Terra Australis Incognita; Or, A New Southern Discovery, containing A Fifth Part of the World

by Pedro Fernandes de Queirós

These Regions know no Neighbourhood either of Turks or Moors, or of any other Nation which attempteth War upon confining Countries. The Land which we have discovered is all seated within the Torrid Zone, and a great Tract thereof reacheth unto the Equinoctial Circle, which is elevated unto them to 90 Degrees above the Horizon, and in some Places a little less. And if the Success prove answerable unto the Hopes, there will be found Antipodes unto the better part of Africk, unto all Europe, and to the greater Portion of Asia. But you must observe, that as the Countries which we have discover'd in 15 Degrees of Latitude, are better than Spain, so the other which are opposed to their Elevation, must by Proportion and Analogy prove some Terrestrial Paradise.

All those Quarters swarm with an incredible Multitude of inhabitants, whereof some are white, others black, and in Colour like unto those which the Spaniards call Mulatos, or half Moors, and others of a mingled Complexion. Some! wear their Hair long, black, and scatter'd, others have their Hair crisped and thick, and others very yellow and bright. Which Diversity is an apparent Argument, that there is Commerce and Communication amongst them. And this Consideration, together with the Bounty which Nature hath bestowed on the Soil, their Inexperience of Artillery and Guns, and their Unskilfulness in labouring in Mines, with other semblable Circumstances, doth induce me to infer, that all the Country is rich and well-peopled. It seemeth they know little what belongeth to Artificial Trades; for they have neither Fortifications nor Walls, and live without the Awe of Kings or Laws. They are a simple People, canton'd into' several Sects, and Factions, and exercise much Disagreement amongst themselves. The Arms which they use are Bows and Arrows, which are not poisoned or steeped in the Juice of venomous Herbs, as the Custom is of many other Countries: They do also carry Clubs, Truncheons, Pikes, Darts, to hurl with the Arm, all which ate framed only of Wood. They do cover themselves from the Waste of Girdling-place down to the half of their Thighs; they are very studious of Cleanliness, tractable, gleeful, and wonderously addicted to be grateful unto those that do them a Courtesie, as I have experienced many times. The which doth build in me a belief, that, with the Assistance of God, if they may be gently and amiably intreated, they will be found very docible and easie of Manage, and that we shall without much Work accommodate our selves unto them. And it is most necessary to observe this way of Sweetness, especially in the Beginning, that the Inhabitants may be drawn along to this so holy and saving an End, whereof we ought to take a particular Care and Zeal, as well in small things, as in Matters of more Importance. Their Houses are built of Wood, covered and tiled with Palm-tree Leaves; they have Pitchers and Vessels made of Earth, they are not without the Mystery of Weaving, and other Curiosities of that kind. They work on Marble, they have Flutes, Drums and Wooden-Spoons, they set apart certain Places for Oratories and Prayers, and for Church-yards. Their Gardens are artificially severed into Beds, bordered and fashioned with distinct Limits; Mother of Pearl, and the Shells which contain Pearl, they have in much use and Estimation, of which they make Wedges, Razors, Saws, Cutters, and such like instruments; They also do make thereof Pearls and great Beads to wear about their Necks; they that do dwell in the Islands have Boats very artificially made, and exceedingly commodious for Sailing, which is a certain Argument that they confine upon other Nations that are of a more polished and elegant Behaviour. And this also they have of our Husbandry, that they cut Cocks and geld Boars.

Their Bread is usually made of three Sorts of Roots, which grow there in great abundance. Neither do they employ much Labour in making this Bread, for they do only roast the Roots until they are soft and tender. They are very pleasant to the Taste, wholsome and nourishing, they are of a good Length, there being of them of an Ell long, and the half of that in Bigness.

There is great store of excellent Fruits in these Countries. There are six kinds of Maple-trees, Almond-trees of four sorts, and other Trees called Obi, resembling almost in Fruit and Greatness our Quince-trees. Innumerable Walnut-trees are found there, and of Citron-trees the Barbarians have no Dearth, nor of other great and excellent Fruits, which we have seen and tasted. They have moreover Sugar-Canes, large in Size, and in great Plenty; they have Knowledge of our ordinary Apples; they have Palm-trees without Number, out of which there may easily be drawn a Juice, which will make a Liquor alluding much to Wine, as also Whey, Vinegar, and Honey, the Kernels thereof are exceeding sweet. And they have Fruits which the Indians call Cocos, which being green do make a kind of Twine, and the Pith is almost like in Taste unto the Cream of Milk: When they are ripe they serve for Meat and Drink both by Land and Sea; And when they wither and fall from the Tree, there sweateth out an Oil from them, which is very good to burn in Lamps, and is medicinable for Wounds, and not unpleasant to be eaten. Of their Rinds or Barks there are made Bottles, and other like Vessels, and the inner Skin doth serve for Tow or Moss to stop and close up the Leakes in Ships. Men do make Cables and other Cordage of them, which are of sufficient Strength to draw a Cannon, and are fit for other domestick Uses. But that which is more special, they do there use the Leaves of Palm-trees, which they amass together, to make Sails of them for Vessels of small Bulk and Burthen. They make likewise fine thin Matts of them, and they do serve for Tiles to cover the House without, and for Hangings to cloath the House within. And these Houses are built of the Branches of Trees that are strait and long, of which they do likewise make Pikes, and other sorts of Weapons, as also Oars to row with, and Utensils for the House. You are to note, that these Palm-trees resemble Vines, from whence they gather their Materials for Wine all the Year long, which they make without much Cost, or Labour. Amongst their Herbage and Garden-Fruits; we have seen Melons, Pears great and little, and sundry sorts of Pot-Herbs. And they have also Beans For Flesh, they are stored with a great Number of Hogs, which are like unto ours. They have Hens, Capons, Partridges, Ducks, Turtles, Pigeons, Stock-Doves, and Goats, as one of my Captains doth relate. And the Indians themselves have assured us that there are Cows and Oxen. There are also sundry sorts of Fish, Harghi, Persereyes, Lize, Soles, Trouts, Shads, Macabises, Casanes, Pampani, Pilchards, Thorn-backs or Skate-fish, Cuculi, Congers, Porposes, Rochets, Muskles, Lobsters, and many other, the Names whereof I cannot now remember. But it is probable that there are divers other kinds, since those which I have recounted were taken hard by our Ships. And upon ripe and serious Consideration of that which I have represented unto you, a Man may easily collect, that such plentiful and different Varieties of all things, may yield large means to inhabit there, with great and singular Delights. There is Stuff for Marchpanes and sweet Confections of all sorts, without borrowing any Spice for the Composition of them elsewhere. And for my Mates the Mariners, besides those Particulars which I have before set down, there will be no want of Gammons, Sausages, and other salt Meats which Hogs do yield; neither of Vinegar, Spiceries, and other Sauces that serve for Delicacy, and to awake the Appetite. And you must observe, that many of these things are the same with those which we have in our Parts, and possibly they are there in greater abundance; by all which it is easily to be conjectured, that this Country is fit for the production of all that which groweth in Europe.

The Riches which I have seen in those parts is Silver and Pearl. Another Captain in his Relation doth report, that he hath seen Gold, which are the three most precious Darlings that lie and are cherished in the Bosom of Nature. We have also both of us seen many Nutmegs, much Mastick, Ginger, and Pepper. There is also Cinamon; and it is likely that Cloves may be found in those parts, since so many other sorts of Spiceries and Aromatical Drugs do prosper there; and that the rather, because these Countries lie very near the parallel of the Isles of Terre-natte, Bachian, and the Moluccos. There are likewise Materials for all sorts of Silk, and we have seen Anise-seed and excellent good Ebony, as also other kind? of Wood proper for the Building of as many Ships as one will desire, and Stuff to make Sails for the same. Three sorts of Materials there are wherewithal to make Cordage, and one of them is very like unto our Hemp. Moreover, out of the Oil of Cocos, whereof I have already made mention, there is a kind of bituminous Stuff extracted, called Galagala, which may be well used for Pitch. They make also a kind of Rosen, with which the Indians pitch their Boats, which they call Piraques. And since there are Goats and Cows in those parts, without question we shall have Goat-Skins, Leather, Tallow, and Flesh in full abundance. The Bees which we have seen there do make proof, that there will be no Scarcity of Honey and Wax. And there is good Appearance to discover many other things which are not yet known, to say nothing touching the Form and Site of the Country. Unto all which, if that be adjoined, which the Industry of Man may contribute to those Parts, since there is such abundance of Commodities, which the Country itself doth yield, and such Hope to transport thither those things which grow with us, the best and choicest whereof that Peru and New Spain bring forth, I have resolved to transfer thither; it is to be hoped that this will so enrich that Country, that it will be able to nourish and furnish not only the Inhabitants of the same, and those of America, but give an Accession unto Spain itself both of Riches and Extent of Command: And this may be accomplished after the manner which I have projected, and will unfold unto those which shall lend an assisting Hand for the Guiding and Consummation of this Work.

Now by that Land which we have already discovered outwardly and along the Shores, without Entrance into the inward Parts, we do conceive a certain Argument, that as much Riches, Commodities, and Greatness, may be hoped for from thence, as we have already in these Countries. And you may be pleased to understand that my principal Aim was to take a View only of those ample Regions which we have discovered; for by reason of many Sicknesses which have weakened me, and some other Chances, whereof I will at this time make no mention, I was not able to survey all which I desired, neither could I in a full Month have seen all that, which I was of my self inclinable to view.

You are not to make your Judgment of the Indians that inhabit these Countries according to the Honour of the People here, or conceive them to be affected with the same Desires, Pleasures, Necessities, or Estimation of things that we are: But you are to make account that they are a People whose Care is studiously placed upon this, that they may live easily in this World, and pass their Days with the least Pain and Perturbation they can. And this is indeed their Practice, for they do not bestow themselves on those things, which with such Vexation and Torment we here labour to obtain.

There are found in this Country as many Commodities, both for the Support and Delectation of the Life of Man, as may be expected from a Soil that is manurable, pleasant and very temperate. It is a fat and a fertile Land, where in many places Clay is found, which will prove of excellent Use to build Houses, and to make Tiles and Bricks, and will serve for whatsoever is usually made of Earth. There is no Dearth of Marble and other good Stones, wherewith, if there be Occasion, there may be built Structures of greater State and Magnificence.

The Country aboundeth in Wood, fit for all Works and Uses, whereunto the same is commonly put. There are spacious and goodly Plains, and Fields that are divided and interlaced with Brooks, Trenches and Rivers. There are great and high Rocks, sundry Torrents, Rivers great and little, on Which Water-mills for Corn may, with much Commodiousness, be built and placed, as also Engines to make Sugar, Tucking mills, Forges, and all other Instruments which in their Use do require Water.

We have found Salt-pits there, and, which is a Note of the Fertility of the Soil, there are in many places Canes, whereof some are five of six Handfuls thick, with Fruit answerable to that Proportion. The Top of that Fruit is very small and hard, and the Skin thereof is exceeding sweet. There are also Flints for Fire, equal in Goodness to those of Madrid. The Bay of St. James and St. Philip hath twenty Leagues of Bank, and is without Mud, into which there is a sure and safe Entrance both by Day and Night. It is sheltered and covered with many Houses, which in the Day-time we have seen a far off to send forth Smoak, and in the Night to shew forth Fire.