A.D. 

 1555. 



Bromas. 



A secret. 



The death of 

 our men. 



Five blacke 

 Moores 

 brought into 

 England. 

 [II. ii. 23.] 

 Colde may be 

 better abiden 

 then heate. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



judgement should greatly hinder her sayling. Their 

 ships were also in many places eaten with the wormes 

 called Bromas or Bissas, whereof mention is made in 

 the Decades. These creepe betweene the plankes, which 

 they eate through in many places. 



Among other things that chanced to them in this 

 voyage, this is worthy to be noted, that wheras they 

 sailed thither in seven weekes, they could returne in 

 no lesse space then twentie weekes. The cause whereof 

 they say to be this : That about the coast of Cabo Verde 

 the winde is ever at the East, by reason whereof they 

 were enforced to saile farre out of their course into the 

 maine Ocean, to finde the winde at the West to bring 

 them home. There died of our men at this last voyage 

 about twentie and foure, whereof many died at their 

 returne into the clime of the colde regions, as betweene 

 the Islands of Azores and England. They brought with 

 them certaine blacke slaves, whereof some were tall and 

 strong men, and could wel agree with our meates and 

 drinkes. The colde and moyst aire doth somewhat 

 offend them. Yet doubtlesse men that are borne in hot 

 Regions may better abide colde, then men that are borne 

 in colde Regions may abide heate, forasmuch as vehement 

 heate resolveth the radicall moysture of mens bodies, as 

 colde constraineth and preserveth the same. 



This is also to be considered as a secret worke of 

 nature, that throughout all Africke, under the Equi- 

 noctial line, and neere about the same on both sides, the 

 regions are extreeme hote, and the people very blacke. 

 Whereas contrarily such regions of the West Indies as 

 are under the same line are very temperate, and the 

 people neither blacke, nor with curlde and short wooll 

 on their heads, as they of Africke have, but of the 

 colour of an Olive, with long and blacke heare on their 

 heads : the cause of which variety is declared in divers 

 places in the Decades. 



It is also worthy to be noted that some of them 

 that were at this voyage told me : That is, that they 



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