[334] Alluding to the fables of Phaeton and Icarus; the former having obtained from Helios, his father, permission to guide the chariot of the sun for one day, nearly set the world on fire. He perished in the river Eridanus (the Po.) Icarus, the sun having melted the wax with which his wings were cemented, fell into that part of the Ægean which, from his misfortune, was called the Icarian Sea.—Ed.
[335] The sun is in the constellation Leo in July.—Ed.
[336] The Serra de Cintra, situated about 15 miles N.W. of Lisbon.—Ed.
[337] See the life of Don Henry, prince of Portugal, in the preface.
[338] Morocco.
[339] The discovery of some of the West Indian islands by Columbus was made in 1492 and 1493. His discovery of the continent of America was not till 1498. The fleet of Gama sailed from the Tagus in 1497.
[340] Called by the ancients Insulæ Purpurariæ. Now Madeira, and Porto Santo. The former was so named by Juan Gonzales, and Tristan Vaz, from the Spanish word madera, wood. These discoverers wens sent out by the great Don Henry.
[341] The Tropic of Cancer.—Ed.
[342] Called by Ptolemy Caput Assinarium, now Cape Verde.
[343] The Canaries, called by the ancients Insulæ Fortunatæ.