'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.' [‎351] (374/448)

in Nature's Secrets: Neverthelefs that he exprefled his knowledge concerning the won
derful nature and ufe of the Magnet is not mentioned in any of thofe of his that are ex
tant. For the ufe of the Magnet was found of late years by Fla-Matyhi a Calahreez.: Of
fuch vertue and ufe faith Bodin cap, 7. that Tot a rertm Namra nihil admirabilm-, nfm 'enim
ejtis eft plane Dhinm, &€. So as had the ufe of the Magnet been then known and pradi-
led, the Voyage in all probability might have been overcome in fix months fpace, asfhips
at this day give frequent proof of. Navigation was then but in its infancy ^ neither the
ufe of Sea Chart nor Compafs being in thofe dayes known, nor in probability the Cele-
ftial obfervations, which by Sea-men now are commonly pradifed: fo as then to ad
venture into the Ocean out of fight of Land, would have been an ad very daring if not
delperate. But we do not read that the vertue of the Magnet was known or made ufe of
in that Age or long after by the Phoenicians^ who neverthelefs were the firft that perfeded
Navigation. For that the Polary Diredion was altogether unknown unto the Ancients,
is agreed by mofl; notwithftanding that noted fpeech Tlamus writ two thoufand years
fince, Vzntm jam fectinduseft, cape mo do Verforiam, The wind being fair fteer your courle,
feems applicable ^ for the molt judicious rather think the Tackling or Sail by which the
Veffel was to be turned is meant by that diredion. Neverthelefs, that thofe parts abound
with Loadftones is well known, feeing the King of Zeyloon ufed them as others do For-
cellane: being in fuch plenty, that fome have from their attradive property marvelled
how Ihips could pafs with large Anchors and iron Sakers j and no lefs, that there is no
greater increafe of variation, as Pliny and Serapion have imagined. For confutation of
which we need no other example than that of Elba an Ifle in the Thufcan Sea where ftore
of Magnets, and but little variation are found or obferved. But to return.
Forafmuch as facred Writ inftrud us That Ophyr and the reft of Joktan's Sons ( upon
that memorable divifion of the Earth which happened in the dayes of Peleg Brother of
Joktan Sons of EberJ had their partition or lot alfigned them in the Orient, viz.. from
Mejha unto Sepher, without further argument that ferves to confute thofe fpeculations of
Colnmbm, Manrm and Stephanas as to the pretended difcoveries of place in contrary quar
ters of the World. And in anfwer to Goropms alfo concerning Peru, by reafon of the
affinity it has with the word Peruaym, that criticifm will not avail, feeing'there are Towns
in Syam and the neighbourhood of Malacca now called Pern and Perna which better pre^
ferve the memory of old Peruaym ; albeit, if I may be allow'd the like liberty, the Ifle Ta-
probane feems moft to Ihaddow it, being according to the Tranflation of Junius zn&Tre-
mellius from the Original writ Taprouaym and T* aperuaym-, words that have very little dif-
cordance with Peruaym by which is underftood Ophyr. But that Taprobane is an Ifland
under or near the iEquinodial is agreed by all, although fome difference there be Whe
ther Sumatra or Zeyloon be it, Mercator's judgement being for Sumatra, and Ortelius for
Zeyloon : howbeit, moft incline to Sumatra, both for that it is neareft the Continent and
confequently the more eafily difcovered by Onefecritus Alexanders Vice-Admiral (who
wanting the ufe of a Compafs doubtlefs crept as near the Ihore as well he might) and for
that ftore of Gold has both of old and yet is obtained at Sumatra more than in ZeyU
whence it was called Infula by the Ancients. That great and learned Expofitor St,
Hierom likewife in his Paraphrafe upon 1 Kings 22. 48. where it is writ That Jehofhaphat
made fliips of Tarjhijh to fail to Ophyr for Gold but broken in pieces at Buon-geber, the
Lord difapproving his defign •, from the word Tarjhijh infers That Ophyr eft locus India,
in quo Aurum optimum nafcitur, Ophyr is a place in India where is the pureft Gold. And
in another place, Regio necejjario pofita eft in Orientalllndia, Ophyr is without all doubt
in the Baft-Indies. Of the fame judgement is Tz.etz.a,
The Golden Indian Ifle by Poets fung,
A Pen-infule fome call it and no Ifte •
The Hebrews name it Ophyr in their Tongue:
All forts of Stones and Mines of Gold e're-while
Are found there, [with the choiceft Prafine-S^wfr
A Stone of price, abounding in the Prafians Countrey faith Pliny lib. 6. cap. 18. from the
name refembled to a Leek though probably the Emerald, for it was of a greenilh co
lour. But the Countrey it felf is moft famoufed for that refiftance the Citizens of Pa-
libotra made againft Bacchus. And albeit by fome it be more ftridly confined to BengaU
and that part, yet Strabo gives it a greater extent Totum maritimum traftum ab Indo ad
Gangem Prafiam appellant, calling all that Coaft Praft a which lies betwixt Indus and Can-
Zes. So as albeit the Infula Aurea be by Ptolomy and others placed here, yet the Aared
Terra
InfuET eft Indica quam Peetae Aurcam vocan^
Alii vero peninfulam, & non InfuJam.
Hebrad autern Ophyr in fua Lingua vocant.
Habet enim metalla Auri & Lapides cmnifarios,'
Excellenter magis vero Prafinum Lapidem.