No More Learning

[666] _Here from the trees the gum. _--Benzoin, a species of
frankincense. The oil mentioned in the next line, is that called the
rock oil, petroleum, a black fetid mineral oil, good for bruises and
sprains.

[667] _Wide forests there beneath Maldivia's tide. _--A sea plant,
resembling the palm, grows in great abundance in the bays about the
Maldivian islands. The boughs rise to the top of the water, and bear a
kind of apple, called the coco of Maldivia, which is esteemed an
antidote against poison.

[668] _The tread of sainted footstep. _--The imprint of a human foot is
found on the high mountain, called the Pic of Adam. Legendary tradition
says, that Adam, after he was expelled from Paradise, did penance 300
years on this hill, on which he left the print of his footstep. This
tale seems to be Jewish, or Mohammedan; for the natives, according to
Captain Knox (who was twenty years a captive in Ceylon), pretend the
impression was made by the god Budha, when he ascended to heaven, after
having, for the salvation of mankind, appeared on the earth. His priests
beg charity for the sake of Budha, whose worship they perform among
groves of the Bogahah-tree, under which, when on earth, they say he
usually sat and taught.

[669] _And lo, the Island of the Moon. _--Madagascar is thus named by the
natives.

[670] The kingfishers.

[671] _Now to the West, by thee, great chief, is given.
_--The sublimity
of this eulogy on the expedition of the Lusiad has been already
observed. What follows is a natural completion of the whole; and, the
digressive exclamation at the end excepted, is exactly similar to the
manner in which Homer has concluded the Iliad.

[672] _Near either pole. _--We are now presented with a beautiful view of
the American world. Columbus discovered the West Indies before, but not
the continent till 1498--the year after GAMA sailed from Lisbon.

[673] _The first bold hero. _--Cabral, the first after GAMA who sailed to
India, was driven by tempest to the Brazils, a proof that more ancient
voyagers might have met with the same fate. He named the country Santa
Cruz, or Holy Cross; it was afterwards named Brazil, from the colour of
the wood with which it abounds. It is one of the finest countries in the
new world.

[674] _To match thy deeds shall Magalhaens aspire. _--Camoens, though he
boasts of the actions of Magalhaens as an honour to Portugal, yet
condemns his defection to the King of Spain, and calls him--

_O Magalhaens, no feito com verdade
Portuguez, porem nao na lealdade. _

"In deeds truly a Portuguese, but not in loyalty. " And others have
bestowed upon him the name of traitor, but perhaps undeservedly. Justice
to the name of this great man requires an examination of the charge. Ere
he entered into the service of the King of Spain by a solemn act, he
unnaturalized himself. Osorius is very severe against this unavailing
rite, and argues that no injury which a prince may possibly give, can
authorize a subject to act the part of a traitor against his native
country.