| Niger transit hinc sub terra per 60 miliaria. |
Here the Niger (River) continues underground for 60 miles |
Qui il Niger passa sotto terra 60 miglia. |
"Here the Niger runs underground for 60 miles." To view related, more legible inscripitions in Forlani maps, click here |
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| Hic presbyter Joannes tenet eius filios cum custodia militum (Illigible here. Transcription from Rome Globe) |
Here Prester John keeps his sons under the guard of soldiers.
Note Caves in mountain visible at end of inscription. Similar caves visile on Gasaldi's 4 sheet map of Africa. |
?? Questo monte il pretre Iam***** i suoi figlioli co*** guarda |
? this mountain the priest John (?) ? guards his sons. |
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| Hac in insula nascuntur Rubiini Zapsiri Granate, Tapacy et Iazini (?) |
"In this isalnd are found (?) rubies, saphires, garnets, topaz and jasper (?)" |
"Qui nella isola Si trouva (?) rubini, saferi, granate, topacia et acan*** |
Click her to go to two varients. |
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| Hic [mupinunter?] transeundo per Caroana qualam spirites decipientes peregrinas falso indicantes et visa secum in{gr}ediuntur desertum ut despruantur |
Here, where the caravans cross, may live some kind of deceptive spitits that give false directions to travelers who are led into the desert and disappear. |
Qui si trovano nel pasare le carovane certi spiriti che ingano ** *** ****** ****** falso carmino nel deserto per far li pericolare |
Where are found, according to the carovaneers, certain spirits ??? ???? ???? false ways in the desert which make it dangerous. See below for other variants |
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| In his insule nascuntur Omnia genera Aromatica |
In these islands grow all types of spices. |
"In queste isole *** nasce di tute forte ***ciarie |
In this island .......comes forth very strong ........ See below for another variant. |
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| Hic reperuntur tauri et vacc(a)e habentes dorsum instax gambeli pectus vero et gulam ad modum leonis, reliquant corporis ut nostui |
Here we find bulls and cows that have backs like a gambeli (camel?) and (?) chests and throats like a lion and the rest of the body like our [bulls and cows?]. |
Qui se trovano Torri e Vache che hanno la Goba come i Gambeli et hanno la ci……iepto di Lione et recto del corpo come …..ralta. |
Gastaldi 1561 World Map |
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Note: The Comparisons below relate to maps other than the nine sheet 1561 Gastaldi world map. |
| Niger transit hinc sub terra per 60 miliaria. |
Here the Niger (River) continues underground for 60 miles |
From the Paolo Forlani 1562 Map of Africa: "Il Niger passa qui sotto terra sesanta miglia." |
The Niger runs underground here for sixty miles. |
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| Hic presbyter Joannes tenet eius filios cum custodia militum (Illigible here. Transcription from Rome Globe) |
(Illegible), but Note caves in mountain visible at end of inscription. Similar caves visile on Gasaldi's 4 sheet map of Africa. |
From Gastaldi's 1564 four sheet map of Africa: "Qui nel monte Amara il signor pretre jouanni fient(?) i suoi figliol1 con grande guarda" |
"In this Mount Amara, the lord preist john ? his sons with great care." Continue below for another version, that on Paolo Forlani's 1562 map of Africa. |
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| Hic presbyter Joannes tenet eius filios cum custodia militum (Illigible here. Transcription from Rome Globe) |
(Illegible), but Note caves in mountain visible at end of inscription. Similar caves visile on Gasaldi's 4 sheet map of Africa. |
From Paolo Forlani's 1562 Map of Africa: "In questo monte il pretre jouanni li suoi figlioli con ???dia Go??? |
"In this mounatin, the priest john ???? ?????his children" |
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| Hac in insula (***untur) Rubiini Zapsiri Granate, Tapacy et Iazini (?) |
"In this isalnd are found (?) rubies, saphires, garnets, topaz and jasper (?) |
From Gastaldi's 1562 four sheet map of Asia: "Nelle quale si ritrouno Robini, Safiri, Granate, Topaci et Iacinti" |
Continue below for another variant. |
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| Hac in insula (***untur) Rubiini Zapsiri Granate, Tapacy et Iazini (?) |
"In this isalnd are found (?) rubies, saphires, garnets, topaz and jasper (?) |
"Nella qualle si ritrovano Robini, Safiri, Ciacinit (Hyacinth!), Topaci et Granate. |
From ?
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| Hic [mupinunter?] transeundo per Caroana qualam spirites decipientes peregrinas falso indicantes et visa secum in{gr}ediuntur desertum ut despruantur |
Here, where the caravans cross, may live some kind of deceptive spitits that give false directions to travelers who are led into the desert and disappear. |
From Gastaldi's four sheet 1560 map of Asia and Africa: "In questo deserti si trovano alcani Spiriti i quali fanno diversi ingani atti vaindante **cio che si perdino nel deserte |
"In this disert are found certain spirits who give (?) deceptive directions (?) which cause passerbys ???? who lose themselves in the desert." See below for another varient. |
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| From Gastaldi's four sheet 1560 map of Asia and Africa: "In questo deserti si trovano alcani Spiriti i quali fanno diversi ingani atti vaindante **cio che si perdino nel deserte |
"In this disert are found certain spirits who give (?) deceptive directions (?) which cause passerbys ???? who lose themselves in the desert." See below for another varient. |
From ?: "Passando la persone con le Caroutane per qusto deserto, trovane ***** spiritis; li quali *** suoi Diabesichi inganni, creca desuiar li viandanti di lar dritte camino, per fax li pericolare." |
Passerbys, according to the carovaneers of this desert, find ???? spirits whose diabolical deceptions dissuade (?) the passerby of his direct way and make it (the desert?) dangerous" |
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| In his insule nascuntur Omnia genera Aromatica |
In these islands grow all types of spices. |
"In queste isole ui nascono Garofoli, Canelli, Note muscate, Pevere (?), Sandali Ambracano et molte altre drogarie. NOTE: A similar inscription is found on Gastaldi's World Map, but not in the area of the Spice Islands, but rather north of the Equator, just east of the St. Lazare Archipeligo. |
In this island .are hidden cloves (?), cinnaman , (?), peper, aromatic sandlewood and many other spices. |
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