to the Island of Thule, or Island, standing vnder the circle Arcticke in 24. degrees from the north pole, and continued in his nauigation two yeeres, til he came vnto this Island, where the day hath in Iune 22. houres, and in December the night also hath 22. houres, whereby it is there woonderfully cold.
Now the other brother Hanno tooke his course towarde Africa and Guiney, and he discouered the Fortunate Islands, which we call the Canaries, and besides these he discouered others, as the Dorcades, Hesperides and the Gorgades, which now be called the Isles of Cape Verde.[1] There he with his company went along the coast till they doubled the Cape of Bona Sperança, and taking their course towards the land, they went along by it vnto another Cape named Aromaticum, which is now called Guardafu, standing southeast from Cape Verde in 14. degrees toward the north; and he came to the coast of Arabia standing in 16. and 17. degrees; and was fiue yeeres in this voiage, before he returned backe into Spaine.
The nauigation of Hanno in Greeke herevnto agreeth. There be others that say, that he passed not beyond Sierra Leona, but peopled it, and afterwards discouered as far as the line. But it seemeth he made a full nauigation, because he spent so much time in his trauaile.
Enchanted snakes. It is reported that the inhabitants of the Cape of Bona Sperança are great witches, and inchanters of certaine snakes, which they bring to such seruice, and commandement, that they keepe their Churches and Churchyards, gardens, orchards, barnes, and cattel as well from wilde beasts, as from theeues. For if they see any to doe or to intend hurt, the snake windes her selfe to him or them, holding them as prisoners, and commanding her yoong ones to call their masters vntill they be taken. If the theeues be many, or the wilde beastes of so much strength, that they dare not meddle with them, then they goe vnto the house of him with whom they doe liue: and if it be in the night time, they giue so many strokes, that at the last they doe awake them, to cause them to prouide for their defence.
A certaine Italian called Alosius Cadamusta writeth, that he being in the discouerie of Guiney in the kingdome of Budimol lay in the house of Bisborol his sonnes sonne; and lying in his bed he heard a great noise and many blowes giuen about the
- ↑ Plinius lib. 6. cap. 31.
