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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries

R >> Richard Hakluyt >> The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries




Secundus algoris intolerabitis. Quantum ad secundum fontem attinet, nullus
hic est quòd quisquam sciat, algoris intolerabilis, sed plurimi bene
frigidi, ita vt vulgaribus riuis æstiuo sole tepescentibus, non sine
voluptate ex frigidioribus illis aquam hauriamus. Sunt & longè frigidiores
fortè alibi: Nam & Cardanus in agro Corinthio è montis vertice fluentem
riuum commemorat, niue frigidiorem: Et intra primum à Culma lapidem,
Insanam vocatum: quæ aqua cum feruere videatur, sit tamen longe
frigidissima, &c.

Tertius vel melle dulcior. Neque id prorsus verum est. Non enim est vllus
apud nos, qui vel minima ex parte cum mellis dulcedine conferri possit.
Rectius igitur Saxo, qui fontes (quoniam plures sunt) in Islandia dicit
inueniri Cerealem referentes liquorem, vt etiam ibidem non diuersi saporis
solùm, sed diuersi etiam coloris fontes & flumina reperiuntur.

Etsi autem tradunt Physici aquam naturaliter ex se neque saporem neque
odorem habere, tamen, vt superius attigimus, veri simile est, quod alij per
accidens vocant, eam sæpe referre qualitatem terræ, in qua generatur, & per
cuius venas transitum atque excursum habet: Atque hinc aquarum odores,
colores, sapores, alios atque alios existere, Cuiusmodi sunt, de quibus
narrat Seneca, quorum alij famem excitant, alij bibentes inebrient, alij
memoriæ officiant, alij inuent eandem, alij vini saporem & virtutem
repræsentent: [Sidenote: Lib. de mirab. auscultat.] Vt ille apud Plinium in
Andro Insula fons, in templo Liberi, qui Nonis Ian: vini sapore fluat. Et
apud Aristotelem fons in agro Carthaginensi, qui oleum præbeat, & guttulas
Cedri odore representet. Item, Orcus fluuius Thessaliæ, influens in Peneum,
olei instar supernatans: [Sidenote: Lib. 2. de Element.] Cuiusmodi etiam
narrat Cardanus in Saxonia esse, iuxta Brumonis oppidum, fontem oleo
perfusum: Et in Sueuia, iuxta Coenobium, cui Tergensche nomen est. Item, in
valle mentis Iurassi. Causam huius rei putat esse bitumen valde pingue,
quod oleum sine dubio contineat. Idem, famam esse ait, in Cardia, iuxta
locum Dascbyli, in campo albo aquam esse lacte dulciorem. Aliam quoque
iuxta pontem, qua Valdeburgum itur. Iam aquarum vini saporem referentium
meminit his verbis Propertius, 3. lib. Elegiar.

En tibi per mediam bene olentia flumina Naxon,
Vnde tuum pota Naxia turba merum.

Est autem Naxus Insula vna ex Cycladibus, in mari Ægeo. Causam huius
assignat Cardanus, quod hydromel vetustate transeat in vinum. Aristoteles
commemorat Siciliæ fontem, quo incolæ loco aceti vtantur. Idem saporum aquæ
causam in calorem retulit, quod terra excocta mutet & præbeat saporem aquæ.

Iam de aquæ coloribus ita Cardanus. Eadem est ratio colorum aquæ, ait, quæ
& saporum: videlicet à terra originem trahere. Nam Candida est aqua, ad
secundum lapidem à Glauca, Misenæ oppido: Rubea, vt in Radera Misenæ
fluuio, iuxta Radeburgum: Et olim in Iudæa iuxta Ioppen: Viridis, in
Carpato monte, iuxta Neusolam: Cærulea aut blaua, inter Feltrium &
Taruisium, & in Thermopylis etiam talem fuisse referunt: Nigerrima in
Allera fluuio Saxoniæ, vbi in Visurgim se exonerat. Caussæ sunt argillæ
colores, sed tenuiores. Item Aristoteles: circa Iapygiam promontorium, esse
fontem, qui sanguinem fundat, addens, eam maris partem suo foetore
nauigantes procul arcere. Aiunt præterea in Idumæa fontem esse, qui quater
in anno colorem mutet, cum sit colore nunc viridi, nunc albo, nunc
sanguineo, nunc lutulento.

Et de aquarum odore sic Cardanus. Similis ratio differentiæ est in
odoribus. Plerumque tamen aquarum odores iniucundi sunt, quòd rarò terra
bene oleat. Pessimè olim foetabat in Ælide, Anigri fluminis aqua, vsque ad
perniciem, non solum piscium, sed etiam hominum. Iuxta Metonem in Messania,
in puteo quodam optimè olens aqua hauriebatur. Hæc ideo recito, vt nullus
magis in Islandia quàm alibi, aquarum, colores, odores, sapores, miretur.

Quartus plane exitialis. Autor est Isidoras, esse fontem quendam, cuius
aqua pota vitam extinguat: Et Plinius: Iuxta Nonarim, inquit, Arcadiæ, Styx
(iuxta Cyllenem montem, ait Cardan. Sola equi vngula continebatur: referunt
ea sublatum Alexandrum magnum) nec odore differens, nec colore, epota
illico necat. Idem, In Beroso Taurorum colle sunt tres fontes sine remedio,
sine dolore mortiferi: Et quod longè maximum est, quod Seneca stagnum esse
dicat, in quod prospicientes statim moriantur. Nos verò Islandi etiam hunc
quartum Frisij fontem, cuius etiam Saxo meminit, vt antehac semper, itidem
etiam nobis hodie penitus ignotum testamur: Hocque igitur nomine, Deo
immortales gratias agimus, quòd ab eiusmodi fontibus & serpentibus,
insectis venenatis, ac alijs pestiferis & contagiosis, esse nos immunes
voluerit.

Præterea est apud prædictos fontes tanta sulphuris copia. Montes tres à
Munstero & Frisio igniuomi dicti, omnes longissimo interuallo à nostris
fodinis distant. Quare cum iuxta hos montes fontibus quatuor, quos
tantopere miraculis celebrant, locum & situm faciant, necesse est eos
fontes pari ferè interuallo à fodinis sulphureis remotos esse. Nec verò
apud montem Heclam, vt Munsterus, nec apud hos Frisij fontes (quorum rumor
quàm verus sit, hactenus ostensum est) sulphur effoditur: Nec patrum
nostrorum memoria effossum esse arbitramur. [Sidenote: Sulpher in bore. ali
Islandiæ parte.] Neque verum est, quod de sulphuris copia tradit Munsterus,
esse videlicet pene vnicum Insulæ mercimonium & vectigal. Nam cum insula in
quatuor partes diuisa sit, quarta pars, nempe borealis, tantum dimidia, hoc
vtitur mercimonio, nec sulphuris mica in vectigal Insulæ penditur.


The same in English.

THE ELEUENTH SECTION.

[Sidenote: Frisius.] Not farre from these mountaines (the three forenamed)
declining to the sea shoare, there be foure fountaines of a most contrary
nature betweene themselues. The first, by reason of his continuall heat
conuerteth into a stone any body cast into it, the former shape only
still remaining. The second is extremely cold. The third is sweeter then
honey, and most pleasant to quench thirst. The fourth is altogether
deadly, pestilent, and full of ranke poison.

Euen this description of fountaines doth sufficiently declare howe impure
that fountaine was, out of which the geographer drew all these miraculous
stories. For he seemeth to affirme, that the three foresaid mountaines doe
almost touch one another: for he ascribeth foure fountaines indifferently
vnto them all. Otherwise if he had not made them stand neare together, he
would haue placed next vnto some one of these, two of the foresaid
fountaines. But neither doe these mountaines touch (being distant so many
leagues a sunder), neither are there any such foure fountaines neare vnto
them, which, he that wil not beleeue, let him go try. But to confute these
things, the very contrariety of writers is sufficient. For another
concerning two fountaines gainsayth Frisius in these words. There do burst
out of the same hill Hecla two fountames, the one whereof, by reason of the
cold streames, the other with intollerable heat exceedeth al the force of
elements. These be Frisius his two first fountaines, sauing that here is
omitted the miracle of hardening bodies, being by him attributed to one of
the said fountaines. But they cannot at one time breake forth, both out of
the mountaine it selfe, and neare vnto the mountaine.

But here I would willingly demannd, by what reason any of the Peripateticks
can affirme, that there is some thing in nature colder then the element of
water, or hotter then the element of fire. From whence (I pray yon, learned
writers) proceedeth this coldnesse: From whence commeth this heate: Haue we
not learned out of your schole that water is an element most colde and
somewhat moist: and in such sort most cold, that for the making of
secundarie qualities, it must of necessitie be remitted, & being simple,
that it cannot be applyed to the vses of mankind: I do here deliuer these
Oracles of the naturall Philosophers, not knowing whether they be true or
false. M. Iohn Fernelius, lib. 2. Phys. cap. 4. may stand for one witnesse
amongst all the rest, & in stead of the all. So excessiue (satth he) be
these foure first qualities in the foure elements, that as nothing is
hotter then pure fire, & nothing lighter: so nothing is drier then earth, &
nothing heauier: and as for pure water, there is no qualitie of any
medicine whatsoeuer exceedeth the coldnes thereof, nor the moisture of
aire. Moreouer, the said qualities be so extreme & surpassing in them, that
they cannot be any whit encreased, but remitted they may be. I wil not
heare heape vp the reasons or arguments of the natural Philosophers. These
writers had need be warie of one thing, lest while they too much magnifie
the miracles of the fountains, they exempt them out of the number of things
created, as wel as they did the ice of the Islanders. We wil prosecute in
order the properties of these fountains set downe by the foresaid writers.
[Sidenote: Many hote Baths in Island.] The first by reason of his
continuall heat. There be very many Baths or hote fountains in Island, but
fewer vehemently hote, which we thinke ought not to make any man wonder,
when as I haue learned out of authors, that Germanie euery where aboundeth
with such hote Baths, especially neere the foot of the Alpes. The hote
Baths of Baden, Gebarsuil, Calben in the dutchy of Wirtenberg and many
other be very famous: all which Fuchsius doeth mention in his booke de Arte
medendi. And not onely Germanie, but also France, & beyond all the rest
Italy that mother of all commodities, saith Cardan. And Aristotle
reporteth, that about Epyrus these hote waters doe much abound, whereupon
the place is called Pyriplegethon. [Sidenote: The causes of hote Baths.]
And I say, these things should therefore be the lesse admired, because the
searchers of nature haue as wel found out causes of the heate in waters, as
of the fire in mountaines: namely, that water runneth within the earth
through certaine veines of Brimstone & Allom and from thence taketh not
onely heat, but taste also & other strange qualities. Aristotle in his
booke de Mundo hath taught this. The earth (saith he) conteineth within it
fountains not only of water, but also of spirite & fire: some of them
flowing like riuers, doe cast foorth red hote iron: from whence also doeth
flow, sometimes luke-warme water, sometimes skalding hote, and somtimes
temperate. And Seneca. [Sidenote: Lib. 3. nat. quæst.] Empedocles thought
that Baths were made hote by fire, which the earth secretly conteineth in
many places, especially if the said fire bee vnder that ground where the
water passeth. And Pontanus writeth very learnedly concerning the Baian
Baths.

No maruell though from banke of Baian shore
hote Baths, or veines of skalding licour flow:
For Vulcans forge incensed euermore
doeth teach vs plaine, that heart of earth below
And bowels burne, and fire enraged glow.
From hence the flitting flood sends smokie streames,
And Baths doe boil with secret burning gleames.

I thought good in this placel to touch that which Saxo Grammaticus the most
famous historiographer of the Danes reporteth. That certaine fountains of
Island do somtime encrease & flow vp to the brinke: sometimes againe they
fall so lowe that you can skarse discerne them to be fountaines. Which kind
of fountaines, albeit they bee very seldome found with vs, yet I will make
mention of some like vnto them, produced by nature in other countries, lest
any man should think it somwhat strange. Plinie maketh a great recitall of
these. There is one (saieth he) in the Isle of Tenedos, which at the
Solstitium of sommer doth alwaies flow from the third houre of the night,
till the sixt. In the field of Pitinas beyond the Apennine mountaine, there
is a riuer which in the midst of sommer alwaies encreaseth, and in winter
is dried vp. He maketh mention also of a very large fountaine, which euery
houre doeth encrease and fall. Neither is it to be omitted, that some
riuers run vnder the ground, and after that fall againe into an open
chanel: as Lycus in Asia, Erasinus in Argolica, Tigris in Mesopotamia, vnto
which Cardan addeth Tanais in Moscouia: and those things which were throwen
into Æsculapius fountaine at Athens, were cast vp againe in Phaletico. And
Seneca writeth that there are certaine riuers which being let downe into
some caue vnder ground, are withdrawen out of sight, seeming for the time
to be vtteriy perished and taken away, and that after some distance the
very same riuers returne, enioying their former name and their course. And
againe Plinie reporteth that there is a riuer receiued vnder ground in the
field of Atinas that issueth out twentie miles from that place. All which
examples and the like, should teach vs that the fonutaines of Island are
not to be made greater wonders then the rest.

Doth forthwith conuert into a stone any body cast into it. By these two
properties, namely warmth or most vehement heat, & a vertue of hardening
bodies doth Frisius describe his first fountaine. And I haue heard reported
(though I neuer had experience thereof my selfe) that there is such a
fountain in Island not far from the bishops seat of Schalholt, in a village
called Haukadal. Seneca reporteth of the like, saying: That there is a
certain fountain which conuerteth wood into stone, hardening the bowels of
those men which drinke thereof. And addeth further, that such fountains are
to bee found in certaine places of Italy: which thing Ouid in the 15. booke
of his Metamor. ascribeth vnto the riuer of the Cicones.

Water drunke out of Ciconian flood
fleshy bowels to flintie stone doeth change:
Ought else therewith besprinckt, as earth or wood
becommeth marble streight: a thing most strange.

And Cardane. Georgius Agricola affirmeth, that in the territorie of
Elbogan, about the town which is named of Falcons, that the whole bodies of
Pine trees are conuerted into stone, and which is more wonderfull, that
they containe, within certaine rifts, the stone called Pyrites, or the
Flint. And Domitius Brusonius reporteth, that in the riuer of Silar
(running by the foote of that mountain which standeth in the field of the
citie in old time called Vrsence, but now Contursia) leaues and boughs of
trees change into stones, & that, not vpon other mens credite, but vpon his
own experience, being borne & brought vp in that country, which thing
Plinie also auoucheth, saying, that the said stones doe shew the number of
their yeeres, by the number of their Barks, or stony husks. So (if we may
giue credite to authors) drops of the Gothes fountain being dispersed
abroad, become stones. And in Hungary, the water of Cepusius being poured
into pitchers, is conuerted to stone. And Plinie reporteth, that wood being
cast into the riuer of the Cicones, and into the Veline lake in the field
of Pice, is enclosed in a barke of stone growing ouer it.

[Sidenote: Riuers of Island in sommer season lukewarme.] The second is
extremely cold. As for the second fountaine, here is none to any mens
knowledge so extremely cold: In deed there be very many that bee
indifferently coole, insomuch that (our common riuers in the Sommer time
being luke-warme) wee take delight to fetch water from those coole springs.
It may be that there are some farre colder in other countries: for Cardane
maketh mention of a riuer (streaming from the top of an hill in the field
of Corinth) colder then snow, and within a mile of Culma, the riuer called
Insana seeming to be very hote is most extremely cold, &c.

The third is sweeter than honie. Neither is this altogether true. For there
is not any fountaine with vs, which may in the least respect be compared
with the sweetnesse of honie. And therfore Saxo wrote more truly, saying,
that certaine fountaines (for there be very many) yeelding taste as good as
beere, and also in the same place there are fountains & riuers not onely of
diuers tasts, but of diuers colours.

And albeit naturall Philosophers teach, that water naturally of it selfe
hath neither taste nor smel, yet it is likely (as we haue touched before,
which other call per accidens) that oftentimes it representeth the
qualities of that earth wherein it is engendred, and through the veines
whereof it hath passage and issue: and from hence proceed the diuers &
sundry smels, colours and sauours of all waters. Of such waters doeth
Seneca make mention, whereof some prouoke hunger, others make men drunken,
some hurt the memory, & some helpe it, & some resemble the very qualitie
and taste of wine, as that fountaine which Plinie speaketh of [Sidenote: In
lib. de mirab.] in the Isle of Andros, within the temple of Bacchus, which
in the Nones of Ianuary vsed to flow ouer with wine. And Aristotle
reporteth, that in the field of Carthage there is a fountain which yeeldeth
oile, & certaine drops smelling like Cedar. Also Orcus a riuer of Thessalie
flowing into Peneus, swimmeth aloft like oile. Cardane reporteth, that
there is in Saxonie, neere vnto the town of Brunswic, a fountaine mixed
with oile: and another in Sueuia neere vnto the Abbey called Tergensch.
Also in the valley of the mountain Iurassus. He supposeth the cause of this
thing to bee very fattie pitch, which cannot but conteine oile in it. The
same author saieth: It is reported that in Cardia neere to the place of
Daschylus, in the white field, there is water sweeter then milke. Another
also neere vnto the bridge which we passe ouer going to the towne of
Valdeburg. Propertius likewise in the third booke of his Elegies mentioneth
certaine waters representing the sauour of wine in these words.

Amidst the Isle of Naxus loe, with fragrant smels and fine
A freshet runs; ye Naxians goe fill cups, carouse, there's wine.

This Naxus is one of the Islands called Cydades lying in the Ægæan sea.
Cardane giueth a reason hereof, namely, because Hydromel or water-hony, in
long continuance will become wine. Aristotle nameth a fountaine in Sicilia,
which the inhabitants vse in stead of vineger. The same author maketh the
cause of sauours in water to be heate, because the earth being hote
changeth and giueth sauour vnto the water.

Now concerning the colours of water so saieth Cardane. There is the same
reason (saith he) of the colours of water, that there is of the sauours
thereof, for both haue their originall from the earth. For there is white
water within two miles of Glanca a town in Misena: red water in Radera a
riuer of Misena not farre from Radeburg: & in old time neere vnto Ioppa in
Iudea: greene water in the mountaine of Carpathus by Nensola: skie-coloured
or blue water betweene the mountains of Feltrius & Taruisius: & it is
reported that there was water of that colour in Thermopylis; cole-blacke
water in Alera a riuer of Saxonie, at that place where it dischargeth it
self into the Weser. The causes of these colours are the colours of the
soile. Also Aristotle saieth, that about the promontorie of Iapigia, there
is a fountaine which streameth blood: adding moreouer, that Mariners are
driuen farre from that place of the sea, by reason of the extreme stench
thereof. Furthermore, they say that in Idumæa there is a fountaine which
changeth color foure times in a yeere: for somtimes it is greene, somtime
white, somtime bloodie, & somtimes muddy coloured.

Concerning the smels of waters, thus writeth Cardane. There is the like
reason of difference in smell. But for the most part the steames of waters
bee vnpleasant, because the earth doeth seldome times smel well. The water
of the riuer Anigris in Aelis stanke, to the destruction, not onely of
fishes, but also of men. About Meton in Messania, out of a certaine pond
there hath bene drawen most sweet smelling, and odoriferous water. I doe
recite all these examples to the end that no man should make a greater
wonder at the colours, smels, and sauours of waters that be in Island, then
at those which are in other countreis.

The fourth is altogether deadly. Isidore affirmeth, that there is a
certaine fountaine whose water being drunke, extingnisheth life. And Plinie
saieth, That about Nonaris in Arcadia, the riuer of Styx (neere the
mountaine of Cillene, saieth Cardane: it would be contained in nothing but
an horse-hoofe: and it is reported that Alexander the great was poisoned
therewithal) not differing from other water, neither in smell nor colour,
being drunke, is present death. [Sidenote: The same Author saieth.] In
Berosus an hill of the people called Tauri, there are three fountains,
euery one of them deadly without remedy, & yet without griefe. And (which
is the strangest thing of all the rest) Seneca maketh mention of a poole,
into which whosoeuer looke, do presently die. But, as for this fourth
fountaine of Frisius, which Saxo doeth likewise mention, we Islanders, as
alwayes heretofore, so euen at this day do testifie, that it is vtterly
vnknowen vnto vs: [Sidenote: Island free from snakes and other venemous
beasts.] and therefore in this regard, we render vnto God immortall thanks,
because he hath vouchsafed to preserue our nation from such fountains, from
serpents and venemous wormes, & from al other pestiferous & contagious
creatures.

Furthermore about the foresaid mountaines there is such abundance of
brimstone. The three mountains called by Munster and Frisius, Fierie
mountains, do all of them stand an huge distance from our Mines. Wherefore,
when as neere vnto these hils they haue found out a place for foure
fountains, which they doe so mightily extoll for wonders, they must needs
haue some Brimstone Mines also, standing a like distance from the said
fountaines. And assuredly, neither about mount Hecla, as Munster would haue
it, nor by Frisius his fountaines (the report whereof how true it is, hath
bene hitherto declared) is Brimstone digged vp at this day: nor I thinke
euer was within the remembrance of our fathers. Neither is it true that
Munster reporteth concerning the abundance of Brimstone namely, that it is
almost the onely merchandize and tribute of the Iland. [Sidenote: Brimstone
Mines onely in the North part of Island.] For whereas the Iland is deuided
into foure partes, the fourth part onely towards the North (nay, but euen
the halfe thereof) doeth vse it for merchandize, and there is not one
crumme of Brimstone paied for tribute the Iland.


SECTIO DVODECIMA.

[Sidenote: Munst] Piscium tanta est copia in hac Insula, vt ad altitudinem
domorum sub aperto coelo vendedi exponantur.

Sub aperto coelo. Id quidem facere vidimus mercatores extraneos, donec
naues mercibus extraneis exonerarint, incipiantque easdem rursus piscibus &
reliquis nostratium mercibus onerare. An verò nostri homines id aliquando
fecerint, non satis liquet. Certè copiosa illa & vetus piscium abundantia
iam desijt, Islandis & istius boni, & aliorum penuria laborare
incipientibus, Domino Deo meritum impietatis nostræ flagellum, quod vtinam
fitè agnoscamus, immittente.


The same in English.

THE TWELFTH SECTION.

[Sidenote: Munster] There are so great store of fishes in this Iland, that
they are laid foorth on piles to be sold in the open aire, as high as the
tops of houses.

In the open aire. In deed we haue seen other country merchants doe so,
vntill they had vnladen their ships of outlandish wares, & filled them
againe with fishes & with other of our countrey merchandize. But whether
our men haue done the like at any time, it is not manifest. [Sidenote:
Abundance of fish about island diminished.] Certainly, that plentifull and
ancient abundance of fish is now decaied, and the Islanders now begin to be
pinched with the want of these and other good things, the Lord laying the
iust scourge of our impietie vpon vs, which I pray God we may duely
acknowledge.


SECTIO DECIMATERTIA.

[Sidenote: Frisius.] Equos habent velocissimos, qui sine intermissione 30.
millaria continuo cursu conficiunt.

Quidam in sua mappa Islandiæ, 20. millaria comunuo cursu assequi tradit
cuiusdam parosciæ equos. Sed vtrumque impossibile ducimus. Nam maximæ
celeritatis & roboris bestias (Rangiferos appellant) scribit Munsterus non
nisi 30. millaria 24. horarum spacio conficere.


The same in English.

THE THIRTEENTH SECTION.

[Sidenote: Frisius.] They haue most swift horses, which wil run without
ceasing a continual course for the space of 30. leagues.

A Certaine Cosmographer in his Map of Island reporteth concerning the
horses of one parish, that they will run 20. leagues at once in a continued
race. But we account both to bee impossible. For Munster writeth that those
beasts which excell all other in swiftnesse & strength of body, called
Rangiferi [Marginal note: Raine deere], cannot run aboue 36. leagues in 24.
houres.


SECTIO DECIMAQUARTA.

[Sidenote: Munst.] Cete grandia instar montium prope Islandium aliquando
conspiciuntur, quæ naues euertunt, nisi tubarum sono absterreantur, aut
missis in mare rotundis & vacuis vasis, quorum lusu delectantur,
ludificentor. Fit aliquando, vt nautæ in dorsa cetorum, quæ Insulas esse
putant, anchoras figentes. sæpe periclitentur, vocantur autem eorum
lingua Trollwal, Tuffelwalen. i. Diabolica cete.

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