DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.634#0031
A Twelve Month's Voyage
Letter I. Jewels in their Ears, with a kind of Vail from their Head to their
L-/"v"vJ Knees, with a Close-bodied Coat with Hanging-sleeves.
By Religion they are Christians of the Romijb Church.
Their Governour is from Portugal.
Nothing more observable in this little time, but that at Night on
dm %». Shipboard, we had the sight of De'l Fogo's Flames ,• it being an
Island of Fire, the Smoak of which is also apparent at Noon-day ;
which is of the same Batch with the rest, we seeing only these Four
Islands of the Nine belonging to the G
CHAP. II.
Contains our 'Pajsage from St. Iago to Johannaj and Q^ela*
t'ton of that island.
THUS forsaking these Asrican Islands, and being forsaken of
all but our own Fleet, with a brisk Gale we gave our Ships
head to the Eajlwardoi the South j whereby we came nearer to the
Coast oi'Africa; the Northern Monsoons (if I may so say, being
the Name imposed by the first Observers, /. e. Motiones) Iasting hi-
ther ; they (springing from the pressure of the Winter's Snow, Clouds
A proos os or Vapours lodged on the Artie Mountains, and now beginning to be
the necessity dissblved) leave us to struggle with those moving with the Sun,
the Trade-8 between the Tropicks Easi and West, as those without do North and
winds. South, mostly or collaterally to those Cardinal Points. And therefore
we are forced to steer morefi^er^either to fetch aWind to cross the
/Equator, or gain a Side-wind from the constant ones to carry us to
Brasil. For which cause those Ships bound for St. Helvh Jrom
Europe, must come into the Latitude of iS-deg; South, and some-
times to the Cape os good Hope, before they can bend their Course
thither, though in a direct Line it would cut oss three quarters
of the way.
When we were in four degrees of the Line, and Longitude from
St. Iago 7 deg. zz min. Easi, (renewing thence our Meridian) we
became subject to the most parching Heat of the Torrid Zone; whose
Effects were so much the more outragicus, by as much as the Winds
flirank upon us from off the Coast of Ghiea (which we drew nigh
to) and had left us at a ssand, the uiual Treatment hereabouts,
imputed to the scarcity of Mountains on that vast Tract of ground:
NemheCoast Insomuch, that we lay wholly at the mercy of the two unruly Ele-
°f Gi!t" met ments, Fire and Water,- the one assailing us with ssalhy Lightnings,
t e irn 01, an^ horrid Noiscs, breaking forth the Airy Region j the other pour-
ing on us whole Streams of unwholsome and dangerous Flouds, '
when they fall in Spouts, (which are frequent here:) Nay the kindest
and the sostest downfal on our Bodies is productive of Vermin, such
as Flies, and Maggots, if our Cloaths be not quickly dried and
ssiisted; (these Sealbns the Seamen term the Tornados.)
But above all, when these had played their parts, the scorching
Sun making towards us with his fiery Face made us almost breath-
less:
Letter I. Jewels in their Ears, with a kind of Vail from their Head to their
L-/"v"vJ Knees, with a Close-bodied Coat with Hanging-sleeves.
By Religion they are Christians of the Romijb Church.
Their Governour is from Portugal.
Nothing more observable in this little time, but that at Night on
dm %». Shipboard, we had the sight of De'l Fogo's Flames ,• it being an
Island of Fire, the Smoak of which is also apparent at Noon-day ;
which is of the same Batch with the rest, we seeing only these Four
Islands of the Nine belonging to the G
CHAP. II.
Contains our 'Pajsage from St. Iago to Johannaj and Q^ela*
t'ton of that island.
THUS forsaking these Asrican Islands, and being forsaken of
all but our own Fleet, with a brisk Gale we gave our Ships
head to the Eajlwardoi the South j whereby we came nearer to the
Coast oi'Africa; the Northern Monsoons (if I may so say, being
the Name imposed by the first Observers, /. e. Motiones) Iasting hi-
ther ; they (springing from the pressure of the Winter's Snow, Clouds
A proos os or Vapours lodged on the Artie Mountains, and now beginning to be
the necessity dissblved) leave us to struggle with those moving with the Sun,
the Trade-8 between the Tropicks Easi and West, as those without do North and
winds. South, mostly or collaterally to those Cardinal Points. And therefore
we are forced to steer morefi^er^either to fetch aWind to cross the
/Equator, or gain a Side-wind from the constant ones to carry us to
Brasil. For which cause those Ships bound for St. Helvh Jrom
Europe, must come into the Latitude of iS-deg; South, and some-
times to the Cape os good Hope, before they can bend their Course
thither, though in a direct Line it would cut oss three quarters
of the way.
When we were in four degrees of the Line, and Longitude from
St. Iago 7 deg. zz min. Easi, (renewing thence our Meridian) we
became subject to the most parching Heat of the Torrid Zone; whose
Effects were so much the more outragicus, by as much as the Winds
flirank upon us from off the Coast of Ghiea (which we drew nigh
to) and had left us at a ssand, the uiual Treatment hereabouts,
imputed to the scarcity of Mountains on that vast Tract of ground:
NemheCoast Insomuch, that we lay wholly at the mercy of the two unruly Ele-
°f Gi!t" met ments, Fire and Water,- the one assailing us with ssalhy Lightnings,
t e irn 01, an^ horrid Noiscs, breaking forth the Airy Region j the other pour-
ing on us whole Streams of unwholsome and dangerous Flouds, '
when they fall in Spouts, (which are frequent here:) Nay the kindest
and the sostest downfal on our Bodies is productive of Vermin, such
as Flies, and Maggots, if our Cloaths be not quickly dried and
ssiisted; (these Sealbns the Seamen term the Tornados.)
But above all, when these had played their parts, the scorching
Sun making towards us with his fiery Face made us almost breath-
less: