the time of sowing they are governed by the moon, the sprouting of grain, and many other ancient usages.  They live by hunting and fishing, and they are long-lived.  If they fall sick, they cure themselves without medicine, by the heat of the fire, and their death at last comes from extreme old age.  We judge them to be very affectionate and charitable towards their relatives—­making loud lamentations in their adversity, and in their misery calling to mind all their good fortune.  At their departure out of life, their relations mutually join in weeping, mingled with singing, for a long while.  This is all that we could learn of them.  This region is situated in the parallel of Rome, being 41 degrees 40’ of north latitude, but much colder than accidental circumstances, and not by nature, as I shall hereafter explain to your Majesty, and confine myself at present to the description of its local situation.  It looks towards the south, on which side the harbour is half a league broad; afterwards upon entering it, the extent between the east (oriente) and north is twelve leagues,[Footnote:  See ante, p.51, note] and than enlarging itself it forms a very large bay, twenty leagues in circumference, in which are five small islands, of great fertility and beauty, covered with large and lofty trees.  Among these islands any fleet, however large, might ride safely, without fear of tempests or other dangers.  Turning towards the south, at the entrance of the harbour, on both sides, there are very pleasant hills, and many streams of clear water, which flow down to the sea.  In the midst of the entrance there is a rock of freestone, formed by nature, and suitable for the construction of any kind of machine or bulwark for the defence of the harbour.

Having supplied ourselves with every thing necessary, on the sixth (sei) of May we departed from the port, and sailed one hundred and fifty leagues, keeping so close to the coast as never to lose it from our sight; the nature of the country appeared much the same as before, but the mountains were a little higher, and all in appearance rich in minerals.  We did not stop to land as the weather was very favourable for pursuing our voyage, and the country presented no variety.  The shore stretched to the east, and fifty leagues beyond more to the north, where we found a more elevated country, full of very thick woods of fir trees, cypresses and the like, indicative of a cold climate.  The people ware entirely different from the others we had seen, whom we had found kind and gentle, but these were so rude and barbarous that we were unable by any signs we could make, to hold communication with them.  They clothe themselves in the skins of bears, lynxes, seals and other animals.  Their food, as far as we could judge by several visits to their dwellings, is obtained by hunting and fishing, and fruits, which are a sort of root of spontaneous growth.  They have no pulse, and we saw no signs of cultivation; the land appears sterile and unfit