Clarke, I. 290. Purchas, I. Harris, I. 664.
[2] Clarke, I. 295.
[3] These may possibly be the nuts of the Ricinus Palma Christi, from
which the castor oil is extracted. - E.
[4] Strictly speaking the northern limits of Loango, one of the divisions
of the extensive kingdom of Congo, is at the Sette river, ten leagues
S.S. E. from Cape St Catherine. - E.
[5] There is no island of that name in this position; so that the island
of St Matthew of de Barros must refer to Annobon. - E.
[6] These dates would throw back the discovery of this island, and the
passage of the line by the mariners of Don Henry, to the year 1438, at
a time when they had not reached the latitude of 25 deg. N. which is quite
absurd. - E.
SECTION II.
Voyage of a Portuguese Pilot from Lisbon to the Island of St Thomas[1].
Before I left Venice, I was requested by letter from Signior Hieronimo
Fracastro of Verona, that, on my arrival at Conde, I would send, him an
account of my voyage to San Thome, to which island our ships often sail
for cargoes of sugar. The passage of the equinoctial line, under which
that island, is situated, appeared to that gentleman so extraordinary a
circumstance as to merit the attention of men of science; and you
likewise made me a similar request.
