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[Page 5]
"likewise appear something like Contradiction because I have not followed Ptolemy either in the form of the Countries or his Degrees of Longitude. neither am I willing to defend him anxiously when he cannot defend himself; as when he says in his second Book Chap: 1. "that in those parts with which we have not continual intercourse it is impossible to speak with precision". – "for it is evident, that it was not in his power to verify his whole Cosmography, as the endeavour is of the greatest difficulty, while life is short & information fallacious. he himself also confesses that the whole attempt must be matured by time & by more certain accounts than he had been able to obtain". "For my own part, I can say that I have taken great pains to inform myself by the Study of many years, & by enquiries of all persons worthy of Credit who had personally visited the Countries I have attempted to describe."
So far Fra Mauro, & he does in reality appear to have made use of all travellers who had seen the Countries contained in his Map. he mentions * Peter Quirinus a Venetian Nobleman in describing Norway, "here, says he, it is well known that Piero Quirino travelled". he likewise appeals to ocular testimony in regard to the whole of Africa from the Said upon the Nile between Nuba & Gion even to Cape Diab, which was afterwards called the Cape of Good Hope. his words are these - "now because it may appear extraordinary to some, that I speak of these Southern parts which were in a
[In margin] Peter * Piero Quirino Ramusio Tom II fol 199.