I know this will be difficult. This photo comes from a letter of a portuguese jesuit writing about japan.
The one in the photo is a note written in the margin of the text, for a japanese word, which is “caido” ( 街道) and means “main, large street”.
The author of the text wrote the word “caido” in the main text, which is a translitteration of the japanese, and than repeated it in the margin, giving it a brief translation of the word, so the reader could have a glimpse of its meaning.
The translation says:
” estrada …
caminho largo”
I can’t figure what that second word is. It looks like “roimbram”, but, is it even an existing word? I don’t know. I hope someone native can help me out.

I’ve read 30 pages in ancient portuguese, yet this is the only word I can’t read, and I need to have it read for my thesis project.
I’m really sorry to bother.
Thank you for your help

TLDR: in the second line of text, what is the word written after “da”?

by SadTape

4 comments

  1. Looks like “coimbram” (Coimbra?). Sometimes it’s easier when you show the document because we can compare words. There are some groups with people that can “translate” old writting (usually genealogy groups).

  2. “estrada coimbrã, caminho largo” = “road of Coimbra, wide way” (“coimbram” is the old spelling of “coimbrã”, meaning “from/pertaining to the city of Coimbra”)

    The “estrada coimbrã” (road of Coimbra) was the ancient main road of the country, connecting Lisbon to the North of the country.

  3. Really interesting. I confirm: ” caido estrada coimbram caminho largo”.

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