Relation 
Isle of Fer. 
The torrid 
Zone . 
The Star < 
the South. 
[1669 
cannon shot from us about 10 o’clock in the morning, & 
came one on either side of us; at the same time they 
hoisted the Dutch flag, notwithstanding which we recog¬ 
niz’d that these Ships belong’d to Turks, & that there 
was a great number of men on board. We also hoisted 
the French flag, at the sight of which the Turks lower’d 
their sails, not wishing to prove by encounter the forces of 
the French, which they fear more than any other. 
During all the Holy Week, Divine Service was cele¬ 
brated on board our ship by the Missionaries who were on 
their way to the Kingdom of Siam to preach the Holy 
Gospel. 
On Thursday the 25th, we discover’d the Isle of Porto 
Santo, & shortly afterwards that of Madeira, which are of 
the number of those which are call’d Canaries : we were a 
long time doubling this last because of contrary winds. 
The first day of May we sail’d with a fair wind, & 
doubl’d the Island of Palma, then that of Ferro, where 
God has made manifest his Providence, in succouring the 
necessity of his people by marvellous means. 
This Isle cannot pride itself on its fertility, as it rains 
here but rarely ; but this want of water is recompens’d for 
by a Tree, prodigious in size; it has very large leaves, & 
its branches are of a vast extent. A thick cloud always 
environs this tree, & expending itself on its leaves, distils 
water sufficiently to satisfy the thirst of the inhabitants & 
cattle of this island. 
On Thursday, the second of May, we passed the Tropick 
of Cancer, & leaving the temperate Zone, we found our¬ 
selves to be beneath that which the Ancients have believed 
to be uninhabitable, on account of the excessive heat of 
the sun, which never ceases, & which they call for this 
reason the torrid or burning Zone. 
On Friday, the third, we discover’d the Star of the 
South or the Southern Cross, yet at the same time we 
