THESOURCEOFTHENILE. 99 



for pulliing farther the difcoveiy ; and, being lucky in good 

 weather, he fairly doubled the Cape ; and, continuing fome 

 leagues farther into the bay to the Ibuth of it, he returned 

 with the fame good fortune to Portugal, after having found 

 the ocean equally as navigable on the other fide as on this ; 

 and that there was no foundation for thofe monftrous ap- 

 pearances or difficulties mariners till now had expe(5ted to 

 find there. 



The fuccefsful expedition round Cape Bojador being foon 

 fpread abroad through Europe, excited a fpirit of adventure 

 in all foreigners ; the mod capable of whom reforted im- 

 mediately to prince Henry, from their different countries, 

 which further increafed the fpirit of the Portugtiefe, already 

 raifed to a very great height. But there ftill was a party of 

 men, who, not fufceptible of great aftions themfelves, dedi- 

 cated their lime with fome fuccefs to criticifing the en- 

 tcrprifes of others. Thefc blamed prince Henry, becaufe, 

 when Portugal was exhaullcd botli of men and money by 

 a necelTary war in Africa, he fhould have chofcn that very 

 lime to launch out into expenccs and vain difcoveries of 

 countries, in an immcnfe ocean, which muft be ufclefs, bc- 

 caule incapable of cultivation. And though they did not ad- 

 vance, as formerly, that the ocean was boiling among burn- 

 ing fands, thc}- flill thought tlicmfclves authorifed to allcrt, 

 that thefc countries muft, from their fituation under thc 

 fun, be fo hot as to turn all thc difcovcrcrs black, and alfo 

 to deftroy all vegetation. Futile as tlicfe reafons were, at 

 another time they would liave been fuificient to have 

 blafted all the dcfigns of prince Hcray, had tliey made lialf 

 the imprellion upon the kmg that they did upon the minds 

 of the people. Portugal was then only groiviMg to the pitch 



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