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327
Fragment I. 1625.
SAMUEL PURCHAS'S MENTION
of Smith's "Fiery Torches"
[Source: Samuel Purchas, Hakluytus Posthumus, or Purchas His Pilgrimes ...
(London, 1625), I, 178–179.]
Brief as it is, the following reference to Smith in an unusual context is significant
of Purchas's interest in him. In his chapter on "the diversity of
Letters used by the divers Nations in the World," Purchas observed that
for the varietie and differing formes, Art hathsuperabounded: both
in the subject and instrument, some writing with Pencils as the
Japenites and Chinois, others with Pens, others with Instruments of
Iron ... or other metall, in Table-bookes ... Paper, Cloth, Parchment,
and innumerable other materials: in the forme also and manner,
with Quippos in Stones and Threads, as in Peru; ... with
Characters ... as the Chinois, Japonites, and our Arithmeticians
and Astronomers in the figures of their Arts; some with fiery Torches,
as you may read in Captain Smiths following Relations....
in the subject and instrument, some writing with Pencils as the
Japenites and Chinois, others with Pens, others with Instruments of
Iron ... or other metall, in Table-bookes ... Paper, Cloth, Parchment,
and innumerable other materials: in the forme also and manner,
with Quippos in Stones and Threads, as in Peru; ... with
Characters ... as the Chinois, Japonites, and our Arithmeticians
and Astronomers in the figures of their Arts; some with fiery Torches,
as you may read in Captain Smiths following Relations....
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