1.8 LAND AND SEA AT THE POLES. 



LlR - * the Straight of Magellan/ to the Cape of Mendoce, 2 there 

 runnes a long Continent but not very large ; 3 for the largest 

 is here in Peru, 4 which is distant from Brazil about a 

 thousand leagues. In this South Sea, although they have 

 not yet discovered the ende towards the West, yet of late 

 they have found out the Hands which they call Salomon/ 

 the which are many and great, distant from Peru about 

 eyght hundred leagues. And for that wee finde by observa 

 tion, that whereas there bee many and great Ilandes, so 

 there is some firme Land not farre off, I my selfe with many 

 others doe beleeve that there is some firme land neere unto 

 the Hands of Salomon, the which doth answere vnto our 

 America on the West part, and possibly might runne by 

 the heigth of the South, to the Straightes of Magellan. 

 Some hold that Nova Guinea is firme Land, and some 

 learned men describe it neere to the Hands of Salomon ; so 

 ns it is likely, a good parte of the world is not yet dis 

 covered, seeing at this day our men sayle in the South Sea 

 vnto China and the Philippines ; and wee say, that to go 

 from Peru to those parts, they passe a greater Sea, then in 

 going from Spaiue to Peru. Moreover, wee know, that by 

 that famous Straight of Magellan these two Seas doe 

 ioyne and continue one with an other (I say the South sea 

 with that of the North) by that part of the Antarticke Pole, 

 which is in fiftie one degrees of altitude. But it is a great 

 question, wherein many have busied themselves, whether 

 these two Seas ioyne together in the North part; but I 

 have not heard that any vnto this day could attayne vnto 

 this point : but by certaine likelihoods and coniectures, some 

 affirmo there is an other Straight vnder the North, opposite 



1 &quot; Magallanes.&quot; 



2 Cape Mendocino, on the coast of California. 



3 &quot;No muy ancha&quot;, not very wide. 



4 Aqui en esta parte del Peru.&quot; 



5 Discovered by Alvaro Mendafia in 1567. 



