Page:PiriReisMap Akcura 1935.pdf/7

 mals. Now these regions have been opened to all and have become famous. The names which mark the places on the said islands and coasts were given by Colombo, that these places may be known by them. And also Colombo was a great astronomer. The coasts and islands on this map are taken from Colombo's map.

This section shows in what way this map was drawn. In this century there is no map like this map in anyone's possession. The hand of this poor man has drawn it and now it is constructed. From about twenty charts and Mappae Mundi—these are charts drawn in the days of Alexander, Lord of the Two HonrsHorns [sic], which show the inhabited quarter of the world; the Arabs name these charts Jaferiye—from eight Jaferiyes of that kind and one Arabic map of Hind, and from the maps just drawn by four Portuguese which show the countries of Hind, Sind and China geometrically drawn, and also from a map drawn by Colombo in the western region I have extracted it. By reducing all these maps to one scale this final form was arrived at. So that the present map is as correct and reliable for the Seven Seas as the map of our countries is considered correct and reliable by seamen.

It is related by the Portuguese infidel that in this spot night and day are at their shortest of two hours, at their longest of twenty two hours. But the day is very warm and in the night there is much dew.

On the way to the vilayet of Hind a Portuguese ship encountered a contrary wind (blowing) from the shore. The wind from the shore... (illegible) it (the ship). After being driving by a storm in a southern direction they saw a shore opposite them they advanced towards it (illegible). They saw that these places are good anchorages. They threw anchor and went to the shore in boats. They saw people walking, all of them naked. But they shot arrows, their tips made of fish-bone. They stayed there eight days. They traded with these people by sings. That saw these lands and wrote about them which... The said barca without going to Hind, returned to Portugal, where, upon arrival it gave information... They described these shores in detail... They have discovered them.

And in this country it seems that there are white-haired monsters in this shape, and also six-horned oxen. The Portuguese infidels have written it in their maps...

This country is a waste. Everything is in ruin and, it is said that large snakes are found here. For this reason the Portuguese infidels did not land on these shores and these are also said to be very hot.

And these four ships are Portuguese ships. Their shape is written down. They travelled from the western land to the point of Abyssinia (Habesh) in order to reach India. They said towards Shuluk. The distance across this gulf is 4200 miles.

...... on this shore a tower ...... is however ...... in this climate gold ...... taking a rope ...... is said they measured

(Not: The fact that half of each of these lines is missing prooves clearly that the map was torn in two.)

And a Genoese küke coming from Flanders was caught in a storm. Impelled by the storm it came upon these islands, and in this way these islands became known.

It is said that in ancient times a priest by the name of Sanvolrandan (Santo Brandan) travelled on the Seven Seas, so they say. The above-mentioned landed on this fish. They thought it dry land and lit a fire upon this fish. When the fish's back began to burn it plunged into the sea, they reembarked their boats and fled to the ship. This event is not mentioned by the Portuguese infidels. It is taken from the ancient Mappae Mundi.

To these small islands they have given the name of Undizi Vergine. That is to say the Eleven Virgins.

And this island they call the Island of Antilia. There are many monsters and parrots and much logwood. It is not inhabited.

This barca was driven upon these shores by a storm and remained where it fell... Its name was Nicola di Giuvan. On his map it is written that these rivers which can be seen have for the most part gold (in their beds). When the water had gone they collected much gold (dust) from the sand. On their map...

This is the barca from Portugal which encountered a storm and came to this land. The details are written on the edge of this map.

(Note: see VIII)

The Portuguese infidels do not go west of here. All that side belongs entirely to Spain. They have made an agreement that (a line) two thousand miles to the western side of the Strait of Gibraltar should be taken as a boundary. The Portuguese do not cross to that side but the Hind side and the southern side belong to the Portuguese.

And this caravel having encountered a storm was driven upon this island. Its name was Nicola Giuvan. And on this island there are many oxen with one horn. For this reason they call this island Isle de Vacca, which means, Ox Island.

The admiral of this caravel is named Messir Anton the Genoese, but he grew up in Portugal. One day the above-mentioned caravel encountered a storm, it was driven upon this island. He found much ginger here landand [sic] has written about these islands.

This sea is called the Western Sea, but Frank sailors call it the Mare d'Espagna, which means the Sea of Spain. Up to now it was known by these names, but Colombo, who opened up this sea and made these islands known, and also the Portuguese infidels who have opened up the region of Hind have agreed together to give this sea a new name. They have given it the name of Ovo Sano (Oceano) that is to say, sound egg. Before this it was thought that the sea had no end or limit, that at its other end was darkness. Now they have seen that 15