GENERAL HEADS FOR THE Natural History OF A COUNTRY, Great or Small; Drawn out for the Use of TRAVELLERS AND NAVIGATORS.

Imparted by the late Honourable ROBERT BOYLE, Esq Fellow of the Royal Society. Ordered to be published in his Life-time, at the Request of some Curious Persons.

To which is added, other Directions for Na­vigators, &c. with particular Observa­tions of the most noted Countries in the World: By another Hand.

LONDON, Printed for John Taylor at the Ship in S. Paul's Church-yard, and S. Holford, at the [...] in the Pall Mall. 1692.

J. I. Lucas

TO THE READER.

I doubt not but it will be sufficient to recommend to you the ensuing Treatise, to know that the first and most general part of it was designed for thy Benefit, by the Ho­nourable Mr. BOYLE, some Months before his Death, in complyance with the frequent Importunities of many curious Gentlemen, Physicians, &c. that came to visit him, who were very desir­ous to have Directions how they might im­prove themselves by their Travels to the best Advantage. Since that Time Ad­ditions to it have been made, partly out of Mr. Boyle's own, and partly out of other Men's Writings, brought together, to be, as it were, under one View, for the further Satisfaction of the Ingenious; though in doing of this the Compiler has [Page] left himself a Liberty to insert such things as he thought might be either for the De­light or Profit of the Curious Traveller, for whom the whole of this Treatise is designed. You have here, in the First place the General Directions, divided into such as relate to the whole Micro­cosme, pag. 1. II. To Navigation, pag. 12. III. To Mines, pag. 18. IV. Vegetables, pag. 48.

As for particular Directions, we have begun first with Turky, pag. 58. after that Egypt, pag. 67. III. Gui­ny, pag. IV. Poland, pag. 75. V. Hungaria and Transilvania, p. 80. VI. Suratte, p. 87. VII. Persia, 101. VIII. Virginia, pag. 102. IX. Guaiana and Brasil, pag. 106. X. The Antisles and Caribbe Islands, 109. In the End you have an Index, for the most Material Words and Things in the Treatise.

If this Treatise meet with a favorable Acceptance, we purpose to give you Vse­ful and Pleasant Enlargments upon most of these Heads, with an Addition of New Ones, not here mention'd. Adieu▪

General Heads FOR The Natural History OF A COUNTRY,

COnsidering the great Im­provements, that have of late been made of Natural History (the only sure Foundation of Natural Philosophy,) by the Travels of Gentlemen, Seamen, and others; And the gread Disadvantage ma­ny Ingenious Men are at in their [Page 2] Travels, by reason they know not before-hand, what things they are to inform themselves of in every Country they come to, or by what Method they may make Enquiries about things to be known there, I thought it would not be unacceptable to such, to have Directions in Ge­neral, relating to all, and also in Particular, relating to Particu­lar Countries, in as little Bounds as possible, presented to their View.

As for the General Heads, I shall offer them to your Conside­ration in such Order, as they were some Years ago given to the Publick by the worthy and never­to be forgotten Mr. Boyle; which are those that respect the Hea­vens, or concern the Air, the Water, or the Earth.

First. Under the first kind may be reckon'd the Longitude and [Page 3] Latitude of the Place, and that in respect to the Changes made in the Air; the Climate, toge­ther with the Length of the long­est and shortest Days, and the Parallels come here to be consi­dered; the Retrogradation of the Sun upon Dials, within the Tro­picks, and that naturally; what fixt Stars, and what not seen there, &c.

Secondly, About the Air is to be considered, its Temperature as to Heat, Dryness and Moi­sture, and the Measures of them, its Weight, Clearness, Refractive Power, its Subtilty or Grosness, its abounding with or wanting an Esurine Salt; its Variation ac­cording to the several Seasons of the Year, and the Times of the Day: How long the several kinds of Weather continue, what sort of Meteors it breeds most com­monly; in what Order they are [Page 4] generated, and how long they usually last: Especially what Winds 'tis lyable to; whether any of them be stated, and or­dinary, &c. What Diseases are Epidemical▪ that are suppos'd to flow from the Air: What other Diseases the Country is subject to, wherein that had a share, e. g. the Plague and contagious Sicknesses. What is the usual Salubrity or Insalubrity of the Air. And with what Constitu­tions it agrees better or worse than others. As also the Speci­fick Gravity of the Air, com­par'd with the other foregoing Qualities, for this Effect it will be convenient the Traveller be provided with a Travelling Baro­scope, having the Divisions usual in the other Baroscopes, markt upon a sliding Ruler, which be­ing once exactly mark'd for Lon­don, may serve for other Places; [Page 5] and for observing the Difference between the Air here and in other Places, and in most differing Climates, as in the Torrid and Frigid Zone, it has another Ruler coming out perpendicular from the lower End of the Slid­ing Ruler, that it may mark the heighth of the Mercury, in the lower Leg of the Syphon; so the Divisions in the upper end will tell you the Specifick Gravity of the Air at that Time. I am the shorter in describing this, be­cause I have left with Mr. Papin, lodging at Mr. Carpenters in Fri­daystreet, over against the Bell Inn, the whole Method of this Contrivance: Whether it will not be more serviceable both at home and abroad than that with stagnant Mercury, I leave to the Judgment of the Ingenious,

Thirdly. About the Water are to be considered, 1. The Sea, [Page 6] its Depth, specifick Gravity, Dif­ference of Saltness in different Zones, the Plants, Insects and Fishes to be found in it, Tides, with respect to the adjacent Lands, Currents, Whirl-pools, &c. 2. Rivers, their Bigness, their Course, their Inundations, their Saltish Taste, as they report ob­servable in Jordan, Subterrane­ous Passages, fruitfulness of their Waters, &c. Their Lakes, as that of Schernitzer in Carniola, Ponds, Springs, and especially Mineral Waters, what sorts of Earth they run through, their Kinds, Qualities and Vertues, and how examin'd; the Sorts of Fishes, their Bigness and Good­ness, compared with the Ground at the Bottom, their Plenty, their Seasons, their ways of Breeding, their Haunts, and the ways of Taking of them, especially those that are not purely Mechanical.

[Page 7] Fourthly. In the Earth may be observed,

I. It self.

II. Its Inhabitants, and its Productions, and those internal or external.

I. As to it self: What are its Dimensions, Situation, East, West, South or North, its Figure, its Plains, Hills or Valleys, their Extent, the highth of the Hills, either in respect of the neighbour­ing Valleys, or the Level of the Sea; as also whether the Moun­tains lye scatter'd or in Ridges, and whether those run North or South, East or West, &c. What Promontories, Fiery or Smoak­ing Hills, &c. the Country has or hath not; whether subject to Earthquakes or not. Whether the Country is coherent, or much broken into Islands. What De­clination [Page 8] the Magnet has in seve­ral Places at the same Time, and how much it varies in different Times at the same Place: Whe­ther before the Turnados or Hur­ricanes, the Magnetical Needle loses its Direction towards the North, and turns to all the Points of the Compass; and if this De­clination is influenced by Subter­raneous Fire, destroying it with­in, or by Water overflowing the Surface of it, or by its vicinity to Iron Mines. What kinds of Soyls are there, whether of Clay, Sand, Gravel, &c. What are its Products as to Minerals, Vege­tables or Animals: And more­over how all these are or may be further improved for the Benefit of Man; what are the Qualities of that Soyl, peculiar to it, e. g. that of Ireland's, contrariety to poysonous Beast.

[Page 9] II. The Inhabitants themselves are to be consider'd, both Na­tives and Strangers, that have been long settled there; parti­cularly their Stature, Shape, Fea­tures, Strength, Ingenuity, Dyet, Inclination, that seem not due to Education. As to their Women, their Fruitfulness or Barrenness, their easie or hard Labour, with their Exercises and Dyet; the Diseases both Men and Women are subject to, peculiar to them­selves, compared with their Dy­et, Air, &c. that do influence them.

The Products External are Plants, Trees, Fruits, &c. with the Peculiarities observable in them (e. g. that of the Poyson-wood, call'd Machenil in New-England, with its Cures) and what Soyls they thrive best in. What Animals, Terrestrial or Volatile, or Insects of all sorts, [Page 10] they produce, and to what Use applyed by the Inhabitants, as to Meat, Physick, Surgery, or Dying, &c.

By the Internal Production of the Earth are to be understood here, things procreated in the Bowels of the Earth, either for the Benefit or Hurt of Man; where Notice is to be taken, what way the one may be best found out, and the other most easily avoided or cured. Under these are com­prehended Metals, Minerals, Stones Precious or Common, and how these Beds lye in reference to North or South, &c. What Clays and Earths it affords, e. g. Tobacco-pipe-Clay, Marles, Boles, with their Physical or other Uses, Fullers Earth, Earth for Potters Ware, Soap, Earths, Axungiae, &c. What Coals, Salts, or Salt-Mines, as Allom, Vitriols, Sul­phurs, &c. it yields. As for [Page 11] Mines, you are to consider their Number, Situations, Depths, Signs, Waters, Damps, Quan­tities of Ore, goodness of Ore, extraneous things, and ways of reducing their Ores into Metals, &c. Where, by the way, you may inform your selves of the Truth of what is reported by A­gricola, Kircher, &c. of Appariti­ons, and their Operations under Ground.

To these General Articles of Enquiries (saith their Proposer) should be added Enquiries about Traditions, concerning all par­ticular things relating to that Country, as either peculiar to it, or at least uncommon else­where.

II. Enquiries that require Learning or Skill in the Answerer, to which should be subjoyn'd, Proposals of ways to enable Men [Page 12] to give Answers to these more difficult Enquiries.

After the General Heads now propos'd, we shall mention those that concern Navigators into Re­mote Places.

The first agrees with what has been said before, viz. the observ­ing the Declination of the Com­pass, in the different Longitudes and Latitudes the Ship comes to, and setting down the Method by which the Observation was made.

2. To take notice of the Dip­ing Needles, and their Observa­tions in the like manner.

3. To observe the Odors, Co­lours, Tastes in Sea-water, and what are the Particularities of that Sea Water, where Ships do soonest rot, as in the Streights of California the Sea looks red, with innumerabl▪ Worms that are in it.

[Page 13] 4. To remark, if (as is re­ [...]orted by Kircher) there be near [...]he South Pole a constant Cur­ [...]ent, setting from the South, so [...]rcibly, that Ships with a stiff Gale are hardly carried up against [...]t; and near the North a Cur­ [...]ent forcibly carrying Ships to­wards the Pole, or if this Moti­ [...]n reciprocate once in half a Year.

5. To observe what subterra­ [...]eous Passages there are, where­ [...]y Seas communicate with one [...]nother, as the Caspian is sup­ [...]osed to do with the Black Sea; [...]nd the Dead Sea with the Red Sea.

6. To examine the Map made [...]f the Straits by Captain Bol­and, and the Account of the Tides he there gives.

7. The effect the Winds have [...]pon the Seas, and how far down [...]rom the Surface they agitate the Waters.

[Page 14] 8. To take notice of the Tide of the Ebbings and Flowings with the Age of the Moon whe [...] the Neap and Spring Tides d [...] happen, to what heighth it doe Ebb and Flow at these Times up on the Coast of the Terra Firma or upon the Islands far off in th [...] Sea, as at S. Helena; and if i [...] flow there with difference from the Tides near the main Lane and how much sooner it begins a [...] one Side than another.

9. To take notice of the Coas [...] and to make narrowly the way o [...] coming into particular Creek [...] and Harbours, with their Bearings and Distances from the neighouring Places, as you com [...] in.

10. Not forgetting at th [...] same Time to sound all a long a [...] you come in, and to mark th [...] Depths and Shallows near th [...] Shoar, or further off from th [...] [Page 15] Coast, near Shelves or Banks, and whether it increases or de­creases in any Order.

11. To mark in the Sounding all Grounds, whether Clayie, Sandy or Ousie, &c.

12. To take Notice of the Winds, their Changes, or set Times of Blowing, and in what Longitude and Latitude, espe­cially the Trade-Winds; upon what Coast the Trade Winds are most frequent, and by what Signs they may be Foreseen.

13. To Observe and Record all extraordinary Meteors, Light­nings, Thunders, and their Ef­fects, Ignes Fatui, Comets, &c. marking the Places of their Ap­pearing and Disappearing.

14. To be provided with a Nice pair of Scales, and exact Weights, for examining the Weights of the several Waters, that occur, which I think may [Page 16] be most exactly done after the Method proposed by the Incom­parable Mr. Boyle, in his Medi­cina Hydrostatica, viz. weighing a Vial close stopt with a Glass-Stopper first in the Air, then in Liquor: If the Vial be about two Ounces in the Air it will do the better; for the whole Method, be­cause 'tis too long to insert into the Tract, I refer you to the Book itself. This I propose as the most Subtile and Accurate. If you like a plainer way, you may use the Method practised by the Noble Author elswhere, viz. To fill a Glass Vial of four Ounces or more, with a small Neck, full of the Water to be try'd, and to exa­mine the Weight of it, which you may compare with another.

15. 'Twill be convenient both for the Navigator and Philoso­pher, to be provided with an Instrument for fetching up Wa­ter [Page 17] from the Bottom of the Sea, first publish'd by the Ingenious Mr. Hooke, and transferr'd hi­ther for the Benefit of the Curi­ous Traveller; for by this he may know whether the Water at the Bottom be Heavier; and Salter than at the Top; or whether there be fresh Water at the Bot­tom, occasion'd by Springs of Fresh Water there, as some pre­sume there are, having observ'd in some Places Springs of fresh Water, a great way within the Sea-marks: The Contrivance is this, a Wooden Bucket is fasten­ed to an Iron rod, with a Weight to sink it; this Bucket is shut at Top and Bottom with two Valves or Clacks, so contriv'd, that when in descends, it may open and let the Water pass through; but when 'tis pull'd up again from the Bottom, it may shut so close as to keep in all the Water it has [Page 18] at that Time, by the under Valve, and the ambient Water over it, from getting in by the upper Valve. If any be desirous to have one of these, they may have them at Mr. Papins in Frydaystreet, at Mr. Carpenter's, over against the Bell-Inn.

Having gone through the Ge­neral Directions both for Sea and Land, we come to more Particu­lar ones, and shall begin first with those that concern Mines; the Knowledge of which, tho it be­gan very early, and has been continu'd to our Times, yet is still found improveable by Hu­man Industry, as Experience has taught us, and therefore worthy to be consider'd in the next Place, especially seeing the Arts and Inventions most useful for Man's Life, depend more upon this than any other; and that without it [Page 19] the World should want little of Returning to its former Barbarity. All shall be reduced to six Gene­ral Heads, as has been done by the worthy Patron of Ingenious Arts, the Honourable Robert Boyle, now in Glory.

The First. The neighbouring Country about the Mines.

The Second. The Soyl where the Mines are.

The Third. The Sign of Mines.

The Fourth. The Structure, and other Particulars relating to the Mines themselves.

The Fifth. The Nature and Cir­cumstances of the Ore.

The Sixth. The Reduction of the Ore into Metal.

QVERIES about the First Title.

I. Whether the Country be [Page 20] Mountainous, Plain, or distin­guish'd with Valleys? And in case it be Mountainous, what kind of Hills they are, whether High or Low, or indifferently elevated; whether almost equal, or very unequal in heighth? whether Fruitful or Barren, Cold or Temperate; Rocky or not; Hollow or Solid? whe­ther they run in Ridges, or seem confusedly plac'd; and if the former, what Way the Ridges run, North or South, &c. And whether they run any thing pa­rallel to one another?

II. What the Country produ­ces, and what is most plenty?

III. What Cattle it produces? whether they have any thing peculiar in point of Bigness Co­lour, Longevity, Fitness or Un­fitness to make good Meat, and other Things, which may ra­ther be attributed to the peculiar [Page 21] Nature of the Place, than the Barrenness of the Soyl, or other manifest Causes?

IV. What Health the Inhabi­tants enjoy? what Diseases they are subject to, and to what not? for 'tis said, that such as dwell near Quicksilver Mines are seldom troubl'd with the Plague: And lastly, what Remedies are found for the Epidemick Diseases of the Place?

V. What plenty of Rivers, Brooks, Lakes, Springs, &c. in these, and how these are in Colour,N. B. Mr. Boyle says some­where, that a reddish Mine­ral Water has been drunk to satisfie Thirst, without any Hurt. Taste, &c. and how they affect the Health of those that use them?

VI. How the Air is disposed, as to Heat or Cold, Calms or Winds, and whether these Winds do proceed from, or are infected [Page 22] with Subterraneous Steams; whether Clear or Foggy.

About the Second Title.

VII. Whether the Soyl that is near the Surface of the Earth be stony? and if so, what sort of Stones it abounds with, whether it be Claye, Marlie or Chalky? and of how many kinds this is, and by what Properties they are distinguish'd?

About the Third Title.

VIII. By what Signs they con­jecture a Mine to be in a Place?

IX. And seeing these Signs are either above or beneath the Sur­face of the Earth, Quaer. Whe­ther the Ground be barren where these Metal Mines are?

X. What Trees or Plants do most plentifully grow in these [Page 23] Places, and do thrive well or ill in these Places? whether they be more dwarfish, more disco­lour'd in the Leaves, or have any Preternatural Colour in them?

XI. What Alteration is pro­duc'd in the Waters that run from them, either as to their Colour, Taste, Smell, Ponderousness, or the Matter that they leave upon the Stones they run over.

XII. Whether Snow or Ice continue as long in these Places as they do in the Neighbouring Places?

XIII. Whether the Dew that falls on the Ground will discolour a white Linnen Cloth, spread on the Surface of the Earth; and whether the Rain brought thi­ther from other Places will disco­lour such Cloaths, or afford any Residence of a Mineral Nature?

XIV. Whether Thunder, Light­nings and Storms do abound [Page 24] there, and if there be any Fiery Meteors and Nocturnal Lights observed there?

XV. Whether Mists do arise from such Mineral Grounds; what is observable in them; what Minerals they signifie, and may be suppos'd to be produc'd by?

XVI. VVhether the Virgula Divinatoria be us'd for the find­ing out the Mines, and with what Success?

As for those Signs that are be­neath the Surface.

XVII. Quaer. Whether there be any Clays, Marles, or other Mineral Earths, and of what Con­sistence they are that give Notice of the Ores, and if they be more than one, and at what Depth they lye, in respect of one ano­ther, and how thick they are?

XVIII. What Stones, Marca­sites, &c. there are to be found near or not far from the Surface, [Page 25] which give Signs of those Mines, as it happens in the Tin-Mines of Cornwal, where Marcasites are often found above the Ore; what is the particular Shapes, Bigness, Colour and Weight of such Stones, whereby they are distin­guishable from others.

XIX. Whether Heat or Damps are a Sign of a Mine.

XX. Whether Water found in Digging be a Sign of a Mine.

XXI. By what Signs the Near­ness of a Mine is known, and whether by any Sign one may know whether he is above, be­neath, or at the Side of the Mine.

XXII. By what Signs the de­terminate Kinds of Metals are known, with their Plenty or Goodness.

XXIII. What Signs there are of the Depth of the Mines; what Signs there are of the Mines be­ing [Page 26] hopeless, or at least unlikely, to find a Vein in the Place where 'tis digged for; and what these are.

About the Fourth Title.

XXIV. What is the Depth of the Shaft or Groove, till you come at the Vein or Ore. Whe­ther the Vein run or lye horizon­tal or dip; and if it dip, what Inclination it hath, how deep the lowest part lies, and consequent­ly how much deeper than the uppermost.

XXV. As also what its flex­ures, if it have any, are; and whether it runs directly North or South, East or West, or seem rather to have a casual Tendency than any Determination by Na­ture, and how far it reaches in all.

[Page 27] XXVI. What is the wideness of the Groove at the Top and els­where; whether the Groove be perpendicular or crooked, and if crooked, after what manner, and with what Distance it winds.

XXVII. How the Groove is supported; what are the Kinds, Length, Bigness and way of plac­ing the Timber, Poles, &c. that are employ'd to support it; and how long the Wood lasts, with­out being spoyl'd by the Subter­raneous Fumes and Waters, and what Wood lasts longest.

XXVIII. What Air-shaft be­longs to the Mine; whether it be single or more than one; of what Breadth the Air-shaft is at the Orifice; whether it be convenient enough or not; how near 'tis plac'd to the Groove, and in what Position; if there be several Air-shafts, what their Distances and Situation are, in [Page 28] reference to the Grove, and to each other; and how Air is sup­ply'd, if there be no Air-shafts.

XXIX. Whether they meet with Waters, and what plenty there is of them; at what Depth they are found, and how qualifi­ed, and what way they spring, &c.

XXX. Whether they are con­stant or Temporary; whether they increase or diminish notably in Summer, or at any Time of the Year; and what that Season is, how long it lasts, and the Pro­portions of Increase and Decrease.

XXXI. What Engines or Con­trivances are made use of for drawing up the Water, and con­veying it away, the Materials they are made of, the Parts, the Bigness, the coaptation, and in short the whole Structure, num­ber and way of applying the In­struments, that are made use of to free the Mines from the Water.

[Page 29] XXXII. What are the Condi­tions, Number, &c. of the Adits.

XXXIII. Whether the Mines be troubled with Damps, and of what kind they are, whether they come often or seldom at any Time of the Year, or altogether irregularly.

XXXIV. What Signs forerun them; what Mischief they do; what Remedies are the most suc­cessfully employed against them as well in referencce to the clear­ing of the Mine, as to the Preser­vation and Recovery of the Men.

XXXV. What Methods the Mine-men use in following of the Vein, and tracing their Passages under Ground (which they call Plumming and Dyalling) accord­ing to the several exegencies; and whether they employ the Instru­ments made with the Help of the Loadstone, the same way that is usual; and, if not, wherein they [Page 30] differ in the Use of the same In­struments; and what Instru­ments they substitute in their place.

XXXVI. What ways they se­cure themselves against the uncer­tainty that the Magnetical Needle is subject to, when it comes near to Iron Ore (of which yet per­haps there is not so great Danger as one may imagine, as far as I could find by a Tryal purposely made in a Groove, where I was sure there wanted not Iron Ore;) and what other ways may be used, besides a Load-stone, to help a Miner.

XXXVII. How the Miners deal with the Rock and Spar they meet with before they come at the Ore; and how they use Fire to soften, calcine or crack them; with what Success they employ it.

[Page 31] XXXVIII. By what means they free the Mines and the work­men, from the Inconveniences arising from the much use of the Fire.

XXXIX. With what Instru­ments they break the Rock, how they are used, and how long they last.

XL. How the Miners work, whether cloathed or naked, and what Lights they use to work by; what Materials they are Made of, and what Light they give; how long they last, and by what ways they are kept burning in that thick and foggy Air.

XLI. How Veins are follow­ed, lost and recover'd; and how several Miners work on the same Vein, and what is the best way of getting all the Ore in a Vein, and most conveniently.

XLII. How they convey out their Ore, and other Things that [Page 32] are to be carried out of the Mine; whether they do it in Baskets, drawn up by Ropes, or upon Mens Backs; and if this last kind of way, what kind of Vessels they use for Matter, Shape and Capacity, and whether the Work­men deliver them one to ano­ther; or the same Workmen car­ry them all the Way; and whe­ther the Diggers descend and as­cend by Ladders of Wood or Ropes, &c.

About the Fifth Title.

XLIII. Whether the Ore runs in a Vein; or lye dispers'd in Scat­ter'd Pieces, or be divided partly into a Vein, partly into loose Masses, or like a Wall between two Rocks, as it were in a Cleft, or be interspers'd in the firm Rock, like speckled Marble, or be found in Grains like Sand or Gravel, as [Page 33] store of excellent Tin is said to be found in some Parts of Corn­wal, at the Sides and in the Chan­nels of Running Waters, which they call—or whether the Ore be in a softer Consistence, like Earth or Lome, as there is Lead-Ore in Ireland, holding store of Silver & Iron-Ore in the North Parts of Scotland and elswhere, and what is observeable in it, as to Weight, Colour, Mixture, &c.

XLIV. Whether any part of the Metal be found in the Mine perfect and compleat (as I have had presented me good valu­able Copper, and Pieces of per­fect Lead, that were taken up, the one at Jamaica, and the other by an Acquaintance of mine, that took them out of the Ground him­self in New-England.)

XLV. Whether the Mine af­fords any parcels of Metal, that seem to grow like Plants (as I [Page 34] have sometimes seen Silver grow, as it seemed, out of Stone or Spar, almost like Blades of Grass, as also great Grains of Metal, which appear'd to me, and which those that try'd some of it, af­firm'd to be Gold, abounding in a stony Lump, that seem'd chief­ly to consist of a peculiar kind of Spar.)

XLVI. Whether the Vein lye near the Surface of the Earth, and at what Depth; whether the Vein have not any peculiar con­comitant Coats (if I may so call them) and if any, what they are, and in what Order they lye▪ as the Veins of Lead-Ore, with us, have frequently annexed to them a Substance called Spar and next to that another, call'd Caulk.

Whether (besides these coats) they have belonging to it any other Heterogeneous Substance [Page 35] (as in Tin mines we often find that yellow Substance they call Mundick).

XLVII. What are the princi­pal Qualities of these extraneous Substances (as that Spar is white, but almost transparent, like course Crystal, heavy, brittle, easily di­visible into Flakes, &c. Caulk is of a different Texture, white, opacous, and like a Stone, but much more ponderous: Mundick I have had of a fine golden Co­lour, but tho it be affirm'd to hold no Metal, yet I found it in weight and otherwise to differ from Mar­casites, and the Mine-men think it of a poisonous Nature.)

XLVIII. Whether the Vein be inclos'd every way in its Coats, or whether it lye only between them.

XLIX. Whether the Vein be every way of an uniform Breadth and Thickness; and if it be what [Page 36] these Dimensions are; and if not, in what Places it varies, and in what measures (the like Questi­ons are to be made concerning the Spar, Caulk, and other Mixtures of the Ore).

L. Whether the Vein be un­interrupted, or in some Places broken off; and whether it be abruptly or not; and whether it be by Vales, Brooks or Gul­lets, &c.

LI. How wide the Interrupti­ons are; by what Signs the Veins are to be found again; whether the ulterior part or division of the Vein be of the same Nature and hold on in the same Course, as to its tendency upwards and downwards, or horizontally, Northward or Southward, &c. with the Vein from which 'tis cut off.

LII. Whether in case the last end of the Vein be found, it ter­minate [Page 37] abruptly, or elfe end in some kind of Rock or Earth, which does as it were close or seal it up, without leaving any Crack or Cranny, or otherwise. and whether the terminating part of the Vein tends either upward or downwards, or neither. Or whether in the Places where the Vein is interrupted, there be any peculiar Stone or Earth, that does, as it were, seal up the Extremity of it.

LIII. Whether it be observ'd that the Ore in Tract of Time may afford any Gold or Silver, which it doth not afford, or more than it would afford if it were not so ripe; and whether or not it have been found that the metal­line part of the Vein grows so, that some part of the Ore will afford Ore or Metal in Tract of Time, that did not so before; and whether to this Maturation of the [Page 38] Mine, the being exposed to the free Air be necessary; or whether at least it conduce to the accelera­tion of it, or otherwise.

LIV. Whether all the Ore contain'd in the Mine be of the self-same Nature and Goodness, and if not, what are the differ­ing kinds, and how to be discri­minated and estimated.

LV. What is the Fineness and Goodness, by which the Mine is wont to be estimated. And,

LVI. What are the Marks and Characters that distinguish one sort from another.

LVII. What Proportion of Metal it affords; (as in our Iron-mines is observ'd, that about three Tons of Iron-stone will afford one Ton of Metal: And I have had Lead-Ore, which an ingenious Man, to whom I recommended such Tryals, affirmed to me, to afford three parts in four of good Lead.)

[Page 39] LVIII. Whether the Ore be pure in its kind from other Me­tals, and, if not, of what Metals it participates, and in what Pro­portion, which is especially to be enquir'd into, especially if the Mine be of a base Metal, that holds a Noble Metal (as I have known it observ'd, That Lead-Ore, that is poor in its own Metal affords more Silver than other; and I remember that the Ore late­ly mention'd, being Rich in Lead, scarce afforded us, being cu­pell'd) an Atome of Silver. And Mathesius informs us, That a little Gold is not unfrequently found in Iron-Ore: And I have by me some fine Gold, that never endur'd the Fire, taken out of Tin-Ore.

About the Sixth Title.

LIX. What Preparations are us'd before the melting of the Ore, as Beating, Grinding, Wash­ing, Tosting or Parting, as is most frequently us'd in Copper-Ore, and sometime in Iron-Ore; if they use this Burning more than once how often they do it (for Copper-Ore is in some Places wash'd eight or ten times, and in other twelve or fourteen) and with what Circumstances, as how long the Ignition lasts at a Time; whether the Ore be suffer'd to cool of itself; or be quenched; whether it be wash'd betwixt each Ignition; or whether the Ore requires no such Preparati­ons, as it often happens in Lead-Ore and sometimes in Iron.

LX. Whether Mercury is made use of in separating the Nobler [Page 41] from the Baser Metals (as in Peru, &c.)

LXI. Whether (as I have seen done in Iron-stone) the Ore be expos'd to the Air, as a Pre­parative.

LXII. What Flux-powders they use for reducing their Ores in small Quantities.

LXIII. Whether in reducing or melting great Quantities they use any Addition of Flux-powder (or Fondant, as the French term it,) or only by the Force of the Fire, or in any way between both (as throwing in of Charcoals when they melt Iron-stone does not only serve to feed the Fire, but by the Alcali of the Ashes to promote the Fusion: So Lime­stone, &c.) What is the Contri­vance of the Furnaces, and if they be all of one sort or bigness; or differing; what Tools are used in Smelting, and how contriv'd.

[Page 42] LXIV. What Fewel they use, and how much is spent in a Day or Week, and what Returns they have in Metal, in a proportion­ate Time.

LXV. Whether the Ore be melted in a Wind Furnace, made by the Fire's own Motion, or by Bellows; what their Dimensi­ons are, and what way us'd.

LXVI. What way they take or let out the Metal that is in fusion, to cast it into Bars, Sows, Pigs; and what Clay, Sand or Mould they let it run, or pour it through; and after what manner they refrigerate it.

LXVII. Whether or not, to facilitate the Fusion, they mix several Ores of the same sort to­gether (as in some Places 'tis usual to mix rich and poor Ore, and at Mendip they mix two or more of these differing kinds of Lead-Ores, that they call Firm [Page 43] Ore, Steel-Ore, Pottern-Ore, &c.)

LXVIII. Whether or not, af­ter 'tis once melted, they melt it again, to make it more pure; and if so, with what Circumstances they perform it.

LXIX. Whether they have Signs to know when the Fusion is well or ill perform'd, and the Metal have obtain'd a Perfection requi­site in such a Fusion, and in such a Furnace.

LXX. Whether they observe any difference in the Goodness of the Metal that comes first, from that which comes last; and whe­ther the Rule holds constantly (for though they observe in the Tin-mines, That the best Metal comes first, yet an Industrious Friend of mine informs me, that the best Metal comes last.)

LXXI. Whether the produc'd Metal be all of the same Good­ness; and if it be, how good it [Page 44] is in reference to the Metals of other Mines, or other Parts of the same Vein; and if it be not, what difference are between the pro­duced Portions of Metal, and what disparity that amounts to in the Price.

LXXII. What are the ways of distinguishing them, and esti­mating their Goodness.

LXXIII. Whether there be not elevated Flowers to the upper Parts of the Chimney, and whe­ther they are barely excremen­titious, or Metalline (as in the Cornish Tin mines, after some Years they pull down the thatch­ed Houses, in which the Ore has been melted, to get the Stuff that adheres to the insides of the Roof, out of which they melt store of excellent Tin).

LXXIV. Whether when the Ores are brought to Fusion, they have any Recrements (as Iron­stone [Page 45] affords store of a dark Glass or Slag, the like does Tin, and if it do, what these Recrements are, and how to be separated from the baser Metal.

LXXV. Whether after the Metal has been melted, the re­maining part of the Ore will in Tract of Time be impregnated with more Metal (for this is affirm'd to me of the Cornish Tin-Ore; and what remain'd after the Fusion of the Iron-Ore in the Forest of Dean, is so rich in Me­tal, that a Tenant of mine in Ire­land, though he had on the Land he held from me an Iron-Mine, found it less profit to work it, than to send to the Forest of Dean for this already us'd Ore, which having layn for some Ages since it. was thrown aside, in great Heaps, exposed to the Air, he affirm'd to yield a very great store of Iron and [Page 46] very good; though I some what doubt

LXXVI. Whether this be to­tally to be ascribed to the Air, and length or Time, or to the leaving of Metal in the Slags in old Times, before great Furnaces were in use.)

LXXVII. Whether the Air appears really to be cold in Sum­mer and hot in Winter, by more evident Truths than the Testimo­ny of our Touch.

LXXVIII. Whether they find the Stones and Ground actually hot, so that sometimes they can hardly stand upon the Place, as Glauber says, and from whence that proceeds.

LXXIX. Whether there be Mineral Juices that harden into Stones or Metals, upon the touch of the Air, called Gur; of this Helmont relates an Observation.

[Page 47] LXXX. What Laws, Con­stitutions and OEconomy is ob­serv'd among the Miners.

LXXXI. What way the Trees and their Leaves are affected by the Mineral Fumes and Juices, and if they be gilded or silver'd as along the River Meine in Germany is observ'd; and if these Trees be more ponderous than others; if they have any Metals or Metaline Concretes lodg'd in their Pores.

LXXXII. Whether there be Waters and Springs observ'd to rise near the Mines, and run their whole Course under the Ground, without ever appear­ing above it.

LXXXIII. Whether Subter­raneous Springs do rise with any VVind, or determinate Change of Weather.

LXXXIV. How much heavier the Atmosphere is at the Bottom than at the Top; and whether [Page 48] damps considerably increase the weight of it.

LXXXV. Whether they find any strange Substances in the Mines as Vessels, Anchors, Fish­es inclos'd in Spar or Metal.

Having gone through what be­longs to the Mineral Kingdom, in as full a Method as we could; the next Head of Enquiries shall be about the Vegetable Kingdom, which though more proper for one that has his abode fixt, may yet be acceptable and useful also to the curious Traveller.

I. What Vegetables there are which having the wrong End of them set down into the Ground, will yet grow, as 'tis said Elders and Bryars will.

II. Whether the Branch of a Plant (as of a Vine or Bramble) being laid into the Ground, whilst [Page 49] yet growing on the Tree, and there taking Root, being cut off from the Tree whilst so growing, will shoot out forward and back­ward.

III. In Tapping, Cutting or Boring of any Tree, whether the Juice that vents at it comes from above or below.

IV. What part of the Juice ascends or descends by the Bark; whether what so ascends, ascends by the outward or inward part of it.

V. Whether if a Zone of about two or three Inches be cut off about the Bottom of a Branch, that Branch will die or cast its Leaves, or bleed out a Juice from the upper or lower part of the Bark so cut, or be apt to shoot out Leaves or Branches, or Knobs, either above or below that Bor­ing.

[Page 50] VI. What the use of the Pith is; whether the Juice ascend or descend by it; and what ef­fects will follow if the Trunk be bor'd to the Pith, and a Peg dro­ven hard into the Hole of the Pith, both above and below; this to be tryed in the most pithy Plants.

VII. Whether the Points or Ends of the Roots being cut off, the Roots will bleed as copiously as Branches of the Trunks do when bor'd.

VIII. What Side of the Tree affords most Sap.

IX. Of what Age Trees afford most Sap.

X. What are the best Seasons of the Air for taking the Sap o [...] every kind of Tree in greates [...] Quantity, and how long that Season lasteth.

XI. Whether the Sap comes more copiously at one Time of [Page 51] the Day or Night than at ano­ther.

XII. Whether Trees afford any considerable Juice in the Fall.

XIII. What Effect, Copious­ness, or Scarcity of Rain hath upon the Saps of Trees.

XIV. Whether or no the Na­ture of a Tree may be changed by Applications of Juices or Li­quors to the Roots, or other Parts.

XV. Whether a Tree, whose Root is covered from Rain, and not watered, if the Branches of it be exposed to the Air, will grow.

XVI. Whether inoculated Roots of a Tree will grow.

XVII. How short the Arms of the Roots of a Tree may be cut, and the Tree still grow.

XVIII. How deep the several kinds of Trees are to be set in the Ground to grow.

[Page 52] XIX. Wether, or no, a Seed being planted either way, it will grow equally.

XX. Wether the Stem of a Tree being set in the Earth, and the Root turn'd up into the Air, the Tree will grow, &c.

Enquiries concerning the Vse and Culture of the Kitchen-Garden and Winter-Greens.

I. What

  • Roots
  • first Shoots
  • Sprouts
  • Stalks
  • Buds
  • Flowers
  • Fruits
  • Kernels
  • Seeds

to

  • Eat Raw
  • Boyle
  • Roste
  • Bake
  • Picle
  • Preserve
  • Candy
  • Dry whole
  • dry to powder, serving for Spice
  • make
    • Wine
    • —Cyder,
    • —Perry
    • [Page 53] —Ale and other va­rious Drinks
    • —Vinegar and Ver­juice
    • —Thick Juices like Honey
    • —Concrete Juices like Sugar
    • —Bread
    • —Cakes, Puddings and bak'd Meats
    • —Broaths
  • give pleasant Co­lours to Meats and Drinks
  • what Herbs are fit to make Sallets, and how to be order'd for that purpose.

II. The best Season to sow every Sort of Seed.

III. How often every sort of Seed ought to be sown for the Use of the Kitchen-Garden.

IV. How the Earth is com­pounded and ordered for several [Page 54] kinds of Seeds and Plants.

V. What to be sow'd on Cold Grounds.

VI. What to be sow'd on Hot Beds.

VII. Several ways of making Hot Beds, and their Atten­dance.

VIII. How and what to be transplanted either into Cold Ground, or into New Hot Beds, and how order'd after.

IX. What Observations on the Sun, Moon and Weather, for Sowing, Planting and Trans­planting.

X. How to Water and Shade Plants new planted, and Seeds Sowed.

XI. What thrives best in the Sun.

XII. What thrives best in the Shade.

XIII. What and how such as will not prosper in the Green-House, [Page 55] may be covered and pre­served abroad.

XIV. The several Names of Worms, Vermine and Insects that are noxious to the Gar­dens.

XV. The Remedies.

XVI. The best Form and Di­mension of the Green-House; as also of what to build and cover it.

XVII. What to be housed in Winter.

XVIII. How to order the Pots or Tubs before they are used.

XIX. When and in what Wea­ther to open and close the Green-House.

XX. What Observations at the first setting abroad of the Winter-Greens in the Spring.

XXI. How to Prune and Dung the Winter-Greens.

XXII. What may be increased by the Root.

[Page 56] XXIII. What by Layers.

XXIV. What by Slips or Cut­tings.

XXV. What grows best of Seeds that Shed and Sow them­selves.

XXVI. What to be Grafted and Inoculated.

XXVII. The several ways of Ingrafting and Inoculating.

XXVIII. How to alter the Shape, Smell, Taste and Colour of Vegetables, by joyning dif­ferent Roots together.

XXIX. How and what may be changed by Grafting, Joyning or Inoculating Shoots or Buds on different Stocks or Cyons.

XXX. How to compound se­veral Liquors to Water, and feed Vegetables, whereby they may be much altered.

XXXI. Of what Roots, Stalks, Barks, Leaves, Flowers, Fruits, Seeds or Downs, may be made [Page 57] either Cups, Boxes, Baskets, Mats, Callicoes, Cloaths, (as Nettle Cloath) and the like, all which will be most useful for the Life of Man, from the Garden.

XXXII. How to prune Vines, how many Joynts to leave, and of what Age the Vine must be, that is cut away.

XXXIII. How to prune Stan­dard-Trees.

XXXIV. How to prune Wall-Trees, and with what to be best fastned.

XXXV. The Places from whence the best of the Vegetables that are either Winter-Greens, or fit for the Kitchen-Garden, may be had, and the Marks of their Goodness.

XXXVI. How to discern good Seeds from bad.

XXXVII. The Times of Gather­ing, and the Ways of Preserving them.

[Page 58] Though we have by Journal-Books a fuller Account given us of Turky than of many other Countries, yet because there are in these but imperfect Relations of many Things, which yet are needful to be known, it will not be amiss to make known here the account of these Things, that the Curious Traveller may inform himself of them, as he shall find conveniency for it.

1. In what Part of Turky the Rusma is to be found, and in what Quantities; whether the Turks employ it to any other Uses besides that of taking off the Hair: whether there be differing kinds of it; how it is used to take of Hair, and how to get store of it.

[Page 59] 2. Whether the Turks do not only take Opium themselves for Strength and Courage, but also give it to their Horses, Camels and Dromedaries, for the same purpose, when they find them tired and faint in their Tra­velling; what is the great­est Dose any Men are known to have taken of Opium, and how prepared.

3. What Effects are observ­ed from their Use of Opium, as also of Coffee, Bathing, Shav­ing their Heads, using Rice, and why they prefer that which grows not unless watered, before Wheat, &c.

4. How their Damasco Steel is made; and,

5. What is their way of Dressing Leather, which though thin and supple, will hold out Water.

[Page 60] 6. What is the way they breed those excellent Hor­ses, they are so much famed for.

7. Wether they be so skilful in poysoning as is said, and how their Poisons are curable.

8. How the Armenians keep Meat Fresh and Sweet so long, as it is said they do.

9. What Arts or Trades they have worth Learning.

10. Whether there be such a Tree about Damascus called Mou­s [...]ac, which every Year, about the Month of December, is cut down close by the Root, and within four or five Months shoots up again apace, bringing forth Leaves, Flowers and Fruit also, and bearing but one Apple, an excellent Fruit, at once.

11. Whether at Reame, in the South Parts of Arabia Foelix, there be Grapes without any Grains; [Page 61] and whether the People of that Country live, many of them, to an hundred and twenty Years in good Health.

12. Whether in Candia there be no poysonous Creatures; and whether those Serpents that are there are without Poyson.

13. Whether all Fruits, Herbs, Earths and Fountains are natu­rally saltish, in the Island of Cy­prus; and whether those Parts of this Isle, which abound naturally in Cyprus-Trees, are more or less healthful than others.

14. What store of Amianthus there is in Cyprus, and how they work it.

15. Whether Mummies be found in the Sands of Arabia, that are the dryed Flesh of Men, buried in those Sandy Desarts in Travelling; and how they differ in their Vertue from the embalmed ones.

[Page 62] 16. Whether the Parts about the City of Constantinople or Asia Minor, be as subject to Earthquakes no [...] as they have been formerly; and whether the Eastern Winds do not plague the said City with Mists▪ and cause that inconstancy of Wea­ther, it is said to be subject to.

17. Whether the Earthquakes in Zant and Cephalenia, be so frequent, as to happen, now and then, nine or Ten Times in a Month; and whether these Isles be not very Cavernous.

18. What is the heighth of Mount Cacasus, its Position, and Temper in several Parts, &c.

19. With what declivity the Water runs out of the Euxin Sea into the Propontis; with what Depth; and if the main Tides and Eddies, so famous by the Name of Euripi, have any certain Period.

[Page 63] 20. If in the Euxine Sea there can be found any Sign of the Caspian Sea's emptying itself in­to it by a Passage under Ground; if there be any different Colour or Temper as to Heat or Cold, or any great Emotion in the Water, that may give Light to it.

21. By what Inland Passages they go to China; there being now a Passage for Caravans throughout those Places, that would formerly admit of no Correspondence, by reason of the Barbarism of the Inhabitants.

22. Whether in the Aque­ducts they make, they line the Inside with as good Plaister as the Ancients did, and how theirs is made.

23. To enquire after the ex­cellent Works of Antiquity, with which that Country is full, and which by the Igno­rant [Page 64] are not thought worth Notice or Preservation; and particularly what is the Stru­cture and Bigness of the Aque­ducts, made in several Places about Constantinople by Solyman the Magnificent.

24. To enquire whether the Relations of a whole City's be­ing turned into Stone be true, and if not what gave the first Rise to it, and whether it lye so near the Sea that these Bo­dies so metamophosed may be easily brought into Europe. Here I beg the Reader's Leave to di­gress a little, and give him the Information I had of it from one who was upon the Place, did see this strange Metamor­phosis, and had an account of it from one who lived near to it, which I the rather adventure to do, because I have had good Proofs of his Veracity in other [Page 65] Relations, and also because I had the same confirm'd to me in great measure, by a Gentleman, who had been long a Chaplain to the Factory at Smyrna, who assured me, That there's no Doubt of it. 'Tis this: Being obliged to go with the Army sent by the Bassa of Tripoly to reduce a City that had rebelled against him, in the way, he and some others, after Leave got from their Commander, did turn aside to see this so strange Metamor­phosis; at his first coming into the Place he saw a Sheep ly­ing upon her Belly, as if it were chewing the Cud, whose Head he broke off from her Neck, with a Stone, and in the Gullet he could perceive some remainder of the chew'd Grass all petrified, which he took up, and sold afterwards to one of his Fellow-Slaves, [Page 66] who, having sent it to the Pope, had his Ransome returned for it: A little further they saw a Wo­man sitting on her Knees, with her Hands in a Trough, as if she were kneading Dough, her Mantle, that was clasp'd about her Neck being cast backward, and all turned to Stone, so hard that they could lift her and the Trough, in which the Hands were, without parting them or breaking any thing. When he asked a Priest, that was sent from the City to treat with the Commander, What way this did happen, he an­swer'd him, That all the Inha­bitants of that Place were So­domites, and that God rained down Fire and Brimstone from Heaven upon them; upon her which they were all turned to Stones: And for Proof of this, he desired him to dig in the [Page 67] Sand, with his Hand, a Foot deep, which he found like blue Ashes; which, said the Priests, were the remainders of that Fire.

But to return to our Subject, the next Enquiries shall be for Egypt. And,

1. Whether it rain at any Time, and if so at what Time of the Year; and what Influen­ces that Rain hath upon the Air, as to the making it Wholesome or Pestilential, or otherwise un­wholesome.

2. To consider the Nitre that is made there, to try what af­finity there is between the Nitre we have and theirs, whether it discover an Alcaly Nature by its colluctation with Acids, as some report, and whether after dissolv­ing [Page 68] in Water, Filtration and Evaporation, it give Chrystals like to Nitre.

3. Whether the Earth of Egypt, adjoyning to the River Nilus, preserved and weigh'd, daily keeps the same Weight, till the seventeenth of June, and then grows daily heavier, with the Increase of the River.

4. Whether if the Plague be never so great before, yet on the first Day of the Nile's Increase, it not only not increaseth, but absolutely ceaseth, not one dying of it after; and whe­ther this be justly attributed to the swelling of the Nile, or the cool Winds that happen about that Time, and come from the dissolving of the Snows on the Riphaean Hills, behind Greece, which being impregnat­ed with the Nitrous Particles of of the Snow, doth both fan the [Page 69] Air of Egypt, and communicate to it an Antipestilential Qua­lity; which I the rather am inclin'd to believe, because Ju­dicious Men do attribute in part the swelling of the Nile to these Etesiae, that blowing hard on the Mouth of the Nile force its Wa­ters back again into it's Chan­nel, which meeting with the Land-flood, that is at the same Time occasion'd by the great Rains happening at that Time on the Mountains of the Moon, do make the River overflow its Banks.

5. To enquire particularly into the manner of hatching Eggs in Egypt; how the Carnels Dung is prepar'd, wherein they are laid; how often the Eggs are turned; how covered; whether they hatch in one and twenty Days, as they do with us un­der a Hen; whether the Chick­ens [Page 70] be as perfect as ours; if imperfect, whether that may not happen to them with rough handling, while they are remov­ed, being very tender, out of the Place where they are hatch­ed; to take the Design of the manner, how by the Pipes the Heat is conveyed to several Rooms; how they treat them betwixt the Time of their Hatch­ing and Taking away by the Owners; whether they do not also use to hatch Eggs under Hens.

6. To enquire if the Yellow-Amber that is sold in Egypt in great Quantity, be the Gum of a Tree growing in Egypt, or Ethiopia, as Bellonius, after Diodorus Siculus affirms; and whether, besides several Ani­mals, that are found inclosed in that Amber, there is fre­quently found some Part of [Page 71] the Bark of a Tree sticking to it.

7. To enquire of a certain Tree, growing not far from Cairo, which bears a Fruit stuffed with Wool, that is finer than Silk, of which the Arabs make Linnen, that is softer than Silk, and whiter then Cotton.

8. Whether Crocodiles that are found to be sometime thirty Foot long, are hatched of an Egg no bigger than a Turkey's.

9. Whether the Ichneumon, or Egyptian-Water-Rat, can kill a Crocodile, by skipping into his Mouth, and gnawing his Way out, as Old Writers affirm.

10. Whether it be true, That the Arabs can charm the Croco­diles, or whether there be on the Nile's Side any Talismans, or Constellated Figures, beyond which the Crocodiles cannot pass, as some would make us belive.

[Page 72] 11. To enquire at Cairo for several Drugs, which are com­mon there, and much in use, yet not brought into Europe, as Acacia, Calamus Odoratus, Amo­mum, Costus, Ben Album, and divers such others.

12. Whether the Female Palm-Tree be not Fruitful unless she be planted by the Male, as Some would bear us in Hand.

13. To enquire whether the Appearance of Legs and Arms of Men, related to stand out of the Ground, to a great Number, at five Miles from Cairo, on Good Friday, do still continue, and how that Imposture is perfor'd.

14. Whether Children born in the eigth Month do usually live there, contrary to what is believed to happen elswhere.

15. To take an account of the Wooden Locks there, which are said to be made with as [Page 73] great Art, there, as our Locks here.

16. To observe the Course of the Waters both in the Mediter­ranean and the Red Sea.

Enquiries for Guiny.

1. Whether the River Niger overflows the Country yearly, like Nilus.

2. Whether the Rain, when it falls, be often very hot, rot­ing the Cloaths, if not present­ly dryed, and breeding Worms in them.

3. Whether the Gold there be of very different Fineness, and that which is uppermost in the Mine be the finest.

4. Whether the Palm affords them Wine, Oyl, Vinegar, Soap, and Bread; and whether out [Page 74] of the Leaves they pick Threds, making thereof very curious Works.

5. Whether they have be­sides their Palm-wine, a Drink made of Grain, like our Ale; what Grain that is, and how prepared.

6. Whether some People on the River Gambra be only Taw­ny, as others very Black.

7. Whether the Negroes have such sharp Sights, that they dis­cover a Ship further off at Sea than an European can.

8. What Reason there is to conclude, That the common Peo­ple being accustomed to drink Water, is the cause that they are troubled with Worms in their Bodies, very painful to them, and difficult to get out.

Enquiries for Poland and the adjacent Countries, especially such as are more Northerly.

1. What is the way of mak­ing Pot-ashes in Poland.

2. What is to be observed about Succinum or Amber; whether it be an exudation of the Sea; whether it be soft when 'tis first cast on Shore; at what Season of the Year, and in what manner 'tis taken up, &c.

3. What is to be observed in the digging of Sal Gemmae in Po­land; and what is the Depth of the Mines, stored with the Salt; and what their Distance from the Sea.

4. What Truth there is in that Relation, of Swallows be­ing found under Waters, con­geal'd [Page 76] in Winter, and reviving if they be fish'd and held to the Fire.

5. Whether there be in the Bodnick Bay a Whirl-pool, a [...] is related to be in the Sea o [...] Norway, which is commonly called the Maal-stroom; and whether there be any Sign [...] that relate the Communicatio [...] of these Gulphs with the Sub­terraneous Passages, as Kirche [...] says in his Mundus Subter [...] T. 1. p. 146.

6. To what Depth the Col [...] in these Parts pierces the Eart [...] and Water.

7. Whether their Watche [...] go slower by the intens [...] Cold.

8. Whether their Oil, i [...] great Colds is turned into true [...] that is to say, hard and brittl [...] Ice.

[Page 77] 9. Whether they can freeze there a strong Brine of Bay Salt, a strong Solution of Sal Gemmae, or Soot, or a strong Solution of Salt of Tartar, or Sugar of Lead.

10. Wether they can Con­geal meer Blood, all the serous Part thereof being severed. Item, Canary Wine, Solutions of all Salts, and strong Solu­tions of Metals.

11. Whether an intense and lasting Frost makes any Alte­ration in Quicksilver, expo­sed very shallow, in a Flat Vessel.

12. Whether the Purgative Vertue of Catharticks be in­creased or diminished, or even totally destroyed by a strong continual Cold.

[Page 78] 13. Whether Harts-Horns thawed will give the same Quantity of Spirits, by the same Method of Distilling, which they use to yield, when not frozen.

14. What Cold operates in the Fermentations of Liquors.

15. Whether Birds and wild Beasts grow white there in Winter-Time, and recover their Native Colour in Sum­mer.

16. Whether Colours may be concentred by Cold, e. g. a strong Decoction of Cochineal in a fit Glass.

17. Whether the Electrical Virtue of Amber, and the Attractive Force of the Magnet be changed by a vehement Cold.

[Page 79] 18. Whether Pieces of Iron and Steel, even thick ones, be made brittle by intense Frosts; and therefore Smiths are obliged, for prevention, to give their Iron and Steel Tools a softer Temper.

19. Whether accurate Ob­servations evince, That all Fishes dye in frozen Waters, if the Ice be not broken; where it is diligently to be enquired into, Whether the Cold itself or the want of Changing or Ventilating the Water, or the privation of Air, be the cause of the Death of Fishes.

20. Whether any skilful A­natomist has enquired, by Freezing to Death some Ani­mals (as Rabbets, Pullets, Dogs, Cats, &c.) after what manner it is that intense Cold kills Men; whether they have [Page 80] found Ice in the inward Parts, as the Brain and Heart, and in the greater Vessels.

Enquiries into Hungary and Transilvania.

1. What is observable in Hungary, Transilvania, and the neighbouring Parts, as to Mi­nerals, Springs, Warm Baths, Earths, Quarries, Metals, &c.

2. Particularly, to enquire into the several Sorts of Anti­mony, or Antimony Ore, to be found in Hungary, and to inform us of the several Places, whence they are digged, to the End they may be sent for.

3. To enquire where the best Hungarian Vitriol is to be found, and the Cinnabaris Nativa.

[Page 81] 4. To give us a right Ac­count of the right Gold and Silver-Earth-Ore, said to be found at Cranach in Hungary, whence the Gold is called Cra­nach Gold, first lighted upon by the Care of the Emperour Ru­dolphus, and chymically wrought by his Order and Inspection.

5. To enquire and send over some of that kind of Vitriol, which by credible Persons is affirmed to be found Crystal­lized in Transilvania; as also after the Vitriol, said to yield Gold.

6. To inform us of the Salt-Pits in Transilvania, said to yield two Sorts of perfect Salt, the one being a Sal Gemmae, the other a common Table-Salt; to observe how deep these Salt-Mines lye from the Surface of the Ground; how deep they [Page 82] are digged hitherto, and what Damps are met with in them.

7. To enquire after the Veins of Gold and Quicksilver at Cre­mnitz in Hungary; and the Vein of Silver at Schemnitz in the same Kingdom.

8. To enquire whether the Waters of the Thermae that pass by Schemnitz, depose a certain Sediment, which in Time turns into a Yellow Stone.

9. Whether in the Mines of Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Lead in Hungary, there be ge­nerally found Quicksilver and Sulphur.

10. Whether it be true, That in the Copper-Mines of the Place called Herren-Ground in Hunga­ry, there be found no Quick­silver at all.

[Page 83] 11. Whether it be true that in some Parts of the Vpper-Hungary the Ores of Copper, Iron and Lead be sometimes so commixed, that there is often found in the upper of the Con­crete Matter of Iron, in the midst Matter of Copper, and in the lowermost Lead; and that in other Parts of the Coun­try, Copperish Fluors are mixed with leaden ones.

12. Whether it be true what Athanasius Kircher writes from Relation, That the Ductus of Metals do sometimes run North and South, and sometimes cross­ways.

13. Whether it is true what Busbequius reports, of a River in Hungary, whose Water is so hot, and yet so full of Fish, that he saith one would expect, that all the Fish drawn thence would come out boyl'd.

[Page 84] 14. Whether there be Springs about Buda or Alba Regalis, that rise at the Bottom of the River, so hot, that those who go to bath, dare not put their Feet so low as the Sand, for fear of having them Parboyl'd.

15. Whether there be in Hungary an Avernus, that ex­haleth always such poysonous Steams, that Birds flying over it do oftentime fall down, ei-Stupifyed or quite Dead; what are the particulars of this as to Taste, Smell, Colour, Heat or Cold; whether any Waters run into it, and what Minerals are found near about it, to which these Qualities can be mostly attributed.

16. Whether the Iron that is said to be turned to Copper, by the Vitriolate Springs at Cre­mnitz or Smolnitz in Hungary, [Page 85] do after that Transmutation, or Precipitation, contain a pretty deal of Gold.

17. Whether the depth of the Gold-Mines of Hungary be two thousand four hundred Feet.

18. What Quantity of Gold is got out of an hundred weight of Ore, and whether it be got alone or mixed with other Me­tals in the Ore.

19. Whether they find Trees or any other Salt, in the solid Salt of their Salt-Mines.

20. Whether there be a great Lake in Moravia, whence the Waters at a certain Time of the Year are all drawn away, by great Holes in the middle of it, leading through subterrane­ous Passes, and that so sudden­ly, that the Fish are left on the Ground, which afterward becomes good Pasture for ano­ther [Page 86] part of the Year, the Wa­ters then returning by the same Passages they went out, and that with so much Force that it rises like a Jet of Water.

21. Whether it is true, That in some parts of Hungary, near the Gold-Mines, the Leaves of their Trees have their lower Superficies, if not their upper also, gilded over with yellow­ish Exhalations.

22. What is the way said to be used in Hungary and Au­stria of extracting the Perfect Metals out of their Minera's without Lead, performed by casting a Powder upon the Minera, which makes a quick and advantagious Separation, Sulphur being supposed to be an Ingredient of it.

Enquiries for Suratte, &c.

1. Whether it be true that Diamonds and other Precious Stones, do grow again after three Years, in the same Places where they have been digged out.

2. Whether the Quarries of Stone near Fettipore, not far from Agra, in the Mogul's Do­minions, may be cleft like Logs, and sawn like Planks to ciel Chambers and cover Houses therewith; Likewise whether about Sadrapatan, on the Coast of Cormandel, there be a Stone of the like Nature, so as set­ing a Wedge upon it, one may cleave it with a Mallet, as thick or as thin as one pleas­eth; and whether it be of the [Page 88] Nature of our Fire-stone, that is prepared by the Stone-Cutters for Ovens.

3. Whether upon the same Coast of Cormandel about Tou­toucourin, and that of Ceylan at Manar and Jafanapatan, they fish Pearls, as good as those about Ormus; whether those Pearls are the better the deep­er they lye; what is the great­est depth they are known to have been taken at; and whe­ther it be true that some of the Natives there, can stay un­der Water half an Hour without any Art.

4. Whether the Iron in Pegu and Japan be far better than ours; and if so, what is to be observ'd in Melting, Forging and Tempering of it.

[Page 89] 5. Whether in Sumatra there be a Fountain running a very Sanative Oil; and whether the Ignivomous Mountain in the same Country do burn Continu­ally, and cast out Stones so eaten by the Fire that they Swim.

6. What is the Opinion of the more Inquisitive Men in these Parts of Ambergris, and whether the greatest Quantities of it are found about the Isle Mauritius.

7. Whether it be Winter on the East-side of the Mountain Gates, which comes from the North Cape Comorin, whilst it is Summer on the West-side, and so vice versa.

8. Whether it be true, That upon the Coast of Coromandel, sixteen Degrees Northern La­titude, between Paeleacate and Maselupatan, fifty Leagues in [Page 90] length, the Hot Winds blow­ing from the Landward from eight in the Morning till four in the Afternoon, with such a suffocating Heat, that the Inhabitants are not able to en­dure it without extraordinary Helps and Refreshment: Eve­ry one, for his Provision of Drink, daily hangs his Bottle, made of common Pot-Earth, and filled with Well water, or other potable Liquor, upon some Post, Tree or Wall, in places where the Sun and Wind are most piercing, leaving it all the Day long there, in the scorching Heat; and then tak­ing it up abour four a Clock in the Evening, the Drink is more cool than any Depth of Cellaridge can make it: And whether, on the contrary, the Bottles being suffered to conti­nue [Page 91] in the Air, as before, du­ring the Cool Sea-Gales, which come in after the said Hour, and continue all Night, till eight in the Morning, to the Refreshment of all Creatures, the Liquors grow hot, and un­fit for Drink.

9. Whether the Tide, near Mindana, going from the Mo­lucca's to the Philippina's, are so swift, that neither contrary Winds nor Anchors, can save a Ship from being carried away by it; and that it rises about three or four Feet; and whe­ther the like be observ'd in the Bay of Cambaia, and in that between Martagan and Pegu: And particularly whether in the said Bays the Tides come in with that Impetuosity and Swiftness about the Quarters of the Moon, that the Watch-Men [Page 92] from High-Towers must give Warning to the People, to retire, and that a Horse, in his swiftest Course, when such a Tide comes upon it can­not out run it, as Isaac Vossius observes, lib. de motu Marium & Ventorum, c. 15. And what other Particulars are observ­able in all these Coasts about the Tides.

10. Whether there be any Discoveries newer than the new­est Painted Maps of the Parts of the World North-East of Japan; and whether Japan be truly an Island, or no.

11. What is the true way of Making and Colouring China-Dishes, and how in China and Japan they make the Black Varnish.

12. With what Materials, and how they paint on Cloath, com­monly [Page 93] called Pintados, and likewise upon Canvas, &c.

13. Whether Lignum Aloes be the Wood or Root of a Tree. In what Country it is found; and how to know the best of the kind.

14. Whether the best Tea be that which comes forth at the first of the Spring, and are the Top-Leaves; in what man­ner 'tis dry'd, and whether the too hasty drying thereof hurts it.

15. Whether there grows a Wood in Java that naturally smells like Human Excrements; and if so what kind of Ground it grows in.

16. Whether in the Malacca Islands there be a Red Wood, which Burns Sparkles and Flames without being consumed, yet may be reduced to Powder, [Page 94] by rubbing between ones Fingers.

17. Whether near the Fort of Ternate there be a Plant, cal­led by the Inhabitants Catopa, whence fall little Leaves, which are turned into Butterflies.

18. Whether in Pegu and other Places they use a Poyson, that kills by smelling, and yet the Poysonous Smell is hardly perceived.

19. Whether it be true, That the only Antidote, hitherto known, against the Famous and Fatal Macassar Poyson, is Human Ordure, taken inwardly; and what Substance that Poyson is made of

20. Whether there be such a Vegetable in Java, called Mangas Bravas, that is so poy­sonous, that it kills presently, and for which no Remedy hath been yet found.

[Page 95] 21. Where the best Calumba-Wood, or Palo d'Aquila grows; whether the Palo d'Aquila be much inferior to Calamba, and how they are distinguish'd; whether the latter be the Pith of the former; whence the best Sort comes; whether it be stored with a Rich and Cor­dial Balm, and that be the Cause of its great Rate, being much used in the Decay of Spi­rits, and the Lameness and Im­potency of Nerves.

22. Whether they draw an Oil, resembling Oil of Cam­phire, from the Roots of the Cinnamon-Tree, and how they draw it.

23. Whether the Camphire of Borneo be not the Exudati­on or Gum of a Tree.

[Page 96] 24. Whether the Indians can so prepare that stupifying Herb, called Dutroa or Datura, that they make it lye several Days, Months and Years, according as they design it, in a Man's Body, without doing him any Hurt, and at the end kill him, without missing an Hour's Time.

25. Whether the Betele hath such a contrariety to the Du­rion, that a few Leaves of that, put to a whole Shopful of Du­rions, will make them all rot suddenly; and whether those that have surfeited on Durions, and thereby over-heated them­selves, do, by laying a Leaf or two of Betele upon their Breasts or Stomachs, immediately cure the Inflammations, and Reco­ver.

[Page 97] 26. Whether the Papayas, which bear Fruit like a Melon, do not bear unless Male and Female (as the Vulgar distin­guishes them) stand toge­ther.

27. Whether there be two Sorts of Trees called Arbor Tri­ste, one by the Name of Triste di Die, the other Triste di Not­te, whereof the former sheds his Flowers at the Rising, the other at the Setting of the Sun; and whether the distilled Wa­ter thereof (called Aqua di Mogli by the Portugals) may not be transported into these Parts.

28. Whether one of these Trees called Arbre de Rays, pro­pagates itself into a whole Fo­rest, by shouting up and letting fall Roots from all its Branches into the Ground, that spring [Page 98] up again, and so on; and whe­ther there be any single ones of these Trees, that are above fifty Feet in Diameter, as some affirm.

29. What Particulars are ob­servable in any other Plants of those Parts.

30. Whether those Shel-fishes that are in those Parts Plump and in Season at the full Moon, and Lean and out of Season at the New, are found to have contrary Constitutions in the East Indies.

31. Whether the Animal that yields that true Musk, be like a Dear, horules, found in the high Country between Pegu and Chi­na; and whether the Musk grows in Bags, Blisters or Swellings, which the Beast rubs off against Trees, it being af­firmed to have been found in [Page 99] the Woods by the Scent; whe­ther True Musk is discerned from the False by its Yellowness, when rubbed upon ones Hand, and by its keeping that Colour and the Scent.

32. Whether there be two Sorts of Gum Lack, one pro­duced by an Insect, a certain winged Ant, the other the ex­sudation of a Tree.

33. To enquire after the Fish called Cabala, said to be very powerful in staunching of Blood.

34. Whether at Java there be Oysters, or other Shell-fishes, of that bigness, as to weigh 300 Pounds.

35. Whether in Malacca there grows sometime a Stone in the Stomach of a kind of Porcupine, called Pedro Porco, esteemed for its Cordial Virtue above Bezoar.

[Page 100] 36. Whether there be found in the Head of a certain Snake, a Stone, which laid upon a Wound of any Veno­mous Creature, sticks fast to it, and draws away all the Poy­son; then, being put into Milk, voids its Poyson, and turns the Milk Blue; and then ap­plyed again, draws the rest of the Poyson that may be be­hind, till the Wound be perfectly cured.

37. Whether the Rhinoceros have such an Antipathy against Elephants, as is commonly re­ported.

38. Whether in the Island of S. Helena, the Tide be at the same Time round in the several Coasts of it, and what is the Hour of full Sea, and what the Age of the Moon at the Time of Observation.

Enquiries for Persia.

1. What are chiefly the pre­sent Studies of the Persians, and what kind of Learning they now excel in.

2. What other Trades and Arts they are now skilled in, besides that of making of Silk and Tapistry.

3. Whether, there being al­ready good Descriptions in Words, of the excellent Pi­ctures, and Basse Relieves, that are about Persepolis at Chimilnar, yet none very particular, some may not be found sufficiently skill'd, in those Parts, that might be engaged to make a Draught of the Place, and the Stories there Pictured and Carved.

[Page 102] 4. How they make that Plaister; wherewith in India and those Parts, they line their Tanks or Cisterns, and which, when dry, shines like Marble, and is much harder.

Enquiries for Virginia and Bermudas.

1. Concerning the Varieties of Earths; 'tis said, there is one kind of a Gummy Clear Consistence, White and Clear; another White, and so Light, that it swims upon Water; another Red, called Wapergh, like Terra Sigillata: Quaere, What other considerable kinds are there; and to send over a Parcel of each.

[Page 103] 2. What considerable Minerals, Stones, Bitumens, Tinctures and Drugs.

3. What Hot Baths, and of what Medicinal Use.

4. What is the Original of those large Navigable Rivers, which empty themselves into the Bay Chesapeak; and whe­ther on the other Side of that Ridge of Mountains, from which they are supposed to proceed, there be not other Rivers that flow into the South Sea.

5. How the Silk-Grass is prepared.

6. To give a full Account of that Vulnerary Root called Wi­chacan of Pocone, a Root of a red Juice, a good Tincture: Of Musquaspem, a Root of a red Tincture: Of the Plant Maricock, whose Fruit is said to be fashioned like a Lemon, [Page 104] exceeding pleasant to the Taste, of a Blossom most beautiful: Of the Chincomen-tree, whose Fruit is said to have a Husk like a Chesnut, Luscious and Hearty Meat, both Raw and Boiled.

7. Whether there be in the Bermudas a Poison-Weed, like our Ivy, whose Leaves do by the Touch cause Blisters; and a Reed whose Juice or Infusion causeth Vomit.

8. What kinds of Trees these Barks are taken from, that are used instead of Tile or Slate, in the Covering of their Houses, being cooler in Summer and warmer in Winter than Stone.

9. To give a particular Ac­count of the Spider in the Ber­mudas, said to be Large and Beautiful for its Colours, weav­ing [Page 105] a Web betwixt several Trees, which is affirmed to be for Substance and Colour like perfect raw Silk, so strong, that Birds, like Snites, are snared therein.

10. Whether Dear have ge­nerally their three or four Fawns at a Brood; and whether any of the Cattle, transported from hence, becomes there more Fruitful than they were here.

11. Whether the Relation be true, of a Glue made of Harts-Horn, that will not dissolve in Water, and if so, how made.

12. Whether at the Bottom of the Bay of Cheasapeak, north­ward, the Natives be still of such a Gigantick Stature, as has been reported; and whether there be another not far from these, Easterly, of a Dwarfish Stature.

[Page 106] 13. Whether round about the Coast of the Bermudas the Tides keep the same Time, and at what a Clock, precisely, it is High-water on the Days of Full and New Moon, and how high the Water rises then; and the like on the Coasts of Virgi­nia and Florida.

Enquiries for Guaiana and Brasil.

1. Whether about Orabba, near Oronoque, some eight De­grees Northern Latitude; and about the Town Darien, Toads are presently produced, by throwing a kind of Morish Wa­ter, found there, upon the Floors of their Houses. Lin­schotten.

[Page 107] 2. Whether it be true that the Locust of Brasil, called, Caayra, changeth in the Spring-Time into a Plant, and wi­thers away like a Plant; and whether, in the same Country, that kind of Eruca, which is called by the Portugals Lagar­tas des Verias, turns into a Bird, admirable for Colour and swift Flying, the Change there­of being made so leisurely, that one may for a while see half of the Insect, and the other half of the Bird, which the Natives call Guianumbi, the Por­tugals Pegafrel. Piso.

3. Whether upon the Leaves of that Brasilian-Tree, called Gereiba, there is, in a Sun­shiny Day, found a white Salt in that Quantity, that one may gather as much from two or three Leaves as will [Page 108] salt a good Pot of Broth. Piso.

4. Whether there be found about the Mouth of the River of Amazones, a green Argilla, which, though very soft under Water, yet, when exposed to the Air, grows almost as hard as a Diamond, insomuch that the Natives make Hatchets of them, strong and sharp enough to cleave Wood; for which purpose also those Indians are said to have used it, before they got Iron ones; and whe­ther this Argilla, become Stone, have a peculiar Vertue against the Epilepsie, when carried by the Patient. Pelleprat, in his Relation of the Islands, and Ter­ra Firma of the Southern Ame­rica.

[Page 109] 5. Whether the black Bees in Guaiana, about the River Orenoque, make black Hony and Wax; and whether they have no Stings, as the same Pelleprat affirmeth.

Enquiries and Directions for the Antisles; or Caribe Islands.

I. Of Vegetables.

1. Whether the Juice of the Tree Jumpa, being as clear as any Rock-Water, yields a Brown Violet Dye, and being put twice upon the same Place, maketh it look Black; and whe­ther this Tincture cannot be got out with any Soap, yet disappears of itself in nine or ten Days; and whether cer­tain Animals, particularly Hogs [Page 110] and Parrets, eating of this Fruit, have their Flesh and Fat alto­gether tinged of a Violet Co­lour.

2. Whether Ring-Doves, that feed upon the bitter Fruit of the Acomas-Tree, have their Flesh bitter also?

3. Whether the Wood of the Acajou-Tree, being red, light and well-scented, never rots in the Water, nor breeds any Worms when cut in due Sea­son; and whether the Chests and Trunks made thereof keep Cloaths, placed therein from be­ing Worm-eaten.

4. Whether the Leaves of a certain Tree, peculiarly cal­led Indian-Wood, give such a haut-goust to Meats and Sau­ces, as if it were a Compo­sition of several Sorts of Spices.

[Page 111] 5. Whether there be two such Sorts of the Wood, called Savomer or Soap-Wood, of the one of which the Fruit, of the other the Root serveth for Soap.

6. Whether the Bark of the Paretuvier Wood, tans as well as Oak-Bark.

7. Whether the Root of the Tree Laitus being brayed, and cast into Rivers, maketh Fishes drunk.

8. Whether the Root of the Manioc is so fertile, that one Acre planted therewith, yields so plentiful a Crop, as shall feed more People than six Acres of the best Wheat.

9. What Symptoms do usually follow upon the taking of the Juice of Manioc, or upon eat­ing the Juice with the Root, and what Effects are thereby [Page 112] produced upon the Body, that infer it to be accounted rank Poyson; whether worse Effects than these may be caused by meer Crudity, as by Turnips or Carrets eaten Raw, and much more by Raw Flesh, in those that are not used thereto, or at most some such nauseous or noxious Quality, as might be corrected in the Taking or Pre­paration, which Correction, if effected, might perhaps ren­der the Bread much heartier, the Juice being likely to car­ry off the Spirit and Strength, leaving the Remainder Spirit­less.

10. The Palmetto Royal be­ing said by Ligon to be a very tall and streight Tree, and so tough, that none of them have been seen blown down, and withal hollow, in all which [Page 113] Respects they may serve for spe­cial Uses, and particularly for long Optick Tubes.

11. Whether the Oyl ex­pressed out of Ricinus, or Pal­ma Christi be used by the In­dians, to keep them from Ver­mine; to send over some of that Oyl.

12. Whether in the Passage of the Isthmus, from Nombre de Dios to Panama, there is a whole Wood full of Sensitive Trees, of which, as soon as they are touch'd, the Leaves and Bran­ches move with a ratling Noise, and wind themselves together in­to a winding Figure.

13. VVhether there be cer­tain Kernels of a Fruit, like & white Pear-plum, which are very Purgative and Emetick, but having the thin Film, which parts them into halves, taken [Page 114] out, they have no such Opera­tion at all, and are as sweet as a Jordaine Almond.

14. To send over some of the Roots of the Herb, called by our Author L'herb aux Fleshes (the Dart-Herb) which being stamped is said to have the Ver­tue of Curing the VVounds made with poyson'd Darts.

15. To send some of the Grain of the Herb Musk, put­ing it up carefully in a Box, which being in it will keep its Musk-Scent.

16. To send over a Speci­men of all Medicinal Herbs, to­gether with their respective Ver­tues, as they are reputed there. Item, Particularly the Prickle­with at the Barbados; Macao, Mastick-Tree, Locust, Black-wood, Yellow within, Five Sprig, Tidle­wood, White Wood, Barbados Cedar.

[Page 115] 17. VVhether the Fruit Man­cenille of the Mancenillier-Tree, though admirably Fair and Fra­grant, yet is fatal to the Eater, and falling into the VVater kills the Fishes that eat there­of, except Crabs, who yet are said to be dangerous to eat, when they have fed upon this Fruit; whether under the Bark of this Tree is contain'd a cer­tain glutinous Liquor, as white as Milk, very dangerous, so that if you chance to rub it, and this Juice spurt upon the Shirt like a Burning, if upon the naked Flesh, it will cause a Swelling, if upon the Eye, Blindness for several Days; and whether the Shadow of this Tree be so noxious, that the Bodies of Men reposing, it will swell strangely; and whether the Meat itself that is boyled [Page 116] with the Fire of this VVood, contracts a Malignity, burning the Mouth and Throat: Fur­ther, whether the Natives use the Milky Juice of this Tree, and the Dew falling from it, and the Juice of its Fruit, in the Composition of the Poy­son they infect their Arrows with.

II. Of Animals and Insects.

18. VVhether the Skin of the Tatou, and the little Bone of his Tail, do indeed, as is related, cure Deafness, and Pains of the Ears; and whe­ther this Animal be Proof, not only against the Teeth of Dogs, but also against Bullets.

[Page 117] 19. VVhether the Birds cal­led Canides, be so docile, that some of them learn not only to speak Indian, but also Dutch and Spanish, singing also the Airs in the Indian Tongue, as an Indian himself.

And whether the Bird Coli­bri have a Scent as sweet as the finest Amber and Musk; both which is affirmed by our French Author.

20. To procure some of the Fat of the Birds called Fregats, reputed to be very Antiparaly­tical and Antipodagrical.

21. To send over a Land-Pike, which is said to be like the VVater-Pike, but that in­stead of Fins it hath four Feet, on which it crawls.

22. VVhether the Skin of the Sea-wolf, which they other­wise call the Requiem, be so [Page 118] rude and Stiff, that they make Files of them, fit to file VVood; and whether it be usually guid­ed by another Fish, that is beautified with such a Variety of lively Colours, that one would say, That such Fishes are girt with Neck-Laces of Pearls, Corals, Emeralds, &c.

23. VVhether the Skins of the Sea-Calfs, otherwise called Lamantins, be so hard, when dryed, that they serve the In­dians for Shields.

24. VVhether the Ashes of the Fresh-VVater Tortoises do hinder the falling off the Hair, being powdered therewith.

25. VVhether the Land-Crabs, of these Islands, do at certain Times hide themselves all under Ground, for six VVecks, and during that Time [Page 119] Change and Renew themselves; and whether in hiding them­selves thus, they do so care­fully cover themselves all-a­bout with Earth, that the opening thereof cannot be at all perceiv'd, thereby shutting out the Air, by which they might else be annoyed, when they are quite naked, after they have shed their Shells, there then remaining no other Cover on them, but a very thin and tender Skin, which, by little, thickeneth and hardneth into a Crust, lide the old.

26. VVhether the Serpents in these Parts, that have Black and VVhite Spots on their Backs, be not Venomous; to send over some of such Serpent's Skins.

[Page 120] 27. To send over some of the Skins of those huge Liz­zards, called Ovayamaca, which, when come to their full Big­ness, are said to be five Foot long, Tail and all; and espe­cially that are said to have the Scales of their Skins so Bright and Curious, that they resem­ble Cloath of Gold and Silver.

28. VVhere the shining Flees, called Cucuyes, hide almost all their Light, when taken, but when at Liberty afford it plen­tifully.

29. VVhether there be a sort of Bees, Brown and Blue, who make a Black VVax, but the Honey in it VVhiter and Sweet­er than that of Europe.

30. VVhether in those Parts the Indians do cure the Bit­ings of Serpents by eating fresh Citron-Pills, and by applying [Page 121] the Unguent, made of the bruised Head of the VVounding Serpent, and put hot upon the VVound.

31. VVhether the VVood-Lice in those Countries, gene­rated out of Rotten VVood, are able, not only to eat through Trunks in a Day or two, and to spoil Linnen, Cloaths and Books (of which last they are said only to spare what is writ­ten or Printed) but also to support the Props, which Sup­port the Cottages, that they fall; and whether the Remedy against the latter Mischief is, To turn the Ends of the Wood, that are fixed in the Ground, or to rub the VVood with the Oil of that kind of Palma Christi (a Plant) wherewith the Natives rub their Heads, to secure them from Vermin.

[Page 122] 32. Whether that Sort of Vermine they meet with, com­monly called Ravets, spare no­thing of what they meet with, (either of Paper, Cloaths, Lin­nen and Wollen) but Silk and Cotten.

33. Whether the little Cirons called Chiques, bred out of Dust, when they pierce once into the Feet and under the Nails of the Toes, do get ground of the whole Body, unless they be drawn out by times; and whether at first they cause but a little, but afterwards having pierced the Skin, raise a great Inflammation in the Part affect­ed, and become in a small Time as big as a Pease, producing innumerable Nits, that breed others.

Enquiries for Greenland.

1. What and how much is the Heat of the Sun there, in the midst of Summer, compa­red with the Heat of it in Eng­land, to be observed with a Thermometer.

2. What is the most con­stant Weather there in Summer, whether Clear, Cloudy, Rainy, Foggy, &c.

3. What Weather is most usual at such and such Times of the Year.

4. What Constancy or Un­constancy there is of the Wind, to this or that Quarter of the Horizon, or to this or that Part of the Year.

[Page 124] 5. What the Temperature o [...] each particular Wind is observ­ed to be, and particularly whe­ther the North-Wind be th [...] Coldest; if not, what Wind is, whether is Colder, the East or the West, &c.

6. What Wind is observed to bring most Ice, and what to make a Clear Water at Sea.

7. What Currents are there how fast and which Way they set; whether these Currents are not stronger at one Time of the the Moon, than of ano­ther; whether they always run one way.

8. What is observable about the Tides, High Spring or Neap; How high the Water-Mark is above the Low-Water; which way it Floweth; which way it Ebbeth; what Time of the [Page 125] [...]oon the Spring-Tides fall [...]t.

9. Whether the Ice that [...]oats in the Sea, be of Salt Wa­ [...]er or Fresh.

10. What Rivers there are in the Summer, and what Fresh Waters can be had.

11. What Fowl are found so live there, and what Beasts; how they are thought to sub­sist in Winter; how they Breed and Feed their Young.

12. What Vegetables grow there, and whether they yield any Flowers or Fruits, &c.

13. Whether there have been any Thunder or Light­ning observed in those Parts as is observed in Norway.

14. How deep the Cold pe­netrates into the Earth, and [Page 126] whether there be any Wells, Pits or Mines so deep that the Cold does not reach the Bottom thereof.

15. How the Land tends, and whether the Parts under or near the Pole, be by those that have gone furthest that way, thought to be Sea or Land; and how near any hath been known to approach the Pole; whether the Cold in­creaseth with the increase of Latitude.

16. To make, if possible, some Experiments and Obser­vations about the Magnet or Needle; and particularly how much the Declination is there, and whether they exactly ob­serve the Degrees of Declina­tion in their Course; like­wise to make Observations a­bout [Page 127] the Heighth of the Sun and other Celestial Bodies, and their Diameter, Refracti­ons, &c.

17. What is their Opinion concerning the North East Pas­sage.

18. What Fish do most fre­quent those Seas besides Whales; what is observable in their Fishing, as the usual or un­usual Bigness and Strength, and the several Sorts of Whales, and particularly to observe, Whether that kind of Whale they call Trompa, have in their Heads the Sperma Coeti, and in their Entrals the Ambergreese, looking like Cows Dung. Pur­chas.

19. What observable Dif­ference there is of the Cold­ness of the VVind, when it blows over great Boards of [Page 128] Ice that are seen in these Seas, and when not.

20. To give an exact account of the VVhale-fishing, throw­ing the Harping-Irons, follow­ing the Fish.

21. To describe the whole manner of making the Oil of VVhale.

THE INDEX.

A.
  • AIR pag. 3, 21
  • Animals 8
  • Axungiae 10
  • Allom ibid.
  • Apparitions 11
  • Air-Shafts 27
  • Armenians 60
  • Amianthus 61
  • Amber Yellow, of Egypt 70
  • Appearances of Legs and Arms, reported to be near Cairo 72
  • Antimony
  • Avernus 84
  • Ambergreeco 89
  • Arbor Triste 97
  • Arbre de Rays ibid.
  • Animal giving Musk 98
  • Argilla Green 108
  • Acajou Tree 110
B.
  • Barascope, travelling 4
  • Boles 10
  • Brooks 21
  • [Page 130] Bodnick-Sea pag. 76
  • Betels 96
  • Barks used for Tiles 104
  • Clays C 10, 24
  • Coals 10
  • Comets 15
  • Countreys 19
  • —Product 20
  • Copper compleat in the Mine 33
  • Caulk 35
  • Candia 61
  • Cyprus ibid.
  • Constantinople ibid.
  • Cephalenia ibid.
  • Caucasus 62
  • Caspian Sea 63
  • China ibid.—Dishes 92
  • City petrified 64
  • Cotton-bearing-Tree 71
  • Crocodiles ibid.
  • Children of the 8th Month in Egypt 72
  • Concentration of Colours 78
  • Copper-Mines 82
  • Coast of Cormandel 89
  • Catopa 94
  • Calamba Wood 95
  • Cinnamon-Tree Root, yielding Oil of Camphire. ibid.
  • [Page 131] Cabala, a Fish pag. 99
  • Cereiba-Tree 107
  • Canides, a Bird 117
  • Colibri, a Bird ibid.
  • Crabs, Land 118
  • Cucuyes, a shining Flee 120
  • Citron-Pills ibid.
D.
  • Diseases 4
  • Damps, their Signs, Hurts and Preven­tions 16, 25, 29
  • Drugs from Egypt 72
  • Diamonds growing after three Years 87
  • Dutroy 96
  • Dart-Herb 114
E
  • Earth 7, 24—of Egypt, 68. its Inhabitants 9
  • Earths Soap 10
  • Euxin Sea 62
  • Euripi 62
  • Eggs Hatching in Egypt 69
  • Gold and Silver Earth 81
  • Earths in Bermudoes 102
F
  • Fishes 6
  • Fires Subterraneous 8
  • Fullers-Earth 10
  • [Page 132] Flux-Powders pag. 41
  • Furnaces ibid.
  • Fewel ibid.
  • About Freezing 76, 77
  • —Fishes under Ice 73
  • —Freezing of Animals ibid.
  • Flux for Metals 86
  • Fishing of Pearls 88
  • Fountain of Oil in Sumatra 89
  • Fregats, a Bird 117
G
  • Grooves, their Depth and Wideness 26, 27
  • —Supporters 27
  • Gambra 74
  • Gold-Mines in Hungary 85
  • Gum Lac 99
  • Glue of Harts-Horn 105
H
  • Heavens 2
  • Hills 7, 20
  • Heats 25
  • Honey Black 109
  • Herb-Musk. 114
I.
  • Ignes Fatui 15
  • Iron-Ore 31
  • Inquiries about Vegetables 48 to 57
  • —Turky 58
  • [Page 133] —Egypt 67
  • —Guiny 73
  • —Poland, &c. 75
  • —Hungary and Transilvania 80
  • —Suratte 87
  • —Persia 101
  • —Bermudas and Virginia 102
  • —Antisles or Caribes 109
  • —Animals or Insects 177
  • —Ichneumen 71
  • Iron made Copper 84
  • Iron of Japan and Pegu, 88
  • If Japan an Island 92
  • Junipa-Tree 109
  • Indian-Wood 110
L
  • Lakes 6, 21
  • Lightnings 23
  • Lights 24
  • Locks Wooden 72
  • Lake in Moravia 85
  • Lignum Aloes 93
  • Lucust of Brasil 107
  • Laitus Tree 111
  • Land-Pike 117
  • Lamantins or Sea-Calfs 118
M.
  • Meteors 3
  • [Page 134] Magnet 8
  • Minerals ibid.
  • Machinel Tree 9
  • Marles 10, 24
  • Mines 11, 12—the Signs ib. 25
  • Mists 24
  • Marcasite 24, 25
  • Metals, their Kind and Depth ibid.
  • Miners Plumming and Dyalling 29
  • —Work 31
  • —Recovering Veins ibid.
  • Metals grow 33
  • Mundick 35, ibid.
  • Mercury 40
  • Mines if afford Vessels, Anchors, Ships, Fishes, &c. 48
  • Mouslac 60
  • Mummies 61
  • Mediterranean 73
  • Maal-stroome 76
  • The Lying of Metals 83
  • Mangas Bravas 94
  • Manioc 111
  • Mancenille 115
N
  • Needles dipping 12
  • Nitre, Egyptian 67
  • Negroes sharp Sight 74
O.
  • [Page 135]Ores, and how they run 11, 32
  • —like Lome 33
  • —Weight, Colour, Mixture ibid.
  • —if meliorated by Time 37
  • —Signs of the Good and Bad 38
  • —Proportion of Metals ibid.
  • —distinguishing Marks ibid.
  • —if Pure 39
  • —Beating 40
  • —Grinding ibid.
  • —Washing ibid.
  • —Tosting ibid.
  • —if exposed to the Air ibid.
  • —How Melted and facilitated 12, 42.
  • —How taken out ibid.
  • —if often-melted 43
  • —if the Best comes first or last in Melt­ing 43
  • —What its Flowers are 44
  • Opium 59
  • Mixture of Ores 83
  • Oysters at Java 99
  • Ovayamaca 120
P.
  • Propontis 26
  • Plauge in Egypt 68
  • Palm-tree, female 72
  • [Page 136] Palm pag. 73
  • Poyson that Works by Smelling 94
  • Poyson Macassrr ibid.
  • Papayas 97
  • Pedro Porco 99
  • Plaster for Tanks 102
  • Poyson-Weed 104
  • Paretuvier-Wood 111
  • Palmetto Royal 112
  • Palma Christi 113
  • Purgative Kernel, or rather Film of a Kernel ibid.
Q.
  • Quick-Silver in other Mines 82
R.
  • Rivers 6. one not in Hungary 83
  • Rusma 58
  • Reame in Arabia 60
  • Rain in Egypt, 67
  • —breeding Worms in Guiny 73
  • Red Sea 73
  • Rhinoceros 100
  • Ring-Doves 110
  • Ricinus 113
S.
  • Suns Retrogradation
  • Salubrity or insalubrity of the Air 4
  • Sea 6
  • [Page 137] Salts 10
  • Sulphurs ibid.
  • Sea-waters, Odor, Taste, Colours 12
  • —Currents 13
  • —Passages subterraneous ibid.
  • Straits, Map and Tides ibid.
  • Sea-coasts 14
  • —Depths and Shallows ibid.
  • Scales, nice 15
  • Sea's Saltness at the Bottom 17
  • Springs 21
  • Steams, subterraneous 22
  • Soyl 22
  • Storms 23
  • Stones 24
  • Spar 30, 35
  • Slag 45
  • Steell Damasco 59
  • Succinum 75
  • Sal Gemmae ibid.
  • Swallows in Poland ibid.
  • Salt-pits 81
  • Springs at Buda 84
  • Stones to be cleft and sawn like Planks 87
  • S. Helena 100
  • Silk-Grass 103
  • Spider in Bermudas 104
  • Soap-Wood 111
T.
  • [Page 138]Turdados
  • Tides, Height, Ebb­ings, Flowings 14
  • —at Helena 100
  • Thunders 15, 23
  • Trees 22
  • Talismans 71
  • Thermae near Schemnitz 82
  • Tides near Minda­n̄a 91
  • —at Bermudas & Virginia 106
  • Toades at Orono­que ibid.
  • Tatou 116
  • Tortoise, fresh Wa­ter 118
V.
  • Vegetables 8
  • Vitriols 10
  • Virgula divinatoria 24
  • Veins their concomi­tants 34
  • —how inclosed 34
  • —if uniform 35
  • —how terminate 37
  • Vitriol 80
  • Veins of Gold and Quick-silver 82
W.
  • Weather 3
  • Winds 4
  • —effects on the Sea 13
  • —Times 15
  • —Trade ibid.
  • Waters 23
  • —in Mines 28
  • Water-engines ib.
  • Wood, smelling like human Excre­ments 93
  • Red Wood, burning without wasting 93
  • Wax black 120
Z.
  • Zante 62

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