KK> Chris's estimate of the earth's circumference came from a guy named
 KK> Poseidonus, who did his work about a century after Eratosthenes. Like
 KK> [...]
 FM> I'm not sure just how much geographical knowledge Christopher had but we
 FM> presume he was well acquainted with sailing the Mediterranean and
 FM> regardless
 KK> Check out a book called "Legendary Islands of the Ocean Sea." The
 KK> author's name slips my mind.
   Thanks, Keith.  Looked for it today in our local library and they have no
listings.  I assume it is a scholarly book.  I'll keep looking.  You know, 
'm
sure, that "California" was named long before it was discovered.  It was the
name of some legendary place for which the Conquistadores were looking. 
   Francisco Coronado's "Seven Cities of Cibola" were not "cities of gold" 
ut
merely Indian tribal dwellings on which the sun fell in an especially 
leaming
manner.  The mentality of the men in the ranks under these Spaniards must
often be sharply separated from the mental reality of their leaders who,
nevertheless, had to display "loyalty" to Charles I (V of HRE) and Philip II
(especially the latter who considered himself as important to Christianity if
not more so than the Papacy).  I've been in the little church of Nata where
many of these conquistadores (including deSoto) defended the Spanish seizure
of the area just west of Panama Viejo against the local Indians.  Mass
slaughter was often the result of routine "obedire pero non cumplire" (don't
hold me to my Spanish here (grin))?
Sincerely, 
                                     Frank
                                                                              
                                                       
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