Later Reappearance As an Island
But the Island of the Seven Cities appeared as such on other maps and by this name only. Perhaps its most salient showing is on Desceliers’ fine map of 1546[132] ([Fig. 9]), that entertaining repository of isles which are more than dubious and names which are fantastic. He presents it off the American coast about a third as far as the Bermudas and midway from Cape Breton to the Bay of Fundy. The size is considerable, the outline being deeply embayed on several sides and hence very irregular, almost as much so as Celebes. Two islets lie near two of its projecting peninsulas. It bears a brief inscription giving the name Sete Cidades and indicating that it belongs to Portugal.
This choice of location would have been more venturesome a century later. In 1546 there had been some exploring and much fishing in these waters but no determined settlement near them, and they were hardly yet familiar. However, the Ortelius map of 1570[133] ([Fig. 10]), and the Mercator map of 1587[134] find it more prudent to move this island farther south and farther out to sea, reducing its area, but retaining its traditional name. Not long after this, except for a local name on St. Michaels of the Azores, the Seven Cities disappear from geography.
Fig. 9—Section of the Desceliers map of 1546 showing the Island of Seven Cities and various other legendary islands. (After Kretschmer’s hand-copied reproduction.) The names are mostly upside down because on the original south is at the top.
Fig. 10—Section of Ortelius’ world map of 1570 showing, of the legendary islands and regions discussed in the present work, the Island of Seven Cities (“Sept cites”), St. Brendan’s Islands, Brazil, Vlaenderen, Green Island (Y. Verdo), Estotiland, Drogio, Frisland, Islands of Demons, La Emperadada, and Grocland. (After Nordenskiöld’s photographic facsimile.)