_Pliny_ tells us of _Annius Plocquius_, General of the _Red-Sea_, That one of his Slaves being Enfranchiz’d, Sailing down towards the _Arabian_ Gulf, was carry’d by a violent Tempest from the North, beyond _Caramania_, and on the fifteenth day came to an Anchor in _Hippuros_, a Haven of _Taprobane_, which _Ortelius_ judges to be _Sumatra_; but _Mercator_ and _Cluverius_, on better grounds, _Zeylon_, which is no less than three thousand _English_ Miles. In like manner, _Joseph de Acosta_ tells us, That in fifteen days time, he got with a Northerly Wind from the _Canaries_ to _America_, and his Voyage had been shorter, durst he have born more Sails, which may partly clear the former doubts. [Sidenote: The _Peruvians_ opinion concerning antient Sea-Voyages.] [Sidenote: _Acosta. Histor_. _Nat._ l. 2 c. 12.] [Sidenote: Ridiculous opinion of the _Americans_.] Moreover, the _Peruvians_ themselves give some small Testimony (in their antient Records) of a few that Landed of old upon their Coasts, which were (as they say) mighty and cruel Giants, committing much Bloodshed, Slaughtering the Natives every where; and having subdu’d the whole Countrey, built stately Edifices, of which remain yet the Ruines of some Foundations, very Artificial and Costly. They also shew near _Manta_, and _Puerto Viejo_, many huge Bones, as they believe of Giants, three times longer and thicker than an ordinary Mans. They also tell us, that many Ages since, one _Ica_ and _Arica_ Sail’d Westward thither upon Sea Wolves Skins, blown up like Bladders: But however, without contradiction, the _Americans_ never knew, much less built any such Vessels, with which they durst venture to the _Offin_, out of sight of Land: their _Balsas_, _Periagos_, and _Canoos_, will not all amount to the Bulk of one of our small Barques; wherefore the Inhabitants of _Tumbez_, when they descry’d the _Spanish_ Fleet, sent to discover _Peru_, were amaz’d at the high Masts, spreading Sails, and bigness of the Ships, judging them first to be Rocks, cast up out of the Sea; but observing them to approach their Coast, and that they were full of Bearded-Men, thought the Gods were walking in them; by our Modern Poet, Mr. _Dryden_ in his _Indian Emperor_, thus Elegantly describ’d. Guyomar _to_ Montezuma. _I went in order, Sir, to your Command, To view the utmost Limits of the Land: To see that Shore, where no more World is found, But Foamy Billows, breaking on the ground; Where, for a while, my Eyes no Object met, But distant Skies, that in the Ocean set: And low-hung Clouds that dipt themselves in Rain To shake their Fleeces on the Earth again. At last, as far as I could cast my Eyes Upon the Sea, somewhat, methought did rise Like Bluish Mists, which still appearing more, Took dreadful Shapes, and mov’d towards the Shore._