The Discoveries of America to the Year 1525Weise, Arthur James
History
The Discoveries of America to the Year 1525
Weise, Arthur James
America -- Discovery and exploration
[409] “This distance,” he remarks, “calculated geometrically upon the
ratio that three and one seventh times the diameter of a circle is equal
to its circumference, gives 92⁵⁴¹⁶⁴⁄₄₇₂₇₃₃ degrees. For if we take
114⁶⁄₁₁ degrees as the chord of an arc of a great circle, we have by the
same ratio 95²⁴⁸³⁄₄₉₅₀ degrees as the chord of an arc on the parallel
of 34°, being that on which we first made land, and 300²³³⁄₁₅₇₅ degrees
as the circumference of the whole circle, passing through this plane.
Allowing then, as actual observations show, that 62½ terrestrial miles
correspond to a celestial degree, we find the whole circumference of
300²³³⁄₁₅₇₅ degrees, as just given, to be 18,759³¹⁄₁₂₆ miles, which,
divided by 360, makes the length of a degree of longitude on the parallel
of 34° to be 52⁹⁸⁹⁄₉₀₇₂ miles, and that is the true measure. Therefore,
by a right line to the said rock which stands in 32°, we have to
calculate the distance, the said 1,200 leagues which we have found, from
the thirty-fourth parallel, from west to east, hence I should have run
92⁵⁴¹⁶⁴⁄₄₇₂₇₃₃ degrees, and this many therefore we have sailed to the
West, which was not known to the ancients.”
114⁶⁄₁₁ × 3¹⁄₇ = 360. 300²³³⁄₁₅₇₅ × 7 ÷ 22 = 95²⁴⁸³⁄₄₉₅₀. 300²³³⁄₁₅₇₅ ×
62½ = 18,759³¹⁄₁₂₆. 18,759³¹⁄₁₂₆ ÷ 560 = 52⁹⁸⁹⁄₉₀₇₂. 4,800 by 52⁹⁸⁹⁄₉₀₇₂
= 92⁵⁴¹⁶⁴⁄₄₇₂₇₃₃.
[410] “The Spaniards have sailed south beyond the equator, on a meridian
20³²⁰⁶⁰/₄₇₂₈₁ degrees west of the Fortunate Islands to the latitude of
54° and there still found land. Turning about they steered northward
on the same meridian and along the coast to the eighth parallel, and
then along the coast more to the west, and north to the latitude of 21°
[31°?], without finding a termination to the continent. They estimated
the distance run as 89²⁹⁷⁰⁹/₄₆₇₈₁ which added to the 20³²⁰⁶⁰/₄₇₂₈₁ first
run make 110¹⁴⁴⁸⁸/₄₆₇₈₁, but this may vary somewhat from the truth. We
did not make this voyage, and therefore cannot speak from experience.
We calculated it geometrically from the observations furnished by many
navigators, who have made the voyage and affirm the distance to be 1600
leagues, due allowance being made for the deviations of the ship from a
straight course by reason of contrary winds. I hope that we shall now
obtain accurate information on these points, by new voyages to be made on
the same coasts.”—_Vide_ Maiollo map of 1527.
[411] Verrazzano’s argument is based upon the supposition that the extent
of the land of the new continent was greater than it really was, for
at this time the Pacific coast of the New Land had not been explored.
Verrazzano believed that the New World extended much farther westward
than it does.
[412] Tierra del Fuego, south of the Strait of Magellan, had not yet been
explored, and it was not known how far it extended, or in what direction.
[413] The number of tons is not mentioned.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account