Key To
Key To The Piri Re'Is Map
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[From "The Oldest Map of America," by Professor Dr. Afet Inan.
Ankara, 1954, pp. 28-34.]
I. There is a kind of red dye called vakami, that you do not
observe at first, because it is at a distance... the mountains contain rich
ores.... There some of the sheep have silken wool.
Ii. This country is inhabited. The entire population goes
naked.
Iii. This region is known as the vilayet of Antilia. It is
on the side where the sun sets. They say that there are four kinds of parrots,
white, red, green and black. The people eat the flesh of parrots and their headdress
is made entirely of parrots' feathers. There is a stone here. It resembles black
touchstone. The people use it instead of the ax. That it is very hard...
[illegible]. JPe saw that stone.
[note: Piri Reis writes in the "Babriye": "In the enemy ships which we captured
in the Mediterranean, we found a headdress made of these parrot feathers, and
also a stone resembling touchstone."]
Iv. This map was drawn by Piri Ibn Haji Mehmed, known as the
nephew of Kemal Reis, in Gallipoli, in the month of muharrem of the year 919
(that is, between the 9th of March and the 7th of April of the year 1513).
V. This section tells how these shores and also these islands
were found.
These coasts are named the shores of Antilia. They were discovered in the year
896 of the Arab calendar. But it is reported thus, that a Genoese infidel, his
name was Colombo, be it was who discovered these places. For instance, a book
fell into the hands of the said Colombo, and be found it said in this book that
at the end of the Western Sea [Atlantic] that is, on its western side, there
were coasts and islands and all kinds of metals and also precious stones. The
above-mentioned, having studied this book thoroughly, explained these matters
one by one to the great of Genoa and said: "Come, give me two ships, let me
go and find these places." They said: "O unprofitable man, can an end or a
limit be found to the Western Sea? Its vapour is full of darkness." The above-mentioned
Colombo saw that no help was forthcoming from the Genoese, he sped forth, went
to the Bey of Spain [king], and told his tale in detail. They too answered like
the Genoese. In brief Colombo petitioned these people for a long time, finally
the Bey of Spain gave him two ships, saw that they were well equipped, and said:
"O Colombo, if it happens as you say, let us make you kapudan [admiral] to
that country." Having said which he sent the said Colombo to the Western Sea.
The late Gazi Kemal had a Spanish slave. The above-mentioned slave said to Kemal
Reis, he had been three times to that land with Colombo. He said: "First we
reached the Strait of Gibraltar, then from there straight south and west between
the two... [illegible]. Having advanced straight four thousand miles, we
saw an island facing us, but gradually the waves of the sea became foamless,
that is, the sea was becalmed and the North Star--the seamen on their compasses
still say star--little by little was veiled and became invisible, and be also
said that the stars in that region are not arranged as here. They are seen in
a different arrangement. They anchored at the island which they had seen earlier
across the way, the population of the island came, shot arrows at them and did
not allow them to land and ask for information. The males and the females shot
hand arrows. The tips of these arrows were made of fishbones, and the whole
population went naked and also very... [illegible]. Seeing that they could
not land on that island; they crossed to the other side of the island, they
saw a boat. On seeing them; the boat fled and they [the people in the boat]
dashed out on land. They [the Spaniards] took the boat. They saw that inside
of it there was human flesh. It happened that these people were of that nation
which went from island to island hunting men and eating them. They said Colombo
saw yet another island, they neared it, they saw that on that island there were
great snakes. They avoided landing on this island and remained there seventeen
days. The people of this island saw that no harm came to them from this boat,
they caught fish and brought it to them in their small ship's boat [filika].
These [Spaniards] were pleased and gave them glass beads. It appears that he
[Columbus] had read-in the book that in that region glass beads were valued.
Seeing the beads they brought still more fish. These [Spaniards] always gave
them glass beads. One day they saw gold around the arm of a woman, they took
the gold and gave her beads. They said to them, to bring more gold, we will
give you more beads, [they said]. They went and brought them much gold. It appears
that in their mountains there were gold mines. One day, also, they saw pearls
in the hands of one person. They saw that when; they gave beads, many more pearls
were brought to them. Pearls were found on the shore of this island, in a spot
one or two fathoms deep. And also loading their ship with many logwood trees
and taking two natives along, they carried them within that year to the Bey
of Spain. But the said Colombo, not knowing the language of these people, they
traded by signs, and after this trip the Bey of Spain sent priests and barley,
taught the natives how to sow and reap and converted them to his own religion.
They had no religion of any sort. They walked naked and lay there like animals.
Now these regions have been opened to all and have become famous. The names
which mark the places on the said islands and coasts were given by Colombo,
that these places may be known by them. And also Colombo was a great astronomer.
The coasts and island on this map are taken from Colombo's map.
Vi. This section shows in what way this map was drawn. In
this century there is no map like this map in anyone's possession. The--hand
of this poor man has drawn it and now it is constructed. From about twenty charts
and Mappae Mundi--these are charts drawn in the days of Alexander, Lord of the
Two Horns, which show the inhabited quarter of the world; the Arabs name these
charts Jaferiye--from eight Jaferiyes of that kind and one Arabic map of Hind,
and from the maps just drawn by four Portuguese which show the countries of
Hind, Sind and China geometrically drawn, and also from a map drawn by Colombo
in the western region I have extracted it. By reducing all these maps to one
scale this final form was arrived at. So that the present map is as correct
and reliable for the Seven Seas as the map of these our countries is considered
correct and reliable by seamen.
Vii. It is related by the Portuguese infidel that in this
spot night and day are at their shortest of two hours, at their longest of twenty
two hours. But the day is very warm and in the night there is much dew.
Viii. On the way to the vilayet of Hind a Portuguese ship
encountered a contrary wind [blowing] from the shore. The wind from the shore
... [illegible] it [the ship]. After being driven by a storm in a southern
direction they saw a shore opposite them they advanced towards it [illegible].
They saw that these places are good anchorages. They threw anchor and went to
the shore in boats. They saw people walking, all of them naked. But they shot
arrows, their tips made of fishbone. They stayed there eight days. They traded
with these people by signs. That barge saw these lands and wrote about them
which.... The said barge without going to Hind, returned to Portugal, where,
upon arrival it gave information.... They described these shores in detail.
... They have discovered them.
Ix. And in this country it seems that there are white-haired
monsters in this shape, and also six-horned oxen. The Portuguese infidels have
written it in their maps....
X. This country is a waste. Everything is in ruin and it is
said that large snakes are found here. For this reason the Portuguese infidels
did not land on these shores and these are also said to be very hot.
Xi. And these four ships are Portuguese ships. Their shape
is written down. They travelled from the western land to the point of Abyssinia
[Habesh] in order to reach India. They said towards Shuluk. The distance across
this gulf is 4200 miles.
Xii..... On this shore a tower
.... is however
.... in this climate gold
.... taking a rope
.... is said they measured
[note: The fact that half of each of these lines is missing is the clearest
proof of the map's having been torn in two.]
Xiii. And a Genoese kuke [a type of ship] coming from Flanders
was caught in a storm. Impelled by the storm it came upon these islands, and
in this manner these islands became known.
Xiv. It is said that in ancient times a priest by the name
of Sanvolrandan (Santo Brandan) travelled on the Seven Seas, so they say. The
above-mentioned landed on this fish. They thought it dry land and lit a fire
upon this fish, when the fish's back began to burn it plunged into the sea,
they reembarked in their boats and fled to the ship. This event is not mentioned
by the Portuguese infidels. It is taken from the ancient Mappae Mundi.
Xv. To these small islands they have given the name of Undizi
Vergine. That is to say the Eleven Virgins.
Xvi. And this island they call the Island of Antilia. There
are many monsters and parrots and much logwood. It is not inhabited.
Xvii. This barge was driven upon these shores by a storm
and remained where it fell.... Its name was Nicola di Giuvan. On his map
it is written that these rivers which can be seen have for the most part gold
[in their beds]. When the water had gone they collected much gold [dust] from
the sand. On their map....
Xviii. This is the barge from Portugal which encountered
a storm and cam( to this land. The details are written on the edge of this map.
[note: see Viii.]
Xix. The Portuguese infidels do not go west of here. All
that side belongs entirely to Spain. They have made an agreement that [a line]
two thousand miles to the western side of the Strait of Gibraltar should be
taken as a boundary. The Portuguese do not cross to that side but the Hind side
and the southern side belong to the Portuguese.
Xx. And this caravel having encountered a storm was driven
upon this island. Its name was Nicola Giuvan. And on this island there are many
oxen with one horn. For this reason they call this island Isle de Vacca, which
means, Ox Island.
Xxi. The admiral of this caravel is named Messir Anton the
Genoese, but be grew up in Portugal. One day the above-mentioned caravel encountered
a storm, it was driven upon this island. He found much ginger here and has written
about these islands.
Xxii. This sea is called the Western Sea, but the Frank
sailors call it the Mare d'Espagna. Which means the Sea of Spain. Up to now
it was known by these names, but Colombo, who opened up this sea and made these
islands known, and also the Portuguese, infidels who have opened up the region
of Hind have agreed together to give this sea a new name. They have given it
the name of Ovo Sano [Oceano] that is to say, sound egg. Before this it was
thought that the sea had no end or limit, that at its other end was darkness.
Now they have seen that this sea is girded by a coast, because it is like a
lake, they have called it Ovo Sano.
Xxiii. In this spot there are oxen with one horn, and also
monsters in this shape.
Xxiv. These monsters are seven spans long. Between their
eyes there is a distance of one span. But they are harmless souls.
Click on the outlined areas to jump to the translation.
Jump to translation
[From "The Oldest Map of America," by Professor Dr. Afet Inan.
Ankara, 1954, pp. 28-34.]
I. There is a kind of red dye called vakami, that you do not
observe at first, because it is at a distance... the mountains contain rich
ores.... There some of the sheep have silken wool.
Ii. This country is inhabited. The entire population goes
naked.
Iii. This region is known as the vilayet of Antilia. It is
on the side where the sun sets. They say that there are four kinds of parrots,
white, red, green and black. The people eat the flesh of parrots and their headdress
is made entirely of parrots' feathers. There is a stone here. It resembles black
touchstone. The people use it instead of the ax. That it is very hard...
[illegible]. JPe saw that stone.
[note: Piri Reis writes in the "Babriye": "In the enemy ships which we captured
in the Mediterranean, we found a headdress made of these parrot feathers, and
also a stone resembling touchstone."]
Iv. This map was drawn by Piri Ibn Haji Mehmed, known as the
nephew of Kemal Reis, in Gallipoli, in the month of muharrem of the year 919
(that is, between the 9th of March and the 7th of April of the year 1513).
V. This section tells how these shores and also these islands
were found.
These coasts are named the shores of Antilia. They were discovered in the year
896 of the Arab calendar. But it is reported thus, that a Genoese infidel, his
name was Colombo, be it was who discovered these places. For instance, a book
fell into the hands of the said Colombo, and be found it said in this book that
at the end of the Western Sea [Atlantic] that is, on its western side, there
were coasts and islands and all kinds of metals and also precious stones. The
above-mentioned, having studied this book thoroughly, explained these matters
one by one to the great of Genoa and said: "Come, give me two ships, let me
go and find these places." They said: "O unprofitable man, can an end or a
limit be found to the Western Sea? Its vapour is full of darkness." The above-mentioned
Colombo saw that no help was forthcoming from the Genoese, he sped forth, went
to the Bey of Spain [king], and told his tale in detail. They too answered like
the Genoese. In brief Colombo petitioned these people for a long time, finally
the Bey of Spain gave him two ships, saw that they were well equipped, and said:
"O Colombo, if it happens as you say, let us make you kapudan [admiral] to
that country." Having said which he sent the said Colombo to the Western Sea.
The late Gazi Kemal had a Spanish slave. The above-mentioned slave said to Kemal
Reis, he had been three times to that land with Colombo. He said: "First we
reached the Strait of Gibraltar, then from there straight south and west between
the two... [illegible]. Having advanced straight four thousand miles, we
saw an island facing us, but gradually the waves of the sea became foamless,
that is, the sea was becalmed and the North Star--the seamen on their compasses
still say star--little by little was veiled and became invisible, and be also
said that the stars in that region are not arranged as here. They are seen in
a different arrangement. They anchored at the island which they had seen earlier
across the way, the population of the island came, shot arrows at them and did
not allow them to land and ask for information. The males and the females shot
hand arrows. The tips of these arrows were made of fishbones, and the whole
population went naked and also very... [illegible]. Seeing that they could
not land on that island; they crossed to the other side of the island, they
saw a boat. On seeing them; the boat fled and they [the people in the boat]
dashed out on land. They [the Spaniards] took the boat. They saw that inside
of it there was human flesh. It happened that these people were of that nation
which went from island to island hunting men and eating them. They said Colombo
saw yet another island, they neared it, they saw that on that island there were
great snakes. They avoided landing on this island and remained there seventeen
days. The people of this island saw that no harm came to them from this boat,
they caught fish and brought it to them in their small ship's boat [filika].
These [Spaniards] were pleased and gave them glass beads. It appears that he
[Columbus] had read-in the book that in that region glass beads were valued.
Seeing the beads they brought still more fish. These [Spaniards] always gave
them glass beads. One day they saw gold around the arm of a woman, they took
the gold and gave her beads. They said to them, to bring more gold, we will
give you more beads, [they said]. They went and brought them much gold. It appears
that in their mountains there were gold mines. One day, also, they saw pearls
in the hands of one person. They saw that when; they gave beads, many more pearls
were brought to them. Pearls were found on the shore of this island, in a spot
one or two fathoms deep. And also loading their ship with many logwood trees
and taking two natives along, they carried them within that year to the Bey
of Spain. But the said Colombo, not knowing the language of these people, they
traded by signs, and after this trip the Bey of Spain sent priests and barley,
taught the natives how to sow and reap and converted them to his own religion.
They had no religion of any sort. They walked naked and lay there like animals.
Now these regions have been opened to all and have become famous. The names
which mark the places on the said islands and coasts were given by Colombo,
that these places may be known by them. And also Colombo was a great astronomer.
The coasts and island on this map are taken from Colombo's map.
Vi. This section shows in what way this map was drawn. In
this century there is no map like this map in anyone's possession. The--hand
of this poor man has drawn it and now it is constructed. From about twenty charts
and Mappae Mundi--these are charts drawn in the days of Alexander, Lord of the
Two Horns, which show the inhabited quarter of the world; the Arabs name these
charts Jaferiye--from eight Jaferiyes of that kind and one Arabic map of Hind,
and from the maps just drawn by four Portuguese which show the countries of
Hind, Sind and China geometrically drawn, and also from a map drawn by Colombo
in the western region I have extracted it. By reducing all these maps to one
scale this final form was arrived at. So that the present map is as correct
and reliable for the Seven Seas as the map of these our countries is considered
correct and reliable by seamen.
Vii. It is related by the Portuguese infidel that in this
spot night and day are at their shortest of two hours, at their longest of twenty
two hours. But the day is very warm and in the night there is much dew.
Viii. On the way to the vilayet of Hind a Portuguese ship
encountered a contrary wind [blowing] from the shore. The wind from the shore
... [illegible] it [the ship]. After being driven by a storm in a southern
direction they saw a shore opposite them they advanced towards it [illegible].
They saw that these places are good anchorages. They threw anchor and went to
the shore in boats. They saw people walking, all of them naked. But they shot
arrows, their tips made of fishbone. They stayed there eight days. They traded
with these people by signs. That barge saw these lands and wrote about them
which.... The said barge without going to Hind, returned to Portugal, where,
upon arrival it gave information.... They described these shores in detail.
... They have discovered them.
Ix. And in this country it seems that there are white-haired
monsters in this shape, and also six-horned oxen. The Portuguese infidels have
written it in their maps....
X. This country is a waste. Everything is in ruin and it is
said that large snakes are found here. For this reason the Portuguese infidels
did not land on these shores and these are also said to be very hot.
Xi. And these four ships are Portuguese ships. Their shape
is written down. They travelled from the western land to the point of Abyssinia
[Habesh] in order to reach India. They said towards Shuluk. The distance across
this gulf is 4200 miles.
Xii..... On this shore a tower
.... is however
.... in this climate gold
.... taking a rope
.... is said they measured
[note: The fact that half of each of these lines is missing is the clearest
proof of the map's having been torn in two.]
Xiii. And a Genoese kuke [a type of ship] coming from Flanders
was caught in a storm. Impelled by the storm it came upon these islands, and
in this manner these islands became known.
Xiv. It is said that in ancient times a priest by the name
of Sanvolrandan (Santo Brandan) travelled on the Seven Seas, so they say. The
above-mentioned landed on this fish. They thought it dry land and lit a fire
upon this fish, when the fish's back began to burn it plunged into the sea,
they reembarked in their boats and fled to the ship. This event is not mentioned
by the Portuguese infidels. It is taken from the ancient Mappae Mundi.
Xv. To these small islands they have given the name of Undizi
Vergine. That is to say the Eleven Virgins.
Xvi. And this island they call the Island of Antilia. There
are many monsters and parrots and much logwood. It is not inhabited.
Xvii. This barge was driven upon these shores by a storm
and remained where it fell.... Its name was Nicola di Giuvan. On his map
it is written that these rivers which can be seen have for the most part gold
[in their beds]. When the water had gone they collected much gold [dust] from
the sand. On their map....
Xviii. This is the barge from Portugal which encountered
a storm and cam( to this land. The details are written on the edge of this map.
[note: see Viii.]
Xix. The Portuguese infidels do not go west of here. All
that side belongs entirely to Spain. They have made an agreement that [a line]
two thousand miles to the western side of the Strait of Gibraltar should be
taken as a boundary. The Portuguese do not cross to that side but the Hind side
and the southern side belong to the Portuguese.
Xx. And this caravel having encountered a storm was driven
upon this island. Its name was Nicola Giuvan. And on this island there are many
oxen with one horn. For this reason they call this island Isle de Vacca, which
means, Ox Island.
Xxi. The admiral of this caravel is named Messir Anton the
Genoese, but be grew up in Portugal. One day the above-mentioned caravel encountered
a storm, it was driven upon this island. He found much ginger here and has written
about these islands.
Xxii. This sea is called the Western Sea, but the Frank
sailors call it the Mare d'Espagna. Which means the Sea of Spain. Up to now
it was known by these names, but Colombo, who opened up this sea and made these
islands known, and also the Portuguese, infidels who have opened up the region
of Hind have agreed together to give this sea a new name. They have given it
the name of Ovo Sano [Oceano] that is to say, sound egg. Before this it was
thought that the sea had no end or limit, that at its other end was darkness.
Now they have seen that this sea is girded by a coast, because it is like a
lake, they have called it Ovo Sano.
Xxiii. In this spot there are oxen with one horn, and also
monsters in this shape.
Xxiv. These monsters are seven spans long. Between their
eyes there is a distance of one span. But they are harmless souls.
