Cities near the Atlantick Henry Duke of Viseo yongest Son of Henry the I. encourag'd by this good Success resolved to make this his Business and sparing no Cost invited from Spain and Italy expert persons for his purpose skilful in Navigation and Mathematical Sciences by whose help and diligence in 1420. he found Madera in 28. the Isle * These Names were all given by the Portugees at their first Discovery of the places Porto Sancto in 40. Cape de Verd and in 52. the Coasts of Guinee After this Prince laid open thus a new Way for Discoveries having gotten the honor to be the first that made the Portugees Sea-men being of a great Age he dyed in 1463. after whose death those Seas lay fallow twenty years which King John the Second afresh furrowed then up again and first discovered Angola and Congo St. Georges Isle conducted by Diego Cou in 1486. next year resolving to try further hoping to sayl round Africa and so finde a new Way to the East-Indies and assisted by Bartholomew Diar passing Cape Verd first found the Princes Isle thence steering South-ward reach'd the Great Southern Cape from thence either daunted by cross Windes rough Seas or mutinous Mariners they returned leaving the honor of this Great Enterprize to the fore-mentioned Vasques de Gamma for which imploy'd by Emmanuel King of Portugal after the Discovery of St. Johns Isle and St. Hellens he attempted the same Cape which Diar durst not then first calling it Cabo de Bona Esperanza there being first encouraged with hopes of finding the much desired way to the East-Indies Thence doubling this Great Point they steer'd northward Africk on their * The Left hand or north-side Larboard reaching the Coasts of Quiloa Mozambique Mombara and Melinde contracting an Amity with the Melindian King by whose assistance he found the Port Caliculo in the East-Indies from thence returning with unexpressible Joy and eternal Honor to Lisbon in 1500. The next year after Alvares Capralde with twelve Ships and fifteen hundred men prosecuted the Design but suffering Shipwrack on the Coast of Brazil desisted but the following year the former Vasques and his brother Stephen reassum'd the Undertaking with greater zeal and vigour afterward by Ferdinand Almeida and Alfonso de Albukerque and so from time to time by several of that Nation and last of all by the English and Hollanders By this means the Moderns were exactly informed of the particulars of Africa when the Ancients knew no more than the Limits of the Roman Empire and some parts belonging to Egypt hearing strange Stories of Beasts and Monsters whence arose this Adage Africa semper aliquid apportat novi Strange Monsters Africk always breeds ¶ THe Romans divided this Region into six Provinces The Roman Division first the Sub-Consulship in which were Carthage and Tunis called properly and especially by them Africa Next the Consulship of Numidia wherein was Cyrte now Constantine Bysacena being a part of that proper Africa which contained Adrumetum last the Tripolitan Consulship Tripoly being the Head City and two Mauritania's one Imperial containing Algier and Telesin the other Mauritania Tingitana the Realms of Morocko and Fez and Egypt which they also possess'd and these Inhabitants made no further discovery than what was known before so pinching up Africa that all was comprehended within Barbary excepting Egypt and some fragments of Numidia yet Plinie though a Roman mentions many other Nations as the Murri subdued by Suetonius Paulinus and Garamantes by Balbas the Romans also possessed Cyrenaica which they joyned to Creta Mela bounds Africa with the Nile and so also Dionysius scarce mentioning farther than Mauritania Numidia and Cyrenaica placing Egypt in Asia Strabo so shrinks Africk that he pities their ignorance that made it a third part of the World saying that Africa joyn'd to Europe would not both quadrary with Asia but Ptolomy knowing further did better swelling it to twelve Provinces as the two Mauritania's Numidia Cyrenaica Marmorica the inward and proper Lybia upper and lower Egypt Ethiopia under Egypt inward or south Ethiopia For by his Maps may be plainly seen that what lyes five or six degrees beyond the Equator he knew nothing of saying expresly that 64 degrees under the Southern Elevation were all Terrae Incognitae so the Ancients did not what they should in its Description Marmol p. 1. l. 2. cap. 2. 3. but what they could they contracting its Limits much more than Ptolomy taking Egypt and all betwixt the Nile from Africk conferring it on Asia Leo Africanus their most Eminent Author and curious Searcher of his Native Countrey in 1526. boasted that he had been through all yet makes no more than four Provinces as Barbarie Numidia or Biledulgerid Lybia and Negro-land giving Nile for its bounds not the Arabian Gulf with the Streights of Sues to the Mid-land Sea so bestowing a great part of Egypt upon Asia Eastward and as Marmol says not once mentioning upper Ethiopia or Abyssine nor the nether nor many other places discovered by the Portugues since besides all that is now called New Africa extending from the sixteenth degree of Northern Latitude to the Great Southern Cape discovered by Vasques de Gamma ¶ THe most apt and usual Division of Africk Africa as now divided with the unanimous consent of late Geographers is as we shall here in a short Survey present ye The Main Land not reckoning the Isles they divide into * Provinces seven Parts Egypt Barbarie Biledulgerid the Desart Sarra Negro-land Inner or Upper Ethiopia or Prester John and the Outward or Nether Ethiopia Egypt is divided into the Upper Middle or Lower Barbarie makes six Divisions as the Kingdoms of Fez Marocco Tunis Tremesa and Dara and Barka onely not Monarchical Biledulgerid contains three Realms Targa Bardoa and Gaoga The Land of Locusts and four Wildernesses Lempta Haire Zuenziga and Zanbaga the Desart Sarra makes no Division Negro-land boasts nineteen Kingdoms Gualate Hoden Genocha Zenega Tombuti Melli Bittonnin Guinee Temian Dauma Cano Cassena Bennin Zanfara Guangara Borno Nubia Biafra and Medra Upper Ethiopia makes also nineteen Dafela Barnagasso Dangali Dobas Which seven Regions contain in all fifty Kingdoms and but one Re-publick Trigemahon Ambiaucantiva Vangue Bagamadiri Beleguance Angote Balli Fatigar Olabi Baru Gemen Fungi Tirut Esabella and Malemba Nether Ethiopia contains Congo Monomotapa Zanciber and Ajan The Isles belonging to Africa in the Straights are Malta opposing Tripoli Islands belonging to Africa in number twenty four in the Ocean Porto Sancto the Maderas Canaries the Isles of Cape de Verd or the Salt-Islands the Isles of Ferdinando Poo the Princes Island St. Thomas St. Matthews Ascension Anbon St. Helens the Isle of Martin Var Tristan de Cunha the Island Dos Pikos St. Marie de Augosta and the Trinity all which lye west from the Main Land Northward from the Cape of Good Hope and towards the East of Africk are the Isles of Elizabeth
mention'd before Some Hens and Goats breed here though not in great numbers but the Woods afford all sorts of wild Beasts The Inhabitants feed upon Mille Banano's and wild Creatures Between Sette and the Cape Lope-Gonzalvez lieth Gobby a Territory having Morasses Lakes and Rivers all Navigated by Canoos The chiefest Town lieth about a days Journey from the Sea-shore The Rivers feed many Water-Elephants and divers Fishes but the Land breeds few Cattel besides Beasts of Prey Though the People claim a kind of propriety in Wives yet is it such as merits not to be brought under the name of Marriage not for that they take as many as they can but because when any Friend comes to visit the Husband he immediately as a mark of amity prostitutes one of his Wives to him And in all other Cases gives such liberty that Women taken in Adultery receive commendations and rewards rather than obloquy and punishment A Man when first Married gets not esteem nor regard among the Womans Friends till he hath smartly beaten and boxed his Wife and thenceforward they reckon him one of that Family And this usage hath by custom become so naturaliz'd that a Woman suspects her Husbands Love unless he frequently beat her Their Language hath affinity with that of Lovango Language differing onely in some few words so that they easily understand each other They make great Wars upon their Neighbors especially those of Comma between Cape de Lope-Gonzalvez and Gobby The Commodities brought out of Europe thither are Musquets Powder bright Copper Kettles white and brown Linnen and ordinary Cloth Their Arms consist in Arrows Arms. Bowes and Assagays the first they call Insetto the second Matta or Boeta and the third Janga and Zonga The Government of the Countrey remains at this time in the hands of a Woman In all other Customs Religions and Conjurations they agree with those of Lovango onely they are more deceitful and treacherous ¶ DIngy borders at Lovango The Territory of Dingy Cadongo and Vango a great Countrey and full of Towns and Villages A Tributary to the Lovangian King yet hath its own Lords which Rule by succession As to the Plants Beasts Customs of the Inhabitants Governments and Religions take here this brief account This Countrey of Lovango affords divers sorts of Fruit Plants viz. Massa-Mamponta or great Mille Massa-Minkale or little Mille and red Mille which they use in stead of Tares There grow also Potato's call'd Limbale Ampaita Bakovens Injames with them Imbale Emtogifto or Ginger and other strange Fruits as Goebes Mandonyns or Dongo and Fonsi and some Herbs the chief of which they account Insansy bitter of taste Imboa and Insua Purceline and wild Fetherfew They have also Malanga or Pumpkins Mampet or Sugar-Canes Mihenga a juicy Fruit but they Plant no more of it than they can eat from hand to hand and Maye-Monola or Tobacco Grain of Paradice by them stil'd Indonga-Anpota grows here but in no quantities because neither Sown nor Planted Also great abundance of Banano's and Mandioque or Farinha of which they make Bread Of the Leaves of Majaera they make a pretty relishing and savory Food dressing it with smoaked Fish Palm-Oyl Salt and Achy or Brasile Pepper but their common Food is Fondy or Sonsy made of the Flour of Mille. There are also many Calabasses which grown ripe they dry and make Dishes of for several uses A sort of little Apples grows on low Trees which prove a very refreshing Fruit and good to put into Drink as Spice or as the Kola There is a larger sort thereof call'd Cucomba crude sowre and corroding but boyl'd tastes very well The Kola grows on great Trees in Husks ten and twelve together and yields Fruit once a year This as experience teacheth eaten in the Evening hinders sleep The Root Melando Melando whose Leaf climbeth up on a Tree or Pole like our Hops eaten gives an Aromatick taste Cassia Fistula Cassia Fistula or Pipe Cassia they use in their Witchcrafts and Enchantments Of Oranges Oranges Lemons and Coco-Nuts Lemons and Coco-Nuts they have but few for setting no value on them they will not bestow the pains to transplant and propagate them Achy Achy or Brasilian Pepper groweth wild and much used so also Cotton All these Fruits continue the whole year through except between Majumba and Cabo de Gonzalvez whose Inhabitants use Bananos in stead of Bread and Fish for other Provision Matombe Trees grow numerously Matombe but yet exceeded by the vast multitude of Palm Trees These Matombes afford first good Wine which they drink in stead of that of Palm but not so strong The Branches make Rafters and Laths for the Houses and Couches to Sleep on The Leaves are used for Tiles and Fence off the greatest Rains All the Garments worn in Lovango are made of these Leaves which they use also in stead of Money having no sort of Mettal Coyn'd but because the Matombe Leaves are not so strong as those of the Palm the Clothes made thereof are in less esteem seldom making of it any other than course Jago-Clothes Their manur'd ground is so furtile that it affords three Crops The Seed ground viz. small Mille little Beans and Wigge that is sown with Mille as Rape with us Some have their Lands one two or three miles others a day or two's Journey from their Dwellings whether they go at Seed-time and remain with their Families till they have Sow'd their Ground then return to their Habitations again They Plough not the Land but break it up with an Instrument like a Hoe How their Land is Plow'd or rather a Masons Trowel but broader and hollower Hoggs Cabrietes or Sheep Goats Cows and all sorts of Fowls The living Creatures breed more plentifully here than in any other places on the Coast of Congo or Angola The Inhabitants are strong Limb'd The kind of Inhabitants large of Stature and decent in Behavior commonly jealous of their Wives yet themselves Wanton and Unchast covetous and greedy to attain Riches yet generous and free hearted one to another very much addicted to Drinking Wine of Palm yet slighting our European Wine no Zealots in matters of Religion yet extreamly Superstitious so that it is pity they want the knowledge of Real and Divine Truths The Men wear long Garments Their Cloathing reaching from then middle down to their Feet and below border'd with Fringe but leave the upper part of their Body naked The Stuffs whereof they are made may be divided into four sorts one of which none may wear but the King and those he permits out of singular Favor or as marks of Dignity They are call'd sometimes Libongo otherwhiles Bondo which no Weavers are permitted to Sell upon pain of Death There are two other sorts usually sold the best call'd Kimbes being a Habit for the greatest Nobleman made very fine and with curious Workmanship Flowr'd Fit for Handkerchiefs
onely over the Shoulders they have Iron Chains hanging with Links as big as ones little Finger In the Onset and Retreat they use little Discipline or Order Confused disorder in fighting but upon the Word of Command the Drums beating and Horns blowing they march forward far distant from one another and in that Motion give the first Charge with a Flight of Arrows which done they very dexterously wheel about and leap from one place to another to avoid the Enemies Arrows In the Van commonly some sturdy Youths draw out who with the ringing of Bells that hang at their Girdles incourage and animate the other After the first have fought till they be weary upon the sound of one of their Horns directed by the Commander in Chief they Retreat and others instantly supply their Places and this continues so long till one of the Armies proves Victorious If it chance that the General of the Army be kill'd they instantly betake themselves to Flight and leave the Field no Force or Authority being able to make them Rally In going out to War they take little care to be furnished with Provision so that many times when they come into a Countrey with their Army they are forced for very hunger to leave the Enemy though half Conquer'd and Retreat into their own Countrey But now at length they begin to take notice of these Miscarriages and by the Instructions of the Portuguese to alter and amend their evil Discipline Most of the Territories and Lordships of Congo Government have peculiar Governors or Provincials entituled Mani that is Lord whereto they add the Name of the Province as Mani-Vamma that is Lord of Vamma Mani-Coansa Mani-Hany Mani-Kelle and many others But Bamba Pembo Pango and Batta have the Titles of (a) As was said before so we call them Dukedoms and others of Earldoms wherein the Blacks imitate the Portuguese as their Apes But the Portuguese stile themselves all Sovasen When they shew themselves openly before the People they appear very Stately sitting upon great Velvet Chairs with Velvet Cushions and spreading upon the Ground before them costly Tapestries and this also the Portuguese taught them to strike an awful Reverence into their Subjects of their Grandezza The Titles that the King uses to manifest his Greatness The King's Titles are these Mani-Congo by the Grace of God King of Congo Angola Makamba Okanga Cumba Lulla Zouza Lord of the Dukedoms of Batta Sunda Bamba Amboille and the Territories thereof Lord of the Earldoms of Songo Angoy Cacongo and of the Monarchy of Ambondes Ruler of the great and wonderful River of Zaire He rules with absolute Power and Sovereignty over his Subjects His Dominion who never approach near him but with the most humble Postures of Reverence and whoever fails to tender their due Respects and Obedience he punishes with Perpetual Slavery But the Pomp of his Majesty and Greatness he shews especially when he Treats his Nobility His Feeding of the Nobility glorious that are serviceable to him This himself in Person deals out in the following manner At Noon the King causeth all the Noble-men then in the Bounds of the Palace to be numbred Whereupon all the Pots are brought before them one with boyl'd Beans another with Flesh and a third with Mille without any Spicery but Salt and some Oyl of Palm To the greatest Lords he sends every one his Part in a Wooden Platter together with a small Flask of Palm-Wine But those of less Quality are by Name call'd up and Accommodated by six seven or eight together to whom the King directs such a great Pot of Mille Beans or Flesh according to their Number After the Feast is ended they come all into the King's Presence and falling upon their Knees clap their Hands and bow their Heads in token of Thanks and Submission and so depart to their own Homes onely some Favorites stay all the day long and drink so much Tobacco and Wine of Palm that every one as well the King as Nobles are so highly fluster'd that they cannot go from the Place When the King goes abroad With what State he goes abroad not only the Nobility but also those that dwell about the Court or by occasion are found there at that time attend him some going before others following but all dancing and tumbling with antick Postures to the Musick of certain ill-tun'd Drums and long Ivory Flutes like Cornets until the King be within his House At the King 's going to Church presently as soon as he is come without the Palace not onely his own Grandees which at all times are ready but also the Portuguese as well Temporality as Clergy must wait upon him and again from the Church to his Palace but at no other time are the Portuguese oblig'd to such Attendance When he sheweth himself openly to the People he is always attired in his richest Robes that is a great long Mantle or Cloak of Silk Velvet or fine Cloth most splendidly beautifi'd On his Fingers he hath some Gold Chains intermixt with fine Coral and upon his Head a bordered and preciously adorned Cap. He hath in his Palace about a hundred Waiters who all have Lodgings in the Court He eats his Meat after the manner of Europe at a high Table where he always sits alone with some few Pieces of Plate for his use All his Waiters go cloathed in black Mantles of Bais When the Hollanders in the Year Sixteen hundred forty two Hollanders sent to the King in Embassy came the first time to the King as Ambassadors from Lovando Sante Paulo immediately after they had forced it from the Portuguese they got Audience at the Evening in the Dark passing through a Gallery two hundred Paces long set on both sides with two Ranks of Men with Wax Candles in their Hands burning The King sate in a small Chappel hang'd with Rush Mats The State of the King from the top of which a Branch hung with Wax Candles Habited in a Cloth of Gold Coat and Drawers and about his neck three heavy Gold Chains He had on his right Thumb a very large Granate or Ruby Ring and on his left Hand two great Emeraulds upon the left Sleeve of his Coat a Gold Cross was fastned richly enclos'd in a piece of well-polish'd Crystal On his Head a fine white Cap and on his Legs a pair of Russet Boots At his right side stood an Officer that sometime gently fanned the Air with a Handkerchief and at his left side another holding a Tin Bowe and a Tin Scepter cover'd with fine strip'd Cloth in his Hand His Seat a red Velvet Spanish Chair aloft above which upon a Border was embroider'd in Letters Don Alvarez King of Congo Right before him lay spread a great Turkey Carpet and over his Head hung a Canopy of white Sattin set with Gold and trimm'd about with a deep Fringe A little on the right side kneeled before him Don
a Dance by them call'd Quimboara in which they say the Devil certainly enters one of them and out of him informs them of future and answers to past events But now many of them by the endeavour of the Portugal Jesuites The Angolians become Christians have been brought to the Catholick Religion especially in the year fifteen hundred eighty four at which time many thousands receiv'd Baptism insomuch that in Fifteen hundred and ninety there were above twenty thousand Families of Angolians found that were Christians and in the same year fifteen hundred more were converted the Portuguese to this day labour very much in the same good Work Every Sova hath a Chaplain in his Banza or Village to Christen Children and Celebrate Mass which on many works effectually to their confirmation though others in publick appearing Christians yet in private adhere to their damnable Idolatry The Supervising and Command of Lovando Sante Paulo Government of the City Lovando Sante Paulo by the Portuguese and the rest of Angola subject to the King of Portugal in matters of State lies in the hands of a Governor two Bradores or Burgesses and one Ovidor or Chief Justice for matters Criminal and two Judges call'd Jeuses with one Secretary The King of Portugal hath great Revenues from Angola The Revenues of the King of Portugal from Angola partly by the yearly Tributes of the Sovasen and partly by the Customs and Taxes set upon Exported and Imported Goods and Slaves This Revenue for all Rights and free Transportation to Brazil Rio dela Plata and other places is said to amount to a great summe of Money yearly which in Lisbon is Farm'd to one or more by the name of Contractadore who keeps his Factor in Lovando in the nature and with the authority of Consul deciding all matters of Trade and Money-businesses He hath to attend him one Secretary two Notaries and two Porteras or Door-keepers The Church-Government of the Portuguese in Lovando a Bishop manages Church-Government who is Suffragan of him of the Island of Sante Thombe by reason that Island prescribes antiquity and as shewing the first claims to be there the Mother-Church of the Christians The Island of LOVANDO BEfore the City Lovando Sante Paulo in eight degrees The Island Lovando and eight and forty minutes South-Latitude lies the Island of Lovando five miles with its North-Point to the West of the River Bengo making a good and convenient Haven for Shipping The whole being not above seven miles in length but in the broadest place it is not above half a League over insomuch as those that Sail by in a Ship may easily see the Sea run between it and the main Land Pigafet supposes it to have begun from the setlings of Sand and Mud thrown up there in heaps by force of the two greater Waters of Bengo and Quansa The whole spot appears an even Champaign but very dry and Sandy onely in some places may be seen a few Bushes and Brambles and on the North-side here and there some Haw-thorn Shrubs The Land by the Sea-side shoots down so steep and sloaping that the Sea not above a Musket-shot from the Shore hath above seven or eight and twenty Fathom Water and a mile from thence a Line of a hundred Fathom can reach no ground Pigafet places on this Island seven Towns Towns call'd Libar by the Inhabitants call'd Libar or Libata but Linschot will hardly allow them Villages however the Portuguese attribute to the best the title of Sante Esprit Here are two Churches or Chappels for the exercise of Religion and the Portuguese have divers Gardens and Orchards wherein grow Oranges Lemmens Citrons Pomegranates excellent Figs Bananos Coco-nuts Grapes and other Fruits but Corn is so great a stranger to it that they are compell'd to fetch Supply from other places This little Tract produces the great Tree by the Natives call'd Ensada by Clusius the Indian Fig-Tree by Linschot in Portuguese Arbor de Raiz that is the Rooting-Tree It springs up commonly with one thick body to a great height at the top shooting forth many branches from which pendulously descend several small Strings of a Golden colour which once touching the ground take fast root and spring up again like new Plants and in short time increase to a large Bulk from whence as the former fall new Pendulums that rooting again spread and so ad infinitum so that sometimes one single Tree will extend its bounds above a thousand paces and seems like a little Wood or Thicket The great Sprouts with so many close Boughs deny the Sun-beams a peeping place to view the inside of those vaulted Cavities whose redoubled Mazes yield three or four times reiterated Ecchos to such whose retirements draw them thither for divertisement and shadow The Leaves of the young Boughs resemble those of the Quince-Tree being of a whitish green and woolly The Fruit within and without red springs between the Leaves of the young Branches like an ordinary Fig. Very credible eye-witnesses report that under one of these Trees three thousand men may shelter Under its outermost or first Bark Of its Bark Clothes are woven they find somewhat like a Thred or Yarn which being beaten cleans'd and drawn out at length the common People make Cloth of This Tree grows also in Gon and the Indies where the Inhabitants by cutting away the thin Boughs make Arbors under them for cooleness and shade It seems contrary to the ordinary rules of experience Pigafet and therefore strange that digging here two or three hands breadth deep very swift Water rises at the time of the Seas flowing whereas digging at the time of ebb it cometh forth salt or brackish The Islanders use Canoos of the bodies of Date Trees joyn'd together in which they fight at Sea Formerly the Jages abode here but the Portuguese drove them out in the year Fifteen hundred seventy eight and pursu'd them to Massingan at the same time raising a Fort there for their security Under this Island are the Simbos taken up Here is the fishing of Simbos which carry'd to Congo and other places go for current Money so that this place may justly be term'd the Mint of Congo This Island obeys the King of Congo although by report The Island Lovando is under Congo beyond it he doth not possess one foot of ground Southward of Bengo upon the main Land however by that he claims to himself all the Revenue of the Fishery aforesaid and hath his Governor to oversee the same and take the King 's due which is indeed what he pleases and by compute amounts to eleven thousand Duckets Annually And although on all the Shores of Congo these fashion shells are found yet those of Lovando have the highest esteem by reason of their thin and shining black or gray colour This Island makes the Haven before the City Lovando Barra de Korimba where lieth two Entrances one on the South
of death but there must continue ten days worshipping the Moon within which time if it doth not Rain they cut off his Hand Before the beginning of Lent all the most Eminent assemble and offer Sacrifice to the Moon of an hundred Goats and Kids Heads They observe Lent like the Christians but they begin it with the New Moon in April and keep the Solemnity sixty days during which time they eat no Milk Butter Flesh nor Fish but onely Herbs and Dates or Rice and Honey which they buy in the Cities of the Arabians They are so zealous Observers of this Fast that if they find any to have broken it for the first time they cut off two Fingers of his Right-hand the second time the whole Hand and the third time the Arm. Every Temple of which there are many hath a Caciz call'd by them Hodamo that is a Governor or Judge in Church-matters but holds the Office but one Year which he enters upon by receiving a Staff the Badge of his Authority and wearing always a Cross of a Span and half long about him which he may not part with upon pain of the loss of his Hand In the Temples whereinto at the Rising and Setting of the Moon they enter they use a Stick of two or three Spans long upon which with another Stick they give certain Strokes thrice in the Day and thrice in the Night held by them for a Work of great Holiness Afterwards they go in Procession three times round about the Church-yard turning thrice after every Circuit then they take an Iron Pan made in form of a plain deep Scale hanging upon three Chains into which they put Splinters of sweet Wood and hold the Bason over the Fire then they first perfume the Altar thrice afterwards the Temple Doors and say with a loud voice some Prayers in the Temple and in the Church-yard requesting of the Moon to do good to them onely and no other People At the performance of this Solemnity the Hodamo holdeth upon the Altar a lighted Candle made of Butter for they have none of Wax or Tallow and therefore they have in their Temples Dishes of Butter wherewith they also every day anoint the Cross and other Sticks lying upon the Altar They go upon a certain day of the year with the greatest Cross in Procession round about the Temple and cause it to be carry'd by one chosen out of the whole Assembly whose Fingers after the ending of the Procession they chop off and present him with a little Stick with certain marks upon it for a token that he should be prejudic'd by no body whereupon thenceforth he is held in much greater honor than others They follow in many Churches the Ceremonies and Customs of Nestorius because they were for a long time Govern'd by Ecclesiastical Rulers which came from Babylon They have no set-Day of the Week to go into their Temples but assemble on the Procession-days or when any new occasion calls them They are Circumcis'd like the Moors and if they know any one that is not Circumcis'd they cut off his Fingers for no Uncircumcis'd may enter into their Temples yea the very Women themselves clap their hands at their Husbands if they be not Circumcis'd They bear a great hatred against all Christians nevertheless some are of opinion that they have suck'd in much of the Heresie of the Jacobites and that formerly many were Converted by Francis Xavier According to the Observations of Sir Thomas Roe Ambassador from the King of England to Persia there were in the Year Sixteen hundred and fifteen upon this Island four sorts of People that is Arabians not Natives but Shipt over thither together with many others by order of the King of Kaxem when they subdu'd it These never appear before the Sultan without kissing his Hand The second sort are a kind of Slaves who labor continually in his service and prepare and dress the Aloes The third are Beduins the most antient Inhabitants against whom a long time the King of Socotora made War They live in great numbers upon the Mountains and are at this day left in Peace upon promise to shew their Obedience and let their Children be instructed in the Doctrine of Mahomet The fourth being indeed the right Proprietors of the Countrey are a gross Body'd and miserable People which have no constant abode in the night lying in the Woods and going always stark naked they live by Roots hold no converse with others and lead a life almost like Beasts Trogloditica or New Arabia THe Modern Geographers as Maginus and others name the Countrey or Space of Land lying between the Nile and the Red-Sea properly New Arabia but the Inhabitants according to Castaldus call it Sirfi The Antients nam'd it Trogloditica and Ptolomy The Countrey of the Arabians and Egyptians The Inhabitants were by the Grecians call'd Ichthiophagi that is Fish-eaters by Eustathius Erembers by Diodorus Molgers and Bolgers and in the holy Scripture according to the testimony of Arias Montanus they are call'd Ghanamim and by Pliny Therotho's that is to say Hunters for their swiftness and dexterity in Hunting In the bounding of this Countrey great diversity arises amongst Geographers Ptolomy extends Trogloditick Arabia from the City Suez by the Red-Sea three or according to Peter de la Valla scarce a days Journey and a half from Cairo to Mount Elephas at this day call'd Felte so that he compriseth under it the Sea-Coast of the Kingdoms of Barnagas and Adel. Some extend the Limits in the South to the Territory of Brava the Kingdom of Magadoxo and the River Quilanzi yet make it begin at the forenam'd Suez but a third sort narrow it to the Cape of Guardafuy and some to the Island Mazua in the Red-Sea The chiefest Places as you go from North to South near Suez according to Maginus are these though Belloon gives them to the Nether-Egypt The Haven and Point of Pharos where they say the Children of Israel went over the Red-Sea on dry ground the Seven Wells call'd Sette Pozzi in Italian the Haven of Alkosser or Chessir Sanutus on the other side compriseth a part of this New Arabia viz. all the aforesaid Places from Suez to Chessir under Egypt wherein we have follow'd those who have formerly described Egypt They call the Tract of Land from Chessir to the Sea lying over against the Haven of Suaquena Batrazan In eighteen Degrees and forty Minutes lieth the Haven of Suaquem in the Territory of Canphila in a Hollow of the Sea close by the People call'd Nubiers and Bello's The whole Coast of this Countrey lieth clogged with high rough and unpassable Mountains so set back to back that no access can be had to the Inland Countreys of Ethiopia and the Abyssines but through the Haven of Ercocco and Suachem and that so troublesom that Travellers can scarce go above three or four English miles in a day The Inhabitants at this day are made up of a mixture
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-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
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
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
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
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
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
Brandy-Wine are the most ready Traffick especially with such as dwell more towards the In-land In Jawesil is a weekly Fair of Hides Cows Goats Hens Mille and all edible Commodities Of this Market call'd Gambayar a Noble-man has the supervising who appoints Deputy-Clerks of the Market under him at certain Rents The Trade driven by the Merchants of Europe in these Kingdoms In what places of Zenega and when the Euroan Merchants Trade there is transacted most between the beginning of October and the last of May In the rest of the Moneths the Blacks are busie in Tilling of their Grounds The Wares desired by the Blacks Wares brought over from Europe to Zenega and carried over thither out of Europe are these following of which Brandy and Iron are the chief for they use great quantities of Iron to make Bowes and Arrows Harping-Irons Assagay's Javelins and other Utensils for their Fishing Trade Tillage and Husbandry Bars of Iron of which eight and twenty or thirty make a thousand Weight Sleight In-land Brandy-Wine Brass Basons from seven to ten Inches deep with narrow Brims Copper-Bars each of a pound weight Wool-Cards Blue small Buckles Red yellow and Blue Clothes White Blue Red and Yellow comb'd Wooll Red and Yellow Yarn Grain of all sorts The best or common Allom. Fine red and long Beads like Corall * But at this day in stead of Chrystal rather Coral or Beads are used Mountain Christall Sea-mens Knives Fine and course Shirts for men wrought on the Neck Breasts and Sleeves Sleazy Linnen which is call'd Akros on the Coast of Guinee Fine Diaper Fine Cotton Thin and white Paper White and blue Canns Irish Mantles Spanish Leather-Shoes Mens Hats or Caps Sleight Scemiters or Cuttles Brass Trumpets Course red Caps White and course Sowing-Thread or Yarn Glass Bottles overlaid with Tin and all sorts of Nails All these Wares are commonly packt in little Chests which are there barter'd for good advantage the Commodities received in Exchange we mentioned before ¶ THe Weapons and Arms of the Jalofs are Lances Bowes and Arrows made of Iron-Plates a kind of Turkish Scimiter crook'd like a Bowe round and broad Shields made of very hard Skins Darts which they shoot in long Bowes made of Canes Others carry a great Shield made of Oxe-Hides with a Scimiter and great Knife by their side a long Assagay or Javelin with two other short Darts by them call'd Sinchirin which by the help of a loop fastened in the middle of it wherein they put one finger they can throw very steady and with great swiftness and strength They have a sort of small Horses for service which they know how to ride with great dexterity The Moors of Barbary sometimes carry their Horses thither and sell them to the Blacks every Horse for ten twelve or thirteen Slaves each Slave accompted for nine and twenty Bars of Iron These Horses as soon as they have them they charm by a certain peculiar method of Incantation believing by that means they shall pass shot-free in the Wars Such Horsemen as follow the Wars mount and dismount with such active agility as is admirable for they can in full speed stand upright on the Saddle turn this way and that way stand upon their hands bow their bodies lie down on their sides and take up any thing from the earth Their Arms are Scimiters long Javelins with long Iron-points wherewith they strike holding it in their hands without casting The Wars are seldom undertaken out of ambition or for honor or mannag'd with design to subject others but principally out of revenge and that extends onely to the burning of some Towns if at any time they come to a Battel the greatest fury thereof vents it self on the one side to take on the other to keep the Royal Drum by them call'd Omlambe and in no less esteem there with them then the Royal Standard of the Eagle with the old Romans The present King of Ivala a free and loving Prince courteous towards Strangers is constrained to be always in a posture of Defence against the King of Baool a Tyrant and delighting in cruelty and oppression When the King of Ale intends to War upon his Neighbours he calls a Council with whom he Treats in a Wood close by the Palace in which they sit about a round Hole three Foot deep with their Heads hanging down This Hole they cover after the rising of the Council for the King saith That the Hole will never disclose his Secrets letting them understand thereby that none shall know what their Determination is By this means and for fear of being punisht as Traitors and betrayers of their Countrey their Enemies can never learn ought of their Resolution till it be brought to effect which without doubt is the chiefest cause of their success Their Government is not Hereditary from Father to Son The Inheritance of the Crown but three or four Grandees elect a King amongst them of the noblest Stock whom sometime presently after the Election they drive out of the Countrey again upon the least distaste When the King dies his eldest Brother takes upon him the Dominion and after his Decease all his other Brothers successively and when they are all dead at last the Children according to their degree of age or for want of Children the eldest Son of his Brother The Subjects shew great honour and respect to their Kings The Respect of the Subjects to their Kings using many Ceremonies when they come into his Presence saluting him first afar off upon their Knees bowing down to the Earth and with both Hands cast Sand upon their Heads and Shoulders thus they creep forwards kneeling till they come within two Paces of him and then speak having said what they intended the King answers in few words with great state When any Noble-man comes to the King he puts off his Shirt and lays it upon his right Shoulder and Arm appearing onely in his close Coat call'd by them Joula and so draws near to the King who is always attended with a great Train of Courtiers and other Servants who as a Guard to his Person are Armed with Assagay's and other Weapons of Defence Every Town on the Coast of Cape Verde hath an Algayere or Alkaid set there by the King of Cayor to receive the Custom of Foreign Ships that is three Bars of Irons for each Vessel but when they find any Merchants unexperienced in their Modes they extort as much as they can get besides every Ship pays to the Alkaid for their Water ten Bars of Iron or the like value in other Merchandise and sometimes a Cask of Brandy-Wine In the Year fourteen hundred fifty and five The Kings of Cape de Verde are call'd Burdomel a great Prince named Burdomel had Dominion over all the places about Cape Verde from whom ever since all the Kings of Cape Verde in general are call'd Burdomel as the Roman Emperors were stiled Caesar and the great
Language call'd The Bolmish Tongue being hard to learn and difficult to pronounce whereas that of the people of Timna dwelling to the South is easie The Capez and Kumba's are subject to their particular Princes who sit in publick to administer Justice and decide their Differences and to that end have near their Palaces several terrassed Walks call'd Funko's in every of which is rais'd a Throne cover'd over with fine Mats where the King sits and on each side plac'd long Forms for the Noblemen call'd Solatequies that is Councellors with whose advice he determines the Causes The Method this first appears the Party Complainant with his Proctors and Advocates call'd by them Troens attir'd with several sorts of Feathers having Bells at their heels and Staves in their hands to lean on when they Plead they put a Mask before their Faces that they may not be afraid but speak freely before the King what they have to say after the Cause is pleaded on both sides and the Councellors have given their opinion upon it the King pronounces the definitive Sentence with present Execution against the party cast When the King Creates one of these Councellers How the King's Lords of his Council are made he causes him to come into the Funko where being set upon a wooden Stool curiously wrought and carv'd and appointed onely for this Solemnity he girts him with a bloudy Fillet of a Goats-skin about the Temples afterwards Rice-meal is strowed over it and presently a red Cap put upon his Head And that the people may take notice of this new-conferr'd Honour he is carried about in Triumph upon the shoulders of certain Officers to that purpose appointed These Ceremonies perform'd the new-made Lord makes an Entertainment wherein they spend three days in all kind of Mirth and divertising Pastimes setting forth divers Skirmishes and other jocose Exercises according to the fashion of the Countrey At last they kill an Oxe and divide the flesh among the common people ¶ WHen the King dies his youngest Son inherits the Dominion The antient manner of chusing of a King or if there be no Male-Issue then the Brother or nearest Relation succeeds But before they proclaim him they fetch him out of his House and carry him bound to the Palace where he receives an appointed number of strokes with a Rod. Then unbound and Habited in his Royal Robes he is conducted very ceremoniously to the Funko where the chiefest Nobles of the Kingdom have assembled and seated on the Throne when one of the gravest Olatequi declares in a large Speech the Right and Priviledge of the new King which ended delivers into the new King's hand the Insignia Regalia that is an Axe with which the Heads of Offenders are cut off and thenceforth he remains an absolute Soveraign peaceably and receives all Services and Tributes These were the antient Customs while the Kingdom was free but since by the Conquest of one Flansire Grandfather of the present King of Quoia or Cabo Monte it was subjected to Quoia Bolmberre is Governed by a Vice-Roy Bolmberre is become a Province and Governed by a Vice-Roy who receives the Dignity and Title of Dondagh that is King from the Quoia's as themselves took it from the Folgia's but they have thrown off that Yoke and at this day the Quoian King as Supream not onely gives Laws to Bolmberre but also to the Principalities of Boluma and Timna having also left his old Title Flamboere and from the Portugals by whom converted to Christianity received the Name of Don Philip. The King has four Brothers The Residence of the King and his Brothers who separately hold their Residence in distinct places in the South Countreys the eldest five or six miles beyond the Town Bugos the second call'd Don Andreas at the second Watering-place before-mentioned the third Don Jeronimo at the third Point of the South River the fourth Don Thomas in a Town call'd Thomby All that Tract of Land lying by the Sea The Dominion of King Fatuma from the North-side of the River Serre-Lions to Rio das Pedras together with the Isle De los Idolos are under the Jurisdiction of Fatuma a Potent Prince commanding far up into the In-lands and holding as his Tributaries the Kings Temfila Teemsertam and Don Michaell a converted Christian The People before the coming of the Jesuit Barreira Their Religion lay wholly drencht in Idolatry but he converted many to the Christian Faith and in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven Baptized the King his Children and many others giving to the King at his Baptism the Name of Philip as we said before to which the Portugals flatteringly added Don and because he was King of Serre-Lions call'd him Don Philip the Lyon But they little practice the good Instructions taught them but still retain with the generality of the People their old heathenish Customs as shall be declared afterwards in the Description of the Kingdom of Quoia The English Trade Hollanders and other people that come into these Parts to traffick carry out of Europe several sorts of Commodities which they barter and exchange with great advantage the principal are these Iron Bars Linnen Basons Earthen Cans All sorts of speckled Glass-Buttons Counterfeit Pearles of several sorts Copper Meddals Bracelets and Armlets Pendants and such like Small Cutlasses Seamens Knives Fine Bands Ordinary Lace Chrystal Ordinary Painted Indian Cloathes Spanish Wine Oyl of Olives Brandy Wine All sorts of great Bands Waste-bands wrought with Silk which the Women buy to wear about their middles On the Island in the River of Serre-Lions The English Fort subdued by the Netherlanders the English possessed a small Fort erected for the more secure managing of their Trade which in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty and four the tenth of December the Dutch under the Conduct of the Admiral De Rutter with a Fleet without reason surpriz'd and took wherein they found four or five hundred Elephants-Teeth a good number of Copper-Kettles Iron Bars and about sixty or seventy Lasts of Salt the later parcels with some other inconsiderable Merchandises they left there but the Teeth and other Wares of consequence they brought over in the returning Ships GUINE WE are to observe Several acceptations of the Name Guine that the English Portuguese and Dutch greatly differ in their Descriptions of this Countrey though in the general Name they seem to agree for the Portugals divide Guine into the Upper and Lower comprising under the Name of the Upper the whole Tract of Land lying by the Sea inclos'd between the River of Zenega and the Borders of the Kingdom of Congo and under the Lower the Kingdoms of Congo and Angola whereas others bring Congo and Angola together with Monomotapa Zanzibar and Ajan under the Exterior as they include Abyssine or Prester-Johns Countrey wholly in the Interior Ethiopia But by the English and Netherlanders Guine is circumscribed in much narrower Limits allowing it no more
belonging to the people Vey and Puy whereupon the Heir of the Crown when the King dies requires Earth from the Ambassadors of Folgia in token of Acknowledgement and Installs the Lord of Bolmberre with the Title of Dondagh by a particular Ceremony of which we shall give this brief Account The Heir is laid flat upon the ground with his Face downward and some Earth thrown upon him Lying thus they ask what Name he desireth to have and what he chuses they impose together with the Title of Dondagh Then they cause him to rise and put a Bowe into his hand and a Quiver of Arrows to defend the Countrey with which performed he distributes Slaves Clothes Kettles Basons and such like Presents to the King of Quoia The Power of the present Quoian-Prince is absolute and unlimited so that he is the onely and sole Judge of all Causes For although he admit his Counsellors sometimes to give their Opinions yet they signifie nothing for he follows his own single resolved Determinations This absolute Power makes him jealous of his Honor For he will not endure it should be diminished by any His highest Pomp consists in sitting upon a Shield whereby he gives to understand that he is the Protection and Defence of the Countrey and the manager of all Wars pacifying Civil Insurrections and other Weighty Matters belonging to him alone His Title as we said is Dondagh which is as much as Monarch When any Nobleman proves disobedient and will not appear before him on Summons then he sends his Koredo that is his Shield In what manner the King deals with any man who keeps away from his duty as if he would say upbraidingly if you be not obedient be Lord your self and bear the burden of the Countrey This peremptory Command by the Shield is sent by two Drummers who as soon as they come near the Offenders Habitation begin to beat their Drums and so continue without ceasing till they have delivered the Shield upon receipt whereof without delay he must speed away to the Court carrying the Shield with him which he presents to the King begging forgiveness of his miscarriages and so taking up Earth before the King humbles himself ¶ THose that make an Address to the King to obtain his Favor An address to the King to obtain his favor now it is made make their way with Presents of Ribbons Elephants-Teeth or such things which he must deliver at the house of the Kings chiefest Wife who receiving the same bears it to the King with request that the person may be admitted to his Presence If the King accept it the person hath leave to enter otherwise if any complaints be brought against him he sends it back yet so as the Presenter dares not receive and carry it away but continues his Suit by Friends without intermission by whose frequent and renewed mediations the King at last seeming a little pacified remits his severity takes the Present and calls for the Suppliant who entring the Royal Presence goes bowing all along towards the King who sits on the ground upon a Matt leaning upon a Stoole when he approaches within two steps he bows himself to the Earth kneeling down upon one Knee with his right Elbow to the Earth and names the Kings Title Dondagh whereupon the King if pleas'd answers Namady that is I thank you if not sits silent If it be a person of Quality and his Subject the King perhaps causes a Matt to be spread on the ground upon which sitting at the distance of a Pace he declares what he hath to request But if he be a Foraigner that comes onely to Salute the King without any further Ceremony he is conducted to him receiving an immediate dispatch If the person have any Proposition Petition or Complaint to make upon notice thereof a Jilly or Interpreter is call'd who coming with his Bow in his hand opens to the King the whole matter sentence by sentence whereto according to the quality of the Affair he receives answer with promise if upon a Complaint that as soon as he hath heard what the other party can say in his defence he will forthwith give Judgment according to Right If any man come to thank the King for doing Exemplary Justice in a difficult Cause How the King is thank'd for doing good Justice after his Presents receiv'd he devests himself of all his Clothes and Ornaments saving onely a little Cloth to cover his Pudenda so casts himself backwards upon the ground and instantly turning again rises upon one knee takes up earth with his hand and lays it upon his head then leaning with one elbow upon the earth he says three times Dondagh whereupon the King answers some times Namady that is to say I thank you and sometimes otherwise as he thinks fit The first Address usually is perform'd in his own House in the presence of his chiefest Wife But such as concern Justice or the State of the Countrey he hears in the Council-House in the presence of the Lords of the Council This Assembly they call Simannoe When some Eminent Person sent from a Neighbor King desires Audience one of the Kings Wives goes with a Present and tells him who sent it whereupon the Person appears before the King and takes earth This Address the King receives in his Simannoe or Council-House being open on all sides with great attendance round about After this Gratulatory Salutation the Ambassador desires leave to relate his Embassie but is put off till the next day so retiring he diverts himself till the appointed time in Feasts and Sportive Recreations The Ambassador receives Answer by the Kings Direction from a Jilly or Interpreter after which they shew the Ambassador and his Retinue the place where they are to remain where the Kings Slaves bring them Water to wash and the Kings Women bring very neatly drest in Dishes set on their heads Rice and Flesh much or little according to the number of his Attendants The Entertainment ended the King sends him for his Welcome Wine and other Presents either a Kettle Bason or such like If any European Merchant bring the King a Present he is invited to eat with him but with no Black how great of State soever will he eat out of the same Dish but lets their Meat be carried by his Women to the place where they are When the King dies the eldest Brother succeeds in his Throne The Inâ—eritance of the Kingdom and enjoys his Rice-Fields Slaves and Women except those which in his life were given to the Children The Folgia's are under the Emperor of Manou or Manoe a mighty Prince The Folgia's are under the Manou's who receives of them yearly Tributes in Slaves Salt red Cloth Kettles Basons and such like for which he bestows on them as a Gratuity certain Cloathes call'd Quaqua-Cloathes which the Folgian send to the Quoians as they again to the Bolmian or Hondoian Lords The People of Gala-Monou
lying in a Lake of the River Plyzoge whither the Dogo-Monou with Fleets following to Attaque him were in a manner totally subdu'd by Flansire's people The Coast from Cape de Mesurado to the Grain-Coast ABout twelve miles Eastward from Cape de Monte lieth Cape de Mesurado Cape de Mesuâ—ado a high Mountain at the North Point A mile and a half The River St. Paul or two mile Eastward of which the shallow River of St. Paul falls into the Sea passable onely with Boats and Sloops The Land about Cape de Monte and this River containing about ten miles and a half is low over-grown with Bushes and Brambles but the Cape a high Mountain and runs with the South Point steep down in the Sea and seems to Sea-men coming from the South an Island because the low Grounds on the other side cannot be seen The Countrey about the Cape de Mesurado is call'd Gebbe Gebbe and the People Gebbe-Monou subjected and conquered as in the manner newly related Nine or ten miles from Cape Mesurado lieth Rio Junk Rio Junk also in Portuguese call'd Rio del Punte having a violent Stream yet at the deepest not above eight Foot Water by which impediment made passable not without great labour and difficulty The Land hereabout over-grown with Bushes and Brambles yet standing higher may be farther seen to the Sea On the South-end of Rio Junk some little Groves appear upon a rising Ground beyond which to the In-land three swelling Hills raise heads to a heighth discernable far off at Sea Eight miles from Rio Junk St. Johns River empties its Streams into the Sea The River St. John being shaded with lofty Trees The Coast reacheth betwixt both South-East Easterly Eastward of this River within the Countrey a high Mountain shews it self in the shape of a Bowe being high in the middle and low at both ends Six miles from it lieth a Village call'd Tabe Kanee and a little forward to the Sea a Cliff where the Land begins to grow low and so continues to Rio Sestos In the mid-way between Tabe Kanee and Sestos stands a small Village call'd Petit Dispo with an adjoining Cliff like the former Three miles from Del Punte you meet with the Brook Petit or Little-water by the Blacks call'd Tabo Dagron perhaps from the Name of the King who has the Command there The Grain-Coast THe Grain-Coast so call'd by the Europeans The Grain-Coast from the abundance of Fruits and Grain there growing the chief of which named by Physicians and Apothecaries Grain of Paradise takes its beginning at the River Sestos and reaches two miles beyond Cape de Palm being a Tract of forty miles though some make it begin at Cape de Monte or Serre-Lions and end as before Divers Geographers make this whole Coast one Kingdom The Kingdom of Melli. and name it Mellegette or Melli from the abundance of Grain of Paradise there growing which the Natives call Mellegette And they not onely give it the Grain-Coast but further include within it the Jurisdiction of Bitonen But Leo Africanus circumscribes it with other Limits Other Borders of the Kingdom of Melli. for in the North he bounds it with Geneva or Genni below Gualata on the South with certain Wildernesses and Mountains in the East Gago and in the West divers great Woods adding further that the chiefest City named Melli lying thirty days Journey from Tombute contains above six thousand Houses and gives Name to the whole But we will not farther dispute this matter but proceed to set before you the Places and Rivers lying upon and within this Coast Six miles from Petit Brook The River Sestos and nine from Rio Junk the River Sestos glides with a smooth strong Current between high Cliffs on either side Westward of which the Countrey appears woody Here the Grain-Coast takes its beginning Three miles up this Water stands the King's Village where commonly the Ships lie at an Anchor to Trade A mile and a half Eastward you come to Little Sestos Little Sestos a Village neighbor'd by a Cliff extending into the Sea and having one Tree upon it as a Land-Mark Five miles forward lieth Cabo Baixos Cabo Baixos that is Dry Head by reason of the Shelf lying before it in the Sea It is a round Hill a mile and a half from the Main Land Eastward of Cabo Baixos you may see a white Rock appearing far off coming by Sea out of the South like a Ship with a Sail. And farther into the Sea many others which threaten great danger to the ignorant Sea-man and the rather because most of them are cover'd with Water Three miles from hence the Village Zanwyn shews it self Zanwyn with a River of the same Name on whose Banks stands a great Wood where are many tall and lofty Trees A mile Easterly lies the Hamlet Bofow and half a mile thence Little Setter distant from which three miles you may view the Village Bottowa seated on the rising of a high Land near the Sea-Coast opposite to Cape Swine and to the Southward a Village of the same Name by a small Rivers side Four miles more Eastward you discover the little Town Sabrebon or Souwerobo then to a place named Krow which directs you presently to a prominent Cape with three black Points From Bottowa the Coast reaches South-East and by East for five miles with low and uniform Land little known to Sea-men onely before Setter and Krow some high and bare Trees raise themselves into the Air like Masts of Ships laid up Passing four or five miles from Krow you come to a Village call'd Wappen Wappen or Wabbo in a Valley with a Stream of fresh Water adjoining and five or six streight Trees on the East-side Before Wappen lieth an Island and by it the greatest Cliff in all this Coast besides many smaller and farther on the right hand another Cliff united on the East with the Land at whose Edge lieth a Pond whereinto the fresh Water falls out of the Woods Hither the Sea-men bring their Casks commonly into the Village which the Blacks fill with Water receiving for their pains Cotton-Seed or Beads The like Pond is by Krow behind the Cliffs whither also the Sea-men commonly go with their Boats to fetch fresh Water which the Blacks bring them in Pots out of the Woods and receive the like reward From Wappen you come next to Drowya thence to Great Setter Great Setter by the French call'd Parys adjoyning to which rises a large Pool of fresh water This Tract runs South-East and by South About three miles from Great Setter you may discover the Township of Gojaven and two miles more forward Garway Goaven Garway Greyway close by Cape de Palm and two miles to the East another Village call'd Greyway or Grouway Here a small River passes but full of Rocks and Sandy Banks yet passable enough with Boats along the Southern Shore
General without speaking a word withdraws to his House and the Onegwa sets up that Son to be King whereof the retir'd General receiving notice after five or six days he comes again to the Court and calling for the Onegwa demands if that were the old King's will wherein receiving an affirmative satisfaction immediately they present the deposited Inheritance of the Crown and he receives the Dominion whereupon after thanks return'd he puts on Royal Robes and sits down Then come all the Vassals from the highest to the lowest and do homage upon their Knees This Solemnity ended the King retires to another Town call'd Goseboe The new King may not at first dwell in Benyn to keep his Court for till a set time-he may not come to Benyn unless to make a wicked Sacrifice of Men and Beasts But when the Siasseere thinks time enough to have been spent and that the Lessons and Life of his Ancestors be enough inculcated the same Siasseere or General invites him to and entertains him in Benyn where thence-forward he keeps his Court and Rules according to his own pleasure The King once setled upon the Throne The new King kills all his Brethren endeavours to cut off all his Brothers to secure himself against Competitors of late some of them have been spared but they made such ill use of that favor by confederating with the Friends of some condemn'd and banish'd Fiadoors that this present King smother'd and other ways put to death all his Brethren not clandestinely but upon publick notice though some stick not to report that he forc'd them to hang themselves because none may lay hands on the Royal Bloud to kill them yet after their Death he order'd them to be hang'd with great Magnificence and State Their Religion if any consisteth in honouring the Devil to whom Religion as we said before they sacrifice Men and Beasts for though they well know and believe that there is a God who hath created Heaven and Earth and still Rules yet they esteem it unnecessary to Pray to or Serve him because he is not evil but good but they seek to appease the Devilwith Sacrifices for that he always prosecutes them with evil They call God Orisa and the Whites Owiorisa that is God's Child They have wooden Fetisies or Idols which they Worship and Fetisero's or Priests who enquire of and receive answers from the Devil The Fetisi also foretels what shall befall them either in the Wars or otherwise by a contriv'd sound proceeding out of a Pot with three holes as is related before They offer yearly great Sacrifices to the Sea that it may be favorable and swear no greater Oath than by the Sea and their King They observe many high and solemn Times with Dancing Leaping Playing offering both Men and Cattel In the Village Lebo lying before the River Arbon or Bonya liveth a Conjurer all whose Ancestors practis'd the same Art for they could by report of the Inhabitants Charm the Sea in divers manners now raising Tempests anon causing a Calm sometimes foretel Wracks and Losses otherwhiles the safe arrival of Ships from strange Countreys for which or rather for fear the King gave him this Hamlet with all the Slaves which he yet possesses He hath such strange fancies and behaviour as if possess'd that none dare take him by the Hand The Bonyan Agents when they come thither stand in great awe of him and he himself dare not come to Bonya nor near it by command of the former Kings yet the Prince hath many of those Necromancers about him and holds them in great esteem The Kingdom of ISAGO JABOE and ODOBO THe Tributary Dominion of Isago borders in the West The Kingdom of Isago on the Dominion of Benya being a Countrey full of Horses which the Inhabitants use onely for Wars whereof having gotten together a very considerable Body some years ago The fruitless Invention of the Isagos's on those of Benyn they intended to set upon the Bonyans who being pre-acquainted with their Design underhand digg'd many Pits in the Fields and covering the same with Earth went to meet the advancing Enemy but soon retreated as if surprised with fear till they had drawn the Foe within their danger The Isago's supposing they had fled indeed betook them to a speedy pursuit but in stead of their hop'd Victory they fell into the prepared Pits out of which the Benyans fetch'd and kill'd most of them making the Countrey Tributary Since which they never have dar'd to act against the King of Benya At the same West-side lie the Kingdoms of Jaboe and Odobo Jaboe Odobo but of smaller Power and less considerable then the Isagon whose King though subjected as before related yet in Power and Ability falls little short of the Benyan himself The Jurisdiction of Istanna IStanna lying to the East of Benyn hath been formerly very powerful The Kingdom of Istanna but divers years since reduced and brought under the subjection of that King to whom they pay an annual Tribute The Territory of Gaboe GAboe lieth at the River Benyn The Kingdom of Gaboe eight days Journey above the great City of the same Name The Europeans get in this Countrey much Akori which they carry to the Gold-Coast and many Jasper-Stones but most of the Trade is for Slaves The People seem to be good natur'd and their Custom little differing from those of Benyn Biafar or Biafra MOre on to the East lieth the Kingdom of Biafar or Biafra The Borders of the Kingdom of Biafar according to Anamin and Linschot having on the West certain Mountains which divide it from that of Medra and spreads Southward to the fourth Degree of North Latitude The chief City also call'd Biafra and according to Hues scituate in six Degrees and ten Minutes The Inhabitants are generally inclin'd to Conjuration and Witchcraft The Inhabitants inclin'd to Witchcraft so that they believe by that Art they can do all things viz. procure or cause Rain Lightning and Thunder or any other Weather foretell Events to succeed and what not for which knowledge they honour the Devil so much that they sacrifice not onely Beasts and Herbs to him but also their own Children The Principality of Owerre or Forkado ABout four and twenty miles Eastward of Benya The Kingdom of Owerre Rio Forkado intermingles with the Sea near or by whose Banks the Territory of Owerre otherwise call'd the Kingdom of Forkado claims a scituation The Edges of this River are pleasantly shaded on both sides by neighboring Trees and the Stream very commodious for Ketches of a reasonable Burden being in breadth half a Mile and in depth twelve Foot or more A Mile inwardly upon a small Outlet stands a Fishers Village call'd Bolma About seven and twenty Miles upward appears the chief Town Owerre The City Owerre where the King keeps his Court containing half a Mile in circumference and surrounded on the Land-side with
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
great Cloth twenty Fathom long and twelve broad made of quilted Leaves sew'd together upon which none may go but the King and his Children but round it they leave room for two or three persons to pass by the Nobility sitting in long Ranks every one with a Buffles Tail in his Hand which for the most part they move in the presence of the King Some sit upon the bare Ground others upon Cloathes made of the same Stuff with the King 's Behind them stand the People as behind the King all his great Officers not few in number In this publick Solemnity of State Playing Instruments there are some that very curiously Play upon several Instruments of Musick of which they use three sorts first Wind-Instruments made of Ivory in the shape of a Hunting-Horn hollow'd as deep as possible with a hole at the great end and an Inch and a half or two Inches broad Of these they have several sorts eight or ten whereof joyn'd in consort yield a pleasant sound The second sort are Drums made of whole hollowed Pieces of Timber covered over at one end with Leather or Skins of Wild Beasts and at the other end with a small Opening in which may be put two Fingers They bear commonly on four of these together sometimes striking with the Palms of the Hands flat-ways sometimes with one Stick and one Hand The third resembles a Pan or Sieve such as they use for Meal but the Wood bigger and deeper round about which are some long Holes cut two and two together each about a Fingers length In each Hole they put two Copper Plates fastned to the Wood with Copper Pins This Instrument being stirred gives a sound almost like the tinckling of little Bells on the Wheels At this time many of the Nobility salute the King How the Noble-men salute the King with leaping leaping after a manner which they call Chilomba which they do with great wide Paces and Strides along by the void spaces of the Cloth spread upon the rising Foot-pace this they perform backward and forward two or three times moving their Arms this way and that way Leaping thus the King and his Nobles receive them with out-stretched Arms and they clap together their Hands two or three times and then cast themselves just at the King's Feet into the Sand and rowl over and over in it in token of Subjection Such as are extraordinary Favourites having performed this Exercise run directly to the King and leaning with both Hands upon his Knees lay their Heads in his Bosom The Chiefest Noble-men have a Seat separate from the King 's to which for their greater Honor some of the inferior Subjects make the like Leaping and sometimes also not only one Noble-man salutes another so but the King himself though seldom uses it Before the running Passage Cryers about the King's Seat stand three or four Cryers with Instruments in their Hands of the fashion of Sheeps-bells but thick and heavy of Iron upon which they strike with a Stick to give notice of Silence or Quietness from whence proceeds a dull and hoarse sound These Cryers are also Officers of the City to proclaim the Orders of the King as also to signifie when any thing is lost or found They have no decorum of Modesty or Civil Deportment but shamelesly in what Company soever even in the King's presence discover their Nakedness before and behind in their unseemly and barbarous Dances Before the King's Cloth sit some Dwarfs Before the Kings Cloth sit Dwarfs with their backs towards him Pigmies indeed in Stature but with Heads of a prodigious bigness for the more exact deforming whereof they wear the Skin of some Beast tied round about them The Blacks say there is a Wilderness where reside none but Men of such a Stature who shoot those Gigantick Creatures the Elephants The common Name of these Dwarfs is Bakke Bakke but they are also call'd Mimo's There sit also certain White Men by the King Their Complexion with Skins on their Heads and indeed at distance seem like our Europeans having not only gray Eyes but red or yellow Hair yet coming nearer the discovery grows easie For they have not a lively Colour but white like the Skin of a dead Corps and their Eyes as it were fixed in their Heads like people that lie a dying The sight they have is but weak and dim turning the Eye like such as look asquint but at night they see strongly especially by Moon-shine Some are of opinion that these white Moors ought to be accounted Fairies Their Generating and to have sprung from a great-bellied Black with Child upon seeing a White as we read That a white Woman being Pregnant upon the seeing a Picture of a black Moor brought forth a black Child However this seems worthy remark if true as reported That these Whites of either Sex are incapable of Coition But Isaac Vossius in his Book of the Original of Nile and other Rivers Voscius lib. de Orig Nili lior Fluminum saith Though this sort of Men be generated of black Parents yet is it probable that in the Mid-land Countreys of Guinee People may be found of the like white Colour And in my Judgment continues he it may be concluded That they are a kind of Leapers and the difference of Colour proceeds from a Sickness common among the Moors especially those that dwell in dry and hot places for if these did not continually anoint the Skin they would all perhaps be afflicted with the same Evil For this cause there passeth no day among them without anointing for which they use not only Oyl but Fat and Oyntments wherewith they smear all their Bodies over and by that means not only prevent the parching of their Skin but makes it of a shining black the chiefest Beauty with them The Portuguese call these white Moors Albinoes and attempted to take some of them Prisoners in the Wars and carry them over to Brasile to work for they are very strong but so addicted to idleness that they had rather die than undertake any toylsom Labour The like sort of Men have been found by the Netherlanders and Portuguese not only in Africa but also in East-India in the Island of Borneo and in New Guince call'd the Countrey of Papos Thus far Vossius The King useth them in most of his Religious Ceremonies as in making Mokisies from whence themselves have generally that Name among the Inhabitants which in our Language properly signifies Field-devils This Solemn Appearance of the King in Publick begins commonly about three a clock in the Afternoon and continues till about four or five All the Wives of the Subjects of this Realm must yearly from the first to the fourth of January being the Seed-time break his Land to be sown for the space of about two hours going in length and one hour in breadth but the Men are then most of them in Arms and in their best
him good success the Blacks do him a kind of Homage lying down upon both Knees clapping their hands and kissing the King's Hand the Portuguese sit kneeling upon one Knee and so the Priests and Clergy by that humble posture acknowledging his Soveraignty After the eight days past the King appears in the Market and makes a Speech to the People expressing his readiness for the performing of that which was propounded to him with assurance to them that he will seek nothing more than the quiet and welfare of his Kingdoms and Subjects and the propagating of the Christian Faith The People of Congo take the Oath of Fidelity to their King like other Christians but forget it quickly Murdering him upon any sleight occasion either by Insurrections or Treason so that within these forty or fifty years they have had many Kings for if all things go not to their minds or if it Rains too much or too little or if any other accident happens the King bears the blame The Earl of Songo the most Potent in all Congo was subject to this King but considering the Woods of Findemguolla which surrounds his Countrey like a Bulwark he fortifi'd it and made it almost impregnable so casting off the Yoke he will not acknowledge the King of Congo for his Soveraign but onely as a Friend of Songo Formerly this Earl before the taking of the City Lovando St. Paulo by the Netherlanders in the Year Fifteen hundred forty and three by instigation of the Portuguese would have burnt their Ware-houses but that he was afterwards prevented and his anger aswaged This Province of Songo yields Copper There is Copper in Sougo much better than that of Congo and some Cotton but they Vend little of it In the Year sixteen hundred thirty six Wars between the King of Songo and the Earl of Souho the King of Congo Don Alvares the second of that Name for some cause given by the foremention'd Earl with a great Company of Men and the assistance of a Company of eighty Portuguese Soldiers of Lovando St. Paulo drew into the Field But the Songo's by a sudden Sallying out of the Wood The Overthrow of the King of Congo routed the King's Army and took him Prisoner so that for his release and restoration to his Kingdom he was forced to give to the Earl two Territories the one a Principality call'd Mokata a great Land of Tillage lying where the River Zair bordereth nearest to Songo Yet afterwards the Quarrel was renew'd and Forces on both sides drawn into the Field A second Overthrow and the Controversie coming to be decided by the Sword the King lost the Day and together with it many Slaves These two Victories exceedingly puffed up the Earl It was imputed to the King as a great miscarriage that this last he drew into the Field with a small Force whereas he hath innumerable People under his Command but this oversight he quickly amended and hath taken severe revenge of the Songo's for the Losses formerly received But this kept them not long quiet A new War for the old Earl being dead in the Year Sixteen hundred forty and one there arose a new and bloody War between the King and the Earl Don Daniel du Silva arising upon this ground When after the Decease of Don Michael who Rul'd about the Year Sixteen hundred and six his Son the foremention'd Don Daniel du Silva could not come to succeed because a Faction rais'd against him was too strong he fled to the Duke of Bamba in whose Court he remain'd a long time but at last by the help of his Confederates got the possession of his Inheritance and burning with revenge for his sufferings and disgrace he gave occasion of Quarrel by refusing to request of the King of Congo according to the old Custom the confirmation of his Possessions first accusing him as one that had a hand in his long Expulsion and therewithall adding that the Election of his Subjects did enough confirm him in his Government and therefore he needed no other The King of Congo enraged hereat and accounting it a great dis-reputation and diminution to his Royal Authority to be so Bearded as a manifestation of his high displeasure placed his Son the Prince Don Alphonso in the Principality of Makata formerly given as we have said to the Earl of Songo for releasing of the King Don Alvarez giving him in charge not onely to keep it but from thence to make War upon the Earl Hereupon Discontents daily growing on the King of Congo raised a great Army which he gave to Don Alphonso who therewith invaded Songo and using all the extremities of War both against his Countrey and Subjects But the Songo's a very Warlike People in the Year Sixteen hundred forty and five the nine and twentiteth of April in a Pitch'd Battel defeated and put to flight the King's Army and took the fore-mention'd Prince of Mokata together with many Grandees Prisoners and according to the Custom of the Countrey chopt off all their Heads onely he kept Alphonso Prisoner being his Cousin and would not suffer him to depart from him The King by this overthrow provoked more than ever to take revenge raised in the following Year so great a Force that he doubted not therewith to over-run the whole Earldom at once Of this Army consisting of almost all the Nobility together with three or four hundred Moulatto's the Duke of Bamba was made General and therewith drew near to the Borders of Songo but was unawares fall'n upon by an Ambuscade out of the Wood Emtinda Guola on the last of July and his Army not onely totally defeated A third Overthrow but the Duke himself necessitated to yield to the Earl some Places and Countreys The Duke of Bamba taken Prisoner before wrested from him for the release of Prince Alphonso his Son Who was no sooner come home in safety but the Congo's inclin'd to the old revenge and not being able to digest the disgrace began new Quarrels which quickly broke forth into a great flame During this War the King sent Ambassadors with Letters to Brazile to Grave Maurice Ambassadors sent both from Congo and Songo to Brazile who had the Government of that Countrey for the States of Holland together with many Slaves for a Present to the Council and two hundred more with a Gold Chain to Grave Maurice himself Not long after their arrival came thither also three Ambassadors from the Earl one of which was Shipt from thence to Holland to the States the two other required of Grave Maurice that he would give no Assistance to the King of Congo which in some manner he hearkned to and to that end wrote Letters to their Governors in Congo and Angola not to intermeddle in the Wars of these two Princes for that they were both in League with the Hollanders Afterwards the King and the Duke of Bamba the second time sent Ambassadors to Grave
of Copper which stick so close that it makes their Arms sore and sometimes come to ulcerate before they will lay them off Many of them wear as an Ornament the Guts of Beasts fresh and stinking drawn two or three times one through another about their Necks and the like about their Legs Some wear a sort of Roots gather'd from the bottoms of Rivers which in their Journeys through Woods where Lyons Leopards and Wolves frequent by the Fire side which they kindle at the Place where they stay all night for the driving away wild Beasts they chew into little bits and spit out of their Mouthes round about with firm perswasion that there is such vertue in them as no Beast can endure the smell of it When they go abroad they have usually an Ostrich Feather or a Staff with a wild Cats Tail ty'd to it in one Hand in stead of a Handkerchief to wipe their Eyes and Noses and beat away the Dust Sand and Flies and in the other Hand a sleight Javelin The Women never go abroad without a Leather Sack at their backs having at each end a Tuft or Tassel and fill'd with one trifle or another Their Weapons or Arms are Bowes and Arrows and small Darts three four or five Foot long having at one end a broad sharp Iron fixed which they handle and throw very dexterously They take great delight in our Bread for which they are willing to barter Cattel The Honey found in the Woods they eat up Wax an all and in stead of Physick administer to the Sick Cabbages Coleworts and Mustard-Leaves with a little beaten Lard boyl'd with it Their common Drink is Water Drink or Mille but they are very greedy of Brandy or Spanish Wine as also of Tobacco but quickly become Drunk with it They use no Trades Handicrafts or Arts with Bulrushes make Mats wherewith they cover their Houses they Forge the sharp Heads of their Lances being Iron in the doing whereof they use onely a Stone and Hammer making it malleable with Wood-Coals The Goringhaica's dwelling by the Cape Employment employ themselves in Fishing which they sell to the Netherlanders for Bread and Tobacco Most of the other have no skill therein nor any Vessels to go out to Sea so that in all Journeys they go by Land and on Foot In stead of Horses they have great Oxen who carry their Goods and Commodities from one place to another which they lead and guide with a Stick thrust through their Noses as with a Bridle The Cochoqua's or Saldanhars are a kind of Herdsmen and live by keeping of Cattel whereof they have above an hundred thousand Head all very fair besides as many Sheep The like do the Cariguriqua's and Hosaa's None amongst them all Sowe or Plant but onely the Heusaqua's When they perceive any wild Beasts in the Night whether Elephants Elans Rhinocerots Lyons Tygers Bucks or Horses then all the stoutest Men run forth and make a great noise to fright them away But if by day any devouring wild Beast appear then all that can carry Arms go forth every one provided with two or three Assagays or Lances and encompassing the same with extraordinary outcries and shoutings they let fly their Darts and Shoot as at a Mark to wound and kill him When a person falls in Love with a Maid he desires of his Father Marriage that he may Marry her who consenting he goes to the Father and Mother of the Maid entreating the same and when the Parents grant his Suit the Daughter receives and as a sign of her acceptance and in confirmation of the Marriage she puts about his Neck not a Gold Chain but a fat Cows Chitterling which he must wear till it drop off Then two of the fattest Sheep are sought out of the whole Flock and kill'd part of whose Flesh being boyl'd and part of it roasted none may eat but the Marry'd couple and their Parents and without this Ceremony the Marriage would not be accounted lawful The Skins cut in small pieces and the Hair taken off then beaten upon a Stone and so laid on hot Coals they eat with a very great appetite This pitiful Feast ended the solemnity of the Wedding is over As to their constancy in Love they are as in other places some quickly nauseating the ties of Marriage while others observe it with a most affectionate strictness For the manifesting of the constancy and true Love amongst some of these Salvages we will give you two remarkable Stories the one of a Widow which through excess of grief and sorrow for the death of her Husband leapt into a Pit full of Wood set it on fire and burnt her self to death the other of a young Maid which for grief threw her self down from a Rock because her Parents had caus'd her Lover to be severely whipt with Thorns for Lying with her against their consents Whether by the goodness of the Air or the natural strength of their Constitutions these People attain so great an age as generally they do remains a doubt but this is certain that most of them live to eighty ninety or a hundred and some to a hundred and ten twenty or more years They bury their Dead sitting in a deep Pit stark naked Funerals throwing the Earth upon their Heads with a great heap of Stones over all to preserve the Corps from being raked out of the Grave by wild Beasts When a Man or Woman dies Inheritance all the Friends to the third degree of Consanguinity must by an antient custom cut off the little Finger of their left Hand to be bury'd with the Dead in the Grave but if the Deceased had in his Life any Cattel and leaves some Relations to whom they might come by Inheritance they must cut off a Joynt from each little Finger before they can take the Cattel for the Sick cannot giveaway the least thing on his Death-bed from those to whom it falls by Inheritance As soon as any one falls sick those about him fetch one skill'd in Herbs who with a sharp two-edged Knife lets them blood on their Back then burns them on their Arms with a red hot Iron and drops thereon some Juyce of Herbs with new boyl'd sweet Milk And if this work not a Cure they give them over for Dead Those which rob in the Day if they be catcht in it are beaten by the King or Choeque himself with a Stick without other punishment but those which Rob in the Night receive upon discovery a more severe punishment in this manner inflicted The Offender is first for a whole day tied Hand and Foot being neither allowed Meat or Drink On the second day some of the Eldest go to the Coehque to ask if they shall proceed in the Execution which is done without any Condemnation or Tryal but not without sufficient Testimony whereupon the King with a great Train of People following him comes to a Tree where he commands the Offender to
be brought before him whom they bind to the Tree and very severely whip all over his Body that the Blood runs down to his Feet After this being turned with his Face towards the King a sort of Gum or Rozin melted in a Pot is poured over his naked Body from his Neck running down upon his Breast so that the Skin immediately peels off then they let him loose and give him some Meat wherewith a little refresh'd they tie him again Neck and Heels and so leave him three days And lastly after the enduring all this pain he is sometimes banish'd and thrust from their Society When any are found in Fornication Incest the Parents force them to Marry immediately if they have a competency of Estate But if that cannot be effected then they wait to know if the Woman be with Child and then they enforce a Conjunction though the Person be so mean that he cannot maintain a Wife When any Person Rich or Poor is discover'd to have committed Incest they believe such People cannot be punished enough because they say it is an unpardonable offence and this from the meer Light of Nature And therefore they punish the Transgressors with death the manner this First of all the Man hath his Hands and his Feet drawn together with a Cord How they are punish'd and so put into a Tub till the next day and the Woman set by it The second day they take him out and so Manacled set him under a Tree fastning his Head to a strong Bough which one pulls and holds down then they cut off one Member after another Afterwards they let the Bough spring up again with the mangled Body upon it for a Spectacle to other Evil-doers The Man thus dead they bring forth the Woman whom bound round about with many dry Shrub-Bavins her Hands and Feet tied fast together they set Fire to the Bushes and so burn her to Ashes A little above five years ago it hapned that a certain Person a great Friend and Acquaintance of the Coehques or King of the Saldanhars committed Incest yet for all that without respect to his Person he did Justice upon him If any Man of Wealth and Quality Punishment for killing and wounding or reputed Wise through fury or rage stab or wound another to death they take him and beat his Brains out against a Tree and put him into the Grave with the murdered Person for they say Such a Person being endued with more Understanding ought to know better and to give a good Example to others Whereas on the other side poor simple People are permitted to ransom their Lives by a Payment of Cattel Some for Offences which deserve Death have their Knees nail'd through and an Iron Pin fast driven into each Shoulder so dying a lingring death They live like the Arabians Their Houses in the Fields in Huts made of slender crooked Poles set round and cover'd with Bulrush-Mats Some of these are so large that conveniently ten or twenty Men with Women and Children may dwell in one of them though others are much less and some so small that they can take them up and run away with them The Fire-place lieth in the midst of the House but they make no Funnels to carry up the Smoke They kindle Fire with an excellent dexterity by rubbing one little hollowed Stick upon another very hard for a great space All these Hottentots speak one and the same Language Language which for the difficulty of the pronunciation cannot be learn'd to the great retarding and hinderance of further Discoveries In all Discourse they cluck like a Broody Hen seeming to cackle at every other Word So that their Mouths are almost like a Rattle or Clapper smacking and making a great noise with their Tongues Some words they know not how to utter but with very much ado and they seem as if they fetch'd it out behind at the bottom of their Throats and as the People in Savoy that live near the Alps who by drinking Snow-water have great Crops or Swellings under their Chins Brokwa in their Language signifies Bread Kahou denotes to sit down Bou is an Ox Ba a Sheep and Kori Iron But now many of them which dwell close to the Fort of Good Hope by daily Converse with the Netherlanders speak Dutch as some who have been with the English in Bantam stammer some broken English They have no inclination to Trading Trade neither hold they any Correspondence with Foreign People iron and Copper were the onely Commodities desired by them the former for Arms the other for Ornament both which they so esteemed that in a Voyage to the Indies in the year Fifteen hundred ninety five the Dutch had in Barter with these People for a Cutting-knife a fair Ox for a Bar of Iron of seventy pounds broken into five pieces two Oxen and three Sheep for one Hook-knife one Bill one Ax one short Iron Bolt and some pieces of Iron three Oxen and five Sheep and for a Knife one Sheep But at this day grown wiser by Converse and the abundance of Commodities carried thither they prize their Cattel at a much higher rate and their former fair dealing is not now found amongst them Tobacco Brandy and Copper they chiefly desire at present but the yellower the better So that for four pieces of Copper as big as the Palm of ones Hand and a piece of Tobacco they usually buy two Cows Some of these People have Elective others Successive Kings or Governors Government but all their Powers not able to make above four or five thousand Men and those living dispersedly in several Plantations far distant from each other Religion is an absolute stranger among all these Salvages Religion insomuch that they never worshipped either God or Devil yet they say and believe there is a Divine Power which they call Humma which causeth Rain Winds Heat and Cold but will not worship him because he sends sometimes too much Heat and Drowth and another time an overflux of Rain contrary to their desires Secondly They imagine that they can stop the Rain and allay the Wind at their pleasure First To cause Rain to cease they lay a small Cole of Fire on a Chip in a little Hole digged in the Ground and upon that Hole they lay a Lock of Hair pull'd from their Heads and cover up the Hole with Sand when the Hair begins to stink then they make Water upon it and so run away shrieking To lay the Winds they hold one of the greasiest Skins upon a long Stick aloft in the Air till the Wind has blown down the Skin and then vainly think the power of the Wind smothered thereby When the New Moon begins first to be discerned they commonly in great Companies turn themselves towards it and spend the whole night in great joy with Dancing Singing and Clapping of Hands They have a Musical Instrument made with a String like a Bowe and a
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
small Rivers lying two Miles distant from each other and take their original out of the neighboring Mountains The Faroan three Miles from the Itapaulominthiranou is a great River and Navigable for a Bark on whose Banks the Whites of Manouffi have seated themselves Lamohorik or Morombei three small Miles from Faraon comes out of the High-Land six or seven Miles towards the West Manataraven a small River lieth about six Miles from Morombei The Territory of Antavare Manouffi and Vobitsmene NOrthward of Matatane followeth Antavare scituate in one and twenty degrees and an half South-Latitude and extending to the Cape Manouffi delightfully Water'd by the Mananzau a large and fair River issuing from the steep Ascents of Ambohitsmene or the Mountains lying North and by East The Territory of Manouffi reacheth from the Cape of the same denomination to the River Mananghourou fifteen Miles more Northerly between which Cape and River lie three other Rivers Andredi Tenasatamamou and Tentamimi Antavane produces plenty of Rice Ignames Bananoes Sugar-Canes Honey Oxen Goats with all sorts of Fowl and Victual The Territory of Ambohitsmene lieth North and by West from Antavare and takes name from the aforesaid high Red Mountain in nineteen degrees and a half or twenty South-Latitude which may be seen fifteen Leagues off at Sea resembling Table-Mount at the Cape of Good Hope This ledge of Hills runs fifteen French Miles to the In-land between which and the Sea the Land appears very low Marshy and full of Lakes among which one of above fifteen Miles long and broad Upon these Mountains the people of Famantara have Zaffarahong for their place of Residence which place abounds with Gold Iron Cattel Rice Sugar-Canes Ignames Silk Clothes and other Necessaries Twelve Miles from Mananghorou Avibaha enters the Sea The River Avibaha being perhaps an Out-let of the aforesaid Lake Three Miles from thence the River Tsatsack and three other Foutchurao and a Mile and half onward Ivorhon pours down into a Bay by the Inhabitants call'd Tametavi but by the French Mariners Port aux prunes that is Plumb-Haven The Territory from Tametavi to the Bay of Antongil that is to the Countrey of Vouloulou the Long-Point the Lordship of Andouvoulhe with the Bay of Manghabei or Antongil THese Countreys begin at the Haven of Tametavi or Plumb-Haven lying in eight degrees and a half and spreading by the Sea Coast to the Bay of Antongil in the Language of the Countrey call'd Manghabei in fifteen degrees South-Latitude to the Land-wards inclos'd with the Mountains of Vohits-anghombe and Ansianach After the Plumb-Haven they have four small Rivers Fautack Faha Faho and Maroharats distant a small mile each from another After that Anacchinquets making a deep Haven with a good Sandy bottom but open to the North-East East and South-East Winds Three small Miles Northerly The Territory of Voulouilou you discover Longue-Point The Countrey about moisten'd by the River Voulouilou Five Miles further The River Ambato lieth the great River Ambato famous for the Rocks and obscure Cliffs but never comes to the Ocean Two small Miles more Northerly you come to Galemboulou in seventeen degrees and an half a large receptacle for Barks but very dangerous because of the blind Rocks and boisterousness of the Sea near which stands a Town call'd Ratsimelone but by the French Mariners St. Mala. Three Miles from Galemboulou a very fair and great River pours its self into the Sea wherein they say the small Island Ambouluossi shews it self The River Manangharou running from West to East The River of Manangharou divides its self near the Sea Coast into four distinct Channels of which it self being one retains its name from the Original to the Mouth The other three are Manansatran the second Marinhou opposite to the Island Nosti Ibrahim or St. Mary and lastly the Stream Jamiami a great and spacious River which at its Outlet into the Sea always holds seven or eight Foot Water After this followeth the River Mananghare fronting the North Point of the Island St. Mary and the South Point of Antongil Bay entring the Sea with so commodious an opening The Countrey of Audouvouche that a great Bark may easily come in or out Following along the Western Coast the Countrey of Andouvouche cometh to view that is The Bay but because of the many other as Antongil by the Inhabitants formerly call'd Manghabei for Antongil is a Portugal name proceeding from a Portuguese Sea-Captain Antonio Gillo who discover'd it It lieth in fifteen degrees South-Latitude stretching Northward and about six Miles broad In the deepest part of the Bay lieth an Island very high out of the Water two large miles about delightfully green fruitful in all sorts of Provision compleatly stor'd with fresh Water Hens Honey and Bananoes Seamen esteem it a most convenient refreshing place At the entrance of the Bay are three or four other small Islands either Sown with Rice or full of Weeds On the North side are three populous Towns with several other along the Shore neighbor'd by a great River which divided into two Arms the one running to the North the other to the West making in the middle at the parting an Island Further on to the North appears another great Town call'd by the Portuguese St. Angelo surrounded with a strong Pallisado Opposite to which on the left hand another which the Netherlanders in their first Voyage to the East-Indies in the Year Fifteen hundred ninety five named Spakenburgh consisting of about a hundred and eighty Houses West South-West from the foremention'd Island glides another River upon which a Town lieth The Grounds are exceeding good and fat well water'd and full of Grass The Condition of the Land but not over-stockt with Cattel the richest Person having scarce a Herd of four and twenty Beasts The Towns here shew more of Architecture than usual in these parts and advantageously Seated either upon the Mountains or along the River Fenced with Stakes with two Entrances or Doors onely the one to the Water the other to the side of a Wood for their flight thither when set upon by the Enemy and worsted All the People from the Plum-Haven to Antongil-Bay Customs observe the same Customs and all name themselves one among another Zaffehibrahim that is The Generation of Abraham or Nossi Abrahim from the Island Abraham whence they are sprung By their keeping holy the Saturday their whiteness of colour and some other particular Customs Flaccourt thinks them to be descended from the Stock of the Jews and Arabians who fled thither many years ago Both Men Women and Children are whiter than those of Matatane and Androbeisaha with smooth Hair hanging down at length being good natur'd mild and hospitable not inclin'd to Robbery or Murther In Dancing and Singing they seem to use some kinds of measures Footing it in pairs sometimes making distinct stops and stretching out their Arms. All their Songs consist of Epithalamiums in the Chanting whereof
Vourouzi Mice and other Vermine breed here numerously Mandouts are a sort of Snakes as thick as a Mans Arm but not venomous yet much feared by the Inhabitants It feeds upon Rats and small Birds which they fetch out of the Wastes Anakandef a sort of small Snakes which creep through the Fundament into Mens Bodies as they sit to ease themselves upon natural occasions and causeth great pain and in a short time death There are many other Snakes every one having a peculiar name as Menore Save Mere Tsiondiballe Keneutsik and others Sea and Land-Fowls breed here wonderfully Fowâ— all call'd by one general name Vourou but smaller than in Europe There are Hens which Lay Eggs no bigger than Pigeons Also Pheasants with Violet-colour'd Feathers and red Bills which are esteem'd a delicate Food Likewise wild Violet and green Pigeons Turtle-Doves black and dark colour'd red Paraketo's small green ones that Whistle and mock the Notes or Voyces of other Birds Turkycocks white black and gray Cranes with curious Feathers wild Herons with a Tuft on their Heads Teals with red Legs and Feet call'd Halire Lapwings Dish-washers and many others Sambe which signifieth Burning is a Bird with Feathers of a deep red colour Vourondoule the Bird of the Dead they say makes a great Chirping and noise over the House where any one is to die Vouronchontsi white Birds that continually follow Oxen and Cows and live by Muggs and Wasps Mangarent Souifoutehy or Voula a River-Bird like a Sea-mew with a white and long Bill Tahia hath black Quills Feet and Bill and like the Cuckow with us sings this onely Note continually Tahia Televa a River-Bird as big as a Hen with Violet-colour'd Feathers and a red Bill and Feet Haretak hath a round Tuft on his Head with black Feathers and Feet like a Teal Proceed we next to Serpents and other Vermine among which we shall put in the first place Scorpions there generally call'd Hall of which there are divers kinds as the Tsingalaha Huranou a Water-Scorpion because it keeps in Ditches and Standing-waters kills Beasts and Dogs by sucking their Blood Vankoho or Spiders-head having a great round and black Belly is an exceeding dangerous Creature for if any be stung by it they fall immediately into a Swoon remaining faint sometimes two or three days together and as cold as Ice They cure it in the same manner as the Sting of a Scorpion by laying the Sick before a great Fire and giving them wholsom Medicines to dispell the Poyson Anakalife a Reptile breeding between the Barks of rotten Trees It is about a handful long full of Legs flat and thick with a very hard Skin The Sting carries with it a mortal Poyson bringing immediate death unless prevented in the same manner as that of the Vankoko and Scorpion Akolalau a small Vermine in shape like a Wood-Lowse but doth not stink so much at full growth it attains the bigness of a Mans Thumb The lesser sort of them sit in Houses Huts and Chests in great numbers and eat through all things they can come at especially Clothes Vombare a parti-colour'd Creature some of a Gold-yellow and Silver colour intermixt with others Sakondre a sort of Meskito's that sit on the Bark of a small Tree like white Blossoms but afterwards change into several colours as green intermixt with red and the like These make a Honey as sweet as Sugar Herechereche a kind of Glow-worm lies in the Night glistering in the Woods and on the tops of Houses like a spark of Fire Tsingoulou Voulou are of several sorts a small Creature infesting the Houses but do a great deal of hurt by running over and eating the Victuals as Honey Milk and other Provisions There are also Pismires which make Honey like Bees in hollow Trees and heaps of Earth wherein they sit by thousands Worms also breed there of divers sorts Worms as long Earth-worms call'd Saho Wood-worms from eating the Wood nam'd Anakau and others with a Head like a Boar Some with Scales on their Bodies that eat into the Beams and Planks of a Ship sloaping to one side but go not quite through Variety of Silk-worms as Landeve which produce one single Egge with small Thorns Landesaraha lay small Eggs inclos'd in one greater wherein sometimes are found above five hundred The third Landeanakau make their Silk on a Tree call'd Anakui growing on the Sea-shore like a Cypress and their Eggs hang one by one at a small Thred this Silk proves the finest and strongest of all The fourth Landevansaqua makes a fine Silk upon the Tree Vontonquer Land-Turtles An amphibious Creature or Tanou are many and of two sorts the one styl'd Helintsoka and the others Fanou Nor want they Bouchete or great Toads and Saouh Frogs The Inhabitants are either white or black Nature of the Inhabitants The Whites divide themselves into three Tribes Rohandrians Anakandrians and Ondazatsi The Blacks into four sorts Linschot Voadziri Lohavohits Ontson and Ondeves as we before related at large in the Territory of Carcanossi or Anossi In some places they tell of a wild People by them call'd Ompizees which let Hairs of their Heads and Beards grow very long and go stark naked onely with a few broad Leaves before their Privacies They keep in the thickest Woods and shun Converse with any other Blacks living upon Fish Venison Fruits Roots wild Honey and Grashoppers Formerly there lived on the Island Ontaysatrouha lying between the Anachimoussi and the River Ranoumene a People which held conversation with their Neighbors but Warred against them continually and not onely against them but likewise against all others that travel'd through their Countrey They cut the sick Peoples Throats which they thought past recovery and brought their Hands to the King to eat They feed many Cows but neither kill them nor Steers Rams Goats nor Cocks Cows Milk being their chiefest Diet and therefore Heifers Sheep and Goats they bring to sleep upon Mats and after their death bury them under ground They did eat Dogs with a great appetite when no longer fit for Boar-hunting They till'd their Ground in the same manner as the other Blacks on this Island Their Features are frightful and ill-favor'd for they have small Eyes a broad Forehead sharp Teeth Camosie Noses thick Lips with short curl'd Hair russet Skins without Beards great Belly'd and thin Legs These People did eat one another up by which means being reduced to a small number they were all about a hundred and twenty years since destroy'd by their neighboring People and Enemies so that now not one of them remains Some have reported that Giants and Dwarfs have been found on this Island but occular experience hath proved that Assertion but a Fable In a Tract of Land by Itapere are many Stones erected under which the Dwarfs are said to lie buried for say the Learned they came in great numbers and would have committed Spoil in the Countrey of Anossi whence
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
reach'd to such a height For Angels onely with Sun-beams to write No mortal Hand less my unworthy Pen Fit to Display the best of Kings and Men. This Work thus settled and so well resolv'd upon to be the Pride Divertisement Business and sole Comfort of my Age that day annually so fatal to the Royal Party swallow'd in that devouring Deluge of Fire with most part of the City that and my whole Estate Thus fall'n into a low condition groaning under a double burthen of Sickness and Poverty and almost quite despairing the Work that might have Boy'd me up once more thus irrecoverably lost and reminding that many of my Friends and Worthy Patrons were more favorable to my Endeavors when under a Cloud than after Shining in full Lustre and that since his Majesties Restauration the minds of those restor'd to former Fortunes or rais'd to several Advancements were more abroad and not at leisure to look on such private Divertisements at home so that those later Volumns which in course were Printed to perfect the former remain'd a Drug until the insatiate Flames at once and in one bad Market clear'd me of my Store and House also Besides grave Poesie in which Homer and Virgil's Heros spake Honor and the greatness of their Souls comprizing in few Lines by Example more Rules of good Life than Phylosophers in many Volumns loosing place and former Lustre Rough Satyr Rude Travestee and Rhime Doggerel gotten above assisted with such that confidently avouch that we in this more Refin'd Age speak better things ex tempore than what hath been Recorded by the whole Rabble of Antiquity looking down upon Moral Vertues as stale Saws and stiff Formalities onely fit for School-Boys Theams and that our Brisker Youth and more Sublime Wits should be asham'd to peruse much more to follow Thus a new Gaggle drowning the old Quire of Melodious Swans I resolv'd to desist and shutting up the Fountain of the Muses left Clambering steep Pernassus and fell into the beaten way and more frequented Paths of Prose My first undertaking being An Embassy from New Batavia to the Emperor of China which Publish'd in my last Lottery prov'd so acceptable that I resolv'd to carry on in the same way hereafter the whole Business of my Pen. When as in my former Acquisitions I flew first at the highest and best Poetick Authors so now as much ambitious I pitch'd upon the like Accomplishment in Prose and no less serves my turn than the Reducement of the whole World viz. A New and Accurate Description of the Four Regions thereof the first of which being AFRICA wherein having made some Progress still Collecting more Materials towards the Compleating of so great a VVork a Volumn lately Publish'd beyond Sea in Low-Dutch came to my hands full of new Discoveries being my chief and onely Business to enquire after set forth by Dr O. Dapper a Discreet and Painful Author whose large Addition added to my own Endeavors hath much Accelerated the VVork which thus being finish'd adorn'd with more variety of Sculpture Maps of Cities and Countreys and a much larger Declaration than any yet extant Presents it self to your favourable View and Acceptation and will I hope such is the Intrinsical Worth and Beauty thereof invite a general Encouragement from all parts that I may more chearfully and speedily go on with the Remainder which if the Effects follow I doubt not but a short time will produce the Happy Conclusion by From my House in White Fryers April 28. 1670. Your most humble Servant John Ogilby A CATALOGUE OF THE NAMES OF THE General Authors both Ancient and Modern besides Later Voyagers Consulted to the carrying on of this First Volumn who led us by the Hand through those Vast and till of late Untracted REGIONS of AFRICA OLiver van Noord Jacob van Neck Stephen Vanderhagen Cornelius Matelieff Peter Williams George Spilbergen Peter Both The Governours Peter Vander Brock and many more as Samuel Blomert one long Resident there his Observations being faithfully Collected by the Learned Isaac Vossius THe Particular Authors for the several Provinces beginning with Egypt are Johannes de Leo or Africanus Louis Marmol Sanutus Francois Alvarez Peter Belonius Vilamont Radziviel Johannes Alpinus Santen Seguesse Caesar Lambert Matthias Vossius Peter de la Valle Balthazar Tellez these being Portuguese Italian Latin and French Writers besides the Descriptions of other both Ancient and Modern Geographers as Strabo Dionysius Perigetes Pomponius Mela Ptolomy Cluverius c. THose that give us an Account of Barbary are the afore-mention'd Leo and Marmol Diego de Haedo Johannes Gramaye Braeves Cel. Curio Diego de Torres and others In like manner there is taken out of the first Part of Leo Marmol and Sanutus all that lies in Numidia Biledulgerid and Libia or Zaahra and the inmost part of Negro-land AS concerning the several Places lying along the Sea-Coast of the Negroes Countrey viz. between Cape de Verd and the Kingdom of Lovango being a Coast of about 900 Leagues we find all the foremention'd Geographers to be defective in it But most of what hath been found hitherto we have from the Hollanders in their several Voyages to Guinee Collected by Peter de Marcez who even to these Times gives us so large a Description that it descends to the meanest Village and withal a large Account of their Religion Modes Manners and Merchandize Samuel Blomert also remaining long in those Parts being very inquisitive hath rendred a more large and exact Accompt concerning Guinâ—â— than the former NExt in reference to those Coasts near the Cape of Good Hope there hath been almost nothing said by former Writers but onely what hath been Collected out of the several Journals of the Hollanders in their Voyages to the East-Indies which are very large and Authentick THe Territories and Coasts of the Nether-Ethiopia are lately as well Survey'd and Delineated first by that Eminent Author Johan de Barros next Pigafet Sanutus Jarrick Moquet Od. Barbosa Urreta Maffeus Peter Davty and some others FOr the Description of the Abyssines or Upper-Ethiopia of which we were till of late in a manner altogether ignorant let us thank Nicholas Godignus Francois Alvarez Jarrick Dam. Goez and especially Father Balthazar Tellez who hath far exceeded all the former having in an excellent Composure in the Portuguese Language given us a large and accurate Description thereof ANd as concerning the Islands belonging to Africa most of the fore-mention'd Authors with some few others have set their Hands to except the Salt-Isles or those of Cape de Verd and that of St. Thomas which boast their Description chiefly from Blomert ALso Madagascar or St. Laureuce Stephen de Flaccourt hath for the most part ingrossed and appropriated to himself he being long resident there imploy'd by the French East-India Company Besides a Frenchman that suffer'd Shipwrack on that Coast hath done well but not so hit the Truth as the former FOr the Island of Malta we are
of Wheaten Ears Scatter'd about Teeth brayded on her Crown And broken Ivory hung The Wood-Elephants in the Kingdom of Senega especially near the River Gamba feed together in a Heard like wilde Swine in some parts of Europe Of which thus Petronius Quaeritur in silvis Mauri fera ultimus Ammon Afrorum excutitur ne desit bellua dente Ad mortes pretiosa suas The Lybian Sands we seek and th' utmost South To finde a Monster out whose precious Tooth Proves its own bane The Lybian or Mauritanian are lesser than the Indian and as Polybius writes can not endure the Voice or Cry of the Indian Elephant The Indian though the largest of all differ in size much amongst themselves They shew'd one at Constantinople that was eleven Foot betwixt his Eyes and the utmost of his Trunk from his Eye eight Foot in length many are nine Foot high some above eleven Aloysius Camustus saw one whose flesh weighed more than five of our Stall-fed Oxen They are all black except the Ethiopian yet the Relaters of the East-Indian Voyages say that the King of Narsinga had a white Elephant Their Skin is rough and hard but more on the back than the belly they have four teeth that are Chawers besides their Tusks which stick out of their Mandible and are crooked but the Females are streight some of these Tusks are of an incredible bigness Vertomanus saw two at the Isle of Sumatra that weigh'd three hundred thirty six pound Polybius says that in the borders of Ethiopia they are us'd for Jaums of Gates and Door-posts and in Beasts-stalls for stakes For a Nose or a Snout they have a long small hanging part call'd a Trunk reaching the ground and open being sinewy and bending every way it serves him for a Hand with which he gathers both his Food and Potation conveying so to his Mouth through this he also breathes and smells Aristotle says they have Joynts in their hinder Feet below but others write variously concerning the flexure of their Knees some say they have Joynts in their Legs others the contrary and that if fallen they cannot rise Plinie says which experience allows that they have short Joynts in their hinder Legs bending inwards like a Mans their Feet are round like Horses Hooffs but larger Vertomanus compares them to a round Table their broad soal being eighteen inches over their Toes being five look as if all one piece being black and squadded an unlick'd piece so little cloven that they scarce make any separation This creature hath two Teats not on her Breasts but backwards and more concealed His Pizzle little comparing his huge Bulk and like a Stallions his Stones appear not but abscond about his Reins which apts him more for Generation Their sustenance is Water-Herbs browsing on Trees * This grows upon a small Tree with great leaves and is of the bigness of a Cucumer and by the Mahumetan Doctors is affirmed to be the forbidden Fruit because so exceedingly pleasant Musae fruit and Indian Fig-Tree Roots sometimes they swallow Earth and Stones but such food proves obnoxious to them as Pliny judges unless well chaw'd when tam'd they feed most on Barley and drink untroubled Water delighting in Liquors made of Rice other Fruits and European Wine One at Antwerp guzzel'd down seven of our Wine Gallons at once and took such large potations often yet are they not impatient of thirst but will suffer eight days well and not languish under Drowth Their ingenuity is wonderful as appears by that Elephant which Emanuel King of Portugall presented Pope Leo who seeing him at a Window made formal Congees to his Holiness with bended knees Metellus says that in the Isle of Zeilan they understand the Language of the Natives Pliny reports that an Elephant he knew could write Greek and often set down in that Character this signification 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. I my self writ this and offer'd up to the Celtick spoil Elian tells us that they us'd to eat handsomly and sit mannerly like men not tearing or devouring their Victuals when they drank they took their Cup delivering it to the next draining the Goblet moderately sprinkling the remainder as in a Joke upon the beholders when they would pass any water that is scarce fordable the tallest of them enters first the rest passing by him as it were a Bridge to whom they cast Branches of Trees to help out at last Some affirm that they are Religious adoring the most Eminent Lights the Sun and Moon and also hospitable directing wandring Passengers when out of their way observe Murtherers and other Criminals and will detect such Guilty Offenders how they will toss a Pike and Fence one with another playing out their several Weapons and Dance after a Warlike manner Augerius Busbeek writes in his Turkish Letters how he saw a young Elephant that Danc'd to a Song and play'd at Stool-Ball striking and retorting with his Trunk as we with our hands one at Rome would tye and untye hard knots by Moon-light so cunningly complicated that none else could unloose them and patiently receive correction from his Master when he fail'd and was out The female excels the Male in strength and hardiness yet Aristotle makes the Female more timerous Oppianus tells that they will beat down with their Teeth Beech Olive and Palm-trees and whole Houses as Aristotle relates Vertomannus Stories that an Elephant threw down a Tree whose body four men could not Fathom and that three Elephans drew a great Vessel on shore Aristotle saith they fight desperately charging with their Teeth and worsted flye the menacing voyce of the Conquerour an innate abhorring they have to Lyons Serpents Tygers Rams Swine and the Rhinoceros and also to some Colours and Fire Authors vary concerning their Copulation Pliny will have the Male fit at Five years the Female at Ten but Aristotle allows Twenty years to both of Twelve to the Female if forwards if slow fifteen they conjoyn usually in the water which is easier for both for the water supports the Male and lightens so great a burthen and fetches him after the Encounter more nimbly off they deal in love-affairs very private and but once in three years choosing every Triennial a new Mistress which work concluded they grow wild and almost stark mad throwing down their Stalls and Stables their time of production is also uncertain some say they go Eighteen Months others Three Years a few stretch it to Ten and these reduce it to Eight years in Travel their pangs are great squatting down on their hinder Legs bringing but one at a birth though others say four their young see and go as soon as born Sucking with his Mouth not his Trunk Eight years They are taken several ways both in Africk and India The Ethiopians knowing the Elephants Night-reposes where he alwayes withdraws to sleep catch him in a strong Palisado made of Timber in a close Covert a Trap-Door left open lying on the
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
third in Italy and a fourth in Crete built after the ananner of the Egyptian to whose former Description take this addition It was all of square polish'd Stone every side three hundred foot broad fifty foot high upon a square base It had five Pyramids one at each Corner and one in the Middle of a hundred and fifty foot with such a top as hath a Brazen Orbe upon it and one covering lay'd over them all from which hung down Bells in Chams which stir'd by the winds made a sound afar off upon which Orbes there were four other Pyramids a hundrod scot high and other things this is delivered from Varro by Pliny lib. 36. cap. 13. Mysterious Temple or Labyrinth of theirs which had so many Rooms and with-drawing Apartments in it But later Writers say that since the Mahumetans conquer'd Egypt they made but three divisions the first call'd in Arabick Nahar Alleriffe or Erriffe extending from Grand Cair to Rosetta The second Sahaid or Assahaid signifying firm land and reaches from Cair to the borders of Bugiha The third Bechria or according to Marmol Beheira-Allards that is * Or Zealand Sea-land stretching along that arm of the Nile that extends to Damiata and Tenez The first of these is very fertile and luxuriant in the production of Rice and all sorts of delicious Fruits The second yields plenty of Corn prickle Fruits store of Cattel Fowl and Flax. And the third abounds with Sugar-canes Cotton and other such Commodities The whole thus divided into three each three is sub-divided into ten as follows in Delta or Nether Egypt were Rakotites Phtenuti Phtemphuti Mendefites Omisis Saities Attribis Tavites Tarbethites Busirites which order and names were first constituted by Sesostris of whom it is recorded that he would by cutting the Isthmus between the Mid-land and Red-Sea have joyn'd them had he not been diverted from the attempt by their Priests asseverations That all Egypt would of necessity be drown'd by the irruption of the Red Sea which lay higher than that Countrey did though afterwards Ptolomy and others his Successors made great alterations therein Middle Egypt held Memphites Heliopolites Bubastites Heracleopolites Crocodilopolites Oxyringites Kynopolites Hermopolites Antinopolites and Latinopolites And Upper Egypt Thebetes Apollopolites Panopolites Koptites Tentyrites Lycopolites Aphroditopolites Latopolites Abydene and Anteopolites The reason of this division may be two-fold the first in regard of their diversities of Gods and various Ceremonies in their Services which Sesostris their Prince observing to prevent tumultuous Seditions alotted the Countrey into * Rather thirty seven for the reason in the Description of the Labyrinth thirty shares according to the number of their Gods and Goddesses and by this means made Egypt as it were one Universal Temple wherein were as many Numens as Plato hath divided the whole earth between The second cause was the Litigiousness of the people concerning their bounds or limits occasioned as Strabo observeth by the Nile's yearly inundations whereby boundaries were not onely obscured but even all Land-marks and distinctions of propriety utterly washed away which necessitated an infinite trouble in Annual Surveys this was setled by the afore-mentioned division each particular Governour apportioning to himself even by inches the Compass of what was committed to his charge This division of Sesostris totally differed from that made afterwards by Ptolomy and by his Successors established after the decay of that State by the Persians under the conduct of their King Cambises which was into forty Dynasties But this with the remains of all the rest were at last by the Mahumetans who trampled all down utterly subverted yielding to the Laws and Establishments of the insulting Conqueror ¶ THe Extent of Egypt is from the 21 degree of Northern Latitude Extent of Egypt to the 31 degree of the same and therefore some have judged it to contain in length fifteen days journey and in bredth but three Others strangely over-reckon and will have it four thousand Italian Miles though * Maginus Marmol Maginus will allow but five hundred and sixty common ones which Marmol shortens much reducing it to a hundred and fifty French leagues therein somewhat agreeing with Cluverius who from the Pelusian mouth of Nile to the Town of Catabathmus count no more than a hundred and fifty Miles In bredth as Marmol reckons it hath but twenty six Spanish Miles an inconsiderable tract of Land between the shore of Nile and the two great Desart Mountains from whence the River with wonderful swiftness issueth and thence descending to Asne and so to Alcayro having scarcely run a course of twenty Miles beyond it divides it self into two Arms which afterwards re-unite till having run sixty Miles beyond Alcayro it branches again into two streams the one call'd the Canopean passeth to Rosetta and the other to Damiata where by a new division causing a great Lake through a narrow Streight it falleth into the Mid-land Sea near the place where of old Tenesse was scituated These two Armsdraw or delineate the sides and the Sea-shore the basis of a Triangle giving the name of Delta Δ to that most Northerly part of the Countrey call'd also Nether-Egypt but by the Natives themselves as Guilliam de Tyr maintains Mahetek To this part Strabo assigns about three thousand Stadiums which make three hundred seventy five Italian Miles but this is lessen'd by Maginus to three hundred whereas on the other hand Villamont will have its Circumference to be seven hundred Miles setting down a great Lake at the Coast of Garbia Eastward from the River for one part of its Limits and another Channel of the Nile called Katoz that goes to Alexandria for a second And this might cause Ptolomy to stile it Great and sub-divide it into the lesser and third Delta The Antients as Kircher observes named this part Fium which in the old Egyptian Tongue signifyed the Sea not from its resembling the Sea in the time of its being over-flow'd but because it is generally believed that heretofore the whole surface of that part was totally covered by the Sea until by a long Series of time the Slime and Mud of the Nile came to settle and at length with great labour became firm Land The same Kircher in his Itinerary from a certain Rabbi affirms that from the Patriarch Joseph's time many Hebrew Monuments and old great Buildings were found there and that after many dayes toyle and labour by him directed the same was made fit to be and was actually inhabited according to which example succeeding Princes continually drayning the Marshy parts made the whole Countrey useful which thereupon became so populous and wonderfully fertile in all things that it was named The Gift of the Immortal Gods as Diodorus relates And the Poets tell us of a great Serpent bred hereabouts which did much mischief to the people till slain by * Or Apello Ovid. Met. Hercules Egyptius and the memory of his Atcheivement preserv'd by naming
of the Reins and Bladder For it quenches or allays the inordinate heat of the Kidneys and an excellent Vehicle for carrying off the slimy dregs out of those Vessels through the Bladder so that the Egyptians by the frequent use thereof are absolutely freed from the Stone It is also useful against pains in the Limbs arising from heat especially against the Gout applyed by way of Plaister The Blossoms Candied with Sugar are a powerful Remedy against the Heat of the Kidneys and cleanse and free the Uretories from vicious and slimy foulness The green Pipes first decocted in water and then dryed in the shade and lay'd in Sugar or Honey are used commonly by Women and Children against the same Distempers taking the weight of half an Ounce at a time The Plant by the Arabians in Egypt call'd Elhanne Elhanna and by the Physicians Alcanna grows with many Branches like a little Shrub The Leaves resemble those of the Olive being shortish but something broad of a fresh and flourishing green The Blossoms grow as those of the Elder-tree and used by the Women as a comfortable refreshment in their Baths A decoction of the Leaves prevents the falling off of Hair and drives away Vermin the Egyptian Women with the Juyce of the Leaves and Branches paint their Nails in the manner of a Semi-circle which remains long without wearing off Of the stamped powder of the Leaves which they call Archenda mixt with water is made a Gold colour wherewith they stain their Hands and Feet which yellow tincture they hold for a great Beauty Lablab a Tree with many Branches climbing and spreading like a Vine Lablab but in Leaves Blossoms and Form resembling the Roman Bean. Twice a year that is in Lent and Harvest it bears long and broad Cods or Shells which contain in them Black and Brown reddish Beans streaked as the Roman This continues many times without sensible decay a hundred years carrying both Winter and Summer green Leaves The Egyptians use the Beans for food which are no less pleasant than the European The Women drink the Decoction of it for their Moneths and it is good against the stopping of the Urine and the Cough Melochia is an Herb growing a Cubit high with thin and limber Twigs Melochia The Leaves are like those of a Beet but smaller long and sharp-pointed The Blossoms are little and colour'd like Saffron the Seeds little and black in a Husk like a Horn. The Seed is us'd to prevent Swooning-fits and ripens all hard Swellings though this be common yet is nothing more acceptable to the Palate for they boyl it either alone in water or in Pottage as we dress Beets at Feasts they both garnish and season their Dishes with it which is very pleasing yet notwithstanding this repute it agrees not over-well with many for it yields but slender nutriment and a flimy juice breeding in such as eat much of it great stoppings and Costiveness in their Bowels The taste also is something flashy and flat unless quicken'd with Juice of Lemons The Decoction of the Leaves is very good against the Cough and half an ounce of the Seed makes a sufficient Purge Sesban is a Sprout with a prickly Stock Sesban shooting up to the height of a Myrtle Tree the Blossoms are yellow the Husks or Cods long and like those of Fenugreek so also is the Seed and hath an attractive power like the Fenugreek Seed The Egyptians commonly make Hedges or Fences between their Grounds with this Bush Sophera is a Plant two Cubits high and leaved like the Myrtle Sophera it bears scentless yellow Blossoms with few Seeds which are said to be poisonous Absus is an Hearb with Leaves like the common Clover or Three-leav'd Grass Absus the Blossom white or straw-colour'd the Seed black and the Stalk prickly The Plant known to the Egyptians by the Name Sempsen Sempsen but by the Greeks and Latines call'd Sesamus grows upright a foot and half high the lower Leaves are more indented or nicked than the higher and are very like those of Nightshade The Blossoms are small and white followed by small Cods holding a Seed like Line-seed out of which Oyl is pressed which the Arabians call Zeid Taib that is Good Oyl because it is so wholesom a Food that it is sold dearer than the Oyl-Olive The Leaves The use of it Seed and Oyl moderately hot and moist in the second degree of an extenuating quality are by the Egyptians us'd against many Diseases The Countrey people heretofore fed thereon and grew fat with it but now the Oyl is chiefly us'd to take away Freckles and Spots in the Skin and to anoint Sores The Plant Berd or Papyrus Berd or Papyrus groweth upon the Nile having a reedy or stringy Root with many streight Stalks six seven or more Cubits high above water at the end of which is a multitude of long and very small Threeds seeming as a Blossom The Leaves are Triangular soft below at the Stalk broad and at the end sharp in form of a Cross-barr'd Dagger Surgeons there use the Juyce of the Leaves to cleanse and enlarge the Orifices of Sores and with the Ashes of the tops of the Stalks close and heal up the Wounds The Roots in former times serv'd in stead of Writing-Tablets The use of them the Juyce of the Stalks wrought into thin Leaves the Antients wrote upon as we now adayes do upon our Paper made of old Linnen and probably from this Plant took the name Papyrus There is a signature of a Sprig or Stalk of this Plant Carv'd upon several Obelisks whereby they signifyed the great abundance of all things because this Plant served them formerly in stead of all necessary Commodities for before the Planting of Corn was known in Egypt the people lived on this Plant making thereof Cloaths Boats all manner of Houshold-stuffe Garlands for the Gods and Shooes for the Priests But at this day by the carelessness of the Inhabitants and the importing of our European Paper thither it is by them esteemed of no worth at all There grows also a kinde of Cucumers in several places in Egypt Chate nam'd Chate differing onely from ours in Europe in greatness clearness and softness of the Leaves which are smaller whiter softer and rounder they have a very pleasant taste and are light and easie of digestion The Inhabitants account them very wholsom either eaten boyled or raw and Physicians use them against burning Feavers and several other like Distempers There grow also several kinds of Melons Abdellavi one call'd Abdellavi much differing from ours another kinde Chajar of an unpleasant and watery taste but the Seed is held to be more cooling Batechia El Mavi than of the rest A third sort call'd Batechia El Mavi bigger than ours yellow of Skin and hath within nothing but Seeds and sweet water which they drink in great abundance against Thirst and to allay
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
Europe much improved by his Travels and Warlike Expeditions he returned into Egypt where for these great Acts he was Deifi'd by the People and Worshipped as the Sun and his Royal Consort Isis as the Moon because as their idolatrous and dull Fancies imagin'd Osiris ascended into the Sun and Isis into the Moon to preside and govern the two great Luminaries and so consequently the Earth The same Diodorus relates That when Typhon saw his Brother Osiris while alive thus highly reverenc'd his heart was so imbitter'd against him that he privately murther'd him by the help of the Tytanois distributing to every one of his Relations a part of his Body and usurped the Kingdom But Isis with the assistance of her Sons Horus and Anubis soon reveng'd her Husbands Death by the destruction of Typhon and all his Rebellious Complices Isis after this in memory of her murther'd Lord with Herbs and Wax wrought or kneaded with Aromatick Spices together framed a most Exquisite Effigies of him commanding the Priests to shew it every one with order that they should in secret honour him as a God and Consecrate to him what Creature they liked best And the more to promote this Service she settled on them a Yearly Revenue which prevailing on their covetous minds they instantly put all in practice in manner following The Priests at the appointed time Went into the Archives of the Temple where stood but known onely to them this Image of Osiris before which in mournful postures amidst their contrite and most doleful lamentations they first shaved their Heads then beating their Breasts and ripping up the Scars and new-heal'd Orifices of their former Wounds received in private as a preparation for this general Service Some days in this manner being past they pretend by a most wonderful and divine Instinct to have found the Body of Osiris whereupon they run out from Sorrow to the extremity of Exhilaration Tears and Lamentations turn to Songs Dances and all sorts of Revels Which Solemnities finding applause with the ignorant Vulgar after the first Sanction were continually after Celebrated at the Festival set apart for the finding of Osiris's Body There was another Feast call'd in Greek Phallophoria The Feast Phallophoria kept in Commemoration of the finding his Genitals for Typhon had as we said distributed the rest which Diodorus says was publickly presented in Ivory or Gold half a yard in length carried about with Wind-Musick and in dancing before it presented all wanton and obscene posture Isis also had a Holiday wherein they did nothing but bemoan Osiris Death At all these Feasts the Priests wore a long white Linnen Surplice they wore upon their Head the Image of Anubis headed like a Dog in their Right Hand a Branch of Sea-Wormwood or Pine in the Left a Tree that had power as they gave out to drive away Evil Spirits Osiris according to Plutarch draws the Etymology from the Greek Word Hosieros or Hosiros that is Very Holy or of two Egyptian Words Os and Iris the first signifying Great or Immense and the last an Eye as much as to say as Great Eye Kircher will have it that Osiris in the Antient Egyptian Tongue signifies Holy Lord and a Ubiquitary Fire If then Osiris genuinely denotes a Shining Light or an Immense Eye it must needs be meant of the Sun because Philosophers held the Sun to be a Fire And we not scruple to denominate it Great Eye viewing still at once the half of our Orb. Isis Osyris's Wife was also taken for the Moon both these were said according to Diodorus to compass the World and to feed and multiply all things by a continual Circulation These are peculiarly operative in all Propagations the one being Fiery and full of Spirit the other Moist and Cold the Air which is the Nurse participating of both The Powers and Perfections of Osiris or the Sun are expressed by so many Names that Plutarch not without good cause calleth it Myrionumos that is Thousand Names Homer names Osiris and Isis for the same cause Father and Mother of all the Gods And indeed from hence have sprung an infinite number some confounding Osiris with Bacchus or Dionysius Mercury Pan Neptune Jupiter Janus Saturn and Coelum others make him one and the same with Hercules Apollo Pluto Horus some as Hesychius will have him the same with Nilus Apis Serapis Hammon and Oceanus See here a Pedigree of all the Gods proceeding from one Stock or Root Writers infinitely differ about this Isis The Greeks make her the Daughter of Inachus whence the handsome Fiction of the Transformation of Isis by Juno into a Cow springs but this Isis or rather Io was not the Wife of Osiris but the Assyrian Isis Some derive her from Ethiopia Xenophon Diodorus Eusebius and others make Osiris and Isis Children of Saturn which some again contradict Isis was among the Egyptians held in such great Honour that it was a Capital Crime to say She was a Man therefore in all Temples where the Images of Osiris and Isis were set stood also one of Horus or Harpocrates Osiris's Son with his finger upon his Lips importing silence She was held by general consent of most Antient Writers to be the Moon and therefore by Plutarch in Greek is call'd Pandeches that is Receiver General and Keratophorus or Cornuted Servius saith Isis signifies the Spirit of Nilus The moving of the Trees which she was feign'd to carry in her right Hand signifi'd the flowing up of Nilus and the Merlin in her left Hand the flowing to the Banks From whence we may not without Reason infer That in the Egyptian Tongue it signifies the Earth By Apuleius in his Eleventh Book of his Metamorphosis she is stiled The generating Nature of all things Lady of all principal Matters Bringer forth of Ages the Supream of the Deities Queen of Spirits the first Exemplar of Gods and Goddesses Adding that the Athenians call'd her the Cecropian Minerva the Cyprians the Paphian Venus the Cretâ—ans the Dictimnian Diana the Sicylians the Stigian Proserpina the Eleusinians the antient Ceres others Juno some Bellona Hecate Rhramussia only the Egyptians call'd her by her right Name Isis So many and several Names had Isis for no other Cause but to signifie the different operations which she affected in the World Diodorus affirms that Isis found out many Medicinal Remedies for the expelling of Diseases Diodorus For Horus her Son kill'd by the Tytanois and found in the Water she not only restor'd to Life but made him also Immortal as they say by which means she gain'd greater Honor and Reverence among the Egyptians than Osiris himself The Egyptians have in memory of them several Inscriptions to be seen ingraven upon Pillars in Writings of Eternity some whereof we may read in Diodorus particularly one of Isis IIsis Queen of Egypt taught by Mercury am the Wife of Osiris I am the Mother of Horus That which I have Established by Laws shall none be able
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
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
that it touches upon Biledulgerid formerly held in Compass two small miles as still some of the Ruines do declare but in the Year Nine hundred fifty nine destroy'd by the Kalifs of Cairavan but afterwards by a great Marabout restor'd and Peopl'd So that at present it contains above thirteen hundred Families The Inhabitants are most of them Weavers and Turners who though Skilful in their Trades yet seldom arrive thereby to any more than one degree above the meanest poverty KOUKO THe Kingdom of Kouko by the Marsiâ—â—n Merchants call'd Kouque or Kouke by the Italians and Spaniards Kuko suppos'd to be the Cinnaba of Ptolomy now subject to the Turks and paying Tribute to Algier The Mountain Kouko On the Borders of the Fields of Metiia towards the South and East appear many Mountains among which is Mount Kuko giving Name to the whole Kingdom Gramay says it is a very high and craggy Mountain eleven or twelve Dutch miles from Algier nine Westward of Bugia and three from Mount Labes But Peter Dan in his History of Barbary averres that Kouko is a place lying thirty French miles from Algier environ'd with almost inaccessible Mountains possessed by Arabians and Moors ¶ THe City of this Name contains more than sixteen hundred Houses The City strong in Scituation as being surrounded with high and steep Rocks Here the King of Kouko hath his chiefest Palaces And not far-distant in former times was the Haven Tamagus belonging to the same King but now in Possession of the Algerians This Countrey hath many Springs and Gardens Planted with all sorts of Fruits The Haven of Tamagus especially Olives The plain Grounds yield plenty of Figs Raisins Honey and Flax of which is made excellent Linnen Salt-Peter is there digged The Inhabitants are warlike necessitated thereto by their Neighboring Enemies yet their Fields stockt with Cattel their Woods with Monkeys and the whole Region with Horses fit for Service in the Wars ¶ THe yearly Revenue of the King The Revenue is reckon'd to seven hundred thousand Crowns which he raises by the Barter of Native Commodities nor can he easily be deprived thereof the Mountain serving as a Bulwark to keep out whom they are not willing to admit there being but onely one way to ascend them and that so narrow and uneasie that a small number with stones may keep back a strong Army ¶ THe Inhabitants are all Mahumetans Their Religions here and there mingled with Christian Merchants But such is their enmity to Jews that they will on no terms have any Converse with them ¶ GRamaye and Peter Davity Government give the Title of King to the Lord of these Countreys but Ananie ascribes to him onely the Name of Xeque though we may believe him mistaken because within this hundred years or thereabout one Benel Kadi of the Stock of Celmi Beni Tumi King of Algier by Aruch Barberossa murther'd relying upon the strength of his People call'd himself King of Kouko for whose Death all the people became deadly Enemies to the Turks which continued till Hassen or Asan Bassa Son of Hayredin Barberoussa inter-married the Daughter of this King by which means he gain'd the Assistance of his Armies against the King of Labez The King keeps no Court nor State but onely a Guard for Safeguard of his Person The continual Enmity of those of Algier against Kauke Nor makes Ostentation of his Strength for his Countrey lying inclosed with the Provinces of Algier they have always had an evil eye upon him endeavoring utterly to extirpate the King and bring the State under their absolute Obedience This being not unknown to him makes him Side with the Spaniard as he did openly in the Year Fifteen hundred forty and two when he sent the Emperour Charles the Fifth lying before Algier two thousand Moors for his assistance Which upon the News of the miscarriage of his Fleet he withdrew but this was so highly resented that shortly after in revenge came Asan Bassa King of Algier with an Army of three thousand Turks and Moors upon him and he durst not strike one stroke against him but made a Peace upon a promise of a yearly Tribute and gave his Son Sid-Amet Benalkadi for a Hostage This begun a tie of Friendship between Kouko and Algier which yet were more strongly united in a League in the Year Fifteen hundred sixty one by the Marriage of Asan Bassa with Kouko's Daughter whereby his People got liberty to buy Arms and other Necessaries at Algier But this brought no small suspicion into the Janizaries whose Aga having in October publish'd a Prohibition upon pain of Death that no Arms should be sold to the Koukians within two hours drew the Janizaries out of the City seized upon Asan Bassa together with his Sisters Son Ochali the General of the Army whom he sent bound in six Galleys to Constantinople This raised new fears in Couko and encreased their hatred to Algier so that in Sixteen hundred and nine they sold the Haven of Tamagut to the Spaniards but before delivery the Algerians took it by force Afterwards in Sixteen hundred and eighteen after the death of Hamaert the Kings Brother who usurped the Kingdom the old League of Friendship was renewed with Spain and Hostages given for performance this made the hatred between them and Algier break out afresh but his death the year after quite altered the Case for his Nephew Murtherer and Successor made Peace with Algier and sent thither Hostages who in a short time there ended their lives Of this Enmity between the King of Kouko and Algier the Spaniards made great advantage contriving thereby to get Algier into their hands and according to their Design in the Year Sixteen hundred and three thus attempted it There was a Franciscan Monck named Matthias well skill'd in the Language of the Countrey by his long Slavery there when he was ready to return for Spain he held secret intelligence with the King of Kouko between whom 't was agreed that Matthias should furnish him with some Spanish Souldiers for whose reception and safeguard the Koukian was to deliver up a small Fort lying in the Entrance of the Mountain and so with Joynt-Forces fall upon Algier The Enterprise thus concluded a day was appointed to effect it but the Council and Souldiery of Algier having privately some intelligence thereof at the very hour sent a great number of Janizaries to the place which at first approach summoned was by Abdala Nephew to the King of Kouko yielded together with a discovery of the whole design to the Bashaw of Algier Solyman of Katagne a Venetian Renegado who promised him for every Head of a Spaniard concerned in the Plot and by him either taken or kill'd fifty Sultanies and for the Head of Matthias two hundred A fruitless Enterprise of the Spaniards to take Algier At last four Spanish Galleys appeared under the Vice-Roy of Majorca on the appointed day close by the
a short Narrative Not many years since the Janizaries and other Souldiers in Pay to the number of six or seven thousand partly Turks and partly Renegado's intermixt with Moors combined together to bereave the Bashaw of his Command and leave him nothing but the Honour and the Office to pay the Janizaries in prosecution of which Design they set up a Divan or Council of State like that of Algier which undertook the Management of all matters of War This continued till the Year fifteen hundred twenty four when Kara Osman a Native Turk and Janizary and formerly a Shoemaker by Trade but very subtle and ambitious so won the hearts of the Janizaries by Artifices and Presents that they declared him their Chief giving him the Title of Dey so that thence-forward neither the Divan nor Bashaw himself durst conclude any thing but with the consent of the Dey and his Participants With the like absolute Authority have all Successive Deys governed although the Grand Seignior hath a Titular Bashaw there who is onely concern'd in the Revenue as we mention'd before Neither at present do these Deyes undertake or conclude any matter of Concernment till first communicated to the Divan The Divan or Council which is a select Councel of Officers chosen out of the Janizaries consisting of an Aga a Chya or Lieutenant twelve Odabaschi's four and twenty Bouloukbassen two Secretaries and six Chiauses These determine all Matters both Civil and Military but not till they have first heard the Opinion of the Dey whose single Vote though contrary to all their Judgements is conclusive and binding Subservient to these superior Ministers of State are many Cadies who judge of lesser Causes to the great ease both of the Dey and his Council After the Decease of one Dey another is chosen by the Divan The Janizaries here transact all Affairs as those in Algier being distinguisht neither by Commanders or Justice Out of whom are yearly chosen two Field-Commanders to gather in the Custom and Tributes of the Arabians and for the increase of their Strength some few Moors by the name of Zovaners are admitted into Pay ¶ ANd here we shall succinctly render an Account of the several Revolutions that have happen'd in the Government of this Kingdom After that the Arabians by the Name of Mahumetane Saracens had brought a great part of Africa and all Barbary under their Command and made Cairo in Egypt the Head-Seat of their Empire they sent hither Abelchit an African by Birth who being a man of an ambitious and daring spirit and having withall a Strength answerable thereto resolv'd to take upon him Sovereign Rule and accordingly settled his Court at Cairavan about thirty miles from Old Carthage Kaim then Caliph of Egypt having intelligence of this Revolt sent thither a strong Army whose timely Arrival smother'd the Enterprize in the birth though he had promis'd himself a more happy Fortune yet was he not discourag'd or disabled Tunis is a Kingdom but that he transmitted to Hibraim one of his Sons the perfecting his Design in part for he soon after laid the Foundation of a new Kingdom in Tunis there settling his Court and making it the Metropolis of his Dominion This Kingdom Hibraim and his Successors held a long time with much Felicity and Honor till Joseph King of Morocco made an Invasion upon it whose Successors tracing the steps of his begun Attempt never ceas'd till they got all for Habdul Mumen having gain'd Mahadia from the Christians in process of time wore out the Race of Abelchit and got the total Possession thereof governing it by Vice-Roys or Lieutenants It cometh under the Kings of Morocco without any notable molestation during his own Reign and his Son Joseph's and his Successors Jacob and Mansor But after the Death of Mahumeth Ennasir Son of Mansor and his Brother Joseph The Mutiny of the Arabians who was overthrown in Battel by the King of Telensin the Abelchittin Arabians took advantage to resettle themselves in the Command of Tunis laying a close Siege and often storming it so that the Lieutenant sent to the King of Morocco for Assistance protesting that without timely help the City must of necessity fall into their hands Hereupon the King sent a Fleet of twenty Ships for their Relief under the Command of his approv'd General Abdulhedi a Native of Sevil which so politickly plaid his Game that instead of fighting his Mutineers he overcame them by Gifts and Rewards bestow'd among them by his Masters consent They are stilled for which great and good piece of Service the King made him Vice-Roy and after his Death continu'd the same Honor to his Son Abu Zacharias a man of no less prudence and Conduct than his Father whose Son Abraham or Abu Ferez took it upon him as by Right of Succession and being very ambitious and proud would not acknowledge the King of Morocco for his Supream Lord Abu Ferez sets himself up to be King of Tunis but made himself an absolute and independent Prince and soon after having conquer'd Telensin and put the Inhabitants to pay Tribute he call'd himself King and Lord of Tunis or as others will have it of all Africa Which came to pass in the Year 1210. After him followed his Son Nutman Nutman his Son cometh in his place who was more unhappy than his Father receiving many great damages and affronts from the King of Fez. But Hakmen his Son call'd by Gramay Autmen and by others Hutmen restor'd again tose decays leaving for his Successor the unfortunate Abu Bark for he was scarce warm in his Royal Seat ere he was treacherously murder'd by one of his near Kinsmen named Yahaia who boasted himself the Son of Omar third Kaliff of the Saracens in Asia But Gramay contradicts this Story averring that Aben Ferez before his death divided his State between his three Sons giving to one Bugie to Hamar Numidia and to this Hutmen which he call'd Autmen or Hakmen Tunis who barbarously put out his brother Hamar's Eyes and deprived him of his Dominion which he annexed to his own however he held the Scepter forty years which he left as we said before Emmoiâ—n to his unfortunate Son Abu Bark murder'd by Yahaia whose Nephew Abdul Mumen meeting in a Pitch'd Field overcame and depos'd him holding the Throne many years yet at last basely slain however his Son Zacharias the Second took the Soveraignty but in a short time dyed of the Pestilence without any Issue Then succeeded Mahomet and lastly Muly Assez But Marmol saith that after the death of Hutmen the First the Benemerins Kings of Fez waged many Wars against Hutmen's Successors and that Abu Heman of Fez having beaten Bulabez of Tunis made him fly to Constantine but pursued thither was taken Prisoner and brought to Fez but afterwards set at liberty by Abu Celem and made a League with him by which those Kingdoms afterwards continued an Amity and Correspondence
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
length It is a Beast of Prey and very strong close set with gawdy Quills over the whole body wherewith it onely offends men and defends it self against other Creatures for when the Leopard attempts to seize it it converts into a round ball setting up the points of his Quills that no hold can be fixed Their food is generally Pismires which with their tongues they lick up at a great distance Both on the Sea-Coast and the up-land Countrey many Civet-Cats are found of whose Genus there is great difference among Authors Civet-Cat Some will reduce them under the kind of Cats according to their name but Johnston ranks it with the Hyena we will briefly describe it and so leave the Reader to his own judgement It more resembles a Wolf than a Cat for it hath a long Head with a small Nose flat Mouth and short Ears their Teeth like those of a Dogs the body part white part ash-colour'd speckled with black spots the legs and feet of a middle size with black hairs having four Claws forward and one backward with black short flat nails the Tail long bushy and speckled hanging to the ground From what part the Civet is gathered In what part the Civet is gotten there have been many different opinions The famous French Physitian Riolanus holds it to be the Dung or Ordure but Ruellius and Audreas Matthiolus more truly averre that it is taken out of the Privities and that the Cods were the Purse wherein it was bred others maintain it to be the Sweat or Sudor about those parts caused by violent motion and beating but all these opinions vary from the truth for the part wherein this odoriferous Perfume is found is distinct and peculiar lying between the Privities and the Cods and seems at the first glimpse to be the Matrix for it hath a long opening and felt with the Hand seems of the bigness of a small Egge and grisly which being opened with the Finger two passages appear like Nostrils under which are some small Cavities as big as Almonds the place of the Civet which is taken out thence with a Spoon or other fit Instrument But beyond all these is that monstrous Creature Quoias-Morrou which the Inhabitants call'd Quoias-Morrou or Worrou and the Portugals Salvage that is A Satyr It hath a great Head a heavy Body fleshy Arms and strong no Tail and goes sometimes upright and sometimes like an Ape on all four The Blacks report it to be of humane Extract but by the alteration and change of the Woods and the Wilderness it is become half a Beast They sustain themselves in the Woods with Fruit and wild Honey which they get out of the Trees and as they are not few so when they meet continually fight one with the other The Blacks relate strange things of them and averre it for an infallible truth that it not onely over-powers feeble Women and unmarried Maids but also dares set upon Armed Men. The Woods produce also other wild Beasts Tygers and Leopards as Tygers and Leopards the first they call Quelliqua the latter Quelly These two bear great enmity to each other though the Tyger is generally master wherefore the Leopard when the Tyger pursues him with his Tail will wipe out his foot-steps that so by them he may not be traced Some of the Antients knowing the fierceness of the Tyger attributed to him the command of the Woods but here in regard he hurts no Man but onely Beasts they make the Leopard the King of the Woods What Customs are used upon the taking of a Leopard because he is more dangerous For this ravening they are hunted and kill'd by all that can even for their own safety yet when a Leopard is kill'd they bring him dead unto the King's Town there to be cut up and eaten but if the Resiants there be not acquainted with it before-hand they will not admit it without great opposition and therefore with Weapons in their hands every man falls upon the bringers of the Leopard who come also Armed to abide the expected brunt Thus meeting they fight eagerly till one side become absolute Victors which for the most part are the King's Men to whom the Leopard is left as a booty which they commonly draw into the Town with extraordinary mirth convey to the place where they use to exhibit their Sports where being flea'd his Skin and Teeth they present to the King but the People assembled eat the Flesh boyl'd as a great Dainty spending the remainder of the day in Revelling and Dancing as at their most solemn Festivals But the King forbears to eat it because it is as we said accounted the King of the Woods But if this esteemed Royal Beast be taken by any that that have neither strength nor confidence to make such a Bravado they seek out among them some more than usually bold Fellows who for some inconsiderable hire will take upon them to bring the Leopard cunningly into the King's Town These by the help of one or two Comrades drag the Leopard thither unseen and lays it near the Sporting-place then withdrawing into the House of his acquaintance waiting till some find it who upon the first sight with great eagerness cries out then assembling the People he tells them There is yet another King brought in without our knowledge Upon this all the People run out of their Houses and the bringers discovering themselves every one gives them the hand of friendship and according to their fashion indigitate the Person to all their Friends with these words You are the Man to whom we may trust in need we have seen your works and so proceed to flea and eat it as before The King sells the Leopards Skin if he be not minded to sit upon it nor to lay it upon the earth to tread on but the Teeth which are highly esteemed he bestows upon his Wives who wear them in stead of Jewels both about their Necks and upon their Clothes Insects breed there innumerably as Serpents call'd Tombe Insects above two foot long and as thick as an ordinary mans leg with curious speckled Skins they have no innate antipathy to man whom they never offend till hurt or trod on yet such is their venome that whosoever they bite dies irrecoverably within two or three hours The Serpent Minia attains such largeness The Serpent Minia that it can kill and swallow a whole Deer without chewing or tearing to pieces and devours Boars and many other such like Beasts and Cattel It lurks for Prey in some bush which coming within reach it suddenly seizes winding two or three times about the body and twists it self about the loins till it falls down and dies of which thus glutted he lies not able to stir till his gorged Paunch ha's digested his meal The Pismires have such a natural enmity to him that if they find him thus infeebled with his over-feeding they creep into his body
Corpse and draw the Bowe-string as far as they can to signifie that they would fight against his Enemy and if he were slain in the Wars or kill'd by any malicious Person they would with such force take vengeance And lastly a Man or a Woman is left by the Corpse to keep it and take care to beat away the Flies and Vermine which otherwise might annoy the body When the nearest Relations have finish'd their Ceremonies and come from the house immediately some Women of her Acquaintance apply themselves to the Widow to lament and condole with her and falling down at her feet use these words Bqun e Bqun e that is Be comforted or Cease your lamentation After the accomplishment of these sorrowful Complaints the men carry the Corpse upon a Biere to the Grave commonly made near the Sepulchres of their Ancestors in some Tombouroi or desolate Village and there inhume it not above knee-deep casting into the Ground after him Mats Kettles Basons Beads or what other Wealth he possest himself with or was presented after his death and then fill up the Hole with Earth covering it over with a painted Mat fasten'd with Pins and an Iron close by setting up a Pole whereon if it be a Mans Corpse they hang his Clothes and Arms in the manner of a Trophy but if it were a Woman some Pewter Porringers or Dishes are made fast with a Pin to the Ground And with all convenient speed the Friends erect a Hut over the Grave as a defence from the Rain and also for a Monument that their Memories may not altogether be forgotten The Kings Kindred are buried in an Island call'd Masach lying in a Lake belonging to the River Plizoge where King Flans-Sire Father of the present Reigning King Flambore in his life kept his Royal Seat and now lies Entomb'd If any of the Friends have been absent or in a Journey upon his return he comes to the House of the Deceas'd though it be two or three moneths after and falling down at the feet of the nearest Kinsman to the Deceas'd bewails his loss If he meets any of his Acquaintance of the near Friends to the Deceas'd he embraces him and salutes him with these words Clau e Clau e that is Lament Lament and then talk together of their Affairs When any Nobleman dies one or two of his Slaves or Slavesses are put to death at the Grave to be his Attendants in the Elizian Fields others wait at the Grave to whom the Friends of the Dead carry Presents of Bracelets Beads Coral Rice Tobacco the Fruit Kola and a Hen boil'd with Rice which they may dispose as they please Though this destroying and killing of Slaves and Slavesses was an old Custom here yet it is not much practis'd of late and those of the Slaves that can run away or defend themselves with weapons in their hands are free Therefore when an Eminent Person is dying all his Slaves get away where they cannot be found though the danger of their Lords Death is conceal'd as much as possible The Run-away-Slaves when they come again are rail'd at and upbraided with these or such like words You will eat of your Lords Cost but not die with him who excuse themselves saying Life is sweet and no man would willingly leave or have it taken away against his will The chiefest of the Friends at the beginning of the Mourning make a Vow of Abstinence swearing by a holy Token which they call Bolly-Gowe with lifting up of hands that they will keep it for a common Person eight or ten days and for a Lord a moneth or longer in which time they may not eat any Rice nor drink out of any whole Vessel or Cup but onely out of a Potsheard or a little hole made in the ground neither do the Men sleep with their Wives nor may wear any Painted or Colour'd Clothes but onely Black or White cut with flashes shaving their Hair and sleep upon the bare ground When the time is expired they come to the Bolly-Gowe and discharge themselves with up-lifted Hands from the aforesaid Promise and Vow with assurance that they have kept the same Lastly a Funeral-Banquet is prepared for which the Women boyl Rice and the Men go into the Woods a Hunting and bring home what they catch which they boyl and eat and so the whole Ceremony concludes Those that have fasted are gratifi'd with Presents every one according to his quality that is common persons one with a Bason another with a little Garment or Salt-Basket or a piece of Iron or Mat but persons of account with a Staff Iron or other Goods which with them are highly esteemed If the acquaintance of the Deceased have any suspicion that he died not a natural Death they neither wash the Dead nor lament till the doubt be resolved for they say if any should mourn before it would be impossible to bring to light the guilty person because the Spirit of Envy over-hearing it would not give any intimation of it The Enquiry is performed in thismanner They take the Corps or in stead of that a piece of his Cloathes with pairings of his Nails and some of his Hair sewing it up like a Pudding mixed with scrapings of Bondu or red Dying-wood this Roll they put into a Mortar where they stamp it Then two eloquent Men are elected who stand with two Iron Bills or Halberds before the Staff-bearers and clashing their Bills ask the Dead what he died of and whether God took him away or no if yea then the Staff-bearers nod as if they were half asleep but if not they shiver and shake In like manner they do upon the other Question of Who did it Where is he and In what manner was it done At length they receive answer that he died a violent Death being kill'd by some Bolly for Bolly is with them all manner of Medicinal Herbs but the Herb that is venomous or poysonous is call'd Sovach But if Bolly hath kill'd him then the Names of most Physical Herbs are recited till they have found which of them was used concluding however at last that Sovach hath kill'd him Then is asked whether he was kill'd by a Man or a Woman and at last is asked concerning the place of his dwelling and person The guilty person being found immediately they are chained to a great Block and asked if he or she will acknowledge the Fact If they can be brought to no acknowledgment then is given to them Quony or else upon acknowledgment of the Fact are cruelly put to death This Quony is a Rind or Bark of a Tree so call'd which in the presence of Friends by the suspected person is pull'd off that the Sap or Juice may be used without any deceit The outermost scurf of the Bark they pare off and beat in a Mortar with Water which after the setling affords a very tart Juice of which they give to those that are taken three or four Kalabasjes
or Quarts to drink in the Morning and not at any other time In the mean time they conjure and perswade themselves that if the Captive be guilty of the Crime he will die or else not At last vomiting the Quony he is held to be quit but if he cannot do that though at first he brings up a little Froth he dies and the Body is either burnt or else cast into the River But if it happen that they cannot receive any answer or but such as is uncertain and Amphibological resting thereon though with much dissatisfaction they forthwith without farther enquiry interre the Corps Yet nevertheless they go to a Jakehmo or Soothsayer a vagrant sort of People who have no certain Dwelling-place but rove up and down and before they answer any question run about distractedly one with a certain kind of Pots or Cups another sounding a Horn the rest with Tabers or little Drums making a great noise and hurliburly seeking and calling for the Sovahmo from whom when they have received any information concerning the guilty person then they proceed to the trial with the Quony in the manner aforesaid ¶ IN Right of Inheritance or possessing of Goods this method is observed The Inheritance When the Man dies and leaves behind him some Children that are under Age the elder Brother takes the possession of all the Slaves Wives Children moveable and not moveable Goods of his Father except his own Mother Thus taking upon himself the government of the Family after time of mourning finished he draws to the place of Exercises before the King in presence of all his acquaintance with his Father's Bowe in his hand and his Quiver of Arrows at his back one end of the Bowe he sets upon the Ground holding the other end in his hand in that posture he declareth openly that resolving to be valiant and to follow his Father's course he will now give a proof before all the Spectators After he hath shewed his skill and activity he presents himself before the King in the same posture as before saying He is resolved to bear the burthen of his Family to give the Children under Age an Example to Till the Ground to defend the Right of his Family and what else befits him After the Decease of this Son the next eldest Brother takes all But if the eldest Son live and have Children then his younger Brothers and their Children have onely so much of the Estate as shall keep them till they come to Manhood and maintain the Slaves or Slavesses given him in his Father's life-time for it is the custom in that Countrey that people of ability bestow upon their Children as well Sons as Daughters from their Infancy some Slaves But if the Father dies leaving onely Daughters either his Father's Brother if living or else his Father's Brother's Son that the Name may not be extinct shall inherit But if there be no Male-issue of the Father's side the King is Heir and takes as well Slaves as Goods and Women to him allowing a sufficient maintenance to some trusty Person for the bringing up of the Children ¶ THe Quoia's speak not onely their own Timnian Their Language Hondian Mendian and Folgian Languages but also those of Gala and Gebbe The People of Gebbe and Folgia differ in Speech but little however the Folgian being the smoothest and the noblest is call'd Mendi-ko The Lordly-Tongue partly as we said for its Elegancy and Smoothness partly because of the Dominion the Folgia's hold over the Quoia's and Gebbe-Monou that is the People of Gebbe for Monou in that Idiom signifies People They of Konde-Quoia or High-Quoia differ in Dialect from the Quoia's near the Sea ¶ IN the Head of the Constellation Taurus Signs of their Summer and Winter-Seasons are five Stars near the Pleiades which they call Manja-Ding that is Lords-Childe upon which they look to know whether it be Midnight They have no Hours or past Midnight but know not how to divide Time into Hours nor how to reckon the Age of the Moon Those that dwell in Daula look upon these five Stars appearing in the Evening to the West as a Sign of a Raining-time ¶ THe Authority and Greatness of Quoia Their Strength and Power is at present supported more by Wisdom and Policy than by Power because the subjected Countreys of Cilm Bolm and Bolmberre are accounted more powerful than it This the Parable of King Flamboers Brother nam'd Cia-Haddo seem'd to hint to Flamboere's eldest Son threatning Massakoey Lord of Bolm to take his Countrey There was said he in antient time a Fowl with a very fine red Head and Neck but beyond that thin of Feathers and a small Train but for his beautiful out-side appearance was by other Birds chosen King This Bird sensible of his own defects kept in a Bottel and when the Council of Fowls was assembled put the Head and Neck onely out till at length by course of time the great Sacrifice was to be made to the Idol Belli in the Wood which none but the King in Person might perform at which time compell'd to dissert his Bottle his poverty and wants were discover'd to his great damage Thus far Cia-Haddo And without doubt he discover'd a great Prudence in that witty Apothegm for to prevent discovery it is not permitted to the People lying Northwards to pass through the Easterly Countreys nor for those of the East to go with their Ambassadors or Merchants through the West Countrey and this as we said that they should not discover the Secrets and Conveniences or Inconveniences of the State therefore they of Quoia keep them at distance and traffick for Eastern Wares at reasonable Rates which they vent to the West in Exchange for such as are fit for Barter and Exchange with European Merchants for such Commodities as yield ready Truck with those of the East In like manner also the People of the Upper Countreys prohibit the Quoians to travel through their Land for it is a particular favour that the King of Quoia may take to Wife the Daughter of the King of Manou and at his pleasure pass through the Folgian Territories ¶ WE will next proceed to their Government The Government and first begin with Quoia-Bercoma at present Commanded by a King with the Title of Dondagh his Name Flamboere the Fourth Grandson of one Bokwalla formerly Prince of the Karou's who by the assistance of the Folgians conquering the Veyes after a tedious War laid here the Foundations of a Potent Monarchy to his Successors invited thereto by the fertility of the Soil and an innate ambition and thirst of Soveraignty This acquired Grandeur hath been supported with such Policy that the Inhabitants at all publick Meetings and Solemnities to this day Sing He descended from above This King like his Ancestors holds in subjection Folgia The King of Quoia holds subject the Folgia's the Region of Cape de Monte and the adjacent places formerly
and his people might have design'd to them some places of the Countrey upon promise to pay Tribute To answer this Request several things fell under consideration at length Cabo Monte was propos'd whereupon there was several long Debates between the King and his Nobility but the King remembring his Generals honest Performances for himself against those of Rio Cestos and in Gala for the Service of his Son-in-law resolving to content him in it said I shall do the desire of his heart The King appoints to go against the Countrey of Cape de Monte. and gave him leave to go thither with the Karou's sending a considerable Force with him for his help that he might not be repulsed The Commanders of the Army that went out of Folgia to the Cape de Monte with Flonikerry were these Jelliva Syala Juba Selboela Mamnos Syfre of the Cape of Mesurado and Fesiach Flonikerry's Brothers-Son As soon as the Field-Officers with their Souldiers came to Cape de Monte on the South side about Tomby they invaded the Vey-Monou who being numerous The Karou's come with their Army near the Vey-Monou's and withal of a haughty courage were not quickly master'd but the continual Onsets of the Karou's at length tired them out for they shot poysoned Arrows whose wounds proved irremediably mortal whereas the Vey's They overcome them by shooting of poyson'd Arrows not being accustomed to such Fights used onely Darts and Assagayes or Lances having no skill in preparing Poyson so that finding they could not any longer defend themselves they went with their Hoods upon their heads to Quolm a Fort of the Karou's erected at the River Plizoge a little Eastward of Tomby to ask favour which Flonikerry naturally inclined to pity easily granted bidding them go lie down with their Faces to the ground according to the manner of the Countrey in such case then coming out he trode upon them with his Feet He made an Agreement with them as followeth First Their way of making an Agreement some Hens were kill'd in the presence of them all of whose bloud the conquered swallowed a little as a token of Agreement Afterwards the dead Hens were boyl'd and the flesh eaten among them onely the legs were kept for a perpetual remembrance for if any man after that time transgressed or broke his promise to him were the legs shown who upon sight thereof soon recanted for fear of the punishment that after would assuredly follow In the consideration of this success Flonikerry overjoy'd let loose his thoughts The former successful Victory of Flonikerry made him insolent giving them free scope to range further but first for assuring his new conquer'd Dominion he sought by all means to win the minds of the vanquish'd to him and to contract a firm League of friendship and correspodency with the Karou's of his own Countrey But wavering fortune that minds nothing less than the continuance of friendship will blemish his new gotten glory with a dire and unexpected mishap for scarce were the minds of the Vey's or Karou's united but there came out of Gala Miminique Son of the aforesaid named Manimassah with a great Army of Gala's and others to make War upon the Karou's and Vey's to whose design his Father was not unwitting having voluntarily forgotten the kindnesses received from Flonikerry's Arms in the Conquest of his now acquired Dominion Wherefore Flonikerry upon the first intelligence drew together his Forces to which joyning the Veys he formed a considerable Army wherewith marching towards the Enemy they soon met and came to a Battel wherein the Gala's at first by their multitude put the Karou's to a disorderly Retreat which Flonikerry a valiant and undaunted person seeing and not used to shrink before his Enemies digged with his hand a hole in the ground and put his knees in it with a resolution either to die there or remain Conqueror over his Enemies And indeed he had his desire in the one for after a long and sharp Contest at length as it were covered with Assagayes and Arrows he was slain on the spot However his men gathering fresh courage to revenge their Princes death Rally'd and gave a fresh Charge upon their Enemies with such fury that they turn'd the fortune of the day and became solely masters of the Field But the death of Flonikerry whose body they buried in the Fort Quillone was sometime kept secret till they sent for his Brother Zyllymanque to take his Charge who immediately accepting the same pursued the Victory and drew near to the Camp where he soon brought under the Puymonow giving their Spoil as a Booty to his Souldiers After this Victory he marched with his Army to Quoia-Monou lying along the River Magwibba or Rio Nova but the people would not endure to run the risque of War but yielded themselves up to Subjection without blow And in this manner the Kanou's by the aid of the Folgia's became masters of the whole Countrey and gain'd the reputation of a mighty people Soon after he went to the River Maquelbary or Rio Galinhas where he subdu'd the Quilliga-Monou after a little resistance and with them he ended his Wars and retir'd with his Forces to Tomby his old habitation but was at length poyson'd as was thought leaving behind him several sons which were but little and not capable to manage their Fathers Dominion However the eldest call'd Flansire was admitted Successor during whose Minority his Uncle Jemmah his Fathers Sisters Son as Guardian took care of the Government for some time but Flansire growing in years took the Royal Authority into his own hand and to shew that he inherited as well his Fathers Valor as Countreys resolves to enlarge his Bounds yet farther and to that end went with his Forces over the River Maquelbary or Galinhas taking all the adjacent places as far as Serre-Lyons which he also by force of Arms brought under his Subjection and in all the chief places before his departure set Garrisons and appointed Governors over them viz. over Serre-Lyons he made Kandaqualle Commander in chief over the Countreys at the River de Palm he set as his Deputy one Selboele from whom the River took name and to command the people about Rio Galinhas he appointed one Sytre Having thus setled his new Conquests he return'd into his own native Principality where he spent a good part of his life in peace and quietness till inconstant Fortune which seem'd to have serv'd him too long began to create him new troubles For there came news from Serre-Lyons Serre-Lions is taken by Dego Falmah that Kandaqualle was driven out thence and forced to flie with all his people to the Islands Bananneo not being able to withstand Dogo Falma a native of the Countrey of Dogo a Territory in Hondo who with a mighty force had invaded him Flansire startled at this news and very well knowing that a matter of such concern required expedition sent to the Bolmian Lords his
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
or any other wild Beast with a Bell in the middle Both Men and Women go for the most part bare Headed having their Hair Brayded some wear Hats made of the Bark of Trees or Coco-nuts others in stead of Hats have Plumes of Feathers made fast to a Wire about their Heads Some for Ornament make holes in their upper lips Their Ornament in which they put pieces of Ivory and in the under lips for the like purpose Many wear Silver Jewels or Pendants at their Ears and Noses of three or four Ounces weight others put thin pieces of Wood thorow them of five or six Fingers long or Rings or Ivory and pieces of Horn. They colour their Bodies with a Red Paint made of Takoel Wood and Dye one of their Eyes with it the other Painting white and yellow and make two or three Rays like Sun-beams on their Faces Most of them have rough Girdles of Briffels Skin three four five or six hands broad yet the ends meet not but remain about four Fingers breadth asunder ty'd together with a small String to which at an Iron Chain hang their Knives Some hang round Boxes about their Necks but they will never let any body see what they have in them Moreover their Skins be cut and Carv'd in divers manners but never go abroad without either a Sword or Ponyard by their sides Some Women wear Flaps of Bulrushes and a few great Rings of Iron Copper or Tin on their Arms and Legs The Whites exchange in the River of Gabon with the neighbouring Blacks Trade Elephants Teeth which they bring from Kamerones and Amboise for Slaves also Elephants Tails and Skins which they barter again on the Gold-Coast with great gain When the King of Pongo fears any War he removes to another Island partly defended by its natural strength and partly by the great number of Guns which he hath gotten from the Netherlanders French and Portuguese Ships surpris'd or otherwise taken Heretofore this King of Gabon or Pongo The War of the King of Gabon against him of Lope-Gonzalves War'd against the King of the Cape Lope-Gonzalves and overcame him in a Pitcht Field totally destroying his Army by which means he grew very surly and proud but by the intercession of the Europeans at that time there the difference was afterward compos'd Is Ended so that since they have kept a true Allyance and Friendship one with another Some years since The victory of the King of Pongo the same King went with fifty or sixty Canoos thorow the Countrey and first with his people about him came to Kamarones from whence he carry'd all away that he could find as Elephants-Teeth and Slaves The same he did in Amboises and in the Countreys lying near the Princes of Rey and Olibata which shews him to be a powerful King and one with whose Subjects the best Trade may be had either for Slaves Money or Ivory Every Village or place hath a peculiar Governor call'd Chaveponto Government who acts and doth all things in the King's Name The Cape of Lope-Gonzalves EIght miles from the River Gabon The Cape of Lope Gonzalves Northward of Olibata appears a large and Prominant Point from the first Discoverer in Portuguese call'd Caba des Lope-Gonzalves lying in forty six Minutes South Latitude or to explain it better the Cape in one degree and the Road where the Ships come to Anchor in six and forty Minutes A little Southward of this Cape the River Olibata intermingles with the Ocean Here live no People Trade but when the Blacks hear of any Ships arriving they come out of the Countrey and bring sometimes Elephants to sell but Olibata yields the most Trade to the Whites If the Seamen will have no hindrance in their fetching of Water they must give the Blacks good store of old white Linnen Beads and other trifles Most of all the Inhabitants Language both here and at Gabon speak besides their own Language broken Portuguese as learn'd by their long conversation with that People The Inlanders have a King of their own Government who liveth six or seven miles up in the Countrey In March May and June the Current of the Sea sets under the Line or from this Cape Gonzalves most about the South along the Coast of Angola so that Ships may easily Sail about the South in that time whereas at other times it sets continually to the North with Southerly Winds so that 't is almost impossible to come about by the South Next this Cape lie the Rivers of Paradia St. Bacias and Fardinand de Vaz And thus have we lead you as it were by the hand through Negroland AETHIOPIA INFERIOR vel EXTERIOR Partes magis Septâ—â—trionales quae hie desilerantur ride in tabula Aethiopia Superioris Nether Ethiopia 489 contains Lovando Towns Cape Bocle Sofansa Mokonda where the Kings Mother lives Sokn Catta the Residence of the King 's Siler Lovango his own particular Cango Piri two Chilongo's Jamba Cosia Seny Gommo Lanzy Majumba Setty Gobby Rivers Several but none particularly known Ansiko Towns Feâ—â— or none at best little known the Inhabitants being all Cannibals Rivers Zaire Umbre Cacongo Goy Towns Cacongo the Metropolis Molemba Lemba Rivers Cacongo the chief Sonho One City call'd Goy and several small Rivers Congo Towns Panga Mongomendoin Jagado Lengo Mussula Songo Pinde St. Salvador Sundo Pembo Batta besides abundance of poor Villages Rivers Danda Zare Barbele Coango the River of Red Sand Brankan Lelunde Ambris Encocoquematâ—i Loze Onza Bengo Quanza Mountains Quibambiâ— Mountains of the Sun the Saltpeter Hills the Burning Mountains Otreiro Macoco Towns Monsol and scatter'd Huts in stead of Villages the whole inhabited by Anthropophagi or Men-eaters Giringboma Pombo Amboille Towns or Villages they have by report but generally unknown so much as by name Angola Towns Lovando St. Paulo Massagan Cambamba Embacca the Fort Moll 's the Town of St. Esprit and six other Rivers Bengo Quansa Lucala and Calucala Mountains Mora St. Paulo Bengala Towns Mani-cicorgo the Fort Benquelle Melonde Peringe Maniken Somba Maninomma Maniken Somba Piken and Manikilonde Rivers Rio Longo Caton-belle Mountains Sombriera Matama or Climbebe Rivers Bravagul Magnice Coari Port Ambrose Mountains The cold Nountains Christal Mountains Towns Molembo Caffrary or the Hottentots Countrey Towns The Cape of Good Hope and about five hundred or six hundred scattering Houses Mountains Table-Mountain Lion-Mount Wind-Hill Rivers The Fresh and the Salt Rivers St. Christophers Rio Jaquelina Monomotapa Towns Banamatapa the Imperial City Simbao Safale Zimbas Tete Sena Tambura Zenebra Fatuca Tonge Pombo d' Okango Rivers Magnice Panhames Luangoea Arraga Manajova Inandire and Rueruy all yielding Gold Sofala Towns Sofala Cape das Correntas Matuka St. Eubastian St. Catharine Rivers Magnice Quamba Zangebar Towns Rapte a Haven Quirimba an Island with 25 Houses Rivers Quilmami Obi Ango Mountains Graro Mozambique Towns Mozambile a large City Mosambike Island wherein two Cities
wears a four-square Pouch of a Lions skin ty'd round about with a wicker thread and above with a Collar of Leather so hanging about his neck In this Budget they have all sorts of Implements a man can think on A master of Slaves at least that may easily be gotten as all sorts of little Horns Shells small Stones Iron Bells dry'd Sprigs of Trees Herbs Feathers Gums Roots Seeds Keys Patches Shreds Gratings Scrapings Horns Teeth Hair and Nails of white little Dwarfs call'd Doend us In brief cram'd with a whole Pedlars Pack and dress'd with Feathers Strings Cords Snips of Cloth and the like To this they add two Baskets thick cover'd with Shells Feathers Iron Hooks and an Herb fetcht from a far distant Mountain in which they cut a hole where they pour in Wine of which they give often to drink The simplicity of the Maujeres deserves well to be laugh'd at for when they bring any thing upon the account of Trade into another Countrey from home perhaps forty or fifty miles they must have such a Sack of Trumpery which sometimes weighs ten or-twelve pounds aloft upon their Pack though the burden it self makes them ready to sink under it But they say that it rather takes from than adds to their carriage whereby it appears what effects the strength of imagination can do The Ceremonies of their Publick Devotions are strange and ridiculous How the service of these Mokisies is perform'd for in the first place they bring forth a Bag of Jewels then the Ganga sits down upon a Mat and with a Leather Bag thumps upon his Knee having always some little Iron Bells betwixt his fingers then again he strikes upon his breast and paints with red and white upon his Eye-lids Body and Face using many strange motions and postures of their Body Hands Head and Eyes now raising the voice to a high pitch then depressing it frequently speaking the word Mariomena whereupon those that sit round about with all the rest of the assembly answer Ka. After this hath continu'd a great space the Ganga or Conjurer begins to turn his Eyes and look as if he were distracted so that they must hold him but by vertue of a fowr Water or Juyce drawn from Cane wherewith they sprinkle him recovering he tells what he hath receiv'd from Boesy-batta and what must be done in such and such cases as of theft sickness and the like Besides this they use so many other Cheats and Delusions that if we should but name them would swell to a bulk too Voluminous for our Design Lykokoo is a black Woodden Image cut in the shape of a Man sitting and in Kinga a Town lying by the Sea-Coast where they have a common Burial-place they recite a thousand ridiculous Rhymes concerning this Kikokoo As That he preserves them from Death Sorcerers or Doojes That he keeps them from hurt by Sorcerers or Doojes as they call them That he makes the Dead arise out of the Graves in the Night and forces them to labor by going to the Shore and helping to catch Fish and to drive the Canoos in the Water and in the Day hunts them to their Graves again and the like Fictions which the elder Folks make the young believe and imprint it in them from their Infancy It happ'ned once formerly that some Mariners of a Portuguese Ship that went to Lovango in the Night stole Kikokoo out of his House and brought it on Board and in the way an Arm and the Head brake off But having occasions afterwards to go to Lovango again they durst not venture thither without restoring Kikokoo So nailing the Head and Arm again fast to the Trunk and being come upon the Road they set him in the dead of the Night into his House again The next day there arose a Report among the Blacks That Kikokoo was in Portugal and that a Ship with Goods had taken him away Afterwards there came by mishap a Portuguese Ship to strike upon the Rocks of Lovango whereupon they cried That Kikokoo had broken the Ship because the Portuguese had driven a Nail into his Head Thus they are taught at every turn to defend the Honor of the Moquisies and to misapply every Accident for confirmation of their Folly When the Bonfires of Bomba are made they lay many Drums upon the ground which they beat with their hands and feet sitting round about a Post that is set in the middle among which the Daughters of Kimbos-bombos all dance moving their Bodies Eyes and Head like mad Folks and with obscene Postures sing certain Verses wearing upon their Heads a Bush of all sorts of colour'd Feathers and on their Bodies strange fashion'd Garments with a red and white painted Rattle in each Hand In brief The more apishly they behave themselves the freer and braver they are esteem'd to be A thousand more ridiculous and bestial Ceremonies these shameless Gangaes practice at their Bonfires mocking their Moquisies and dare do whatsoever they think convenient Malemba is a Moquisie of great esteem and serves to support the King's Health It is a Mat of about a Foot and half square with a Band at the top upon which hang some small Baskets Scallops Feathers dry'd Pipes of Cassia Iron Bells Rattles Bones and other such like Trinkets all painted red with Takoel The Ceremonies belonging to this are performed with little Drums or Tabers upon which a Boy strikes with his Hand Afterwards some Painting of Takoel and Holy-water taken out of a Pot with a Brush is sprinkled upon the Ganga's and King's Body with a Song of Probation serving to the purpose Also the Nobility which peep have for their pains out of the same Pot a red Streak put upon their Bodies and have afterwards the Honor to carry away Malemba with his Pots Brushes and Cans and to hang them in their Places Moquisie Makongo they solemnize with Rattles Makongo Drums small Wicker-baskets and Red-colour'd Fish-hooks but not worth farther mentioning being all foppery Moquisie Mymy is a little Hut Mymy that stands on the back of a Way planted round with Banano's Bakovens and other Trees having an elevated Tial or Throne upon which a Basket stands full of all sorts of Trumpery not worth naming The chiefest is a Bracelet of Beads with some little Shells found on the Sea-coast by which there hangs a hollowed piece of Wood upon which they knock No Black who hath companied with his Wife that Night dare be so bold as to touch this Moquisie such an Esteem they bear to it Moquisie Kossie is a Sack with some Horns full of Whiting and other Aragh Kossy The Service is performed with Rattles long Sticks singing uncouth Songs in the Night creeping upon their Knees Washing Spitting Shouting tying Rings and Bands about their Bodies and such like things This they boast as an infallible Preservative against Thunder and Lightning and to prevent Sicknesses The Moquisie Kymaye is a Town close by Boarye
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
Bernardo de Menzos his Interpreter and Secretary The King's Apparel is very glorious and rich His Cloathing being for the most part Cloth of Gold or Silver with a long Velvet Mantle This King wears commonly a white Cap upon his Head He wears a white Cap. so do his Fidalgoes or Nobility in his Favour And this is indeed so eminent a token thereof that if the King be displeased with any of them he onely causes his Cap to be taken off from his Head For this white Cap is a Cognizance of Nobility or Knighthood here as in Europe every Order hath a peculiar Badge to distinguish it When the King goeth abroad with all his Nobles adorn'd with white Caps on their Heads When the King is desirous to have Taxes he lets his Cop blow off he sometimes puts on a Hat and at pleasure lays that aside and resumes his Cap which he then puts very loosely on upon set purpose that the Wind should blow it off the easier which according to design hapning his Fidalgoes run to take it up and bring it to the King again but the King as offended at the Disgrace will not receive the same but goeth home very much troubled the next day he sends two or three hundred Blacks abroad to gather in Taxes so punishing his whole Kingdom for the offence of the Wind in blowing off his Cap which he caused of set purpose He hath one Married Wife The Queen is call'd Mani-mombada which they call Mani-Mombada that is Queen all the rest Taxes for the Queen how rais'd being no small number are Concubines For this Wife a Yearly Tax is gathered through the whole Kingdom by them call'd Pintelso every House paying a Rate for their Beds viz. a Slave for every Spans breadth so that if it be three Spans broad they pay three Slaves The Queen hath her Lodgings in the Palace Her place of aboad apart with her Ladies of Honor which have little Courtship or Art to set them forth yet they go almost every night abroad to take their pleasure and to satisfie their wanton desires onely some stay according to their turns to wait upon the Queen who will her self if she finds a convenient opportunity and a Person that dares venture to come in the Night over the Straw Walls into the Court to her private Lodgings not be backward to receive their proffer'd Kindness But this she doth with great circumspection for if the King should hear of it it would endanger both their Lives The King on the contrary keeps as many Concubines as he pleases as well of the Ladies of Honor belonging to the Queen as of others without check but the Priests spare not to reprove him for it openly in their Preaching When the King dies his Relations put him into the Grave in a Sitting Posture to whom formerly a dozen young Maids leap'd out of free choice and were buried alive to serve him in the other Life as believing That he should not remain dead but go into that other World and live there These Maids were then so earnest and desirous of this Service to their deceased Prince that for eagerness to be first they kill'd one another And their Parents and Friends gather together all sorts of stately Clothes and put them into the Grave to the intent that when they arrive in that strange Countrey they may buy such things as they have occasion for therewith The Funeral of the King in stead of other Mourning is celebrated eight days together with continual Eating and Drinking and this kind of Mourning they call Malala and every Year after Solemnize it with an Anniversary-Meeting in the same manner This Custom is not only us'd for the King but also for the Nobility according to their Quality and continues to this day but by the progress of Christianity teaching better things they have laid aside totally the burying of People alive In the Succession to the Crown they observe no Order Inheritance of the Crown neither Legitimation nor Seniority taking place further than the Ruling Grandees please they according to the humor of barbarous Nations esteeming all alike Honorable For which reason the Nobles chuse one out of the King's Sons whether Legitimate or Illegitimate it matters not for whom they have the most respect or think the fittest or else perhaps sometimes sway'd by extravagant Fancies relinquish all the Children and give the Crown to a Brother or Nephew The Coronation of the King they Solemnize after this manner The manner of the King's Coronation All the Nobles and Portuguese assemble before the Palace in a four-square open Court built for that purpose of old encompass'd with a slight Stone Wall about five Yards high in the middle of which stands a great Velvet Chair and a Cushion with a stately Carpet spread before it and a Crown wrought of Gold Silk and Silver-Wyre laid thereon as also three Gold Armlets about the thickness of a Finger and a Velvet Purse wherein is the Pope's Bull or Letters of Confirmation to the new King The intended King after some time comes into this Congregation by invitation of the Nobless concern'd primarily in the Election where all things prepared there stands one up which in the nature of a Herald proclaims these words You that shall be King be no Thief neither covetous nor revengeful but be a friend of the Poor You shall bestow the Alms for the releasement of Prisoners or Slaves and help the Needy and be charitable to the Church and always endeavour to keep this Kingdom in Peace and Quietness and fully observe and keep the same without breach of League with your Brother the King of Portugal After this Speech ended the Musick begins to play with excellent Melody which having continued a convenient season the last two Fidalgo's go seemingly to seek him amongst the People the remaining part of them sitting upon the Ground These two in a short time find him they sought for and bringing him one by the right Arm and the other by the left place him upon the foremention'd Royal Chair and put the Crown upon his Head on his Arms the Gold Armlets and the usual black Cloth or Bayze-Cloak upon his Body then he lays his Hand upon a Mass-Book and the Evangelists which the Priest holds to him Clothed in a white Garment hung with white Tassels and the King swears to do and keep all that he hath been forewarned of by him the formention'd Herald After the ending of these Solemnities the twelve Noblemen and the King go to the Palace accompanied with all those that were present at the Coronation who cast Earth and Sand upon him for a Token of rejoycing and for an Admonition that though he be now King he shall be Dust and Ashes The King after his Crowning remains eight days in his Palace never going forth in which time all the Black Nobility none excepted and all the Portuguese come to visit and wish
warred against the King of Angola in the Countrey And now inhabited by many Families of Portuguese besides Mulattoes and Blacks Kambamba edges upon Quansa The Tertltory of Kambamba where stands a Village denominated also Kambamba Eastward of Massingan about a dayes Journey The Portuguese have a Fort here also wherein divers Families reside and many Free Blacks that have good store of Slaves About eight days passage up the River Lukala The Territory of Embakka you arrive at Embakka where is a Village of the same denomination twelve days Journey from the Sea side In this place the Portuguese have their Bounds beyond it claiming no Interest The unwholsomness of the Air breeds divers Sicknesses Constitution of the Air and Sicknesses especially violent and burning Fevers which kill in few Hours unless prevented by frequent Phlebotomy The Pox is so common among them Pox. that they think it no Disgrace and for Remedy use Oyntments and Physical Herbs taken inwardly but through want of Skill the Cure remaining imperfect many die They have another frequent Distemper call'd Bitios de Kis suprising them with Melancholy great pain in the Head Faintness and soreness of Limbs and makes their Eyes stand out staring as if they would fall out The Cure which immediately must be used upon the appearance of the Symptomes they perform by washing the Fundament very clean and putting a Pill made of a quarter of a rinded Lemmon therein with the Finger holding it in as long as may well be endur'd which is not done without great pain and burning a sign of the right Bitios This Medicine though seeming but mean yet proves the onely Remedy against this Disease if timely applied But if the Distemper be grown inveterate and far rooted which the swelling out and opening of the end of the Gut and a whitish loosness testifies then a Mixture of Juyce of Tobacco-leaves Salt and Vinegar steeped together two hours then stamped in a Mortar and so much thereof put into the Fundament as can well be done and kept there as long as possible reduces the Part again to its proper condition and absolutely cures the Disease But this Medicine is so painful and hardly to be endured that the sick Person must be fast held by two strong Men else he can never receive the intended Advantage The Bitios also are cured by frequent Clysters or Serringing the Fundament-Guts with the purified Decoction of the Plant Orore de Bitos and dried Rose-leaves mixt with one or two Yelks of Eggs and a little Allom and Oyl of Roses For the preventing hereof so soon as the tokens of it are perceived the Fundament must first be well cleansed then a Medicine made of a new-laid Egg well beaten with a little Rose-water and Sugar with which mix White Lead scraped small then dipping fine Lint into it put it up into the Fundament Observe here That White Lead is taken for a rare Cure against this Evil. Another Disease sorely afflicts them taking away in a manner their Sight so that they grow Pur-blind but by applying the raw Liver of a Hey regain their former Health Few escape the misery of sore Legs whose malignity is such as will hardly admit Cure They labor under another sort of Distemper Beriberi which the Indians call Beriberi being a Lameness of all the Limbs and supposed to have its original from the ill curing of the Bitios and not cleansing the Blood enough The best Medicine against this is to anoint the Joynts before a Fire with an Oyl by the Indians call'd Man-Tennah which in the Island of Sumatra drops out of the Rocks like Stone-oyl and proves very wholesom and serviceable against all Colds weakness of Limbs and Strains The Boasi is a Malady very common and pernicious rotting off the Nose Boasi Hands Feet Fingers and Toes spreading from Joynt to Joynt with great pain until without Remedy it brings them to their End Embasser a usual Sickness proceeds from the hardness of the Spleen Embasser which makes them grow melancholy yellow of colour heavy-hearted and faint But Broath made of the Root of the Tree Embotta that part especially that lies to the Morning-Sun restores their Health Of the Branches of this Tree being very strong and tuff they make Bowes The Small-Pox also rages here much Small Pox. and by reason of their unskilfulness in the use of fitting Medicines proves many times very mortal The Land about Lovando for want of convenient Moisture proves barren The nature of the Soil but on the opposite side by the River Bengo fruitful yielding store of Mandiboka Mille Beans and many sorts of Fruits and Herbs which upon the Portuguese first arrival was over-grown with Bushes and Brambles But the Portuguese Governor of Lovando Ferdinando de Sousa in the Years Sixteen hundred twenty nine and thirty commanded the Inhabitants every one acording to the number of Slaves they had to take each of them a piece of Ground at the River and clear it from the Bushes Brambles and Weeds and make it fit for Sowing and Planting by which they brought it to the present Fertility This Labor at first was ill resented by the Inhabitants who were drawn to it with great difficulty but when they tasted the Profit and saw the Fruitfulness every one sought to get a Plantation and took so much Ground as they could Manure In this manner the Ground was planted with Mille Beans and all sorts of Herbage and by Time and Practice the People still improving became not onely a necessary Plantation but as it were a pleasant Garden for the whole Countrey But afterwards in the Year Sixteen hundred forty one when the Netherlanders took the City Lovando Saint Paulo all was burn'd and ruin'd So that this Tract of Land formerly as we said a Garden of Pleasure became afterwards a Den for Lions Tygers and other wild Beasts However after some time a Peace being settled between the Dutch and Portuguese their joynt Endeavors restor'd it to the former Beauty and Fertility The chiefest Products of these Parts are small and great Mille Plants whereof they make Bread Chesnut-colour'd Beans call'd Enkossa a fatning and delicate Food yet too much eating of them causes a pain in the Belly Also Oranges Lemons Dates Bananos Ananasses Potatoes Cocos Arosses and Palm-oyl-Trees Anones Guajaves Wine or Gegos Anones Anones so call'd by the Portuguese from a Duke which brought this Fruit first thither is a pleasant Fruit very delightful in taste Ash-colour'd as big as ones Hand and almost round like a Pine-apple Guajaves Guajaves or Gojava so call'd by the Portuguese by the Natives Cienko and by the Dutch Granate-Pears is a Fruit very delicious in taste but the coldness of its Quality makes it thought unwholesom Arosses Arosses or Granate-plums a Fruit almost like Guajaves but smaller wholesom to eat and of a pleasing sharp taste Gegos grows on high Trees Gegos in
Cazado dangerous to Sailers being sometimes cover'd with Water The Air bears a good temper and the Earth though sandy towards the Sea yet affords all things necessary for the use of Man The Mountains rich not onely in Crystal but other Minerals Northerly it becomes more full of Trees to the heighth of two and twenty Degrees South Latitude from whence there drives into the Sea a hundred and fifty Miles from the Shore certain green Weeds call'd Saigossa and seems as a Mark to Sea-men whereby they know how near they are to the Main Land of Africa At a great distance also are seen many Mews or Sea-Pies with black Feathers at the end of their Wings which assure the Mariners by their appearance two or three together that they are infallibly near the African Continent The Government of this Jurisdiction rests in the hands of a King Government who as an absolute Monarch Commands all at his pleasure yet some Lords whose Commands lie by the Sea-shore pride themselves with the empty Title of Kings while they neither possess Wealth or Countreys whose Products are sufficient to make them known to Foreigners of the least esteem Kaffrarie or the Countrey of Kaffers otherwise call'd Hottentots KAffrarie The Countrey of the Kaffers or according to Marmol Quefrerie took Denomination from the Kaffers the Natives thereof which others name Hottentots by reason of their lameness and corruption of Speech without either Law or Religion Maginus spreads this Countrey along the Sea-Coast from the West-side of Cabo Negro lying in sixteen Degrees and fourteen Minutes to Cape of Good Hope or Cabo de bona Esperansa and from thence up Northward to the River Magnice otherwise call'd St. Esprit but with what ground of reason we must leave to de determin'd Sanutus begins Kaffrarie at the Mountains of the Moon near the Tropick of Capricorn in three and twenty Degrees and a half South Latitude so along the Western Coast to the Cape of Good Hope This beginning of Kaffrarie according to most Authors Davitii Lahasse Ethiopie p. 475. from that remarkable Boundary the Tropick of Capricorn hath been indisputably setled but they spread the end of it as we said to the Cape of Good Hope and Zanguebar Between which Northward along the Sea-Coast are none or very few distinct Kingdoms and therefore this being the outermost Southern Borders may not inconveniently be extended to Zanguebar so that the whole Tract lying Southward of Zanguebar and the Kingdom of Monomotapa are to be understood in the general Name of Kaffrarie So then according to this last limiting it hath on the East and South the Indian and in the West the Ethiopick-Sea which meet together to the Southward of the Cape of Good Hope and on the North at Mataman and Monopotapa This Countrey so Bounded lieth encompassed in the North with those high cold bushy and sharp Mountains of the Moon always cover'd with Snow nevertheless it hath about the Cape in some places several large and pleasant Valleys into which flow divers Rivulets from the Hills It is not divided into any particular or known Kingdoms yet inhabited by several People some Govern'd by Kings others by Generals and some are without any Government at all We will give you a glimpse of them in their Customs and Natures as far as any Discovery hath hitherto given us any information and that from the hands of such as for some time lived on the Spot The chiefest People hitherto discover'd in this Southerly part of Africa are the Gorachouqua's Goringhaiqua's Goringhaikona's Kochoqua's Great and Little Kariguriqua's Hosaa's Chaniouqua's Kobona's Sonqu's Namaqua's Heusaqua's Brigoudins and Hankumqua's the eight first neighbor the Cape and the farthest not above threescore miles from it The three first viz. Gorachouqua's and Goringhaiqua's have their Dwellings within four or five hours Journey of the Great Cape but the Gorinhaikona's or Water-men are within a quarter of an hours walk from thence GORINGHAICONAS THe Goringhaicona's or Water-men have a Governor call'd Demtaa who was once taken Prisoner by the Hollanders but was afterwards by carrying himself with Civility released and setled in his old Dominion Their best Seat contains scarce five Houses and not above fifty People with Women and Children living in a condition of Poverty below all the rest of the Hottentots GORACHOUQUAS THe Gorachouqua's are about three or four hundred fighting Men besides Women and Children and maintain themselves by Pasturage and Profit of good Cattel as Sheep and Cows Their Governor call'd Chora hath a Brother call'd Jakin both going in tallow'd Skins but they have great store of Cattel GORINHAIQUAS THe Goringhaiqua's or Cape-mans by reason that they always lived nearest to it are more than equal in People to those last mention'd for they can between both raise about a thousand fighting Men yet all their Towns and Villages make up but ninety five poor Huts cover'd with Mats These People obey a Governor whom they call Gogosoa who was in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty two according to the averment of such as had been there a hundred years of age and had two Sons the eldest nam'd Osinghiakanna and the other Otegnoa both which alway sought to over-Rule their Father but chiefly the eldest by inventing all means to make him away In the Year Sixteen hundred fifty nine The original of the War between the Gorinbaiqua's and the Notherlanders there grew between these People and the Hollanders a Dissention for the possession of the Countrey about the Cape where the Natives endeavor'd to turn them out alledging they had possessed it beyond all remembrance and with such malice did they manage it that they slew many of the Dutch when they saw opportunity at the same time robbing them also of Cattel which they drove away so swift that they could not be shot always chusing to Fight in stormy and rainy Weather as well knowing that then they could do but little Execution with their Arms. These upon information received by advice of one of their own People by them call'd Nomoa and by the Netherlanders Doman who went from thence to Battavie in one of the Companies Ships and stay'd there five or six years observing their actions with such inquisitive diligence that he remembred no small part thereof Doman being come again to the Cape in those Ships which were order'd for Holland kept a great while amongst them in Dutch Habit but at last betook himself to his old Companions informing and instructing them in all the actions and intentions of the Netherlanders as also the manner and use of their Arms. He together with another stout Soldier by the Hottentots call'd Garabinga were always their Captains and with great skill and conduct led on and brought off their followers always with success After the War had continued three Moneths A Skirmish between five Hottentots and five Netherlanders in August Sixteen hundred fifty and nine on a Morning went out five Hottentots one of
are divided into fifteen or sixteen Clans each about a quarter of an hours Journey asunder yet all comprehended within the Walls of four hundred and fifty Houses Every Division or Clan consisting either of thirty six and thirty forty or fifty Houses more or less all set round together and a little distance one from another They possess Flocks of goodly Cattel well near an hundred thousand and above two hundred thousand Sheep which have no Wooll but long curl'd Hair They are all under one Prince or King They are under one King entituled Coehque who dwells about fifty Miles from the Cape and for his better ease appoints under him a Deputy or Viceroy The Coehque who Reign'd in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty one was nam'd Oldasoa his Viceroy Gonnomoa and the Third Person in the Kingdom Coucosoa Gonnomoa was exceedingly black beyond all others of his own People a gross and heavy-bodied Man having three Wives and by them many Children whereas the King himself who deceas'd in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty one of a languishing and painful Disease never had more than one This Prince was a Person handsom-bodied well-set very courteous and much bewail'd by his Subjects He left behind him his onely Daughter nam'd Mamis handsom and very comely of feature but Camoisie-nos'd as all the Blacks in general are Great and Little CARIGURIQUAS or HOSAAS THese lie most in the Valleys Great and Little Cariguriqua's boasting of nothing but very fair Cattel whereof exceeding choice and careful because they have nothing else in the dry time of Summer to live upon If you go farther up into the Countrey you come to the Chainouquas Cabonas Sanquas Namaquas Heusaquaes and Hancumquas CHAINOUQUA'S THe Chainouquas at present live three Moneths Journey into the Countrey Chainouqua's with their Families Retinue Wife Children and Cattel according to the report of the other wild Natives very near the Cobonas being not above four hundred Men but rich in Cattel Their Prince They are under a Prince call'd Sousoa an old Man had two Wives but both dead and hath a Son nam'd Goeboe whose right Leg broken in pieces by an Elephant is wholly useless to him Upon every Remove he rides upon an Ox and must be lift up and down His Clothing is a fine Leopards Skin with the spotted side turn'd inwards and the ill-favour'd fleshy side well liquor'd with Grease according to the manner of the Countrey outwards CABONA'S THe Cabona's are a very black People Cabona's with Hair that hangs down their Backs to the Ground These are such inhumane Cannibals that if they can get any Men Cannibals they broyl them alive and eat them up They have some Cattel and plant Calbasses with which they sustain themselves They have by report of the Hottentots rare Portraitures which they find in the Mountains and other Rarities But by reason of their distance and barbarous qualities the Whites have never had any converse with them In the Year Sixteen hundred fifty nine one of the Chainouquas call'd Chaihantimo went into the Cabonas Countrey and with the help of the People took and brought thence one of their Women whom he made his Wife The Netherlanders stirred up with a desire to see this strange sort of People desired Chaihantimo that he would order this Woman to come to the Fort of Good Hope whereto upon promise of a Requital he consented and sent some of his People to fetch and tell her That her new-married Husband would desire her to come to a People call'd Dutchmen who wore a great many Clothes such as neither she nor any of her Nation had ever seen This Woman partly out of obedience to her Husband and partly for Novelty to see Strangers after two days preparation drest in her best Apparel came thither under the Conduct of thirty or forty Chainouquas for an Aid and Guard against the Cockoquas with whom the Chainouquas were at that time in War But after some days travelling she was set upon in a great Wood and kill'd and her People put to flight who hasted to the Cape to Chaihantimo to carry him News of this sad misfortune whereupon he immediately withdrew to his own Countrey to revenge himself by force of Arms for this Injury SONQUA'S THe Sonqua's live in a very high Mountain and though little in Stature Sonquas yet defend themselves by their Numbers wherein they exceed their Neighbors They have no Cattel but live by their Bowes and Arrows Maintain themselves by Hunting which they handle very expertly in shooting Badgers that shelter under the Rocks and in the heat of the day come forth and play rowling in the Sand and also by hunting other Beasts especially wild Horses and Mules The Horses have very plump and round Buttocks all over striped with Yellow Black Red and Sky-colour but the Mules are only strip'd with White and Chesnut-colour The Sonqua's in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty two brought one of the Skins to the Cape of Good Hope which the Netherlanders bought for Tobacco and having stuffed it with Hay hung it up in the first Court of the Fort to be seen by all that came thither in the Ships as a Rarity The Badgers Flesh affords them an acceptable Food Food for upon that and Roots they chiefly live They are great Robbers and Thieves stealing from their Neighbors all the Cattel they can lay hands on and driving the same into the Mountains hide themselves and Prey about without possibility of discovery Their Houses are onely interwoven Boughs Houses cover'd with Broom and those numerous by reason they never pull them down but still build up new They wear onely Lappets made of the Skins of Wild Beasts sew'd together Clothes The Women have against the heat and burning of the Sun-beams a Quitazel or Fan of Ostrich-Feathers made fast round about their Heads NAMAQUAS THe Namaqua's live about eighty or ninety Dutch Miles East-North-East from the Cape of Good Hope Namaqua's to whom in the year Sixteen hundred sixty one the Governor of the Fort sent thirteen Netherlanders to inquire if no Gold Netherlanders sent to the Namaqua's to find out gold or any other Rarities were to be had amongst them who upon their arrival were entertain'd with signs of great Friendship and presented with Sheep and as a further manifestation of kindness they were welcomed with rare Musick of about an hundred Musitians in Consort which stood all in a Ring every one with a Reed in his hand but of an unequal length in the middle of whom stood a Man that kept Time which yielded a pleasant Sound like our Trumpets After the ending of this Musick which continu'd two or three hours upon the intreaty of the King they went into his House and were treated with Milk and Mutton On the other side the Netherlanders presented the King with some Copper Beads Brandy and Tobacco which they accepted kindly
manner of an Umbrella set with Precious Stones The King never gives Audience to any Man when he Travels or is ready to take a Journey neither goes he out of his Palace but upon some well-order'd Beast an Elephant or the before-mention'd Alsinge The King may not Clothe himself but according to the manner of his Ancestors The Kings Clothing in a long Cloak made in that Countrey for he weareth no Foreign Garment for fear of Poyson and upon that a long and great Cloth in form of a Coat or Womans Gown which comes to his Knees and from thence to his Middle button'd up with a costly Knot upon his Shoulder He wears usually at his Girdle a Spade with an Ivory Handle and in his Hand two Arrows intending by the Spade to give his Subjects to understand That in time of Peace they ought to be diligent in Tilling the Land by one of the Arrows That he hath power to punish Evil-doers and by the other that he must offend his Enemies The Inhabitants go naked from their Necks to their Girdle Apparel but from thence down to their Feet they have Garments of Cloth of divers Colours and of Wild Beasts Skins and their Privacies hidden in small Purses The Eminentest Persons wear a Skin with a Tail behind them hanging down to the Ground But Sanutus saith Their Apparel is made of Cotton Cloth or great Indian Stuffs wrought through with Gold Wyre The Women go naked as long as they are unmarried only wearing a small Cotton Cloth before but as soon as they are married and have Children they cover their Breasts and Bodies with Cotton Clothes Every one may have as many Women as he can maintain but the first is accounted the Head of the Family and all the rest are at her service and her Children after the Fathers death inherit all the Estate The Women are here in so much esteem that the Kings Sons if they meet a Woman on the way must step aside The Houses are built of Wood like Tents and cover'd with Straw for a Defence from the Rain but the Richer and Persons of Quality have them somewhat more handsom and convenient The Inhabitants so honor their Dead Honor shew'd to the dead that if one of their Friends or a Woman that leaves Children Jos Barros lib. 10. dies after the rotting of the Flesh they preserve the Bones and mark them for distinction from others in an open Court whither they come every seventh day cloth'd in white Apparel and set boyl'd Flesh and Bread on a Table cover'd with a Cloth then having pray'd to them for the Wellfare of their King they eat up the Meat The People are charged neither with Taxes or other Payments to the King Revenue of the King but when they desire to have Audience from him they carry a Present with them by reason it is contrary to the Custom of the Place that an Inferior should speak to a Superior without bringing a Present for a sign of Obedience and Honor And all the Persons of Quality are bound to serve the King seven days in thirty The Merchants that Trade there must also give some Presents to the King for the neglect whereof they incur his Displeasure The Wealth of this Countrey consists in Gold found in Mines and Rivers Riches Ja rik lib ca 42. Sanut lib. 1. which though little valu'd yet they narrowly search for because they find it necessary for the Purchase of Outlandish Merchandizes This thirst of Gold hath made the Portuguese so industrious in their Quests that they possess some Mines thereof in a Tract of Land above sixty Miles from Monomotapa Their Arms are Bowes Arrows Ponyards and Hangers or Scymitars Arms. The Emperor keeps continually a strong Army consisting all of Foot for they have no Horse besides a stout Party of Valiant Amazonian Women which March and Fight as well as the Men burning off their left Breasts that they may shoot with the more readiness and ease They carry the same Arms with the Men and shoot backwards or behind them when they fly but when they observe the following Enemy to Retreat and draw off they suddenly face about and fall upon them committing great Slaughter None washes their Hands or Face during the Wars Every one carries his own ordinary Provisions but the King provides Sheep and Oxen. They cut off the Members of those they take in Battel and drying the same present it to their Wives to wear for an Ornament about their Necks and she that wears most of them hath most respect because it testifies her Husbands Valour Before the Portuguese became Masters of this Coast Government Osor de Rebus Emanuel lib. 4. all the Kings acknowledg'd this of Monomotapa for their Emperor and still several of them own him and pay Tribute yearly The Emperor hath several Great Lords his Vassals and for the better holding of them in Obedience according to an ancient Custom keeps their next Successors upon pretence to be honorably brought up in his Court though in truth to be as Hostages for their Fidelity He sends also Agents every year to his Substitute Kings and Lords to give them new Fire with command to put out all the other When the Agent comes to the Court of one of these Lords every one must put out his Fire and not kindle it again before the Agent has made a new one from whence all the Subjects of this Lord must fetch and carry it into their Houses He that seems unwilling in this Work is taken and punish'd for a Mutineer The King keeps commonly a thousand Women or more being all Daughters of his inferior Lords but the first married commands the rest let her be never so mean The Chief Sovereign is call'd Benomotapa that is Emperor or Munnemotapa Title of Honor. Jos Barres lib. 10. ca. 1. according to the Relation of Texeira a great Traveller The King receives and expects extraordinary Honors from his Subjects by whom serv'd on the Knee as we have said onely the Portuguese Moors and his chiefest Favourites may speak to him standing when he drinks all the Spectators sing aloud in his praise all his Attendance and Retinue remain sitting in his presence in alto silentio without daring to utter one word The King and all his Justices are very strict in the prosecution of their Office and Duty to punish Offenders with great severity The Sentences of these Judges are establish'd by the Emperor and the Offender immediately punish'd As soon as any one hath committed an offence he is punish'd in the Field while the Fact is fresh in memory but if it require to keep the Offender some days they tie him under a Tree and set upon him a Watch by reason they have no Prisons so that the Offender seeing no way to escape poysons himself so by a sudden death to be freed from the cruelty of a lingering punishment When any injures another without a cause
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
but through it being environ'd with a Wall planted with Guns to defend it against the Portuguese who in the Year Fifteen hundred under the Command of Vasques de Gamma took this Fort with all the Turkish Gallies At the same time the City was also conquer'd by a People call'd Imbires living not far from the Cape of Good Hope by the aid of the Portuguese after a long Siege into which five hundred of them entring by Storm pull'd down the Walls Churches and a greatvaulted Castle to the ground and burn'd all the Ships in the Haven The King of Mombaza himself with all his Courtiers and great Officers fell into the hands of these Imbires which not onely put them to death but eat them up The City was once before in the Year Fifteen hundred and five ruin'd by one Francois Almede and some years afterwards again re-built by the King of Mombaza but it long held not up its head being again assaulted taken and plunder'd by another Portuguese call'd Nunno de Acunha who endeavouring to settle were forced to leave their Conquest and retire to the fore-mention'd Fort but were also at last dispossessed thereof by the same King in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty one The temperature of the Air gives no cause of complaint to such as dwell there Air. nor the barrenness of the Countrey any discouragement to Planters there being store of Mille Plants Rice many sweet and sowre Oranges and also some very large with sweet Rhinds like China-Oranges Citrons Pomegranates and Peaches without Stones They have many excellent Sheep Beasts Cows very large Goats and Hens The People are of a whitish-brown Colour Nature somewhat inclining to black more loving and courteous than those of the other Places lying near the Sea The Women are very richly Habited Apparel in Cloth of Gold and Silver after the Arabian manner Their common Food is Mille and Rice Food and their Drink either Areka made of boyl'd Rice or Wine of Honey which they keep in great Horns in stead of Casks cut in several fashions They have a King Government whom they honor like a God and say he Reigns only upon the Earth as the Portuguese do upon the Sea He is said to be so arrogant and self-conceited that at the falling of Rain against his pleasure or excessive Heat he breaks out into several exclamations against Heaven and out of madness draws his Bowe against the Sun In brief he calls himself the Emperor of all the World and imagines that he shall overcome the whole Earth He keeps commonly an Army of fourscore thousand Men in the Field and in their March observes this Order First he commands to go before him many Droves of Cattel next several persons carry Fire whereby he intends to declare that all those whom he Conquers must expect nothing else but to be Roasted and Eaten All the Towns and Villages he travels through of the Enemies he ruines and without distinguishing of Men from Beasts kills all he finds so that all stand in great fear of him and betake themselves to flight when they hear of his approach The King of Mombaza and all his Subjects were formerly Idolaters Religions but at present embrace Mahomet's Superstition introduced by their last King about the Year Sixteen hundred thirty one He was from his Infancy inclin'd to Christianity and Marry'd to a Christian Woman but being too highly affronted by the Governor of the Portuguese Fort fell off from it and then raged against them with horrible fury putting all to death that fell into his Hands and never ceased till he had expell'd them the Countrey This Seat was formerly for the conveniency of its Haven a Place of great Trade being much frequented by neighboring Merchants from Zanzibar Penda Araer and other parts of Africa The Kingdom of Melinde THe Kingdom of Melinde lying more to the North than that of Mombaza hath received its Name from the chief City Borders seated on the Shore of the Sea It lyeth in two Degrees and a half South-Latitude and reaches along the Sea-Coast of Mombaza to the River Quilmanzi and runs into the Countrey to the Place call'd Calice The chief City Melinde situate in a pleasant Plain The chief City and surrounded with several Gardens contains many Houses very neatly built of hew'n Stone with handsom Rooms and Painted Cielings Some will have it from the famous Arabian Physitian Avicen call'd Avicenne Mondelle from whence the black Aloe comes to be the same with Melinde The Haven lieth a little distant from the City by reason of sundry Rocks which makes the Landing-place very dangerous The Countrey is fat and fruitful and yields all necessary Provisions Plants except Bread in stead of which the Inhabitants use the Root Potatesen Some Rice and Barley grows there but inconsiderable nor have they any Wheat and Rye but what is brought from Kambaye There are several sorts of Fruits-Trees and above all very excellent and well tasted Melons in the Countrey Language call'd Dormous which the Inhabitants eat in the Summer time as a pleasant cooler There is all sorts of Venison and Fowl great and small Cattel Beasts chiefly Sheep much bigger than those in Europe with Tails of five and twenty and thirty Pound weight Hens Geese and all sorts of Flesh may be had here in great abundance The Inhabitants are some black Nature of the Inhabitants and some brown with Curl'd Hair but those which live by the River Quilmanzi are white as also most of the Women of Melinde The Women go very nobly apparell'd in Silks Apparel and wear Gold and Silver Chains with a Cloth before their Faces when they go abroad The Men go naked down to their Wastes but from thence wear Cotton or Silk Coats with a Linnen or Cotton Turbant on their Heads The principal Commodities for Trade are Gold Ivory Copper Quicksilver and Wax which the Mahumetan and Cambayan Merchants barter for Clothes and Stuffs For Arms they use Scimiters Arms. Shields Bowes and Arrows Some have reputed them the valiantest of all Africa yet those of Mombaza have often put them into fear and would have treated them very badly had they not obtain'd the Portuguese assistance The Subjects honour their King very highly Honor shown to the King carrying him on their Shoulders and at his going out in the Streets burning sweet Perfumes before him which also they use to do before all other Princes and Lords that come to visit them The King takes cognisance in Person of all Matters in debate Their manner of executing Justice although he hath appointed Officers and Judges to officiate in the administration of Justice And if any complain of another person to the King he must be sure to give a good account of the Matter or else he runs in danger of losing his Head however upon the Complaint he immediately sends for the person if the
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
Turtle-Doves Paraketoes and Cuccows Eagles Falcons Sparrow-Hawks Kites Herons and Cranes Moreover here are too many noxious Insects especially of Grashoppers which not only eat up and destroy the Grass of the Field but the Leaves of Trees and sometimes swarm in such innumerable Multitudes that they cover the Earth and for some Miles together darken the Sun They are large like Crickets with yellow Wings The Rivers feed all sorts of Fishes especially Cabosos Crocodiles and Sea-Horses call'd by the Inhabitants Gomoras especially in the Nyle Torpedoes which numb the Hands and Bodies of those that touch them and have a quality in them as the Abyssines superstitiously believe to drive away Evil Spirits In the Lake of St. Stephen in the Kingdom of Amara are found great Fishes like Conger-Eels being very fat and said to have a better taste than any other Fish elsewhere to be had The Earth hides within her Bowels rich Veins of Metals and Minerals but partly out of carelesness and partly out of fear lest the Turk knowing it should out of his greediness of Riches invade them with greater Force they do seldom dig for them But this opinion some reject saying That the Abyssmes do as well make use of their Mines as other People Whereof says Jarrik and Sanutus they have Gold Silver Copper Tin and Lead besides whole Mountains of Sulphur The Abyssines are all Black yet more or less The Constitution of the Inhabitants Blacker according to the nearness to the Aequinoctial Line according to their near or more remote distance to and from the Equinoctial Line with black curl'd Hair quick spirited and lovers of Learning and Learned Men. The Employment of their mean People consists especially in Tilling the Ground keeping of Oxen Cows Goats Horses Mules and Camels Employment and greater Persons spend their time in the use of Arms. The Merchants are most Mahumetans and inclin'd to the Hunting of Wild Beasts They feed chiefly on Bread and Flesh especially Venison a little boyl'd Food or broyl'd upon the Coals and season'd with strong Herbs Ginger and Pepper For Drink they use a Liquor made of Honey and temper'd moderately with Opium or the Juyce of Moons-Cap for none may drink Wine according to Alvarez but those of the Royal Blood The Common People go close trimm'd without Beards or Mustachioes but the Priests go with shaven Heads and a long Beard The usual Clothing of the Inferior Rank is Cotton but the Rich go in Silk brought them from India Arabia and Persia The Xumi or Magistrates and Provincial Governors as also Captains and Commanders wear long Coats of Damask or other fine Stuff richly embroyder'd and closed with Clasps before on their Breasts The King wears a Robe of Purple with a Crown upon his Head set with Precious Stones or as Sanutus tells us half of Gold and half of Silver with a Cross in his Hand and Watchet Taffaty before his Face which he sometimes lifts up and le ts fall again His Coat is border'd with Gold and hemm'd with Silk with wide Sleeves The Queen goes habited in white Indian Silk Stuff cover'd over with a light Silk Mantle with a kind of a Mask before her Face The Houses are round-built Houses and flat cover'd over with Straw but containing within many Banquetting-Houses and Apartments The Palaces in that Countrey call'd Betenegas stand open round about wherein onely the Lords may take their Residence which wait upon the King The Salutation of the Nobility Salutation and People of Accompt towards one another is perform'd by embracing with the Arms and kissing of the Shoulder saying God save or bless you or else to fall down upon their Knees and kiss the Earth three times Every one marries as many Women as he will Marriage Godignus lib. 36. Jovinus lib 8. but may not put them away but for Adultery The King has usually four all Daughters of Neighbor Kings The Abyssines yea the very Women are diligent and zealous of Literature taking great delight to study the Scriptures yet there are but two Academies or Universities in the whole Empire viz. in the Towns of Axum and Embie The Abyssine hath a great affinity with the Chaldean Language Hebrew and other Oriental Tongues and in their Alphabet have six and twenty Letters but differs in the Names Shape and Order But their manner of Reading being from the right Hand to the left agrees with all the Eastern Countreys They have seven Vowels which carry no particular Forms or Strokes but lie hid in the mute Labial Letters themselves which by receiving a different Prick or Stroke signifie a several Syllable or Vowel Their Year Their Yearly Accounts or the Accompt of Time is twofold that of Dioclesian which we have spoken of before and the Christian Aera from the Nativity of our Lord. Upon the Death of the King the whole Court mourns in Black so do their very Tents When they carry the Corps to Burial they bear over it a Goldimbroider'd Pavilion or Canopy hung round about with Curtains of Gold and Silk very costly The Corps of the meaner sort are smoak'd with Frankincense wash'd and wrapp'd in a Winding-sheet and so convey'd to the Grave by the nearest Relations who shave off the Hair from their Heads but not their Beards and clothe themselves in Black They have no common Coyn in use but pay their Silver and Gold by weight in small pieces yet in some places they shew a strange Coyn of Gold stamped with Arabick Letters Jarrik says they use Salt in stead of Money and Pinto gives to the Abyssines Oquea's of Gold whereof every one makes twelve Portuguese Crusadoes The Riches of this King are by some reckon'd very great and by others very small Sanutus reports That he presented to the King of Portugal at one time for extirpating of Unbelievers a hundred Millions of Quarter-ounces of Gold and as many Armed Men with Provisions Others stick not to maintain That he hath a Hall set round about with great Chests of Ebony and Cedar which lie full of great Smaragdine Stones and likewise Trunks or Cabinets full of Diamonds Rubies Turkoises Sapphyres Topazes Jacinths Amethysts and other costly Precious Stones Godignus on the contrary diminishes the Wealth of this Kingdom alledging That Michael Castagnoso left behind him in Writing That at a time when the King by the Portuguese Aid reduc'd some Countreys that had revolted from their Obedience having neither Gold nor Silver to requite them for their Toil and Valour shewn in this War he proffer'd them a Precious Stone which he borrowed of his Mother which the Portuguese honourably refus'd and satisfied themselves with his Good-will and Intention But whether it be or ever hath been so matters not it being apparent enough That they did possess greater Riches heretofore than at this day They have good Markets for Trade wherein the chiefest Dealers are Priests Trade exchanging Corn or Salt against Cattel Fowl and
Dian Rakoube or Rakouvatsi brought into this Countrey These are also red of Skin with curl'd Hair but may not kill any Creature but Hens These are all Fishers These People have neither Religion nor Temples Religion but they use a Custom of Sacrificing some Beasts when they are Sick or when they Plant or gather Ignames and Rice or Circumcise their Children begin a War enter into a new built House or Bury their Relations The first Fruits of Beasts they offer first to the Devil and then to God naming the Devil first Diaubilis Aminnan-habare as if they would say Lord Devil with God This Superstition they have inherited from their Fore-fathers that were Mahumetans and blindly continued therein by their Priests or Ombiassa great Cheaters and Liars The Blacks in the Countrey Language call'd Oulon Mainthy and Marinh are of four sorts Voadziri Lohavohits Ontsoa and Ondeves The Voadziri the greatest and richest possessing some Villages derive themselves from the first Progenitors of this Countrey before the Whites or Zafferaminies came thither but afterwards subjected by them They have the Priviledge to cut the Cattels Throats which belong to themselves or their Slaves when they are far from the Zafferamini or there be no Rohandrian or Anakandrian in their Villages The Lohavohits are also Grandees amongst the Blacks and Off-springs of the Voadziri but the difference between them consists in this That the former Commands over a Countrey and the other scarce hath the Rule of a small Village They may not as some report cut an Ox or Cows Throat though they are his own but must go and fetch an Rohandrian or Anakandrian to do it Notwithstanding some of them have a thousand Head of Cattel The Ontsoa are under the Lohavohits and their near Relations The Ondeves the meanest of all as their Name imports Ondeve signifying A lost Man are Slaves both by the Fathers and Mothers side or else bought or taken in the Wars When the Anakandrians Ondzatsi or Voadziri and Ontsoa die they can leave nothing to their Children because the Grandees or Great ones under whose Jurisdiction they stand take all onely they possess the Ground to Plant on The Voadziri Lohavohits and Ontsoa may at their pleasure submit themselves to some Great Lord upon the Decease of their King for which Submission they receive a Gift from the same Lord which intitles him after they die to inherit all they possess The Ondeves dare not forsake their Masters except it be in a time of dearth or for hunger and that he denies them Sustenance in which Case they may freely go to other Masters The Countrey of Anossi is under the Jurisdiction of the French but was Govern'd by the Zaffaramini or Rahimine before the French had taken it under a Prince whom they honor not as a King but as a God He was call'd Andian Ramach and after this death succeeded by Andian Maroarive who had been a Christian Baptiz'd in Choa brought up by the Jesuits and kept by the Viceroy of Goa till at length return'd to his Countrey and deliver'd into the Hands of his Father Andian Thianban He was well instructed in the Christian Religion and could Read and Write after the European Fashion spoke good Portuguese and could give a Rational Account of his Faith but as soon as he came to see his Father he betook himself to his former Heathenism He was kill'd by a Musket-Bullet at the Siege of the Village Franshere by the French where he had his abode The Fort of DAUPHIN in ANOSSI ON the outmost Point of the South-East side close by the Shore about the year Sixteen hundred forty four the French began to strengthen themselves with a Fort which in Honor of their Kings Eldest Son they entituled Dauphin and to settle a Plantation of People which brought almost the whole Territory under their Subjection by force of Arms. In the year Sixteen hundred forty two a French Sea-Captain nam'd Ricault got leave and priviledge for himself and his Participants of the Cardinal Richelieu then Chief Supervisor of the French Affairs That he might alone send Ships and People to this Island of Madagascar and the adjacent Isles to erect a Colony for Merchandizing there for the benefit of Trade and to take Possession of the whole in the Name of the King of France This being granted him for ten Years with exclusion of all others a Company was erected by the Undertakers under the name of the East-India French Company and shortly after the King augmented their Term unto the year Sixteen hundred sixty one In that Year in the Moneth of March the Company first sent out one Ship under the Command of Captain Coquet to fetch Ebony-wood With him there were also sent two Commissioners call'd Pronis and Foukenburgh with twelve others to remain there and expect the coming of a Ship which should set out of France in November Coquet landed about September and in his Sailing by he put in for the Islands of Maskarrigne and Diego de Rois of which Pronis took possession in the King's Name then Sail'd over to St. Maries and the Bay of Antongill in the Countrey-Language call'd Manghabe where they did the same But Foukenburgh and Pronis remained in the Haven of St. Lucie or Manghafia The first of April the Ship St. Laurence arriv'd being sent thither by the Company under the Command of Captain Giles Rozimont whilst Captain Coquet was gone to seek a Lading in the Territory of Anossi and Matatane Rozimont brought along with him seventy fresh Men from Pronis which all fell sick and so continued about a Moneth at Manghafia a third part of which quickly died whereupon the Black Inhabitants made an Attempt upon the new-arriv'd French but were bought off with Presents given by Pronis to the Dian Ramach Afterward Pronis sent twelve French to take their abode in the Territory of Mantane at a Place call'd Mananzari partly to Trade for Rice and other Provisions and partly to discover the Countrey But in their going over a River six of them were kill'd by Zare Ramehina a near Relation to Dian Ramach In like manner in Bohitsmene six Sea-men of Captain Rozimont's with his Son were slain as they were loading of Ebony-wood Rozimont at last laded so much Ebony-wood as he could and brought over the six other French to Anossi to Pronis for Pronis had in the mean while chang'd his Habitation and was gone from St. Lucies or Maghafia to Anossi to take his Residence with all his People in Tholonghare Bay near the before-mention'd Fort Dauphin this place being by them judg'd the fittest and convenientest partly for the commodiousness of the Haven defended from the worst Winds and partly for the easiness in coming to it not only for Sloops but also for Ships The Fort Dauphin lieth next the Bay of Tholangre in five and twenty Degrees and six Minutes South Latitude over against the Cape of Itapere situate four Degrees higher Behind the
call Voulou of which cutting off a Piece the length of ones Hand they shape a Pen as we do fit and convenient to write with The Natives of Madagascar number or reckon like the Europeans Atithmetick from one to Ten and to Ten they add One Two and so the following Numbers to Twenty in this manner Issa or Irache is One Roe Two Telon Three Effats Four Luui Five Enem Six Fiton Seven Valou Eight Siui Nine Foulo Ten Irach-foulo-ambi or Iraiche amainifoulo Eleven Roe foulo pambi Twelve Roepoulo Twenty Telou ambi Thirty Effats poulo Forty Zatou An hundred Armou A thousand Alen An hundred thousand Indeed the Blacks of the Mountains or on that side of the Countrey of Machicore where nothing is Planted nor Sow'n know not how to keep any Account Their Measures are several viz. Rice-measure Measure with them call'd Troubahouache which is said to be the Kings Bushel Moucha or Monca a Measure of six Pints of cleansed Rice Voule Half a Pint Zatow is an hundred Voules and therewith they mete unbeaten Rice The Measure for Clothing Cords and other things to be estimated by Length they name Refe and contains a Fathom but Ells Feet or Inches they have no knowledge of They set forth Lands not by Rods Perches and Acres but by the quantity of Rice that may be Sow'n upon it The Trade of these Islanders one among another consists in exchanging Wares for Wares for Money Merchandise or Coyn of Gold and Silver they have none and if they get any of Foreign People they melt it and make thereof Bracelets and Armlets But especially they use Glass Beads and other Commodities which the French bring to them in stead of Money to buy Oxen Cotton Silk Clothes Iron Assagays or Lances Bills Knives and other Necessaries Those that have need of Cotton bring to the Places where it is to be had Rice or Beasts and they that have need of Beasts or of Rice come with Cotton to the Places where Rice and Beasts are plenty to barter one for the other They exchange also Gold and Silver for Copper and Iron But this onely among themselves for with Foreigners they neither do nor care to deal So that hitherto in that Countrey there hath little Merchandise of consequence been discover'd although there grows indubitably Sapphyres Rubies Smaragdines Cornelians and other Precious Stones as appears by the Trials which the French have made of them and sent into Europe The most desired Merchandises and by the Islanders best liked are red Beads of all Sorts Sizes and Colours pierc'd with Holes that they may be strung into Bracelets large and yellow Brass Wyre and several other small Wares as yellow little Brass Chains Scissors Knives Bills Hatchets Hammers Nails Padlocks and several other Trinkets which with great Profit are exchanged and traded for against their Island Commodities Flaccourt in his Deseription of Madagascar judgeth this Island to be of great concernment for the advanâ—ing and settling of Trade on the Coast of Ethiopia the Red-Sea the Persian Gulph and other Places of the East-Indies and might bring great Advantage and Profit by Wood for building of Ships that might be carried from thence to all the aforesaid Places to exchange for other Commodities He adds moreover That this Island may serve for a Ladder or Step as may be said whereby to climb to the Trade and Voyages of the East-Indies All their Wealth consists in the foresaid Goods Richeâ— as also in Axes Knives Bills sharp Iron and Steel Spades Clothes Oxen Fields to plant Rice and Ignames in and abundance of Slaves The Zafferamini possess the most Gold which they keep as much hidden as they can from the French No Eminent Person upon the whole Island is without some Gold of his Ancestors which no way assimilates our European Gold but is much paler and almost as soon melted as Lead they dig it out of the Ground in several Places They have some Gold in Manghabei but it lieth buried in their Church-yards and they dare not bring it to light from thence alledging They are unworthy of it Most esteem the reddest Silver higher than the finest but the People of Anossi can well tell how to distinguish it yet their Goldsmiths would not know how to work European Gold because they say it is too difficult to melt That of ours they call Voulamena Voutroua but their own Ahetslaua and Litcharongha or Voulamena Madecasse In Military Affairs these People know nothing The manner of their Wars but in such Cases by sudden Attempts coming upon their Enemies unawares and by surprise assembling privately and marching by secret and unfrequented ways in the Woods When they come to the Enemies Quarters they make their Assault with a hideous and horrible Cry and being enter'd kill all that come next to hand not sparing Infants at their Mothers Breasts exercising this Cruelty with purpose to extirpate the whole Generation of their Enemies for fear that the Successors sooner or later if they left them alive might take Revenge They often send Spies into their Enemies Quarters to know his Condition and where the chiefest Town is and most Cattel and therefore at such time they all drive them into the Mountain to which access is difficult They send out sometimes Parties twenty thirty or forty of a Company to plunder small Villages and lay the subdu'd Towns in Ashes These Parties they style Tafichemanthy that is A secret Army These come usually provided with Auli and Moussanes that is with Sorcery and written Arabick Letters with firm belief That these Letters will do their Enemies much annoyance viz. take away their courage cause them to die by Sickness and at least be the chiefest cause of their destruction whereas to them on the other side it gives Courage and brings all Success Their Arms are various Arms. according to the several Countreys In the Territory of Androbeizaha they use a great Assagay arm'd at the end with a broad and long sharp Iron Head and carry besides ten or fifteen Fiteracks or small Casting-Darts as also a great Javelin call'd Renelefo that is The Mother of Assagays In Manghafia they use a round Shield and great Canbahi or Javelin So do they also in Ampatre Mahafalle Machicore and Andribeizaha but the Countreys of Anachimoussi Eringdranea and Vohits-anghombe afford the best-arm'd and most undaunted Soldiers On that side of the River Mananghourou three Miles below Galemboulou are a Generation of about four or five hundred strong very undaunted which fight with Bowes Arrows and Darts Those of Manghafia up Northwards to the end of the Island fight Foot to Foot onely with an Assagay under shelter of a round Shield Those of Manamboulle the most Warlike and undaunted of all fight both at a distance and at hand In Battel they keep no Order Ranks or File but Fight in Crowds every one resolving to do some Execution When any fall down wounded they set up their
Throats with a horrible cry and no Slave how mean soever he be but sticks his Assagay in the Body of the languishing Person While the Men stay in the Wars the Women cease not night and day to Dance and neither sleep nor eat in their Huts nor be they never so addicted to Venereal sports will they at that time have to do with any other Man believing if they should their Husbands would either be slain or wounded in the War When any great Man finds his Power too weak to follow the War any longer he sends one to the Enemy with some Presents to desire Peace and to appoint a Day for a Treaty upon the concluding whereof they meet one another on the Shore of a River each with all his People and Soldiers standing as ready for a Battel where each of them kill a Heifer and reciprocally send a piece of Silver to eat making deep Asseverations and high Oaths that if they purpose any longer to continue the Wars to rob one another of their Cattel or make use of Sorcery or Poysoning to damnifie each others Countrey then that the Silver given each of them at present may cause them to burst that God may withdraw his hand from them that they may be brought to destruction by their Enemies and their Generations and Posterity come to an end But if one of them be overcome so that he can no longer maintain the War then he must submit and after sending one of his People for safe Conduct go himself in Person thither and then the Vanquisher gives the Vanquished the Liver to eat for a Confirmation that he will remain faithful to him Whereas yet oftentimes these Oathes are very sleightly accounted the better afterwards to betray one another wherefore they also notwithstanding their Oath stand upon their Guard They have some superficial knowledge of the Course of the Heavens Knowledge of the Stars and of the Zodiack being distributed into twelve Signs which by the Ombyasses or Priests are call'd Vintangs and have the following Appellations Viz. In the Spring there is Alimiza that is Libra Alicarobo that is Scorpio Alacossi that is Sagittary In the Summer Alizadi that is Capricorn Adalou that is Aquarius Alohotsi that is Pisces In Harvest or Autumn Alahemali that is Aries Azorou that is Taurus Alizozo that is Gemini In Winter Asarata that is Cancer Alaasade that is Leo. Asomboulo that is Virgo The Year they divide into twelve Months thus denominated Vatrevate that is March Saffard that is April Atsisi or a Soutri that is May. Valascira that is June Fossa that is July Maka that is August Hiahia that is September Sakamasseh that is October Sakave that is November Voulanbitou that is December Asarmanghits that is January Asarabe that is February The New Year beginneth with them at the New Moon in March but they have a Reckoning by Fasting-time as also by the Days of the Week beginning with Friday The Religion both of Whites and Blacks consists onely in Superstition without the use of Churches or Prayers yet they observe Circumcision They know and believe indeed That there is a God who hath made Heaven and Earth and all Creatures and innumerable Angels but reverence or worship him not They live according to the Law of Nature without fearing him but make indeed Confession of their Sins especially decripit old Men upon their Death-Beds They believe also That there is a Devil whom they greatly fear and call Taiwaddey That God is all Good and doth no Evil That he gives Life to Men and all Creatures and bereaves them of it again at his pleasure That the Devil is the Author of all Evil and Mischief That he sends all Sicknesses and Mishaps into the World causeth all Quarrels Thefts and Murthers and is the Original of Evil Therefore they Sacrifice unto him to appease him they pray first to him and name the Devil before God But they Pray also to a Third Power under the Name of Dian Manang that is God or Lord of Riches which they acknowledge to be Gold which when they see or have in their Hand with great Devotion they hold over their Heads and kiss it They believe there are innumerable Angels and Ministers of God which do move the Heavens the Starry Firmament and Planets and govern the Air Rain Wind Water and Earth guard Mens Lives and Habitations and defend them from all Mischances in all their Enterprises either on Water or Land and in their Houses They make the Spirits or Devils Spirits are seven-fold as well good as bad Seven-fold The first are the foremention'd Angels call'd in their Language Malainghka which are good Angels and never do any Evil every one with them is known by a particular Name as Ramichail Ragi-bourail Ranail Rafil c. that is Michael Gabriel c. The Spirits of the second Order call'd Coucoulampou they say are beneath the Host of Angels and invisible to Men but nevertheless Corporeal That they dwell in solitary places and make themselves known to all those to whom they would shew any particular Friendship That there are Male and Female among them and they marry one among another beget Children die after a long time and as Men expect after this Life Salvation or Damnation according as they have lived well or ill That they eat without distinction all sorts of Animate or Inanimate Creatures without suspicion of any of them being hurtful to their Bodily Wellfare That they are subject to no Sickness as void for the most part of any Accidents yet they die and their Lives are restrain'd within certain Limits of Time The fifth Rank or Order of Angels are call'd Angats which signifies a kind of Separation or indeed the same with our Ghosts The sixth are call'd Saccara and no other than the Devils or Evil-Spirits which use to Possess and afflict Men Women and Children They see them come like Fiery-Dragons which Possess them eight nay fifteen days when they are Possess'd by them they give them an Assagay or Lance in their hands with which they continually go about Singing and Dancing with strange contortions of their bodies Men and Women of the Town flock round about the Possess'd Man or Woman who also Dance and imitate those Postures by the beat of the Drum The seventh sort of Spirits are call'd Biles being as they say an infinite number but all under a Supream who is the broacher of all evil so that he seems to be Lucifer or the Devil They believe That God after the Creation of Heaven Earth and all Creatures Created Adam of Earth and plac'd him in Paradise which they imagine to be in the Moon or in the Sun and after his setling there forbade him either to eat or drink because he had no need to do so though they say there were four Rivers one of Milk one of Wine one of Honey and one of Oil besides all sorts of Fruits in abundance But the Devil thus