumference, very Fruitful, and in Subjection to the Venetians, who only defend the Sea Ports, and by that means hold the rest in Subjection.
CVRZOLA a place not exceeding 60 Miles in Circumference, yet of great moment to the Venetians in rendring them Wood sufficient to build their Ships and Galleys; having the Chief Town of the same name with the Island, defended by Two strong Fortresses, Commanded by a Governour, revoked or changed yearly; and altho the Island it self affords no extraordinary Merchandise, yet it lies Commodious for Ships Trading in those parts.
The Mediterranean Sea Considered, together with the Islands therein.
THe Mediteranean Sea is so called from its Midland Scituation, as being environed with the Earth, &c. and in it are found these Islands of Note, viz.
SICILY, about 700 Miles in Circumference, famed throughout the World for its Fertility, producing Oyl, Corn, Wine, Rice, Sugar, Alloms, Salts, Fruits, Mettals, Corral; and of Cattle such abundance, that it feeds not only it self but a great part of Italy and other Neighbouring Countries, and was accounted the Granary of ancient Rome; nor can the New well subsist without its supplies: And here is found the Flaming Mount Aetna, which frequently has such horrible Eruptions, that it not only sends Stones and Cinders with Fire into the Air an incredible height, which scatter over many parts of the Countrey, but to the great Misfortune of the Inhabitants, and many times to the overthrow of Towns and Cities, emitteth streams of Liquid Fire or melted Minerals, which have been known to run in a Fiery Torrent a mile into the Sea, before the Waves could extinguish them; and here the Chief Cities are Mesina and Syracuse; and the whole Countrey at present is under the King of Spain, tho formerly it was an entire Kingdom Governed by a King of its own; the Kings of Sicily, lately stiling themselves Kings of Jerusalem; and the people are much of the nature of those in Italy, from which the Island is divided by a small Arm of the Sea only.
MALTA, anciently Melita, the Landing Place of St. Paul in his way to Rome, when the Viper clave to his hand, and he shook it into the Fire, is a fair Island, tho but little in Compass, yielding store of Oranges, Lemons, Figgs, Citrons, Cottoons, Pomgranats, and many other delicious Fruits; but is so unhappy to be mostly deficient in Wine and Corn, by which it is supplied from Sicily and other parts; however it is one of the Chief Sea Fortresses or Bulwarks of Christendom against the Turks, Commanded by an Order of Knights, called the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, tho vulgarly termed or named the Knights of Malta; the whole Territory being 10 Leagues in Length and 4 in Breadth, yet contains 60 Villages, and 4 principal Cities; the Chief Valet, a strong and well Fortified City, wherein the great Master of the Order has his Palace, and the Knights their Chambers; as also a Tower from whence a Prospect may be taken of the whole Island.
CORSICA, Scituate over against Genoa, being 325 Miles in Circumference, and of a very Fruitful Product, yielding Corn, Wine, Figgs, Raisins and Hony, and has in it Iron Mines, Mines of Allom, and other Minerals, and has for its chief Cities, Bastia, (pleasantly seated on the North East part of the Island, on a commodious Haven) Mara, Gallera, St. Florence, St. Boniface, and some others of lesser note, and is under the Government of Genoa, and affords a Beast, rarely found but in this Island, called Mufoli, with a Skin like a Deer, but harder by many Degrees, and Horns like a Ram; and here are bred an Excellent Race of good Horses, and is an Island much noted for its good Havens, upon the Account of the Reception for Shipping, Trading in the Mediterranean.
SARDINIA is another Island of this Tract, not above 7 Miles distant from the former, though much larger, as not held to be less than 560 Miles in compass, abounding with Corn and Fruit, as being but little troubled with Hills; and though the Soil is Rich, yet no Poisonous nor Offensive thing is found in the Island, having for its principal Cities Coliaris, (well Inhabited and Fortified, seated upon a good Haven, being an Arch-Bishops See) Reparata, Bossa, and Aquilastra, and in the whole Island are two other Arch-Bishops, and 15 Suffraga… Bishops; the People throughout this Island demeaning themselves courteous to Strangers, and are very just in their dealings.
The Baleares are sundry Islands found in this Sea, and the greatest of these are Majorca and Minorca.
MAJORCA is an Island about 300 Miles in Circumference, lying about 60 Miles from the Coast of Spain, all the Borders of it being Mountainous, and for the most part Barren, but the Inland Countrey Fruitful, bearing Corn, Olives, Grapes, Fruits of sundry Kinds, and has in it the City of Majorca, a University; and that of Palma.
MINORCA is about 9 miles distant from the former, and 150 miles in Circumference, having for its Principal Cities or Towns, Minorca, and Javan, and is a Flourishing Island, especially the Inland Parts, both of them under the King of Spain: near to these are two other small Islands, viz. Ebrisa, and Olihusa, considerably Fertile, but not large, well Inhabited, or of any considerable Trade, there are moreover the lesser Islands dispersed abroad as the Vulcanian or Aeolian Islands, on the Sioilian Shoar; the principal of which is Lipra, not exceeding 10 miles in Circumference, and are both properly called the Liparean Islands, and abound with Sulphur, Allom, Bitumen, hot Baths, and some Fruits, though not much, as being very Rockey and Mountainous, yet Inhabited by some Spaniards.
VVLCANIA, formerly held to be the Forge of Vulcan, where he made Thunder-bolts for Jupiter, by reason it cast out Fire in three rising Hills, like the Funnels of Chimneys, casting up Stones, and horribly Roaring like a Smiths Forge.
STROMBOLO is another Aelian Island, or rather a Burning Mountain in the Sea, carrying its Flames and Fire so bright, that it appears like a Beacon, and may be seen in the dark for many Leagues; held by some who know no better, to be the mouth of Hell; when indeed this and all other Burning Mountains are occasioned by the firing of Minerals, or the unctuous Quality of the Earth; thro the vehement Agitation of Heat and Cold, strugling for mastery in the vacant Caverns, &c.
There are in this Tract 18 Islands, called the Isles of Naples, but only Isica, and Capra, and Aenaia are of any moment, and these so small, that they render little Trade: There are others called the Ligurian Islands, viz. Elba and Gallinara and some others, rather Rocks than Islands; wherefore we pass them over as unworthy a place in this Book; and thus much to these Islands.
The Oriental Islands are those of the Eastern Seas, and to these by many (tho somewhat improperly) are reckoned Rhodes and Cyprus, Two famous Islands in the Mediterranean, exceedingly abounding in all manner of Plenty, and have for their Chief Cities Famagusta and Rhodes, both Famous for their Strength, and the Sieges they sustained against the whole Power of the Turks.
ORMVS, lying upon the Aethiopian Coast, and a place much frequented, spoken of before.
ZELON, a Famous Island for Plenty, lying not far from the Indian Coast called Cape Comerein.
MOLOCCOES, Six Islands in Chief, but have many other subject to them, viz. Tidar, Tarnate, Macir, Rachian, Machin, and Bottone, the only Islands, fruitfully abounding with Cloves, Nutmegs, Ginger, Cinamon, Aloes, and Pepper, for which they are much Traded to by the Europeans.
AMBOYNA is an Island Fruitful in Lemons, Oranges, Cloves, Cocoa's, Bonanus Sugar Canes, and other valuable Commodities; and here it was the Dutch executed their Inhumane Cruelties on the English, and is called one of the Islands of Sindae or Selebes; the other Three being the Selebes, Magassar, and Gilolo, considerably Rich and Plentiful, but Inhabited partly by Canibals, and partly by a rude sort of people, little inferiour to them; and next to these is Banta or Banda, abounding with Nutmegs.
JAVAMAJOR and Minor, are Two extraordinary Islands abounding with Spices, Rice, and Cotton, and all other things necessary for the subsistance of Life, Governed by many Kings, which are in continual War with each other; and in this Tract are Bala and Madara, Bocuro, Burneo.
SVMATRA, is a very pleasant Island of East India, as indeed are most of the Oriental Islands named, 700 Miles in Length, and 200 in Breadth; and to these of this Tract we may add the Philippine Islands, many in number, but most of them small spots or specks in the Sea; and the Chief of these Islands, being in the possession of the Spaniards, are Minbanao, Lusson, Tandain, and Pollohan, abounding with Fruit, Cattle, pleasant Rivers, Fowls, &c. Here are also the two Islands of Avirae, lying West ward of Sumatra.
The Islands of Africa Described.
MADAGASCAR, a large Island of 1000 Miles in Length, and 230 Miles over, Inhabited by Negroes, where either Sex go Naked, and consequently there is no Imployment for Taylors; yet with the Natives the Europeans Trade, tho mostly for Slaves, Copper, Gold, Silver, &c. and in this Tract are found the Islands of Chameree, Meottey, Mohelia, Mauritius, Johanan, an a Woody Island, called Englands Forrest, but of no Trade, though considerably Fruitful.
Socotora, is an Island lying at the Mouth of the Red Sea, 60 miles in length, and 64 in breadth, abounding with Gums, Alloes, Spices, &c. Here are also the Island of St. Thomas, the Princes Island, and the Gorgades, in number 9, viz. St. Vincent, St. Anthony, St. Lucius; Buenavisita, Insula, Salis, Del …ogo, St. Nicholas, St. James, and St. Majo.
The Canary Islands are in number 7, viz. The Grand Canary, La Palma, Teneriffa, Lancerota, Hieorro, Forte Ventura, and La Gomera; all of them very plentiful, abounding with Fruits, Cattle, &c. But above all, the Canarys yield us the Wine, taking its name from the Country; and in one of them is found the Mount Teneriff, much transcending the Clouds, as being 15 miles in ascent.
Maedera is a famous Island, first discovered by an English Ship, cast away upon the Coast, now abounding with Corn, Wine, Honey, Sugar Canes, and Madder, used in Dying: and upon the Coast is Holy Port, an Island, though but 15 miles in compass, very fruitful and pleasant.
The Azores are 9 in number, viz. Tercera, the principal, St. Michael, St. George, St. Mary, Fyall, Gratiosa, Pico, Corno, and Flores, not being very Fruitful, except the first.
Hesperides, or the Hesperian Islands, are 3 in number, viz. Buanista, Mayo, and Sal, lying about an 100 miles from the Continent of Africk, being in themselves not only Fruitful, but exceeding pleasant, by reason of the temperate Air, which occasioned the Poetical Fictions, of their being the Elizium Fields, or aboad of happy Souls after their departure.
The American Islands, &c.
JAMAICA, now an English Colony, lately taken from the Spaniards, is 170 miles in length, and 70 in breadth, very pleasant and temperate, considerably Fruitful, abounding with Oranges, Lemons, Cocoa Nuts, Pomgranates, and other curious Fruits, abounding with Cattle as England, the Trees alwaies Green, &c.
BARBADOES, an other English Colony, is very well inhabited, yielding store of Sugar, Cattle, Corn, &c. though not exceeding 14 or 15 miles in length.
BERMVDES, called the Summer Islands, are very pleasant, abounding with Oranges, Sugar, and other Commodities, breeding in their Mulberry Trees, great store of Silk-worms, which return to considerable account.
ST. CHRISTOPHERS is a small Island, yet produces store of Tobacco, Cotton, Ginger, full of Woods and steep Mountains, and is possessed by the English and French.
NEVIS, about 18 miles in circumference, is a Colony of the English, and produces Cotton, Sugar, Ginger, &c.
ANTEGO is about 7 Leagues in length, and as much in breadth, with very rocky Shoars, unsafe for Shipping, yet abounding in Fruit, Fish, Venison, Tobacco, Indico, Sugar, &c.
HISPANIOLA, 350 Leagues in Circumference, very Fruitful, as are all the Islands in this Tract, viz. Cuba, Laba, Balima, Lucayoneque, Abacoo, Biminy, Labaquene, Viemo, Curateo, Gotao, Oquaato, Samana, St. Salvador, Le Triangulo, St. Vincent, Dominica, Anguila, and some others, scarcely taken notice of by Historians, as for the most part not inhabited, yet visited frequently by the Neighbouring Islanders, upon the account of the wild Cattle and Fruits found in them; and for the conveniency of the Fishing Trade. And upon these Coasts of America, are lately setled two Colonies of English, in Pensylvania and Carolina, very prosperous and thriving: But not having more room for a further Description, we must, after having thus far proceeded, put a period to this our History of the Universe.
Hoping 'twill find acceptance, since Mankind
To struggle for the World is much inclin'd.
FINIS.
End of the text · Samuel Clarke, A New Description of the World (1689)