Page:The Captivity of Hans Stade of Hesse.pdf/158

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IN EASTERN BRAZIL.

39

Salasar to the Island S. Vincente, and none of us had been there, except one called Roman, who thought that he could find out the place again.

We sailed out of the harbour called Inbiassape,^[1] which lies in thirty-four degrees south of the equinoctial line, and we came after sailing about two days to an island called Insula de Alkatrases,^[2] about 40 miles (leagues) away from whence we sailed. Then the wind became unfavourable, so that we were obliged to anchor. On the said island were many seabirds, which are called Alkatrases, these are easy to catch, and it was at the time they rear their young.^[3] There we landed and sought fresh water in the island, and found still there some old huts, and fragments of pottery of the savages who had formerly lived in the island, and we came upon a small fountain on a rock. Then we struck dead many of the above-mentioned birds, and also taking their eggs with us to the ship, we cooked the birds and the

↑ 1 In chapter 13, called Byasape. The position is confused. The author has just told us that he was 70 meilen (= 280 geographical miles= 4 deg. , 40 min.), from St. Vincent. This would place him in S. lat. 28 deg., 41 min., but he expressly says, "xxxiiii gradus sudwest equinoctial."
Many small ports in the Brazil are called from the Piaçaba palm. Inbiassape may be the Biguassú River which falls into the bay behind the island of St. Catherine, in S. lat., 27 deg., 29 min. On the other hand, there is Porto de Piaçabussú on the mainland west of St. Vincent: I believe it to be a mongrel word composed of Pai, Padre or priest, Sabia wise and Ussú great.
↑ Assuming Hans Stade to have been a little way south of St. Catherine, the Ilha dos Alcatrazes, the Pelican Islands alluded to in the Preface, lying in S. lat. 24 deg., 6 min., 15 sec.; and long. (G.) 45 deg., 46 min., 32 sec.; about five miles south of the parallel of the Barra de Santos, are those used as trigonometrical points by Captain Mouchez in the hydrographical survey of 1856-64.
↑ At the Lage, or Rock Isle, south-south-east of Santos, there is a "gull fair", and the birds are as tame as those described in the text, allowing men to lift them off their nests. There is also a spring called Agua Agria (the sour water), supposed to have healing properties. Capt. Napier, R.N. and I visited it on May 9th, 1865.

[1] 1 In chapter 13, called Byasape. The position is confused. The author has just told us that he was 70 meilen (= 280 geographical miles= 4 deg. , 40 min.), from St. Vincent. This would place him in S. lat. 28 deg., 41 min., but he expressly says, "xxxiiii gradus sudwest equinoctial."
Many small ports in the Brazil are called from the Piaçaba palm. Inbiassape may be the Biguassú River which falls into the bay behind the island of St. Catherine, in S. lat., 27 deg., 29 min. On the other hand, there is Porto de Piaçabussú on the mainland west of St. Vincent: I believe it to be a mongrel word composed of Pai, Padre or priest, Sabia wise and Ussú great.

[2] Assuming Hans Stade to have been a little way south of St. Catherine, the Ilha dos Alcatrazes, the Pelican Islands alluded to in the Preface, lying in S. lat. 24 deg., 6 min., 15 sec.; and long. (G.) 45 deg., 46 min., 32 sec.; about five miles south of the parallel of the Barra de Santos, are those used as trigonometrical points by Captain Mouchez in the hydrographical survey of 1856-64.

[3] At the Lage, or Rock Isle, south-south-east of Santos, there is a "gull fair", and the birds are as tame as those described in the text, allowing men to lift them off their nests. There is also a spring called Agua Agria (the sour water), supposed to have healing properties. Capt. Napier, R.N. and I visited it on May 9th, 1865.

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