THE SOURCE OE THE lftlfc '$$ 



for pufhing farther the difcovery ; and, being lucky in good 

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

 leagues farther into the bay to the fouth 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 expected to 

 find there. 



The fuccefsful expedition round Cape Bojador being foon 

 fpread abroad through Europe, excited a fpirit of adventure 

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

 mediately to prince Henry, from their different countries, 

 which further increafed the fpirit of the Portuguefe, already 

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

 men, who, not fufceptible of great actions themfelves, dedi^ 

 cated their time with fome fuccefs to criticifing the en- 

 terprises of others* Thefe blamed prince Henry, becaufe, 

 when Portugal was exhaufted both of men and money by 

 a neceflary war in Africa, he fhould have chofen that very 

 time to launch out into expences and vain discoveries of 

 countries, in an immenfe ocean, which mufl be ufelefs, be- 

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

 vancers formerly, that the ocean was boiling among burn- 

 ing fands, they ftill thought themfelves authorifed to affert, 

 that thefe countries mruft, from their Situation under the 

 fun, be fo hot as to turn all the difcoverers black, and alfo 

 to deitroy all vegetation. Futile as thefe reafons were, at 

 another time they would have been Sufficient to have 

 blafted all the defigns of prince Henry, had they made half 

 the imprcmon upon the king that they did upon the minds 

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



N 2 of 



