the original of the _Americans_, and whether that part of the World
call’d _India Occidentalis_, or _America_, were known to the Ancients,
or own its Discovery wholly to the Moderns, as also of all the
Discoveries that have been made of the several parts thereof, and by
whom, we shall now pass on to the Topographical part, describing every
particular Province or Region, by giving an account of their Situation,
Temperature, Productions, Nature of the Soil, and Quality of the
Inhabitants. _America_, lying Westward of the _Azores_, and the Worlds
Meridian, is by some suppos’d to consist of one vast Island, and several
lesser ones, scatter’d about it: Nor can this supposition be thought
vain, if, as many think, it be inviron’d on the North-side, as toward
the East, South, and West it is known to be; East and South, by the
_Atlantick Ocean_; and West, by _Mar del Zur_: But because the
North-West Passage, though attempted by many, as _Nelson_, _Davis_,
_Forbisher_, _Button_, _Smith_, _Hudson_, and others, hath not yet by
any been fully discover’d; so that it is not certainly known whether
_America_ be joyn’d to _Greenland_, and the _Arctick_ Region, by a
continu’d Tract of Land, or sever’d by the Ocean: We shall follow the
method of those Geographers, who, reputed sufficiently Authentick, have
divided this new World into Islands, and two grand _Peninsula_’s joyn’d
together by an _Isthmus_, or Neck of Land, call’d _The Straight of
Darien_, by some _The Straight of Panama_, lying almost under the
Equinoctial Line, and extending in length from _Nombre de Dios_
Southward above a hundred Miles, and from East to West seventeen Miles
over in the narrowest place. Of these two grand _Peninsula_’s the
Northern is generally call’d _America Mexicana_, from _Mexico_ the chief
City of the Province, properly call’d _Mexicana_; which was heretofore
without doubt the most potent, rich, and flourishing of all the Kingdoms
of the _Indians_, at least on the North-side of the _Isthmus_. In the
division of the several Provinces of _America_, as well those of the
Northern as of the Southern Continent, we find so various an account
among the several Geographers that have written of them (not any two of
them agreeing in one and the same order) that to reconcile the differing
methods of so many disagreeing Authors would be an endless work:
wherefore we shall pitch upon the surest course, and not omitting the
mention of any of the Provinces taken notice of by the said Authors,
hereby endeavor to take in whatsoever material hath been observ’d by all
of them, and by the way take occasion to shew how one differs from
another in the distribution of them. Those therefore of the Northern
_America_ (that as near as can be we may bring the design of many into
one) seem most fitly describ’d in this following order: 1. _Estotiland_;
2. _Terra Laboratoris_, or _Nova Britannia_; 3. _Canada_, or _Nova
Francia_; 4. _Nova Scotia_; 5. _New England_; 6. _New Netherlands_, now
call’d _New York_, as being in the possession of the _English_; 7. _New
Holland_; 8. _New Swedeland_; 9. _Apalchen_, now call’d _Virginia_; 10.
_Florida_; 11. _Jucatan_; 12. _Honduras_; 13. _Nicaragua_; 14.
_Veragua_; 15. _Costarica_; 16. _Anien_; 17. _Nova Hispania_; 18.
_Guacatimala_; 19. _Nova Gallicia_; 20. _Nova Biscaia_; 21. _Nova
Mexico_; 22. _Cibola_; 23. _Nova Granata_; 24. _Tontonteac_; 25.
_Quivira_; 26. _Nova Albion_; to which by most Authors is added
_California_; which being an Island we thought fit to reserve to be
spoken of amongst the Islands, as also _Terra Nova_, or _New-found
Land_; which last lies utmost West, as the other East of Northern
_America_. Some there are also (and particularly _Monsieur de Martini_)
who among the above-mention’d Provinces have inserted _Greenland_,
though doubtless with little reason, since though it be granted that it
is not divided by any Sea, yet it is evident, if any credit may be given
to all modern Maps and Globes, that the greatest part of _Greenland_
lies in the Hemisphere of the known World; and therefore we have judg’d
it most convenient to refer the particular mention thereof to the
Description of the _Arctick_ Region.
The Islands of _Northern America_ are 1. _Terra Nova_, or _New-found
Land_; 2. The _Island of Assumption_; 3. The _Bermudas_, or
_Summer-Island_; 4. _Hispaniola_; 5. _St. John Porto Rico_; 6. _Cuba_;
7. _Jamaica_; 8. The _Lucayes_; 9. The _Caribes_, or _Antillæ_; 10.
_Margarita_; 11. _Cubagua_; 12. _La Trinidad_; 13. _Tabago_; 14.
_California_, the biggest of all the _American_ Islands.
The length of the _West-Indies_ is generally computed to be from the
utmost South of _Terra Magellanica_, to the farthest North of
_Estotiland_, about six thousand _English_ Miles, reaching from six
Degrees of Northern, to fifty three of Southern Latitude; the breadth
from _St. Michael_ or _Piura_ Westward, to _Parabaya_, a Town on the
Coast of _Brasil_ Eastward, three thousand nine hundred Miles, and the
whole compass thirty thousand.
SECT. II.
Estotiland.
That the _English_ have been very great Undertakers of Voyages and
Discoveries toward the North-West, appears by the denomination of divers
places, both from the Persons which have Sail’d thitherward, and also
from such of our own Countrey Names as were thought fit to be there
fix’d, as beyond the _Arctick Circle_ are Sir _James Lancaster’s Sound_,
Sir _Dudley Diggs’s Cape_, Queens _Annes Foreland, Cumberland Isles,
Davis’s Straight, &c._ on this side toward the _Arctick Circle_,
_Button_’s and _Brigg_’s _Bay_, _Hudson_’s _Sea_, otherwise term’d _Mare
Christianum_, out of which more Westerly runs a narrow Sea call’d
_Hudson_’s _Straight_: beyond _Hudson_’s _Sea_ towards the _Arctick
Circle_ is a place call’d _New North-Wales_; and on this side answerable
to it, between _Button_’s _Bay_ and the _Christian Sea_, lies _New
South-Wales_; all which places we find generally set down in the
_American_ Hemisphere, but in the Geographical Discourses thereof little
is said of them, if so much as nam’d. The farthest part of Land
Northward, between _Hudson_’s _Gulph_ and _Hudson_’s _Straight_, betwixt
fifty seven and sixty Degrees of Northern Latitude, goes generally by
the Name of _Estotiland_, I mean that properly so call’d (for
_Estotiland_ is by some as largely taken as _Canada_, by _Cluverius_,
_Golnitzius_, _Peter du Val_, and others, namely for all that Tract of
Land extending from that supposed _Straight of Anian_, which divides
_America_ from _Asiatick Tartary_, as far as the utmost point of Land
that shoots toward the _Atlantick Ocean_) which Southerly towards _Terra
Laboratoris_ is bounded with a River vulgarly call’d _Rio Nevado_, or
_The Snowy River_. _Estotiland_ seems to have deriv’d its Name from its
lying more Easterly than the rest of the Provinces, and, according as
_Nova Britannia_ is plac’d in some Charts, might very well be taken for
the same, though it hath not been so term’d by any Author, but rather
_Terra Laboratoris_, _Cortereatis_, and _Nova Britannia_ are generally
receiv’d to be all one.
[Sidenote: First discovery of _Estotiland_.]
[Sidenote: The Nature of the People.]
This Province is affirm’d by _Matthias Quadus_, and _J. Antonius
Maginus_, to have been the first discover’d Countrey of the new World,
and that by _Antonius Zeno_, a Patrician of _Venice_, in the Year of our
Lord 1390. which was long before the Expedition of _Columbus_, through
the encouragement of _Zichmus_, King of the Isle of _Friezland_; but by
whomsoever found out, or at whatsoever time, it is commonly affirm’d to
be not ill furnish’d with Provisions of all sorts, as Beasts, Birds,
Fish, Fowl, and Fruits, having a Soil indifferent fertile, in respect of
the coldness of the Climate. The People in general (for some there are
that live wild and salvage up and down the Woods, and go naked, whereas
the Clothing of the Countrey is the Skins of Beasts and of Sea-Calves,
call’d _Morses_) are reported not onely tolerably civil, but also
ingenious and expert both in mechanick Arts, and other necessary
Faculties, insomuch that the first Voyagers to this place are said to
have observ’d of them upon this first Discovery, That they sow’d Corn,
brew’d Beer and Ale, and Traded by Sea to _Greenland_, _Friezland_, and
other places, to the distance of fifteen hundred Miles; and that they
were not altogether void of the use of Letters, but that their Character
was onely proper to themselves and not intelligible by any other Nation:
Moreover, there is a certain Tradition, that there was here and there
some little knowledge of the _Latine_ Tongue amongst them, and that
there were found divers _Latine_ Books in a Library of one of their
Kings; the reason of which, if true, is conjectur’d to be from certain
_Europeans_ who understood that Language, having in Ages past suffer’d
shipwrack upon those Coasts, where chancing to abide either through
constraint or choice, they might haply at their Decease leave behind
them some Books and other Monuments of the _Latine_ Tongue. They were
observ’d to use such a kind of Javelin or short Dart, as was known to be
us’d by the People of _Java_, and some other Islands of the
_East-Indies_; whereupon it seems not wholly improbable, that they might
for a long time have entertain’d Traffick and Correspondence with them.
[Sidenote: Description of the _Morses_.]
The _Morses_, or Sea-Calves before mention’d, are about the bigness of a
young Heifer, the Hunting of which by the Natives, who take them in
great numbers, is to them in the stead of Whale-fishing, which is not
there so good, for they draw a great quantity of Train-Oyl out of them.
On each side of the Jaw of this amphibious Creature (for it is said to
live very much on the Land, as well as in the Water) there sticks out a
crooked Tusk, winding downward like an Elephants _Proboscis_, above a
Cubit in length, and as white and hard as Ivory: It is esteem’d of great
vertue, at least it passes for such among those who take it for other
than what it is, for it is frequently vended for Unicorns-horn; of which
imposture Dr. _Brown_ takes notice, and gives a Caution against in his
_Vulgar Errors_.
This Countrey is suppos’d, and that probably enough, to have store of
Brass and Iron Mines; but for the Mines of Gold and Silver, which some
have imagin’d there, the Northerly Situation of the Countrey, and by
consequence the coldness of the Climate, give sufficient cause to
question the truth of any such assertion. What chief Towns, Cities,
Rivers and Mountains there are in this Province, is not yet deliver’d by
any, onely _Maginus_ and _Quadus_ make mention of four principal Rivers,
which disperse themselves through the Countrey, and take their source
out of a great Mountain in the midst thereof.
SECT. III.
Terra Laboratoris.
[Sidenote: Situation.]
_Terra Laboratoris_, by some call’d _Nova Britannia_, by others
_Corterealis_, (though there are some who make _Laboratoris_ and
_Corterealis_ two distinct Countreys, comprehended, according to _Peter
du Val_, under _Nova Britannia_, as the more general Province; or,
according to _Cluverius_, under _Canada_) lies from about fifty four to
fifty seven Degrees of Northern Latitude, between _Estotiland_ and the
River _Canada_, which _Maginus_ and some others, though for what reason
is not express’d, name _Fretum trium Fratrum_, _The Bay of the three
Brethren_; others, _The River of St. Laurence_, and is, according to the
said Author, of so vast a bigness, that the Mouth of it extends it self
thirty five _Italian_ Miles wide; likewise of such a length, as to have
been navigated a continu’d Voyage of eight hundred Miles. The
denomination of _Terra de Laborador_, or _Laboratoris_, seems probably
enough conjectur’d to be from the cultivability (if one may so term it)
of the Soil, or its aptness for Cultivation or Tillage; that is, because
by the painful Hand of the Labourer or Husband-man it may be rendred so
fertile, as to yield all sorts of Grain and Fruits; haply in allusion to
that fruitful Countrey of _Campania_ in _Italy_, vulgarly known by the
Name of _Terra di Lavoro_. As for the Appellation of _Terra
Corterealis_, it need not be question’d, but that it derives it self
from _Gaspar Corterealis_, a _Portuguese_ Gentleman, who about the Year
of our Lord 1500. is thought by some to have made the first discovery of
these Parts; though Sir _Sebastian Cabot_ a _Venetian_, is more
generally believ’d to have been the Man that (under the favour and
countenance of _Henry_ the Seventh, King of _England_) first discover’d
them, at least the adjoyning Island _Terra Nova_, or _New-found Land_;
but just onely discover’d, being hinder’d the farther prosecution of
that Design, by the important Affairs in which the said King was about
that time involv’d; neither did _Corterealis_, whether he was the first,
or came after, do any more, for returning within a year after his first
setting out, he was never heard of; nor, as _Osorius_ a _Portuguese_
Historian writes, any of his Company, being all suppos’d to have been
drown’d by Shipwrack; and in like manner _Michael Corterealis_, who the
year following set forth with two Ships in quest of his Brother
_Gaspar_. Upon which series of Misfortunes the _Portuguese_ being wholly
discourag’d, and giving over this Design, the _French_ of _Armorica_ or
_Bretany_ succeed them in it with somewhat better success about the Year
1504. whereupon it came to be term’d _Nova Britannia_, or _New Britain_.
The ancient Inhabitants of this place were formerly of a Nature, like
the generality of the _American_ People, somewhat bruitish and salvage,
but by long conversation with the _French_, are said to have cast off
their original wildness, and become more civilly manner’d: they are very
jealous of their Wives, by report much addicted to Soothsaying, though
otherwise having little of Religion, or of any other kind of Learning;
they dwell for the most part in Caves under Ground, feed chiefly upon
Fish, and are accounted most expert Archers. Whatever places the
_French_ have built here besides, those of chiefest note are _St.
Maries_, _Cabo Marzo_, and _Brest_.
SECT. IV.
Canada, or New France.
[Sidenote: Situation.]
_Canada_, as it is taken for one and the same Province with _New
France_, contains _New France_, properly so call’d, _Nova Scotia_,
_Norumbega_, and some adjoyning Islands, as the _Canada_ of _Cluverius_,
lying more North-Westerly, comprehends (as we have already intimated)
_Estotiland_, _Laboratoris_, and _Corterealis_, and, according to the
most modern Division (for that of _Cluverius_ neither consents with the
latest Authors, nor agrees with exact Survey, it being nam’d _Canada_,
in respect the River _Canada_ runs through it) hath on the North _Terra
Corterealis_, on the South _New England_, and on the East the Ocean, and
hath between forty five and fifty two or fifty three Degrees of Northern
Latitude. The River _Canada_ is judg’d to be the largest of all the
Rivers of _America_, as those Rivers generally the largest of all in the
World besides; it rises in the Western parts of this Province which
remain yet undiscover’d, and in some places spreads it self into huge
Lakes, some of them a hundred Miles in compass, with many little Islands
dispersed up and down in them, and so running from the West about a
hundred Leagues, falls at last into the North part of _St. Lawrence
Bay_, being that wide _Emboucheure_ of thirty five Miles breadth already
mention’d. This River is extraordinary full of Fish, among which there
is one sort more remarkable than the rest, call’d by the Inhabitants
_Cadhothuis_, having Heads resembling the Heads of Hares, and Bodies as
white as Snow; they are taken for the most part before the Isle _de
Lievres_. The Countrey on both sides of the River is pleasant and
indifferently fertile, especially towards the South-West, where upwards
from the River the Ground rises into many little Hills, invested most of
them with Vines, with which and several other sorts of Trees this
Countrey abounds, being well water’d with a great many lesser Streams,
all of them falling into the River _Canada_.
[Sidenote: First discovery.]
That this Countrey is term’d _New France_, from having been discover’d
by the _French_, at least more fully than before, there needs no
question to be made; but whether _Joannes Verrazanus_, under _Francis_
the First of _France_, or _Sebastian Cabot_ before spoken of, were the
first in this Discovery, may admit of something of dispute: the _Cabots_
indeed, (for _John_ the Father is by some mention’d to have accompanied
his Son) who by all are own’d the first Discoverers of _New-found-Land_
and _Terra de Baccalaos_, are also commonly reputed to have first found
out the Province of _New France_, together with some parts adjacent,
though perhaps it might be upon this Ground that _Terra de Nova_, or
_New-found-Land_, not being known at first to be an Island, _New France_
and that might be taken for one continu’d Province; and it appears so
much the more probable, because _Canada_, or _Nova Francia_, is by some
call’d _Terra Nova_; however it be, or whoever were the first
Adventurers, _Quarteri_ and _Champlain_ are the two _French_-men that
have gain’d so much fame by making a more ample and particular search
into these parts, that this Province may seem from thence to have
sufficient claim to the Title of _New France_, whereof that part more
especially so call’d, lies on the North-side of the River _Canada_, and
Southward to _Terra Corterealis_. The Winter is here very long, and so
much the more severe by reason of a cold North-West Wind which blows
most part of the Winter Season, and brings with it so thick a Snow, that
it continues upon the Ground most commonly till after _May_. The
Countrey is for the most part wooddy, but in the Champain parts thereof
very fruitful of Corn, and all sorts of Grain, especially Pulse: It hath
also Fish, Fowl, wild Deer, Bears, Marterns, and Foxes in abundance, and
of Hares such plenty, that one of the little Islands belonging to this
Province, is by the _French_ nam’d _L’Isle des Lievres_, or _The Island
of Hares_: But the most peculiar Commodity belonging to this Countrey is
the _Esurgnuy_, a kind of Shell-Fish, extraordinary white, and approv’d
of singular vertue for the stanching of Blood; to which purpose they
make Bracelets of them, not onely for their own use, but also to vend
them to others; but _John de Laet_ and others have observ’d no other
than a superstitious use of them amongst the Salvages, in their Funeral
Rites for the Dead: the manner of their taking it is very remarkable;
for when any one is condemn’d to die, or taken Prisoner, they cut off
all his fleshy parts in long slices, and then throw him into the River,
where they let him lie twelve hours, and at last pulling him out again
find his Wounds full of _Esurgnui_. _Quadus_ and _Maginus_ make mention
of three ancient Towns, namely _Canada_ (denominated as the Province,
from the River) _Hochelai_ and _Hochchelaga_, giving Name to a Territory
about it, which Geographers either take no notice of, or make some
question of the being of such Towns; however, a late Describer of the
_West-Indies_, not mentioning the other two, gives this description of
the last, _viz._ _Hochchelaga_:
“This City (saith he) said to be the Seat and Residence of a King of
this Country whom the Natives, at least some of them, acknowledge and
reverence, carrying him sometimes in great pomp upon their Shoulders
sitting upon a Carpet of Beasts Skins, is situate far within Land, at a
distance of six or seven Leagues from the River _Canada_, and is a kind
of fortifi’d place, encompass’d about with a threefold Range of Timber
Ramparts one within another, of about two Rods high from the Ground,
with cross Planks, or pieces of Timber jutting out, on purpose to hinder
an Enemy’s Scaling or getting up; towards the top there is as it were a
Scaffold or Gallery fram’d, from whence they may throw down Stones of
which there is always good store ready, or what else to annoy the
Assailants: It hath one onely Gate for Entrance, and that likewise well
fortifi’d after their manner: There are guess’d to be in it fifty or
sixty great Houses, built (as the maner of the _Americans_ that live in
Houses usually is) in a square Figure, each side being about fifty Foot
long, or more, and sixteen or twenty broad, but not many Stories high;
and in the midst of the Court or void space, a place to make their Fire,
and do other necessary work about it. Moreover the Territory round about
this Town is both rich in Soil, and pleasant in Prospect.”
Besides these three above-mention’d Towns there are several others,
which are not untaken notice of in the most modern Descriptions and
Maps, _viz._ 1. _Stadac_, or _Stadacone_, somewhat Westward of a small
Isle call’d _The Isle d’Orleance_; 2. _Quebeque_, which being made a
Colony of the _French_, and the Natives expell’d, came to be Entituled
_St. Croix_; 3. _Tadoussac_, which lies in that part of the Countrey
denominated from the River _Saguenay_, and by some call’d at this day
_Nouvelle Biscaye_, a delightful place, and full of stately Trees, and
hath likewise a good and safe Haven, capable of receiving twenty Ships;
4. _Trois Rivieris_, or three Rivers; 5. _Monreal_; 6. _Sillery_; 7.
_Richelieu_; besides two strong Castles or Forts, _Franceroy_ and St.
_Lewis_; the First built by _Monsieur Robeval_ at his Landing here,
about the Year 1540. the other design’d for a Colony, in the Year 1611.
by _Monsieur Champlany_, but hinder’d by the Invasion of the _Iroquois_.
The smaller Rivers that run out of the Gulph of St. _Lawrence_, and the
grand River _Canada_ towards the North, on which side chiefly lies this
Province, are, 1. _Chichesedec_, 2. St. _Margarite_, 3. _Lesquemin_, 4.
_Saquenay_, before-mention’d, 5. _Montonne_; and on the South side, the
River _Mary_. The principal Tribes of the ancient Natives of this
Countrey were; on the North side of _Canada_ the _Canadans_, the
_Betisiamites_, the _Hurons_, the _Algoniquins_, the _Quenongebins_, the
_Algoingequins_, the _Attagopantans_, the _Atticameques_, the
_Nipisiriniens_; and on the South side, the _Etechemins_, and the chief
Heads or Princes of these Tribes were call’d _Sagamores_.
[Sidenote: Strange Fish nam’d _Chaousarou_.]
_Jaques Quartier_ Complementing their King _Agouthanna_, took up his
Quarters a whole Winter at St. _Croix_, a Sandy Promontory, overflow’d
by the River _Canada_, into which falls the Lake _de Champlain_, grown
round about with Chestnut Trees; in it breeds the strange Fish call’d
_Chaousarou_, generally ten Foot long, with Heads like Sharks, and two
rows of Teeth in their Mouths, their Skins full of strong Scales, which
are sufficient Shields against Swords and Lances, are great devourers of
other Fish and Fowls, which they take after this manner, _viz._ they
swim amongst Reeds or Canes, and lie still with their Mouths open;
whereat the Birds sitting down upon them, are immediately swallow’d.
The Natives of _Nova Francia_ anoint their bodies with Oil; in the
Summer they go naked, and in the Winter mantle themselves in Furs. Their
Warlike Accoutrements are Darts and Clubs, but chiefly great Shields.
They are revengeful, cruel, and fraudulent; their Women common to all
Men, from fifteen to twenty, after which, Marrying, they become very
Chaste. Their Diet is _Indian_ Corn, fresh and salt Fish, Venison,
_Buffalo_’s and Beavers flesh; wiping their Fingers (when greasie) on
their Heads, or their Dogs backs, which wait for the Scraps.
[Sidenote: Strange proof of Valor.]
[Sidenote: Wonderful opinion of God.]
[Sidenote: Flood.]
[Sidenote: Sorcerers.]
[Sidenote: They boast their Extract from Heaven.]
[Sidenote: Their strange Relation concerning it.]
[Sidenote: As also of the Creation, and Souls of the Deceased.]
[Sidenote: Strange Rock.]
[Sidenote: Thunder.]
[Sidenote: _Thakabech_ an Idol.]
[Sidenote: Funeral-Feast.]