DISTRIBUTION Or LAND AND SEA. 17 



manners: as in respect of Peru and all America, the one is LlB - T - 

 called the North Sea, the other the South ; and at the East 

 Indies, the one is called the Indian sea, the other that of 

 China. And I have observed, as well by ray owne naviga 

 tion, as by the relation of others, that the Sea is never 

 divided from the Lande above a thousand Leagues. And 

 although the great Ocean stretcheth farre, yet doth it never 

 passe this measure. I will not for all this affirm e that wee 

 sayle not above a thousand leagues in the Ocean, which 

 were repugnant to trueth, being well knowne that the 

 shippes of Portugal have sailed foure times as much 

 and more, and that the whole world may bee compassed 

 about by sea, as wee have seene in these dayes, without 

 any further doubt. But I say and affirme, that of that 

 which is at this day discovered, there is no land distant 

 from any other fir me land, by direct line, or from some 

 Islands neere vnto it above a thousand leagues ; and so 

 betwixt two firme lands there is no greater distance of sea, 

 accompting from the neerest parts of both the lands : for, 

 from the ends of Europe or Affricke and their coastes, to 

 the Canaries, the Isles of Azores, Cape Verd and others in 

 the like degree, are not above three hundred leagues, or 

 five hundred from the Mayne land. From the saide Hands 

 running along to the West Indies, there are scant nine 

 hundred leagues, to the Hands of saint Dorninick, the 

 Virgins, the Happy Ilandes and the .rest; and the same 

 Hands runne along in order to the Ilandes of Barlovent 1 

 which are Cuba, Hispaniola, and Boriqueu ; 2 from the same 

 Hands vnto the Mayne land are scarce two or three hun 

 dred leagues, and in the neerest part farre lesse. The firme 

 land runnes an infinite space ; from Terra Florida to the 

 land of Patagones, and on the other side of the South, from 



1 Barlovento, windward; and sotaccuto, leeward. 



2 Boriquen or Brieque Island, also called Crab s Island, is one of the 

 Virgin Isles, two leagues from Porto Rico. 



