mate. 



Chap. VII. <U M E%^1 C J. ^ 7? 



Sanilos, where Sofa .built the City Salvador ; fince which the Tortuguefc have fpread 

 themfelves farther and farther over Brajile.. 



The United Netherlands alfo Tent Colonies thither with good fuccefs, for they took 

 feveral vaft Countreys from the fortuguefe, by force of Arms, and built new Forts 

 and Towns in feveral places. But we will firft give you a general Defcription of 

 it, that fo we may the better render a Relation in particular of every Province *ThTcii- e 

 thereof, it being a confiderable part* of the New World, and both pleafant and fruit- * 

 fill, and the Sea-Coafts refrefh'd by Eaftcrly Winds, which begin before Day- 

 break, when the North Sea ebbs or flows, for then the Wind rifes with the Sun , and 

 continues till Mid-night ; Towards the Weft, where the Mountains divide Braftle 

 from Peru, it is made temperate by Wefterly Winds, which though judg'd unwhol. 

 fom, becaufe they fcem to arife out of the Moorifli Grounds, yet they hurt not the 

 Inhabitants along that Coaft, becaufe they either break againft the high Moun- 

 tains, or are driven by the ftrong Wind which blows from che Sea. 



The difference between Summer and Winter, fliortcr and longer Days, in the 

 main part oOBrafile, is fcarce difcernable, warm Weather lafting all the year round ♦ 

 and for the length of the Day and Night, the Sun being hid under the Horizori 

 twelve hours, (hines for the moft part juft as long, the greateft difference never 

 being above an hour. Three hours before Day-break the Dew makes it exceeding 

 cold till Sun-rifing . wherefore the Srafelians make Fires in the Night near their 

 Hammocks, not oncly to keep wild Beads from them, but alfo againft the Cold. 

 After the coldeft Nights follow the faireft Days, and the contrary after fultry 

 Nights ; nevcrthelcfs (except in the rainy Seafon, which begins with March and 

 ends about Augufi) the Skye is generally clear, yet it Lightens much towards the 

 Evening. Rainbowes often appear in the Skye, and bout the Mooon Halos. 

 The Rain generally falls in great Drops , and with a mighty noife ,. before 

 which it is generally very fultry hot, or elfe foon after. The Dew, which is fruit- 

 fuller than in Europe, is faltifli, which makes it oft to rot things that lie in the open 

 Air. During the rainy Moncths, a South-Eaft Winds blows from a cloudy Skye, 

 much ftronger than the Northern in Summer, The South*Eaft Wind drives the 

 Stream to the North, as the North Wind drives it to the South : And more than 

 this, there is little to be difcern'd of the Seas ebbing and flowing hereabouts : At 

 the higheft Tides the Brafilians go feveral Leagues from the Shore to Fifli, upon 

 Planks made of the fpungy Wood call'd Jangada faftned together. The Sea, which 

 feems to burn in the Night, is To clear in the Day, that the Fifli may be feen to 

 fwim above twenty Fathom deep. A calm Ocean when the Days and Nights 

 are of an exacl: length, and efpecially when dark Clouds appear, is a certain fign 

 of a dreadful Storm. At Full or New»Moon the Sea rifes twelve Foot, and con- 

 tinues either a longer or fliorter time, according as it is more or lefs turbulent, and 

 the Rivers fall ftronger or more gently into the fame. 



Before moft part of the Coaft of Brafile lies a Stone Cliff of above twenty or 

 thirty Paces broad, which is never cover'd with Water, though in the time of 

 Spring-floods. In this ClirTNature in feveral places hath made a Gap, through 

 which the Ships fail near the Shore, and ride fafe at an Anchor. 



The whole Countrcy of Srafile is divided into thirteen Tr<efe£lures, or Lord- 

 fliipsi and hath about as many Rivers, which more or lefs empty themfelves into 

 every one of thefe Countreys. The Eaftcrn part hath feveral Brooks and Foun- 

 tains, which afford good Water both for Man and Beaft. In fome parts the Water 

 isfo ftrong, that the wild Beafts making themfelves Drunk therewith, arc eafily 

 taken. During the Winter Seafon the Rivers glide with great force, and fwell on a 



Y y z fudden, 





