turies although not directly related to the interests of the Ottoman Empire, was given direct and close attention by Turkish scholars, and that these scholars showed extraordinary ability in the sciences of geography and cartography,[1] proves that the Turks of the time were within the great European movements of thought. Another proof of this is given in Piri Reis' "Baḥriye" of which we have spoken above, and which is one of the best works on the Mediterranean written at that time.
A number of the marginal notes on Piri Reis' map are not easy to decipher. To facilitate the task of those who wish to study this map, we have asked Bay Hasan Fehmi Turgal, a member of our Society who is a specialist in deciphering manuscripts, to make a transcription of the marginal notes. Bay Hassan Fehmi was able to read most of the notes. He has also indicated the indecipherable words.
The notes have been numbered beginning with the north-western corner of the map coming down and around southward in a spiral towards the centre. The notes are given below, in the indicated order:
I. — Illegible.
II. — This country is inhabited. The entire population goes naked.
III. — This region is known as the vilayet of Antilia. It is on the side where the sun sets. They say that there are four kinds of parrots, white, red, green and black. The people eat the flesh of parrots and their headdress is made entirely of parrots' feathers. There is a stone here. It resembles black touchstone. The people use it instead of the ax. That it is very hard... (illegible). We saw that stone.
Note: Piri Reis writes in the "Bahriye": "In the enemy ships which we captured in the Mediterranean, we found a headdress made of these parrot feathers and also a stone resembling a touchstone.")
IV. — This map was drawn by Piri Ibn Haji Mehmed, known as the nephew of Kemal Reis, in Gallipoli, in the month of muharrem of the year 919 (that is, between the 9th of March and the 7th of April of the year 1513).
V. — This section tells how these shores and also these islands were found.
These coasts are named the shores of Antilia. They were discovered in the year 896 of the Arab calendar. But it is reported thus, that a Genoese infidel, his name was Colombo, he it was who discovered these places. For instance, a book fell into the hands of the said Colombo, and he found it said in this book that at the end of the Western Sea (Atlantic) that is, on its western side, there were coasts and islands and all kinds of metals and also precious stones. The above-mentioned, having studied this book thoroughly, explained these matters one by one to the great of Genoa and said: "Come, give me two ships, let me go and find these places." They said: "O unprofitable man, can an end or a limit be found to the Western Sea? Its vapour is full of darkness". The above-mentioned Colombo saw that no help was forthcoming from the Genoese, he sped forth, went to the Bey of Spain (king), and told his tale in detail. They too answered like the Genoese, In brief, Colombo petitioned these people for a long time, finally the Bey of Spain gave him two ships and saw that they were well equipped, and said:
"O Colombo, if it happens as you say, let us make you kapudan (admiral) to that country. Having said which he sent the said Colombo to the Western Sea. The late Gazi Kemal had a Spanish slave. The above-mentioned slave said to Kemal Reis, he had been three times to that land with Colombo. He said: 'First we reached the Strait of Gibraltar, then from there straight south and west between the two... (illegible). Having advanced straight four thousand miles, we saw an island facing us, but gradually the waves of the sea became foamless, that is, the sea was becalmed and the North Star—the seamen on their compasses still say star—little by little was veiled and became invisible, and he also said that the stars in that region are not arranged as here. They are seen in a different arrangement. They anchored at the island which they had seen earlier across the way, the population of the island came, shot arrows at them and did not allow them to land and ask for informations. The males and the females shot hand arrows. The tips of these arrows were made of fishbones, and the whole population went naked and also very... (illegible). Seeing that they could not land on that island they crossed to the other side of the island, they saw a boat. On seeing them the boat fled and they (the people in the boat) dashed out on land. They (the Spaniards) took the boat. They saw that inside of it there was human flesh. It happened that these people were of that nation which went from island to island hunting men and eating them. The said Colonbo saw yet another island, they neared it, they saw that on that island there were great snakes. They avoided landing on this island and remained there seventeen days. The people of this island saw that no harm came to them from this boat, they caught fish and brought them in their small ship's boat (filika). These (Spaniards) were pleased and gave them glass beads. It appears that he (Colombus) had read it in the book that in that region glass beads were valued. Seeing the beads they brought still more fish. These (Spaniards) always gave them glass beads. One day they saw gold around the arm of a woman, they took the gold and gave her beads. They said to them, to bring more gold, we will give you more beads, (they said). They went and brought them much gold. It appears that in their mountains were gold mines. One day, also, they saw pearls in the hands of one person. They saw that when they gave beads many more pearls were brought to them. Pearls were found on the shore of this island, in a spot one or two fathoms deep. And also loading their ship with many logwood trees and taking two natives along, they carried them within that year to the Bey of Spain. But the said Colombo not knowing the language of these people, they traded by sings, and after this trip the Bey of Spain sent priests and barley, taught the natives how to sow and reap and converted them to his own religion. The natives had no religion of any sort. They walked naked and lay there like ani-
14
- ↑ "This map was drawn by an extremely capable Turkish geographer, of whom we know that he has written an important work on the Mediterranean, the information and the maps in it are very reliable. Minute investigations made on the spot show that the information given is to up to date." Ibid, p. 9.
