and earnestly in our Countries behalfe be vnder gone and followed so in his preparation I would be no hinderer but thinke it a faire riddance of a false friend and so I leaue him The wandering Fulbie THere is one people more dwelling and abiding among these Maudingos and vnder their subiection of whom it is necessary for me to speak before I come to the principall These are called Fulbies being a Tawny people and haue a resemblance right vnto those we call Egiptians the women amongst them are streight vpright and excellently well bodied hauing very good features with a long blacke haire much more loose then the blacke women haue wherewith they at ire themselues very neatly but in their apparell they goe clothed and weare the same habite the blacke woemen do the men are not in their kinds so generally handsome as the women are which may be imputed to their course of liues whereof I proceede to tell you Their profession is keeping of Cattle some Goats they haue but the Heards they tendare Beefes wherof they are aboundantly stored In some places they haue setled Townes but for the most part they are still wandering vniting themselues in kindred and families and so driue their heards together where they find the ground and soyle most fitte for their Cattle there with the Kings allowance of the Country they sit downe building themselues houses as the season of the yeare serues and in such places as lies most conuenient for preseruation of their Heards they looke vnto during the times of the raines they retire to the mountaines and higher grounds and againe as they grow drie and barraine to the low plaines and bottomes euen to the Riuer side that in the times of our chiefest Trade their cattle are feeding by vs and the women with their commodities daily customers to vs. These mens labour and toyle is continuall for in the day time they watch and keepe them together from straying and especially from comming to neare the Riuer where the Crocodile doth hauur and in the night time they bring them home about their howses and parting them in seuerall Heards they make fires round about them and likewise in the middle of them about which they lie themselues ready vppon any occasion to defend them from their roring enemies which are Lyons Ounces and such deuouring beasts whereof the Country is full as when I speak of them wil be perceiued This is the poore Fulbies life whereunto he is so enured that in a manner he is become bestiall for I haue noted diuerse times when we haue come vp in the morning before his Cattle had beene disperst or gone to seede when we haue called for the Mr or chiefe of them to make a bargaine for a beefe or beeues as we had occasion hee would come vnto vs from forth the middle of the heard and those parts of him which were bare as his face and hands but especially his face would stand so thicke of flyes as they vse to sit in the hot Summer time vpon our horses and teemes here in England and they were the same manner of flye wee haue which the Fulbie would let alone not offring to put vp his hand to driue them away therein seeming more senslesse then our Country beasts who will wiske with their tayles and seeke any other defence to auoyde or be rid of them but for our owne parts we were faine during our parley with them to ho'd a greene bow to beate of the flie finding his stay neuer so little very offensiue These people liue in great subiection to the Maudingo vnder which they seeme to groane for he cannot at any time kill a beefe but if they know it the blackmen will haue the greatest share neither can hee sell or barter with vs for any commodity hee hath but if it be knowne the other will be his partner in so much as when the men come vnto vs they will watch the blacke-mans absence or hiding their commodities draw vs couertly to see it that they may haue their returne priuate and not sticke many times when he knowes the other out of hearing to speake many disdainfull words against him And of these people the Country is very full being disperst and spread in such manner of families as I sayd before ouer the whole Country and higher vp in the Country as we here and I shall shew hereafter they are in on part principall and haue excluded the Blackes holding domination amongst themselues and for the most part continually in warre The language the Fulbie speakes is different from the black-men the women are our chiefest customers for in most places within the ebbing and flowing where we did lie for Trade we should be sure to haue their custome euery day which was to bring vs new milke sowre milke and curdes and two sorts of butter the one new and white the other hard and of an excellent colour which we called refined butter and is without question but for a little freshnes as good as any we haue at home all which they brought vnto vs in great and small gourds like dishes made vp very handsomely and one thing let me not forget to giue them due praise in that in what someuer you receiued from them you should haue it so neate and cleane that in your milke you shold not perceiue a mote nor in her butter any vncleanlines nay the gourds ordishes they brought it in on the very outsides would shine with cleanlinesse and one the inward parts without any nastinesse and if at any time by any mischance there had beene a mote or haire which you had shewed vnto her she would haue seemed to blush in defence of her cleanely meaning In noting of which I haue diuerse times sayd there was great difference betweene them and the Irish Calios although their manner of liues had great resemblance in following of their Cattle and as they were out of heart in one ground to remooue whole Townes together which but few yeares since was the Irish Kernes true course of life but-with cleanlinesse your Irish woman hath no acquaintance and therefore I returne backe to my Tawny Fulbie the commodities shee askt for were small beades and poore knifes of 16 d a dozen with other trifling things but after they once saw and vasted of salt which in their language they called Ram-Dam there was no other thing could so well please them although it were neuer so little we found the variety of these things many times agreeable to our natures and therefore gaue faire recourse vnto the people for if we denide but one day to buy of them we should want their company a weeke after what earnest occasion someuer we had to vse them and these things were to be had from none but them because the Maudingo or Blacke-man applies himselfe at no time in keeping or preseruing of Cattle but leaues it to this painefull Fulby whom I likewise leaue looking to his
you are a Iulietto vvhich signifies a Merchant that goes from place to place neither do I as the Kings of our Country do which is to eate and drinke and lye still at home amongst their women but I seeke abroad as you doe and therefore am nearer vnto you neither was I vnwilling to answere somewayes his expectation in hope I should better forward our owne endes In our course of familiarity after time I tooke some speciall note of the blade of his sword and a paire of brasse bracelts one of his wiues had vpon her armes both vvhich things did appeare to me to be such as might very well be brought in their beginnings either from London or some other part of this our natiue Country I demanded of him vvhere he had them he made answere there was a people vsed to come amongst them whom they called Arabecks vvho brought them these and diuerse other commodities we askt what manner of people he described the Tawny Moore vnto vs and sayde they came in great companies together and with many Cammels How acceptable this report vvas vnto me may be coniectured by any such who are seriously enclined to giue a faire and iust accompt of any such imployments they are interest in and whose desires with affection labours the full satisfaction of the trust imposed vpon them This his relation made it certaine that these were the Moores of Barbary the discouery of whose trade and trafficke was the ground of this our being so high in the riuer we grew to question him how neare those people came to the place we were now at he answered within 6 dayes iourney there is a towne called Mumbarre vnto which towne the next Moone these Arabeckes will come we askt againe what commodities they brought with them hee answered much salt and diuers other things wee desired then to know what they exchange for and carryed backe he answered nothing but gold and that they onely desire to haue and returned nothing else wee questioned him farther whether hee would vndertake to carry any of vs safe to see those Arabeckes and that wee might returne without danger hee stopt his nose betweene his finger and his thumbe and cryed Hore Hore which is the greatest oath they vse amongst them that he would performe it some other conference past betwixt vs at this time howbeit by reason of a disaster that fell in the way betwixt mee and my chiefe interpreter I was hindred from vnderstanding diuers particulars wherein Buckor Sano seemed very desirous to giue me full satisfaction so as from him these were the principals I gathered howbeit another occasion fell whereby I had some farther relation as in his due place shall follow for the conueniency whereof I must once againe with your fauour returne to a great company on shore who expect their trade for this our conference with Buckor Sano was aboard our boate at dinner The people who came vnto vs for the first foure dayes were staide here came onely vpon that side our Marchant came but one of our hyred black men spake vnto mee to giue him some paper and beades to buy him and two other prouision as they went and they would goe seeke other inhabitants likewise who dwell on the other part of the Riuer wherewith furnished they went away and two dayes after returned and brought with them diuers people who in the like manner made them houses of Reedes to harbour themselues vnder These people had neuer seene white men before and the woemen that came with them were very shye and fearefull of vs insomuch as they would runne behind the men and into the houses to hide from vs when we offered to come neare them I sent therefore into the boate for some beades and such things and went vnto some of the boldest giuing them thereof into their hands which they were willing to receiue and with these curtesies imboldued them that they soone became familiar and in requitall gaue me againe Tobacco and fine neate Canes they had to take Tobacco with these woemen were the deepest and largest printed vpon the backe that euer wee saw The men likewise shewed a more sauage kinde of people then we had seene many hauing breeches made of rawe hydes either of Deare or other cattle the grace whereof was the taile of the beast which remaineth on the skinne did sticke right forth vpon the hinder part of the mans buttocks resembling the manner as the beast wore it whereat those blacke men who were our hyrelings would in scorne iest and deride The principall man of these parts called Baiage Dinggo I had into my boate and curtcously vsed demaunding if hee did not knowe of our being there in reguard we thought he might heare our gunnes he answered they had hard the noyse and were much amazed supposing it to bee thunder being the more feareful vnto them because the sound came that waies it was not accustomed to doe they were very desirous also to buy of our salt and some of that little store we brought they had which the people on the other side did vnwillingly spare we bought of them such commodities as the rest had and wonderfull desirous they were wee should come againe vnto them the best of these women likewise did weare in their eares gold and many commodities the women askt for which we had not but the men especially for salt there was not so little as 500. men and woemen who came downe on this side the riuer and it did plainely appeare both the one and the other side were of familiar acquaintance in regard they did passe in our Canoe the one to the other and had neighbourly salutations together and further wee noted that the naturall tongue there spoken was another different language yet all the better sort did talke together in the same speech we brought with vs is from the mouth of the Riuer their familiarite did assure vs that they had commerce together which was an encourager to the confidence I haue of the riuers continuance and that they haue the vse of canoes aboue to ferry ouer in regard in this place where we were although it was so shallow they might wade ouer they were afeard to attempt it dreading their neighbout Bombo would bee in the way and hinder their passage leauing them therefore safe on their one side with a faithful expectation of our second returne which we promised and they earnestly desired I crost the riuer to our first acquaintance to whom was come downe the King of the countrey called by the name of the King of Ielicot who was the immediate King of that land whereon wee kept our trade I went on shore intreating him to come into our boate and there we dranke I gaue him a present which he accepted and brought him likewise a shore where he had houses built for himselfe and his wiues on whom also some thing must
as will raise vp a sufficient furrow which followed to the end of the ground they beginne againe in this painfull and laborious manner fitting the earth for the graine wherein our old prouerb is to be allowed of Many hands make light worke otherwise it would appeare a most tedious kinde of labour They haue sixe seuerall sorts of graine they doe feede vpon amongest which none is knowne to vs by name I meane heere in England but onely Rice the other may rather be called a kinde of seed then corne being of as small a graine as mustard seed neither do they make any bread but boyling their graine rowle it vp in balls as I haue said before and so eate it warme in like sort they boyle their Rice and eate it warme and euen to vs it is a very good and able sustenance all other graines being sowed the ground is with their Irons spadled ouer and so left to his growth but in Rice they do set it first in smal patches of low marish grounds and after it doth come vp disperse the plants and set them in more spacious places which they prepare for it and it doth yeeld a great increase they doe likewise obserue their seasons to set other plants as Tobacco which is euer growing about their houses and likewise with great carefulnesse they prepare the ground to set the seedes of the Cotten wooll whereof they plant whole fields and comming vp as Roses grow it beareth coddes and as they ripen the codde breaketh and the wooll appeareth which shewes the time of gathering And before I passe to speake of other naturall plants that proceed and come forth without labour I must not omit to relate heere the farther misery of this labouring people that thereby wee may discerne the greater mercy we doe enioy for whereas it bath pleased God to affoord vnto vs seasonable times to plant and sowe and againe to reape and enioy our labour sending likewise gentle showres and raines wherby we receiue them in a due season he hath not dealt so with all Nations whereof these are witnesses for although their seasons are certaine yet they are violent and fearefull For from September vnto the latter end of Maie following almost nine moneths they neuer taste any showres of raine so as their ground is so hard through the extreme heate of the Sunne that they can make no vse thereof but are compelled to stay vntill raine doth fall to moysten the earth that their instruments may enter to prepare the same which raines at the first come gently now and then a showre but not without thunder and lightning Towards the end of Iune it then groweth more forcible powring it selfe violently foorth with such horrible stormes and gusts of winde and with such fearefull flashes of lightning and claps of thunder as if according to our phrase heauen and earth would meet together in all which notwithstanding the miserable people are driuen to worke and labour in the open field for Ioosing the season of the grounds softnesse and as it doth beginne after a more gentle manner in the same nature and distance of time it passeth away the most extreame force being from the middle of Iuly vntill the middle of August and the abundance of raine that then doth fall may bee supposed in that it doth raise the Riuer from his vsuall height directly vpright thirty foote and where it hath not banke to defend it ouer-flowes the shoares and therefore they prepare their habitations in their owne discretions accordingly and in some yeares not without danger Now in regard many people of our Country haue beene lost and that our Seamen directly charge the vnholsomnesse of the ayre to be the sole cause I would presume a little to argue it deliuering my opinion hoping it may inuite some abler vnderstanding to search into it and produce some better assistance to auoyde the inconuenience then I am able to deliuer It is certaine in regard of the grounds hardnesse in those nine moneths when the raines are past that the superficies or vpper part of the earth doth receiue all that venome or poysonous humours which distill either from trees or plants whereof there is store as we see by the aboundance they vse in poysoning their Arrowes and some of their Launces and likewise what doth issue from their venemous Serpents and Snakes of which kindes there are very many both great and exceeding long also Toades and Scorpions the poyson doth remaine and continue in the drynesse of the ground and rakte vp in the dust and sand which vpon the first raines being moystned and the earth wet by the exhalation of the hot Sunne is drawne vp and in short time in the next showres fals downe againe in my poore iudgement some reason appeares that those first times must be very pestilent and full of danger which in some sort testifi is it selfe in regard those first raines lighting vpon the naked body doe make blaines and spots which remaine aster them much more then after the raines haue continued and more perfectly washt and cleard the supersicies and not onely vpon the bodies but in the garments or clothes worne who being laide by after they are wet with the first raines doe sooner and in greater number breed and bring foorth vntoward wormes whereas other wayes after the raines are more common it doth not produce any such effect or if it doe very little To this I say that it is a thing to be especially obserued as much as men may to auoide the being in those first raines and more especially to be prouided of water either to drinke or dresse meate withall before these seasons fall except it bee those who dwell and abide vpon the land and may haue meanes to couer and keepe close their springs but for men to water in those pestilent times and in the open Riuers as the Saint Iohns men in their first voyage did I say it was a desperate attempt and might haue beene the confusion of them all as indeed there were but few of them escaped and that the countrey is not so contagious as they would haue their reports to make it those people of ours may be witnesse who being willing to stay behind and remayning there almost three yeeres there was not one of them dyed but returned all into their owne countrey being eight of them in number except onely Captaine Tompson who as I repeate before was slaine by vnhappy accident I would willingly also venter here and speake my opinion what naturally may bee saide concerning these contagious times but with this prouiso it is done to animate others who if they knew the certaine course and season with the true manner of each particular circumstance would be able to demonstrate better and so rectifie me in that where I shall doe amisse These seasons I say begin gently in the end of May when the Sunne drawes to the
or three that doe attend him which we doe call the little Iacke All it is a little blacke shagge-heard beast about the bignesse of a small spaniell which so soone as the Euening comes hunts and busles about for the preye and comming on the foot followes the sent with open crye to which the Lyon being master huntsman giues diligent eare and applyes himselfe to follow for his owne ease and aduantage if it so happen the Iacke All beweary or set vp his chace besote the Lyon come in he howles mainely out to shew the estate he stands in and then comes the haughty Lyon and ceazeth one the weary prey for as it is written of the Lyon in his pride if hee saile of his prey at three iumps he scornes to pursue or toyle himselfe after it and being ceazd he remaines feeding making a kind of grumbling noyse whilest his small seruant stands barking and yalping by attending vntill his Master hath feasted and then hee falls vpon the remainder And this as we heare and receiue from the countrey people so likewise it is affirmed vnto vs by our owne ttauailes for as we had occasion when the tydes fell out to trauaile vp the Riuer in the night and likewise many times to ride all night at an Anker in the Riuer against desert places we did obserue the noyse and hunting of this Iacke All and likewise note the reply and answer of the Lyon insomuch as it was a commonn word amongst vs who will goe on shore and accompany the Master huntsman There are Ounces and Leopards great store whereof by reason of the many dennes wee see vpon the land we may discerne the print of the foot remaining vpon the holes mouth beeing able to assure vs what is within as also the countrey people doe bring many of their skinnes vnto vs to sell how euer they light vpon them for by their owne valour sure they dare not and by their ingenious capacities I beleeue they cannot deuise any course to lessen their company The Ounce doth seeme to bee more rauenous or dangerous vnto them then either Lyon or any others and makes more spoyle vpon them as they doe complaine I was shewed a child there which the mother gaue sucke vnto who early in a morning going neare to her house to a spring to fetch water had laid her child wrapt in a Cloath without her dore vpon a matte as they vse to doe and there came a hungry Ounce who it seemed had mist his nights prey and tooke vp the cloath and childe and runne his wayes the mother met him and with wofull outcry pursued him and as it chanced he tooke the way to come right vpon the place where the Father of the child with other people were labouring in the field who with roaring voyces run after him the Ounce still ran away keeping his hold but as it chanced the child dropt forth of the cloath and the father running after recouered it and tooke it vp the Ounce carryed cleane away the cloath and the man brought backe the child to the mother the which wee our selues haue both seene and handled and so bold and fierce is the Ounce that many times in the night hee hath driuen a small dogge wee had where we dwelt on shore to our bedsides by a hole he had through our straw vvalles barking and running vnder our beds not daring to looke out howsoeuer vve encouraged him vntill vve vvere faine vvith firebrands in our hands to goe abroad and so feare him avvay and many more are there of night enemies vvhich vvatch and looke after their carefull husvvisery amongst which especially is the great Ciuit Cat aud the Porcupin vvho are carefull purueighers for any outlying poultrey vvhose vievv early in the morning is their discouerie the Cattes by the print of their feete left in the sand and the Porcupine by his quills which are shed and many times taken vp in plenty and so I end with their night enemies and as I stand conceited cruell acquaintance because what after I deliuer is vppon such beasts as walke and shew themselues by day and howsoeuer they stand in feare of them it is rather out of a timorousnesse in the people then any willingnesse in the beast The first where of is the Elephant whose presence indeed as he is a wilde beast may euen to a strong person giue a iust amazement and such is the feare the countrey people in generall haue of them that by all possible meanes they seeke to shunne and flie from them yet such is the great abundance the Countrey doth yeeld of them that they are ouer all places and wheresoeuer you come you shall find the footing and apparent shew they haue been there though not presently to be seene and notwithstanding those great abundance of wilde ones they haue not any of them tame or vnder commaund as in other places of the world they haue which certainely proceeds from the feare they conceiue of them much and great is the spoiles they doe them both among their corne and especially in their Cotton grounds going in small companies together whereof I haue seene sixteene verie great ones besides young ones that suckt and others that were of middle statures the proportion of the greatest I leaue you thus to coniecture of the reeds or sedge that grows naturally in euery place is higher aboue our heads then the arme of a tall man can well reach and halfe the body of those Elephants is aboue the reedes their naturall feeding is amongest this sedge but more especially they doe browse vpon trees whereof in the woods you shall find store by them pulld downe and that of bigge bodies and round substance the manner whereof I must relate to correct the mistaking which is most common in picturing the Elephant whose two great teeth are commonly set in his lower law carrying them vpward as a Bore doth his tusks which is contrary for he carries them downward and with them breakes downe the trees for after with his truncke he hath bended the toppe he haspes ouer his two teeth so as one or other must needs giue way and that is the reason that among those multitude of teeth that are brought ouer so many broken teeth and crackt and shaken are amongst them for it the tree be too strong the tooth giues way and so the people find many iunkes and peeces which they sell vnto vs the abundance of those teeth that are yearely brought from thence may satisfie what store of these beasts are in the countrey for as I haue spoken with many who considering the great store are brought away haue conceiued they had shed their teeth as Stagges doe mew their hornes which directly is nothing so but by the death of the beast the teeth are gotten what casuall deaths they are subiect vnto wee are ignorant and for any practize of the peoples too much feare possesseth
he growes broade downe like a Bull and hath two teeth standing right before vpon his lower choppe which are great and dangerous in regard he strikes with them his crye or neighing directly like a great horse and hath in the same manner foure legges answerable to his body whereupon hee goes and wherewith hee likewise swimmeth as a horse doeth yet in these is his greatest difference for they are somewhat shorter in proportion then horses are and where they should be round hoofte it deuides it selfe into fiue pawes vpon euery which hee hath a hoofe the whole foote containing a compasse of great breadth as the beast is in growth insomuch as I haue taken the measure of some prints they leaue where they walke of twenty ynches ouer His manner of feeding likewise resembles the horse for although he liue all day in the Riuer yet euery night hee goeth duely on shore in diuers places feeding vpon their Rice and Corne doing the Country people much spoyle but his generall feeding is vpon low marish grounds where the grasse or sedge is greene to which they resort in great companies in those reaches of the Riuer which haue deepest water and lie nearest and conuenienst to such manner of grounds do wee alwayes finde greatest store in some places they go a mile from the shore side to their feede hauing trackes that are beaten as hard and palpable as London high way he returnes by the breake of day to the Riuer where he is very bold when our boates come by hee will hold his head aboue the water many times store of them together and so neare as within Pistolls shot snorting neighing and tossing the water making shewes of great displeasure and sometimes attempting it for in my passage too and againe in the Riuer my boate was stricken by them three times and one of the blowes was very daungerous for he stroke his tooth quite through which I was enforced with a great deale of dilligence to stoppe or it had daungered our sinking but the hazard of them may be well auoyded if men be prouided to shoote at them when they presse ouer-bold which wee could not do in regard out allowance of powder was small and we were driuen to put it to other vses neither had wee peeces accordingly thorough the neglect of some ill wishing persons who deceiue the trust the worthy Aduenturers apposed vpon them In the night while wee had candle burning some of them disturbed by vs would remaine in the Riuer and would come staring vp the streame snoring and pressing neere vpon vs but wee found meanes to send them packing for breaking a small peece of wood we would sticke a short candle lighted vpon it and let it driue with the streame vpon them from which they would flie and make way with a great deale of horrour and one note we obserued amongst them they werealwayes most dangerous when they had their young with them which they sometimes leaue on shore but being in the water euery female carries her young vpon her backe so as when she puts vp her head the young head likewise will looke his share and where they appeare many heads together there is asmuch variety as from the great horse to the hunting nagge the Sea-horse we found greatest store when we were likewise past the flowing of the tide and continued aboue the highest place we were which still argues a large and constant Riuer The people do account of these for an excellent meate not resusing to eate them if they be taken vp dead in the Riuer as they are many times found swimming howsoeuer they come killed howbeit I conceiue the Crocodile and they agree for that I haue stood vpon the bancke and see them swimme one by another without offence Hauing spoken of these I now returne to matter of sustenance which the Riuer affordeth there is variety of good fish among which great store of Mullet if men haue nets and prouision to take them which in some places within the ebbing and flowing the shore lies conuenient to make vse of and aboue that in most places howbeit we neuer made vse aboue any place where our shippe ridde who alwayes kept the net with her wherewith we made diuerse draughts most especially at a Towne called Cassan and against which the shippe did ride and was the highest place in the Riuer she went where our convenientst drawing was close to the Towne and when the people at any time saw vs bring our net on the shore and prouide to fish as the net came neare the shore they would come rudely in and many times with their vnciuilnes indanger the breaking and spoyling of our net with their greedinesse to lay hold on the fish that wee were inforced to speake vnto the King dwelling in the Towne to command them to forbeare troubling vs promising when we had taken for our own present vse and reserued some for him the residue should be taken out and remaine amongst them and his Commaund being given they were carefull to obserue it Amongst the rest one time hauing made a draught we had not such plenty as vsually onely some fish in the cod of the net which being taken vp were shakt into a basket standing in the boate with which we rowed aboord the basket being handed in as the custome is the fish were powred vpon the Decke whereof many rude Saylers will be their owne caruers amongst which fish there was one much like vnto our English breame but of a great thicknes which one of the Saylers thinking for his turne thought to take away putting therefore his hands vnto him so soone as he toucht the fellow presently cried out he had lost the vse both of his hands and armes another standing by sayd what with touching this fish and in speaking put thereto his foote he being bare-legged who presently cried out in the like manner the sence of his leg was gone this gaue others of better rancke occasion to come forth and looke vpon them who perceiuing the sence to come againe called vp for the Cooke who was in his roome below knowing nothing what had hapned being come wild him to take that fish and dresse which he being a plaine stayd fellow orderly stooping to take vp as his hands were on him suncke presently vpon his hinder parts and in the like manner made grieuous mone he felt not his hands which bred a wonderfull admiration amongst vs from the shore at the same time was comming a Canoe aboord vs in which was a Blacke man called Sandie who in regard he had some small knowledge of the Portingall tongue had great recourse amongst vs we brought him to the fish and shewed it vnto him vpon sight whereof he fell into a laughter and told vs it was a fish they much feared in the water for what he toucht hee num'd his nature being to stroke himselfe vpon another fish whom presently he likewise num'b and
then pray'd vpon him but bid vs cut of his head and being dead his vertue was gone and he very good to eate At this place onely we should see many Moores sporting playing and comming boldly into the water a good distance from the shore where lay a sandy banke but they neuer went beyond their heights and they would tell vs there was a blessing granted to that place by some great Mary-bucke that Bumbo should neuer hurt them and on that side the Towne stood as our ship did ride in the middle of the Riuer and we haue obserued we neuer saw any Crocodile but on the contrary side many times very great ones And this being assuredly true for varieties sake I haue placed here In the vpper part of the Riuer there are store of fish and more conueniently to be come by if men go prouided Amongst which we note one little fish which may well be called the running fish and is much like our English Roach with a red tayle who is inforced to runne aboue the water and will continue a great way but only touching of it to saue his life from his pursuing enemy who comes chopping after him iust like the Trout after the flie and is of that bignesse the Trout is that somtimes the little fish hath runne into our Canoe to auoyde the pursuer Likewise of foule the higher we go we find plenty and much variety but this we haue euer obserued that in the maine Riuer we neuer see them swimming but as they are in sholes together be they Ducke and Mallard or any other in their kind they sit vpon the shore close to the Riuer side and dare not surely venter in for feare of the Crocodile but haue their principall feeding vpon the marish grounds and ponds which lie from the Riuer whereof the Country is very full and you can finde no such place but is aboundantly furnished among which are many geese of colour white and blacke rather bigger then our English tame goose who hath vpon each pinion of his wing a sharpe spur in euery point resembling a Cockes spurre of the largest size with which they are apt not being shot dead to giue offence but for foule that liue naturally by the shore side as Hernes Corlews Storkes Pluffer and the like it doth yeeld plenty so that whomsoeuer shall go vp well furnished of peeces and powder shal be sure to mend their fare and light vpon many a dainty dish The people of the Country haue likewise diuers wares which they make vse of in the time of raines and when the Riuer is ouer-floude at which times they kill much fish and they haue also a strange maner of fishing in their lakes and ponds of which there are many that are very broade and containe much circute but are not deepe to which they resort as they desire to fish a whole towne or plantation together only the men euery one hauing a kind of basket with the mouth open which hee holds downeward and so going into the water close on by another they ouer spread the pond whereby the fish is moued and so clapping downe the mouth of their baskets before them they hit vpon the fish and in this manner they take so many that most of them go loaden home and if at any time we be neare those places they will louingly impart them to vs vpon returnes from vs of poore valew These things which now we know and can tell how to prouide for may serue as incouragements to proceede vpon a farther discouery but in that which followes concerning the loue of the people what trade we already haue found and what reliefe they bring vs and at what rates as also what Deare and wild Cattle the land affords throughout with such variety of land foule and other necessaries wherof in their due place I meane to speake I hope as I desire may be some furtherances to inuite Aduenturers to aduise of some few dayes search further into this hopefull Riuer Wherein the very Riuer if we had nothing else to friend prouing but as we haue hetherunto sound it will afford that comfortable reliefe men neede not stand in dread of staruing which considered and the probable good that may and will rise in obtaining the Golden Trade I conclude it most necessary to follow dilligently a farther search for which if I should be thereunto required in place conuenient I could yeeld some other speciall account which for some respects I forbeare to publish and following my order proceede to the inhabitants The seuerall Inhabitants c. TO speake of the Country and the inhabitants I take my beginning from the mouth of the Riuer whereat our first entrance we find the Black men called Mandingos and that they do continue amongst themselues still one and the selfe same language Those of them who are inhabiting or dwelling in the mouth of the Riuer or within certain leagues of the first enterance are very fearefull to speake with any shipping except they haue perfect knowledge of them in regard they haue beene many times by seuerall nations surprized taken and carried away but vpon some knowledge they wil resort to the shore neare vnto vs and bring with them Beeues Goates Hennes and aboundance of Bonanos in the West Indies called Plantanos a most excellent good and wholesome fruit likewise of their Country pease and other graine and in way of Tradesome hides they there alone haue the domination their Kings and Gouernors being their seated as in the vpper parts of whom especially my discourse is intended howbeit for the more playner proceeding I must breake of a while from them and acquainte you first of another sort of people we finde dwelling or rather lurking amongst these Maudingos onely some certaine way vp the Riuer And these are as they call themselues Portingales and some few of them seeme the same others of them are Molatoes betweene blacke and white but the most part as blacke as the naturall inhabitants they are scattered some two or three dwellers in a place and are all married or rather keepe with them the countrey blacke women of whom they beget children howbeit they haue amongest them neither Church nor Frier nor any other religious order It doth manifestly appeare that they are such as haue beene banished or fled away from forth either of Portingall or the Iles belonging vnto that gouernement they doe generally imploy themselues in buying such commodities the countrey affords wherein especially they couet the country people who are sold vnto them when they commit offences as you shall reade where I write of the generall gouernement all which things they are ready to vent vnto such as come into the riuer but the blacke people are bought away by their owne nation and by them either carried or solde vnto the Spaniard for him to carry into the West Indies to remaine as slaues either in their Mines or in any other seruile vses they in
partly to blame a neglect in our owne prouisions but that I assure my selfe it hath beene rather ignorance to know what was good then want of wil to prouide it whereas in the coole of the morning and againe in the euening wee receiue it with much more temperance and a little giueth satisfaction so that my conclusion is that to vs that haue able and working bodies and in our occasions are stirring and labouring in the morning earely and after the heate of the day are the fittest conuenientst times to receiue our sustenance wherin I shal euer submit my selfe to those of more able iudgement and returning to the Blackes let you know that their vsuall and ordinary drinke is either the Riuer water or from some Spring howbeit they haue growne from trees seuerall sorts of wine or drinkes as also the making of a kinde of liquor they call Bullo made and compounded of their countrey corne whereof more conueniently else-where I shall effectually satisfie you and now goe on to shew you the manner of their building and fortifications They place themselues in their habitations round together and for the most part haue a wall though it be but of Reede platted and made vp together some sixe foot in height circling and going round their Towne with doores of the same in the night time to be orderly shut some of the houses within their walles likewise are made of the same Reedes but the better sort do build the walles of their houses of loame which after it is tempered and layde vp together carrieth a kinde of red colour with it and doth remayne with an extraordinary hardnesse that doubtlesse as I haue carefully diuers times obserued it would make the most excellent and durablest Bricke in the world the whole countrey except vpon the mountains yeelding the same earth whereof I will not forget to report one thing which in my opinion deserues admiration we doe finde in most places hills cast vp by Ants or Emmets which we heere call Ant-hills some of them twenty foote of height of such compasses as will hold or containe a dozen men which with the heate of the Sunne is growne to that hardnesse as wee doe vse to hide and conceale our selues in the ragged tops of them when wee take vp stands to shoote at the country deere or any other manner of wilde beast the forme of their houses whether it be loame or Reed is alwayes round and the round roofes made lowe euer couered with reedes and tyed fast to rafters that they may be able to abide and lie fast in the outragious windes and gusts that come in the times of raine for which purpose also they build their houses round that the winde may haue the lesser force against them and the walles enclosing and keeping them in is to auoyde those rauening and deuouring beasts which in the night time range and bustle about wherewith diuers times notwithstanding they are much affrighted and by making fires and raising cries at midnight to chase and driue them from their mansion dwellings This for the meaner Townes or countrey Villages but they haue likewise Townes of force according vnto the manner of warre they vse amongst them fortified and trencht in after a strong and defencible nature whereof they say the countrey within is full especially where the Kings are seated the maner whereof wee haue seene in some two or three places whereof I will instance onely one which is the Towne of Cassan against which as I sayd before the shippe which was betrayed did ride and we in our last voyage did make it our highest port for our bigger shippe This Towne is the Kings seate and by the name of the Towne hee holdes his title King of Cassan It is seated vpon the Riuers side and inclosed round neare to the houses with hurdles such as our shepheards vse but they are aboue ten foot high and fastned to strong and able poles the toppes whereof remaine aboue the hurdle on the inside in diuers places they haue rooms and buildings made vp like Turrets from whence they within may shoot their arrowes and throw their darts ouer the wall against their approaching enemies on the out-side likewise round the wall they haue cast a ditch or trench of a great breadth beyond that againe a pretty distance the whole Towne is circled with posts and peeces of trees set close and fast into the ground some fiue foot high so thicke that except in stiles or places made of purpose a single man cannot get through and in the like manner a small distance off againe the like defence and this is as they do signifie vnto vs to keepe off the force of horse to which purpose it seemes to be very strong and auaileable considering what armes and Weapons they haue in vse which in this place is necessary to be knowne They doe vsually walke with a Staffe or Iauelin in their hands which they call an Assegie being a Reede of some sixe foote long the head whereof is an Iron pike much like our Iauelines but most of them very artificially made and full of danger others they haue also made to throw like Irish-mens darts with heads all barbed full of crueltie to the receiuer each man likewise about his necke doth weare in a Bandeleere of red or yellow cloth a short Sword of some two foot long with an open handle which Swords they make of the Iron is brought vnto them as you shall heare when I speak of their Trades and also the better sort of them doe carry their bowe in their hands and at their backe a case very artificially made which may hold within it some twenty foure of their arrowes it is the smallest arrow vsed by any Nation made of a Reed about the bignesse of a Swans quill and some two foote in length there is fastned in the end a small Iron with a barbed head all which Iron is dangerously poisoned the arrow hath neither nock nor feather but is shot from the bowe which is also made of a Reede by a flat string or rather sticke smoothed and made euen and fastned to the bow so that the bowe and the string are one and the selfe-same wood whose force is small and therefore the offence lies in the poyson which neare hand vpon their cotten garments may make an entry but to a Buffe Ierkin or any other sleight garment of defence except it be very neare can be little offensiue we haue seene of them likewise on horse backe the horses being of a small stature bridled and sadled after the Spanish fashion each man hauing his Assegie in his hand and vpon the right side of his horse a broad Buckler hanging and this is all the weapon in vse amongst them The Kings house is in the middle of the Towne inclosed by it selfe onely his wiues seuerall houses about him to which you cannot come but as it were through a Court of Guard
gouernors their greatest Riches consists in hauing of most slaues and from the King to the slaue they are all perpetuall beggars from vs hovvbeit small matters vvill satisfie them except it be in Aqua vitae for vvhich they sell all things they haue and the Kings and all vvill drinke vntill they be starke drunke and fall fast asleepe so that to describe the life of the Kings truly is that they doe eate drinke and sleep and keepe company with their women and in this manner consume their time vntill Time consumes them with their great bloud and dignitie whereof they so much eesteme and with one example I will rehearse vnto you I shal conclude concerning their kingly priuiledges The King of Cassan who was dwelling in the Towne as wee came vp the Riuer with whom I spake drunke two or three bottles of Aqua vitae and had much familiar conference who had liued in that place many yeares howbeit hee was a lame man after we returned downe the Riuer and made stay at that Towne we found him nothing so merrily inclined as he was at our going vp whereupon demanding among some of the rest the reason they told vs hee was to be put out of his kingdome enquiring wherefore they replied there was another to come who had more right then hee for sayd they this was the Kings sonne but begotten of a base woman such as I described their concubines to be howbeit the King left behinde him a sonne who was right borne but very young which childe being now come to yeares craues his rightfull inheritance and the King of Bursall vnder whom they hold they could not deny but had taken order to send him forward so as he was lookd for euery day and indeed the second day after I was gone from the Towne he came thither bringing abundance of people with him to whom the people of the Town resorted leauing the old King to whom notwithstanding the yong King sent willing him to depart and goe away with his wiues and family before he came or if heâ— found him there hee should suffer death which at the first he refused to doe saying he would enclose himselfe in his dwelling and die ther but vpon better aduice when he savv himselfe quite forsaken he passed himselfe and wiues crosse the Riuer and left the Tovvne to this yong Commander who after his entrance our pinnace riding there and being ready to come away he sent for the Factor to whom after some familiar conference hee sayd this tovvne and kingdome hath been lost but hereafter you shall see it found againe promising at all occasions his friendly assistance But before I leaue them it were necessary I should acquaint you vvhat manner of ceremony doth passe betvvixt them and vs as we meet together the King is commonly sitting on his mat laid on the ground vvhich in our entrance he obserueth not offring to rise and in regard he hath nothing but his Gregories on his head vvhich are fast and cannot stirre We do not vse to mooue our hatts or vncouer our heads vvhen vve come to him but dravving neare somevvhat bending our bodies vvee lay our bands vpon our breasts vvhich he also performs to vs and vvhen vve come neare he holding foorth his hand vve first take hold on the vpper part of one anothers hand next on the lovver part and the third time ioyne palmes and with a full hand shaking one another downe wee sit by him and after some small parlee concerning the cause of our coming wherein the kings part is performed in state whatsoeuer he speakes being related ouer by another out goes our bottle of Aqua vitae which must not be wanting and a botle of Sacke too it is so much the better calling for a small gourd to drinke in which is their richest Plate I first beginne and drinking off a cup present both the cup and bottle vnto the king the botle he deliuers presently to some one of principall regard with him who by his appoyntment after the king hath first drunke and he himselfe not failing of his next turne distributes it to the whole attendance who for the most part stand round by the wall of the house one after another taking his cup and then to the king againe In their drinking I obserue one thing that in regard of the goodnesse or the strangenesse of the liquor when he receiueth the first cup before hee drinke himselfe with the same liquor he wets one of his principal Gregories The king many times calling for a cup breakes the square otherwise they neuer leaue vntill the bottle is out and so all the bottles we bring wherein we haue one priuiledge for after we haue tasted the first cup which must be of euery botle to secure them of danger we need not vnles we please take any more but shaking of our heads when they offer a cup it stands for a faire refusall and so passeth to another neither doe they suffer their women publiquely to drinke amongst them except some especially respected who may sometimes haue a cup but euen diuide it among themselues so long as the bottle will run and their brains hold out which being the true and proper element they delight in I will heere in in their hearts desires leaue them and proceed to a more ciuill I am sure soberer sort of people The discourse of their Maribuckes or religious men ANd so by order I am now come to speake of their Marybuckes or Bissareas which we in our language may call religious Persons or Priests of the country The Mary-buckes are seperated from the common people both in their habitations course of liues concerning whom I haue with dilligence obserued that in their whole proceeding they haue a wonderous reference to the leuiticall law as it is in our holy Bible related the principalls whereof they are not ignorant in for they do report concerning Adam and Eue whom they call Adama and Evahaha talking of Noahs flood and of Moses with many other things our sacred History makes mention of their houses or dwellings are seperated from the common people hauing their Townes and lands set out in seuerall within themselues wherein no common people haue dwelling except such as are their slaues that worke and labour for them which slaues they suffer to marry and cherish the race that comes of them which race remaines to them and their heires or posterity as perpetuall bond-men they marry likewise in their owne tribe or kindred taking no wines but the daughters of Mary-buckes and all the children they haue are nourished and bred vp vnto the ceremonies of their fathers But for the number of their wiues and women they haue the selfe course that I described before among the Kings and temporall people in the like manner amongst them euery man in his dignity and precedence hauing more or lesse wherein there is no seuered towne
on his name they call in their language expressed by the word Alle insomuch as if he see any thing which begets in him admiration casting his eyes to the Heauens hee cries Alle Alle neither haue they amongst them any manner of image or picture or resemblance of any diuine things but as far as we can perceiue such things are distastfull vnto them They doe acknowledge Mahomet and are all circumcised the manner of their circumcision I refer to speak of in another place their Sabboth or the seuenth day is vppon the friday and haue distinctions and proper names for seuen dayes in their weeke they reckon their age or times by the raines in saying hee hath liued so many raines as we say so many yeares howbeit we doe neuer heare them call vpon the name of Mahomet neither haue they amongst them any Churches nor places they dedicate to holy vses so farre as we can perceiue neither do we finde that they celebrate or solemnize them Sabboth day for euen on that day will they follow any Trade they will haue with vs and their owne occasions without any intermission they haue certaine round houses built open and are spacious according to their fashions wherein they teach their youth the manner whereof is this All the male children that proceedes from these Mary-buckes are taught to write and reade and in regard they haue no paper amongst them but what wee or others bring them in the way of Trade and therefore is of esteeme they haue for their bookes a small smooth boord fit to hold in their hands on with the childrens lessons are written with a kinde of blacke incke they make and the pen is in a manner of a pensill The Character they vse being much like the Hebrewe which in regard I vnderstood not I caused my Mary-bucke to write in paper some part of their law which I brought home with me that some of our learned Schollers might peruse if wee might by that meanes come to any better knowledge then the small practise we haue hetherto had and by men of our capacities cannot so easily be attained onely this much wee discerne that the religion and law they teach is not writ in the same tongue they publickly speake and moreouer that none of the temporall people of what dignity soeuer are traded vp to write or reade or haue any vse of bookes or letters amongst them And whether these open houses they teach their children in be places for their religious ceremonies and for their publike meetings in their holy exercises because they are euer placed neere the principall mans dwelling and as it were ioyning vnto him wee cannot well resolue but rather conceite the contrary in regard they lie open and are not swept and kept with any manner of decency and therefore do rather thinke they make vse of the open fields where vnder some spacious shady tree they obserue their meetings some part of the manner whereof as an eye witnesse I will readily recite The place where we had houses built and walled with straw for our owne vses was seated by the Riuer side vpon the top of the banke and by the people of the Country called Tobabo Condo the whitemans towne some hundred paces within vs from the Riuer was a small towne of these religious people wherein liued an ancient Mary-bucke called Mahome who could not be lesse in apparance then an hundred yeares of age from whom we receiued much relation concerning the countrey aboue and of the abundance of gold there which himselfe had trauelled and seene as it is their profession to doe and I shall haue occasion foorthwith to shew you This ancient Mahome was euer a faithfull and louing neighbour vnto vs howbeit in regard of his age he did not teach the children nor was not the eminentest man of the Towne but one Hammet who was not so trusty a neighbour The olde Mahome did diuerse times lodge and entertaine strangers that came especially of his owne profession amongest which there had laine one night at his house a Mary-bucke who in the morning coming downe to the Riuer side close without our wall hauing his slaues to follow him who brought in his hand a great gourd in the Riuer he filled it full of saire water and brought vnto him vvhereinto presently pulling forth all his priuie members hee put them without any nicenesse of being seene what he did and after hee had well washed them hee made him to throw away the water vvhich done and the gourd vvell vvashed orrinced he brought him another filled also vvith vvater vvherein he vvashed and rubbed his hands and in the like manner it was throwne away and a third brought wherewith he washed and cleansed his face all which performed he making a kind of lowe reuerence with his bodie and laying his hand on his breast his face directed toward the East kneeled downe and there mumbled or vttered foorth after a decent manner it should seeme certaine prayers wherein after hee had continued for a space kissing the ground hee rose vp and turning himselfe about with his face directed to the West hee performed the like ceremony which ended after hee had stayed and looked a while vpon vs hee returned to his place of lodging One ceremony more of their Religion I will relate if you please to remember where and how I left the chiefe Mary-bucke sicke and full of danger it did manifest no lesse for in the euening the day after I came from him he died the report whereof was immediately spread ouer the whole countrey who from all parts came in after that abundant manner to solemnize his funerall so many thousands of men and women gathered together as in such a desart and scattered countrey might breed admiration which I thinke was rather increased in regard at that time he died the moone was high and gaue her light and they in whole troupes trauelled eyther the whole night or most part of the same together the place or port whereat my boat did ride was a Passage or Ferry to the towne from the whole countrey on the further side whereunto belonged a great Canoe which I had hired hauing likewise another of my owne both which neuer stood still but were vsed night and day in passing the people none of them came emptie some brought beeues others goates and cockes and henues with rice and all sort of graine the country yeelded so as there came in a wonderfull deale of prouision my Mary-bucke entreated mee to send something of sweet sauour to be cast vpon his body which the people much esteeme of I sent some Spica Romana and some Orras which by his sonne was thankefully receiued the manner of his buriall was after this sort hee vvas layed in a house vvhere a graue vvas digged and a great pot of water set in the roome and iust after the same manner as
the Irish doe vse vvith a vvonderfull noyse of cries and lamentations hee vvas layed into the ground the people especially the vvomen running about the house and from place to place with their armes spread after a lunaticke fashion seemd vvith great sorrovv to bevvaile his departure They also assembled themselues in the most conuenient place to receiue the multitude and nearest vnto the graue and sitting dovvne in a round ring in the middle came foorth a Mary-bucke vvho betvvixt saying and singing did rehearse as it vvere certaine verses in the praise and remembrance of him departed vvhich it should seeme vvas done extempore or prouided for that assembly because vpon diuers vvords or sentences hee spake the people would make such sodaine exultations by clapping of their hands and euery one running in to giue and present vnto him some one or other manner of thing might be thought acceptable that one aster another euery seuerall Mary-bucke would haue his speech wherein they onely vvent avvay vvith the gratifications vvho had the pleasingest stile or as vve terme it the most eloquente phrase in setting forth the praises of him departed in vvhich the people were so much delighted another ceremonie was that euery principall Mary-bucke and men of note amongst them would take of the earth which came forth of the place his graue was digged and with the same water which was in the pot standing in the same roome would moysten the said earth and so forme therof a round ball which they would carry away with them and esteeme of as a great Relique whereof my Alchade or Mary-bucke because of those perfumes I sent was admitted to haue one which he so highly esteemed I could not at any rate purchase it from him although I made him offers of more then I meant to giue This Assembly held for the space of ten dayes with a continuall recourse of comming and going but not altogether for the buriall of the dead for after certayne dayes were spent in the celebrating of his Obsequies then beganne a great solemnitie for the establishing and inuesting of his eldest sonne in his place and dignitie whereunto came agayne many gifts and presents amongst those that passed by me I tooke notice of a great Ramme which was carried betweene two bound fast and layd vppon a hurdle In the whole time I was in the Country I neuer saw any Ramme or Sheepe but that which was brought very farre his wooll might more properly be called haire it was of that hardnesse I did vnderstand by my Mary-bucke he was to be vsed after some manner of sacrifice and I vnderstood likevvise that in their high Priesthood the sonne succeeded the father this course is held amongst their Religious orders wherein they differ from the temporall gouerments It followes I should now deliuer their poore opinion they should concerning vs and our profession wherein with humble reuerence I craue pardon that my hand hold in the least sort be made an instrument to shew or set downe any thing opposite vnto my Lord and Sauiour but by shewing the weaknes of naturall man and the wisedome that remaines in rotten flesh the glory of God more perfectly appeares to the confirming and comforting of euery true and perfect establisht Christian when wee shew vnto them we honour and serue God aboue and likewise his Sonne who was sent vpon the earth and suffered death for vs who was called Iesus by that name they doe not know him but by the name of Nale they speake of a great Prophet who did many and great miracles whereof they haue amongst them diuerse repetitions and that his mothers name was Maria and him they doe acknowledge to be a wondrous good man but to be Gods sonne they say it is impossible for say they God was neuer seene and who can see God and liue much more for God to haue the knowledge of woman in that kind that we should beleeue it they do wonder at vs the rather they say because they see God loues vs better then them in giuing vs such good things they see we haue and are able to bring vnto them and likewise they do admire our knowledge being able to make such vessells as can carry vs through such great waters and how we should finde our way more especially higher vp in the Riuer when we talk of the Sea whereof they are altogether ignorant onely by the name or word Fancassa which signifieth great waters thus like humaine creatures in darknesse they argue being barred from that glorious light which shines in the east whreof though they haue heard they haue not yet made vse but no doubt when the fulnesse of time is come they shall for amongst themselues a prophecy remaines that they shall be subdued and remaine subiect to a white people And what know we but that determinate time of God is at hand and that it shall be his Almighty pleasure to make our nation his instruments whereof in my part I am strongly comforted in regard of the familiar conuersation wee find amongst them and the faire acceptance I receiued in the vpper parts I attained where I had a people came downe vnto me who had neuer seene white men before with whom we traded with a faire commerce and some sauor of a golden sequell the relation whereof will follow very speedily onely it is necessary I part not obruptly from my religious company and to acquaint you that they haue great bookes all manuscripts of their Religion and that we haue seene when companies of Mary-buckes haue trauelled by vs some of their people laden therewith many of them being very great and of a large volume which trauell of theirs it is most necessary I acquaint you withall in regard from thence proceedes a great deale of intelligence we haue and I may not let passe one vertue of theirs the narration whereof may make their intelligence somewhat more respected and in my poore opinion carry alongst a better esteeme It may please you to call to minde when I left the Kings in the middest of their cups I promised to shew you a soberer people which are these Mary-bucks betwixt whom and the temporal people is a wonderfull difference the rather in regard they liue vpon one and the same ground the temperature of the day being the same wherein the desires of those common people is for Aqua-vitae and hot drinkes that they will many times pawne their armes both their bowes and arrowes and swords from their neckes sor that hot liquor yea many times their clothes from their backes to satiat and glut their earnest desires which seeme to vs neuer to be satisfied Now to the contrary the Mary-bucke will by no meanes take or touch on droppe thereof of what kind someuer it be tying himselfe strictly to no manner of drinke but water and not onely himselfe that is the men or malekind but likewise their wiues and women neither will
bee bestowed they brought with them commodities to barter in doing of which and looking vpon vs they continued foure dayes Each night after wee had supt aboard our boate where Buckor Sano did euer eate with me nor during the wole time of my stay there did hee faile mee one meale notwithstanding I did diuers times send both fish and fowle vnto his wiues so did I likewise vnto the King while hee remained by vs which wee tooke with our hookes and kild with our gunne Our manner was to go on shoare and either at the Kings house or Buckor Sanos before the doore fires being made and mats spread to sit downe vpon the Fidlers plaide on their Musicke and in dawncing and singing and sometimes the men marching with their bowes and arrowes to shew their warlike exercises we spent great part of the euening wherein with the small shew we could make wee were not behind hand to let them heare our powder and see our manner of marching wherein they tooke much pleasure and commonly these euening sports cost vs a quart bottle of Aquavita which made their tongues freer and their bodies fuller of agility wherein alwayes they did striue to shew a desire they had to giue content vnto vs I may not omit one principall manifestation some three nights before we had finished all our occasions in this place Buckor Sano being aboard at supper by way of desire spake that hee might bee called by the name of the white mens Alchade in regard hee did performe the same manner of office for vs that is to make bargaines to deliuer and receiue according to the trust reposed vpon him I tooke it very kindly hee would accept the name and to inuest him therein I tooke a string of Currall and another of Christall and put about his necke he had likewise a small chaine of siluer put vpon him then causing three gunnes to bee shot off with a cup of Rosasolis drunke vnto him with a great shot we cryed out Alchade Buckor Sano Alchade Buckor Sano that all the shore did ring of vs hee presently calling to the shore commaunded the Fidlers to meete him at the water side and that his wiues should bring him thither all the nuts he had which be of great esteeme amongst them I brought him on shore with as much grace as wee could as soone as he landed the people being all come forth to meete him he gaue his nuts frankely Distributing them about in teste of his new honour his musicke playing before him he went vp to the kings house whom wee found sitting vpon a matt without doores with a fire of reeds before him which is still maintained by the light whereof they performe their ceremonies and haue vse of no other candles he placed me vpon the matt by the King and going himselfe a certaine distance off made a speech vnto him the effect whereof was that that in regard we were staide through want of water from passing higher and had setled our trade vpon his land the King would deale louingly with vs which he would not onely acknowledge with much curtesie himselfe but speake vnto his King whether we would haue gone to giue thankes vnto him all which speech he performed standing The King as hee sat made answre vnto him that hee did very well like of vs and did desire much we should come againe and that we should haue free liberty to kill any beastes as also to trade or trauaile in any part of his countrey vpon his curteous answer Buckor Sano kneeled downe vpon both his knees giuing him thankes and taking from about his necke the string of Currall and the string of Chrystall which I had giuen vnto him sent them vnto the King as a courteous gratification in our behalfe which hee receiued and put about his necke Buckor Sano still remayning on his knees to whom the King spake that for his sake and to shew his loue to vs he would freely giue vs all that countrey we were in and would deliuer it vnto him for vs as the great King had giuen it unto him vpon these words Buckor Sano puld his shirt ouer his head which he gaue toone of his woemen that stood by kneeling naked from the wast vpward vntill the Mary-bucks I had with me and another that was with the King had scrapt together a great quantity of dust sand and small grauell such as the ground in that very place afforded wherevpon Buckor Sano lying with his face downe flat along they lightly couered him from the head to the heele when presently hee taking his hands full of the earth throwes it this way and that way after a carelesse manner euery where round about him Which done and kneeling vp againe with his face towards vs as we sat in the mid way betweene vs the Marybucks gathered together a round heape of the same dust and with their hands made likewise of dust a Circle a small distance of round about the heape in which Circle one of them did write with his finger in the Character they vse so much as the Circle would containe this performed Buckor Sano came vpon his knees and hands to the heape and stooping with his mouth tooke a full mouthfull which presently he spet and spattered foorth againe then taking both his hands full of the loose earth hee came forward on his knees and both our Mary-buckes with their handsfull in the like manner and threw the earth into my lappe which done they presently rose and two women came with loose cloathes therewith fanning cooling and wiping the body of Buckor Sano who retiring himselfe into his house put on his best cloathes arming himselfe with his bowe and arrowes and someforty more in the same manner following him came againe before vs euery man an arrowe or two ready in his bowe marcht round about vs twice or thrice which done Bukor Sano came to mee and turning his face from me kneeled downe vpon his right knee putting his legge betweene mine as I sat which his body seemed to shadow mine presenting his bowe and drawing his arrowevp signifying that so he would fight and oppose his body in defence of mine then rising vp he gaue away his bowe and arrowes to another and sat downe by me so all the rest as their turnes came kneeling either before mee or him performed the like action and this was the manner of giuing vs the Countrey and deliuering a full possession which bounteous gift and great solemnitie could not require lesse then two or three bottles of our best liquor which was accordingly performed set them into their ceremonious discourses wherein because the night was farre spent wee were willing to leaue them and betoke our selues to our owne Castle beeing little the richer for all that great gift and spatious scope of land we were in that ample manner indowed withall The next day amongst many that
their voyces together when instantly one great voyce exalts it selfe and presently all are hush and the noyse is dasht so as we were wont to say Maister Constable speakes likewise when wee are a shore and meete with these troupes on a sudden the great ones will come forward and seeme to grin in our faces but offer vp a gunne and away they packe One of our people one day as we came neare the shore in our boate and a troupe of these shauers being gazing on vs made a shot and kild one of them which before the bote could get on shore the others had taken vp betwixt them and carried quite away but we haue kild of them which the countrey people doe much desire and will eate very heartely wherein I hope neuer to take their part And lastly let mee tell you that wee haue seene in the desert places they vse trees and plants wound and made vp together in that artificiall manner and wrought together with that thicknes ouer head to keepe away the sun and shade the ground which hath bin beaten smoothed vnder neath and all things in the manner and shape of an excellent arbour which place they haue only vsed and kept for their dancing and recreation that no man liuing that should haue come by chance and seene the same without knowledge of these vnlucky things but would haue confidently supposed it had and must haue beene the handy worke of man which some wayes confirmes the opinion the Spaniard holds of them and doth not sticke to write it that they are absolutely a race and kind of people who in regard they will not bee brought to worke and liue vnder subiection refuse to speake and so he reports of them And to conclude amongst their multitude of wilde beasts we haue enquired amongst them especially when I was at the highest in the countrey whether they could tell or report of a Vnycorne setting foorth vnto them a beast with one onely horne in his forehead and certainely they haue told me that higher within the land there is a beast which hath one onely horne in the same manner but describe the beast to be both about the colour and bignesse of a vallow Deare and the horne to be about the length of their arme and no otherwise which is nothing like to the description of a Vnicorne as he is with vs set out if there bee any such beast whereof indeed I am very doubtfull and so I am come to the last which is to deliuer what land fowle and of that nature there doe remaine wilde as we haue seene amongst them The discourse of land fowle AMongst such fowle and birds that remaine and liue vpon the land in our trauels vp the Riuer and our daily walkes and trauels vpon the shore our indraught being so many hundred miles wee neuer saw any Estriches neither did any of the cuntrey people euer bring any of their feathers to barter or sell vnto vs so as it appeares plainly there is none of them in these parts notwithstanding in the Riuer of Senega which is to the Northward and likewise againe more Southerly vpon the Sea coast of Affrica great store Therefore the greatest bird or fowle we see is called a Stalker who by reason of his long legs and necke when he stands vpright is in height taller then a man his body in substance is more then an indifferent lambe which wee doe feede vpon and finde it somewhat a dry meate but well allowed for nourishment and by the countrey people much esteemed of The especiall desire we haue to kill them is in regard of some feathers he hath which being taken in due time and so preserued are heere at home esteemed and worne The next in greatnesse is called a Wake in regard of the great noyse hee makes when hee flyeth which resembleth what he is called by and of these there is great abundance who for the most part liue vpon their Rice grounds and in those times do them great spoyles they are very good to eate and is a bird of a great stature hauing the vpper part of his head carrying a beautifull shew with a pleasing tuft on his Crowne which I haue seene worne by great personages here at home There is infinite store of another sort of excellent birds which wee call Ginney Hennes in bignesse much about our Phesants and in beauty answerable his feathers being all laid ouer him like vnto eyes in a pleasing fashion they are all the countrey ouer and in flockes of many hundreds together their food is vpon their corne grounds keeping close together insomuch as we haue killed eight of them at one shoote they are an excellent meate and many of these are brought into England and giuen as presents to those of note and worthy persons who preserue and keepe them for their rarenesse as birds of pleasure And in the very like abundance they haue Patridges whose colour is not beautifull so much as our Patridges here but onely of a darke feather and these are likewise all the countrey ouer where it is planted for the most remaining neare their houses and in the middle of their dwellings the great plenty of both which kinds of Gynney Hennes and Patridges are some manifest tokens there are no Foxes at all in the countrey who are in these our parts great enemies to both the kindes of Phesant and Patridge and the cause the keepe so neare the houses is to preserue them from as subtill enemies which are the Babownes and Munkeys who are no night walkers and in the day time the recourse of people makes them keepe further off whereas otherwayes they would not faile to be sharers There are also great store of Quailes who are in bignesse as great as a Woodcocke and from whence it is deriued I cannot auouch onely it is saide they are of those kind of Quailes as fell among the children of Israels tents thus much I can affirme they are a pleasing and delightful meate and in many places where we haue made abode they haue accustomed to sall about vs so as prouided wherewithall to shoote them mens dyets are mended euen in a short warning In all their townes and dwellings likewise store of Pidgeons vvhich feede vpon the offall of their Corne in the very doores yet all are wilde and of tame Pidgeons they haue no knowledge I haue vvith my stone-bow or pelletbow in two houres killed twenty Pidegeons euen among their houses vvhich manner of shooting they haue had in vvonderfull admiration And these birds or fowle nominated are such that are at all times and in most places euer neare at hand and alvvayes ready for sustenance if men bee prouided and vvill take small paine to looke them There are likewise in the countrey Parats but none good for ought except the dun Parat with the red tayle of which fort you haue some few that come to speake well but
of Paraquetos there are very many and beautifull birds which are often brought home and some few attaine to perfection Also of smaller birds great varietie sundry strange shapes amongst which many are in colours delightfull to the eye and many in notes very pleasing to the eare there is amongst the variety one smal bird which for his strangnesse we obserue hee hath no legges but two strings like the bird of Arabia with which he hangs with his head downeward and hath such resemblance to a dead leafe as it hangs on the tree being direct of that colour whereby vnlesse hee be seene too light you can hardly discouer him and he doth seeme to take pleasure to deceiue mens eye-sight hanging wonderous steddy without motion whilest hee is lookt after and very neare the touching Likewise another strange bird there is which flyeth with foure wings we see him not all the day but an houre before night his two foremost wings are largest the other are a pretty distance backward and beares his body betweene foure palpably As I speake of these birds it is very necessary I should set downe how nature teacheth these little creatures to prouide for the safety of themselues and the young they bring forth I haue shewed before vvhat troupes and multitudes of Babownes and Monkeys the countrey is stored withall vvhich are profest enemies to feathered fowle and therefore in these little poore creatures who can make no resistance Nature hath directed them by Art to preuent cruelty Amonst the great variety of strange trees and woods which the countrey affordeth whereof there is not any that I can know or call by an English name by saying this tree doth grow in England there is especially one who doth exceed in prickles both vpon the body branches and armes euen to the outermost small springges many of these grow distant from the water and many of them grow vpon the banke side hanging their toppes ouer the water we obserue that of this onely tree the litle Bird makes choyse and not content with his defence of prickles makes vse likewise of his growing ouer the water and on that side which bends to the riuer on the very outside doe they winde their nestes with an owse or neck which is hollow made of reeds and sedge the whole neast hanging like a bottle made fast by the necke in some places so thicke together that the same side of the tree seemes as it were all couered with thatch vnto which if notwithstanding the prickles the Babown or Munkey durst approach the feare hee shall haue that the boughes will not beare him and the fall hee is in daunger of together vvith the fright of the water vnderneath him is able to daunt him by vvhich natural care he preserues his increase and speedes better then many times the Parrat doth for he likewise is prouident to make his neast on the outermost smallest twigge of a tree but on the land winding it about the twigge so neare as it will not beare any of his vnhappy enemies who notwithstanding are vigilant for their owne ends and by getting vpon vpper boughes will ouerlooke his desired prey and when hee sees they are growne to fill vp the neast will hazard charily as the bough may beare him and sitting fast with his two hinder feete with his two hands take vp the bough and shake it in that manner that either some or all forth of the nest shal tumble and being down he gaines them for his labour Another kind of art nature hath taught these birds in the high banke which is steepest ouer the Riuer whose steepenesse hinders the accesse of these deuourers they will make holes so artificially round like augor holes and of that equall distance the one by the other so thicke as the banke will beare carrying them at least a yard within the ground by which places they preserue themselues and their young But there are birds of defence such as are hawkes whereof there is one sort as large as our Ierfauchon and these as the people tell vs will of their owne accords kill the wild deare by ceazing vpon his head and hanging fast doth continue beating with his wings vntill the deare faintes and then he preyes vpon him And likewise of other sorts that liue vpon prey whose manner of breeding is in the open trees and by the continuall watching and attending the nest they are ready to defend and saue their young There are no great Eagles but of a kind of small bastard Eagles infinite store and likewise seuerall sorts of rauening Kites and Buzzards whereof the skin of one sort smells wondrous sweet and strong after the savour of the Crocodile These sorts are easily to bee discerned for if at any time wee hapned to kill a beast in the woods whereby any blood were discouered although there were scarce any one of these rauening birds to be seene almost instantly you should haue such troupes of all sorts come in as were able to deuoure the whole carkas if wee were not present to affront them And the onely meanes the people haue to finde out either Elephant or any other beast as they dye or come to an vntimely end amongst the thicke woods or high reedes is by obseruing and keeping watch to looke out where these rauening birds gather together which is easily discerned the nature of them being to sore and flye in the aire alost ouer the place where their prey remaineth to which place the people repaire and many times are sharers in the booty And to shut vp this discourse that it may appeare how likely it is these birdes and fowles may well increase wee doe not see that the people haue any ingenious conceites either by gins or otherwise to kill or take of them but vpon any especiall time when the King is determined to make a feast they obserue a course to take them with the rehearsall whereof I will make an end The greate command is sent that all people come abroad and being in the fields are set and placed seuerally of an in different distance the one vnto the other when the Patridge and gynny hennes being sprung or put vp as their natures are to flye but an indifferent flight so soone as he lights againe they ate ready to runne in and put them vp and in this manner still pursuing them that they are wearyed out and the people with their hands take them vp and bring them to the King euen to that number as may content him with which their Princely pastime I heere conclude my story The Conclusion And for a finall end doe earnestly desire that what is written may be taken into consideration thereby to stirre vp a more willing affection to prosecute and goe on in a timely proceeding vpon this hopefull trade which will craue expedition in regard of these reasons following First there is as it were a certaine