Majorca

Sources from old books

1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome.

The BALEARE ISLES.

The Islands of the Baleares, or Kingdom of Majorca, comprehend that of Majorca and Minorca, both seated in the Mediterranean Sea.

MAJORCA, about sixty miles from Spain; It is about 300 miles in circuit, and hath for its chief places, Majorca, where there is a University; and Palomera, which gave birth to Raymundus Lullius.

MINORCA, distant from Majorca nine miles, and is about half the extent of Majorca. Its chief place is Citadelli, and its chief Port, Mahon, which is very large and commodious. These Isles are indifferent fertil in Corn, Wine, and Oil, which are three good Commodities.

Nigh to these Isles are two other small ones;

YVISA, or Ebuisa, of about 150 miles in circuit, whose chief place is so called, and its Port is Magno. The chief Commodity which it affordeth is Salt, of which here is made a great quantity. And about ten miles from this Isle is the other, called PORMENTERA, which is about fifty miles in circuit. The People are excellent Swimmers, as well the Women as the Men.

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Majorca, an Island of the Mediterranean Sea, towards the East of Spain, famous for its University, where Raymond Lullius was Professor. His Doctrine is so much esteemed there, that they keep a Professor to explain it. The Air of that Island is very wholsome, and the Winds that blow from the Sea, temper the Heat of the Summer. There is abundance of Coral upon the Coasts; 'twill not be altogether useless to observe here the nature of it, and the manner of getting it. It is not soft under Water, as some say, it grows upon Rocks, in very deep Water. They may draw a kind of Milk from the top of the Branches, by pressing them, in some Months of the Year, as out of a Woman's Pap; which, perhaps, is the Seed, which falling upon any thing in the bottom of the Sea, produceth a new Branch of Coral, as some hath been found upon a Skull, upon the Blade of a Sword, and upon a Granado that was fallen into the Sea, upon which Branches of Coral half a foot high were found interwoven. This is the manner of getting it, they tye 2 pieces of Wood a-cross, and wrap them about with Hemp, with a piece of Lead in the middle, that they may fall to the bottom. The Machin is fastened to both the ends of a Bark with Ropes, which being carried down the Stream, the Hemp takes hold, and is intangled with the Coral; then dragging it with force, it brings the Coral along with it. It is reported, that there are divers in Barbary, hardy and skilful enough to take it with their hands, having a pair of Spectacles, to distinguish it from a certain Root of no value, which is very like it. The reddest is counted the best, when it hath several Branches, and is not unpolished and stony, but solid, without any hole in it. The Indians, and even many other Nations believe, that if one carries a piece of Coral about him, he may avoid many Misfortunes, chiefly Sorcery, for which reason they hang a Branch of it about their Children's neck. The old Indians esteemed Coral, as much as we do Pearl. Pliny saith, That at the bottom of the Sea it is like a green Shrub, and that the Blossoms of it are white and tender, but that being drawn out of the Water they grow red and hard. Pliny lib. 32. Davity of the World Tom. I. Tavernier Voyage des Indes Tom. II. lib. 2. See Baleares.