CLARKE’S MARITIME DISCOVERIES. 
opened by prince Henry; the astrolabe 
Was not introduced into navigation tll 
long after that prince’s death: if Mr. 
Clarke will refer to Barros, dec. i. liv. 
iv. cap. 2. he may there see when and 
by whom. Proceeding to the discovery 
of Porto Santo, he says, ‘ the inhabit- 
ants were described by the discoverers 
as being in an intermediate state of 
civilization, that neither their conduct 
hor disposition betrayed any signs of 
ferocity.”” But it cannot be inferred 
from Barros that the island was peopled, 
and from thé after history of the place 
it must be inferred, that like Madeira it 
was uninhabited. The settlers were 
compelled to abandon it, because the 
rabbits whom they had carried there, 
devoured every vegetable which they 
_ attempted to raise. What then became 
of the-natives? did they ‘eat the rabbits? 
er the rabbits eat them? } 
* The discovery of Madeirais narrated 
with all the exaggerations of romance: 
~ *© Jt was the firm belief both of the in- 
habitants of Puerto Santo, and of the most 
enlightened among the Portugueze, that the 
sea to the. wéstward beyond’ that island, 
which had originally beea discovered by 
Juba, was not navigable on account of weeds 
and mud; thatthe course of a ship would also 
be arrested by concealed rocks, and dreadtul 
whirlpools. *Lhis idea had originated with 
- the antients, and was supported by a strange 
appearance in the horizon, that perplexed the, 
minds of out navigators: to the south-west 
of Puerto Santo, a thick impenetrable cloud 
continually hoyered on the waves, and thence 
extended to the heavens. Some believed it 
to be a dreadful abyss; superstition traced 
amidst:the gloom, the inscription and portal 
ef Dante; whilst the learned pronounced 
that it could only be theisland of Cipango, 
where Spanish and Portugueze bishops had 
retired, with other Christians, from the per- 
" secuting Moors, and that no one could ap- 
proach tuder the penalty of death.” 
_ © The Spanish pilot, with the Portugzueze 
who accompanied Gonzales, were now.shewn 
the dreadful shade, which continued to 
hover in the horizon to the south-west of 
_ Paerto Santo. Miorales defied the terrors 
which appalled the greater part of the com- 
wise deglaring it as his firm opinion, that 
th 
——— 
at they belicld could only be the land 
they ware jn search of. After'a consultation, 
Stwas detepemined, that the expedition should 
at least, beste wed untilthe hatte of the 
4, then probably some alteration might 
ama ab this alarming spectre: its tre- 
jous form however suli continued jvand 
¢ whole design would most likely have 
zen frustrated, had not Morales insisted, 
ie ayy. Perv. Vor. TT. 
% 
at the ground of the concealed island, be-. 
17 
ing shaded from the sun by thick and lofty 
trees, a vapour was continually exhaled, 
which spread itself throughout the sky > he 
also added, that according to the information 
he had received from the English seamen in 
his Moorish dungeon, and the course they 
described to have held, the land enveloped 
in the dark cloud could not be very distant. 
«© The arguments, and experience of 
Morales, had little. effect on the minds of 
any of his hearers except Gonzales, who at 
length yielded to their force; and it was se- 
cretly agreed between them, that the first 
favourable morning they shouldsct sail, with- 
out any previous communication of their in- 
tentions to the rest. Accordingly, when the 
Portugueze leastexpected it, the vessels at day- 
break, and as Alcaforado relates on St. Eliza- 
beth’s day, were found boldly standing with a 
press of sail towards the dreaded abyss. [f we 
consider the prevailing credulity and igno- 
rance of the age, and the imperfect state of 
navigation, we must allow that the attempt 
required the consummate resolution of a 
mariner. ‘he firmness of Gonzales, and the 
pilot, increased the apprehensions of those 
on board; for as the ship advanced, the 
high and extended vapour was cbserved to 
thicken, uniil is became horrible to view. 
«© Towards noon the roaring of the sea 
reverberated throughout the horizon. The 
Portugneze could no longer endure the pain- 
ful suspence, and they called Joudly on 
Gonzales, not to persist in a course which 
must inevitably terminate in-theirdestruction. 
Gonzales, and the Spanish pilot, attempted 
to calm their agitation; they urged every 
possible argument to convince them, that 
the whele was an idle alarm; and at length 
reconciled their trembling companions to 
abide the event. ‘The weather was for- 
tunately calm ; but the rapidity of the current 
obliged Gonzales to have his ship towed by 
two shallops along the skirts 6f the cloud; 
whilst the dashing of the sea on the breakers 
served asa guide, by which he either in- 
creased or diminished his distance. 
«© As they proceeded, the tremendous va- 
pour gradually lessened towards the east, but 
the noise of the waves increased; when on 
a sudden, something df a deeper shade was 
feebly discerned through the gleam, the 
yessels still continuing at a great distance. 
Some persons, who probably caught a faint 
glance of the rocks, with which the shore is 
lined, exclaimed, that they saw giants of an 
enormous size. A clearness was at length 
remarked on the sea, the hoarse echo of its 
waves abated; and, to complete their joy, 
alittle point, which received the name of 
San Lourengo, opened on the astonished 
spectators : doubling this, the high land 
to the southward cxtended before them, 
and, the cleud being dispersed, the wood- 
lands, for a considerable distance up the 
mountains, were unveiled.” 
T havé endeavoured, says Mr. Clarke; 
c eee . 
