day.

Thus, speaking of the companions of Vasco da Gama, he says that they
admired the far coast of Africa:

They descried some little islands, which appeared extremely
pleasant; the trees were lofty, the meadows of a beautiful
verdure, and great numbers of cattle frisked about everywhere;
they could see the inhabitants walking upon the shore in vast
numbers....

Of Mozambique he says:

The palm trees are of a great height, covered with long prickly
leaves; broad-spreading boughs afford an agreeable shade, and
bear nuts of a great size, called cocoes.

Of Melinda:

The city stands in a beautiful plain, surrounded with a variety
of fine gardens; these are stocked with all sorts of trees,
especially the orange, the flowers of which yield a most graceful
diffusive smell. The country is rich and plentiful, abounding not
only with tame and domestic cattle, but with game of all kinds,
which the natives hunt down or take with nets.

Of Zanzibar:

The soil of this place is rich and fertile, and it abounds with
springs of the most excellent water; the whole island is covered
with beautiful woods, which are extremely fragrant from the many
wild citrons growing there, which diffuse the most grateful
scent.

Of Brazil, which is 'extremely pleasant and the soil fruitful':

Clothed with a beautiful verdure, covered with tall trees,
abounding with plenty of excellent water ... and so healthy that
the inhabitants make no use of medicines, for almost all who die
here are not cut off by any distemper, but worn out by age. Here
are many large rivers, besides a vast number of delightful
springs. The plains are large and spacious, and afford excellent
pasture.... In short, the whole country affords a most beautiful
prospect, being diversified with hills and valleys, and these
covered with thick shady woods stocked with great variety of
trees, many of which our people were quite strangers to: of these
there was one of a particular nature, the leaves of which, when
cut, sent forth a kind of balsam. The trees used in dyeing
scarlet grow here in great plenty and to a great height. The soil
likewise produces the most useful plants.

Of Ormuz, near Arabia:

The name of the island seems to be taken from the ancient city of
Armuza in Caramania ... the place is sandy and barren, and the
soi