In 1643, a translation was published in Amsterdam by Richard Hynmers of an important work on geography and navigation by Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571 – October 21, 1638), a Dutch cartographer and publisher who, with the collaboration of his son Johannes Blaeu, was one of the most notable figures in Dutch cartography in the 16th and 17th centuries. The title of the work, in English, is “The Sea-Beacon, containing a brief instruction in the art of navigation; and the description of the seas and coasts of the Easterne, Northerne, and Westerne navigation; collected and compiled together out of the discoveries of many skilfull and expert sea-man”. In the third part of this work, “The third part of the Sea-Beacon, containing a description of the seacoasts of Westerne navigation”, particularly in chapter 4, “Of Porto Santo, Madera, and the Azores Ilands.”, of the sixth book, “The sixth booke of the Westerne navigation, contayning the description of the coasts of Barbarie from the Straite of Gibraltar until past the Cape de Geer: together with the Canaries and the Azores Ilands”, there is a summary description of the Azores from the point of view of navigation. The description is interesting (see the signaling system to warn of the arrival of ships or fleets in Angra), and the illustrations are interesting.

The note is by Professor Manuel Menezes de Sequeira.

«The voyages and travells of the ambassadors sent by Frederick Duke of Holstein, to the Great Duke of Muscovy, and the King of Persia. Begun in the year M.DC.XXXIII. and finish’d in M.DC.XXXIX. Containing a compleat history of Muscovy, Tartary, Persia. And other adjacent countries. With several publick transactions reaching near the present times; in VII books. Whereto are added the Travels of John Albert de Mandelslo, (a Gentleman belonging to the Embassay) from Persia, into the East-Indies. Containing a particular description of Indosthan, the Mogul’s Empire, the Oriental Islands, Japan, China, etc. and the revolutions which happened in those countries, within these few years. In III. books. The whole work illustrated with divers accurate maps, and figures.»

1639.

November

The 29. The wind South-south-east, we were at noon, at 33. Degrees, 30. minutes. We saw the Islands of Corvo, and de Flores, which some number among the Assores; and we got that day 24. Leagues, taking our course East-south-east.

(The Assores.) The Islands of Corzo [sic] and Flores, are not to be numbred among those which the Spaniards call the Assores, by reason of the many Hawks found there, when they were difcovered. The Dutch call them the Flemmings Islands, hence, that the first Inhabitants of the Island of Fajal, which is one of the seven Assores, were Flemmings, either born in Flanders, or some other Province of the Low-Countries, where they speak Low-Dutch. The Posterity of those Flemmings live there still, and observe the Customs of their own Country, and have their habitations on the little River rising out of the Mountains, which the Portuguez, upon that occasion, call Ribera dos Flamencos.

(Tercera.) The seven Islands called the Assores, are Tercera, St. Michael, Santa Maria, San Georges, Gratiosa, Pico, and Fajal. Tercera is the biggest of them all, as being fifteen or sixteen Leagues in compass. The Country is mountainous, and all the Island is so encompassed with Rocks, that it is in a manner inaccessible.

It hath no Haven, but that at the City of Angra, which is the Metropolis, not only of Tercera, but also of all the other Islands, and that no Rode where Vessels might safely ride.

The Port of Tercera is like a Crescent between two Promontories, whereof one hath two Mountains advancing so far into the Sea, that they seem to be quite loosned from the Island.

They are called Bresil, and so high, that a man may from thence discover twelve or thirteen Leagues into the Sea. The Governours of the Assores, and the Bishop of all those Islands, live in the City of Angra, within three Leagues whereof lies that which they call Vila da Praya, which is well built, but not very populous, in as much as it is a place of no Commerce, by reason of a flat shore or strand thereabouts, which occasioned the name of the City.

(Angra) The City of Angra is so called from the manner of its scituation, it being a term whereby the Portuguez would express the Figure of the Mount when it is half open, or the New-moon. It hath two Forts, whereof one which is towards the Mountains, serves it for a Cittadel; and the other, called the Castle of Saint Sebastian, is built upon one of the points, which shut up the Port, which it defends with the Artillery. On the other point which is forked, there are two Towers, whence they give the signal, as soon as they discover any Vessels at Sea, either from Bresil-side, or from Europe.

These lands belong to the Crown of Portugal; but during the last troubles of that Kingdom, there was a Castilian Garrison there, under the Command of D. A. Alvaro de Vizeros [1]; from whom the Portuguez soon took the Castle of Saint Sebastian; but he kept the Cittadel, till famine, and the utmost extremity forced him to deliver it up, on composition, May 6. 1642. After the relief which had been sent from Saint Lucars [2], Corogno [3], and Dunkirk, had proved ineffectual, partly through the treachery of the Portuguez, who served in the Fleet, and partly by their vigilance, who had possess’d themselves of the Avenues of the Island.

[1] O Mestre-de-campo D. Álvaro de Viveiros (ou melhor, Alvaro de Vivero y Menchaca) governou a fortaleza entre 1639 e 4 de Março de 1642.

[2] Sanlúcar de Barrameda

[3] Corunha

(They have good Fruit;) The soil of it is very good, nay the very Rocks yield Wine, though they are in some places so steepy, that it is almost a miracle how the Rock should thrust out of its Veins, which are not covered with Earth, the Vine-stock, which does not thrive so well in the best parts of the Valley. ‘Tis true, the Wine is none of the most excellent, and that such as are able to get better, have it brought from Madera, or the Canaries: but this hinders not, but it may be affirmed, that Salt and Oyl only excepted, which are brought thither from Portugal, this Island hath not only what is necessary, but also what may be accounted delicacy, since that, besides the Wheat whereof, there is sufficient to maintain all the Inhabitants, they have Apples, Pears, Citrons and Oranges, but especially plenty of Peaches, and of all the kinds thereof. They have also Cherries, Plums, Walnuts, and Chesnuts, but not such quantities thereof, as of other Fruits. Nor do they want any Pulse, or Pot-herbs.

(Battatos or Potatoes) They have also a Fruit they call Battatas, which spreads its root just under the uppermost Superficies of the Earth, as the Vine does, and brings forth a Fruit much like a Raddish, save that it is much bigger, there being some Roots that weigh a pound or more. It is much esteemed in Portugal, but in the Island it is of no account, so that only the poorer sort live on it. They have also a certain Plant which grows up five or fix foot high, and is fastned to the Earth by an infinite number of Roots, yellow as Gold, and as small as the Hair of a Mans Head [4]. The Inhabitants use it instead of Wooll and Feathers, to fill their Beds and Mattresses withall: but would they take the pains to spin it, they might make very good Stuffs thereof.

[4] Talvez a comparação seja com o cacto Cephalocereus senilis (Haw.) Pfeiff., conhecido em inglês por «man’s head».

Cattle is extreamly multiplied there, as also all the several sorts of Poultry brought thither, and there are abundance of Quails, and such multitudes of little Birds, like the Canary Bird, that some of the Inhabitants trade in nothing else. But there is neither wild Fowl nor Venison, and consequently no hunting, nor any divertisement of that kind, though there be Forrest enough, which might be sufficiently stored in a short time.

(Their Wheat will not keep.) The Wheat there is very good, but will not keep, in so much, that they are forc’d to put it under ground, to preserve it to the end of the year. Whence it comes, that every Family hath a pit in some part of the City, the entrance whereof was so big, that a man may go in, into which they dispose their Wheat, seal it with the mark and seal of the Owner, and leave it there till Christmass, and then they have it conveyed to their Houses, and put it into Chests of Bull-rushes, where it keeps the remainder of the year, so as that there is no need of ever stirring it.

(Tercera Oxen very large.) There is no Province in Europe, where Oxen are so fair, and so strong, as in the Inland of Tercera, or have fairer and larger Horns; and they are withall so tame, that they impose names upon them, as we do on Dogs, that they may go or come when they are called.

(Is subject to Earthquakes.) To hear the noise which the Rocks make when people go over them, as if they were going over a Cellar, a man would think the Inland were all hollow; and its probable, that the Air which is rarified in its Concavities, occasions the frequent Earthquakes, whereto it is subject, as are also most of the other Islands. There happened so great a one in this of Tercera, on the 24. of May, 1614.[5] that it overturn’d, in the City of Angra, eleven Churches, and nine Chappels, besides private houses; and in the City of Praya, it prov’d so dreadful, that there was hardly a house left standing: (An Island started of a sudden.) and the 16. of June 1628.[6] there happened so horrible an Earthquake in the Island of Saint Michael, that not far from it, the Sea opened, and thrust forth at a place, where there was above a hundred and fifty fathom water, an Island above a League and a half in length, and above sixty fathom high.

[5] Conhecido por «Primeira Caída da Praia», este terremoto destruiu quase totalmente as freguesias de Agualva, Vila Nova, Lajes e Santa Cruz da Praia.

[6] Talvez seja uma gralha e se trate da erupção submarina que ocorreu ao largo da Candelária, em São Miguel, com início a 3 de Julho de 1638.

There are also, in these two Islands, certain places, out of which there issues forth a sulphurous smoak, whence it may be inferred, there is fire hidden under the earth, that gives heat to the Springs of scalding water, which are to be seen thereabouts.

(A Spring that petrifies wood;) There is a Spring within three Leagues of Angra, which petrities Wood; whereof there is an evident demonstration in a Tree, the root whereof is absolutely petrified, as far as it was covered by the water, whereas otherwise it is not changed at all.

(A kind of wood hard as iron.) In the Island of Pico, there is a certain Wood called Texio[7], which is as hard as Iron, and being cut, is full of Waves like Chamlet, and as red as any Scarlet. The Cabinets made of this Wood are so highly esteemed, that the Wood is kept for the Kings use.

[7] Os teixos açorianos estão hoje praticamente extintos, infelizmente.

(Cedar.) Cedar is so common, that they do not only make all sorts of Houshold-stuffe thereof, but also Waggons and Boats; Nay, sometimes it serveth for firing.

The Trade of these parts is not very great; for, Woad only excepted, whereof they make great quantities in these Islands, the Inhabitants have few other Commodities to Trade withall; unless it be some provisions, which they sell to the Ships that are bound for the East-Indies, and take in refreshments at these places, in their way.

(St. Michaels Island.) The Island of Saint Michael, whereof we spoke before, lies at twenty seven or twenty eight Leagues, South-east, from the Island of Tercera, and is above twenty Leagues in length.

Its Metropolis is called Punta Delgada, and its Soil is incomparably more fertile then that of the other, and produces such plenty of Wheat, that it is able to relieve its Neighbours. There are made yearly in this Island above two hundred thousand Quintals of Woad, wherewith the Inhabitants drive a great trade, though it hath neither Haven nor Road, where Ships may ride secure from all wind.

(St. Maries Island.) Twelve leagues South from that of Saint Michael, lies the Island of Saint Mary, which is about ten or twelve leagues in compass, and affords only Provisions, and Potters-earth, wherewith the Inhabitants trade into the neighbouring Islands.

(Gratiosa Island.) The Island Gratiosa is not above five or six Leagues in compass, and lies North-northeast from that of Tercera, from which it is about seven or eight leagues distant. The pleasantness of it, and the Fruits which grow there in great abundance, occasioned its having that name given it.

(St. Georges Island.) The Island of Saint George lies about eight or nine Leagues North-west from that of Tercera, and is twelve leagues in length, and two or three in breadth. It affords plenty of Provisions, but little Woad. The Country is rough and full of Mountains, which yield great store of Cedar, wherein the Inhabitants drive a considerable Trade, with the Joyners of Tercera, where most Tradesmen have settled themselves, in regard there it is the Ships put in, and that they can best put off their Commodities.

(Fayal Island.) Seven leagues from Saint Georges Island, to the South-west, lies the Island of Fayal, which is seventeen or eighteen Leagues in compass, and is no doubt the best of all the Assores, next those of Tercera, and Saint Michael. The Inhabitants drive a considerable Trade in Woad, as also in Provisions and Fish, whereof they carry whole Caravels loaden, to the Island of Tercera, where they are distributed among the Fleets which put in there. Its Metropolis is called Villa Desta[8], where live those who are Originally Flemmings, as we said before.

[8] Horta.

(Pico Island.) Pico Island, which hath its name from the high Mountain within it, called Pico, and which is conceived to be as high as that of the great Canary, whereof we shall speak anon, lies three Leagues South-east from the Island of Fayal, four South-west of that of Saint George, and twelve West-south-west of that of Tercera. The Inhabitants live by their Cattle and Tillage, the earth answering their expectations, and requites the pains they bestow on it, as being more fertile here, then in any of these seven Islands.

(The Island de Flores.) The Island de Flores, whereof we spoke before, and which we discovered the 29. of November, is seventy Leagues distant from that of Tercera, more to the West, and consequently so far from these Islands, that it is unjustly numbred among the Assores, or Flem- mish Islands, as is also that of Corvo, which is distant from that of Flores, about a League to the North; though both are subject to the Crown of Portugal, and submit to the Governour of Tercera. Flores Island is about seven Leagues in compass, and affords some Woad, but not much.

(The convenience of these Islands.) The Portuguez are so much the more jealous of the preservation of these Islands, the more convenient they lye, for the relief and accommodation of such Ships, as are bound for the East-Indies and Brasil. Whence it comes they permit not Strangers to compass the Island of Tercera, which serves for a Cittadel to all the rest, (which have no Haven, where Vessels may ride secure as to all winds, nor any fortified place for a retreat) least they should discover the weakness of the Island, and take notice of those places where people might land. Before the English became Masters of Jamaica, their Ships kept for the most part between the Assores and the Island of Flores, and there waited for the Fleet, which comes every year from the Havanna for Spain.

(The Air very sharp in the Assores.) The Air is very healthy in all these Islands, but so piercing, that in very few years it consumes Iron and Stones. Whence it comes that ordinarily they use in their buildings, the Flints, which they find by the Sea-fide, under water, in regard they better bear the sharpness of the Air.

The wind coming to the South, we kept on our course to the North-east, leaving the Islands of Flores and Corvo East of us, so that we soon lost sight of them.