'Tis true, they all believe in general, that the principal cause of
the Increase of the Water is the melting of the Snow, and of the
Mountainous Ice, that is in the Winter form'd of the Waters of the
Springs and Torrents, which the Frost fixeth. This is so true, that
when there is much Snow in Winter, the Waters are very high the ensuing
Summer. But when great Rains chance to fall in _January_, then the
Snow, not yet being well hardened, melteth on a sudden altogether.
And when this melting is not so violent, all the Snow that will melt,
melts at the end of _May_ or at the beginning of _June_; so that, there
remaining but the stock of Ice for entertaining the Increase of the
Water unto the Month of _August_, some have thence been induced to say,
that this Increase, which amounts, as has been said, to 15 Feet Water
generally all over the Lake, is caused by the Herbs, growing, as they
pretend, at its bottom in great abundance; and that these Herbs, whilst
growing, do force the Water upwards, and dying in Autumn make the Water
to sink lower. Which is not satisfactory to me, because there are no
Herbs seen upon the Lake, and very little within it, and the Banks
being very dry.
Others there are, that will have this Water rarified by the Heat of the
Sun, and thereupon swell'd on the Borders, hot Water not being so high
in the middle as cold.
This is certain, that all the Rivers and Torrents, that fall into this
Lake, carry with them store of Stones and Earth, which may indeed
enlarge and raise it: But such an augmentation or rise cannot be
sensible but from Age to Age; not to mention, that in Winter, whilst
the Water is low, the Stones of the Lakes are carried away for building
or fortifying at _Geneva_.
At the issuing out of the Barres, that form _Geneva_, on the side of
the Lake, are seen in the Water two or three huge Flints, standing out
of the Water; the chief of which they call _Niton_: And the Tradition
is, that it formerly was an Altar consecrated to _Neptune_; there being
also a place cut out in the middle, which they take to have been the
place for the Sacrifice. On this Flint seven or eight Persons can sit;
and sometimes, when the Waters are very low, there are found about it
Knives, and Needles as thick as Bodkins of tweeses, and much longer;
both of Brass, well enough made, and esteemed to have served for the
Sacrifices.
This Lake in serene and calm Weather appears sometimes, and that even
before Sun-rising, as if it were made of divers pieces, differently
coloured; part of it being Browner than the rest, which seems to be
caused by a Breath of Wind passing thorough the Water, coming either
from the bottom of the Lake, or from above; tho' others think this
gentle agitation to proceed from some Springs that are at the bottom,
making the Water shiver above. But that part of the Water, that is not
moved, appears as even and smooth as a Looking-Glass, or like Water
traced by a Ship. And as for the Colours, they are, in my Opinion, an
effect of the neighbouring Mountains, the different Images of which,
being confounded in the Water, make an appearance of very pale Colours.
After that the _Rhone_ is entred into the Lake, he retakes not his
impetuous course before a quarter of a Mile's distance from its coming
forth again, that is, above _Geneva_. And the nearer he comes to that
Town, the more his Bed becomes narrow, and consequently his course
more Rapid. Yet this Rapidness hath been in our times once surmounted
by Wind, and once by Water. To understand which, you may imagine, that
in _Geneva_ there is a streak of Land about an hundred Fathoms long,
which divides the _Rhone_ into two parts, passing under four Bridges,
then covered with Houses. From the Point of this Isle unto several
ranks of Stakes on that side of the Town, there are about a Thousand
common Paces. This whole space of Water, which makes the figure of an
V (whereof the Isle is the Point, and the Town forms the sides, and
the Stakes the empty place of the end) hath been once laid dry by a
violent Wind, after this manner. One Day in the Winter of the Year
1645. there arose in the Morning about 9 a clock so furious a Wind,
that not only it uncovered the Houses, but also laid dry the Bed of the
_Rhone_ above the Bridges, so that many, in the view of all the Town
crossed quite over it dry-foot, and one of the Sons of M. _D. Aubigny_
took up some Medals, which he found in his way. This passage was free
during an Hours time; at the end of which the River retook its course.
At that Season the Water being very low, and a West-Wind, to arrive at
_Geneva_, being pressed by the high Mountains that bring it upon the
Town as by the nose of a pair of Bellows; it came to pass, that that
Wind did violently bear upon the Water near the said Bars keeping
suspended the Water that was beyond, and those Waters, that were
beneath, running away downwards by a declivity, and under the shelter
of the Houses. Whilst I was scrupling at this Relation, they brought
me _Gallasius_ his Commentary upon _Exodus_, Printed 1560. where 'tis
recorded, that the like accident had fallen out at _Geneva_ at the
time when that Minister lived there, a South West Wind having made
the _Rhone_ to recoil into the Lake, and many People having thereupon
passed over dry for an Hours time.
Concerning the other Accident; you may remember, that the River _Arve_,
which is a kind of Torrent falls into the _Rhone_, about a 1000 Paces
beneath _Geneva_. In the Month of _December_ in the Year 1652. the said
_Arve_ did so extraordinarily swell, that not only it over-run its
Banks with impetuosity, but also interrupted the course of the _Rhone_,
and forc'd it to re-enter into the Lake for the space of fourteen
hours; though some do esteem, that the _Arve_ dis-gorged it self for
that time into the Lake, by passing _over_ the Water of the _Rhone_,
which, in their Opinion, continued his course under the Water of the
_Arve_. However the Water was seen at _Geneva_ to re-enter into the
Lake.
But to conclude, this Lake doth very much abound in Fish; but that
which is observable is, that those Fishes have as 'twere cantonized
themselves, and divided the Lake among them. The _Trouts_ are not to
be found there, but, as hath been already mentioned, in the Current of
the _Rhone_: The _Carps_ have taken up their quarter towards _Veuvay_:
The _Pikes_ and _Pearches_ have also their Habitations apart. But some
other Fish, that are but Passengers, not living constantly in the Lake,
spread themselves almost every where indifferently.
The great Trouts pass out of the Lake for four Months of the Summer,
and are taken in Autumn when they are returning thither. The Fishing
is farmed out at _Geneva_; and there are Conservatories where many of
those big Trouts are kept, among which there are some that weigh fifty
pounds. Sometimes they catch Pikes there of eighty pounds weight; and a
pound weight at _Geneva_ you know to be eighteen Ounces.
In the Months of _July_ and _August_ they fish there for the Fry of
Pearches, at a time when they are no bigger than the smallest Taggs.
These are a very delicious Dish, there called _Mille Cantons_.
I shall add no more than put you in mind of that Duke of _Savoy_, who
renounced his Crown and the Pontificat it self, to pass deliciously the
rest of his Days at _Ripialles_, where he made so good cheer to all
that visited him, that to express a very merry Entertainment, they say
still, _faire Ripialles_.
_Part of a Journal kept from _Scotland_ to _New Caledonia_ in
_Darien_, with a short Account of that Country. Communicated by
Dr. _Wallace_, F. R. S._
_September 2._ we weighed at _Maderas_, and were under the Tropic of
_Cancer_ by the 10th of the Month, at which time the usual Ceremony
of Ducking from the Yards-arm was performed on those that could not
pay their Tropick Bottle. All this time we had a brisk and constant
Trade-wind, which lasted three days more, but afterwards we had it more
variable than is usual in that place of the Sea.
The 28th we made _Deseada_, a small high Island, about a league in
length and as much in breadth; it is full of Trees, but whether it
affords Water or not I know not. It is uninhabited. Next morning we
were betwixt _Antego_ and _Montserat_, belonging to the _English_,
both pretty large and mountainous. _Antego_ is Peopled with _English_
for the most part, and _Montserat_ by a mixture of _English_ and
_Irish_. Their Product is Sugar and Tobacco. We were in the afternoon
close by _Redonda_, a small Rock about a mile long, inhabited only by
Noddies and Boobies. When we were some leagues from _Redonda_, we
saw at the same time _Antego_, _Montserat_, _Redonda_, _Nevis_, _St.
Christophers_, and _Statia_. We sailed close by _Nevis_, it bearing
North of us; it is a small well Peopled Island, its Product is Sugar.
They twisted the Flag at the Harbour, and we shew'd them the Company's
Colours. _St. Christophers_ is a large Island, ill Peopled, belongs
half to the _English_, half to the _French_. Night parted us from
these Islands, and next day, which was the 30th, we came in sight of
_Santa Cruz_, belonging to the _Spaniards_. When we were within four
leagues they held a Council. The _Unicorn_ and _Snow_ were sent to St.
_Thomas_, a small Island belonging to the _Danes_; it is a free Port,
and they say is well fortified. We went on to the Southward of the
Island, and next Day, being _October 1._ we were about 12 a clock past
the S. W. corner. It is very level towards the South. That Night we got
a sight of _Crab Island_, and next Day
_October 2._ we came into it, and sent some of our People ashore, and
took possession of it in the Companies name. _October_ the 4th we stood
to the Leeward, hearing there was a Harbour there; when we came we
saw the _Danes_ Colours flying on the Shore, for the Governour of St.
_Thomas_ had sent 14 Men and a Captain to take possession of it in the
King of _Denmark_'s name. Our Councellors sent to know his Business
there, and he told them this, but we found that we had taken possession
of the Place before they came from St. _Thomas_. They gave in their
Protest, yet seem'd to be glad enough of our Neighbourhood. We had
notwithstanding our Flag upon the Shore all the while we stay'd, with
100 Men, and Captain _Melean_ Governour; they stayed till we were gone,
but would certainly March next Day, otherwise the _Spaniards_ of _Porto
Rico_ would not miss to take them off.
The 6th, Captain _Pinkerton_ and the _Snow_ came in from St. _Thomas_,
with old Captain _Alison_ along with them for a Pilot. On the 8th we
left this place, and on the 17th made _Nostra Signiora della Popa_,
we lay aside there along the Coast, until the 3d Day of _November_,
generally losing by Night what we had gain'd all Day.
_Crab Island_ is about 6 Leagues long, and in some places 5 broad,
the Soil is very good. It's all full of Trees; all the South side is
full of Bays, very fit for anchoring in, but the best of all is to the
Leeward, where the _Dane_ hoised his Colours. It would have been worth
our while to possess it, had we not been a coming to a better Country.
It has this Inconvenience, that nothing but strength of Men, or Peace
with every Body, can render it secure. It is called _Crab Island_, from
the multitude of Land-Crabs there.
_November 3._ We anchored before _Golden Island_, and sent in our
Pinnace to the Bay. The Natives had hoised a White Flag in sign of
Peace, and told us a great many Stories of Captain _Swan_, Captain
_Davies_, and others, for they took us for _English_, by reason of our
red Fly; but we took no notice of the Men they nam'd. At last they
ask'd us our Business? we told them we designed to settle among them,
and to be their Friends. They told us we were very welcome, and that
by prediction they had expected us these two Years; for they say that
two Years ago it was foretold them that a People should come and live
among them, that would treat them civilly, and teach them good manners.
We conversed some time with them, and after viewing the Harbour came
aboard.
The 4th we came into the great Harbour of _Caledonia_: It is a most
excellent one, for it is about a League in length from N. W. to S. E.
It is about half a Mile broad at the Mouth, and in some places a Mile
and more farther in. It is large enough to contain 500 sail of Ships.
The greatest part of it is Land-lock'd, so that it is safe, and cannot
be toucht by any Wind that can blow the Harbour, and the Sea makes
the Land that lies betwixt them a Peninsula. There is a Point of the
Peninsula at the Mouth of the Harbour, that may be fortified against
a Navy. This Point secures the Harbour, so that no Ship can enter but
must be within reach of their Guns. It likewise defends half of the
Peninsula, for no Guns from the other side of the Harbour can touch it,
and no Ship carrying Guns dare enter for the Breast-work at the Point.
The other side of the Peninsula is either a Precipice, or defended
against Ships by Shoals and Breaches, so that there remains only the
narrow Neck that is not naturally fortify'd; and if 30 Leagues of a
Wilderness will not do that, it may be artificially fortified 20 ways.
In short, it may be made impregnable, and there is Bounds enough within
it, if it were all cultivated, to afford 10000 Hogsheads of Sugar
every Year. The Soil is rich, the Air good and temperate, the Water is
sweet, and every thing contributes to make it healthful and convenient.
The Product of this Place, I mean in the Harbour and Creeks hereabouts,
is Turtle, Manatee, and a vast variety of very good small Fish, from
the bigness of a Salmon to that of a Perch. The Land affords Monkeys of
different sorts, Wild-Deer, _Indian_ Rabbit, Wild Hog, Parrots of many
kinds, Parakites, Macaws, Pelicans, and a hundred more Birds we have
got no name to. There are moreover Land-Crabs, Souldiers, Land-Turtle,
Lizards, Guanha's, Cock-Lizards, and Scorpions: I had almost forgot
Partridges, Pheasants, and a kind of Turkey. All the Birds in this
Country are beautiful, but none of them that I could observe have any
Notes. We have a Monkey aboard that chirms like a Lark, it will never
be bigger than a Rat. This Place affords legions of monstrous Plants,
enough to confound all the Methods of Botany ever hitherto thought
upon. However, I found a shift to make some Specimens, and that is all
I can do. I say some Specimens, because if I should gather all, 'twould
be enough to load the St. _Andrew_, for some of their Leaves exceed
three Ells in length, and are very broad; besides these Monsters,
reducible to no Tribe, there are here a great many of the _European_
kindred, (but still something odd about them) as _Lingua Cervina_ of
different kinds, _Filix_ of different kinds, _Polypodium_, several
of the _Plantæ Papilonaceæ_, _Musci_, _Fungi_, _Convolvuli_, and a
great many more I cannot now remember. Now come we to their People.
The Men are generally very Civil and Sagacious, have all of them good
Faces, are of low stature, but very well built; they are of a Copper
Colour, and have black Hair; they us'd to go naked, but are now as well
Cloath'd as our selves; they wear a Plate of Gold in their Nose, and a
great many rows of Beads about their Neck and Wrists. They cover their
Yard with a piece of Bark, or sometimes Silver, of the very shape and
bigness of that Paper-case we use to put a dose of Pills in; they seem
to be very ill furnish'd, for I never saw any of them have it half an
Inch long, yet no doubt it's longer, but I fancy they sheath it up,
as Dogs and Horses do. The Women are generally the most pitiful like
things that ever Man saw; their Habit differs from the Men, for they
ordinarily wear a Ring in their Nose; they have Petticoats and a Veil
over their Face. They are under no formal Government, but every Captain
commands his own River, Bay or Island, where he lives; the greatest
of them all is one Captain _Ambrosio_, he commands particularly the
Country about the _Samballoes_ Point, but when he pleases he can Levy
all the Men betwixt that and the Gulf about 20 Leagues. There is
another Captain _Pedro_, that lives in the House with _Ambrosio_, and
is his Nephew and Son in Law; there is a 3d Captain _Andreas_ that
commands the River _Das armas_; a 4th Captain _Brandy_, that commands
about the _Golden Island_; a 5th Captain _Andreas_, that commands the
Country adjoining to our Settlement; and a 6th Captain _Pedro_ his
Consort; a 7th Captain _Pacigo_, who commands at _Carret Bay_, and
Captain _Diego_ that commands the Gulph. _Ambrosio_ seems to be the
greatest, and _Diego_ next, both old Men; they are all very much our
Friends, and fond of us. All have been frequently here except Captain
_Diego_ who is Goutish. Some of these Captains wear the _Scots_ Flag in
their Canoa's. There is no such thing as a King or Emperor of _Darien_,
nor, so far as we can gather from all the chief Men hereabout, has
been these 40 or 50 Years: The old Men remember such a Man, they say
he was a Tyrant, would take as many Wives as he pleased, and allow
them but one, and therefore they cut him off. This derogates much from
the reputation of the _History of the Buccaneers_. If there were such
a Man, he has been an _Indian_ made Emperor by themselves, I mean by
the _Buccaneers_. This Country certainly affords Gold enough, for
besides that the Natives constantly assure us, that they know several
Gold Mines on this side; besides that, I say, the Plates they wear in
their Noses, and the quantity of Gold that is among them, is enough
to perswade any Man of the truth of it. There was one Night aboard
here some _Indians_ that had a hundred Ounces of Gold about them.
We are certainly much bound to Providence in this affair; for as we
were searching for the place we were directed to, we found this, and
though the Privateers had been so often at _Golden Island_, and though
_English_, _Dutch_ and _French_ had been all over this Coast, from
_Portobelo_ to _Cartegena_, yet never one of them made the discovery;
even the _Spaniards_ themselves never knew of this place. Besides,
for as great a secret as we thought the Project, it was known all the
_West Indies_ over, and yet it was not in their power to crush it. At
_Madera_ they seem'd to know it, at St. _Thomas_ I'm sure they knew
it; at _Portobelo_ their Intelligence was so good, that they knew the
names of all our Councellors and Captains of Ships before we landed,
and had that particular observation, that there were four _Roberts_
among them. Our circumstances are in some Respects very good, for we
have advice by the way of _Portobelo_, that there is a great Rebellion
in _Mexico_, and Captain _Diego_ and all the _Indians_ about him are
at present at War with the _Spaniards_. Captain _Ambrosio_ is going
to his assistance, and that will divert them on that side; but which
is better than all, that we are now in a posture of defence against
all the _Spanish_ force in _America_. I have seen already _Dutch_,
_French_, and _English_ all at the same time in our Harbour, and all
of them wonder what the rest of the World have been thinking on, when
we came hither to the best Harbour of _America_, in the best place of
it. Captain _Long_ came in eight days after, and I believe we were a
great Eye-sore to him, tho' he said nothing. He commanded the _Rupert
Prize_, a small _English_ Man of War, fitted out by the King, upon
what design we know not, but he pretends it was to search for a Silver
Wreck; he was on this coast a Month before sounding it; and conversing
with the Natives, he put ashore Men in some places, to take possession
for the King of _Great Britain_, but none of them within 15 Leagues
of us. Hearing by the Natives that we were here, he came in with his
Long-Boat, as he said to see us, but I believe it was only to know the
certainty of what he feared was too true. He had told all the _Indian_
Captains that he came only to try their inclinations, and that there
was a great Fleet coming with a great many People to settle among them,
and defend them against their enemies, he meant _English_ that were
to come by his direction; but our Fleet coming within a Month after,
they all lookt upon us to be the People he spoke of; so that whatever
Presents he made them before that time, was as much for our Advantage
as if our selves had given them. He pretends to be a Conjurer, and to
foretel things; but that was the truest Prophecy ever he spoke, though
he knew not whom he spoke of.
_A DISCOURSE tending to prove at what _Time_ and _Place_, _Julius
Cesar_ made his first Descent upon _Britain_: Read before the
_Royal Society_ by _E. Halley_._
Though _Chronological_ and _Historical_ Matters, may not seem so
properly the Subject of these Tracts, yet there having, in one of
the late Meetings of the _Royal Society_, been some Discourse about
the Place where _Julius Cesar_ Landed in _Britain_, and it having
been required of me to shew the Reason why I concluded it to have
been in the _Downs_; in doing thereof, I have had the good Fortune
so far to please those worthy Patrons of Learning I have the Honour
to serve, that they thought fit to command it to be inserted in the
_Philosophical Transactions_, as an instance of the great Use of
_Astronomical Computation_ for fixing and ascertaining the Times of
memorable Actions, when omitted or not duly delivered by the Historian.
1. The Authors that mention this Expedition with any Circumstances,
are _Cæsar_ in his _Commentaries_ _lib._ 4, and _Dion Cassius_ in
_lib._ 39; _Livy_'s account being lost, in whose 105_th._ Book might
possibly have been found the Story more at large. It is certain that
this Expedition of _Cæsars_, was in the Year of the _Consulate_ of
_Pompey_ and _Crassus_, which was in the Year of _Rome_ 699. or the
55_th_ before the usual Æra of Christ: And as to the time of the Year,
_Cæsar_ says that _Exigua parte æstatis reliqua_, he came over only
with two Legions, _viz._ the 7_th_ and 10_th_ and all Foot, in about 80
Sail of Merchant Ships, 18 Sail that were ordered to carry the Horse
not being able to get out at the same time from another Port, where
they lay Wind-bound. He says that he arrived about the 4th hour of
the Day, _viz._ between Nine and Ten in the Morning, on the Coast of
_Britain_, where he found the Enemy drawn up on the _Cliffs_ ready to
repel him, which place he thus describes. _Loci hæc erat natura, adeo
montibus augustis mare continebatur ut ex locis superioribus in littus
telum adjicit possit_, by which the _Cliffs_ of _Dover_ and the _South
Foreland_ are justly described, and could be no other Land, being he
says in the 5_th_ Book of his Commentaries, _in Britanniam trajectum
esse cognoverit circitur millium passum triginta à continenti_, the
_Cliffs_ of the _North-Foreland_ being at a much greater distance.
Here he says he came to an Anchor, and staid till the 9_th_ hour, or
till about between Three and Four in the Afternoon, expecting till his
whole Fleet was come up; and in the mean time called a Council of War,
and advertised his Officers, after what manner they were to make their
Descent, particularly in relation to the Stuff of the Sea, whose motion
he calls _celerem atq. instabilem_, quick and uneven. Then, _viz._
about Three in the Afternoon he weighed Anchor, and having gotten the
_Wind_ and _Tide_ with him, he Sail'd about Eight Miles from the first
place, and Anchor'd against an open and plain Shore.
2. Here he made his Descent, and having told us the opposition that
was made, and the means he used to get on Shore, he comes to say, that
after he had been _Four Days_ in _Britain_, the 18 Ships with his Horse
put to Sea, and were come in sight of his Camp, when a suddain Tempest
arose, with contrary Wind, so that some of the Ships put back again,
others were driven to the Westwards, not without great danger, and
coming to Anchor, they found they could not ride it out: so when Night
came on, they put off to Sea and returned from whence they came. _That
same Night_ it was _Full-Moon_, which makes the greatest Tides in the
Ocean, and they being ignorant thereof, their Gallies, which were drawn
on Shore, were filled by the Tide, _&c._
3. Then he says that the Day of the Autumnal Equinox being at hand,
after some Days stay, wherein there passed no Action because he kept
close in his Camp by the shore; and not thinking it proper to stay till
the Winter came on, he returned into _Gallia_: The next Year he made a
further Expedition with 5 Legions and a good Body of Horse, but there
is but little in the History thereof serving to our purpose, excepting
that he says he set Sail from the _Portus Icius_ about Sun Set, with a
gentle S. W. Wind, _leni Africo profectus_; that about Midnight it fell
Calm, and being carried away with the Tide, by the time it was Day, he
found he had left _Britain_ on the left hand; but then the Tide turning
they fell to their Oars, and by Noon reached that part of the Island
where he Landed before, and came on Shore without opposition: and then
March'd up into the Country, leaving his Ships at Anchor _in littora
molli & aperto_.