Page:A description of Greenland.djvu/47

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
of Greenland.
21
Notwithſtanding which, what concerns St. Thomas's Convent in particular, is confeſs'd, and confirm'd by the old Hiſtories of Greenland. Nicolas Zenetur, a Venetian by Birth, who ſerved the King of Denmark in the Quality of a Sea Captain, is ſaid by chance to have been driven upon the Coaſt of Greenland in the Year 1380; and to have ſeen the ſme Dominican Convent. His Relation is alledged by Kircherus in the following Words: In the Convent of St. Thomas there is a Hot Well, whoſe Water conveyed by Pipes warms the whole Convent."Here is alſo a Dominican Convent to be ſeen, dedicated to St. Thomas, in whoſe Neighbourhood there is a Vulcano of a Mountain that ſpews Fire, and at the Foot thereof a Well of burning-hot Water. This hot Water is not only conveyed by Pipes into the Convent, and through all the Cells of the Friars, to keep them warm, as with us the Rooms are heated by Stoves of Wood-Fire or other Fuel; but here they alſo boil and bake their Meat and Bread with the ſame. This Vulcano, or firey Mountain, throws out ſuch a Quantity of Pumice-Stone, that it hath furniſhed
C3
Mate-