'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎15] (36/448)

15
Which by the Worlds utmoft extent is hound.
The <-/£thioyian ground-,
^thiopumque fimul, quorum jacet extima
Tellus. ———-
And may ferve to prove that Ethiopia exceeds the Tropicks. I am not ignorant that
the three Arabia* were alfo called Ethiopia Aft*-, to which we refer that in Gene/is, and
thofe adythiops mentioned 2 Chron. 21. 16. but being not under that dominion, I need
notfpeak further of it: yet lome there be that will not have it to exceed the Countries
poiTeft by Prefler-John. To return, this famous Cape elevates the Antartick Pole four
and thirty degrees and three minutes latitude, lias longitude from the meridian of the
Lizard 28 deg. 48 from the Azores *, albeit we found the variation Wefterly but 1 deg.
and 40 min. (but at Cape de Aguillas little or no variation at all is of the Needle, the
belt reafon being that the Ocean on both fides is alike, and the Land in equidiftancie.)
From the Lands-end of Cornwall 'tis fix thoufand fix hundred miles Englilh, from the
greater Java five thoufand five hundred and fifty, from Sarat five thoufand four hundred,
and from Santta Helena (which is 5. JB. thence) one thoufand eight hundred, the fur-
theft part South of the old known World, according to that of Homer lately mentioned,
Extremes hominum, &c. and agreeable to what is mentioned in this Diftich.
By fait Seas limiteds the Worlds-end we Extremique hominum Maris ad Vada falfa reorflm
Inhabit. None with Wy to trade agree, Degimus, ac nobiicum Nemo negotia mifcet.
So that all that can well be objeded is, feeing this Cape or more Southerly part of A~
frique further than 12 deg. was unknown to Ptolomy , and towards the Sea his further
extent was the Cape landjhz calls Pr^wjwhich is near Moramhiq *, How the other came
by the difcovery ? which in this place is not credited; nor pertinent for enquiry. Albeit
this little I may fay for fatisfadion, that Herodot. 1. 4. by what I have cited is pofitive j
fomewhat alfo may be gathered from that report he makes, how that Pharaoh Necho af
ter the lofs of a million of men/uffered by his vain attempt in cutting that narrow neck
which interpofes betwixt the Red and Mid-land Seas, the Phoenicians (at that time the
moft expert in Navigation) receiving incouragement from that Egyptian Prince to
difcover Southward, are faid in three years fpace from the Red-fea to furround Afrique.
Pomp Mela has the like tradition of two Carthaginians■, who at their return reported
that they failed from fome part of India into the Atlantique~fea. Sirabothe like of one
Hudoxm Ci&eceni, who in the Reign of Ever get es the Egyptian King doubled this great
Cape. Relation is alfb made of another Eudoxus, who upon fome offence committed,
to avoid the puniihment defigned by Pro/. Lathyr another ^Egyptian Prince,imbarkt him-
felf in the Arabian Gulph, and compafling South Afrique came alhore at Gibralter in Spain.
Pliny reports the like of Hanno the Carthaginian) who taking ihip at Cades in Spain paft
through the Atlantiquey and thence brought his Veffd into Arabia •, the credit of which I
fiiall not inforce, nor fay more herein, fave that Melpomene fuppos'd to be writ 2000 years
lince by Herodotus makes Afrique on all fides to be compaft with the Sea, except where
that Ifthmus divides the Red-fea from the Mediterranean. Albeit Ptol. after him gives no
further extendure of land South, than 12 deg. affirming alfo that the two Oceans had
no conjundure. But leaving this to better inquiry, more certain it is,that the Portuguife
firft doubled this Cape in thefe iail Centuries divers years before Columbus made his ex
pedition into the Weft Indies. Lufitani mare Atlanticum Navigantes cunBam Mauritania &
y£thiopi<& or am ufque ad magnum illud & vafium promontorium Bonas Spei antiquis geographic
imoratamfac. Plurimis Amis anteqmm Cht .Columbus Ligur occidentalem Oceanum perlufirajfety
fays a late good Author. The firit we can therefore honour for the firft difcoverer of this
Cape, is f^afco de Gam a or Bartholomeo de Dyos, both of them eminent Portugals-, who in
the year 1497. (fays Oforius ) by inftrudions they received from King Johi the fecond v
their Soveraign, coafted round about this Cape-land, and fo opened the firft way by
Sea into the Orient.
The Soil here is exceeding good, the Earth being at all times covered with Grafs, and
diapered with Flowers and Herbs in great variety^ I well remember that by accident I
digged up the root of one that came up like a big Parfnip, which for many days fwet a
gum or clammy juice thathad a very aromatique fmell, and though few roots fave Or
ris are odoriferous, which having a tender dainty heat, vanifhes in the Sun and Air, yet
this when dry kept its perfume a month together *, the leaf was broad and prickly, fome-
thing refembling the holy Thiftle, and grew clofe to the ground. I alfo obferved there
ftore of Agrimony, Betony, Mint, Calamiat? Sorrell, Scabious, Spinage, Thime, Car^
duus