The Whole and True Discouerye of Terra Florida by Jean Ribault
durst not venture to entre there with our great
shippes, we having named this river Some,*
which within is a leage over and of viij, ix, x,
and xj fadom deapthe, deviding yt self into many
great rivers, that sever the cuntry into many faire
and great f ilandes and smale goodly medowe
ground and pastures, and every where suche
aboundaunce of fishe as is increadeble. And on
the west northewest side there is a great river
that comithe from the highe country, of a great
leage || over, and on§ the other on the northest
side which retourn into the sea. So that (my lorde)
yt is a country full of havens, rivers and islandes
of suche frutefullnes as cannot with tonge be ex-
pressed, and where in shorte tyme great and prec-
yous comodyties might be founde. And besides
theis, we discovered and founde also seven rivers
more, as great and as good, cutting and deviding
the land into faire and great ilandes, th’Indians
inhabytantes therof like in manours, and the
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* Perhaps the Satilla.
f P. omits all the words after the first great, at the beginning
of the line.
|| P., length, § One. P., another.
[…] Ribault’s account of his first trip to La Florida entitled “The True Discouerie of Terra Florrida” includes many clues that help pinpoint locations that would be helpful in finding the true […]