Arabia carry to Barbara all sorts of Cloth and Beads which they call Maramugos Raisins Dates and many other things which they exchange for Gold Elephants-Teeth and Slaves And those of Quiloa Melinde Brava Magadoxo and Mombaza barter these Commodities for Arabian-Horse The Natives are generally very stout but badly Arm'd Arms. though continually furnish'd therewith both from the Turks and Kings of Arabia and such like Necessaries for which their Prince returns many great Presents of Slaves taken in the Wars for to ingratiate himself with those Mahumetans he makes continually fierce Wars upon the Christians about him especially those of Abissinie for which the Moors esteem him a petty Saint yet all their soothings cannot so save him but that sometimes the Christians send him home soundly beaten teaching him to keep a more mannerly Distance The City of Barbara owns the Dominion of the Great Turk Government as do most of all the famous Places upon the Coast of the Red Sea in Africa to this Kingdom of Adel where they say his Jurisdiction ends at the Haven of Meth although some will have the whole Coast of Barnagas and Barrazan nay all the Places near the Red Sea stand under his Jurisdiction without affording the Abyssines one Haven there So that none can pass out of the Red Sea into Abyssine but through the Turks Dominions The Island of Barbora OVer against the City Barbora in the Red Sea close by the Shore lieth an Island of the same Name exceedingly fruitful and well stored with Cattel The Inhabitants are not White as on the Coast of Magadoxo but Black and exactly Habited as those on the Main Land whereof we lately made mention The Island of Socotora THe Island of Socotora or Sacotora otherwise call'd Sicuthora discover'd by Fernando Bereyra J. Barros Ramusse is by some taken for the Dioscorides of Ptolomy and Pliny and by others for Curia Muria though somewhat improperly because that Isle lies over against the Main Coast of Arabia â— Situation This hath its Situation in twelve Degrees and fifty Minutes North Latitude fifteen Miles Southward from the Cape of Guardafuy formerly call'd Cape Aromata and almost as far from the Mouth of the Red Sea Now the most Geographers include this Island of Socotora under Africa for its nearness to that Coast yet some and those of Nubia have reckon'd it among the Islands of Arabia Felix And as they cannot agree to which it belongs Bigness so they differ no less in its Magnitude some making it swell to sixty Spanish while others straiten it to scarce fifteen Dutch Miles But it seems the first comes nearer to the truth because the latter Discoverers make it fifteen Miles long and ten Miles broad at the narrowest and Pirard reckons it fifteen French Miles in circumference The whole Island stands encompassed with exceeding high Rocks which inclose therein divers fertile Valleys On all sides Ships may find good Anchorage besides the many convenient Bays and Creeks affording safe Roads But it boasts two chief Havens the one call'd Cora and the other Benin Here is but onely one City nam'd Sicuthora seated at the foot of the Cape Treta looking to the South where the Xeque or Turkish Governor makes his aboad Others make Tamary the Chief Place and the usual Dwelling of the Bassa A third sort place here three Towns or Villages inhabited by Arabians But a fourth affirm That the Natives have neither Towns Villages nor Houses but abide in Holes or Caves in the Rocks They have many Temples or Churches Churcheâ— which they call Moquamos but very small and so low that without stooping none can come into the same Every Church hath three Doors and one Altar on which stands a Cross with two Sticks made in form of Flower-de-luces The Situation of the Island so near the Line causes the Air not onely to be exceeding hot Air. but also unhealthy And by reason of this excessive Heat they have great want of Water Yet notwithstanding there falls a great Mist in the Nights from the high stony Cliffs to the great cooling and refreshing of the parched Earth And although a few Rivers may be found yet they lie at such distances from the common Passages and remain so difficult to be found that many Travellers die for thirst onely at the Sea side are Trenches out of which the Arabians drink And the Mountains by reason of their excessive height have their tops continually cover'd with Snow and cloudy with Mists and Fogs The Soil for want of Moisture proves very barren Constitution of the Soil producing nothing as some write but Dates for indeed none take care to Sowe any Corn or Plant Fruits On the contrary Beasts in the Woods and Mountains breed many Bucks Goats Cows Hogs Catamountains Wild Asses Horses Camelions Wild Hens or Pheasants and Turtle-Doves But that which above all things makes this Island famous Aloes Sicotrina is the Plant from which the Aloes Sicotrina cometh and also for the great abundance of Dragons Blood brought thence being no other than a Gum distilling from a Tree the Indians call it Ber and bruise it with an Iron in the growing Bark at a set time of the Year The Sea-shore also produces much Ambergreece The Inhabitants of this Island are Arabians or Native Sicotrians Several Inhabitants which last the Arabians call Beduins and are divided into two Generations The one Nature having Beduinsche Mothers and Arabian Negro Fathers keep at the Sea side are black of Colour curl'd Hair tall of Stature but very ill-favour'd The others are unmix'd Beduins and live within the Countrey being whiter than Native Iudians Some of them seem to have been born in Europe by the tallness of their Statures handsom Bodies soundness of Constitution and the Air of the Face onely differing herein that they let their Hair grow without cutting which they suffer either to hang over their Necks and Shoulders or else tie up or braid the same together behind They are inconstant mistrustful Constitution and cowardly insomuch that a handful of Arabians will awe vast Multitudes of them They have a great fear of all other people which makes them shun converse with Foreigners and are above measure lazy and idle concerning themselves in nothing but Fishing and feeding their Cattel Their common Food is Milk Butter Dates and Flesh Food but chiefly Milk boyl'd with Herbs and serves them both for Diet and Physick In stead of Rie or Wheaten Bread they use Rice brought to them from other Places and for want of that eat Cakes made of Dates They wear certain Clothes by them call'd Cambolins made of Bucks Hair Apparel six Spans long and two broad from their Girdle to their Knees and over that another greater black and white Cloth in form like a Cloke which they wrap about from their Shoulders to their Knees and never pull it off Barbosa on the contrary writeth That
Bocchir by others Bicchieri Bocchir or Canopus and formerly call'd * This City was so call'd from Canobus Menelaus his Pilot there buried by his Master who on these Coasts had suffered Shipwrack Zacit Annal. 2. Canopus perhaps from the Egyptian Idol Canopus which in this Precinct of Land was call'd Phtenuti and there antiently worship'd Of this place thus speaketh that Prince of Latine Poets Virgil Georg. Lib. 4. Nam quia Pellaei gens fortunata Canopi Accolit effuso stagnantem flumine Nilum Et circum pictis vehitur sua rura Phaselis Where happy people plant Canopus Soyl And dwell near spreading Streams of flowing Nile And through their Countrey painted Vessels glide c. Through the World noted for luxurious Practices and varied forms of Effeminacy whereof the Satyrist thus Luxuria quantum ipse notavi Barbara famoso non cedit turba Canopo Canopean Banquets now seem poor and small Juven Sat. 25. Rome beggars boasts at Feasts more prodigal For within Canopus stood the Temple of Serapis to whose Festivals resorted all sorts of people from Alexandria men and women mixt in painted Barges chanting down the Nile Love-Songs behaving themselves with all sorts of looseness beyond the bounds of Modesty concerning which Statius brings in Pampinius thus excusing himself Non ego mercatus Pharia de puppe loquaces Delicias doctumve sui convitia Nili Infantem linguaque simul salibusque protervum Dilexi I bought no Songs nor pleas'd with boys so vile Lib 5. That imitate all Vices of the Nile Chanting with shameless gestures on the Decks Amongst whom saith Seneca who so avoided vice yet could not escape infamy the very place administring suspicion and therefore worthily buried in its own Desolations After that is to be seen the Tower and Cape of Bocchir lying in a dangerous place where many Ships sayling from Syria are bilg'd in the night falling short of the Haven of Alexandria adjoyning as it were hereto two Castles appear call'd The Castles of Bocchir here also is the Sea Bocchir and below it the Towns Casar and Athacon About this City but chiefly towards Cario there groweth in the Ditches a Plant call'd The Egyptian Plomp or Lotus Lotus a Plant. in such an abundance that the Leaves resembling those of the Water-lillies cover the whole Channel The Egyptians call the Flower with its Stalk Arais el Nil the Leaf with the Stalk Bush-nyl and the Root Biarum This Plant hath the property of growing exactly as high as the Water in the Ditches and opens his Flowers not underneath the Water but above it 't is certainly true that it turns about with the Sun though the Antients disputed it This Plant for its near resemblance to a Water-lilly Prosper Alpinus was deceiv'd in taking it for the very same though afterwards in his Book of Forrain Plants he retracted his opinion Every Leaf hath a single Stalk growing out of the Root which is thick long and round in shape resembling a small Pear the biggest sometimes as large as a Hens Egg On the outside black and full of Fibres within yellowish and very pelpy and hard and sharp in taste on the tongue The Flowers are large like white Water-lillies as we said whereof every one grows on the top of a green and round Stalk smelling like a Pink After the Flowers follow round green Cods containing in distinct bags a sort of Seed not unlike that of a Cabbage After the Earth hath drunk up the Water of Nile and is dried up immediately the Leaves Flowers and Fruit wither and dye The Flowers of this Lotus were in former times The use of the Lotus as well heretofore as now as Heliodorus writes wreathed in the Triumphant Garlands of Conquerors Now adays the Juice of the Flowers and knobby Cods mixed with Sugar by the Arabians call'd Sharbet Nufar is used against all inward heats Thus made they mingle Sugar and Water which hang'd over the fire they suffer to boyl till it come to the consistence of a Syrup then taken off and cooled the pure Juyce of the Lotus is put into it The Egyptians in the Summer eat the raw Stalks with the Heads being very sweet moistening and cooling very much A little further up in the Countrey there is the small City Natumbes Natumbes half a days journey from Rosetta and lying on the opposite shore Next is the old City Fuoa or Foa formerly call'd Nicy seated on the Banks of Nile Fuoa five and forty Miles Westward of Rosetta very populous but the Streets within are narrow having great Suburbs famous for Beautiful Women Ladies of Pleasure residing there assuming to themselves so much more than the usual freedom allow'd to modest Women they Entertain and are Entertain'd publickly by their Gal-lants at Night returning home to their always indulgent and kind Husbands without the least rebuke or once questioning Where hast thou been About a Mile from Fuoa lyes the Island now nam'd Gezirat Eddeheb The Golden Island but formerly Nathos or The Golden Island Here are many Villages Mechella and stately Palaces but not to be seen at a distance by reason of the shadow of surrounding Trees Here also is the rich but ill fenced City Mechella or Maquella A little forward on the River stands the un-walled City Derota Derota and Michellat Cays as also Michellat Cays on a high Hill In Derota was heretofore a stately Church and the Citizens flourish'd in wealth and abundance The Countrey so abounding with Sugar that they pay yearly to the Sultan for the freedom of making and refining it a hundred thousand Gold Saraffies or Turkish Crowns But within the last Century of years this place is much decayed and the Citizens impoverish'd ¶ ELbeahrye or Beheyra the second part of Egypt The second part of Egypt and its extent extends from the Mid-land Sea to the Easterly Arm of Nilus running to Damiata and beginning from the Borders of Rosetta and ending at Faramide wherefore the Egyptians call it Sealand and the Italians Maremma In this Quarter of Egypt is first on the East of Beheyra the Cape or Point of Brule in former times known by the name of Pineptimi and by Ptolomy taken for one of the Nilian Mouths it is enclosed in the form of a Haven and receives the water shooting out of the Eastern Arm of the Nile Not far from thence lyeth Damiata or Damiette by Nicetas in his Journals of Emanuel taken for Tamiathim but by the Antients for Pelusium and by Stephanus for Tamiates Guilandinus will have it be Tanis spoken of in the Holy Scripture but Auchard distinguishes Tanis and Damiata making Tanis the same with Tenex or Tenez which hath given the name to the Tanitian Mouth Others will not onely have Pelusium as we said but also the antient Heliopolis to be the now Damiata which error and mistake is very great since Pelusium according to general consent is seated near the Mid-land
and afterward re-built anew and inhabited-by the Mahumetans though infinitely short of its pristine lustre however some great and high Columns with stately Church-Portals whereon are Verses written in the Egyptian Tongue are yet extant Here also are the Ruines of a great Building seeming formerly to have been a Temple from whose Foundations Gold Silver and other Coin hath been taken up upon one side of which was stamped the Effigies of the antient Egyptian Kings and on the reverse divers Hieroglyphicks Azuth formerly Bubastes about two hundred and fifty miles from Cairo Azuth was heretofore esteemed a very beautiful City but at this day for the most part lyeth waste and buried under Heaps of Ruine Here inhabit a hundred Christian Families and three or four Churches remain undefac'd Without the City stands a Monastery wherein reside above a hundred Monks that live onely upon Herbs Bread and Olives not touching either Flesh or Fish The Cloyster hath great Revenues giving entertainment to all strangers who are there supplied with all Necessaries for three days Three hundred miles from Cairo on the shore of Nilus stands Ichium Ichium erected by Mizraim the son of Chus and consequently one of the oldest Cities in Egypt Which the Mahumetans when they first began to rule there so wasted and destroy'd that there is not one stone left upon another for they carryed the Pillars and Stones to the west-side of Nilus and us'd them to the building of the ill-contriv'd Town Munsta or Munsia whose narrow un-pav'd Streets by the vicinity of a sandy Soyl in Summer are very offensive though the Countrey adjacent hath fruitful Valleys for bearing Corn and pasturing Cattel Anthius by Marmol call'd Anthinoe or Anthedon was a fair City Anthinoe built by the Romans on the Western Banks of Nilus wherein yet may be read several Inscriptions upon Marble Pillars Joyning as it were to this lyeth also the City Barnabal Thebes formerly a glorious City but now almost lost in its own Ruines lyeth West of Nilus about five days journey from Cairo Strabo calls it Diospolis that is Kircher Choregraph Aegypt Jupiters City because Jupiter was worship'd there By Homer and Stephanus in his Book of Cities Hecatompylos Hundred Gates for Thebes in former times is said to have had so many Gates By Diodorus Busiris by the Moors Sirim by the Arabians one while Asna another Asiuth and Asuan Strabo gives the best and most accurate description of all other We will give you his own words Some Strabo saith he reputed this City as the Metropolis of Egypt 't is true there still appear remaining Marks of its Greatness being in length about eighty Furlongs Cambyses the Persian much defac'd it and spoil'd the Temples Now it is rather a heap of conjoyn'd Villages than a City one part of it lying in Arabia one of its two Colossus's cut out of an entire Stone remaining still whole and sound but the uppermost part of the other is said to be broken off by an Earth-quake They also report that sometimes a sound issues from the Pedestal When I was there with Elius Gallus and divers Friends and some Soldiers I heard about the tenth hour the like sound but whether it was made by one of the Company I cannot say because all for the uncertainty of the Matter had more occasion to believe so than that such a hollow murmur should come out of such a firm body A little further beyond * Memnonium from the sounding like Memnous Tomb. Memnonium are about forty Sepulchres of Kings in Caves under ground after the manner of such as we formerly described which are worthy the seeing Near this Colossus are some Pyramids with Inscriptions which set forth the Riches and Potency of those Kings These words of Strabo not onely speak the Greatness but also the Sumptuousness of Thebes and agree with the present Asuan which is a Name given by the Arabians by adding A to Suan or Soan for the Copticks call'd that Soan which the Greeks entituled Thebes In this City have been also many Pyramids or Obelisks according to the same Strabo as also Diodorus and Herodotus say here were many Pyramids some few of which still remain the rest by the fury of the Persians miserably defac'd and destroy'd The deep Mysteries which the Egyptians couched under their Pyramids and Hieroglyphicks sculped thereon being a matter worth the knowledge induce us in this place to give a more exact account of them than heretofore ¶ OBelisks therefore are four square Stone-Columns Several Names of Obelisks running up in height taporing to a point and on every side inscribed Characters The Greeks stile such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kircher Obilise Pamphil. that is Acute Points The Italians from the form broad beneath and running up in shape of a Needle or Spire Aguglia the Arabians Messalets Pharaonis that is Pharaohs Needles because they say they were the invention of Pharaoh the first King of Egypt When Spires were erected in Egypt Manuphtar but the Egyptian Priests name them The Fingers of the Sun to signifie the Mysteries hidden under it But the first that introduced the practice of erecting Spires or Obelisks in Egypt was Manuphtar Lord of Memphis in the Year of the World 2604. So this Then his son Sothis succeeding finish'd the Work begun by his Father and erected at Heliopolis twelve Obelisks 1175 yeares before the Incarnation in the Year of the Creation 2893. Momphencure son of Sesostris erected a plain Obelisk in the Year 2947. Momphencure signifies the Governor of Memphis The like did Simarres or Simannes in the time of King David Anno Mundi 2986. or thereabout King Marres or Afhres Marres by others call'd Vaphres built a plain Obelisk in the Year of the Creation 3022. which the Emperor Claudius carryed out of Egypt and set up at Rome for the Mausoleum King Psammitichus Psammitichus by Pliny call'd Sennesertus erected a great Obelisk inscribed with Sacred and Sublime Figures at Heliopolis Eight hundred and seven years before the Incarnation King Nectabanus by others call'd Necho Nectabanus seven hundred and forty years before Christ erected a great Obelisk at Memphis which afterwards Ptolomeus Philadelphus removed to Alexandria and placed in the Temple of Arsinoe Most of all these Obelisks at several times by the Roman Emperors were brought out of Egypt to Rome Lastly the Persian King Cambyses after the Conquest of Egypt which happened in the Year of the World 3528. destroy'd all that remain'd 522 before Christ as well those that stood upright as those that were fallen down and either slew or banisht all the Egyptian Priests as we mention'd before These were not the Works of Kings onely but of Priests and Ministers of State and Custom at length prevail'd so far that scarce a place could be seen without them At which none ought to wonder if he consider the Egyptians worshipt the Sun to whose
honor they erected such Spires The bigness of the Obelisks were several some no higher than ten or twelve foot while others did climb to the height of twenty thirty seventy an hundred or a hundred and forty foot Upon every side the antient Egyptian Priests carv'd Figures and Images almost in the same manner Hieroglyphick Figures carved upon the Needles or Spires as those delineated upon the Covering-Clothes and Winding-sheets of the Mummies and sometimes the very same There were also plain ones erected by the Kings that conquer'd Egypt Neeldes or Spires without Figures for the Egyptian Priests would not reveal the Mystery of their Charactering to any strangers As this Hieroglyphical manner of writing was very mysterious Of what stone the Needles or Spires are made so the Stone they chose for that purpose was most excellent which the Greeks call'd * A Fire-stone Pyroboilon the Latines Theban Stone and by the Italians Granito Rosso It is a kinde of Marble sprinkled and speckled as it were with Drops of several colours and as durable and hard as Porphiry The Quarry out of which these were cut lyeth close by the antient City Thebes among the Hills extending to Negro-land and the Cataracts of Nilus to the South And though Egypt abound in Quarries of other sorts of Marble yet the Egyptian Priests chose this for the erecting of Obelisks no other Stone being us'd to that purpose for although they had the like Veins of Marble in the Island Ilia and other places in Italy and Sweden yet it could no way compare in hardness and variety of Grains and Specks with that of Egypt Now why the Egyptians made the Obelisks of those streak'd Marbles this may be the reason They that erected Obelisks in honor of the Sun Why they do so whose beams their spiring tops seemed to represent would not take every kinde of stone but such onely as did most analogize with that glorious Body which in their opinion this Marble doth By nature it consisted of a four-fold Existence viz. First a glistering Red among which here and there are found some mixed other clear Christal-colour'd Spots then Violet-colour after that Blew and Ash-colour with some streaks or dashes of Black between which the Egyptians seeing they chose it as most fit to represent their hidden Mysteries so that by the aforesaid Mixture of the Colours without doubt they intend to signifie the four Elements and particularly by the Red Fire by the Christaline Air by the Blew Water and lastly by the Black the Earth Hereby appears with how great judgement the Egyptians chose fit Materials for their Mysteries and that for the better representing their deep Notions they have us'd nothing but what might make them more conspicuous And if any find older Obelisks of another sort certainly they were not true Egyptick but either erected by Strangers in imitation of the true or in the late times when by the Destruction and Banishment of the Priests by Cambyses the Sacred Egyptian Letters were utterly lost Such was the Obelisk rais'd by the Phenicians to the Honor of the Sun which being depressed low flat and leaning very much differ'd from the right Such a one also Herodian says the Emperor Heliogabalus brought from Syria to Rome ¶ ALL the great Obelisks In what manner the Obelisks were brought out of the Stone Quarties to the place appointed Plin. lib. 36. c. 9. were brought from their Quarries to their appointed place in this manner First there was a great Trench Digged beginning under the already hewen Obelisk and running into the Nile where two great Ships deep laden with Stones exceeding the weight of the intended Freight were Sunk and then towed quite underneath it the two ends of the Obelisks hanging on the opposite Banks of the Ditch The Ships there setled and the Stone Ballast being cast out the Vessels finding themselves eas'd Buoying up receiv'd their Lading the hanging Obelisk which they brought through the same cut into the Nilus and so to the appointed place where it was to be erected ¶ THere are yet to be seen at Thebes Egyptian Greek and Latine Inscriptions and without the Gates old Ruines and Columns all the remaining tokens of its antient Glory The City according to Diodorus in circuit had an hundred and forty Stadia or Furlongs That is five miles eight and twenty Stadia accompted for a Mile As to the number of an hundred Gates that accompt seems to some as Diodorus reports to intend onely the gross number of the Avenues and Passages though others as Mela confirm it adding that Thebes was so exceeding populous that it could draw out of * That is a Million of men every Gate ten thousand Armed men And that the Greek word Hecatompilos which signifyeth an hundred Gates according to which Thebes was call'd by Homer is not to be understood literally but is rather to be explained to relate to an hundred Palaces in which so many Princes had their residence Plin. lib. 36. c. 14. Pliny will have the whole City stand upon Arches so made on purpose that the Egyptian Kings might draw their Armies this way under the Houses of the City without being discovered Round about this decayed and desolate City are Desarts wherein formerly very many Hermits dwelt Two days Journey from Cairo lyeth a Wilderness wherein it is said is the Cave wherein St. Paul remaining was visited by St. Anthony Six miles from the City Munsia or Munza lyeth a Cloister of Georgian Christians heretofore very famous and inhabited by above two hundred Monks who having much Goods and a great yearly Revenue imparted the same to all needy Strangers sending the overplus to the Patriarch to Cairo who distributed it among poor Pilgrims in his Diocess But two hundred and sixty years since all these Monasticks dying by a Pestilence the Bashaw of Munsia wall'd in the Cloister and made it into Houses for Artificers and Tradesmen to dwell in Chiam or El Chiam Chiam now a heap of Rubbish but heretofore the Seat of the Jacobite Christians Livy and Sanutus seem to be of Opinion that this is Ptolomy's old Diospolis because both of them lay in the same Latitude More toward the South from Cairo Barbanda lyeth another City upon the Banks of Nile call'd Barbanda destroyed by the Romans whose ruinous heaps were for the most part brought to Asna among which sometime they finde Gold and Silver Coin and pieces of Smaragdus or Emeralds Against Barbanda lyeth Cana erected by the Egyptians near the Nile Cana. and Walled The Inhabitants use no Trades but rely all upon Husbandry and Tillage by which means this place which is divided from the Red-Sea by a vast sandy and dry Desart is very rich in Corn which the Inhabitants of Medina where the Tomb of Mahomet is and also of Mecha Transport in great abundance for Asia Opposite to Cana on the Red Sea lyeth Cossir a Haven whither they usually
Travel from Cana over the fore-mention'd Sandy Desart There are many Granaries for the reception of Corn brought thither from Cana. It is probable that Livius Sanutus says that this Haven is that of the Old City Berenice because they lye in the very same elevation yet some will have it to be Miosormus There is also Conza formerly Metacompsus not far from the City Asna Conza on the Southermost borders of Egypt some of the Antients placed Elephantis or Elephantina of which at this day the name onely remains The last City to the South of Egypt lying on the Nilus is Asna formerly call'd Siena but got the name Asna from the Arabians for the word Siena being the same with the Arabian Zeyâ—â—a which signifies Foul Sanutus lib. 9. they thought the City too fair to bear that Name and therefore chang'd Siena into Asna that is Fair the City indeed being very beautiful the Romans wasted most part of it but it hath since been much more stately rebuilt by the Mahumetans The Inhabitants drive a subtle Trade in the Kingdom of Nubia partly in Vessels sailing up the Nile and partly by Land through the Desart by which way of Transportation they are become considerable in Cattle Corn and Money In the City which is of a large extent and by the Moors according to Marmol call'd Gavera there yet appear many fair Edifices and particularly a very curious Sepulchre with Egyptian and Latin Inscriptions There is also a deep Well into whose bottom the Sun shines at Noon A deep Well while he passes too and again through the Northern signs To this place or a little further the Nile is Navigable but beyond no Vessel can pass oppos'd and stop'd by the Cataracts and therefore they Land their Goods below and carry them over Land then again shipping when they are past the precipice and come into smooth water Eastward from Asna is the antient and great City Asuan or Assuan The City Assuan by some taken to be Conza or Metacompsus and borders upon the Desart Buche through which they Travel by the City Suaquen to the Red Sea Neighboring with the Moors and by Marmol placed in Egypt Beyond this they pass not up the Nile Sanutus because of the fore-mention'd precipices It is very hot there in Summer and the Inhabitants are Tawny of colour not caused so much by the great heat as by their commixture with the People of Nubia and the Moors In several places about this City are many antient Buildings and Towers there call'd Barba which makes some imagine that heer stood Thebes In circuit five mile in length three miles out of whose Ruines Asuan was built Strabo gives it eighty Stadia or Furlongs in length of which City of Asuan Albufeda the Arabian thus writes Asuan is a City of the upper Theban Countrey lying by the side of the Eastern Desart wherein stands the famous Needle or Spire the greatest Monument of Antiquity partly for its huge Carv'd Stones and partly for the variety of curious Imagery upon it And that many Obelisks and Pyramids have been there Herodotus Diodorus and others testifie Herodotus Diodorus Beyond this the utmost border of the Turkish Dominions in Egypt there are no Seats or Habitations worth the mentioning onely some few Huts or Cottages where Tawny people of Buchia dwell that speak a Tongue scraped together out of the Egyptian Arabian and Moorish Languages Several other small Cities Sanutus and inconsiderable places by length of time decay'd are by Sanutus and other Geographers with few words touched upon such are these Thura in the East lying close by Cairo Sachila and Pharsono lying beneath the Lake Maeris Narnita and Nitriota above it Elmena Libelezait Saguan Dakat all poor and thin peopled places of which the first is to the inland in the mid-way between the Red-Sea and Nile but the other lye close by the Sea side King Pharaoh's Angle Pharaoh's Angle or Point from whence Moses with his people in a wonderful manner passed through the Red Sea Corondal Aziruth and Aphaca places on the Red-Sea lying not far one from another with few or no Inhabitants The seven Wells Seven Wells call'd by the Italians Zette Pozzi is a place in a dry Tract of Land where at this day appear some tokens of the Old Wells or Fountains of Water that gave name to the place Menuia and Cosera lye in the Island Heracleopolites Sanutus but thinly inhabited The like also are Veneria and Ansena two Neighboring places Besides the Island Michias The two Islands of Heracleopolites and Cynopolites lying by Cairo and the Island Elephantina there are Heracleopolites and Cynopolites or the Isle of Dogs both lying in the Nile placed by Sanutus in Egypt The Metropolis of the later is Cynopolis Cynopolis or Dog-town because the Inhabitants for the most part worshipped a Dog but at this day 't is call'd Monphalus The Island Heracleopolites Heracleopolis so call'd from Heracleopolis that is Hercules City because Hercules was worshipped in it is fifty miles in circuit and fruitful in Olives and other Fruit-Trees Here was the Icneumon the mortal Enemy of Crocodiles and Serpents worshipped Besides all these Cities The Number of Villages in Egypt there are many Villages in Egypt for above Delta both Southward and Northward of Cairo Sanut there are four thousand and in Delta twenty thousand whose Grounds and Meadows are once a year water'd by the Nile As to the Soil The Soil of Egypt is dry and thirsty in it self it is Sandy very Barren and so dry and seared that unless it lye under water many dayes as at the overflux of Nile it will never become fertile Therefore the Egyptians often drown their Gardens and Orchards so by long soaking to make them fruitful whereby their Pot-herbs and Salletting are very waterish and more insipid or flashy than in Europe But although the Soil be of it self thus steril It is made fat by Nilus yet the fruitful Nilus with his fat Mud makes it fertile and fit for Tillage and in some places so luxuriant that they often mix the fatness of the Soil with Sand to temper and allay it This onely over-flowing of the Nile made Egypt to be esteemed not onely the Granary of Rome but of the whole then known world for it fed all the Roman Provinces with Corn a third part of the year exposing besides abundance into remoter Countreys Pliny reports that the ground there was so exceedingly fruitful that one onely Seed planted in the Earth would bring forth a hundred fold But this wonderful fertility was attended with this inconvenience that the rich Product was not lasting and from this very same cause they dispatch'd them away to their Neighbor Nations of the Arabian Desart Palestine Syria Constantinople and Europe especially Sugar Cassia Sena-leaves several Gums and other Inland Commodities Kassia Colekasia Datura The Delta's boast theirs
little less in Winter The Soyl is so rich that they plough it not but only sprinkle it in May with Watering-pots with which small cost and pains it produces infinite variety of Fruits very delightful in taste onely the Peaches are waterish and not very well relishing Besides this Fertility of the Land the Rivers are wonderously stor'd with Fish of divers kinds especially that by the Spaniards call'd Sabalos The Land about Salee produceth multitudes of Box-Trees and other Wood whereof the Inhabitants make Combs Much Cotton also but little Grain by reason of the Sandiness of the Soyl. The Countrey about Mahmore is on one side shadow'd with stately Oaks but the other affords excellent Pasture for Cattel abundance of Oranges but Dates beyond imagination There are also very large Oxen and besides Goats Hens Partridges Pigeons and other tame and useful Creatures The Woods breed the strongest and fiercest Lions in all Africa to the great annoyance of the People Nor do they want good Honey and Sugar-Canes in the use whereof they were ignorant till the Moors banisht out of Spain taught them how to extract it The Moors Countrey produceth many excellent Fruits especially great Quinces Granates White and Damask Plumbs large Figs Grapes which they eat fresh gather'd Peaches and abundance of Olives and Flax. Upon Mount Zalagh grow Vines yielding singular sweet and delicious Raisins Mount Zarhonne is cover'd with Olive-Trees that afar off it seems to be a Wood. Tefelfelt stands among Woods wherein many fierce Lions frequent In the Plains of Aseis or Adhasen the Lions are so timerous that a man nay a very woman will either by chiding or blows make them flie The Diet of the Inhabitants of Fez Their Food agrees with that of all other Mahumetan People of Barbary making three Meals a day For Breakfast they eat a little Fruit and Bread with thin Pap made of Meal but in Winter Sops made in the Broth of Salt Flesh such as we in England usually call Brewis At Dinner they have in Summer Flesh with Sallets of Lettice or Cabbadge Cheese Olives and Melon-Broth At Supper nothing but Bread with Melons or Raisins or Milk but in the Winter boyl'd Flesh with Couscous but seldom Roast-meat This is the ordinary Fare of common Citizens but Persons of State or Quality have many additional Delicacies The Tables are low without Table-Clothes or Knives pulling their Meat in pieces with their Fingers They put Flesh and Pottage in the same Dish out of which every one may take what he pleases They never drink till they have done eating and then conclude their Meal with it The Men of Fez that have any Estate wear a Habit in the Winter The Habit of the Men of Fez. made of Foreign Cloth over that a Cassock or Tunick with short Sleeves and over all another large Cloak clasped before upon the Breast and on their Heads they put Caps like Night-coifs The poorer sort wear a loose Jacket with a Mantle over it and slight Quoives on their Heads The Women also go fashionably clad The Habit of the Women wearing in Summer a Shift onely but in Winter a Coat with wide Sleeves When they go abroad they put on long Drawers that reach to their Knees then throw over their Heads a Cloth that covers them all over and a Mask The better sort wear Gold Ear-Rings with precious Stones and Jewels but the meaner content themselves with Silver ones without Jewels On their Arms and Legs they wear Chains also and a peculiar sort of Slippers fasten'd on with Silk Bands The Arabs living thereabouts The Habit of the Arabians commonly wear a Garment which they call Baraguan wrapt about their body and a red Bonnet All the rest go naked onely one Clout girt about their Waste and hanging down almost to the Knees ¶ THe Government of Fez is Monarchical Their Government heretofore call'd Cheriffs but now Kings who are very potent But neither they nor any other Mahumetan Kings use either Scepter Crown or Throne but onely a low Seat cover'd over with Cloth of Gold and a Cushion set with Pearls and precious Stones When the King perceiveth The chusing of their Kings or feeleth that his Death approaches he calleth all his Lords and Noblemen about him and ties them by Oath to chuse his Son or Brother or some one he hath a favour to for his Successor which they all take but little regard it after the Kings Decease chusing another not to fulfill his will but their own pleasure In Fez People of several Countreys in Fez. People of all Countreys reside as English French Hollanders Tartars Persians and Eastern Greeks each of them having a Consul there to mannage the business of Merchandise But the common Inhabitants are Moors the Offspring of those formerly banisht out of Spain as we declar'd before ¶ THe Nobility here are threefold The Nobility of Fez threefold each distinguisht from other by peculiar Marks The first are noble in Bloud as descended from Honorable Ancestors others become Noble by Offices and Employment the third are so esteem'd for their great Wealth and Riches but all enjoy the same and equal Priviledges They are very proud and disdainful both in their Speech and Behaviour towards Strangers but according to their Obligations without any reluctancy attend the King in his Wars In this one City they say there are above three thousand Noble Families ¶ THe Jews are numerous not onely in Fez Their Religion but spread through the whole Kingdom where it is suppos'd they amount to eight hundred thousand Among them are many Goldsmiths for the Moors must not meddle in that Trade being prohibited by the Alcoran These have also a Consul by whom the Stamps for Money are kept which they onely Licence to be Coyn'd in the New City The Inhabitants are either Mahumetans The Inhabitants of Fez are of three sorts Jews or Christians But the Mahumetans being far the greater number have the chief Command in all things though there be as many Sects of them in Fez alone as in all the Turkish Empire there being some principal Teachers or Heads of every Faction seated here which as Marabouts or Saints give Rules to their Followers TEMESNE or TEMECENE THis Jurisdiction the most Westerly part of the Kingdom of Fez The Borders of the Territory of Temesus hath for bound on the East the River Buragrag on the West the River Ommirabih on the North the Great Ocean and on the South Atlas The length from East to West is accounted Seventeen Miles and the breadth Thirty This was formerly so flourishing a Countrey that it contained Forty or Joan Leo. as Gramay says a Hundred and twenty great Cities Three hundred good Towns and exceeding many Villages some whereof as good as Walled Cities most of which are so totally ruined in their Civil Wars that scarce any remainders of them can be found The most eminent Places now in being
of the Spaniards that one Muey Xek Governour of it surrendred it into the hands of the Marquess of St. Germain Generall of the King's Army ¶ A Great Morass spreads it self about it The Quality of the Place abounding both with Fish and Fowl and in the adjacent Woods are some Lyons The Countrey about Larache being Barren and Waste yields nothing but Cotton-Trees and Coal-Mines both affording sufficient Profit especially the last carrying them to Tangier and Arzille The Haven much frequented by Spanish and Italian Merchants is but a wild Road granting but small security to such as know not the safest Ridings The City prides it self in divers stately Erections of Stone encompassed with a strong Wall and defended by three large Castles It hath three Castles One of which since the Conquest of the City by the Spaniards is called by the name of S. Mary the second lying at the Mouth of the River St. Anthony and the third also dedicated to another Saint The Moors before the Spaniards possessed it maintained there a Garrison and the Spaniards at this time doe the same The Fort St. Mary hath a broad Graff and Bulwark to be entred at three Iron-Gates being maintained with sixty Brass and Iron Pieces of Ordnance In St. Anthony's Fort are planted thirty Pieces of Brass Cannon well supplied with all sorts of Ammunition The Spaniards have made up the Works about both the City and Castles esteeming it a place of very great Consequence for shelter and preservation of his Fleet having much improved the Haven Near to this lies the Mountainous People and Arabians In this very Territory appears also on the Sea-Coast the City Moximar Elgiumha according to Marmol Gemaa el Carvax a small City in a Plain thirty Miles from Fez at this day wholly Waste Kasar el Kabir or Alkazar el Quibir which signifies a large Border stands on the River Lakkus ten Miles from Arzylle containing near fifteen hundred Houses with many Mosques There were here several Cities of note all which lie buried in their own Ruines by the cruelty of the Wars ¶ THe Air of this Province is so pleasant and healthy The Condition and Constution of Azgar that the Kings of Fez in the Spring take their Progress thither not onely for their Refreshment but for their Game the Place yielding Field-Sports Hunting and Hawking From hence also Fez is furnished with Cattel and Horses The Soyl about the City Elgiumha and Kasar Elkabir yields great store of Grain Larache altogether barren abounds onely with Cotton and Fish two Miles in Circuit The City Kasar Elkabir boasts onely of curious Gardens and Orchards Planted with all variety of delicate Fruits but wants Springs so that the Citizens have no Water but what Dreyns from the Roofs of the Houses which in Barbary seems strange ¶ THe Inhabitants of this Territory commonly go neatly Clad The Customs of the Inhabitants but those of Kasar Elkabir wear onely Cotton-Garments in general they are a Mild and Quiet People rather Simple than Ingenious HABAT or EL HABAT HAbat The Borders of Habat or El Habat begins Southward at the River Guarga or Erguila and runs Northward to the Midland Sea bounded on the East with the Mountains of Gomere called Errif on the West with the Marishes of Agar being Twenty Miles long and Seventeen broad Towns on the Shore of the Atlantick Ocean are Taximus Arzylle Taximus then Arzille formerly called Zilia and by the Inhabitants Azella built by the Romans towards the West about Fourten Miles from the Mouth of the Straits and Forty Miles from Fez. This City was for some time subject to the Prince of Septa It s several Overthrows or Ceuta a Tributary to the Romans but afterwards subdued by the Goths which were driven out by the Mahometans who possessed it Two hundred and twenty years when the English took it by Storm and utterly wasted it by Fire and Sword so that Thirty years after it lay desolate but at length Repaired and Peopled by the Mahumetan Patriarch of Cordua It was vanquished by the Portugals But Alphonsus King of Portugal who for his eminent Atchievements in these Parts as a second Scipio gat the Surname of Africanus on a sudden surprised it and took Prisoners not onely all the Souldiery but also the King himself with his Sister about Seven years of Age whom he brought Captive to Portugal where they remained Seven years and then redeemed for a great sum of Money ARZYLLA of ARGILLE The CITTY of TANGER The Cape of Spartelli by the Spaniards called Cabo Esparta The Cape of Spartelli and by some taken for the Cottes of Pliny lieth between Arzille and Tangier shooting far into the Sea and the very Point guarded with a Rock On the Shore of the Great Ocean near the Straits of Gibraltar Tangier in the heighth of three and twenty Degrees and forty Minutes North Latitude stands the ancient City Tangier formerly Tingis by the Portugals Tanjar and by the Barbarians according to Strabo Tinga in the time of the Romans the Metropolis of Mauritania Tingitana It s Building and by them builded after the Conquest of Spain although the African Historiographers falsly attribute it to one Sedded Son of Had who they say was Emperour of the whole World Their Story is this That the Emperour having resolved to build a City of no less beauty then an Earthly Paradise he first encompassed it with Brazen-Walls and then covered the Roofs of the Houses with Gold and Silver which say they was not impossible for him to do in regard all the Cities in the World contributed to its building But to leave their fancies and return to the truth the History It stood while the Romans Lorded over Spain subjected to the Prince of Ceuta as we said before and continued very populous till the time of Alphonsus the Fifth King of Portugal who in the year Fourteen hundred sixty three making his third Expedition into Africa with thirty thousand Men easily became Master of the Place the Inhabitants terrified at his Power leaving it and with their chief Moveables flying to Fez. His Father King Edward in the year Fourteen hundred thirty and three had worn out his time fruitlesly in the African Wars and beleaguering of this City for he was compelled to break up the Siege and leave his Brother Ferdinand as a Pledge in the hands of Aben Sala the Emperour of Barbary till Septa should be re-delivered But the State of Portugal esteeming it dishonourable easily to surrender a place of such consequence took no notice of Ferdinand who continued there seven years in a miserable Captivity During this time they got also Tangier which with great expence and trouble having kept divers years at length finding the charge of defence to exceed the profit they absolutely assigned over their interest to our gracious Soveraign CHARLES the Second King of England Scotland France and Ireland in part
Ruines of divers Castles built by the Romans as appears by the Latin Inscriptions insculpt on Marble From hence also was the fresh Water brought through Arches and Conduits to Carthage some whereof are yet to be seen Guislet three miles from Kairavan shews also some antient Remainders of Roman Edifices Gramay gives to this Kingdom six Sea-coast Provinces viz. Utica The dividing of the Kingdom of Tunis or Bizerta Carthage or Gouletta Sousa Africa Capis and Tripolis and three to the Inland to wit Caravan Beggie and another partly lying in Numidia and partly in Lybia But as Utica Tripolis and Capis being rent from it are become particular Dominions independent of it we may justly enough divide it into four shares by the Sea and four to the In-land those that front the Sea are Carthage or Gouletta Bizerta Sousa and Africa and the In-land Kairavan Urbs Beggie and the Countrey half Numidia and half Lybia The City Tunis THis City was known to the Greeks and Romans by the same Name The several Names as by its distance of three miles from Carthage Titus Livius declares Strabo and Pliny call it Tynis or Tunis and Ptolomy Themise some will have it but without any reason to be Tenissum lying by the Numidian Sea which in truth stands thirty miles from it Others stray as wide from the mark making Tunis and Carthage to be one and the same place The Italians call it Tunisi and Tunis the English French and Dutch Tunus or Tunis and the Arabians Turks and Moors Tunus ¶ IT lieth upon an Inlet of the Lake Gouletta The Scituation three miles to the North of the antient Carthage and two miles from the Mediterranean Sea surrounded on the South with high Mountains The form of it is an Oblong-square and in bigness about a small mile in compass though Gramay enlarge it to three and others to five Spanish mile environed with a Wall of forty Cubits high strengthened with many Turrets before the last Assault made upon it by the Turks there were many Bulwarks and Forts but most of them are since slighted ¶ THe principal Gates in the Arabick Tongue call'd Bab are five viz. The Gates Bab Vasouque Bab Carthago Bab Elbaar Bab Asseire and Bab Efmenar besides several other Posterns Formerly they reckoned herein eighteen eminent Streets besides divers Lanes all very narrow sixteen Markets three hundred and fifteen Mosques and twelve Christian Churches besides in the Suburbs eight Jewish Synagogues four and twenty Hermits Chappels a hundred and fifty Bathes eighty six Schools nine endowed Colledges sixty four Hospitals or Inns for Travellers and Strangers and above three thousand Shops wherein in were sold Woollen and Linnen Cloth of all which at present there are but few remains ¶ THere are seven Prisons The Prisons where they shut up Christian Slaves call'd in French Bagnes or Bafios viz. the Bayne of Issouf Dey the Bayne of Morat Bey the Bayne of the Patron another of Solyman a fifth of Sidi Mamet the sixth of the Bassa of Tripolis and lastly that of Sigale ¶ Among all the Edifices of the City The Palace the Palace is the most eminent where the Bassa keeps his Court beautifi'd with four stately Portico's several Towers a pleasant square Court fair and delightful Gardens and magnificent Cloisters Chambers and Halls but above all the Treasury-Chamber is costly wherein the King formerly kept the Book of their Teacher Elmuachdin or Elmohadian of which they boasted as the onely Reconciler of all Differences rising about their Law There stands also a Castle on the West side of the City upon a Mount as also a great Mosque call'd Ameth Benaros built by King Zacharias to the Honor of one of their Santons serving for a Refuge or Sanctuary for Offenders and had a Tower that was held the most famous in all Africa There is also a Quarter for the Janizaries a Burse or Exchange for Merchants and a Custom-house The other Buildings of most remark are the Palaces of Aga Sidi la Fes of Sidi Mahometa Milanoys of Sidi Jucip Rais and many others ¶ THe Citizens Houses The Houses Gramay and Sanutus say amounted formerly to ten thousand but much increas'd by the Moors that were driven out of Spain and settling here have fill'd it with all sorts of Artificers and Handicrafts by which means it is full of Trade and will compare with many of our best Cities in Europe The Houses were heretofore built very artificially with all sorts of Imagery wrought both in Stone and Plaister and curiously painted the Floor of the Chambers pav'd with smooth and shining Stones the Roofs flat but most of them onely one Story high This was its Antient Beauty But at present they are slightly built generally having two Doors or Gates one to the Street and another to the backward places between which they have a small Gallery chiefly us'd as an Apartment for Friends that come to visit them In the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty Suburbs Gram 8. b. 1. H. there were three Suburbs one without the Gate Bedsuvaike containing about three hundred Houses another without the Gate Bebelmanora shewing a thousand Habitations of Tradesmen and the third without the Gate of Beb-el Bachar a quarter of a mile from the Lake Golette having three hundred low and small Houses wherein the Venetians Genoueses and other Christians reside that they may not intermingle with the Moors But now there are onely two one on the West towards Biserta very fair and large the other on the East towards Sousa Without the City are the Burying-Grounds of the Turks wherein are many Marble Monuments and great variety of curious Flowers ¶ THis City hath neither Wells The Water Rivers nor Springs of fresh Water but only Cisterns wherein they Catch the Rain-water 'T is true there is one Well sometimes affording pleasant Water but with great diligence kept for the Vice-roy and his Family But some years since Issouf Dey brought Water thither from a Fountain a mile without the City through a stone Channel or arch'd Sewer appointing for the maintenance thereof two Escues yearly In the Suburbs there is a Well of Brackish-Water which the Slaves bring to the City and sell making thereof good profit the People accounting it much wholesomer than the Rain-water in the Cisterns ¶ ANani says The Soyl on the West side is reasonably Fertile The Soyl. having some Rivers to water it But on the East side for want of Water very little worth But Peter Dan avers that on the South-side where it lies surrounded with Mountains it hath very Fruitful-Valleys but in all the other Parts very Dry and Sandy Gramay and Sanutus report that close by the Ground is so Dry that it had need be continually watered This want of Water together with the frequent Incursions of the Alarbes makes the Corn at Tunis very dear The People in the Suburbs being necessitated to Wall in little Spots of Ground
call'd The Ornament of the World But soon after the Vandals under their King Genserick in the Year after Christ's Nativity Four hundred forty two reduced it to great misery which yet once more it recovered and remained a City of good estimation till suffering under the Gothish Devastations but at length finally destroy'd by the Arabians and made a heap of Ruines as it still continues The chief and greatest remaining Antiquity of this once so famous Place is a Water-course Vaulted over with high Arches through which it runs into the City although many remainders of the old Fortifications may yet be seen and some ruined Structures The Village Marsa which we mention'd before is the onely place that keeps up the memory of Carthage being built in part of its Ruines and a poor piece of the Skeleton of that once so glorious Body so true is that of the antient Poet Sic patet exemplis Oppida posse mori ¶ THe Valleys lying round about have a very sweet Air The Condition of the Countrey because continually cleared by fresh Breezes that come from the Sea and are full of Orchards Planted with great variety of Fruit of a pleasant taste and very large especially Peaches Pomegranates Olives Figs Citrons Lemmons and Oranges wherewith the Markets of Tunis are plentifully furnisht the rest of the Ground also being exceeding Fertile though circumscribed in narrow Limits for on the North lieth the Mountain Thesea and the Lake of Goletta and on the East and South the Plain of Byserta the rest between Carthage and Tunis for almost three miles dry and barren Land ¶ THe Ground about Arriane produceth some Wheat and St. Johns Bread Plants or Vegetables but about Naples nothing but Flax and about Kammart many Sugar-Canes ¶ SOme wild Beasts are found hereabouts as also a sort of Gray Partridges Beasts and others with black Feathers on their Breasts and Wings the remaining part Ash-coloured with the Bill and Feet much shorter than the Partridges here with us In the Lake of Goletta are Birds by the Moors call'd Louze and by the Turks Kalckavensi having Legs two Foot and a half long and all their Feathers Milk white THE DOMINION and CITY OF BYSERTA or BESERTA SOme take Byserta now a small Village for that Ituqua of Ptolomy or Utica of Caesar and Titus Livius famous by the Death of Cato who having in behalf of the Pompeyan Faction undertaken the Defence of this City when he could no longer hold it chose rather to lay violent hands on himself than fall into the Power of Caesar Marmol takes it for Porto Farnia which he says the people of Barbary call Garelmetha although some stick not to say that it hath been and is known by the Name of Mazacharus or Kallefort as being a Member of the French Garrisons in Africa However it is the Moors give it the Name of Bensart or Benserth that is Son of the Lake for Ben signifies Son and Serte A Lake from whence it is easily corrupted to Byserta It stands on the Mediterranean-Sea between Razamuza by the Antients call'd The Point of Apollo and The Mouth of the River Bagrada ten French miles from Tunis where there is a great Lake much frequented by Fishermen formerly containing within the Walls six thousand Families but now Garrison'd by the Turks who keep there two great Prisons for Slaves besides Store-Houses for Merchandise and two strong Fortifications or Sconces for the Security of the Haven Westward of the Lake lies a great Plain call'd Mater Plains of Water belonging to Byserta but bordering on Goletta Not far distant is Choros formerly call'd Clypea or rather according to Davity Kurobis because Clypea is the true Quippia and the modern Kalibbie seated on the River Magride about two miles from Tunis formerly in the Civil Wars of the Countrey laid waste but re-built and peopled by a sort of Alarbes call'd Benicheli intermixt with others so that at present it shews the face of a well-inhabited Town The Haven of Farine is famous onely by the fatal Wreck of St. The Haven of Farine Lewis King of France in his return back from the Holy Land and two great Rocks lying at its Mouth ¶ THis Countrey hath abundance of fresh Water in all Quarters The Constitution of the Countrey which afford great variety of Fish in the Lake are usually taken Dorads or Dolphins of five or six pound weight and from the end of October to the beginning of May great quantities of a Fish call'd by the Natives Elft by the Spaniards Jachas and by the Moors of Barbary Giarrafas The great Plain of Mater is a fat and marly Soyl which would yield a good Return to the painful Husbandman if he might reap the Profits free from the Incursions and Thieveries of the Arabs Choros also is not backward in a Fertile Return according to the quality of its Soyl which yields vast and lofty Groves of Olive-Trees for the great benefit of the Inhabitants ¶ THe People go almost naked Their Cloathing wearing onely a Barrakan or short Apron a half Turban a Cloth about their Necks but bare-footed and bare-legg'd ¶ THeir Food is a kind of Couscous made of Meal Their Food Eggs Salt and Water which they dry and can keep a whole year Their Bread is a sort of Cakes call'd Obs Baked on the Hearth and their Drink made of Raisins and Wine Lees boyl'd together The poorer sort have no Beds but sleep upon Mattresses of Sedge laid on the Ground The more noble have in their Chambers long and narrow Divisions higher than a Man made fast to the Walls with very fine Wicker-work which they climb up to by a Ladder when they go to sleep ¶ THe Houses and Churches are whited once a year on the out-sides Their Houses but the in-sides are slovenly enough In their Kitchins if so we may call them Fire is a stranger all their Victuals being drest and boyl'd in a sort of moveable Ovens They are much inclined to Sorcery wearing Papers Written with small Characters Sticht in Leather on their Necks and on the Heads of their Horses when they draw into the Field to Fight believing that they will free them from all Diseases and Mishap URBS and BEGGIE URbs and Beggie two several Territories comprehend these Cities Urbs Beggie Hain-Sammin and Kasba with some great Plains The City Urbs formerly Turridis The City Vrbs founded by the Romans on a delightful Plain eight and thirty miles on the South of Tunis shews yet many Remainders of Antiquity as Marble Images Borders upon the Gates with Latine Inscriptions and Walls of thick Square-hew'd Stone together with a Castle betwixt which and two adjacent Villages runs a River of fresh Water convey'd in a Trench of pure white Stone to the City Beggie also built by the Romans about six miles from the Mediterrane Beggie and twenty to the Westward of Tunis by a High-way leading from
Kingdom abounds in Rice Barley Cotton Cattel and Fish but their scarcity of Dates are supply'd them from Gualata and Numidia ¶ THe Inhabitants according to their manner go handsomely clad in black and blue Cotton of which they also wear Head-Shashes Their Clothing but their Priests and Doctors are habited onely in white Cotton ¶ THese People make great advantage of their Cotton-Clothes Their Trade which they barter with the Merchants of Barbary for Linnen Copper Arms Dates and other Commodities This Kingdom was formerly under the Luntiins a people of Lybia whose King was afterwards made Tributary to Soni-Ali King of Tombut his Successor Ischia obtaining a Signal Victory on a great Battel against the King of Guinee took him Prisoner and sent him to Gago where in miserable Captivity he died close Prisoner Thus the King of Tombut now grown Master of all Guinee reduc'd it into a Province setting his Lieutenant over them and then caus'd a great Market to be proclaim'd in the Metropolis of the whole Countrey THE KINGDOM OF MELLI THe Kingdom of Melli The Kingdom of Melli. likewise so nam'd from their prime Village the Residence of their King hath for its Northern Confines Gheneoa or Guinee Southward Desarts and barren Mountains in the East the Jurisdiction of Gago Westerly bounded with a mighty Forrest which runs sixty miles along the Banks of Niger to the Verges of the Ocean The Village Melli is very large The Village Melli. and contains above six thousand Families standing thirty days journey from Tombut The Countrey abounds in Corn Flesh and Cotton and hath a King but Tributary to those of Tombut ¶ HEre they are all Mahumetans Their Religion and have Mosques in which wanting Colledges they not onely perform their daily Devotions but in the Temples instruct their people and Disciples in their Laws and Doctrine These were the first Apostates from Christianity to Mahumetanism These People formerly were govern'd by a great Prince of Royal Extract descended from a Prince of Lybia Uncle to the King of Morocco the Renowned Josephus The Sovereignty continued in his Progeny until Uzchea King of Tombut Anno 1520. made the then King of Melli Tributary and so reduc'd all these Countreys under his Subjection THE MONARCHY OF TOMBUT OR TONGUBUT THe Kingdom of Tombat hath its Denomination from a City founded The Kingdom of Tombat as they say by King Mense Suleyman Anno 1221. about three miles from an Arm of Niger lying a hundred and eighty miles from the Countrey of Dara or Sugulmesse ¶ THis City gloried formerly in great Fabricks The City Tombat and sumptuous Buildings but now condemn'd to simple Huts and Hovels and onely boasting one stately Mosque and a magnificent Palace for the King built by a famous Architect of Granada Three miles from Tombut Kabra on the Banks of Niger stands another great Town call'd Kabra or Kambre being a convenient Port for the Merchants to travel from thence to the Kingdom of Melli in Guinea ¶ THis Countrey abounds with fresh-Water-Springs Corn Cattel The Disposition of the Countrey Milk and Butter but what savors all Salt is very scarce for a Camels Load goes often there at fourscore Ducats being brought over Land from Tegaza about a hundred miles distant from Tombut They use small Horses with which they ride up and down the City and the Merchants travel with them but their best Horses they have from Barbary whose numbers when they arrive are Registred which at any time is above twelve the King makes choice of the primest of them paying the Price they would go at ¶ THe Inhabitants especially those of the City Tombut The Manners of the Inhabitants are a People usually merry and of a chearful Disposition and spending most part of the Night in Singing Dancing and Revelling up and down through all the Streets They keep a great many Slaves both Men and Women Students which are highly esteem'd amongst them are there frequent and bred up at the Kings proper Charge Here are store of Arabick Books and Manuscripts brought from Barbary and not to be purchas'd but at a great Value Here are also many Tradesmen and Artificers especially Cotton-Weavers Their common Diet is a Dish made of Flesh Fish Butter and Milk hasht and stew'd together ¶ ALl the Women Their Clothing except the Slavesses go with their Heads and Faces cover'd They have no stamp'd Coyn but plain Pieces yet bigger and lesser all of pure Gold This King or Emperor of Tombut ruling vaste Dominions that yield him inexhaustible Treasure which he piles up in Bars or Billets of pure Gold some of them weighing if the report be true Thirteen hundred pound Weight ¶ MAny Merchants of Fez Their Trade Morocco and Gran-Cayre resort to Tombut for the Trade of Gold which was brought thither by the People of Mandinga in so great abundance that oftentimes the Merchants having disposed of all their Commodities which they barter with them for that Mettal it becomes a Drug and either left there till the next Return or else they carry it home again ¶ THis Countrey Their Government according to Marmol a Prince governs stil'd Emperor of Melli who dwelling in a magnificent Palace takes such state upon him that no Ambassadors or Envoys from Forreign Countreys making their Addresses are admitted to Audience but in posture of humble Suppliants kneeling with dejected Countenances throwing dust upon their heads In the City Kabra the King hath a Commissary who Hears Judges and Determines all Causes and Differences either concerning the Crown or other private Arbitrations betwixt the Subjects THE KINGDOM OF GAOGA THe Kingdom of Gaoga The Kingdom of Gagao or Goagao as Marmol calleth it lying by the unanimous consent of the chiefest Geographers in the same Elevation where Ptolomy placeth the Lake or Pool Chelidones bordering Westward on the Kingdom of Borno East on Nubia and South near the Nylean Desart which conterminates the North with the Wild of Seth. It passeth by the South of Egypt spreading from the West to the East a hundred and twenty five miles in length reckoning as much in breadth This Countrey abounds with Cattel and Goats but the People are in a manner savage and ignorant of all Civility and Literature nor under any form of Government especially the Mountaineers or Highlanders which go stark naked in the Summer onely retaining so much modesty that they wear a Lappet before them concealing their Privities They dwell in Huts or rather Arbors their whole defence against Sun Wind and Rain are Boughs of Trees set up and plac'd together Their chief Employment is onely in Cattel the whole Nation being onely Herdsmen yet they are a kinde of Christians after the Egyptian manner THE KINGDOM OF GUBER THe Kingdom of Guber inclos'd between very high Mountains The Kingdom of Guber is about seventy five miles Eastward from Gago with a barren Desart between them
Apartments are Hang'd after the European manner with Hangings of Mats made with exquisite curiosity within the innermost Fence are some Gardens plenteously stor'd with variety of Herbs and Planted with several sorts of Trees within these are some Banquetting-houses whose Building though mean and sleight yet they esteem rich and costly The City boasts ten or eleven Churches that is one great one Churcher being the chief of all then the Seven Lamps Church the Church of the Conception the Church of the Victory or Triumph a fifth dedicated to St. James a sixth to St. Anthony and a seventh to St. John the other three stand within the Court-Walls viz. the Church of the Holy Ghost of St. Michael and St. Joseph The Jesuits have here a Cloyster Cloyster where they Teach and Instruct every day the Blacks in the Christian Faith in an easie and winning method Here are also Schools Schools where Youths are brought up and taught the Latine and Portuguese Tongues All these Churches and other publick Erections except the Jesuits Cloyster have the Foundations of Stone but cover'd with Straw and very meanly provided with Utensils for celebrating Divine Offices There are also two Fountains one in St. James Street Fountains and the other within the Walls of the Court both yielding good and sweet Fountains of Water A small River or rather a Branch of Lelunde call'd Vese The River Vese affording very good and well tasted Water flows in the East at the Foot of the Mountain close by the City to the great benefit of the Inhabitants for from thence the Slaves both Men and Women fetch Water daily to serve the Town The adjacent Fields by this River are made very pleasant and fruitful and therefore the Citizens have all their Gardens upon its Banks What Cattel they have are Pastur'd and kept for the most part in the City as Hogs and Goats a few Sheep but no Cows which lie in the Nights closed in with Fences joyning to their Houses Rivers which water this Kingdom Rivers descending from North to South are first Rio de las Borrenas Roxas that is The River of red Sand another at whose Mouth lieth a Street call'd in Portuguese Bacas de las Almadias that is The Gulf of Canoos Here lie three Islands the greatest and middlemost of them inhabited and provided with a convenient Haven for small Barques but the other without People harbouring onely Beasts After these The River Zair Southwards you may see the great River of Zair which according to Pigafet derives its Head out of three Lakes the first by the same Pigafet and others entituled Zambre the second Zair and the third a great Lake from whence the Nyle is supposed to draw his Original as out of the second Rise out of which the Lelunde and Coanze run but Zambre is the principal Head that feeds the River Zair being set as it were in the middle Point of Africa and spreading it self with broad Streams into the North whither according to common Opinion it sends forth Nylus to the East the great River Cuama and Coavo to the South those of Zeila Manice or Manhessen and lastly to the West this of Zair which dividing it self into several Branches moisten and pinguifies the Western part of South Africa Congo Angola Monopotapo Matamam Bagamadiri Agasymba and so to the Cape of Good Hope whereas the Nyle Cuama Coavo Zeila Manice spread over the whole Abyssine Countreys and all others on the Sea-Coast from the Mouth of the Red-Sea to the River Cuama and therein the Kingdoms of Melinda Barnacassus Quilor Mombaza Mozimba Mombara Membaca Mozambico and other strange Lands The River of Zair breaks forth with an opening above three Leagues in breadth in the Elevation of five Degrees and forty Minutes and with so great force and abundance of Water runs into the Sea that the fresh Stream coming out West-North-west and North-east and by North makes an impression therein above twelve Leagues and when you are out of sight of Land yet the Water appears black and full of heaps of Reeds and other things like little floating Islands which the force of the Stream pouring from high Cliffs tears out of the Countrey and throws into the Ocean so that the Sea-men without a stiff Gale of Wind can hardly Sail through it to get into the Road within Padron on the South-side of the River This violent and precipitate descent carries the Stream against you fourteen or fifteen miles It sends forth on both sides many Branches or Rivers to the great convenience both of the Inhabitants and foreign Tradesmen who thereby in Boats and Canoos pass from one Town to another In the Towns seated on these out-stretched Arms dwell People small of Stature probably Pigmies The Islands Bomma and Quintalla lie in the Mouth of this River In Zair Le several Islands and others higher upwards exceeding full of People who rebelling against the King of Congo set up peculiar Lords of their own That of Bomma has Mynes of Iron The Island of Bommo and though boasting many Inhabitants yet shews few or no Houses because of the Morassness of the Countrey which for the most part lieth under Water so that the Blacks with Canos go from Tree to Tree among which they have raised some places made of Leaves and Boughs on which they reside and rest themselves without any Coverture These Islanders appear strong yet well set live very beastially The Manners of the Islanders are great Sorcerers speak ore tenus with the Devil in doing of which at first they come together all on a heap and afterwards one of them runs about with a Vizard on this continues three days which expir'd they use another Ceremony and then the Fiend speaks through the vizarded Man They live in peaceable Times by bartering in time of Wars they deal in nothing but Weapons Arrows Bowes and Assagays or Lances They have no Marriages or Betrothing Marriage but from their Youth up go one to another as their Affections or Lusts lead them commixing meerly like Beasts without any Solemnity for they know Laws of no Chastity but take as many Concubines as they please nevertheless the first being the eldest hath the command and supervising over all the rest In the Island Quuntalla is an Idol made of Money which none dare approach An Idol of Money in Quuntalla but the Servants or Minister appointed to attend and take care to secure the Way to it from being discover'd themselves being obliged as often as they go thither to take a peculiar Path that no other may find Many Kings and People sacrifice to this Idol especially in Sickness several of their most costly and highest priz'd Goods which none are permitted to make use of but by length of time decay and rot for as soon as they are dedicated the Attendant carries them into a great Plain where the Idol stands surrounded with a
from Makua Southwardly Fremone or Framone otherwise Maegoga in fifteen degrees and a half South-Latitude the usual Habitation of the European Christians and Jesuites The rest of the most remarkable places are Caxumo or Chaxumo or Accum perhaps the Auxum of Ptolomy or Axomites of Anian by some taken for the Courtly residence of the Queen of Sheba to whom Solomon as they say gave a visit in Egypt where are seventeen stately Pyramides and three famous Churches one of St. Michael one of Abba Likanos and one of Abba Pantaleon Northward of Caxuma lies the Lordship of Tarrete wherein stands two Cloysters one great one call'd Alleluja and the other Abbagarima famous for the abode of the Jesuites together with Angeba beautifi'd with a Royal Palace wherein none may have their abode but the King's Lieutenant Somewhat more Westerly appears the Kingdom of Dambea or Dembea The Kingdom of Dambea bordering in the West upon Goyan in the North upon Fungie and in the East on Bagameder Several Arms of the Nile cut it almost in the midst and in the very Center lies the great Lake Bar-dambea The head-City according to Jarrik hath the same name with the Kingdom yet others call it Zambia or Zamba where Prester-John keeps his Court from October to Easter Pigafet calls the principal City Belmachu and sets other Towns by the Shore of this Lake as Atsana Goga Fogora Anfras Ganetas Jesessus Old-Gorgora New-Gorgora and many others Bagameder or Begamedry a peculiar Kingdom according to Sanutus The Kingdom of Bagameder and Tellez though others would make it a part of Tigre or Tigremahon borders Eastwardly at Angote and from thence running South touches upon Amahara near the River Baxila that hastens there to contribute his Streams to the increase of the Nile The length from the City Sart the utmost limit of Tigre amounts to Sixty Portuguese miles and in breadth to near twenty Sanutus esteems Bagameder one of the greatest Dominions of Abyssine beginning it in the South by Goyame and so ending upon Amara Angote Tigre and Barnagas a Tract of a hundred and twenty Miles to the Island Moroe The head-Head-City Bagamedry Davity scituate on a delightful Plain at the River Suama by some call'd The Imperial City because the substitute King of Tigre after the receipt of the first Crown on the place where chosen takes the second there as the third out of the hands of the Emperor himself which Ceremony hath been used ever since Abibliakane or Dabba Likanos who liv'd in this City in a Cave with so great repute of sanctity that the King which then Raign'd would receive his Crown by the hands of this Saint and all the Kings of Tigre come there to receive the second Crown Southward of Damben The Kingdom of Goiam you arrive at Goiam or Goyame in eleven degrees North-Latitude being in length if Tellez and Sanutus miss not their reckoning fifty Portugal or six and thirty Dutch miles that is from one Shore of the Nile to the other For this famous River encompasses the same and thereby becomes a Fence to it against the Invasion of Enemies This Kingdom hath a mixture of Inhabitants but the Natives are the Agoa's in the North-West about the Nile and in the South-East the Gafates The Agoa's possess about forty eminent Towns besides Zalabaka Ambaxa or Ankassa Croia Cavera Angula Anchaka Sakahala and their chief City call'd Tavia The Jesuites have their abode as in Collella Surka Adase Tempa Tassala Fangala Duniel Tankon and Embeste In the last of which may be seen the remaining Ruines of several stately Churches built by a certain Abyssine Queen of Stone hewn like Roses On the North-side lie many Hills and Woods near which Sanutus reports some Jews have their abode Amara The Kingdom of Amara or Amaara or Amahara lying between the eleventh and twelfth degree of North-Latitude borders in the North at Bagameder and Angote in the East upon Dankali and in the South upon Oleka from which separated by the River Ruezar a branch of the Nile and in the West at Dambea Sanutus limits it in the North with a Lake on the borders of Angote in which lieth the Island St. Stephen with the Mountain Amara wherein the Princes the Heirs of the Crown are kept in the East with the Kingdom of Xaoa in the South with the Valleys and Baquen-Mountains and in the West by the places about and near the Nile It comprizeth saith Sanutus a great number of Towns Villages and Castles of which one more remarkable call'd Azzoll lying on a Hill between two Rivers two days journey from the Lake St. Stephen Narea The Kingdom of Narea by Godignus Nerea and by the Abyssines according to Davity Innari hath in the North-West Damut in the East Guraque and in the South Gingiro and contains three times as much ground as Bigameder Xaoa Xaoa divided into the upper and lower borders in the East at Oifet in the South at Ganz in the West at Gojam and in the North at Oleka Thus much of the Kingdoms at present possess'd by the Abyssmes The other taken from them by the Gala's and Turks are Dankali Angote Damut Dahali Ario Fatigar Zengero Rozanegus Roxa Zith Concho and Mataola After the Kingdom of Tigre follows that of Dankali The Kingdom of Dankali conterminated on the North and the East by the Red-Sea and the Countrey of Adel in the West Balgada in the South with Dobas and Angote Here are some eminent places the first Vella or rather Leila according to Davity a Haven at the Red-Sea lying in thirty degrees North-Latitude Corcora a fine place adorn'd with a Palace a stately Church with a great and rich Cloyster Afterwards you come to Manadely a populous Town containing about a thousand houses Formerly the King of Dankali by the report of Sanutus maintain'd a War with the Abyssines but became afterwards as Godignus and Jarrik relate his Tributary though since torn from them by the great Turk After Dankali follows Westward that of Angote Angote which Godignus borders in the East at Tigre in the North at the same by the River Sabalete and in the South at Amara The best places of this Kingdom are according to Sanutus Dofacso inrich'd with a thousand houses Corcora of Angote to distinguish it from Corcora Dankali The Countrey of Ambugana thirty days journey from Barna with a famous Church nam'd Imbra Christus besides others Damut or Damout borders in the North upon Bizami or Goiame The Kingdom of Damout in the South-West at Narea in the South at Guraque and in the East with Ganz and Xaoa This Kingdom the Abyssines saith Davity divided into two the one call'd Damout Dari and the other Damout Adari where stands The Dead-Mountain being the highest and coldest of all Ethiopia and therefore Prester-John sent such great ones thither as he desir'd to have out of the way because they quickly dy'd there of hunger and
able to Intitle You Emperor of the Vniverse Your Thundring Soverdigns already Commanding the Sea and Royal Standards by Land fixt in Possession in the four Regions thereof rather by Your Example at Home and Mediation abroad Reconcile those Ruffling Princes that delight in War setling them in Leagues of Amity for which so great a Blessing may they You being the best of Gods Vicegerents on Earth Crown also the King of Peace a second Augustus whose Piety and Prudence hath once more shut up the Temple of Janus binding in Perdurable Fetters Bloody and All-destroying War for ever Your Sacred Majesties Most humble Most obedient Servant and loyal Subject JOHN OGILBY THE PREFACE ENtering upon so great a Work being no small Concern in my Territory of Business I suppose it proper never Apologizing heretofore by way of Preface to give you a brief Review of all my former Endeavors so leading you on to this present Occasion Many years are past with various Revolutions since in the first Fluctuations of the late Grand Rebellion I being left at leisure from former Imployments belonging to the quiet of Peace wherein I was bred in stead of Arms to which in parties most began to buckle I betook my self to something of Literature in which till then altogether a Stranger And drawing towards the Evening of my Age I made a little Progress bending my self to softer Studies adapted to my Abilities and Inclinations Poesie And first Rallying my new rais'd Forces a small and inconsiderable parcel of Latin I undertook no less a Conquest than the Reducing into our Native Language the Great Master and Grand Improver of that Tongue Virgil the Prince of Roman Poets and though I fell much short in this my vain Enterprise yet such and so happy prov'd the Version and so fairly accepted that of me till then obscure Fame began to prattle and soon after I forsooth stood forth a new Author and so much cheer'd up with fresh Encouragements that from a Mean Octavo a Royal Folio Flourish'd Adorn'd with Sculpture and Illustrated with Annotations Triumphing with the affixt Emblazons Names and Titles of a hundred Patrons all bold Assertors in Vindication of the Work which what e're my Deserts being Publish'd with that Magnificence and Splendor appear'd a new and taking Beauty the fairest that till then the English Press ever boasted Yet this first Endeavour rais'd my Reputation no farther than to be accounted a Good Translator a Faithful Interpreter one that had dabled well in anothers Helicon but I greedy of more having tasted the sweetness of a little Fame would not thus sit down but ambitious to try my own Wing endeavor'd to Sore a little higher The most Antient and Wisest of the Grecian Sages who first led us through a Vocal Forest where Beasts also spake and Birds sat Chanting in every Tree Notes for Men to follow Aesop the Prince of Mythologists became my Quarry on his plain Song I Descanted on his short and pithy Sayings Paraphras'd raising my voice to such a height that I took my degree amongst the Minor Poets My next Expedition with Sails a Trip and swoln with the Breath of a general Applause was to discover Greece that there I might from Homers own hand the King of Pernassus receive plentifully at the Fountain-Head staining Draughts of the brisker Hypocreen in which I had a double Design not onely to bring over so Antient and Famous an Author but to inable my self the better to carry on an Epick Poem of my own Composure whose Iliads with much Cost and Labor at last finishing being Dedicated to His Sacred Majesty and Crown'd with His Gracious Acceptance I maintain'd my Post loosing no ground of former Reputation Soon after being order'd by the Commission of Triumphs to Banquet His Majesty at the Cities cost with a Poetick Entertainment Marching with His Train of Nobles through His Imperial Chamber to His Corronation at Westminster the Argument being great seeming almost impossible to set forth the Dear Affections and unexpressible Joys of all His Loyal Subjects especially of His Metropolis London at His so Happy Restauration and that the Glory of so Bright a Day the most Splendid that e're this Nation saw should not close with the Setting-Sun but appear a shining Trophy to Posterity I at my own proper Cost and Pains brought it to light once more in a Royal Folio containing the whole Solemnity the Triumphal Arches and Cavalcade delineated in Sculpture the Speeches and Impresses Illustrated from Antiquity and Dedicated to His Majesty of which some and but a few escaping the late Conflagration remain'd But whilst I busied my self thus neither sparing Cost nor Pains to dress and set forth my own Volumns with all the Splendor and Ostentation that could be I thought it also Religious and the part of a good Christian to do something for Gods sake to adorn in like manner with Ornamental Accomplishments the Holy Bible which by my own sole Conduct proper Cost and Charges at last appear'd the largest and fairest Edition that was ever yet set forth in any Vulgar Tongue Next in order to the compleating of Homer I fell upon his Odisses which Dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Ormond then His Majesties Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to whom in that Kingdom in the late miserable Distractions I was a Servant he kindly accepting thereof Then being restless though weary of tedious Versions and such long Journeys in Translating Greek and Latin Poets Works asking no less than a Mans whole life to accomplish I the better to feed my Fancy with variety of Objects a second time betook my self to Aesop where I found such Success that soon I seem'd to tread Air and walk alone becoming also a Mythologist not onely Paraphrasing but a Designer of my own Fables and at last screw'd my self up to a greater height finishing two Heroick Poems viz. The Ephesian Matron and The Roman Slave which Volumn a most Worthy and Illustrious Person the Earl of Ossery vouchsafed to Patronize and although a Second Part met with a Fate not common to be esteem'd equal with the former Thus elevated by the Success of these my last heightned Essays I thought it time to go on having fitted Materials both Historick and Poetick with my long intended Edifice my own great Fabrick an Epick Poem already divided into twelve Books some almost finish'd call'd CAROLIES from our Miracle of Hero's Charles the First being the best Pattern of true Prudence Valor and Christian Piety of whom though too late and too unworthy to be affix'd to his Herse out of the abundance of my Zeal and Loyalty to so matchless a Worthy I hope there may be indulgence for the placing these Lines which may remain to Posterity in the Portal of this Great Work Mirror of Princes Charles the Royal Martyr Who for Religion and His Subjects Charter Spent the best Blood Injustice Sword e're dy'd Since the rude Souldier Pierc'd our Saviours side Whose Sufferance Patience
Shores just the contrary yet both scituated alike under the Torrid Zone in which Season happen great Floods both from the Ocean and sudden Falls from the Mount Gatis not far distant The like is found also at Cape Rosalgate and Guardafuy the utmost Eastern Point of Africa ¶ BUt to make a deeper and more exact Disquisition is that all Arabia towards the East of Africa lies enclosed with Mountains whose Rocky Battlements appear above the Clouds their swoln Ridges extending themselves in a long continued Wall reach from the bottom of the Arabian Gulf to the Islands of Curiamurie these towery Hills of so prodigious height not onely put to a stand all Windes and Rain but turn them in their hurrying Eddyes so dispersing every way as well as in the two out-stretching Capes of Mosamde and Rosalgate though they lye much lower than the rest of the Sea Coast On these Rocky Ascents appearing to Sea-ward rough and rugged the poor Arabians in a very sad condition make their residence These people have Winter with those of Coromandell for their remoter Suns brings them Cold and Wet but those who dwell on the other side of the Mountains towards the Coast of Frankincense have the same seasons with those of Malabar so these Mountains work the like effect on the Arabians as Gatis on the Indians their Winter falling in June July and September both in the Land of Frankincense Arabia Felix and the whole Coasts of the Curiamurian Isles unto the Lake Babalmandab Near the Arabian Gulf in Ethiopia you will meet there also the like alterations and the same seasons of the year as at Guardafuy and the Kingdom of Adell and all along the Ethiopick Coasts to the Mouth of Babalmandab as we have or those of Coromandell finding in December and January their hardest weather Then they which live betwixt twenty and thirty miles off the Coast have their Colds more milde and their Rains so temperate and harmless they seem rather a comfort than a disturbance Nature conferring on them such refreshing Coolness but if you venture farther up into the Countrey then the Scene changing you are tormented with excessive Heat for at the same instant while Winter smiles on the Shore it rages farther up and their gentle Rains below so unequal to their deluging Showres above that then there is no travelling any way all Passages being obstructed with Floods so sudden and violent that many perish there with extream Cold meerly from the raw Defluxes of chilling waters such alterations the Mountain Dabyri Bizan causes The Portugees and Hollander have also discovered many more such places in Congo and Angola where their Winter and violent Rains commence in the Vernal Equinox and continue March April and May their milder showres in the Autumnal September and October so that in some places they have two Seasons their former and later Rain for those steep Mountains whence Zaire Coansa Bengo and other great Rivers descend obstruct the course of the Air and the Land-windes being hot and dry but the South-west winde coming from Sea brings Rain hence it is manifest that Africa under the Torrid Zone is for the most part Habitable ¶ AMongst the Ancients Ancient Discoveries of it Hanno a Carthaginian set forth by that State discovered long since much of the Coasts of Africa but pierced not far the Inland Countrey nor did his Voyage give any great light that they might after steer by though translated from the Punick Language into Greek and published by Sigismund Gelenius at Bazill in 1533. and in the Reign of Necho King of Egypt some Phenicians from the Red-sea sayl'd by the Coast of Africa to Gibraltar from thence returning the same way they came Of which * Herodotus wrote nine Books of History according to the number of the Muses entituling them in order by one of their Names Herodotus in his †Fourth Book Melpomene says The Phenicians sayling from the Red-sea came into the Southern Ocean and after three years reaching Hercules Pillars return'd through the Mediterranean reporting wonders how that they had the Sun at Noon on their Starboard or North-side to which I give little Credit and others may believe as they please Nor did Sataspes Voyage in the Reign of Xerxes King of Persia in the year of the world 3435. give us any better Hints of which thus Herodotus in the same Book Sataspes Teaspes son ravishing a Virgin and Condemned to be Crucified by the Mediation of his Mother Darius Sister was to suffer no more than to undertake a Voyage round Africa which he but sleightly perform'd for passing Gibraltar he sayl'd to the utmost Point called Siloe * Perhaps Bon Speranza or Cape de Verd. from thence sayling on Southward but being weary returning the same way he came made a strange Relation to Xerxes how he had seen remote Countreys where he found few People in Tyrian Purple but such as when they drew near Land forsook their Abodes and fled up into the Mountains and that they onely drove some of their Cattel thence doing them no further Damage Adding also that he had sayl'd round Africa had it not been impossible To which the King giving small credit and for that Sataspes had not perform'd his Undertakings remitted him to his former Sentence of Crucifying ¶ AS little avail'd that Expedition of the * A People inhabiting Tunis Nasamones to this Discovery who as Herodotus relates in his †Second Book Euterpe chose by lot five young men of good Fortunes and Qualifications to explore the African Desarts never yet penetrated to inform themselves of their Vastness and what might be beyond These setting forth with fit Provision came first where onely wilde Beasts inhabited thence travelling west-ward through barren Lands after many days they saw a Plain planted with Trees to which drawing near they tasted their Fruit whilest a Dwarf-like People came to them about half their stature neither by speech understanding the other they led them by the hand over a vast Common to their City where all the Inhabitants were Blacks and of the same size by this City ran towards the East a great River abounding with Crocodiles which Etearchus King of the Ammonians to whom the Nasamones related this supposed to be the Nile This is all we have of Antiquity and from one single Author who writ 420 years before the Incarnation which sufficiently sets forth the Ignorance of the Ancients concerning Africa ¶ BUt what they knew not and thought almost impossible to be known is common for the secrets of the Deep and remotest Shores are now beaten and tracted with continual Voyages as well known Roads are since Vasques de Gamma a Portugees Anno 1497. first opened the Discovery and finish'd to the no small Honor of the Nation his intended Design for that People having got ground upon the Spaniard widening the bredth of their commodious Sea-coasts first fell on the Moors in Africa taking several of their best
Measles and Small Pox as in asswaging Malignant Feavers and tough Distempers of Agues In Nubia and the Kingdom of the Abyssines Zorafes or Giraffes is a Beast called Zorafes or Giraffes as big as a two-years old Heifer having a Neck like the Glave of a Javelin or Half-Pike and a head resembling a Gazell with Legs short behind and long before hair'd and brindled like an Ox the Ears like a Hart and Breast smooth and shining which the Africans say is generated of two Species he wanders solitarily through the Woods flying from men and not to be taken but young ¶ HAving treated thus far of Beasts We shall now briefly present you with some Plants and Vegetables referring their full discourse to the places where naturally produced Though Africa be in some places very fertile yet a great part of the Country lyes waste and unmanured full of Barren Sands or abounding with Serpents in such manner that the Peasant dare not Till the ground unless Booted but the manured parts afford a rich crop to the industrious Husbandman yeilding oftentimes an hundred fold encrease The chief Grain of Africa is Wheat Rye Barley Rice and Maiz and besides the Trees growing there that are in common with Europe are divers others not found amongst us such are the Cassia Egyptian Fig-tree the Inhabitants term it Guimeiz the Date Cotton Coco and Balsam-tree Sugar-Canes and the like Productions with which they drive a great Trade with us in Europe Among others in the Wildernesses of Lybia Ettalche a Tree Biledulgerid and Negro-land grows the Tree call'd Ettalch guarded round with Prickles having leaves like the Juniper shrub from under the Bark issues a Gum whose body and smell resembles Mastich which the Merchants often cheat with by adulterating so selling it for Mastich Of the Tree Argan or Erguen Argan an Oyl is made by the Inhabitants whereof more at large in the Description of Hea a Province of Marocco In the Countrey of Lyme Aud-Altassavijt is found the Aud-Altassavijt which is tough like Hemp and will not break with hachelling but yields at every blow a pleasing sound Other parts of Africa afford no small number of Herbs and Plants all which we shall set forth in their due place especially in the Description of Egypt There is also the Root by the Inhabitants call'd Terfez Terfez A Root but Kamha by the Physitians resembling an Earth or Ar-Nut but bigger and very sweet gather'd by the Arabians in the Desarts of Biledulgerid pleasing their palates like confected Fruits Another Root yeilding a very sweet and pleasing scent is found on the Western parts on the Sea-shore which the Merchants of Barbary carry to sell among the Negroes who use it as a Perfume onely by sprinkling it about the house An African * A Mudde is three Bushels English or thereabouts Mudde which in Mauritania is sold for half a Ducket which the Merchants vend again among the Negroes for eighty or a hundred Duckets and sometimes dearer There is another Root call'd Addad not unknown to the African Women Addad whose acid Leaves and Root are of so poysonous a faculty that a little of their water distilled gives a quick dispatch by sudden death to their Husbands or any other that they are weary of On the West-side of Mount Atlas is the Root Surnag Surnag having a special vertue to incite Venus The Inhabitants report that it will devirginat Maids couching to Urine on the Leaves and after will much dis-affect them with Tympanied infirmities There is also Euphorbium whereof more at large in Barbary ¶ HEre are two sorts of Pitch the one natural or Stone Pitch Pitch The other Artificial and thus made They erect a great Oven with a hole at the bottom in which they put the Branches of Pine or Juniper chop 't in peices then the Ovens mouth close stop'd a fire is made underneath by the heat whereof the Pitch is extracted out of the wood running through the bottom of the Oven into a hole underneath it in the Earth whence they take it out and put it into Bladders or Leathern Bags All the Salt in the most part of Africa as Leo saith is dig'd out of Salt-pits Salt being white red and gray Barbary 't is true hath plenty of Salt Biledulgerid is reasonably well stored but in Negro-land and the innermost Parts of Ethiopia a pound of Salt is sold for half a Ducket They use no Salt-cellar nor set it on the Table but each having a piece in his hand lick it at every Morsel In a Lake in Barbary near the City of Fez all the Summer is found a well-concocted and coagulated Salt but such as border on the Sea make Snow-white Salt of Sea-water Atlas on that side where Biledulgerid borders on the Kingdom of Fez Antimony produces great quantity of Antimony and sundry other have veins of Sulphur Mines of Gold and Silver but above all the rich Mines of Gold and Silver those especially in Negro-land Guinee and Ethiopia deserve admiration ¶ MArmol relates from Aben-Gezar Marmol Los Hechizos that certain Stones are found in the Land of Lyme call'd by the Spaniards Los Hechizos and by the Arabians Hajar Acht which have divers signatures representing several parts of a Man as a Hand and Foot Face Head and Breast many like the Heart but some the whole compleat Figure of a Man in just proportions The most perfect of these Stones they assuredly believe to have an occult and wonderful faculty irritated by the help of Spels and Sorcery to introduce and bring the Bearer thereof into the favour of Princes In the steep Mountains Alard and Quen between Nubia and Zinchamque The Stone Beth. a Stone is found call'd Beth which as they say will make those Speechless that long gaze upon it ¶ AFrica also brings forth Eagles differing in size colour and properties Eagles whose greatest the Arabs call Neser and bigger than a Crane having a very short Beak Neck and Legs yet mounts exceeding high till for want of Feathers he betakes himself to his Nest where the Eaglets feed him Divers parts of this Countrey Parrots especially Guinee and Ethiopia yield Parrots of several sorts and colours Whereof more at large when we come to those parts The Mountains of the upper Ethiopia Griffons Marmol specially that of Beth as Marmol says shew Griffons which the Arabians enstile Ifrit Great store of strange Creatures Hippo-potamus and other Amphibious creatures some Amphibii as the Hippo-potamus or Sea-Horse the Sea-Cow the Crocodile Tortoises Ambare and others of the same nature using both Water and Land are found in the Lybian wildes and Sea-coasts of Africa Serpents Serpents c. Venomous Creatures Reptiles and strange Insects are produced in the Wilderness of Biledulgerid Negro-land and upper Ethiopia ¶ HItherto we have lightly touch't several things as first that Africa is for the most part
the African speech very much different from the other and mixt with many Arabian words Africanus says the five white People of Africa use this Speech which he calls Aquel Marik that is a noble Speech This last is divided into three several Dialects the Tamazegtans using one the Xilhans another and the Zenetans a third each varying from other onely in some words and holding affinity with the Arabick The Gumerians and Haoranians who live on the lesser Atlas and all the Inhabitants of the Cities on the Coast of Barbary between the greater Atlas and the Midland-Sea use the Morisk Tongue But in the City of Marocco and all its Provinces the Numidians Getulians and Western part of Africa speak the antient African known by the two old names of Xilha and Tamazegt Others residing Eastward bordering Tunis and extending beyond Tripoly to the Desarts of Barka speak a broken Arabick Such as live in Dovars or in houses mingle the Zenetan Tongue with corrupt Arabick so that few people in Africa speak pure and true Arabick Sealig ad Cansabon lib. 1. Epist 72. but use generally in their writings the Abimalik Tongue some have observed that in the Cities on the Coasts of Barbary the Citizens speak Arabick but base and corrupt The Peasants use the African Tongue But the common Edicts Commands Lawes and Contracts yea and their very Proverbs are written in pure Arabick The Azengians and other Mahumetans mingle their speech with Arabick and Barbary words The mixture of the African Speeches or Dialects the speech of Gelofe Geneba Tombuto Meli Gago and Galata they call Zungay that of Guber Cano Queseve Perzegreg and Guangray Guber which the people of Borno and Gouga imitate whereas in the Kingdom of Nubia they have a Dialect different from all the former these Countreys lye upon the River Niger In the more Southern the Languages are as various and differing the principal are Zinch and Habex which last the Abyssines use In some of these parts the people are so sullen and brutishly inclined that they will neither speak be sociable nor appear to any and in case one of them be taken he will rather starve to death than open his mouth and speak Eminent Arabian Historiographers affirm that when the Government of Barbary the choicest part of Africk became subject to the Mahumetans the African and Roman Letters were the same and were used commonly in Writing so that all their * The Arrian Hereticks that fled out of Italy from the Gothes and setled here Arrian Histories are Translated out of Latine and abridged with the Names of Princes and Commanders according to the Reigns of the Persian Assyrian Chaldean Israelitish and Roman Kings But the Schismatical Caliphs who conquered Africa raging with malice destroyed all those Books of Histories and Sciences permitting no other to be read than those of their own Sect. And the beforementioned Writer Ibnu Alraquiq sets forth that the Romans after their Conquest destroy'd all the ancient Records and African Books The Romans utterly obliterated all Punick Records Books and Histories introducing in place thereof their own name which in small time so prevail'd with a shining lustre that their honour and glory alone remain'd and the African Letters so totally blotted out that without any glimmering thereof they now write all in Arabick ¶ JOhn Leo saith Africans skill'd in Astronomy c. that the Africans are well skill'd in Astronomy and other Sciences and that they have some skill in Architecture and Husbandry which knowledge they first learn't out of Latine-writers as appears not onely in that they order their Moneths by Ides and Calends as the Latines but that they have likewise a great Book in three Volumes Entituled The Treasury of Husbandry which in the time of Mansor Lord of Granado was translated out of Latine into Arabick wherein are contained the rules of Tillage and Husbandry the alteration of the Seasons manner of Sowing with many the like singularities Insomuch that in former times these parts produced divers ingenious and great Wits Hath produced many famous and Learned men such as the Comedian Terence and some Fathers and Doctors of the Christian Church And others whose valour was not inferiour to the greatest who by an incredible courage maintain'd their liberty against the most magnanimous of the Romans although the present Inhabitants by a sad change are so degenerated from that glory of their Ancestors that they are esteemed the absurdest and most despicable Clowns in the Universe The African and Arabian Mahumetans reckon by the Moon allowing to the year but three hundred fifty four days every year shorter by eleven days than our European Account giving six moneths thirty days and to the other six twenty nine ¶ AS Africa is thus blest with the extraordinary production of Cattel and Corn Mines of Gold and Silver so the infertility of the Desarts is in many places recompenc'd by rich Mines of Gold and Silver Guinee Sofale Gago Nubia and divers other contain such Mines of Gold as Angola Monomotapa and other Kingdoms produce excellent Silver not without some Gold the Kingdom of Neguz is rich in many sorts of Merchandise the Coasts of Barbary inhabited by the Turks yields Corral which they dive for growing upon Rocks under water and Tombuto affords the finest Gold and other precious Rarities so that Africa is not to be esteemed the least or meanest part of the World If the Valor of the Inhabitants did but equal their number Their Valour the united Forces of the rest of the World could little prejudice them so numerous are the Armies alone of the King of Marocco and Fez besides those of the Arabians the bands of the Turks in the Kingdoms of Tunis Algiers Tripoly and Egypt the usual Army of the King of Neguz and the incredible numbers of the King of Angola seeming sufficient to make Africa invincible if they were hardy and couragious and trained up to the use of Arms. It remains then that we touch thereupon and their manner of making war The Arabians of Marocco and Fez use Lances or Sagayes Shields Their manner of War-fare Brest-plates and Helmets Their Swords generally they have from Europe and are much esteemed by them for the hardness of their Steel and excellent temper They are according to their manner of Riding most expert Horsemen casting their Javelins whereof some carry six or seven very swiftly one after another and aiming exactly at great distance All manner of Fire-Arms whether for Horse or Foot or Field-Carriages Cannon great or small wanting experience hitherto they are not skilful in They ride with tuck'd up Stirrops that their heels almost kiss the Skirts of their Saddles and in Fight cast off suddenly their loose upper Garment or Mandilion to ease their Horses and make themselves free and loose for the Battel Those that inhabit Westward near Tremesen and the Wildernesses of Barka carry sharp long-pointed iron Javelins which
great that people should loose their hearing by it Though 't is true the Waters rush downwards two hundred foot roaring like the Breaches of the Sea in a Tempest from hence then sliding in a gentle Current over the Plains of Egypt to Cairo where the Haven of Bulach towards Villamont carryes in bredth two mile then leaving Cairo behinde him he parts into two and after into more Branches The Inhabitants for distinction sake have call'd the Tract of Land Eastward Garbiah and the places Southward near the Angle or Point of Damiata Chargnia These Branches or Arms make the several Mouthes of Nile which the Antients have especially noted to be seven But Ptolomy sets down nine which two are missing and Pliny encreases them to eleven whereof four are wanting The names of the supposed seven remaining are these The Heraclean call'd also Canopean and Naucratian The Bolbitian Sebennitian Pathmetian by Strabo nam'd Fatnian and by * In his Euterpe Herodotus Bucolian The Mendesian Tanitian and Pelusian The two wanted are Dialcos and Pineptimi But if we take the †What ever was or is their number antient or modern Maps vary among themselves for whereas Ptolomy hath set forth nine Hondius in his Map of Africa makes but eight and in that of Europe ten Ortelius in the Map of the Turkish Empire setteth down eight in that of Egypt eleven And Maginus in his Map of that Countrey hath observ'd the same number And if we enquire farther we shal find the same diversity and discord in divers others Thus we may perceive that this Account hath been always different concerning these Ostiaries of Nile Nilus as he is at present we shall finde nine Mouthes great and small the chiefest and most remarkable being the Canopean now stiled Rosetta from its neighborhood The Pelusian by some taken for the Ostiary were Damiata but seemeth rather the Tanitian from its near adjacency to Tenez The Bolbitian known by very few The Sebennitian now beareth the Name of Sturioni The Pathmetian retains the old Name The Mendetian and Damiatian by some are supposed the same though others call it Migri The Tanitian at this day known to some by the name of Kalixen and to others of Tenez or Tanez Pineptimi is taken for that which in the Maps in nam'd Brule Lastly Diolcos that is wanting Sanutius stiles Damanora Modern Geographers much abate this number Peter de la Valle his Journal Maginus Guil. Tyrius Bellonius attesting there are but three or four to wit The Rosettian and Damiatian and two other little Rivulets running between these but poor in waters We come now to the Description of the Countrey wherein for Methods sake we will begin with the Cities ¶ EGypt as we declared before is at present by the Turks divided into three Parts Description of the Westerly parts of Egypt We will take our view from the Westerly call'd Erriff extending to the Point of the Sea by Barca a Countrey belonging to Barbary and reaching from thence to Rosetta containing all the places between the two Arms of Nilus from Alexandria and Rosetta to Cairo First To the West of Barca lyes a City by the Antients call'd * A â—ort or Castle of the Arabians Plinthina and now by the Italians The Arabian Tower near adjoyning to which is the Sea Monester Busiris or Bosiri Next to the old City Busiris now term'd Bosiri on the Coast of the Mid-land Sea about twenty miles westward of Alexandria heretofore by the Christians subdu'd and totally destroy'd This Busiris whence the Busirian Precinct formerly takes its name is call'd in the Bible by Ezekiel * Cap. 30. In our English Translation it is rendred Pathros Phatures Some will have this City so call'd from the feigned †Syntagm Chorograph Aegypti Busiris who sacrificed all his Guests to Jupiter and was the most cruel Tyrant of all Egypt Others draw its Denomination from * There is in this Countrey a Pillar with this Inscription Mihi Pater est Saturnus Deorum junior sum vero Osyris Rex qui totum peragravi orbem usque ad Indiorum fines ad cos quoque sum profectus qui septentrioni subjacent usque ad Istri fontes alias partes usque ad Oceanum Dr. Brown c. Nowaccording to the best Determinations Osyris was Mizraim and Saturnus Egyptus the same with Cham after whose name Egypt is not only called in Scripture the Land of Ham but testified by Plutarch who in his Treatise De Osyride says Egypt was called Chamia a Chamo Noe filio Osyris the Egyptian Jupiter or Hercules and the Arabians from Busir the son of Cham. Kircher says it is so nam'd from the Egyptian Idol Apis signifying in their Tongue An Ox into which shape as Diodorus reports he was transformed and then the Name in the Old Egyptian Language must be Busosirin that is The Kings Ox. The Grecians confound this City with Thebes although they be distant the whole length of Egypt From the Name Busiris it may be supposed the Inhabitants worshipp'd an Ox Osiris as they hold first shewing himself in such a similitude But the truth is he was a man as they say though much controverted and a great Enricher of that Nation upon this their idolizing of an Ox and scituation of the City so near to Memphis or Cairo as also to †Called also Ez. 30.17 Aven Heliopolis which was Rameses the constant place of residence to the Israelites whence might perhaps the worship of the Golden Calf in the Wilderness take its original Not far from Bosiri lyeth Alexandria Alexandria so call'd from Alexander the Great who built it about three hundred years before the Birth of Christ chiefly employing therein the famous Architect Dinocrates Some say it was antiently call'd Noy It s several Names The Hebrews knew it by the Name of No-Ammon The Romans of Pharos Sebastia Augusta Julia Claudia Domitiana and Alexandria The Egyptians formerly styled it Racotis and say it was built by one Dalucka an Egyptian Queen after the drowning of Pharaoh in the Red-Sea The European Christians call it to this day Alexandria but the Turks Scanderoon which is the same with Alexandria De Stadt ALEXANDRIE of SCANDERIK The City AS EXANDRIA or SCANDERIX The City lyeth on the edge of the Mid-land Sea on a Sandy ground It s Scituation near the Canobian Mountains of the Nile Lee Africanus mistaken though Leo Africanus placeth it forty Miles to the Westward of Nile in regard near Cairo it begins to divide it self in two Arms and so in strictness looseth its name as he supposeth and about seven or eight hundred paces from the Haven which is very spacious for Ships but dangerous because of the two great Promontories of Rocks standing on either side in the entrance call'd by the French Diamant and Girofele but generally known by the names of the Tower Port and the Chain'd Port The former very
dangerous the later more secure than convenient The City appears in the form of an * The form of the City like a Market-Cross oblong Cross and divided into the old and new Town which being three Miles in length incloseth two or three sandy Hills but Villamont makes the City four-square and saith that it is encompass'd with two old Walls of a large circuit The Walls after so many terrible shocks What manner of Walls it hath in part remain standing which Alexander himself rais'd strengthened with very many Turrets and beautified with ranks of stately Pillars The inserted Draught representing the antient state of the City to the life onely mentions one hundred and eighteen each of which is four Stories high and built more for ornament than strength yet some of them still spacious enough to receive some hundreds of Souldiers to quarter in In the Walls of the old City were four principal Gates The Gates of the City all fortified with strong Iron Bars One on the East side call'd Cairo-gate The second to the West leading towards the Wilderness of Barca The third named the Popes Gate on the South-side leads out to the great Sea of Elbucharia or Bouchaira The Sea Elbucharia formerly Mareotis and about half a Mile from the City shadowed round with Palm Trees in this Sea which is of a large extent lye several small Islands to which the Inhabitants for fear of the Enemy sometimes fly for shelter some name this Sea abounding with various kinds of Fish yielding a great yearly Revenue Antaca from another City near it The fourth is the Sea-gate opening to the Sea-side The new City appears somewhat pleasanter The New City having on its left side the Old Haven now Porto Vecchio and for its defence hath one Castle belonging to the old Town which though not of so good use because of the cumbersome passage into it yet affords a convenient Rode and Haven for the Turks Galleys and other small Vessels And if it were not for the Neighboring Sea it would without doubt be quite void of Inhabitants because of the bad Air And as it is the Buildings are mean and few inhabited by Jews Turks Moors Copties and Greeks who reside there onely for Merchandize little else inviting them thither This City hath been several times besieg'd and as often ruin'd The City often Ruin'd and Rebuilt but never so fatally as in the year 1624. when the Pyrats of Barbary who in great Multitudes ranged over the Mid-land Sea seizing and enslaving all persons without difference of Nations Sex or Religions lay'd it almost utterly waste falling on like Wolves whose implacable rage was never satisfy'd till 't was lay'd in ashes so that nothing could be seen but Walls decay'd and Streets buried under the rubbish of their demolish'd Buildings since which time 't was begun to be Re-built but so tediously that in the year after its Destruction there were onely four small Huts erected however not long after they proceeded with such vigor and diligence Turks encourage its Building that many new Fabricks were rais'd and by the Turks encouragement at length became a stately City And indeed the Turks endeavor to raise this place to the former lustre by continual additions of new Edifices but they take so little notice of the old that they let them fall down for want of repair which makes several Houses Churches and other Buildings there seem half destroy'd by their heaps of rubbish testifying their antient greatness and glory Agathias opinion refuted contrary to the opinion of Agathias who says that in his time the Buildings of Alexandria were neither firm nor large The Houses are not ridged with Gable ends Houses but flat like those of the East-Countrey for several conveniencies especially the pleasure of walking for the Inhabitants after Meals take great delight to expatiate there or take repose both Winter and Summer They all seem to be founded on great Arches and Marble Pillars with Vaults and Sluices underneath to receive the Nile water when it overflows which Flood-gates are so many and great that the whole City seems to stand on Arches and Pillars for a branch of the River from between Cairo and Rosetta runs thither through certain Drains or Common-Sewers under the City Walls to fill the Brooks This water when the muddy slime is sunk to the bottom becomes clear and is used by many Eminent Citizens and Gentlemen upon all occasions But that which is muddy and dirty the common people use and are content with because in all the City there is no publick Spring or Well to repair to There are three small Hills Three Hills resembling that named Testacio at Rome and where many Earthen Vessels Urnes Pots and old Medals are found Heretofore near the old Palace of Alexander were two * Two Obelisks Both these were erected by the Egyptian King Sothis about 1058. years after the Flood Dr. Brown Obelisks each an hundred foot high and eight broad of one entire Stone of Thebane Marble intermix'd and speckled with Veins of two other Colours One of these remains yet entire but sunk deep into the earth yet seems to exceed that of St. Peters at Rome but the other is quite ruin'd Upon a small Hillock about two hundred paces from the City surrounded with Palm Trees and from whence is a prospect both of the Buchairan Lake and Mid-land Sea * Perhaps from its being hem'd in with Palms stands Pompey's Pillar by the Arabians call'd Hemadussenar that is The Trees-Pillar though hewen out of one entire rough Stone the same with that of the Pyramids and of so exceeding height and thickness that to this day no Artificer could ever be found that would undertake to remove it thence to any other place The height and bigness of Pompey's Pillar It is a hundred and five and twenty foot high the Pedestal fifteen foot in compass remaining yet firm and whole why it is so call'd we can with no certainty affirm unless it were erected for a Remembrance of the Magnificence of * It is said to have been reared by Caesar as a Memorial of his Pompeyan victory Mr. Sandy's in his Travels Caesar or Pompey It is Fabled that a certain Egyptian King set it there to defend the City against Naval incursions having placed a Magical Burning-glass on the top that being uncover'd had power to set fire on all Ships sailing by In the Suburbs is a place where 't is reported St. Athanasius hid himself to escape the Arrian persecution Here also between three Columns of Porphiry is shewn the place where 't is said St. Catharine was Beheaded to whose Memory the Christians formerly erected a Church now by the Turks converted to a Mosque In the adjoyning Street is a Cross on the spot where they say the Evangelist St. Mark suffer'd Martyrdom to whose honour St. Mark 's Church the Patriarchal See a Church was built formerly
the Patriarchall See but now held by the Egyptian Christians within it lay the Body of St. Mark St. John Baptist's Stone whence the Venetians secretly removed it to Venice There they say also is the Stone upon which at Herod's command St. John Baptist's Head was chop 't off near which no Turk or Infidel can sit but with great pain and torment Besides these Christian Churches the Mahumetans have several stately Mosques Somewhat distant from the City where now scituated are great heaps of rubbish through whose very disorder appear marks of Antike Grandeur Cleopatra's Building Many secret doors and passages may yet be seen whence not without some shew of truth they are concluded to have been the Palace of Cleopatra And Strabo says that the Royal House of Alexander with the City prospect on the left hand stood in the entrance of the great Haven Formerly Alexandria was the most populous and stately City The Excellency of Alexandria heretofore not onely of Egypt but of all Africa so priding it self in Magnificent Buildings as well Private as Publike that no City but Rome onely could compare with it Christianity even in the Primitive times did here flourish in such a glorious manner that the antient Fathers of the Church call'd it Paradise When the Emperor Augustus after his Victory over Mark Anthony Angustus spared this City and why entred into it he commanded not to spoil it for the memory sake of Alexander the Founder whose reliques he viewed with a serious countenance then in respect to the beauty of the City and lastly for love of the Philosopher Arrius chief Reader in the University there and in high favor with the Emperor for this indeed was in those days the Pernassus of the Muses Serapeum and Iseum two Universities or Colledges rather here were the Schools of Arts and Sciences the beautiful Colledges Serapeum and Iseum so call'd from the Goddesses Serapis and Isis wherein all the youth who for their Learning aim'd either at the Priesthood or other City-employments were educated The Serapeum far exceeded the other in Beauty having an exquisitely curious Portico more than a Mile in length whereto adjoyn'd a Court of Justice and a Grove In this the followers of Aristotles Doctrines had a peculiar School whereof the Alexandrians as Eusebius and Nicephorus write would needs impose the charge on Bishop Anatolius for his extraordinary knowledge in all Arts Lastly St. Mark the Evangelist was here the first Divinity-Professor whose Successor erected a School for Theology wherein for the advancement of Christian Religion several of the most Learned men were appointed Readers who Scholastically handled the main and fundamental Points only Among whom the famous Panthenus who flourish'd about the year of Christ one hundred eighty one and other most excellent Pastors of the Church were of great remark Here also St. Jerome St. Basil St. Gregory and others were brought up and Philo Judaeus became eminent for in this Academy the Jews had a flourishing and populous Synagogue But what hath much enhansed the glory thereof The Library of Alexandria so famous among antient Writers described was that most wonderful Library of Ptolomy Philadephus Son of Ptolomeus Lagus the second of that Name of the Line of the Egyptian Kings first established and afterwards from time to time by the following Kings augmented and enriched This Philadelphus was a Lover of Art and Learning which moved him to advance this most celebrated Library wherein he placed the Books of Aristotle and his own and not onely so but with great labour and charge made a collection of all manner of Books from all places as well of Humane Learning Arts Sciences Histories and the like as Divine such as the Pentateuch and other parts of the Old Testament which he procured out of Judea The other he obtained out of Greece Lib. 1. c. 1. from Athens the Island of Rhodes and other places according to the Testimony of Athenaeus The Copy or Duplicate of his Letter to Eleazar the High-Priest is to be read in Epiphanius Eusebius Epiphanius Josephus Eusebius and Josephus and other of their Historians When this Prince worthy of eternal honor had obtained these Books written in Languages unknown to the Egyptians he burst out into these words O hidden Treasures and sealed Fountains what exceeding benefit is couched in both After some consideration he wrote back to Eleazar with diligence to select six honest and antient men of every Tribe skill'd and experienced in the Greek Tongue and to send them over to Alexandria that they might Translate those Books for more common use In the answering this design Eleazar was very careful and sent over the aforesaid number whom Ptolomy embraced with great care and civility and in the Island of Pharos caused to be erected several convenient Mansions wherein every one by himself was to Translate the Holy Law which was so perform'd Josephus Clemens Alexandrinus Eusebius Nicephorus Augustine that according to the testimony of Josephus Clemens Alexandrinus Eusebius Nicephorus Augustine and other Learned Writers they not onely used the same sense but the very same words certainly not without the special grace and assistance of the Holy Spirit And this is that Translation which bears the name of the Septuagint Septuagint Bible to this day Of this Library was Phalerius Demetrius Phalerius Demetrius made Library-keeper an Athenian exile famous for his Writings made Overseer and promoted also to greater Offices Furthermore this King sent to the Chaldeans Egyptians and Romans for Books and in like manner commanded to be Translated into Greek Seneca says The number of the Books the number of the Books in it were four hundred thousand whereas indeed they were more Agellius Ammianus Diodorus Josephus amounting as Agellius Ammianus and Diodorus alledge to seven hundred thousand Josephus reports that Demetrius the Library-keeper being once ask'd by the King how many thousand Books there were made answer Above two hundred thousand but that shortly he hop'd the number would be five hundred thousand whereby it appears how infinitely the number increas'd in short time which ceased not with Philadelphus but afterwards from time to time were still multiply'd by succeeding Kings yet this precious and invaluable Treasure of Books which were all Manuscripts for then the Art of Printing was far off from being Invented was totally Burnt in the Civil Wars of Pompey and Caesar They are all burnt and by what means taking Fire at first from Caesar's Fleet fired by the Enemy in the Haven a dire and irreparable mischance at which Caesar though it came not by his fault alone was so much asham'd that afterwards in his third Book of the Civil Wars he neither maketh mention of it himself Plutarch Dio Livy Seneca nor the Roman Consul Hirtius But Plutarch Dio Livy and Seneca have not omitted it of which the last thus writes Let another commend this burning Stratagem
Ammianus like Livy who said that it was a work becoming the most Excellent Wise and Provident Kings And Ammianus pathetically Among all the Buildings the Serapeum bad the pre-eminence wherein was that invaluable Library containing all antient Records of Memorable Transactions in seven hundred thousand Books by the diligence of the Ptolomies Kings of Egypt gathered together but in the Wars of Alexandria and Destruction of the City burnt by that most Pernicious destroyer * Caesar being the most eminent for Arms and Acts accounted this his greatest misfortune that he so great a Lover of Books should be the cause of such an irrepairable destruction Agellius Julius Caesar All the Books says Agellius were burnt in the fore-mentioned Wars of Alexandria when the City was destroyed not wilfully nor of set purpose but perhaps by the multitude of helpers to save it He excuses not onely Julius Caesar but also the Romane Souldiers and lays the fault upon the unruly crew of assistants But Dio and Plutarch speak clean otherwise Dio and Plutarch as may be read more at large in their Writings Thus had this never to be parallel'd Library its end in the hundred eighty and third * Not much above forty years before the Incarnation Olympiade after it had continued an hundred and twenty four years Another Library was after re-erected by Cleopatra in the Serapeum It is again rebuilt by Cleopatra which by the help of Mark Anthony who obtained the Attalian and Pergamenian Libraries was greatly adorned and enriched and in being to the time of Primitive Christianity and was there preserved so long as the Serapeum which was a Building of great Entertainment and wonderful Art continued And at last with the Serapeum utterly subverted which at length the Christians in the Reign of the Emperor Theodosius the Great as a Harbor of Infidelity threw to the ground Over against Alexandria stands the renowned Island Pharos The Island Pharos by the Inhabitants call'd Magraf or Magragh and by the Arabians Magar Alexandri that is Pharos of Alexandria and by Ortelius Pharion from the Lanthorn Tower which stands upon the Island and now call'd Garophalo In the time of Homer Alexandria and this Island were severed by a Part of the Sea about a days sayling from the Land whereof himself thus speaks Od. lib. 4. Pharos an Isle amidst the swelling Deep ' Gainst Egypt lyes from whence a nimble Ship May sayl 'twixt Sun and Sun with Sayls a trip 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hom. Od. 1ib 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. But now it is part of the Main Land the reason whereof is because the river Nile by his evomition of Soyl and Mud has constantly gained upon the Sea To this place of Homer Lucan alludes in his tenth Book thus Tunc claustrum Pelagi cepit Pharon Insula quondam In medio stetit illa mari sub tempore vatis Proteos at nunc est Pelleis proxima muris Then he took Pharos circled with the Main Where Fate fore-telling Proteus once did reign But now to Alexandria joyn'd Pinetus and others will have nothing lye between this City and Island but a Bridge but Villamont who hath searcht more narrowly saith Piuetus it is now united to the Continent and the Walls of the City in such manner Villamont that the Island makes two Points one Eastward another West 'T is united to the Main Land which almost meet in two other Points running from the Main Land into the Open Sea But makes two Haven leaving two Passages into the Havens one of which is call'd Porto Vecchio that is The Old Haven and hath no Defence as it is said but the Castle of the old City by the Italians nam'd Castel Vecchio But the other Haven hath two opposite Forts yet not so far distant but that they can answer and defend each other Two Castles nor can any Ship go in and out between them without leave The greater Fort is much the stronger having high Walls fenced with Towers besides a quadrangular Work of Defence And in it beneath is a Watch or Cour du Guâ—â—d for Security and above are Lights that give direction for Ships coming in to finde the Channel This great Castle on the right hand the Italians call Pharzion and that on the left Castelletto or The Little Castle Both of them are subject to great inconveniences by the want of fresh water which they are compell'd to fetch from the City every day on Camels backs The Soyl hereabout The nature of the Soyl in and about Alexandria as we said already is sandy bearing neither Bush nor Vine and so barren that it is unfit to be sown all the Corn that serves the City comes about forty miles off down the Artificial Channels of Nile There are some small Orchards but they onely produce Fruits so unwholesom that they commonly bring such as eat them into dangerous Feavers and other malignant Distempers They have abundance of Capers and Tamarisk-Plants and Hamala which is a Root they make Wine of like the Herb Anthillis by the Arabians named Killu or Kalli Kalli a Plant. and is of three sorts the two first are found in Europe but the third is peculiar to Egypt having few Leaves and very like Field-cypress but longer The Stalk is single and somewhat crooked out of which two or three small Branches shoot forth and grow upright each of which hath a Blade furnisht with five bending Leaves or more as appears ABOVE ENGRAVEN Venice Glasses made with the ashes thereof and other ingredients Out of these three sorts first dried in the Sun and then burnt Ashes are made from thence transported to Venice wherewith and a mixture of Soap and other Ingredients they make those most clear and chrystaline Glasses The Physical use of the Leaves and Juice so well known through Europe for their rarity It is also said that the Leaves beaten and taken in a convenient Vehicle cleanse Flegm and a dust Choller The same vertue is attributed to the strained Juice of them Thus much we have thought fit to say of Alexandria the Seat of the Antient Egyptian Kings and Birth-place of Ptolomy the Prince of Geographers and Astronomers from whence it must be concluded that all the state and ostentation of this City by Historians mentioned is to be understood of the time before its first destruction A great Staple of rich Merchandize still and therefore there are Consuls at Alexandria or Scanderoon at this day however notwithstanding the several desolations thereof yet always hath it driven on Trade and Merchandize by the continual coming in of Ships from several Countreys insomuch that divers European Princes have their Consuls there for the Management of Affairs and Deciding Controversies that may arise between their inhabitants and their Subjects to this day ¶ NExt Alexandria in the East lyeth the wasted City
others extend the Limits further Bulach by some supposed Babylon a Port belonging to Cairo on the East Bulach having formerly four thousand houses There dwell now Artificers and Tradesmen especially such as deal in Corn Oyl and Sugar The stately Churches and Palaces fronting the Nile yield a pleasant and delightful prospect although its beauty is much diminish'd and impair'd by the several Wars in which it had no mean share of Suffering Between Bulach and Grand Caire Lesbrechi lyeth a great place by the Inhabitants nam'd Lesbrechi frequently drown'd with the Nile which a little below Bulach divides into many branches whereof one runneth to Alexandria another to Damiata and others to several other places From Bulach to Grand Caire the Land is all flat and the way very pleasant being much frequented with Travellers but the most beautiful part is a place call'd Usbechia in the Suburbs near the City gate this Usbechia is a round piece of Land encompass'd about with Houses which yield a prospect infinitely pleasant not onely when the Fields are deck'd with Flowers but also when by the recess of Nile it seems like a drayn'd Pond full of various sorts of living Fishes Charaffa Charaffa otherwise Caraffar or Massar another part of the Suburbs lyes two Miles from Cairo it contained formerly two thousand Houses which extended seven Miles in circuit but long since this place where formerly the Sultans kept their Court hath lyen waste Here were many Monuments built with high and stately Arches and within adorn'd with several carv'd Images which the superstitious people worshipped as Consecrated Reliques of Saints covering the Floors with Tapestry Here also is a Custom-house whence the Wares which come from Sahid pay their Duties and there at this day Joseph's seven Granaries for Corn so suppos'd are shewed to Strangers Old Cairo stands conveniently towards the East Old Cairo but un-walled although Drusius bestows upon it a Wall of four and twenty Miles At this day as Belloon says there are scarce Houses enough to make a small Village which is inhabited by Greek Christians and Armenians Pet. de la Vall. This Old Cairo Peter de la Valla supposes to be the antient Egyptian Babylon now lying full of ruinous heaps the Houses few and standing every where at distance one from another wherein now some few Christians inhabit here were according to the same de la Valla several Churches whereof one dedicated to St. Barbara with some Reliques of her and other Saints St. Barbara's and St. Georges Churches another of St. George built upon a Hill so as it may be viewed both from the Old and New Cairo and the Countrey round about with great delight Another was heretofore probably the Church of the Coptists built upon the ruines of a small House wherein they say the Virgin Mary dwelt a long time while she was in Egypt The Reliques of this Holy House are yet to be seen under the great Altar of this Church in a deep dark place with some small Pillars whereupon the Altar rests and some remainders of pieces of Timber Besides these Suburbs lying without Grand Caire there are three other Suburbs as Beb-zuaila or Beb-zuila Gemethailon and Beb-elloch The Suburb Beb-zuaila The Suburb Beb-zuaila otherwise Missuletiffe or Miffruletich lyeth at the going out of the Gate bearing the same name containing about two thousand Houses and from West to South about a mile and a half and towards the North about a mile to the Suburb Beb-elloch Here are many Mosques and fair Halls for Guilds especially one built by Soldan Hesen as also a Castle of the Soldans at this day the Court of the Turkish Bassa's lying at the foot of the Fountain Mochattan surrounded with strong and great Walls The Palaces being many and large are pav'd with various-colour'd Marble and the Rooms rarely Painted and richly Gilt. The Windows curiously made with Painted glass of several colours and the Doors of excellent Wood carved and wrought with all sorts of Artificial work and gilded Here formerly resided the Soldans Wives Children Attendants Waiters and Life-guard And in times of Feasting they shew'd here their Magnificence at the State-Receipts and Entertainments given to Ambassadors when brought to Audience or otherwise admitted to more private Courtly invitations The great Suburb Gemethailon The Suburb Gemethailon reaching Westward to some decay'd places of Old Caire was founded before the erecting of Cairo it self by one Tailon a Subject to the Califfe or Governor of Bagdet a Commander in Egypt who left the old City and came to dwell in this Suburb where he built a Stately Palace and a Magnificent Mosque Here also dwell Tradesmen and Artificers who for the most part are Moors of Barbary The Suburb Beb-ellock which is none of the least Beb-ellock Suburb stands about a mile from Grand Caire having in it near three thousand Houses inhabited severally by Artificers of all sorts In a void and spacious part whereof is a great Palace with a Court of Justice founded by a Mammalucke nam'd Jasbach then one of the Sultans Councellors from whom it took the name Jasbachia The common people hereof after the Mahumetan Publick * The Turks Divine Service Sahala is ended give themselves up to all lasciviousness and Debaucheries and seeing of vain Sights and idle Shews for out of the City Stage-players Juglers and Morrice-Dancers present themselves shewing many Camels Asses and Dogs in a ridiculous manner Dancing to make sport Fencing Masters also and Singers who by their Gestures and Songs seem to act to the life Egypt Conquer'd by the Arabians Grand Caire lyeth very near the middle of Egypt The scituation of Grand Caire about two thousand paces to the Eastward of Nile between the ruines of Old Caire and the Circassiers-street upon a plain below the foot of the Hill Elmucattant or Moncatun where is a strong Castle giving to the City the repute of a most remarkable Fortification In this City are and reside persons of almost all Nations How inhabited coming thither to Trade and Merchandise But the principal inhabitants are Moors Turks Jews Coptists Grecians and Armenians At this day it is the prime of all the Egyptian Cities exceeding in bigness Rome Constantinople Villamont It s compass and most others by us accounted the greatest being in circuit according to Villamont two and twenty Leagues so that a Horseman in full speed can scarce ride about it in ten hours but Grand Caire Old Caire and the Suburbs are three Dutch Miles long but Villamont says Old and New Caire together with Bulach and Chatafat are thirty Leagues long and twenty broad The City is Walled round except on the side next Nile The form of it Villamont Belloon Villamont says the form of it is Oval but Belloon Triangular of which the Castle lying upon a Hill makes one Angle whence the Walls are the second and thence going to to the North shapes
the third wherein is a Fort and Castle And whereas both the City and Suburbs are close built with a great number of Sumptuous and Stately Edifices which hinder the sight of the Walls therefore such as have but superficially viewed it have taken occasion to say that Cairo is without Walls whereas in truth it is encompassed with strong Walls and Gates The Gates of which the last are all plated over and strengthened with Iron below the chief Gate on the East side is that call'd Beb-Nansre or Beb-Nansare the Gate of Victory Then Beb-zuaila leading towards Nile and Old Caire Next Beb-el-futuch or Beb-el-fetoch the Gate of Triumph beyond which lyes the Lake Esbici The Houses by some accounted thirty thousand The Houses but with those in the Suburbs about Cairo in Bulach and adjoyning are little less than three hundred thousand Each of them is on the top flat as most of the Houses in Egypt the Doors are narrow and low so that none can go in or out unless they stoop and this is the custom not onely here in Egypt but in all Turkish Countreys that they might avoid quartering of Horse in time of Wars The Locks of their Doors are of Wood but as curiously wrought with variety of wards and fit for use as ours in Europe within the Houses are trimmed and embelished with Carved work and Painting and inlay'd with Ebony A wood growing by the Lake Mareotis whereof Lucan in his Tenth Book thus Hebenus Mareotica vastos Non Operit Postes Nor the huge Pillars made Of Mareotic Ebony And in the Island Meroes as Lucan in the same Book Nigris Meroen faecunda colonis Laeta comis Hebeni Meroes Black people proud Of Ebon Tresses a Tree being cut down almost equallizing Stone in hardness Most of the Houses stand upon open Vaults either of ordinary Stone or Bricks bak'd in the Sun and lay'd in Clay Mortar onely some few by the water side are rais'd about the height of a man with Hewen Stones to withstand the overflowing of Nile A great many are built onely of Reeds others both built and cover'd with them Beauvais reckons here six thousand and eight hundred remarkable Mosques The Mosques and their number besides the ordinary ones which together amount to the number of four and twenty thousand but Villamont lessens the number to eleven hundred of all which the Mosque Bemasar having thirty curious Pillars surmounts all the rest in Beauty There are also several Hospitals and Almes-houses one of which hath the yearly Revennue of an hundred thousand Sultanies or Turkish Crowns where all manner of Wounded Souldiers and Sick people are received and with great care attended by Skilful Chirurgeons and expert Physitians for the recovery of their healths Within the City is a great piece of Land containing about ten Acres so fruitful that it is yearly sown and never lyes fallow There also is the Besestan or Market-place where all sorts of fine Wares and Merchandize are sold Some Writers say the Citizens reckon about eighteen thousand Streets The number of Streets which others encrease to six and twenty thousand all which have several names and in the Evening for preventing Tumults and Uproars are lock'd up by their own attending Porters they are very long but narrow The Houses are small but stand so close in some places that there is scarce room to go between them much less any convenient passages and in the Evening are shut up with the same care and diligence as the City gates Without the City runs a long Street Circassiers Street taking name from the Circassiers or Mamaluckes who formerly therein us'd to exercise the Riding of Horses and to present other Shews This opens into a plain inclosed with Walls within which is a stately walk adorn'd with Flower Pots and open Spaces whereby whatever's done in the Street or Plain may be seen The Windows in stead of Iron Grates have Stones with several holes made in them for the convenience of Women who then may peep through and see all that passes or is done in the Street without being seen Moreover Another Street with Mosques there is another long and broad Street wherein are convenient and handsom Mosques though small Adjoyning to every of which stands a Garden on one side appearing stately Monuments made after the Turkish manner which they say the Circassiers built for their own private Devotion and there each set forth his Burying-place for himself and Family This Street is one of the most Stately Remarks in Cairo being very broad and above a thousand paces long and all the Palaces and Mosques adorned with high Towers but lying so far distant from the City 't is not inhabited but as it were utterly waste Over this City a Castle or Fort raises his head standing upon a Rock The Castle to which the ascent is by a great and wide pair of Stairs The form of it is circular but so capacious that it seems almost a City of it self encompassed with slight old-fashion'd Walls with Turrets and Battlements betwixt The Dwellings within afford a most pleasing Retirement because from every quarter may be seen all within and without the City and from the top as from the height of the Pyramid the Eye may sport it self over the low and level Plain And the Stately Chambers Banquetting and With-drawing Rooms yet to be seen plainly evidence the Pomp and Grandeur of the Soldans and Mamaluckes For so long as their Kingdom flourish'd this was a most beautiful place the Califfe or Soldan having therein his Throne of Massy Gold himself seldom or never seen except a little while to some Embassadors round the Wall runs a Marble ledge a foot broad The Gates and Windows enchac'd with Mother of Pearl Ebony Christal and Coral and all the rest very Artificial painted and richly gilt ¶ FRom Cairo also set forth the Turkish Pilgrims The Pilgrimage to Mecha which annually travel in Caravans to Mecha to visit Mahomet's Sepulchre This is the Head City of Arabia Felix lying by the Red Sea Eight days Journey from which is Medina where is Mahomet's Tomb to which out of Egypt once a year in November go sometimes twelve or fifteen nay sometimes forty thousand Pilgrims to offer according to their ability Sacrifice and Burnt-Offerings to their Prophet Over the whole Caravan one Superior Commander is appointed call'd Hamirag who leads them under the conduct and safe-guard of three hundred Souldiers furnish'd with Bows and Musquets to Mecha and Medina and without much delay and hindrance brings them back to Cairo except sometimes assaulted hurt plundered and slain by the Arabians in the Wilderness The number of Camels attending this great Company are accounted by some sixty and by others ninety thousand The Grand Seignior alone bestows upon this Pilgrimage without accounting particular expences of the people six hundred thousand Duckets a fourth part of the whole Revenue of Egypt for many poor people and Beggars
taking up in Circumference a hundred and two foot the length of the Body an hundred and three and forty and in depth from the Neck to the Crown sixty and two Writers concerning this Structure feign wonderful things as first that it gave Responses to Inquirers like an Oracle though many say the Priests feigned and delivered them in manner following They made a way under the Earth to the Belly and Head of it by which going into the Image they spake at set-times out of the Head whatsoever they would giving answer to such as came to ask Councel in difficult matters The inward hollowness or cavities were made with such subtilty that the Voice therein finding no other passage than the large gaping of the Mouth first rumbling at last with great force burst forth whereby the credulous Heathens who stood before it silent and amazed took it for no less than the voice of a Deity and by that extraordinarily led on to the adoration of it Sphynx was represented in a two-fold manner by the Egyptians Sphyux tepresented in a two-fold manner to wit either in the shape of a Couchant Lyon upon a Throne or in the form above-mentioned By the first was signifyed Momphta an Egyptian Deity ruling over the Waters and the Tutelar Guardian for the over-flowing of Nile And by the second the increasing of Nile it self they made these shapes not that they did believe such manner of living Creatures were ever in being but to signifie how much harder than we can express are the several Dictates of the minde Sphynx then so formed What it sâ—gnifyeth signifies Nilus watering and fertilizing Egypt while the Sun passed through Leo and Virgo which the Egyptians being very Learned and naturally addicted to Hieroglyphicks observing were easily induced under that biformed shape which they call'd Sphynx to represent their meaning and in course of time they became adored Idols signifying Nilus There were according to Pliny Many in Egypt many of these Sphynxes in Egypt standing in the most famous places those especially which were watered by the River as in Heliopolis and Sais and the Wilderness of Memphis or Cairo where that by us described the greatest of all remains yet to be seen Aben Vaschia an Arabian speaking of these Sphynxes says thus For the signification of the fruitful nature of Nilus they set that Structure representing a Lyon because that overflowing that fructifies their whole Countrey they receive from the bounty of the Constellation the Lyon every year And from them it is also by a pretty mistake looking at them onely as Ornaments introduced here in Europe to make or adorn the Pipes Spouts Conduits and Pumps with Lyons heads The Sphynxes were set by the Antients before their Temple Gates to signifie their teaching Divine matters consisted in Wisdom which lay hid under Aenigmaes or Mysterious Parables Distant from these Pyramids about a thousand paces Pyramids call'd Mummies lye others call'd Mummies because scituate in a Sandy Countrey where the Mummies are found the greatest of all lying in this place Spires high into the Air and much more beautiful than any of the rest there though almost of the same form the outer part by length of time is much defaced so that the steps thereof being broken it is almost impossible to climb up to the top The Entrance of this Pyramid lyes open from the upper part downward but the way within is so ruinous and choak'd up with Stones that it is scarce passable without creeping which to the Visitors because of the falling down of other loose Stones often proves dangerous Below there appears a very spacious and high Chamber appointed as they say for a Burying-place in which is a little Door opening into another as large Chamber built after the same manner Neither of these have any Inter'd Corps either perhaps because none were there Buried or else the Burying-places are totally defaced Out of these two Chambers wherein a decayed Gate lyeth goes a rising way not to be ascended without a Ladder and herein the people say is a Burying-place Of several that travelled into Egypt to see the Pyramids and have described them Prince Radzovil merits the chief place having written thereof in his Book of Travels exactly to this effect An hour before break of day we went out of our Lodgings Prince Radzovil and walking continually along by Gardens we came into the Old * Cairo City distant from the New half a mile two hours after Sun-rising we cross'd the Nile where having gone about two Furlongs we came to the Pyramids whereof because much hath been written by others I will in brief set down what I my self have seen Most Writers affirm that the City Memphis mentioned in Holy Scripture Memphis here thought to be scituate was formerly seated in this place whereof all the remaining Tokens are but some ruinous Heaps to the south cover'd over with dry barren Sand there may be seen still undefaced Pyramids whereof two greater and a third less erected as they say by that famous Lady of Pleasure Rhodope which is singularly fair but not above sixty or seventy cubits high these three are very handsom and undecayed accounted among the Worlds Wonders even by the Romans as Martial the Epigrammatist observes Barbara Pyramidum sileant miracula Memphis Thy wondrous Pyramids Memphis boast no more The two least are of an incredible bigness yet exceeded by the third which is said to have in height breadth and length three hundred Cubits It hath within artificial and broad Steps by which you may as also by Steps without climb to the top There are likewise places fit for Visitants to retire and ease themselves in two whereof more large were the Burying-places of the Kings in the lower of which there stands yet extant a very great Sepulchre Also by what Kings how great Cost in what way or by what strange Art and whether by the Israelites during their bondage in Egypt which is the opinion of * With how little reason it may be imagined that the Israelites should build these Pyramids may appear in that they are built of stone whereas their employment was all in Brick-work some Writers these Structures were erected or by others who dig'd the Trenches Passages wherein Nilus runs for it appears that all these works were not by Nature but made by Art I leave to Historiographers to determine We may rather wonder why they were erected upon a rising Rock consisting of one sort of Natural Stones whereas they for as much as is discernable are inade up of many kindes Neither is it easie to apprehend or conceive from whence or by what means so great a quantity of immense Stones each more than a Cubit and a half and two Cubits broad could be convey'd thither Nilus lying distant little less than four miles The first and greatest Pyramid The greatest of them is built of quadrangular stones rising Instar
Montis like a Mountain by singular Art and although it appear in a square form all along to the very top yet these four-square stones are set in so uniform an order that the whole Structure seems to represent the form of a Picked Hill The going up by reason of the thickness and bigness of the stones is difficult and toylsom yet feisible for though I my self used a competent endeavor I could not in an hour and half ascend to the top which is flat and ten Cubits on each side The second Pyramid is a little less than the first The second Pyramid and about two Bowes shot from it without any entrance into it On the out-side you may climb half way up the stones being so fitted on purpose as in the former but a little leveller and smaller Near the middle way they lye so even that it is impossible to climb any higher and this smoothness which seems to be done on purpose reaches to the height of several cubits which if it could be passed from thence to the top being one third part of the Pyramid the stones lying carelesly and uneven you might as well be able to climb up to the top of it as of the aforemention'd Pyramid The third lying next Cairo was erected as we said by Rhodope The third Fyramid made wholly of sloping stones so that there is no climbing up Three Bowes shot from it on the one side toward the City standeth a Head suppos'd of that Concubine with a long Neck and large Arms seven Cubits high and cut out of one entire Stone Some imagine that out of the first great Pyramid which we entred by a hollow Passage under ground through a firm Quar which we saw arch'd over with stone a small and secret Entrance came into this Head and from thence so is the common fame by the mouth of that Head Oracles delivered In the Pyramids were Tutelar or Guardian Images Guardian Idols call'd Serapes by the Egyptians call'd Serapes and by them placed there for the protection of the Corps and to carry the Souls to their Heavenly mansions They were graven from the bottom to the top with various Hieroglyphicks Among others were found two such Images of a Man and a Woman both adorn'd with Caps and Ear-lappets made of black Thebane Stones thick above and small beneath They stood upon a broad Pedestal in the Countrey of Sahid not far from the Red Sea in a Pyramid wherein Age on one side had made an In-let through which some Turks climbing had taken them out each of which weighed almost Eight hundred Pounds The Turks opinion'd that formerly the Kings of this Countrey worship'd these Images and had commanded the like to their Subjects who after their death here buried their Princes together with their Idols They were both heretofore graven with Egyptian Letters which according to the Exposition of those who understand that kinde of Learning signifie several Deities of which the highest call'd Jynx stands clothed in the uppermost place whose sole power preserves the Bodies from all Accidents and brings them to their they suppose Celestial Abodes Amongst the most notable Remarks in and about Cairo Famous Sepulchres under ground or within four miles the Marble Sepulchres under ground by which the City Memphis and many places round about it stood and yet stand upon Arches and Vaults breeds most admiration far exceeding in greatness and curiosity the Monuments of the Romans The Learned Egyptians of old Egyptians held the Pythagerâ—au Metempsychosis which held the Pythagorean Metempsychosis or Transmigration of the Soul from one Body to another took care not only for their dead Corps with great Preparation of several Spices to preserve them from corruption but endeavor'd also by laying it in a convenient place to keep it quiet therefore with wondrous pains and curiosity they neither disposed them in places over which the Nile flowed nor in the open Fields but either in long-continuing Pyramids or Stone Caves under ground which with great labor were cut out of entire Rocks These Caves serv'd in stead of Church-yards parted into several Vaults or arched Apartments like great Dining-Rooms with so many turnings out of one into another that they seem to be a perfect Labyrinth There were as the Egyptians themselves report so many of these that they extended many Miles off even as far as the Oracles of Ammon and Serapis this was no small advantage to the Priests Conveniency of the Priests in the Subterranean Vaults for that they could by these avenues without hindrance from the heat of the Sun or stiffling of the Sands meet and converse together From hence it would seem that the whole Sandy Desart should be hollow or vaulted underneath which none ought to think strange if he observe the many other stupendious Works of this Countrey and shall mark considerately what is written by Antiquity of the vast Extent and exceeding Populousness of Memphis Moreover some Arabian Writers in their Books stick not to aver that Memphis and Heliopolis by hidden Passages under ground were united together being divers miles distant At the end of this they come to a four-square Vaulted Repository A Description of the Egyptian Vaults for Burial four and twenty foot long on either side and at the end of each stand Tables cut out of the same Rock about five foot long two and a half broad and one foot high opposite to each other whereupon they set their Dead in Chests or Coffins of Wood or Stone In some Caves in the Wall above the Chests or Coffins of the Dead are certain Hieroglyphick Characters and there stand besides the mentioned Eminent Coffins more and other flat ones upon the Floor round about those which seem to be Childrens Oftentimes there lye five and twenty such Caves near one another as in the PRINT above wherein these Caves are represented to the life All of them come out at one Passage or Descent and because there is no light nor any other Entrance than the first within it is utterly dark so that without Torches and a Leader it is dangerous to venture into them The Ground-plat of this FOREGOING PRINT is the fashion of the Cave together with the Tables whereon the Bodies shut in the Coffins are set which here are to the number of nine all of equal bigness one of which is marked with the letter D. Each Cave hath on the four sides of it Marble Tables so big that the Coffin may conveniently stand thereon these Tables together with the four Walls of every Cave stand in the Draught or Platform with the numbers 1.2.3.4 as the letter X sheweth the Ground or Floor of the Walls All this appears cleerer in the Draught where S and T are two Vaulted Caves Between the four Walls of the Vaulted Cave S four Tables are to be seen on which are four Chests as A. O. P. K. denotes every of which has inclos'd Mummies Commonly there
his naked Feet black Sandals laced on On the Girdle was a Fillet whereupon was written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Happy or Happiness perhaps the proper name of the young Man or else set there as a Prayer for his eternal joy The Woman that lay in the same Cave The Pourtraiture of a Woman was without doubt the Wife or Sister of the young Man and more sumptuously drawn upon her Herse-cloth Besides several other Hieroglyphicks there stood upon gilded Plates two Fowls and two Lions back to back and upon another Garment lay an Ox or Cow perhaps the Image of Apis or Isis that Idol by the Egyptians being represented in that shape Upon another Plate hanging to the last link on the Brest the Sun was pencil'd In the Ears were Gems with Garters on her Arms and Legs and many Rings on her Fingers In her right Hand she held a Golden Water-pot and on the fore-finger of the left Hand a Ring with other Trimmings and Ornaments She had as the young Man black curl'd Hair which cover'd her Face dark and thick Eye-brows with black Eyes wide open These Effigies or Resemblances were drawn with a rough hand like Pictures in unsetled and barbarous times In the Cave wherein the two fore-mention'd Mummies were found there were other Corps which lay all without order buried in the Sands and preserv'd onely by its driness Besides the former two there was another which lay in a Woodden Coffin with a Virgin carv'd upon it and laid forth almost like the former with a gilt Herse-cloth and other Ornaments In the broken Body of this Virgin was found nothing else but a great many Rollers and Bitumen wound up therein for the Bones and Flesh were in a manner dried and consumed so that it seemed to be onely a shell of Wood. The Materials of the Mummy were so hard that a Hammer could scarce make any impression upon it A little forwarder other Corps were to be seen in great number wound up in single Clothes and preserv'd in common Bitumen without gilt Coverings Pourtraitures or any other Ornaments whence may be concluded that the adorn'd Bodies were Persons of rank and quality either of Priests or Great Ministers of State which onely had hope to come to the future Dominion as Herodotus Diodorus and other antient Historiographers mention ¶ MUmmy is a Persian word Mummy a Persian name and signifieth a dry and unperishable dead Body being Embalmed after a peculiar manner Many are of opinion though not so that the Bodies which are so call'd were not prepared by Art but by meer chance brought to the estate of being unperishable by this following means In Africa on the east-side of Nile lyeth a great and sandy Desart call'd from its extent The Sandy-Sea which by impetuous Windes is so often agitated that Travellers and Beasts with their Burthens are overwhelmed alive and there utterly lost which after by the power of the hot Sun and parching Sand are so dried that they become fixed and for ever undissolvable True it is some such Bodies are found there Mummies are not Bodies dried by the Sun in the Sea of Sand. and sometimes sold for Mummies but they deserve not that Name because a Mummy is onely such a Body as by a peculiar Art is incorporated and embalmed with Bitumen and other odoriferous Spices such as at this day in great numbers are found under the City Memphis and the Caves about it Herodotus saith in his * second Book Herodot Euterpe that Bodies of Rich or Great Meh were wash'd over with Phenician Wine and the Belly stuft with Myrrh Cassia and other Aromaticks and then laid in Salt but those of the common sort was done with Juice or Gum of Cedar-wood I shall briefly set down the words of this antient Writer wherein he sheweth the whole Egyptian way of Embalming for the better explaining of what is already said and shall be said hereafter After mourning for the Dead they bring the Body to be embalmed Herodotus for which several persons are appointed excellently skilled in that Art who when it is brought into the house shew wooden Images of other dead persons painted in natural colours First the neatest afterwards courser and then a third the coursest of all asking according to which they will have the Corps done After a bargain struck having the Corps there the Pollinctors embalm the Body with great diligence in this manner First with a crooked Iron they drill the Brains out of the Head through the Nostrils upon which they strew Medicinal Ingredients After that with a sharp Stone had out of the Moors Countrey they open the Belly and take out all the Bowels which being cleansed and washed with Phenician Wine are mixed with pounded Spices Then they fill the Cavity of the Belly with beaten Myrrh Cynamon Incense and other the like Aromaticks and so stitch it up again this done they lay it seventy days in Salt and no longer After which the Corps are wash'd and wound up in silk Blankets cut in slits and spread over like our Sear-clothes with a Gum which the Egyptians use in stead of Lime When the Friends have received the Corps thus Embalmed they frame a Wooden case just fitted wherein they lay the Corps and put it into the Burial-Cave next the Wall Thus sumptuously they prepare and order their Dead There is another kind of Embalming us'd by those of the middle sort The second sort of Embalming being of no great cost viz. They fill a Syringe with Gum of Cedar-wood and inject it through the Fundament into the Belly without removing the Bowels then let the Corps lye so many days as aforesaid in Salt On the last day they squeeze out the injection by the same way which hath such an Operation that it brings with it what is not fit for Preservation and the Salt consumeth the flesh so that nothing but the Skin and Bones of the Dead remain which finish'd the the Corps is delivered up to the Friends without any more cost or trouble The third way used to the poorer sort is onely this The third sort of Embalming they cleanse and wash the Belly first and then lay the Corps seventy days in Salt and so finish the Obits Ladies of Quality are not so soon exposed to the Operation of Embalming nor such as were famous for Beauty because the Embalmers should not abuse their yet untainted Bodies for they say one of these * Embalmers Pollinctors used that unnatural Villany and upon complaint of his fellow-Artists was surprized in the very Act and suffer'd condign punishment Haly an Arabian Physitian is of opinion Haly. that Bodies by means of Bitumen and * The Gum of the Balsam-Tree before mentioned Joh. Nardius Opobalsamum Myrrhe and such like Drugs is brought to the state of perdurableness Johannes Nardius who caused many of the Mummies to be broken in pieces to try them maintains strongly that
first with the Island Michias ¶ IN the midst of Nile not far from Cairo Island Michias over against the Old City Miffrulhetich lyes the Island Michias or El-Michias that is Measure-Isle or Mark-Island because within it was set the Mark whereby they took the measure of the Rivers overflowing and the height and lowness of his waters and thereby made a judgement of the consequent fruitfulness indifference or infertility of the following Year This Island contains about fifteen hundred Families having at one end a fair Palace erected by a Soldan and a large Mosque or Temple at the other end standeth a round Building alone with a four-square Well or Cistern eighteen Cubits deep into which the Nile-water at the time of the overflowing is conveyed in the middle of the Well stands an upright Pillar divided by marks into so many Cubits as the Well is deep where attend certain Officers by command of the Councel who give notice of the increase which some Children with yellow Bands about their Heads to that purpose appointed make known by an Out-cry through all the streets of the City and Suburbs admonishing the people to fear God and are by them in return presented with Gifts During the rising of Nilus in Cairo and most other Cities there is so great a Noise and Joy made with Drums and Trumpets all along the City that it seems to be in a Tumult and Uproar Opposite to Miffrulhetich lyeth Geza Geza joyning to Michias that severs it from Cairo it shews many stately Palaces erected by the Mamaluckes and other curious and pleasant Buildings together with a sumptuous Temple by the Nile Many Handy-crafts men and other Traders come daily from Cairo hither to work and trade returning at night to their own homes Those that would visit the Pyramids can go no nearer way than through this City which on one side is surrounded with a sandy Desart reaching quite to them Not far from Grand Caire stands Muhallaca a little old Town near which the great Lake Maeris The Lake Meris which Diodorus placed ten Stadia or Furlongs from Cairo Antiquity gave it in compass two hundred and fifty or four hundred and fifty miles whereas at this day it is but eight leagues At the increase of Nile Sanatus this Lake is in some places fifty fathom deep receiving great store of water which the Inhabitants make good use of It hath two Rivulets one by which it receives water from Nile and the other where it runs out of the Lake and moistens the thirsty grounds in Summer time They say King Maeris from whom this Lake took his Name caused it to be digg'd with Spades and in the midst of it erected a Sepulchre for himself and his Queen wherein two fair Pyramids each forty paces high were set with the tops out of the water upon either of which he placed a Marble Statue The Revenue of the Fish of this Lake which amounted daily to a Talent of Silver the King allowed to his Royal Consort to buy her Pins This agrees with what Herodotus writes in his second Book in these words The Lake Maeris is in compass a thousand six hundred Stadia or Furlongs Herodot Euterpe and sixty paces which compass is as much as all Egypt is in length on the Sea-coast It reaches far to the North and South and is in depth fifty paces That it was digg'd and made by mens hands appeareth in that about the middle there stand two Pyramids that rise fifty paces above the water and as much under it so that each Pyramid is an hundred paces high Upon either of them is a Stone-Image sitting upon a Throne The water of this Lake comes not from a Spring being sometimes very dry but is supplied by Trenches out of the Nile six moneths it is furnish'd from them A Talent is 250 l. sterling and other six moneths makes returns into it which later six moneths the Revenue of Fish amounts every day to a * Talent of Silver but in the former onely to twelve Minae or Pounds Adding that the Inhabitants asserted this Lake went under the Earth Westward as far as the Sandy Syrtes in Lybia where it anew breaks forth near the Mountain which hangs over Memphis About six leagues from Cairo Changa at the Entrance of the Wilderness which runs towards Mount Sinai lyeth the City Changa heretofore very great and beautified with stately Houses and Temples but so much spoiled and wasted by Wars that it hath lost its antient splendor Here is a double Thorow-fare the one towards Syria the other to Arabia but no water other than what from the overflowing of the Nile is preserv'd in Sluices and Ditches Hence towards the East standeth Suez Suez by Ptolomy call'd The City of Brightness upon the utmost Border of the Arabian Gulf about three days Journey from Cairo Livy Sanutus Bellonius as Livy Sanutus and others affirm though Bellonius placeth it much nearer This is one of the most commodious Havens on the North-side of the Red-Sea and the Moors bring hither out of India all manner of Spices Gems Pearls Amber Musk and other costly Merchandize which are carryed by Land to Cairo and so to Alexandria whither the Venetians English Dutch and other Nations come to traffique Divers place this City with Ptolomy in Egypt Ptolomy Maginus Geograph but others as Maginus in his Geography in Trogloditis a part of Arabia but it seems rather to belong to Egypt because it is now under the Command of the Turkish Bassa of Cairo It is environed with a sandy and barren Desart which reaches some miles distance utterly desolate and void of all things It is supported by the Revenues arising from Commodities of other Countreys brought thither all the water they use is conveyed thither two miles off upon Camels and is nevertheless so brackish that it breeds many Diseases On an adjacent Hill stands an inconsiderable Castle with old ruinous Walls More to the In-land South from Nile lyeth Bethsames Bethsames by some held to be the old Heliopolis More Southward Muhaisira close to the Nile stands the decayed City Muhaisira and on the other side Southwards also lyes Benesuait or Benesuahid Benesuahid A hundred and eighty miles from Grand Caire upon a rising ground is the City Munia built in the time of the Mahumetans by one Chalib Munia belonging to the Califfe of Bagdet This City had formerly many neat Churches and other handsom Structures insomuch that there yet appear divers Ruines of the antient Egyptian Building Not far from Munia lyeth Fyum formerly call'd Abydus Fyum and by some Abutick Here it is said that Joseph the son of Jacob was first buried whose Bones Moses afterwards when the Children of Israel departed out of Egypt carryed with then into Canaan Close by Fyâ—m yet stands the great and old City Manfloth or Menf-loth erected by the Egyptians destroyed by the Romans
power of Nature to look with very fixed Eyes upon its Beams and for that cause they sometime pourtray the Sun in the form of a Hawk Those who had willingly or unwillingly kill'd a Hawk or the Bird Ibis Herodot were without hope of pardon condemn'd to die Nay so high was their Veneration of it that they ceremoniously buried a dead Hawk and brought it to the City Bulis It hath been observ'd The Egyptians have taken several Letters from the forms of Beasts that the antient Egyptians took several of their Letters from the forms of the Legs Head and Beak of the Bird Ibis and this sacred Hawk as also from the Ox and the Dog both by them reputed religious These four Beasts were of the highest esteem not only for their use in Hieroglyphical Writing but also because in their High-times of Solemnity call'd Comasien they usually carried them in Procession according to the Testimony of Clemens Alexandrinus Herodotus writes That in former times about Thebes small bodied Serpents with two horns on the crown of their Heads and very harmless were found which being dead they buried in the Temple of Jupiter because they believed them dedicated to him The same Herodotus reports but from hear-say That near the City Brutus close by Arabia were Serpents with wings which flew thence in the beginning of Lent into Egypt but the Bird Ibis met and fell upon them in their flight and by their deaths anticipated any prejudice from their arrival for which benefit the Ibis was held in great adoration As the Land is ennobled by producing great store of Plants Beasts and Fowls so the Nile hideth in its bosom a vaste abundance of Fishes of which the Crocodile and Hippopotamus or Sea-horse which are Amphibii be the most noted and chief And though the Crocodile keeps in several Rivers of Asia and America as in the River Ganges about Bengala and in the Niger in Africa yet Nilus feedeth the greatest as though a more peculiar of that than any other Rivers The Crocodile Herodotus tells us Crocodile the antient Egyptians about Elephantina call Champsa and in the Dominion of Syena according to Strabo Suchus but the Ionians or Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Crocodiles The Indians name it Cayman the Arabians and Jews says Megistus Corbi and in Kirchers Egyptian Lexicon it stands expressed by the name of Picharuki This wonderful Creature has very great Eyes with little balls or apples It s Form whose Back-bone consists of sixty Joynts his Feet furnish'd with sharp nails and splaying outwards and the Tail proportionable to the Body lessening by degrees to the end This Serpent as we may call it runs swiftly but can neither deviate to the right or left or turn about easily but with a stiff formality goes directly forward by reason of the inflexible Joynts of the Back-bone by which means it is often avoided They say it can live four whole Moneths without food but when hungry will cry or weep like a man Some dare affirm though untruly that it lives of Mud or Slime for it eats dead fish and humane flesh Peter Martyr relates in his Babylonish Embassy Peter Martyr that one of them was taken that had three young Children in his Mouth When they ingender the Male turns the Females Belly upward The Breeding of them otherwise for the shortness of their Feet they cannot well couple After that Coition the Female lays sixty Eggs each as big as a Goose Egg upon which they sit to hatch sixty days Some conceit that they bury their Eggs in the Sand and hatch their young ones by the heat of the Sun but that is not so however there is no Creature that from so small a beginning comes to such an extraordinary bigness some being found to exceed thirty Foot in Length They bear enmity to the Ichneumon Buffel Tyger Hawk Hog-fish Dolphin It bears Enmity against other Beasts Scorpions and Men but hold friendship with Hogs and the Trochilus which is a small Fowl with a sharp point or pin on the Head Trochilus that when the Crocodile is glutted with Fish and sleeping with his Mouth open comes searching his own Food and by picking cleanseth his Mouth Teeth and Gullet Lee. Afric Others suppose this little Bird picketh out the Worms breeding between the Teeth who ingratefully would eat it up for requital but that the sharp Pin on the Birds Head pricking his Jaws makes him open them by which means the Bird escapes Several Eastern People eat them as good Food The Flesh of it is eaten which was customary also here onely forbidden to Apollonopolitans whether it was because the Daughter of King Psammitichus as you may read in Herodotus was devoured by a Crocodile or out of hatred to the Heaven-invading Typhon who as they say was Metamorphosed into one is not yet determined however in Arsinoe which Strabo calls At Arsinoe it was counted sacred The City of Crocodiles it was counted Sacred and fed with Bread Flesh and Wine The Original of which Veneration without doubt proceeded from fear for that the Crocodiles which in great abundance in the Lake Moeris lay close by the City continually waiting to make a Prey both of Men and Beasts by that means glutted should not be greedy after Prey but neither Fear or Reverence of that could prevail with the People of the Neighbour City Heraclea to hinder them from giving Worship to the Ichneumon it s most mortal Enemy The Hippopotamus Hippopotamus or the Sea-Horse or Sea-Horse not so call'd from any Similitude it bears with a Horse but from the bigness the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek sometimes seeming to bear the Signification of Great as well as Horse haunts the †Proteus the Son of Oceanus and Tethys is feigned to be the Keeper of Sea-Calves or Horses Nyle says Pliny though indeed found also in the River Niger and many other Places Barboza Barboza averres he saw many of them in Gophale leaping out of the Sea to the Land and returning again And others have seen the like in the great Sea near Petzore Aristotle Elian and others have done something towards its Description But Fabius Columna in his Observations of Amphibious Creatures hath exactly shewed this in a Salted Skeleton brought from Damiata into Italy by Nicolaus Zerenghi The Form of it Master-Surgeon of Narn It hath no likeness of a Horse the Body resembling an Ox and the Legs a Bear From Head to Tail thirteen Foot long and four and a half broad The Belly was rather flat than round The Compass of his Legs was a Yard and his Foot twelve Inches in breadth Each Claw had three Divisions The Head two Foot and a half broad three Foot long and seven Foot about The whole of a very large Size The Mouth is fleshy shrivel'd and very wide The Eyes an Inch broad and twice as long The Ears little and but
Their Houses because of the overflowing of Nilus are built upon rising Places with thick clay Walls and flat Roofs as is usual in most Eastern Countreys And in regard Wood and Stone are very scarce they are little and low without advantages of many Rooms because most People Eat Drink and Sleep under the Date-Tree for coolness not fearing either Winter or Summer-Rains because the Countrey is free from them The whole Countrey is subject to one Inconvenience which is want of Fuel for in the great scarcity thereof they are forced upon all necessary occasions to burn the dung of Cattel ¶ POlygamy is common among the Nobler Sort Their Marriage who shut up their many Wives together in a Seraglio but separate from one another in distinct Apartments The Moors and meaner Sort to shew their Affection when they go a Wooing sear their Flesh with red hot Irons and flash their Arms without any sense of Smart or Danger And if by that means they can obtain the bare reward of a single Kiss from their Mistris Hand they take it as if they had gain'd the top of Felicity or whatsoever Love-sick Amours desire ¶ THe Parents dispose their Daughters in Marriage at ten or at most at twelve year old When they conduct the Bride to the Bridegrooms House she hath carried before her whatever her Friends or Parents gave her for the Bridegroom bestows on her Money Garments and other Necessaries Jewels Housholdstuff and Slaves of both Sexes ¶ THe Turks in Egypt are either of the Civil or Martial List Their Employment living voluptuously having little or no business but at starts but the Native Egyptians follow Pasturage and Husbandry The Arabians live by downright Robbery the Moors Negroes and Jews mannage Trading and Merchandise so do most of the Inhabitants of Cairo There are another sort of People here call'd Beduines The manner of the Beduines wandring about in great Companies of two or three hundred with their Luggage upon Carts and driving their Cattel like the Tartars from place to place for fresh Pasturage and where they finde good Grass they spread their Tents of course Goats-hair Cloth and thence migrate up and down still for fresh Pasture The Men are most of them Smiths and Weavers they go meanly apparell'd without any Clothes but a blue or gray Shirt with broad Sleaves hanging down to the ground and a piece of Cloth call'd by them Baracan which sometimes they cast over their shoulders as a Mantle when they pitch they sometimes make that their Tent to sleep under in the night and in the day to skreen off the heat of the Sun The Women go for the most part clothed like the Egyptian having maskt their Faces with holes They stick in their Hair many Silver and Copper Plates and black Ear-rings and Jewels of an unusual bigness and the like on their Arms. The Daughters as they become marriagable manifest it by scratching themselves upon the Chin and Lip which they dawb over with Ink and Ox-gall mingled that give such a fixt tincture as will never wear out ¶ THe Potency and Wealth of Egypt ha's ever been famous The abundant Riches of Egypt insomuch that in Antient Times Authors have said there were above twenty thousand Walled Cities and is at present China excepted held one of the richest Spots of earth in the World Cairo onely for its share contains fix hundred thousand Jews from whence the number of the rest of the Inhabitants may be guessed as also from the great destruction in the Year Fifteen hundred and eighty one when died of the Pestilence in seven Moneths above five hundred thousand In the time of Asan Bassa there were numbred seven millions or seventy hundred thousand persons ¶ TWo Languages and two sorts of Writing were used here Two sorts of Tongues among the Egyptians one Common understood by all in ordinary Conversation the other Peculiar onely used by the Priests Prophets and Religious Votaries whose ambition led them to hopes of the Crown and Government of the Kingdom This they nam'd The Sacred but the Coptick or Vulgar The Profane Tongue Which last was also call'd Pharaohs Speech because it was usual in the time of the Antient Egyptian Kings which were call'd by that one General Name of Pharaoh I shall in brief set down the difference and propriety of them both Whence the Name Coptos or Copta took its Original Writers disagree The Tongue Copta why so named Athanasius Kircher seems among all to have come nearest deriving it from Coptos formerly the most famous City in Egypt and the Chief of the Countrey of Thebes though at this day the Ruines thereof are but mean or else from the Coptists the Inhabitants of that City by whom alone this Tongue was kept in being Here we may take notice of a great mistake among most eminent Writers The difference between Coptos and Cophtos who without distinction confound Coptos and Cophtos whereas they differ much in their signification Coptos is an antique word and found in old Authors but Cophtos is a Name invented by the Mahumetans who call the Egyptian Christians by way of derision Cophtites as if they would say Circumcised Some suppose they are call'd Cophtites Della Valla. because they followed heretofore the Erroneous and Heretical Opinions of Eutiches and Dioscorus condemned in the Council of Ephesus which did before Baptism use to receive Circumcision for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is onely a Greek Name and signifies Circumcised whence they were nick-nam'd Christians of the Girdle meaning upwards because from the Girdlested downwards being Circumcised they were rather Jews The present Cophtick Tongue The Coptick is the old Egyptian Tongue is not onely like the Antient Egyptian in the time of the Pharao's but altogether one and the same as appears by some words still in use and among the rest the Names of the Moneths whereby the Old Egyptians and the Modern Coptists name them without any remarkable difference The like you may observe in the Planets Mars was with the Antient Egyptians Moloch which the Holy Scripture so often mentions Remphan in our English Translations Saturn Refan the very word used in the Acts of the Apostles Venus is called Zahara and many Plants and Herbs mentioned by Apuleius in his Book of the Vertues of Herbs may be found very little different from the present Egyptian Names Now since no Tongue comes nearer to the old Egyptian than the Coptick we may rationally conclude that the Coptick is the true and antient Egyptian not so pure and undefiled indeed as it was in the time of the Patriarchs but by process of time the manifest mixture of People and Languages and other alterations of the State disguised and corrupted The Coptick in it self is an Original It s distinction from the Greek Tongue not a Derivative Language though some strongly argue that it is but a Greek Dialect differing as the Caldee from
Stones as the Cornalines or Cornelians the Sardis or Sardonicks ¶ THe Antient Egyptians observed onely a Lunar Year But seeing this manner of Reckoning did not agree with their Affairs but was discommodious they brought it according to Censorinus from one to three Moneths and after that to four But here we must observe all the Egyptians did not compute their Year according to the Course of the Moon for a great part observed the Solar Year but yet not the same that is now in use for it contained no more than three hundred and sixty Days which they divided into twelve Moneths giving each Moneth thirty Days This Computation was a long while used then at length growing skilfuller by experience in the Course of the Heavens and the Suns Annual Motion they added to the said three hundred and sixty five more which they call'd Nisi which year afterward was generally received for the true Civil Year and according to Horapolla call'd Gods Year Plutarch For the Egyptians call'd the Sun God and therefore it is not strange that the Sun's Year by them should be call'd The Year of God Every four years with them consisted barely of fourteen hundred and sixty Days But Gods Year fourteen hundred and sixty one Days Then at length among the Egyptians the Civil Year was brought to the Solar or Sun's Year that is every Year was lengthened a quarter of a Day that is to three hundred sixty five Days and six Hours for in so much time the Sun finisht his Course round the Zodiack and the fourth Year with the lengthening of one Day by the putting together of the four-times six hours made it a Leap-year Now that the making a Leap-year in this manner was in use among the old Egyptians among others Diodorus Siculus gives us to understand in these words Diodorus Siculus where he says That the days among the Egyptians were not reckoned by the Moon but according to the course of the Sun so that they gave every Moneth thirty days and to the twelfth Moneth they added five days with a quarter of a day that in this manner they might have a perfect course or circuit of the Year And this among the Egyptians was so antient that they had it long before Alexander the Great 's coming thither not learning it from but rather teaching it to the Romans as Eudoxus Plato's Disciple testifies who having by Services and by great Study dived into this knowledge taught it the Grecians in his own Countrey as Strabo affirms As the Year so settled was generally call'd Gods Gods year so was also every year of the four call'd by the name of one of the chiefest of their Gods The first they call'd Sothis or Thoth that is Dog from the Dog-Star for that they began their year at the rising of that Star The second bore the name of Isis or Serapis The third of Osiris and the fourth of Horus which the Egyptians also call'd Kemin Wherefore when they would represent the four years they made the Figure of Hermes or Mercury with a Dogs Face standing upon a Crocodile with a Bowl in his hand At his right side Jupiter Ammon at the left Serapis with a Figure of Nilus upon his head and an Image of a Star representing according to Manilius Isis The Coptists and Abyssines keep the same reckoning onely changing the names of the Heathenish Gods into those of the Four Evangelists calling the first year Matthew the second year Mark the third Luke and the fourth John Besides this forementioned Civil and large year for Civil affairs there was by the Priests and Astronomers another current year in use which they term'd The Mystical Year and consisted of three hundred sixty and five days bare By which means in four years they lost one full day and in forty years ten Wherefore the time of their Festivals instituted for the Honor of their Gods every year came so many days earlier For Geminus affirms That the Feast of the Goddess Isis which in the time of Eudoxus fell in the Winter Solstice in his time came a whole moneth sooner This moveable Course of the Festivals was done by the Contrivance of the Priests that they might not Celebrate them always upon one and the same time of the year resolving that they should run through all the Seasons For the Gods according to their opinion in fourteen hundred and sixty years make Progress over all Countreys and Places of the World and pass through all the Degrees of the Zodiack and the days of the Moneth in process of time that no place of the World nor part of year should be debarr'd of their necessary presence Thus far of the Computation of the Year among the Old Egyptians The Modern Christian Copticks observe a threefold Accompt The Modern Accompt of the Year among the Copticks The first from the Creation of the World and with them observed by most of the Eastern People and in Arabick call'd Abrahams Epocha The second accounts from the beginning of the Grecian Monarchy The third from Nabonassar King of the Caldees But this used by the Astronomers onely was little known There is a fourth Accompt used by the Abyssines and that is the Emperour Dioclesian's introduced by him in the nineteenth year of his Reign being the year of Christ Three hundred and two It begins the twenty eighth of August Old or the Eighth of September New Stile in the first Moneth Thoth They call it in the Arabick from the City Captos Tarich Elkupti that is The Coptick Calendar and by the Copticks The holy Martyrs Calendar or The Year of Grace and by the Abyssines in that Countrey Language Amath Mahareth that is The Year of Grace and Mercy because of the great Persecution which the Christians at that time suffered under the same Dioclesian when about Coptos onely were Martyr'd an hundred and forty four thousand The reason of introducing which Accompt we will in short set down When Dioclesian reign'd seiz'd with a raging Fury he not only insulted with strange arrogance over the Christians casting them to wilde Beasts and exercising against them all other kinds of savage Cruelty but endeavoured by all means to extirpate their Name and to that purpose he put in practise and commanded to destroy and burn up all their Religious Books supposing when that was done they would easily be brought to the practise of their Heathen Rites and accordingly upon the twenty fifth day of March being then Easter-day the said Dioclesian and his Colleque Maximian commanded and published Edicts to that end that all the Churches of the Christians in Egypt especially and about Thebes should be thrown to the Ground and the Books of their Religion destroyed And in the second place the antient manner of the Years used by the Egyptians he made to be fitted to the Roman Stile and that Account he named from himself Dioclesian in which last he so far prevailed that it took place even
Teacher of all Christians I confess that Power is given to him from our Lord Christ through St. Peter to keep and govern the Universal Church as also that none can be Saved out of that Universal Church This was the Confession which they stand to at this day The Pope is by these Patriarchs in their Letters to Him commonly thus Entituled To the Greatly Esteemed Pope Father of the Priesthood Successor in the Universal Apostolick truly Believing Church Father and Prince of Princes Christs Vicegerent on Earth Sitting upon the Seat of St. Peter Prince of the Apostles Lord Urban the Eighth After the Death of one Patriarch another is chosen out of the number of Monks residing in the Cloisters And here observe That ever since the Beginning of Christianity there were three Patriarchs by the Apostle Peter Erected in the most Famous Cities of the Roman Empire The Roman the Alexandrian and the Antiochian whereto afterwards was added the Constantinopolitan by the Councils of Constantinople and Chalcedon And lastly the Jerusalemitan by the same Council of Chalcedon The Sixth Canon of the Council of Nice held in the Year after the Birth of Christ Three hundred twenty and five annexed to the Patriarch of Alexandria Egypt Lybia or Pentapolis Arcadia and Augustanica to which afterward were added Upper and lower Egypt both Thebes and other so that at last Egypt contain'd ten Arch-Bishopricks For so many Metropolitans it pleased the Emperor Theodosius and Valentinius to call together out of this Patriarchat in a Letter to Dioscorus And indeed so far hath this of Alexandria extended it self of late that now it includes the utmost Bounds of the Abyssines There are in Egypt likewise many Calogers that is shaved Monks which follow the Greek Religion and possess many Churches and Cloisters All which live poorly sleep upon the Ground and drink no Wine but meerly so much as is necessary for the Mass  The Years of their Government The beginning of their Government after the Birth of Christ THe Archbishop or  45 Evangelist S. Mark 19 64 Anianus 22  Miliut alias Abilius 13 87 Cerdi 11 110 Ephrim otherwise the First 12 112 Justus 11 124 Eumenius 11 133 Marcianus 6 144 Claudianus 15 150 Agripini 17 165 Demetrius an Opposer of Origen 44 190 Hieroclas Follower of Origen 12 234 Dionysius a Scholar of Origens 18 248 Maximus 19 266 Theonas a Pillar of the Church 15 285 Peter the first Martyr 10 300 Here began the Accompt of the Martyrs under Dioclesian   Archillas and Achillas 1 310 Alexander 15 311 Athanasius great Dr. of the Church 42 326 Peter 12 368 Timothy 5 380 Theophilus 27 385 Cyril the Great 33 412 Dioscorus under whom began the first Rent from the Alexandrian Church 7 445 Timothy a Scholar of Eutiches 25 452 Peter alias the Heretick Gnapheus 9 477 Athanasius a false Heretical Bishop 20 486 John of which there were three viz. 10 506 Mela   Tabida   Machiota   Dioscorus the young  516 Timothy   Theodatius an Arch-Heretick   Peter alias Mogus a false Bishop   Dimanus   Anastatius  622 Andronicus  639 Benjamin  645 Agathus 19 664 John this built the Church of St. Mark in Alexandria 8 672 Isack 3 675 Simon the Syrian   Alexander 20  Cosmas 13 718 Theodorus 11 703 Choel 23 763 Mena 9 772 John 13 791 Mark 10 817 Jacob this is said to have raised the Dead to Life 10 890 Simeon 1 822 Joseph 18 845 Chael 1 864 Cosmas 7 866 Sanodius otherwise Sanitius  875 Chael otherwise Michael 25 885 Gabriel 11 923 Macarius 12 931 Theophanius killed 4 967 Mena 11 972 Abraham died poison'd by his Amanuensis or Secretary 3 976 Philotheus 24 919 Zacharias 28 1015 Senodius 25 1043 Serius Christus 30 1068 Cyrillus 14 1098 Michael 8 1112 Maccearius alter'd the Church Ceremonies 26 1246 Gabriel   John   Mark here the Years of Government are wanting   John   Benjamin   Peter   Mark   John   Gabriel   Mathew   Gabriel   John   Mathew   Gabriel   Michael   John   Gabriel   John   Gabriel this sent a Messenger to Pope Vrban the Eight  1593 Mark   John   Mathew  1635 BARBARY THis Countrey was not unknown to the Antient Romans by the Name it bears at present of Barbary since their Writings signifie they had settled therein several Colonies The Original of the Name Barbary The Arabians according to the Testimony of Ibnu Alraquiq have given to this Countrey by Marmol call'd Berbery the name of Ber that is Desart or Wilderness from whence the Inhabitants themselves were afterwards stiled Bereberes But others will have it so nam'd by the Romans who having subdued some parts of Africa this part lying opposite to them they call'd Barbary because they found the Inhabitants altogether Beastial and Barbarous Nor is it at all improbable Herodotus considering that among us it is usual to call such as lead a wilde and ungovern'd life and not civiliz'd by Education Barbarians so of old the Grecians call'd all people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 barbarous that agreed not with them in Manners and Customs But Jan de Leu saith the White Africans were call'd by the Arabs Barbarians from the word Barbara in the Arabick Tongue signifying Murmuring because their Language in this Region did seem to them a kinde of confused murmur or noise The Bounds of it like that of Beasts Barbary lieth inclosed between Mount Atlas the Atlantick and Midland Seas the Desart of Lybia and Egypt For it begins at the Mountain Aidvacal the first Point of the Great Mount Atlas containing the City Messe and the Territory of Sus and reacheth from thence Westward along the Sea-Coast of the Great Ocean on the North by the Straits of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean to the Borders of Alexandria Eastward by the Wilderness of Barcha near Egypt and on the South The Contents of it passing from thence to the Mountain of the Great Atlas The Length taken from the Great Atlantick Ocean to the Borders of Egypt is by some accounted six hundred Dutch Miles and the Breadth from Mount Atlas to the Midland-Sea about eighty two Dutch Miles which Breadth is not every where alike in it self but according to the Cantles and Indentings of the Sea-Coast and the going out and in of the Borders on the Land-side which are very unequal Other Contents of it Marmol makes Barbary much bigger accounting from the City Messe lying on the Western part of Barbary to Tripolis under which the Kingdom of Morocco Fez Tremesin and Tunis lye above twelve hundred and that part of the Sea-Coast extending to the Sandy Desart of Lybia broader than an hundred and eighty Spanish Miles To which
Length we must yet adde from Tripolis to the Borders of Barca a Countrey no less than two hundred Miles long In the Division of Barbary The Division of it among the most noted Geographers there is some difference Philippus Cluverius who seems to follow Golnitz divides it into Six Parts that is into Barca Tunis Tremisen Fez Morocco and Dara which first sets down for a Republick and the five other for Kingdoms In this lieth the Barbary is divided iâ—â—o 5 parts 141. 1. Morocco containing Morocco proper therein Rivers Tenzift Ecifelmel Niftis Agmet Afisnuall Teccubin Hued la Abid Habid Umarabea or Ommirabih Darna Sie-siva Tesethne Rio dos Savens Teculeth and Imiffen Fifteen in all Cities or Towns Morocco Agmet Elgiunâ—uhe Emigiagen Tazarat or Tezrat Tenez Gamaagidid Tenulet Imizimiz Tamdegost and Animney Mountains Nefuse Derenders Aden Atron Semmede Xauxave Sicsive Gedmeve and the Hantete Hea Towns Tedoest Agobel Alguel Teknleth Halequis Texeuit Lusngaguen Tesegdelt Tegetze Eitdevet Kyleyhat Elmuhaidin Tefethne Gazale Tafalle Zebedech Magodor Goz and Engueleguingil Mountains Ayduacal or Atlas Demensere Mount Giubel el Hand and Tenzift Sus Towns Messe Tecent Gared Tarudant Faraixa Tedsi Tagoast Aguar Gantguessen Aguilou Algazib and Samotinate Mountains Henquise Laalem Guzala and Ilde Rivers Onely one nam'd as the Province Sus. Guzula Towns Hath no wall'd Cities few good Towns but many Villages Mountains None rising there and scarce any en passant Rivers None rising there and scarce any en passant Ducala Towns The principal City Azamor Elmedine the next Magazan a place of great Strength Tit or Tut now waste Saffi a wall'd City Conte Maramor Cernu Aguz Telmez Umez Miatbir Sudeyt Tamarrox Terga Benekafiz Guilez Terrer Cea and Bulaaguan Mountains Benimequez and Jakel Hadra or Mount Verd. Rivers Ommirabih Haskora Towns Elmadine â—lendin Tagodast or Isadagas Elgiumuha Mountains Teuendez Tenhite wherein 50 fortified Castles and Guigim Rivers Tenzift and Elgua del Habid Tedle Towns Tefze the chief Fixtele Cithiteb Aitiat Mountains Segeme Magran and Dedes 2. Fex Fez a Province Towns Salee Rabat Fez the Metropolis Tefensare Maamore Mequinez Tefelfelt Gemaa el Hamem Hamis Metagan Beniz Bail Makarmede Habad Zavy and Haluan Mountains Zalagh Zathon Tagat and Gereygure Rivers Burrâ—greg Subu Fez Bath Likus Homar Guir Gomer Cherzer Melulo Melnean and Mutuye Temesne Towns Coxor Escossor Anfa a Roman Building Almansora Sala or Sella Rotima Rabat Newhayle Adendum Tegeget Hain el Chetu Maderauvan Thagia and Zarfa Mountains None remarkable Asgar Towns Larach Elgâ—umha and Casar el Cabir Ehabat Towns Tangier â—aximus Arzille Cosar Ezzachir or Alcazer Ceuta the Vionones Ezagen Beni-tuid Mergo Tansor Agle Narangia Homam and Tituan Mountains Ralione Benefenficare Beni-Aroz Chebib Angera Quadres and Beniguedarfeth Erif Towns Comere-Terga Yelles Bedis Penon de la Velez Gebba Mezemme Tegasse Seusaon and Guazaval Mountains Beni-Garir Beni-Mansor Beni-Chelid Beni-Zarval Seusacen Beni-Gebara Beni-Yerson Beni-Gualed Beni-Guazual Guarga Beni-Achmed and Beni-Guarrued Garet Towns Tarforagello Fetis â—arfoquirato Melille Casasa Tezzote and Meggio Mountainâ— Alkude Eguebdenon Beni-Sahia Azgungan Beneteusin and Guardan Cus or Chaus Towns Teurert Hadagia Garsis Dubdu Meza Sophroy Mezdega Benihublud Ham-Lisnam Mehedia Tezerghe Umengiueaybe and Gerceluin Mountains Matgara Cauata Megeze Baronis Beniguertenage Beniriftere and Siligo 3 Tunis Tunis properly Rivers Guadelbarbar Magrida Megerada and Caps or Capes Mountains Zogoan Gueslet Benitefren Nefuse Towns Tunis the Metropolis of the whole Goletta Towns Goletta the chief Marsa or Marca Nebel of old Napolis of Barbary Cammort Arriane and Arradez once a Roman Colony Carthage Towns Carthage Byserta Towns The City Biserta Choros or Clypea or Kalybby Porto Farine Mountains None but one fertile Plain callâ—d Mater Urbs and Beggy Towns Urbs Beggie Nayne Sammin and Kasba Rivers One but without Name Susa Towns Susa the chief City Hammameth or rather Mahometa Heraclia Monaster Islands Cumiliers Querguene and Gamelere Mahady Towns Mahadia or Africa Kayravan Towns Kayravan Tobute and Astachus or Arfachus Tabarca and Galita Two small Islands Tripoli Towns Old and New Tripoli Capez Machres Elhamma and Zoara Rivers and Lakes Kasarnaker Rasalmabes and Mabro The Lake Tritonis famous in Antiquity Zerbi Towns Meninx Thoar or Guerra and Sibele but scarce worth naming Ezzab Towns Ras Axara Tessuta Rasamisar Lepida of old Eoa and Ruscelli Mountains Garian Beniguarid Mecellata Towns Lard Chedicke and Eufrata Sibaca and the Philenian Altar Cyrenaika Towns Cyrene Berenice Apollonia Ptolemais and Arsinoe Alcude Sabbia Drepanum Camara Carkora Teionis Ardbry Taurka No Towns but the People live scatter'd in Huts 4. Tremesen or Algier Algier proper and Tremesen Towns Algier Tremezen Hubet Tefezara and Tezeta Rivers Zis Hued-Habra Tesne Mina Xiles Celefe Ceffay Hued el Harran Hued el Hamis Hued-Icer Hued el Quibar Sufgemar Marsock and Yadoch Mountains Beninezeten Matagara Beniguernid Tarara Agbal and Magarava Angad Towns Guagida Tenzegzet and Isli Desart Mountains Benizeneten Beniaraxad Towns Beni-Arax Calaa Elmohaskar and Batha Miliane Towns Miliana or Manliana Mezune and Tequident Kouko Towns Kouko Tamagus a good Haven Labez a gr mount Towns Tesli and Boni Tenez Towns Tenez and Medua Mountains Beni-Abukaid Abusaid and Guenezeris Tubeca Towns Thabuna Humanbar Towns Humanbar Haren Tebekrit and Ned-Roma Haresgol a particular City of it self Horan Towns Oran Sargel Towns Sargel and Brexer and the Mountain Darapula and Bresch Bugy Towns Bugy Micile or Mesele Stefe and Nekans one of the pleasantest Cities in Barbary The Village Gigery Constantine Towns Constantine Chollo Sukaycada and Estote with many Mountains Bona Towns Bona Mele and Tabarca The Isle of France 5. Barca or Marmarica Towns Raxattincase Trabucho Augele Laco Mosolomar Soudon Haven Raxa and Barca the Metropolis BARBARIA BILEDULGERID o Libye et PARS NICRITARUM TEREA ¶ THe Customs of these People are according to their Names Every man marries many Wives Barbarous For every man takes as many Wives as he pleases keeping besides Concubines and Slaves in great number They esteem the Children of one Woman no more than the other all after the Fathers Decease joyntly participating of the Inheritance In their Marrying they use no other Solemnity than a bare Testimony and Assurance which the Bridegroom makes before the Cadi or Judge whereby he acknowledges to take such a * As we had in the late Troubles Marriages before a Justice Woman or Maid for his Bride but this is of so little validity that he may put her away when he will Neither hath the Woman a less Priviledge having liberty at her pleasure to renegue her Husband onely with this difference If the Wife go from her Husband yet the Father is bound to pay him the Marrige-Portion promised But if the Man puts away his Wife he can demand nothing except he have testimony against her for Adultery The Women and Maids keep themselves so vail'd that they are not nor must be seen by such as would make Love to Marry them In like manner the Men are so
Jealous of their Wives that they dare not go open-fac'd to their Parents They have many pernicious Customs Evil Customs being greatly addicted to Sorcery and Witchcraft Whoever at any time falls sick makes an address to a Wiseman or Wise-woman as we term them who oftentimes cure them by Charms taken out of the Alcoran or Amulets or else Specifick Medicines for they have neither Physician Apothecaries or other Druggists but onely some inexpert Chyrurgeons The greatest Zealots amongst them when sick go where one of their Marabouts or Saints lie buried to whose Sepulchre they bring a great many things to eat fondly fancied to a belief that if by chance a Beast eat thereof it gets the Disease and the sick person will recover When their women are in Labor Great Superstition of the Barbarians when they bring forth they send to School to fetch five little children whereof four are employ'd to hold the corners of a Cloth in each whereof they tie a Hens Egg wherewith these Children presently run along the Streets and sing certain Prayers one answering the other In the mean while the Turks and Moors come out of their Houses with Bottles or Cruises full of Water which they throw into the midst of the Cloth by which means they believe the Woman who is in Labour is luckily deliver'd To this idle Fancy they adde another no less ridiculous to cure the Pain in the Head by taking a Lamb or young Kid which they hunt and beat about the Field so long till it fall down whereby they perswade themselves that the pain will pass out of the mans head into the beasts To countervail these bad and foolish Two commendable Customs they have some commendable Customs Pierre Dan. descript Barbar One is That how angry soever they are they never swear by the Name of God nor have in their Language whether Arabick Turkish or Morisk any particular words wherewith they can curse or blaspheme 'T is true the Renagadoes Swear desperately in their own Tongues but because they do it in contradiction of the Turks they are presently most severely punished for it The second is That how great a contest soever they have one against another they seldom come to Hand-blows but never kill The Inhabitants of the City of Barbary are very ingenious The Condition of the Inhabitants in Cities and singularly zealous in their Religion but no people more jealous for they had rather lose their lives than have a blemish on their Reputation which especially they look upon as best preserved by their Wives Chastity They covet Riches above measure but are very modest in speech The Inferiours behave themselves towards their Superiours with great humility and submission But Children shew wonderful Reverence and Obedience towards their Parents The Countrey People dwell in Tents or Booths upon the Hills and Fields The manner of the Countrey People generally dealing in Cattel they are not fierce of Nature yet very couragious they live but poorly yet are great pains-takers and liberal Whereas the Townsmen on the other side are quarrelsome vindicative inhospitable covetous setting their whole thoughts upon scraping together Money and Goods They are continual Traders but so suspicious that they will not trust any Foreigner They are great boasters but dull of wit giving easie belief to common reports and doubtful hear-says yet so cunning and false in their dealing that they will deceive the most vigilant Some of the better Sort have great inclination to Arts and Sciences They are inclin'd to Skil and Knowledge delighting chiefly in Histories and the Exposition of their Law Heretofore extraordinarily addicted to Southsaying Magick and Astrology all which about five hundred years since were absolutely forbidden by their Princes They Ride well after their manner and know with a singular dexterity to mount and dismount The chiefest Weapons of such as dwell up in the Countrey are long Launces or Javelins in the throwing of which they are wonderful ready but all that coast upon the Sea use Guns Powder and Shot The whole Countrey is very healthful The Age of the People in Barbary so that the people by the ordinary course of Nature seldom dye before sixty five or seventy years of Age In the Mountains peradventure some be found reaching a hundred years remaining to the last very strong and active but chiefly upon the Sea-Coasts where the Air is constantly refresht and agitated by the frequency of cool Breezes which have the same efficacy working upon their Constitutions so that they are seldom sickly Barbary hath a great abundance of Merchandise Barbary affords much Merchandise which are transported by Foreigners to the enriching of the Inhabitants such are untann'd or raw Hides Linnen and Cotton-Cloth Raisins Dates Figs and the like of which we will speak more particularly in its proper place Evident Signs of the great Wealth of this Kingdom in former times may be drawn hence that the Kings of Fez as they say Signs of the Antient Power of Barbary formerly spent four hundred and eighty thousand Crowns in the building a Colledge Leo Africk Peter Aviley Barbary and seven thousand in erecting a Castle and little less in founding a City besides his continual standing Pay to his Militia No less are the Riches thereof at this day Signs of the present Power as appears by the great Revenue of the Kings of Morocco and Fez the Bashaws and other great Lords of Tripolis Algiers and Tunis and the infinite Trade and Merchandise which the English Venetians Genoas Hollanders French Hamburgers and other people drive there without taking notice of the rich Spoils the Pyrates of Barbary carry in from all parts especially Spain and Italy with too much connivance of their Governours though seemingly against their Command Another signal proof of its exceeding Wealthiness are the great number of Mosques and the yearly Revenues belonging to them For in Algiers onely there are a hundred and in Tunis three hundred as many also in Fez and in Morocco seven hundred among which the chief have two hundred Ducats Annual Rent Adde thereto that the Plunder of Fez when those of Algiers became Masters of it was valued at two hundred and sixty Millions and the Spoyl of Tunis under the Emperor Charles the Fifth which he gave to the Soldiers for a Reward as much when the three chiefest Field-Officers gave each of them for their Heads Thirty Millions of coyned Ducats Moreover the Jews who have their chiefest Refuge there as in the Center of the World bring no small advantage by the liberty of their Usury The Dominion of Barbary is various as the Countrey The Government of Barbary some are absolute unlimited Kings as those of Morocco and Fez. Others acknowledge a Superior Lord as the Kings of Algiers Tunis and Tripolis who are no other than Bashaws or Viceroys or under the obedience of the Great Turk who at his Pleasure may alter the
Bashaw Another sort though Tributaries yet Rule with absolute Soveraignty as the Kings of Konkue and Labez as also the Xeques of the Arabians in the whole Countrey there is but one Common-wealth and that too may rather be termed an Anarchy than a Republick In every City where the Grand Signieur hath a Bashaw Resident In every City is a Cady a Cady is sent to administer Justice who with unlimited power Judges and Determines all Civil and Criminal Causes Every one there pleads his own Case without Proctor Advocate or Councel which course is observed through all Barbary except at Salle where the Moors who are Masters there plead with Proctors and Advocates after the Spanish way The People here are Many sorts of People in Barbary of several Religions as elsewhere of different Religions as Mahumetans Christians Jews and the Countrey People who are never congregated or make any shews of Devotion In their Mosques they have no Images The Mosques or Temples of the Mahumetans but in stead of them Six hundred Lamps sometimes in a Row about it stands a great Cloister or Hermitage wherein the Iman or Marabou that is the Priest dwells Their Prayers are call'd Sala How they pray in them and the People repeat the same words the Priest says before them and in all Gestures imitate him in several lifting up of their Hands and Heads to Heaven At their entrance into the Mosques they put off their Shooes kiss the Earth and wash their Mouths Noses Ears the soals of their Feet and Secret Parts whereby they believe that the Pollutions of the Soul are purifi'd and clens'd And during their abode there they neither dare to Spit or Cough nor so much as speak one to another but upon great Necessity They sit down there upon the Floor one by another upon Matts of Date or Palm-Trees The Women are not permitted to come thither lest by their sight the Men should fall into unclean Thoughts but they commonly perform their Devotions at Home They go to their Sala five Times a Day They perform their Prayers five times a Day that is at Day-break which they call Caban at Noon call'd Dohor in the Afternoon at four call'd Lazar at six or seven which they call Magarepe and at two in the Night Latumar but few resort at all these Times but the most Zealous none being compell'd to it They have neither Bells Clocks or Dials And when they call the People to their Devotions How People are called to Prayers certain Officers to that purpose only appointed go up to the Battlements of an high Steeple and upon a Wooden Pole set up a small Flag but this is used no where but in Barbary When this is done then the Marabou turns himself to the South because Mecha lyeth that way then stopping his Fingers in his Ears he cryes out these words with a loud Voice Lahilla Lah Mahometh ressoul Allah that is God is God and Mahomet is his Prophet Then he turns him to other Parts saying the same words By this setting up of the Flag and Out-cryes the People know what hour of the Night it is When the Marabou of the greatest Mosque hath call'd then all the other follow which they act with Ridiculous and wilde Gestures The Friday is their Sabbath call'd by them Dimanche Friday is their Sabbath-day in which most of them go to the Mosque especially in the Afternoon during their Service none Work and all the Shop-Windows are shut but after the Sala is ended they are open'd again and every one applies himself to his Business They use Coral-Beads of an equal size and in number a Hundred Their Praying upon which many times they say Sta-fer Lah which is God Bless me The Feast Ramadan Every Year they keep a Feast which they call Ramadan which continues a whole Moneth during which they abstain from Morning to the close of the Evening from Eating and Drinking but then the Marabou going to the Steeple gives them by his accustom'd Cryings leave to Eat This their Fasting is so highly esteemed that they dare not so much as drink Tobacco supposing that to be a Breach Nay the very Corsaires or Pyrates observe the Ramadan at Sea and though the Renagadoes do not so strictly bind themselves to it yet they for neglect of it are if known punished with an hundred or two stroaks on the bottoms of their Feet After this Fast and long Lent so well kept they celebrate their Passeover Their Passeover Easter or Bayran call'd by them Bayran which continues three Days wherein they distribute Alms plentifully and frequent their Mosques with great Fervency and Zeal The Priests in Barbary are of two Sorts Santons and Marabouts The Clergy or Sacred in Barbary are of two sorts whereof the chiefest is call'd Moufti who hath his Residence in Cities and hears and determines all Ecclesiastical Causes The Marabouts are in great number about the Mosques as well in Cities and Suburbs as in the open Fields where they live as Recluses or Hermits in Cells to which these Barbarians bear so great an Esteem and Reverence that they flye to them as to Sanctuaries how great a Crime soever they have committed Among these Devotees there are some who lead a strange and unusual Life Their Gestures for sometime Melancholy so working on their Imagination that no less than if Distracted they rove through the Cities bare-foot and bare-leg'd in a ragged Coat and a Staff with which they tap or gently strike here one there another which favour whoever receives accounts himself happy perswaded thereby their Sins are remitted Besides also these Recluses study Magick and such forbidden Arts undertaking to cure all Diseases and to work Love by several Incantations and the power of Numbers Of the great opinion the Antients had of Charms and Numbers hear Virgil. Carmina vel coelo possunt deducere Lunam Carminibus Circe socios mutavit Ulyssis Frigidus in pratis cantando rumpitur anguis Terna tibi haec primum triplici diversa colore Licia circumdo terque haec altaria circum Effigiem duco numero Deus impare gaudet Necte tribus nodis ternos Amarylli colores Necte Amarylli modo Veneris dic vincula necto Vanquish'd with Charms from Heaven the Moon descends Circe with Charms transform'd Ulysses Friends Charms in the Field will burst a poys'nous Snake Three Lists and each of Colours three I bound And with thy Picture thrice the Altars round Three several Colours Amarillis fetch And quickly tye in treble Knots dispatch Then say these Knots I knit for Venus sake In the City of Algier and in other Cities in Barbary are several small Mosques where many of these Marabouts lye buried whom they honor as Saints or Sacred or set before their Sepulchers burning Lamps going thither on Pilgrimage or when they are sick send Presents to obtain Remedy Those that are afflicted with the Falling-sickness are held in great
uneven craggy and full of Mountains which in some places extend twenty or thirty Miles between which and the Great Atlas are not onely pleasant but luxuriant Valleys intervein'd with Brooks and Rivulets descending from those great Hills and shaded on each side with delightful Groves reaching as far as Cairavan But that part call'd Errif near the Little Atlas is subject to Cold more than Heat so that it produces little Wheat but great plenty of Barley a very good Commodity in those parts The Fruits growing in this Countrey are very delicious the Raisins Figs Cherries Plumbs Peaches Quinces and Apricocks having a more brisk and quick Gust and the Pomegranates Oranges Citrons are more pleasing and sweet than the same in other Countreys Their Olive-Trees in Morocco Fez and Algier are very thick bushy and high but in Tunis neither bigger nor better than in Europe Here grows also abundance of Sugar-Canes and Cotton Trees Among others here grows upon the Coast of the Midland-Sea a shrubby Plant call'd in Arabick Achaovan Abiat that is to say White St. Johns Wort or White Mugwort It ha's many branches two or three Cubits high bearing an Ash-colour'd Wool with broad and deep indented Leaves black on the inside and on the outside white but in thickness and growth like the Leaves of our Mugwort the Blossoms are yellow like Grunsill and vanish at last disperst into a Powder This Plant is cherish'd here most for Ornament of several Gardens and by a modern Herbalist is call'd Cineraria that is Ash-plant and Jacobea Marina that is Sea-Saint-James-wort because it grows upon the Sea-shore and agrees with the common Jacobea or Saint-James-wort The Decoction of it taken is good against the Stone in the Kidneys or Bladder and all inward oppilations Here are numerous Herds both of great and small Cattel and in the Woody and more Mountainous Parts incredible numbers of Wilde Goats Lyons and Tygers and other Savage Monsters as also Fowl and Venomous Serpents Barbary hath in some parts Gold Mines of Metal Silver and other Mines whereof we will be more particular when we come to the distinct Territories Having thus briefly run over Barbary in general we will now descend to every Kingdom and Territory together with the most remarkable Singularities in each of them beginning first with MOROCCO MOROCCO THe Kingdom of Morocco Cluverius together with that of Fez contains the whole Countrey known to the Antients by the Name of Mauritania Tingitana so call'd from its chief City Tangier whose Inhabitants were call'd by the Greeks Maurusij by the Latines Mauri that is Moors according to their Colour which was either Olivaster or black It is bounded on the West and by North by the Great Sea Its Borders and the Bay De las Yegucas or Jumens extending along the Sea-Coast from the City Messe where the River Sus falls into the Ocean Azamor at the Mouth of the River Umarabie or Ommirabih from whence the Great Atlas makes its Southern Border and Mount Dedes divides it from the Kingdom of Fez on the North. ¶ DIego de Torres The Length according to the common Account of the Natives who reckon Distances of Places by Days Journeys says it is in Length seven Days Journey And the Spaniards have reduced every Days Journey to ten Spanish Miles which Length he takes from the said River Ommirabih to the Cape or Point Ager that parts Morocco from Tarudant which Torres shuts out of Morocco although it be a Member of Sus one of its Provinces In Breadth from Mazagan to Dara The Breadth That is 180 Miles English it hath sixty Miles and on the Sea-Coast from East to West accounting from the River Azamor to the Cape Arguer That is 150 Miles English is Fifty in which Tract lie many Places and Havens of note as Azamor Mazagan and Safy The Kingdom of Morocco contains in it seven Provinces viz. Morocco Hea Sus Guzula Ducala Escure or Hascora and Tedles ¶ MAny good Rivers either have their Spring-Heads The River Sus. or pass through this County The first of which towards the West is call'd Sus or Sous by the Inhabitants but by Geographers supposed to be the River Una mentioned by Ptolomy Now it gives Name to this Region the last and most Southerly of the whole it rises in the Great Atlas or rather that part of it named Mount Ilda adjoyning to Demenser from thence running directly down to the South it waters the Low-Grounds of Sus opposite to Tagavost where altering the course it passes to the West through the three small Cities of Messe and at length at Guertessen finishes its course into the Sea Tenzift or Tensist the second River of note derives its Head from another part of Atlas by the City Animmey in the Province of Morocco properly so call'd running North all along till passing through a Quarter of Ducala it falls into the Great Atlantick Some hold this to be the Phuth of Ptolomy whose mouth Marmol says was stil'd Asama and whose Waters were increased by the Rivers Eciffelmel or Sifelmel Niffis or Hued Nefusa and Agmet FEZZAE ET MAROCCHI REGNA AFRICAE CELEBERRIMA Eciffelmel says Marmol springs from Mount Sicsiva Eciffelmel but Sanut and others from the great Hill Hantete above Morocco whence it glides through a Level till it falls into the Tenzift aforementioned Niftis or Hued Nefusa springs from the same Hantete Niftis soon mixing its Water with that of Tenzift Agmet whose Waters are always clear Agmer takes it beginning source from a Lake in Mount Agmet close by a City of the same Name whence flowing to Morocco it sinks under Ground but afterwards re-appears following its course till united with Tenzift Asifnual springs out of the Sicsiva one of the Arms of Great Atlas Asifnual above Delgumuha whence it streams with great force and makes a Boundary between the Territory of Hea and its Neighbour falling at last into the River Tenzift The other Rivers both call'd Teccuhin which signifies Windows Teccuhin shoot forth out of the Mountain Gugidime a part of the Great Atlas out of two Fountains lying about a Mile one from the other then passing a flat Countrey crosses through the Territory of Hascora then ending in the River Niger call'd by the Inhabitants Hued la Abid Heud la Abid the Niger takes its Original a Mile from the City Bzo Hued la Abid in Mount Animmey where the Dominion of Hascora borders with Tedle it runs through a deep Vale between barren Mountains Northward still receiving Brooks and Rivulets as an augmentation of his streams There is also the small River Habid rising according to Sanutus Habid out of the Mountain Tevesson conterminates the Region of Hascora and that of Ducala at length also mingling with the Tenzift The Great River call'd by Marmol Umarabea by others Ommirabih Vmarabea and by Sanut Ommirabili derives his source from Mount Magran where Tedle borders
of Red or other Colour with Caps of Linnen or Silk and on their Feet a kind of Slippers or single-soal'd Shooes which they call Reyas The Women pride themselves in much Linnen The Habit of the Women their wide Smocks being several Ells in the hem with large Linnen Drawers or Calsoons which come down to the Calf of the Leg. In Summer they have Bonnets of Silk in Winter of Linnen in stead of a Mantle they cast over them long pieces of Cloth call'd by the Inhabitants Likares trim'd with Embroidery or Fringes which they clasp together with a Buckle either of Gold or Silver Brass or Iron according as the Wearers ability will extend which it seems was antient there by Virgils Description of Dido Virgil. In their Ears they wear Jewels rich Neck-laces and Bracelets of Pearl which they call Gagales ¶ SEveral Languages are here spoken viz. the Morisk Arabick and Gemmick Tongues The Morisk is the antient African or rather a mixture of several Tongues with a dash of Arabick for they speak it not pure because of their converse with Forreign People whereby are introduced many strange words the Gemmick is half Spanish and half Portugues There is another Speech call'd Tamacete used by the People which dwell between Morocco and Tarudant Northerly of Mount Atlas and boast themselves to come of a Christian Parentage ¶ Every Mahumentan may by the Alcoran lawfully have four Wives The Marriage-condition from any of which he may divorce at his pleasure and take other When any man intends to Wed they have a Caziz Notary and Witnesses the Notary makes a seal'd Agreement of all that the Man promises to give his intended Bride for a Marriage-Portion which they call Codaka which he must give if at any time he part from her If a Woman will part from her Husband she loseth her Marriage-Goods Besides their Wives they may keep as many Concubines as they are able to maintain out of which the King may choose one to bestow upon his Favorites They count it no Crime to obstuprate their Slaves White or Black The King hath commonly four Wives besides a multitude of Concubines with whom he companies according to the dictates of his wandring Fancy On the day of Marriage The Solemnity of Marriage they set the Bride on a Mule sumptuously adorn'd and set forth begirt with a round Canopy in form of a Tower cover'd with Tapistry after the Turkish Manner so carrying her in State through the whole City follow'd by many Muletts laden with the Goods given her by her intended Husband and attended with Men and Women in great Multitudes After this Calvalcade they go to Feasting which done they remove to a spacious and open Place where all the Kindred and Friends assemble and such as are skil'd in Horsmanship for the space of two hours exercise themselves with Lances before the Bride But Diego de Torres says Cap. 76. the Woman is carried upon a well-furnish'd Camel in a small Castle or Tower call'd by them Gayola and curiously adorn'd and cover'd with thin and single Taffaty that she may easily see through it with a great Train of Followers so is she first brought to her Fathers House and from thence to her Husband where is great Feasting and Mirth If the Husband find she was devirginated before Maquet lib. 3. he immediately sends her away with all he gave her but if he be satisfied of her Chastity her praises are sung through the City and the tokens of his satisfaction publickly shewn which also be carried through the City in token of her being a Maid this was customary among the Jews Into their Church-yards the Women go every Friday and Holy-days to bewail their dead with Blew Mourning Garments on in stead of Black Mourning for the Dead as is the fashion in this Countrey The Revenue of this Kingdom yearly brought into the Kings Chamber or Exchequer is very great and rais'd thus Diego de Torret Botero Relat. univers p. 2. lib. 2. Every Male or Female of twelve Years or according to Botero of five Years old pays four fifths of a Ducat Hearth-Money and the like of every Hearth which by them is call'd Garama For every Bushel of Beans the King receives the second for every Beast the tenth but for every sack of Wheat half a Real Besides these there are other Customs paid upon exported Goods which sometimes they raise high pretending thereby to ease their Subjects However the Christian Merchants for all Commodities either imported or exported pay great Tolls besides a large Sum of Money for License to Trade freely there Lastly The King hath full power over all the Goods of his Subjects What makes the Kings mighty and rich of whom none can claim what he possesses for his own for when the Alkayde that is the Governour of the Countrey and other Officers that take Salary die the King seizes all they left giving to his Son if fit for the Wars his Fathers Imployments but if they be little he maintains them till they can handle a Weapon and the Daughters till they are married Another Device the King uses to possess himself of the Peoples Wealth When he hath intelligence of any rich Person he sends for him and under colour of Favour confers on him some Office that receives a Salary from the Crown in which continuing to his Death makes the King a Title to his Estate which is the cause that every one as well at Morocco as Fez to prevent this inconvenience endeavour to conceal their Wealth and keep as far from Court and the Kings knowledge as possible The King also takes one Beast in twenty and two when the Number riseth to a hundred His Collectors also gather the tenth of all Fruits growing in the Mountains which the People pay as a Rent for their Land ¶ THe English Hollanders and French drive here a notable Trade The Merchandise of several People in this Kingdom carrying thither several Commodities as Cloth c. bringing thence again Turky-Leather Wood Sugar Oyl Gold Wax and other Merchandise having their Consuls resident in the Cities of Sale Zaffi and other Places ¶ THe Inhabitants of Morocco in some things differ among themselves as to Religion most of them follow the Doctrine of the Xerif Hamet The strictness of the Moroccoians in observing Mahomets Doctrine who at first was a Monk but left his Cloister in the Year Fifteen hundred and fourteen and began to set abroach the Enthusiasm of one Elfurkan declaring that the Doctrine of Ali Omar and other Expounders of the Alcoran were only humane Traditions and that men were to observe the pure and single writings of Elfurkan who was a faithful Expositor of the same And as the Turks prohibit any to come into their Mosques that is not of their Religion upon pain of Death So this new Prophet admitted all Nations as well Christians as Jews to hear
made under a good Horoscope and enabled by Art to preserve Cities wherein they are kept or set up in a victorious and impregnable condition And the Architect employ'd to place those Apples not onely used the like Arts but had by Magick set several Spirits for the constant keeping of them Many Kings have endeavour'd to take them down but still some mishap hath followed to prevent them The King of Morocco himself Anno 1500. boasted he would take and bestow them upon the Portugals as a Reward for their Service in the Defence of his State but the Commons withstood it alleadging they were the greatest Ornament of Morocco and next to the Kingdom they were fit to be preserv'd In this Palace are thirty Chambers and a Hall on all sides within and without furnish'd richly with all sorts of Imagery and appointed for places of Contemplation and Study In the midst of the whole stands a very goodly Fountain canopi'd and turrited with white Marble artificially Carved and Polished ¶ ABout half an hours Journey from the City The Garden or Montserat lieth a very stately and pleasant Orchard or Garden of the Kings call'd Montserat planted with above fifteen thousand common Trees the like number of Oranges and Dates and about thirty six thousand Olive-Trees besides many other sorts of Plants Flowers and wholesome Herbs A Rivulet cometh out of the Mountain and runs quite through it watering not onely the Plants but feeding many sorts of Fish In the midst of this lieth a four-square place wherein stands a Leopard of white Marble speckel'd with black Spots to the life at every corner and round about encompast with Marble Pillars upon each of which is a Lyon spouting clear water out of his mouth To this Garden adjoyns a Park A Park of Beasts wherein are inclosed a great number of Wilde Beasts as Elephants Lyons Deer and the like In the first Court of the Palace Moquet says appear three very stately Buildings after the Morish Fashion and adorned with Fountains The second Court hath Piazzaed Walks supported with white Marble Columns so artificially built that the best Architect may admire their Workmanship And on the ground stand many Marble Vessels with clear water where the Moors wash themselves before they go to their Sala Next this are the Habitations of the Jews The Jews Dwelling-place like a second City girt with strong Walls but having one onely Gate guarded by the Moors Many Agents or Embassadours from several Princes and States of Europe use to be here resident The ordinary Houses are low Their Houses small and slight raised up onely of Loam and Chalk but the Houses of great Persons are magnificent built with Stone and flat at the top to walk upon for coolness Most of the Mosques or Churches Churches which there are very numerous are entire Marble and cover'd with Lead The River Tenzift runs through the City whose Water the Citizens use on all occasions and serves also to drive Mills for grinding Corn. ¶ THis Province abounds with Flax The Fruitfulness of the Soil about Morocco Hemp Wheat and all sorts of Grain which it vents abroad into other parts in great quantities nor yields it a less store of Dates Figs Raisins Apples Pears Olives Nuts and the like Fruits besides Cattel which afford plenty of Milk Butter and Cheese But the tops of the Mountains lye many times covered with Snow being for the most part barren and cold and at best producing nothing but Barley Eight Leagues from Morocco Agmet upon the top of a Mountain stands Agmet in former times rich and populous containing about six thousand Families but at present decay'd and affording Wolves Foxes and other wilde Beasts and Fowl a burrow and resting place Elgiumuhe or Elgiemahe by the River Xeuxaue or Sochaiu Elgiumuhe about two Miles from Mount Atlas formerly a place well inhabited but now lieth almost waste and desolate Emigiagen or Umegiagen a City and Fort eight miles Southerly of Elgiemake Emigiagen surrounded with a stony Rock in stead of a Wall Tazarat or Tesrat or Terrasast lieth upon the Banks of Eciffelmel Tazarat five miles Westerly of Morocco and seven from Mount Atlas Teneze at the foot of Atlas call'd Guidimyve or Gedmeve Teneze three miles from the River Eciffelmel Gemaagidid call'd by some Delgumuhe Gemaagidit a fair City lying upon the high Mountain Sicsive five and twenty mile from Morocco containeth about a thousand or twelve hundred Houses The City Temelet call'd by some Temelle and Mehedie Temelet lying on a Mountain Imizimiz or Imismizi on the hanging of the Hill Guidimive Imizimiz hath below it a Road which runs cross Mount Atlas and is call'd Bureix which signifies Feathers because the Flakes of Snow oftentimes flye over this City like Doun Tamdegost or Tumeglast about five mile from Atlas Tamdegost Animmey a small City on the side of a Plain Animmey about three miles from Morocco Eastward ¶ HEre also are divers great Hills such are Nefuse or Nefise Derenders Hills of Morocco Nefuse Aden and Atron lying in the West and dividing it from Hea. Very barbarous people inhabit it who live hardly The Semmede begins at the foot of Nefuse Semmede and spreads Eastward seven miles in Length The Xauxave to the Southward of Semmede Xauxave gives name to a River rising there The Mountain Sicsive is very high Sicsive and the Hill Temelet boasts of a stately City call'd Temelet The Guidimive or Gedmeve begins at the Westerly Foot of Semmede Guidimive extending East about eight miles The Hantete is so high Hantete that at a distance it sheweth continually cover'd with the Clouds touching to the West on Guidimive and reaching Eastward about six miles to Animmey which also lifts it self up to a great heighth extending from hence Eastward to the River Tecouhin ¶ THe Constitution and Nature of the Inhabitants we will now give you a touch of as in the several places wherein they are seated The Constitution of the Inhabitants and begin with them of Morocco who are well featur'd and very white The Men delight much in Hunting and Hawking and therefore keep excellent Horses which according to their Custom they manage with good judgement They take great pleasure in keeping all sorts of Fowl which are brought to them from Mount Atlas They of Elgiumuhe are diligent in Husbandry but often plunder'd by the Arabs Those of Delgumube are extraordinary neat in their Habit proud bold-spirited but very jealous The Mountaineers are ill natur'd rough and deceitful coveting from Strangers what ever they have They go meanly Habited live as beasts and feed on Barley with a little Oyl of Olives Some few of them have Converse with Jews from whom they learn some Mechanick Arts wearing onely under their Feet artificial Soals to defend them from sharp Stones and Thorns And their best Habit is meerly a
Cloth about their Loins to keep off the violent beatings of the Snow All the aforemention'd Cities and Towns Strength and Riches of Morocco are by natural Scituation exceeding strong and the inhabitants Powerful and Rich so that if they were reduced under one Head by such a Union his Discretion and good Conduct might effect great matters HEA THe Jurisdiction of Hea Borders of the Territory of Hea. the most Westerly Part of the Moroccian Kingdom joyns to the Great Atlas which the Inhabitants call Aivakall conterminated on the West and North with the great Ocean on the South with Atlas and part of Sus and on the East with the River Eciffelmel which divideth it from Morocco The famousest Places lying in this Territory are Tedoest Tedoest heretofore the chief City of Hea was in the Year Fifteen hundred and fourteen totally ruin'd but is now rebuilt in part by the Jews who have erected there five hundred Houses Agobel Agobel a strong City on a Hill and surrounded with a Wall contains about three hundred and thirty Houses Alguel Alguel scituate also on a Hill hath tolerable Walls and the advantage of two small Rivers running through it Tekuleth Tekuleth a fair City on the side of a Hill eighteen Miles Westward of Tedoest close by the Fort Aguz at the mouth of the River Tekulet which Ptolomy call'd Diure Hadequis Hadequis lying on a Plain three Spanish Miles from Tekuleth before its Destruction by the Portugueze in the Year Fifteen hundred and eleven had Walls of Stone strengthened with Towers The Houses were of the like Materials amounting to twenty thousand but now is thinly inhabited by a few Jewish Merchants So also the next City Texevit Texevit though wall'd and water'd by a pretty large River falling from the neighbouring Hills between which it stands Lusugaguen Leusugaguen or Ilusugaguen a strong City built on a high Hill in manner of a Fort three Mile from Hadis Southward But amongst these Mountain-Cities Tesegdelt is imputed the chiefest four Miles from Texevit having a Wall of sharp Rocks it containeth about a thousand Houses and is moistned with a handsom River Tegteze Tegteze or Tagtesse stands on a high Hill five Miles from Tesegdelt the ascent to it going round the Hill as it were by winding stairs Eitdevet Eitdevet five Miles from Tegteze towards the South an antient City containing about Seven hundred Houses Kuleyhat Elmuhaidin Kuleyhat Elmuhaidin that is a Foundation for Scholars seven Miles from Eitdevet was first built in the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty by an Apostate Mahumetan named Homar Seyef who broached divers new Opinions as to matters of Religion drawing after him many Followers who did much mischief but at length after this Province of Hea had been miserably harrased and wasted he was slain by his Wife for his Incestuous living with his Daughter-in-law and all his Followers when his notorious Dissimulation and odious Debaucheries were discover'd driven out of the Countrey only his Nephew betook himself to a Fort which he defended a whole Year though strictly besieged but in the end surrendred on Articles but carried with him his malice which he wreaked on them in a perpetual enmity Tefethne or Teftane by Gramay call'd Bente but Tamusige by Ortelius Tefethue a strong City on the Coast of the Atlantick at the foot of Mount Atlas hath a Haven four Spanish Miles in length A little toward the West lyes another Gazole Tafalle Zebedech which Marmol supposes to be the same that Ptolomy calls Hercules-Road Then to the Southward Gazole Tafalle and Zebedech all places of small Importance which at last bring us to the Cape of Ozem Northward The Cape of Ozem Magador not far from which appears the Island Magador or Mongador about five Miles from the main Land Here is a strong Castle wherein the Kings of Morocco always keep a good Garrison for defence of his Gold and Silver Mines in the neighboring Mountains Goz or Gozen a safe Haven by some taken to be the Surige of Ptolomy Goz. Kurio descript Regus Morocco Engueleguingil Engueleguingil or according to Sanutus Ichillinghighil is a small City lying two Miles Southward of Eitdevet Those are all the remarkable Towns We will take a short view of the Mountains and so proceed ¶ THe first that lyes in our way is Aidvacal or rather Atlas Mountains of Hea. Aidvacal beginning at the Ocean and reaching along the Shore making a Boundary between Hea and Sus being about three days Journey in breadth Here are many populous Villages Demensere or Tensare begins where Aidvacal ends Demensere and reaches into the East about seven Miles to Nefise in the Province of Morocco it is very populous but hath no City nor inclosed Town but divers small ones and many Villages Mount Giubel el Hand or Gebel el Hadith that is Iron-Hill Giubel el Hand which Ortelius guesses to be the Fokre of Ptolomy begins toward the North near the Ocean and reaches Southward Tenzift running between Hea Morocco and Ducala but cometh not near Atlas This Countrey hath in it many small Rivers great Woods The Nature of the Territory of Hea. and pleasant Valleys yet the Inhabitants have little Corn which proceeds either from their sloth or unskilfulness in Husbandry as appears for that in several places are abundance of Fig-trees Peaches and Nuts Here is also great quantity of Honey which in part they sell but such is their stupidity that they throw away the Wax ¶ ASses Goats Oxen Sheep Deer Hares and Apes run here in great abundance so are the Horses but of a strange shape different from ours and so swift that they will run over the Mountains without Shooes catching hold like a Cat. ¶ THe usual Food of this Province is Barley-Meal unsifted Nature and Customs of the Inhabitants which they Bake with the Bran in an Earthen Pan and eat for Bread together with Elhasid that is Barley-Flower in Winter boyl'd in Water and Oyl put into it but in Summer boyl'd in Milk and sauced with Butter Other-while they eat boyl'd Flesh sometimes divers sorts of Meat together which they call Couscous ¶ THe most People wear only a piece of Woollen Apparel of the People of Hea. by them call'd Elchise made like a Sheet and ty'd about the Body so round about the Head with a piece of the same dy'd Black with the Bark of a Nut-tree But the Elder and such as are in any esteem for Learning wear round double Bonnets Their Matts which they sit on Furniture for their Houses are made of Hair platted thorow with Reeds so also are their Beds and cover'd with Hair-cloths from five to ten Yards long serving both for Blankets Sheets and Coverlid In Winter they put up their Hair under a Cap but let it hang down about their ears in the Summer They Plow their ground
with Horses and Asses intermixt and contrary to most in these parts their Women go with their Faces bare SUS THE Territory of Sus or Sous Its Borders formerly a Kingdom took name from the River Sus which bounds on the West as far as the Great Bay of * That is of great Cattel Juments or de la Yeguas Northward it reaches to Mount Atlas where touching on the Side of Hea on the South lyes the sandy Desart of Biledulgerid on the East bordering upon Guzula In this Territory on the Sea-shore lye three small Cities all known by one common name Messe being indeed rather one City divided into three parts each separated and surrounded with a Wall This was heretofore call'd Temest being seated on the shore of the great Ocean at the foot of Atlas or Aidvacal as they call it The River Sus running through the Messe A strange Temple at a place call'd Guertesen falleth into the Sea on whose shore a Temple appears whose sparrs rafters and beams are said to be the bones of the Whale which swallowed the Prophet Jonas who was thrown up again in this place The learned among them stick not to affirm That this our Minor Prophet shall appear in this Temple being so declared by their great Prophet Mahomet for which Reason they all highly reverence and preserve it with extraordinary care Hereabout are many large Whales often begrounded which the common People fancy happeneth by an occult quality of that Temple which kills all those Monsters coming that way and endeavouring to swim by it Teceut Teceut an antient City a Mile from Messe Triangular and contains four thousand Families In the middle of it stands a fair Temple through which runs an Arm of the River Sus. The Countrey hereabout is full of Hamlets and Villages but more Southerly is not inhabited but over-run by the wilde and wandring Arabs One Mile from Teceut lyeth Gared Gared founded by the Cerif Abdala about the Year Fifteen hundred on a Plain by a great Spring call'd Ayn Cequie Here is a sort of excellent * Moroquines Kids-Leather which in such great quantities is transported into Europe that the Custom of it yearly to this City produceth Thirty thousand Ducats The Principal City of all is Tarudant by the Moors call'd Tourant Tarudant twelve Miles East from Teceut and two Miles South from Atlas in a pleasant Valley eighteen or twenty Miles long This City water'd by the River Agur was formerly the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom and the Royal Seat and Chamber of the Kings of Sus. Half a Mile from Tarudant stands Faraixa built by Mahomet Cherif Taraixa before he was King of Morocco Tedsi twelve Miles Eastward of Tarudant twenty from the Ocean Tedsi and seven to the South of great Atlas was in former times very rich containing above four thousand Families but is now by their Civil Wars almost ruined Togoast the greatest City of this Territory twenty Miles from the Atlantick Togoast eighteen from Atlas and three from the Sus contain'd in former times six thousand Houses which at present are reduced to a far smaller Number Volateranus says this was the Birth-place of the antient and famous Doctor St. Augustine On the Westerly shore of the River Sus lyeth Cape Aguar Cape of Aguar taken by Ptolomy for the Cape Usagium This place in former times belong'd to the Portugues who erected there a very strong Castle by them call'd Santa Cruce and by the Moors Darumnie that is Christian-House Afterward the Portugals founded a strong City in the same Place which they possess'd a long time but at last were driven out of it by the Cherif in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty and six On a cutting Skirt of Atlas by the great Ocean Gantguessen at the Mouth of the River Sus stands Gantguessen a very strong place and more Southerly on the Sea-Coast these places Aguilon Alganzib Samotinat with the Capes of Guilon and Non or Nun in twenty seven Degrees Northern Latitude ¶ THe Mountains of Sus are Henquise The Mountains reaching from West to East twelve Miles in length Ilalem or Laalem Guzula beginning at the end of Henquise and stretching Eastward to Guzula South to the Plains of Sus Ilde the Western boundary between Guzula and Sus. All the Inhabitants of Messe maintain themselves by Husbandry The Nature of the ground of the Territory Sus. encouraged thereto for that in April and September the River Sus rises and overflows its Banks which causes a plentiful Harvest whereas if it fail in one of the aforemention'd Moneths then generally follows a Scarcity or dear Year On the shore by Messe is found very good Amber in great plenty All about the City of Teceut the Grounds abound with Wheat Barley and many other sorts of Grain as also Sugar-canes besides Dates Figs and Peaches Mount Henquise is cold and continually cover'd with Snow Mount Laalem abounds with Horses and holds in her bosom a rich Vein of Silver From Tarudant is brought Ostridge Feathers and Amber and so transported into Europe The People of Tedsi live orderly and behave themselves with great Trust and Civility The like do the Inhabitants of Tagoast whose Women for the most part are white and Handsom nevertheless there are Blacks and Tauny-Moors among them They of Messe are Husbandmen but those of Teceut ill natured proud and pervicacious Those of Henquise and Ilalem are Valiant and Generous but maintain old Feuds about their Silver Mines Lastly The Mahumetans themselves living in this Territory shew great Honor to the Body of St. Augustine which they report lyeth Buried near the City of Tagoast DUCALA THE Territory of Ducala hath for Borders Limits of the Territory of Ducala on the East the River Umarabea or Omniâ—abih and the Country of Temesne on the East the Tenzift and Cape of Cantin with part of Hea on the North the great Ocean and on the South the Province of Morocco and the River Habid The greatest length from West to East is Thirty It s Bigness and the breadth according to Marmol Twenty four Miles The Cities and Places of Note in it are First Azamor Azamor a City lying at the Mouth of the River Umarabea three Miles from Mazagan In the Year Fifteen hundred and thirteen Emmanuel King of Portugal to revenge himself of the Injury which Zeyam the Governor of this City had done him Was won by the Pertuguese in disappointing of his Marriage sent a Fleet of two hundred Ships with great Forces who coming to this City begirt it with a strong Siege and compell'd the Inhabitants to surrender The Portuguese who entred Ruin'd and Plunder'd it and not so contented proceeded further and took and wasted divers other Places The Town before this War contain'd above Five thousand Houses and is still large and populous being subject to the Moors who keep a strong Garrison in
Asgar Elhabat Erif Garet and Cuz or Chaus or Sau. The Rivers which run through or rising there water this Kingdom The Rivers and after fall either into the Ocean or Midland-Sea are the Burregreg or Burregrag Subu Fez Bath Likus Homar Guir Gomer Cherzer Melulo Melukan and Muluye The River Burregreg or Burregrag formerly call'd Sala taketh the Original in the greater Atlas from whence passing through many Woods and Valleys at last dischargeth it self into the Sea between the Cities of the old and new Salle The River Subu by Ptolomy call'd Suber one of the greatest in Barbary Subu springs from Mount Ciligo or Selego a Branch of Atlas in the Dominion of Cuz or Chaus from whence it descends with so strong and swift a Current that a Stone of a hundred weight cast into it is presently thrown out again Not far from its Head is a stately Bridge made over it After a long Course and various Meandrings it runs for two miles along by Fez enriching that City and Countrey as also Asgar with its Waters So running on till it falls into the Sea by Morocco Many lesser Streams and Brooks and particularly Guarga Sador Yuavan and Halvan as also the River Fez contribute their Streams to the augmentation of this River The River Fez runs through the City Fez the Neighbours give it an Arabick Name signifying The Pearly River known to Pliny by the title Fut as to Ptolomy by that of Phuth or Thuth The Bath rises out of Atlas and gliding through Asgar receives Incremental Helps of Gurgivora and Bunzar joyning at last with Subu Lucus heretofore call'd Licos derives from Mount Gomere running from the West through the Plains of Habat and Asgar so looking at Naravigia and Basra about two miles from the Sea makes the Island Gezire then washing the Walls of Alkasar Elquikie it pours into the Ocean by L'aracch a City of Asgar making there an excellent Haven The Homar Homar so call'd from a City of the same Name by which it flows begins in the Mountain of Habat and runs into the Ocean by Taximuxi The Guir Guir by Ptolomy call'd Dyos a small Rivulet comes out of the Mountain of Temesne and loses it self in the Ocean near Almansor The Gomer Gomer springing a Mount of that Name falls into the Midland-Sea by a place call'd also Gomer The River Cherzar descends out of Errif Cherzar and enters the Sea a little way distant from Cherzar Nokar Nokar by Ptolomy call'd Mokath and by Peter Daviyte Milukar takes its Rise out of Mount Elchaus so running towards the North and dividing Errif from Gared falls into the Mediterranean Melulo Melulo a great River descended from Atlas between Sezar and Dubudu from whence visiting the barren Desarts of Tesreft and Tafrata empties it self into the Mulukan taking Head from Atlas six or seven miles from Garcylain a City of Chaus so watering the Desarts here as also Angued and Garet falls into the Mediterranean by the City Cacasa having first received the Waters of Melulo and some others Lastly Muluye The Muluye from Atlas runs from West to East till disemboguing into the Midland-Sea by the City Ona it makes a handsome Haven by Ptolomy call'd Malva FEZ THe Province of Fez hath for Boundaries in the West The Territory of Fez Burrogreg or Burragrag as it comes from Temesen and stretcheth Eastward to the River Imnavan on the North Subu and part of the Sea between Salle and Mamorbe on the South the Mountains of Atlas Its Length from East to West about seventeen Miles The most Antient City of this Countrey is Sale Sale by Ptolomy Sala and by some Geographers Sella on the Northerly Shore of the Sea where the River Buragrag Beregreg Sala or Kumer flow into it Southerly and toward the South opposite to Rabat or Rabald which also is stil'd Salle so making the Old and New Sale Nor do the Cities onely differ in Name but the Inhabitants also those of Old Salle being call'd Slousi those of New or Rabald Rabbati being for the most part Andaluzians formerly driven with the Moors out of Spain Both these Cities are strongly Wall'd and Fortifi'd The Old in a Quadrangular Form with four Gates one of which towards the North is call'd Sidimusa Ducala from a Saint whose Sepulchre stands about an half hours Journey from thence and on the same side a less Gate by a Redoubt On the Land-side towards the East are two Gates one opening to the Burying-place of the Jews and the way leading to Mikanez the other a Percullis'd Gate like a square Watch-Tower SALEE The Arabians keep a daily Market in the Old City bringing thither Butter Wheat Barley Oyl Cows Sheep and other necessary Provisions In this Market under the Ground lies the Masmora or Common Prison for the Slaves receiving all its Light with divers inconveniences from Iron Grates lying even with the earth This was heretofore a large place of Receipt as appears by the Ruines of the Walls and Buildings but at present both in Buildings and Beauty falls short of New Sale Rabad or Rabald now New Sale almost also Four-square New Sale stands in a Valley between two high Precipices those on the Land-side much higher and uneasier to ascend than those on the Sea-shore A double Wall guards the Land-side the one old the other new between which they reserve a proportion of Land half as big as the Town wherein they Sow yearly several Grains The outer or new Wall defending the Entrance between the aforemention'd great Hills boasts an extraordinary Thickness and the Heighth of thirty Foot or thereabouts but towards the Sea lies in a manner open Three Gates on the Land-side give entrance into it one on the East The Gates and two on the South viz. The Gate of Morocco and the Gate of Temsina Close by the River upon a rising Ground standeth Asan Tower Asan a Four-square Tower so call'd adjacent to which is a Church built without a Roof above and without are Arches about fourteen hundred Foot long and three hundred broad with a square Steeple of Stone two hundred Foot in Compass the Ascent to whose Top is so easie and broad that sometimes attempting they scale the Top with Waggons and Horses The South Point of the Steeple being towards the Church stands with a gaping Rent receiv'd by a dreadful Thunderbolt Through the Church runs a Brook about thirty Foot deep and a hundred broad made in a Channel or Trough of Stone guessed to be intended as a Bathing-place for the Moors Here also a strong Castle call'd Alkassave Castle Alkassave seems proudly to swell into the bigness of a little City encompassed with thick Walls and a deep dry Trench Formerly it inclosed two hundred Houses which at present are most of them faln or falling onely one Tower remains whose Top is adorned with Mahumetan's Crescents This Castle was heretofore as a Seraglio for the King
of Morocco's Concubines to the number of eight hundred under the Guard of Eunuchs but now the Residence and Seat of the Governours Without the City lie several Sconces and Redoubts made of Loam and cast up when the Castle was Besieg'd in the Year Sixteen hundred and sixty Within these Cities are several Mosques with inclosed Yards round about and without divers Mesquites The Houses especially in Old Sale are very small and slightly built Their Houses though here and there some are richly set out with Carv'd Work and Marble Pillars Generally they are but one Story high without any Windows to the Street or other opening than the Door all their Light descends from a Loover in the midst about which the Chambers are placed the whole Edifice flat-rooft for conveniency of Walking Morning and Evening for the benefit of the cool refreshing Air. The Haven is very spacious The Haven but shallow having at low Tyde not above a Foot or a Foot and a half Water though at full Sea eleven or twelve Before the Haven lyeth a Barr passable at High Water with loaden Barks and Ships either out or in whereas when the Tyde is out they must remain at the Rivers mouth and unload their Goods into small Boats out of which Landed they carry them through the Gate Sidimusa Ducala upon Asses and Camels into the City This shallowness of the Haven compels the Corsaires or Pyrates of this Place to use light Vessels that draw little Water which proves better for the Chace and more advantageous in their Pyracies and also in escaping Ships of greater Burden whereas they of Algiers Tunis and Tripolis from the convenience of their Haven put to Sea in greater Vessels The Revenue consists in Tributes and Customs of Exported and Imported Merchandise The Revenue all which pays ten in the Hundred The Countrey People under its Jurisdiction pay the tenth of all their Land-Fruits for a Tribute And the Pyrates by their Robberies against the Christians bring no small Advantage These Cities are now Govern'd by an Alcaide The Government who with his chosen Councel manage all Affairs either Martial or Civil In the Election of a new Governour or Deputy they proceed with no regularity the Commons or Plebeians sometimes setting up one from among themselves or if it were possible below themselves as they did some few Years since when without the consent of the King or Nobles running together upon the Governours death without any the least appearance of Reason they set up in this mad fit an Ass-driver and by their own Authority impowered him but he soon after his Advancement using the same severity rough handling and menaces to his new Subjects as towards his old Slave the Ass they no longer pleased with his so rigorous Government kickt him out of the Saddle and left him to conduct by those stern Rules his old Servant Other great Alterations often happen in the chusing of Governours insomuch that sometimes it hath been known that there have been three new Governours in a Moneth so often turned out either out of the Peoples hatred to them or for their own Misgovernment and yet their whole Jurisdiction reaches no farther than over a few little Cities and some wandring Advars that is Arabs This City hath from the first Foundation been subject to Commotions and Alterations but more especially since the coming of the Andaluzian Moors that were driven out of Spain as will presently appear During the continuance of the Moors in Spain which was from the Year Seven hundred and twelve for then they made their Conquests for Six or seven hundred Years they kept possession all which time the Kings of Spain made it their Master-piece to drive them out especially Ferdinando the Fifteenth for he taking into serious Consideration the great mischief by them done to the Christians and the continual Wars wherewith they infested them in the Year Fourteen hundred ninety two set fiercely upon them who seeing themselves in a straight and even brought under the power and obedience of Ferdinando seem'd to embrace Christianity though scarce in outward appearance they were such however it gain'd them a breathing while and gave them opportunities of endeavour at least to distract that State so that in the Year Sixteen hundred and ten Philip the Third King of Spain by an Edict published the Sixteenth of January banisht them out of his Kingdom The Andaluzian Moors driven out of Spain and for fear of incurring the penalties thereof above a Million of Men Women and Children of all Sexes departed within the time limited the greatest part of whom taking Ship passed into Barbary But others spread themselves into the East about Constantinople some came into France with the consent of the King who allotted them a place to dwell in conditionally they observ'd the Roman Catholick Religion wherein by performance of their Articles they so fixed themselves that at this Day some Families of them are to be found in Provence and Languedoc Such of them as pitched at Salee were admitted with freedom by the King of Fez and Morocco believing they might be useful to instruct his People in many Trades and Handicrafts Here a while they lived Peaceably yielding equal Obedience with the other Subjects but they soon started aside and with the Money which in great quantities they brought from Spain bought Arms and some Ships wherewith they apply'd themselves to Roving and Pyracy at Sea pretending at first to take from none but the Spaniards in revenge of their inflicted Banishment though indeed and in truth their malice raged upon all the Christians 'T is true at the beginning they play'd fast and loose under pretence of Trading and Merchandise setting up Spanish Flags and Colours in their Masts and Sterns and acting all in the name of Spaniards The Andaluzjans beginning to take from the Christians as they were by Birth and Language by which they did great Robberies but at last this Trick growing stale they pull'd their Vizards off and declared themselves openly Pyrates and Enemies to all Christians Whatsoever Prizes they took they pay'd to the King of Morocco as a Tribute seven or ten in the Hundred as well of Prisoners as of Merchandise Thus for a time they continued their Subjection to the King of Morocco but still waiting an opportunity to throw off the yoak and indeed they wanted not a specious pretence for under the colour of furnishing their Ships they got into their hands the best Arms in Salee of which possessed and instigated by the natural Ambition of the Countrey they were bred in they brought to pass those Designs they had been so long secretly contriving For first they made themselves Masters of the Alkassave They rise up against the King of Morocco or Castle of Salee and by that means of the City which done they disarm'd the Moors banish'd the Natives and expell'd all the King of Morocco's Officers and for their Assistance
they invited to them other exiled Andaluzians by whose help they took up Arms and declar'd themselves no more to be Governed by Kings As soon as the King heard of this Insurrection The Agreement of the King of Fez. he immediately sent an Army thither to block up the City which by the Charm or Magick of a Rebel Santon or Marabou call'd Layassen an inveterate Enemy to the King so routed and afflicted the Royal Army that the King was necessitated to break up the Siege yet before he marched off he made with the Rebels these Articles following That they did acknowledge Him for their Chief and as a Token of their Submission should every Year as a Tribute present some Slaves That the King should appoint them Officers to do Justice and hear and decide Causes among them That the City and the Castle should remain in their Custody Thus rested Affairs for a while but the King at last got possession of the Fort and settled a Garrison in it which the Andaluzian Moors for some time murmur'd at but at length in the Year Sixteen hundred and sixty they began again to take up Arms against those of the Castle New Insurrections of the Andaluzians beleagured before by about two thousand Souldiers of Santa Crux and other Places under the Command of one Hamed Aginnivi which at last so far prevail'd that on the tenth of February the Citizens of both the Cities joined Forces with him to beleaguer and straighten the Castle though with little hope of suddenly obtaining it whereupon in the City they cast up several Works and Fortifications of Loam from whence with Muskets for want of great Guns they daily alarm'd those of the Castle the like did they of Old Salee with their great Guns On the other side the Besieged were not wanting to defend themselves both with great and small Shot which they plyed with such effect that they kill'd many as well in the Works as the Streets whereupon considering with themselves and finding their own strength too weak for their Designs They send a Chief Officer to Gailand they sent to Abdulkada Gailand Lord of Arzile Tituan and Alkazer a chief Officer to crave his Assistance whereto he presently consented dispatching thither Abdelkador Ceron to look to New Salce and Hadzi Fenis with Hadzi Ibrahim Manino to take charge of the Old City Ceron had not long continued in his new Government before he was treacherously surprized in his House his Neck broke and his Body cut to pieces whose Death as it begot no small terror in the hearts of the Citizens so it heighten'd the hopes of those in the Castle Nor did this rebellious Faction contain it self within the Walls but as other infections spread into the Country adjoyning where not onely Towns but every Family were divided into Parties by which Contrast and Separation among themselves minding solely their mad Disputes the Ground lay neglected Tillage and Husbandry thrown by whereby so great a Famine followed that in the Year Sixteen hundred and sixty many thousands perisht for want of sustenance In like manner The secret Conveyance of Provision by the Citizens to them in the Castle those in the Castle were distressed for want of Provisions notwithstanding some Citizens sent them under-hand Supplies almost daily partly out of a sense of their Duty to the King and partly out of a desire of their own gain though upon Discovery many of them were severely punished for it Besides the English were great Supporters of the loyalty of those in the Castle by sending in to them Provision of all kinds from their Ships which then lay in the River as on the contrary the French and Hollanders animated the Rebels In the end The Agreement after the Wars had thus continued a while Sid Tagar Gailand's Brother came with about Three hundred Horse from Arzile to Salee to make a Peace with those of the Castle which upon the fifteenth and sixteenth day of April in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty four was concluded to the great rejoycing of the Inhabitants upon Condition that of all the Contributions or Tenth-Moneys which the Goods imported produced one third Part should go to the Castle another to New Salee and the last third Part to Old Salee On the third of May Gailand was owned by those of the Castle for their Lord and as a token of their Joy these Volleys of Cannon-shot made Proclamation thereof and the next day his Brother Sid Tagar drew away with his Soldiers to Arzile But the fifth of October came Gailand himself in Person accompanied with three or four hundred Horse from Arzile and pitched by the River about eight in the Morning he was invited by the Governor Sid Hamed Aginnivy into the Castle which the next day was deliver'd up The Castle delivered up to Gayland beyond expectation of all that were concern'd which done the sixteenth Gayland withdrew again to Arzile having the before-mention'd Aginnivy and Sid Hamed el Xhymir Governors of it for him The tenth of December Sid Hamed Aginnivy took his Collegue Governor and put him in Hold charging him to have conceal'd a hundred weight of Silver from Sid Abdala the former Lord of the Castle and fined him a thousand Pesoes or Pieces of Eight The twenty ninth of March in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty five another of Gayland's Brothers Sid Sybi came thither and took away with him all the principal Persons of Salee whom on the second of the same month he carried to Arzile thrusting into the City a Garrison of Two thousand Horse and Foot During the time of his stay he was very friendly received by Sid Hamed however he cashiered the old Soldiers of Santa Crux and other Places who had so long guarded the Castle and not only so but took from some of them what they had and Imprison'd others These tyrannies produc'd new Commotions for on the one and thirtieth in the Morning the Andaluzians and their Complices chose Sid Abdulkadar Merino Commander in Chief sending the former Prisoner to the Castle In like manner Xache Brahim Manino Lieutenant of Old Salee they displaced and put into his stead Xache Fenis The first of April Sid Tybi with his own Hand led Sid Hamed Aginnivy out at the Gate of the Castle under the Custody of Abulkadar but after a little stay he was discharged and set at liberty with a Reward of Two hundred Ducats The same Day most of the Women also were sent out of the Castle to Old Salee but Aginnivy not contented with this as he thought too slight a reward the third day after took his Journey towards Arzile to make his Complaint to Gayland But the two and twentieth tidings came to Salee that upon Friday before their Passeover he died suddenly not without great suspicion of Poyson The two and twentieth of August the Governours of the City took Merino and Xache Fenis with one Abulkadar Roxo to Arzile and returned
hundred and fourteen set forth a Fleet to scour the Seas and also chase away the Pyrates that sculking sheltered in those Parts and in the same Spot raised a new Fortress which with the assistance of the Citadel Larache kept all the neighboring Coast and Countrey in awe and also improved the Haven for safer riding of Shipping Mequinez Mequinez and by some call'd Mecknesse and Mechnase and by the English Mikernez seventy Spanish Miles from Salee twenty from Mahmore twelve from Fez and six from the Great Atlas close by a River it is an old City by Ptolomy as Marmol says Leo Afric call'd Silde formerly furnish'd with Six thousand Houses and very strong Walls fair Churches Three Colledges twelve great Bannia's large and spacious Streets and a commodious Stream Tifelfelt Tefelfelt or Tefelfelt a small City Ptolomy's Tamusige in a Valley four Miles distant from Mahmore and three from the Ocean now nothing but Ruines and a Receptacle for wilde Arabs and the like Robbers Gemaa el Hamem Gemaa el Hamem or Gemei Elchmen or Elchmel is an old City on a Plain four Miles from Mequinez Southward East from Fez and three from Mount Atlas but much harm'd by the late Wars insomuch that the Churches and Houses stand all bare the Roofs lying on the Floors which confusion makes it rather a Den of Thieves than a City being nothing else but lurking holes for those inhumane Purchasers Hamis Metagare or Kamis Metgare Hamis Metagare close by the way that goeth from Morocco to Fez between the City Gemaa el Hamem and Fez four Miles from either of them lay formerly waste and uninhabited but afterwards by the Moors banisht out of Granada Peopled and brought to its pristine State and Condition Beni Becil or Beni Basil another City lately wasted by the Wars Beni Becil but now Repaired situate between Fez and Mequinez on the Banks of the small River call'd Heud Nye which with the Fountain Ain Zork half a Mile above the aforesaid City takes it Original out of the same Place Makarmede by Marmol taken to be the Erpis of Ptolomy Makarmede lyeth six Miles from Fez Eastward and is wasted by the same Civil Wars Habad or Rabat by some call'd Hubbed is a Castle Habad environ'd with strong Walls built by Mahumetan Priests opposite to Sale so standing that from thence they have a large Prospect of all the adjacent Countrey The Opinion is that this Town or Citadel formerly was large and very Potent but now in a low and miserable condition Inhabited by Moors and wilde Arabs that only live from hand to mouth by Forrage and Plunder having no Commerce pretending Vassalage to the Kings of Morocco Zavie or Zaquie held to be Ptolomy's Volusse built by Joseph the Second Zavie a King of the Marine Family lyeth four Miles from Fez almost wholly Ruin'd the chief remaining part being now converted into an Hospital Halvan or according to some Chanban a Wall'd Village Halvan lying two Miles Eastward from Fez at the River Sebu or Subu having without the Walls a Hot Bath with very fair Inns. But the most Eminent City of all is Fez call'd by the Mahumetans The City Fez. Western-Court and by some held to be Silde by others the Volubilis of Ptolomy This City was first founded Anno Eight hundred and one by one Idris the natural Son of Idris by his Handmaid he being a dispossessed Arabian Patriarch The Original of the Name Fez is by some brought from the Arabian word Fez signifying Gold because at the first breaking of the Ground to lay the Foundation there was Golden Oar found but others will have it from the River Fez which Waters the City It stands remoted from the Sea a hundred Miles The Form of it with rough and almost inaccessible ways to it The Form is a Quadrangular Oblong hedg'd in on every side with Suburbs all encompast with high and stately Walls wrought artificially with Brick and Free-Stone fortifi'd round about with Towers but few Redoubts according to the Modern but onely Flanker'd at the Gates which are in all eighty six some of them Water-Gates a Stream running through them So near surrounded with Hills that there remains no more Level but what the City stands upon It is divided into twelve Wards or Precincts containing sixty two spacious Markets set with Artificers and Tradesmens Shops round about above two hundred Eminent Streets together with a great number of cross and by-Lanes all which are adorn'd on both sides with large and stately Edifices besides seven hundred Mosques a great number of Colledges Hospitals Mills and common Bannia's This as to the general we shall now make a more particular Inquisition The River Fez which Paulus Jovius calls Rhasalme passes through the City in two Branches one runs Southward towards New Fez and the other West each of these again subdividing into many other clear running Channels through the Streets serving not onely each private House but Churches Inns Hospitals and all other publick Places to their great Conveniences Round about the Mosques are a hundred and fifty Common-Houses of Easement built Four-square and divided into Single-Stool-Rooms each furished with a Cock and a Marble Cistern which scowreth and keeps all neat and clean as if these Places were intended for some sweeter Employment Here also are two hundred and fifty Bridges Like London-Bridge before the Fire many of which are built on both sides that they are not onely Thorow-fares but of all Trades there There are eighty six publick Springs or Wells which afford the Citizens abundance of Water besides six hundred other in Palaces Hospitals and great Buildings The Houses are artificially built of Bricks The Houses and Stones their Fronts Carved out with all sorts of Imagery the Rooms and Galleries of Brick and Tile and pourtray'd with Flowers and variety of Colours and for the greater lustre they shine with a rare Varnish The Cielings and Beams of the Rooms are commonly Gilt Carv'd and Painted with delightful Colours the Roofs are flat and artificially laid with Pavements which in Summer are cool Reposes Here their Houses are two or three Stories high with Galleries the middle of the House lying always open with Rooms on each side having high and broad Doors furnish'd to the whole Length with a great Press or Chest of Drawers in which they lay up their Habits or what ever else they have a great esteem for The Galleries rest upon Pilasters made either of Brick or Marble painted and varnished over after the manner of a Piazza or Terrast-Walk Many Houses have Stone Cisterns ten or twelve Cubits long six or seven broad and six or seven Foot deep handsomely painted and varnished over under which stands a Marble Trough receiving the redundant Water of the Cistern They are kept pure and clean though never kept cover'd but in Summer when Men Women and Children bathe in it The Houses have also
commonly peculiar Turrets something elevated from the rest in which when they go abroad they secure their Wives who to pass the time with more content from thence have a full Survey of the whole City Of the seven hundred Mosques there The Churches above half a hundred are very spacious and of great Reception and stately built on Marble Pillars mingled with Stone Fountains on the Tops They are built after the manner of our Churches in Europe vaulted with Wooden Arches but the Floors are cover'd with matted Rush so close and neatly joyn'd together that the Seams can hardly be seen nor any dust come through And the Walls also in the same manner matted above six foot high The most Eminent Mosque in this City The chief Church is call'd Karuven which Gramay says is half a Mile in Compass with thirty Porticoes every one of an extraordinary Heighth and Breadth with a Roof of an hundred and fifty Cubits long and eighty Cubits broad The Tower or Steeple of it whence they daily cry aloud and set up certain Flags to give notice to call the people to the Sala or their Divine Service is exceeding high and being built not Square but Quadrangular Oblongo stands supported in Breadth with twenty and in Length with thirty Marble Pillars under which are always above four hundred Vessels of Water to wash in before Prayers Round about stand several Cloisters each of forty Cubits in Length and thirty in Breadth wherein all sorts of Church Utensils as Oyl Lamps and Mats are kept There are in that Church above nine hundred Arches with Marble Pillars at each of which hangs a lighted Lamp About a Mile from hence lieth New-Fez a glorious Structure New-Fez built by one Jacob son of the First Abdullach of the Marine Family in a rich and delightful Plain one Arm of the River on the Northside runs into the City and the other makes its Entry on the Southside taking a view of the Castle and the Colledge of King Abuhinam who nam'd it The White City but the common People New-Fez Founded at the first onely to be the nearer to the King of Telesin who at the beginning of his Reign had been his great Enemy He divided it into three parts the first allotted to be the Kings Palace It was divided into three Parts and a Residence for the Children and Brothers of the King wherein were contained many Gardens stately Mosques and Chambers for Accounts and Receipts of the Revenue Round about were Mansions for Artificers in the midst Dwellings for Receivers Treasurers Labourers Notaries Accomptants and Secretaries Near the Treasury-Chamber was the Goldsmiths Row and other Conveniences for the Assay-Master and Master of the Mint The second Part he set out for a Palace for his Courtiers Officers and chief Men contain'd within a Line of Fifteen hundred Paces from East to West and adjoyning to a Market set round about with Shops of Merchants and Artificers The third Part was at first the Quarters of the Kings Life-Guard but now is for the most part Inhabited by Jews and Goldsmiths This New City hath no fewer Mosques Baths and Colledges than the Old Here is an ingenious Water-Work the Invention of a Spaniard having many great Wheeles each of which turn but once round in four and twenty Hours and convey Water out of the River into Cisterns from whence again through Leaden-Pipes the Palaces Gardens Mosques Baths and Colledges are all plentifully served This City was brought to full Perfection in an Hundred and forty Years being environ'd with strong Walls and accommodated with Conveniences and Ornaments fit for a City except the fore-mentioned Water-Work which it had not of divers Years after being only contented with Water brought thither from a Spring ten Miles distant through Pipes by the contrivance of a Genoese ¶ THe Mountains of this Province are Zalagh Zarhon Tagat and Gereygure Zalagh somewhat more than half a Mile distant from Fez Northward The Mountains of Fez. beginneth on the East-side of the River Subu and extending four Miles Westward on which is scituate Lampte a fair Town supposed by Marmol to be the Bobrise of Ptolomy Zarhou call'd by the Inhabitants Zarahanum appearing first in the Plains of Eceis or Aseis three Miles from Fez and stretching eight Miles Westward It is properly under the Jurisdiction of Mequinez and contains forty Hamlets or Villages lying among the Green Olive-Trees wherewith it is every where abundantly shadowed Titulit standing on the top of it was formerly the Chief City of this Territory two Miles in Compass but by King Joseph of the Race of the Almoraviden utterly destroyed and hath ever since remain'd waste only that fifteen or twenty Alsakues or Priests reside there in so many Houses standing about the Mosque Some report there yet remains a City commonly call'd Elkazar-Pharon that is Pharaoh's Palace but by Geographers Kazar Zarahanum being three Miles from Titulit with a small River on each side and shadowed round about with Groves of Olive This City was ruined the same time with Titulit there being at present no other Remainder of it but a Market-place call'd Larbaa el Haibar frequented every Wednesday by the People of Fez and Mequinez But Dar el Hamare which Marmol thinks is The Epitiane of Ptolomy stands here yet without any injury and well Peopl'd though the Inhabitants are mightily terrifi'd with Lions coming thither frequently to seek Prey At the Foot of this Mountain near the way from Mequinez to Fez appear the Ruines of Gemae formerly call'd Gotiane destroyed by King Abu-saiid of the Benimerin Race Tagat or Togat two Miles West from Fez and extending from West to East two Miles as far as the River Bu Nacer Guerygure is very populous close to Atlas three Miles from Fez between the Plains of Eceis and Adhasen Here rises the Head of the River Aguber that after a short Western Course joyns with the Stream Beber ¶ IN this Province also six Miles from Fez lie the Plains of Eceis or Aseis full of Villages and Inhabitants and Beniguarten Vale containing about two hundred Residences of the Arabs This Jurisdiction produceth great abundance of Grain The Quality of the Soil of the Territory of Fez. Cotton and Flax even to admiration as also variety of Fruits especially Figs Almonds Olives and large Grapes Horses Camels Oxen Sheep Goats Deer and Hares breed here in great numbers But this Plenty of all Necessaries is attended with a great Inconvenience for the Air of the Countrey ten Miles in Length and five in Breadth Westward from Old Fez is infectious and unhealthful causing in the Inhabitants a pale yellow Colour and casting them into malignant and other mortal Diseases The whole Countrey is full of Gardens wherein grows Flax Melons Citrons Beets Herbs and all sorts of such Plants in such vaste quantities that it is said that the Gardeners in Summer bring five thousand Waggons with Fruit and Herbs to Market and
toward the Sea are Cape Cocor The Cape of Cocor a few Miles Northward of the River Ommirabih Escossor Cabo del Camelo that is Camels Cape and the City Anasfe or Anfa built by the Romans on the Coast of the Atlantike Twenty Miles North from Atlas Eighteen Westward from Azamor and about Nineteen from Rabat here is a strong Fort built by the Arabians who keep in i◠a great Garrison This City triumphed formerly in stately Mosques magnificent Palaces Shops and Warehouses of rich Merchandise of all which at present nothing remains but decayed heaps of Rubbish This desolation was thrown upon it by the Portuguese in so fatal an hour that it hath never been repaired Almansora or Mansora was built by Almansor King of Morocco Almansora by the River Guir in a delightful Plain Two small Miles from the Ocean and about Twenty from Rabat now thinly inhabited by the Arabians Sala or Sella a Place distinct from the beforementioned Salee Sala built by the Romans on the River Buragrag Two little Miles from the Atlantike and One from Rabat King Mansor erected here a stately Mosque and Princely Palace with a Marble Portico and Chappel adjoyning artificially beautified with all manner of Carved Work wherein he had ordered his Body to be laid after his Death which accordingly was performed and a Marble Stone whereon was Engraven an Epitaph laid at his Head and another at his Feet and ever since all his Successours have been there Interred On the same Shore you may see Rotima the Cape of Sale or Sala Rotima and some small Islands the greatest of which is supposed to be the Pena of the Ancients Rabat a great City thought to be the Oppium of Ptolomy and Key of Barbary scituate upon a great Rock to the East of the River Buragrag which there falls into the Ocean hath for its defence a strong Castle and for Ornament many Mosques Palaces Shops and Bathes without on the South-side standeth a high Tower discernable far off at Sea and consequently a good Mark for Sailers Half a Mile from hence lies the ruinous City Menkale ¶ INland Places are Nuchaile a small demolished City Adendum Nuchaile Adendum formerly called Ekath Four Miles from Mount Atlas and Seven from Nuchaile Tegeget or Tegegilt near the River Ommirabib in the Way from Tedle to Fez Tegeget Hain el Chelu a small but populous City upon a Plain Maderauvan Hain el Chelu Mader-Anvan or Madaravan formerly Dorath seated on the River Buragraph Six Miles from Atlas Thagia Thagia or Dagia is a small City forty Miles from Fez heretofore a Place of great note for the Sepulchres of divers Holy Men who miraculously restrained or drove away the Lyons for which kindness the Inhabitants of Fez and other Places go Thirty yearly in Pilgrimage with much seeming Devotion Zarfa Zarfa a meer heap of Ruines yet affording shelter to some Countrey people ¶ THe Soyl of this Province is every where Flat The Quality of this Territory and Fertile by reason of the River wherewith it is Watered yielding great store of Corn especially in the Plains of Anfe which as also Mansora Rabat and Zarfa abound with Fruits especially Oar by the Inhabitants call'd Rabih in Shape like a Cherry but having the Taste of * A pleasant Pectoral Fruit. Jujubes they bear also excellent Melons which growing ripe in April before those of Fez and carried thither find a quick Market and so their Grapes But Thagia by reason of the coldness of the Air is so Barren that it affords neither Corn nor Fruits yet sends forth great store of Honey which yields to the Inhabitants a profitable Return Goats are here very numerous so also very fierce Lyons and Leopards whose daily ranging strikes great terrour into the people The Pastures of Tegeget feed all sorts of Cattel Adendum and Mader Auran from their own Veins furnish them with Iron ¶ THe Citizens of Anfe go neatly Clad The Manners and Constitutions of the Inhabitants and drive a great Trade with the English and Portuguese but that that proved most to their prejudice were their Pyracies especially those committed upon the people of Cadiz which not onely took away the kindness of Commerce but turned their Trading Friends to Enemies Those of Thagia were Dull Clownish and Ill-natured Temesne was formerly so mighty and populous The Power of the Inhabitants of Temesne that it sent into the Field again Joseph-Aben-Tefzin the first Builder of Morocco an Army of Fifty thousand Men to drive him out of the Countrey but upon the approach of the King's Forces such a Panick fear consternated their minds that they fled not making the least resistance to Fez King Joseph pursuing them at their heels into their Countrey which he laid waste burning and destroying all before him The King of Fez also fearing the Conquerour not onely refused to give protection to those that were by flight come thither but fell upon them with equal fury making the like slaughter which violent prosecution raging against them so fiercely for ten whole Moneths the Countrey was in a manner utterly depopulated and Temesne a harbour for wild beasts After a Hundred and fifty years King Mansor finding it then unpeopled gave it to some Arabians who inhabited there near Fifty years but them together with Marcer were expelled by the Kings of the Family of Lunfun And since that the People of Zanete and Haore by the Marin Princes were Seated here viz. about the Year Fifteen hundred and therein have so well thriven that the King of Fez is jealous of them having a watchful Eye over their Actions yet holding a Peace with them and unwilling to stir up any animosities as knowing they are able to bring into the Field Threescore thousand Men and have under their Command Two hundred Forts and Castles La RACHE AZGAR AZgar Borders Nothward on the Great Ocean to the West The Borders of Azgar on the River Buragrag East on the Mountains Gemere Zarhon and Zela South on the River Bunasar The length about Eighteen Miles and the breadth Three Sea-Coast Towns are these Larache Elgiumha Casar el Cabir Larache by Ptolomy call'd Lixa and by Pliny Lixas and by the Moors Larache as Sanutus and Marmol say Elharis lieth about six Miles and a half from Arzille in the heighth of thirty four Degrees and thirty Minutes North Latitude at the Mouth of the River Lecus or Lix This City which Gramay and others conceit to have been the Gardens of Hesperides and Sanutus the Royal Court and Residence of Antaeus and the Place where Hercules Wrastled with him hath long been and still is one of the most convenient Forts the Kings of Fez enjoy and the surest Opposer both of the Spanish and Portugal Forces when with greatest fury they pursue the Moors in these Parts But in the Year Sixteen hundred and Ten which was the good fortune
The chief Places thereof lying on the Coast of the Mediterranean-Sea Comere are Comere lying close by three little Islands the first of which some hold to be Penon and the two other the Cliffs Tarfonelle and Nettegalle The City Terga by Marmol call'd Targa and built as Sanutus says by the Goths about twenty miles from the Straits of Gibraltar contains near five hundred Buildings Yelles Yelles a little Sea-Town two miles from Bedis hath a safe though small Haven Bedis Bedis by many call'd Bellis as cohering with the Spanish Name Velez is by the Inhabitants nam'd Deirath Bedis and by the Learned thought to be the Akrath of Ptolomy It stands between two high Mountains containing six hundred Houses an ill fortifi'd Castle and a small Dock on the Shore where commonly Galleys and other small Vessels or Boats are built About a thousand Paces from thence Penon de Velez upon a Rock in the heighth of twenty four Degrees and twenty Minutes Northern Latitude stands Penon de la Velez that is The Rock of Velez sever'd from the firm Land by a small Channel that affords a safe Harbour for ten or twelve Gallies It is a very strong place guarded with several Forts the chiefest of which is built upon the heighth of the Rock accessible by one onely cut way some stand in the middle and others at the foot so that it seems almost impregnable Gebba Gebba a small decay'd Town eight French Miles from Velez Near Point Oleaster Mezemme mention'd by Ptolomy Marmol places Mezemme or Megeime by some held to be the Teniolonga of Ptolomy seated on the side of a Hill on a great Plain nine French Miles long and three broad through which the River Nakor passing divides Errif and Garet But now so waste that the wilde Arabs desert it Towns more to the Inland are Tegasse a little Place two miles from the Mediterranean-Sea call'd by Marmol Tagaza and thought to be the Thalude of Ptolomy Seusaon Guazaval Then Seusaon and Guazaval remarkable for nothing but their inconsiderable meanness ¶ THe Mountains here have few Habitations The Mountains of Errif but poor Huts cover'd with Straw or Barks of Trees Such as they be take as followeth First Bentgarir or Beni Oriegan close by Targa three miles long and two broad Beni Mansor three miles long Bucchuia or Botoia in Length four and in Breadth three miles Benichelid or Beni Quilib in the Road between Bedis and Fez. Beni Jus four miles long and three broad Benizarval and Benirazin fronting the Mediterrane Seusacen or Xexuen reported to be the fairest Mountain of Africa The Beni Gebara high and craggy Beni Yerso and Hagustan well inhabited Benigualed and Beni Iedes high and almost unpassable Alkas twelve miles from Fez. Beniguazeual ten miles long and five broad shewing one City and an hundred and twenty Villages Guarga Beni Achmed or Beni Hamet four miles long and the like in Breadth Beni Egenefen or Beni Zanten Beni Mesgilda Beni Guamud all bordering on Fez from which divided by a River ¶ THis Province bears good The Condition and Quality of the Territory tall and streight Timber but little Grain of any sort Of Grapes Figs Olives Quinces and Almonds there is pretty plenty but no Cattel besides Goats Asses and Apes with a sort of Beeves no bigger than yearling Calves The Water abounds every where but in many places so muddy that it is scarce potable by reason whereof the People fetch their water to drink from Pits and Ponds without the City ¶ MOst of the Inhabitants of these Places have great Swellings under their Chins like the People in the Mountains of Savoy and Dauphine The Customs of the Inhabitants but the reason unknown except it proceed from the drinking that Water however it much deforms them They are blockish stupid and given to Jealousie and all other kinds of Beastiality These are not so curious of their Wives but in other parts of the same Jurisdiction they are as careless it being customary That when a Woman dislikes her Husband she will go presently to a Neighboring Mountain leave her Children and take another And this is the cause of continual Wars between them And if by chance at any time they make peace the Man who hath the others Wife is bound to give all the Expences to the first Husband during the time of their Cohabitation They fare very hardly living of Barley or Oat-Bread salt Sprats and Eggs accounting Goats Milk Bean-Broth and boil'd Mosch a great Dainty GARET GAret the sixth Province of Fez butting East on the River Mulaye West The Borders of Garet on the River Nakor on the North on the Midland-Sea and South on the River Mullulo and the Mountains close by Numidia is divided into three Parts The first compriseth the Cities and Plains the second It s Partition the Mountains and the third the Wildernesses The first containing the Cities is accompted sixteen miles in Length and forty in Breadth On the Mediterrane stand the Cities Tarforagello Fetis and Tarfoquirato with the Mountain Alkudie so call'd by the Arabians but Marmol takes it to be Abyle Alkudie one of Hercules Pillars at whose foot lies Cape Trident or The Point of three Forkes by Castaldus call'd Cabo de tres Forcas and by Oliverius Cabo de tres Orcas supposed to be the Metagonitis of Ptolomy the Metagonium of Strabo and Sestiana of the Antients It shoots far into the Sea with a Point from which Eastward lie three small Islands in form of a Triangle besides one great one nam'd Abusam in the heighth of thirty Degrees and twenty Minutes Melille formerly Ryssadirum or Ruisar Melille by the Inhabitants call'd Deirath Milila having a convenient Haven in the Midland-Sea was heretofore the Head-City of this Territory In the time of the Goths strongly wall'd and so flourishing under the Mahumetans that it contained above two thousand Houses But in the Year Fourteen hundred and ninety seven the Duke of Medina Sidonia won it and at this day it is one of the Spaniards Principal Strengths in Africa excellently Fortifi'd and commanded by a Castle well provided of all Habiliments necessary either for Offence or Defence About six miles from Melilla near Cape Trident or Metagonites lieth Casasa Casasa by the Portuguese call'd Cabo de Casasa where formerly because of the Conveniency and Safety of the Haven the Venetians drove a great Trade of Merchandise with the Inhabitants of Fez But by the Diligence of Ferdinand King of Aragon and Castile the Moors driven out he annexed it to the Kingdom of Spain Places further from the Sea Tezzote are Tezzote mounted on a Rock ascendible onely by Winding-Stairs Meggeo And Meggeo a small Town two miles Southward of the Midland-Sea and about four to the West from Tezzote ¶ BEsides Alkudie The Mountains of Garet and the Point of three Forks here are several
other Mountains viz. Equebdenon or rather Mequeb Huan a large one boasting seventy two small Villages before the Spaniards had Casafa but since that much thinner of Inhabitants Benisahia reaching Eastward from Casafa to the River Nokor in Length eight miles and containing about an hundred and eighteen Villages Besides Azgangan Beneteuzin and Guardan remarked onely for their Monuntainous Qualities ¶ THis Dominion The Constitution of the Territories though it hath many yet wants some Necessaries for humane Sustenance particularly Water many Places having no other than the Rain-water they can catch The whole Countrey except the Hill Benesahid being dry and barren like the Desarts of Numidia ¶ THe Desarts feed abundance of all sorts of Cattel the chiefest Riches of the Inhabitants So also the Mountains Echebdeaon Benesahid and Azgangan But those Mountains about Meggeo inclose in their Bowels much Iron which they barter or exchange with the Merchants of Fez for Oyl ¶ MOst of the Inhabitants are very generous The Manners or Customs of the Inhabitants milde and affable especially the Citizens of Meggeo and the People of Benesahid And such is their Temperance that they drink no Wine although their Neighbors of Erriff make great quantities CHAUS CHaus The Borders of the Territory of Chaus by Marmol call'd Cuz the seventh and last Province but not the least of this Kingdom being in effect a third part of the whole having on the East the River Zha or Ezaha to the West that of Guraigura in Length from East to West near forty six miles and in Breadth about forty It s Bigness For it contains all the Parts of Atlas over against the Moors Countrey a great part of the Plains of Numidia and the Mountains bordering upon Lybia Teurert is placed among the chiefest Cities of this Jurisdiction Teurert scituate on a Hill near the River Zab fronting on the North the Desart of Garet to the South looking on the Wastes of Adduhra on the East those of Angah bordering on Telensin and in the West on the Wildes of Tafrata adjoyning to Tezza Hadagia Hadagia a little Town erected at the Conflux of the Rivers Melule and Muluye first spoil'd by the Arabians of the Desart Darda and afterwards during the Wars of Teurert utterly demolish'd But the Turks have re-peopled and beautifi'd it so that now it flourishes no less than at any time heretofore Garsis formerly Galafa erected upon a Rock near the River Muluie Garsis five miles from Teurert fortifi'd with a Castle and made a Store-house for Corn by the Marin Kings The Wall and all the Houses built of Black Touch. Dubdu a very Antient City Dubdu in the heighth of twenty five Degrees North Latitude upon a high Mountain principally inhabited by the People of Zenete Meza or Tezar a strong Town two miles from Mount Atlas twelve from Fez. Meza forty from the Great Ocean and seven from the Midland-Sea in former times was accounted the Third of the whole Kingdom having a far greater Mosque than any in Fez and five thousand Houses all meanly built except the Palaces of the Nobility and Colledges which carry more state The Jurisdiction of this City is very great and comprises several Mountains upon which several People dwell Sophroy a little City at the foot of Mount Atlas Sophroy four miles Southward of Fez close by the Road leading to Numidia Mezdaga another small place three miles West from Sophroy Mezdaga and four to the South from Fez environ'd with a good Wall but the Buildings very slight yet each house necessarily accommodated with a Fountain of Water Benihublud of old call'd Beuta distant from Fez three miles Benihublud and water'd with several Streams flowing from the adjacent Hills Hamlisnan otherwise nam'd Ain el Ginum that is The Fountain of Idols Hamlisnan because in old time the people meeting in the Temple scituate near a standing-Pool did commit all sorts of uncleanness Menhdia or Mehedia seated upon Mount Arden Menhdia about three miles from Hamlisnan formerly in the Civil Wars of the Countrey laid waste but since Peopled anew and repair'd by the Arabians Tezerghe a small City built in form of a Castle by a Rivers side Tezerghe at the foot of Mount Cunâ—igelgherben Umengiveaibe and Gerceluin two old decay'd Towns Vmengiveaibe Gercelum the first not far from Atlas the later near the Mountain Zis now of little note but heretofore strongly wall'd by the Kings of the Marin Family ruling in these Parts ¶ WIthin this Tract of Land are two great Plains the one call'd Sabblelmarga that is The Field of Contention being forty miles long and ten broad having neither Houses or Towns but a few small Huts lying here and there dispersedly the other vulgarly nam'd Azagari Commaren ¶ Mountains here be Matgara or Matagara two miles from Teza Mountains difficult to be climb'd up by reason of the narrowness of the way Cavata no better condition'd than the former yet contains fifty Villages with two fair Springs that feed and supply two Rivers Megeze shewing forty Villages Baronis noted onely for the Name Beniguertenage reasonably Peopled Guceblen otherwise call'd Guibeleyn thirteen miles in Length and two in Breadth neighboring upon Dubdu and Banyasga Benirifften and Selelgo or Ciligo out of which runs a River with so strong a Fall downwards that will drive before it a stone of an hundred weight The River Subu also takes his Rise from hence being the greatest in all Mauritania There also appear the Mountains Benyazga and Azgan which last in the East Butteth upon Selelgo West on the City Sophroy South on the Mountains above the River Muluye and to the North on the Plains of Fez Mount Miabir that is Hundred-pit Hill upon whose top stand some old Buildings near which there lieth a deep Hole or Pit that they can find no bottom of it by Fathoming Cunaigelgherben or Condigetherben not far from Miabir but altogether without Inhabitants partly by reason of the vehement and sharp Cold and partly for the multitudes of Lions and Leopards there breeding upon whose top riseth a high Rock frequented with infinite Flights of Crows and Ravens whence some imagine the Mountain took Name Kunai-gel-gherben properly signifying a multitude of Ravens The passage by it is dangerous in regard oftentimes out of the North so strong Drifts of Snow rowl from thence that Travellers have been buried under them without hopes or possibility of recovery Yet the Neighbouring Arabs called Beni Essen usually frequent them for the coolness of the Water and refreshment of the Shades The Mountains Benimerasen and Mazetraze Mezitalze the last from West to East about ten miles in length and four miles in breadth borders upon Temesne Mount Zis thirty four miles long and fourteen broad Butting East on Mazetraze West on Tedle and Mount Edis South on part of Numidia called Segelmesse and North on the Plain of Edeksen and Guregra
after a long Northern passage Marries the Sea Eastward of Metafuz near the Village of Beni Abdala Hued el Quibir Hued el Quibir by the Spaniards and Portuguese named Zinganor and taken for the Mazabath of Ptolomy shoots from the beforementioned Mount and falls into the Sea near the City Bugie Sufgemar Sufgemar the Ampsago of Ptolomy rising in Mount Auras having watered several dry and thirsty Plains gives a Visit to Constantine afterwards augmented by contributary Water of Marzoch empties it self into the Midland-Sea Yadoch Yadock or Ladoch proceeding from Atlas Eastward of the City Bona unites with the Mediterrane ¶ THe Constitution of the Air in this Climate is so temperate The Air or Climate that the greatest Heats doth not parch the Leaves of the Trees nor do they fall off with the Cold. In February they commonly Blossom and in April the Fruits have a visible greatness so that in the beginning of May they have ripe Cherries and Plumbs and towards the end Apples and Pears in June Grapes fit to be gathered but in August all later Fruits viz. Figs Peaches Nutts and Olives attain a perfect maturity ¶ THe Land here is for the most part barren dry and rugged The kind of Land full of great Desarts onely the Plains Northward between Tremecen and the Midland-Sea produce good Pasturage and Feeding for Cattel and great quantities of Fruit and some Corn. ¶ THe Desarts breed Lions Ostriches Hedg-hogs Wild-Swine Harts The Beasts Camelions Leopards and Apes besides great quantities of Wild-Fowl ¶ THe Cities here are but small and thinly peopled yet conveniently seated and inhabited chiefly by Merchants who live in very noble Equipage by Trafficking into Guinee Biledulgerid and several parts of Negroe-Land The People of this Region come from several Nations The several sorts of People in Algier and therefore each differing from other both in Religion and Customs The first are Native Turks which out of Poverty remove hither out of the Levant or the East for Profit and Gain where they become Souldiers of Fortune The next are High-Land Moors called Kabaylees and Asaguen constantly following the Turks Colours both in War and Peace Then Jews and Moriscoes Exiles of Andaluzia Granado Aragon and Catalonia Besides Slaves of all Countreys dispersed every where especially in the City of Algier Without the Cities dwell none but Moors and Arabians commonly called Larbusses Arabians and Larbusses who usually make their Residence by the Rivers sides in Hutts or Tents two or three hundred together which they call Douar and one single Tent Baraque as we mentioned at large in our General Description Other Arabs range through the Desarts in great numbers not fearing the King of Algier by whose Armies if at any time overpowered they fly to the Wilderness of Biledulgerid whereinto they cannot be pursued so that the most of them at all times live in freedom Therefore Algier it self did give them a general Pension to live peaceably but now most of them pay Tribute to Algier fetched from them yearly by the Janizaries In Tremecen is another sort of Warlike People named Galans of Meliava and divided into five Tribes viz. Uled Abdala Uled Muca Uled Cacix Uled Suleyman and Uled Hamar who command and enslave the Brebers both of Algier Tenez Brebers and Bugie TREMECEN or TELENSIN THe Jurisdiction of Tremecen or Telensin formerly a distinct Government Trenecen was formerly a particular Kingdom but now incorporated to Algier of which we shall first treat though somewhat improperly in regard it is not the chief Province but because of its Neighbourhood to Fez Marmol p. l. 5. Gramay l. 7. Sanut l. 5. and for the more orderly viewing the Goasts of Barbary It derives the Denomination from the principal City named by the Affricans Telimicen but by the Europaeans corrupted into Telensin comprising formerly the Cities of Tremezen Teuzegzet Zezil Guagida Ned Roma Teberrit Ona Haresgol Hubet Tefezara Tezela Agobel Barha Marka Elquibir Oran Canastel Arzeo Mazagras Mostagan and Beni-arax together with the Desart Angued or Angad and the Mountains Beninezeten Matagara Beniguernid Tarara Agbal and Magarava but now circumscribed in narrower Limits The Cities yet left are Tremecen Hubet Tefezre and Tezele with the Mountain Beniguernid Tremecen Tremecen or Telemicen the supposed Timisi of Ptolomy by some call'd Telesin or Tremisen and by Marmol Tlemisan five small miles from the Midland-Sea Abu Texifien who Ruled about the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty raised the Walls of Hewen Stone forty Cubits high and strengthened with many Cittadels or Redoubts where-through the Citizens pass five Gates with Draw-Bridges the whole overlooked by one great Castle erected according to the Modern Architecture with many Chambers Dining-Rooms and Apartments besides Gardens and Lodgings for the Janizaries Within the City are five Colledges built Quadrangular after the Italian manner yet scarce eight Mosques remaining of an hundred and fifty whereof the City formerly boasted each having a Tower built after the Dorick method and beautified with Marble Pillars four great and eminent Baths all that are left of fifty two Inns for Strangers Venetians and Genoueses and four eminent ones for the Moors the best remains of six and thirty in former time set apart for entertainment of Travellers and relief of the Sick Most of the Streets spacious and large wherein are ten fair Market-Places where the Merchants have Ware-houses and whither the Neighbouring Countrey with Commodities come twice a Week The Houses there are much more stately and larger Their Houses than in the City of Algier having Gardens Planted with Flowers and all sorts of Fruit-Trees In the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty they reckoned six thousand Houses and in sixty two Five and twenty thousand but at this day the number by the Tyranny of the Turks is very much abated the Merchants in general removed to Fez. The Jews had there ten great Synagogues which yet were not capable of their multitudes but since the Year Fifteen hundred and seventeen their number and strength is wonderfully decreased Hubet is a Walled Town Hubet a small half mile Southward of Tremecen said to be built by the Romans and called Minara by Ptolomy placed in thirty two Degrees and ten Minutes North Latitude famous onely among the Moors for the stately Sepulchre of Sidi Bu Median a Morabout in the great Meskiet and an adjoyning Colledge and Hospital Tefzare Tefzare or Tefesre Scituate upon a Plain four miles Eastward of Tremecen surrounded with strong and high Walls and taken for the Astacilis of Ptolomy Tezele Tezele formerly Ariane destroyed by King Abuhascen and never since either re-built or inhabited Beniguernid The Mountain Benigueuid an Arm or Limme of the Great Atlas and full of Villages and People ¶ THis Countrey The Quality of the Countrey by means of the great plenty of Water both in Rivers and Wells yields abundance of Grain all sorts of
Cherries delicious Figs by the Inhabitants dried in the Sun to preserve as a Winter-Dainty Peaches Melons Nutts Almonds and many other kinds of Fruit. The Plain of Tezele alone produces Wheat enough to feed all Tolensin Beniguernid abounds with Wood and Tefzare rich in Mines of Iron The Inhabitants divide themselves into four Ranks The Employments of the Inhabitants viz. 1. Handicrafts-men or Artificers 2. Merchants 3. Literati or the Learned and 4. Souldiers The Merchants with great industry export and import Commodities from divers Countreys far remote from them The Artificers are very ready and skilful in their several Trades The Souldiers venturous and daring made up partly of Turks and partly of Moors The Learned are sub-divided into Scholars Lawyers Notaries and Doctors some of whom read Lectures in Physick others in Philosophy and a third sort make it their business to expound the Alcoran They of Telesin and Hubet are affable and civil Their Dispositions many of them being Diers and Cloth-workers Those of Tefezare of a dull apprehension and rugged nature but in Tefezne Smiths and such as work in Iron making a profitable Living The Antient Kings of Telesin lived in great Majesty never shewing themselves in Publick nor giving Audience but by his Counsellor who also managed afterwards all Business These People were a long while Tributary to the King of Spain but from him wrested by the Turks who sent thither an Alcaid to rule but the Turks now have little to do there being subjected to Algier and govern'd by an Alcaid sent from thence ANGAD AGad or Angad Heben call'd by some Angued The Borders signifying A Waterless and Woodless Desart extending in Length from West to East seven miles and in Breadth about twelve The River Muluye cuts through this Wilderness in the midst on whose Shores reside three sorts of People distinguish't into Tribes by the Names of Uled Talha Uled Arrax and Uled Mangor ¶ THe Cities in it are Guagida Tenzegzet and Izli Guagida an old Town in the Hill-Countrey Guagida thought to be the Lanigare of Ptolomy stands upon a pleasant Plain nine miles from the Mediterrane towards the South and almost so sar West of Telensin abutting on both sides on the Desart of Angad replenish'd at the present with three thousand Families Tenzegzet a strong City Tenzegzet seated upon a Rock in the way from Fez to Telesin at whose foot flows the River Tesma repair'd new fortifi'd and garrison'd by the Turks being their principal Magazine for these Parts Izli Zezil Gutlui or Giglua taken for Ptolomy's Giva together with its Castle Izli or Zezil stands upon a Plain by Angad Wastes not far from Telesin Here are but few Mountains the Chief of which is Benizeneten The Mountain Benizeneten inhabited by the Breberian Zenetes about thirty miles Westward of Telensin extending in Length towards the East seven miles and in Breadth towards the South five The Air is unwholesome the Ground rough and woody onely here and there a sprinkling of Barley and indeed the Soyl in this small Tract differs very much for Guagida and Tenzegzet abound in Corn Figs and Raisins mightily whereas Isli is so dry and barren that it affords little advantage notwithstanding all the care the Inhabitants use which frequently overflow it for improvements sake The Desarts of Angad are furnish'd with Deer Harts Porcupines Ostriches and Lions whose rapacious fury is exceeded by Thieves there lurking up and down and taking all opportunities to rob and spoil Merchants travelling from Fez to Telensin ¶ THe Inhabitants of Izli shew great Courtesie towards Strangers Travelling that way but those of Guagida are of a contrary temper The Benizenetens live hardly upon Carraben or Saint Johns Bread Their Food those of Angad eat Dates Milk and the flesh of Goats and Cammels their Habits mean their Language the old African Tongue and their Religion Mahumetane They have a peculiar Governor resident at Guagida Their Government yet must address to Telesin either to exhibite their Complaints or for redress of their Grievances BENI-ARAXID or BENI-ARAZID BEni-araxid or rather Beni-arazid or Beni-razid an Inland Territory is about eleven mile long and five miles broad all the Southern part even and plain but towards the North riseth up every where in Hills The chiefest of the Cities and Villages Beni-arax is Beni-arax enriched with more than two thousand Houses yet unwall'd The second is Calaa Calaa formerly call'd Atoa wall'd and built Castle-wise The third Elmohaskar Elmohaskar having a Fort near it begun by Almansor Lieutenant of Mahometh Benzeyen and finished by the Turks who have appointed it the Residence for the King of Algiers Lieutenant Lastly Batha Batha by Ptolomy nam'd Bunobora erected upon a pleasant place two small miles from Horan by the River Huet Mina formerly very populous but in their Civil Wars wholly destroyed But a Marabout or Priest nam'd Cena in the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty pitching his Residence near it and by the Alms bestow'd on him gaining great Wealth for he had five hundred Horses ten thousand Goats two thousand Oxen and Cows and five thousand Ducats he bestow'd the same in rebuilding this place which he made a Seat for five hundred Scholars which were every day at certain hours bound to repeat aloud some Names of God this Foundation competently endow'd continues to this time and his Scholars do spread themselves and their Tenets all over Africa The Arabians call it from this second Founder Cena ¶ THis Countrey is very fertile yielding abundance of Grain Prunes Figs and Honey besides vaste Herds both of small and great Cattel ¶ THe Inhabitants are of two sorts one resident in the Hills that Till the Ground Plant Vineyards and labour about other necessary things others live idly in Tents ranging the Fields and tending Cattel From Elmohaskar the Governor frequently marches out with some selected Troops of Horse and Pieces of Cannon to keep these People in awe and fetch in the Tribute MILIANE MIliane or Meliane abuts on Beni-razid in the West and Algier in the East Miliana formerly call'd Magnana or Manliana The Head City Miliana for both these Names are found in Ptolomy is a great City built by the Romans upon an high Mountain about three small miles from Sargel to the Inland and nine miles Westward of Algier environ'd on one side with tow'ring Rocks on the rest with high Walls the Houses built very curiously each almost accommodated with a fresh Spring Other Cities belonging to this Province are Mezune and Teguident Mezune The former built by the Romans between Mestagan and Tenez about twelve miles from the Mediterrane The Walls high and strong but the Housing mean and slight The chief Ornament of the Place is the Fort near the Palace and the Great Church both which seem to be Roman Structures The later is the Antient Cesaria of Ptolomy and lieth so far to the Inland Tessare
Fort with a good number of Souldiers and the sum of fifty thousand Escues Abdala also accompanied with a great many Moors did not fail to come to the Place whereupon the Jesuit Matthias instantly with four and twenty of the chiefest of the Galleys stepping out to Land asked for the Kings Son which was promised him for a Hostage Abdala answered He was in the Fort this gave Matthias cause to suspect Treachery whereupon he would have retreated but Abdala and his Souldiers opposing fell in upon them and knockt him and all that came on Land with him to the ground Whereupon the Vice-Roy of Majorca took up his Anchors and withdrew leaving all behind him that were Landed LABES. THe Kingdom of Labes Gramay Affr. 7. l. 25. c. Marmol p. 1.5 l. 28. c. which signifies a kind of Rush in Spanish call'd Esparto of which the Frails or Baskets for Raisins are wrought is by the Turks made a Province of because Tributary to Algier The whole County is Mountainous or rather it is one of the Mountains of the Great Atlas three Miles from Kouko and ten or eleven from Bugie unto which it properly belongs on the East part of which stands a strong Fort call'd Kalaa the Residence of the Xeque or King as at Kuoko of Teleta their Sepulchres At the foot of the Hill lieth two Places Tezli and Boni where by command a Fort was cast up to withstand the Turks The Inhabitants are Brebers and Azuagaes both Warlike People observing the same Customs and Ceremonies with those of Kouko The King can bring into the Field an Army of Thirty thousand Foot and Horse yet at present pays a yearly Tribute to the Bashaw or King of Algier which commonly consists of Four hundred Horses and a thousand Goats for which there is returned to him as a Gratuity in point of Honour a Simiter set with Precious Stones TENEZ IF we would take a Journey out of these Countreys Gramay 7. l. Marm. p. 1.5.6 lying high up into the South back Northward we come to the Territory and City of Tenez one of the Midland Divisions of the Kingdom of Algier It had formerly for Borders on the West The Borders Telensin or Tremizen in the East Algier in the South the Mountains of Atlas and in the North the Midland-Sea but now with the renting off many Pieces is become much less Marmol comprehends under it Brexar Sargel Caesarea or Tiguident Mesane and Meliane but at this day Sargel and Meliane are two distinct Jurisdictions Tiguident and Mesane belong to Meliane and Brexar or Bresch subjected to Sargel The Head City is Tenez The Head City built upon the Plain half a Mile from the Mediterrane by Marmol supposed to be the ancient Laguntum of Ptolomy and by Sanutus taken for Tipasa It stands in the Mid-way between Oran and Algier Seventeen Miles Eastward of the first and as much Westward of the second distant Three Miles from Mostagan and Thirty from Telensin There is in the City a Fort with a Palace formerly the Kings Court and still the Residence of the Provincial Governour sent thither by the King or Bashaw of Algier who also in this Jurisdiction possesses many other Places as Medua formerly call'd Mara lying on the Borders of Getulia and Biledulgerid about Thirty Miles from Algier to the Inland and Forty Eastward of Telensin ¶ MOuntains here shewing themselves are Beni Abukaid Abuzaid The Mountains and Guenezeris by some call'd Guanseris Abuzaid or Zatima lieth close by Tenez to which it belongs Guenezeris very high and craggy from whose Entrails rises the River Selef ¶ THe Land hereabouts brings forth abundance of Wheat The Condition of the Land breeds very good Cattel and yields plenty of Honey Medue abounds with encircling Springs and luxuriant Valleys producing all sort of Fruits Abizaid feeds many Deer or Staggs some Honey but yields great quantities of Barley Guenezeris bears little besides Spart or Rushes and here and there sprinkling a little Tutia or Tutty ¶ THe Natives of Tenez are so homely brutish and ill-natur'd The Customs of the Inhabitants that the Neighbouring Arabs seem to have some Nobleness and Generosity in them Those of Medue are so ignorant that if a Stranger that hath any knowledge come among them they not onely freely entertain and by all good offices endeavour to keep him but also will make him an Arbitrator and Umpire for setling and reconciling all their Differences using in general a civil and decent Habit. From Tenez they Export and Barter Wheat Barley and the like Their Trade for the Imported Commodities of other Countreys and after a good Market send them out again to Algier and other Places The Abuzaidans come usually with Wax and Hides to Tenez Markets to Trade with Europaean Merchants TEBECA TEbeca or Tebesia took the Name of the Head City Gramâ—y 7.6 â— 2. â— Marâ—â— p. 1.5.6 anciently called Thabuna and belonging to the Kingdom of Tunis but now separated and divided from them together with Constantine and connected to this The Head City lieth on the Borders of Biledulgerid The Borders two and twenty miles Southward from the Mediterrane begirt with a high and strong Wall of great Hewen Stones supposed to be built by the Romans In and about these places great Antiquities Pillars and Marble Remains of Monuments with Latine Inscriptions upon them are found In a Mountain close by the City may be seen many great Gaves which the People believe to have been the Recesses of Giants Many Authors of Eminency have written that there is scarcely in Europe a goodlier Place either for magnificence or curiosity of Buildings though it have undergone many sore Storms from the Arabs At present it is of that excellency that they say Proverbially it excells all the Cities of Barbary in three things viz. the fairness of the Walls the Springs or Fountains and the Nutt-trees wherewith surrounded on all sides it seems to stand in a Wood yet the Air about it is very unhealthful and the Ground Lean and Barren HUMANBAR THe first Maritime Province of Algier is Humanbar Borders lying on the Shore of the Midland-Sea opposite to the City Almeria in Granada having for Neighbour on one side The City Humanbar Fez on the other Haresgol and Horan The principal City Humanbar by some called Hunaim by Marmol Ona and by the Moors Deiratuneyn which Ruscelig in his Addition to Ptolomy will have to be Urbara and Gramay the old Siga mentioned by Ptolomy It was by the Spaniards in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty and three Sacked and Destroyed so that it never since had any Inhabitants says Marmol but Gramay tells us it is now re-peopled and the chief place in this Dominion Haren hath a small Haven Haren strengthened with two Block-houses and a strong Wall to the Sea-side The Houses are built with various coloured Brick and plentifully served with good Water Here are two other Cities
Tebekrit viz. Tebekrit and Ned-Roma Tebekrit formerly called Thudaka now fam'd for little but its vicinity to the Mediterranean Sea Ned-Roma Ned-Roma that is New-Rome scituate upon a Plain three miles from the same Sea and one and a half from Atlas and the same which Ptolomy called Celama The Walls Houses Ruines and huge Alabaster Columns with Latin Insciptions testifie it to have been a Roman Structure not far from whence are the two great Hills Tarasa and Galhasu out of whose sides is digged Iron All the Land as well Mountains as Plains abound with Figs Apples Karrabes or St. Johns-Bread Citrons Granates Peaches Olives Melons Cotton and Flax. And some few places yield Wheat Barley and other Grain HARESGOL HAresgol another Maritime Territory so called from the City of the same Name where the Governour keeps his Residence by Marmols computation standing Eastward of Humanbar Westward of Horan about four miles from Tremezen at the influx of the River Teffene anciently called Siga into the Mediterrane on the East side towards the Sea guarded by a Castle This City in the Year Fifteen hundred and seventy by Don Pedro of Navarre was Sacked and Plundered but left by him the Arabians re-entred and possess it to this day under the Protection of the Turks who maintain a Garrison in the Fort. THE MARQUISATE OF HORAN HOran lying also by the Sea Butts on the West upon Haresgol Its Borders and to the East on Tenez and Sargel The City of Oran call'd by the Inhabitants Guharan and by some held to be the Quiza of Pliny or Buisa or Visa of Ptolomy which others contradicting say it was that which he nam'd Icosium It hath been known to former Ages by many several Names as Madura Ara and Auran whence some derive the present Oran It is the Head City of this small Tract seated at the edge of the Midland-Sea oppofite to Cartagena in Spain thirty five miles from Telensin It stands partly on the hanging of a Hill partly in a Plain having the Sea on one side and on the other Trees Brooks and Fountains The Streets are narrow crooked and without order the Houses also mean and scattering yet surrounded with indifferent handsom and high Walls but the Haven very incommodious especially as to some Winds In the most flourishing time the Inhabitants reckoned six thousand Houses besides Temples Hospitals Baths and Inns. Most of the Citizens were Weavers others lived of their yearly Revenues which they raised from their Sale of Barley the adjacent Countrey yielding little Rye or Wheat Many Merchants arrived hither from Catalonia Genoa Venice and other Places who drove a great Trade with the Citizens whose deportment towards them was very courteous and friendly They held Wars a long time with the King of Telensin who would have imposed on them a Governour which they would never admit but among themselves chose a Magistrate whom they impowered to decide all differences arising and was the Judge in all criminal Causes either as to Life or Death By this means and their unity among themselves they became at length so powerful that at their own Cost they maintained a Fleet with which they Pillaged upon all the Coasts of Spain and became as it were a Prison of Captive Christians This so provoked the Spaniard that he sent an Army thither under the Command and Conduct of the Cardinal of Spain Francis Ximenes which with the help of the Biscayners in the Year Five hundred and nine the Eighth day of May with the Loss onely of thirty men and the Redemption of twenty thousand Christian Slaves took it and much defaced its former Lustre yet still there is a stately Palace the Residence of the Kings Lieutenant a Council-House Exchange great Church and several rich Hospitals Here are two other little Cities call'd by Gramay Aghard and Agbal besides Mazagran and Mastagan both possessed by the Turks together with the Mountain Magarava Mazagran hath a Haven the same as Marmol thinks which Ptolomy named the Haven of the Gothes and is environed with high Walls and both strengthened and beautified with a great Castle Mostagan by Sanutus and others call'd Mestugam by some taken for Cartena but by others for the Trada of Ptolomy by the Sea side nine miles Eastward of Horan and one small mile from Mazagran It contains fifteen hundred Houses a fair Church a convenient Haven and on the South side a strong Castle Mount Magarava extending Nine Miles in length upon the Sea-Coast parteth Tremecen and Tenez one from another takes its Name from the Magaravaes a People so called that Inhabit there at whose feet stand both the former Towns About Mostagan the Land is very Rich and Fruitful but lieth waste and uninhabited by the continual Thieveries of the Arabs and Magarava breeds many Cattel and yields good store of Wheat The Mazagrans are untoward Their Employment and ill-conditioned being for the most part Shepherds but the Magaravaes are Warlike and of a haughty Courage not living in Houses but like the wild Arabians removing from place to place with their Cattel Their Language broken Arabick and their Lives spent without any certain order onely for convenience sake they pay to Algier an Annual Tribute of Twelve thousand Escues or French Crowns A Mile Westward of Horan by the side of a little Bay stands Marzalquibir thought to be the place which Ptolomy calleth The Great Haven and placed in Mauritania Caesariensis nor is the Opinion without great shew of Reason for that Marzalquibir Marzalquibir as Marmol says signifies in the Moorish Tongue A Great Haven and indeed it is of so vast an Extent that many think the whole World cannot shew a greater nor is the Magnitude all for it is a secure and safe Port for Shipping against all Winds and Storms This with all its advantages in the Year Fifteen hundred and five was by the Marquess de Comarez taken from the Moors and annexed to Spain under which it long hath and still doth continue SARGEL SArgel another Tributary Jurisdiction of Algier formerly a Member of Tenez so named from its chief City Sargel which some suppose to be the ancient Canuccis and others Cartena but generally in many Mapps Entituled Sargel The Romans erected it by the Mediterranean Sea Nine Miles to the East of Tenez and surrounded it with an high Wall of Hewen Stone The chiefest Monuments are the remaining Ruines of a Magnificent Temple built all of Marble or Alabaster a stupendious Work and worthy the Roman Grandeur brought to that Ruine by Cayne the Califf of Cairavan when he took the City from the Arabians and destroyed it from which time it lay desolate untill the Year Fourteen hundred and ninety two when the Moors banished out of Granada pitching there began to People and Re-build it De STADT ALGIER ¶ TWo miles Eastward of Sargel appears a Mountain The Mountain of Karapula which the Turks call Carapula the Moors Giraflumar and the Christians
thing that is offensive Indeed it is true that there be several Slaves of the Divan appointed to take care to keep them cleanly besides the Turks have this peculiar to them of being very neat in their Houses Besides those above-nam'd there be six others of considerable bigness which they call Bagna's which are the Prisons in which they keep up the Christian Slaves He that would make a near compute of all the Houses of Algier shall finde at least Fifteen thousand which are as I said before all very close and sometimes contain in one of them five or six Families Many have affirmed Number of Houses and Inhabitants that this City containeth an hundred thousand Inhabitants accounting Natural Turks Moors Janizaries Slaves and Jews Of these last there may be about nine or ten thousand to whom it is permitted to have their Synagogues and a free Exercise of their Religion And yet for all that they are no better used there than in all the Parts of Christendom For besides the Imposts charged upon them it 's permitted to every one yea and to the Christians themselves to offer them a thousand Affronts They are distinguish'd from other men by a Bonnet which they are oblig'd to wear and which ought to be black as also all the rest of their Clothes The Circuit of the City is about by the Walls The Compast three thousand four hundred Paces in which Inclosure there are sundry Mosques in which they make their Sala the principal of which is that which stands along by Yessall near to the Sea which they call The Great Mosque although it have not in it any thing remarkable more than the rest As to Inns they have none amongst them No Inns. so that the Turks and the Moors which come thither must of necessity lodge with some one of their Acquaintance But if there come thither any Free Christians or Merchants they cannot take Lodgings in the Houses of Turks but in those of the Jews they may who have their Quarters assign'd them apart in the City and amongst whom there be always some which keep Chambers to that purpose unless that such Merchants to be the more private do chuse rather to take an House in the City which is permitted them to do in what Quarter they like best But in stead of these Inns But Taverns and by whom they are kept there are a great number of Taverns and Tippling Houses which are not lawful to be kept by any save Christian Captives In these are ordinarily sold Bread Wine and Victuals of all kinds Thither flock the Turks and Renegates of all sorts there to make their Debauches And although the use of Wine be very strictly forbidden them by their Law yet they do not in the least scruple to violate it and there do very few Evenings pass in which you shall not see some one or more of them drunk who carry themselves to such Christians as they meet in that humor with insolence and often strike and most commonly wound them There are usually six Gates open and others shut The first is that of Babason which is towards the East In its Suburbs which is very small are wont to lodge the Merchant Moors and Arabs which bring Provisions to the City It was on this side that Charles the Fifth batter'd and besieg'd it There they put the Turks to death and you at all times see one or other that is there empal'd or gauched as they call it and set upon the Walls as we shall shew more at large by and by The second which they call Porto-novo is of the same side by which one passeth to Castello del Imperador The third is the Gate of the Alcassaw so call'd for that it is near unto that Palace which is as it were the Arcenal and Magazine wherein they keep all their Ammunition of War The fourth is that call'd Babalowetta which looks towards the West Before this Gate there is a place which these Barbarians have appointed for the putting of Christians to death many of which have and still do there receive the Crown of Martyrdom chusing rather to suffer all imaginable Torments than to renounce the Profession of the true God to embrace the Impieties of Mahomet And this is the onely place of the City where they are put to death Without this Gate is the Turks Cemetery or Burying-place which is about a League in Compass at the end of which inclining towards the Sea is that of the Jews and fast by that of the Christians which the Sea doth often wash with its Waves The fifth is the Porta della Mole so call'd for that it looks directly upon it This Mole is a great Mass of Stones in the Form of an Half-Moon the Breadth is about six or seven Paces and its Length above three hundred This egregious Structure giveth shape to the Port where there are usually above an hundred Vessels for Piracy and others It is so unsecure in Autumn and Winter by reason of an East and by North Winde that in the Year One thousand six hundred and nineteen there were twenty five Vessels rackt in one day This is also call'd the Porta della Dogana because that there the Customs are wont to be paid The sixth and last Gate is towards the Sea-side directly opposite to the Arsenal of the Shipping and is call'd in la Lingua Franca La Porta della Piscaderia Where it is to be noted that in some of these Gates there be always three or four Turks for a Guard with great staffs in their hands which they do not seldom lay upon the shoulders of the poor Slaves when they pass that way which they most commonly do in sport but out of a malicious fancy There are reckon'd at this day above an hundred Fountains in the City of Algier that have been erected within this twenty five years onely whereas before they had none but Cisterns A Morisco nam'd Padron Moussa of the Race of those who were expell'd Spain in the Year One thousand six hundred and ten and One thousand six hundred and eleven did make them by means of an Aquaeduct which was brought two Leagues from without the City 'T is easie to believe that this Work cost much Sweat and Toil to the poor Christian Slaves that wrought in the same without intermission during the most violent Heats as they daily do now in making the Mole of the Port. The Walls of the City are reasonable good part of Brick The Walls and part of Stone with square Towers and certain Bastions of which the best are towards the Babason Gate where there be deep Trenches and towards the Sea-side the Wall stands upon a Rock against which the Waves beat I come next to the Fortresses of the City which are a considerable number all built regularly according to the Art of Modern Fortifications ¶ THe first is on the East-side flanked at the top of a Mountain The Fortresses from
whence one may greatly incommode the Town and batter it to pieces It 's call'd Castello del ' Imperador for that Charles the Fifth having laid Siege to Algier in the Year One thousand five hundred forty and one of which we shall speak hereafter did there begin that Fort which the Inhabitants afterwards finished In the state wherein it is at this day it serves the Town for a Cittadel in which there is commonly a Garrison of an Hundred Men with sundry Pieces of Cannon The second is call'd Castel-novo or The Seven-corner'd Castle for that it consists of six Angles This Fortress is betwixt the Town and Castel del ' Imperador towards the South about five hundred Paces distant from the City The third is the Alcassaw which is of a very great Extent within the City and makes a part of the Wall betwixt the East and South The fourth is on the West three hundred Paces without Porta Babalowetta flanked upon the point of a little Rock towards the Sea The fifth is a good Bulwark but small close by the Porta della Mole towards the Great Cassaria In it are observable five great Field-Pieces which on the side towards the Sea defend the Port but above all there is in this Fort a very fine Canon of seven Cylinders or Bores which serveth to command the Entry of the Gate The sixth is a little Island upon Piles in the midst of the Mole The Haven and Mold It is a Pentagon or a Figure of Five Angles in form of a Tower in the top of which are five great Guns for the Defence of the said Mole The seventh is a little Tower at the entrance of the said Port towards the Mouth of the Mole wherein a Guard is kept and in which for the use of the Navigators a great Lanthorn is sometimes plac'd a nights It is kept by eight Moors who stand Centinel along the Mole and by a dozen more that lye at the Entry thereof in a Boat There are planted upon this Mole Sixty six Pieces of Cannon small and great and are kept there onely for a remembrance of the Victory which they of Algier obtain'd over those of Tunis when in the Year One thousand six hundred twenty seven they defeated their Armado at which they became Masters of these Guns Amongst them all there be four small ones very excellent two of which belong'd to Simon Dancer a notorious Flemish Pyrate ¶ NOw although that this City have all the Fortresses which we have named The Guards yet it is for all that to be commanded on all sides except on that towards the Sea for that there be sundry Hills and Mountains from whence it may be beaten to dust The Garrisons which are put into them are onely design'd for the Guard of the City Besides this the Meswar or Executioner follow'd by sundry Assistants doth constantly each night walk the Round and the Patroul thorow all the many Streets And as for the lesser they are for the most part shut up so soon as night begins to approach And if the Meswar meeteth any one whose excuse seemeth not to him satisfactory he presently seizeth on him and carrieth him to Prison The next day he giveth an account thereof to the Divan or to the Cadie And if the Prisoner be so unfortunate that he cannot appease the Judge with reasons or take off the Meswar with Money this accident will cost him sometimes two hundred Blows of a Cudgel which there is no way to avoid but by emptying of his Purse for the truth is that there as well as in other places Gold and Silver are powerful Charms ¶ IN Algier Tunis and Sally and the other Pyratick Towns of Barbary The Language three different kinds of Languages are spoken The first is the Arabick or Morisk which is that of the Countrey The second is the Turkish which hath nothing of resemblance with those of the Arabs or Moors And the third is that they call La Franca which is commonly used to make ones self understood which is a kind of easie and pleasant Jargon compounded of French Italian and Spanish Each Nation that keepeth an Ambassadour at the Port of the Grand Seignior hath a Consul at this City by whom the Differences are determined that may arise betwixt the People of his Nation He likewise keeps his Chancellor with the Kings Seal and in this Chancery are those Acts and Businesses ratifi'd which those of that Nation do Transact among themselves Which is done for Paying Three per Cent. which the Consul hath power to take upon all the Merchandises of the People of his Nation that come thither to Trade But then he is to secure them at his own Charges from all the Frauds and Exactions that the Turks and Arabs may chance to offer them And the same is practised in all the other Pyratick Towns ¶ WE shall now in order proceed to their Militia The Militia And though at this day the Janizaries have the whole Command in Algier yet that manner of Government hath not been always such for at the time of Ariadin Barbarossa made himself Master of the City and that his Brother Cheridine succeeded him they both Commanded absolutely but that form of Rule did change amongst the People of Algier after that the Grand Seignior began to send them Bashaws or Governours whence it happens sometimes that this Militia flying into Revolts have set up some and driven out others to which the Grand Seignior hath not thought fit to give a check for fear of exasperating them and wholly diverting them from his Obedience And this is the reason why he being well acquainted with the Disposition of that People and the troubles that they may procure unto himself if he should use any Violence against them contents himself to send thither in his Name a Bashaw that represents his Person and who onely takes care that nothing be transacted to the disservice of his Highness Whereby you may see that this Bashaw or Vice-Roy hath all the Honours of State reserving the Government And thus the Militia hath insensibly usurped the Soveraign Authority in Algier for how considerable soever the Bashaw is he can conclude upon nothing without the advice of the Commanders of that Militia nor so much as go to the Divan unless he be sent for Upon the whole one may affirm This is that goodly Model of Government which our English Janizaries or Mussulmans introduced amongst us in the Winter of Anno 1659. that this is at this day a State that Apes a Soveraign whereas the other Bashaws and Beglerbegs which Command in the Provinces of the Ottoman Empire excepting besides this those also of Tunis and Tripoly of Barbary Pyratical Cities are absolute over the Janizaries But ever since that the Militia of Algier is put in possession of the Soveraign Authority nothing doth pass without the express Order of it which in the Declarations and Edicts it sends forth doth
always speak in these Terms of high Preheminence WE the Great and Small the Puissant and Invincible Militia of Algier and of its whole Realm have Determined and Resolved But the better to understand what concerns this Militia I do think fit to speak of it first in particular untill we come to speak of its Divan and Government When I consider this Militia I fancy it to be like unto a Basilisk which Nature hath crowned for the King of Serpents but whose Looks are contagious and mortal Even so doth this Monster carry Death in its Eyes so dangerous is it to all those whom it intends to hurt and it is onely its violence that hath put the Crown upon its Head It consists of Twenty two thousand Men of which some are Natural Turks of the Levant and Sons of Turks which they call Couloys and the rest Renegadoes or Strangers or Natives of the Place There is a necessity of having always some Natural Turks to the end the Advantage may be equal betwixt them and the Renegadoes without either getting the Mastery of the other Nevertheless the Renegadoes cannot be Souldiers or receive Pay in the Militia unless they be free and franck that is unless they have found out some means to Redeem themselves or their Masters have conferred on them the Priviledge of Freedom which they sometimes do when they have been well Served or when they become Renegadoes at their solicitation for although a Christian Captive do take the Turban and turn Turk yet do they not cease to be Slaves unless he be freed by one of those ways But if it chance that there remain but few Natural Turks in this Militia either for that they are dead or for that they are return'd into their Native Countrey in such Case the new Bashaws which come from Constantinople bring others along with them or send for them into the Levant insomuch that in such Case they take the first that come and very often the poor Shepherds or such like which they train up to handle Arms. The Moors and Arabs can have no Office in this Militia thereby to prevent the suspicion that might arise lest that being Natives of the Place they should conspire under-hand together to expell thence the Turks and Renegadoes and assume the Soveraign Authority into their own hands Nor are the Morisks who were driven out of Spain admitted to that Priviledge And if there be occasion to Enroll a Man which is most commonly done onely in Algier it is the Custom to go and find out the Aga who is the Chief of the Militia or the Colonel or the General as also the Clerk to the Divan who do take the Names of those that are listed and instantly put them into Pay which is Four Doubles a Moneth Their Pay each Double being worth Ten Sols of French Money They have moreover each day Four Ammunition-Loaves but if they be Married as they may be they have no Bread but may dwell in the City with their Family This Pay is encreased a Double by the Moneth as often as those who receive it are found to be in the Field gathering the Lismes or Tributes of the Moors or that a new Bashaw doth come and as often likewise as any Male-Child is born unto the Grand Seignior And thus the said Pay mounteth until it come to Forty Doubles the Moneth but can never rise higher according to the present Establishment for any Officer whatever And this was Enacted some years since by reason there was not found Money enough to pay the whole Militia From this Militia are drawn forth all the Souldiers of the Garrisons which are dispersed in the Frontier Towns of the Kingdom which are changed every Six Moneths and are called the Pubes of which the Brigades are composed as hath been said above Now when the question is made about Arming a Pyrate-Ship amongst the other Souldiers there are constantly some of this Militia of which Three or four thousand remain in Algier for a Guard to the City and to serve upon the occasions that may arise As for their Quarter it is ordinarily in Nine great Houses which they call Casseria's where or elsewhere they may follow any Trade that they are skill'd in In which doubtless that which doth much encourage them is that the least among them may attain when time shall serve according to his order of reception to be the chief Commander of this Militia for they successively rise from Degree to Degree and from Office to Office until they come to the Quality of Aga nor can any Favour or other Consideration change this method And because it is impossible to understand this but by knowing the Degrees and Names of those Officers it is requisite that I here insert them beginning at the lowest and ascending to the highest From simple Souldiers and Janizaries who are called Oldachy's after a certain time as their turn comes they are made Biquelars otherwise Cooks to the Divan which is the first step to rise unto the great Offices following These Biquelars are those that in the Casseria's Garrisons Camps or Armies are to take care about providing Meat and Drink for the Officers and principal Commanders of this Militia From Biquelars and Caterers they come to be Odabachy's that is Corporals of Companies or Commanders of Squadrons of which the number of Souldiers is not limited for they consist sometimes of Ten and sometimes of Twenty These have Six Doubles a Moneth for Pay and expectation of having it augmented to them as we have said already and they wear for a mark of Honour a great Trayle of half a Foot broad which hangeth down their Backs above a Foot in length with two long Ostrich Feathers From the Charge of Odabachy's they rise to that of Boulouchbachy's or Captains which one may know by a piece of Copper Gilt which they wear upon their Turban in fashion of a Pyramid and a very high Plume From Boulouchbachy's or Captains they come to be Ajabachy's which are but Twenty four and are the chief of the Divan From the quality of Ajabachy's they ascend to that of Aga Commander or Colonel-General of all the Militia They can continue but two Moneths at the most in this Charge and sometimes they change five or six of them in a day when they are not judged capable thereof by the Divan insomuch that sometimes there have been Three in a quarter of an hour But let them be never so unfit for it yet nevertheless the have all the honour to have presided in the Divan although that sometimes they have not been Seated in the Chair of the Aga nor declared such and in that case the Bashaw is obliged to give each of them a Scarlet Vest After they have past the Dignity of Aga they hold the Quality of Mansulaga's that is to say they are such as our Veterans called by the Romans Emeriti Milites for they are after that no longer obliged to the Function of
Souldiers and yet never cease as long as they live to receive Pay which is about Forty Doubles which amounts to Twenty Livres of French Money But if the Divan are to chuse a Generall for the Fields or for the Fleets they commonly take him from amongst these Mansulaga's for that they are Men of Experience and well skilled in matters of War Now all that are of the Militia are so much esteemed amongst them that they do not make any account of a Man unless he be a Souldier although that very often the principal of those Officers be Tradesmen as Shoemakers Black-Smiths and the like And there is not any one that dares to strike one of those Souldiers unless he be one himself and unless he will have his Hand cut off nay it s remarkable that they are not Censurable by the Cady's or ordinary Judges but onely by the Aga or his Chaia that is his Lieutenant The Musquet and Simiter are the Arms which they use to carry when they go unto the Wars or to fetch in Contributions or to play the Pyrates and not otherwise We are to adde here that of the number of these Oldachy's or simple Janizaries the Aga selects Four which they call Sotachy's who serve for a Guard to the Bashaw and these have their Lodgings and their Table in his Palace and withall these onely are allowed to wear Simiters and that they may be distinguished from the rest they have upon their Turbans a kind of little Tower of Gilded Copper and a very high Plume made of Herons Feathers That which is very observable in this Militia is that it being compounded of a great many Men of different Nations as namely Turks Greeks French Spaniards Italians Flemings English Germans and others yet their Policy is for all that so good that they all live in great Concord and very rarely Quarrel each other But if amongst them any one chance to lay hand on his Simiter be it by Rencounter or otherwise with a design to strike then all that be present are obliged to make in unto him to hinder his doing any more and to carry him to the Divan to be punished I will adde here one notable passage An Instance of Barbarians that reproacheth the uncharitableness of Christians to make it appear how much esteem these Barbarians have for all those in general who receive Pay and are Enrolled in this Militia Some years since it happened that amongst sundry Lions which were Tamed and went up and down the Streets of Algier there was one which entred into the Court where the Divan was sitting and there before the whole Assembly he threw himself at the Feet of the Bashaw and began to fawn upon him moaning in a sorrowful Tone as if he did complain The Bashaw instantly guessed that this Lion suffered hunger and that having no particular Master for he was in common and lay in the Streets no one had took care to give him Food whereupon by consent of the Divan he ordered that for the time to come that Lyon should have the Pay of a Janizary to be employed for his sustenance but the Lion chancing to die a Moneth after it was Decreed in full Divan that he should be solemnly Interred and carried by four Janizaries in memory of that that he had been of their Militia and received Pay as themselves ¶ THe next thing is their Civil Government their method of managing affairs of State which is by the Bashaw and Divan yet herein differ they from all other for the Divine Plato speaking of the felicity of States hath said with as much reason as truth that they would then be happy when the Philosophers should be Kings or Kings would Philosophate But the State of Algier seemeth directly to oppose that Doctrine for that those who have the Government thereof have very few of those Qualities which are required to Wisdom And yet nevertheless as if Fortune had taken up her dwelling in that City she makes it to grow and prosper from day to day both in Wealth and Power if so be one may call that Prosperity which subsists onely by Vice and which hath no other Foundation than Tyranny The Divan Their Government to speak properly is the Council of State as well of the City as of the whole Kingdom It is composed of all the Officers of the Militia and sits four times a Week namely on Saturday which is the day of the Great Divan Sunday Munday and Tuesday The first day in the Alcassaw and the three others in the great Court of the Bashaw's House He himself as great as he is cannot be present there unless he be sent for in the Name of the Divan by is Chiaus or Huishers who go on purpose to his Lodgings to advertise him thereof and at the foot of the Stairs where they stay they salute him three times as if they spoke to one that was deaf I shall next let you see the Order and Placing of the Officers The Aga who is Chief of the Council and of all the Militia he is seated in the most honorable Place as President and proposeth all that is to be put to the Debate and to be resolv'd on in full Assembly And if the Bashaw be call'd in he singly reports his opinion as one of the rest but can determine of nothing by his Authority The Clerk or Secretary of the Divan who writeth all that is there concluded and keepeth a Register thereof The twenty four Ajabachy's who are Officers of the Militia nearest approaching to the Dignity of Aga. They are seated in the same Court along a Gallery in which each takes his place according to the Seniority of his Reception The Boulouchbachy's who may dispute and give their Votes as the rest The Odabachy's and sometimes also the Mansulaga's who are Summon'd when great Affairs of State are under deliberation The Chiaus of the Divan and these by the duty of their Charge are present to execute the Orders and Commands of Council which for the most part consists of about seven or eight hundred Persons For the principal Officers of the Militia have their places in it and all of them that are in Town use to be present so that sometimes there will be in this Divan above fifteen hundred Persons especially when all the Officers are there the Mansulaga's and the Odabachy's are taken in These later and the Boulouchbachy's who make the greatest number of Councellors of State and Officers do stand in the midst of the Court-yard each according to his Rank They continue there sometimes six or seven hours in the Sun in the Rain and in the Wind each with his Hands across upon one another without being permitted to alter that posture of them save upon some necessity nor to bring thither any Arms not so much as a Dagger for fear of any tumult Those who have any business there be they Christians Turks or Moors may stand at the entrance of the
Court up and down which certain Chiaus's pass to and again with Pots full of Water to offer those to drink that desire it All the Affairs of this Divan are propounded and resolv'd in the Turkish Tongue so that there is a necessity that all the Officers do understand and speak it otherwise they cannot be admitted into the same And this is practised amongst them thereby to testifie how much they value and esteem the Turkish Empire And for this cause it is that they have always in the Divan an Interpreter of Languages of which they ordinarily make use to understand the Christians and Moors when they have any Complaint or Petition to present there being no Nation in that place which hath not his Truchment to explain his thoughts These Officers and Councellors of State being in this manner assembled the Aga propoundeth with an audible voice that which is then to be debated addressing himself first to the Bashaw if he be present and to the twenty four Ajabachy's Which being done he puts the thing to the Vote of the whole Divan and requires their opinion and resolution in the Case which is taken in this manner After that the four Officers which are call'd Bachouldala'es have heard the Proposal of the Aga they make it to be understood to the whole Divan in a loud voice without stirring from their places The word thus past unto the last of the Officers remounts from one to another with a strange voice and murmuration when it happens that the thing doth not please the assembly And that being done the Aga giveth his Determinations according as the Vote was for or against the Proposal that he made In the mean time amongst this confus'd variety of Opinions they observe not for the greater part of the time either Order or Law but are constrain'd to conclude the Affair indifferently either with Justice or Injustice as it best pleaseth these goodly Councellors who being for the most part Mechanicks know not how either to write or read so that consequently in their ridiculous Advice they are guided onely by the motion of their Passion and of their bruitish Ignorance wherein sometimes they fall to hot Contests As particularly upon the Twenty sixth of August in the Year One thousand six hundred thirty four there happened to arise a great Difference betwixt the Bashaw and the Assembly The noise thereof was such or to say better the howlings were so great that no man ever heard any thing so frightful In this Commotion they pusht one the other with design to rush upon the Bashaw and seem'd to argue with each other who should be the first that should lift up his arm to strike For it is a Custom that he that beginneth the Tumult in lifting up his hands which he holdeth across in the Assembly is sure that whether he have right on his side or no he shall be seiz'd on and put into a Sack and thrown into the Sea Which yet did not happen at that time for that in the end the Bashaw and the Aga found out a way to appease the Tumult Where it is farther to be noted that the Women who have Complaints to offer assemble sometimes to the number of an hundred of their Kinswomen and Friends who all veil'd repair to the Gate of the Divan and there cry Charala that is to say Justice of God and are very readily heard ¶ IN the last place we will briefly give an Account of the Emperour Charles the Fifth when he besieg'd this City and of the great Loss he suffer'd therein This Prince in the Year One thousand five hundred forty one Charles the Fifth besieges Algier having Embarqued upon the Sea an Army of Twenty two thousand Men aboard Eighteen Gallies and an hundred tall Ships not counting the Barques and Shallops and other small Boats in which he had engaged the principal of the Spanish and Italian Nobility with a good number of the Knights of Maltha he was to Land on the Coast of Barbary at a Cape call'd Matifou From this Place unto the City of Algier a flat Shore or Strand extends it self for about four Leagues the which is exceeding favourable to Gallies There he put ashore with his Army and in a few days caused a Fortress to be built which unto this day is call'd The Castle of the Emperor In the mean time the City of Algier took the Alarm having in it at that time but Eight hundred Turks and Six thousand Moors poor-spirited men and unexercised in Martial affairs besides it was at that time Fortifi'd onely with Walls and had no Out-works Insomuch that by reason of its weakness and the great Forces of the Emperour it could not in appearance escape taking In fine it was Attaqued with such Order that the Army came up to the very Gates where the Chevalier de Sauignac a Frenchman by Nation made himself remarkable above all the rest by the miracles of his Valour For having repulsed the Turks who having made a Sally at the Gate call'd Babason and there desiring to enter along with them when he saw that they shut the Gate upon him he ran his Ponyard into the same and left it sticking deep therein They next fell to Battering the City by the Force of Cannon which the Assailants so weakened that in that great extremity the Defendants lost their Courage and resolved to surrender But as they were thus intending there was a Witch of the Town His Fleet and Army overthrown and wrack'd by Witchcraft whom the History doth not name which went to seek out Assam Aga that Commanded within and pray'd him to make it good yet nine Days longer with assurance that within that time he should infallibly see Algier delivered from that Siege and the whole Army of the Enemy dispersed so that Christians should be as cheap as Birds In a word the thing did happen in the manner as foretold for upon the Twenty first day of October in the same Year there fell a continual Rain upon the Land and so furious a Storm at Sea that one might have seen Ships hoisted into the Clouds and in one instant again precipitated into the bottom of the Water insomuch that that same dreadful Tempest was followed with the loss of fifteen Gallies and above an hundred other Vessels which was the cause why the Emperour seeing his Army wasted by the bad Weather pursued by a Famine occasioned by wrack of his Ships in which was the greatest part of his Victuals and Ammunition he was constrain'd to raise the Siege and set Sail for Sicily whither he Retreated with the miserable Reliques of his Fleet. In the mean time that Witch being acknowledged the Deliverer of Algier was richly remunerated and the Credit of her Charms authorized So that ever since Witchcraft hath been very freely tolerated of which the Chief of the Town and even those who are esteem'd to be of greatest Sanctity among them such as are the Marabou's
Alarbs who pay nothing but by Compulsion For this Oppression and Tyranny they are generally hated and the people certainly knowing the time of their coming oftentimes break up their Tents and drive all their Cattel before them into the Mountains where the Convenience or Strength of the Place gives them hope to have an opportunity of avoiding their Cruelty These Marches are contrived always to begin in Harvest but if it happen they can get neither Money nor Coyn they secure themselves by taking their Cattel and Corn and sometimes their Children All the gather'd Tributes are brought to Algier and a particular Accompt thereof given in the Divan Some perhaps at first hearing may wonder how one of these Troops at most not above three hundred strong can so easily run down the whole Countrey but his own recollected thoughts will easily rectifie him when he shall consider the one are ignorant of Martial Discipline and that breeds in them a want of courage neither know how to manage those few Arms they have whereas the other are compleatly arm'd well disciplin'd and daily exercis'd in the Wars The Register or Secretary of the Divan hath the Command or Check of those Troops of whom he always hath a List or Muster-Roll by which knowing every mans Quality and Service he accordingly puts him upon Duty And when they go out to fetch Contribution though they be all Foot-Souldiers yet are they allow'd Horses as well as their Officers onely with this difference the Commanders have Slaves to look to their Horses which the others may not When they draw out of Algier they Rendezvouz about the City lying in Tents till they meet together But when they march they commonly have their Allowance of Bread with a little Oyl Vinegar Rice and Couscous What other Provisions they will have they must buy with their own Money but that they take no great care for as well enough knowing how to fetch Victuals abundantly from the Arabs and Moors The greatest gain those Companiess make ariseth from the Ostridge Feathers they bring from the Wildernesses in the South which upon their return they sell very dear As to the Corsairs or Pyrates the best account that can be given of them is from the great number of their Ships wherewith they put to Sea which amount to thirty five in all A List of which with the Names of the present Commanders as they were in the Year 1668. and what each Ship carries in her Stern with the number of Guns we have here inserted as followeth  Guns CAptain Tegue Admiral The Tyger 44 Usten Usiph The Palm-Tree with two Bucks 32 Caramis A White Horse with a Moon in his Back 30 Tabuc Rais A White Horse 32 Maned Segma A Gilt-Lime-Tree 36 Ben Alle Rais A Lime-Tree 32 Birham Cololy A Gilt Sun 40 Bischew a Dutch Renedago A Moor Gilt 38 Dochier Hoggi A Gilt Star 30 Alli Rais Trego The Shepherds 36 Alli Rais Vento The Oak 32 Alli Rais a Spanish Reneg A Gilt Rose 34 Buffone Ray a Dutch Reneg The Seven Stars 36 Rais Elleway A Gilt Flower-pot 30 Mustapha Rais an English Reneg A Green Serpent 28 Regient Rais A Half-Moon Gilt 32 Mustapha Rais a Dutch Reneg An Antelope 30 Mustapha Baris The Palm with two Lions 28 Regient Rais a Savoyard A Half-Moon 14 Montequera A Moon with two Cypress-Trees 20 Mustapha Rais a Genouese Reneg with two Lions 26 Cornetto a French Reneg A Dolphin Gilded 16 Le Madam Wynkes Reneg A Lion with a Hand 32 Two Satees two Gallies 14 Six Ships on the Stocks from 26 to 40 Guns 236 Two Tartans ready to be Launch'd  This is the Number and Quality of their Strength at Sea with which they do infinite Robberies besides the vaste numbers of Christians which they reduce into a miserable Slavery Gramay in his time reckon'd their number to above thirty thousand but that we may well suppose to exceed Nor is it an easie matter to make a certain Calculation But if they were much fewer than they are yet were it a Meritorious Work for any or all Christian Princes and States to unite to unroost that Den of Thieves whose inhumane Cruelties merit nothing but utter destruction And although since the before-mention'd Defeat of Charles the Fifth Emperor no great Attempt hath been made upon them yet lately in 1669. Charles the Second of Great Britain c. a Squadron of His Majesties Ships under the Command of Sir Thomas Allen lay before the Place declaring War against them and seiz'd two Barques and a Galliot with about seventy Turks burning another in the Haven ¶ THese Advantages and in truth all other their Wealth coming in by the Souldiers make them to be so highly esteem'd that it is Death to strike one of them nor are they liable to the Censures or Punishment of any Officer but their own Aga. And notwithstanding they consist of all Nations as English French Spanish Italian Germans Dutch and others yet are they so well govern'd and live in such unanimity that very seldom a quarrel is heard of among them As to other particular Singularities in this Kingdom we will give a particular Account thereof in its proper place ¶ THis Countrey in the time of Juba that Sided with Pompey against Caesar was very potent and a terror to its Neighbors But this flourishing Greatness at length decay'd the Dominion sometimes resting in Constantine other whiles in Bona and lastly in Tremecen from whence wrested by the Mahumetan Moors and Arabians and Barbary divided into several Kingdoms as at this day In the Year One thousand five hundred and ten Ferdinaud King of Spain besieges Algier Don Pedro of Navarre having subjected the Cities of Oran and Bugy to his Master Ferdinand King of Spain reduced Algier to such extremity that finding themselves not able to withstand him they submitted to Selim Eutimi the Great Prince of the Alarbes who had always liv'd in the Campaignes about Algier under whose Protection they made it their whole work by perpetual Incursions to infest the Coasts of Spain Majorca Minorca and the other Islands whereupon Ferdinand sent a powerful Fleet to destroy Algier The Citizens seeing such a Naval Force ready to fall upon them submitted to the King of Spain obliging themselves to pay an Annual Tribute However the Spaniard built a Castle in the City wherein was always two hundred Souldiers and great store of Ammunitions and Provisions whereby he kept both Pyrates and Citizens in awe which continued as long as Ferdinand liv'd But Divine Justice at length gave a check to these Successes by his Death for in the Year 1517. by the Marquess of Comares who was march'd out of Oran against him in the behalf of the dispossessed King of Telensin with ten thousand Christian Souldiers at a Passage of the River Huexda he together with Fifteen hundred Turks were kill'd After his Death his Brother Cheredin Barbarossa was chosen King by a general Consent who
though a man of great Valour and Conduct yet sent a Galley with Letters to the Grand Seignior desiring his Assistance and Protection against the Christians very readily did the Turk consent to his Request sending thither two thousand Native Turks Thus fell this City and Kingdom to the Grand Seignior to whom it is yet subject Govern'd by a Vice-Roy who is entituled a Bassa to whom the Christians give the Stile of Highness ¶ THeir Marabouts carry so high a reputation among them that whatever they say is look'd upon as an Oracle and their Commands obey'd even to the hazzard of life They cut not the Hair of their Heads or Beards their Habit a long Coat to their Heels over which a short Cloak reaching but to the middle of their Back as in the foregoing PRINT doth more plainly appear Their Religion and Worship is the same with other Mahumetans or at least very little differing each having an equal Reverence for the Alcorna and using both the same Times and Method of Devotion BUGIE BUgie formerly a Kingdom by the Moors call'd Bigeya or Bugeya The Borders from the chief City belonging to the Dominion lying towards the Sea borders on the West with Algier on the East with Gigel or Gigery before the Bounds were alter'd by the Turks this Countrey was the most Easterly Part according to Davity of the Caesarian Mauritania bordering then on the West as we said with Algier on the East with the City of Tenez and Africa the Less having the Midland-Sea and the City Collo on the North and on the South Biledulgerid and Numidia This Countrey stretching almost Fifty Dutch Miles towards the South over the Mountains to the Wilderness of Numidia contained formerly according to Marmol Bugie their chief City from whence the whole Territory is so nam'd with the Garrison and Village of Gogere Micila Migana Tezteza Lamora Nekauz the Mountains of Benijubar Auraz and Abez but Gramay reckons thus Gigeri Mesile or Misile Stefe or Distefe Nekaus Kollo and Sukayda But now Gigeri is a peculiar of it self and Sukayda and Rollo are incorporated to Constantine So that at this day Bugie contains onely Micili Distefe and Nekaus with the Mountains of Bugie The City Bugie by the Arabians and Moors says Marmol call'd Bigeya The City Bugie or Bugeya and held by some to be the antient Metropolis Thabraka by others taken for Igilgilis or Vrikerh and by Ptolomy for Salde lieth near the Mediterrane on the side of a great Mountain about seventeen miles East from Algier and the like Westward from Gigery The Romans they say first Founded this City being invested with high strong and antient Walls in Fifteen hundred and twenty well Peopled boasting of Eight thousand fair Houses It hath also a commodious large Bay or Road antiently call'd The Numidian Sea The Streets are handsome and well-order'd but being upon a continual ascent or descent they are wearisom to those whose occasions call them to walk much therein Here are several Mosques many Colledges and also Cloysters publick Inns and Houses of common Reception for Strangers built after their own manner They have a fair and spacious Market-place near which on a rising Hill stands a strong Fortress invironed with thick and high Walls curiously adorned within with several seeming Characteral Mouldings upon Plaisters and Carved in Wood besides exquisite Paintings according to their manner which as they say cost more than the whole Fabrick Eastward of this the River Hued-el-Quibir that is the great River falleth into the Sea Micile or Mesile lies within thirty miles of the Border of Numidia surrounded with the Mountain La Abez Stefe or according to Gramay Distefe or rather Distese or more rightly as Marmol calls it Tezteze supposed to be that which Ptolomy call'd Apfar being fifteen miles to the In-land Southerly of Bugie scituated upon a delightful Plain near Mount La Abez formerly destroy'd by the Arabians but soon after re-inhabited by Three hundred Families Nekaus Nekaus formerly call'd Vaga one of the delightfullest Cities of Barbary stands on a River side seventeen miles from the Sea and twelve from Testese on the Borders of Numidia It hath strong Walls and boasted formerly of stately Baths Houses of Entertainment wherein Strangers and Foreigners were Lodged and well accommodated besides many Palaces and Churches Every House though but a Story high had a Garden Planted with Vines Damask Roses Myrrhe and Jasmine Bugie lieth almost quite hemm'd in with the Mountains of Zarara but the most remarkable they call Bene-quibar being five miles from the City Bugie six miles long and three miles broad This Ridge of Mountains taken together reach along the Sea-Coast thirty miles and are in some places six or seven miles broad ¶ THe Land about Bugie is barren and unfit for Tillage yet it brings forth excellent Garden-Fruit Near the City Nekaus are large Plains abounding with Corn and on the River stand an incredible number of Hazel and Fig-Trees accounted the best of that Countrey ¶ THe Mountains afford little Wheat but abundance of Barley besides Nuts and Figs Flax and Hemp whereof much but course Linnen is made Iron-Mines also and good Wood The Inhabitants also keep a great number of Horses Oxen and Goats ¶ THe Women of Nekaus are handsome body'd The Constitutions and Customs of the Inhabitants and fair with black and shining Hair which makes them take a pride to frequent the Baths The Inhabitants of Micile are Clownish and exceeding Rustical sturdy and revengeful so also the Mountaineers Some of them are kind in their Conversation and very much inclin'd to Pastime and more than any use Musical Instruments Those of Nekaus have a good Mien and comely Deportment milde sure Friends and always neat in their Apparel And though every Mountain is possest with a several Family yet their Customs and manner of life are all one Those of Bugie and Nekaus have their Colledges where their Youth are instructed in the Mahumetan Laws and Philosophical Studies the Students Cloathes and Diet born at the Cities Charge The Inhabitants of Micile are all Artificers and Husbandmen The Inhabitants of the Mountains mark themselves according to an Antient Custom with a black Cross on their Cheeks and on the Palms of their Hands which first they us'd when they were subdu'd by the Turks who then requir'd no Tribute of the Christians Whereupon many of them took up the Badge of Christians so escaping the Tax that was laid on other Perswasions which though now useless they continue as a fashion neither knowing the Cause nor Original The Riches of the Inhabitants consisteth in their Cattel Their Riches Corn Plants Linnen and Hempen Cloth The Mountaineers use for their Coyn small Gads of Iron of half a pound weight yet they Coyn also small Pieces of Silver ¶ IN the Declension of the Roman Empire the Goths expell'd their Legions Their Government and made themselves Masters of Bugie and there settled the
Royal Seat of their new Government under their Prince King Abni These in the Year Seven hundred sixty and two were driven out by the Saracens and about a hundred years after that Joseph the first King of Morocco gave the Kingdom and Castle of Bugie then subdu'd by him to one Hucha-Urmeni though a Saracen without paying or doing Homage And though his Successor was disturb'd by the Arabians yet afterwards they held a fair Correspondence with Tunis But two hundred and sixty years since the Sovereign Power falling it became Tributary to the King of Telensin under which it continu'd till the Reign of Abuferiz King of Tunis who subdu'd Bugie giving it to one of his Sons call'd Habdidi Haziz with the Title of King whose Race Govern'd by Succession till Don Pedro de Navarre by Command of King Ferdinand in the Year Fifteen hundred and ten with a strong Army Conquer'd it for the Spaniard who slighted the old Castle and cast up two other new Forts on the Shore by the Haven This City and Forts Barbarossa supposing to stand in his way as opposing the Designs he had upon several parts of Barbary and at the invitation of the expell'd King came in the Year Fifteen hundred and twelve with twelve Galleys well man'd and an Assistance of three thousand Moors drawn by their King from the Mountains and pitched before the City yet after so fair a shew of his great Power eight days continually battering the Castle being discourag'd by a small Shot receiv'd in his left Arm he faintly withdrew and broke up the Siege returning to Tunis and the King to the Mountain This much troubling Barbarossa that he had so dishonourably forsaken such an Enterprise having recover'd his Wound in the Year Fifteen hundred and fourteen he renew'd the former Siege in which plying the Castle so hot and shaking it with his great Cannon it fell but the Garrison'd Souldiers retir'd into the City Then instantly he apply'd himself to the Storming of the other Castle and without doubt would have carried it though in the first Assault there remain'd an hundred Turks and as many Moors dead upon the Spot had not Martin de Reuteria with five Ships and a competent number of Souldiers came opportunely to their Assistance into the Haven whereupon Barbarossa was once more compell'd to depart to Gigeri Charles the Fifth Emperour seeing of what great consequence it was to keep this place for the more easie Conquest of Algier for the better Security thereof built a Fort upon the Hill which commanded the Castle At length those of Algier after many fruitless Attempts became Masters thereof in the Year Fifteen hundred fifty and five by the Conduct of the Bassa Sala who with three thousand Turks and thirty thousand Moors beleaguer'd in two places both the Castles as well by Land as Water First he gain'd the Castle lying on the Sea cutting off most of the Defendants then slighting it and pursuing his Success fell upon the other Fort with such fury that the Lieutenant Alonso de Peralta was forc'd to desert it and seek Refuge in the City but considering the weakness of the Town as not able to endure an Attaque surrendred the City Shipping thence according to Articles for Spain four hundred old Souldiers for which Service he was rewarded by cutting off his Head and ever since Bugie hath been under the Government of Algier GIGERI Or GIGEL THis Countrey bordering with the Sea Marmol so calls from a Village of that Name In the way between Algier and Bugie being fifteen miles from the later consisting of about five hundred mean Houses near which stands an old Castle upon a Hill almost inaccessible This Territory reacheth Southward to the Borders of the Numidian Desart containing Mount Haran being about twenty miles from Bugie and fifteen from Constantine and running Northward to the pleasant Valleys of Mesile Stefe Nekaus and Constantine ¶ THe Soil is generally barren and fit onely for Lime and Hemp which there groweth in great abundance Mount Auraz hath many Springs which so water the Plains that they are Plains that they are all Morass but dried up in the Season of the Year by the Heat of the Sun All this high Land is inhabited by Arabs a fierce and jealous people not permitting any Intercourse or the least Commerce with the Low-Landers lest they should dispossess them of their Habitations The Village Gigeri is very rich especially by the Trade they had in former times with the French who us'd to put in there for Hides and Wax The Inhabitants Traffick in small Vessels laden with Nuts and Figs to Tunis giving to the Bashaw of Algier the Tenth of all their Cargo's ¶ IN the Year Fifteen hundred and fourteen Barbarossa subdu'd this Territory The French are driven out of Gigeri and gave himself the Title of King of Gigeri And by that means when Cheridin Barbarossa his Brother and Successor in his Conquest submitted to the Grand Seignior this with the rest became subject to the Turks who disturb'd by the French that had won something upon it there were still Endeavors by the one to keep what they had got and by the others to regain what they had lost So the French in November 1664. designing to Fortifie themselves had an Assistance sent to them under the French Admiral Duke de Beaufort who arriving with a Naval Army sent a Spy to finde out the Strength of the Moors and to prevent his Discovery attir'd him in Turkish Habit promising him for a Reward of his Fidelity and care fifteen Pistols determining upon his return to fall upon the Moors with eight hundred men fifty of which he intended for an Ambuscade The Citÿ GEGERY DE STADT GIGERI◠CONSTANTINE COnstantine a Maritime Province so call'd from its Metropolis includes Its Borders according to Marmol that space of Land which the Antients named Nero Numidia containing formerly Constantine Mele Tefas Urbs Ham Samit and Beldelhuneb the Rivers Magier and Guadilbarbar dividing it from Tunis The Head City Constantine formerly according to Strabo and Mela The Head City call'd Constantine did bear the Name of Cirta Numidia and Cirta Julia having for the Founder Micipsa King of Numidia but Gramay thinks it a Roman Work by the stateliness and form of the Buildings Marmol averrs that this City was of old call'd Kulkua a Plantation of Numidia and that the Moors still entitle it Kucuntina It lieth on the South side of a very high Mountain surrounded with steep Cliffs from among which the River Sugefmart floweth so that the Cliffs on both sides serve in stead of a Rampart on the other side strengthened with high Walls of black Stone exquisitely hewen through which are but two ways into the City the one on the East the other on the West It containeth about ten thousand Houses many well Paved Streets furnished with all kind of Tradesmens Shops On the North side stands a Castle and without the
City are many old Buildings and some Ruines signs of its former Greatness and about half a mile distant from it a Triumphal-Arch built after the Roman fashion From the City they go to the River by steps cut out in a Rock within which is a Vault whose Roof Columns and Floor are all of the same Piece Not far off rises a Fountain of warm Water a little Eastward of which by a little Rill of fresh Water is a Structure of Marble garnished with Carved Images which the Common People imagine to have been an Academy and that the Master and Scholars for their wickedness were metamorphos'd into those Statues Sanutus placeth the City Chollo Kollo formerly call'd Kullu and now by some Alkol by others Kol and Kollo near Constantine being built by the Romans at the edge of the Mediterrane-Sea adjoyning to a high Mountain but open and without Walls It hath a Castle founded upon a Rock with a convenient Road for Ships formerly much frequented by Genouese and French Merchants Sukaicada Sukaicada about thirty miles from Constantine hath also a Haven full of Trading and a Street-way running from it a mile and a half in Length Five or six miles from Constantine The Village Estore not far from the Cape of Gigeri lieth the Village Estore famous for its Antiquity and a small but convenient Haven ¶ THe Mountains are many The Mountains of Constantine covering the whole Coast from the North to the West and so to the East beginning at the Mountains of Bugie and reaching alone the Mediterranean-Sea about thirty miles from whence arise many Fountains and Rivers that taking their Course through the Plains by their fertilizing Streams greatly enrich the Places through which they pass Here also appear scatter'd up and down many Ruines of Streets and Castles built by the Romans ¶ THe Land about Constantine is bountiful to the Countreyman rendring to his labour a thirty-fold return nor are the Mountains much behind yielding good Corn besides plenty of Olives Figs and other Fruits yet nevertheless through the insolency of the Arabians are but thinly inhabited In the beforemention'd warm Bath there is abundance of Snails with shells which the silly Women cried out upon for Evil Spirits and Devils attributing to them the cause not onely of all Diseases but other evil Occurrents As a remedy of all mishaps coming by them they use to kill a white Hen and thrust it with their feet into a Dish so bringing it with a Wax-Candle to the Bath and leaving it which is soon conveigh'd away and eaten I hope you will not think by the Snails ¶ THe Inhabitants of the City Constantine are rich proud and clownish but withall couragious those of Kollo friendly and courteous great Traders and Lovers of Arts and Sciences The Mountaineers are much Civiler here than in Bugie but ignorant in all parts of Literature however they learn and use many Handicraft Trades and without doubt would much improve themselves if they would leave off those continual Wars they manage among themselves about their Wives which often run over from one Mountain to another to get change of Men. By this means generally the Men are Souldiers so that they can bring into the Field forty thousand Men of the which perhaps four thousand Horse The Citizens of Constantine Kollo and Gigeri yea and the Alarbs come to their Weekly Markets to whom without exception they equally sell what Fruits or other Commodities they have ¶ THe whole Government is Commanded by a Provincial Lieutenant It s Government Residing in Constantine Heretofore they had Kings of their own but in the Year Fourteen hundred and twenty becoming subject to Tunis the Kings thereof bestowed it as a Principality on their eldest Sons but at last in the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty after Cheredine Barbarossa had taken Kollo those of Constantine weary of the Trunsian yoke voluntarily yielded themselves up into the hands of Barbarossa since which they have remained free from Tunis BONA PLiny and Ptolomy call'd this Countrey The Royal Hippon Its Borders for distinction from Diarrython Hippon but the Inhabitants in the Moorish Tongue name it Bederna now a Member of Algier though heretofore computed under Constantine It lies encompassed with Mountains on the West and South and which reach about twenty miles that is from Bona to Begge and in breadth eight miles ¶ THe City Bona famous for having been the Episcopal See of St. Augustine The City Bona. is said to be built by the Romans upon sharp and very high Cliffs on the Mediterranean Sea having both within and without many Wells and Springs Sanutus and John Leo say that Bona lieth at present waste and depopulate and another City call'd Beldelhuneb or Beledel Ugneb built out of its Ruines whereas yet Marmol a Writer worthy of belief averrs that the City which the Europeans call Bona got the Name of Beledel Ugneb from the Moors so making them both one as indeed they are The compass thereof is small and the Streets very narrow so that it hath kept nothing of the former Beauty and antient Glory which it boasted of in the time of the Antient Father St. Augustine having been several times destroy'd by the Moors and Saracens particularly in Four hundred and Forty the very year wherein St. Augustine died A small Quarter of a Mile Southwards from the City lieth a remarkable Plain where yet are to be seen the Marks and Monuments of the Monastery and Cloyster which that Father caus'd there to be built which by the Foundation may be judg'd to have contain'd about an hundred Paces in Length and thirty in Breadth Near the Ruines of this Structure is a very fair and large Fountain which the Moors of this place do to this day call Saint Augustines Well Eastward of Bona lieth a handsome Cittadel built by the King of Tunis wherein the Governor keeps his Residence it is strongly fortifi'd and well provided with great Cannon and other Ammunition as well for fetching the Revenue from the Alarbs as to keep the Countrey in awe The usual Garrison two hundred Janizaries Mele or Mile Mele. formerly Tenare stands also near the Sea yielding Obedience at present to the Algerines but before subject to Constantine from which distant three miles The Walls are old and ruinous the Houses sometime three thousand now very few and those thinly inhabited yet the great Conduit in the very heart of the place is no little advantage to such as dwell there Tabarka Tabarka seated on the Sea-Coast and famous onely for the Coral-fishery close by it opposite thereto lies an Island of the same Name between which and the main Land is the distance of a mile and half ¶ THe Soyl of this Territory well deserves the Attribute of Bona The Soil of the Country Good abounding with fresh Valleys rich in Grain and delightful in the shadow of Jujuben-Trees whose Fruit the Inhabitants gather in
the Summer to eat in the Winter There grow also Figs Apples Pears and very much other Fruit but above all yielding great store of good Cattel as Oxen Calves and Sheep call'd by the Arabians Nedez sufficient to give Supplies of Butter and Milk not onely to the City Bona but also to Tunis and the Island Zerbes ¶ THe Mountains for the most part lie destitute of People yet full of pleasant Springs having Water enough to give a Current to several Rivers which afterwards take their course through the Plains between the Hills and the Midland Sea The Coast hereabouts yields much Coral both white red and black being a kind of Plant or Shrub growing in the Water between the Rocks ¶ THis City and Province were-Governed by Xeques and peculiar Lords of their own It s Government till the King of Tunis having subdued them built a strong Castle on the East side of the City to keep it in awe but afterwards Aruch Barbarossa in the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty coming with two and twenty Galleys and Ships into the Haven forced the Citizens to acknowledge him by which means they became Subjects to the Kings of Algier and so have ever since continued excepting for a short space that the Emperor Charles the Fifth in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty five made himself Master of it THE FORT OF FRANCE SIx Miles to the East of Bona between the Kingdoms of Algier and Tunis Peter Davity Estat Ture on Affique and between the Black and Rosie Cape you may see a Fort Commanded by the French and call'd Bastion de France that is French-Fort Formerly near this Cape of Roses stood another Building erected in the Year Fifteen hundred sixty one by two Merchants of Marseiles with the Grand Seignior's consent call'd a Fort but indeed was onely a Flat-rooft Ware-house for a residence of the French who come thither and employ the Natives Diving for Coral and under that pretence Exported all sorts of Merchandise as Grain Hides Wax and Horses which they bought there with more liberty and for less Price than in the Island Tabarka because no Turks lay there to hinder them But many years since this Structure whose Ruines yet appear was beaten down by the Algerines oppressed with a great scarcity of Provisions which the Moors reported was occasioned by the French Exporting their Corn. Afterwards in the Year Sixteen hundred twenty eight by order of Lewis the Thirteenth French King Mounsieur d'Argen Lieutenant of Narbone and chief Engineer of France was sent thither to re-build the razed Fort who took with him all Materials necessary for the Work from Marseiles and with great speed and diligence erected this Bastion But the Work was scarce begun when the Moors and Arabians came down Armed in great numbers and forced the Mounsieur to a Retreat and at present to Fortifie himself in a Half-Moon newly cast up from whence with the first opportunity he took Shipping At length the same King employed one Samson to re-attempt the same design who brought it to some perfection and was Governour of it Since which another was formed upon the Island Tabarka in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty and three This Bastion de France hath two great Courts the one to the North where the Store-Houses for Corn and other Merchandise are with many convenient Ground-Rooms for the Officers and Chief Commanders The other being more large and spacious than the former stands on a Sandy Beach where the Ships usually come to trade for Corall as we mention'd before To this adjoyns a fair and great Vaulted Chappel call'd St. Catharina in which they Celebrate their Mass and Preach having convenient Lodgings above for the Chaplains and Priests Before it there is a Church-yard and a little on one side a Garden-house set apart and us'd onely for sick and wounded Souldiers Between these two Courts towards the South standeth a great Quadrangle built all of Stone which is the Fort or Strength with a flat Roof wherein stand mounted two Mortar-Pieces and three other Brass-Pieces supply'd with a sufficient Garrison TUNIS THe Kingdom of Tunis The antient Borders at this day subject to the Great Turk compris'd formerly the Countreys of Constantine Bugie Tunis Tripolis in Barbary and Essab and by consequence the greater part of Africa the Less together with Carthage Old Numidia and other Countreys extending above a hundred and twenty miles along the Sea-Coast But now the greatest part of Bugie Constantine and Essab are wrested from it by Arms and annexed to Algier The Kingdom of Tunis then It s present Borders taken within these narrow Borders begins at the River Guadelbarbar formerly call'd Tuska dividing it on the West from Constantine as on the East the River of Caps or Capes by the Lake of Melaetses separates it from Tripolis and on the Southern Limit is the Modern Numidia Peter Dan in his Description of Barbary joyns it on the West to Algier to Barka Bona and Tripolis on the East So that by his account the Southern Part of Tunis lies Westward of Negro-Land containing but few places of note ¶ THe Rivers which run thorow and water this Countrey Its Rivers are chiefly four Guadelbarbar Magrida Megerada and Caps or Capes Guadelbarbar Guadelbarbar which Sanutus and Marmol call Hued d' Ylbarbar takes its Original out of a Hill lying a quarter of a mile from the City Urbs or Jorbus being serviceable onely to the Citizens in driving their Mills for the Current runs in so many crooked Meanders that such as travel from Tunis to Bona are necessitated with great trouble there being no Boats nor Bridges to help them to wade over five and twenty times Lastly it disembogues into the Sea by the forsaken Haven Tabarka seven miles from Bugie Magrida Magrida formerly call'd Catadt seems to be a Branch of the former flowing thorow Choros and then entring the Mediterrane near to a place call'd Marsa Megerada Megerada or rather Maggiordekka formerly Bagradag on whose Shore Pliny Gellius and Strabo say that when Attilius Zegulus was Consul for the Romans in these parts during the Punick Wars was found a Serpent of a hundred and twenty Foot long kill'd by Attilius and his Army with Arrows It rises according to Sanutus out of a Mountain bordering on the Countrey of Seb call'd by others Ursala whence giving a friendly Visit to the City Tebesse it runs Northward till discharging its Water into the Mediterrane-Sea about ten miles from Tunis This River swells up an unusual heighth when any great Rains fall so that the Travellers sometimes are compell'd to stay three days till that the Water abates that they may wade over for there are neither Bridges nor Boats for Ferry Tâ—UNIS ¶ MOuntains in this Kingdom are Zogoan Guislet Benitefren The Mountains and Nefuse besides some others on the South Zogoan lies six miles Southward of Tunis upon whose Side and Foot may be seen the
wherein to Sow Barley and Rye to preserve it from their Pillage ¶ ORanges Lemmons Dates and such like Fruit grow here plentifully The Plants or Vegetables so also Olives for a mile round about the City which afford Oyl not onely for the Natives but Foreigners and their Wood they burn in stead of other Fewel Borbo produces Roses and other sweet-smelling Flowers The high Mountain Zagoan Barley and Honey Genslet yields Apples and St. Johns-Bread but Benitefren and Naifuse onely Barley and but little of that ¶ THe whole Countrey especially the Mountainous Parts Beasts are full of Lyons wild Bulls and Cows Ostriches Apes Camelions Neat allow-Deer Hares Phesants besides such abundance of Horses and Camels that they bear little or no price ¶ THe People of Tunis are Moors Turks Jews The Inhabitants and Slaves of several Nations taken by their Pyrates in the Mediterrane and brought thither Here are also a sort of Men that Laze up and down the Streets bare-headed and bare-footed with Stones in their Hands like Mad or Distracted Folks whose careless Madness hath won such a reputation upon the folly of the Vulgar that they not onely account them Saints but allow them a settled Maintenance at the Publick Charge ¶ THeir Cloathing is according to the best Fashion of their Countrey Their Cloathing each in his several Degree but all wear Turbans made and covered with Linnen or other Stuff after the Turkish manner Womens Habits especially of the better sort are very neat and richly adorn'd with Jewels when they go into the Street they cover their Faces with a great Cloth over which they cast another which they call Setfari these multifarious Coverings at a distance make them appear of a much larger Size than ordinary When they remain at home they spend the greatest part of their Time and Means in making Perfumes and other like Trifles not minding Huswifery or any other profitable Employments ¶ THeir Bread is for the most part made of Wheat Their Food though the vulgar use Barley which in stead of kneading with Hands they beat with Battoons The common Diet of Merchants Artificers and the like is but a course Food call'd Besis made of Barley-meal and Water like Pap or Pudding to which they give a Haut-goust with Oyl-Olive and Juice of Lemmons and Oranges which they buy in the Market appointed for the Sale thereof and nothing else Besides this they eat also Flesh especially that of Lambs but more than these another kind of Dish they have in the eating whereof they take great pleasure the common known Name is Lasis of which whoever eats two Ounces is so far from satisfying his Stomach therewith that it rather augments it to a kind of Caninus appetitus or unsatisfied voraciousness attended with a continual Laughing and other antick Gestures till at length they fall into the extravagancies of a lustful Passion ¶ IN this City are all manner of Handicrafts Their Employment but chiefly Linnen-Weavers whose skill in their Trade was such as made their Cloth of great repute both for strength and fineness The Mountaineers deal onely in Cattel living in Hutts which they draw together to the number of a hundred or two hundred wherewith they continually range about and change Places as their Cattel want fresh Pasture Those Hutt-Villages stand in order with ways and passages between all leading to a great Field in the midst where the Cattel feed On the out-sides they stand so close that they are like a Wall passable onely at two Entrances the one for the Cattel and the other for the Men and these in the Nights so secured with Trees Thorns and the like that they neither fear Lyons nor other wild Beasts ¶ THe King or Bashaw of Tunis receives Annually two hundred thousand Ducats Their Reverue besides the Custom upon Olives and Linnen Exported Wheat heretofore amounted to forty thousand Ducats more Others reckon that the Bashaw Letts the Lands and Customs for five hundred thousand Escues or French Crowns The whole Revenue seems to arise to more than two hundred thousand Ducats yearly Peter Dan says Peter Dan. that the Revenue of this Kingdom is but accidental and uncertain accrewing chiefly not from any standing In-come but onely from the Fishery which yields a Rent yearly of thirty thousand Ryalls of Eight and the Jews Poll-money all the rest raised out of the Prizes of the Ships taken by the Corsaires of Tunis in the Mediterrane from the Christians which yield Ten in the Hundred as also from the Tributes and Taxes which with Flying Parties they fetch from the Land of the Arabians and Moors ¶ THe Inhabitants are not Rich either in Banks or Stocks Their Riches because of the Dearness of all things especially Corn which they fetch from Urbs and Beggie ¶ THeir principal Merchandise is Their Merchandise as we said before Linnen-Cloth which is there made in great quantities and carried all over Africa so Oyl Olives Sheep Ostritches and Horses from which they raise great Gain ¶ THe Native Moorish Kings of the Countreys first stamped here Gold Sultanies or Ducats greater by a third part than our European Ducats Their Coyn. and worth four and twenty Carraks They have also a square silver Coyn call'd Nosara as also Aspers and Duble's and another call'd Borbas of Copper of the like value with those of Algier ¶ THe Government heretofore was Monarchical Their Government and long continued in the Line of Moorish Kings which were not by Election but an Hereditary Succession of the eldest Son of the deceased Kings or for want of Sons the next of Blood to the King took the Dominion But since their Expulsion by the Turks the State is wholly altered being at present Commanded by a Bashaw or Vice-Roy sent thither from Constantinople who Ruled with greater and more unlimited Authority than any other Bashaw of the Great Turk in Africa He is assisted with the Council or Divan of the Janizaries the Aga some chief Officers call'd Beniloukbassen and four Counsellors who wear upon their Heads a Hood with a Silver Horn. ¶ PEter Dan says this Bashaw is changed every three year Peter Dan. and another sent into his Place whose present Authority is much eclipsed in that he meddles with nothing but the Receipts of the Revenue that those of Tunis elect a chief Officer of their own with the Title of Dey to whose care the Government of the City is committed during his life unless which sometimes happens for miscarriages therein displaced and put to death Other inferior Officers for the better Administration of Justice are an upper Cadle that is a Marshal or rather a Sheriff who appoints under him many Substitutes who hear and determine all criminal Causes and such as relate to Life and Death but not without apparent testimony The occasions of these alterations and new settlements have proceeded from several grounds whereof we will give you
till Abu Bark Son of Hutmen the Second which was brought to an untimely end by his Nephew Yahaia as before is declared who was succeeded by Abdul Mumen as he by Zacharias who dyed in a short time Issueless so that the Tunissians chose for King Abukamen Nephew of Zacharias Abukamen King whose Tyranny caused many Rents and Divisions in his State and hazarded almost the whole yet partly by Policy partly by Force he so brought it to pass that Muly Mahomet his Son enjoy'd the Kingdom of Tunis after his death Muley Mahomet And his Son Muley Assez or Assan the last of this Stock after him till thereof by Barberossa bereav'd yet was he not so absolutely lost but that afterwards by the assistance of the Emperor Charles the Fifth again restored The manner this Muley Mahomet Father of Muley Assez had by several Wives many Sons among which this Muley Assez though the youngest was the most intirely beloved as being a most prudent and generous spirited person the eldest call'd Manon he absolutely disinherited and kept in Prison under strong Guard because of his unnatural disobedience Muley Assez declared King as having by Treachery endeavour'd to depose his Father and declared his Brother Muley Assez to be his Heir and Successor to the great satisfaction of most of his Subjects who greatly affected Muley Assez for his Endowments and shortly after Muley Mahomet died much lamented By this means Muley Assez became sole Master of this State to secure himself wherein and taking into consideration the former pretences of his imprison'd Brother Manon he caused him privately to be put to death Araxar his other Brother being inform'd thereof Araxar flyeth out of Tunis for fear of the like mischief fled to Numidia to Abdalor a mighty Xeque or Prince of Bixkara whose Daughter he there married and got a promise of Assistance for regaining the Crown to which he thought he had the best pretensions as being elder than his Brother Muley The News of Araxars withdrawing so inrag'd Muley Assez that he apprehended all that were of the Royal Blood The Rage of Muley Assez putting out all the Mens Eyes and keeping the Women in a strict and close Imprisonment This Savage Cruelty added wings to Araxar Araxar intends to besiege Tunis who by this time had taken the Field with an Army rais'd and furnisht by his Father-in-law and now marched forward with intent to besiege Tunis Muley Assez came out with a mighty Army against him but was soon defeated and necessitated in all haste to retreat to Tunis for Recruits so that Araxar fearing his own Strength not sufficient to subject the Countrey A subtle Invention of Barbaroussa to play the Knave with Araxar requested Assistance from the famous Pyrate Cheredin Barbarossa who at that time govern'd Algier in the Name of the Grand Seignior which was promis'd but yet with this Caution that it would be necessary the more happily to bring his Enterprize to pass to make a Journey to Constantinople wherein he the said Barbarossa would accompany him with assurance to procure from Sultan Soliman great Favour and Assistance Araxar deluded by these Flatteries went to Constantinople and was there very friendly receiv'd in outward appearance but Barbarossa now minding nothing less than what he had said and written underhand told Soliman that in regard Prince Araxar was young he had now a fit opportunity to annex the Crown of Tunis to his Empire Marvellous pleasing was this Advice to Soliman's ears who instantly prepar'd a Fleet which being ready to set Sail he puts Araxar under Guard telling him when Barbarossa had subdu'd Tunis and forc'd them to receive and acknowledge him for their lawful Prince he should be sent thither with an honorable Retinue and put in Possession In the interim he sent Barbaroussa without him upon his intended Design Upon the Approach of Barbarossa Muley Assez who knew himself too weak to stand a Siege against such a Force and believing Araxar to be in the Fleet added more Cruelty to his former so that hated by his Subjects he left the City and betook himself to his Uncle Dorat a man of great Power among the Arabians of Uled Aixa The Citizens thus forsaken by their Prince The Turk becometh Master of Tunis submitted to Barbarossa who forthwith proclaim'd Sultan Soliman their Prince Muley Assez on the other side to turn the Scales sent to the Emperor Charles the Fifth then in Spain and requir'd his Aid which the Emperor willingly hearkned to and the rather because it was confidently rumor'd that Barbarossa intended to harrase with a strong Fleet not onely the Coast of Italy as he had done the foregoing year but also against the next Summer would Ship over to Sicily an Army of Turks and Moors to invade the Kingdom of Naples Fired with this News and also instigated by Muley Assez he put to Sea with a strong Fleet Mann'd with Spaniards and Germans in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty seven on the Five and twentieth of June being St. James's Day with which coming under Tunis he took at the first Assault the Castle and strong Fort Goletta and not long after the City it self and with it the whole Kingdom Barbarossa foreseeing this Storm had withdrawn himself and committed the Defence of the City to Mustapha a courageous Souldier who yielded himself up into the hands of the Emperor Thus the Emperor Re-instated Muley Assez in his Kingdom Muley Asseâ— is Restored telling him that for all his Cost he would onely keep the Castle and Goletta in his own possession with a Garrison and that he Muley Assez should send yearly to him the Emperor and his Successors two Faulcons and two Numidian Race-Horses Other Articles were made between the said Princes to this effect That if Muley Assez did make a failer of this Agreement he should pay for a Forfeiture for the first Default five thousand Crowns for the second twice as much and for the third fall into Contempt and height of Displeasure That he should always hold a strict Alliance with the Emperor and be an Enemy to the Turks and a Friend to the Christians to whom he was to afford liberty of Religion That he should pay every year a thousand or twelve hundred Spanish Souldiers which the Emperor would keep in the Fort of Goletta And lastly That neither the Emperor nor his Successors should send any more Forces nor take into his hands any Places of the Kingdom of Tunis belonging to the aforementioned Muley Assez Goletta onely accepted And this Agreement was sworn to by both Princes with great Solemnity This Expedition thus happily performed the Emperor upon his return to keep up in memory so great an Action and to encourage the Valour of such as followed him therein instituted the Order of Knights of the Cross of Burgundie But Muley Assez did not long possess his Kingdom in Peace after his
Restauration being compell'd within eight years once more to fly to Spain for Assistance In which time of his absence his Son Amudas usurped the Kingdom putting to death his Father's Favourites and Friends but Muley Assez returning with some few Troops of Italians and the Garrison-Souldiers of Goletta soon routed the unnatural Rebel taking him with two other of his younger Sons Prisoners whose Eyes he immediately put out After a few years Abdimelech or Abdulmalech another of Muley Assez Sons fell foul with his Father forcing him once more to fly to his old Benefactor Charles the Emperor who maintained him the remainder of his life which was not long But Abdimelech enjoy'd his Usurpation onely one Moneth before he died and his Son Mahomet his Successor after four Moneths Reign was expell'd by his Uncle Amidas who held the Dominion till Uluzaly or Aluck Haly by some call'd Ochiali by order from the Grand Seignior in the Year Fifteen hundred sixty eight drove him from Tunis whereupon he fled to Goletta to the Spaniards At whose Suit in the Year Fifteen hundred and seventy Tunis was again overcome by Charles the Emperour Don Johan of Austria made himself Master of Tunis and of the whole Kingdom giving Mahomet the Brother of Amidas a Princely Allowance but set over Tunis as Lieutenant in behalf of the Emperor Gabriel Willon a Milanois and over Goletta Pedro Carrero a Spaniard In these continual Conflicts both the City and Castle were much weakened but Willon fortifi'd them anew with strong Ramparts and Palizadoes But the Turkish Emperor The Turks come against Tunis Morat or Amurath fearing this new Growth of the Spanish Kingdom in the Year Fifteen seventy four sent a Fleet of a hundred and sixty Gallies besides many other Ships Mann'd with forty thousand Turks and Moors the Conduct of the Admiral Occhially for Sea but the Land Army was committed to Sinan Bassa wherewith they besieg'd both Tunis and Goletta whereupon Don John who had the Supream Command of the Spanish Fleet endeavour'd to relieve the Besieged but to very little purpose for he had barely thirty Galleys whereof five and twenty were furnished in Spain with Warlike Provision and Souldiers and the Princes of Italy undertook for the Raising of the rest With these as we said he made an attempt but the Turk soon diverted both their Fury and Design and there shut them both up with a more close Siege than before Then raising Batteries by Land from thence without intermission they tore the Castle with their great Guns so that the Walls fell neither was the City or Goletta better able to resist such impetuous Thunder Tunis overcome by the Turks for all were taken and razed and the whole Kingdom wrested out of the Spaniards hands In the Overthrow of the City all the Christians were hewen to pieces except fourteen which were carri'd Captives to Constantinople Moreover the Conqueror demolished the Walls of Tunis and the Castle built by the Emperor Charles levell'd with the Ground erecting another of exceeding Strength to command the Haven From this time the Turks have always possessed Tunis in Peace and the Government thereof by Kings ended who had sway'd the Scepter there about three hundred and seventy years THE DOMINION and FORT OF GOLETTA THe Dominion of Goletta The Dominion of Goletta so call'd from the Fort lying on the Mouth of the Lake Goletta by Tunis containeth these Cities Marsa Napolis in Barbary Kammart Arriane and Carthago It is look'd upon as a Place of weighty Concernment being the Key of Tunis and Neighbour to Carthage Some hold it to be the Island Galatha or Galitha of Ptolomy and the Gorilon of Pliny but Sanutus and others make Goletta and Galatha to be two distinct Places The Name of Goletta cometh originally from the Italian word Gola signifying a Throat or according to Olivarius upon Mela from the Diminutive Goletta that is a Little Throat or as we term it a Gullet because this Fort is built upon the Neck or Throat of a Lake of that Name over which they pass in small Barques to Tunis so that in truth it is an Island The Mahumetans first built upon this Spot thereby giving a beginning to this Fort which the Turks afterwards having strengthened the Emperor Charles the Fifth after Overcome by Charles the Emperor together with Tunis took from them but at length regain'd by the Turks in the Year Fifteen hundred seventy four as before hath been more particularly related Since which time the Turks have besides the old one cast up two other Forts with two or three Redoubts between them and are as the Keys of their State in that Countrey Gramay says it contains a fair Haven fit for many Ships to harbour in with Store-houses for Merchandise a Custom-house two Mesquites and Prisons for Christian Slaves so that it seems much rather a City than a Fort. The first Fort appears surrounded with a double Wall flanked with Sconces and three great Works one within another encircling all to Command the Haven and City In the midst is a Well of fresh Water feeding a Stream which runs through the Fort. Little remains of the old Fort saving a Corner of a Bulwark Planted with ten Pieces of Ordnance where those of Tunis maintain forty Janizaries Marsa or Marca signifying in Arabick A small City Marmol says Marsa stands in the place where the Haven of the old City of Carthage was or according to Gramay opposite to it built after the destruction of Carthage by one Mehedi Kaliff of Cairavan It is adorned with a Royal Palace and some pleasant Places whether the Bashaws of Tunis in the Summer go to take their pleasure and keep their Court They say at present it boasts eight hundred Houses with a Mesquite and a Colledge built by Muley Mahomet Father of Muley Assez King of Tunis Nebel by the Moors call'd Nabis by the Africans antiently Napolis of Barbary Nebel is supposed to be that Colony which Ptolomy call'd Neapilis and by Strabo Leptis was built by the Romans at the Edge of the Midland-Sea three miles from Tunis on the East formerly well Inhabited but at this day Peopled onely with a few Families of Gardners and such like inferiour Persons Kammart another small City close by the Ruines of Carthage Kammart two miles Eastward of Tunis was formerly call'd Walachie as Aben Razid an African Writer affirms who also reports the Romans to have Founded it being encompassed with high Walls and very populous yet most of the Inhabitants Gardners who bring their Fruit and Herbs to sell at Tunis Arriane by Marmol call'd Abditane a small City a mile North of Tunis Arriane built by the Arian Gothes from whom and their Heresie it took the Name Leo. 5. D. which it hath hitherto kept without any alteration Lastly Arradez Arradez a very small Town in the way between Goletta and Tunis on the East This was formerly a
Roman Colony when the Arabian Mahumetans fell into these Parts they ruined it but the Kings of Tunis re-edifi'd the Walls of the Castle and Planted it with Inhabitants CARTHAGE CArthage formerly the most famous City not onely of Africa but stood in competition with Rome to be Mistress of the whole World hath had several Names The Greeks call'd it Charchedon sometimes and sometimes Cadmia Oenussa and Cacabie The Emperor Commodus gave it the Names of Gettabert Commodia Alexandria Caius Gracchus Junonia Marmol from the Africans Bersak and Almenara The Italians Rocco But notwithstanding all this variety it still retains the old and best known Name of Carthage suppos'd to have been a Colony of the Phaenicians who on the Conquest of their Countrey by the Children of Israel forc'd to seek new Habitations and having store of Ships to transplant themselves and Families settled in these Maritime Parts of Mauritania and proper Africa Many pregnant Testimonies hereof might be produced we shall onely instance two One from St. Augustine who in his Comment on St. Paul's Epistles to the Romans tells us that Interrogati Rustici nostri quid sint respondent Punici Chanaani When any of the Inhabitants of this Countrey whereof himself was one was ask'd what they were they answer'd Chanaanites The other from Procopius cited by Evagrius Scholasticus reciting that on two Marble Pillars not far from Tangier there was in the Phaenician Language and Character engrav'd Nos fugimus a facie Joshuah Praedonis filii Nave that is We fly from the face of that Robber Joshuah the Son of Nun The Settlement of this People here might be a great inducement to bring Dido hither who fear'd as much danger from her Brother Pigmalion King of Tyre whose Hands had been imbru'd in the Bloud of her Husband as the others did from the Sword of Joshuah Concerning Dido building of Carthage and the cause of her flying thither hear in brief Venus giving an account of it to Aeneas Carthage thou seest built by (l) Jupiter begat Epaphus he Belus the elder he Agenor he Phenix he Belas the younger Father to Dido Pygmalion and Anna. Here Carthage therefore is call'd Agenor's Seat per Anâ—onomasiam Agenor 's Race But Lybick 's Coasts where Warlike Men are bred Dido reigns here who from her Brother fled The Story 's sad and long but I 'le in brief Of many Passages select the chief (m) The Poet softens rougher Names making Sichaeus of Sicharbus Eelus Dido's Father Methres Sichaeus was her Lord in Wealth beyond All Tyre and she of him extreamly fond Whose Father with blest Omens gave a Maid But (n) Tyri Adverbium Pygmalion whil'st yet a Child was honour'd with a Crown by the People and reign'd 47 years He was the tenth from Hiram who supply'd Solomon with Cedars towards the Building of the Temple From which Hiram to the building of Carthage Scaliger reckons 103 years in Proleg de Emend Temp. Tyre her Brother King Pygmalion swaid Who far exceeds all those that are engag'd To murther Princes and with Fury rag'd Mad till her Husband's Gold he had enjoy'd Sichaeus at the Altars he destroy'd Long hides the Fact and did her Love despise Yet cherish'd her vain Hope with flattering Lies To whom in Sleep her Husband un-interr'd With a most Ghastly Countenance appear'd Dire Altars and his wounded Bosome shews And all her Brothers Treason did disclose Perswades her straight that she her Countrey fly A Hoord of Gold and Silver to supply Her Voyage he discovers under ground Which made her way and many Followers found Those who did hate or fear the Tyrant meet And suddenly they seiz'd a ready Fleet Transporting thence greedy Pygmalion 's Coyn A Woman Principal of this Design And found those parts where now huge Walls and new Tow'rs of aspiring Carthage thou may'st view Call'd (o) Dido driven upon Libya and ready to be turn'd away a gain by Iarbas cunningly intreated that she might buy of him others say that he would give her so much Ground as an Oxe's Hide would compass which he granting she cut the Hide into so many small pieces as inclos'd twenty two Stadia Thus saith Cambden Our Aunals record that Hengist the Saxon after he had vanquishâ—d the Picts and Scots and receiv'd very large Possessions in other places obtain'd also in Lincoln-shire of Vortiger so much Ground as he could compass round with an Oxe Hide cut into small Thongs whereon he founded and built a Castle afterwards called Thong-Castle Whence it is that one who hath written in Verse a Breviary of the British History turn'd Virgil 's Verses in this manner Acceptique solum facti de nomine Thongum Taurino quantum poterat circundare tergo A Ground he took which Thong he call'd when first he did begin As much as he a Bull Hide cut could well incompass in As to the name Byrsa Scaliger in Festum observes that it is us'd by Metaphrasis for Bysra originally an Hebrew word signifying a Tower or Fortifi'd place for Carthage was a Colony of Tyrians who speak Hebrew But that this story is to be understood onely of the Tower not of the whole City which was afterwards added to it as they grew greater we have the Authority of Appian in this more probable than Livy who would understand it of all lib. 44. Byrsa from the Bargain so much Ground Bought as a Bull 's Hide might encompass round Punica regna vides Tyrios Agenoris urbem Sed fines Lybici genus intractabile bello Imperium Dido Tyria regit urbe profecta Germanum fugiens longa est injuria longae Ambages sed summa sequar fastigia rerum Huic conjux Sichaeus erat ditissimus agri Phoenicum magno miserae dilectus amore Cui pater intactam dederat primisque jugarat Omnibus sed regna Tyri germanus habebat Pygmalion scelere ante alios immanior omnes Quos inter medius venit furor ille Sichaeum Impius ante aras atque auri caecus amore Clam ferro incautum superat securus amorum Germanae factumque diu caelavit aegram Multa malus simulans vana spe lusit amantem Ipsa sed in somnis inhumati venit imago Conjugis ora modis attollens pallida miris Crudeles aras trajectaque pectora ferro Nudavit caecumque domus scelus omne retexit Tum celarare fugam patriaque excedere suadet Auxiliumque viae veteres tellure recludit Thesauros ignotum argenti pondus auri His commota fugam Dido sociosque parabat Conveniunt quibus aut odium crudele tyranni Aut metus acer erat naves quae forte paratae Corripiunt onerantque auro portantur avari Pygmalionis opes pelago dux femina facti Devenere locos ubi nunc ingentia cernes Moenia surgentemque novae Carthaginis arcem Mercatique solum facti de nomine Byrsam Taurino quantum possent circumdare tergo The Descent of Dido from whence the truth of her Story
Constantine thither containing but few Habitations yet ha's preserv'd her Walls firm and undefaced Hain Sammin built by the Kings of Tunis Hain Sammin about seven miles from Beggie Kasba or Kasbat a Roman Structure seated in the middle of a delightful Plain whose Walls are made of great hewen Stone yet stand whole and undefaced but void of Inhabitants by reason of the continual Invasive Rapines of the Arabs ¶ THe Soyl both about Urbs and Beggie fruitful The Conditino of the Kasba yieldeth Corn in great abundance The Arabs notwithstanding the best defence of the Inhabitants are half sharers of it without any recompence so that oftentimes a great part of the Countrey is never cultivated they rather chusing to run the risque of seeking Provision than to sweat and toyl to support the Villanies of such who study nothing more than their mischief Little more can be said of Hain Sammin and Kasba onely their fertility is accompanied with a most healthful serenity and sweetness of the Air excellent Springs of fresh Water and abundance of well-grown Cattel ¶ THe Inhabitants of Urbs have little Civility Their Manners being for the most part Labouring Hinds Those of Beggie have a great insight into Arts Sciences and Mathematick Trades living decently but they of Kasba are lazy and voluptuous chusing rather to die of Hunger than to take pains to Till their Ground SUSA Or SOUSA THis Province containeth the Cities of Sousa Hamameth or Mahometta Heraclia and Monaster Sousa Sousa or rather Susa stands about five and twenty miles on the East of Tunis formerly a great City but now inconsiderable though the chief City of this little Dominion by some taken for the Adrumetum of Ptolomy and by Marmol and others for the City Siagoll which is the more probable It was built by the Romans near the Mildland-Sea on a high Rock before the Cape of Bon or Point of Mercury that shoots out towards the Island of Sicily It may be divided into an upper and a lower City and hath Walls of hewen Stone neat Houses and many Mosques but one excelling all the rest This is the place against which Prince Philibert of Savoy in the Year Fifteen hundred and nineteen had a Design to get from the Turks but they getting some intelligence thereof prevented him with a great Slaughter of his People among which many Knights of Malta and forc'd him to a dishonorable Retreat In the Haven thereof the Pyrate Ships of Tunis generally lye as being convenient for them Hammameth Hammameth or Mahometa or rather Mahometa a Modern City built by the Turks near the Mediterranean by some taken for Ptolomy's Makadama as if raised out of its Ruines Heraclia is a small City upon a Hill Heraclia built by the Romans and destroy'd by the Arabians Monaster Monaster or Monester once a Roman Colony but since got the Name from a Cloyster of Augustine Monks built close by but now included within the Walls which are high and strong as the Houses are neat and commodious Neighbouring hereunto are the Islands Cumiliers The Islands of Kamiliers Querquene Gamelere as also Querquene and Gamelere distant two miles from the main Land Sanutus thinks that in former Ages these were all that one Island which Ptolomy call'd Cercine being so near to the main Land that they could go from the one to the other over a Bridge But Pliny contradicts this Cercine averring Cercine to be thirteen miles in length and three in breadth ¶ THe Soyl of Susa is properly fit for nothing but Barley The Soil yet they have Figs Olives Pears and Pomegranates besides abundance of excellent Grass wherein they feed great Herds of Cattel ¶ THe Inhabitants of Susa are active and industrious The Manners of the Inhabitants behaving themselves towards strangers with great humanity and inclining to Merchandising but such as love to be within the smoke of their own Chimneys are either Weavers Potters or Herdsmen Those of Hamameth are Fishermen Carriers Cole-burners Whitsters living poorly upon Barley Bread and Barley Meal mingled with Oyl and as meanly Habited But the Sussans are in a better condition driving a great Trade both into the Levant and Turky The Governor with a strong Life-guard of Janizaries keeps his Seat in this City from which alone he receives Annually twelve thousand Ducats besides the Tribute of the rest of the Cities and Countrey THE PROVINCE and CITY OF AFRICA Or MAHADIE THis City which the Europeans without distinction call Africa The Name some think was the Aphrodisium of Ptolomy but the Inhabitants Marmol says call it Mahadia or Mehedia Leo Africanus El Mahadia and bestowing on it strong Walls and Gates with a commodious Haven ¶ IT stands scituate on the Sea-Coast or rather encompassed with the Sea The Scituation except where joyned to the Continent by a Neck of Land two hundred Paces in length and that fortifi'd with a double Wall and a great and deep Trench and many Defensive Towers This Strait passed the City grows broader and receives the Sea on both sides afterwards Eastward it becometh narrower and at length runs to a Point so that the whole Place represents the shape of a Tongue And although on the Sea-Coast it 's not defended with such strong Walls as on the Land side yet is it secure enough from any Attempts to be made on it by Ships because of the many Shelves and Sands lying as Out-works before it The Gate of the City on the Land-side is exceedingly strong being fortifi'd with Turrets and Pallisado's but chiefly with several intricated and winding Arched Passages with Doors plated with Iron Plates which past they come to a narrow Vault or Cave seventy Foot long and so dark that it is terrible to Strangers seeming rather a Murdering Den than an Entrance into a City The Haven is very capacious and strongly Walled in whereinto the Entrance or Mouth is so narrow that a Galley Rowing can scarce come in but being once within there is room enough for fifty Galleys to ride with freedom and conveniency This City continued many years subject to the King of Tunis from whom wrested partly through Force and partly through Treachery by Assan Gerbin a Relation by Blood to Barbarossa who was again Outed from the possession thereof by Dorgut or Dragut a Turkish Corsaire and Bassa of Tripoli with the help of some Citizens in the Year fifteen hundred forty five ever since which time it has continued under the Jurisdiction of the Turk KAYRAOAN or KAYRAVAN THis Province contains onely the Cities of Kayravan Tobute and Astachus Kayraoan or Karure The City Kayravan or Karoen lieth seven or eight miles from the Mediterrane twenty from Tunis and eleven from Carthage Its first Builder was Hukba or Okkuba Ben Nasik an Arabian Commander sent out of Arabia Deserta by Hutman the third Mahumetan Kaliff into Barbary and Biledulgerid to pillage the Countrey during which time of his
harrasing he erected this onely for a convenient Retreat for the Army and a Repository for his Booty for the security whereof he environ'd it with impregnable Walls Within he erected a stately Mosque supported with Marble Pillars two of which were of an unvaluable worth being of a red Colour and glistering intermixt with small white Spots like Porphiry but notwithstanding this Strength and Beauty yet is it destitute of water being scituate on a dry and sandy Plain Tobulte or Tabulta Tobulte according to Bertius and by some taken for Adrimentum boasts it self a Roman Foundation standing on the edge of the Midland-Sea three miles Eastward of Monaster One Elugleb being chief Magistrate there by the consent of the Inhabitants erected another goodly Pile of Buildings which they nam'd Recheda adjoyning to it for a Palace for the Prince and his Retinue both which in the Civil Wars of Barbary were greatly defac'd and never since recover'd their former Lustre Arfachus Arfachus otherwise Esfakos or according to Marmol Elfachus thought by some to be Rhuspe of Ptolomy and by others Tafrute built by the Moors at the Mediterranean-Sea heretofore handsomely Wall'd and very Populous but now can shew not above four hundred mean Houses ¶ THe Sandy-Plain about Kayravan bears neither Trees The Constitution of the Countrey Corn nor Fruit so that all Necessaries are fetcht by them from other places They have no Wells nor any Springs onely Rain-water which with great diligence they preserve Nor is that of sufficiency for that also after the going out of June fails them so that they are reduc'd to great extremity About Arfachus and Tobulte there grows some Barley and Olives but the greatest part of the Land lies waste because of the Arabians pillaging ¶ THe Inhabitants of Kayravan are generally Skinners and Tanners The Nature of the Inhabitants which send their Leather to Biledulgerid and there barter and exchange it for European Cloth ¶ KAyravan is eminent for the Residence of a Mahumetan Pope Their Religion or Worship or High Priest of great esteem among them for his Sanctity and strict Observance of the Alcoran The Arabians ascribe to this place extraordinary Veneration for that their Kasiz or Priests continually here exercise their Priestly Functions maintaining that the Dead there buried cannot be damn'd because they participate so constantly of the Prayers of the Kasiz and Pope and this Belief has so far prevail'd that many great persons coming thither out of Reverence pull off their Shoes when they enter into the City as if it were a Mosque and build there Mesquites which they endow with great Revenues believing by such meritorious Works they shall go directly to their Paradice THE ISLAND OF TABARKA AND GALITA ABout six Miles from the Cape of Maskarez lieth the Island Tabarka Peter Davity Estats du Turkin Africa severed from the main Land by a Foordable Passage a Musquet Shot broad Now possessed by the French who have built there a Fort furnished with all Necessaries of War and a Garrison of Two hundred Souldiers as a Conveniency for defence and support of the Trade which they drive there with great advantage Transporting thence Hides Grain Wax and other Merchandise yet are obliged or rather compelled for that Licence to pay to the Bashaw of Tunis Four thousand Crowns and to the Bashaw of Algier Two thousand and yet for all this there is a Band of Janizaries always thereabouts to supervise their Actions and give a Check to them if they suspect any incroachment Here the French get Coral as we mentioned before Opposite to this but two Miles distant you may see the Island Galita or Galata TRIPOLIS TRipolis a Member of the Turkish Empire bears at this day the Title of a Kingdom not so much for the Largeness of its Extent or that it had peculiar Lords as that having a Bashaw from Constantinople it is nam'd out of ostentation to encrease the swelling bulk of those Titles which makes that Empire seem so Gigantick But be it one or other now it is so reckoned and containeth the Territories of Tripolis Essab Mezellata Mesrata The Partition or Cyrenaica and Barka with some Islands extending The Borders according to Peter Dan's Account Eastward along the Sea-Coast of the Island Zerby or Gerby to Egypt and Southerly to the Negroes Countrey ¶ THis City and State hath from the beginning had Lords of greatest eminency Tripoli under the Romans as first the Romans to whom it did Homage and Fealty when they were Masters of Africa but as their Strength and Glory declined shrowded themselves under the Protection of the Kings of Morocco Fez and Tunis which have possessed it by right of Birth But when the Inhabitants saw themselves oppressed by the Tyranny of Mukamur Under the Moors Son of Hesen King of Tunis they threw this yoke off their Necks first by a general Revolt then expelling the King's Lieutenant and all other his Officers and at last electing from among themselves one whom they made their Ruler or Magistrate putting all the Revenue and Support of the State into his hands In the beginning this new Lord rul'd with all gentleness but afterwards degenerating into all kinds of Tyranny his Brother in Law revenged the Cause of the City by killing him Freed from this Viper of their own breeding they impowered a Courtier of Prince Abubacer who had been a Recluse or Hermit who held the Command a few moneths till Ferdinand Vanquished by Ferdinand King of Arragon and Castile sent Don Pedro de Navarre thither with an Army who surprizing the City made all the Inhabitants Slaves and brought them away together with their Governor and his Son whom he sent first to Messina from thence to Palermo where the Emperor Charles the Fifth set him at liberty dismissing him home to Tripoli which the Christians as we said had dismantled and made untenable in all parts except the Castle which they fortifi'd with a brave Wall whereon they Planted divers great Cannon The young Prince being come to Tripoli re-peopled it in the name and on the behalf of the Emperor Charles but in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty and three together with Tunis Byserta Susa Monaster and the Island of Zerby was re-gained by Barberossa Re-gained by Barberossa who was scarcely warm in it before the Emperor Charles re-assaulted and took it By the Empetor Charles forthwith making a Present of it to the Knights of Malta who possessed it till the Year 1551. when under the Reign of Solyman the Magnificent Sinan Bashaw came and Besieged Tripoli to whom after a short time it was delivered upon honourable Articles It was brought under the Turks among which one was That the Garrison should march out with Bag and Baggage and be provided of convenient Shipping to Malta by Sinan but contrary to the Conditions most of them were plundered of their Goods two hundred of the Moors
who had served the Malteses were put to the Sword and most of the Knights of Malta sent to the Galleys and the rest the Bashaw took and made Slaves After this Victory Sinan appointed Morat Aga to be Vice-Roy and ever since the Grand Seignior sends from Constantinople every three years a Beglerbeg or Bashaw thither to support his Conquests About the Year Fifteen hundred ninety eight Sidi Haga a Marabout or Priest designing to make himself a Master of the City and Kingdom with the assistance of the meaner sort began a notable Rebellion upon the first intelligence whereof Asan Bassa Admiral at Sea Sailed thither with sixty Galleys and some Souldiers from Tunis and Algier on a sudden fell into the Marabout's Quarters whose own Men finding their error in some measure to mitigate the fury against themselves set an end to their Mutiny by presenting their Captains Head to Sinan who sent it to the Grand Seignior De Stadt TRIPOLIS THE TERRITORY OF TRIPOLI NEar the Lesser Africa and Asfatus over against the Island Querquene The Borders of the Territory of Tripoli call'd by Ananie Ceraunia the River Capez takes its Course antiently call'd Triton Westerly of which this Province takes its beginning and ends at that of Mezellata in the East so that it hath for Borders on the West Tunis and on the North the Mediterrane on the South Numidia or Biledulgerid and Lybia with the Wilderness of Zara and in the East Mezellata a large Tract of Ground but altogether waste and unfruitful The chiefest Places thereof are Old and New Tripoli Kapes Machres Elhamma and Zoara Old Tripoli by some taken for the Antient City Naples in Barbary Old Tripoli and the Great Leptis of Ptolomy This was the Birth-place of the Emperor Severus first built by the Romans afterwards possessed by the Goths and at length destroy'd by the Mahumetans in the time of Hamor their second Kalif and ever since as Sanutus saith little inhabited New Tripoli or Tripoli in Barbary New Tripoli to distinguish it from a City of the same name in Syria call'd by the Turks Terabulus and by the Moors Trebeliz or Tarabilis seated on the Sea-side is not great but full Peopled with Turks Moors The Scituation and Jews surrounded with high and defensible Stone-Walls strengthened in several places with Sconces and Bullwarks yet having but two Gates one on the South-side going out to the main Land and one on the North by the Haven adjoyning to which Gates are two Forts that on the North securing the Haven which is very pleasant and beneficial and of capacity enough to contain many Ships The Houses like those of Tunis and the Streets very well pav'd with one large Prison or Masmora for Christian Slaves whereof there are always some here though much fewer than at Tunis or Algier besides divers Mosques and some Hospitals but for the greatest part sorely decay'd through the Cruelty of the Wars Kaps Kaps or Kapis or Kapis or Kafis by Marmol call'd Kasce and by the Moors according to Mercator Kabez being the Takape of the Antients stands near the Midland-Sea environ'd with lofty Walls and strengthened with a Castle Machres Machres or Mahara a Village about thirteen miles from the Isle of Zerby with a Castle for the defence of Kaps Bay Elhamma Elhamma a Roman Platform three miles from Kapes having Walls of Hewen Stone and Gates whereon in Marble Tablets may yet be read Latin Inscriptions Zoara Zoara or Zoarat taken by the Antients for the Haven Pisidon is an antient Town by the Mediterrane thirteen miles to the East of the Island Zerby There is one more little inhabited Rasalmabes and of as little fame onely for the Name controverted by Authors some making it Gichtis others Rasalmabes and Simlerus the Gita of Antoninus The Syrtes are two a greater and a lesser the lesser is an ill Neighbour to the Gulf of Kaps near Tripoli being very dangerous by reason of the Shelves Banks and Quick-sands lying round about But the great Syrtes in the Maps are call'd The Shoals of Barbary and in Spanish Baxos de Carthage which is the same over against Ezzab Syrtes is properly a Greek word The Syrtes signifying Shifting Sands sometimes having much and then little Water and sometimes almost none at all The greater of these Syrtes is in Nine and twenty Degrees North Latitude and Forty eight Degrees of Longitude but the smaller in Two and thirty Degrees Latitude and in Three and forty Degrees Longitude The Lake Tritonis The Lake Tritinis famous in Antiquity and often mention'd by Historians and Geographers lies in the very heart of Little Africa Volateranus says there are there of the said Name viz. this of Lybia thought to be the Birth-place of Minerva another of Boetia and a third in Thessalia Ptolomy places here two that is Tritonis by Marmol call'd Kapis and the other the Lake of Pallas Diodorus after all makes mention of another near the Atlantick Ocean ¶ THe Rivers of this Kingdom The Rivers are Karsarnaker Rasalmabes and Magro otherwise Cenifes all which take their originals from Mount Atlas and discharge their Waters into the Midland-Sea near the places from which they take their Names ¶ THe Countrey is all Sandy The Soyl. and so Barren that no kind of Corn by the best Husbandman be produced there so that the Inhabitants would almost perish with Hunger if Corn were not Transported thither from other places to supply their defective Harvests ¶ THere is in this City no fresh Water Their Scarcity of Water but that which runs from the tops of the Houses through Gutters Not far from Elhamma rises a great Spring to the Southward whose Waters being exceeding hot are conveyed by Pipes into the Bathes there which notwithstanding it s so distant Current yet retains the Heat so powerfully that few will adventure to go into it yet sometimes for pure necessity the Inhabitants are compell'd to drink thereof though in regard of its Sulphurous Quality it operates little towards the quenching of their thirst Lastly not far from the City is a Standing-Water call'd The Lake of the Melatson by reason of having a strange power to Cure the Leprosie Sanutus places here the Lotus-Tree which by some are call'd Mikakoliers or rather Alsiers of which Fruit being sweeter than Dates the Inhabitants make very pleasant Wine Lemmons Oranges and Dates grow here in great abundance but no other Fruits except Halbhazis which groweth under Ground to the bigness of a Bean it tastes like an Almond but is never chew'd onely sucked ¶ THe Inhabitants of Tripolis live chiefly upon Weaving and Merchandising Those of Kapes being poor Their Employment are generally Husbandmen and Fishers paying Tribute of all their Labors to the Bashaw Those of Elhamma are lazy poor and very Thieves The Zoarers burn Lime which they carry to Tripolis But all live hardly their Food being so scarce that he is
accounted a rich Man that can lay up two Tunns of Corn for his own use ¶ THe Revenue Tributes and Customs The Revenue and Trade which the Bassa receives yearly amounts to a hundred and eighty thousand Ducats Gramay all which come from the Customs set upon Exported and Imported Commodities the Poll-Money or Tribute of the Jews and the Contributions fetcht in by the Flying Armies of Dragoons from the Moors and Arabians in the Countrey The Venetians used formerly to Trade hither with their Galleys but have long discontinued going farther to Alexandria or Scandaroon there being no City of note between that and Tripolis The chiefest Trade now is in Blacks or Negro's which formerly were sold in Sicilia but now in Turky But when we have said all we must conclude that their Pyracies at Sea brings in their greatest Gain for though it be the most inconsiderable of all the Corsaire Towns yet they do much mischief which the fitness of their Scituation doth exceedingly promote though it is a place that usually all Christian Ships Laden with Merchandise to Alexandria Siorte or Seide Aleppo and other Ports that way must pass by THE ISLAND OF GERBES OR ZERBY THe Island of Gerbes The Names Ptolomy calld Meninx or Lotofagites Antoninus Gerba Mercator Zetha Thevet Glaukon the Spaniards Gelves the Arabians formerly according to Ananie Gezira and at present Algelbens and the now Inhabitants Gelbens Pliny saith it lies two hundred Paces to the West Entrance of the little Syrtes and so close to the Shore of the Main Land that it was formerly annexed by a Bridge which the Inhabitants upon the Report of an intended Invasion pulled down Leo Africanus Bigness and Gramay give it four Miles in Compass but Pliny inlarges its Length to eight Miles and its Breadth to six scituate in two and thirty Degrees Northern Latitude Ptolomy places two Cities on this Island Places Meninx and Gerra but Pliny three namely Meninx on the side next Africa Thoar on the other side and Sibele between which they say was overthrown in the Year Eleven hundred fifty nine and the whole Island wasted by the King of Sicily But at the present there are no Cities nor any thing else but some Huts scatter'd here and there far from one another onely on the North side there be some Villages under the Protection of the Fort wherein lies a Garrison of the Turks Thevet tells us there sometime were here Zadaique Zibida Camusa Agimur Borgi Rochere and Kantare but little remains of them besides the Names ¶ THe Ground The Soyl. though plain and even yet is sandy and barren so that the Inhabitants notwithstanding they use great care with all their industry get onely a small pittance of Barley But Dates Figs Olives and Grapes grow here without Cultivating The Island and the neighboring Shore Lotus-Tree produceth also the Lotus whose Fruit grows to the bigness of a Bean at first yellow but often changing Colour before it be perfectly ripe This Fruit is of so sweet and pleasant a Taste that the People from the eating thereof are call'd Lotofagi that is Lotus-Eaters This Name the Greeks imposed who for its extraordinary Deliciousness feigned that Forreigners after the eating of it forget their Native Countrey which Homer taking notice of recites that some of Ulysses Fellow-Travellers in their wandring falling in here inticed by the sweetness of this Fruit Homer would not return again His words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tost with cold Winds upon the raging Main The tenth the (b) The Ancients agree not on the Seat of these Lotophagi Artemidor◠says that they inhabited the Desarts of Africa South of Mauritania from the Atlantick Ocean even to Cyrene Others say that it is the Island Meninx which lies before the lesser Syrtis which is here denoted because there is abundance of those Lotus-trees in that Island which bear a very pleasant fruit and an Altar of Vlysses's still remaining Lotophagian Coasts we gain Who feed on Flowr's we din'd and water'd there When Thirst and Hunger satisfied were Two then to make Discovery I sent Of our prime men with them a Herald went Who found the Lotophagi planted there They pleasant Lotus for them did prepare Not meaning Harm now they who Lotus eat Ne'r mind returning to their Native Seat These whilst they shreek acting distracted Pranks I forc'd aboard and fasten'd to their Banks Then shipt I all the rest lest they should eat Sweet Lotus and their Native Soyl forget Most of the Inhabitants are Merchants carrying Cloth to Alexandria Leo 6. d. Sanut 5. b. and Raisins not onely thither but Barter with them to several other places Their Language the Morisk or antient African ¶ FOrmerly this Island had a particular Xeque but now is wholly under the Bashaw of Tripoli who raiseth from hence a great Revenue The Emperor Charles the Fifth Conquered it at the same time with Tripoli and put it under the Jurisdiction of the Vice-Roy of Sicily who kept it not long being deprived thereof by the Dukes d' Alva and Medina Coeli EZZAB EZzab or rather Azzab containeth the Countreys of Mecellata Mesrata Taurka and the Mountains Garian and Beniguarid This Territory begins at the Westerly end of the Mountains Garian and Beniguarid and ends at the outermost Borders of the Territory of Mesrata on the East Sanutus makes Ezzab to contain Ras Axara Tessuta Rasamisar Lepida formerly Eoa and Ruscelli Commenting upon Ptolomy believes it from the similitude of the Name Leptis out of whose Ruines Tripoli rose ¶ GArian a high and cold Mountain three Miles in length The Mountain Garian and as much in breadth lieth Northward of Great Atlas about four Miles from Tripoli and notwithstanding the sharpness of its Air is yet well inhabited containing by common repute a hundred and thirty Villages Beniguarid eighteen miles from Tripoli and a part of the Great Atlas boasts above an hundred and fifty inhabited Villes This Countrey affords little Corn but abundance of Dates Olives and Saffron held to excell all in these Parts both for Colour and goodness and is Transported to Gran-Cayre where it is sold dearer by a third part then other Saffron The Inhabitants of Mount Garian are faint-hearted and continually molested and Cow'd by the Arabs but those of Beniguarid are so Warlike that they not onely preserved their Liberty but kept both the Kings of Tripoli and
great Katabathmus by Ruscelius named Carto a great Valley reaching to Egypt Opposite to this but more deep into the Countrey was the Oracle and Temple of Jupiter Hammon four hundred thousand Paces from Cyrene say both Pliny and Solinus in the midst of a Sandy Desart three miles in length Gramay by mistake sets it in the Desart of Lybia and Leo Africanus in Numidia between Jasliten and Teorreque but where-ever it stood they call it now in Arabick Hesachbir that is A Heap of Stone Afterwards followeth the Haven formerly call'd Selin now Soudan having but a narrow Entrance but spacious and convenient within Next appears Laguixi formerly Trifachi of late time Raxa taken for the Paresonium of Ptolomy and Strabo although Mercator rejects that opinion and maintains Paresonium to have been Alberton Farther to the In-land stands the chief City Barka from whence the Countrey taketh its Name All the whole Countrey is almost nothing but a barren Wilderness Their Soyl. that hath neither Water for refreshment or use or Soyl fit for Tillage which makes them live very poorly A few Dates they have indeed but of little consequence to supply so great a Tract of Land Some Sheep and Camels they are Masters of but make little Profit of them the scarcity of Pasturage and Fodder making them so Lean that they are unfit for use or service Nay such is the unhappy necessity of the People that Parents often send their Children over to Sicily to become Servants and undertake all sorts of Drudgery onely for their sustenance The Arabians that possess Barka are ill-favour'd and crooked of Body and Conditions driven by want continually to Rob so that no Carravan dare pass along the Sea-Coast opposite to the Desart but take their way sixty miles about to the In-land When these Arabians go to steal in Biledulgerid The Arabian's Robbery and ransack Pilgrims and Travellers they give them hot Milk to drink then lift them up by their Legs with their Heads down so that of necessity all must break forth that is in their Body which Excrements these Villainous Thieves search in hope therein to find some Ducats supposing Travellers coming that way out of fear have swallowed their Money But the places on the Sea-Coast are better ordered Their Government being subject to the Turks and under the immediate Command of the Bashaw of Tripoli who usually sends to Barka the principal City a Kadiz to administer Justice All the People are Mahumetans excepting the wild Arabs in the Desarts Their Religion who live by Rapine and Villany without any sence of Religion Honesty or Goodness Biledulgerid or Numidia 283. comprehends Sus and Ydausquerit Sus proper Cities or Towns Idrunadayf Iduguneus Argon the three chief besides Idjauson Merit Deusdisdud Deusenez Indeuzell Arrahala Ayhakeli and Tizitit Rivers Darha Ziz and Ghir Extuka Towns Targuez the Metropolis with 40 Townships and Castles subject to it Nun Towns Nun the chief City Idaguazinguel Idanbaquil Deurseumugt and Hilela Tesset Towns Tesset the head-City Ufran or Ufaran Towns It hath four Fortifi'd but not nam'd Rivers One and that but small Aka Towns None onely three Villages Dara Dara containing Towns Banesbick Quiteva Sizeri Tagumadert Tenzeda Tragadell Tenzulin Tameguerut Temerguit Tabernast and Assa Rivers Dara Mountains Atlas in part Tafilet Itata Towns Itata Tafilet prop. Towns Tafilet Sugulmesse Sugelmesse Towns Segelmesse Teneghet Tebubassan Manuun Mazalig Abuhinam and Kasayr besides 350 Cities more great and small not nam'd Rivers Ziz. Monutains Mezetazu Telde Queneg Matgara Retil Tebelhelt Togda Forkala Tezerin Berrigumi Benibesseri Guachde Fighie Terebit Tegorarin Messab Tekort Guargula Zeb Towns Zebbell Gastir and Tamarakrost besides 12 small Forts and 26 Villages Helet and some Forts on the River Fez. None nam'd but Forts Essuoihila Humeledegi and Ummelhesen Three very populous and 12 Villages Four Villages 10. Three small ones and 4 Villages Six small ones and 15 Villages Eight of considerable strength besides 15 Hamlets Three Fortifi'd places Three fair ones The River Ghir Three strong ones Four Villages eight Three and fifty Fortresses and 100 Villages Six Strong-Holds besides Villages Tekurt the Turaffilum of Ptolomy Guargala Zeb Peskare Nefta Teolocha and Deusca Biledulgerid proper Biledulgerid Cities Teusar Kafza Nefzara Teoreque Three good Forts 26 Villages Jasliten Towns Jasliten Gademez Towns Sixteen Wall'd and ninety two Villages Fassen Towns Augele besides 58 Wall'd Cities and a hundred open Villages NUMIDIA OR BILEDULGERID ANtient Numidia by Ptolomy call'd New Numidia Antient Numidia and by the Grecians according to Pliny Metagonites takes its beginning as the same Pliny at the River Ampiaga now named Sufegnia and endeth at the River Tuska now call'd Guadel Barbar which Region some now comprise under the Kingdom of Telensin or Tremecen But some observe that Ptolomy hath not set forth in particular the proper Bounds of Numidia though they may well say that he hath conterminated this Countrey with the Rivers Sufegmar and Jadogh by the Moderns call'd Ampsiaga and Rubrikat near Bona which Territory containeth part of Constantine and a part of Bugie But Maginus settles Numidia otherwise that is between the River Magior formerly known by Audus where Ptolomy fixeth his Numidian-Bay and the River Megerada or Magrada call'd Bagrada near Carthage under which also a part of the Kingdom of Tunis may be comprised The Numidia which now we know is that part of Africa Modern Numidia which by some is placed between Lybia and the Mountain Atlas Leo Africanus and likely takes in no little share of Ptolomy's antient Description for some endeavour to make out that its Borders extend farther taking in most part of Bugie and the Kingdom of Tunis and a good share of the Caesarian Mauritania in the Territory of Dara ¶ THe spacious Dominions of this vast Countrey Numidia Name the Arabians call Biledulgerid from the chief Province thereof or according to Anani Guaten-Tamar both signifying Date-land so named from the abundance of that Fruit which that Countrey produceth more than any other part of Africa ¶ NUmidia takes its beginning Eastwards at the City of Elokar Borders five and twenty Spanish miles from Egypt stretching Westward to Nun whose utmost Confines Border the Atlantick Ocean its Northern Boundaries are the Skirts of Mount Atlas the South the Desarts of Lybia ¶ THe most eminent Regions which this World of Ground contains Territories are Tesset Dara Tafilet Segelmesse Zeb and Biledulgerid This last as we said gives the Denomination to all Numidia But there are other Countreys within this its spreading Circuit especially Westward as shall appear hereafter ¶ BIledulgerid Bigness or Numidia reckons in length six hundred miles in breadth where at widest three and fifty The chief People which now Plant this large Countrey on the West are according to Marmol the Musamades Hilels Zaragans and Quicimas and the meaner sort are call'd Gemis signifying a Masseline of several Nations ¶
onely they never wash their Feet but look upon it as an abomination to have clean Hands or any part of their Bodies ¶ THey Arabs that dwell in Biledulgerid The Numidian Arabs are for the most part deform'd and lean their Complexion a deep Sallow and not much troubled with Hair on their Chins they are subtle and cruel They are also long-liv'd and healthy Frication and not Sweating all the Physick these Arabs use which some ascribe to their Frications and avoiding what ever causes Sweat which is the onely Physical Application they use All their Recreations are pursuing the Ostrich and several sorts of Hawking which they much delight in The Grandees pride themselves in their attendance of Negroes but the Common People having no Servants domineer over their Wives exercising Supream Authority putting them not onely to Womens but Mens Drudgeries as dressing and sadling their Horses and whatsoever business else either in House or Field There are some of these Arabs that are Students at Fez and such Proficients that they Commence Doctors and Professors of the Mahumetan Laws and Religion others follow Traffick But in most parts of Numidia many of them are addicted to Poetry attaining to such a heighth that they set forth in Heroick Verse long Epick Poems like Homer or Virgil at large with high Fancy celebrating the valiant Acts of their former Princes and Conquerors and also they are good at Pastorals and such business of the Field But in Songs Sonnets Madrigals and the like which express the various Passions of sad Amours and always dying Lovers they are most exquisite in beyond belief ¶ THese Arabs are of a mild and sweet disposition Their Disposition generous and bountiful Apparel if their Fortunes answer They are Habited like the Numidians onely their Women differ in their Dress These though Poets live sparingly and think themselves highly Caress'd with a few Dates and dry'd Figs. ¶ THeir Habitations are Hutts and Tents Their Houses sometimes two hundred together which being like a Village pitched in a round order defends their Cattel like a Wall which are always placed in the middle They have onely two passages which they stop up with Thorns so to keep out Lyons and other Beasts of Prey They live together in Tribes and remove to better Pasturage like the Tartars and they reckon their Riches in their Stock of Dates and Store of Camels Yet these Countreys are Inhabited partly by other Africans and their own Numidians and by Arabians which drove out the antient Inhabitants and settled themselves in the Desarts bordering Date-land and on the other part the Numidians made themselves Masters of the Wilds that belonged to the Blacks or Negro's These People are distinguished into three sorts the first live without either Law Religion or Order the second are Non-conformists to all Orders but keeping of their Herds and Cattel which they drive from place to place every one having their own Beasts distinguished as their proper Goods Having no more Law then onely Meum and Tuum so they mark their Cattel that they never wrangle the third observe both Law and Religion and are Tributary to the Kings of Fez and Morocco whose Dominion extends to the Countrey of Dara Tafaletta and Ytata There are Turks also residing amongst them of which more hereafter ¶ IN the declination and fall of the Roman Empire Their Government this Region was Governed by Kings but when over-run by the Invading Arabians Their Religion and falling asunder it was snatcht up and shar'd by many petty Princes Their Religion Most of these People are Mahumetans SUS And the Countrey of YDAUSQUERIT THe chief Tracts of Lands in Numidia Westward are those that Border on the Ocean extending from Barbary and the Cape of Aguer to the Cape of Nun. ¶ THis Countrey they call'd The wide-spreading Sus bordering in the West Sus. with the Atlantick-Sea in the South with the Lybick Islands taking in a part of Nun in the East confined with the Territory of Dara and in the North with the other Sus belonging to Barbary ¶ THe chiefest Inhabitants are all Extracted originally from the African Breberians and are divided into Tribes or Families which they call Gemies as we said before signifying a Maslin People The first of these were the Offspring of the Ydausquerits call'd by a special Name Hilela who possess many Cities and Forts as Ydiauzon Merit Deudysdud Deuseniz Yndeuzel Arrahala Ydeunadayf Argan Deuquinsus Aytiakoli and Tizitit Among which the chiefest places are Ydeunadayf lying about fifty miles from Taradan to Zahara on the South Ydeuquinsus and Argon which all make but one onely Gemie or Family named Quincina and are Consociates with the Souldiery of the House of Hilela ¶ THis Countrey affords great store of Grain Wheat and Barley and in some places store of Oranges Lemmons and several sorts of such brisk or sharp-relishing Fruits as are frequent in Spain and Portugal It breeds also plenty of Cattel and such store of Horses that they are reckon'd up by thousands Extuka EXtuka Extuka a Territory of the wide-spreading Sus in which are reckon'd to be above forty Cities and Castles is inhabited by the African Breberians of Miceamunda The chiefest Place of which is Targuez strengthened with a Fort lying on a rising Hill the Residence for the Xeque or Lord. Their Neighbors are the other Breberians that are also Possessors of several wall'd Cities and Castles the chiefest of which are Ydaguazinguel Ydanbaquil Deursumugt and Hilela This Countrey is Mountainous and onely fit to produce Barley and feed Goats of which there are plenty Nun. NEar the Western Ocean are several Forts and Cities inhabited by the meaner Breberians Nun. and call'd Ydeuzel but their chief Countrey lying in the wide-spreading is Nun according to the Name of its head-Head-City This spacious Tract of Land lying between Numidia or Biledulgerid and Lybia or Zahara of which the greatest part belongeth to Zahara both which suffer extreamly in being harrassed by the many Incursions of the spoiling and pillaging Arabs which skulk in the Desarts wandring up and down with their Tent-Villages Near the City Nun Cape of Nun. lieth Cape Nun or Non so call'd by the Portuguese because they say whensoever any were returning home they were ask'd if they would come thither again who answer'd still in the Negative Voice Non. This Countrey affords no Grain except a little Barley and a few bad Dates therefore the Inhabitants are constrain'd to fetch their Provisions from the Kingdom of Gualata Tesset TEsset a part of Numidia a Countrey in the Wide-spreading Sus Tesset is so call'd from a City near the Borders of Nun towards the Lybian Desart twenty nine Degrees and ten Minutes Northern Latitude This Countrey on one side for threescore miles lieth desolate without any Inhabitants The Town is well fortifi'd with Brick-Walls which become hard onely by baking in the Sun and containeth about four
hundred Families but in the adjacent Fields scatter'd about are at least twelve thousand ¶ THis Territory is full of Sandy Plains except in one Spot near the City in which grow many Dates Barley and Tares which the Inhabitants use for Food There are also a few Camels Horses and small Cattel ¶ THe Inhabitants are hard-favor'd very brown and much tann'd The Constitution of the Inhabitants but the Women are of clearer Complexions They drive a great Trade in Negro-Land and Guzule so that for the most part they reside out of their own Countrey They plow their Ground with a single Camel and one Horse which manner of Tillage is us'd through all Numidia They are a Rustick People and know nothing of Letters onely Women educate their Children yet as soon as they are of any Growth they turn them to Plough and so farewell all their Female Scholarship Some learn to read others Spin and Card and the rest spend their time altogether in Idleness Most of the Inhabitants are of mean Estates the Richest of them possess onely a few Cattel They are under the Contribution of the Arabians call'd Udaya or Uled Vodey which reside in the Lybian Wilderness Ifran or Ufaran THe Countrey of Ifran or Ufaran Ifran hath in the most Southerly part of it the Wide-spreading Sus four Fortifi'd Towns distant from each other half a mile near a small River which in Summer dries up This Province abounds with Dates and hath some Copper-Mines The People are Mahumetans yet Civil and commonly well Habited They Trade much with the Portuguese in the Haven Guarlguessen The Trade of the Inhabitants with the Portuguese where they Barter their In-land Wares for Cloth Woollen and Linnen which they carry to Tombut and Gualata They keep Weekly Markets in all their Towns where Corn is always very dear They have amongst them a Judge or Civil Magistrate Their Government who hears and decides all Causes inflicting no more punishment on the greatest Criminals than Drubbings on their Feet Aka THe Land of Aka hath three strong Villages Aka lying one by another on the Desart of Numidia in the Borders of Lybia they were formerly very populous but afterwards by the Civil Wars within the Countrey were left desolate yet in process of time by the Mahumetan Priests composing dome stick Broils and seeking Peace they were re-peopled again and so restored to their former Condition This Countrey yields nothing but Dates and their onely business is to gather them THE KINGDOM OF DARA THe Kingdom or Territory of Dara The Territory of Dara or Darha so call'd from the famous River Dara which runs cross through the Countrey contains part of the antient Caesarian or Imperial Mauritania or as Cluverius will have it the whole Caesarian Mauritania and is one of the most excellent and noble Parts of Numidia ¶ ITs Northern Border is Mount Atlas Borders the West the Territory Gezule and Sus the East that of Sugulmesse in Numidia and the South the Desart of Lybia where the Zanaga's inhabit The extent in length Length from Mount Atlas to Zanaga is about six and fifty miles but in its breadth very narrow It hath many strong Towns Villages and Cities Forts and Castles which stand in order pleasantly seated along the Banks of the River but most of them built of Datewood which is weak and yielding Their most eminent City is Banisbick or Mukabah Banisbick Not far from thence Quiteva defended by a Fortification The next Sizerie commanding and commanded by a Castle Tagumadert Next Tagumadert or Tigumedes famous for the Birth of the first Xeriff Tenzeda that succeeded the Kings of Morocco and Fez. Tenzeda and Tragadel the greatest of these reckons four thousand Houses and above four hundred Jewish Families Tenzulin and is well fortifi'd with a strong Castle Tenzulin also a great Town six miles from Taraglet is strengthened on the North-West side with a Fort. Tameguerut Tameguerut with a Fort and likewise Temerguit another special City on the Confines of Gezule well fortifi'd and peopled with above two thousand Families besides a Suburb of two hundred Houses Near Lybia is a good Fortress call'd Tabernast and next that Assa The Castle Tabernast both built there by the Xerifs All these standing in order now flourish on the pleasant Banks of Dara There also you may see the Ruines of Tefut which hath been the Residence of their Princes now desolate ¶ THey have not much Land for Tillage The Nature of the Soyl. yet it yields them a plentiful Harvest if the Dara which we may call their Nile overflows their Ground in April which failing they expect no Harvest and though a good and seasonable Year produceth a rich Crop of Wheat and Barley yet it serves not the Inhabitants but they are forc'd to be supply'd by bartering their Dates from Fez and other Countreys The Daran Countrey also yields store of Indigo the Banks of the River for many miles are shaded with excellent Date-Trees but as these excell they have also a meaner sort which they give their Horses and Camels and also with the Stones well pounded or ground they feed their Goats which fattens them much and suddenly and yet makes them better replenish the Milk-Pale Their Horses are few and their Camels many The Countrey breeds peculiar Ostriches ¶ THe People are of a very dusky Complexion Their Complexion and few Whites amongst them which happen by their commixing so much with Blacks so that we may well call them Demi-Negroes The Women are comely modest and well-body'd Their Women and inclining to be fat which seems to them a Beauty those of best Quality are well attended by Negro-Slaves ¶ THeir common Dish which they account very wholesome Their Food and they much use is a mixture of grinded Dates and Barley which made up and boil'd in a body like a Pudding or Dumpling is to them very savory Pure Bread they seldom or never taste but at Festivals and Weddings They also eat Camels Flesh and Horses when they grow unfit for Service and the Ostrich serves them for Pullin and Wilde-Fowl ¶ THey are Subjects to the King of Morocco Their Government to whom they pay Annual Tribute and are govern'd by several Lieutenants or Provincial Magistrates which the King according to his pleasure puts in and removes Some Places are govern'd by Commissaries THE KINGDOM OF TAFILET AND TERRITORY OF ITATA THe Realm of Tafilet Tafilet Marmâ—l lib. 7. c. 28. Diego de Tâ—rres Hister de los. Xeriffs c. 103. so call'd from its Metropolis Tafilet scituated in a Sandy Soyl near Zahara and the Daran Countrey is well fortifi'd with a strong Wall and defended by a Castle and hath above two thousand Families extracted from the Africanian Brebees call'd Filelis And from Zahara near the City a great River leads to and cuts through Mount Atlas The Territory of
Ytata part of Tafilet on the Borders of Lybia is almost as big as the Daran Countrey The Inhabitants are a mixt People call'd Garib and their Neighbors are Breberians Sikutaners and Etuaguits ¶ THis Countrey is Mountainous The Nature of the Soyl. and yields not much Grain but superabounds in Dates the best of all Numidia and hath some good Pasturage for Cattel There grows also a Plant of which Anil or Indigo is made They have store of Cattel Camels and Horses for the Race which they highly esteem who wanting Oats and Barley are contented with Dates As for Ytata the whole Countrey seems a Grove of Dates of which onely they have great store and scarcity of all other Fruits ¶ THe Tafiletters are not so well accommodated as their Neighbors The Inâ—abâ—tants their Countrey being rough and barren yet they are subtle and ingenious Their Language Those of Ytata are a mixt people and speak neither good Arabick nor Zenetish but a broken Dialect betwixt both Those of Tafilet drive a great Trade in Indigo Their Trade and Hides which in Arabick they call Xerques that is the Lant-Skin which Beast we have at large describ'd in the General Africa and in Linnen woven after the Morisk manner embroider'd with Silk Here you must observe that most of the Dates which are brought into Europe are transported from Tafilet because the Kings of Morocco and Fez prohibit the Exportation of them from any other part in their Dominions ¶ BOth these places are under the Xeriffs the Kings of Morocco and Fez Their Government who commonly write themselves Lords of Dara and Tafilet and cause those Countreys to be Governed by some of the Stock of Xeriffs which they permit to be call'd Kings of Tafilet This Countrey was formerly pillaged by the Arabians call'd Uled Eelem Uled Abdulquerims and Zorgan and was under a Xeriff or Supream Head of the same People But afterward Hanen Xeriff or King of Morocco made himself Master of the chief City of Tafilet by the help of his great Guns which was such that the Xeque or Supream Head call'd Amar of the Family of Uled Abdulqueris Governour of the Countrey found himself necessitated to surrender so likewise those of Ytata are under the King of Fez and Morocco Sugulmesse THe Territory of Sugulmesse or Segelmesse so call'd from the chief City The Borders of the Territory of Sugulmesse which stands upon the River Ziz and spreads it self from the narrowest part of it lying near to Gerseluin extends Southwards to the Borders of the Lybian Desart about twenty eight miles running in length from the Darran Countrey to the Borders of Tesset Segelmesse the chief City of the Countrey scituated on a Plain by the River Sis formerly strong and well built but the Air proving unhealthy the Inhabitants quitting it dispersed themselves into small Towns and Hamlets so that it became desolate But as Gramay affirms it recovered its former lustre in the Year Fifteen hundred forty eight In this Countrey on the Banks of Ziz Grammay lib. 10. c. 11. are three hundred and fifty Wall'd Towns and Cities great and small and Hamlets innumerable Amongst these are three more eminent than the rest the first Tenegheut near Segelmesse containing a thousand Houses next Tebuhasan the third and last is Mamun or Mamua which is both large and populous This Countrey being Mountainous reacheth from Mezetazu on the West to Telde It affords little Grain but many Dates and most places suffer extreamly with venomous and various Serpents and the worst sort thereof Scorpions ¶ HEre the Summer Heatsare so excessive that the Sun-beams draw up the Sand in minute Atoms like moist and watry Exhalations which agitated by the Winds beats so much in their Faces that they are always troubled with inflamed and ulcerated Eyes This Droughty Season also exhausting the Rivers necessitates them to dig for Water which they are forced to drink though the most of what they find proves brackish The Air of Sugulmesse is pure and healthy unless in Winter then growing danky and gross being moister it affects them with cold Rheums Catarrhs and sharp Defluxions causing sore Eyes which are easier to be Cured than those which they get in Summer These People have amongst them as they distinguish five sorts of Wizards or rather Witches such as are skilful in Black or Magick Arts the first they call Malurman these Exorcising Charm the Reptilia or creeping Animals the second call'd Mahazin take upon them to Cure all humane Distempers restoring health to the sick Bodies the third Makabelt Cure onely Cattel the fourth Zira these boast of raising Storms and Tempests mustering showers of Rain and Hail Clouding and Serening the Skie at pleasure the fifth are the Sadulacha's these go highest professing to drive out the evil Spirits from those that are possessed making no doubt to confine the Devil after excluded if you will believe them In Tebuhasan are many Foreigners Their Trade and amongst them Jews that Trade Their Food is Corn and Dates Their Food ¶ THis Countrey had formerly Kings of their own Their Government but afterwards by King Joseph of Morocco of the Race or Stock of Luntune they were subdu'd and made Tributary to that King next to the Almohadie and after that to the Merins but at length they Rebelling slew their chief Governour in which Commotion the whole City was destroy'd and lay desolate till Anno 1548. Then they gathering together re-built the City and Planted many other Towns and Villages some of which are yet free others under the Arabs THE TERRITORY OF QUENEG or QUENEN THe Territory of Queneg Lâ—â— p. 6. near the River Fez bordering on Mount Atlas hath a High-way reaching to Fez and Sugulmesse Mâ—rmol l. 7. in which Road are three Towns of Receipt and Entertainment The first which is call'd Zehbel stands in the entrance of the Road on such a high Rock that its Spire seems to salute the Clouds The other is call'd Gastrir or Gastir Gastrir three miles from Zehbel stands under the brow of a jutting Mountain near a Plain The third call'd Tammarakrost Tammarakrost lieth about five miles Southward from the second in the same way The rest are twelve small Forts and six and twenty inconsiderable Villages ¶ THis Countrey hath also store of Dates The Condition of the Soyl. but none of the best the Soyl is poor except in some few Spots which are the Margents of the River and the Skirts of the Mountain They sowe onely Barley and a few Tares but so abounding in Goats that they are their chief Sustenance They have for their Houses or Habitations onely a greater sort of Huts rais'd very high with a small entrance and narrow steps to ascend on some of these People are under the Arabians or the City Gherseluin the rest Free-States Matgara or Margara THe Territory of Matgara borders on the South on Queneg or Quenen
Matgara beyond the foremention'd High-way There are many handsome Forts on the River Fez the chiefest they call Helet the Residence of the Governor who hath inhaunced the Customs of the Merchandise yearly to thirty thousand Ducats Retell or Arratama THe Dominion of Retell borders on Matgara and reaches Southward along the River Fez thirty miles distance from the River-Countrey of Sugulmesse on the East confin'd with an inhabited Mountain and in the West on a Sandy Plain which the Arabians make their Rendezvouz when they come out of the Desart There are many fortifi'd Places or Sconces Retell hath abundance of Dates yet covetous and narrow-hearted Inhabitants who by the Arabians under whom they submit are handled like Slaves Essuoihila Humeledegi and Ummel-hesen NOt far from the Territory of Sugulmesse are three small Forts or Holds Essuoihila the one is call'd Essuoihila or Zuaihilla a small place about three miles from the Jurisdiction of Sugulmesse to the South in a Desart close by which glides the River Ziz from thence going on to the Lybian Wildernesses The second Fort Humeledegi lieth about five miles from Sugulmesse Humeledegi also in the Desart The third Ummel-hesen is a place of small convenience Vmmel-hesen built by the Arabians upon a very barren Spot just in the way which leads from Dara to Sugulmesse The Walls seem to be all of Touch the Stones are so black But round about the first Castle are found neither Gardens nor Orchards nor any Ground that bears Fruit and nothing in prospect but Sand and black Stones The Fields about Humeledegi produce in great abundance a Fruit which at first sight seem to be Peaches Tebelbelt THe Countrey of Tebelbelt or Tabelbelt Tebelbelt lieth in the midst of a Desart about the Mountain Atlas and five and twenty from Sugulmesse to the South This Countrey hath also three populous Towns and twelve Villages The chief City lieth in three and twenty Degrees and ten Minutes Longitude and twenty Degrees and thirty Minutes Northern Latitude There are many Dates Their Food but they want Water and have few Cattel for the Inhabitants supply their Tables with Ostriches and store of Red-Deer They drive a poor Trade of Merchandise in Negro-Land and pay Contribution to the Arabians Todga THe small Territory of Todga takes its Denomination from the River Todga Todga which confines it about ten Miles Westward of Sugulmesse It hath four Towns and ten Villages This Countrey abounds in Dates Peaches Figs and Grapes likewise all sorts of Grain Most of the Inhabitants are Husbandmen and Tanners Farkala THe Countrey Farkala or Ferkala Farkala a small River also conterminates about five and twenty miles from the Mountain Atlas to the South and five and twenty Miles from Sugulmesse Here are three small Towns and four Villages This Countrey affords Dates and other Fruits but little Grain and that bad The Inhabitants are poor and under subjection of the Arabians Tezerin TEzerin Tezerin which signifies in the African Tongue Cities yet shews no more than six small Towns and fifteen Villages and scarce seen two others long since demolish'd This borders on a River fifteen Miles from Atlas and eight from Farkala There is great plenty of Dates Beni-gumi THe Countrey of Beni-gumi 〈◊〉 skirted with the River Ghir about thirty miles to the South from Sugulmesse contains eight strong Towns and fifteen Villages This Countrey also yields many Dates but hath poor Inhabitants who for Wages undertake mean Service at Fez With the Money they so earn they buy Horses and put them off to the Merchants which travel to Negro-Land The Cities Mazalig and Abuhinam ON the Banks of the River Ghir thirteen Miles from Sugulmesse stand in a wilderness two small Cities call'd Mazaligh and Abuhinam Mazaligh in the Longitude of three and twenty Degrees and ten Minutes and in the Latitude of thirty Degrees and twenty Minutes The Tract of Land thereabouts produces no sort of Grain and nothing but a few Dates The Inhabitants are under the Jurisdiction of the Arabians Kasayr THere is also a small City found call'd Kasayr Kasayr which Sanutus bringeth with the foregoing under Sugulmesse and stands in a Wilde five miles from Atlas It s Tract of Land hath store of Mines of Lead and Tinn by which Mettal the Inhabitants carrying great store of it to sell at Fez maintain themselves Beni-Besseri THe Countrey of Beni-Besseri lieth at the Foot of Mount Atlas Beni-Besseri and hath three fortifi'd Places and some Villages They have store of all sorts of Fruits except Dates they have an Iron-Mine wherein the Inhabitants old and young do labour The Inhabitants are under the Lord of Dubu and the Arabians Guachde THe Countrey of Guachde lieth one and twenty Miles Guachde or thereabouts from Sugulmesse in the West and containeth three fair Cities near the River Ghir and many Villages It abounds in Dates but there is little Corn. The Inhabitants traffick in the Negroes Countrey and are Tributary to the Arabians Fighie THe Countrey of Fighie hath three strong Villages or Towns Fighie standing in the midst of a Desart thirty miles Eastwards from Sugulmesse Dates grow here in exceeding plenty The People are Ingenious The Disposition of the Inhabitants some Trading to Negro-Land others Commencing at the Schools in Fez. The Women make Woollen and Linnen-Cloth as Gramay affirms as fine as Silk or Lawn which they sell at Fez and Telensin and other places of Barbary at great Rates Tesebit or Tesevin TEbesit lieth in a Desart Tesebit sixty three Miles on the East from Sugulmesse and twenty five from Atlas comprising four Towns and eight Villages which lie upon the Borders of Lybia on the way which leadeth from Fez and Telensin to the Kingdom of Agadez Here groweth nothing but Dates and some Barley The Men are most of them Blacks and the Women are well featur'd and comely but brown They are a poor People Tegorarin TEgorarin Tegorarin or Taguriri a great and spacious Countrey lieth amidst the Numidian Desarts about thirty Miles from Tesebit to the East containing three and fifty Fortresses and above an hundred Villages The chiefest Seat lieth in eight and twenty Degrees Longitude and in thirty Degrees Northern Latitude This Countrey also abounds exceedingly in the Production of Dates The Soyl is barren and store of Corn-Ground which they water as we do our Gardens by reason of the Drought and though a barren Soyl yet are much improv'd by Husbandry and Manuring by which account Strangers which come with store of Horses and Camels pay nothing for their Lodging but onely their Dung which they leave there laying of it up with as great care as if a treasure Nay they take it very ill if any of their Guests happen to ease themselves without doors By the scarcity of Cattel Flesh is very dear there for the Ground is so dry that scarce any Grass will grow
upon it yet they keep some Goats onely for the Milk But all these Wants are amply supply'd with that which answers all things Gold found by the Inhabitants of Tivar though others say that they are thus richly supply'd from Negro-Land ¶ THeir usual Food is Milk and Camels Flesh Their Food brought by the Arabians to their Markets with Salt-Suit with which they dress and relish their Dishes It is brought thither out of Fez and Telensin ¶ THere dwelt amongst them formerly very rich Jews Riches but the people being stirr'd up by the instigations of the Mahumetan Priests they were banish'd from thence and most of them in their departure slain by the Vulgar in a tumultuous Riot which happen'd about the same time when they were driven out of Spain and Sicily by King Ferdinand Meszab MEszab a Countrey in the Numidian Desart Messab about sixty miles Eastward from Tegorarin and a like distance from the Midland-Sea in two and thirty Degrees Longitude and eight and twenty Northern Elevation containing six strong Holds and many Villages The Inhabitants are Rich they drive a great and subtle Trade with the Blacks and are Tributaries to the Arabs THE KINGDOM OF TEKORT OR TEKURT THe Kingdom of Tekort or Tekurt according to Gramay The Kingdom of Tekort is that which they call Tikarte accounted by the Turks for an In-land Territory of the Kingdom of Algier as also that of Guerguela for another because they both pay Tribute This Province derives its Name also as others from its Head City which they say lieth fifty or sixty miles from Tegorarin and ninety from Algier in two and thirty Degrees and fifty Minutes Longitude and in seven and twenty and ten Minutes Latitude This City held by some to be Ptolomy's antient Turafylum The City Tekort was built by the Numidians near a Hill at whose Foot runs a River with a Draw-bridge over The Town is well Fortifi'd with Lome-Walls mixt with Stone except on that side where the Cliffy Rocks and steep Declivings of the Hill make it inaccessible Their Houses which are above two thousand are all of Sun-baked Brick except the Mosque which is built more stately About this City are reckon'd up forty Strong-holds and an hundred and fifty Villages some of them at least four days Journey off so that this Site seems to be the Centre to the Circumference of what is under its Jurisdiction ¶ THis populous Territory wanting Corn is suppli'd sufficiently by the Arabians from Constantine The Condition of the Countrey which they Barter for Dates that grow here in abundance ¶ THe People are very Civil The Condition of the Inhabitants Affable and exceeding Hospitable to all rather bestowing their Daughters on them than the Natives Nay they are so good-natured and generous that they many times present their new Acquaintance with costly Gifts at their departing though they never expect to see them any more or receive a Return from them They are a mixt People of which the chief live like Gentlemen on their Estates the others follow Trades and are Artificers THE DOMINION OF GUARGALA OR GUERGULA THe Countrey of Guargala The Kingdom of Guargala by Gramay call'd Huergula by Marmol Guerquelen and Guergula and by the Africans Verquelen lies in the Desart of Numidia on the Borders of the Kingdom of Agadez This also hath denomination from its chief City The chief City by some taken for the antient Tamarka of Ptolomy The Centre of this Province lieth in thirty seven Degrees and a half Longitude and in twenty five and fifty Minutes Latitude This City hath no other near but surrounded with store of Villages as Gramay reckons a hundred and twenty ¶ THis Countrey The Constitution of the Countrey like the others abounds with Dates but hath scarcity of Flesh and Grain Most of the Inhabitants are black not from the temper of the Climate but their intermixing with the Negro's that are their Slaves They are also mild and of affable Conversation always kind to Strangers because most of their Necessaries and Sustenance they are supplied with from them as Corn Salted-Flesh Fat or Suet Cloth Linnen Arms and Knives In the City Guargala are both Merchants and Artificers Their Food They have their Bread Camels Flesh and Ostriches from other parts The Revenue of the Lord of this Countrey is accounted to amount to a hundred and fifty thousand Ducats yearly Revenue To this their Governour they give Supream Honor like a King Government yet he pays some Tribute to the Arabians and also acknowledges the Bashaw of Algier yearly with a Present of thirty Negro's THE TERRITORY OF ZEB THe Territory of Zeb formerly call'd The Countrey of Zebe The Territory of Zeb lying by the Mountain Auran according to Procopius runs through the midst of Numidian Wilds It s Eastern Borders are Biledulgerid Borders opposite against the Kingdom of Tunis and Tripoli on the West Messile on the North the Foot of the Mountain Bugie on the South a Desart where a Way runs along from Tekort to Guargala Here are five eminent Towns viz. Zeb Peskare Nefta Teolacha and Deusca Lee Afrie 6. Decl. besides many Villages The City Zeb from whom the Countrey hath its Name is in four and thirty Degrees Longitude and in thirty Degrees and ten Minutes Latitude it is accounted very antient being according to Africanus erected by the Romans and also destroy'd by them but after in process of time it rose to its former splendour and now also well Peopled Nefta or Neota is a City or rather a Countrey Nefta containing three great Cities especially where a Fort was built by the Romans Leo p. 6. All these three as Gramay affirms was destroy'd in the Year Fifteen hundred and fifteen but since they have returned leisurely to their former Lustre Teolacha is the antientest surrounded with sleight Walls Teolacha by which glides a River of warm Water Deusen another old City built by the Romans on the Borders of Bugie Deusen and the Desart of Numidia Not far from this last City many Antique Tombs and Monuments present themselves in which several Antique Coyns and Medals Engraven with Emblems and on the Reverse Characterized with various Hieroglyphicks are found ¶ THis Soyl is dry and sandy the Air fiery hot The Constitution of the Countrey wanting the two special Ingredients Water and Corn most of their Ground being unfit for Tillage but their store of Dates supplies all Peskare is much pestered with Scorpions in the Summer whose least bite is immediate death therefore in Summer the Citizens desert their Houses and dwell in the Countrey not returning till October ¶ THe Inhabitants of this place The Condition of the Inhabitants though poor are Civil but those of Nefta are Rough and Surly but those of Teolacha are a proud and high-minded People looking down on all Strangers as too mean for their Conversations but
unsafe Road not onely lying open to the Sea-winds but full of blind Rocks and shifting Sands and a sprinkling of small Isles like Warts upon the Sea Beyond this Southward The Islands of Arguin opens another Bay in which are the Isles of Arguin and the Seven Cliffs which had once peculiar Names but now call'd onely Arguins from a Fort built on the chiefest of them by Alphonso first King of Portugal Its Names Anno 1441. But these were their former Names The White Island that the Portugals call Blanca because of the white Sands The Island of Skins by the In habitants call'd Adeger lying about two miles from the main Land Ilheo or Little Island otherwise call'd The Island de Las Garcas or Crane Isle not far from the main Land Nar and Tider two more near the Coast and lastly Arguin which now gives the denomination to all the rest long since possessed and fortifi'd by the Portugals Castle of Arguin whose Fort lies on a commanding Point strong built all of Stone four hundred and five and twenty Foot in circuit defended on the Land-side with a Wall or Out-work of eleven Foot thick and four and twenty high It hath also three Batetries two towards the Land and one to the Sea This Fort hath more than ordinary accommodation sixteen handsom Rooms of State and Address with their Apartments a large Kitchin good Cellars and other Offices and close by accommodated with a Fountain of fresh Water But in Sixteen hundred thirty and three on the nine and twentieth of January onely with three Ships of the Netherland West-India Company though so defensive the Portugals surprized with a pannick fear delivered it up to the Hollanders The Main Land Coasting this Bay is dry and barren but about five miles there are some Shrub and Heathy Grounds from whence those of Arguin fetch their Fewel Formerly there dwelt upon this Isle some Moors call'd Sebek-Moors who liv'd by Fishing and some Trade giving the fifth part of their Gain to the Castle Also the French Fisher-men yearly in December January and February using large Nets above fourscore Fathom long Fish up and down this Bay for Grampos's which they cut up at Land and dry in the Sun making Train-Oyl of them And also hereabouts the Portugals drive a notable Trade with the wild Arabs and the Whites bartering their Woollen and Linnen Cloth Silver course Tapestry but most of all Corn for Blacks Gold and Ostrich-Plumes They bring thither also Horses which yielded them a dozen or fifteen Slaves Under the Desart of Zannaga is also contained The Wild of Azoat The Desart of Azoat so call'd because of the general dryness and infertility reaching from the Pool of Azoat to that of Azoan near thirty miles distance from Tombut Here are to be seen two Stone Monuments with Inscriptions upon them signifying who were there Interr'd and the cause of their lying there which was thus One of them a wealthy Merchant travelling through those Defarts over-power'd by invincible Necessity suffering strangely by Thirst met by chance with a poor Carrier who had not yet spent all his Water though under the same calamity with whom he contracted at no less Rate than ten thousand Ducats which he laid down upon the Spot for the Moiety thereof but so it happened that neither of them had any great purchase for the Water being divided was soon exhausted and proved not sufficient to save either so that languishing with extream drought they both lost their lives and were there Interr'd The Desart of Zenega inhabited by the People Zanaga's is wondrous hot and hath little or no Water but what is bitter and brackish and those Pits or Wells are at least twenty miles one from another But the Wild of Zenega is destitute of all Water seldom or never raining there having but one Pit in all the way of thirty miles This Soyl is all Sandy and utterly unfruitful being a vast Plain so flat and level that the Traveller hath no mark to find his way or know where he is but is forced to steer his Coast by the Sun and Trade-Winds which blow always Easterly and other little knowledges they gather by former Prints from the Claws of Fowl as Crows Ravens and such like which always wait upon the Caravans as on great Armies expecting Prey for none ever travel through this Desart but with great Company This Countrey produces a kind of Grain like Wheat Plants or Vegetables which grows of its own accord without Sowing But those near the Banks of the River Zenega reap Barley not wanting Dates having also good store of Camels Goats and other Cattel The Inhabitants of these Desarts are Breberians Ludays Duleyns and Zenega's or Zanaga's by Sanutus call'd Azaneghes and some Arabs Sanutus who live upon others sweat and labour stealing their Cattel which they convey to Dara and elsewhere there bartering them for Dates Sometimes the Arabians of Beni-Anir pillage this Countrey between Nun and the City Tagaost Tegaza THe Desart of Tegaza so call'd from the chief Town Tegaza The Desart of Tegaza which hath also this denomination from the great quantity of Salt which is brought thither and from thence convey'd through this Wild to other Countreys This populous Dominion Borders Eastward on Zanaga's This Countrey though well inhabited is vexed in Summer with a dangerous South-Wind whose scorching blast strikes many blind and it hath also great scarcity of fresh Water Here are many Pits of pure white Salt round about which the Salt-boylers The Salt Pits being Strangers pitch their Huts and Tents and their business being done return with the Caravan to Tombut and there sell that Commodity being there very dear Those of Dara also send their Tivar Gold to Tombut The Gold of Tioar dispersing it from thence to Taragbel and Morocco Zuenziga THe Desart of Zuenziga Zuenziga beginning Westward on the Borders of Tegaza reaches Eastward to the Wilds of Haya Northerly confin'd with the Desart of Sugulmesse Tebelbelt and Beni-horai on the South with the Wilderness of Ghor lying near the Kingdom of Huber belonging to Negro-Land The Desart of Gogden is compris'd under that of Zuenziga The Inhabitants of the Desart of Zuenziga are call'd Guaneziries and Zuenziga's The Merchants which travel out of these Parts and from Tremecen to the City Tombut and the Kingdom of Isa must cross this Desart and that of Gogden This Zuenzigan Wild is much dryer and worse to be travell'd through than Zanaga very many being often choak'd for want of Water And that of Gogden hath in nine days Journey no Water except what falls from Heaven in sudden showers and onely in one place where Lading their Camels every one supplies his own private store There grow also many Dates in the Desart of Zuenziga on these Borders of Numidia ¶ AMongst the Inhabitants of this Countrey there are also Arabs call'd Hemrum The Inhabitants who take Tribute of Sugulmesse for
their Plough'd-Lands These as other Arabs rove up and down changing Pasture as far as Yguid they have store of Cattel and Dates and are so numerous that they have brought under their Contribution a great part of Biledulgerid They have other great Arabs Assisters as the Garfa and Esbeh which are looked upon as Nobles descended from famous Ancestors whom the Kings of Barbary have often courted desiring to make Alliance with them The Desart of Hayr or Terga THe Desart of Hayr The Desart of Hayr so call'd from a populous Town there yet by some call'd Terga from the Tergans of Little Africa hath for its Western Borders the Wilds of Zuenziga in the East that of Yguid in the North Its Borders the Wilderness of Tuat Teguirin and Mezzeb in Biledulgerid on the South conterminates with the Desarts near the Kingdom of Agade in Negro-Land spreading it self in some places the breadth of sixty mile that is from Biledulgerid to the Negroes Countrey The Air of this Desart is so temperate that in many places there is abundance of Grass and though other parts be very sandy yet nothing so bad to travel in as that of Zanaga or Zuinziga because it hath store of Springs and deep Wells with sweet and fresh Water but more especially on the Verges of Zuenziga On its Southern Limits near Agadez they find great store of Manna which early in the Morning the Inhabitants gather and carry to the Markets of that City which the Negroes mix with Water making it their Food being as they suppose very much refreshing and wholesome So that Strangers are not so often sick in Agadez though the Air be not so healthy as at Tombut this Cordial not being there so frequent ¶ THis Desart hath also wilde Arabs call'd Uled Huscein Arabians of Hayr which though they belong to the Numidian Countrey fetch in Winter larger Rovings with their Cattel as far as the Desart and sometimes to the Skirts of Atlas though they have few Laws yet they are all under one Government and these great Arabians have a meaner sort of little Arabs under them which live in the condition of Subjects or Servants some of which settle in Fenny Places and follow Tillage But the general business of the foremention'd is to steal and spirit away poor Negroes from thence carrying them to Barbary and Biledulgerid there selling them for great Rates as Slaves The Desart of Iguidi or Lemta THe Desart Iguidi or Lemta The Desart of Lemta taking its Name Iguidi from its chiefest Seat and Lemta from the Name of the Inhabitants The Borders borders in the West on the Wild of Hayr Eastward on that of Berdoa Northward on the Desart of Tekort Guerguela and Gademez in Biledulgerid and to the South Verges with a Desart near Kano in Negro-Land Between this and that of Sugulmesse lieth the Countrey of the Morabitins or Morabites which others call Almoravides Here is dangerous travelling for Merchants which pass from Constantine to the Negroes Countrey the Inhabitants being rude savage and beastial robbing all theymeet and taking all they lay their hands on They have also an antient feud and hatred against those of Guergula a Territory in Biledulgerid which they cruelly massacre putting to death when and where they come within their power In this Desart dwell also certain Arabians call'd Hemrum Kayd and Yahya mingled among the Lempta's The Desart of Berdoa THis Wild hath on the West for Borders the Wilderness Lempta The Desart of Berdoa The Borders on the East that of Augele on the North Fessa in Numidia and Barka and on the South it conterminates with a Desart bordering on the Kingdom of Borno a hundred ninety eight miles from Nylus it contains three fortifi'd Towns and six Villages It is very dry Plates and dangerous for travelling yet convenient for those of Gadamez or Numidia Allies to the Berdoaners The inhabited places have good Water and plenty of Dates The VVilderness of Augele BY some taken for the Countrey Augiles The Desart of Augele described by Mela hath for its Western Borders the Wild of Berdoa on the North the Desart of Barka and Marmarica and spreads in the form of a Towel to the Mediterranean-Sea opposite against Syrtes on the East the Wilds of the Levetans which reach to the Nyle It compriseth three inclosed Towns and many Villages a hundred and twenty miles distant from Nylus Their abundance of Dates answers all which supplies them with Corn and other Necessaries This Countrey is molested also with deadly biting Serpents The Desart of Serte and Alguechet THe Sertan Wild The Desart of Serte and Alguechet divided from the five other more eminent hath for its Western Borders the Desart of Augele on the South the Kingdom of Gaogo on the East Egypt There are yet to be seen the Ruines of the City Serte Also on the South of Serte four and twenty miles from Egypt the Countrey of Alguechet with three inclosed Towns and many Villages and whole Groves of Dates The Inhabitants are black and though stored with Dates yet are poor and Covetous and Tributary to a Xeque or King In this Dominion live eminent Arabians call'd Uled Yahaia Uled Said and Uled Sumeir being able to raise an Army of thirty thousand Horse and an innumerable number of Foot Yet they possess no fortifi'd Towns but live in Tents and are Masters of the Campaigne NIGRITARUM REGIO Negro-Land 3.5 contains In the Inland Gualata Towns Three very large and populous besides the Metropolis Gualata Rivers Zenega or Niger Mountains None of any remark Guinee or Genoua Neither Cities Towns nor Fortresses but one single village the Seat of the King and a University Melli The Village Melli with some Desarts and barren Mountains Tombut Towns Tombut Cabra or Kambre Rivers Niger Guber Towns Guber besides a great Number of Villages and Hamlets Agadez Towns Agadez Kano Towns Cano the head City and some Mountains Kassene Nothing but slight Huts in the manner of Villages Zegzed Towns Zegzed a City with some excessive cold Mountains Zanfara Some Villages consisting of mean Huts Gangara Some Villages consisting of mean Huts Borno Towns Borno the principal about which many smaller Cities Hamlets and Villages Gago Towns Gago the Metropolis standing by the River Zenega the rest of the inhabited Places are Villages and Hamlets Nubia Towns Tenepsus Kondari Dangala Nubia the Metropolis Kusa Ghatua Dankala Jalake and Sala besides Villages Bito Towns Onely Bito Temiam Towns Temikan alone Dauma Each one poor Town Madra Each one poor Town Gorhan Each one poor Town Semen A Countrey little known and less convers'd with Upon the Sea-coast about Cape-Verde Towns and Villages Refrisko Camino Punto Porto Novo Ivala Rivers De la Grace Barsala Garnba Rha St. Domingo Katcheo Rio de les Iletas Rio Grande Danalves Nunno Tristan Tabito Rio das Piedras Pechel Palmas Pagone Kagranka Kasses Karokane Kaper Tambefine Tabarim Rio de
Serre-Lions and Bangue Mountains Mesurado Guinee Rivers Rio das Palmas and Rio Galhinas Maguibba Rio Nova Mava Plizoge and Monoch Rio Junke St. Johns River Sertos St. Andrews River Towns and Villages Kings Village Little Sestos Zanwyn Bofow Little Setter Bobowa Sabrebon Krouw Wappen Drowya Great Setter Gojaven Garway Greyway Tabo Pelicaro Tahoe Berby Assin Albin Tabat Atzyn Takorary besides 50 others Zenega or the Countrey of the Jaloffs Towns Bcere Emdoen Jandos Emduto Endir Sanqueng Magar Emboul Embar Bey-hoarte Lambay Sangay Jamesil Borsalo Tubakatum the Royal Seat of the Great Jalaffe Geroep Jawesil Rivers and Lakes Zenega Gambea Borsalo Basseangamar Rio des Ostros or Oyster River The Lake Eutan Mountains Machamala where are Crystal Rocks Gambea Cassan Cantor and Borsalo Towns Barra Nabare Bintam Tankerval Tendeba Jayre Jambay Mansibaer Barraconda Tinda Joliet Munk-baer Jair Silico Little Cassan and Jongo Rivers Gambea Buramos Towns Jarim St. Domingo Katcheo Guinala and Biguba Towns Guinala Biguba Balola Mandinga and Sousos Towns Sango Sousos Serte-lions or Bolmberre Rivers Rio Pechel Rio Palmas Rio das Piedras Pogone Cangrama Casses Catocane Capar Tambasine Tagarine Bangue Towns Serboracasa Bagos Tomby the Seat of the English Os Alagoas Baga Quoya Towns Jegwonga Fachoo Figgia Cammagoerna Jerboeffaia Falyhammaya Flomy-Seggaya Rivers Magwibba Mavah Plizoge and Menoch Guaffe Towns Aguaki or Little Commendo Ampea Cotabri Aborbi Terra Pekine Great Commendo Fetu Towns and Forts Igwa Takorari Adia and Anemabo Castel del Mina or St. George Sabou Towns Moure Sabou Fort Nassau Fantyn Akara and Labbede Towns Fantyn Kormantin Soko Little Akara Great Akara Labbede Ningo Temina Sinko Pissy Adom Towns Mompa Wassa Wanguy Abrambor Kuyforo Bono Atty Akanien Inta and Ahim Akam Aqua Sanquay Aquumboe Abunce Kuahoe Tafoe Abotra Quaho Cammana Equea Lataby Akaradi and Insoko Arder Towns Foularn Little Arder Jakkeyn Joyo Ba Great Arder Benyn Towns Benyn a City Gotton Koffo and one onely River call'd Arbo Other in a manner unknown Territories are Isago Jabo Odobo Istanna Gabo Forkado Amboyses Highland Calabare Krike Moko Bani Korisko Rivers Rio Non Rio Odo Rio St. Nicholas Rio de tres Jermans Sambreiro Calabare Camarones Jamoce Rio de Campo Rio San Benito Rio Danger and Gabon NEGRO-LAND Or the Countrey of BLACKS THis Countrey spreading from the North to the South that is from the Desart of Lybia to the Banks of the River Niger is at this day with a general Name call'd Negro-Land or The Countrey of the Blacks or Negro's which Marmol placeth in Nether Ethiopia withall adding that the Arabians call it Beledla Abid and Beled Geneva and the Africans of Barbary call it Geneva Sinch and Neuha All the Inhabitants of this Province were call'd by the Antients as Pliny and the Geographer Ptolomy Ethiopian Nigrites or according to the Orthography of Dionysius in his Book of the Scituation of the Earth calls them Negretes as some have call'd them in Greek Melanes which Stephanus de Vrbibus as the former Name signifieth Blacks perhaps derived from the colour of the Inhabitants or nature of the Soyl and because of the Desarts which spread from the Mountain Atlas to the River de Niger Callimackus Hym. in lic or else because Niger casts up a black or duskish Sedement some Rocks appearing amidst in the River which seem as if burnt The most will have it that the People have gotten their Name from the River Niger which moisteneth their Countrey however others have it yet some of the former Reasons seem to have great appearance of probability In this Countrey are placed also Ptolomy's Ethiopian Aganginers the Africans or Gamfasantins Perosers Matirers Ptoemfaners Nubians Atlanticans Garamantins and other antient People besides ¶ THis Countrey hath on the East for Borders the Nyle on the West The Borders the Atlantick on the North the Desart of Lybia on the South partly the Ethiopian Ocean and partly the Abyssine or Prester-John's Countrey being the old Borders of Congo as also the Kingdom of Lovango and other Countreys lying Southward towards the Equinoctial Line In this Countrey are many Kingdoms and Territories partly to the In-land In-Land places of the Negro's Countrey and partly to the South along the Sea-Coast the In-land Kingdoms every one having the Denomination from its Metropolitan are â—ualata Guinee Melli Tombut Gago Guber Agadez Kano Kasene Zegzeg Zanfara Guangara Burno Gaoga Nubie Bito Temiam Dauma Medra Gorhan Semen and the Desart of Seth and Seu. The first fifteen being Kingdoms lie for the most part on the Banks of the River Niger through which the Merchants of Gualata travel to Kairo and Alkair it is a long way yet commodious and without danger The other as Bito Temiam Dauma Medra and Gorhan lie far Eastward from the other The Dominions verging the Coast stretching from East to West Countrey lying at the Sea are the Kingdoms Zenega or Countrey of the Jalafs the Kingdom of the Barceziins the People Arriareos and Faluppos the Kingdom of Kasanga's or Kasamanse the People Burama's the Bisego's or Bigiohos Islands of the Kingdom of Guivale Biguba Mandinga Bena Sousas Serre-Lions or Bolmberre the Islands de los Idoles Bravas all Guinea with its Territories Coasts and Kingdoms belonging thereto as the Territory of Balm Cikon and Quiligia the Kingdom of Quoia the Green-Coast The most noted Tooth-Coast the Quaqua or Fowl-Coast five or six Bands-Coast and the Golden-Coast with the Kingdoms belonging to it the Kingdom of Arder Ulkami Beniin Isago Jaboe Odobo Istanna Gaboe Biafar Ouwerre or Forkado the Territory of Calcarien Krike Moko Bani the Territory of the Ambissines or the High-Land of Amboises and Corisco Every one of which shall here following have their peculiar place first beginning with the most In-land Countreys or Centre of all these vaste Dominions But the greatest Extent of Negro-Land from Cape de Verde The Length or Green-Head being the most Westerly Point lying at the Sea to Tangale a City in Lybia close by the Nyle 3430 English miles The Breadth reckons eight hundred fifty and five German miles or seven and fifty Degrees Longitude and accounts for its greatest Breadth being from the Kingdom of Gualata to the Cape of Lopez Gonzalvez three hundred and eighty miles and a half 1522 English miles or five and twenty Degrees and a half that is from the three and twentieth Degree and thirty Minutes North Latitude taken from the Kingdom of Gualata to the second Degree South Latitude near the Cape of Lopez Gonzalvez Amongst all the Rivers The River Niger which in great number cut through this Countrey the River Niger is the most eminent which by the Arabians is now call'd Hued Nigar Sanutus and by some is taken for the River Asana of Pliny or Asanaga of Solinus as also some hold Niger and Gambea to be one and the same River and others will have it that Niger is Rio Grande or The Great River both which opinions
about ten miles distance from the Niger It compriseth a great number of Villages and Hamlets the chiefest of which wherein formerly the King kept his Court contains about six thousand Houses and hath imparted its Name to the whole Kingdom This Countrey lies Annually under the overflowing of the Niger which causes a great Return by plentiful Harvests of Barley Rice and Mille Their Goats and Cattel though numerous are but small These Inhabitants are Reclaim'd being of a Civil Behaviour expert in Handicrafts weaving and making good Cotton-Cloth sufficient Tanners but exquisite Shoemakers their Ware supplying the Markets of Tombut and Gago whither they are sent in great parcels THE KINGDOM OF AGADEZ THe Kingdom of Agadez being more Easterly than that of Gualata The Kingdom of Agadez stretches its Limits to the North. The Metropolitan thereof also call'd Agadez stands upon the Confines of Lybia the nearest place to the White People except Gualata of all Negro-Land This Countrey abounds with much Meadow-Land having store of Springs and Grass it also yields much Manna which is not onely their common and best Food but makes them a most excellent and cordial Drink which together keeps them in good condition always strong and healthy Yet they want no store of Cattel nor Goats The Agazons for the most part are Strangers settling there their Staples of Merchandise trading to Forreign Countreys The Natives are Artificers or Souldiers but the Southern People follow Pasturage breeding Cattel and Goats their Receptacles are sleight Arbours of implicated Boughs like the Arabs or Mats with which they rove up and down Those of the Lybick Desarts insult over the Kings of Agadez and though they are Tributary to the people of Tombut where they might complain yet they carry so high a hand over them that they supplant and plant the Royal Throne deposing and establishing whom they please being commonly in such Removals one of their Favorites or nearest Relations THE KINGDOM OF KANO THe Kingdom of Kano The Borders of the Kingdom of Kano a great Realm is about a hundred twenty five miles Eastward from the River Niger and ninety from the Kingdom of Agadez The Head City also call'd Kano stands in the middle of the Countrey in thirty and a half Longitude and seventeen Degrees Northern Latitude and invested with a woodden and chalkey Wall as also their Houses are made of the same materials This Countrey in many places is full of Springs especially in the Mountains which are overgrown with many Orange and Lemmon-Trees which bear Fruit of an excellent Relish it also abounds in Wheat Rice and Cotton-Trees of which they make Cloth They have also many Beeves and Goats The Countrey Inhabitants follow both Grasing and Tillage The City People are Merchants and Artificers This King of Kano was formerly so powerful that he made the Kings of Zegzeg and Kassene Tributaries to him THE KINGDOM OF KASSENE THe Kingdom of Kassene to the Eastward of Kano The Kingdom of Kassene possesseth nothing but sleight Huts in the manner of Villages standing one by another The Countrey is mountainous and barren yet fruitful in Barley and Tares The Natives are Cole-Black and have Camisie Noses and thick Lips The Air of their Face much differing from their Neighbors their Noses and Lips so broad and thick that they leave them scarce Cheeks or Chin. The former Government was absolute under a Prince but the last of the Line being made away by Ischia King of Tombut under pretence of assisting him joyn'd it as a Province to his own Kingdom THE KINGDOM OF ZEGZEG THis Kingdom of Zegzeg borders in the East on the Kingdom of Kano The Kingdom of Zegzeg about thirty miles from Kassene The Villages and Houses are of the same form as in the Kingdom of Kassene The chiefest City being also Zegzeg lies in six and thirty Degrees and forty Minutes Longitude and in fourteen Degrees and forty Minutes North Latitude The Countrey in some places Flat and in others Mountainous is subjected to various Weather the Valleys exceeding hot and the Mountains excessive cold insomuch that they make great Fires in the middle of their Halls spreading the red hot Cinders under their Bedsteads which being high from the Ground secures them from the Fire but warms them exceedingly They are rich and drive a great Trade with other People The Valleys are so well watered that they are made luxuriously fruitful abounding in Corn and all other Products of the Soyl. This was also under a King but trapann'd both of Life and Crown by Izchia King of Tombut who annexed it to his Empire THE KINGDOM OF ZANFARA Or GANFARA THe Kingdom of Zanfara The Kingdom of Zanfara a fruitful Countrey abounding in Corn Rice Barley and Cotton borders in the East on Zegzeg The Inhabitants The Inhabitants exceeding Black and of large Stature broad-Faced Camosca-Noses thick-Lipt are savage and of wild disposition and also Subjects to the King of Tombut THE KINGDOM OF GUANGARA or GANGARA THis Kingdom confines on the South with that of Zanfara The Kingdom of Guangara and hath in the South-East some Countreys stored with Gold The inhabited places are onely Villages built with Huts except the chiefest which in greatness and fairness exceeds all the other lies in four and forty Degrees and a half Longitude and in fourteen North Latitude The Natives are surly and clownish dull of apprehension they traffick much abroad the Slaves carrying their Packs or Fardels of Goods on their Shoulders and some on their Heads in large dri'd Calf-skins so carrying them to barter to the Southern and Gold-Countreys for the Wayes are not passable being so ruffled with Woods Briers and Thorns that to all Beasts of burthen they are inaccessible The King if occasion require can raise seven thousand Foot many of them good Archers and five hundred Horse he governs by an Arbitrary Power his Will is his Law his Subjects no better than Slaves yet his greatest Revenue he raises out of his yearly Customs of Exported and Imported Goods THE KINGDOM OF BORNO THe wide-spreading Kingdom of Borno also call'd Burney The Borders of the Kingdom of Borno formerly a Dwelling-place as appears by the Customs thereof of the antient People of Atlas or as Cluverius will have it Garamantes hath on the West for Borders the Kingdom of Guangara with a vast Desart above a hundred and twenty five miles Eastward and lieth near the Head-Fountain of Niger in the Wild of Seu in the South of Seth in the North the Desarts which reach to that side of Barka Urreta sets down for Borders in the East Gaoga and Nubia in the South Histor de La. Ethiop l. 1. c. 32 the Kingdom of Kiofara and Ethiopia or Abyssine in the West the Inward Lybia or Sarra and in the North Berdoa It lieth according to Urreta from the sixteenth to the twentieth Degree Northern Elevation and as Marmol above eighty miles to the East There are
stand two large Portugal Houses each having an exceeding great and tall Tree call'd Talbassero before the Door whose interwoven Boughs that afford a pleasant shade make a delightful Arbor whereinto they frequently go and eat and sleep there North-East from thence appears Magar Magar where the King of Cayor many times keeps his Residence Emboul and seven miles farther Eastwards Emboul where the Kings Palace is divided from the City with Pallisado's interweaved with Bands and Palmito-Boughs and on the in-side Planted with many Vines Before the Court lieth a great Plain The Court of Rayer where they use to break and exercise Horses set round with Trees Into this none may enter but such as are appointed because the King 's chiefest Wives therein have their particular Apartments yet about it at the distance of a Musquet-shot many persons dwell in small Huts or Tents making a reasonable Livelihood by petty dealing with the Servants and Attendants of the Court. Ten miles from the Palace they have Embar Embar a Town set apart onely for the Reception and Entertainment of all such as come of the Blood-Royal and may have any hopes to the Succession of the Crown Three or four miles farther Bey-hourte upon the Shore of the River Zenega is a large Hamlet termed Bey-hourte where the King's Customers and Receivers reside for the Collection of all his Revenues of all sorts thither brought to them About three miles from hence Westwards The Fort of the French the French have a Fort which they maintain to support the Trade they drive there but they pay to the King Sixteen in the Hundred for Hides whereas the Portugals pay but Ten and but a little for other Wares In this Tract we arrive at Baool Lambay whose Metropolis is Lambay where the King usually resides about two miles from whence towards the North-West lieth Sangay Sangay where sometimes the King takes his Divertisements Four miles removed Eastward stands Jamesil Jamesil and about five and fifty miles to the In-land the City Borsalo Borsalo But the Royal City of the whole Kingdom of Zenega is Tubakatum Turbakatum the Court and Chamber of the Great Jalof ¶ THese Countreys are usually infested with sultery heats The Air or temper of the Climate so that the depth of their Winter is warmer than May with us yet have they stormy and wet Weather Travaden or Stormy weather or Rains which they call Travaden that is Tempestuous accompanied with much Thunder and Lightning these begin on the Sea-Coast for the most part in June and continue till September though sometimes accidental Storms happen in October and May but without Rain These sudden Gusts arise commonly out of the South-East but the stiffest and strongest out of the East-South-East which too often prove dangerous to the Sea-men The most unhealthy time here is in October for then the Air parches with Heat but when the Winds begin to blow those Breezes temper and cool the Air and so continues till towards May. ¶ SEveral Rivers water this Countrey the Chief of which are those of Zenega and Gambea both after many meandring Courses discharg'd their full Streams into the Atlantick Ocean Ortelius believes that Zenega is the same which Ptolomy nam'd Daras or Darade but Lewis Cadamost maintains it to be the Niger of the Antients and makes it a bordering Limit to Negro-Land But that Opinion seems altogether impossible because like the Nyle Niger overflows and fertilitates the Countreys it passes through whereas Zenega leaves all lying about it very lean and barren Zenega hath as many Names as it runs through Countreys Several Names Marmol l. 8. c. 3. for the Jaloffs call it Dengueh the Turkornols Maso the Caragols name it Colle the people of Bagano Zimbala those of Tombut Iza but the Portugals not knowing its proper Name stil'd it Zenega from the Name of a Prince with whom upon their first coming into these Parts they contracted a League of Amity Johannes Barros derives this Stream from certain Lakes lying in the East The Head-Fountains by Ptolomy nam'd Chelonides the greatest whereof at present is call'd Goaga and the other Nuba The Course of it is very long and straight almost in a right line till about seventeen miles above Cape de Verde disemboguing into the Ocean In Zenega though not so full of Water as Gambea many Islands appear Islands of Zenega the greatest part whereof are full of Serpents and Wilde Beasts Nor is it much profitable otherwise to such as inhabit near being not passable in many places by reason of huge Rocks causing great and unusual Cataracts like those of the Nyle which some of the Inhabitants call Huaba others Burto that is a Bowe because sometime the Water is carried up into the Air by the force of the Wind in the manner of a Bowe Many other great Rivers run into this A strange Vertue of two Rivers especially one coming out of the South and seeming to have Red-Water between these two they say is such a strange Antipathy that whoever drinks the Water of one and presently that of the other findes himself necessitated to vomit yet neither of them produce this effect single nor both together after they have mingled their Streams and run in one Channel Several kinds of Fishes and other Creatures breed herein as the Hippopotamus or Sea-Horse Crocodiles and Serpents with little Horns yet notwithstanding all these inconveniencies the Water hath a Prolifick Quality foecundating Cattel that drink of it ¶ SIx miles Southward flows Borsalo full of great dry Sholes or Sands The River Borsalo on both sides several Villages shew themselves Fountain-Springs supply'd with fresh Water from a clear Spring that rises on the Easterly Shore A Tree four fatsiom thick by a Tree above four Fathom thick For the River Water by the flowing of the Sea is brackish near forty miles ¶ NOt far from Punto Sereno floweth a small River call'd Rio de la Grace being a Border to the Kingdom of Ale before whose Mouth lieth a Shelf many times overflow'd by the Sea from which as soon as dry fresh and sweet Water continually springs Somewhat more Southerly runs Bassangamar full of great Rocks The River Bassangamar The next is Rio des Ostro's or Oyster-River The River of Oysters deep enough for the coming in of Ships Between Borsalo and Gambea the Countrey all along is plain but full of high Trees yet wholly void of Inhabitants About three miles from Jandos Northwards The Lake Eutan is the Lake Eutan six miles long and half a mile broad In time of Rain it abounds both with Water and Fish but in a dry Season so empty that they can go over dryshod The bottom for the most part covered with Simbos or pieces of Horn and Glass which in Angola they use for Money Not far distant from hence is a Well of ten Fathom deep
Egyptian Monarchs Pharaoh at first and afterwards Ptolomy The proper Name of the present King is Daur but by the addition of that Royal Title which signifies King call'd Burdomel Daur This Name of Burdomel The King is taken by some for a Place about Cape Verde and accordingly so set down in the Maps of Africa ¶ HEre are no peculiar or Municipal Laws The Law of the Countrey for indeed the Law or light of Nature is the onely Rule they steer by for when a Man dies and leaves behind him Wives Children Cattel Slaves and Iron wherein their chiefest Riches consists the Brothers and Sisters of the Deceased take all without any consideration of the Children whom they leave to the wide World to help themselves as well as they can As to matters of distributive Justice or punishments of Crimes they are in a manner strangers to both the greatest extravagancies being bought off and pardoned by paying of Slaves or some other Mulct to the King ¶ THeir Religion Their Religion if so we may call it is generally Paganism for they greet the New-Moon with horrible roarings and strange gestures of adoration they offer their Sacrifices in the Woods before great hollow Trees wherein they have placed Idols and this they do rather out of custom then zeal using neither form nor method in their Devotions nor any particular Assemblies but every one following the dictates of his own humor makes a God in his own Fancy which is as often varied as their Lusts or Passions raises in them other motions Some of them seem to incline to Mahumetanism and admit among them some Marabouts but so little have they prevailed upon them that they know not what the Sala means nor do the Priests any other Service than write Arabick Characters on small Papers which sew'd in little Leather Purses are worn by the Blacks on their Necks Arms Legs Heads and every part of their Bodies in great numbers firmly believing that thereby in time to come they shall be freed of all troubles and dangers to the great gain of the Marabouts who sell them at no small Prices And although they know there is a God yet have they no understanding to worship him and use Circumcision the fifth or sixth Year and then if they be asked the reason thereof they can give no other account but that it is an antient Custom received among them but farther know not None of the Priests are permitted to Marry but in their own Families nor may teach any to Read or Write without the chief Marabout's Licence They hold the Christian Religion in great abomination affirming that God who giveth all things and can do what he pleaseth and causes Thunder Lightning Rain and Wind is Omnipotent and needs neither praying to nor to be set forth in so mysterious a way as that of the Trinity and thus Heathenism and Idolatry generally possesses the whole Countrey THE KINGDOM OF GAMBEA CASSAN CANTOR AND BORSALO ADjoyning to Zenega on the North is Gambea The Kingdom of Gambea a small Kingdom by the River of the same name On the other side of the River Gambea lies the Jurisdiction of Cassan Great Cantor and Borsalo all heretofore subject to the King of Mandimanza but now have Princes as absolute as himself and acknowledging no Superior The King of Great Cantor keeps his Residence continually on the Southerly Shore of the River Gambea The King of Canter having many inferior Dominions under his Obedience The King of Borsalo commands on the North-side of the same River to Tantakonde The King of Borsalo Both these Princes have several populous Towns belonging to them but Several Towns lying on Gambea as we said all without Walls and scituate on both the Shores of Gambea which like the Nyle overflowing it Banks much enriches and fertilitates the neighbouring Soyl. The Sea-Coast hereabouts shooting from the South is very low and in that regard unless in very clear weather hard to be known but more forward the Land rises high is full of Trees and spreads North-East and South-West At the Mouth of this River stands the Town Barra Barra so named because every Ship that comes thither must give a Bar of Iron which they call Barra to the King of Borsalo Above the South-Point stands a Town call'd Nabare Nabare within a Wood. Three miles higher on the same Point lieth a Town call'd Bintam inhabited by the Portugals Bintam On the South-side of the River twenty miles from the Mouth Tankerval Tendeba appears Tankerval and not far thence a Town call'd Tendeba twelve miles from which last may be seen Jayre Jayre in a narrow Creek Half a mile beyond the Creek on the South-side lieth the River and Town call'd Jambay Jambay Mansibaer Barraconda with another named Mansibaer on the North. In the last place you come to Barraconda above which the Sea floweth not so that whoever will go higher must Row against the Stream After a tedious and toilsom Journey of ten days you arrive at Tinda Tinda above which stands Joliet Joliet Munkbaer and six days Journey from that a City call'd Munkbaer to which without great hazards there is no coming from whence in nine days you come to the City Jayr and so to Silico an In-land Town yet a place of great Trade Five and fifty miles within the Land stands Borsalo and eighty five miles Little Cassan Small Cassan Groat Cassan three miles above which the vast and great City Cassan shews it self whose side is washed by the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea and where the King keeps his Court. ¶ AMong other Rivers that water these Countreys The River Gambea one of the principal is Gambea or Gambia so call'd by the Portuguese after the example of the Blacks who call all the Tracts of Land reaching from the Mouth of it to the Gold-Coast Gambu It s Mouth is about three miles broad hath five fathom Water and lies in thirteen Degrees and nineteen Minutes North Latitude between the Zenega and Rio Grande It draws the original from the great River Niger It s Original at the place where it makes a great Lake and divides in four branches which are afterwards named Zenega Gambea Sante Domingo and the Great River all which after several long courses having visited and refreshed these hot Countreys with their pleasant Streams at last near Cape Verde pour forth their Waters into the Great Ocean but especially Gambea with so strong a Current and such abundance of Water that sixteen miles in the Sea as they say that Water may be taken up They may row up in this River against the Stream near a hundred miles but then are stopped with a strong Water-fall which with an impetuous noise pours down over the Rocks and by that means becomes unpassable The Channel is for the most part very broad especially from the Gold-Coast of Cantor or Reskate to its Mouth
many other Vice-Roys under him as of Bursalo Jaloffo and Bersetti who commanded the Kingdoms of Boloquo Bintao and Hondigu but now these have taken the Title of Kings and regard this Mandimansa little or nothing every one governing his Countrey with full Power without acknowledging him or any other for their Superior The Mandingians were antiently altogether given up to the Delusions of the Devil worshipping Stocks and Stones and keeping among them many Sorcerers South-sayers and Witches nor have they yet detested those old and wicked Customs but of late years Mahumetanism hath much prevail'd among them brought first thither by the trading Moors and Turks and since increased by the Natives who went to serve in Forreign Wars The chief Bexerin or High-Priest hath his Residence in the chief City of the Kingdom and deeply skill'd in Necromantick Arts wherein he hath instructed the King of Bena who makes great advantage thereof in revenging himself of his Enemies whom he variously torments as his malice or necessity incites him BENA and SOUSOS THe Kingdom of Bena and Sousos The Kingdom of Bena and Sousos deriving its Name from the Inhabitants of its principal Town which is named Sousos stands scituate about nine days Journey from the Way that leads to the Kingom of Torra and Serre-Lions but more Northerly of those and Southerly from Mandinga ¶ THis Countrey is very Hilly and Mountainous The Nature of the Countrey all whose sides are plentifully furnish'd with shady Groves of green-leaved Trees and here and there scattered some Valleys veined with cleer and purling Brooks From the colour of the Earth in the Mountain they conjecture that the Iron Mines inclosed within their bowels are of finer Ore than most in Europe Within the covert of the Woods lurk many Serpents curiously spotted with so many lively colours as are scarce to be found in any other Creatures The King whom the Inhabitants stile King of Serpents keeps commonly one of them in his Arms which he stroaks and fosters as it were a young Child and so highly esteemed that none dare hurt or kill it ¶ WHen any one dies The manner of their Funerals the nearest Relations of the Deceased and next Neighbors have notice of it whereupon they immediately begin to make a howling noise so hideous as to Strangers is terrible afterwards the Friends and Kindred go to accompany the Funeral howling and crying as they pass on which is redoubled by the frightful shreeks of such as go forth to meet and receive them They bring with them Cloth Gold and other things for a Present to the Grave which they divide into three equal parts one for the King the other for the nearest Relations to whose care the Funeral is left but the third part is buried with the Corps for they believe as we said before that the Dead shall find in the other World whatsoever is so laid up at their Interrment ¶ THe Kings and other great Lords are buried in the night very privately and in unknown places The Funerals of the King and other Grandees Jarrik lib. 5. c. 48. in the presence onely of their nearest Kindred Which privacy they use in all probability to prevent the stealing away the Goods and other Wealth which in great quantities they put into the Grave with them especially what ever Gold in their lives they had hoarded And for the more certain concealment they stop the Rivers and guard all ways round about until they have so levell'd the place that not the least mark appears discoverable This is used towards the greatest and most honourable but frequently over the Graves of persons of meaner repute some small Huts are erected sometimes made of Cloth other while of Boughs whither their surviving Friends and Acquaintance at set-times repair to ask pardon for any offences or injuries done them while alive and so continue as long as the Weather permits it to stand ¶ THe Jurisdiction of this King reaches over seven Kingdoms The Kings Authority and yet he is under Konche the Emperor of all the Sousos ¶ THe Inhabitants as all the rest are Idolaters Their Religion and use certain Letters or Characters written by the Brexerins to preserve them from Diseases THE KINGDOM OF SERRE-LIONS OR BOLMBERRE THe Mountain looking into the Sea and known to the English French The Mountain and Kingdom of Serre-Lions and Dutch by the Name of Serre-Lions as also the whole Kingdom first obtained this Title from the Portugals and Spaniards who call'd it Serra Lioa and at last Siera Liona that is The Mountain of the Lioness The cause of which Name is conjectur'd to be drawn from hence Why it is so call'd for that from the hollow of its Concave Rocks whereon the Sea beats when the Winds bluster and the stormy Billows rage proceeds a terrible noise like the furious roarings of a robbed Lioness adding moreover that from the top of this Hill which lieth continually cover'd with Clouds which the violent heat of the Sun-Beams darting perpendicularly upon it twice in the year cannot disperse there is continually heard a rattling of Thunder with frequent flashes of Lightning whose resounding Ecchoes may be distinctly observ'd twenty five miles off at Sea ¶ THe Inhabitants name this Countrey in their own Language Bolmberre The Bigness which signifies Low and good Land and especially hath respect to the low and fruitful Tract of Serre-Lions which taketh beginning at Cape de Virgen and endeth at Cape de Tagrin or Ledo lying in eight Degrees and thirty Minutes North Latitude and is easie to be known at Sea because it is exceedingly higher than the Countrey Northward and runs far into the Sea The Mountain about the Point is high and doubled spreading along the Sea South-East and South and by East but the Countrey Northerly of the Point is low and flat ¶ THis Kingdom containeth above thirty Rivers which all empty themselves into the Great Ocean and most of them having broad streams neighbored with pleasant Valleys and flowing between Groves of Orange-Trees and their Banks on both sides edg'd with fair Towns and Villages to the great delight of Passengers The first River by Cape de Virgen is by the Portuguese call'd Rio das Piedras that is The Stone-River because of the many Stones therein It is a very great River and divides the Countrey with several Arms making many Islands stiled Cagasian or Cagakais where the Portugals have built a strong Fort for the conveniency of their Trade In the next place the Maps of the Countrey have set Rio Pichel Rio Palmas Rio Pogone Rio de Cangranca Rio Casses Rio Carocane Capar and Tambasine which two last take their original from the Mountains of Machamala upon which may be seen a stately Work of Chrystal with several Pyramids of the same Matter Lastly The River Mitombo they describe the River Tagarin otherwise Mitombo but at present by the English Portugals Dutch and other-Traders call'd Rio. de
poisonous Beasts which dy'd through the extraordinary burning of the Sun and rotting on the Earth seems to leave some of their venom on the superficies of the ground which is wash'd off by the Rain and carried into the Water The Netherland East India Ships put sometimes in here to refresh themselves and to take in fresh Water but to the great prejudice of the Sea-men if it happen at the beginning of the Rain and while the afore-mention'd poison is in the Water moreover their greedy eating of raw Fruit there found in great plenty brings upon them many dangerous and mortal Sicknesses The Countrey is by some reputed very fruitful The Fruitfulness of the Countrey for it yields abundance of white Mille Rice and two or three sorts of Cardamoms or Grains of Paradice About the River of Serre-Lions it yields several sorts of Fruits especially Lemons a great refreshing to Seamen many wild Vines bearing good Grapes a few Oranges and some Indian Figs by the Inhabitants call'd Banamas The Islands of Sombreras produce many Oranges Lemons Citrons Palmito-Trees of several sorts which afford the Inhabitants Wine Palm-Oyl and other things but above all an excellent sort of Sope made of the Oyl and Ashes of the Palmito-Trees so much exceeding the European Sope that it is prohibited to be brought into Portugal because it should not bring down the Price of their own Here and in the neighboring Islands grow many Sugar-Canes naturally whence might be raised great Profit from the conveniency of the many adjacent Rivers where Mills might be set up to Grind them without the charge of Slaves They have also great store of Cotton red-coloured Wood vulgarly call'd Brasil better than that which comes from Brasile for it will give a tincture in Dying seven several times Besides there is a sort of Wood named Angelin fit to build Ships with and the Barque affords Materials to Caulk the Seams of Vessels and make Match for Guns The other Commodities are Wax Ivory and Long-Pepper by the Portugals call'd Pimenta del Kola and Tail-Pepper or Pimenta del Rab. Both these sorts are taken to be much better than the East-India Pepper but the King of Spain hath prohibited the Importing it into his Countrey that the Trade of East-India Pepper may not be spoiled which brings them such great Profit However the English Hollanders French and other People that Trade in this Countrey bring it over but the Portugals barter it on the Coast of Guinee in exchange for Gold Slaves Provision and other things according as the Places wherein they Trade differ or vary In Mount Makamala which we mention'd before appears Chrystal Rocks from the Skirts of whose over-shooting Edges which hang like Bases or Penthouses several Christalline Radii shoot in a Pyramidal Form with the Points pendent towards the ground within four or five foot like Isicles from the Eaves of a house which when struck yield a pleasant twang like the strings of an Instrument both to the delight and admiration of the beholders Among other Beasts found in this place there are three sorts of Monkeys Aper one call'd Baris they are strong and active and withall so sensible that being taken up young and tutor'd they are serviceable on many occasions for they go commonly on their hinder-feet and beat Mille in a Mortar fetch Water out of the River in small Cans on their heads which if they chance to let fall they squeak and cry out as afraid they also turn the Spits and do several Jugling-tricks to the great pleasure and pastime of their Masters In the Village of Serborakasa the Ships are furnish'd with all sorts of Provisions for the Land yields abundance of Cattel and Fowl The Rivers have infinite variety of good Fish and also the Sea-Coast than which Europe can boast none better ¶ THe People of Serre-Lions and the Cape of Sagre or Tagrin The Custom and Habit of the Inhabitants are rather brown than black they mark their Bodies in several places with hot Irons and in their Faces Ears and Noses having many holes wherein they place several Jewels which they call Mazubas and Gold Rings They go always naked onely upon their Pudenda they wear a Flap made of the Barks of Trees Two sorts of Negroes inhabit about Serre-Lions that is Capez Inhabitants are two sorts Capez a People of more clear spirit and judgement than those of Guinee Jaric lib. 5. cap. 4. for they easily learn what is taught them but withall are effeminate and luxurious yet of late are much improv'd in Valour and Manhood by the continual Wars they are forc'd to wage with the Kumba's their Neighbors The other are these Kumba's call'd also Manes being Anthropophagi and by consequence of nature cruel and barbarous These in the Year Fifteen hundred and fifteen invaded the Capez for Pillage but inticed by the great Fertility of the place determin'd to remain there and dispossess the other whereupon they furiously persecuted the Capez eating up whomsoever they took of them till at length as if satiated with humane bloud they sold some to the Portuguese for Slaves This their savage Tyranny so consternated the rest that to escape that Barbarity they almost totally deserted the Countrey but since by the Converse with Merchants and something softened with the pleasure of the Countrey they have left those abominable Customs and are become treatable eating Rice Mille Beans Oxen and Goats flesh In every City or Village stands a great House sever'd from the other where the young Maids have their aboad and for the space of a year are instructed by a very honourable and well accomplish'd old man sprung from a noble Stock At the end of the year they go forth all together drest up according to the best mode of the Countrey to a place where having Musick they dance in the sight of their Parents and many young men who from among them chuse one they best like to marry but before they are permitted to carry their Brides away they purchase them of their Fathers and also give a satisfactory recompence to their old and grave Instructor Their Kings are buried without the Towns in a large place erected of purpose The Funerals of the dead and cover'd over with Straw alleadging it is not fit that such should be buried in the open air who have in their life time born the publick Office of a Judge Others are buried in their Houses attired with Gold Bracelets Pendants in the Ears and Nose-Jewels Their Lamentations and Mourning are perform'd in open places according to the Rank and Quality of the Deceased The Wealth of the Inhabitants consists in Ambergreece Riches Chrystal Pearles Ivory Wax excellent Brasil-Wood long Pepper and unrefin'd Gold The Wares which the Merchants receive chiefly in Exchange of their European Commodities are Elephants-Teeth Gold and Red-Wood which last is generally bought up by the English The Countreys on the North-side of Serre-Lions have a peculiar
have great skill in Swimming but the Men within Land use it so little that they seem afraid at the sight of any great River They can keep long under Water and Dive exceeding deep wherefore the Portugals bring of the expertest from hence to the West-Indies to use them in the Pearl-fishing in the Island Margaretta Children not exceeding two years of Age betake themselves instantly to the Water and learn to Swim because unskilfulness therein is counted a great shame The Women are slender-Body'd and cheerful of disposition but have such great Breasts that they can fling them over their Shoulders and give their Children Suck that hang at their backs They have great inclinations to Dancing The Women are inclin'd to Dancing so that when they hear a Drum or other Instrument they cannot stand quiet but must shew their Skill They meet usually in the Evenings to Revel while some Dance others Play upon Instruments as Copper Panns struck with Buttons or Drums made of a hollow Tree and cover'd over with a Goats Skin or such like barbarous Musick They Dance commonly two and two together The use of Castinetto's came from Africa Leaping and Stamping with their Feet Snapping with their Fingers and Bowing their Heads one to another some have Horses Tails in their Hands which they cast one while upon one Shoulder and one while upon the other others with Wisps of Straw in their hands which they let fall then again suddenly reaching it they cast it up aloft and catch it in their hands This Dancing having continu'd an hour or an hour and a half every one returns home Besides these Evening-Pastimes they have a sort of Dancing-Schools wherein the younger Breed are taught These People are seldom free from Lice The Blacks are Lowsie though Clean. and Fleas although they keep themselves clean in their Bodies for they Wash every Morning and Evening from Head to Foot and anoint themselves with Oyl of Palm or Suet to make them look Smooth and that the Flies may not bite their Naked Body The Women moreover anoint themselves with Civet and fine smelling Herbs to be the more acceptable to their Husbands They count it a great shame to Break Wind in the presence of any they never do their Easement upon the ground but make a Hut whereinto they retire and when full burn them to Ashes They cannot Evacuate their Water in a continu'd Current as usual in humane Creatures but rather like Hoggs by intermissive girdings When they meet any of their Friends or Acquaintance in the Morning Their Salutation they Salute them with great Courtesie Imbracing one the other in their Arms and closing the two first Fingers of the Right Hand snap two or three times together each time bowing their Heads and saying Auzy Auzy that is Good Morrow Good Morrow Another as it were innate quality they have to Steal any thing they lay hands of Exquisite in Stealing especially from Foreigners and among themselves make boast thereof as an ingenious piece of Subtilty and so generally runs this vicious humor through the whole Race of Blacks that great and rich Merchants do sometimes practise small Filching for being come to the Trading Ships they are not at rest till they have taken away something though but Nails or Lead that is Nail'd to the outside of the Ships to prevent Worm-eating which no sooner done then with a singular sleight of hand they convey from one to another but if they chance to be trapp'd they all leap instantly over-Board for fear of Beating but if caught and soundly Bastinado'd then as past doubt of other punishment they never avoid the Ship but come again the next day to Trade They little esteem any Promises made to Foreigners They keep little of their Promises but break them if they can see any advantage in it in brief they are a treacherous perjur'd subtle and false People onely shewing Friendship to those they have most need of When they make a Promise or Oath to the Whites they cast their Face to the Ground then bowing speak these words thrice Jau Jau Jau every time striking their hands together and stamping upon the ground with their feet and lastly kiss their Fetisy or Sants which they wear upon their Legs and Arms. Most of their Food is Bread Most of their Food is Bread by them call'd Kankaiens Bak'd or Boil'd of Mille How it is made ready mix'd with Oyl of Palm and sometimes with green Herbs the Mille they prepare by Pounding in a Stone-Mortar afterwards cleanse it in a Woodden Shovel then the Women Grinde it every day twice upon a flat Stone which stands a mans height from the Earth with another Stone a Foot long just as the Painters usually Grind their Colours which is no small labour though little regarded by the men Thus made into Meal they mingle it with water and make Cakes or Balls as big as both ones Fists which they Boyl or Bake upon a hot Hearth bound up in Cloth Others add thereto Maizr They seldom eat Flesh Other Food but all sorts of Fish Potatoes also and Injames which they Boyl as also Bananasses Bakovens Rice and several other sorts of Fruit which the Countrey affords Their daily Drink is Water and Palm-Wine Drink yet they make another Liquor of Mace which they call Poitou The Men Drink stoutly especially hot Liquors such as Palm-Wine The Men are inclin'd to Drinking Brandy and other Wine so that the Evening seldom sees them Sober In Drinking they use strange Customs for the first Drinker must lay his Hands upon his Head and with a loud voyce cry out Tautosi Tautosi After Drinking they poure a little as an Oblation to their Fetisi upon the Earth crying aloud I. O. U. which if they omit they are perswaded it will do them no good but vomit it up presently Nor have they a less Voracity in Eating being scarcely satisfi'd with Food Gluttony in Eating their Caninus Appetitus being so insatiate that when they have as it were but newly swallow'd the last they will fall to afresh as if pin'd for hunger nor do they chew it like us but take it in broken Gobbets with the three middle-Fingers Unmannerly and throw them into their Mouthes down their Throat without ever casting it beside ¶ WAlled Cities they have none nor good Towns near the Sea Towns or Villages what they are onely upon the Shore some Villages appear of no great consequence being ill-favoredly built and worse order'd for they so stink of Dirt and Filthiness that sometimes when the Land-Wind blows the Stench may be smell'd a mile and a half in the Sea The Towns more within the Land are much bigger and fuller of Trade and People who live more at ease for such as live at the Sea are Interpreters Brokers Rowers Skippers or Seamen Servants Fishers and Slaves of the other But although as we said the Towns lie open
Priviledges for now he may buy Slaves and Trade for other things which before he had no permission to do They take great care therefore about it although perhaps the acquiring cost them all they are worth and thereby are much poorer than before but he soon gets it up again by Presents brought him from others each according to his ability And now as soon as he hath gain'd an Estate again he bestows it upon Slaves wherein their Riches and Reputation consists These keep one among another a yearly time of Feasting where they make good Cheer new Paint the Cows Head and hang it about with Ears of Mille. Besides this the Nobility in general keep one Feast upon the sixth day of July where they Paint their Bodies with Stripes of red Earth and wear on their Necks a Garland of green Boughs and Straw as a Badge of their Nobility In the Evening they all come as Guests to the House of the Braffo where they are entertain'd with exceeding Mirth and Feasting even to Excess and Drunkenness These People are so conceited of their old Idolatrous Customs Religion or Worship that they deride as it were the Religion of the Whites under what Name or Notion soever Several times have the Portuguese and French by Jesuits sent thither endeavour'd to convert them to the Christian Faith yet never have been able hitherto to effect any thing worth relating And thus have we travell'd through the Gold-Coast The Coast from Rio Volta to Arder SEven Miles Eastward from Akara The River Rio da Volta on the Shore lieth a Town call'd Sinko twelve Miles from that the River Rio da Volta falls into the Sea Coming with Ships before this River the Entrance seems very little because of a Shelf which lies before it and closeth it up yet more within Land it may be discern'd to run with an open and wide Channel Between Sinko and Rio Volta standeth a Town call'd Ley whose Inhabitants maintain themselves by selling Cows wherewith though at a dear Rate they furnish themselves with Meat Three Miles from Rio Volta lieth a Point call'd in Portuguese Cabo Montego a low Countrey having little Wood and the Shore spreading East South-East From Cabo Montego Eastwards the Coast shoots out with a great Belly so that from one Corner to the other Observe Spanish Miles or Leagues as we said before such as twenty five make a Degree it is ten Miles Sailing The Countrey seems Craggy yet water'd with a small River whose Mouth is stopp'd with Sand and hath Trees on the East Quarter Beyond all the Land lies flat as far as Popo or Popou and shadow'd with good Boscage THE KINGDOM OF ARDER THis Kingdom of Arder contains about twelve Miles in length The Kingdom of Arder beginning four Miles Eastward of Popou and ending at Aqua Three Miles Eastward of Popou on the Shore appears a Town named Foulaen The Town Foulaen five Miles Eastward of which on the same Coast you come to Little Arder Little Arder three hundred Rods in length beyond which about fifty Rods from the Shore runs a River of brackish Water From Popou the Coast reacheth East and by South to Arda and for eight Miles low Land spotted here and there with Trees Two Miles Westward of Arder stand four Woods A Mile to the North North-East of Arder Jakkeins you may see Jakkein a Town so call'd from the Governor thereof The City is encompass'd fifteen hundred Rod about with an Earthen Wall and includes a stately Palace the Residence of the Governor and water'd with a small Rivulet Three days Journey from Jakkein lieth the Jojo Jojo and a quarter of a Mile farther a Town call'd Ba surrounded with a Mud Wall Ba. over which a Fidalgo Commands in the King's Name On the Sea-Coast stand two Gates and on the Land-side runs a fresh River which reacheth to Benyn About twelve Miles to the North North-East up in the Countrey lieth Great Arder an open Village and straglingly built but containing in circuit as the Natives report above three Miles They may conveniently Ride to Arder on Horseback or be carri'd in a Litter or Waggon there runneth so straight a Way thither from the Shore In the mid-way stands a Retiring place for Travellers where they brew Beer of Mille. The King hath his Residence in this Village and two Palaces but he dwells onely in one the other being reserv'd as a Retirement upon casualty of Fire Both these Palaces are environ'd with an Earthen Wall of four or five Foot thick with Coverings of Reeds and have several Chambers and Apartments within Here are no Wall'd Cities but open Villages in abundance fitly scituate for Merchandise and defensible for the Inhabitants The Air proves unhealthy to the Whites The air unhealthy for the greatest number of them that go to Land are quickly seiz'd by a Sickness which for the most part kill 's whereas the Natives are very fresh and sound and attain a great Age. This Tract of Land is every where plain and fruitful thin of Woods The conditions of the Land but full of fine Villages the Ways very convenient to Travel in and several full-stream'd Rivers that irrigate and with their Waters fertilize the Ground The Valleys are enricht with divers Fruits throughout the whole year Their Fruits as Injames Potato's Oranges Lemons Coco-Nuts Palm-Wine and such like The Injames are eaten either boyl'd broil'd or roasted with Butter for Sawce In the Marshes of Arder they make much Salt which those of Kuramo buy and carry away with great Canoos Here breed many Horses The Houses are meer Mud-walls two or three Foot thick Houses and cover'd with Straw Their Houshold-stuff no other than that before described on the Gold-Coast Houshold-stuff and as there also for Ornament hang on the Walls their Arms viz. Shields Assagays or Lances Bowes and Arrows In Places of retirement or as we may call them Inns Beer of Mille. between the Shore and Great Arder and in the Town Offer they brew Beer of Mille in this manner First they steep the Mille in Water till it shoots afterwards dry it in the Sun then stamp it to Meal in great Mortars and poure upon it boyling hot Water They know also to make this Mash Work with Yeast and to make it thick or thin as they please But this Beer by the heat of the Mille will soon sowre and drinking of it causeth the Scurvey but mixed with Water makes a good wholsom Drink Their Bread made of Mille they call Kanties and their other Victuals Kade Food being green Herbs Rice Beef Pork Cabrietes or Mutton Dogs and Hens The Men have three Habit. sometimes four Garments hanging about their Middles one shorter than another so that part of them all may be seen but the upper part of the Body and Feet up to the Knees remain naked The better sort have very sumptuous Cloathing of
beating of the Sea against the Shore the Landing proves very dangerous When the Merchants have done and are ready to depart they must pay to the King two Musquets and five and twenty Pound of Gun-Powder or for want of that in Silk-Worms the worth of nine Slaves to the Carte to the Foello or Captain of the Whites and to Honga the Captain of the Boat to each of them a like Present Provisions for the Whites may be had here for a reasonable Price that is a Cask of fresh Water and a Sag of Wood for two yellow Armlets a Kof or Chest of Salt for three five Hens for four a Pot of Beer for one In time of Wars none are exempted from Service The Wars but very old Men and Children their disorderly manner of Fight you have before describ'd as also their Barbarism to the Slain and Prisoners and Method of Triumphing with their Heads and therefore we will not here repeat and cloy you with the same things again The King of Arder hath absolute and Soveraign Power over his Subjects Dominion and according as they reckon State carries a Majestick Splendor both in Clothes and Servants his Subjects tendring him great respect He Creates Noblemen and Courtiers at his pleasure and punishes Offenders not any daring to contradict Every Town as Jakkijn and Ba hath their Fidalgos or Noblemen to preside it in the King's Name who exacts a great Revenue from the Inhabitants by Order from the King When the King dies Funeral for two or three moneths after two sit waiting by him and some Servants are Strangled as an ostentation of Power not in expectation of Service in the other world The Crown descends to the Eldest or Youngest Son after their Fathers Decease and takes all his Father left but his Wives whom all but his own Mother to whom extraordinary respect is shown he imploys in his works of several kinds The Goods of the meanest sort after their decease falls to the Noblemen whose Vassals they were Their Religion consists in no appointed Meetings or setled Form Their Religion though they have Fetiseros or Priests for every Person of Quality hath his own Chaplain and if any be sick in their Family the Fetisero comes and taking Oxen Fetisero's or Priests Sheep and Hens for a Sacrifice cuts their Throats and with the Bloud besprinkles their Fetisi or Sant that is sometimes no more than an old Earthen Pot or Basket Every Family hath a Meeting once in six moneths at which their Priest offers Sacrifice to their Fetisi or Sant put under a Pot with Holes and then they enquire of what they desire to know If the Fetisi be unsatisfied the Priest can get no words from him if otherwise he hath an answer by a gracile or small-piped voice as if it came from the Fetisi whereas indeed it is a counterfeited sound by their Priests Then the Inquirer takes a Bason fill'd with Beer and Meal and gives to the Priest then suddenly somewhat in the Pot under which the Fetisi sits leaps whereupon all promising obedience to the answer and drinking a draught out of the Bason depart They believe another life after this but not for all for they say that a man after death perisheth and his bloud congeals so that none must expect any Resurrection saving those that are slain in the Wars which they averre to have found by experience and that the Bodies slain in the Wars lie not two days in the Graves But more probably this seems a cheat of their Fetisero's who in the night steal the bodies from their resting-places to make the people believe they were risen and gone to another life and to this end to make them the more stout and valiant in the Wars Sixteen miles Eastward of Little Arder Rio Laga Rio de Lagas empties his Waters into the Sea before which a Shelf lyeth that choaks the whole River except at the East-side where they may Row in with a Boat but not without danger to overset in a rowling Sea This Flood goeth in at North or North-west and so passes to a Town call'd Curamo lying on the South Curamo from which Cotton-Cloathes are brought to the Gold-Coast and with good Profit Traded for by the Europeans there The Kingdom of ULKAMI or ULKUMA ULkami or Ulkuma a mighty Countrey The Kingdom of Vlkami spreads Eastward of Arder between that and Benyn to the North-East From hence they send many Slaves partly taken in the Wars Their Trade and partly made such as a punishment for their offences to Little Arder and there sold to the Portuguese to be transported to the West-Indies The Boys in this Region are Religion or Worship according to the Mahumetan manner Circumcis'd but the Girls when they attain the Age of ten or twelve years they put a Stick up their Privacies whereon Pismires taken out of the Fields are set to eat out the Flesh The Monarchy of BENYN THe Kingdom of Benyn Borders of the Kingdom of Benyn or Benin so call'd from its chief City Great Benyn borders in the Northwest on the Kingdom of Ulkami Jaboc Jejago and Oedobo in the North on that of Jaboc eight days journey above the City Benyn in the East on the Kingdom of Istanna and Forkado and in the South on the Sea How far this Principality of Benyn spreads Bigness from South to North is as yet unknown by reason several places continue so full of great Woods that they cannot be Travell'd but it hath from East to West about a hundred Spanish Miles This Kingdom boast many good Towns Latbâ— though little at present known as lying eight or nine days journey beyond the City of Benyn besides an innumerable number of Villages and Hamlets sprinkled as Beauty-Spots on the Verge of the River but the rest of the Countrey not Inhabited so overgrown with Brambles and Bushes as makes it unpassable save onely where some narrow Paths lead from Town to Town Twenty miles or thereabouts up the same River near its Head-Spring stands a Town call'd Gotton Gotton considerable for its length and extent Nine or ten miles from which The City of Benyn but more into the Countrey Northward Benyn shews its self a City of that largeness as cannot be equall'd in those Parts and of greater civility than to be expected among such Barbarous People to whom better known by the name of Ordor It confines within the proper Limits of its own Walls three miles Bigness but taking in the Court makes as much more The Wall upon one side rises to the height of ten Feet double Pallasado'd with great and thick Trees with Spars of five or six Foot laid Crossways fasten'd together and Plaister'd over with Red Clay so that the whole is cemented into one intirely but this surrounds hardly one side the other side having onely a great Trench or Ditch and Hedge of Brambles unpassable with little
Jurisdiction extends over many Cities Towns and Villages wherein none of his Neighbors can equal him Besides he holds as Tributaries the Kingdom of Istama Forkado Jaboe Isago and Oedobo For the more orderly Government of the Kingdom he makes three chief Counsellors in Great Benyn call'd by the Portuguese Figdares who manage the Affairs of the whole Countrey under the King besides whom none superior to them but the Field-Martial and the King's Mother These have Command over every Corner and Quarter of the City and draw great Profit from thence their Names of Office being Ongogue Ossade and Arribo These send into every City or Town a certain number of Noble-men call'd also Fiadoors who decide all Causes except such as relate to Life and Limb and may condemn the guilty Person according to the greatness of his Offence in a Mulct or Penalty but those greater Trials are sent to Benyn to be decided where the Courts of Justice sit But the Judges oftentimes though unknown to the King yet not without the connivance of some of the greatest Fiadoors are Brib'd to partiality The present King keeps a thousand Wives The King of Benyn keeps many Wives for by the Death of his Father Kambadie such Women as had been taken up for his use but never known by him became his Sons by Inheritance the rest with whom the Father had familiarly conversed may never Marry again but are shut up together in a Cloyster and kept by Eunuchs This Prince makes great Wars against his Neighbors towards the East and North winning from them many Cities and Towns He makes great Wars and thereby enriching his Treasury with great Booty of Jasper-Stones and other things He keeps such a reserv'd State Comes but once a year out of his Court. that he appears but once a year at the chief Festival out of his Court before the Commons and then on Horseback adorn'd with all sorts of Royal Ornaments and attended with three or four hundred Noble-men both on Horseback and on Foot and many Musitians before and after in that manner as is mention'd in the foregoing Description of the City of Benyn But he rides not far onely fetching a little compass soon returns As an Ornament to this short Cavalcade he exposes to sight some tame Leopards Chain'd which he keeps for his Recreation many Dwarfs and Fools to shew mimick Tricks and antick Postures and make Pastime for the People At this Festival ten twelve thirteen or more Slaves for the honour of the King are put to death which they believe after they have been a while dead are going to another Countrey and there reviving enjoy the greatest felicity imaginable Upon another Day the King sheweth his Riches consisting in Jasper-Stone Coral and other Commodities before all Men hanging out to publick view and then he bestows many Presents of Slaves Women and other things on the well-deserving And also confers on his Favorites many Offices which concern the Government of Cities and Towns The King's Mother The King's Mother is in great Honour for her greater honour hath a particular Palace without the City rich and stately built where she keeps Court with many Women and Maids Attendants and so highly esteem'd that her Counsel is us'd in all Causes of the Land yet nevertheless by a particular Custom which they term Law the King and his Mother may not see one another as long as they live When a King dies The Funeral of the King a great Cave is digg'd in his Court broad below and narrow above and so deep that the Diggers must be drown'd in the Water In this Cave they put the Corps and then all his Favorites and Servants appear to accompany and serve him in the other Life and when they are gone down to the Corps in the Cave they set a great Stone over the Mouth the People that day and night standing round about it The next day some go to the Cave and removing the Stone ask them within What they do and If none be gone to serve the King To which then perhaps nothing else is answer'd but No. The third day they ask the same Question and then sometimes receive answer That such are the first and those and those are the second whom they highly praise and esteem happy At length after four or five or more days the Men dead and none left to give answer they give account thereof to the new establish'd King who presently makes a great Fire over the Cave whereat spending a great quantity of Flesh to give away to the Common-People so solemnizeth his Inauguration After the Cave stopp'd many Men as they pass along the Streets and some in their own Houses are struck down dead whose Heads cover'd with a Cloth none dare remove but so let it lie to be devour'd by Carnifferous Fowl which are of these two sorts one call'd Goere and the other Akalles Some hold opinion that into the foremention'd Cave no living but onely the Trunks of beheaded Men are put as also that they throw in great part of his Royal Vesture Houshold-stuff and other Wealth By the King's Order yearly Festivals are kept The Festival time of the deceased King in Commemoration of the deceased Kings wherein they make horrible Sacrifices of Men and Beasts to the number of four or five hundred but never more than three and twenty in a day most of them Malefactors who have deserv'd Death and reserv'd in the Trunk of a Tree for this Time But if it happen that there be not Malefactors enough then the King to compleat the number sends for some of his Servants in the Evening into the Streets to take all those that go without Lights and bring them into the Prison If the surprised be a poor or idle person he must expect no favor but hurri'd to Prison soon receives his doom but a rich Man may redeem himself The greatest Fiadoors cannot excuse their Slaves from this duty but by another And in this manner the Fetisero's intending to make a humane Sacrifice to the Devil gets a Man by order from the Court which they may dispose of as they please The Crown descends to the Sons and for want of Sons to the Brothers When the King lieth upon his Death-bed he sends for one of his Nobility The Inheritance whom they call Onegwa to whom he declares the right of Succession and who shall be his Heir which this Noble-man does reveal to none till a competent time after the King's Death but then takes upon him the oversight of the deceased King 's Goods and Children who come with great humility and Salute him not as yet knowing who shall Inherit the Crown Every one makes address to this Onegwa with great respect in hopes of future advantage but he continues silent till the appointed time when sending for the Owe-Asserry that is the General tells him which Son the deceased King appointed to Inherit the Crown whereupon the
for Name Lovango or Barra Lovangiri yet the Blacks forget not its old Denomination Boary or Bury The Ground-plat of it takes as much in compass Bigness as our famous City of York in England but much more straglingly built It hath large streight and broad Streets of which the Inhabitants take great care that no Grass grow nor any Soil lie in them They stand in very good order and are neatly Planted with Palmito-Trees Bananos and Bakoros Form which stand as streight as it were by a Line Some of those Trees also stand behind the Houses and sometimes quite round about serving not onely for an Ornament but also for a Shelter and Shadow In the middle of which you come to a great Market-place The Court of the King by whose side stands the King's Court surrounded with a Hedge of Palm-Trees containing in circuit as much as are in ordinary Towns beautifi'd with many Houses for his Women that live six or eight together not daring to stir from their appointed Stations without the King's leave or the Overseers which use a diligent and jealous eye over them The Houses are built long-ways with two Gable Ends and a sloaping Roof which rests on long thick Posts that lie upon Stays about two or three Fathom high The breadth length and heighth of them is near alike that they may stand in equal and uniform distances and within they have sometimes two or three Rooms or Chambers apart in one of which they keep their Riches and that hath Doors at the hinder end lockt up with a double Lock some have round about a Fence of Palm-Boughs plash'd others of Bulrushes wreath'd some make Lebonge or Wickers braided together which inclose six eight or more Houses and they dwell in them as in a Precinct being to each other very trusty and in all accidents helpful Their Housholdstuff consists chiefly in Pots Calabasses Wooden Trays Housholdstuff Mats a Block whereon they put their Caps some small and great Baskets of a neat fashion into which they put their Cloathes and other trifling things Besides the aforemention'd Division of Lovango The Countrey bordering on Lovango other Territories lie about it some of which pay Tribute and others not and therefore the Tributary being Majumba Dirge and divers others are not unproperly reckon'd as Members of Lovango and put into the King's Title Majumba lieth within three or four Degrees South Latitude Cape Niger bordering in the West upon the Sea where appears a high black Point by the Portuguese named Cabo Niger that is to say The Black Point because it shews afar off by reason of Trees upon it black Next this Cape follows a Road The Road of Majumba by Seamen call'd The Road of Majumba about half a mile in length that is from the Cape Niger to the South Point being low and overgrown with Trees Within the Countrey you discover a red Mountain The Mountain Metute by the Inhabitants styl'd Metute Not far off a great Salt Lake a mile broad opens to the view out of which some Waters about half a mile Northward of Cape Niger run into the Sea but the passages are sometimes choaked up by the Waves that beats extraordinarily against them On the Shore stands the Village Majumba The Village Majumba built in one long row so near the Sea that the incroaching Waves oftentimes necessitates the Inhabitants to remove behind the Village on the North a River very full of Oysters poures its Water into the Sea and hath in its Mouth at the most not above six sometimes but three or four Foot of Water yet farther within boasts a considerable bigness breadth depth and length extending at least fifteen miles upward Southward of Lovango to the great help and conveniency of those that fetch Red-Wood which otherwise they must carry much farther whereas now they bring it in Canoos down the River Majumba is barren of Grain but yields plenty of Banano's which they call Bittebbe and Makondo of which they make Bread abundance also of Palm-Trees from whence they extract Wine and the Rivers afford plenty of Fish The People having no peculiar Prince are very rude and savage giving themselves to work all manner of mischief Here was formerly a great Trade for Elephants-Teeth Trade but now almost decay'd and lost The Manibomme that is the Deputy of Lovangiri pays for all the Red-Wood brought from Sette down the River to Majumba Ten in the Hundred The Women fish for Oysters out of the aforemention'd River fetching them up in great Trays from the bottom then opening and smoaking them they will remain good for some Moneths These smoaked Oysters as all other sorts of Flesh or Fish so smoaked in the Countrey Language are call'd Barbette Over this Territory one of the Counsellors of State to the King of Lovango Government named as we said Manibomme Commands rendring no account to his Master but onely the Red-Wood Eight or nine miles Southward lieth a Point call'd Quilongo or Sellage according to the Name of the neighboring Village This Tract of Land appears to ships at Sea Prospect of Majumba at Sea coming out of the South with two Mountains in the shape of a Womans two Breasts and therefore call'd Quanny About two miles Southward of the Breasts glides the River Quila abounding with Fish and precipitating it self with a strong Water-fall into the Sea ¶ THe Dominion of Chilongatia Mokonga is a large compass of Ground lying Northward of the River Quila in former times a free Kingdom but now by Conquest a Member of Lovango yet still enjoy their antient Customs and Priviledges paying Tribute onely The Manibeloor or Governour of Chilongo hath absolute Superiority during his life and after his Decease the People may chuse another without asking the King of Lovango leave ¶ THe Jurisdiction of Sette about sixteen miles from the River Majumba The Territory of Sette borders in the West at the Sea and water'd by a River also nam'd Sette Here grows both great and small Mille the first call'd Massa-Manponta and the other Massa-Minkale Many Potato's in the Countrey Phrase stil'd Iqua Anpotte and Palm-Wine Plants with them Malaffa as the Trees Mabba or the Nut Imba and the Pith or Kernel Inbonga This Province yields extraordinary plenty of Red-Wood besides other sorts of Timber Of this they have two sorts the one by those of Sette call'd Quines which the Portuguese us'd to buy but is not esteem'd in Lovango the other By-Sesse being much heavier and redder bears both a good Price and reputation The Root of this By-Sesse call'd Angansy Abysesse exceeds in hardness and deepness of colour which makes it much valued With this Wood the Blacks drive a great Trade all over the Coast of Angola and in Lovango dealing indeed very seldom with any other than their own People being at first brought from Sette where the Governor receives the Custom of Ten in the Hundred which we
to Kay the next place to the Royal Seat After the decease of the Mani-Kay immediately enters upon the Government yet comes not presently into the Court but continues near six Moneths in his own City till all Ceremonies of the Burial be perform'd The word Mani signifies Lord or Prince and is the greatest Title of Honour or Expression which they give one among another the King himself hath the Title of Mani-Lovango which signifies Prince of Lovango as Nani-Kay also signifies Lord of Kay Mani-Bocke Lord of Bocke The King and his Brothers are commonly jealous one of another for if any one of them happen to be sick they presently suspect State-policy The King commonly wears Cloth or Stuff which the Portuguese The King's Cloathing or other Whites bring to them The King and great Noble-men have on their left Arm the Skin of a wild Cat sew'd together with one end stuffed round and stiff The King hath peculiar Orders and Customs in Eating and Drinking Customs of the King 's in Eating and Drinking for which he keeps two several Houses one to eat in and the other to drink in and although he hath many Houses yet by vertue of this Custom he may use no other He makes two Meals a day the first in the Morning about ten a Clock where his Meat is brought in cover'd Baskets near which a Man goes with a great Bell to give notice to every one of the coming of the Kings Dishes whereupon the King so soon as he is acquainted with it leaves the Company he is withall and goes thither But the Servitors go all away because none He that sâ—â—s the King Eat must die neither Man or Beast may see him eat but it must die and therefore he eats with his Doors shut How strictly they observe this Custom appears by the ensuing relation A Portuguese of Lovango named St. Paulo lying in Angola to Trade had presented the King with a brave Dog which for his faithfulness he loved very much This Dog not so strictly look'd to by his Keeper while the King was eating ran smelling and seeking after his Master whom he missed and came at length without any body 's minding him to the Door which with his Nose he thrust open and went to the King whom he saw eating but the King caused his Servants instantly with a Rope to put the Dog to death for be it Man or Child Mouse Cat or Dog or any other living Creature that hath seen the King eat if it can be gotten it escapes not death It happened that a Noble-man's Child about seven or eight years old who was with his Father in the King's Banquetting-house fell asleep and when the King was drinking awaked whereupon it was instantly sentenc'd to die with a reprieve only for six or seven days at the Fathers request that time elapsed the Child was struck upon the Nose with a Smiths Hammer and the blood dropped upon the King's Makisies and then with a Cord about his Neck was dragg'd upon the Ground to a broad Way to which Malefactors are drawn which cannot bear the trial of the Bonde When the King hath done eating he goes accompanied in State with the Nobility Officers and common People to his Banquetting-house the greatest and most sumptuous Structure in all his Court scituate on a Plain fenced with Palm-Tree Boughs wherein the most difficult causes of difference are decided and determin'd in his presence This House stands with the fore-side open The King's Banquetting-house to receive all advantages of the Air about twenty Foot backward is a Skreen or Partition made cross one side eight Foot broad and twelve Foot long where they keep the Palm-Wine to preserve it from the sight of the People This Partition hath Hangings from the top to the bottom of fine Wrought Tufted or Quilted Leaves call'd by them Kumbel close to which appears a Tial or Throne made with very fine little Pillars of white and black Palmito-Branches artificially Wrought in the manner of Basket-work The Throne holds in length The Royal Throne a Man's Fathom in heighth a Foot and a half and in breadth two Foot on each side stand two great Baskets of the same work made of red and black Wicker wherein as the Blacks say the King keeps some familiar Spirits for the Guard of his Person next him sit on each side a Cup-bearer he on the right hand reaches him the Cup when he is minded to drink but the other on the left onely gives warning to the People to that end holding in his hands two Iron Rods about the bigness of a Finger and pointed at the end which he strikes one against another at which sound the People who are commonly as well within the House as without with all speed groveling into the Sand with their Faces and continue in that posture so long as the same Irons continue the voyce or signal that is till he hath done drinking and then they rise up again and according to custom signifie that they wish him health with clapping their hands which they hold for as great an honour as with us in Europe the putting off the Hat Now as none may see the King Eat or Drink without bazard of death None may see the King 〈◊〉 so no Subject may drink in his presence but must turn his Back towards him But the King drinks here seldom except for fashion-sake and then not till about six a Clock in the Evening or half an hour later if any difficult controversie hath been in debate but sometimes he goes thence at four and recreates himself among the Wines About an hour after Sun-set he comes the second time to the aforemention'd Place to Eat where again as before his Meal is made ready After which he visits his Banquetting-house again where he remains for about nine hours sometimes not so long as he finds himself dispos'd or indispos'd In the night one or two Torches are carried before him to Light him None may drink out of his Cup besides himself nor any eat of the Food he hath tasted but the remainder must be buried in the Earth The Stool or Seat whereon he then sits stands raised upon a Foot-pace The King's Seat dressed with white and black Wickers very artificially Woven and other sorts of curious adornings behind his Back hangs on a Pole a Shield cover'd with divers party-colour'd Stuffs brought out of Europe Near him stand also six or eight Fanns by them call'd Pos or Mani Fanne and containing in length and breadth half a Fathom at the upper end of a long Stick which runs through the middle of it having a round Brim in form of a half Globe fasten'd interwoven with little Horns and with white and black Parrots Feathers between Those Fanns certain People which the King keeps for that purpose move with great force which agitating the Air causes a refreshing and pleasant coolness Before the King's Seat lieth spread a
Borders of the Kingdom of Goy at the River Zair or upon Congo upon Cakongo on the North whose chief City delightfully situate on a Plain near the Shore boasts many Inhabitants where several small Rivers have their Out-lets into the Sea whose Waters both refresh and fatten the Soyl they pass through On the Coast by the River Zair you discover Punto de Palmerino Punto de Paomerino and six hours Journey towards the Bay of Cabinde where the Portuguese Ships take in fresh Provision The Bay Cabinde passing to Lovando St. Paulo This is a good Road for Ships in regard they may be plentifully furnished with Provision at reasonable Rates always provided that the Governor have due respects tendred to him by considerable Presents Both Men and Women give themselves wholly up as it were to wantonness yet towards Strangers they are churlish and uncivil Constitution of the Inhabitants not onely exacting from them beyond reason but defrauding them by many subtil and slye inventions The Countrey abounds with Mille Beans and Fish But the Portuguese have a Store-house to buy Cloathes call'd Panos Sambos the proper Commodity of this Place because made no where else made Tufted like our Plushes but without Flowers or Imagery To Barter for these they bring out of Majumba red Wood which the Natives chuse at the highest Price before the richest European Merchandise resting in their original simplicity without desire of better knowledge from abroad for they never Travel from home but onely when the King sends them as Agents to any of his Neighbors with whom he holds a League of Amity This Kingdom in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty one Destruction of the Kirgdom of Goy was absolutely conquer'd by the Duke of Sonho who established his Son in the place of the Deceased King by whose assistance the Father afterwards got a great Victory over the Cokongian whose chief City he ruin'd and burn'd The King of Congo takes upon him the Title of Lord over both those last mention'd but hath neither Tribute nor Subjection from them for each hath an absolute and independent Soveraignty within his own Dominion The Kingdom of CONGO IN the description hereof great differences arise among Geographers Borders of the Kingdom of Congo some make it begin in the East at the Territories of Lovoto and Quilango in six Degrees and a half South Latitude and to extend thirty or forty miles into the Countrey as far as the a So we render it in English Dukedom of Sonho bordering the Western part with the before-nam'd Sonho and spreading in the North to the River Zair Pigafet and Linschot conterminate it in the North with Lovango and Ansiko in the South with Angola and Malemba on the East setting the Crystal Salt-Petre and Silver Mountains with the Rivers Verbele and Cakongo saith Jarrik and the People Giagnas or Galas deadly Enemies to Congo and in the West with the Ocean Marmol places for Boundaries in the North Benyn on the East the Islands of the Azzinguis or Anzigos and Mondequestes which dwell about the Lake Zambea out of which 't is said the River Zair taketh its original the People of Pangudingos Quilos Bambos Condongos Sonnos Libros Bankares Zakilos and Maria Bigness on the South the Mountains of the Moon which divide it from Abyssiny and Kaffrari or the Region of the Kaffers Some reckon the greatest breadth to a hundred and twenty Leagues and its length by the Coast seventy two The common Division of it is into six Dukedoms Division viz. Bamba Songo or Sonho Sundo Pango Batta and Pombo The Dukedom of Bamba lying in the North reaches Westward to the Coast of the Rivers Amaois and Dantis in the South to Angola and hath for Borders in the East according to Pigafet by the Lake Chelande or Aquilonde the Territory of Sissina On the Sea-Coast of this Territory Pigafet places divers Lordships as Lembo Dondi Bengo Koanza Kazzansi and to the In-land Angazi Chingengo Motello Chabonda and many other of smaller note Others who seem to have been diligent searchers herein intermix with the aforenam'd these following being say they Govern'd by several Lords in the Name of the King of Congo which the Portuguese call Sabos or Sovasen Such are Vamma Roansa Hany Kalle Kovangongo Engombia Muchama Kahonde or Cabonda Motemmo Kanvangongo Moffoula or Mussula Motemma Quingongo Oanda Quina Bamba Bumby Ensala Lovoto Quitungo The Dominion of Vamma Dominion coasting the River Danda lieth at the Sea-Coast Next this up the River are seven or eight small Provinces but of so little Power and Command that the Names thereof are not mention'd Further up the River you come to Koansa Koansa under which and the foremention'd Manivamma stand all the other little Sovasen Then follows the Jurisdiction of Kalle Kalle situate a little to the South and Commanding over some small Tracts of Land Kanvangongo neighbors this Kanvangongo and somewhat Southerly lieth Engombia Muchama or according to others Engombia Cabonda giving Laws to divers petty Lordships adjoyning REGNA CONGO et ANGOLA From the foremention'd River Danda Northward Motemmo Kanvangong appears Motemmo Kanvangongo as at the West on the Sea-Coast lieth the a So we may call them Earldom of Mussula comprehending within it the Provinces of Pumbo and Bamba and holding under his Obedience all the Countreys from Danda to the River Loze along the Sea-Coast The Sovas of Mossulo is very strong but nevertheless not so powerful as the Konvangongo Here grow some Nutmegs Eastward of Motemmo Konvangongo comes Motemmo Quingengo and about the South-East Kahende formerly one of the most potent in this Tract but at present very much weakned This Jurisdiction of Kahende as also that of Quingengo Kahende lieth six or eight days Journey from Konvangongo shooting to the East to these two all the Countrey Eastward from Konvangongo begins the Territory of Ambuela or Amboille a distinct Government of it self without relation to Congo South and South-West of Ambuela you come to Oanda Oanda divided from the former by the River Loze and borders in the West upon Bamba It is a great and mighty Countrey subject to Congo but was in the Year Sixteen hundred forty six over-run and laid waste by the King of Gingo and the People carried away for Slaves Next Oanda Eastward follows Quina containing a small compass of Ground Quina and less Power On the West of Oanda going down to the Sea-Coast Bamba touches between shoots a corner of Pembo Then come you to the Dukedom of Bamba to the South or South-West of which lieth the Province of Bumby inconsiderable for Strength or People bordering in the West upon Mussulo Between Pembo and Quina lieth Ensala whose Governor hath the Title of Mansala in the Year Sixteen hundred forty three he opposed the King of Congo who requesting aid from the Hollanders they sent him a
Company of fifty Soldiers that helpt him to harrase and spoil the Countrey Beyond the River Loze you pass to Lovato and Quintingo Lovato and Quintingo extending along the Sea-Coast and about thirty or forty miles into the Countrey as far as Sonho or Binda All these Dominions have in certain places their Boundaries and distinct Divisions strictly observed by the Sovasen or Lords The dividing of the Dominions which Limits for the most part are divers Mountains in the Kongoasch Tongue call'd Quibambis near which stand several Frontier Towns the usual Residences of the Sovasen by which means there seldom arise any differences among them concerning Bounds At the River Onza near the Sea-Coast stand three Villages Triangular-wise the first the South-side call'd Mongonendoin the second two miles more Inland Jagado and the third Lengo Not far distant from these appears Mussula or Mossola a Place of Trade frequented by the Hollanders The chief City bears the Name of Panga seated about five and twenty The Head City Panga or as some say six and thirty miles up into the Countrey six days Journey from Lovando St. Paulo in Angola and about the mid-way between the Dukedoms of Sonho and Pembo in the Mountains This Town takes up a great compass of Ground lying very straglingly built after the manner of Lovango and Cakongo and divided in the middle by two small Rivulets or Brooks This Dukedom hath the Command over many Villages Government and some pretence to the two Ondans lying to the Southward of Danda but it proves a bare Claim without any Possession This Lord of Bamba is very Puissant bearing the highest Command at the Congian Court being Captain General of all the Forces there yet holds the Place ad placitum Regis and is disposable by the Successor to whom he thinks fit The Inhabitants are Christians for the generality and keep among them for their Instruction and to perform sacred Offices divers Jesuits Mulatto's and Black Priests Songo The Teritory of Congo or Sonho the second Principality of Congo butts upon the River Zair and Lebunde on the South-side surrounded almost with a Wood call'd Findenguolla Some enlarge it from the River Ambois in seven Degrees and a half South Latitude to the red Mountains which border upon Lovango so that according to this last Description it conterminates in the North upon Ansiko in the South on the River Ambris and in the West upon the Sea This Territory comprehends many petty Lordships heretofore absolute but now made Tributaries to Congo The chief City Songo stands near a pretty large River A quarter of a mile distant forward comes the Village Pinde which the Duke hath lent the Portuguese for a Place to Trade in Sundo Sundo beginning about eight miles from St. Salvador the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom spreads it self beyond the Cataracts of Zair by both its Shores to Ansiko towards the North. On the East-side it runs to the place where Zair unites it self with Baranka and from thence to the Foot of the Crystal Mountains and in the South touches upon Pango The chief City also call'd Sundo the Residence of the Governor hath its Situation on the Borders of Pongo by the Water-falls of Zair The fourth Province stil'd Pango The Territory of Pango hath Sundo in the North Batta in the South Pombo the Dwelling-place of the King in the West and the Mountains of the Sun in the East The Head City seated on the Westerly Shore of the River Barbele was formerly call'd Panguelongos but at present Pango heretofore free but now acknowledging the King of Congo whose Protection they crav'd against the Incursions and Inroads of their Neighbors Batta The Territory of Batta formerly call'd Aghirimba to the North-East or rather full North of Pango about a hundred a Spanish Miles miles into the Countrey reaches Eastward above the River Barbele to the Mountains of the Sun and the Salt-Petre Hill and on the South dilates to the Burning Mountains by the Portuguese call'd Montes Quemados it 's eminentest City also Batta This Tract between Pango and Batta are fruitful and yield all sorts of Provision for the support of life All along the Way from St. Salvadore to Batta stand Huts the Dwelling-places of the Inhabitants About a hundred and fifty miles from Batta Easterly The Territory of Conde lieth the Territory of Conde or Pembo de Okango through which the strong-running and deep River Coango makes its way till meeting and intermingling with the larger Waters of Zair it loses both Name and Current This Countrey from the prevalency of an antient Custom always hath a Woman to Rule it who pays Tribute to Mani-Batta or The Prince of Batta who receives it in the Name of the King of Congo although he reap no benefit thereof To the East beyond the River Congo according to the relation of the Condians are found white People with long Hair but not altogether so white as the Europeans BANSA oste de Stadt SALVADOR Hoost-stadt van het Rijk CONGO BANSA or SASâ—â—DOR the Chief City of ye. Kingdom of CONGO The Lordship of Pembo stands as it were in the middle of the whole The Territory of Pembo encompassed by all the rest and contains the head City of the Kingdom formerly by the Blacks call'd Banza that is Head but at present by the Portuguese St. Salvadore and by Marmol Ambos Congo It stands about the middle of Congo on a very high Quarr-Mountain eight and thirty Dutch miles or as others Write fifty Italian miles from the Sea South-East from the Mouth of the River Zair and delightfully shaded with Palm Tamarinde Bakovens Kolas Lemons and Orange-Trees The top of the Mountain Otreiro yields a curious prospect of all the adjacent Places at great distance both to West and North without any interposing stop to the Eye This Town hath neither Inclosure nor Wall except a little on the South-side which the first King built and afterwards gave that part to the Portuguese to inhabit for their conveniency Here also his Royal Palace shews it self which he surrounded with Walls in such manner that between it and the Town remain'd a great Plain in the middle whereof they have erected a beautiful Church besides these Noble-mens Houses and others fill up the top of the Mountain for every Grandee settles his Dwelling as near the Court as he may be permitted and with his Retinue takes up as much Ground as an ordinary Town may be builded on The common Houses stand in good order and appear very uniform The King 's Court. most of them large well contriv'd and fenced about but generally Thatcht except a few belonging to the Portuguese The King's Palace is exceeding large surrounded with four Walls Houses whereof that towards the Portuguese part consists of Chalk and Stone but all the rest of Straw very neatly wrought the Lodgings Dining-Rooms Galleries and other
red Parakitoes Cranes Storks with red Bills and red Legs and half white and half black Feathers There are also Owls which they call Carjampemba that is Devils because their appearing presages ill luck This Region produces two sorts of Bees Bees one that Hive in the Woods in hollow Trees and the other in the Roofs of Houses The Pismires Pismires by them styl'd Ingingie are of four sorts the biggest have sharp stings with which they raise swellings upon men the other three are somewhat smaller Ensingie Eusingie is a little Beast with a Skin speckled black and grey The Entiengio a small Creature very curiously streak'd slender body'd with a fine Tail and Legs never comes upon the earth for the very touch thereof proves mortal to it therefore keeps in the Trees and hath always twenty black Hair'd Creatures call'd Embis attending that is ten before it and ten behind it This they take in Snares and when the ten first are taken the ten behind betake themselves to flight by which means the Animal bereav'd of its Life-guard at last is also taken The Skin of this little Beast bears such a value that the King onely may wear it unless perhaps by particular favour some great Lords may be admitted among which the Kings of Lovango Cakongo and Goy are taken in Some have reported In Congo are no Gold-Mines that about Saint Salvadore there are Gold-Mines but without any ground of probability because the Portuguese are greedy of Gold having convers'd so long in the Countrey would not have left them undiscover'd But they find many Copper-Mines in several places But of Copper especially in Pembo near the before-nam'd City whose Mettal shews so deep a tincture of yellow that reasonable Artists have mistaken for Gold but upon proof the errour becomes quickly rectifi'd The like Mines are found in Songo yielding better Copper than that of Pembo whereof in Lovando the Purple Armlets are commonly made which the Portuguese carry to Calabare Rio de Rey and other places In Bamba Silver-Mines and other saith Linschot there are Mines of Silver and other Mettals and in Sundo to the East-side of Crystal and Iron the last bearing the highest value because it makes Knives Swords and other Weapons Quarries of Stone they meet with frequently Stones as also Rocks of red Marble besides many precious Gemms as Jasper Porphirie Jacinth and the like The Inhabitants of Congo The kind of the Inhabitants known by the name of Macikongen are very black yet some few differ being onely a kind of Olive-Colour their Hair black curl'd their Bodies of a middle stature and well Set the whites of their Eyes of a Sea-green and their Lips not so thick as other Blacks wherein those of Congo differ from the other Blacks especially from those of Nubia and Guinee Although some of them be surly and proud Their condition yet in general they carry themselves very friendly towards strangers being of a mild conversation courteous affable and easie to be overcome with reason yet inclin'd to drink especially Spanish-Wine and Brandy Such as converse much with them discern a quickness of reason and understanding ordering their conceits and discourses so rationally that the most knowing Persons take great delight in their facetious humor In the Wars they shew little Courage for the most part going by the lose if the Portuguese give them no assistance for twenty Whites will put to flight a thousand Congoians These of Sango are a proud lazy and luxurious people but have a winning behavior and volubility of speech beyond those that dwell on the Northside of the River Zaire These of Bamba have the repute of the most Warlike and strongest of all in these parts for they are such men that can cut a Slave in two in the midst with a Sword or strike off the head of an Ox at a blow And which is more seeming incredible that one of their strongest men can with one Arm hold up a vessel of Wine which weighs three hundred and five and twenty pound weight till the Wine be drawn out at the Spigget They have all a native propensity to Stealing and what they so get They are inclin'd to stealing they drink out instantly with their best Companions in Wine one of which goes before the maker of this Feast and other Friends crying aloud Behold the King of Congo doing him that honour for the good Chear and Courtesie receiv'd from him that day In the ways from the Cities Saint Salvadore and Lovando Saint Paulo many discarded Noblemen fall'n into disfavor with the King keep in great Troops and Companies Robbing and Plundering all Travellers till restor'd again into the Princes Grace They much practice the villanous Art of Poysoning They are given to poyson one another whereby for the smallest trifle they execute a fatal revenge They are severely punish'd But those that use it had need have a care for if the Author or Contriver be detected he must die without mercy which severity they abate nothing of at present and for discovery so strict inquiry is made that it is very difficult to pass unknown by which means this inhumane Custom begins to decay Those of Sango wear Coats from the Navel to the Ankles and Mantles over the rest but the Women cover their Breasts They play at Cards for Pastime Their Play Staking little Horns or Shells reckon'd among them as current Money The Citizens of Congo maintain themselves chiefly by Merchandize Their maintainance but the Countrey people by Tilling of Land and keeping of Cattel Those about the River Zaire live by Fishing others by drawing of Tombe-Wine and some by Weaving When they travel from one place to another The Congoians do not ride on horseback but are carryed by men they ride not but are carry'd by men in Hammacks as the foregoing Plate sets forth or else sitting upon a kind of Biers made fast with a Cord to a Pole upon the shoulders of their Slaves or by hir'd people with an Umbrella overhead to prevent the scorching of the Sun wherefore those that will go speedily take with them many Slaves for their Journey that when the first grow weary he may be carry'd by the other They Marry and Betroth in Congo after the manner of the Christians but will not be circumscrib'd thereby from keeping every one as many Concubines as they can provide Clothes and Expences for When the young Maids in Congo dispose themselves for a double Estate they go into a dark house and Paint themselves red with Oyl and Takoel Wood of Majumba staying therein about a moneth and then chooseth out her eldest Free-man that hath been most diligent and serviceable to her and takes him to Husband When any Man or Woman among them dies they blame the Survivor The cause of the death of Man or Woman is laid upon the Survivor firmly believing such Persons cannot die by
being called to explain which we must tell you That they conceit that none die either by Poyson Violence or otherwise until their Friends in the other World call them whereupon the Relations of the Deceased take away all things from the Survivor and for eight Days afflict him with divers Pains and Torments as shaving his Skin and the like saying Thus must you bear the Punishment if guilty or having a hand in the Death of our Friends The eight days ended they bring him or her to a new Tryal by Pleading and if upon that quitted they dwell still in the House as before but if found guilty are banish'd thence There is a prevailing Custom among them That if there be three Brothers Inheritance and one of them die the two that survive share his Concubines between them And when either of the two remaining die the longest Liver takes all After whose Decease all the Concubines stay in the House and become his due that happens to dwell therein afterwards Those of Congo reckon the Year by the Cossionoes or Winter-seasons The Accompt of their Year which there begin upon the fifteenth of May and end the fifteenth of November The Months by the Full Moon and the Days of the Week by their Markets because they have every Day one in a several Place but know not how to parcel out Time into Hours or less Spaces These People before the Arrival of the Portuguese who instructed them in the Christian Faith had no particular or proper Appellations for the Common People call'd themselves by the Names of Herbs Plants Stones Fowls Beasts and Living Creatures The Lords bare the Title of the Lordship they commanded as the Lord of Songo was call'd Mani-Songo that is to say Lord of Songo Mani signifying Lord and Songo the Countrey But at this day both Men and Women Persons high and low even the King himself commonly receives a Name in Baptism They seem well experienc'd in several Handicrafts but yet will not take upon them any Works of hard Labor Congo Songo and Bamba vent few Slaves and those the meanest of all because being us'd to live idly when they are brought to Labor they quickly die The best come thither out of Amboille Gingos Jages Caseudas Quilax Lembo and other Territories thereabouts above Massignan in Angola The Europeans also drive a little Trade with Simboes But the chief Dealing in Songo consists in Pannos Sambos Oyl of Palm Palmito-Nuts and such like Heretofore they brought thence many and those very large Elephants-Teeth but of late fall'n to nothing The City Saint Salvadore is the Staple for the Portuguese Merchants in those Countreys of whom the Natives desire chiefly to buy Cypress Clothes or painted Table-clothes call'd Capes de Verdura blue Cans Biramks or Surats Copper Basons English Cloth great Simbas of Lovando Baesier and other inconsiderable Trifles as Rings Beads and such like They use no Measure or Weight except among the Portuguese Housholdstuff nor have any Housholdstuff save onely Swords Shields and a few Slaves Their Wealth consists chiefly in Elephants-Teeth and Simbos or little Shells Riches which pass in stead of Money The Citizens of Saint Salvadore amount to near forty thousand of which most are Gentlemen and Nobles yet wretchedly poor For among them all you shall scarce find ten or twelve that have a Gold Chain or small Jewel The Revenues of the King consist especially in yearly Tributes The Revenue of the King paid him by the Dukes of Bamba Batta Sundo Nambanganga Bumby Mussulo Oando Quingengo and others under the Titles of Earldoms as those of Pembo Pango and many others which falls out on St. James his day when the King rewards them with some small Trifle as a Mark of his Favor Some have not doubted to aver That the whole Income of the King amounts not to above one hundred and twenty French Crowns besides some small Presents made by every Lord above his Tribute the greatest whereof rises but to a couple of Goats the most onely giving Fruits as Bacovens Wine Nuts and Oyl of Palm They have no Coyn'd Money Simboes or Horn Shells are their Money either of Gold Silver or Copper but as we have often mention'd make all their Markets with little Shells call'd Simboes which pass here as Current but in other Countreys of no esteem or value And the Portuguese use them in their Passage when they or their Pomberoes that is Slaves are sent with Merchandise to Pombo and other Places lying up the Countrey out of Angola Lovando Sante Paulo through Congo Apothecaries or Doctors they have none Medicines for Cure nor any Physick but what themselves make of Plants Barks of Trees Roots Stones Waters and Oyl which they administer for Agues Fevers and almost all other Maladies Fevers Sicknesses the most common Distemper of this Climate they cure with the beaten Root of Zandel-wood Zandel-wood mixt with the Oyl of Dates anointing therewith the Body of the Sick two or three times from Head to Foot Pain in the Head by letting Blood in the Temples with little Shells sharpned wherewith opening the Skin they suck with the Mouth till they draw the Bloud The Pox or Venerial Distemper call'd Chirangas rages among them extremely which they cure with red Wood call'd Tavilla The King appoints a Judge in every particular Province Government to hear and determine Civil Causes and Differences that happen who though there be no settled Laws or Statutes may Imprison and Release or impose a Pecuniary Mulct or Fine upon them But in more weighty Matters every one may appeal to the King before whom also Criminal Causes come wherein as Supreme Head he giveth Sentence In Matters of State Council of State and such as concern Peace and War the King takes advice of ten or twelve Councellors his Favorites who conclude for the Wellfare of the Kingdom and set forth and publish the Decrees by his Order and in his Name These punish Witchcraft and Idolatry openly Punishment of Offenders with great Severity condemning the least Sorcerer to the Fire Whosoever killeth a Man first having his Offence openly read before him and then convicted by Witnesses is condemn'd to die When an Offender suffers Death by Judgment of the King The punishment of Death is also with Confiscation of all his Goods he forfeits all his Goods and Slaves so that none of his Relations enjoy ought that was his And sometimes to supply the King's Coffers others are for small cause or if but suspected though the Witnesses fall short in the proof of the Fact Banished and their Goods Confiscate and seized to the King's Use When they march out with an Army to incounter their Enemies Arms. the Commanders wear Square Caps or Bonnets trimm'd with Ostriches Peacocks and other Feathers partly to make the greater shew and partly to seem the more terrible The upper part of their Bodies are naked
full of winding Reaches by reason whereof from the Mouth to Motahoama is thirty Leagues Sailing whereas the direct way is but twenty In Sailing by it the opening can hardly be seen at the Sea by means of a black and woody Island lying right before it Several Islands discover themselves herein The Island Massander for about nine miles up it divides into two Arms which include an Island about four miles long and half a mile broad call'd Massander or Massandera This Island produces many sorts of Fruits especially Mandikoka which planted there grows extraordinary thick of which they make great quantities of Tharinka or Maiz also Mille three times a year besides Palm-Trees and a Fruit nam'd Gojaves Ten or twelve miles above this Motchiama lieth another intituled Motihiama three miles long and half a mile broad very low ground excepting two Mountains beset with all sorts of Plants and Herbs and Feeding there are many Goats Sheep Hogs and Hens Some years ago five or six Families of Portuguese liv'd here who had many Slaves and maintain'd themselves chiefly with Mandihoka Lucala The River Lucala by Pigafet call'd Luiola comes out of Amboille having its head near the rise of the River Danda and running South Westward till about six and twenty miles from the Sea joyning with Quansa and by that mixture loosing its name The small River Kalukala runs cross the Territory of Ilamba with such extraordinary Creeks and Meanders that there is hardly one of the two and forty Dominions wherein this Kingdom is divided that lieth above an hours walk from it Some Lakes appear at the corners of Quansa or Bengo the chiefest whereof may be seen in the Lordships of Quihailo Angolome and Chame Angola containeth divers inferior Ditions Territories of the Kingdom of Augola as Lovando Sinso Ilamba Ikollo Ensaka Massingan Embakka Kabamba every one of which comprehends several Provinces rul'd by particular Jovassens or Governors viz. Lovando contains nine and thirty Ilambas forty two Ikollo and Ensaka divers but uncertain Massingan twelve which some bring under Ilamba Kambamba sixty and Embakko sixty In Lovando The City Lovando Saint Paulo stands the City Lovando Saint Paulo on the rising of a Hill by the the Sea-Coast On the Northside of this appears another Mountain call'd Mora Saint Paulo somewhat higher than that of the City and so steep that its with much difficulty ascendable yet on the sides thereof the Jesuites have erected a Cloyster neighbour'd by three or four adjoyning houses LOANDAâ—â— S. PAULâ—â— This City was built by the Portuguese in the Year Fifteen hundred seventy eight when Paulus Dias de Nevais was sent thither to be the first Governor for them in this Countrey The City takes in a great compass of Ground being built with many fair Houses Churches and Cloysters but neither Wall'd nor Fortifi'd Some Forts are raised at the Water-side for the securing of the Haven Before the subduing of it by the Netherlanders in the Year Sixteen hundred forty one the Portuguese had six Churches there two greater one call'd Saint Maria de la Conception and the other Corpo Santo and four lesser one for the Jesuits nam'd Saint Antonio one for the Blacks stil'd Saint Gosce one Cloyster and Church for the Franciscans and an Alms-house with a Church intituled Misericordia Over this Alms-house besides the Receptions for Poor are four and twenty Chambers for the Governor and other Officers viz. a Steward a Doctor a Barber an Apothecary and others This House hath some Revenues of Land which being but mean hath been augmented by a Rate upon Ships for every Ship which puts in there must pay two Rees to the Treasurers of this House Sinso is the Countrey situate to the North of Lovando Sante Paulo up the River Bengo Ilamba or Elvama a large Tract of Land above an hundred Miles in length Ilamba beginning South-East and East-South-East from the Territory of Ikollo and spreading from the River Bengo to Quansa and from Kalumba to Massinga still growing wider the further you go and every where so well Peopled that in two or three Miles distance is a Village which proceeds from the Negroes separating themselves from each other by peculiar Marks So that the whole stands divided into two and forty Dominions The first of these neighbouring Ikollo is call'd Chonso Dominions of the Territory of Ilamba and afterwards the rest lie one behind another according to their Order viz. Namboa Quolomba Bamba Golungo Makea Kombi Quitendel Etombe Quitalla Kambkaita Andalladongo Quiambatta Nambaquiajamba Kangola Quihaito Chombe Angolome Gumbia Massingan or Massagan Kaoulo Kahango Karanga-Pase Guenka-Atombe Hiangonga Quilambe Quapanga Kabanga Kabuto Kandalla Gongue Kahonda Kunangonga Mossunguapose Kamanga Kalunga Bagolunge Quibilacapose Koslakase Nambua Kallahanga Nimenesolo These are the chiefest which make up Ilamba and wherein may be rais'd ten or twelve thousand Fighting Men arm'd with Bowes and Arrows The Sovasen maintain the Boundaries so exactly that never any Complaint is heard of one wronging or incroaching upon another unless it be in open Wars and then the Conquerer becomes wholly Master of his Enemies Countrey This Territory can shew neither Artificial Forts or Natural Fastnesses of Woods for a Defence against their Enemies some little Groves may be seen upon Hills but so inconsiderable as hardly worth mentioning Yet these People cannot easily be conquer'd because they use such good Discipline shooting their Arrows either lying upon the ground or kneeling From Ilamba North-west and West-north-west lies Ikollo Ikollo Ensaka takes beginning six or seven Miles Eastward of Lovando Saint Paulo Ensaka and situate between the two Rivers Quansa and Bengo 'T is but a small Jurisdiction and may be travell'd through in half a day Here in some few Places the Inhabitants Till their Ground Two or three Miles in the Countrey on the Hills stands a Wood enclosed about with Bushes and Thorns to the great accommodation and strengthening of the whole For if the Inhabitants should retire thither it were impossible to force them out save onely for want of Water there being none but what the Rivers Quansa and Bengo bring thither Nine Miles Eastwards Massingan and above the Island of Motchiama in the Province of Missingan or Massagan stands a small Town of the same Name where the Portuguese have a Fort erected between Quansa and Sunda the last of which environs it on the North as the former on the South And about the distance of two hours walk intermingle their Streams from which Conjunction the Town derives its Appellation Massingan signifying A mixture of Waters It was at first an open but pretty large Village but since augmented with many fair Stone-Houses whereby at length 't is become a City The first Portuguese Governor of Angola in the Year Fifteen hundred seventy eight by command of his Master erected this City of Lovando Saint Paulo and also the Fort there when by the help of the Congeses he
sixty young men in stead of Husbands each of which may have as many Wives as they please with this proviso that if any of them be with Child themselves must kill the Infant as soon as born In the year Sixteen hundred forty eight the four and twentieth of June the third day after the New-Moon according to the relation of one Fuller a Commander in the Service of the Netherlanders who was appointed with sixty men to assist this Queen against the Portuguese and in that regard stay'd so long time with her that one of these her Gallants had a hundred and thirteen Wives without any offspring for that after the manner of their Devillish Superstition and Idolatry he cursedly made away or kill'd their Children The Queen us'd this very Custom at that time neither dare any of those selected young men own their Sex or mention hers And for the more orderly concealing thereof she clothes them in Womens Apparel according to her manner and goeth her self in Mans Habit giving out that they are Women and she a Man All these have Womens names but the Queen her self a Mans especially in the Army and will acknowledge no otherwise nay her Favorites dare not say the contrary upon the peril of their Heads and as a testimony herein of their obedience and constancy to her permits them to go freely among her women and if they fail in their obligations they seldom escape to tell further news In the year Sixteen hundred forty six she over-ran with her Army Ruin'd Oando and spoyl'd all the Villages of Oanda and made the Inhabitants Slaves But the Quisamens residing on the South-side of the River Quansa send every year Tribute to her for an acknowledgment both of their Friendship and Subjection After her death the Portuguese set another of her Family as King of Dongo Angola Sodesie is chosen King by name Angola Sodesie who always privately sent Presents to them in token of submission The King holds his residence a little above the City Massingan Dwelling placâ— of the Kings in a Stony Mountain above seven Leagues in compass inclosing within it many rich Pastures Fields and Meadows yielding a plentiful Provision for all his Retinue into which there is but one single passage and that according to their method well Fortifi'd so that he needs neither to fear any Enemies from the Queens side nor from the Jages The King here The King onely may keep Peacocks as he of Congo keeps a great many Peacocks a peculiar onely to the Royal Family and of so high esteem that if any one should adventure to come to take but one Feather from a Peacock with intention to detain it he should immediately be put to death or else be made a Slave with all his Generations This Kingdom stands divided into several Provinces The Dominions of Angola are govern'd by Senasea and every Province subdivided into inferior Lordships Commanded by a particular Sovas Every Sovas hath a certain number of Makottes or Councellors Their Command who in all addresses fall down on their Knees clapping their hands with whom he consults of all weighty Concerns These Sovasens live privately in Villages Their dwelling places inclos'd with thick Hedges and have onely some narrow ways for entrance and the Habitations cannot properly be term'd Houses but sleight Huts made of Rushes and Straw after the Countrey manner The Governors of all the Territories which the Portuguese hold in Angola by force of Arms The coâ—quer'd Sovasen must pay tribute to the Portuguese are bound to pay a Tribute of Slaves to them yearly and to do them other services under the Title of Vassals The Portuguese Governor of Lovando use to Farm this Tribute of the Sovasens to some of their own Nation who were not content with what was the setled Revenue of Slaves but oftentimes take as many more which made the Natives bear a mortal hatred to them The Sovasens moreover are bound to appoint Carriers for the Portuguese when they travel through the Countrey to bear them in Seats from one place to another For if a Portuguese be minded to travel from Lovando Saint Paulo to Massingan when he comes at Evening into a Village where he intends to Lodge he sends to the Sova to let him know he hath an occasion for so many of those Carriers who must not fail to provide them And this they do every Evening to have fresh Men for the next days Journey In the year Sixteen hundred forty one The City Lovando Sante Paulo overcome the Netherlanders under the Command of Cornelius Cornelisen Jol otherwise call'd Houtebeen took from the Portuguese the City of Lovando Saint Paulo upon this account and in this manner Grave Maurice of Nassaw For what reason it was undertaken by the Netherlanders or General of the Netherlanders in Brasil taking into consideration that the State of Brasil could not consist without many Blacks from the Coast of Africa not onely to work in the Sugar-Mills and to Plant the Cane-Fields and cleanse them of Weeds but also to Manure more Ground for the Planting of Mandihoka and all manner of Fruits and that this Work could not be done better by any than these African-Slaves And besides that there were not Slaves enough brought from the Coast of Arder Kalbarine Rio del Rey and other places thereabouts concluded on to set out a Fleet under the Conduct of the foremention'd Houtebeen and some Land-Forces under the Command of one James Hinderson to take Angola from the Portuguese The Fleet consisted of twenty Ships great and small Man'd with two thousand Souldiers nine hundred Seamen and two hundred Brasilians which set Sayl from Fernabuck the thirtieth day of May The Fleet set Sail from Fernabuck in the year Sixteen hundred forty one and after many oppositions to come about to the South the nineteenth of July in eight and twenty degrees South-Latitude the Fleet began to want fresh water The fifth of August the Fleet came to Cabo Negro in sixteen degrees They come to Cabo Negro from thence to Flies-Bay in fifteen degrees and on the one and twentieth day they overcame and took a Portuguese Carvill sailing along the Coast laden with Wines from the Maderas call'd the Jesu-Maria-Joseph the people of which serv'd them for Pilots to bring them into the Haven of St. Paulo The four and twentieth the Fleet came within sight of Land and Hinderson went the same day with his Souldiers set in order against the City ordering the Snap-hances to March in the Van. The Portuguese Governor Caesar de Meneses stood not far from thence on the Shore with nine hundred Whites and Arm'd Inhabitants and a great many of Blacks besides two Pieces of Ordnance in a Fighting Posture But so soon as the Netherlanders came near and began to fall on The enemy leaves the City the Blacks first betook themselves to flight afterwards the Portuguese and at last
split Quill at the end which being blowed yields a low sound Conney and Badger-Islands NOrthward of the Great Cape lie three Islands in the Sea viz. Conneys Badgers and Fransh Island The Conneys Island so called from the many Rabbits breeding in the Cliffs and on the Shore lieth before the Mouth of Table-Bay a League or thereabouts from the Land five Miles Southward from Badger-Isle It contains a Mile and a half in compass but more over-grown with Bushes than the Badger which receiv'd its name from the abundance of Rock-Badgers there found Neither of these have any fresh Water Spilber Voyage 1601. and although the Ground be sandy and full of Bushes yet they bear many good Herbs and Flowers and abound with Cattel The Conneys were first brought thither by the Dutch in the year One thousand six hundred and one The Sheep carried thither first by the English grow extraordinary fat and increase exceedingly so that some have been found whose Tails were five and twenty Inches thick and nineteen pound in weight with four and thirty pound of Swet about the Kidneys besides the Fat that came from their Flesh but the Meat gives no satisfaction in the eating by reason of the exceeding fatness There are many Pinguins and thousands of Meuwen and yet for all this plenty they both lie desolate and not inhabited A little Northerly lies the Fransh-Island equal in all things to the aforemention'd and as them without Inhabitants THE EMPIRE OF MONOMOTAPA THis Empire The Empire of Monomotapa by Joseph Barras call'd Benomotapa and by Sanutus Benomotaxa lies up within the Countrey before the Kingdom of Sofale near the Sea inclosed between Rio de Spirito Sancto or Magnice and the great River Quama both which by some are taken for two Branches of Zambere It spreads Southerly towards the Cape de Bona Esperanza Borders having in the North for Borders the Kingdom of Monimuge or Nimeamae and the River Quama in the East the Sea-coast of Sofala in the West and South the River Magnice and the neighboring Mountains Others Cluverius conterminates it in the East South and West with the great Ocean in the North with Congo the Abyssines and Zanguibar It s Length The bigness between the Lake Ro and the Ethiopick Sea together with the Mountains of the Moon Cluverius reckons to be four hundred Dutch Miles and the Breadth between the Head-Fountains of Nilus and the Cape of Good Hope three hundred Dutch Miles For all the little Kingdoms from the River Magnice to the Cape of Good Hope are said to acknowledge the Prince of Monomotapa for their Supreme Lord. But the whole Compass of this Countrey is accounted by many but seven hundred and thirty five French Miles The Imperial and Royal Court being the Chief City is call'd Banamatapa Chief City although by Vincent le Blank Madrogam lying six days Journey from a great House call'd Simbaoe or Zimbaoch and five Miles from Safale towards the West The Houses have almost sharp Roofs very large built of Wood or Earth Houses very finely and whited without and within The Palace of the Emperor carries a vast extent The Kings Palace having four Eminent Gates and very many large Chambers and other convenient Apartments guarded round about with Watch-Towers and within hung with Cotton Hangings of divers Colours wrought with Gold and richly Embossed as also overlaid with Tin gilt or as others say cover'd over with Plates of Gold and adorn'd with Ivory Candlesticks fastned with Silver Chains The Chairs gilt and painted with several Colours The four chiefest Gates of the Court richly Embossed and well defended by the Life-Guards of the Emperor whom they call Sequender The Emperor keeps a great Train of Servants who all attend in good order bowing of the Knee when they speak to him His Meat is serv'd up to his Table in Pourcelane round beset with Gold Branches Other Principal Cities are Zimbas a Mile and half from Sofale Tete where the Portuguese Jesuits have their Residence Sena c. Certain War-like Women like the ancient Amazons The Residence of the Amazones do possess a peculiar Territory appointed for them by the King although Sanutus appropriates to them a particular Kingdom upon the Borders of Damout and Gorage more towards the South Not far from Monomotapa is the Province of Chitambo The Kingdom of Chitambo wherein stands the City Tamburo This Kingdom hath the benefit of a temperate Air Air. and enrich'd with luxurious Valleys which though not Inhabited in all Places affords Provision of Cattel and Fruits sufficient to store both themselves and Neighbours nor is it destitute of pleasant Woods stor'd with variety of Fruit-Trees Plants and in some places abundance of Sugar-Canes that grow without Planting to the increase whereof the Rivers and Brooks that besprinkle the Countrey do not a little help The greatest Wealth of the Countrey consists in Oxen and Cowes Beasts with them more highly esteem'd than Gold or Silver They have no Horses nor other Beasts for Carriage besides Elephants which flock together by whole Herds in the Woods They shew a Beast call'd Alsinge resembling a Stag or Hart and Ostriches as big as Oxen. There grows upon Trees call'd Koskoma a Fruit of a Violet Colour and sweet in taste of which whoever eats plentifully it purges them so violently that a Bloody-Flux and at length Death follows upon it Here are found several Gold Mines in the Bowels of the Earth Gold Mines and also in some of their Rivers for which the Inhabitants dive in the Stream and take it up with the bottom from the Mud and so pick it out which Gold-diving they also practice in divers great Lakes spread far and near in this Kingdom for which cause the King of Monomotapa is not without reason call'd by the Portuguese The Golden King All the Inhabitants have short and black curl'd Hair The Constitution of the Inhabitants and as Linschot saith are of a middle Stature though Pigafet makes them a kind of Giants They are well set of a sound Body of Complexion black very apprehensive and quick of Understanding much addicted to War and apt to make Insurrections upon any trivial cause Their usual Food is salt Beef Milk and a little Verjuyce and Oyl of Sesamos Their Bread made of Rice Mille or of the Root Ignamees which they boyl in Basons The Drink of the Common People Milk but of the King and the Grandees Wine of Honey or Meath which they preserve in Ox-horns or Wine of Palm made delicious with Manna Amber and Musk. The King bestows every day in Perfumes two pound of Gold which certain Merchants furnish him with For the Torches and Lights which he uses are mix'd with sweet Odours which he causes to be born before him in the night being set in a richly Embroider'd Pavilion carry'd by four Noble-men follow'd by a great Train and cover'd over with a Canopy in
they lay him naked upon the earth and cruelly beat him with a Rope full of knots which punishment the Judges themselves are subject to and the greatest Lords and Magistrates besides the Confiscation of their Estates and Offices If the Judges have any difficult business whereof they can find no proof they give the suspected person the Bark of a Tree cut small in Water and if he can keep that potion without Vomiting they clear him otherwise they condemn him to death These People are for the most part Pagans they call their chiefest God Maziry that is The Creator of all things They shew great reverence to a certain Maid call'd Peru in whose honor they shut up their Daughters in Cloysters as Recluses Moreover Religion they set apart as Sacred some days of the Moon and the Birth of their King but the innumerable number of Erroneous Opinions darkens all the Splendor of their Belief which they should have to God the Creator of Heaven and Earth But the earnest endeavour of the Portuguese Jesuites hath converted many to Christianity and brought them to receive Baptism In the Year Fifteen hundred and sixty the King himself with his Mother and above three hundred Nobles and chiefest Lords of the Realm were Baptiz'd by the hands of the Jesuit call'd Gonzales Sylveyra but afterwards at the instigation of some Mahumetans he was slain by the King's command with the imputation of a Sorcerer but a little time discovering their malice they made satisfaction for his undeserv'd death with the loss of their own Heads The Kingdom of AGAG and DORO with the Territory of TOROKA or BUTUA AMongst the substitute Dominions of Monomotapa are Agag and Doro bordering in the East on the New-Land and in the West at the Kingdom of Takua Toroka or Torea by some call'd Butua or Buttua takes beginning according to Linschot and Pigafet at the Fish-Cape and so to the River Magnice or Sante Esprit having in the South the foot of the Mountains of the Moon and the aforemention'd Cape in the North the River Magnice and in the West the Stream of Bravagull The chiefest Cities are Zenebra and Fatuka In this Countrey far to the In-land on a Plain The building Simbaoe in the middle of many Iron-Mills stands a famous Structure call'd Simbaoe built square like a Castle with hew'n Stone of a wonderful bigness the Walls are more than five and twenty Foot broad but the heighth not answerable above the Gate appears an Inscription which cannot be read or understood nor could any that have seen it know what people us'd such Letters Near this place are more such Buildings call'd by the same name signifying a Court or Palace and for that all the places where the Emperor at any time makes his abode are call'd Simbaoe this Building is guest to be one of the King's Houses The Inhabitants report it a work of the Devil themselves onely Building with Wood and aver that for strength it exceeds the Fort of the Portuguese at the Sea-shore about a hundred and fifty miles from thence The Emperor keeps a Garrison in it as well for the safeguard of the place as of several women he maintains there A little way from the Sea-shore are many beautiful places richly Verdur'd with Grass and stockt with Cattel but destitute of Wood so that the Inhabitants use the dry'd Dung of Beasts for Fuel They have many rich Gold-Mines whereof Boro Gold Mines and Quitici are the names of two lying about a mile and a half from Sofala The Habit of the People is but mean Clothes being onely the rough Skins of Beasts The Wealth of the Countrey besides the beforemention'd Mines Riches consists in Elephants-Teeth whereof they sell infinite numbers and Salt which they send abroad into most parts of Africa to their no small advantage The City Fatuka boasts great abundance of Gold Silver and Pretious-Stones beyond all her neighbors They have a Prince of their own but a Vassal to the Emperor Government his name Buro The Countrey of INHAMBANE and INHAMIOR THis Kingdom lies a little within the Countrey under the Torrid Zone Jarrik lib. 5. c. 9. having for its Metropolis a City call'd Tonge The heat is so great that the people of Europe residing there for Trade are not able to endure it but are discommoded by several strange and troublesome diseases The Inhabitants generally keep to their ancient Idolatry though many by the diligence of the Portugal Jesuites have embrac'd the Christian Religion and in particular as we told you Gonzalves Silveyra in the year Fifteen hundred and sixty Baptiz'd the King and his whole Court The place where the King keeps his Court lieth about half a mile from the Town Sema the residence of many Portuguese The Kingdom of MONOE-MUGI or NIMEAMAYE THe great Kingdom of Monoe-Mugi The borders of the Kingdom of Monoe-Mugi Pigafet lib. 2. c. 9. Conge Jarrik lib. 3. c. 3. or Mohememugi by others call'd Nimeamaye scituate over against Mombaza Quiloa and Melinde hath for Northern borders Abyssinies or Prester-John's Countrey and the Kingdom of the great Makoko in the South Monomotapa and Mosambique in the East Mombaza and Quiloa in the West on the River Nyle on the North-side between that and Prester-John's Countrey lie some small Kingdoms which being weak of Forces sometimes pay Tribute to the King of Monoe-Mugi and sometimes to the Abyssines These Countreys abound with Gold Silver Copper and Elephants The Inhabitants said to be white Skin'd and of bigger stature than the Europeans go naked on the upper part of their bodies Cloathing but over their nether parts wear Silk or Cotton They use also for Ornament Chains or Bracelets of Chymical Stones which glister like Glass and are brought from Cambaye These Beads serve them also in stead of Money Gold being of no value with them This King holds an amicable correspondence with Quiloa Melinde and Mombaza by which means Silks Cotton-Stuffs the aforesaid Beads of Cambaye and many other Commodities are brought into the Countrey and barter'd for Gold Silver Copper and Ivory He liveth also in a League of Peace with the great Makoko whereby from hence some Black Merchants have Converse and Trading with the Portuguese that keep their Markets in the Kingdom of Fungeno as also in Pombo d' Okango At the end of this Kingdom on the East by information of some Black Merchants of the Kingdom of Nimeamaye given to several Portuguese lieth a great Lake out of which many Rivers by them unknown take their Original adding moreover that in this Lake are abundance of Islands inhabited by Blacks and that on the East-side of these Lakes Land may be seen where sometimes they hear the sound of Bells perhaps brought thither by the Abyssines and discern some Buildings which they suppose Churches from this East-side sometime in Boats there came Tauney-Men and by chance Blacks yet the sides of the Lake are possess'd by persons
Island of that name exceeding those her two neighbors of St. James and St. George living all three near at the Mouth of the River Meginkate Over against St. Georges Island but at the distance of an English mile you may see a Point call'd Cabo Ceira being a hanging Islet joyn'd to the Main-Land of Africa by a small Istbmus overflow'd at High-Water but at other times passable on Foot The Countrey of Mozambike is very fertile in producing many sorts of Fruits Plants as Rice Citrons Oranges and Mille which the Blacks are compell'd to guard and defend against Elephants by the kindling of Fires whereof these Beasts are very much afraid There groweth also a certain Plant call'd Pao or Wood of Antak which creeps along the ground and is very like the Herb Aristolachia or Heart-Wort The Fruit is long small with green Seeds or Grains The Roots have a strange vertue in curing a Disease call'd Antak which seizes on the Foreigners by conversing with the Blacks and can be expell'd by no other Medicine The Inhabitants make Wine of Mille which they call Huyembe or Pembe Here is no want either of tame or wild Fowl Animals nor of Stags or Harts wild Hogs Cows Oxen and Elephants which last are so numerous that the Inhabitants dare not travel without fire to defend them from their assaults Wild Hens breed in the Woods being speckled with many small white and gray spots their Heads are much less than our common Hens with a short Comb but thick and of a high colour and not onely the upper part of the Head but also part of the Neck cover'd with a blue Skin like a Turky Many Silver Gold and other Mynes are found in the Countrey The People have short Curl'd Hair The Constitution of the Inhabitants great Lips long Visages and very large Teeth They go stark naked onely a blue little Clout before their Privacies They Paint ther Bodies with divers Colours but account it the greatest Ornament to have streaks of a certain red Earth They make in each Lip three holes in which they hang Bones Jewels and other things But this Fashion and Trimming eminent People onely use They feed in general upon all sorts of Fruit Food and Flesh of Beasts yet they eat also the Flesh of Men taken Prisoners in the Wars but they esteem the Flesh of Elephants as the choycest Dainty They are revengeful and treacherous dull of understanding and inured to labour like Beasts not grutching to be Slaves Every Lordship or Province produces a several Language Language yet it proves no hindrance to their converse one with another Their Riches consist in Gold Riches found in the Rivers Ivory Ebony and Slaves yet are so fearless of any attempts to be made upon them that they debar no Foreigners to come into their Havens the Portuguese onely excepted Their Weapons of War are Arrows Battel-Axes but can neither boast any number of People nor extent of Land The Inhabitants are according to Linschot some Heathens and some Mahumetans but Pyrard averrs they have neither Religion nor Laws but that they are onely Kaffers The Island MOSAMBIKE THe Island Mosambike half a Mile from the Main Land contains about three quarters of a League in length a quarter in breadth the whole compass not exceeding a League and a half with a white Shore It extendeth South and North along the Main Land between which and this Isle and Fort appears the Bay serving for a convenient Haven Land-lockt from all Winds being very large and carrying eight or ten Fathom Water Within a Stones-throw of which the Ships ride at Anchor This Island hath the Main Land on the North and two other uninhabited small Islets on the South the one nam'd St. James or Jago and the other St George but neither affording any conveniency not being inhabited being wholly overgrown with Shrubs and Bushes Some place two Cities upon Mosambike-Isle affirming the one to be plentifully peopled by Portuguese and the other with Blacks but Pyrard makes the whole so fully inhabited that it seems but one Town comprehending within its Circuit a very large and strong Fort together with five or six Churches Chappels and Cloysters From the Description of the Navigation to the East-Indies made by Verhoeven in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven it appears that the City of Mosambike is very large having good Walls fine Houses and some Churches and Cloysters wherewith agrees Paul van Caerden in the Journal of his Voyage to the East-Indies Moquet allots to the City not above two hundred Houses but Linschot leaves all the places open and unwall'd except the Castle where the Portuguese Governor with his Soldiers have their Residence Garias de Silva Figueora in his Persian Embassy comprises in the City an hundred and fifty Houses but most of them built of Wood Straw and Palm-Tree Leaves For the deciding these different Relations we may suppose that the first Writer who placeth two Cities here mistook two Villages for Cities and Linschot himself mentions the Dwellings severally making one part of the old Fort commonly call'd Fortarez a Velha and another of some Houses close by it Others may have taken a great number of Houses standing close together to be a City however it is we may modestly guess that at the time of these Writers things were found thus There is a Cloyster of St. Domingo with a rich Hospital said to have been a Castle in former time built by the Kings of Portugal into which those of that Nation are put coming sick from Sea Besides St. Anthony St. Dominick and St. Gabriel's Church all lying without the Fort they have another Nossa Seniora do Balvarte built close under the Fort. The Air being generally more than warm proves very unwholsom Air. insomuch that few live there any while free from dangerous Distempers which no doubt are much augmented by the want of fresh Water there being onely one small Spring of little consequence in a Thicket of Palm-Trees so that most of them drink salt Water mingled with a little of that fresh This great Drought sufficiently declares that the Land proves barren Unfruitfulness of the Soyl. and unfit to produce any thing Yet provident Nature hath recompenced the want of all other Provision with Coco-Nuts Oranges Citrons Ananassed-Figs and other Indian-Fruits but these onely in manured and well cultivated Gardens They have neither Wheat nor Rice growing but all brought from the Main Land or from Goa and the East-Indies so also Raisins or Grapes and Spanish-Wines with several other Necessaries both for benefit and sustenance so that it is much dearer living here than in any other Place possessed by the Portuguese in this Coast Here breed great Herds of Oxen Cows Sheep Beasts with Tails as big as a fifth part of their Bodies Bucks Goats and Swine whose Flesh hath gain'd such an esteem that the Doctors oftentimes order the Sick to eat it and forbid them
Complainant be a great Lord then being come at the Palace he winds his Horn to acquaint the Servants of his coming before the King If upon examination he finds both have offended then the least Offender is sent to the Lords of the Justice who punish him corporally by beating with Cudgels but the greatest he condemns in a pecuniary mulct But if onely one great Lord hath committed any offence being brought before the King in his Chamber he is stripped stark naked and laid upon the Ground where upon his humble submission and begging of pardon he receives some blows with a Wand from the King 's own Hand more or less according to the bigness of the Crime After which he takes up his Clothes kisseth the King's Feet and in all humility thanks him for the favor receiv'd then he attends the King into his Hall who forgives him in the presence of all the Court with a Command to do Justice and afterwards goes out of the City in publick with honorable attendance and returns into his Countrey with as great satisfaction as if he had received some great Present When the King travels abroad to view his Concerns he rides upon a Horse richly furnished and going out of the Palace treads over a new-kill'd Deer whereupon all the People give a loud shout and at the same time the Priests inspect the Intrails to know whether his Progress will be prosperous or not When he makes his entrance into any City then all the handsomest Ladies and Maids meet him some singing his praise others carrying and burning Perfumes before him others playing with small Sticks on a Bason and every one striving to recreate and please him When any Native Prince sends an Agent to Treat about some weighty Matters they also kill a Deer which the King steps over thrice the Soothsayer in the interim viewing the Inwards to enquire of the effect that may be produced thereby Some report the Inhabitants of the City Melinde for Heathens Religion others for Mahumetans but Linschot says they are of both sorts among which are many Christians The Mahumetans incline to the Sect of the Emoraydes which disesteeming the Alcaron follow the Doctrine of Zayd the Son of Hoiem The Christians have a strong Congregation as a proof whereof they have erected a great Gilded Marble Cross and have seventeen Churches or Chappels there The Kingdom of Lamo. MOre Northerly lieth the Kingdoms of Lamo or Lamen and Pate but that of Lamo spreads more to the West as bordering upon the River Quilmanzi having in the North Melinde and in the East Pate The chief City Lamo lying a little Northward of the Line hath a good defensive Wall against the Invasion of the In-land People with whom though in War yet as occasion offers Trade together Both King and People are all Mahumetans but pay Tribute to the Portuguese Government to whose Power they submit in all things The Kingdoms of Pate Sian Chelicie and Ampaza THe Kingdom of Pate extends all along the Sea-Coast on both sides the Bay in Portuguese call'd Baya Formosa and the City is handsom and large and hath a good Haven The Jurisdictions of Sian Chelicie and Ampaza neighbor it on all sides having indeed peculiar Lords of their own but so inconsiderable that their whole Strength cannot defend them from being miserable Slaves to the Portuguese they Lording over them nor can the greatness of the Turks to whose Protection they sometimes flye give them either a Relief or Relaxation The Portuguese have a Castle at Pate and another between that and Sian call'd Mondra But because the Mahumetans shewed themselves unwilling to pay Tribute and began to raise some Mutinies and Disturbances the Portuguese Admiral Thomas Sousa in the Year Fifteen hundred eighty nine pull'd it down to the Ground And Alphonso de Mello laid waste the City of Ampaza in Fifteen hundred eighty seven for the like Rebellion yet the King after he had made Peace with the Portuguese remain'd in the ruin'd City The Countrey of Ajan THe Countrey of Ajan or Axam as the Arabians call it according to the testimony of Marmol or rather Habaxa or Habex some take for the antient Trogloditica extending along the Shore of the Arabian and Avalitian Gulf to the Mountain Elefas Fellos This Countrey hath for Borders in the South the great Arm of the River Quilmanzi and the last described Kingdoms in the North Abyssynie or Prester-Johns Countrey and the Straights of Mecha in the West the Mountains out of which the River Quilmanzi shoots and also the same River with part of Abyssinie and in the East the Ocean It concludes within its compass from the South to the North the Republick of Brava the Kingdoms of Madagaxo Adea or Adel and some other more unknown Places This Countrey affords plenty of all Necessaries for the preservation of Man's life but most famous for a Breed of good Horses From the River Quilmanzi they extract Gold The People living at the Sea-shore are most of them Whites but those in the Countrey Cole-black with whom the Beduines a white People commixing produce Mulatto-Children neither perfectly white nor absolutely black These Beduines live a toylsom and beastial life ranging along the Shore of the River lodging under the open Canopy of Heaven and maintaining themselves by Robbing and Stealing The Inhabitants of this Countrey maintain a continual War against the People of Abyssinie and sell all those they take Prisoners to the Arabians living beyond the Red-Sea in Asia The Merchants of Kambaye Aden and all the Arabians come into the Haven of Ajan to Traffick carrying thither all sorts of colour'd Stuffs and Cloth with Glass-Beads and other Commodities From Ormus they bring Raisins and Dates which they exchange in the Havens of Zoila and Barbore for Gold Ivory and Slaves The People inhabiting this Coast are all Mussulines but those farther into the Countrey are Emoraides otherwise call'd Beduinen a sort of Mahumetan Sectaries The City and Republick of Brava BEyond Quilmanzi at the Coast of Ajan not far from the Sea-shore in ten Degrees and thirty Minutes North-Latitude lieth the City Brava surrounded with strong Walls and full of stately Houses built after the Moorish fashion It is a Place of great Trade and hath abundance of Gold and Silver The Inhabitants pay yearly a Tribute of five hundred Metigals of Gold to the Portuguese every Metigal reckon'd worth a Ducket and a third part of one We may read in Texcira that on the Coast of Zanguebar near Brava was a piece of Ambergreece found so big that one standing at one side of it could not see a Camel on the other side This is the onely Republick of Africa being Govern'd by twelve Xeques Government chosen by the antientest People out of the Family of the Brothers aforemention'd who to escape the Persecution and Tyranny of the Kings of Lakah Religion fled out of Arabia Felix hither where they still retain the Mahumetanism which
their Ancestors brought with them Madagaxo or Magodoxo AS you Travel more Northerly towards the Red-Sea you come to the Kingdom of Magadaxo which hath been formerly so powerful that all the Mahumetans on this Coast were subject to it The Countrey spreads it self according to Urette betwixt ninety and a hundred Leagues in breadth but he seems to include therein the Kingdom of Adea This Territory produces great abundance of Barley with variety of Fruits and feeds huge Droves of Horses and other Cattel Some of the Inhabitants are brown some black and some white yet notwithstanding this difference of complexion they agree in Language all speaking Arabick The Head City Madagaxo hath gain'd the repute of great Wealth by the Trade of the Kambayan and Aden Merchants bringing thither all sorts of Clothes Drugs and Spices and receiving from thence in Barter Gold Ivory and Wax They use in their Wars no other Arms but poyson'd Arrows The Kingdom of Adea THe Kingdom of Adea begins in the middle of Adel on the Main Land Borders bordering in the South at Madagaxo in the West at Oyja belonging to Abyssinie in the North at Adel and Eastward border'd with the Indian-Sea The most famous Place of this Realm hath the Name Barraboa that is The good Shore though it be somewhat distant from the Sea and in passing to it you go up against the Stream in a Skiff by an Arm of the River Oby or Quilmanzi The Dominion of Granze comes next having for Limits the Kingdom of Oyja Xoa and Gorage then Barra Maa which is Bad Shore because no Ships can come near it At last upon the Skirts of this Realm you find a Place call'd Ogabra Ograbra This Countrey hath many great Woods insomuch that the Inhabitants are forced to cut down the Trees to make the Ways Nature hath served them with a plentiful hand so that they want no Provision having extraordinary Herds of Cattel They have a peculiar Mahumetan Prince Government but dependent upon the Abyssine Emperor to whom he pays Tribute The Inhabitants in general are zealous of Mahomet's Superstition Religion but those of Granze are partly Idolaters and partly Christians Adel or Zeila THe Kingdom of Adel Borders so call'd by the Portuguese but by the Natives Zeila lying at the Sea-shore borders in the North at the Beglierbeyat or Provinces of the Bassa of Suaquen near the Straits of Meche in the South at Adea in the West upon Fatigar in Abyssinie and in the East at the Indian Sea Pigafet makes the Southermost Places of this Kingdom to be Meth and Barbosa together with a part of the Arabian Gulf and the Cape of Guardafu It extends in length from Zeila to the Cape of Guardafu Bigness along the Sea-coast seventy two Miles and from Guardafu along the Eastern Coast about eight and forty but in breadth fifty six The Chief City of this Kingdom is Ara situate in nine Degrees North Latitude by some call'd Arika Gurrele but by Marmol Arat who places the same eighteen Miles from Zeila he settles also here the Royal City Adel and the Towns Orgabra Migiate Sequeta Bali Mautra Doara Komizara Novecara and Soceli On the Sea-coast Pigafet tells of a small Place nam'd Asuin or Affion well stored with Provision but wanting a Haven and so consequently little frequented by Merchants Then follows the Cape of Guardafu or Guardafuy by many taken for the Aromata of Ptolomy lying in twelve Degrees and a half North Latitude and very famous because the Easterly Coast of Africa ends there It lies almost at the entrance of the Arabian Gulf so that the Ships which come out of India and will go to Aden and Ziden or to Zeila and Barbara Sail close by it On the Coast of Adel appears a Place call'd Salie which Sanutus takes for that which Ptolomy denominates Mosilon Next to Salir follows Barbara and Meth the first lieth to the North on the Shore of the Red Sea eleven Miles from the City Zeila the latter according to Sanutus a small City Afterwards cometh Zeila one of the best Places on this Coast being in eleven Degrees and twenty Minutes North Latitude six and twenty Miles saith Marmol from the Straits of Meche This City though built on a low and Sandy Ground boasts not onely a large Extent but a very convenient Haven for Ships It stands within the Kingdom of Adel in the Province Baragian which includes the two other small Jurisdictions of Dalacha and Malacha all under the Obedience of the Turks The Houses in Zeila are built of Stone and the Streets curiously Pav'd and daily frequented with Swarms of People The In-land Countreys of Adel lie even and plain The nature of the Soil onely here and there some easie and pleasant Ascents The Plains yield plentiful Returns to the Labouring and Industrious Husbandman answering his Expectation in the abundant Product both of Plants and Beasts having withal the River Haoax which takes its original out of that vast Range of Mountains on the Borders of Xaoa and Ogge and feeds the lesser Stream of Mach with Water Some have not stuck to aver it to be little inferior to the Nile but nothing near so long because it overflows not above six thousand Paces Neither doth it reach how full of Water so ever it be to the Sea but is quite drank up by the dry and thirsty Earth before it cometh so far The City Zeila hath no fresh Water within two days Journey nor other Ground than Sand but the Fields at further distance afford such Plenty of all things that out of this Haven and that of Barbara on the same Coast Ships Transport Provisions to feed Adom and Ziden especially Corn Beans Barley and Oyl not press'd out of Olives but extracted from the Seed of a Plant call'd Zerzelin or Gerzeluin or Grugioline but indeed no other than Sesamos Beasts breeding here are Sheep of two sorts Beasts one with Tails of twenty five pound weight black Necks and Heads and the remainder of their Bodies white the other quite white with Tails as long as a Mans Arm and crooked as a Vine-Branch Some of their Cows have Horns like a Stag black Hair and wilde others are red but with one Horn on their Foreheads of a Span and a half long but turning backwards The Inhabitants as far as Barbara are Olivaster-colour'd Nature of the Inhabitants but from thence more to the North about Zeila and Barrazan they grow much blacker naturally quarrelsom and apt to make Wars upon any trivial occasion They go cover'd from their Navel to their Knees with Cotton but the upper part of their Bodies remain naked onely Persons of Quality wear Coats which in Arabick they call Bernuz This Dominion possesses much Gold and Ivory besides such a liberal Provision of Victuals that they feed their Neighbors of several other Countreys They vend also Clothes Myrrhe Pepper and Slaves The Merchants of Cambaya and
hundred and eighty Dutch Miles and the breadth between the Mouth of the Arabian Sea and the River Niger to four hundred and fifty but in truth the length both of Old and New Abyssine from East to West that is from the Mouth of the Arabian Sea to the Kingdom of Goiame a hundred and sixty Miles and the greatest breadth from the Territory of Alaba to Magazan or to the United Stream of the Nyle and the River Takazu that is from the eighth to the sixteenth degree of North-Latitude about a hundred and twenty miles And in this Point Joannes Barros a Portuguese seems to come nearest the truth when he gives in circumference six hundred seventy two Portuguese miles or five hundred and four Dutch The antient borders of this Kingdom some have plac'd in the North at Bughia or Fungia where it touches also on Egypt and Nubia in the West Antient Borders upon the same Nubia the Countries of Canfila Danfila and the Island Meroe the Kingdom of Medra Part of Negroland Congo and according to Marmol the Countrey of the Jews within Negroland next that of the Amozones or Maoviste das Sugetes that is The Kingdom of Women bordering of Sanutus hit right upon the Kingdom of Damout in the South the Empire of Benomotapa and as Pigafet adds Monemugi in the East the Countrey of Zanguebar and Ajan the Kingdom of Adel and others with the Arabian Gulf where at this time Prester-John doth not possess so much as one Haven But here we must observe that in this great Roll of Kingdoms are many Countreys found which do not acknowledge the Emperor of Abyssine but are onely nam'd to shew the length and to distinguish the borders more plainly Philippus Cluverius sets down almost the same boundaries that is in the East the Red-Sea with the Kingdom of Ajan and Zanguebar in the South Monomotapa in the West the Kingdom of Congo and Medar and in the North Nubia and Egypt The antient state of the Abissines according to the relation of Jarrik and Godignus compriz'd six and twenty several Kingdoms and fourteen great Territories The Kingdoms were Tigre or Tigrai Dankali Angole Boa or Noa Amara or Ammara Dambeo or Bambia or Dembea Ankaguccele Adel Dabali Oecce Ario Fatigar Zengao Rozanegus Goyame Narca Feth Koncho Mahaola Goroam Danimt or Damut Dari Damut Adaro and Faskalon The fourteen Territories being not Kingdoms are Dubane a member of Tigre Xuncho in the same Realm bordering at that of Dankali Daraita by the Kingdom of Angote Bora between Tigre and Bagamedri Calara or Calaoa near Boga Aga Arim near the Kingdom of Dahali Arbo Xankala close by the Kingdom of Zingere Xacoxa or Xankora Ambyamo by Zanut according to Peter Davitu call'd Angona Bergamo near to the other Aris on the other side of the Nile and last follows Gara lying above Aris. Balthazar Tellez reckons the Kingdoms and Territories formerly subject to Abyssine and at this day cut off from it to be Angote Doaro Ogge Balli Adea Alemale Oxelo Ganz Betezamora Guraque Buzama Sugamo Balargamo Kambate Doxa Gumar Konch Damut Mota Aura Holeka Oifate Guedom Gangk Maralet Manz Bizamo But this Kingdom hath receiv'd such diminutions by the Turks and Gala's that Prester-John at this day enjoys onely six great and ten small Provinces The great are Tigre Dambea Bagamedce Gogamo Amahara Narea and a part of Xaoa The lesser are Magaza Salemt Ogara Abargele Holkait Sagueda Semen Salao Ozeka and Dobai Hereby it may plainly be observ'd into how narrow a compass the Dominions of Prester-John are circumscrib'd from what Antiquity relates which we may believe they did but guess at We will therefore first describe the aforemention'd six Kingdoms yet remaining entire to Prester-John and afterwards those of the antient Abyssine partly to agree with the Antients in the matter of Beasts Plants and Customs and partly to survey the whole Circumference both of the Old and New Dominion Tigre The Kingdom of Tigre then otherwise call'd Tigrai and Tigremahon and by Francis Alvarez call'd Azen lies the most Easterly being eminentest biggest and best part of the whole and takes beginning according to Balthazar Tellez by the Island Makua or Mazua at the Red-Sea close by the Haven Arquiko spreading ten or twelve miles to the Haven of Dafalo Alvares Sanutus or as others shooting Northward close by Egypt Bugu or Nubie and Westerly to Dankali containing in length ninety and in breadth fifty Spanish miles This Kingdom comprizeth seventeen several Provinces Davity the most Northern of which lying at Egypt they call Barnagas or Barbarnagas which Alvarez Sanutus and others make a peculiar Dominion because govern'd by a peculiar Lieutenant of the King 's though in truth Barnagas is a part of Tigre and signifies Lord of the Sea Bar denoting the Sea in that Countrey Language and Nagas Lord. Barnagas includes according to Tellez three small Lordships of which Debaroa or Doubaroa so call'd by the Abyssines and by Maffe and Sanutus Boroa or Barvan is the chief wherein is a small City but curiously built and populous seated by the River Mareb on a pleasant and fruitful Mountain Some have taken it for the Colove of Ptolomy and Colve of Arnian and by others for the great Primis or Premnis Alvarez and Sanutus give Barnagas in the North for borders the Countrey of Bugie and Nubie in the West the Nile in the South the River Mareb with some neighboring Mountains over-looking Tigremahon and in the East the Red-Sea The same Alvarez and Sanutus place in Barnagas the Regions of Canfila and Dafila and therein a place nam'd Emacen a day and a halfs journey from Dabaroa and thirty miles from Suaquen Formerly this Province comprehended Suaquen the Island Mazua the Haven Arquiko and Dalakka But the Turks and Moors have many years ago dispossess'd the Abyssines thereof The same Writers further adds to Barnagas Cire Ximeta and Arrazie a Dominion of great consequence St. Michael d' Joco a famous Cloyster four miles from Arquiko and the Cloyster of Bizan five Besides the chiefest Palaces of the Kings and two or three Churches one of St. Michael and the other of St. Peter and Paul about which Maffe assigns some Villages and Hamlets as Camarva and Barra c. Lastly Barnagas takes in the Jurisdiction of Bur or Burro formerly the Kingdom of the Queen Candace Next Barnagas Sanutus sets Tigremahon to which he assigns for borders in the North the River Marabo in the West the Nile in the South Angote in the East the Red-Sea Then follows the Dominion of Cire and by the Red-Sea Amasen or Agamea inhabiting by a people not under Prester-John's Jurisdiction Arxa formerly a great City where they say the Queen of Sheba kept her Court and indeed the remaining Ruines do manifest an Antique Grandeur The other places are the City Tigre or Auzen the Metropolis of the Realm the Garrison of Gileitor Amba Salalam Saet Cora forty or fifty Portuguese miles
other Commodities but the dearest Merchandises are Frankincense Pepper and Myrrhe which they barter for Gold Their Arms are Lances or Darts and Back-swords Arms. They use many Bowes and Arrows but not with Feathers For defence they put on Helmets and very strong round Shields Pieces of Cannon and Muskets they bought of the Portuguese at a dear Rate yet use for the most part Darts Arrows and Slings The Horse-men in whom their greatest Strength consists wear long Coats of Mail which come down to their Knees close Helmets and round Shields with Scymitars and Lances They that go without a Helmet to the Wars cover their Heads with red Hair Caps like those of the Mamalucks in Aegypt They provide themselves also with Elephants Arm'd and loaden with Towers and have Copper Trumpets and Drums brought thither from Cairo with other Drums of Wood cover'd over with a Skin as among us The King of Abyssine hath many Enemies but chiefly upon one side the Turk who planted themselves along the Red Sea and not only wrested that whole Coast from him but lends his other Enemies great Assistance On the other side lieth the Emperor of Monomotapa who continually keeps his Realm in Arms. The King of Congo neighbors close by that of Goyame who is said to have kept himself quiet since he made Peace with King David But the most dangerous and strongest Enemies are the Galas or Galles as the Abyssines call them who in the foregoing Age have bereaved the Abyssines of a third part of their Dominions But those of Tigrai have oftentimes worsted them and especially in the year Sixteen hundred and seven When Prester-John doth intend to make War against the Nubians or any other People he causes a Cloth in form of a Banner to be carried on the top of a Lance to proclaim the War through all the Countrey The Government is absolutely Monarchical Government and the Chief known by the Title of Acegue that is Emperor for the great number of Kingdoms he was wont to possess But his Subjects entitle him Negus that is King the Moors Asiklabassi and the Arabians Sultan Asiklabassi But in his Letters to the European Princes and others he calls himself Negus Negas that is King of Kings by reason of his Substitute Kings or Viceroys Off-spring of the Tribe of Judah Son of David Son of Solomon Son of the Pillar of Sion Son of the Seed of Jacob Son of the hand of Mary Son of Nahu according to the Flesh Emperor of the Upper or Higher Ethiopia King of Xaoa Caffate Fatigar Angote Baru Amarr Baga Mediri Dambea c. We generally call him Prester-John and by some in corrupt Latin Pretiose Joannes that is Precious John to which last Name two Abyssines coming into Europe gave occasion themselves for when these heard in Europe that the Emperor was every where call'd Prester-John they endeavor'd to preserve the Title seeking to find out Words of their Mother-Tongue from which the same might be derived for which purpose they consultd Belulgian Beldigiam and other Names Amongst those which first introduced the Word Belulgian here in Europe was one Zagarab an Ambassador sent from the Emperor of the Abyssines to John the third King of Portugal and another Abyssine call'd Peter who at the same time accompanied Francois Alvarez a Portuguese Priest as Ambassador to Pope Clement the seventh The first caus'd Damaiaco a Goez the second Paulus Jovius to mistake the Name asserting that Belulgian is a compound word of Belul and Gian the first signifies Precious and the other John as if they would hint by that Name that there was nothing more precious than the Abyssines Others would have it that Prester-John was a corrupt word of Pharasta-Jan that is to say A Lyon on Horseback because this Emperor is said to exceed all the Kings of Africa as the Lyon excells all the Beasts They give also the Title of Lyon because descended from the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah alledging that he had Meliloc for his Predecessor that is King of Excellency Son of Makeda Queen of Sheba which came to hear the Wisdom of Solomon But it is certain the Name of Prester-John neither proceeded from Belulgian nor Beldigian nor Pharasta-Jan or from any other such like Abyssine Word but it was by accidentally apply'd to the Abyssine Emperor when he first of all began to be known to the King of Portugal But the better to discover the truth we must observe that as the Kings of Egypt were by a general Name first call'd Pharaohs and afterwards Ptolomies those of Persia Xerxes and Artaxerxes and afterwards Sofi the Moorish Kings Xeriffs and the Roman Emperors Caesars so is also the Name of Prester-John a general Name and signifies a Royal Title or Dignity of some Christian Princes who Reigned a very long time ago But these Prester-Johns have not Reigned in Ethiopia or in any other part of Africa as many imagine contrary to the opinion of the most experienced Geographers who unanimously agree they Reign'd in Asia yet in what Place not fully known for some making them to have been Kings of Cathay causeth greater doubt and obscurity by reason that in the next following years it came to be known that Cathay belong'd to China as Matthias Riccius and after that Benedictus Goez both Jesuits and next them several others have found But besides the Tract of Land by the Name of Cathay plac'd within the Confines of China Godignus and with him Kircher judge it to be probable that there is yet a greater Countrey about the Asiatick Scythia Seres Massagetania and other neighboring People bordering in the South and West at the Confines of China which had the Name of Cathay of which many years ago Prester-John had the Dominion This Countrey Ptolomy calls Scythia beyond the Mountain Imaus and the Inhabitants Dalanguer and Negrecet begins at the Foot of Mount Taurus and spreads to the Icy Sea dividing Scythia in two Paulus Marcus the Venetian calls it The Dominion of the great Cham and the holy Scripture according to the testimony of Arias Montanus Gog and Magog One of the chiefest Kingdoms of this Great Cathay is Tebeth near the Kingdom of Belor or Balor the antient Dwelling-place of the Zaker near which the Geographers according to the example of Marcus Paulus the Venetian place the City Cambalu so then Cathay compasseth that whole Part of Asia Cambalu is by many taken for the great City Poking in China which Ptolomy placeth beyond the Mountain Imaus and borders in the East on the Ocean and China in the South on the Head-Spring of the River Ganges at the Mountain Caucasus Parapanisus and Aria in the West on whole Scythia within the Mountain Imaus and lastly in the North at the Icy Sea Whereby it appears that all Great Tartary lying beyond the Mountain Imaus with the Name of Cathay must be understood to be the Countreys of Gog and Magog for Cathay which signifieth
in the Tartarian Tongue A Kingdom full of Mountains and Desarts contains Tartary Scythia and the Countreys of Gog and Magog Now Cathay is divided into the greater and the less Great Cathay spreads through an unfrequented Tract of Land namely from the Mountain Caucasus between that side of the Icy Sea and the Mountains of China to the Indian Sea whereas some will have it joyn at the out-lying Point of America But Little Cathay is that Countrey which borders on North-China commonly call'd Thebes In all this far spreading Countrey of Cathay one may see that this supposed most mighty Emperor Prester-John had the Dominion over seventy two Kingdoms partly Christians and partly Heathens though by the great numbers of Kingdoms he hath gotten many Names to the great distraction both of Historians and Geographers For some make him to be one and the same with the great Cham others call him Ashid some with the Abyssines call him Juchanes Belul that is Precious John Some as Godignus with no improbable Reasons will have it that by his Subjects for their high esteem of the Prophet Jonas he is call'd Joanne a Name common to all those that ever did possess this Kingdom though in these Western Parts he is commonly call'd by the Latin Churches Joannes with the additional surname of Prester not that he ever was a Priest but because according to the Custom of the Arch-bishop in the time of Peace had a Cross carried before him at his going out but ontring upon the Wars two Cross-bearers went before him the one with a Cross of Gold and the other with a Cross beset with Precious Stones for a token of his defending the Worship of God for which reason Scaliger derives his Name from the Persian Word Prestigiani which signifieth Apostolick which the Europeans understanding amiss call'd him in stead of Prestigiani Prester-John Many years did this Kingdom of Prester-John flourish in Asia till it fell to one David who by one of his supreme Commanders call'd Cinge chosen Emperor by the Army and the Scythians who in stead of Prester styl'd him Uncam In the Year Eleven hundred seventy eight it was overcome in Battel whereby the glory of this Empire and the Name of Prester-John came in effect to an end to the great loss and prejudice of Christendom But by what mistake the Name of Prester-John came to the Emperor of Abyssine we will in brief declare When the Portuguese with their Fleets were busie in discovering strange Countreys there was a great noyse through all Europe of Prester-John and his Excellency reported a most powerful Emperor Lord of many Kings and of the Christian Religion but unknown in what place he had his abode For which cause when Pike Kovillan sent by John the second King of Portugal first over the Mediterranean Sea and afterwards by Land to seek out this Prince coming into India and hearing that in Abyssine or that Ethiopia which lieth below Egypt was a great and powerful Prince who professed the Christian Religion he went thither and finding many things in him which was reported of the true Prester-John he took him for the same Person and was the first that call'd him by that Name which others that went the ensuing year into Abyssine follow'd and so easily brought the mistake into Europe the Emperor of Abyssine being ever since call'd Prester-John Yet Damianus a Goez in his Book of the Nature and Customs of the Abyssines positively denies that the King of Abyssine was ever call'd Prester-John so that in truth that Name properly belongs to the foremention'd Prince of Asia But seeing that Custom hath almost made it a Law and the Kingdom of Prester-John in Asia already overwhelm'd the Name of Prester-John may conveniently be applied and fixed upon the Abyssine King of Africa professing the Christian Religion Every Substitute Kingdom as Tigre Gambea Goiame Amara Narea hath a Deputy to Rule it in the Name of the Emperor and the like hath every Territory Besides the Vice-Roy of Tigre bears the Title Tigra Mahon and must always be of the Royal Stock Him of the Countrey next to the Red Sea they stile Barnagas that is King of the Sea not that he properly Commands over the Countreys by the Sea for they are under the Turks but because the Countrey over which he Commands lieth nearer to Sea than any other part of Tigre He hath his abode most in the City Barva or Debaroa and winneth great Respect as well among his own People as Strangers The Government of the Kingdom is administred with Discretion and Justice which hath advanced the honor of the King both at home and abroad The Judges shew great severity in punishing Offenders according to the several qualities of their Crimes viz. such as shrink from the right and true Faith and change their Opinion the People stone to death but those which totally Apostatize or blaspeme God and the Ghost are publickly burn'd alive Murderers they deliver to the nearest Relations of the Murthered to revenge themselves on him according to their pleasure Thieves have their Eyes put out and afterwards by Judgment are appointed for Slaves of the Empire and given to the Guides with whom they may go all the Countrey over to earn their Living by Singing and Playing on Instruments but with this Proviso not to stay above one day in a place upon penalty of losing their lives Other small Offences they punish with Whipping In the Succession of the Crown the eldest takes place after the Father but for want of Issue-male the most worthy Person of the next in Blood is chosen Others affirm that Seniority creates no Claim but that the Crown falls to him whom the Father makes choice of on his Death-bed but that seems improbable because the intended Successor lives at large in the Courts whereas the rest are kept on the Mountain Amara and if he die another whom the greatest at the Court do judge fittest for the Crown is sent for out The great and famous Island Meroe lies divided between three Kings which oftentimes War with one another the first is a Mahumetan Moor the second an Idolater descended from the Blood of the right Ethiopians the third a Christian Abyssine and acknowledges that King for his Lord. The first King of Ethiopia or Abyssinie The Order or List of the Kings of Abyssine whereof we have certain knowledge by the information of holy Scripture was Chus the Son of Cham who took possession thereof immediately after the Flood six other Kings following him whose Names and the time of their Reign remains unknown But when the Royal Seat was planted in the City Axum where it remained till the coming in of Christ they began to keep a Chronological Register but was afterwards transplanted to Sceva or Saba The Kings that Reigned in Axum and Saba are set down to the number of a hundred fifty eight by the following order  Years Arue Reigned 400 Agabo his Father a Murtherer
which runs through all the Countrey The Air though very hot hath the repute of being healthful as receiving frequent cooleness from the fresh Breezes arising out of the Mountains It hath several Rivulets Brooks and Springs which along the Cliffs and the gaping of the Mountains pour their Water from one quarter into the other The Rivers by the French discover'd on the Coast and flowing into the Sea are the grand River Du Galet the East-River Stone-Cliffe River and the River of St. John St. Steven and St. Giles It lieth totally desolate notwithstanding the French have sometimes endeavor'd to have Planted it with some Colonies of People This Island boasts an exceeding fertility both of Plants and Beasts for first there grows Tobacco as good as any Countrey can afford abundance of Aloes Cubebs white-tail Pepper Ebony and other Wood serviceable to build Houses and Ships Trees which afford well-scented Gums Benzoia and others besides many Palmito's and other Fruit-Trees They cannot complain for want either of Fish or Flesh the Rivers plentifully affording the one and the Land the other viz. wild Swine very great Sea and Land-Turtles wild Pigeons and Drones the fairest Paraketo's in the world and many other sorts of Fowl The Sea-shores are full of Goats which are delicate Meat yet the Flesh of the wild Swine exceeds all the other for daintiness and wholsomness according to the relation of those French of Madagascar which were by the Governor banish'd three years into this Island where they preserved themselves onely by this Flesh without either Bisket or Rice or tasting any other tame or wild Beast or Fowl During their three years continuance there they averred that they perceived not the least spice of either Ague or Fever neither had pain in the Head or Teeth notwithstanding they went continually naked bare-footed and nothing on their Heads yea some of them coming sick thither immediately recover'd health In the Year Sixteen hundred fifty four a French-man call'd Antonis Thaureau went with leave of the French Governor of Madagascar with seven other of his own Nation and six Blacks to settle themselves in this Island After a Journey of twelve days arriving there they seated themselves at the side of a certain Lake which mixes its Water with the Sea at a place where a great Bay lieth a convenient Road for ships in the West-North-West part of the Island They took along with them from Madagascar five Cows with one Calf and one Steer which mixed themselves with five and thirty other very fine and fat Steers which were come of those that had been put on Shore five years before They immediately built Huts for their abode and busied themselves in making of Gardens and Planting of Tobacco Melons and all sorts of Cod-Fruits but when the Tobacco was almost ripe the same with their Huts was ruin'd by a Heuricane so that they were necessitated to Build and Plant anew In the mean time while the Season of Planting came on again being in October November and December for their Harvest is in April the aforesaid Thaureau with some of the other concluded to take a Journey round about the Island to discover the same exactly and to take notice of the Countrey but they found almost nothing but Plants of Aloes after two days Journey they came to the Sea-coast which runs from the Point in the North to the other in the South five Miles long convenient for Habitation and very delightful and pleasant Meadows water'd by seven very fine Rivers which take their original out of a great Lake surrounded with Mountains where the Standard with the Arms of France were set up by the command of Flaccourt After a stay of two years and eight moneths without receiving any relief from Madagascar and seeing no other opportunity to get from thence they betook themselves to an English Vessel which put in there in the Year Sixteen hundred fifty eight and in the Moneth of May together with their six Blacks came to the English Fort of Maderespartan on the Coast of Cormandel or Narsinge a Mile from the City St. Thomas the Apostle of India where they arrived on the twelfth day of the following Moneth with a great deal of Aloes Tobacco and Benzoin in hopes to dispose of those Commodities there but arriving they found the contrary and that one Roll of Tobacco was enough for the whole Coast to make Snuff of by reason of the little use of it And likewise the Aloes prov'd a Drug because it grew there also The Island of St. Apollonie THe Island of St. Apollonie which Francois Caucha seems to take for that of Mauritius some Chards place forty Miles Eastward of Mascareigne but Flaccourt in his Description of Madagascar makes it a distinct thing The Island of Mauritius or Cerne THe Island of Mauritius so call'd by the Hollanders for the Honour and Memory of Maurice Prince of Orange a Branch from the House of Nassaw not well knowing and uncertain of its proper Name Some wrongfully hold it to be the Cerne of Pliny and placed in eighteen Degrees and thirty Minutes of South-Latitude whereas according to Caucha it is call'd The Island of Apollonie and lieth in the Elevation of one and twenty Degrees South-Latitude close by Mascaronhas The Hollanders first touched upon it in the Year Fifteen hundred ninety eight the eighteenth of September in their second Voyage to the East-Indies under the Command of the Admiral Jacob Cornelius van Nek It s Circumference they guess at fifteen Leagues affording a Haven and convenient Road but remains void both of Men and Beasts except Cats The Air seems to be good and wholsom and there is a River found which takes its orignal out of the Mountains whereof there are many towards the Sea yet within the Countrey are very delightful Plains By reason of the many and high Mountains the whole lies almost continually cover'd with Snow and oftentimes there doth such Mists arise from them that a Man can see no farther than just down before him The Ground lies very stony and so overgrown with wild and unfruitful Trees that it is scarce passable Among them are found many Palmito's and other Trees with a green Bark and Wood underneath as black as Pitch which some have taken for the right Ebony and other Trees whose Wood appears of a deep red or very yellow like Wax Fowl are here innumerable and so tame and fearless that they will suffer a Man almost to touch them as Pigeons Turtle-Doves Cranes gray and speckled Parrots and strange Birds as big as Swans with thick Heads whereon are Skins like Lappets In stead of Wings for they have none they have upon their sides onely three or four black Quills and behind in stead of a Tail four or five small Feathers or curl'd Plumes standing somewhat higher than the other they have large and thick Feet with a great and ugly Bill and Eyes and have commonly a Stone in their Maw as big as
and Mandihoka and here and there a Vine The Inhabitants are Portuguese but few in number being but about thirty or forty Mulato's Negro's and Slaves three thousand which work in the Sugar-Mills and plant Rice Tobacco Mille and other Fruits The Island of Anaboon or Anabon ANabon or Anaboon which signifieth New or Good Year so call'd perhaps by the Portuguese because discover'd on a New-years-day it lieth in one Degree and fifty Minutes South-Latitude or as others in one Degree and a half about five and twenty Miles from St. Thomas and five and forty from Cabo de Lopez Gonzalves on the Main Coast It takes in Circumference according to Pyrard about five or six French Miles and in length not above half a Mile The Harbor appears at the North-side but very dangerous by reason of the Shoals and Rocks This Island hath a wholsom Air many Fountains Springs and Brooks with fresh Water onely a little brackish at the New and Full-Moon by reason of the high flowing of the Sea It rises with Mountains whose aspiring tops seem to kiss the Clouds and are commonly cover'd with Snow The Hills and Dales prove fruitful in all sorts of Plants and affords the Eye a pleasant and delightful sight The Shores of the Brooks stand beset with Palm-Trees out of which the Inhabitants extract the often mention'd Palm-Wine Ignames Injames Potato's Banano's Ananassen Orange-Trees Tamarind-Trees Sugar-Canes and Cotton-Trees also Rice Maiz or Turkish Wheat several sorts of Turkish Beans black Physick-Nuts and many other Trees and Plants There are many wild Swine Stags Goats Hens Pigeons black and white Cranes and other Fowl The adjoyning Sea produces many sorts of Fishes and Oysters Mercator and some others make this Island waste and desolate contrary to the truth for 't is inhabited though but meanly there being some years ago a few Portuguese with fifty or sixty Blacks which all liv'd by tilling the Ground and Fishing The Netherlanders found in the Year Sixteen hundred and five in their Voyage to the East-Indies under the Admiral Matelief two hundred Blacks on this Island The Town stands surrounded with a Breast-work for Defence and contains about a hundred Houses built of Canes besides some few of Wood belonging to the Portuguese The Blacks go stark naked both Men and Women Clothes having onely a Cotton Cloth before their Privacies The Women carry their Children on their Backs and when they will give them Suck they throw their Breasts over their Shoulders for they have them very great The Portuguese have the Command of it who send thither a Vice-Roy Government All the Inhabitants both Blacks and others embrace the Christian Religion Religion converted by the endeavor of the Portuguese The Island of St. Thomas THe Island of St. Thomas in Portuguese St. Thomee because first of all discover'd on that Saints Day yet Thevet calls it Santas Honore and the Barqarians Ponkas it lieth in the Ethiopian Sea right under the Equinoctial Line which comes through the City and the great Church and therefore no Latitude hath been ascribed to it and not far from the Cape of Lopez Gonsalvez It bears an Oval form about thirty Miles in Circumference and in length and breadth twelve Miles The chief City call'd Pavosan or Pavaose through which run two small Rivers hath its situation on an even place on the North-side of the Bay somewhat more longer than round and about half a days walking in compass containing about fifteen hundred Houses every one ten Stories high On that side towards the Sea-coast defended with some Breast-works of Stone which the Portuguese Governor raised in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven commanding every one that passed backwards and forwards by the City to bring one Stone towards the Building The Houses are erected of white and hard Wood like Oak which grows there on the Spot before behind and also on the top cover'd with Planks made fast together There stand onely on the whole Island three Stone Houses in one of which the Governor dwelleth The City boasts of three Churches whereof the biggest is intitled Conceptio or The Church of the Conception of the Virgin Mary next the Church of Isabella whereto adjoyns an Hospital and the Church of St. Sebastian a small one standing by the Castle But several other Churches stand without the City as St. Anthonies two Musquets shot distant and somewhat nearer St. Johns then you may see the Church of Maitre de Dios or The Mother of God about a Mile from the City towards the South-east and about two Miles from it towards the East Trinitado or The holy Trinity and about three Miles towards the South-east the Church of St. Anna. The Castle of St. Sebastian Castle St. Sebastian seated on an out-lying Corner at the North-side of the City and of the Bay is a handsom Building of Stone to the heighth of twenty five Foot and both of it self and by the conveniency of the place whereon it stands seems almost impregnable The Garrison within consists of a hundred Soldiers well stor'd and provided with Ammunition and Victuals besides continual Supplies are and may be brought thither by Sea without hindrance The Ground is moistned by several Brooks and Rivers of clear and fresh Water to their great enriching On the middle of this Island rises a Woody Mountain continually cover'd with Snow whence divers Brooks and Streams draw their originals The Air is very hot and untemperate moist unwholsom inimical to the People of Europe who seldom attain there to the age of fifty years whereas the Natives a People that have but little Blood oftentimes arrive to above a hundred Some affirm that a young Man in his growth coming thither shall never grow bigger but always remain at his first Stature and that a dead Corps laid in the Ground will rot and decay in four and twenty hours The cause of this unwholsomness hath been imagin'd to proceed from the over-great Heats and damp Fogs Some have reported that this malign intemperature doth not spread over the whole but confin'd chiefly to the City and occasion'd by the low situation thereof for from the Rain-water which falls down abundantly from the Hills to the Valleys are exhal'd noysom Vapors which afterwards fall down in the Evenings and Mornings with an offensive influence whose fume or dewy stream receiv'd into the Body corrupts and irritates the Blood for the avoiding which direful hazards at those times the Portuguese there resident keep within their Houses But this Air loses some of these ill qualities in June July and August by reason of the South-east and South-west dry and cool Winds which blowing over from the Coast of Ethiopia refresh the Countrey and clear the Air to the great advantage of Strangers although the Natives receive detriment thereby These Islanders as all others under the Equinoctial have two Winters not in respect of Cold but onely of Moistures one in March and another in September at which
good During the War between the Crown of Portugal and the States of the United Provinces this Island was in the year Sixteen hundred forty one on the second day of October overcome in the following manner Jol whom we mention'd before landed with his People two Miles from Pavoason by a Sugar-Mill at St. Anns where he took his Repose that Night and the next day the Ships came under the Castle and the Soldiers march'd thither by Land where arriving they found all void either of People or Garrison onely the place was Fortifi'd by six Pieces of Ordnance From thence having reduc'd it they went to the great Fort surrounded with a Wall of twenty eight Foot high where after a long Fight for want of Ladders to scale the Walls they were necessitated to Retreat with the loss of many Men But the City Pavaoson they easily gain'd being void of Citizens Soldiers and all moveable Goods Afterwards the foremention'd Fort was surrendred by the Governor who with eighty Garrison-Soldiers Blacks Whites and Mulatos march'd out and with five and twenty Soldiers of the Kings Band were Shipp'd over to Lisbon In the Fort came to the Victors hands six and thirty great Pieces of Ordnance of which twenty were of Brass abundance of Powder Match and Bullets but Victuals scarce for one Moneth The City and Fort thus taken the Admiral Jol caused the Portuguese to be call'd into the City again to Treat with him upon Equitable Concerns whereupon two of the chiefest came and bought off the Destruction of the Mills and preservation of their Canes for five thousand and five hundred Crusadoes and ten thousand Arohas of Sugar But the Kings Revenue and Treasure came to the Victors Formerly in the year Sixteen hundred and ten this Island had been master'd by the Dutch the City burnt and the Plunder consisting of a thousand Chests of Sugar a great many Elephants Teeth Silk Woollen Cloth and one and twenty Pieces of Ordnance Shipp'd away But the Admiral himself and the Vice-Admiral together with seventeen Seas and all the Land-Officers except one and the number of a thousand poor Soldiers died there as hath been already mention'd Ilha Rolles ANother small Island in Portuguese call'd Ilha Rolles lieth to the Southward of St. Thomas about three Musket-shot distant with a convenient Passage between both and good Anchorage for Ships Onely there appear between this and Ilha del Cabres seven Rocks above Water which the Portuguese Sea-men call Los Sette Pedros The Island Ilha del Cabres IN the next place you come to Ilha del Cabres or Goats-Isle about two Musket-shot from St. Thomas with a Channel for Ships between The Countrey rises Mountainous and full of Wild Lemon-Trees The Island Caracombo BElow the River Gaba or Gabon not far from the Aequinoctial-Line Linschet writes of it in Gniuee lieth the Island Caracombo whose Soil produceth many unknown Fruits Beasts and Fowl There are oftentimes an hundred Birds-Nests upon one Branch of a Tree made there by a wonderful Art to keep the Serpents from them The Women are yellow and impudently immodest prostituting themselves before any Spectators Some Ships riding at an Anchor at a certain time under this Island there came off from it in a Barque eight and twenty Men to the Ship side with a Drum and a hollow Stick in stead of a Pipe Four or five of them went aboard whereof one whose Countenance Breast and Arms were white held a green Branch with a Clock and a Bird whom the Master entertain'd with Victuals wherewith they seem'd highly pleas'd Afterwards a Pot of Palm-Wine was set before them out of which they drank to one another At length some of the Sea-men went with them ashore to Barter as they had desir'd Iron against Ivory and coming into the Village they saw a Hut of about three Foot high with a Roof but somewhat open at one side where stood a Crock cover'd with a Net which they would suffer no body to touch or to see what was within On a Stick close by stood a Childs Scull with a Bone in the one Eye and by that lay several other Bones both of Fishes and Beasts on the Ground whence they guess'd it to be a Burying-place These People have neither Faith nor Religion yet Circumcise their Children The Island of St. Matthias MOre towards the West in one Degree and fifty Minutes South-Latitude you arrive at St. Matthews Isle so call'd by the Portuguese from the day of its Discovery A small Spot desolate and not inhabited though heretofore some Portuguese dwelt upon it It hath one Brook of very good fresh Water Ilhas das Ascension or Ascension-Island TOwards the South appeareth Ascension-Isle in Portuguese Ilhas das Ascension It lieth eight Degrees and a half Southward of the Line one hundred and ninety Spanish Miles North-West from St. Hellens but larger and full of Mountains It hath no fresh Water at all nor one green Branch or Leaf but all wither'd dry and scorch'd Onely infinite numbers of Fowl as big as Geese frequent it because they find plenty of Fish to feed upon The Island of St. Hellen. HELENâ— The Air seems very temperate and healthful insomuch that sick Men Air. brought ashore there in a short time recover Yet the Heat in the Valleys is almost intollerable whereas the Mountains have as great an excess of Cold. It rains there commonly every day in Showres five or six times so that want of Water causes not the Barrenness of the Soil For besides the Rain it hath other good and wholesom Water particularly in the Church-Valley whither Sea-men come for Fresh-Water as also to two neighboring Places And further notwithstanding the general accusation of Sterility the Ground of its own accord brings forth Pease and Beans wild that for want of Gatherers falling make a new Increase also whole Woods of Orange Lemon and Pomegranate Trees all the year through laden both with Blossoms and Fruits very good Figs abundance of Ebony and Rose-Trees Besides in the Valleys Parsley Mustard-seed Purslain Sorrel and wild Roman Cummin-seed The Woods and Mountains are full of Goats very large Rams and Wild Swine but difficult to be catch'd When the Portuguese did first discover this Place they found neither four-footed Beasts nor Fruit-Trees but onely Fresh-Water The Fruit-Trees they brought thither afterwards which so increas'd since that at present all the Valleys stand full of them to the great wonder of the Beholders seeing the Island is seldom frequented and not at all Inhabited Lastly Partridges Pidgeons Moor-hens and Peacocks breed here numerously whereof a good Marksman with his Gun and not otherwise may soon provide a Dinner for his Friends On the Cliff-Islands at the South side of this are thousands of grey and black Meawes or Sea-Pies and also white and colour'd Birds some with long and some with short Necks who lay their Egs on the Rocks and so unaccustomed to fear that they suffer themselves to be taken
Tree always cover'd with thick Mists or Clouds except in the hottest time of the day this Mist casts so great a dew upon the Tree that from the Leaves drop constantly pure clear Water twenty Tuns in a day falling into two Stone Cisterns each of twenty Foot square and sixteen Hands deep made for that purpose on the North-side of the Tree When the Spaniards at the Conquest hereof found no Springs Wells nor Rivers of fresh Water they stood amazed and asked the Inhabitants whence they gat their Water they answer'd That they preserv'd the Rain-water in Vessels for the Tree they had cover'd with Canes Earth and other things in hope by this means to cause the Spaniards to leave the Island But this subtilty did them little good for a Woman had discover'd the Secret to a Spaniard that was her Gallant who disclos'd it again to the Spanish Commanders In brief this Tree affords so much Water that it not onely furnisheth the Inhabitants and their Cattel but also Ships which by accident come thither This Tree which the Inhabitants call Garoe and the Spaniards Santo that is Holy attains a competent bigness having always green Leaves like the Lawrel but not much bigger than those of a Nut-Tree and a Fruit like an Acorn in the Shell with a very sweet and Spicy Kernel and for defence and presenvation they have enclos'd it with a Stone-Wall Here grows some Corn Sugar-Canes much Fruit and Planâ—â— in great abundance besides many Cattel affording the Inhabitants much Milk and Cheese The small Islands lying near and about the Canaries as Vecchio Marino Rocha Graciosa Santa Clare Alegranca Inferno and Salvaies little can be said of them but onely that Salvaies is the most Northerly Vecchio Marino or Vecchi Marini lying between Lancerote and Forteventure Santa Clare a little Northward of Lancerote and smaller than Graciosa Alegranca more Northward than the three former But all these deserve rather the name of Rocks or Cliffs than Islands The Description of these Islands Linschot and others add as a Wonder a certain Island call'd St. Borondon or Porondon a hundred Leagues or thereabouts from Ferro which such as have by accident seen greatly praise as being full of Trees very delectable fruitful and inhabited by Christians whose Language and Descent is not known but never any have been able to find upon Design Many Spaniards have attempted to discover it but in vain whereupon some have believ'd that it never appears to those that seek after it Others are confident that it appears onely upon some certain Days or is constantly cover'd with Clouds or that by a special power of the Sea Ships are driven from it Santo Port or Holy-Haven THe Island of Santo Port or Holy-Haven being situate in the Atlantick Ocean opposite to the Cape of Cantyn in the Kingdom of Morocco in two or three and thirty Degrees and thirty Minutes North-Latitude Ortelius held to be the Cerne of Ptolomy others the Ombrio or Pluvialia of Pliny but more probably it seems to be the Pena of Ptolomy from the Latitude It containeth five Miles in compass and was first discover'd in the Year Fourteen hundred twenty eight by two Portuguese Noble-men Jan Zarco and Tristan Vaz being then uninhabited and desolate but soon after Peopled and provided of all Necessaries They have no Haven there but one very convenient Bay This Island bears Corn and other Grain and breeds also Oxen wild Hogs and an infinite number of Coneys besides as good Honey and Wax as can be had in the most fam'd Places There grows also a Tree from which issues a Gum by the Apothecaries and Druggists call'd Dragons-Blood The Island of Madera LOwer to the South appears an Island by the Spaniards call'd Madera Ortelius Syntagm and by the Portuguese Madeira Gramay Afr lib. 9. because at the first Discovery they found it overgrown with Wood distant about thirty Miles from Santo Port and sixty from the Canaries in thirty Degrees and one and thirty Minutes North-Latitude between the Straights of Gibraltar and the Canaries The Form resembles a Triangle Cadam Sanuâ— holding in compass according to Sanutus an hundred and forty Italian Miles and five and thirty Dutch Miles long from East to West and six broad In the Year Fourteen hundred and twenty John Gonzalves and Tristan Vaz both Portuguese sent forth by Henry the young King of Portugal to discover new Countreys first took notice of it whither being come and seeing it as we said overgrown with Wood thought it little worth but an accident happening amongst the Wood uncover'd this fruitful piece of Ground that Nature had so long kept hidden and by burning clear'd it of that which had hinder'd the inhabiting it By this means the Portuguese gain'd it but underwent many hazards therein before they could make any advantage from it in regard the Fire raged so furiously as that it forced them for a time to forsake the Place The burning continu'd seven years among the thick Trees but at length the Fuel failing the Fire extinguish'd of it self whereon immediately planting and manuring it 't is become at this day one of the best and delightfullest Places that can be found The Discoverers at the beginning divided it into four parts that is into Monchrico or Manchico Santo Cruize Fonzal and Camerade Lobes that is The Chamber Wolves so call'd because at their first coming on Shore they found a great Cave resembling an Arch'd or Vaulted Room under a Point of Land reaching into the Sea where were the prints of the footings of Sea-Wolves The chiefest Places of this Island are the head-Head-City Funzal or Funhial the Seat of the Bishop comprehending a Collegiate-Church three other great Churches two Cloisters of the Order of St. Francis one for the Men built by the King of Portugal and the other for Virgins built by Gonzalves Governor of the Island and a Colledge for the Jesuits Manchico or Manchrico shewing a fair Church nam'd Santa Cruize and a Cloister of St. Bernard Moquet affirms that the whole contains many Castles six and thirty eminent Parish-Churches five Cloisters four Hospitals and two and twenty Hermitages In the Year Sixteen hundred twenty five there were computed in this Island six thousand ninety six Houses which at this day are increased to a greater number The Air keeps so even a temperature that neither Heat or Cold invade it with excess the Ground enriched by many excellent Springs of fresh Water and besides fertilitated with the advantage of seven or eight small Rivers so that every part lies carpetted with a pleasant Verdure or beautifi'd with the delightful prospect of various Fruits always flourishing on their natural Stems and gather'd as well please the Palate as the Trees refresh the Body by their cooling shade But especially it affords an excellent Wine better in the second and third year than in the first The Earth though Mountainous affords plenty of Corn that multiplies sixty fold Cadamast computed the
product of one Harvest to thirty thousand Venetian Measures call'd Stares every one reckon'd at three and thirty Pound The Grass and Trees shoot up so high that the Inhabitants are necessitated to cut up and burn part of it in the Ashes whereof they plant Sugar-Canes which in six Moneths bring forth Sugar for those planted in January are cut up in June and so the rest each according to the Moneth wherein they were planted MELITE INSULA vulge MASTA Here is much tame Cattel as upon the Mountains many wild Swine Partridges Doves and Quails The Inhabitants are much civiler than those of the Canary-Islands and Trade with all sorts of Countreys giving in Exchange for their Commodities Sugar Honey Wax Oranges Citrons Lemons Pomgranates Wines and Leather THe Island of Malta THe Name of Malta seems to be derived from Melite so call'd of old which not onely the antient Geographers Strabo Mela and Ptolomy but the holy Scripture it self mentions though there be another Melite near the City Ragousa and the Coast of Damiata at this day call'd Meleda Cluverius in his Description of Sicily supposes that the Iste Hiperia spoken of by Homer as the Habitation of the People call'd Phaeacians who being hunted thence by the Phenycians took their flight to Corfu or Scherie antiently Phaeacia is no other than this And assuredly the Phaeacians were the Inhabitants of Corfu which came first from Malta as Homer by placing the Mountain Melite in Corfu plainly makes manifest Cluverius endeavors to maintain by demonstrative reasons that it was the most antient Ogygia the Habitation of the Nymph Calipso Daughter of Oceanus and Thetis who receiv'd and entertain'd Ulysses suffering Shipwrack where he stay'd seven years but at last by the order of Juno was commanded to quit his Mistress and leave the Countrey This Island hath been commonly accounted in Europe but Ptolomy placeth it in Africa and the very Tongue there spoken being broken Arabick proves it African no less than its being in the Atlantick Sea though it seem nearer to Europe It lieth in six and forty Degrees of Longitude and in five and thirty and ten Minutes North-Latitude or according to Ptolomy in four and thirty Degrees forty Minutes and hath in length from East to West six Leagues in breadth three and in compass fifteen It hath on the East the Mediterranean Sea on that side next Candia in the North the Island of Sicily not above fifteen Leagues distant in the South Tripolis in Barbary and the lesser Africa in the West the Islands of Pantalaree Linose and Lampadouse The Sea which divides it from Sicily bears the Name of The Channel of Malta Ptolomy places there a City of the same Name and two Temples one of Juno and the other of Hercules At this day it contains four Wall'd Cities besides a great number of Towns the Cities are Valette Citta Vecchia that is The Old City otherwise Old Malta Biurgo Sante Angelo or The City of Angels otherwise Citta Victoriosa and the City or Town of St. Michael or Sangde Valette by the Italians call'd Terra Nuova and by the French Ville Neuve gain'd that Name from the Grand Master Jan de Valette otherwise Parisot who presently built it after the Siege of the Turks in the Year Fifteen hundred sixty five who had then straitned this Island and taken the Castle St. Elmo lying before the City The City stands founded upon a Rock and an elevated piece of Ground call'd Scebarras which severs the Haven Marza Mazetta and the Great Haven being indeed an Isthmus the Sea beating on three sides of it and a great Trench hewn out of the Rock cuts it off from the rest of the Island On the outmost Point of that Rock before it stands the Castle St. Elmo It appears very strong surrounded on the out side with Ditches cut in the Rocks fortified with Bulwarks and very delightful Out-works within beautified with straight and broad Streets of which the chiefest are Strata Reale or The High Street and Strata Merchanti The Merchants Street The Houses lofty built of hewn Stone with flat Roofs according to the manner of the Eastern Countreys to the number of about two thousand Every House had formerly a Cistern to catch Rain-water but Strangers at this day fetch it from some fair Springs neighboring the Port del Monto on the Sea-coast whither the Water hath been brought some Miles out of the Countrey by Conduits an Invention of the Grand Master Alofi Vignacourt to the great Relief and Comfort as well of the Inhabitants as Foreigners which lie with their Ships before the City for the Water spouts by the opening of an Engine in the City and by Pipes runs into the Cask in the Boats Three Gates give entrance into it one at the Haven call'd Porta del Monte and two at the Land-side viz. Porta Reale and Porta Boucheria or The Slaughter-house Gate There are seven Churches the chiefest is that of St. John the Patron or Guardian-Protector of the Order of the Knights of Malta on the right side whereof stands the Figure of that Saint in a lively Representation The other are St. Augustine St. Dominico St. Maria Jesus St. Paulo Madona de Carmine Collegio de Jesu La Madama de la Victoria There are also seven Palaces or Courts call'd Auberge or Bergia for the seven Languages for into so many Nations of several Tongues are the Knights divided in every one of which the Superiors have their Residence and live upon the Expence of the Order As Bergia or Auberge di Provence Bergia de Auvergne or Alvenia Bergia de France Bergia di Italia Bergia di Arragon Bergia de Alemagna Bergia di Castilia that is to say The Palace or Court of Provence The Palace of Auvergne The Palace of France The Palace of Italy The Palace of Arragon Germany and Spain Formerly there was a Bergia di Angliterre but at this day annihilated There are several Cloysters as of St. Ursula St. Catherine and di Repenti The Palace of the Grand-Master for here he holds his Court stands between St. Elmo and St. Johns wherein is a great Hall the usual Place for the meeting of the Grand-Master with the Counsellors or Knights of the Great Cross In the Court behind the Palace stand fix'd in the Wall the Portraictures of two very ancient Marble Heads rais'd upon an Arch bigger than the Life one with this Inscription Zenobia Orientalis Domina and the other Petesilia They were found in Malta in the Year Two hundred seventy six They have a Market-place to which the Countrey People bring all sorts of Fruit Fowl Sheep Goats Hogs and other provision to sell VALETTA CIVITAS NOVA MALTAE Olim Millitae There is an Arsenal or Magazine of Arms Magazine of Armâ—â— under the Inspection of a Cavalier or Knight wherein they have a very large and stately Hall compleatly furnish'd with all sorts of Warlike Weapons In the middle stand five square Wooden Buildings whose
therewith and taken or therein for a while laid to steep or else Wine or Water drank out of Cups or Cans made thereof Also the Stone of St. Paul's Cave being very white and soft hath the like vertue ascribed to it against all Biting and Stinging of Venomous Beasts The whole Island stands upon a Rock so that no place can be found where the Earth lieth more than four Foot deep the best quarter is about Boschetto and if the rest of the Island were as this the Knights would not need to fetch their Provisions from abroad yet notwithstanding the natural unfruitfulness by labour and diligence the Soyl brings forth many things particularly Corn but in no great abundance for all will not suffice to feed the Inhabitants above three moneths the rest they fetch from Sicily and other places Cummin in the Arabick call'd Camum or Cemum and by the Indians in the Malayan Tongue Jenta Nyeran they Sowe in great quantity because it thrives as delighting in a stony Soil They have of two sorts one white slender and sharp of a rank smell and tart in taste call'd Cimonageron that is wild Cummin and like the Ethiopian Cummin of the Apothecaries The other much smaller like Annise-seed whitish having a deadish taste and sweetish The first they use in stead of Spice the other the Inhabitants mix with Bread to give it a pleasant relish from hence they are brought all over Europe Also Cotton as good if not much better than grows any where else onely we must observe that the Cotton Planted here is but an Herb or Shrub with a stalk of a Foot and half long sown and dying every year but the other which grows in Egypt and all over Assia shoots up to the height of a Tree with a Stem and hard wooddy Boughs The Fruit of this Maltesian Plant grows to the bigness of a Hasle-Nut those that are ripe split open into three or four sharp Wedges out of which the soft white Wooll appears inclosing within a slender white and Oily Seed in taste like an Almond or Pine-Kernel The Inhabitants Sowe it upon the Barly-Land after the Crop taken off that is in April and May and pulled up in September It groweth also in Lemnos Candia Sicily and France brought thither out of Italy They say the profit arising thereby every year amounts to three hundred Cantares of Cotton every Cantare being a hundred weight Many sorts of Flowers especially Roses of a lovely smell flourish here besides Thime and all sorts of Herbs of a most pleasant taste And the Vines bear Grapes as big as Plums both white and red which hang five Moneths in the year ripe on the Vine They have also Olives Almonds very excellent Figgs sweet and sharp Citrons of an extraordinary bigness and beauty Apricocks and very large Peaches besides Melons Dates and other Fruits common in Europe For want of Wood they burn the Dung of Beasts dry'd in the Sun or wild Thistles But some of the better sort use the Wood of Olive-Trees for Fuel brought from Cicily and sold by the pound The Villagers keep many Sheep Goats Hogs Mules and Asses Beasts which serve in stead of Horses Their working-Horses to the number of about four or five hundred are all Unshod and fed onely with Straw and Fetches Conies and Hares Partridges and Quails breed here in great numbers but Falcons and many other Fowl flock thither especially in March and September in great multitudes out of other Countries The People of Bosio are of opinion that not so much as one Serpent is found upon this Island nor any other Venomous Creature and that if any be brought from other places they die presently But Crusius affirms there are Serpents and Scorpions but without Poyson caus'd by the Benediction of the Apostle since his Shipwrack and the shaking of the Viper from his hand into the fire insomuch that no person born in Malta others say also of all Nations that inhabit there can receive hurt from them and confirm it by Occular Testimony That several Persons Young and Old have play'd with handled and held them to their naked Breasts and Bodies without receiving the least hurt Men and Women of Quality Cloathing go Clothed after the Cicilian and Italian manner but the Villagers wear a small and single Coat call'd Capotin which covers half their Thighs with a Cape and a blew Cap upon their heads and some have Shooes of rough Goats Leather ty'd with a Leather Point but Foraigners go every one Habited according to the fashion of his Countrey The Natives use a proper and peculiar Tongue Language that is broken Arabick and every Town almost hath a peculiar Tone and Propriety The Vulgar can speak no other than their Mother-Tongue but the Citizens have learnt Italian and French Their Marriages are made by giving of a Handkerchief and the Bride and Bridegroom commonly lie together before the perfecting of Ecclesiastical Ceremonies They Bury their Dead after the Grecian fashion Burial that is hiring Mourners to follow the Corps who for their small stipend not onely make hideous Ululations but tear their Hair and scratch their Faces the Friends cutting their Hair off and casting it upon the Corps Most of the Inhabitants are poor Riches because of the infertility of the place and maintain themselves by Planting Cummin-seed and Cotton which they exchange with those of Cicily for Corn Wine fresh and salted Flesh Pease and Beans Oil and other Commodities The Countrey People use long Swords Aâ—â—â—s and great Daggers Lances or Darts not less than our Half-Pikes which they use with great dexterity on Horseback but the Knights have Muskets and other Fire-Arms The Walls Bulwarks Breast-works Cities and Castles are Fortifi'd with great numbers of Ordnance besides the beforemention'd Armory in Valetta and seven well Rigg'd and stoutly Man'd Galleys which the Knights of the Order always keep ready for Fighting Commanded by an Admiral who carries a Silver Cross in his Flag upon a Red Field so that the Italians Proverbially say of this Island Malta fior del Mundo Malta is the Flower of the World partly in respect of their Arms Fortifications and Castles partly because of the valiant Defenders the Malta Knights who have had their abode here many years They suppose at this day there are upon the whole Island Forty thousand Souls the Knights and Souldiers included In the Year Fifteen hundred and ninety the number of them according to Bosio was no more than seven and twenty thousand but since greatly increas'd In the two Burgs lie near two thousand Men the Knights keep about four hundred Horses to serve in the Wars which every six Moneths are Train'd and Muster'd besides every Knight who hath four hundred Scudi must keep a Horse in his Stable ready for service This Island was antiently under the Jurisdiction of King Battus Ancient Government an Enemy of Queen Dido but afterwards Subjected to the Carthagenians
as at this day many Stone Columns found therein and Insculp'd with Punick Letters Afterwards the Romans became Masters of it at the same time when they Conquer'd Cicily by whom deserted the Mahumetans took into possession about the Year of our Lord Eight hundred twenty eight but they were driven thence in the Year One thousand and ninety by Roger the Norman Duke of Cicily who reduced it under his own Power from whom it remain'd under the King of Cicily till overcome by the Emperor Charles the First after his Conquest of Cicily and Naples who gave it away to the Knights of St. Johns Order then call'd Knights of Rhodes and at this day Malta Knights as appeareth by Monimus of Utina exhorting Philip the Second to recieve them But for the better information of the beginning and continuance of this Order of Knights the Possessors and Lords of this Island it will be necessary to deduce the matter somewhat higher When the City Jerusalem was exceedingly harrased by the Saracens The original of St. Johns Order or Knights of Malta who possess'd the same Califf Aron used the Christians more gently because of a good understanding between Charles the Great first Emperor of Germany and him but after his death this City fell into greater miseries by quarrels between the Mahumetans of Persia and Egypt for now it was under the Persians and then under the Egyptians who at last growing Masters of the Holy-Land treated the Christians very severely and caused the Church of the Holy-Sepulchre to be Ruin'd which remain'd seven and thirty years desolate till the Raign of Constantine Monamaque Emperor of Constantinople who Rebuilt it at his own Charge with the consent of Bomensor Califf of Bomansar by others call'd Maabad Abutamin Mustansir Billa Son of Ali Taher in the Year One thousand forty eight At the same time some Nobles and Italian Merchants of the City Amalfi in the Kingdom of Naples visited much the Havens and Sea-Towns of Syria and Egypt carrying thither by Shipping rare and precious Commodities which were so acceptable to the Natives of that Countrey that the bringers were respected by all persons even the Governors and Califfs themselves by which means they had liberty to Trade every where and visit the City of Jerusalem and the Holy-Land But they having no Dwelling-place for their abode nor any Church to exercise their Religion concluded to intreat the Califf of Egypt to grant them a place in Jerusalem whereon they might build a Church with a house for their abode who immediately granted them a place near The Church of the Resurrection where they afterwards built a Church to the honor of the Virgin Mary with a Cloyster and House Afterwards they sent for from the Mountain Cassin an Abbot with Monks of the Order of St. Benedict to whom they gave the same Church and Cloyster with a proviso to receive and entertain all Christian Pilgrims or Travellers and this Church was call'd St. Mary the Latin because built by the Latin Christians On the report of this Work begun many Men and Women betook themselves thither And therefore that the Women might have a more honorable abode another Cloyster was built by the name of St. Mary Magdalene into which a certain number of Religious Women betook themselves to receive and entertain all Pilgrimesses which came thither But when at last these Cloysters began to grow too small for such great numbers as thither resorted the Sisterhood concluded to build a great Hospital or Alms-house for entertainment both of Sick and Well and put at the same time an Overseer therein chosen by the Abbot They built also next it a Church by the name of St. John Baptist because they had understood That Zacharias the Father of St. John Baptist had often travell'd to this Place These Cloysters and this Hospital for want of Revenues were only maintain'd by Alms sent to them by those of Amalfi and other parts of Italy which Traded in Syria which continu'd as long as Jerusalem remain'd in the Hands of the Infidels In which time a certain Holy Person by name Gerard was Overseer of this Hospital and over the Cloyster of Women a Roman Virgin call'd Agnes When this Gerard had serv'd this Hospital a long time he concluded with the Advice of his Benefactors to take upon him the Apparel or Habit which the Knights at this day wear that is a black Cloke or Coat with a white eight-pointed Cross upon it The like the Abbess Agnes and their Institution was allow'd by Pope Honorius the Second and the Patriarch of Jerusalem Gramay affirms That at the intreaty of this Gerard this Order was allow'd in the year Eleven hundred and thirteen by Pope Paschal the Second under the Discipline of St. Augustine which hath been ever since follow'd by them And likewise the same Pope Paschal took the same Gerard and these Hospitallers for so they were at first call'd from this Hospital under his Protection and granted them great Priviledges commanding That after the death of this Gerard they should chuse another Governor to whom was given the Title of Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem Megisser affirms That when the Christian Princes had Besieg'd Jerusalem under the Conduct of Godfrey of Bouillon Duke of Lorain as Chief Commander these Hospitallers joyn'd privately with him and by means of their Assistance beat the Turks and won the City in the year Eleven hundred and nineteen This Godfrey of Bouillon being afterward chosen King of Jerusalem by the Christians gave to this Order great Gifts and put into their Hands the Government of many Towns to defend the same In the year Eleven hundred seventy eight these Hospitallers fought with Saladine Caliph of Egypt and won a great Victory but with the loss of the Grand Master De Mozins there remaining on the Mahumetan side above five thousand slain In like manner the Knights in the same year in July under the Command of the Grand Master Garnier gave a bloody Battel to that Enemy wherein Guy the Christian King of Jerusalem and the chiefest of the Realm remain'd Prisoners Downfal of the Knights with a downfall of all the Knights The Grand Master himself mortally wounded died of his Wounds ten days afterwards The twelfth of October They are drove out of Jerusalem in the same Year Jerusalem was Conquer'd by Saladine by which means all the Christians of the Latin Church and these Hospitallers were driven out of the City which with their own Money redeem'd above thirty thousand Prisoners These did aid the Christian Princes very much in the regaining of the Holy Land and the City Akre which hapned in the year Eleven hundred ninety one the twelfth of July at which place they have since had their usual abode And notwithstanding the loss of Jerusalem the Hospitallers and Templars remain'd Masters over one part of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and made Ameury van Ansignan King of Cyprus King of
Jerusalem but after his decease the Knights and Templars govern'd it themselves under the Grand Master Godfrey Rat as Chief Commander About the year Twelve hundred twenty five these Knights overcame the City Damiata in Egypt under the Conduct of the Grand Master Guerin de Montaign In the Year twelve hundred and sixty under the Grand Master Haegues de Revel they took from the Saracens the Castle of Lebion whereupon the Sultan concluded to destroy and root out all the Hospitallers and to that end Besieged and took the Castle of Assur in the Year One thousand two hundred sixty five and the following year the Hospitallers and Templars were beaten by the City Ptolemais or Alkre or Acon three years afterwards they lost the Castle of Krak or Montreol In the Year Twelve hundred eighty two The Knights are drove out of the Holy-Land the Hospitallers obtain'd a great Victory under the Grand Master Nicholas de Orgui against the Turks Besieging the Castle of Margat their chiefest strength which yet was deliver'd up in the Year twelve hundred eighty five to the Sultan Melechsait from whence they went to the City Alkre but stay'd not there for by the loss of Tripoli in Syria and likewise of Sidon and Barut in the Year twelve hundred eighty nine and the before-nam'd Alkre in the Year Twelve hundred ninety one the eighteenth of May to the Sultan Melekseraf all the Christians and by consequence these Knights were utterly expell'd out of the Holy-Land after a possession of a hundred ninety one Years ten Moneths and three days since the winning thereof by Godfrey of Bouillon The Knights betook themselves from thence to the Island of Cyprus under the Grand Master Jan de Villices where the King gave him and the Templars the City and Haven of Timesso for their abode Pope Clement the First granted afterwards to this Order all the Goods and Lands which they took from the Infidels for which cause they gathered a strong Army under the Command of the Grand Master Foulques Villaret and took Rhodes from the Turks with several other adjacent Islands whereupon they remov'd from Cyprus to Rhodes and were since call'd The Knights of Rhodes About this time the Order of Knights Templars was suppress'd and their Goods conferr'd upon these Knights by the Pope A long time they defended Rhodes against the assaults of the mahumetans chiefly in the time of Habusar Sultan of Egypt who Besieg'd it five years and in the Year Fourteen hundred and eight the Grand-Seignior Mahomet or Mihammed attempted with an Army of Three hundred thousand Men but was necessitated to leave it with a great loss of Soldiers but at last the Bassa Ibrahim by the Command of Solyman the Magnificent overcame the City and the whole Island in the Year Fifteen hundred twenty two on the day of St. John Baptist having an Army of two hundred thousand men whereof the Siege devour'd above a hundred thousand whereas the Island was scarce furnish'd with six hundred Knights and five thousand Inhabitants After the loss of this Island they went away from it according to the Agreement made with the Turks and Landed first at Castro in Candia but went thence to Messina in Cicilia and from thence in the Year Fifteen hundred twenty three to Civita Vecchia thence again to Viterbo a City in Tuskani where the Pope entertain'd them a while they went from Viterbo in July in the Year Fifteen hundred twenty seven to Cornetto from thence to Franche and from Franche to Nize in Savoy out of this in the Year Fifteen hundred twenty nine they betook themselves to the City Auguste in Cicilia and from thence to Sarragoa where they remain'd by leave of the Emperor Charles the First who took a great content in them for their Valor which they manifested every where to the destroying of the Turks and Corsairs insomuch that Charles at last in the Year Fifteen hundred and thirty the four and twentieth of March out of a voluntary Donation transferr'd the Tenancy to the Knights of the Islands of Malta and Goza aforemention'd with a Proviso to give every year for an Acknowledgment a Falcon which the Grand Master should bring himself or send to the Vice-Roy of Sicily In the same Year The Knights take their abode in Malta the six and twentieth of October the Knights took possession thereof under the Grand Master Philip de Villiers and have since that been call'd The Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in Malta or singly Knights of Malta The intention of instituting this Order in the beginning was to serve the Pilgrims which travell'd to Jerusalem and to assist them with all their Power to keep the Ways secure for such as travel'd to visit the Holy Sepulchres But at this day their chiefest business is against the Turk and all Infidels and to serve Christendom as a Buckler of Defence against them These Knights glory in themselves A Letter from the Grand Master Lackaris that they are an Order which hitherto hath had no other Foes than those that are Enemies to the Name of Christ being a renown'd as well as an admirable Institution without advantage or any other reward than that of Vertue their probity continually exercising it self in the prudent Education of its noble Posterity even with the hazard of their lives and wishing nothing else but to persevere in the shewing of their Valor in Fighting against the Wicked They manage great Wars against the Turks and all Infidells without joyning or confederating with any Party in the Quarrel of Christendome and are by all Christian Princes known to be impartial being indeed an Order consisting of the flower of the Nobility of all Europe establish'd in the defence of Christian Princes who by their glorious Enterprises of a renown'd and Holy War have five whole Ages approv'd themselves famous and honourable towards Christendom and at all times formidable to their Enemies They have in Services and Warlike Exploits so highly merited of the Roman Emperors Kings and other Christian Princes that they stand in a perpetual League with them and have been receiv'd into the Protection of the Roman Empire according to the purport of the Letters from the Emperor Charles the fifth given and granted at Antwerp the four and twentieth of May in the Year Fifteen hundred and forty where he saith The aforesaid Order many years since and even beyond imagination have been a continual Defence against the Turk that great Persecutor of our Faith and have most valiantly spent their Blood against him for the defence of Religion and performed many excellent Deeds whereupon our Predecessors Roman Emperors and Kings have receiv'd them into singular Protection and Favor The Popes who confirm'd the Institution of this Order held to be Temporal and Secular not onely in respect of their chiefest Employment but for that they stand exempted both in their Persons and Goods from the Power and Authority of the Clergy All
Grand Master and lastly Grand Master He erected a Castle on the Island Goze forsook the Castle of St. Angelo and went to the Borough of Malta which he valiantly defended in the year 1565. against all the Power of the Turk After the breaking up of the Siege he new fortifi'd the Island and begun the new City from his Name call'd Valette whereof he laid the first Stone the 28 of March in the year 1566 and proceeded in the building of it with permission of the Pope for the Labourers to work on Holidays He died the 21 of August being the day of his Election in the year 1561. Peter de Mont of Italy proceeded in the building of the new City wherein he setled the Residence of the Order and made his entrance into the same with all his Knights on the 18 of March 1571. and died the 17 of January in the year 1572. John Bishop of Cassiere in Provence but a Gascon born erected the great Church of St. John Baptist in Valette and gave a Revenue of a thousand Crowns with a Chappel adjoyning for the Interment of the Corps of the Grand Masters his Predecessors de novo He fell into hatred with many Knights and was summon'd to Rome In the mean time Pope Gregory the Eighth sending one Gaspar Vicomte to Malta to Govern the Order during his absence he died at Rome the 21 of December in the year 1585. aged 78 years Hugues de Loubenx Verdale of the Alberge of Provence but a Gasconer by birth was elected the 12 of January 1582. He had from his youth exercis'd himself in Letters and Arms amended or repair'd the Fortifications of the Island reform'd the Election of the Order caus'd a History to be written of their Acts by one Jaques Bosio to the Expence of the Order of more than two hundred thousand Crowns which they were indebted and therefore was accus'd by the Treasury-Chamber That he had imploy'd it ill He died at last in Malta the fourth of May in the year 1595. Martin Garcez of the Language of Arragon was Elected the eighth of May 1595. in the sixtieth year of his Age. He took off Customs and Impositions and Commanded That no Knight nor Grand Master himself should particularly for his own Advantage go and take Prizes of the Turks He died the seventh of February in the year 1601. Alof de Wignacourt a Frenchman had been formerly Grand Hospitaller of the Order and Captain of the New City He was Chosen the 10 of February in the year 1601. He furnish'd the City Valette with good Water from distant Springs and strengthned the Island with divers new Fortifications He died the fourth of September in the year 1622. Louys de Mendez of Vasconsales a Portuguese was Elected the 27 of September in the year 1622. and died the 17 of March in the following year 1623. Anthony de Paul of Provence but extracted from the House of Paul of Tholouse was Elected the 12 of March in the year 1623. and died in the year 1636. Johan Paulus Laskaris a Piedmontese of the Alberge of Provence was chosen the 12 of June 1636. at seventy years of age having been made Knight for his great Deserts the 24 of April in the year 1583. He died being 90 years old in the year 1657. After Laskaris follow'd Martinis de Rodin who died in the same year 1657. Then succeeded Annetus Clermon de Gissans who died in the year 1660. After him Raphael Cottener who deceas'd in the year 1663. and was succeeded by Nicolaus Cottener So that to conclude At Jerusalem Margat and Ptolomais have been four and twenty Grand Masters at Rhodes seventeen and at Malta nineteen In all sixty The Islands of Comin and Cominot THe small Islands of Comin and Cominot lying Westward between Malta and Gozo are both subject to the Commands of the Malteses Both at this day Inhabited but first Peopled by the diligent care of the Grand Master Wignacourt who for the better security thereof erected a Fort upon it Cluverius taketh Comin for the ancient Hefestia or Island of Vulcan being very small not above four English Miles in compass but exceeding full of Cattel To the Southward of this lieth Folfola or Forfora The Island of Goze or Gozo THis Island by the Italians call'd Goze by the Sicilians Gozo by the Inhabitants Gaudish and by the Arabians who sometimes possess'd it Gaudosh is taken for the Gaulos of Pliny and Mela and the Gaudos of Strabo but Mercator makes it to be the Isle by the Ancients dedicated to Juno It lieth about two Miles West-North-West from Malta containing about eight Miles in circumference three in length and one and a half in breadth so surrounded with Cliffs and Rocks that it is dangerous to come at it There are no great Towns but only small Villages and the Houses generally built at great Distances The chiefest are Scilendi Douere and Muggiare The Air is very healthful The Ground to admiration fertile with many easie and delighful Ascents every where water'd with innumerable Springs and producing Corn and Fruit sufficient not only to the Inhabitants but affording some to those of Malta There are a great many Sheep Hares Fowl and plenty of Honey Towards the side of Barbary riseth a natural Rock where brave Faulcons are taken whereof the Grand Master sends yearly to the King of Spain for an acknowledgment The Inhabitants in Nature resemble those of Malta and speak like them broken Arabick There are about five thousand Resiants whom the Turks invaded and miserably spoiled in the year Fifteen hundred fifty one There is a Castle seated on a Hill but small and of little consequence yet stored with a large number of Ordnance and underneath defended by a Fort newly strengthned in the year Sixteen hundred and eighteen with a Bulwark The Island is a Peculiar of the Grand Master of Malta who calls himself Prince of it and sends thither one with the Title of Governor every three Years The Inhabitants although they speak Arabick nevertheless embrace the Christian Religion The Island of Lampadouse THe Island of Lampadouse by the Italians call'd Lampedosa and by Ptolomy Lipadusa lieth about five and twenty Miles West-South-West from Malta in four and thirty Degrees North Latitude It remains desolate and without Inhabitants Ariosto in his Orlando Furioso represents this Island without Houses but Cruzius affirms That there are the Ruines seen of an old Castle Houses Walls and Towers of Cities but that none can remain there because of a Nootlot by which Word they seem to mean Apparitions of Spirits as the same Cruzius insinuates when he says The Place is every Night disturb'd and haunted with uncouth and mischievous Spectrums However this remains undoubtedly true That there is a Church call'd St. Mary of Lampadouse divided into two parts the one part dedicated to the Religious of the Christians and visited by Travellers which come to offer there Money Clothes Bread Gun-powder Bullets and many other things
the other by the Turks which also come there to offer with like devotion in their way but neither of these take away any thing of what is brought there it being both reported and believ'd That he that brings nothing or will take any thing cannot come off with such their Sacrilegious Pilferings However the Knights come thither with their Galleys and take away the Gifts there left by the Christians which they carry to Sicily to the Hospital of Trepani call'd Nunciata for the maintenance of Sick as well as Poor or else to Malta The Island of Linose THe Island of Linose by Ptolomy if Sanutus guess not amiss call'd Ethuso and made African lies seven or eight Miles or according to Brevis five Miles to the North-East of Lampadouse in four and thirry Degrees North Latitude almost over against the City of Mahometa in Barbary The Circumference about five Miles but affording no convenient place to receive Shipping In the Year Fifteen hundred sixty five the Turks besieg'd Malta and Gozo with eight and thirty thousand Soldiers and a hundred ninety three Ships Galleys Galleons and Brigantines under the chief Command of the Bassa Mustapha and his Substitute Bassa Piali in this order The Turkish Forces appear'd the eighteenth of June about four or five Miles from Malta upon notice whereof from the Castle and the Old City St. Angelo a great fear possess'd the poor People in the Countrey who immediately betook themselves with what they had to the Fortifi'd Places but the Knights Soldiers and other Warlike People betook themselves to Arms. The Grand Master De Valette caus'd immediately all the Water on the Island to be poyson'd with Arsnick or Ratsbane and other appropriate Drugs and muster'd all his Forces consisting of about eight thousand five hundred Fighting Men of all Nations with one Troop of Banditi or Exiles of Cicilia who behav'd themselves very valiantly In the Night the Turks went out with a Rere-guard of five and thirty Ships and set three thousand Men on Shore by the Cape of St. Thomas who were follow'd continually by many others in Barques for their Landing in the day-time was prevented by the Marshal Copier who was drawn thither with a thousand Horse but the Grand Master commanded him at last That as soon as the Enemy was Landed he should Retreat to the Fort and sent the General of Gio with a Troop of Knights and Foot-Soldiers to impede their March. The Marshal before he had receiv'd these Orders had sent a Party of Horse under the Conduct of one Egaras to Mugaro to get Intelligence and to entrap one Turk or other in hopes to learn some News But this prevented not their coming on and making further Attempts whereby after many flerce Assaults made upon the Besiged with the loss of many of their Men the Besieged at last were reduc'd to Extremity when in a lucky Hour they receiv'd not only Comfort but fresh Courage by the coming of Don Alvaro Garcia who after a long stay provided with a good number of Ships and Soldiers came in the sight of Malta about Noon on the sixteenth of September in the year Fifteen hundred fifty six but kept till the next Break of day about the Island Comin and then he approach'd with his Fleet under Malta by a Place call'd Melekka and Landed all his Aids in less than an Hours time but went back himself with his Galleys to Sicily with promise to return again in six days Hereupon both the Bassa's gave command to Fire all the Guns against the Fort and the Island Sengle and immediately to bring them on Board the Ships and so presently forsaking their Trenches and setting their Huts on fire sail'd away with their Fleet. The Bassa's arriving at Galipolis made their Adventures known to the Grand Seignior by Letters and how that since their departure from Constantinople they had lost thirty thousand Seamen and Soldiers together The Grand Seignior receiv'd this Letter with so much discontent that he threw it on the ground and said with a loud voice That his Sword had no luck in another Mans Hand Yet notwithstanding the Bassa's were receiv'd with signs of great Honor at Constantinople with the Beatings of Drums and Sounding of other Instruments The Pope also held a Solemn Procession at Rome wherein himself in Person assisted to thank God for the Preservation and Deliverance of Malta and wish'd the Grand Master in his Letter to him of the tenth of October much Happiness with his Glorious Victory The Grand Master Valette caus'd by a Collection to be gather'd at Lyons Marseiles Lovorn Naples and on other Places Gunpowder Saltpetre Metal for casting Guns all sorts of Arms Masts for Shipping all sorts of Necessaries of Wood and Iron and other needful Things for the strengthening of the Island Moreover it was concluded for the better conveniency of the Island to build a City on the Mountain Sceberras Towards the building of this City since call'd Valette thirty thousand Escues or Gold Crowns were taken up at Interest by the Order at Palermo The Pope himself gave to that end five thousand out of his own Purse and sent thither a great quantity of Gunpowder and Saltpetre with a Master-Builder call'd Francois Laparel and offer'd the Grand Master a Cardinals Cap but he modestly refus'd the same The King of Spain gave towards this Building a Present of thirty thousand Escues the King of Portugal thirty thousand Crusadoes and the French King a hundred and forty thousand Guilders Then immediately by the command of the Grand Master all sorts of People were set to work upon the Fortifications and to scowr and cleanse the Ditches and Moats to which the Knights themselves put their helping hand And from the Castle of St. Elmo where onely before a Ditch had been there was now a Moat cut in the Rock down to the Sea The Grand Master being brought to the corner of the Bulwark St. John after many Benedictions and other Ceremonies laid the first Stone of this City Whereupon the Master-Builder Laparel kiss'd his hands and had bestow'd on him a gold Chain with a Medal which the Grand Master put about his neck Under this Stone several Gold Silver and Copper Medals were laid for an everlasting Mark and Remembrance of the Building whereof the best had this Latin Inscription Immotam Colli dedit that is He hath built the City immoveable upon a Rock On this first Stone Letters were cut which manifested the utmost danger which they endur'd in this Siege with the Happy Success and their Deliverance and likewise the Occasion and Reason of this Building with a Prayer to God and the Name of the Grand Master Valette the Founder The same Grand Master presented the City likewise with a Coat of Arms being upon a Round Scutcheon a Field Or charg'd with a Lion Gules After which Ceremony all the Guns round about were Fir'd and Gold and Silver Money Coyn'd with the Picture of the Grand Master thrown
amongst the People who all cry'd Vive le Grand Valette that is Long live the Grand Valette The Charges to the Workmen amounted daily to the Sum of fifteen hundred or two thousand Crowns but to ease the Payment and to make good the Charges the Grand Master caus'd Copper Money to be made One Piece to the value of two Tarins on the one side with the Arms of the Order and the Grand Master and on the other side with the Mark or Ensign of his Dignity with these Words about the Border Non Aes sed Fides that is Not Coyn but Fidelity The Island of Pantalaree THis Island which Mercator holds to be the Cossyra of Ptolomy but others the Pacinia of the same Author lieth between Sicily and the Main Land of Africa or between Malta and Tunis two or three Miles from the City Mahometa right over against Susa a City in the Kingdom of Tunis in five and thirty Degrees North Latitude according to Hues It comprehends in Circuit about seven or eight Miles and in breadth three or four On the Sea-shore toward the North side lieth a City of the same Name with the Island Fortified with an unaccessible Castle built upon a steep and pointed Rock The most part of it appears Mountainous full of great Rocks and Cliffs yielding a glittering black Stone In the midst of the Island may be seen an Abyss or Bottomless-pit call'd Fossa The dryness of the Soil makes it uncapable to bring forth Rain But it affords variety of Pot-herbs abundance of Cotton Annise Capers Figs Melons and excellent Grapes There grow also little Trees by the Moors call'd Ver and by those of Sicily Sinko which bears a round sharp and red Fruit but becoming black in ripening of which the Inhabitants make Oyl useful not onely to burn in Lamps but to eat wherewith the Women anoint their Heads and Hair both for Ornament and to make it grow thicker There are no Horses but Oxen in great numbers with which they Till the Ground These Islanders live hardily and are dexterous in Swimming and although they use both the Arabick Habits and Language yet they have approv'd themselves to be good Christians Thus having penetrated the Center and Inmost Parts of Africa till of late altogether unknown and accurately set forth the Circumference and Coasts of its vast Dominions Describing exactly and by good Authority large Tracts of Land hitherto not so much as once heard of or in the least surveyed by the most Modern Authors Our next Voyage by Gods Conduct we intend for America hoping to receive that good Encouragement that shall enable us to lead you through that New and Golden World where you shall meet with the like or more Variety of Wonders than hitherto hath pierc'd any English Ear. FINIS Directions for placing the Maps and Sculps in AFRICA THe Map of Africa Fol. 2 Aegypt Fol. 35 Alexandria Fol. 55 Cairo Fol. 65 The Caravan Fol. 69 Balzom Boome c. Fol. 74 The Aegyptian Pyramids a whole Sheet Fol. 77 Another half Sheet of the Pyramids ibid. The inside of the great Pyramid ibid. A half Sheet of the Mummies Fol. 84 Datura Cassia Plants Fol. 101 The Map of Barbary Fol. 146 Fez and Morocco Fol. 158 The Royal Palace with part of the City Morocco Fol. 164 Salee Fol. 178 La Rache Fol. 195 Arzilla Fol. 196 Tangier Fol. 197 The Fight and Relation of it Fol. 219 Algier or Alzier ibid. Gigeri or Gigel Fol. 244 Tunis Fol. 251 Tripoli Fol. 273 Nigritarum Regio Fol. 315 Guinee Fol. 376 The Fort Tacaray Fol. 416 Castel del Mina Fol. 424 Castel del Mina as in the Portuguese time Fol. 425 Castle Cormantine Fol. 431 The City of Benyn Fol. 470 Aethiopia Inferior Fol. 489 The City of Lovango Fol. 491 Regna Congo Angola Fol. 522 Bansa or the City Salvador Fol. 524 Lovando St. Paulo Fol. 552 Cabo de Bona Esperanza Fol. 584 The Hottentots and their Clothing Fol. 590 Aethiopia Superior vel Interior Fol. 632 In the ISLANDS INsula St. Laurentii vulgo Madagascar Fol. 660 St. Hellena Fol. 727 Insula Promontorii Fol. 728 The Fort Orange and Nassau upon the Island Goree The Fort Nassau within Fol. 732 Insula Canaria Fol. 733 The Pico of Teneriff Fol. 736 Melete Insula vulg Malta Fol. 745 Disegno della Citta Valette Fol. 746 The half Sheets whereon are two Plates are to be plac'd according to the direction of the first