These Are Principally Worn On Their Arms And
Shoulders, And Their Loins Are Girded With Many Cords Made Of Sinews.
They Appear A Savage People, Yet Not Impudent, And Are Well Made In All
Their Limbs.
Their faces are punctured with many marks, like the Indians,
having six or eight punctured lines, more or less according to their
fancies, in which they seem to take great delight.
They have a language,
which is not understood by any one, although interpreters of almost every
tongue have been tried. Their country is destitute of iron, yet they have
swords edged with sharp stones; and their arrows are pointed by the same
means, and are sharper even than ours. Our people brought from thence
part of a broken sword with gilded ornaments, which seemed of Italian
manufacture.
A certain boy is said to have been seen in that country, having two
silver balls banging from his ears, which certainly appeared to be
engraved after our manner. On the whole, it may be concluded that this
country is a continent, not an island, and that is a new discovery; for
if any ships had ever been here before, we should assuredly have heard
something respecting it. The coast abounds in fish, particularly salmon,
herrings, and many others of that kind. There are forests, which abound
in all kinds of trees; so that _they build_[3] ships, with masts, yards,
benches, and all things conformable. On this account the king of Portugal
has resolved to convert this discovery to profit, both on account of the
abundance of wood which is fit for many purposes, and because the natives,
being accustomed to labour, may become very useful, and indeed I have
never seen better slaves. I have deemed it consistent with our friendship
to acquaint you with these things; and when the other vessel arrives,
which is daily expected, I shall communicate other particulars.
The fleet has sailed for Calicut, and the king has ordered that it shall
seize the fleet of Mecca, that the soldan of Syria may neither have
access there in future nor may export any more spices. The king of
Portugal is satisfied that every thing shall go according to his wishes
in this respect, and the court and all the nation are of the same opinion.
Should this purpose succeed, it is incredible how abundant this kingdom
must soon become in all kinds of riches and merchandize; and from hence
the ships of Venice in particular will have to bring their accustomed
articles of trade. To us truly, who formerly sustained this branch of
commerce entirely by our own resources, this decree will be injurious,
unless he shew us favour.
[1] This letter is dated 9th October 1501. It is probable that Pasquali
would hardly write this _from_ the court of Portugal to his brothers
in _Lisbon_; it being more likely that they resided in Venice. - E.
[2] The discovery here referred to, seems to have been the coast of
Labradore; and the other country under the north may possibly be
Greenland.
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