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(Created page with " ==Sources from old books== === 1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator. === <blockquote>SOutherne America or Pervana followeth, betweene which and new Spaine there is a Neck of Land or Isthmus which is 18.* 1.1 miles broad. Which keepeth the Country Pervana from being an Iland: and it is called the Province Dariena, from the great River Dariene. Moreover all Southerne America hath the forme of a Pyramis being broad beneath,* 1.2 and sharp...")
 
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=== 1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator. ===
=== 1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator. ===
<blockquote>SOutherne America or Pervana followeth, betweene which and new Spaine there is a Neck of Land or Isthmus which is 18.* 1.1 miles broad. Which keepeth the Country Pervana from being an Iland: and it is called the Province Dariena, from the great River Dariene. Moreover all Southerne America hath the forme of a Pyramis being broad beneath,* 1.2 and sharp toward the top, the Base whereof is neere the Isthmus Northward, the top thereof doth lesson by degrees like a Wedge even to the Straits of Magellan toward the Southerne Pole, and so endeth in a sharp point. The parts of it are many: but these 5. are the chiefe: Castella aurea,* 1.3 Popajana, Peruvia, Chile, and Brasilia, Castell aurea, or Castiglia del oro, was so called from the great store of Gold which it hath. It is situated by the Isthmus, which joyneth the Southerne part of America to the Northerne. The breadth of the Isthmus is 73. miles. But this part of Land is but little inhabited, in regard of the intemperatenesse of the ayre and Marshes, or standing waters. And it hath no Corne, but they gather their Maiz twice or thrice a yeere. It hath two Citties Nombre de dios by Mare dael Nort, or the North Sea, and Panama by Mare del Sur, or the South Sea. It hath Gold-bearing Rivers, and Mines of Gold, whence great store of Gold is gotten.
<blockquote>SOutherne America or Pervana followeth, betweene which and new Spaine there is a Neck of Land or Isthmus which is 18.* 1.1 miles broad. Which keepeth the Country Pervana from being an Iland: and it is called the Province Dariena, from the great River Dariene. Moreover all Southerne America hath the forme of a Pyramis being broad beneath,* 1.2 and sharp toward the top, the Base whereof is neere the Isthmus Northward, the top thereof doth lesson by degrees like a Wedge even to the Straits of Magellan toward the Southerne Pole, and so endeth in a sharp point. The parts of it are many: but these 5. are the chiefe: [[Castella Aurea|Castella aurea]], Popajana, Peruvia, [[Chili|Chile]], and [[Brazil|Brasilia]], Castell aurea, or Castiglia del oro, was so called from the great store of Gold which it hath. It is situated by the Isthmus, which joyneth the Southerne part of America to the Northerne. The breadth of the Isthmus is 73. miles. But this part of Land is but little inhabited, in regard of the intemperatenesse of the ayre and Marshes, or standing waters. And it hath no Corne, but they gather their Maiz twice or thrice a yeere. It hath two Citties Nombre de dios by Mare dael Nort, or the North Sea, and Panama by Mare del Sur, or the South Sea. It hath Gold-bearing Rivers, and Mines of Gold, whence great store of Gold is gotten.


The Country Popayana beginneth from the North side at the Citty Antioch,* 1.5 and endeth on the South side at the Citty Quinto. Therefore it is bounderd on the North with Castella aurea, from which it is separate by the Citty Antioch. On the South it bordereth on the Country Pervana, and is parted from thence by the Citty Quinto: on the East it is bounderd with the Kingdome of New Granada, and the Country Pervana, which beginneuh from thence Eastward. On the West it hath the Southerne Sea. This Country is full of high rugged Mountaines.
The Country Popayana beginneth from the North side at the Citty Antioch, and endeth on the South side at the Citty Quinto. Therefore it is bounderd on the North with Castella aurea, from which it is separate by the Citty Antioch. On the South it bordereth on the Country Pervana, and is parted from thence by the Citty Quinto: on the East it is bounderd with the Kingdome of New Granada, and the Country Pervana, which beginneuh from thence Eastward. On the West it hath the Southerne Sea. This Country is full of high rugged Mountaines.
</blockquote>


=== 1695. A New Body of Geography by A. Sewall & T. Child. ===
Peruvia is the noblest Country of all the new World, which lyeth almost wholly betweene the Aequinoctiall and the Tropick of Capricorne. It was so called from a Haven and River of the same name. The bounds thereof are on the North new Granada, Castella aurea, and the River and Haven Peru, on the West is the Ocean or Mar del Zur, that is, the Southerne Sea: on the South the Province Chilus: and on the East the Mountaines, and it is 1800. leagues long. But it is now devided into three parts according to the situation of the Country: into the Plaine: into the Sieras or Mountaines, and into Andes or that which lyeth beyond the Mountaines. The Plaine of Peruvia neere the Sea-coast doth reach almost 1500. Italian miles. And the greatest breadth of it is 60. miles. But this part is sandy, full of Desarts, and for the most part barren. But yet it hath many greene flourishing Meddowes which lye by the bankes of the Rivers which doe water them, and make them fruitfull, so that they yeeld good store of all kinde of Corne, and Cotton of divers colours. The Mountainous Country reacheth from the North to the South, above 1000. leagues in length, and in some places lesse. But these Mountaines are very cold, and Snow doth often fall upon them, neither doe they beare any trees, so that the Inhabitants do make their fire with a kind of turffes. The Andes also are Mountaines but they lie in a continued ridge without any Valleies between them, & the Province Collao lieth between these and the other Mountaines, which is also full of Mountaines, & subject to cold but yet very populous. The Mountaine Country as Laevinus Apollonius witnesseth doth farre exceed the Maritime Country, for populousnesse, and frequency of Citties, and for the happinesse of the soyle and ayre, and therefore Kings and Noblemen are wont to seate themselves therein. For Chamaecerasia, and others like it doth bring forth Mulberries which are used to grow amongst Bushes, also Lettice, Cabbages, and great Radishes, sweet Marjoram, and other Hearbs, and plenty of all other things which the Spaniards first sowed. But especially it yeeldeth such abundance of Corne, that a pint and ½. being sow'd will yeeld, 50. or 100. or sometimes 200. which truely deserveth admiration; because they use but little care in their Tillage or Husbandry. Peruvia is thought to bee the richest Country for Gold and Silver in all the World. Moreover the Province of Peruvia hath many Citties, the chiefe whereof are Portus Vetus, Michael•a, Trugillum, Regium or Lima, Arequipa, Quito,* 1.6 Cusco, Argyropolis, and Potosium. The five first whereof in regard of their commodious situation, and conveniency for trading, the Spaniards first tooke, and built them after the Europaean fashion. Concerning the manners of the Peruvians Laevinus Apollonius writeth thus in generall. They are all distinguished into three chiefe Nations,* 1.7 every one which have severall kindes of people under them: these Nations are unlike and different in languahe: and sometimes they were wont to goe out of their bounds to warre one against another, and to revenge injuries, before all the Province even to the Aequinoctiall Line came to belong to the Territory of Gynacana. The Women weare a woollen garment which hangeth down to their ankles.* 1.8 The men weare a kinde of shirte which reacheth downe to the calfes of their legs, and upon it a Mantle. And though they weare one kinde of Garment thorow the whole Country on their bodies: yet their head-attire is wonderfull different, for every one of them according to the usuall custome of their Country doe weare wreathed Garlands, some plaine, and some of divers colours, but every one different. They still retaine their naturall rudenesse and simplicity in their manner of trading which is ridiculous to us: they know not their owne inexhausted treasure of Gold and Silver, of which they use great ill-favour'd pieces, but yet they delight in Golden or Silver Pictures or Emblemes.
<blockquote>AMERICA PERUANA, or Southern America.


THE Southern America is parted from the Northern by the Streights of Panama, from which it is extended as far as the Streights of Magellan in the form, both of a Point and Peninsula, having on the North New Spain, on the West the South-sea, on the South Terra Australis, and on the East the North-sea, between the 12 deg. 20 min. of Northern Lat. and between 293 deg. and 348 of Longitude, which makes it to be from North to South, 1420 Leagues, and from West to East about 1200. This great Peninsula is divided into 8 principal Parts, which are sub-divided into many others, as may be seen in the following Table, with the most remarkable Cities.
The Kingdome of Chili is situate beyond the Tropick of Capricorne, betweene Peruvia, and the Country of the Patagons, the latter on the North side, the former on the South side: on the West it hath Mare Pacificum, or the peaceable Sea. It was so called from the cold in these parts, which is so vehement, that it will freeze Horses and their Riders, untill they be hard as Ice. It hath raine and thunder, and severall seasons according to the time of the yeere, as in Europe, but that it is Summer with them when it is Winter with us. All the Country is partly Maritine, and partly Mountainous, the Maritine part which lyeth neere unto the Sea, is the hotter. The soyle is naturally fruitfull, and hath abundance of all things necessary, as Honey, and Woad for Diers, &c. It hath also long Pepper: and the Vines which were brought thither out of Spaine and planted there doe yeeld good Wine. It hath also geeat store of pure Gold. And the fruits which are brought out of Spaine and planted here, doe easily grow, here are great store of Cattell and Ostriches. The Metropolis is S. Iames his Citty, which is a Colony of Spaniards. That part which lyeth neere the Sea is watered with many Rivers, which together with the Snow which melteth with the dayes heate doe fall downe from the tops of the Mountaines, and so runne into the Pacifi{que} or Magellanick Sea: but for the most part the vehemency of the cold doth freeze them by night, but in the day time they runne when the Ice is thawed. The Mountaines in these Countries doe exceed all the other Mountaines in the Indies.


Southern America hath Eight principal Parts.
The more Easterne Country Brasill remaineth, which was so called from the great store of red wood growing there which is called Brasill wood. It is situate betweene the two Rivers Maragnon and Della Plata. Maffejus describeth it thus. Brasil runneth forth from 2. degrees from the Aequator, to 45. degrees Southward, it lyeth in a triangular or three cornerd figure, the Basis whereof is turned against the North, and so runneth straite forward from the East unto the West. The farthest corner or point doth reach to unknowne Countries Southward. The East side hath the Ocean betweene it and Aethiopia. A high ridge of Mountaines doth part the other side of it from the Province of Peruana, which are so high that Birdes are tyred with flying to the top of them. All the Country is pleasant, and hath a delightfull wholesome ayre: by reason that the gentle Breezes of winde which come from the Sea doe dispell the morning vapours and clouds, and doe purifie the ayre. This Country openeth partly into Plaines, and riseth gently into Hills, having a fat Glebe, and a fruitfull soyle, alwaies greene, and for the seed which is sowne, it returneth a great interest of increase; and especially it hath great store of Sugar. It hath many wilde Beasts, which are partly knowne, and partly unknowne: and Birds of an excellent colour. Here are many Colonies of Portugals, who having built many Houses to boyle Sugar in, namely, Pernambicum, Caput St. Augustini, Portus Omnium Sanctorum, where the Bishop and the President of the Province are resident. This part of the Country is full of Fountaines, Woods, and Rivers, as the Silver River, which runneth into the Sea 40. leagues with such violence, that the Marriners can take in fresh water from thence, before they discover Land. The Brasilians doe worship no Gods at all, yet they adore the rising Sunne, and they beleeve the immortality of the Soule.</blockquote>

* 1. Terra Firma.
** Panama, Bish.
* 2. Peru.
** Lima, Arch-bish.
* 3. Chili.
** S. Jago, Bish.
* 4. Magellanica.
** ...S. Philip.
* 5. Rio de Plata.
** ...S. Salvador.
* 6. Brasil.
** ...S. Salvador.
* 7. Country of Amazons.
** ...Corupa
* 8. Several Islands.

SECT. I. TERRA FIRMA. (see [[Terra Firma|main article]])

SECT. II. PERU, PERUA, or Peruense Regnum. (see [[Peru|main article]])

SECT. III. CHILI, & MAGELLANICA, [[Chili|Chile]], aut Cile & [[Magellanica]].

SECT. IV. RIO de la PLATA, Argentea Regio. (see [[Paraguay|main article]])

SECT. V. BRASIL, Brasilia. (see [[Brazil|main article]])

SECT. VI. AMAZONIA, or the Country of the AMAZONS, Amazonum Regio. (see [[Guayna|main article]])

SECT. VII. The principal Isles in Southern America.

I shall here give you a bare Enumeration of the principal Isles which lye about the Southern America, without laying down a particular description of them, and that only to shew the situation of them. The following Table will discover them more distinctly, according to the places they adjoin to.

The Isles about the Southern America.

* 1. About Peru,
** Zabaco, Gorgone, Gallo de Cocos, or S. Crux.
** ...Galopegos, Plata, Pana, S. Clara, Lobos, Lobos Marinos, Lobi, Xuli, Guana.
* 2. About Chili.
** Tortoras, Maxillones, Paxares, La Tierra Fuera, or Ilhas, John Fernando, S. Maria, Quiviqueyna, Mocha, Chiloe, Chonos, Gada, Madre de Dios, S. Croix.
* 3. About Magellanica
** Saballa, Sybald de Vords, 3 Isles. S. Dionisius los Reios, S. Gabriel, Los Riores, Maldonade, Los Lobos, Los Parg•s, 2 Isles. Castillos, Reparo, Avoredo, S. Cataline, a barren Isle. Galle, Tacutiara, Queimados.
* 4. Isles about Brasil.
** S. Sebastian, Dos Porc•s, Marambaia, Janeiro, S. Anna, des Franceses, Ascension, or Acomsaon, The Trinity, 5 Isles. S. Catharina, Achrolo•, Tamaraen Del Fuego, Ferdinando Noronha or Lorinhe, Penedo de S. Pedro and S. Paulo, Abrhola.
* 5. About Caribana and the North.
** Several Islands at the mouth of the River Paria,
** Basses, Wethalti, Des Lapins, Ca•ene, The Devil's Isle, Fonseca, a fabulous Island.
</blockquote>

Latest revision as of 01:01, 21 January 2025

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

SOutherne America or Pervana followeth, betweene which and new Spaine there is a Neck of Land or Isthmus which is 18.* 1.1 miles broad. Which keepeth the Country Pervana from being an Iland: and it is called the Province Dariena, from the great River Dariene. Moreover all Southerne America hath the forme of a Pyramis being broad beneath,* 1.2 and sharp toward the top, the Base whereof is neere the Isthmus Northward, the top thereof doth lesson by degrees like a Wedge even to the Straits of Magellan toward the Southerne Pole, and so endeth in a sharp point. The parts of it are many: but these 5. are the chiefe: Castella aurea, Popajana, Peruvia, Chile, and Brasilia, Castell aurea, or Castiglia del oro, was so called from the great store of Gold which it hath. It is situated by the Isthmus, which joyneth the Southerne part of America to the Northerne. The breadth of the Isthmus is 73. miles. But this part of Land is but little inhabited, in regard of the intemperatenesse of the ayre and Marshes, or standing waters. And it hath no Corne, but they gather their Maiz twice or thrice a yeere. It hath two Citties Nombre de dios by Mare dael Nort, or the North Sea, and Panama by Mare del Sur, or the South Sea. It hath Gold-bearing Rivers, and Mines of Gold, whence great store of Gold is gotten.

The Country Popayana beginneth from the North side at the Citty Antioch, and endeth on the South side at the Citty Quinto. Therefore it is bounderd on the North with Castella aurea, from which it is separate by the Citty Antioch. On the South it bordereth on the Country Pervana, and is parted from thence by the Citty Quinto: on the East it is bounderd with the Kingdome of New Granada, and the Country Pervana, which beginneuh from thence Eastward. On the West it hath the Southerne Sea. This Country is full of high rugged Mountaines.

1695. A New Body of Geography by A. Sewall & T. Child.

AMERICA PERUANA, or Southern America.

THE Southern America is parted from the Northern by the Streights of Panama, from which it is extended as far as the Streights of Magellan in the form, both of a Point and Peninsula, having on the North New Spain, on the West the South-sea, on the South Terra Australis, and on the East the North-sea, between the 12 deg. 20 min. of Northern Lat. and between 293 deg. and 348 of Longitude, which makes it to be from North to South, 1420 Leagues, and from West to East about 1200. This great Peninsula is divided into 8 principal Parts, which are sub-divided into many others, as may be seen in the following Table, with the most remarkable Cities.

Southern America hath Eight principal Parts.

  • 1. Terra Firma.
    • Panama, Bish.
  • 2. Peru.
    • Lima, Arch-bish.
  • 3. Chili.
    • S. Jago, Bish.
  • 4. Magellanica.
    • ...S. Philip.
  • 5. Rio de Plata.
    • ...S. Salvador.
  • 6. Brasil.
    • ...S. Salvador.
  • 7. Country of Amazons.
    • ...Corupa
  • 8. Several Islands.

SECT. I. TERRA FIRMA. (see main article)

SECT. II. PERU, PERUA, or Peruense Regnum. (see main article)

SECT. III. CHILI, & MAGELLANICA, Chile, aut Cile & Magellanica.

SECT. IV. RIO de la PLATA, Argentea Regio. (see main article)

SECT. V. BRASIL, Brasilia. (see main article)

SECT. VI. AMAZONIA, or the Country of the AMAZONS, Amazonum Regio. (see main article)

SECT. VII. The principal Isles in Southern America.

I shall here give you a bare Enumeration of the principal Isles which lye about the Southern America, without laying down a particular description of them, and that only to shew the situation of them. The following Table will discover them more distinctly, according to the places they adjoin to.

The Isles about the Southern America.

  • 1. About Peru,
    • Zabaco, Gorgone, Gallo de Cocos, or S. Crux.
    • ...Galopegos, Plata, Pana, S. Clara, Lobos, Lobos Marinos, Lobi, Xuli, Guana.
  • 2. About Chili.
    • Tortoras, Maxillones, Paxares, La Tierra Fuera, or Ilhas, John Fernando, S. Maria, Quiviqueyna, Mocha, Chiloe, Chonos, Gada, Madre de Dios, S. Croix.
  • 3. About Magellanica
    • Saballa, Sybald de Vords, 3 Isles. S. Dionisius los Reios, S. Gabriel, Los Riores, Maldonade, Los Lobos, Los Parg•s, 2 Isles. Castillos, Reparo, Avoredo, S. Cataline, a barren Isle. Galle, Tacutiara, Queimados.
  • 4. Isles about Brasil.
    • S. Sebastian, Dos Porc•s, Marambaia, Janeiro, S. Anna, des Franceses, Ascension, or Acomsaon, The Trinity, 5 Isles. S. Catharina, Achrolo•, Tamaraen Del Fuego, Ferdinando Noronha or Lorinhe, Penedo de S. Pedro and S. Paulo, Abrhola.
  • 5. About Caribana and the North.
    • Several Islands at the mouth of the River Paria,
    • Basses, Wethalti, Des Lapins, Ca•ene, The Devil's Isle, Fonseca, a fabulous Island.
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