Lib. 3. Geogr.
Flemmish Islands.
Lib. 17.
But to return to our Discourse, and disprove the former Testimony, That the Phenicians found America. The formention’d Comtæus saith thus; “None can justly doubt, but that since the Phenicians took the Command of the Sea from the Rhodians, they more and more increas’d their Fleets, and growing experter in Navigation, passing the Gibraltar Northward, became Masters of Cadiz, and still prepar’d new Fleets, which searching beyond Atlas Southward, discover’d the Coasts of Africa, and the adjacent Isles, driving a great Trade to the Canaries, and to those which lay scatter’d along Cape de Verd, formerly call’d the Gorgades. This way of Trade also was not unknown to the Greeks, Iberians, and other People; but after the Phenicians assum’d it wholly to themselves, without any respect or difference of Countreys, they sunk all whomsoever they could catch.” Curtius further adds, saying, “I believe that the Phenicians, sailing into the Main Ocean, have discover’d unknown Countreys.” And which are those? Not the Gorgades, or Canary Isles; for those were sufficiently known before; but a Main Land, far beyond. But though the Phenicians were most expert, yet not skilful enough to make out such Discoveries. They indeed were the first that before any other sail’d out of the Mid-land Sea; nay, they ventur’d a good way into the main Ocean, beyond the Straights of Gibraltar, or the Herculean Pillars: But how far? Not to the Gorgades, above half way betwixt Spain and America; but to the Cassiterides, or Flemish Islands, which to the number of nine lie in sight of Spain. Strabo affirms this Truth, saying, “The Cassiterides are ten, lying in order close by one another: One remains uninhabited; on the rest live a swarthy People.” This way the Phenicians sail’d first, when they were in quest for Trade, from Cadiz. And though he reckons ten, there are indeed but nine, viz. St. Michael, St. Mary, St. George, Tercera, de Pico, or Tenariff, so call’d from the Mountain which vomits Fire, Fayal, Las Flores, Del Cuervo, and Gratiosa. Moreover, the same Strabo relates, “That the Carthaginians did not throw over-board the Traders on the remote Gorgades, but those especially that came from Sardinia or Cadiz.”
Salt-Islands how long known.
Joan. Mariana de Reb. Hispan. lib. 1. cap. 20.
Very remarkable Voyage of Hanno the Carthaginian, along the Coast of Africa to the Salt-Islands.
Strange Vision.
The Ancients believ’d Baboons to be Men.
Mean while, we cannot deny, but that the Gorgades that lye before Cape de Verd were frequented by the Carthaginians, long before the Birth of our Savior; but with so much admiration, that Hanno their Captain in that Expedition was listed amongst the number of their Heroes, hapning thus: The Carthaginians sailing for Cadiz, to assist the Phenicians against the Spaniards, made that the Seat of War, which soon drew on a greater Design; for Hamilco and Hanno being impowr’d by the Senate at Carthage, manag’d the War in Spain. Both of them were ambitious to discover new Countreys. Hamilco sail’d along the Coast of Spain and Gaule, reaching to Batavia. Hanno steer’d Southerly, carrying thirty thousand Men of all Trades in his Fleet, purposing to build a new City in some place or other, and got beyond the Promontory Ampelusium, now call’d Cabo Spatil; the River Ziloa, which washeth the City Arzilla; and the Stream Lix, now Lusso, where the Poets place the Gardens of the Hesperides, in the custody of a waking Dragon: From thence proceeding on his Voyage, he came to an Anchor in the Mouth of the River Subur, at this day call’d Subu; and afterwards before the City Sala, now call’d Salle, at that time made very dangerous by the voracious Beasts in the neighboring Woods: At last the Fleet reach’d the Foot of the lesser Atlas, which ends at the Point Chaunaria, by the Modern Navigators call’d Cabo Non, because it was judg’d, that none could scape with Life, that durst adventure to steer beyond Chaunaria; yet Hanno sail’d between Palma, one of the Canary-Islands, and the Promontory Bojadoris, towards the pointed Coast call’d then Cornu Hesperium, but now Cape Verd, in the River Asama, by Castaldus call’d Omirabi: Here he found horrible Croccodiles, and Hippopotami or Sea-Horses. Atsama is held to flow from the same Fountain whence the Nyle hath its Original. In this Latitude Hanno descried those Islands which he call’d Gorgones (from the three deform’d Sisters Medusa, Sthenio, and Euryale, whose Heads were Periwig’d with curl’d Serpents) because they found as illfavor’d Women on these Islands, which at this day the Hollanders call the Salt-Islands; amongst which, the chiefest is St. Jago, a Colony of The Portuguese; but the Mountains opposite to the Gorgones, on the main Coast of Africa, rising aloft with spiring tops near the River Masitholus, Hanno call’d the Chariots of the Gods, now nam’d Sierra Liona, lying in eight Degrees Northern Latitude. When Hanno and his Armado, either provok’d by an undaunted Courage, or covetous of fame, if they proceeded in their so wonderful Adventure, went forward, where they reported, that they saw Rivers of Fire falling into the Ocean, the Countrey all about burning, and the tops of the Mountains dazleing their Eyes with continual Flashes of Lightning, intermix’d with terrible Thunder; adding further, That the Natives all the Summer shelter’d themselves from the excessive Heat, in Caves under Ground; and coming forth in the night, run abroad with lighted Torches over their Ground, so gathering in their Harvest, and Officiating all other Affairs of Husbandry: Yet Hanno no ways daunted at such strange Sights, sail’d from Sierra Liona Southerly to the Æquinox, where he discover’d an Island not far from the African Coast, inhabited by a rough and hairy People, to take some of whom, he us’d all possible means, yet could not; onely two Women, being incompass’d by Soldiers, were taken, and carried aboard; but being very salvage, and barbarously wild, could not be tamed, or brought to any Complacency; so they kill’d them, and carried their stuff’d-up Skins to Carthage, where they were a long time gaz’d upon with great admiration.