Arbre de L´isle de Fer / De L’Afrique. Figure LXXXII. 211

Title

Arbre de L´isle de Fer / De L’Afrique. Figure LXXXII. 211

Description

Picture shows water-collecting bimbaches at the Garoé on the Canary Island of El Hierro. In the interior of the island, there is a symbol of the island, the Garoé (arbol santo), the sacred tree of the indigenous people. It is a stinking laurel tree that was replanted in 1957. The sacred original tree (it was a specimen of the tilo laurel tree) is said to have been felled by a storm in 1610. The tree was used and worshipped by the indigenous people (Bimbaches) as a source of water (through fog condensation), as the island had few water resources. However, the yield of this process is very limited. When the conquistadors took possession of the island, the Bimbaches decided to keep the hiding place of the sacred tree a secret. They did so in the hope that the conquistadors would leave the island again, as they found no rivers or springs.The sacred tree is illustrated in the island's coat of arms.

ca. 1683

Artist

Mallet (1630-1706)

Alain Manesson Mallet (1630- 1706 ) was a French cartographer and engineer. He started his career as a soldier in the army of Louis XIV, became a Sergeant-Major in the artillery and an Inspector of Fortifications. He also served under the King of Portugal, before returning to France, and his appointment to the court of Louis XIV. His military engineering and mathematical background led to his position teaching mathematics at court. His major publications were Description de L'Univers (1683) in 5 volumes, and Les Travaux de Mars ou l'Art de la Guerre (1684) in 3 volumes. His Description de L'Universe contains a wide variety of information, including star maps, maps of the ancient and modern world, and a synopsis of the customs, religion and government of the many nations included in his text. It has been suggested that his background as a teacher led to his being concerned with entertaining his readers. This concern manifested itself in the charming harbor scenes and rural landscapes that he included beneath his description of astronomical concepts and diagrams. Mallet himself drew most of the figures that were engraved for this book.