But the Island of the Seven Cities appeared as such on other maps and
by this name only. Perhaps its most salient showing is on Desceliers’
fine map of 1546[132] (Fig. 9), that entertaining repository of isles
which are more than dubious and names which are fantastic. He presents
it off the American coast about a third as far as the Bermudas and
midway from Cape Breton to the Bay of Fundy. The size is considerable,
the outline being deeply embayed on several sides and hence very
irregular, almost as much so as Celebes. Two islets lie near two of its
projecting peninsulas. It bears a brief inscription giving the name
Sete Cidades and indicating that it belongs to Portugal.
This choice of location would have been more venturesome a century
later. In 1546 there had been some exploring and much fishing in these
waters but no determined settlement near them, and they were hardly
yet familiar. However, the Ortelius map of 1570[133] (Fig. 10), and
the Mercator map of 1587[134] find it more prudent to move this island
farther south and farther out to sea, reducing its area, but retaining
its traditional name. Not long after this, except for a local name on
St. Michaels of the Azores, the Seven Cities disappear from geography.
[Illustration: FIG. 9--Section of the Desceliers map of 1546 showing
the Island of Seven Cities and various other legendary islands. (After
Kretschmer’s hand-copied reproduction.) The names are mostly upside
down because on the original south is at the top.]
[Illustration: FIG. 10--Section of Ortelius’ world map of 1570 showing,
of the legendary islands and regions discussed in the present work, the
Island of Seven Cities (“Sept cites”), St. Brendan’s Islands, Brazil,
Vlaenderen, Green Island (Y. Verdo), Estotiland, Drogio, Frisland,
Islands of Demons, La Emperadada, and Grocland. (After Nordenskiöld’s
photographic facsimile.)]
OCCURRENCE OF THE NAME IN THE AZORES
The exception noted is well worth considering. Just as Terceira retains
her medieval name of Brazil to designate one headland, St. Michaels has
still its valley of the Seven Cities. Brown’s guidebook presents the
fact very casually: “St. Michaels. Ponta Delgada. Brown’s Hotel. About
ten people. Among the chief sights are the lava beds coming from Sete
Cidades.... At Sete Cidades, which is worth a visit, there is a great
crater with two lakes at the bottom, one of which appears to be green,
the other blue.”[135]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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