Cross Haven which the Portuguese possess The Countrey by means of the clear and serene Air is very healthful and pleasant to live in The King always appears in great State and when he goeth abroad The King's State is attended with a strong and numerous Guard of Bowe-men He keeps also fifty great and fierce Dogs which he arms as it were in tann'd Skins of Sea-Cows that are so hard and strong they can scarcely be cut each Dog in the day time hath a Keeper but in the night they are let loose for there is no other Watch in this City but these Dogs and such is their fierceness no body dares stir in the Streets without the hazard of his life for they will fall upon every one without regard This Dog-Watch was at first set up against the Thieves who in the nights used to break open the Houses and steal the Blacks to sell for Slaves This King gives a Hat to his Governors which is an Ensign of Honour of whom he has under him seven which are not onely his Homagers but his Slaves When the King dies there comes into the Street twelve Men call'd Schiten When the King's Death is proclaimed and by whom cloathed in parti-coloured long Coats made of Feathers with as many Claromen or Pipers before them which sound mournfully yet shrill there they proclaim his Decease whereupon every one with a white Cloth thrown over them comes out of their Houses and do nothing all that day but walk about the Streets in a mournful posture his Friends Relations and Servants in the mean time assemble to chuse a Successor The Funeral Afterwards the Corps is washed and the Intrals burnt before their Idol but the Ashes preserved to be Interr'd with the Body which lies as it were in State for a Moneth at the expiration whereof prepared for Burial the Subjects bring out of all parts of the Kingdom Balsom Myrrhe Ambergreece Musk and other Perfumes to burn and smoke about the Corps which lastly is carried to the Burying-place by six of the most eminent persons cloathed in white Silk Coats followed in the first place with Musick playing mournful Tunes and after them with a great many people on foot some of which cry aloud other sing Funeral Elegies last of all the Princes of the Blood ride on Horseback in white Habit. By the Grave are his Women and Servants which in his Lifetime he most affected together with his Favourites and Horses which are all put to death and buried with the Royal Corps which is done to this end that he may be served by them in the other World as they believe and are taught This slaughter is performed in a terrible manner viz. after the cutting off their Fingers and Toes they break their Bones by stamping all to pieces and when it is beat enough they throw it out in the presence of all the others that are to undergo the same fortune for the avoiding which cruelty many Servants after they have sufficiently provided for themselves either leave the King's Service in his Life and fly away or else they retire and hide themselves in time when they see he is without hope of recovery ¶ THe King's Jurisdiction extends over six Kingdoms Their Power and Dominion besides those wrested from him as we said before and for the better and more orderly management of State-Affairs has a Privy-Council consisting of many Lords of which one who is the second person in the Kingdom is President ¶ THey worship Their Religion as the Cassanga's abundnace of Idols the chief of which they name China which is to say God although a long time since by the Preaching of some Portugal Jesuits they are said to have embraced the Roman Religion The King himself with a great number of Nobles in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven desired of Emanuel Alvarez a Jesuit to be Baptized which he upon farther examination finding their unstedfastness deni'd THE KINGDOM OF BIGUBA AT the Nether-Arm of Rio Grande The Kingdom of Biguba above the River Guinala lieth the Kingdom of Biguba The chiefest place thereof is the Haven of Biguba and a little higher the Haven of Balola inhabited by the Tangos-Maas but the Village of the Haven Biguba the Portugals possess The Beafers lead the same manner of life as the People of Guinala The Tangos-Maas are extracted out of the Portugal Blood but have united themselves with the Blacks and live now no less barbarously than they as if they had never heard of Christianity in some places going all naked and Carving their Skins after the manner of the Countrey ¶ THey live under a Monarch as those of Guinala after whose death the most powerful of the Family obtain the Crown but not without great contest so that in the interim they are all in Arms committing all kinds of extravagant outrages till by Conquest reduced under the obedience of him that lays the strongest claim They are like the Beafers Idolaters although some are already by the Jesuits brought to the Christian Faith THE KINGDOM OF MANDINGA ON both sides of the River Gambea live a sort of Blacks The Kingdom of Mandinga which have enlarged their Seat above a hundred and twenty miles up into the Countrey so that they command a Tract of Land that spreads it self in breadth from nine to eleven Degrees North Latitude which the Spaniards call Mandimenca after the Name of one of their Kings by others Mandinga by Marmol Mani-Inga and by the French and Dutch The Kingdom of Mandinga The chief City is Sango some miles more Easterly than the Cape de Palmas The Countrey is watered with many Rivers all which after long courses through several places at last contribute their streams to replenish and augment those of the more famous River Gambea ¶ THe Inhabitants of Mandinga are reputed the best of all Guinee The Valour of the Inhabitants yet are barbarous of nature deceitful and treacherous to Merchants and Strangers but among themselves and Neighbors thought expert Horsemen so that they go into divers Kingdoms to serve as Troopers not onely being readily entertain'd into Pay but for their Skill in Martial Affairs and tried Valour have the Van of their Armies admitted into the best Commands and allowed large Priviledges to oblige them to stay in their Service ¶ THe Arabian and other Merchants drive a great Trade here for Gold Gold-Trade which they say this Countrey abounds with besides other Commodities which at Tombut the chief City they are admitted freely to barter for ¶ THe King of Mandinga some years since was so puissant The Power of the King that almost all the Kings and People of Upper-Guinee obey'd and paid him Tribute especially the Cassanga's and the other Kingdoms lying at the River Gambea Heretofore he held the Seat of his Empire in the In-land and gave the lower Countreys lying on the West Sea to one Chabos and Faim Braso placing moreover
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
in the Tartarian Tongue A Kingdom full of Mountains and Desarts contains Tartary Scythia and the Countreys of Gog and Magog Now Cathay is divided into the greater and the less Great Cathay spreads through an unfrequented Tract of Land namely from the Mountain Caucasus between that side of the Icy Sea and the Mountains of China to the Indian Sea whereas some will have it joyn at the out-lying Point of America But Little Cathay is that Countrey which borders on North-China commonly call'd Thebes In all this far spreading Countrey of Cathay one may see that this supposed most mighty Emperor Prester-John had the Dominion over seventy two Kingdoms partly Christians and partly Heathens though by the great numbers of Kingdoms he hath gotten many Names to the great distraction both of Historians and Geographers For some make him to be one and the same with the great Cham others call him Ashid some with the Abyssines call him Juchanes Belul that is Precious John Some as Godignus with no improbable Reasons will have it that by his Subjects for their high esteem of the Prophet Jonas he is call'd Joanne a Name common to all those that ever did possess this Kingdom though in these Western Parts he is commonly call'd by the Latin Churches Joannes with the additional surname of Prester not that he ever was a Priest but because according to the Custom of the Arch-bishop in the time of Peace had a Cross carried before him at his going out but ontring upon the Wars two Cross-bearers went before him the one with a Cross of Gold and the other with a Cross beset with Precious Stones for a token of his defending the Worship of God for which reason Scaliger derives his Name from the Persian Word Prestigiani which signifieth Apostolick which the Europeans understanding amiss call'd him in stead of Prestigiani Prester-John Many years did this Kingdom of Prester-John flourish in Asia till it fell to one David who by one of his supreme Commanders call'd Cinge chosen Emperor by the Army and the Scythians who in stead of Prester styl'd him Uncam In the Year Eleven hundred seventy eight it was overcome in Battel whereby the glory of this Empire and the Name of Prester-John came in effect to an end to the great loss and prejudice of Christendom But by what mistake the Name of Prester-John came to the Emperor of Abyssine we will in brief declare When the Portuguese with their Fleets were busie in discovering strange Countreys there was a great noyse through all Europe of Prester-John and his Excellency reported a most powerful Emperor Lord of many Kings and of the Christian Religion but unknown in what place he had his abode For which cause when Pike Kovillan sent by John the second King of Portugal first over the Mediterranean Sea and afterwards by Land to seek out this Prince coming into India and hearing that in Abyssine or that Ethiopia which lieth below Egypt was a great and powerful Prince who professed the Christian Religion he went thither and finding many things in him which was reported of the true Prester-John he took him for the same Person and was the first that call'd him by that Name which others that went the ensuing year into Abyssine follow'd and so easily brought the mistake into Europe the Emperor of Abyssine being ever since call'd Prester-John Yet Damianus a Goez in his Book of the Nature and Customs of the Abyssines positively denies that the King of Abyssine was ever call'd Prester-John so that in truth that Name properly belongs to the foremention'd Prince of Asia But seeing that Custom hath almost made it a Law and the Kingdom of Prester-John in Asia already overwhelm'd the Name of Prester-John may conveniently be applied and fixed upon the Abyssine King of Africa professing the Christian Religion Every Substitute Kingdom as Tigre Gambea Goiame Amara Narea hath a Deputy to Rule it in the Name of the Emperor and the like hath every Territory Besides the Vice-Roy of Tigre bears the Title Tigra Mahon and must always be of the Royal Stock Him of the Countrey next to the Red Sea they stile Barnagas that is King of the Sea not that he properly Commands over the Countreys by the Sea for they are under the Turks but because the Countrey over which he Commands lieth nearer to Sea than any other part of Tigre He hath his abode most in the City Barva or Debaroa and winneth great Respect as well among his own People as Strangers The Government of the Kingdom is administred with Discretion and Justice which hath advanced the honor of the King both at home and abroad The Judges shew great severity in punishing Offenders according to the several qualities of their Crimes viz. such as shrink from the right and true Faith and change their Opinion the People stone to death but those which totally Apostatize or blaspeme God and the Ghost are publickly burn'd alive Murderers they deliver to the nearest Relations of the Murthered to revenge themselves on him according to their pleasure Thieves have their Eyes put out and afterwards by Judgment are appointed for Slaves of the Empire and given to the Guides with whom they may go all the Countrey over to earn their Living by Singing and Playing on Instruments but with this Proviso not to stay above one day in a place upon penalty of losing their lives Other small Offences they punish with Whipping In the Succession of the Crown the eldest takes place after the Father but for want of Issue-male the most worthy Person of the next in Blood is chosen Others affirm that Seniority creates no Claim but that the Crown falls to him whom the Father makes choice of on his Death-bed but that seems improbable because the intended Successor lives at large in the Courts whereas the rest are kept on the Mountain Amara and if he die another whom the greatest at the Court do judge fittest for the Crown is sent for out The great and famous Island Meroe lies divided between three Kings which oftentimes War with one another the first is a Mahumetan Moor the second an Idolater descended from the Blood of the right Ethiopians the third a Christian Abyssine and acknowledges that King for his Lord. The first King of Ethiopia or Abyssinie The Order or List of the Kings of Abyssine whereof we have certain knowledge by the information of holy Scripture was Chus the Son of Cham who took possession thereof immediately after the Flood six other Kings following him whose Names and the time of their Reign remains unknown But when the Royal Seat was planted in the City Axum where it remained till the coming in of Christ they began to keep a Chronological Register but was afterwards transplanted to Sceva or Saba The Kings that Reigned in Axum and Saba are set down to the number of a hundred fifty eight by the following order  Years Arue Reigned 400 Agabo his Father a Murtherer
ENGLISH ATLAS Tome the First AFRICA BEING AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE REGIONS OF Aegypt Barbary Lybia and Billedulgerid The LAND of Negroes Guinee Aethiopia and the Abyssines With all the Adjacent Islands either in the Mediterranean Atlantick Southern or Oriental Sea belonging thereunto With the several Denominations of their Coasts Harbors Creeks Rivers Lakes Cities Towns Castles and Villages THEIR Customs Modes and Manners Languages Religions and Inexhaustible Treasure With their Governments and Policy variety of Trade and Barter And also of their Wonderful Plants Beasts Birds and Serpents Collected and Translated from most Authentick Authors And Augmented with later Observations Illustrated with Notes and Adorn'd with peculiar Maps and proper Sculptures By JOHN OGILBY Esq Master of His Majesties REVELS in the Kingdom of IRELAND LONDON Printed by Tho. Johnson for the Author and are to be had at his House in White Fryers M.DC.LXX CHARLES R. CHARLES by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To all Our loving Subjects of what Degree Condition or Quality soever within Our Kingdoms and Dominions Greeting Whereas upon the Humble Request of Our Trusty and Well-beloved Servant John Ogilby Esq We were graciously pleased by Our Warrant of the 25th of May in the Seventeenth Year of Our Reign to grant him the Sole Priviledge and Immunity of Printing in Fair Volumns adorn'd with Sculptures Virgil Translated Homers Iliads Aesop Paraphras'd and Our Entertainment in Passing through Our City of London and Coronation together with Homers Odysses and his fore-mention'd Aesop with his Additions and Annotations in Folio with a Prohibition That none should Print or Re-print the same in any Volumns without the Consent and Approbation of him the said John Ogilby his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns within the Term of Fifteen Years next ensuing the Date of Our said Warrant And whereas by one other Warrant of the 20th of March in the Nineteenth Year of Our Reign We were in like manner graciously pleas'd to grant him the said John Ogilby the sole Priviledge of Printing Homers Works in the Original adorn'd with Sculptures a Second Collection of Aesops Fables Paraphras'd and adorn'd with Sculptures The Embassy of the Netherland East-India-Company to the Emperor of China with Sculptures and an Octavo Virgil in English without Sculptures heretofore by him Printed with like Prohibition That none should Print or Re-print the same in any Volumns without the Consent and Approbation of him the said John Ogilby his Heirs Executors and Assigns within the Term of Fifteen Years next ensuing the Date of Our said Warrant And whereas the said John Ogilby hath humbly besought Vs to grant him further License and Authority to have the sole Priviledge of Printing a Description of the whole VVorld viz. Africa America Asia and Europe in several Volumns adorn'd with Sculptures VVe taking it into Our Princely Consideration and for his farther Encouragement have thought fit to grant and we do hereby give and grant him the sole Priviledge of Printing the said Books last-mentioned And VVe do by these Presents straitly charge prohibit and forbid all our Loving Subjects to Print or Re-print the said Books in any Volumns or any of them or to Copy or Counterfeit any the Sculptures or Ingravements therein within the Term of Fifteen Years next ensuing the Date of these Presents without the Consent and Approbation of the said John Ogilby his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns as they and every of them so offending will answer the contrary at their utmost Peril VVhereof the VVardens and Company of Stationers of Our City of London are to take particular notice that due Obedience be given to this Our Royal Command Given under Our Signet and Sign-Manual at Our Court at VVhitehall the first day of November 1669. in the One and twentieth Year of Our Reign By His Majesties Command J. TREVOR To the High and Mighty MONARCH CHARLES II. Of England Scotland France and Ireland KING Defender of the Faith c. SIR SInce it pleased Divine Providence by Your Majesties sole Conduct and Direction to Compose all Foreign Differences setling at last Your weary People Harrased with Fire and Pestilence under a Necessary and Honourable Peace The Effects of which soon Chearing up Your Loyal Subjects they laying Arms aside straight betook themselves to the several Improvements of Arts and Sciences each striving to outvie the other in what seemed most Conducible to the Restauration of the former Wealth Splendor and Reputation of these Your Majesties Kingdoms Renown'd and Famous through the World But amongst these Busie Preparations no Work appears more Perspicuous than that Stupendious Miracle the Raising from a Confused Heap of Ruines sooner than some believ'd they could remove the Rubbish Your Imperial City already looking down though Private Houses upon former Publick Structures hereafter to be the Business of Foreign Nations to See and Wonder at I also Dread Soveraign feeling a Spring of Youthful Vigour warming my Veins with fresh Hopes of better Times have undertaken according to my Mean Abilities no small Business a Work of Time requiring some Years to Publish being May it please Your Majesty a New Model of the Vniverse an English Atlas or the setting forth in our Native Dress and Modern Language an Accurate Description of all the Kingdoms and Dominions in the Four Regions thereof Since such and so great an Off-spring cannot be Born in a day nor see the light of Publication at once being several and distinct Volumns this my first Issue Most Gracious Sir being Africa Compleat in the Name of the Rest yet Vnfinish'd I humbly Dedicate and Tender to Your most Serene Majesty as an Earnest and Representative of the whole Work In which Dread Sir You may behold amidst a Gallaxy of Southern Constellations or the numerous Flourishing Cities and Seats of that famous Region Your own Bright Star none of the smallest Magnitude Your Metropolis Your Royal City Tangier which Seated on the Skirts of the Atlantick keeps the Keys both of the Ocean and In-Land Sea whose unparallell'd Scituation Temperature of Air and Fertility of Soil may well make the Story True if Romance that an antient Emperor resolv'd to fix there his Imperial Seat to be his Terrestrial Paradice Invironing with Walls of Brass a Gold and Silver City Thus Prostrating at Your Sacred Feet that which if Your Majesty be pleased to receive with a Smile Your Subjects through Your Brittish Monarchy not onely Ambitious in obeying Your Commands but ready to follow in what they may Your Royal Example will give the Work also a Civil Reception Whilest I Dread Soveraign to clear all difficulties am busie exploding Old Tales Fictions and Hear-says of the Antients Collecting and Translating better and more Modern Authority especially Eye-witnesses our late Sea Voyagers that I might not weary Your Sacred Ears with any thing if possible but undoubted Truth May Your Majesty though Your Claim be Just and Your Sword
bring their Slaves to the Portuguese Colonies for exchange The Commodities which the Portuguese and other Whites carry thither are amongst others of all sorts Cloth with red Lists Great Ticking with long Stripes and fine wrought Red Kersie Sleasie and other fine Linnen Fine Velvet Small great Gold Silver Laces Broad black Bayze Turkish Tapestry or Carpets White and all sorts of colour'd Yarn Blue and black Beads Stiching and Sowing Silk Canary Wines Brandy Linseed-Oyl Seamens Knives All sorts of Spices White Sugar and many other Commodities and Trifles As great Fish-Hooks Pins of a finger long Ordinary Pins Needles and great and small Hawks-Bells The Inhabitants in general gather no great Riches being content with a little Mille and a few Cattel together with Palm-Wine and Oyl Their Arms consist in Bowes and Arrows but the chiefest have Lances Axes and Chopping-Knives which last they wear in their Girdles on their left sides in short they use almost the same Arms as those of Congo and observe the same order in Fighting This Countrey is so populous that the King can in a very short time bring a hundred thousand men all Volunteers into the Field and if occasion requires ten hundred thousand press'd Souldiers so that if they were as valiant as numerous they might well be dreaded but their little courage and less conduct hath appear'd in several Encounters with the Portuguese particularly in the year Fifteen hundred eighty four twelve hundred thousand Angolians were put to flight by five hundred Portuguese and some few Congians And the following year Six hundred thousand Angolians by two hundred Portuguese and ten thousand Blacks The Territory of Ilamba can raise twelve thousand men Arm'd with Bowes and Arrows who Fight very circumspectly and Shoot lying or creeping on the ground The Kingdom of Angola or rather Dongo hath at present a particular Governor or Prince who acknowledges no kind of subjection to the King of Congo although formerly when divided into divers Lordships the several Sovasen shew'd all due obedience to that King But a hundred and fifty years since one of these Sovasen call'd Angola with assistance of the Portuguese Trading with him made Wars with the other and overcame them one after another till he made them all Tributaries yet he let them still remain in possession each of his own Dominion This was he that afterwards came to the Crown and nam'd himself Incue from the great multitude of people under his subjection and was not inferior in Power saith Pigafet to the King of Congo to whom as Linschot writes he sends Presents though he be not his Vassal After this Angola Incue in the year Fifteen hundred and sixty his Son Dambi Angola a great enemy of the Portuguese was chosen King who Deceas'd in the year Fifteen hundred seventy eight and his youngest Son Quilonge Angola or Angolaire that is Great Lord was left his Heir and Successor to the Crown He renew'd the old League made by his Predecessors with the Portuguese and Paulus Dias de Nevais their Governor but afterwards without cause cut off thirty or forty of them on the way going with several Merchandizes to the Royal City whereupon Dias made War upon him and took many places subjecting them to the Crown of Portugal which ever since together with many other from time to time subdu'd have remain'd under them The King deceasing in the year Sixteen hundred and forty Anna Xinga cannot come to the Crown without Male-issue left three Daughters and a Nephew the eldest of these call'd Anna Xinga notwithstanding she was Baptiz'd a Christian would assume the Crown after the Heathenish manner But the Portuguese favour'd the Nephew and so helped him with assistance of Arms that by force he gat the Throne whereupon Anna Xinga with many Grandees fled but hath never ceas'd to claim the Kingdom as her Inheritance alledging her Nephew but an Usurper In this Quarrel she fought three several Battels She is several times overâ—â—â—â—â— and was as often routed and vanquish'd and hath since kept her self an hundred and fifty miles up into the Countrey beyond Embatta where notwithstanding her former ill successes making new Wars towards the Wilderness Jages she has gotten many Cities Villages and Countreys whereby gathering fresh Vigor she came again upon the Portuguese by whom under the Command and Conduct of Major Pavo Darouva Conquer'd and two of her Sisters taken Prisoners one of which Baptiz'd Dama Maja of her own free will continu'd among the Portuguese and kept her self stately according to her manner oftentimes receiving many Slaves for her maintainance According to the last accompts this Xinga can be little less than sixty years of age and oftentimes for some past years hath been reported dead yet the Subjects conceal'd She keeps her self secret and kept it so secret that notwithstanding the Portuguese consign Commodities thither for Trade by several persons they cannot by ours or others attain the certainty thereof For all Decrees Orders and Transactions relating to Government are still Proclaim'd in her Name She is a cunning and prudent Virago She is warlike so much addicted to Arms that she hardly uses other exercise and withal so generously valiant that she never hurt a Portuguese after Quarter given and Commanded all her Slaves and Souldiers the like She and her People for the most part lead an unsetled life Her Idolatry roving up and down from place to place like the Jages Before any enterprize undertaken though of meanest concern they ask councel of the Devil to which end they have an Idol to whom they sacrifice a living Person of the wisest and comliest they can pick out The Queen against the time of this Sacrifice Clothes her self in mans apparel nor indeed does she at any time go otherwise habited hanging about her the Skins of Beasts before and behind with a Sword about her Neck an Ax at her Girld and a Bowe and Arrows in her Hand leaping according to their Custom now here then there as nimbly as the most active among her Attendants all the while striking her Engema that is two Iron Bells which serve her in stead of Drums When she thinks she has made a show long enough She sacrificeth men in a Masculine manner and thereby hath weary'd her self then she takes a broad Feather and sticks it through the holes of her boar'd Nose for a sign of War She her self in this rage begins with the first of those appointed to be sacrific'd and cutting off his head drinks a great draught of his blood Then follow the Stoutest Commanders and do as she hath done and this with a great hurly-burly tumult and playing upon Instruments about their Idol Among all her most pretious things she bestows no such care on any as the Bones of one of her Brothers who Raign'd before her which lie together in a costly Silver Chest long before gotten of the Portuguese The Queen keeps fifty or
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
and Cornelius Madagascar or St. Laurence St. Maries Comore and Mauritius and Socotara in the Mouth of the Arabian Gulf near the utmost Point of Guardafuy and other less Islands ¶ THe Hills of most remark are the Great and Lesser Atlas Hills the Mountains of the Sun the Salt-petre Hill Sierre Lyone Amara Mount Table and Os Picos Fragosos The Great Atlas call'd by the Natives Aydvacall as Marmol tells us and as Aug Curio Anchisa and by Olivarius Majuste runs thorow Africa as Taurus thorow Asia or the Alps Europe beginning in Marmarica and from thence extended to the west divides Barbary from Biledulgerid and though it hath many gaps and oft discontinues yet holds he on from Jubell Meyes to the utmost Mountains of Cehel and the Coast of Masra about twenty miles from Alexandria west-ward the Atlantick Ocean stops his course near the City Messa changing his name Aydvacall which often happens both to him and the lesser Atlas taking new Denominations from the several places they pass by No Mountain in all Africa is more celebrated by the ancient Poets than this amongst many take these from their Prince Virgil 4 Aen. Jamque volans apicem latera ardua cernit Atlantis duri Coelum qui vertice fulsit Atlantis cinctum assiduè cui nubibus atris Piniferum caput vento pulsatus imbri Nix humeros infusa tegit tum flumina mento Praecipitant senis glacie riget horrida barba And now the craggy top and lofty side Of Atlas which supporteth Heaven he spy'd A Shash of sable Clouds the Temples bindes Of Pine-crown'd Atlas beat with Rain and Windes Snow cloathes his Shoulders his starch'd Beard is froze And from the old Mans Chin a River flows All Writers affirm his wondrous height that he seems to reach the sky That side which views the Ocean to which he gave his Name is rugged bald and dry that towards the Land seems hairy with Bushes and shady with leavy Trees and watred with Springs so being made fertile in producing all sorts of Fruit that by day his Inhabitants not see well and that by night the Mountain seems to shine and send forth flames and as some say is full of Satyrs and abounds with Echoes resounding like Flutes Trumpets and Tabors The Lesser Atlas call'd Lant coasts with the Mid-land Sea there known by the Name of Errif extended from Gibraltar unto Bona the Spaniards call both Atlas'es Montes Claros or the Shining Mountains because their eminency renders them perspicuous far off or that their Spires shine above the Clouds Thus Diego de Torres But the Moors saith Strabo call them Dyris On the Cape where the Atlantick shoots into the Mediterranean Sea opposite to Europe appears the Mountain Abyle now by the Spaniard call'd Sierra Ximiera or Sierra de las Monas that is Ape-hill against this shews Calpe in Spain these are the Herculean Pillars so much celebrated with a ne plus ultra by ancient Writers The Chrystal Mountain according to Pigafet in his Congo shoots to the Sky his spiry and un-inhabitable Towers on the Eastern skirts of that Province there are found rich Mines of Chrystal Near which is the Mountain of the Sun so call'd from its wondrous height and being barren of all Vegetables On the same side Eastward appears the Salt-petre Hill so nam'd from the abundance fetcht from thence This Mountain divides the River Sarbeles whose sides are so watered by its parted Streams Amara that gives the vast Kingdom of Amara denomination consists of most high and inaccessible Hills which stand as Out-works to a strong Fort in the middle where the Kings Sons have Education kept with double Guards till their Fathers decease then the next Heir taken from thence enjoys the Crown The Mountains of the Moon which lye betwixt the Tropick of Capricorn and the Great Southern Cape are the highest in Africa or Europe now call'd by the Inhabitants Betsh they are Ledges of barren Rocks always cloath'd with Snow and continued Ice extending to the Coasts of Ceva in Goyame Eminent Writers would prove though false that the Head of the Nile springs amongst these And Ptolomy hath left on Record that his Overflowings are fed with the dissolution of these Mountains Snow At the Cape of Good Hope appears the Table-Mount so call'd from the flatness of its Crown like a Diamond so squar'd not far from the Shore on the South-side of a pleasant River from whence by a Cliff they scale the top no way else any accession being very steep and wondrous high seen from the * From the Sea Offin nine or ten leagues three or four hours before a Storm it seems to frown and grow sullen then veyling with more thick and opacous Clouds Westward from this is Mount Lyons either supposed their Palace being a Receptacle of those Royal Beasts or that the Hill resembles a Lyon couchant Near Mount Table are those the Spaniards call Os Picos Fragosos and the Italians Pici Fragosi signifying sharp or rough such being their aspiring tops continually covered with Snow all ranging in order one by another at whose foot runs a great and swift River which comes down from the Countrey On the Border of Guinee appears another Mount Lyons Sierra Leona in Spanish in Portugues Sierra Lioa there are several other Mountains in Africk of wonderful height and wealthy in Mynes but we pass them over till we speak of them at large in their due place and Descriptions of their several Countreys ¶ THis Region abounds also with many great Lakes Lakes the chiefest is that they call the Zaire or Zembre which Linschot takes to be the Old Triton out of whose bosom issues two famous Rivers that water the Kingdom of Congo the Coanze and Lalande Some affirm that from the Nile Zambere or Couama have here their original of which more at large hereafter ¶ NOr are here great Rivers wanting as the Nile the Niger Rivers call'd by the Spaniards and Italians Rio Grande or the Great River also Sanaga or Sanega the Gambre Zaire Couama and Holy Ghost River all which by their flyings out and overflowings make more fertile their neighboring Margines what concerns the Nile best known to us in Europe we will discourse at large when we make our entry into Egypt and of all his Benefits accrewing to that Countrey and so of the rest in their order ¶ AS for the Soyl it is very rich producing all sorts of Vegetables Animals The Soyl. and Minerals what ever of these Europe or Asia boasts Africa hath besides no small production of its own which the other have not unless brought over by Merchants and Travellers with us presented for strange Monsters in Shews at Fairs Markets and the like Such as are in common with us I shall not mention but those Creatures most of them peculiar to that Countrey but all strangers to Europe will require an exact Inquisition and here a room to
so effeminate that they Spin and Weave yet live very poorly in Mountainous Holes and Caves Tributary to the Arabians Others are War-like and laborious enjoying liberty and not acknowledging any Superior They claim as their chief Seat the Provinces of Temesne and Fez But those who inhabit that part of the Kingdom of Tunis adjacent to the Date-Countrey are the most mighty and stout having dared to engage in a War with the King of Tunis Anno 1509. and gave Battel unto Mules Nacer Son of Mahomet King thereof endeavoring to subject them who at this day bear Rule over the Kingdoms of Cauco and Labez The Zenegans or Zanagans the Guanesers Tergers Lempters and Berdoans all very poor and despicable living without Order or Laws in Tents and rove about with their Horses like the Arabs through the Lybian Wildernesses Some of the Arabians in Africa are more Savage wandring over the Mountains and through the Woods Others dwell in Cities and are called Hadares that is Courtiers being indeed Merchants for the most part the rest apply themselves to Study or follow Princes Courts and are counted less noble because they mix their blood with others Those which inhabit Fez are intituled Garbes that is West-countrey-men such as dwell Eastward Xarquies that is Diego de Torres Easterlings which made Diego de Torres divide the Countrey into Xarquia and Garbia The Lybian Arabs are Savages but stout and war-like Trading with Merchandize upon Camels to the Negroes Countrey and keeping many Barbary Horses oft-times recreating themselves with hunting of Wilde Asses Ostriches and other Beasts The Numidians are great friends of the Muses The Numidians are Poets and highly pleas'd with Poetry Poets naturally being much addicted thereunto having so rich fancy that on all occasions they set forth their Passions and Love-fits in a smooth and elegant stile They are also jealous especially in bestowing their favours lest they discover their wealth and abilities The Men go apparelled as the Numidians but the Women differ Those between Mount Atlas and the Mid-land Sea are much wealthier than these of Numidia both in sumptuousness of Apparel richness of Tents and abundance of Horse which are handsomer and more full and brawny than the former but want much of their speed Tillage and Cattel are their chief livelyhood the later of which are so numerous that they are often compell'd to remove and seek new Pastures They are Savage like those of the Wilderness some living as Subjects to the King of Fez but others in Marocco and Ducale formerly free from Tolls and Taxes till the King of Portugal began to conquer Asafi Aza and Azamor when after a civil War and the miseries of its common Attendant Famine they freely submitted to the Portugueses They of the Wilderness about Telesin and Tunis are rich and stately their Rulers drawing great Sums of Money yearly from the Neighbour Kings which is equally distributed among the people who pride themselves in comely habits being ingenious in making Tents and Breaking or Riding Horses In Summer they come to the very borders of Tunis to gather Contributions and in Harvest furnish themselves from other mens labours with all Necessaries as Victuals Clothing and Arms wherewith fully supplyed they return to their old Winter Quarters but the Spring they spend in Hunting Their Tents abound with greater plenty of Cloth Copper Iron and other Mettals than the richest Ware-houses of some Cities and no marvel for under the pretext of courtesie and civility Good Poets rewardes they steal all they can lay hold on They are also ingenious Poets and the best of them get not only praise but according to their excellency have rich rewards and high honours from their Governours The Women according to the custom of the Countrey The Women wear black Gowns with wide Sleeves cover'd somtimes with a mantle of the same colour or blew fastned about their Necks with Silver Clasps their Ears Fingers Legs and Ancles are adorn'd with Silver Rings If any man except their Kindred and intimate Acquaintance meet them abroad they cover their Faces with Vizard Masks and pass by in silence In all their Journeyings which are frequent the Women ride on Tin Saddles fastned to the Camels backs big enough only for one yea and going to war their Wives accompany them the more to encourage them to fight for them and their Children The Maids Paint their Faces Breasts Arms and Hands but the more noble Women content themselves with their own natural Colours and Complexions only somtimes out of Hens Dung and Saffron they mix a Colour wherewith they make a little round Beauty-spot in the Center of their Cheeks a Triangle between their Brows and an Olive-leaf or long Oval upon their knees Their Poets and Amours so highly commend the painting of the Eye-brows that it is not used above two or three dayes together in which time none but her Husband and Children may see her because they account this painting a great incitation to Venus as thereby supposing themselves much more beautiful and handsom ¶ LEo writes that the Arabians of Barka between Barbary and Egypt Lib. 6. Hist Afr. live very miserably and poorly which happens by reason of their want of Corn Want of Corn in Barka for there is not in all that Countrey a place fit for Tillage or that produces ought save Dates and those too but in a few Villages wherefore though sometimes they Barter Camels and Cattel for Corn yet cannot they purchase sufficient for so many people whereupon the Parents are constrained to leave their Children to the Scicilian Merchants for a pawn or security of payment And if according to the agreement they break their day the Sellers keep their Children for Slaves whom if the fathers will redeem they must render treble of the former debt This misery makes them such barbarous and inhumane Robbers and Murtherers that no Merchants dare approach their Coasts but rather choose to travel some hundreds of Miles about ¶ PEter Dan in his Journey to Barbary in the year 1633. Lib. 2. Hist Barb. hath very exactly described the manners and life of these Arabians Arabian Manners They utterly saith he abhor labour glorying in a supine carelessness and esteem no other people so happy though themselves be the most despicable and wretched in the whole world so priding in their poverty that they will scarce change their Hutts and Rags for the Palaces and Robes of the greatest Monarchs They have no secure or setled place of abode but rove up and down where they stay for any short time they pitch their Tents or rather Huts close together but divided into several quarters and this great Troop or Company they call Dovar each single Tent they stile Barraque Here they lye upon the ground intermixed with their Cattel the Barraques seem like Pavilions underprop'd with two great Poles the Door made of branches of Trees and a place in the middle like a
the African speech very much different from the other and mixt with many Arabian words Africanus says the five white People of Africa use this Speech which he calls Aquel Marik that is a noble Speech This last is divided into three several Dialects the Tamazegtans using one the Xilhans another and the Zenetans a third each varying from other onely in some words and holding affinity with the Arabick The Gumerians and Haoranians who live on the lesser Atlas and all the Inhabitants of the Cities on the Coast of Barbary between the greater Atlas and the Midland-Sea use the Morisk Tongue But in the City of Marocco and all its Provinces the Numidians Getulians and Western part of Africa speak the antient African known by the two old names of Xilha and Tamazegt Others residing Eastward bordering Tunis and extending beyond Tripoly to the Desarts of Barka speak a broken Arabick Such as live in Dovars or in houses mingle the Zenetan Tongue with corrupt Arabick so that few people in Africa speak pure and true Arabick Sealig ad Cansabon lib. 1. Epist 72. but use generally in their writings the Abimalik Tongue some have observed that in the Cities on the Coasts of Barbary the Citizens speak Arabick but base and corrupt The Peasants use the African Tongue But the common Edicts Commands Lawes and Contracts yea and their very Proverbs are written in pure Arabick The Azengians and other Mahumetans mingle their speech with Arabick and Barbary words The mixture of the African Speeches or Dialects the speech of Gelofe Geneba Tombuto Meli Gago and Galata they call Zungay that of Guber Cano Queseve Perzegreg and Guangray Guber which the people of Borno and Gouga imitate whereas in the Kingdom of Nubia they have a Dialect different from all the former these Countreys lye upon the River Niger In the more Southern the Languages are as various and differing the principal are Zinch and Habex which last the Abyssines use In some of these parts the people are so sullen and brutishly inclined that they will neither speak be sociable nor appear to any and in case one of them be taken he will rather starve to death than open his mouth and speak Eminent Arabian Historiographers affirm that when the Government of Barbary the choicest part of Africk became subject to the Mahumetans the African and Roman Letters were the same and were used commonly in Writing so that all their * The Arrian Hereticks that fled out of Italy from the Gothes and setled here Arrian Histories are Translated out of Latine and abridged with the Names of Princes and Commanders according to the Reigns of the Persian Assyrian Chaldean Israelitish and Roman Kings But the Schismatical Caliphs who conquered Africa raging with malice destroyed all those Books of Histories and Sciences permitting no other to be read than those of their own Sect. And the beforementioned Writer Ibnu Alraquiq sets forth that the Romans after their Conquest destroy'd all the ancient Records and African Books The Romans utterly obliterated all Punick Records Books and Histories introducing in place thereof their own name which in small time so prevail'd with a shining lustre that their honour and glory alone remain'd and the African Letters so totally blotted out that without any glimmering thereof they now write all in Arabick ¶ JOhn Leo saith Africans skill'd in Astronomy c. that the Africans are well skill'd in Astronomy and other Sciences and that they have some skill in Architecture and Husbandry which knowledge they first learn't out of Latine-writers as appears not onely in that they order their Moneths by Ides and Calends as the Latines but that they have likewise a great Book in three Volumes Entituled The Treasury of Husbandry which in the time of Mansor Lord of Granado was translated out of Latine into Arabick wherein are contained the rules of Tillage and Husbandry the alteration of the Seasons manner of Sowing with many the like singularities Insomuch that in former times these parts produced divers ingenious and great Wits Hath produced many famous and Learned men such as the Comedian Terence and some Fathers and Doctors of the Christian Church And others whose valour was not inferiour to the greatest who by an incredible courage maintain'd their liberty against the most magnanimous of the Romans although the present Inhabitants by a sad change are so degenerated from that glory of their Ancestors that they are esteemed the absurdest and most despicable Clowns in the Universe The African and Arabian Mahumetans reckon by the Moon allowing to the year but three hundred fifty four days every year shorter by eleven days than our European Account giving six moneths thirty days and to the other six twenty nine ¶ AS Africa is thus blest with the extraordinary production of Cattel and Corn Mines of Gold and Silver so the infertility of the Desarts is in many places recompenc'd by rich Mines of Gold and Silver Guinee Sofale Gago Nubia and divers other contain such Mines of Gold as Angola Monomotapa and other Kingdoms produce excellent Silver not without some Gold the Kingdom of Neguz is rich in many sorts of Merchandise the Coasts of Barbary inhabited by the Turks yields Corral which they dive for growing upon Rocks under water and Tombuto affords the finest Gold and other precious Rarities so that Africa is not to be esteemed the least or meanest part of the World If the Valor of the Inhabitants did but equal their number Their Valour the united Forces of the rest of the World could little prejudice them so numerous are the Armies alone of the King of Marocco and Fez besides those of the Arabians the bands of the Turks in the Kingdoms of Tunis Algiers Tripoly and Egypt the usual Army of the King of Neguz and the incredible numbers of the King of Angola seeming sufficient to make Africa invincible if they were hardy and couragious and trained up to the use of Arms. It remains then that we touch thereupon and their manner of making war The Arabians of Marocco and Fez use Lances or Sagayes Shields Their manner of War-fare Brest-plates and Helmets Their Swords generally they have from Europe and are much esteemed by them for the hardness of their Steel and excellent temper They are according to their manner of Riding most expert Horsemen casting their Javelins whereof some carry six or seven very swiftly one after another and aiming exactly at great distance All manner of Fire-Arms whether for Horse or Foot or Field-Carriages Cannon great or small wanting experience hitherto they are not skilful in They ride with tuck'd up Stirrops that their heels almost kiss the Skirts of their Saddles and in Fight cast off suddenly their loose upper Garment or Mandilion to ease their Horses and make themselves free and loose for the Battel Those that inhabit Westward near Tremesen and the Wildernesses of Barka carry sharp long-pointed iron Javelins which
Their Houses because of the overflowing of Nilus are built upon rising Places with thick clay Walls and flat Roofs as is usual in most Eastern Countreys And in regard Wood and Stone are very scarce they are little and low without advantages of many Rooms because most People Eat Drink and Sleep under the Date-Tree for coolness not fearing either Winter or Summer-Rains because the Countrey is free from them The whole Countrey is subject to one Inconvenience which is want of Fuel for in the great scarcity thereof they are forced upon all necessary occasions to burn the dung of Cattel ¶ POlygamy is common among the Nobler Sort Their Marriage who shut up their many Wives together in a Seraglio but separate from one another in distinct Apartments The Moors and meaner Sort to shew their Affection when they go a Wooing sear their Flesh with red hot Irons and flash their Arms without any sense of Smart or Danger And if by that means they can obtain the bare reward of a single Kiss from their Mistris Hand they take it as if they had gain'd the top of Felicity or whatsoever Love-sick Amours desire ¶ THe Parents dispose their Daughters in Marriage at ten or at most at twelve year old When they conduct the Bride to the Bridegrooms House she hath carried before her whatever her Friends or Parents gave her for the Bridegroom bestows on her Money Garments and other Necessaries Jewels Housholdstuff and Slaves of both Sexes ¶ THe Turks in Egypt are either of the Civil or Martial List Their Employment living voluptuously having little or no business but at starts but the Native Egyptians follow Pasturage and Husbandry The Arabians live by downright Robbery the Moors Negroes and Jews mannage Trading and Merchandise so do most of the Inhabitants of Cairo There are another sort of People here call'd Beduines The manner of the Beduines wandring about in great Companies of two or three hundred with their Luggage upon Carts and driving their Cattel like the Tartars from place to place for fresh Pasturage and where they finde good Grass they spread their Tents of course Goats-hair Cloth and thence migrate up and down still for fresh Pasture The Men are most of them Smiths and Weavers they go meanly apparell'd without any Clothes but a blue or gray Shirt with broad Sleaves hanging down to the ground and a piece of Cloth call'd by them Baracan which sometimes they cast over their shoulders as a Mantle when they pitch they sometimes make that their Tent to sleep under in the night and in the day to skreen off the heat of the Sun The Women go for the most part clothed like the Egyptian having maskt their Faces with holes They stick in their Hair many Silver and Copper Plates and black Ear-rings and Jewels of an unusual bigness and the like on their Arms. The Daughters as they become marriagable manifest it by scratching themselves upon the Chin and Lip which they dawb over with Ink and Ox-gall mingled that give such a fixt tincture as will never wear out ¶ THe Potency and Wealth of Egypt ha's ever been famous The abundant Riches of Egypt insomuch that in Antient Times Authors have said there were above twenty thousand Walled Cities and is at present China excepted held one of the richest Spots of earth in the World Cairo onely for its share contains fix hundred thousand Jews from whence the number of the rest of the Inhabitants may be guessed as also from the great destruction in the Year Fifteen hundred and eighty one when died of the Pestilence in seven Moneths above five hundred thousand In the time of Asan Bassa there were numbred seven millions or seventy hundred thousand persons ¶ TWo Languages and two sorts of Writing were used here Two sorts of Tongues among the Egyptians one Common understood by all in ordinary Conversation the other Peculiar onely used by the Priests Prophets and Religious Votaries whose ambition led them to hopes of the Crown and Government of the Kingdom This they nam'd The Sacred but the Coptick or Vulgar The Profane Tongue Which last was also call'd Pharaohs Speech because it was usual in the time of the Antient Egyptian Kings which were call'd by that one General Name of Pharaoh I shall in brief set down the difference and propriety of them both Whence the Name Coptos or Copta took its Original Writers disagree The Tongue Copta why so named Athanasius Kircher seems among all to have come nearest deriving it from Coptos formerly the most famous City in Egypt and the Chief of the Countrey of Thebes though at this day the Ruines thereof are but mean or else from the Coptists the Inhabitants of that City by whom alone this Tongue was kept in being Here we may take notice of a great mistake among most eminent Writers The difference between Coptos and Cophtos who without distinction confound Coptos and Cophtos whereas they differ much in their signification Coptos is an antique word and found in old Authors but Cophtos is a Name invented by the Mahumetans who call the Egyptian Christians by way of derision Cophtites as if they would say Circumcised Some suppose they are call'd Cophtites Della Valla. because they followed heretofore the Erroneous and Heretical Opinions of Eutiches and Dioscorus condemned in the Council of Ephesus which did before Baptism use to receive Circumcision for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is onely a Greek Name and signifies Circumcised whence they were nick-nam'd Christians of the Girdle meaning upwards because from the Girdlested downwards being Circumcised they were rather Jews The present Cophtick Tongue The Coptick is the old Egyptian Tongue is not onely like the Antient Egyptian in the time of the Pharao's but altogether one and the same as appears by some words still in use and among the rest the Names of the Moneths whereby the Old Egyptians and the Modern Coptists name them without any remarkable difference The like you may observe in the Planets Mars was with the Antient Egyptians Moloch which the Holy Scripture so often mentions Remphan in our English Translations Saturn Refan the very word used in the Acts of the Apostles Venus is called Zahara and many Plants and Herbs mentioned by Apuleius in his Book of the Vertues of Herbs may be found very little different from the present Egyptian Names Now since no Tongue comes nearer to the old Egyptian than the Coptick we may rationally conclude that the Coptick is the true and antient Egyptian not so pure and undefiled indeed as it was in the time of the Patriarchs but by process of time the manifest mixture of People and Languages and other alterations of the State disguised and corrupted The Coptick in it self is an Original It s distinction from the Greek Tongue not a Derivative Language though some strongly argue that it is but a Greek Dialect differing as the Caldee from
among the Christians so long as Heathenism continued and until the time of the Abbot Dionysius The Names of the Twelve Moneths into which the Year was divided by the Copticks are Thoth September Paopi October Athor November Choiak December Tobi January Mechir February Famenoth March Farmy April Paskoes May Paoni June Epip July Messori August The Moneth Thoth the first of their Year beginneth on the nine and twentieth of August Paopi the eight and twentieth of September Athor upon the same day of the following Moneth October Choiak upon the twenty seventh of November Tobi upon the same day of December Mechir the Six and twentieth of January Famenoth upon the six and twentieth of February Farmy the twenty seventh of March Paskoes the twenty sixth of April Paoni upon the same day of the following Moneth of May Epip the twenty fifth of June Messori upon the same day of the following Moneth of July all which Account is set down according to the Old Stile which with ten Days added to every such day of the Moneth easily may be agreeable with the New Stile In the common Years they add to the last Moneth Messori or July five days which the Greeks call Epagomenes that is additional but the Copticks Nisi and in the Leap-year six which they intercalate between the eight and nine and twentieth of our August according to the Old Stile or according to the New between the sevententh and eighteenth of September The Egyptian Moneths By the Arabians call'd By the Syrians call'd Thoth Muharam Illul Paopi Safar Thisrin 1. Athor Rabi 1. Thisrin 2. Choiak Rabi 2. Kanum Tobi Giamadi 1. Kanon Mechir Giamadi 2. Scebat Famenoth Rageb Adar Farmy Scaban Nisan Paskoes Rhamadan Ijur Paoni Scevel Haziram Epip Dulkaida Thamuz Messori Dalhagieb Ab ¶ EGypt at the beginning had Native Kings The Antient Egyptian Dynasties who governed their Subjects with a free and unlimited Authority and according to the Prescription of their Priests lead a Moral and Vertuous Life and till the Government of Psammenitus son of Amasis who Rul'd in the Year of the World Three thousand four hundred and five and forty were all call'd by one general Sirname or Title of Paraoh Wherefore in Jeremiah in his six and thirtieth Chapter we read Pharaoh * Jer. 46.2 Necho and Pharaoh †44.30 Pharaoh-Hophra Kofra as much as to say King Necho King Kophra Pharaoh being barely a name of Dignity as with us the name of Emperor or King is In which Year for he reign'd but six Moneths Cambyses the son of Darius with a strong Army invaded and conquer'd Egypt and took Psammenitus captive putting to death banishing and destroying all before him and reducing the Countrey to a Province in which Subjection of the Persians it remained above a hundred and fifty Years till the Reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus In whose time the Egyptians set up one Inarus son of Psammitichus before King of Lybia who in the beginning Govern'd happily till Artaxerxes with a great Fleet and Army came upon them out of Phaenicia unawares and soon reduced them again to his Obedience from which time it was subject to the Persian Kings until the Reign of Darius Nothus when they were expell'd by Amirteus born in the City Sais or a Sebanite Six years reign'd Amirteus succeeded for about Ninety one years Mendesian Princes so call'd from Mendes which also was Horus one of their Gods from whom they descended or from the City Mendes by four Mendesian Princes Neferitis Achoris Psammites and Neferitis the Second after that by three Sebennites viz. Nectabanos Techos or Meos and Nectabanos the Second which last Artaxerxes Ochus bereav'd of his Kingdom and drove to Ethiopia and so Egypt fell again to the Persians to whom it continued subject till the destruction of Darius Codomannus by Alexander the Great who brought it to the Grecian or Macedonian Kings that reign'd five years over it Anno Mundi 3600. After Alexander's Death this Countrey fell to Ptolomeus surnam'd Lagus whence all the Kings his Successors in that Kingdom were call'd Ptolomeys subjoyning thereto some other Name as Philadelphus Epiphanes and the like This Dynasty held the Scepter Two hundred ninety and eight years At first after the Death of Alexander the Great his Brother Arideus after much debate was chosen King who over the conquered Territories made the chiefest Captains Lieutenants and Governors In which Distribution of great Offices Egypt as we said fell to the share of Ptolomy which in Greek signifies Warlike or Couragious but his Companion Perdicas picking a Quarrel quickly routed him and was himself as soon vanquished by Antigonus who was so puff'd up with his Victory that nothing but Soveraignty would content him whereupon he took the Title of King which Ptolomy now recruited Egypt was a Kingdom under the Ptolomeys imitating and not willing to be inferior to his Companion assum'd the Royal Dignity and Title joyning to Egypt Syria and Arabia rifling Jerusalem from whence he brought away many Jews captive whom at first he grievously persecuted The Ptolomeys in Egypt which bore the Title of King were Ten in Number and these that follow Ptolomy the Son of Lagus Reign'd 40 Years Ptolomy Philadelphus Reign'd 28 Years Ptolomy Evergetes Reign'd 26 Years Ptolomy Ceraunus Philopator Reign'd 17 Years Ptolomy Epiphanes Reign'd 35 Years Ptolomy Philometor Reign'd 24 Years Ptolomy Evergetes Reign'd 29 Years Ptolomy Phiscon otherwise Soter that is Protector Reign'd 17 Years Ptolomy Alexander Reign'd 18 Years Ptolomy Auletes Reign'd 30 Years Cleopatra Reign'd 24 Years The Reign and Race of the Ptolomeys over Egypt ended with Cleopatra the Daughter of Ptolomy Auletes courted at first by Julius Caesar then by Mark Anthony through whose favors She kept her Soveraignty but Augustus at the Battel of Actium ruining Anthony's Fortunes with the death of Cleopatra who poyson'd her self made it a Roman Province and it continued under that Empire till the Reign of Heraclius who held his Royal Court and Seat of Empire at Constantinople After the dividing of the Roman Empire into East and West Egypt fell to the Greek or Western share but the remisness of their Government and Extortion of their Officers made the Egyptians submit themselves to the Arabian Califs about the year Seven hundred and four to whom they stood faithful till conquered by the Mahumetans The first Arabian Calif was called Omar who to that end sent a strong Army under the Conduct of his Lieutenant Ambre son of Albas to Cairo over which at that time in the Greek Emperors Name presided as his Deputy or Vice-Roy Makaubare who compounded with Ambre upon these Terms That every Inhabitant should pay a Gold Esku That the Arabians should be entertained three days in all places where they pass through and that the Citizens should pay to the Calif a yearly Revenue of twenty hundred thousand Eskues The year following Ambre won Alexandria and so brought all Egypt under the Command of
Jealous of their Wives that they dare not go open-fac'd to their Parents They have many pernicious Customs Evil Customs being greatly addicted to Sorcery and Witchcraft Whoever at any time falls sick makes an address to a Wiseman or Wise-woman as we term them who oftentimes cure them by Charms taken out of the Alcoran or Amulets or else Specifick Medicines for they have neither Physician Apothecaries or other Druggists but onely some inexpert Chyrurgeons The greatest Zealots amongst them when sick go where one of their Marabouts or Saints lie buried to whose Sepulchre they bring a great many things to eat fondly fancied to a belief that if by chance a Beast eat thereof it gets the Disease and the sick person will recover When their women are in Labor Great Superstition of the Barbarians when they bring forth they send to School to fetch five little children whereof four are employ'd to hold the corners of a Cloth in each whereof they tie a Hens Egg wherewith these Children presently run along the Streets and sing certain Prayers one answering the other In the mean while the Turks and Moors come out of their Houses with Bottles or Cruises full of Water which they throw into the midst of the Cloth by which means they believe the Woman who is in Labour is luckily deliver'd To this idle Fancy they adde another no less ridiculous to cure the Pain in the Head by taking a Lamb or young Kid which they hunt and beat about the Field so long till it fall down whereby they perswade themselves that the pain will pass out of the mans head into the beasts To countervail these bad and foolish Two commendable Customs they have some commendable Customs Pierre Dan. descript Barbar One is That how angry soever they are they never swear by the Name of God nor have in their Language whether Arabick Turkish or Morisk any particular words wherewith they can curse or blaspheme 'T is true the Renagadoes Swear desperately in their own Tongues but because they do it in contradiction of the Turks they are presently most severely punished for it The second is That how great a contest soever they have one against another they seldom come to Hand-blows but never kill The Inhabitants of the City of Barbary are very ingenious The Condition of the Inhabitants in Cities and singularly zealous in their Religion but no people more jealous for they had rather lose their lives than have a blemish on their Reputation which especially they look upon as best preserved by their Wives Chastity They covet Riches above measure but are very modest in speech The Inferiours behave themselves towards their Superiours with great humility and submission But Children shew wonderful Reverence and Obedience towards their Parents The Countrey People dwell in Tents or Booths upon the Hills and Fields The manner of the Countrey People generally dealing in Cattel they are not fierce of Nature yet very couragious they live but poorly yet are great pains-takers and liberal Whereas the Townsmen on the other side are quarrelsome vindicative inhospitable covetous setting their whole thoughts upon scraping together Money and Goods They are continual Traders but so suspicious that they will not trust any Foreigner They are great boasters but dull of wit giving easie belief to common reports and doubtful hear-says yet so cunning and false in their dealing that they will deceive the most vigilant Some of the better Sort have great inclination to Arts and Sciences They are inclin'd to Skil and Knowledge delighting chiefly in Histories and the Exposition of their Law Heretofore extraordinarily addicted to Southsaying Magick and Astrology all which about five hundred years since were absolutely forbidden by their Princes They Ride well after their manner and know with a singular dexterity to mount and dismount The chiefest Weapons of such as dwell up in the Countrey are long Launces or Javelins in the throwing of which they are wonderful ready but all that coast upon the Sea use Guns Powder and Shot The whole Countrey is very healthful The Age of the People in Barbary so that the people by the ordinary course of Nature seldom dye before sixty five or seventy years of Age In the Mountains peradventure some be found reaching a hundred years remaining to the last very strong and active but chiefly upon the Sea-Coasts where the Air is constantly refresht and agitated by the frequency of cool Breezes which have the same efficacy working upon their Constitutions so that they are seldom sickly Barbary hath a great abundance of Merchandise Barbary affords much Merchandise which are transported by Foreigners to the enriching of the Inhabitants such are untann'd or raw Hides Linnen and Cotton-Cloth Raisins Dates Figs and the like of which we will speak more particularly in its proper place Evident Signs of the great Wealth of this Kingdom in former times may be drawn hence that the Kings of Fez as they say Signs of the Antient Power of Barbary formerly spent four hundred and eighty thousand Crowns in the building a Colledge Leo Africk Peter Aviley Barbary and seven thousand in erecting a Castle and little less in founding a City besides his continual standing Pay to his Militia No less are the Riches thereof at this day Signs of the present Power as appears by the great Revenue of the Kings of Morocco and Fez the Bashaws and other great Lords of Tripolis Algiers and Tunis and the infinite Trade and Merchandise which the English Venetians Genoas Hollanders French Hamburgers and other people drive there without taking notice of the rich Spoils the Pyrates of Barbary carry in from all parts especially Spain and Italy with too much connivance of their Governours though seemingly against their Command Another signal proof of its exceeding Wealthiness are the great number of Mosques and the yearly Revenues belonging to them For in Algiers onely there are a hundred and in Tunis three hundred as many also in Fez and in Morocco seven hundred among which the chief have two hundred Ducats Annual Rent Adde thereto that the Plunder of Fez when those of Algiers became Masters of it was valued at two hundred and sixty Millions and the Spoyl of Tunis under the Emperor Charles the Fifth which he gave to the Soldiers for a Reward as much when the three chiefest Field-Officers gave each of them for their Heads Thirty Millions of coyned Ducats Moreover the Jews who have their chiefest Refuge there as in the Center of the World bring no small advantage by the liberty of their Usury The Dominion of Barbary is various as the Countrey The Government of Barbary some are absolute unlimited Kings as those of Morocco and Fez. Others acknowledge a Superior Lord as the Kings of Algiers Tunis and Tripolis who are no other than Bashaws or Viceroys or under the obedience of the Great Turk who at his Pleasure may alter the
Esteem The Falling-sickness in Esteem among them because Mahomet was troubled with this Disease and shamelesly made them believe That then God by his Angel Gabriel reveal'd to him the most secret Mysteries of his Religion The highest Festival is the Nativity of their great Prophet A Festival upon the Birth of Mahomet which they celebrate with all Solemnity the fifth of September in manner following All the School-masters assemble after Dinner with their Scholars in the chiefest Mosque out of which they go in Order every one with a Torch in his Hand and sing along the Streets the Eulogy and famous Acts and Praise of their Prophet Two of these Masters carry upon their shoulders a great Pyramide cover'd over with Flower-Works and a Cross on the top of it follow'd by vocal and instrumental Musick after the Turkish manner all the Corner-Houses in Cross-ways are hang'd with Tapistry and burning Lamps They set also in every House about Mid-night a lighted Torch upon the Table because Mahomet was born at that Hour During the eight Days of this Feast every one may walk the Streets by Night which at other times they dare not on pain of corporal Punishment The Cooks of the Divan to the number of Two hundred each carrying a Napkin or Towel upon his shoulders and a burning Torch in his Hand from the seventh to the eleventh Hour go two and two along the Streets till placing themselves before the doors of the chiefest Councellors they chant a solemn and appointed Hymn in Praise of their Prophet with many Instruments of Musick ¶ THe last Solemnity concerns their Burials or Funerals Their Solemnity for the Dead which they perform in this manner When any Dies the next Friend hireth Women to lament who flocking about the Corps with strange and unusual howling make a noise and scratch themselves till the blood follow their Nails This done How they bury their Dead the Body is inclosed in a Coffin cover'd with a Green Cloth upon which a Turban is set as we use a Garland and so with the Head forward is carried to and laid in the Grave but attended all the way thither with howling Valedictions At the entrance of the Burial-place some Marabouts sing without intermission these words Lahilla Lah Mahometh ressoul allah that is God is God and Mahomet is his Prophet At last it is placed in the Grave in a sitting Posture with a Stone under the Head in stead of a Pillow and the Face towards the South Their Burying-places are very Large and lye round about the Cities for they Interr none in their Mosques but in the plain Field where every one according to his Estate buys a spot of Ground which they Wall in and plant with Flowers The Women every Friday visit these Monuments carrying thither Meat and Fruits which they leave for the Poor and for the Fowls after they have tasted of them believing it to be a work of Charity and a furtherance to the bliss of departed Souls They pray there for their Husbands and other Deceased Friends and comfort them sometimes with these or the like words That they should have Patience in waiting for the Resurrection of their Bodies And this shall suffice to have spoken of the Mahumetans there The Jews in Barbary differ in nothing from the Jews in Asia and Europe Great number of Jews Barbary being so numerous that only in the Cities of Morocco Algier and Tunis and a part of the Kingdom of Fez there are a Hundred thousand Families The Christians are few and not Masters of many places in Barbary those that be are under the Command of the King of Spain as Arache Oran Mamaure and Tangier now in the possession of the King of England Gramay saith that in Morocco Fez also in Lybia are some Remainders of Antient Christians who Celebrate the Liturgy of the Mozarabes or Moxarabes Translated out of the Latine into the Greek Tongue and about an Hundred and seventy Greek Families who give peculiar Honor to St. Stephen There are besides these many other of several Nations who taken at Sea by the Pyrates are brought to Land and sold for Slaves whence they cannot be redeem'd without great Ransoms except by chance any make an Escape which is seldom or rowing in the Galleys be retaken by the Christians These generally lead a miserable Life undergoing the extremity of Servitude only some one by good Fortune that lights upon a milde Patron is more gently handled In Algier the Slavery is most bitter but in the Kindoms of Tripolis Tunis and Fez more tollerable Some Slaves meet with Patrons dwelling up in the Countrey The labour of the Slaves in Barlary which carry them thither to bear all sorts of Burdens to Market of which if they render not a good account they are sure to be well beaten Others go Naked as in Billedulgerid tending Cattel or like Horses drawing the Plough without any other reward for their toyl than harsh Language and merciless Blows being hardly afforded a little Water and Meal for Food Others are thrust into the Galleys to row where their best fare is Water and hard Bisket and the reward of their Pains drubs with a Bulls pizzle nor is their treatment better when they come ashore being lockt to a heavy Chain and at night thrust into Dungeons by them call'd Masmora where they lye upon the bare ground Such as chance to have City Patrons The labour of the Slaves in the Cities their chiefest labour is to carry Water from place to place bear away the dust of their Houses convey their Merchandises to Ware-Houses work in the Mill like Horses knead their Dough bake their Bread and do all other drudgery yet for all receive neither good word or deed or freedom from their Fetters Many of these wretched Creatures Why many Christian Slaves make desection partly out of desperation and impatience of their misery partly out of a desire of liberty and hopes to attain the honour of a Janizary renounce their Religion and turn Turks Nay there are many rich Women who often give half their Goods to their Slaves when they embrace Mahumetanism and some even of the best Quality among them being Widows are so zealous that they marry their Slaves out of design only to draw them to be Mahumetans it being among the Turks accounted a most meritorious work to make Proselytes to their Prophet The several Punishments for Malefactors in use by them are these Those that can be prov'd after Circumcision to revolt Their Punishments are stript quite naked then anointed with Tallow and with a Chain about his Body brought to the place of Execution where they are burnt They who are convicted of any Conspiracy or Treason have a sharp Spit thrust up the Fundament others bound Hand and Foot and cast from a high Wall or Tower upon an Iron Hook whereon sometimes they stick fast by the Belly sometimes by the Head or
on the Kingdom of Fez then gliding through the Plain of Adaksuni and afterward shut up as it were in a narrow Valley where a fair Bridge was erected over it by Abul Hascen the Fourth King of the Marin Family From thence Southward overspreads the Levels between Dukala and Temesne till at length by Azamor after it hath received the Waters of the River Hued la Abid and Derna it pours it self into the Ocean This River neither Spring nor Winter can be forded therefore the neighbouring Inhabitants ferry over both Passengers and Merchandise upon a Float made of Goat-skins blown up like a Bladder with Hurdles fasten'd to them upon which they take in their Fare and other Lading This River abounds so much with Shads that not only the Inhabitants of Azamor and Marocko are serv'd but also Andalusia and Portugal are suppli'd with them as a forreign Dainty Darna runs out of Mount Magran by the Cities Efza and Tefza from Tedle Darna between the Mountains full North till it meets with Ommirabilis streams The Brook Sicsiva call'd by some Sessua and Sefsava Sicsiva runs betwixt the Mountains of Nefise and Semede and through the City Elgumuha then mingling with the Asifnaal Tefethne takes its beginning out of the Mountain Gabelelhadi Tefethne passing through the Plains of Hea watering Heusugaghen Tesedgest and Kuleihata then branching into several Arms glides into the Ocean over against Cape Magador The River of Sanut call'd in Spanish Rio dos Savens and in Portugues Rio dos Savens De los Savalos in English Shad-Brook it shoots out of the Mountain Gabelelhadi so descending through the Campaign of Hea to Amama then delivering up his fresh Water to the briny Ocean Tekuleth Tekuleth supposed to be the River by Ptolomy call'd Diur whose Margents are crown'd with the Famous City Tekuleth and not far thence looseth it self and name between Goz and Amama in the Atlantick Lastly And the Fifteenth River which waters this Kingdom of Morocco is Imiffen Imiffen proceeding out of the Mountain Sicsiva then gliding Southward dispatches a short Progress falling into the Ocean at Cape Non. The Air of this Countrey The Air of it is commonly much warmer than that of Europe but the Air on the Mountains is commonly cold especially on the highest which are covered with Snow and so probably are more unfruitful The Plains of Morocco and Fez The fruitfulness of Morocco thus water'd with abundance of Rivers and Brooks are exceeding fruitful This Kingdom abounds with all things necessary for humane sustenance particularly good Oyl d'Olive and other useful Oyls The variety of their Vines are numerous of whose grapes they eat many fresh gathered many they dry and some they press which yield both pleasant brisk and full-bodied Wines Here also is exceeding plenty of Dates Figs Peaches Nuts Pine-Apples Sugar Flax Hemp Woad and Honey Mines of Gold Gold Mines Silver and Copper are frequent so also are great Stone-Quarries but none of them all are at any time open'd or sunk without special Order of the Xerif Upon the Plains and Mountains feed large Oxen Beasts Horses Mules wilde Goats Roe-Deer Asses Sheep also frequented by Lions wilde Swine Wolves and many other Beasts of prey as shall appear in the Description of the particular Territories There is no place in Barbary so well stored with Camels as Morocco Camels of which the Inhabitants make great use in carrying Burdens and Merchandise out of the in most places to the Sea-coast Leo Afric A sign of Apprehension in Camels to their no small advantage These Creatures seem to have a notable apprehension for when between Ethiopia and Barbary they are forced to go a days Journy more than the common Stages Leo Afric their Masters cannot drive them forward with blows but are necessitated to sing and whistle before them which supererogated Reward seems to them a sufficient bounty to draw and entice them to the performance of their over-service Experience confirms that the African Camels far exceed the Asian in strength being able to travel fifty days with their Burdens on Camels travelling fifty days together never unloaden without any Fodder or Meat Nature in them supporting it self by a Consumption as it were of the parts for first the flesh of their Bunches fall away and consume afterwards their Bellies and lastly of their Hipps and Buttocks whereby they become so feeble that they can scarce bear a hundred weight Concerning their Form Nature and other Properties we have mentioned at large in our general Description of Africa Here likewise also in Ducala and Tremisen Guabox or Wilde Oxen. breed a kind of wilde Oxen by the Inhabitants call'd Guahox and by the Spaniards Vacas Bravas that is Mad Bulls they run as swift as a Hart and are smaller than an Ox with a dark brown Tail black and sharp Horns the Flesh sweet with a Skin fit to tan for Shoo-leather They generally range through the Woods in great Herds In the Rivers are found great pieces of Amber abounding also with Shads Pikes Eels and other variety of Fish ¶ THe People of Morocco are well set and strong of Body The Constitution of the Moroccaians as most of the Inhabitants of Barbary are of a subtil and piercing spirit abounding with Choler Adust which commonly denotes acuteness of wit Some of them follow Merchandizing others Husbandry a third sort Wars Diego Torres c. 88. a fourth Arts and Sciences but all in general have a peculiar Inclination to Judiciary Astrology as may be supposed from the opportunities of their Serene and long Nights Their Women constantly keep within doors using Spinning working Tapistry or doing other things and have black and white Slaves of both Sexes to serve them on all occasions For want of Knives they break their Bread in pieces with their Hands and eat their Meat on Matts spread on the Ground as we said before They have variety of Dishes as Beef Mutton Fowl and Venison Their Food but their most usual is Couscous made of Meal Rice and other Ingredients mixt with water and made up in Balls then put into an Earthen Vessel full of little holes set upon the Hearth the heat whereof Bakes it enough This they eat in great pieces being very pleasant in Taste and of a wonderful pinguefying Nature Feasting is here very frequent especially in the Houses of Great Persons where for one Entertainment sometimes twenty or five and twenty Sheep all of a large size than ours are drest Their Drink commonly is a Liquor made of Raisins Their Drink steep'd in Sugar and Water or else * Like our Metheglin compounded of Water and Honey But the Inhabitants in and about Mount Atlas drink commonly boyl'd Wine whereas others will drink nothing but Goats and Camels Milk The Citizens of Morocco and other great Towns wear Shirts The Habit of the Men. long Breeches and Coats reaching to the Knees
of Red or other Colour with Caps of Linnen or Silk and on their Feet a kind of Slippers or single-soal'd Shooes which they call Reyas The Women pride themselves in much Linnen The Habit of the Women their wide Smocks being several Ells in the hem with large Linnen Drawers or Calsoons which come down to the Calf of the Leg. In Summer they have Bonnets of Silk in Winter of Linnen in stead of a Mantle they cast over them long pieces of Cloth call'd by the Inhabitants Likares trim'd with Embroidery or Fringes which they clasp together with a Buckle either of Gold or Silver Brass or Iron according as the Wearers ability will extend which it seems was antient there by Virgils Description of Dido Virgil. In their Ears they wear Jewels rich Neck-laces and Bracelets of Pearl which they call Gagales ¶ SEveral Languages are here spoken viz. the Morisk Arabick and Gemmick Tongues The Morisk is the antient African or rather a mixture of several Tongues with a dash of Arabick for they speak it not pure because of their converse with Forreign People whereby are introduced many strange words the Gemmick is half Spanish and half Portugues There is another Speech call'd Tamacete used by the People which dwell between Morocco and Tarudant Northerly of Mount Atlas and boast themselves to come of a Christian Parentage ¶ Every Mahumentan may by the Alcoran lawfully have four Wives The Marriage-condition from any of which he may divorce at his pleasure and take other When any man intends to Wed they have a Caziz Notary and Witnesses the Notary makes a seal'd Agreement of all that the Man promises to give his intended Bride for a Marriage-Portion which they call Codaka which he must give if at any time he part from her If a Woman will part from her Husband she loseth her Marriage-Goods Besides their Wives they may keep as many Concubines as they are able to maintain out of which the King may choose one to bestow upon his Favorites They count it no Crime to obstuprate their Slaves White or Black The King hath commonly four Wives besides a multitude of Concubines with whom he companies according to the dictates of his wandring Fancy On the day of Marriage The Solemnity of Marriage they set the Bride on a Mule sumptuously adorn'd and set forth begirt with a round Canopy in form of a Tower cover'd with Tapistry after the Turkish Manner so carrying her in State through the whole City follow'd by many Muletts laden with the Goods given her by her intended Husband and attended with Men and Women in great Multitudes After this Calvalcade they go to Feasting which done they remove to a spacious and open Place where all the Kindred and Friends assemble and such as are skil'd in Horsmanship for the space of two hours exercise themselves with Lances before the Bride But Diego de Torres says Cap. 76. the Woman is carried upon a well-furnish'd Camel in a small Castle or Tower call'd by them Gayola and curiously adorn'd and cover'd with thin and single Taffaty that she may easily see through it with a great Train of Followers so is she first brought to her Fathers House and from thence to her Husband where is great Feasting and Mirth If the Husband find she was devirginated before Maquet lib. 3. he immediately sends her away with all he gave her but if he be satisfied of her Chastity her praises are sung through the City and the tokens of his satisfaction publickly shewn which also be carried through the City in token of her being a Maid this was customary among the Jews Into their Church-yards the Women go every Friday and Holy-days to bewail their dead with Blew Mourning Garments on in stead of Black Mourning for the Dead as is the fashion in this Countrey The Revenue of this Kingdom yearly brought into the Kings Chamber or Exchequer is very great and rais'd thus Diego de Torret Botero Relat. univers p. 2. lib. 2. Every Male or Female of twelve Years or according to Botero of five Years old pays four fifths of a Ducat Hearth-Money and the like of every Hearth which by them is call'd Garama For every Bushel of Beans the King receives the second for every Beast the tenth but for every sack of Wheat half a Real Besides these there are other Customs paid upon exported Goods which sometimes they raise high pretending thereby to ease their Subjects However the Christian Merchants for all Commodities either imported or exported pay great Tolls besides a large Sum of Money for License to Trade freely there Lastly The King hath full power over all the Goods of his Subjects What makes the Kings mighty and rich of whom none can claim what he possesses for his own for when the Alkayde that is the Governour of the Countrey and other Officers that take Salary die the King seizes all they left giving to his Son if fit for the Wars his Fathers Imployments but if they be little he maintains them till they can handle a Weapon and the Daughters till they are married Another Device the King uses to possess himself of the Peoples Wealth When he hath intelligence of any rich Person he sends for him and under colour of Favour confers on him some Office that receives a Salary from the Crown in which continuing to his Death makes the King a Title to his Estate which is the cause that every one as well at Morocco as Fez to prevent this inconvenience endeavour to conceal their Wealth and keep as far from Court and the Kings knowledge as possible The King also takes one Beast in twenty and two when the Number riseth to a hundred His Collectors also gather the tenth of all Fruits growing in the Mountains which the People pay as a Rent for their Land ¶ THe English Hollanders and French drive here a notable Trade The Merchandise of several People in this Kingdom carrying thither several Commodities as Cloth c. bringing thence again Turky-Leather Wood Sugar Oyl Gold Wax and other Merchandise having their Consuls resident in the Cities of Sale Zaffi and other Places ¶ THe Inhabitants of Morocco in some things differ among themselves as to Religion most of them follow the Doctrine of the Xerif Hamet The strictness of the Moroccoians in observing Mahomets Doctrine who at first was a Monk but left his Cloister in the Year Fifteen hundred and fourteen and began to set abroach the Enthusiasm of one Elfurkan declaring that the Doctrine of Ali Omar and other Expounders of the Alcoran were only humane Traditions and that men were to observe the pure and single writings of Elfurkan who was a faithful Expositor of the same And as the Turks prohibit any to come into their Mosques that is not of their Religion upon pain of Death So this new Prophet admitted all Nations as well Christians as Jews to hear
his Preaching For this difference in Religion the Turks and Moroccoians bear a peculiar hatred one against another the Moroccoians treating the Turkish Slaves as cruelly as the Christian They observe all Solemn Feasts with the Turks and other Mahumetans Festivals especially the Feast of the Passeover The Passeover of the Moroccoians for the King rides sumptuously the Day of the Passeover attended with the Bashaw and other great Lords both Horse and Foot and men sounding Trumpets playing upon Flutes and beating Drums and Kettle-Drums When he is come to an appointed place without the City two Rams are brought to him Homer Il. 3. lib. which after several Ceremonies he sticks in the Throat and if they die quickly that is held by them for a good Presage but if they linger any while they believe the following Year many Sicknesses and Troubles will ensue ¶ The King of Morocco bears the Title of Emperor of Africa The King of Morroco's Title and also Emperor of Morocco King of Fez Sus and Gago Lord of Dara and Guinee great Xerif of Mahomet He hath as we said so absolute a Dominion that all the People are his Slaves not daring without leave go out of the Kingdom upon pain of Corporal Punishment In this Kingdom many wilde Arabs frequent Arabians in Morocco by some call'd Larbussen which live by the Wars and Plunder being general Enemies to all and all Foes to them yet when the time of their Harvest is come they make a Cessation of Arms for it is not a Peace because as soon as the Corn is threshed and laid up in their Pits made in the middle of the Fields for that purpose and cover'd over with Planks and Earth they-fall to their old Trade of robbing and spoyling again whatever Corn is hoarded in those Pits none see or meddle with unless when they fetch some for private use to Sow or to Sell. They dig also deep Pits to find Water to which they come with their Camels from Places far distant leading them home laden therewith in Leathern Borachio's These Arabians in regard of their so much using the Wars are Commanders over the Almahallen that is little Armies to conduct the Caphiles or Caravans by order of the King MOROCCO THE Province of Morocco The Territory of Morocco and Borders of it Grammay Afric 9. Marmol p. 1. lib. 3. taking Name from the Metropolis is almost all Champaign beginning on the West at the Mountain Nefise and stretching Eastward to the Mount Hannimey and so running Northward to the Tenzift where it meets with that of Eciffelmel so that on the North Ducala conterminates it on the West Hea and a part of Sus on the South another part of Sus Darha and Gezula and the East the Territory of Eskure or Haskora Morocco Morocco the Head City the Principal City of the whole Kingdom call'd by the Inhabitants Marroc and by the Spaniards Marruecos is by the unanimous consent of most Geographers held to be the Boccanum Hemerum of Ptolomy Be it one or other such as make narrow inquiry into Antiquity say That it was first built by Joseph Aben Texijien and his Son Ali out of the Ruines of Boccanum or rather in the same place where Ptolomy had set that It is situate between the Rivers Neftis and Agmet in thirty Degrees and thirty Minutes Northern Latitude incompassed with a Plain sprinkled with little Hills among which on the North-side Atlas thrusts his Basis within six Miles of the City Het KONINKLYK HOE meteen geâ—elte der Stadt MAROKKO The Citizens number saith Gramay five and thirty Streets besides a multitude of Lanes and other narrow Passages but addes withall that one third part is destitute of Inhabitants by reason of many Ruines between which it is planted with Groves of Dates Vineyards and other Trees Here were in former times many Stately Temples Guilds Baths It was formerly very rich in Buildings and Inns but the Civil War in the Countrey hath laid waste and levell'd most of them with the Earth Memorable Monuments remaining are two Temples of a wonderful Greatness One built by Ali the other by Abdul Mumen neighbour to which King Almansor erected a third encompassed with a Wall of fifty Cubits high and beautifi'd with Columns or Pillars which he brought out of Spain Under it he made a Cistern of like bigness with the Temple to receive all water from the Roofs The Royal Palace call'd by the Inhabitants Alkakave or Michouart may compare with an ordinary City surrounded with strong and high Walls In the middle of a Basse Court stands a stately Mesquiet with a Tower on whose Top in stead of a Fane stand four golden Apples together as they say Four Golden Apples of the top of the Tower weighing seven hundred Pound and given to the King of Morocco by the King of Gago with his Daughter in Marriage And to confirm this Opinion they alleadge that the King of Morocco in right of that Marriage still remains Inheritor of that Kingdom and fetches from thence much Gold But Marmol tells us That when King Mansor had builded this stately Temple out of a desire to leave behind him some Memorial of his Wealth bestowed a great part of the Jewels he had in Marriage with the Queen for the making those Apples The Inhabitants firmly believe they were so signatur'd by such Configurations of the Heavens that they were as Telesman's never to be remov'd which Magick seems to be as antient as the Building of Troy and whose Palladium we may suppose to be such whereof hear Virgil. Aen. l. 2. Omnis spes Danaum coepti fiducia belli Palladis auxiliis semper stetit impius ex quo Tydides sed enim scelerumque inventor Ulysses Fatale aggressi sacrato avellere templo Palladium caesis summae custodibus arcis Corripuêre sacram effigiem manibusque cruentis Virgineas ausi divae contingere vittas Ex illo fluere ac retro sublapsa referri Spes Danaum fractae vires aversa deae mens Our chiefest hopes and confidence were laid Since first the War began in Pallas Aid Till impious Diomed with Ulysses went The best that ever mischief did invent And boldly from her sacred Fane convey'd Fatal * That was the Effigies of the Goddess and Telesmon made of Pelopts bones by Arius the Philosopher and presented to Trous to preserve his City where founded and therefore Diomede and Vlysses stole it from thence that they might conquer the City though Synon feigns thus Palladium and dire Slaughter made These the blest Image pulling down distain'd With bloudy hands and Virgin Wreaths prophan'd The Grecian hopes from that time backward went Our Strength decay'd the Goddess discontent Cidrenus saith this Image of Pallas was consecrated by Diabolical Rites out of a vain presumption that the Town was impregnable while that remained in it This is confirm'd by Joannes Antiochenus who saith such Images were Telesmatically
with Horses and Asses intermixt and contrary to most in these parts their Women go with their Faces bare SUS THE Territory of Sus or Sous Its Borders formerly a Kingdom took name from the River Sus which bounds on the West as far as the Great Bay of * That is of great Cattel Juments or de la Yeguas Northward it reaches to Mount Atlas where touching on the Side of Hea on the South lyes the sandy Desart of Biledulgerid on the East bordering upon Guzula In this Territory on the Sea-shore lye three small Cities all known by one common name Messe being indeed rather one City divided into three parts each separated and surrounded with a Wall This was heretofore call'd Temest being seated on the shore of the great Ocean at the foot of Atlas or Aidvacal as they call it The River Sus running through the Messe A strange Temple at a place call'd Guertesen falleth into the Sea on whose shore a Temple appears whose sparrs rafters and beams are said to be the bones of the Whale which swallowed the Prophet Jonas who was thrown up again in this place The learned among them stick not to affirm That this our Minor Prophet shall appear in this Temple being so declared by their great Prophet Mahomet for which Reason they all highly reverence and preserve it with extraordinary care Hereabout are many large Whales often begrounded which the common People fancy happeneth by an occult quality of that Temple which kills all those Monsters coming that way and endeavouring to swim by it Teceut Teceut an antient City a Mile from Messe Triangular and contains four thousand Families In the middle of it stands a fair Temple through which runs an Arm of the River Sus. The Countrey hereabout is full of Hamlets and Villages but more Southerly is not inhabited but over-run by the wilde and wandring Arabs One Mile from Teceut lyeth Gared Gared founded by the Cerif Abdala about the Year Fifteen hundred on a Plain by a great Spring call'd Ayn Cequie Here is a sort of excellent * Moroquines Kids-Leather which in such great quantities is transported into Europe that the Custom of it yearly to this City produceth Thirty thousand Ducats The Principal City of all is Tarudant by the Moors call'd Tourant Tarudant twelve Miles East from Teceut and two Miles South from Atlas in a pleasant Valley eighteen or twenty Miles long This City water'd by the River Agur was formerly the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom and the Royal Seat and Chamber of the Kings of Sus. Half a Mile from Tarudant stands Faraixa built by Mahomet Cherif Taraixa before he was King of Morocco Tedsi twelve Miles Eastward of Tarudant twenty from the Ocean Tedsi and seven to the South of great Atlas was in former times very rich containing above four thousand Families but is now by their Civil Wars almost ruined Togoast the greatest City of this Territory twenty Miles from the Atlantick Togoast eighteen from Atlas and three from the Sus contain'd in former times six thousand Houses which at present are reduced to a far smaller Number Volateranus says this was the Birth-place of the antient and famous Doctor St. Augustine On the Westerly shore of the River Sus lyeth Cape Aguar Cape of Aguar taken by Ptolomy for the Cape Usagium This place in former times belong'd to the Portugues who erected there a very strong Castle by them call'd Santa Cruce and by the Moors Darumnie that is Christian-House Afterward the Portugals founded a strong City in the same Place which they possess'd a long time but at last were driven out of it by the Cherif in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty and six On a cutting Skirt of Atlas by the great Ocean Gantguessen at the Mouth of the River Sus stands Gantguessen a very strong place and more Southerly on the Sea-Coast these places Aguilon Alganzib Samotinat with the Capes of Guilon and Non or Nun in twenty seven Degrees Northern Latitude ¶ THe Mountains of Sus are Henquise The Mountains reaching from West to East twelve Miles in length Ilalem or Laalem Guzula beginning at the end of Henquise and stretching Eastward to Guzula South to the Plains of Sus Ilde the Western boundary between Guzula and Sus. All the Inhabitants of Messe maintain themselves by Husbandry The Nature of the ground of the Territory Sus. encouraged thereto for that in April and September the River Sus rises and overflows its Banks which causes a plentiful Harvest whereas if it fail in one of the aforemention'd Moneths then generally follows a Scarcity or dear Year On the shore by Messe is found very good Amber in great plenty All about the City of Teceut the Grounds abound with Wheat Barley and many other sorts of Grain as also Sugar-canes besides Dates Figs and Peaches Mount Henquise is cold and continually cover'd with Snow Mount Laalem abounds with Horses and holds in her bosom a rich Vein of Silver From Tarudant is brought Ostridge Feathers and Amber and so transported into Europe The People of Tedsi live orderly and behave themselves with great Trust and Civility The like do the Inhabitants of Tagoast whose Women for the most part are white and Handsom nevertheless there are Blacks and Tauny-Moors among them They of Messe are Husbandmen but those of Teceut ill natured proud and pervicacious Those of Henquise and Ilalem are Valiant and Generous but maintain old Feuds about their Silver Mines Lastly The Mahumetans themselves living in this Territory shew great Honor to the Body of St. Augustine which they report lyeth Buried near the City of Tagoast DUCALA THE Territory of Ducala hath for Borders Limits of the Territory of Ducala on the East the River Umarabea or Omniâ—abih and the Country of Temesne on the East the Tenzift and Cape of Cantin with part of Hea on the North the great Ocean and on the South the Province of Morocco and the River Habid The greatest length from West to East is Thirty It s Bigness and the breadth according to Marmol Twenty four Miles The Cities and Places of Note in it are First Azamor Azamor a City lying at the Mouth of the River Umarabea three Miles from Mazagan In the Year Fifteen hundred and thirteen Emmanuel King of Portugal to revenge himself of the Injury which Zeyam the Governor of this City had done him Was won by the Pertuguese in disappointing of his Marriage sent a Fleet of two hundred Ships with great Forces who coming to this City begirt it with a strong Siege and compell'd the Inhabitants to surrender The Portuguese who entred Ruin'd and Plunder'd it and not so contented proceeded further and took and wasted divers other Places The Town before this War contain'd above Five thousand Houses and is still large and populous being subject to the Moors who keep a strong Garrison in
Alarbs who pay nothing but by Compulsion For this Oppression and Tyranny they are generally hated and the people certainly knowing the time of their coming oftentimes break up their Tents and drive all their Cattel before them into the Mountains where the Convenience or Strength of the Place gives them hope to have an opportunity of avoiding their Cruelty These Marches are contrived always to begin in Harvest but if it happen they can get neither Money nor Coyn they secure themselves by taking their Cattel and Corn and sometimes their Children All the gather'd Tributes are brought to Algier and a particular Accompt thereof given in the Divan Some perhaps at first hearing may wonder how one of these Troops at most not above three hundred strong can so easily run down the whole Countrey but his own recollected thoughts will easily rectifie him when he shall consider the one are ignorant of Martial Discipline and that breeds in them a want of courage neither know how to manage those few Arms they have whereas the other are compleatly arm'd well disciplin'd and daily exercis'd in the Wars The Register or Secretary of the Divan hath the Command or Check of those Troops of whom he always hath a List or Muster-Roll by which knowing every mans Quality and Service he accordingly puts him upon Duty And when they go out to fetch Contribution though they be all Foot-Souldiers yet are they allow'd Horses as well as their Officers onely with this difference the Commanders have Slaves to look to their Horses which the others may not When they draw out of Algier they Rendezvouz about the City lying in Tents till they meet together But when they march they commonly have their Allowance of Bread with a little Oyl Vinegar Rice and Couscous What other Provisions they will have they must buy with their own Money but that they take no great care for as well enough knowing how to fetch Victuals abundantly from the Arabs and Moors The greatest gain those Companiess make ariseth from the Ostridge Feathers they bring from the Wildernesses in the South which upon their return they sell very dear As to the Corsairs or Pyrates the best account that can be given of them is from the great number of their Ships wherewith they put to Sea which amount to thirty five in all A List of which with the Names of the present Commanders as they were in the Year 1668. and what each Ship carries in her Stern with the number of Guns we have here inserted as followeth  Guns CAptain Tegue Admiral The Tyger 44 Usten Usiph The Palm-Tree with two Bucks 32 Caramis A White Horse with a Moon in his Back 30 Tabuc Rais A White Horse 32 Maned Segma A Gilt-Lime-Tree 36 Ben Alle Rais A Lime-Tree 32 Birham Cololy A Gilt Sun 40 Bischew a Dutch Renedago A Moor Gilt 38 Dochier Hoggi A Gilt Star 30 Alli Rais Trego The Shepherds 36 Alli Rais Vento The Oak 32 Alli Rais a Spanish Reneg A Gilt Rose 34 Buffone Ray a Dutch Reneg The Seven Stars 36 Rais Elleway A Gilt Flower-pot 30 Mustapha Rais an English Reneg A Green Serpent 28 Regient Rais A Half-Moon Gilt 32 Mustapha Rais a Dutch Reneg An Antelope 30 Mustapha Baris The Palm with two Lions 28 Regient Rais a Savoyard A Half-Moon 14 Montequera A Moon with two Cypress-Trees 20 Mustapha Rais a Genouese Reneg with two Lions 26 Cornetto a French Reneg A Dolphin Gilded 16 Le Madam Wynkes Reneg A Lion with a Hand 32 Two Satees two Gallies 14 Six Ships on the Stocks from 26 to 40 Guns 236 Two Tartans ready to be Launch'd  This is the Number and Quality of their Strength at Sea with which they do infinite Robberies besides the vaste numbers of Christians which they reduce into a miserable Slavery Gramay in his time reckon'd their number to above thirty thousand but that we may well suppose to exceed Nor is it an easie matter to make a certain Calculation But if they were much fewer than they are yet were it a Meritorious Work for any or all Christian Princes and States to unite to unroost that Den of Thieves whose inhumane Cruelties merit nothing but utter destruction And although since the before-mention'd Defeat of Charles the Fifth Emperor no great Attempt hath been made upon them yet lately in 1669. Charles the Second of Great Britain c. a Squadron of His Majesties Ships under the Command of Sir Thomas Allen lay before the Place declaring War against them and seiz'd two Barques and a Galliot with about seventy Turks burning another in the Haven ¶ THese Advantages and in truth all other their Wealth coming in by the Souldiers make them to be so highly esteem'd that it is Death to strike one of them nor are they liable to the Censures or Punishment of any Officer but their own Aga. And notwithstanding they consist of all Nations as English French Spanish Italian Germans Dutch and others yet are they so well govern'd and live in such unanimity that very seldom a quarrel is heard of among them As to other particular Singularities in this Kingdom we will give a particular Account thereof in its proper place ¶ THis Countrey in the time of Juba that Sided with Pompey against Caesar was very potent and a terror to its Neighbors But this flourishing Greatness at length decay'd the Dominion sometimes resting in Constantine other whiles in Bona and lastly in Tremecen from whence wrested by the Mahumetan Moors and Arabians and Barbary divided into several Kingdoms as at this day In the Year One thousand five hundred and ten Ferdinaud King of Spain besieges Algier Don Pedro of Navarre having subjected the Cities of Oran and Bugy to his Master Ferdinand King of Spain reduced Algier to such extremity that finding themselves not able to withstand him they submitted to Selim Eutimi the Great Prince of the Alarbes who had always liv'd in the Campaignes about Algier under whose Protection they made it their whole work by perpetual Incursions to infest the Coasts of Spain Majorca Minorca and the other Islands whereupon Ferdinand sent a powerful Fleet to destroy Algier The Citizens seeing such a Naval Force ready to fall upon them submitted to the King of Spain obliging themselves to pay an Annual Tribute However the Spaniard built a Castle in the City wherein was always two hundred Souldiers and great store of Ammunitions and Provisions whereby he kept both Pyrates and Citizens in awe which continued as long as Ferdinand liv'd But Divine Justice at length gave a check to these Successes by his Death for in the Year 1517. by the Marquess of Comares who was march'd out of Oran against him in the behalf of the dispossessed King of Telensin with ten thousand Christian Souldiers at a Passage of the River Huexda he together with Fifteen hundred Turks were kill'd After his Death his Brother Cheredin Barbarossa was chosen King by a general Consent who
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
acknowledge as their Supream Ruler over these fifteen Kingdoms in the In-land as Gualata Guinee Melli Tombut Gago Guber Agadez Kano Kasena Zegzeg Zanfara Guangura Burno Gaogo and Nubia besides the King of Burno reigns over another Moiety acknowledging no Superior the rest of the In-lands are subject to the Gaogo's but in times past they were all absolute Kings doing Homage nor Fealty to no other Also the whole Sea-Coast of Negro-Land from Cape de Verde to Lovango stands divided into several Monarchies The Religion of the In-land Negro's Their Religion most of them antiently worshipped one God call'd Guighime that is Lord of Heaven this Perswasion of theirs not being inculcated by any Priests who study Rites and Ceremonies imposing a reverential awe on their Disciples and Proselytes but Instinct and the meer dictates of Nature which brings as soon to the acknowledgment of a Deity something not subordinate but infinitely supream governing all After this they were instructed in the Mosaick Laws which they long and zealously observed till some of them being converted to the Christian Faith wholly ecclipsed the Jewish then Christianity flourishing many years till Mahumetanism at last over-spreading all Asia and these parts of Africa they being still greedy of Novelty fell into Apostacy drinking in the poyson of this new and dire Infection so that Christianity is in a manner extirpated some few Professors of the Gospel after the Coptick or Egyptian manner yet remaining in Gaoga But those Southern People that inhabit the Coast from Cape de Verde to the Kingdom of Lovango sticking to their first Tenets are still all Idolaters as hereafter in particulars shall be declared THE KINGDOM OF GUALATA THe Kingdom of Gualata whose Inhabitants are call'd Benay's hath received its Denomination also from its Metropolitan possessing three great and populous Villages and some delightful Gardens and Date-Fields lying twenty and five miles from the Atlantick Observe these and the forementioned are for the most part Spanish Miles sixty Southward of Nun and about thirty to the Northward of Tombut Fenced in on every side with the rising Banks of the River Zenega or Niger Sanutus sets down in this Dominion a place call'd Hoden lying in the In-land six days Journey from Cabo Blanko in nineteen Degrees and a half Northern Latitude where the Arabians and Karavans that come from Tombut and other places of Negro Land travelling through the same to Barbary stay and refresh themselves ¶ THis Countrey which produceth nothing but Barley and Mille The Plants or Vegetables hath also great scarcity of Flesh yet the Tract of Land about Hoden abounds with Dates and Barley and hath plenty of Camels Beeves and Goats but their Beeves are a smaller Breed than ours of Europe This Countrey abounds in Lyons and Leopards terrible to the Inhabitants and also Ostriches whose Eggs they account a Dainty ¶ BOth Sexes are very Black they are Civil and Courteous to Strangers The Constitution and Manners of the Inhabitants like their Neighbors in the Lybick Desarts the Inhabitants of the City Gualata live very poorly whereas those of Hoden live plentifully having Barley-bread Dates and Flesh and supply their want of Wine by drinking Camels Milk and other Beasts ¶ BOth Men and Women in Gualata have their Heads and Faces commonly cover'd with a Cloth Their Cloathing and the Men of Hoden also wear short white Jackets but the Women think it no shame to go stark naked covering their Heads onely with a Caul of Hair dy'd red Their Language Their Language is call'd Sungai These Arabs of Hoden also like others never continue long in a place but rove up and down with their Cattel through the adjacent Wildes ¶ THose of Lybia Their Trade so long as the Countrey of Negro's stood under their Jurisdiction had formerly planted the Royal Residence of their Kings in Gualata which brought great Concourse of Barbary Merchants thither but since the Countrey fell into the hands of a powerful Prince call'd Heli the Merchants forsook this place and settled their Staples at Tombut and Gago But the people of Hoden still drive a Trade in Gualata and resort also thither in great numbers with their Camels laden with Copper Silver and other Commodities from Barbary and other Countreys to Tombut and many places in Negro-Land bringing no worse Returns from thence than Gold The King of Gualata Anno 1526. being in Battel overcome by the King of Tombut upon Articles paying him a yearly Tribute was restored to his Throne ¶ THese People Their Government though govern'd by Kings are not under the Prescript of any Laws nor have Courts of Judicature in their chief Towns there to summon and punish Malefactors but live in a rambling manner promiscuously every one endeavoring to be his own Judge and Arbitrator their Will being their Law ¶ THe Gualatans onely worship Fire Their Religion but those of Hoden extracted from the Arabs are a sort of Mahumetans professed Enemies to Christianity THE KINGDOM OF GUINEE OR GENOVA THis Kingdom The Kingdom of Genova which many call Guinea though not the same differing from our present Guinee lies by the Sea which reacheth along the Coast from Cape Serre Lions to Cape Lopez Gonzalves by the African Merchants call'd Gheneva Leo 7. Decl. by the Arabians according to Marmol Geneua and by the Natives Geuni or Genii ¶ IT hath for its Northern Borders The Borders the Kingdom of Gualata where the Wilderness runs ninety Miles long on the East that of Tombut and on the South Melle and runs in a Point to the Atlantick at the place where Niger falls in the same Ocean along whose Banks another Angle runs above eighty French Leagues This whole Countrey notwithstanding the vasteness of its Extent boasts neither Cities Towns nor Fortresses but one single Village yet that so large that not onely the Kings keep their Courts and Royal Residence there but also there is a University where Scholars Commence and the Priests receive their Orders and several Dignities besides a settled Staple for the Merchants of this Kingdom ¶ YEt this Place of so great Concourse hath but mean Buildings Their Houses onely small Huts and Hovels of Loam and thatched rang'd in a round order the Doors or Entries so low and narrow that they are forc'd to creep in and out which we may suppose are no statelier built because they expect annually in July August and September to be under water with the overflowing of the Niger then in prepared Vessels and Boats made for that purpose in which the King first loads the Furniture and Houshold-stuff of his low-rooff'd Palace then the Scholars and Priests their University-Goods and next the Merchants and Inhabitants their Moveables and last of all the Water increasing themselves as if they entred the Ark and at the same time the Merchants of Tombut come thither and joyning Fleets traffick with them on the Water This
Kingdom abounds in Rice Barley Cotton Cattel and Fish but their scarcity of Dates are supply'd them from Gualata and Numidia ¶ THe Inhabitants according to their manner go handsomely clad in black and blue Cotton of which they also wear Head-Shashes Their Clothing but their Priests and Doctors are habited onely in white Cotton ¶ THese People make great advantage of their Cotton-Clothes Their Trade which they barter with the Merchants of Barbary for Linnen Copper Arms Dates and other Commodities This Kingdom was formerly under the Luntiins a people of Lybia whose King was afterwards made Tributary to Soni-Ali King of Tombut his Successor Ischia obtaining a Signal Victory on a great Battel against the King of Guinee took him Prisoner and sent him to Gago where in miserable Captivity he died close Prisoner Thus the King of Tombut now grown Master of all Guinee reduc'd it into a Province setting his Lieutenant over them and then caus'd a great Market to be proclaim'd in the Metropolis of the whole Countrey THE KINGDOM OF MELLI THe Kingdom of Melli The Kingdom of Melli. likewise so nam'd from their prime Village the Residence of their King hath for its Northern Confines Gheneoa or Guinee Southward Desarts and barren Mountains in the East the Jurisdiction of Gago Westerly bounded with a mighty Forrest which runs sixty miles along the Banks of Niger to the Verges of the Ocean The Village Melli is very large The Village Melli. and contains above six thousand Families standing thirty days journey from Tombut The Countrey abounds in Corn Flesh and Cotton and hath a King but Tributary to those of Tombut ¶ HEre they are all Mahumetans Their Religion and have Mosques in which wanting Colledges they not onely perform their daily Devotions but in the Temples instruct their people and Disciples in their Laws and Doctrine These were the first Apostates from Christianity to Mahumetanism These People formerly were govern'd by a great Prince of Royal Extract descended from a Prince of Lybia Uncle to the King of Morocco the Renowned Josephus The Sovereignty continued in his Progeny until Uzchea King of Tombut Anno 1520. made the then King of Melli Tributary and so reduc'd all these Countreys under his Subjection THE MONARCHY OF TOMBUT OR TONGUBUT THe Kingdom of Tombat hath its Denomination from a City founded The Kingdom of Tombat as they say by King Mense Suleyman Anno 1221. about three miles from an Arm of Niger lying a hundred and eighty miles from the Countrey of Dara or Sugulmesse ¶ THis City gloried formerly in great Fabricks The City Tombat and sumptuous Buildings but now condemn'd to simple Huts and Hovels and onely boasting one stately Mosque and a magnificent Palace for the King built by a famous Architect of Granada Three miles from Tombut Kabra on the Banks of Niger stands another great Town call'd Kabra or Kambre being a convenient Port for the Merchants to travel from thence to the Kingdom of Melli in Guinea ¶ THis Countrey abounds with fresh-Water-Springs Corn Cattel The Disposition of the Countrey Milk and Butter but what savors all Salt is very scarce for a Camels Load goes often there at fourscore Ducats being brought over Land from Tegaza about a hundred miles distant from Tombut They use small Horses with which they ride up and down the City and the Merchants travel with them but their best Horses they have from Barbary whose numbers when they arrive are Registred which at any time is above twelve the King makes choice of the primest of them paying the Price they would go at ¶ THe Inhabitants especially those of the City Tombut The Manners of the Inhabitants are a People usually merry and of a chearful Disposition and spending most part of the Night in Singing Dancing and Revelling up and down through all the Streets They keep a great many Slaves both Men and Women Students which are highly esteem'd amongst them are there frequent and bred up at the Kings proper Charge Here are store of Arabick Books and Manuscripts brought from Barbary and not to be purchas'd but at a great Value Here are also many Tradesmen and Artificers especially Cotton-Weavers Their common Diet is a Dish made of Flesh Fish Butter and Milk hasht and stew'd together ¶ ALl the Women Their Clothing except the Slavesses go with their Heads and Faces cover'd They have no stamp'd Coyn but plain Pieces yet bigger and lesser all of pure Gold This King or Emperor of Tombut ruling vaste Dominions that yield him inexhaustible Treasure which he piles up in Bars or Billets of pure Gold some of them weighing if the report be true Thirteen hundred pound Weight ¶ MAny Merchants of Fez Their Trade Morocco and Gran-Cayre resort to Tombut for the Trade of Gold which was brought thither by the People of Mandinga in so great abundance that oftentimes the Merchants having disposed of all their Commodities which they barter with them for that Mettal it becomes a Drug and either left there till the next Return or else they carry it home again ¶ THis Countrey Their Government according to Marmol a Prince governs stil'd Emperor of Melli who dwelling in a magnificent Palace takes such state upon him that no Ambassadors or Envoys from Forreign Countreys making their Addresses are admitted to Audience but in posture of humble Suppliants kneeling with dejected Countenances throwing dust upon their heads In the City Kabra the King hath a Commissary who Hears Judges and Determines all Causes and Differences either concerning the Crown or other private Arbitrations betwixt the Subjects THE KINGDOM OF GAOGA THe Kingdom of Gaoga The Kingdom of Gagao or Goagao as Marmol calleth it lying by the unanimous consent of the chiefest Geographers in the same Elevation where Ptolomy placeth the Lake or Pool Chelidones bordering Westward on the Kingdom of Borno East on Nubia and South near the Nylean Desart which conterminates the North with the Wild of Seth. It passeth by the South of Egypt spreading from the West to the East a hundred and twenty five miles in length reckoning as much in breadth This Countrey abounds with Cattel and Goats but the People are in a manner savage and ignorant of all Civility and Literature nor under any form of Government especially the Mountaineers or Highlanders which go stark naked in the Summer onely retaining so much modesty that they wear a Lappet before them concealing their Privities They dwell in Huts or rather Arbors their whole defence against Sun Wind and Rain are Boughs of Trees set up and plac'd together Their chief Employment is onely in Cattel the whole Nation being onely Herdsmen yet they are a kinde of Christians after the Egyptian manner THE KINGDOM OF GUBER THe Kingdom of Guber inclos'd between very high Mountains The Kingdom of Guber is about seventy five miles Eastward from Gago with a barren Desart between them
about ten miles distance from the Niger It compriseth a great number of Villages and Hamlets the chiefest of which wherein formerly the King kept his Court contains about six thousand Houses and hath imparted its Name to the whole Kingdom This Countrey lies Annually under the overflowing of the Niger which causes a great Return by plentiful Harvests of Barley Rice and Mille Their Goats and Cattel though numerous are but small These Inhabitants are Reclaim'd being of a Civil Behaviour expert in Handicrafts weaving and making good Cotton-Cloth sufficient Tanners but exquisite Shoemakers their Ware supplying the Markets of Tombut and Gago whither they are sent in great parcels THE KINGDOM OF AGADEZ THe Kingdom of Agadez being more Easterly than that of Gualata The Kingdom of Agadez stretches its Limits to the North. The Metropolitan thereof also call'd Agadez stands upon the Confines of Lybia the nearest place to the White People except Gualata of all Negro-Land This Countrey abounds with much Meadow-Land having store of Springs and Grass it also yields much Manna which is not onely their common and best Food but makes them a most excellent and cordial Drink which together keeps them in good condition always strong and healthy Yet they want no store of Cattel nor Goats The Agazons for the most part are Strangers settling there their Staples of Merchandise trading to Forreign Countreys The Natives are Artificers or Souldiers but the Southern People follow Pasturage breeding Cattel and Goats their Receptacles are sleight Arbours of implicated Boughs like the Arabs or Mats with which they rove up and down Those of the Lybick Desarts insult over the Kings of Agadez and though they are Tributary to the people of Tombut where they might complain yet they carry so high a hand over them that they supplant and plant the Royal Throne deposing and establishing whom they please being commonly in such Removals one of their Favorites or nearest Relations THE KINGDOM OF KANO THe Kingdom of Kano The Borders of the Kingdom of Kano a great Realm is about a hundred twenty five miles Eastward from the River Niger and ninety from the Kingdom of Agadez The Head City also call'd Kano stands in the middle of the Countrey in thirty and a half Longitude and seventeen Degrees Northern Latitude and invested with a woodden and chalkey Wall as also their Houses are made of the same materials This Countrey in many places is full of Springs especially in the Mountains which are overgrown with many Orange and Lemmon-Trees which bear Fruit of an excellent Relish it also abounds in Wheat Rice and Cotton-Trees of which they make Cloth They have also many Beeves and Goats The Countrey Inhabitants follow both Grasing and Tillage The City People are Merchants and Artificers This King of Kano was formerly so powerful that he made the Kings of Zegzeg and Kassene Tributaries to him THE KINGDOM OF KASSENE THe Kingdom of Kassene to the Eastward of Kano The Kingdom of Kassene possesseth nothing but sleight Huts in the manner of Villages standing one by another The Countrey is mountainous and barren yet fruitful in Barley and Tares The Natives are Cole-Black and have Camisie Noses and thick Lips The Air of their Face much differing from their Neighbors their Noses and Lips so broad and thick that they leave them scarce Cheeks or Chin. The former Government was absolute under a Prince but the last of the Line being made away by Ischia King of Tombut under pretence of assisting him joyn'd it as a Province to his own Kingdom THE KINGDOM OF ZEGZEG THis Kingdom of Zegzeg borders in the East on the Kingdom of Kano The Kingdom of Zegzeg about thirty miles from Kassene The Villages and Houses are of the same form as in the Kingdom of Kassene The chiefest City being also Zegzeg lies in six and thirty Degrees and forty Minutes Longitude and in fourteen Degrees and forty Minutes North Latitude The Countrey in some places Flat and in others Mountainous is subjected to various Weather the Valleys exceeding hot and the Mountains excessive cold insomuch that they make great Fires in the middle of their Halls spreading the red hot Cinders under their Bedsteads which being high from the Ground secures them from the Fire but warms them exceedingly They are rich and drive a great Trade with other People The Valleys are so well watered that they are made luxuriously fruitful abounding in Corn and all other Products of the Soyl. This was also under a King but trapann'd both of Life and Crown by Izchia King of Tombut who annexed it to his Empire THE KINGDOM OF ZANFARA Or GANFARA THe Kingdom of Zanfara The Kingdom of Zanfara a fruitful Countrey abounding in Corn Rice Barley and Cotton borders in the East on Zegzeg The Inhabitants The Inhabitants exceeding Black and of large Stature broad-Faced Camosca-Noses thick-Lipt are savage and of wild disposition and also Subjects to the King of Tombut THE KINGDOM OF GUANGARA or GANGARA THis Kingdom confines on the South with that of Zanfara The Kingdom of Guangara and hath in the South-East some Countreys stored with Gold The inhabited places are onely Villages built with Huts except the chiefest which in greatness and fairness exceeds all the other lies in four and forty Degrees and a half Longitude and in fourteen North Latitude The Natives are surly and clownish dull of apprehension they traffick much abroad the Slaves carrying their Packs or Fardels of Goods on their Shoulders and some on their Heads in large dri'd Calf-skins so carrying them to barter to the Southern and Gold-Countreys for the Wayes are not passable being so ruffled with Woods Briers and Thorns that to all Beasts of burthen they are inaccessible The King if occasion require can raise seven thousand Foot many of them good Archers and five hundred Horse he governs by an Arbitrary Power his Will is his Law his Subjects no better than Slaves yet his greatest Revenue he raises out of his yearly Customs of Exported and Imported Goods THE KINGDOM OF BORNO THe wide-spreading Kingdom of Borno also call'd Burney The Borders of the Kingdom of Borno formerly a Dwelling-place as appears by the Customs thereof of the antient People of Atlas or as Cluverius will have it Garamantes hath on the West for Borders the Kingdom of Guangara with a vast Desart above a hundred and twenty five miles Eastward and lieth near the Head-Fountain of Niger in the Wild of Seu in the South of Seth in the North the Desarts which reach to that side of Barka Urreta sets down for Borders in the East Gaoga and Nubia in the South Histor de La. Ethiop l. 1. c. 32 the Kingdom of Kiofara and Ethiopia or Abyssine in the West the Inward Lybia or Sarra and in the North Berdoa It lieth according to Urreta from the sixteenth to the twentieth Degree Northern Elevation and as Marmol above eighty miles to the East There are
Countrey of Tuchusor whose Inhabitants Jarrik makes the Negro-Jalofs to the West side on the Ocean the North bounded by the River Zenega and the South by the Kingdom of Gambea Ala The Bigness Jarric l. c. 44. and Brokallo The Length is from East to West Seventy six miles and upon the Sea-Coast forty Under the Name of Gelofs Marmol compriseth many People What People by Marmol are comprised under the Name of Gelofs the chiefest whereof which dwell on the Shore of the River Zenega are the Barbasins by Jarrik call'd Berbesins Tukurons Karagols Baganosen the People of Mani-inga Mossen and others beside ¶ THe Kingdom of Zenega The Subordinate Kingdoms under Zenega or Great Joalof holds several other inferior States subjected as Baool Cayor Ivala and Ale although others repute them for several and free Kingdoms because most of the Kings rule with absolute Power and no less than the Great Jalof himself without acknowledging any above them though in antient times they pay'd Tribute And not onely these but also all the Places from Cape de Verde to Kassan the Great Jalof writing himself King over thirteen or fourteen Kingdoms among which also the Barbasins are numbred ¶ THe Countrey of the King of Baool The Kingdom of Baool call'd Louchi Four by the Inhabitants begins on the East-side of the Village Kamino lying from Porto d' Ale about sixteen miles The King keeps his Court two days Journey from the Sea-Coast in Lambaya the chiefest City of the Kingdom taking to himself the Title of Tain ¶ THe King of Cayor The Residence and Court of the King of Kayor who also commands Cape de Verde and the Places round about hath his Residence in like manner two days Journey within the Countrey ¶ THe Dominion of Ivala The Kingdom of Ivala severed by the River De la Grace from that of Ala contains not above twenty miles whose chief Governor call'd Walla Silla dwelleth also two days Journey up into the Countrey but is indeed of little Power ¶ THe Countrey of Cayor The Extents of the Countreys of Cayor and Barsalo together with the Region of Barsalo border upon the North with the Kingdom of Ale and Ivala ¶ THe utmost Borders of these two Jurisdictions The Borders of Cayer and Borsalo are two Villages the one call'd Yarap belonging to Cayor and the other Banguisca to Borsalo divided one from the other by a woody and desolate Wilderness of eight or ten miles ¶ THe Principalities of Ale and Brokallo The Kingdom of Ale and Brokallo which last is much the bigger and bordereth on the River Gambea are inhabited by the Barbasins In Zenega In Zenega there are no strong Cities and the other inferior Dominions belonging to it there are neither fortifi'd Towns or wall'd Cities but onely sleight Villages and Hamlets The Countrey that runs out between the Rivers Zenega and Gambea Cape de Verde maketh that eminent Point call'd for its delightful Verdure seen afar off at Sea Cape Verde but the Inhabitants name it Besecher and Ptolomy Arsinarium which they place in the height of ten Degrees and forty Minutes North Latitude This Cape is very Hilly on the North-side dry and sandy shooting far into the Sea and containing many populous Villages and Hamlets upon the Sea-Coast ¶ ABout a Bow-shot from the Main Land The Island Goree in fourteen Degrees and thirty five Minutes North Latitude appears an Island to which the Hollanders have given the Name Goree Refrisco a Hamlet about three miles from Cape Verde Refrisco within half a mile of which lieth a high Rocky Cliff encompassed with dangerous Shoals and undiscernable Sands which the famous Pyrate Claes Campaen first adventuring to approach gave it the Name of Campaens Cliff Kampaens-Cliff A mile Eastward from Refrisco stands Camino between Cayor and Baool Kamino Two miles to the South-East lieth Endukura Endukura Gunihemeri-Punto and at like distance Gunihemeri beyond that close by Rio Picena the Village Punto that is a Corner Point which leads directly to Porto d' Ale eight miles from Goree and six or seven from Refrisco close adjoyning to which in the way to Ivala lieth the Wood Tapa The Wood Tapa On the Haven of Ale standeth a high Rock call'd The Whale The Whale which Sea-men Sailing out and in seek to avoid by all means by reason of the danger in coming too near it On the same Shore not far distant Cape Mast shews it self Kaho Maste so call'd from the breaking of Masts of Ships that Sail by which is done by the Wind furiously breaking forth from the two adjacent Mountains to prevent that mischief the Mariners always strike Sail beforehand The Sea-Coast from Frisko to Cabo Maste is clear and deep The Sea-Coast from Refricco to Cabo Maste and further so that the Ships may go close by the Shore but about Porto d' Ale the Coast is very foul scarcely having six or seven fathoms Water so that no Vessels of Burden can come within a League of the Haven Three miles from Porto d'Ale Porto Novo that is New Haven Porto Novo and a mile and a half farther up Punto Sereno and Punto Lugar Punto Sereno seven miles forward stands Ivala an open Town inhabited by Portuguese and Mulata's a Tawny People Ivala generated out of a white Father and a Negro-Woman which both Trade here for all Commodities of the neighbor Regions Four miles Eastward of Ivala lieth Candima Kandima and six miles farther within the Land Geroep where an Alkayor entituled Embap resideth with some Portugueses ¶ THis as to the Maritime Parts The In-land Places We will now proceed to set down the In-land Places To travel from the Shore to the In-land there are but two convenient and passable ways the one extends it self towards the North-West of Refrisco and the other full North. Upon the Edge of the first way a mile from Refrisco lieth Beer Beer a Town so call'd and on the second at like distance a mile also from Refrisco Emdoen Emdoen a Lordship and the Dwelling-place of a Great Man entituled Amarbulebu but a Vassal to the King of Ivala Two miles from thence towards the North stands Jandos Jandos under the Subjection of the beforemention'd Amarbulebu where grow many Palmito or Date-Trees A little more to the North may be seen the Lake Eutan The Lake Eutan nearly neighbor'd by Emduto where always one of the Antientest is elected as a Magistrate over the rest being a place of good Accommodation and Rest for all persons travelling those Parts Six miles further East lieth a Hamlet where the Licherins their Priests reside whose Superior is call'd Alletrop Thence you pass to Endir Endir where together with the Blacks four or five Portugal Families dwell and some Mulata's who maintain themselves by Merchandise Half a mile onwards lies Sangueng Sangueng where
Egyptian Monarchs Pharaoh at first and afterwards Ptolomy The proper Name of the present King is Daur but by the addition of that Royal Title which signifies King call'd Burdomel Daur This Name of Burdomel The King is taken by some for a Place about Cape Verde and accordingly so set down in the Maps of Africa ¶ HEre are no peculiar or Municipal Laws The Law of the Countrey for indeed the Law or light of Nature is the onely Rule they steer by for when a Man dies and leaves behind him Wives Children Cattel Slaves and Iron wherein their chiefest Riches consists the Brothers and Sisters of the Deceased take all without any consideration of the Children whom they leave to the wide World to help themselves as well as they can As to matters of distributive Justice or punishments of Crimes they are in a manner strangers to both the greatest extravagancies being bought off and pardoned by paying of Slaves or some other Mulct to the King ¶ THeir Religion Their Religion if so we may call it is generally Paganism for they greet the New-Moon with horrible roarings and strange gestures of adoration they offer their Sacrifices in the Woods before great hollow Trees wherein they have placed Idols and this they do rather out of custom then zeal using neither form nor method in their Devotions nor any particular Assemblies but every one following the dictates of his own humor makes a God in his own Fancy which is as often varied as their Lusts or Passions raises in them other motions Some of them seem to incline to Mahumetanism and admit among them some Marabouts but so little have they prevailed upon them that they know not what the Sala means nor do the Priests any other Service than write Arabick Characters on small Papers which sew'd in little Leather Purses are worn by the Blacks on their Necks Arms Legs Heads and every part of their Bodies in great numbers firmly believing that thereby in time to come they shall be freed of all troubles and dangers to the great gain of the Marabouts who sell them at no small Prices And although they know there is a God yet have they no understanding to worship him and use Circumcision the fifth or sixth Year and then if they be asked the reason thereof they can give no other account but that it is an antient Custom received among them but farther know not None of the Priests are permitted to Marry but in their own Families nor may teach any to Read or Write without the chief Marabout's Licence They hold the Christian Religion in great abomination affirming that God who giveth all things and can do what he pleaseth and causes Thunder Lightning Rain and Wind is Omnipotent and needs neither praying to nor to be set forth in so mysterious a way as that of the Trinity and thus Heathenism and Idolatry generally possesses the whole Countrey THE KINGDOM OF GAMBEA CASSAN CANTOR AND BORSALO ADjoyning to Zenega on the North is Gambea The Kingdom of Gambea a small Kingdom by the River of the same name On the other side of the River Gambea lies the Jurisdiction of Cassan Great Cantor and Borsalo all heretofore subject to the King of Mandimanza but now have Princes as absolute as himself and acknowledging no Superior The King of Great Cantor keeps his Residence continually on the Southerly Shore of the River Gambea The King of Canter having many inferior Dominions under his Obedience The King of Borsalo commands on the North-side of the same River to Tantakonde The King of Borsalo Both these Princes have several populous Towns belonging to them but Several Towns lying on Gambea as we said all without Walls and scituate on both the Shores of Gambea which like the Nyle overflowing it Banks much enriches and fertilitates the neighbouring Soyl. The Sea-Coast hereabouts shooting from the South is very low and in that regard unless in very clear weather hard to be known but more forward the Land rises high is full of Trees and spreads North-East and South-West At the Mouth of this River stands the Town Barra Barra so named because every Ship that comes thither must give a Bar of Iron which they call Barra to the King of Borsalo Above the South-Point stands a Town call'd Nabare Nabare within a Wood. Three miles higher on the same Point lieth a Town call'd Bintam inhabited by the Portugals Bintam On the South-side of the River twenty miles from the Mouth Tankerval Tendeba appears Tankerval and not far thence a Town call'd Tendeba twelve miles from which last may be seen Jayre Jayre in a narrow Creek Half a mile beyond the Creek on the South-side lieth the River and Town call'd Jambay Jambay Mansibaer Barraconda with another named Mansibaer on the North. In the last place you come to Barraconda above which the Sea floweth not so that whoever will go higher must Row against the Stream After a tedious and toilsom Journey of ten days you arrive at Tinda Tinda above which stands Joliet Joliet Munkbaer and six days Journey from that a City call'd Munkbaer to which without great hazards there is no coming from whence in nine days you come to the City Jayr and so to Silico an In-land Town yet a place of great Trade Five and fifty miles within the Land stands Borsalo and eighty five miles Little Cassan Small Cassan Groat Cassan three miles above which the vast and great City Cassan shews it self whose side is washed by the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea and where the King keeps his Court. ¶ AMong other Rivers that water these Countreys The River Gambea one of the principal is Gambea or Gambia so call'd by the Portuguese after the example of the Blacks who call all the Tracts of Land reaching from the Mouth of it to the Gold-Coast Gambu It s Mouth is about three miles broad hath five fathom Water and lies in thirteen Degrees and nineteen Minutes North Latitude between the Zenega and Rio Grande It draws the original from the great River Niger It s Original at the place where it makes a great Lake and divides in four branches which are afterwards named Zenega Gambea Sante Domingo and the Great River all which after several long courses having visited and refreshed these hot Countreys with their pleasant Streams at last near Cape Verde pour forth their Waters into the Great Ocean but especially Gambea with so strong a Current and such abundance of Water that sixteen miles in the Sea as they say that Water may be taken up They may row up in this River against the Stream near a hundred miles but then are stopped with a strong Water-fall which with an impetuous noise pours down over the Rocks and by that means becomes unpassable The Channel is for the most part very broad especially from the Gold-Coast of Cantor or Reskate to its Mouth
who is buried with the greatest quantity so that notwithstanding all their pretensions to zeal both living and dying Gold is their onely Deity THE KINGDOM Of the BARBESINS NExt to Zenega on the Sea-Coasts lies the Barbesins Barbesins or according to Sanutus Berbesins to whom Jarrik gives the two Kingdoms of Ale and Brokallo The Head City and Court of the King is call'd Jongo Jongo whose Inhabitants have many Horses and the neighboring Woods breed many Elephants but their Teeth want much of the bigness and beauty of those in other places Upon the utmost Border of the Countrey stands the Town Embamma and at the distance of three miles a Village call'd Bangasia The aforemention'd Jarrik places on the Sea-Coast below Cape Verde The Barbesin-Islands three Islands which from the neighboring people he calls the Barbesin-Islands being altogether uninhabited and producing onely large Trees and unknown Fowls the bordering Sea breeding many great Fishes one sort especially by the Spaniards call'd Dorades frequently weighing five pounds ¶ THe Women of this place says the same Jarrik Their Customs or Manners cut on their Skins divers Shapes of Beasts afterwards anointing the gashes with a certain Herb that makes the Marks never wear out This manner of Ornament they highly esteem Another sort of Trimming the elder people use boaring holes in their Under-lips wherein to keep the Orifice open they stick Thorns and round pieces of Wood. THE PEOPLE OF ARRIAREOS AND FALUPPOS BEtween Cape Saint Mary and the River of Saint Domingo Arriareos and Faluppos live two sorts of People call'd Arriareos and Faluppos The Countrey is low but full of Cattel and Fowl of divers sorts which are easily purchased at low Rates and for mean Commodities for you may buy a Cow for a Copper Bason of three or four pound weight or for an Ell and a half of sleight Linnen a Buck for less and a Hen for three strings of little Beads of Palmeto Wine they sell willingly two Gallons for two or three strings of the like Beads Nor indeed do they set a high rate upon the best of their Commodities ¶ THey are as the other people The kinde of the Inhabitants black of Colour but better shap'd and of a more pleasing aspect than those of Angola but so jealous and distrustful that they will never come aboard Merchant-ships unless some go first on shore out of them and being askt the reason of this their wariness they answer that the Whites under pretence of friendship have many times seized them and carried some of them out of their Countrey against their wills as Slaves ¶ BOth Men and Women go naked Cloathing below their Wastes from their Navels to their Knees they cover with a Cloth but young men and boyes wear a Girdle whereto they fasten a Cloth which drawn before their Privy-Parts they wind between their Legs They have as the rest of their Neighbors two They have many Wives three four or more Wives every one according to his ability and estate each valuing anothers wealth by the multiplicity of their Wives The Rivers Countreys and Kingdoms lying near the Sea from the River de Rha to the Kingdom of Serre-Lions IN this Description we shall begin from the River of Gambea about thirteen miles beyond which lies in twelve Degrees and seven and twenty Minutes on the Sea Coast the Mouth of the River De Rha so nam'd by the Natives but by Jarrik and other Geographers call'd Cassamanka the Banks whereof are Limits to the Kingdom of Casamge The next place call'd by the Portuguese Cabo Roxo lying in twelve Degrees and fifteen Minutes North Latitude which by the falling a way off the Coast a small Wood shews it self very remarkable to Mariners at Sea Five miles from Cabo Roxo to the South-East is a place by Seamen call'd The Great Rough Bay adjacent to which stands the Town Besu and two miles and a half farther the small rough Point Next in order follows Sante Domingo's River otherwise Jarem which seems to be a Branch of the Niger There are divers other Points and Banks in the Sea-Coast between Cabo Roxo and this River as The Red Point The North Bank The South Bank or Sea-gull The Point of Easter Even and The Black Point In the Latitude of eleven Degrees and eight Minutes North Latitude flows the River Katcheo a Branch of Sante Domingo two miles East from the Rough Point at the entrance of it lies some dry Sand although the whole Current glides through a muddy ground to the Village Cassio By Katcheo it meets with another Branch call'd Sargedogon Eastward of Gambea but runs to Katcheo The Blacks of Katcheo when any Ships come out of Europe thither come with their Canoos to Traffique Beyond Domingo the River of the three Islands call'd in Spanish Rio de las Iletas taketh its course through the Countrey of the Papais which Jarrik names Buramos To the South of which opposite to Guinala and Besegui lie seventeen other Islands entituled The Bigiohos or Bisegos Next the Buramos or Papais the Kingdoms of Guinala and Biguba are embraced between two Arms of Rio Grande the one call'd Guinala and the other Biguba from the Countreys they conterminate being in eleven Degrees North Latitude about four and forty miles from Cape Verde between the Islands of Jagos or Byagos More Southerly appears the River Danalvy passing through the Countreys of the Malucen by the Inhabitants call'd Kokolis then you come to Nunno Tristan and a mile and a half farther to Tabito or Vegas which loses both Name and Current in the Sea near the Territory of the same Name Having left Vegas you arrive in the Countrey of Cape watered by the two great Rivers Kaluz and Karceres More to the In-land on the River Gambea the Kingdoms of Mandinga and Beni are seated A little farther to the South lieth the River Marine and on the Sea-Coast the Mountain and Kingdom of Serre-Lions Between the Bisegos and Serre-Lions in the River Sorres lie the Islands of Tamara or Veu Usvitay commonly call'd by the Portuguese De los Idolos and Southward of Serre-Lions the Bannannes Islands Thus much as to the general Description we will now proceed to each particular and therein for method sake begin with the Kingdom of Kassamanse THE KINGDOM OF KASANGAS OR KASSAMANSE THis Kingdom lies encompassed as it were by the River De Rha The Kingdom of Kassamanse on all sides but the East where the Benhuers give it Limits It is a large Tract of Ground and by the moistening of the afore-mentioned Rivers very fertile so that it produces not onely great store and variety of Fruit but also pleasant Vales and luxuriant Meadows for the Pasturing of Cattel The Portugals have in this place by the River side a Fort call'd St. Philips of a convenient strength well Mann'd and Planted with several Pieces of Ordnance to withstand any sudden and treacherous On-slaught of the
Natives ¶ THe King of Kassamanse pays Tribute to another call'd Jaxem Their Dominion who himself hath for Superior as all the rest of the petty Princes thereabouts the King of Mandinga ¶ THe Trade formerly accustomed to be driven in Kassamanse Their Trade the Portuguese have for conveniency removed to Katcheo often before mentioned ¶ THe Kassamansines are down-right Pagans Their Religion devoted to one Idol among others named China signifying God in whose honour on the Twenty ninth of September at midnight they solemnize a high Festival at which time some of their Priests or Soothsayers which they call Arakam as indeed they are all no better than Magicians and Witches wears a blue Scarf wherein they depict a bundle of Rice Branches intermixed with Bones in remembrance perhaps of such as have out of the height of their blind zeal sacrificed themselves to this Idol under whose form the Devil beguiles them in several manners This Priest begins a circular Procession which finished they place it in a hollow Tree offering before it many Burnt-sacrifices and other Oblations of Honey and the like At length ending their Devotions in stead of Prayers with several extravagant and inarticulate Ejaculations they betake themselves to their particular Abodes ¶ THe Portugals here as in Zenega come with Ships laden with all sorts of Ethiopian Wares Their Trade which they barter with their Countreymen resident here to great profit for Negro Slaves which they transport to Carthagena in the West-Indies and there sell dearer by ten Rials a piece than any either of Benin or Angola and not without cause for these are cleaner limb'd better shap'd and featur'd of a notable capacity and understanding but withall stubborn and suspicious but time and experience must discover those qualities while in the interim their outward Semblance advances the Market nor are the numbers of them small as will easily appear if we consider that the best Commodities brought hither are for the most part exchang'd for such being either purchas'd by War or else under the pretext of some imperious and arbitrary Laws by the Kings and Great Men of the Countrey first enslav'd and then sold The like Trade is driven at St. Jago one of the Salt Islands Cape Verde Refrisko Porto de Ale and Ivala The Wares chiefly desir'd and bought up almost at any rate by the Blacks are Spanish and Brandy-Wines Oyl Fruits Iron Stuffs for Clothes fine Linnen Edgings Bracelets Damask Laces Nails Yarn Silk and other small Wares but among all these Iron is the chief The People BURAMOS THe Buramos or Papais live about the River Santa Domingo and from thence spread to the Mouth of Rio Grande far up into the South Their chiefest Town in the proper Idiom of the Countrey call'd Jarim lies five miles and a half from the Haven of Saint Domingo Jarim where the Potentest King of this People resides and keeps his Court. Katcheo scituate upon the River so named Katcheo wherein live several Portuguese Families and some Mulata's who have many Slaves they dwelt heretofore intermixed with the Blacks but of late have betaken themselves to Forts which they have erected and planted with Guns to secure themselves against Invasion ¶ THe Houses of the Natives are built of Clay Their Houses with Roofs made of the Leaves of Trees In the above-mention'd River lie some small Islands possessed still by the Buramos very pleasant fruitful and full of Trees ¶ BOth Men and Women file their Teeth to make them sharp The Nature of the Inhabitants as if Nature had not given them edges fit for their ordained work The Women Jarrik lib. c. 44. because they would not accompany themselves to much talking or scolding take every morning betimes a little Water in their mouthes which they keep there till all their Houshold-work is done but then putting it out give their Tongues free liberty They have many Governours but all subject to him of Jarim onely the Islanders have a particular Prince But as to matters of Religion they all continue in their old Paganism The Bisegos or Bigiohos Islands BEyond the Buramos to the South Bisego's Islands opposite to the Kingdom of Guinala and Bisegui lie seventeen other Islands call'd De Bigiohos or Bisegos The chiefest and greatest of these is the Fair Island by the Portugals named Isla-Formosa Isla formosa or The fair Island by the Spaniards Isla de Po according to the Discoverer's Name Ferdinando de Po in eleven Degrees and three and forty Minutes North Latitude four miles and a half due-South of Cabo Roxo These Islands are very fertile The Fruitfulness of the Islands and full of Palm-Trees which yield Wine Oyl and many other things for the most part plain and so fit for the producing all sorts of Grain that it affords a sufficiency of Food to the Inhabitants without being manured Here is also great store of Rice Iron Wax Ivory and long Pepper which the Portugals call Pimienta de Cola a Commodity much desired by and vented to the Turks And many times upon the Sea-Shore are found great quantities of Ambergreece The Land is well stock'd with good Cattel Beasts and the Sea and Rivers plentifully stor'd with excellent Fish whereof great profit accrews to the Inhabitants who as they cannot speak so neither are they willing to learn any Language but their Mother-Tongue being of a large stature and inclinable to fatness Their Arms are the same with those of Besu and Katcheo Arms. but not so well wrought nor so handsome which they are well skill'd in the use of being withall of great courage and very hardy Heretofore they so pressed upon the Portuguese The Valour of the Inhabitants and harrassed the Rivers where they had seated themselves with their light Boats that in the Year One thousand six hundred and seven they forc'd them to send for Aid into Spain which arriving they were brought to reason and ever since have held a friendly Correspondence The King of Biguba they reduc'd into so great straits that he was forc'd to flye in the Wilderness with all his Subjects The King of Guinala they have dispossessed of six Kingdoms and maintain continual Wars against their Neighbors on the Main Land from whom they take many Slaves which they sell to the Portugals Each of these Islands hath a particular Lord which are all under the Jurisdiction of the King of The fair Island or Isla do Po. THE KINGDOM OF GUINALA THis Kingdom inhabited by the Beafers The Borders of the Kingdom of Guinala hath its Name from the River Guinala and borders on the South on the beforemention'd Islands on the East on the Naluze◠a warlike people but not such troublesome Neighbors to the King of Guinala as the Islanders who as we said have dispossessed him of six Kingdoms The chiefest place of this Countrey is the Haven of Guinala The Haven of Guinala and the next the
many other Vice-Roys under him as of Bursalo Jaloffo and Bersetti who commanded the Kingdoms of Boloquo Bintao and Hondigu but now these have taken the Title of Kings and regard this Mandimansa little or nothing every one governing his Countrey with full Power without acknowledging him or any other for their Superior The Mandingians were antiently altogether given up to the Delusions of the Devil worshipping Stocks and Stones and keeping among them many Sorcerers South-sayers and Witches nor have they yet detested those old and wicked Customs but of late years Mahumetanism hath much prevail'd among them brought first thither by the trading Moors and Turks and since increased by the Natives who went to serve in Forreign Wars The chief Bexerin or High-Priest hath his Residence in the chief City of the Kingdom and deeply skill'd in Necromantick Arts wherein he hath instructed the King of Bena who makes great advantage thereof in revenging himself of his Enemies whom he variously torments as his malice or necessity incites him BENA and SOUSOS THe Kingdom of Bena and Sousos The Kingdom of Bena and Sousos deriving its Name from the Inhabitants of its principal Town which is named Sousos stands scituate about nine days Journey from the Way that leads to the Kingom of Torra and Serre-Lions but more Northerly of those and Southerly from Mandinga ¶ THis Countrey is very Hilly and Mountainous The Nature of the Countrey all whose sides are plentifully furnish'd with shady Groves of green-leaved Trees and here and there scattered some Valleys veined with cleer and purling Brooks From the colour of the Earth in the Mountain they conjecture that the Iron Mines inclosed within their bowels are of finer Ore than most in Europe Within the covert of the Woods lurk many Serpents curiously spotted with so many lively colours as are scarce to be found in any other Creatures The King whom the Inhabitants stile King of Serpents keeps commonly one of them in his Arms which he stroaks and fosters as it were a young Child and so highly esteemed that none dare hurt or kill it ¶ WHen any one dies The manner of their Funerals the nearest Relations of the Deceased and next Neighbors have notice of it whereupon they immediately begin to make a howling noise so hideous as to Strangers is terrible afterwards the Friends and Kindred go to accompany the Funeral howling and crying as they pass on which is redoubled by the frightful shreeks of such as go forth to meet and receive them They bring with them Cloth Gold and other things for a Present to the Grave which they divide into three equal parts one for the King the other for the nearest Relations to whose care the Funeral is left but the third part is buried with the Corps for they believe as we said before that the Dead shall find in the other World whatsoever is so laid up at their Interrment ¶ THe Kings and other great Lords are buried in the night very privately and in unknown places The Funerals of the King and other Grandees Jarrik lib. 5. c. 48. in the presence onely of their nearest Kindred Which privacy they use in all probability to prevent the stealing away the Goods and other Wealth which in great quantities they put into the Grave with them especially what ever Gold in their lives they had hoarded And for the more certain concealment they stop the Rivers and guard all ways round about until they have so levell'd the place that not the least mark appears discoverable This is used towards the greatest and most honourable but frequently over the Graves of persons of meaner repute some small Huts are erected sometimes made of Cloth other while of Boughs whither their surviving Friends and Acquaintance at set-times repair to ask pardon for any offences or injuries done them while alive and so continue as long as the Weather permits it to stand ¶ THe Jurisdiction of this King reaches over seven Kingdoms The Kings Authority and yet he is under Konche the Emperor of all the Sousos ¶ THe Inhabitants as all the rest are Idolaters Their Religion and use certain Letters or Characters written by the Brexerins to preserve them from Diseases THE KINGDOM OF SERRE-LIONS OR BOLMBERRE THe Mountain looking into the Sea and known to the English French The Mountain and Kingdom of Serre-Lions and Dutch by the Name of Serre-Lions as also the whole Kingdom first obtained this Title from the Portugals and Spaniards who call'd it Serra Lioa and at last Siera Liona that is The Mountain of the Lioness The cause of which Name is conjectur'd to be drawn from hence Why it is so call'd for that from the hollow of its Concave Rocks whereon the Sea beats when the Winds bluster and the stormy Billows rage proceeds a terrible noise like the furious roarings of a robbed Lioness adding moreover that from the top of this Hill which lieth continually cover'd with Clouds which the violent heat of the Sun-Beams darting perpendicularly upon it twice in the year cannot disperse there is continually heard a rattling of Thunder with frequent flashes of Lightning whose resounding Ecchoes may be distinctly observ'd twenty five miles off at Sea ¶ THe Inhabitants name this Countrey in their own Language Bolmberre The Bigness which signifies Low and good Land and especially hath respect to the low and fruitful Tract of Serre-Lions which taketh beginning at Cape de Virgen and endeth at Cape de Tagrin or Ledo lying in eight Degrees and thirty Minutes North Latitude and is easie to be known at Sea because it is exceedingly higher than the Countrey Northward and runs far into the Sea The Mountain about the Point is high and doubled spreading along the Sea South-East and South and by East but the Countrey Northerly of the Point is low and flat ¶ THis Kingdom containeth above thirty Rivers which all empty themselves into the Great Ocean and most of them having broad streams neighbored with pleasant Valleys and flowing between Groves of Orange-Trees and their Banks on both sides edg'd with fair Towns and Villages to the great delight of Passengers The first River by Cape de Virgen is by the Portuguese call'd Rio das Piedras that is The Stone-River because of the many Stones therein It is a very great River and divides the Countrey with several Arms making many Islands stiled Cagasian or Cagakais where the Portugals have built a strong Fort for the conveniency of their Trade In the next place the Maps of the Countrey have set Rio Pichel Rio Palmas Rio Pogone Rio de Cangranca Rio Casses Rio Carocane Capar and Tambasine which two last take their original from the Mountains of Machamala upon which may be seen a stately Work of Chrystal with several Pyramids of the same Matter Lastly The River Mitombo they describe the River Tagarin otherwise Mitombo but at present by the English Portugals Dutch and other-Traders call'd Rio. de
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
than from the Cape of Serre-Lions to the Cape of Lopez Gonsalvez lying about one Degree and a half South Latitude But some yet restrain it more shutting it up between which they include the before-mentioned Cape of Serre-Lions and the River of Benin GVINEA Some Geographers have attributed to Guine the Title of a peculiar Kingdom making it begin at the Gram-Coast and the River of Benin but this cannot be considering the great numbers of several Kingdoms lying between them Again others oppose that making all along upon the Sea-Coast in every eight miles a particular Territory and People to each of whom they set a peculiar King but he forsooth is no better than a Provincial The greatest part of Guine which indeed lies all upon the Sea-Coast Guine is divided into several Coasts has several Names given to it according to the various Commodities they most abound with Some divide it into six or seven Parts others into five but the best and most known Partition is into the Guinee-Coast Ivory-Coast Quaqua-Coast and Gold-Coast The Grain-Coast so call'd from Manigetta or Grain of Paradise Grain-Coast abundantly there to be had taketh beginning from Cabo de Baixos and runs two miles beyond the Palmito Gardine or Cabo de Palmas although some would have it to commence at Serre-Lions Ivory-Coast by others call'd Bad People that is Villanous Vooth-Coast beginneth near the Town Gruwa two miles Eastward of Palmito and ends at Cape de Lahoe containing a Space of fifty miles From whence to Cabo des tres Puntas or Cape Triangle they reckon Quaqua-Coast so call'd from the Cotton Cloathes which are there Traded for Quaqua-Coast but the vulgar acceptation of Quaqua takes original from the Call wherewith the Inhabitants when they come near with their Skiffs to the Merchants Ships as a token and sign of salutation and welcom cry always Quaqua For the Gold-Coast we need not seek for the reason of the Name Gold-Coast because it speaks it self 't is a large spot of Ground extending in length fifty miles from Cape Triangle to Acre though some would stretch it to Rio Volla and others yet farther even to Rio Jagos and Rio de Benni Whence this Name Guine had the first original all Geographers differ The original of the Name Guine but the greatest probability seems to bring it from the Portuguese who being the first Discoverers and finding it to lie even with the before-described Kingdom of Guine or Geneva near the River Niger gave it the same Denomination with its Neighbor In the Description of this Countrey we shall onely set down some of the chiefest and which for the variety of Plants Beasts and Customs of the Inhabitants bear some remarkable difference from others and particularly begin with that of Bolm The TERRITORY of BOLM CILM and QUILLIGA THis Countrey whose Inhabitants are call'd in their Mother-Tongue The Countrey of Bolm Bolm-Monou lies by the Sea-Coast near the River Selbore taking Name from the Prince being very low and watery from whence denominated Bolm Fourteen or fifteen miles up the River on the Left-hand appears the Village Baga Baga where the Prince resides and keeps his Court Ten or eleven miles to the South-East you come to the Province of Cilm The Countrey of Cilm whose Inhabitants are named Cilm Monou Here are seated on the Banks of the River divers good Towns with the City Quanamora containing about five thousand Families The River Selbore or Rio des Palmas the chief of this Region lying in eight Degrees North Latitude towards the Mouth divides into two Branches one running to the Westward the Inhabitants name Torro the other passing to the South the Portugals call Rio de Sante Anna. Torro twice or thrice a year hath little Water and by reason of several Islands can onely be passed with Ketches of eighteen or twenty Last and other small Passage-Boats This River with its Branches produces many amphibious Creatures In the Mouth of it lieth a great Island so made by the two fore-named Arms which from their embraces thereof on each side suddenly fall into the Sea The Island with its Point call'd Sante Anne appearing very pleasant by reason of its shady Groves the Portugals in their Sea-Cards call'd Ferula or Farillons but 't is better known to People by the Title Massokoy according to the Name of the Prince whom the King of Cabo Monte or Quoia hath made his Vice-Roy Before this Island lieth a great Shelf denominated Baxos de Sante Anne and round about it several dangerous Rocks ¶ THe Inhabitants are Blacks of the Town Quanamora The kind of Inhabitants a wicked and faithless people under pretence of Trade coming under the Ships will endeavor to sink them The Land hath Nature for a kind Mother The fruitfulness of the Countrey bearing without or at least with very little Tillage abundance of excellent Rice and other Grain besides Hens Banames Injames Potatoes Bakovers Ananasses and such like by reason of which Fertility many people flock thither to inhabit especially near the River The English have by this River in the Village Bago Their Trade many Tents wherein at certain Seasons they reside for their conveniency of dealing for Red-Wood whereof they purchase and acquire very great parcels and for that very purpose have planted several Families in the circumjacent Villages The Inhabitants of Farrillons and Massakoye Their Customs are affable and courteous behaving themselves in a very orderly manner beyond the ordinary Barbarism of the Blacks and wear a Cotton Coat down to the knees by whose example their Neighbors do the like By St. Annes Rocks Pearl-catching Pearles and Scollop-shells are taken but the Sea is so over-run with devouring Fishes that few dare adventure the catching of them Their Religion Their Religion if any is down-right Paganisme yet use they Circumcision like the Jews and Turks of which their Ignorance is not able to give any reason Having thus travell'd through Bolm and Cilm you go to Quilliga lying by Rio de Galinas The Countrey Quilliga or Hen-River thirty or two and thirty miles upward of which appears Carradobo The River of Hens whose Inhabitants are call'd Carradabo Monou as those of the former Quilliga Monou All this spreads East and by South lying very low but full of Trees having the benefits of several Rivers that water their Plains The first lying twelve miles from Rio das Palmas the Inhabitants call Maqualbary and the Portugals Galinas by reason of the great number of Hens thereabouts bred and takes its Original out of the Region of Hondo The people living on the Shore of this River speak a particular Language that seems harsh and unpleasant but when they go to Quoya Their Language or Cabo Monte to traffick they express their meanings significantly in another Tongue that runs smooth and easie either to be learnt or understood All these Countreys have particular
Substitutes to gather their people together and to meet him at an appointed Rendezvouz but they had made a private confederacy with Gammina their Masters brother by whose instigation they neglected and slighted his Commands Flansire knowing nothing of this Combination between his Brother and his Provincial Governours Flansire draws towards Serre-Lions after he had committed the Lieutenantship of his Kingdom and the care of his Wives and Children to the Protection of his Brother marched forth with his eldest Son Flamboere the present King of Quoia not doubting but that his Provincials durst not have a thought to leave him First therefore he went by Land to the River Galinhas and from thence with Canoos over the Islands Banannes to take with him the People that were driven from Serre-Lions as we lately mention'd and so passed directly to Serre-Lions where Landing with his Forces He comes with his Forces to Land he began a sharp War with Dogo Falma This Dogo Falma had been heretofore a great Man in favour with the King of Dogo or Hondo but had attempted and lay with one of the King's Wives Dogo Falmab punish'd by the King of Hondo whereat the King was so enraged that not contented the offence according to custom should be bought off with Gifts or Slaves he caused his Ears to be cut off and banished him his Presence but length of time so wore out the King's fury that Dogo Falma was admitted again to the Court where he had not long been but he began to shew his insolence His Speech to the King upon his having punishment and at length accosted the King in these terms Sir King considering the wickedness committed against you my Lord and Master I am obliged to thank you for your gracious Sentence by which I am punished that every one that looks upon me derides and scorns me and the rather because the punishment is unusual and the like offence customarily bought off with Goods and Slaves Now as you were pleased to punish me so I desire the like offence in others may be punished in the same manner It may happen that some of the King's Servants or Subjects may fall into the same Lapse but if it be either deni'd or not performed I shall complain against my Lord the King in the Ways and in the Woods to the Jannanen and Belli that is to all the Spirits and Daemons The King having heard this audacious Speech took council upon it and notwithstanding his implicite menace determin'd that the punishment inflicted on him should not follow upon all But nevertheless to pacifie him in some measure and take off his complaint he made him General of an Army He is made General of Serre-Lions to recover Serre-Lyons out of the hands of Kandaqualla who presided there for Flamboere To repel this Invader Flansire as we said was come to Serre-Lyons with an Army and made sharp War at length by the help of some Whites he fell upon the Town Falmaha and with axes cutting down the Tree-wall at last they forc'd an Entrance and set the Houses on fire The Town of Falmah is taken and burnt whose fury soon increased to an impossibility of being quenched Whereupon Dogo Falmah finding himself unable to resist fled whom King Flamboere with the Karou's pursu'd though to no purpose however Flamboere won great reputation at this time for his valour the people crying him up in these terms Dogo Falmah Jondo Moo that is Pursuer of Dogo Falmah Thus Flansire reconquer'd Bolmberre Gammanah stands up against Flansire and settl'd Kandaqualla again in his Lieutenantship and then Retreated with his Company intending to return to his Wife and Children But on the way he receiv'd notice that his Brother Gammanah whom he had given Commission to manage the State and supervise his Family in his absence had usurp'd his Dominion and kill'd all his Sons he could come at and taken his Wives to himself and set up his Residence by Rio de Galinhas as a convenient place to intercept or impede his Brothers return And as commonly fluctus fluctum sequitur one trouble falls in the neck of another so here this Rebellion of his Brother was attended with an Invasion of the Gebbe-Monou who dwell about Cabo Mesurado who fell into Dowala and Cape de Monte The Gebbe-Monou's fall upon Dowala where they burnt the Town and lead away Prisoners all persons they could meet with intending to make them Slaves Flansire understanding these mischiefs marched towards the River Maqualbary with all speed but complaining to the Kanon and Jananie's that is to God and the Angels of his distress in these words To you onely it is known that my Father left me rightful Heir in his Kingdom which falls to me by the Laws of the Land seeing I was the Eldest Son and that my Brother hath rebelled against me and hath set himself up to be Lord be you Judges between him and me in this intended Fight and let it if the Cause be unjust that he manages against me come upon his own head Thereupon he passed with all his Souldiers over the River where the Armies suddenly met and his Brother with great number of his men slain he got a compleat Victory but still kept the Field although no further opposition appeared against him In this time while the King remain'd encamp'd in the Field to be the more ready against any other appearing Rebels his Son Flamboere went with a Squadron of Souldiers into the Woods to hunt Civet-Cats and by his Sports trained far into them they discover'd some of the Rebels busie in burying the dead body of the Usurper but as they perceiv'd Flamboere and his followers immediately they betook themselves to flight imagining he had purposely come with that Force to find them out and left the Corps behind them with three Shackell'd Slaves intended to have been dispatch'd at his Grave according to custom By this means ascertain'd of Gammanah's death when they least expected it they took and brought the three Slaves to Flansire who having understood out of their mouthes all circums tances of what had happen'd and how all things stood in the Countrey he sent them to their fellow-Rebels to admonish them to come to him to ask him pardon and to assure them that he would not think of their misdeeds Which goodness of the Kings though presented by the mouth of these Slaves wrought the desir'd effect for the Rebels immediately submitted and receiv'd their pardon This Rebellion thus quash'd Flansire subdues the People of Gebbe-Monou King Flansire with all his Power march'd to Cape Mesurado to reduce the Gebbe-Monou which he did with great slaughter and the Spoil of the Countrey and then retir'd with his Forces home again taking his habitation in his old City Tomby till the Dogo Monou made a new Insurrection to revenge the losses of Dogo Falmah at first he left the Town and retir'd to Massagh an Island
and exchang'd in Barter for half Gold half Fish This Town with the neighbouring Land the Portugals boasted for the pleasantness and most fertile place on the whole Coast and as an effectual proof thereof would often bestow upon other Traders some gifts of Apples Coco-Nuts and such like things which they though without reason thought grew there but now the contrary is most evident for Moure Kormantine and other Towns in that Tract in pleasantness Plants and Provisions far exceed it 'T is true however this Town goes beyond the rest for number of Inhabitants being able in time of War to raise two thousand men fit for service They are a mixture of Black 's and Mulattoe's which last being Portuguez Christians amount to the number of two hundred or thereabouts The whole maintain themselves with Fishing Their Employment going out to Sea with four or five hundred Canoo's and in every Canoo two or three persons they sell the Fish to them of Fetu Abrembo and Commendo for Mille Wine of Palm Sugar and the like as is before-mention'd The Jurisdiction of Myne was divided between the Kings of Guaffo and Fetu but this burthen the Portugal's remov'd so that it seems a kind of Corporation under the subjection of the Castle and hath several superior Officers of their own and in that state and condition they are at this day The constitution of which Government they have thus modell'd The Government of the Town the Myne every Quarter or Precinct the whole Town being divided into three is rul'd by a peculiar Braffo or Captain and Kaboseroe's or Officers but they all assemble upon any emergency in the house of the chiefest Captain where they first exhibit all complaints and from thence remit them to the Commander in Chief of the Castle for redress from whose sentence there is yet an appeal to the General who concludes the whole matter and all parties rest satisfi'd with his Determination and by this means they live quietly and peaceably But if any difference arise between them and the Commender's or Fetuan's for the more speedy decision thereof the whole Commonalty taking the injury done to a particular person as to themselves immediately complain to the General with request that the Rights and Priviledges of the Members prejudic'd may be ratifi'd and to that end that he would promise with power to obtain remedy In such occasions the Portugal's always readily interpos'd and accompany'd them to War against the adverse party whereby at length they came to be of great repute for Valor among their Neighbours They are all as hath been said expert Fishers being not onely their chief employment but of such esteem that they are priz'd beyond all Artificers Of what they catch they pay to the Castle the fifth Fish for Custom Some few get a living by Polishing of Coral which is brought thither Their Religion hath some tincture of Christianity The Religion and worship which they learnt from the Portuguese with whom they Inter-marry'd from which mixture have proceeded several Mulattoe's there resident THE KINGDOM OF SABOU THis Dominion borders in the West on the Kingdom of Fetu The Borders of the Kingdom of Sabou in the North on that of Atty in the East on Fantyn and in the South on the Sea On the Sea-Coast thereof lie three Towns the middlemost is call'd Moure by others The Dutch Church-yard because many of them are there bury'd Another Town call'd by the name of the Kingdom Sabou where the King hath his Residence a mile and half or two miles in to the Landward and of a reasonable bigness Moure Moure standing in five degrees and ten minutes North Latitude upon a rising ground near the Castle of Nassau is a pretty large Town almost as big as Myna but not so rich or populous by a fourth part being not able to raise above two hundred men the largeness of the extent arising from the wide distances of the Houses one from another This Town was the first with whom the Hollanders at the beginning when they endeavour'd to Trade along this Coast had friendship and gave them License to come a Shore whereupon the Portugal's for spight came one night and brake all their Canoo's in pieces Formerly Moure so long as the Portugal's held the Castle of Myna was wont to be the most Eminent place of Trade on the whole Gold-Coast for the Dutch because of their Ships came to Anchor there and the Blacks came out of the Countrey thither along the Shore to Trade The Akanist's bring still much Gold thither and as long as they stay there hire dwellings of the Moureans The Inhabitants maintain themselves chiefly by Fishing which the people of Sabou come to buy of them for Food though of late some of them are become Factors for other Blacks The People paying some Tribute are under the King of Sabou yet are govern'd by a peculiar Braffo or Captain and Caboseroe's of their own Sabou Sabou the Residence of the Kings is a pretty large Town and close built with Houses The Countrey hereabouts is very Fruitful yielding plentiful Provisions of Victual as Mille Injames Fruit Hens and the like which are in this Town of Moure more easily and at a cheaper Rate to be had than in any other places of this Coast because those of Sabou use more diligence in Labouring and Sowing their Fields than their Neighbours The Castle CORMANTINE Kasteeâ— van CORMANTâ— The King of Sabou whose Command reacheth about five miles round The Power of the King of Sabou can bring into the Field Fifteen hundred Arm'd Men and held good correspondence with the Dutch till upon complaint of the Mourean's too much oppress'd by him they took up Arms against him in their behalf In the time of the late deceas'd King either by the Black 's of Atty their Neighbours or the Akanist's who hated him for his great falshood they were continually molested But because his Successor was reported to be a good and upright Prince the Akanist's and others ceas'd to molest them and ever since have continu'd an amicable Commerce They of Sabou account themselves couragious Souldiers as they are indeed The Valour of the Inhabitants for where those of Atty Invaded him with many thousands he stoutly oppos'd them and cut off some hundreds of their Heads Near the Town of Moure a mile Eastward from Cape de Kors The Fort Nassau appeareth Fort Nassau built some years since by the command of the General States but now in the possession of the West-India Company It was never any sure Defence against the Blacks for the Round being made of sleight Earth fell down every year but now since the taking of the Castle Myne they have cut off one Half-Moon and brought the Curtains in the four corners into one and covered the remaining Line of Earth with Clay in stead of Stone and made up with Corners or Flankers of Clay so that this Fort is
defensible against the assaults of the Blacks THE KINGDOM OF FANTYN FAntyn a populous Countrey borders Westward on Sabou Northward The Borders of the Kingdom of Fantyn on the Dominion of Atty Aqua and Fonqua Eastward upon Aguana and Southward on the Sea The chief Town of the In-land is Fantyn the Regal Seat of the King Fantyn the Head-Town being four miles into the Countrey The chief Town upon the Shore is Kormantyn Kormantyn the Head Town on the Shore the principal place of Trade for the English scituate two miles Eastward of Moure upon a very high Mountain It shews the fairest and most delightful prospect upon the whole Coast inhabited by as many people as Moure and appeareth coming by Sea out of the South reddish Near which the English have a Castle fortifi'd with four Bulwarks In the Year Sixteen hundred sixty and five on the eighth of February this Kormantyn was surreptitiously attaqued by the Dutch the manner thus The Holland Fleet coming to Anchor February the sixth The fruitless Attempt of the Castle Kormantyn between the Fort of Cape de Kors and Moure Westward of Kormantyn the next day got four or five hundred Canoos with Negro's from the Castle De Myne with which well Mann'd they departed from the Fleet intending to Land at Anemabo but were upon their approach near the Shore saluted by the Negro's of Kormantyn who lay hid behind the Cliffs and Bushes with Musquets and great Ordnance playing from the Fort with such fury and violence that they were beaten back and forced to retreat without doing any thing The Enterprise was afterwards twice re-attempted It was re-attempted by the Netherlanders upon the hopes of having brought the Negro's to side with them but neither time brought along with it any better success however resolving not to quit the Enterprise they came to a more close agreement with the Blacks who as an assurance to perform their Undertaking deliver'd into their hands several Hostages the Design they laid to be put in execution with the first opportunity At last having pitched upon a time at night came a Negro call'd Antonio with a Canoo sent by the Fantyns declaring that the People about Anemabo and Adja could not be ready at the appointed hour but in the morning they would not fail them with their promised help and assistance adding moreover that early in the morning at the new cast-up Fort of Adja the Princes Flag should be set up at which sign the Dutch might go with their whole Power and Land Affairs thus concluded the chief Commanders of the Fleet resolved the following morning to re-attempt the Onset yet beforehand sent a Letter to the English Commander in chief thereby requiring the surrender of the Fort without any opposition Accordingly at eight of the Clock in the morning the Princes Flag being rais'd upon the new-erected Fort of Adja They Land they Lanched through with much hazard near the same new Fort and thence marched in good order along the Shore with the Negro's to the number of three thousand every one with a Linnen Cloth about their Necks to distinguish them from the Enemies Negro's they came about noon to Anemabo and drew forth about Musquet-shot Westward of Kormantyn They finde great opposition to a Hill planted with three Pieces of Ordnance where they found stout opposition but at length over-power'd they fled and then the Hollanders entred the Town and set it on Fire which by the flame and smoke made the Garrison in the Castle suddenly amazed The subduing of the Castle for as soon as they saw the Soldiers with Scaling-Ladders Hand-Granado's and other Utensils of War under their Walls they took down the red Flag from the Tower and immediately as it were without a stroke deliver'd it up Into this Castle were instantly some Soldiers out of the Garrison of the Castle of Myne and Moure put to guard and defend it To the subduing of this Fort Braffo of Fantyn gives assistance for the subduing it the Hollanders were not a little animated by the promise of help and assistance from the Braffo and his Kabo Seros of Fantyn which they purchased of them 24000 Gilders as we hinted before for two and fifty Bars of Gold amounting to about two thousand five hundred pounds English Money Half a mile Westward off Kormantyn The Town Anemebo and a mile and half Eastward from Mowe stands Anemabo divided into two sorts whereof one half is inhabited by the Fishermen of the Myne and the other by the Fishermen of Fantyn both which for all that they take pay to the Braffo once a week a small Custom The Road here is very commodious and safe for Shipping At Canon-shot distance Westward of Anemabo The Town Adja lieth another Town call'd Adja A Fort where the Dutch had a small Fort taken by the English in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty four and by them kept till the Attempt upon Kormantyn Is subdu'd by the English The English blow up Adja where they blew it up with Gunpowder not without using a subtle Stratagem for they had laid a heap of Earth at the Mnye whereon when any came with hopes of Plunder they intended by Springing the Myne to have Blown them up likewise But little harm was done however the English in the mean time left the place and Retreated to Kormantyn Between the Town Aja and Anemaby lieth a Town call'd Janasia where the English have a Fort. The chiefest Places of Trade lying near the Sea Places of Trade and frequented by the Whites are Kormantyn and Ademabo The former having been the chief Place of the English upon this Coast for some years where they got the best sort of Goods and enjoy'd most Friendships For the support whereof they built that Fort Planted with two and forty Pieces of Ordnance and Fortifi'd with four Bulwarks The principal Goods Traded for at Kormantyn and Moure are Merchandize Sleisie-Linnens Copper Iron Searges and old Linnen-Sheets which bring very advantageous returns And these places are the more frequented because of the convenient going in and out to Sea The King keeps his Residence in the Town of Fantyn The Command of the King and extends his Jurisdiction about ten or twelve Miles round being able in time of War to bring eight or ten thousand men into the Field His Revenue consists in Tributes brought to him by the Inhabitants The Revenue and in Customes of all Goods which the Akarists come to buy there especially of Salt The Government is mixt and made up of many Inferior Braffo's Government yet all submit to one Supream the King of Fantyn in which respect 't is an absolute Monarchy The TERRITORY of AGWANA OR The COUNTREY of KONKOMO THis Territory taking the latter name from its last deceas'd King Borders of the Kingdom of Agwana a Valiant Souldier borders in the West at the Kingdom of Fantyn
Jurisdiction extends over many Cities Towns and Villages wherein none of his Neighbors can equal him Besides he holds as Tributaries the Kingdom of Istama Forkado Jaboe Isago and Oedobo For the more orderly Government of the Kingdom he makes three chief Counsellors in Great Benyn call'd by the Portuguese Figdares who manage the Affairs of the whole Countrey under the King besides whom none superior to them but the Field-Martial and the King's Mother These have Command over every Corner and Quarter of the City and draw great Profit from thence their Names of Office being Ongogue Ossade and Arribo These send into every City or Town a certain number of Noble-men call'd also Fiadoors who decide all Causes except such as relate to Life and Limb and may condemn the guilty Person according to the greatness of his Offence in a Mulct or Penalty but those greater Trials are sent to Benyn to be decided where the Courts of Justice sit But the Judges oftentimes though unknown to the King yet not without the connivance of some of the greatest Fiadoors are Brib'd to partiality The present King keeps a thousand Wives The King of Benyn keeps many Wives for by the Death of his Father Kambadie such Women as had been taken up for his use but never known by him became his Sons by Inheritance the rest with whom the Father had familiarly conversed may never Marry again but are shut up together in a Cloyster and kept by Eunuchs This Prince makes great Wars against his Neighbors towards the East and North winning from them many Cities and Towns He makes great Wars and thereby enriching his Treasury with great Booty of Jasper-Stones and other things He keeps such a reserv'd State Comes but once a year out of his Court. that he appears but once a year at the chief Festival out of his Court before the Commons and then on Horseback adorn'd with all sorts of Royal Ornaments and attended with three or four hundred Noble-men both on Horseback and on Foot and many Musitians before and after in that manner as is mention'd in the foregoing Description of the City of Benyn But he rides not far onely fetching a little compass soon returns As an Ornament to this short Cavalcade he exposes to sight some tame Leopards Chain'd which he keeps for his Recreation many Dwarfs and Fools to shew mimick Tricks and antick Postures and make Pastime for the People At this Festival ten twelve thirteen or more Slaves for the honour of the King are put to death which they believe after they have been a while dead are going to another Countrey and there reviving enjoy the greatest felicity imaginable Upon another Day the King sheweth his Riches consisting in Jasper-Stone Coral and other Commodities before all Men hanging out to publick view and then he bestows many Presents of Slaves Women and other things on the well-deserving And also confers on his Favorites many Offices which concern the Government of Cities and Towns The King's Mother The King's Mother is in great Honour for her greater honour hath a particular Palace without the City rich and stately built where she keeps Court with many Women and Maids Attendants and so highly esteem'd that her Counsel is us'd in all Causes of the Land yet nevertheless by a particular Custom which they term Law the King and his Mother may not see one another as long as they live When a King dies The Funeral of the King a great Cave is digg'd in his Court broad below and narrow above and so deep that the Diggers must be drown'd in the Water In this Cave they put the Corps and then all his Favorites and Servants appear to accompany and serve him in the other Life and when they are gone down to the Corps in the Cave they set a great Stone over the Mouth the People that day and night standing round about it The next day some go to the Cave and removing the Stone ask them within What they do and If none be gone to serve the King To which then perhaps nothing else is answer'd but No. The third day they ask the same Question and then sometimes receive answer That such are the first and those and those are the second whom they highly praise and esteem happy At length after four or five or more days the Men dead and none left to give answer they give account thereof to the new establish'd King who presently makes a great Fire over the Cave whereat spending a great quantity of Flesh to give away to the Common-People so solemnizeth his Inauguration After the Cave stopp'd many Men as they pass along the Streets and some in their own Houses are struck down dead whose Heads cover'd with a Cloth none dare remove but so let it lie to be devour'd by Carnifferous Fowl which are of these two sorts one call'd Goere and the other Akalles Some hold opinion that into the foremention'd Cave no living but onely the Trunks of beheaded Men are put as also that they throw in great part of his Royal Vesture Houshold-stuff and other Wealth By the King's Order yearly Festivals are kept The Festival time of the deceased King in Commemoration of the deceased Kings wherein they make horrible Sacrifices of Men and Beasts to the number of four or five hundred but never more than three and twenty in a day most of them Malefactors who have deserv'd Death and reserv'd in the Trunk of a Tree for this Time But if it happen that there be not Malefactors enough then the King to compleat the number sends for some of his Servants in the Evening into the Streets to take all those that go without Lights and bring them into the Prison If the surprised be a poor or idle person he must expect no favor but hurri'd to Prison soon receives his doom but a rich Man may redeem himself The greatest Fiadoors cannot excuse their Slaves from this duty but by another And in this manner the Fetisero's intending to make a humane Sacrifice to the Devil gets a Man by order from the Court which they may dispose of as they please The Crown descends to the Sons and for want of Sons to the Brothers When the King lieth upon his Death-bed he sends for one of his Nobility The Inheritance whom they call Onegwa to whom he declares the right of Succession and who shall be his Heir which this Noble-man does reveal to none till a competent time after the King's Death but then takes upon him the oversight of the deceased King 's Goods and Children who come with great humility and Salute him not as yet knowing who shall Inherit the Crown Every one makes address to this Onegwa with great respect in hopes of future advantage but he continues silent till the appointed time when sending for the Owe-Asserry that is the General tells him which Son the deceased King appointed to Inherit the Crown whereupon the
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
for Name Lovango or Barra Lovangiri yet the Blacks forget not its old Denomination Boary or Bury The Ground-plat of it takes as much in compass Bigness as our famous City of York in England but much more straglingly built It hath large streight and broad Streets of which the Inhabitants take great care that no Grass grow nor any Soil lie in them They stand in very good order and are neatly Planted with Palmito-Trees Bananos and Bakoros Form which stand as streight as it were by a Line Some of those Trees also stand behind the Houses and sometimes quite round about serving not onely for an Ornament but also for a Shelter and Shadow In the middle of which you come to a great Market-place The Court of the King by whose side stands the King's Court surrounded with a Hedge of Palm-Trees containing in circuit as much as are in ordinary Towns beautifi'd with many Houses for his Women that live six or eight together not daring to stir from their appointed Stations without the King's leave or the Overseers which use a diligent and jealous eye over them The Houses are built long-ways with two Gable Ends and a sloaping Roof which rests on long thick Posts that lie upon Stays about two or three Fathom high The breadth length and heighth of them is near alike that they may stand in equal and uniform distances and within they have sometimes two or three Rooms or Chambers apart in one of which they keep their Riches and that hath Doors at the hinder end lockt up with a double Lock some have round about a Fence of Palm-Boughs plash'd others of Bulrushes wreath'd some make Lebonge or Wickers braided together which inclose six eight or more Houses and they dwell in them as in a Precinct being to each other very trusty and in all accidents helpful Their Housholdstuff consists chiefly in Pots Calabasses Wooden Trays Housholdstuff Mats a Block whereon they put their Caps some small and great Baskets of a neat fashion into which they put their Cloathes and other trifling things Besides the aforemention'd Division of Lovango The Countrey bordering on Lovango other Territories lie about it some of which pay Tribute and others not and therefore the Tributary being Majumba Dirge and divers others are not unproperly reckon'd as Members of Lovango and put into the King's Title Majumba lieth within three or four Degrees South Latitude Cape Niger bordering in the West upon the Sea where appears a high black Point by the Portuguese named Cabo Niger that is to say The Black Point because it shews afar off by reason of Trees upon it black Next this Cape follows a Road The Road of Majumba by Seamen call'd The Road of Majumba about half a mile in length that is from the Cape Niger to the South Point being low and overgrown with Trees Within the Countrey you discover a red Mountain The Mountain Metute by the Inhabitants styl'd Metute Not far off a great Salt Lake a mile broad opens to the view out of which some Waters about half a mile Northward of Cape Niger run into the Sea but the passages are sometimes choaked up by the Waves that beats extraordinarily against them On the Shore stands the Village Majumba The Village Majumba built in one long row so near the Sea that the incroaching Waves oftentimes necessitates the Inhabitants to remove behind the Village on the North a River very full of Oysters poures its Water into the Sea and hath in its Mouth at the most not above six sometimes but three or four Foot of Water yet farther within boasts a considerable bigness breadth depth and length extending at least fifteen miles upward Southward of Lovango to the great help and conveniency of those that fetch Red-Wood which otherwise they must carry much farther whereas now they bring it in Canoos down the River Majumba is barren of Grain but yields plenty of Banano's which they call Bittebbe and Makondo of which they make Bread abundance also of Palm-Trees from whence they extract Wine and the Rivers afford plenty of Fish The People having no peculiar Prince are very rude and savage giving themselves to work all manner of mischief Here was formerly a great Trade for Elephants-Teeth Trade but now almost decay'd and lost The Manibomme that is the Deputy of Lovangiri pays for all the Red-Wood brought from Sette down the River to Majumba Ten in the Hundred The Women fish for Oysters out of the aforemention'd River fetching them up in great Trays from the bottom then opening and smoaking them they will remain good for some Moneths These smoaked Oysters as all other sorts of Flesh or Fish so smoaked in the Countrey Language are call'd Barbette Over this Territory one of the Counsellors of State to the King of Lovango Government named as we said Manibomme Commands rendring no account to his Master but onely the Red-Wood Eight or nine miles Southward lieth a Point call'd Quilongo or Sellage according to the Name of the neighboring Village This Tract of Land appears to ships at Sea Prospect of Majumba at Sea coming out of the South with two Mountains in the shape of a Womans two Breasts and therefore call'd Quanny About two miles Southward of the Breasts glides the River Quila abounding with Fish and precipitating it self with a strong Water-fall into the Sea ¶ THe Dominion of Chilongatia Mokonga is a large compass of Ground lying Northward of the River Quila in former times a free Kingdom but now by Conquest a Member of Lovango yet still enjoy their antient Customs and Priviledges paying Tribute onely The Manibeloor or Governour of Chilongo hath absolute Superiority during his life and after his Decease the People may chuse another without asking the King of Lovango leave ¶ THe Jurisdiction of Sette about sixteen miles from the River Majumba The Territory of Sette borders in the West at the Sea and water'd by a River also nam'd Sette Here grows both great and small Mille the first call'd Massa-Manponta and the other Massa-Minkale Many Potato's in the Countrey Phrase stil'd Iqua Anpotte and Palm-Wine Plants with them Malaffa as the Trees Mabba or the Nut Imba and the Pith or Kernel Inbonga This Province yields extraordinary plenty of Red-Wood besides other sorts of Timber Of this they have two sorts the one by those of Sette call'd Quines which the Portuguese us'd to buy but is not esteem'd in Lovango the other By-Sesse being much heavier and redder bears both a good Price and reputation The Root of this By-Sesse call'd Angansy Abysesse exceeds in hardness and deepness of colour which makes it much valued With this Wood the Blacks drive a great Trade all over the Coast of Angola and in Lovango dealing indeed very seldom with any other than their own People being at first brought from Sette where the Governor receives the Custom of Ten in the Hundred which we
Borders of the Kingdom of Goy at the River Zair or upon Congo upon Cakongo on the North whose chief City delightfully situate on a Plain near the Shore boasts many Inhabitants where several small Rivers have their Out-lets into the Sea whose Waters both refresh and fatten the Soyl they pass through On the Coast by the River Zair you discover Punto de Palmerino Punto de Paomerino and six hours Journey towards the Bay of Cabinde where the Portuguese Ships take in fresh Provision The Bay Cabinde passing to Lovando St. Paulo This is a good Road for Ships in regard they may be plentifully furnished with Provision at reasonable Rates always provided that the Governor have due respects tendred to him by considerable Presents Both Men and Women give themselves wholly up as it were to wantonness yet towards Strangers they are churlish and uncivil Constitution of the Inhabitants not onely exacting from them beyond reason but defrauding them by many subtil and slye inventions The Countrey abounds with Mille Beans and Fish But the Portuguese have a Store-house to buy Cloathes call'd Panos Sambos the proper Commodity of this Place because made no where else made Tufted like our Plushes but without Flowers or Imagery To Barter for these they bring out of Majumba red Wood which the Natives chuse at the highest Price before the richest European Merchandise resting in their original simplicity without desire of better knowledge from abroad for they never Travel from home but onely when the King sends them as Agents to any of his Neighbors with whom he holds a League of Amity This Kingdom in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty one Destruction of the Kirgdom of Goy was absolutely conquer'd by the Duke of Sonho who established his Son in the place of the Deceased King by whose assistance the Father afterwards got a great Victory over the Cokongian whose chief City he ruin'd and burn'd The King of Congo takes upon him the Title of Lord over both those last mention'd but hath neither Tribute nor Subjection from them for each hath an absolute and independent Soveraignty within his own Dominion The Kingdom of CONGO IN the description hereof great differences arise among Geographers Borders of the Kingdom of Congo some make it begin in the East at the Territories of Lovoto and Quilango in six Degrees and a half South Latitude and to extend thirty or forty miles into the Countrey as far as the a So we render it in English Dukedom of Sonho bordering the Western part with the before-nam'd Sonho and spreading in the North to the River Zair Pigafet and Linschot conterminate it in the North with Lovango and Ansiko in the South with Angola and Malemba on the East setting the Crystal Salt-Petre and Silver Mountains with the Rivers Verbele and Cakongo saith Jarrik and the People Giagnas or Galas deadly Enemies to Congo and in the West with the Ocean Marmol places for Boundaries in the North Benyn on the East the Islands of the Azzinguis or Anzigos and Mondequestes which dwell about the Lake Zambea out of which 't is said the River Zair taketh its original the People of Pangudingos Quilos Bambos Condongos Sonnos Libros Bankares Zakilos and Maria Bigness on the South the Mountains of the Moon which divide it from Abyssiny and Kaffrari or the Region of the Kaffers Some reckon the greatest breadth to a hundred and twenty Leagues and its length by the Coast seventy two The common Division of it is into six Dukedoms Division viz. Bamba Songo or Sonho Sundo Pango Batta and Pombo The Dukedom of Bamba lying in the North reaches Westward to the Coast of the Rivers Amaois and Dantis in the South to Angola and hath for Borders in the East according to Pigafet by the Lake Chelande or Aquilonde the Territory of Sissina On the Sea-Coast of this Territory Pigafet places divers Lordships as Lembo Dondi Bengo Koanza Kazzansi and to the In-land Angazi Chingengo Motello Chabonda and many other of smaller note Others who seem to have been diligent searchers herein intermix with the aforenam'd these following being say they Govern'd by several Lords in the Name of the King of Congo which the Portuguese call Sabos or Sovasen Such are Vamma Roansa Hany Kalle Kovangongo Engombia Muchama Kahonde or Cabonda Motemmo Kanvangongo Moffoula or Mussula Motemma Quingongo Oanda Quina Bamba Bumby Ensala Lovoto Quitungo The Dominion of Vamma Dominion coasting the River Danda lieth at the Sea-Coast Next this up the River are seven or eight small Provinces but of so little Power and Command that the Names thereof are not mention'd Further up the River you come to Koansa Koansa under which and the foremention'd Manivamma stand all the other little Sovasen Then follows the Jurisdiction of Kalle Kalle situate a little to the South and Commanding over some small Tracts of Land Kanvangongo neighbors this Kanvangongo and somewhat Southerly lieth Engombia Muchama or according to others Engombia Cabonda giving Laws to divers petty Lordships adjoyning REGNA CONGO et ANGOLA From the foremention'd River Danda Northward Motemmo Kanvangong appears Motemmo Kanvangongo as at the West on the Sea-Coast lieth the a So we may call them Earldom of Mussula comprehending within it the Provinces of Pumbo and Bamba and holding under his Obedience all the Countreys from Danda to the River Loze along the Sea-Coast The Sovas of Mossulo is very strong but nevertheless not so powerful as the Konvangongo Here grow some Nutmegs Eastward of Motemmo Konvangongo comes Motemmo Quingengo and about the South-East Kahende formerly one of the most potent in this Tract but at present very much weakned This Jurisdiction of Kahende as also that of Quingengo Kahende lieth six or eight days Journey from Konvangongo shooting to the East to these two all the Countrey Eastward from Konvangongo begins the Territory of Ambuela or Amboille a distinct Government of it self without relation to Congo South and South-West of Ambuela you come to Oanda Oanda divided from the former by the River Loze and borders in the West upon Bamba It is a great and mighty Countrey subject to Congo but was in the Year Sixteen hundred forty six over-run and laid waste by the King of Gingo and the People carried away for Slaves Next Oanda Eastward follows Quina containing a small compass of Ground Quina and less Power On the West of Oanda going down to the Sea-Coast Bamba touches between shoots a corner of Pembo Then come you to the Dukedom of Bamba to the South or South-West of which lieth the Province of Bumby inconsiderable for Strength or People bordering in the West upon Mussulo Between Pembo and Quina lieth Ensala whose Governor hath the Title of Mansala in the Year Sixteen hundred forty three he opposed the King of Congo who requesting aid from the Hollanders they sent him a
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
Maurice The Congo's Ambassadors come into the Metherlands which he receiv'd and entertain'd sumptuously desiring his favour that they might go into the Netherlands which being granted and they arrived in Holland they shew to that State and to the Prince of Orange their Credentials from the King and other Letters to the Governors of the West-India Company to whom among other things they declared many Customs of their Countrey and in particular how their Kings sits upon his Throne causing his Greatness to appear by long silence As also how the Inhabitants after the manner of the Heathens did worship and adore him Before the coming of the Portuguese into these Countreys Their Religion and their converting them to Christianity the People of Congo had several sorts of Idols for every one according to his pleasure without any rule or reason chose himself a god which seemed most for his advantage Some worshipped Dragons Serpents Goats Tygers and many other living Creatures others adored Fowls Plants Trees yea the very Skins of these Beasts stuffed with Straw To these Idols they used several Ceremonies which chiefly consisted in humility as bending of Knees laying their Faces on the Earth and daubing them with Dirt and sacrificing or offering to them all their best and dearest things but at last they were brought to light out of this Idolatry in which they had for many Ages lay'n drown'd by the endeavors of the Portuguese the manner and occasion whereof happen'd thus When Don John the second of that Name King of Portuguese was bent upon the discovery of the East-Coast and Countrey of Africa and the East-Indies in the Year Fourteen hundred and eighty four he equipped a Fleet to that purpose under the Command of Johan Cano who being come before the River Zair sent Agents to the King of Congo but they not returning he took four Congo's that came to see the Ships and after some time spent in Coasting return'd carrying them with him whom the King receiv'd with great courtesie and immediately dispatched Cano back to Congo with great Presents who being come upon the Coast sent one of these four Natives to the King of Congo entreating the return of the Portuguese whereto easily consenting Cano sent home the three remaining Congo's The fore-mention'd Portuguese during the time of their stay and detention in Congo became so intimately acquainted with the Duke of Songo Unckle to the then King and a Man of a noble spirit that they instructed him in the Christian Religion and demonstrated so plainly the errour of their Idolatrous Ways that the Duke went himself to the King in Person to relate it to him and advise with him about the change of their Religion whereupon the King after many perswasions and arguments at length condescended to send an Embassy to Portugal requesting the King to send some Priests for their instruction and accordingly Zakuten that had been there before was sent with Instructions Letters and a noble Retinue who arriving there first learn'd the Portuguese Tongue and soon after he with all that belong'd to him received Baptism This gave such encouragement to King John that according to desire he dispatcht away Zakuten with some Priests and all sorts of Church-Ornaments where both Prince and People received them with inexpressible joy The first that publickly received Baptism was the Duke of Songo The Duke of Songo is Baptiz'd with his Son in the Year Fourteen hundred ninety one himself being named Emanuel and his Son Anthony afterwards the King himself follow'd the steps of the good Earl taking the Name of John the Queen Eleanor and his youngest Son Alphonso This good example prevailed with many not of the Nobles onely but of the Commonalty of all sorts and each succeeding day increased their number since which time the Portuguese have not spared any hazards labour or pains both to increase and confirm the new planted Religion which hath been answered with a suitable success Amongst these are many Schoolmasters who besides Reading and Writing teach the Catechism wherein they make their Scholars perfect who in general follow and obey the Commands and Canons of the Holy Catholick Church But although most of them at this day in some measure profess the Christian Religion many still retain Idolatry according to their antient Use There are many Idolaters found amongst the Congians but more Hypocrites and others who boast themselves Christians practice nothing agreeable thereto except in the presence of the Whites and in a place where it may redound to their Profit and then they will cunningly play the Hypocrites and at best intermingling their vain Idolatry therewith The Churches there are built after the manner of their Houses wherein are always attending many Priests both Mullato's and Blacks which oftentimes celebrate Mass When the Duke goes to those sacred Duties he puts on his most costly Apparel adorn'd with many Gold Chains or Strings of pure Corral Usher'd by Musick attended with a Guard of Musquetiers and follow'd by a great throng of People In the Year Sixteen hundred and four and again in One thousand six hundred forty seven by order of the Pope at the entreaty of the Congian King Don Alvares the second fourteen Capuchins from Sicily and Cadiz Landed in Songo from whence with Licence they travel'd to Congo onely leaving some of their number to propagate and Preach there Those of Oando say they are Christians Those of Oando call themselves Christians and if they listed might be so re vera having such excellent Instructions daily inculcated to them In the Reign of Alvarez the first of Congo the Christians received not onely a Check but underwent heavy Persecution when Patience onely used Arma Ecclesiae Preces Lacrymae but Providence never suffering such raging impiety to go unpunisht for Sequitur impius ulter a tergo Deus the Jages who had long possessed the Kingdom of Ansiko a savage People residing in Huts and Woods without Prince or Government like the wild Arabs fell into the Kingdom of Congo like an irresistible inundation The Jages overcome the Kingdom of Congo ruining the same with Fire and Sword The Province of Batta lay first in their way where on a certain Plain before the City of St. Salvadore the King gave them Battel but with the loss of many People insomuch that he was forced to retreat into the City from whence not after driven he fled for safety together with many Portuguese and chief Lords of the Realm to Ilhas das Cavallus that is Horse-Island leaving the City to the Jages for a Prize who burnt it together with the Churches laying waste the whole and carrying away the Inhabitants whom they kill'd and eat The Husbandmen fled to the Woods and Wildernesses chusing rather to die there of Hunger than to fall into the hands of such inhumane Cannibals Nor did that necessity onely follow the Woods but the Famine spread over the inhabited Parts so that for
a little Meat a Slave was given at that time worth at least ten Crowns nay more thousands sold themselves for Slaves to the Portuguese of the Island of St. Thomas to preserve themselves from starving amongst which were some of the Royal Blood and many of the chief Lords The Congo's King finding himself too weak to withstand his Enemies by the Counsel of the Portuguese sent an Agent to Don Sebastian then King of Portugal praying his Aid who immediately sent him a Supply by Shipping of six hundred Soldiers In which Expedition many Nobles and Reformado's put themselves into the Service under the Command of Don Francis de Govea a Man who had often been in Asia and Africa who after a fortunate Voyage arriving at St. Thomas Isle where by Order they put in for Recruits of Ammunition and to Victual and refresh they went over to Congo and Landed at Horse-Island where the King of Congo then had his abode where the General having received new Supplies of Portuguese and Congo's went over to the Main Land and Fought the Jages beating them in divers Battels insomuch that Alvarez after a year and a halfs exile was restor'd to his Realm The King being thus re-setled in his Throne required for the establishing of the Christian Religion that Priests might be sent thither and as an acknowledgment of this Aid and Assistance he obliged himself by a Written Obligation to send yearly a Present of Slaves and withall to own him as his Lord The King of Portugal refused the same modestly returning That he acknowledged the King of Congo for his Brother at Arms but answer'd his Desire for establishing the Christian Religion At length after four years the General departed onely leaving behind many Portuguese as a Guard to secure the Peace of Congo for the future Thus far we have proceeded in the Affairs of Congo But Eastward of Lovango and North-east of Goy and Cakongo lie divers unknown Countreys as Bokke or Bukkemeale Ukango Sondy Pombo Fungeno Makoko Girituma Combo d' Okango Amboille of which we shall give you some particulars The TERRITORY of BOKKE or BUKKE-MEALE THis Territory whose Inhabitants are Jages lieth according to supposition about a hundred Leagues up in the Countrey to the North-East of Lovango for the Blacks which go thither to Trade are three moneths in their journey going and coming Out of this Countrey cometh most of the Elephants Teeth which the Mouirisen of Lovango buy of the Jages who go higher up in the Countrey to buy them of a sort of little people call'd Mimos who are under the great Makoko's Command and live in the Desarts The Jages report that these Dwarf-like Race can by Enchantment make themselves invisible and so kill or shoot the Elephants whose flesh they eat and sell their Teeth to the Jages which barter the same with the Mouirisen for Salt carry'd from Lovango by Slaves in Matteten or Bakets upon their heads But here we must take notice that all the Teeth which the Mimo's bring are not of Elephants which they Shoot but many are of those which die naturally and are found in the Woods and therefore look of a decay'd colour as if they were rotten The Inhabitants of Bokke-Meale are subject to the Command of the King of Lovango pay him Tribute and serve him in the Wars Government Between Lovango and Bokke-Meale lieth a desolate place full of great Woods six or seven days journey and without other Inhabitants than Elephants Tygers Wolves and such like wild Beasts The Countrey of OKANGO OKango a large and mighty Territory lieth to the East of Kongo Okongo The Inhabitants file their Teeth sharp and lead an idle and shirking life neither able to endure labour or hardship and therefore contemptible among their neighbors and strangers In this Countrey they make Clothes of the Bark of Trees some with Flowers and others without which they send to other Countreys in exchange for such things as they want and submit to the Commands of a Sovasen whom they entitle Mani The Territories of CONDE or POMBO de OKANGO ABout a hundred and fifty-miles North-East from the Dukedom of Batta you come to a Countrey call'd Congo or Pombo de Okango water'd by the swift and deep River Coango which looseth its course by running into the River Zaire The Natives aver that there are found Eastward of the River Coango a white People with long Hair though not so fair as the Europeans THE KINGDOM OF FUNGENO THis Jurisdiction of Fungeno is tributary and subject to the great Makoko The Kingdom of Fungeno and lies between the River Zaire and Coango Eastwards of Konde or Pombo d' Okango The Portuguese Trade here for few Slaves chiefly with a sort of small Pans or Clouts made of the Pith or Bark of the Matombe-Tree pull'd out long-ways These Clouts the Portuguese always us'd at Lovando in stead of Money and every thing may be had in the Markets for them nor do the Portuguese make a small gain out of them The Trade of the Portuguese limits not it self to these people onely but extends further to the Dominion of Nimeamay lying to the South-East of Makoko who travel from their own Countrey thither without any fear or hazard in regard the Kings of Nimeamay and Makoko hold a friendly correspondence and firm league of amity with each other THE KINGDOM OF MAKOKO MAkoko a potent and large Jurisdiction lieth Northward of Zaire behind Congo above two hundred or as others two hundred and fifty Spanish miles from Lovango or Congo The Inhabitants bear one general name of Monsoles or Metica's being also Anthropophagi or Men-eaters like the Jages or rather indeed the right Jages The eminentest place of this Kingdom known to the Whites is Monsol seated about two hundred miles from the Sea-shore This King hath the repute of greater puissance than he of Congo as having ten other Kings Tributary to him This King keeps constantly within appointed places in his Court two hundred Slaves of which part are given him yearly for Tribute and part condemn'd persons all fed by their keepers like stall'd Oxen or fatted Sheep and Hogs being the store to supply the King and his Courtiers with choice Provision for whose use slain and their flesh serv'd up as a delicate Morsel for they eat it rather out of a devilish wantonness than necessity for that almost all sorts of Cattel breed there in infinite multitudes neither is the Land wanting of any other product fit for humane Food In Monsol is kept a great Market of Slaves Trade whither the Portuguese of Lovango send their Pomberoes with Merchandizes which sometimes tarry out a year or two when at last having bought some Slaves Elephants Teeth and Copper they make the new-bought Slaves to carry all on their heads to Lovango so that they are at no charges to bring their biggest Teeth or Copper out of the Countrey The King according to his manner keeps in great State
and Pride The King's State though falling short of Congo whose Princes have been instructed to bear a Majestick Port by the Portuguese so long resident among them The Treasure and Riches of this great Prince consists chiefly in Slaves The King's riches Simbos of Lovando Boesies or small East-India Horns and some Clothes things with the Whites of a small value but by them esteem'd more than the best Gold or Silver He keeps continually a mighty and very numerous Army upon his borders His power to prevent the Innovation of an implacable Enemy call'd Mujako who lives Northward from him of whom we have as yet no other knowledge than to guess him powerful in regard he could never be subdu'd by Makoko In the Desarts of this Kingdom inhabit those little men mention'd before to shoot and kill the Elephants and sell their Teeth to the Jages as they again to those of Congo and Lovango who exchange them for other commodities with the Portuguese and other Europeans The Kingdom of GIRIBUMA or GIRINGBOMBA THis Principality hath its scituation to the North-East of Makoko The Kingdom of Giringboâ—nba and the King thereof very powerful holding as his Tributaries fifteen other great Lords yet willingly never drawn to quarrel with his neighbours especially of Makoko with whom he holds a firm allyance which is the easier maintain'd because they all agree in their heathenish Superstition East South East from the great Makoko you arrive at another mighty Kingdom call'd Monimugo and by others Nimeamay whose Jurisdiction reaches to the borders as some say of the Kingdoms of Mombase Quiloe Soffale as in the Description of those Countreys shall be more spoken of at large POMBO THe Countrey properly call'd Pombo lieth more than a hundred Leagues from the Sea Coast and as some say touching upon Aethiopia superior Abysine Others divide Pombo into divers Kingdoms stretching themselves as far as a great Lake perhaps the Lake Zambre between both the Seas But the certain place where this Lake arrives is altogether unknown which no White ever yet heard of or hath seen onely the Portuguese relate that a certain Kaffe of Mosambique which travel'd cross through the main Land of Saffola to Angola came by it Both the Portuguese and Blacks that live in Lovango The trade of the Portuguese to Pombo Congo and Lovando Saint Paul drive a great trade here by their Servants sent thither with Merchandize who chiefly for Slaves Which is drove by Slaves or Fombo's Elephants Teeth and Panos Limpos barter and exchange Canary Malago or Medera-Wines great Simbos Boxes and other Commodities These Servants or Pomberos have yet other Slaves under them sometimes a hundred or a hundred and fifty which carry the Commodities on their heads up in the Countrey as we have heretofore related Sometimes those Pomberos stay out a whole year and then bring back with them four five and six hundred new Slaves Some of the faithfullest remain oftentimes there sending what Slaves they have bought to their Masters who return them other Commodities to trade with anew The Whites are necessitated to drive their Trade in this manner Why the Whites cannot go to Pombo by reason according to their relation it is impossible for them to wade through the badness of the ways and undergo so great hunger and trouble as attends that Journey besides the unwholesomeness of the Air which causes extraordinary swellings in the heads of the Whites Their journey from the Sea-Coast out of Lovango and Lovando Saint Paul to Pombo proves very toilsome to the Blacks themselves because there be many Rivers which sometimes after the Rain grow so deep but they stop the other hazards often arising by the barbarous Jages This Province owns for its supream Lord and Governor the great Makoko The Dukedom of AMBUILLA or AMBOILLE EAstvvards of Quingengo one days Journey The Dukedom of Ambuilla begins the Dukedom of Ambuila or Amboille in the North and North-East divided by the River Loze from Oande On the East side this Dukedom hath the Territory of Quitere Quiandange and to the South Kanvangombe where the Rivers Danda and Loze as some say take their original This Principality hath many pleasant Fields Trees and Fruits and abounds with Cattel as Goats Sheep Hogs and Cows It was never subject to Congo It is not subjected to the Kingdom of Congo but vies with it for wealth and magnitude holding in subjection above fifteen Domiâ—ions whereof the five chiefest are Matuy-Nungo Pingue Hoiquyanbole Ambuibe and Lovando the other not nam'd This Countrey affords many Slaves and the Trade driven there is in Pombo The Kingdom of ANGOLA or rather DONGO THis Countrey by the Portuguese call'd Angola Angola is the name of the Governors and not of the Countrey lies between the River Danda and Quansa the name of Angola belongs not properly to the Land but is the Title of the Prince who assum'd and continues it from the first King thereof who fell off from Congo to whom it belong'd by right of inheritance the right name being Dongo although formerly It is rightly call'd Dongo and still by some call'd Ambonde and the Inhabitants Ambond's It spreads in the West to the Sea Coast and then from Danda or Bengo Borders to the River Quansa a tract of about fifteen miles but runs about a hundred miles up into the Countrey Jarrik gives it for borders in the North the Kingdom of Congo in the South that of Mataman in the East Malemba or Majemba and in the West the Sea where it spreads saith he from the River Quansa about ten degrees South Latitude and ends at the Sea near Cowes-bay a tract of five and thirty Leagues Pigafet adds to it all the Countreys from Cowes-bay before-mention'd to Cabo Negroe a tract of about fifty more This Kingdom of Angola for so we shall stile it is water'd by divers Rivers as Bengo Quansa Lukala and Kalukala The River Quansa for Danda and Bengo are included before in Congo The River Quansa lying in nine degrees and twenty minutes South-Latitude four miles and a half Southward off The Sleepers-Haven or six miles from Cape de Palmarinko and five to the Northward of Cape Ledo It s original hath an uncertain original for it is reported that no Whites have ever been so far as where the same rises But the common opinion holds that it comes out of the great Lake Zambre by many made the head of the Rivers Zaire Nyle Niger and many others It hath been liken'd to the River Lukar Course in Spain being at the entrance about half a League wide and at the Northside deepest to come in with Ships It carries but twelve foot in depth at high-water ebbing and flowing about four foot but within they find water enough yet Navigable no higher than the Village Kambambe by reason of the strong water-falls It runs up from the East to the West very
and hath fifteen and sixteen Foot Water so that the great Ships may come before it About the North Point of Katon-belle lieth the Good Bay Good Bay so call'd by reason of its ground of Anchoring The Countreys upon the Sea-Coast are fruitful and low but the In-lands high and overgrown with Woods A mile and a half from Katon-belle you discover a fresh River that falls into the Sea but in the times of Rain The Bay of Benguella having good Ground for Ships to ride at an Anchor reaches from one Point to the other a mile and a half in breadth On the North-side stands the Foot of Benguelle built four-square with Pallizado's and Trenches and surrounded with Houses which stand in the shadow of Bananos Orange Lemon Granate-Trees and Bakovens Behind this Fort is a Pit with fresh Water Here lie seven Villages that pay to those of Bengala the tenth part of all they have for Tribute The first Melonde the second Peringe both about a League from the Fort Under Benguelle are seven Villages and a mile one from another the other five are Maniken Somba Maninomma Manikimsomba Pikem and Manikilonde of all which Manikisomba is the biggest and can bring three thousand Men into the Field Here formerly lived some Portuguese which afterwards out of fear of the Blacks fled to Massingan but were most of them kill'd in the way On the West Point of the Bay of Benguelle is a flat Mountain call'd in Portuguese Sombriero from its shape representing afar off a three-corner'd Cap and by it an excellent Bay having at the South-east-side a sandy Shore with a pleasant Valley and a few Trees but no Water fit to drink Four miles from thence they have a Salt-Pan which produces of gray Salt like French Salt as much as the adjacent Countreys can spend In Bengala is a great Beast The Beast Abada call'd Abada as big as a lusty Horse having two Horns one sticking out in his Forehead and another behind in his Neck that in the Forehead is crooked but smooth rises sloaping before and very sharp but at the Root as thick as an ordinary Man's Leg being many times one two three or four Foot long but that in the Neck shorter and flatter of colour black or a sad gray but being fil'd appears white the Head not so long as the Head of a well-shaped Horse but shorter and flatter with a Skin Hair'd like a Cow and a Tail like an Ox but short a Mayn like a Horse but not so long and cloven Feet like a Deers but bigger Before this Beast hath attained the full growth the Horn stands right forward in the midst of the Forehead but afterwards grows crooked like the Elephant's-Teeth When he drinks he puts his Horn first in the Water for prevention as they say against Poyson The Horn they report to be an excellent Medicine against Poyson The Horn is good against Poyson as hath oftentimes been proved but they find more efficacy in one than another occasioned by the timely and untimely killing of the Creature The trial of their goodness the Portuguese make in this manner They set up the Horn with the sharp end downwards on a Floor and hang over it a Sword with the Point downwards so as the Point of the one may touch the end of the other If the Horn be good and in its due season or age then the Sword turns round of it self but moves not over untimely and bad Horns The Bones of this Beast ground small and with Water made into Pap they prescribe as a Cure against inward Pains and Distempers being applied outwardly Plaister-wise The Kingdom of MATAMAN or rather CLIMBEBE THe Kingdom of Mataman Name commonly so call'd took that Denomination from its King the proper and right Name according to Pigafet being Climbebe or Zembebas Its Borders Borders as the same Author Linschot Peter Davitius and other Geographers hold in the North upon Angola Eastwards on the Westerly Shore of the River Bagamadiri to the South it touches upon the River Bravagul by the Foot of the Mountains of the Moon near the Tropick of Capricorn which the chiefest Geographers make a Boundary between this Kingdom and those Mountains and the Countrey of the Kaffers to the West along the Ethiopick-Sea that is from Angola or Cabo Negro in sixteen Degrees South Latitude to the River Bravagul a Tract of five Degrees and fifteen Minutes every Degree being reckon'd fifteen great Dutch Leagues or threescore English Miles Two Rivers chiefly water this Kingdom Rivers viz. Bravagul and Magnice the first takes its original out of the Mountains of the Moon Linschot or the River Zair and unites its Waters with those of Magnice springing out of a Lake by the Portuguese call'd Dambea Zocche and falling in the South-east into the Indian-Sea The Places of this Kingdom coasting the Sea are these Next the Black Cape right Eastward you may see the beginning of the Cold Mountains Mountains of the Moon on some Places for the abundance of Snow with which they lie cover'd are call'd The Snowy Mountains Then you come to the Crystal Mountains Crystal Mountains that shoot Northerly to the Silver Mountains and to Molembo by which the River Coari hath its course and makes a Border to the Kingdom of Angola At the Southerly Coast of Cymbebas near the Sea Calo Negro in sixteen Degrees and sixty Minutes South Latitude appeareth Cabo Negro or The Black Point so denominated because of its blackness whereas no other black Land can be seen from the one and twentieth Degree South Latitude On the top of this Point stands an Alabaster Pillar with an Inscription but so defaced by the injuries of Time and Weather that it is hardly legible and formerly upon the Head of it a Cross raised but at present fall'n off and lying upon the Ground The Coast from hence spreads a little North-east and East-North-east The spreading of the Coast The Countrey round about shews nothing but barren and sandy Hills without green and high sandy Mountains without any Trees More Southerly in the heighth of eighteen Degrees you come to a Point by the Portuguese call'd Cabo de Ruy piz das Nivez or Cabo de Ruy Pirez having to the Northward a great Inlet with sandy Hills and the Shore to the Black Point but Southward a High-land altogether sandy and reacheth to nineteen Degrees Farther to the South in nineteen Degrees and thirty Minutes lies a Bay call'd Golfo Prio and Prias das Nevas with double Land and full of Trees afterwards you come to the open Haven of Ambros in the one and twentieth Degree then going lower to the Southward the Sea-Coast resembles what we mention'd in the North shewing high white sandy Hills barren Land and a bad Shore A good way to the Westward of Cabo Negro lies a great Sand in the Sea in Portuguese call'd Baixo de Antonia de Viava or The
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
split Quill at the end which being blowed yields a low sound Conney and Badger-Islands NOrthward of the Great Cape lie three Islands in the Sea viz. Conneys Badgers and Fransh Island The Conneys Island so called from the many Rabbits breeding in the Cliffs and on the Shore lieth before the Mouth of Table-Bay a League or thereabouts from the Land five Miles Southward from Badger-Isle It contains a Mile and a half in compass but more over-grown with Bushes than the Badger which receiv'd its name from the abundance of Rock-Badgers there found Neither of these have any fresh Water Spilber Voyage 1601. and although the Ground be sandy and full of Bushes yet they bear many good Herbs and Flowers and abound with Cattel The Conneys were first brought thither by the Dutch in the year One thousand six hundred and one The Sheep carried thither first by the English grow extraordinary fat and increase exceedingly so that some have been found whose Tails were five and twenty Inches thick and nineteen pound in weight with four and thirty pound of Swet about the Kidneys besides the Fat that came from their Flesh but the Meat gives no satisfaction in the eating by reason of the exceeding fatness There are many Pinguins and thousands of Meuwen and yet for all this plenty they both lie desolate and not inhabited A little Northerly lies the Fransh-Island equal in all things to the aforemention'd and as them without Inhabitants THE EMPIRE OF MONOMOTAPA THis Empire The Empire of Monomotapa by Joseph Barras call'd Benomotapa and by Sanutus Benomotaxa lies up within the Countrey before the Kingdom of Sofale near the Sea inclosed between Rio de Spirito Sancto or Magnice and the great River Quama both which by some are taken for two Branches of Zambere It spreads Southerly towards the Cape de Bona Esperanza Borders having in the North for Borders the Kingdom of Monimuge or Nimeamae and the River Quama in the East the Sea-coast of Sofala in the West and South the River Magnice and the neighboring Mountains Others Cluverius conterminates it in the East South and West with the great Ocean in the North with Congo the Abyssines and Zanguibar It s Length The bigness between the Lake Ro and the Ethiopick Sea together with the Mountains of the Moon Cluverius reckons to be four hundred Dutch Miles and the Breadth between the Head-Fountains of Nilus and the Cape of Good Hope three hundred Dutch Miles For all the little Kingdoms from the River Magnice to the Cape of Good Hope are said to acknowledge the Prince of Monomotapa for their Supreme Lord. But the whole Compass of this Countrey is accounted by many but seven hundred and thirty five French Miles The Imperial and Royal Court being the Chief City is call'd Banamatapa Chief City although by Vincent le Blank Madrogam lying six days Journey from a great House call'd Simbaoe or Zimbaoch and five Miles from Safale towards the West The Houses have almost sharp Roofs very large built of Wood or Earth Houses very finely and whited without and within The Palace of the Emperor carries a vast extent The Kings Palace having four Eminent Gates and very many large Chambers and other convenient Apartments guarded round about with Watch-Towers and within hung with Cotton Hangings of divers Colours wrought with Gold and richly Embossed as also overlaid with Tin gilt or as others say cover'd over with Plates of Gold and adorn'd with Ivory Candlesticks fastned with Silver Chains The Chairs gilt and painted with several Colours The four chiefest Gates of the Court richly Embossed and well defended by the Life-Guards of the Emperor whom they call Sequender The Emperor keeps a great Train of Servants who all attend in good order bowing of the Knee when they speak to him His Meat is serv'd up to his Table in Pourcelane round beset with Gold Branches Other Principal Cities are Zimbas a Mile and half from Sofale Tete where the Portuguese Jesuits have their Residence Sena c. Certain War-like Women like the ancient Amazons The Residence of the Amazones do possess a peculiar Territory appointed for them by the King although Sanutus appropriates to them a particular Kingdom upon the Borders of Damout and Gorage more towards the South Not far from Monomotapa is the Province of Chitambo The Kingdom of Chitambo wherein stands the City Tamburo This Kingdom hath the benefit of a temperate Air Air. and enrich'd with luxurious Valleys which though not Inhabited in all Places affords Provision of Cattel and Fruits sufficient to store both themselves and Neighbours nor is it destitute of pleasant Woods stor'd with variety of Fruit-Trees Plants and in some places abundance of Sugar-Canes that grow without Planting to the increase whereof the Rivers and Brooks that besprinkle the Countrey do not a little help The greatest Wealth of the Countrey consists in Oxen and Cowes Beasts with them more highly esteem'd than Gold or Silver They have no Horses nor other Beasts for Carriage besides Elephants which flock together by whole Herds in the Woods They shew a Beast call'd Alsinge resembling a Stag or Hart and Ostriches as big as Oxen. There grows upon Trees call'd Koskoma a Fruit of a Violet Colour and sweet in taste of which whoever eats plentifully it purges them so violently that a Bloody-Flux and at length Death follows upon it Here are found several Gold Mines in the Bowels of the Earth Gold Mines and also in some of their Rivers for which the Inhabitants dive in the Stream and take it up with the bottom from the Mud and so pick it out which Gold-diving they also practice in divers great Lakes spread far and near in this Kingdom for which cause the King of Monomotapa is not without reason call'd by the Portuguese The Golden King All the Inhabitants have short and black curl'd Hair The Constitution of the Inhabitants and as Linschot saith are of a middle Stature though Pigafet makes them a kind of Giants They are well set of a sound Body of Complexion black very apprehensive and quick of Understanding much addicted to War and apt to make Insurrections upon any trivial cause Their usual Food is salt Beef Milk and a little Verjuyce and Oyl of Sesamos Their Bread made of Rice Mille or of the Root Ignamees which they boyl in Basons The Drink of the Common People Milk but of the King and the Grandees Wine of Honey or Meath which they preserve in Ox-horns or Wine of Palm made delicious with Manna Amber and Musk. The King bestows every day in Perfumes two pound of Gold which certain Merchants furnish him with For the Torches and Lights which he uses are mix'd with sweet Odours which he causes to be born before him in the night being set in a richly Embroider'd Pavilion carry'd by four Noble-men follow'd by a great Train and cover'd over with a Canopy in
with other Mahumetans coming over-Sea in small Ships call'd Zambuks and bringing thither Silk Stuffs and Ash-colour'd Yellow and Red Kambaian Beads which they exchange for Gold as those of Sofala barter these Wares again with them of Monomotapa for Gold which they receive without weight They have also abundance of Ivory which they sell into Kambaya Voyage of Spilb. and Ambergreece which they get from the adjacent Islands of Usiques When the Inhabitants lying near the Sea see any Out-Landish Ships they declare by kindling of Fires their coming acceptable They weave many white Cotton Clothes For the Art of Dying they have no skill in sometime they unravel the Kambaian colour'd Clothes and Weave that among their white Yarn and make Cloth of several Colours Their Weapons were onely Daggers Bowes and Arrows Arms. Osor lib. 4. Spilber but now they have the use of Guns Powder and Bullets by instructions from the Portuguese Pigafet holds an opinion that the King of this Countrey was a Mahumetan Dominion and Vassal to the Emperor of Monomotapa with whom being at War he entred into a League with the King of Portugal But in the Voyage of Spilbergen we find that the King was a Portuguese by Birth contrary to what Jarich mentions viz. that he is meerly Tributary to the Portuguese but Marmol says that in his time he obey'd the Emperor of Monomotapa The people saith Pigafet have imbrac'd Mahumetanism Religion which Osorus also confirms although Jarick saith they know no Religion at all In the fourth Book of the Expedition of the King Emanuel but are like a piece of Wax fit to receive any Certain it is that for above two hundred years the Mahumetans flourish'd there and have built a City call'd Sofala upon an Island of the River Quama who though but intruders keep under the native Caffers And now it coming just in our way The differences about the right place of Ophir and seeing both Expositors of holy Scripture and Geographers understand this Countrey of Sofala to be the Golden Ophir to which King Solomon sent a Fleet of Ships Man'd with the Servants of Hiram King of Tyrus from Ezion-geber a Haven lying at the Red-Sea returning again after three years Voyage loaden with Gold and Elephants-Teeth We conceive it not unfit in brief to relate the difference of the ancient Contest about this place hitherto clearly decided with the Arguments on both sides Arias Montanus Baftellus Goropius and others are of opinion that Ophir was that part of America commonly call'd Peru and divided North and South Peru therefore they conclude from the word Parvaim in the Hebrew Text being the Plural Number and that this Gold was brought from the two Peru's but many opposite Arguments refel this Opinion First It is probable that Peru in the time of Solomon was not known nor which is more the Voyage to Peru over so wide a space of Seas not possible to be perform'd especially for want of the use of the Load-stone and Compass Secondly There are in Peru no Elephants so that by consequence from thence no Ivory or Elephants Teeth could be brought Thirdly If Solomon were to go with a Fleet to Peru in America it might have been sent more conveniently out of some Haven of the Mediterranean-Sea as being nearer than out of Ezien-geber at the Red-Sea to fetch so long a compass by the Cape of Good Hope and the whole Guinee-Coast St. Jerome an ingenious Expounder of the Hebrew who in the year Four hundred twenty two in the Nineteenth year of his Age departed this world under Theodosius the Emperor by the word Ophir understands good or pure Gold and in his Translation sets down very good Gold and not Gold of Paruaen or of any Countrey but this opinion also is long ago rejected Athanasius Kircher in his Book of the Coptick or Egyptian Language asserts that Ophir is a Coptick or Egyptian word whereby the ancient Egyptians understood the Indies containing the Kingdoms of Malabar Scilon and the Golden-Chersonesus or the descending Countrey of Ptolomy about the River Ganges Eastward of a Bay by him call'd The Great as also Sumattra the Molucca Islands Great and Little Java and other adjacent Islands full of Gold whither King Solomon's Fleet went with King Hiram The Gold of Parvaim Kircherus judgeth was the Gold of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Javim that is of the Islands of Java having read in the Rabbins these two Islands by the same name In setting Ophir in East-Indie as Kircher doth and not in America the chiefest Geographers agree as Ortelius Volaterranus Gramas and others yet divers make Ophir the same with Sofala because it has much Gold and Ivory And if all the main Land included between the Rivers Magnice and Quama and submitting unto Monomotapa be all as Barros Calles or Sofala as well as the rest on the Sea-Coast it may with great reason be judg'd that this Countrey can be no other than the Golden Ophir of Solomon partly because of the Houses there to be found near the Gold-Mines not built after the manner of the Countrey but seem the work of Foreigners and partly because of the Inscriptions in strange and unknown Letters Moreover Thomas Lopez in his Voyage to the Indies affirms that among the Inhabitants of this Countrey there remain Books which shew that Solomon every three year had his Gold thence Besides the Septuagint Interpreters have Translated the word Ophir into the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which agrees very near with Sofala And Josephus the Jewish Historiographer calleth it Indian-Ophir adding moreover that in his time it was call'd The Gold-Countrey A certain Writer call'd Eupolemeus mention'd by Eusebius calleth it Ophir Ureten and saith 't is an Island of the Red-Sea from whence they used to Fraight Ships to Melanis a City in Arabia The Countrey of ZANGUEBAR THis Countrey some will have to be the same which Ptolomy calleth Agysynima and Paulus Venetus calleth Zengibar Jan. Barr. lib. 13. c. 4. but the Persians and Arabians Zanguebar Zangue in their Language signifying Black and the Inhabitants Zanguy or Neorroes Jan de Barros extends this Countrey along the Sea-Coast Lib. 12. Borders from the Cape das Correntas to the River Quilmanzi but Sanutus sets the Southerly borders thereof at Sofala and Monomotapa and the River Quama and the Northerly borders at the River Quilmanzi But Marmol extendeth it from the South to the North to the Cape of Guardaseu in about twelve degrees North-Latitude It contains the Kingdoms of Angos or Angoche Mongalo Mozambika Melinde Mombaze Quiloa and some Islands The River Quilmanzi by Ptolomy with the near adjoyning Cape call'd Rapte The River Quilmanzi and the great River of Africa takes its original out of a certain Mountain in Abyssina which the Inhabitants call Graro as also the River Obi But the Moores lying at the Mouth thereof call it Quilmanzi from the name of a place they possess
hundred and eighty Dutch Miles and the breadth between the Mouth of the Arabian Sea and the River Niger to four hundred and fifty but in truth the length both of Old and New Abyssine from East to West that is from the Mouth of the Arabian Sea to the Kingdom of Goiame a hundred and sixty Miles and the greatest breadth from the Territory of Alaba to Magazan or to the United Stream of the Nyle and the River Takazu that is from the eighth to the sixteenth degree of North-Latitude about a hundred and twenty miles And in this Point Joannes Barros a Portuguese seems to come nearest the truth when he gives in circumference six hundred seventy two Portuguese miles or five hundred and four Dutch The antient borders of this Kingdom some have plac'd in the North at Bughia or Fungia where it touches also on Egypt and Nubia in the West Antient Borders upon the same Nubia the Countries of Canfila Danfila and the Island Meroe the Kingdom of Medra Part of Negroland Congo and according to Marmol the Countrey of the Jews within Negroland next that of the Amozones or Maoviste das Sugetes that is The Kingdom of Women bordering of Sanutus hit right upon the Kingdom of Damout in the South the Empire of Benomotapa and as Pigafet adds Monemugi in the East the Countrey of Zanguebar and Ajan the Kingdom of Adel and others with the Arabian Gulf where at this time Prester-John doth not possess so much as one Haven But here we must observe that in this great Roll of Kingdoms are many Countreys found which do not acknowledge the Emperor of Abyssine but are onely nam'd to shew the length and to distinguish the borders more plainly Philippus Cluverius sets down almost the same boundaries that is in the East the Red-Sea with the Kingdom of Ajan and Zanguebar in the South Monomotapa in the West the Kingdom of Congo and Medar and in the North Nubia and Egypt The antient state of the Abissines according to the relation of Jarrik and Godignus compriz'd six and twenty several Kingdoms and fourteen great Territories The Kingdoms were Tigre or Tigrai Dankali Angole Boa or Noa Amara or Ammara Dambeo or Bambia or Dembea Ankaguccele Adel Dabali Oecce Ario Fatigar Zengao Rozanegus Goyame Narca Feth Koncho Mahaola Goroam Danimt or Damut Dari Damut Adaro and Faskalon The fourteen Territories being not Kingdoms are Dubane a member of Tigre Xuncho in the same Realm bordering at that of Dankali Daraita by the Kingdom of Angote Bora between Tigre and Bagamedri Calara or Calaoa near Boga Aga Arim near the Kingdom of Dahali Arbo Xankala close by the Kingdom of Zingere Xacoxa or Xankora Ambyamo by Zanut according to Peter Davitu call'd Angona Bergamo near to the other Aris on the other side of the Nile and last follows Gara lying above Aris. Balthazar Tellez reckons the Kingdoms and Territories formerly subject to Abyssine and at this day cut off from it to be Angote Doaro Ogge Balli Adea Alemale Oxelo Ganz Betezamora Guraque Buzama Sugamo Balargamo Kambate Doxa Gumar Konch Damut Mota Aura Holeka Oifate Guedom Gangk Maralet Manz Bizamo But this Kingdom hath receiv'd such diminutions by the Turks and Gala's that Prester-John at this day enjoys onely six great and ten small Provinces The great are Tigre Dambea Bagamedce Gogamo Amahara Narea and a part of Xaoa The lesser are Magaza Salemt Ogara Abargele Holkait Sagueda Semen Salao Ozeka and Dobai Hereby it may plainly be observ'd into how narrow a compass the Dominions of Prester-John are circumscrib'd from what Antiquity relates which we may believe they did but guess at We will therefore first describe the aforemention'd six Kingdoms yet remaining entire to Prester-John and afterwards those of the antient Abyssine partly to agree with the Antients in the matter of Beasts Plants and Customs and partly to survey the whole Circumference both of the Old and New Dominion Tigre The Kingdom of Tigre then otherwise call'd Tigrai and Tigremahon and by Francis Alvarez call'd Azen lies the most Easterly being eminentest biggest and best part of the whole and takes beginning according to Balthazar Tellez by the Island Makua or Mazua at the Red-Sea close by the Haven Arquiko spreading ten or twelve miles to the Haven of Dafalo Alvares Sanutus or as others shooting Northward close by Egypt Bugu or Nubie and Westerly to Dankali containing in length ninety and in breadth fifty Spanish miles This Kingdom comprizeth seventeen several Provinces Davity the most Northern of which lying at Egypt they call Barnagas or Barbarnagas which Alvarez Sanutus and others make a peculiar Dominion because govern'd by a peculiar Lieutenant of the King 's though in truth Barnagas is a part of Tigre and signifies Lord of the Sea Bar denoting the Sea in that Countrey Language and Nagas Lord. Barnagas includes according to Tellez three small Lordships of which Debaroa or Doubaroa so call'd by the Abyssines and by Maffe and Sanutus Boroa or Barvan is the chief wherein is a small City but curiously built and populous seated by the River Mareb on a pleasant and fruitful Mountain Some have taken it for the Colove of Ptolomy and Colve of Arnian and by others for the great Primis or Premnis Alvarez and Sanutus give Barnagas in the North for borders the Countrey of Bugie and Nubie in the West the Nile in the South the River Mareb with some neighboring Mountains over-looking Tigremahon and in the East the Red-Sea The same Alvarez and Sanutus place in Barnagas the Regions of Canfila and Dafila and therein a place nam'd Emacen a day and a halfs journey from Dabaroa and thirty miles from Suaquen Formerly this Province comprehended Suaquen the Island Mazua the Haven Arquiko and Dalakka But the Turks and Moors have many years ago dispossess'd the Abyssines thereof The same Writers further adds to Barnagas Cire Ximeta and Arrazie a Dominion of great consequence St. Michael d' Joco a famous Cloyster four miles from Arquiko and the Cloyster of Bizan five Besides the chiefest Palaces of the Kings and two or three Churches one of St. Michael and the other of St. Peter and Paul about which Maffe assigns some Villages and Hamlets as Camarva and Barra c. Lastly Barnagas takes in the Jurisdiction of Bur or Burro formerly the Kingdom of the Queen Candace Next Barnagas Sanutus sets Tigremahon to which he assigns for borders in the North the River Marabo in the West the Nile in the South Angote in the East the Red-Sea Then follows the Dominion of Cire and by the Red-Sea Amasen or Agamea inhabiting by a people not under Prester-John's Jurisdiction Arxa formerly a great City where they say the Queen of Sheba kept her Court and indeed the remaining Ruines do manifest an Antique Grandeur The other places are the City Tigre or Auzen the Metropolis of the Realm the Garrison of Gileitor Amba Salalam Saet Cora forty or fifty Portuguese miles
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
other Commodities but the dearest Merchandises are Frankincense Pepper and Myrrhe which they barter for Gold Their Arms are Lances or Darts and Back-swords Arms. They use many Bowes and Arrows but not with Feathers For defence they put on Helmets and very strong round Shields Pieces of Cannon and Muskets they bought of the Portuguese at a dear Rate yet use for the most part Darts Arrows and Slings The Horse-men in whom their greatest Strength consists wear long Coats of Mail which come down to their Knees close Helmets and round Shields with Scymitars and Lances They that go without a Helmet to the Wars cover their Heads with red Hair Caps like those of the Mamalucks in Aegypt They provide themselves also with Elephants Arm'd and loaden with Towers and have Copper Trumpets and Drums brought thither from Cairo with other Drums of Wood cover'd over with a Skin as among us The King of Abyssine hath many Enemies but chiefly upon one side the Turk who planted themselves along the Red Sea and not only wrested that whole Coast from him but lends his other Enemies great Assistance On the other side lieth the Emperor of Monomotapa who continually keeps his Realm in Arms. The King of Congo neighbors close by that of Goyame who is said to have kept himself quiet since he made Peace with King David But the most dangerous and strongest Enemies are the Galas or Galles as the Abyssines call them who in the foregoing Age have bereaved the Abyssines of a third part of their Dominions But those of Tigrai have oftentimes worsted them and especially in the year Sixteen hundred and seven When Prester-John doth intend to make War against the Nubians or any other People he causes a Cloth in form of a Banner to be carried on the top of a Lance to proclaim the War through all the Countrey The Government is absolutely Monarchical Government and the Chief known by the Title of Acegue that is Emperor for the great number of Kingdoms he was wont to possess But his Subjects entitle him Negus that is King the Moors Asiklabassi and the Arabians Sultan Asiklabassi But in his Letters to the European Princes and others he calls himself Negus Negas that is King of Kings by reason of his Substitute Kings or Viceroys Off-spring of the Tribe of Judah Son of David Son of Solomon Son of the Pillar of Sion Son of the Seed of Jacob Son of the hand of Mary Son of Nahu according to the Flesh Emperor of the Upper or Higher Ethiopia King of Xaoa Caffate Fatigar Angote Baru Amarr Baga Mediri Dambea c. We generally call him Prester-John and by some in corrupt Latin Pretiose Joannes that is Precious John to which last Name two Abyssines coming into Europe gave occasion themselves for when these heard in Europe that the Emperor was every where call'd Prester-John they endeavor'd to preserve the Title seeking to find out Words of their Mother-Tongue from which the same might be derived for which purpose they consultd Belulgian Beldigiam and other Names Amongst those which first introduced the Word Belulgian here in Europe was one Zagarab an Ambassador sent from the Emperor of the Abyssines to John the third King of Portugal and another Abyssine call'd Peter who at the same time accompanied Francois Alvarez a Portuguese Priest as Ambassador to Pope Clement the seventh The first caus'd Damaiaco a Goez the second Paulus Jovius to mistake the Name asserting that Belulgian is a compound word of Belul and Gian the first signifies Precious and the other John as if they would hint by that Name that there was nothing more precious than the Abyssines Others would have it that Prester-John was a corrupt word of Pharasta-Jan that is to say A Lyon on Horseback because this Emperor is said to exceed all the Kings of Africa as the Lyon excells all the Beasts They give also the Title of Lyon because descended from the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah alledging that he had Meliloc for his Predecessor that is King of Excellency Son of Makeda Queen of Sheba which came to hear the Wisdom of Solomon But it is certain the Name of Prester-John neither proceeded from Belulgian nor Beldigian nor Pharasta-Jan or from any other such like Abyssine Word but it was by accidentally apply'd to the Abyssine Emperor when he first of all began to be known to the King of Portugal But the better to discover the truth we must observe that as the Kings of Egypt were by a general Name first call'd Pharaohs and afterwards Ptolomies those of Persia Xerxes and Artaxerxes and afterwards Sofi the Moorish Kings Xeriffs and the Roman Emperors Caesars so is also the Name of Prester-John a general Name and signifies a Royal Title or Dignity of some Christian Princes who Reigned a very long time ago But these Prester-Johns have not Reigned in Ethiopia or in any other part of Africa as many imagine contrary to the opinion of the most experienced Geographers who unanimously agree they Reign'd in Asia yet in what Place not fully known for some making them to have been Kings of Cathay causeth greater doubt and obscurity by reason that in the next following years it came to be known that Cathay belong'd to China as Matthias Riccius and after that Benedictus Goez both Jesuits and next them several others have found But besides the Tract of Land by the Name of Cathay plac'd within the Confines of China Godignus and with him Kircher judge it to be probable that there is yet a greater Countrey about the Asiatick Scythia Seres Massagetania and other neighboring People bordering in the South and West at the Confines of China which had the Name of Cathay of which many years ago Prester-John had the Dominion This Countrey Ptolomy calls Scythia beyond the Mountain Imaus and the Inhabitants Dalanguer and Negrecet begins at the Foot of Mount Taurus and spreads to the Icy Sea dividing Scythia in two Paulus Marcus the Venetian calls it The Dominion of the great Cham and the holy Scripture according to the testimony of Arias Montanus Gog and Magog One of the chiefest Kingdoms of this Great Cathay is Tebeth near the Kingdom of Belor or Balor the antient Dwelling-place of the Zaker near which the Geographers according to the example of Marcus Paulus the Venetian place the City Cambalu so then Cathay compasseth that whole Part of Asia Cambalu is by many taken for the great City Poking in China which Ptolomy placeth beyond the Mountain Imaus and borders in the East on the Ocean and China in the South on the Head-Spring of the River Ganges at the Mountain Caucasus Parapanisus and Aria in the West on whole Scythia within the Mountain Imaus and lastly in the North at the Icy Sea Whereby it appears that all Great Tartary lying beyond the Mountain Imaus with the Name of Cathay must be understood to be the Countreys of Gog and Magog for Cathay which signifieth
in his Name but continu'd their Dominon scarce two years before they were caught and punished whereupon Zerah of right took the Crown and Reign'd 34 Bethe-Marian his Son who died in the Year One thousand four hundred forty eight after he had held the Scepter upwards of 10 Schander that is Alexander died in the Year One thousand four hundred ninety three having Govern'd six moneths above 15 Amdezeon who died in the Year One thousand four hundred ninety three Rul'd onely six moneths  Nahu or Nahod the Brother of Alexander taken out of Mount Amara who died in the Year One thousand five hundred and seven having Reign'd 14 Then came David his Son otherwise Athanidinghil that is The Incense of Mary during whose Minority the Abyssines say his Mother Helen manag'd the State in his behalf This was that Helen who sent her Ambassador Matthias to Emanuel King of Portugal to pray his assistance against the Mammelucks and Moors Jovius writes that this King David subdu'd the Troglodites and took Casante the King of Mosambique Prisoner He vanquished and kill'd the General of the Queen of Bethsage near the Cape of Good Hope and handled the King of Congo and Torme so roughly that he compell'd him to pay a very great Tribute and gave Hostages He Fought with and got two Victories over the King of Adel or Zeila and in the Year Fifteen hundred sent four and twenty Ambassadors and Letters to Pope Clement the seventh with promise of Obedience Vignier saith he had one onely Wife Bibl. Hâ—stor and by her four Sons the eldest of whom with the Father lost his life in a Battel against the King of Zeila after he had held the Scepter 33 or 36 years Claudius his Son otherwise call'd Aznassaghet by Genebrard which signifieth He is worshipped to the utmost ends of the Earth He subdu'd the King of Adel in revenge of his Father's death and died in the Year One thousand five hundred fifty nine having Reign'd 20 years Adamas his Brother otherwise call'd Mena and by the Abyssines Adamas Saghet which signifieth Majesty he died in February One thousand five hundred sixty three after he had Reigned four years Sarsadenghil or Sarsadinghil the Son of Adamas by his own direction call'd Malak Sequet had two Brothers each of them having several Sons the King had but one and that illegitimate by Name Haste Jacob that is Lord Jacob Prince of Nerea who after his Fathers death possessed the Kingdom and continued saith Godignus seven years in the Government he endeavor'd to extirpate Christianity Whereupon a certain Prince by Name Susneos who favor'd the Professors thereof sided with them and making use of that occasion to set up his pretence to the Kingdom took up Arms against this Jacob. Till the Year Sixteen hundred and twenty eight this War continued when King Jacob wounded by the Shot of an Arrow found himself necessitated to retire to a Fort where after a few days he died leaving two Sons the one nam'd Cosme eighteen years of age the other about sixteen by Name Zaga-Christ that is to say The Treasure of God which were both then in the Island Meroe in the City Aich where usually the Children of Prester-John are Nursed and Educated The Queen-Mother Nazarena seeing this mishap in her Family arisen by the death of the King her Husband and that Prince Susneos the new King endeavoured to suppress all those whom his Predecessor had favored instantly sent her Sons notice of their Fathers death ordering them to retire from Meroe to some faithful Friends of the Emperor their late Father And to that end she sent them much Gold and rich Jewels to maintain them and to raise some Troops to revenge the death of their Father The Prince Cosmes the eldest took his way to the South towards the Cape of Good Hope the other Zaga-Christ drew Northwards with a Company of about five hundred Men to the Kingdom of Sanar his Inheritance from thence to the Kingdom of Fungi where he was nobly entertain'd by the King whose Name was Orbat a Vassal of Prester-Johns but not suffer'd to rest quiet there he was forced to withdraw being pursu'd by the Horsemen of King Susneos so close that he was necessitated to go through the sandy Desarts of Arabia but with the number of fifty Servants for all the other fearing the wearisomness of the Way left him then he came into Egypt to the City Corrigia and lastly to Grand Cair where he was well receiv'd by the Copticks and honorably entertain'd by the Bashaw for the space of two days Thence he withdrew scarce accompanied with fifteen Servants for the other remain'd because of weariness and sickness in Cair to Jerusalem into which he came at the Purification in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty and two He went out of Jerusalem but with three Servants and eight Clergy-men to Nazareth where he made Confession of the Christian Religion and after the stay of some Moneths left off all his Servants and from thence came by Ship to Rome to the Pope who gave him a Palace for his Residence where he stay'd two years and then went from thence into France and stay'd at Paris about three years and died at last at Ruel in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty eight Susneos in the Year Sixteen hundred twenty nine took upon him the Sovereignty and nam'd himself Saghed that is Worshipped of all employing all his Forces to extirpate the Stock of King Jacob And having confirm'd and setled his new-gain'd Dominion he died in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty and three and his Son Fasilatas succeeded him It is by many concluded that the Queen of Sheba by some call'd Nicaules Religion and by others Makede who came out of the South to hear the Wisdom of Solomon in Jerusalem and Commanded over these Countreys planted her Imperial Seat in the Island of Meroe having learn'd from Solomon the knowledge of the true God so that both she and her People began to embrace the Doctrine of Moses But after the encrease of Christianity they receiv'd that Doctrine first brought into Abyssine by the Eunuch of Queen Candace by Name Indich for he being Baptiz'd in the Way from Gaza to Jerusalem by Philip upon the command of the Angel as we hinted before he afterwards Baptiz'd the Queen and all the Subjects of the Countrey But after the Division of the World among the Apostles they say the Abyssines fell to St. Matthew who gather'd a rich harvest of Souls there Afterwards this People together with the Copticks receiv'd the Doctrine and Errors of Dioscorus and Eutiches and elected a Patriarch to oversee the Church who hath his chief Residence in the City of Alexandria and appoints a Substitute in Abyssine nam'd Eteche or Chomos who hath many Bishops under him The Abyssines captivated with the destructive Opinions of Eutiches and Dioscorus believe That the Souls of the Saints after their death do not go directly to Heaven
Clergy to the very Eteche and Bishops dwell in Cloysters in the Cities and in the Wildernesses they go bare-foot never eat Flesh nor drink Wine and do besides unusual severe Penance for besides Fasting they torment themselves terribly by being bound to a Cross and so set for a whole day broyling in the Sun Others go stark naked up to the neck into a cool Brook and stay there till they are half dead Some which they call The Clergy of Libela for a Penance carry two four-square pieces of Lead of fifty or sixty pound weight which hang before their Breasts and behind their Backs with which so about them they fall upon their Knees with their Foreheads upon the Ground so that many times their Heads swell and their Bodies grow all black and blue Others sit with a great Stone about their Necks which so bows down their Heads that they cannot look up to Heaven nor move themselves from the places where they are All the Abyssines Circumcision as well Clergy as Temporality are Circumcised the eighth day after their Birth and Baptiz'd the fortieth but the Daughters the sixtieth and afterwards in their sixth year are Re-baptiz'd with Fire in this manner They take a sharp Iron which cuts on both sides and making it red hot in the Fire set therewith upon the very tip of their Nose two Marks to distinguish them from Mahumetans who are also Circumcised The Water of Baptism they Consecrate with many Ceremonies and Benedictions with which they renew their Baptism every year upon the Day of the Three Kings because upon that day Christ was Baptized The Confession of their sins they say they have by Apostolical command which they make standing after which they receive Absolution Godignus avers that they neither make known the particulars nor the number of their sins but say onely in general Habessen Habessen which signifies I have sinn'd I have sinn'd They hold onely five mortal sins fixing upon the last Chapter of the Revelations which excludes out of the holy City Sorcerers Fornicators or Adulterers Murderers Idolaters and Lyars They acknowledge but five Commandments imply'd by Christ in these Negatives I have been hungry and ye have not fed me I have been thirsty and you have not given me drink I have been a stranger and you have not let me in I have been naked and you have not clothed me I have been sick and you have not visited me I have been in prison and you have not come to me Believing that Christ will say to Reprobates onely these words at the last Day They perform Mass daily yet no more but one in every Church and that usually in the Evening an hour and a half before the going down of the Sun except on Saturdays and Sundays They ordinarily bury their Dead with a Cross and Prayers reading over them the Gospel of St. John the next day give some Alms for the benefit of their Souls They Fast every Wednesday Damian Goez in remembrance of the Council of the Jews upon the Death of Christ which was held upon that day and every Friday in Commemoration of the Death of Christ eating nothing before the going down of the Sun observing besides with other Christians several other times of Abstinence Some of the Clergy in the Cloysters always eat Flesh because they lie far from the Sea and have no Lakes nor Rivers out of which to take Fish Others eat on Fasting-days but onely an Apple with Bread and Water or else some Herbs boyl'd without Oyl or Butter and some onely Bread and Water Such as eat Fish in some Places will touch nothing that hath any Bloud but content themselves with Grashoppers Oysters Lobsters and the like Also they use upon Fasting-days a Grain call'd Camfa and another Tebba both prepar'd and made ready like Mustard Most of the Abyssines have made defection from their antient Opinions acknowledging the Roman Church to have the true Doctrine and the Pope to be Christ's Vicar for in the time of Pope Clement the seventh Prester-John sent to acknowledge him High-Priest with promise of obedience to him and his Successors and all that have succeeded him have done the same till the Year Sixteen hundred and nine when the Prince of Narel Jacob infected with the Errors of Dioscorus and Eutiches got the Crown After him the Son of Zaga-Christ who in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty and three stept into the Throne embraced the same Opinions so that he put out of the City all those that acknowledged and obeyed the Pope But Cosme Son of King Haste Jacob about the Year Sixteen hundred and thirty caused in the Kingdom of Dambea near his Court a Church to be built after the European manner of Cedar-wood and Zaga-Christ his Brother and all his Family heard Mass openly in the Kingdom of Goyame And moreover being a singular Votary of the Catholick Religion established among others those Laws That no Clergy-man that is Marry'd may administer the Lords Supper upon pain of death That no temporal Person may have any more but one Wife and That none should draw near to the Lords Table before he had made satisfaction to all whom he had wronged In the Year Sixteen hundred and twenty in the Territory of Agoas a spacious Countrey and fruitful five thousand Souls were Baptiz'd by the Portuguese Jesuits The several states of the Countreys relating to Religion are as followeth In Tigre the Turks possess the Places lying near the Sea Peter Davity Estats du Grand Kegus but the Bowels of the Kingdom are fill'd with Idolaters mixed with Christians Those of Angote are Christians without mixture so those of Xoa and Amara Damut according to Sanutus contains a mixture Leka remains wholly Christian but Bagamedi hath some Christians and some Heathens so Dambea Mahumetans wholly possess the City of Aukaguerle But Dahali contains Christians Moors and Mahumetans Gecie Moors and Idolaters Ario and Fatigar wholly Christians Those of Zingaro and Roxa are Idolaters but they of Ronazegus all Christians Goyame comprehends Heathens and Christians but Marea Goroma Zeth Concho and Mahaola lie totally involved in Idolatry Sua hath Mahumetans and Christians Bora Calava and Aga in show Christians but in heart Idolaters Dubane and Xaucale Caffers a People without any Religion Xincho Aris Evara and Arbo none but Mahumetans Daraita all Christians and lastly Agoas are most Idolaters but some Christians who have many Monasteries and Convents both of Men and Women They have a great number of Churches Churches the first and principal of all is call'd Delia Libanos that is The Mountain of Liban in the Kingdom of Goyame wherein formerly the Kings of Abyssine us'd to be buried the second Marcoza Mariam that is The Misery of Mary in the same Kingdom the third Dima or St. Maries in Goroma the fourth Macana Celacen that is The Seat of the Trinity in Amara the fifth Laboca that is Mountain of Gold dedicated to St. Michael in
hour of the Morning with an empty body which they can discern by the shadow of a Man in the Sun standing straight upright for they measure the shadow with their Feet which they call Liha or Pas which being nine of their own Feets length is the time of the Circumcision Then the Drums beat and the Circumciser puts on his Garments and binds a Fillet of great strong white Cotton-Yarn to his left Arm to scour his Knife At last every Father takes his Child in his Arms and going a Procession through the Lapa passing in at the Western Door and out again at the Eastern ten by ten one after another twice After some short pause they begin two other for the Oxen which are for the Sacrifice and with the left hand of the Child touch their right Horn as they lie upon the ground with their Feet ty'd together Then all the people are bid to clear the place and a large Ring made whereupon the Circumciser appears with his Knife to cut off the Fore-skin of every Child which the Uncle of the Child receives and lays into the white and yealk of a Hens-Egg which he holds in his hand but a Rhoandrian or Anakandrian kills the Cattel and cuts for every Child a Hens throat and lets the Blood drop upon every Wound and another puts upon it the Juyce of a certain Herb call'd Hota a kind of Clover-Leaf If the Child be a Slave and hath no Uncle then the Fore-skin is thrown upon the ground This day they keep so holy that no Sport is made nor none then drink beyond the measure of hillarity The Priests call'd by them Ombyasses and by the Moors Marabauts are of two sorts that is Ombiasses Ompanorats and Ombyasses Omptifiquili the Ompanorats are Scribes who can write Arabick very Expertly they have many Books wherein are some pieces of the Alcaron most of them understand the Arabian Tongue which they teach together with Writing Several Offices are conferr'd upon the Ombyasses Ompanorats which very much agree with the Church-Offices among Christians as Male Ombyasse Tibou Mouladzi Faquihi Catibou Loulamaba Sabaha Talisman Male is a Clerk which onely teacheth to Write Ombyasse a Master of Arts Tibou an under Deacon Mouladzi a Deacon Faquihi a Priest Catibou a Bishop Loulamaba an Arch-Bishop Sabaha a Pope These People cure the Sick make Hiridzi or Talismans or Massasser-Robes which are certain Charms or Spells written with Arabick Letters which they sell to the Grandees and Rich men with promise that they shall be freed from a thousand Mischiefs Sicknesses Thunder Fire Enemies yea from Death it self though they know not how to preserve themselves from it These Cheaters make great gain of those Letters receiving for them Beasts Gold Silver Clothes and all Conveniencies The people stand in great fear of these Ombyasses and hold them for Sorcerers and Witches as also the Grandees of the Countrey make use of them against the French but without any effect alledging that their Sorcery can do nothing upon them because they eat Swines-Flesh and are of another Religion It chanc'd that these Ombyasses close under the Fort of the French to drive them away had brought Baskets full of Papers written with Arabick Letters Eggs laid upon a Friday fill'd over with Characters and Arabick Writing Earthen Pots never yet set upon the Fire written upon within and without Biers to carry the Dead written upon Canoos Girdles Scissers Pinsers of Iron to pluck the Hairs out In brief nothing was omitted that they thought expedient for the Work yet without any other effect than the Pastime of the French at their ridiculous Vanity These Ombyasses Ompanorats are the usual Physitians who visit the Sick and give them Medicines being Decoctions of Herbs and Roots They also Cure Wounds and write Charms with Arabick Characters which moisten'd with Water they hang about the Necks and Middles of the Sick to expel all Sicknesses and evil Influences They make likewise Geomantick Images to find out the time of the Disease and to discover the Remedies fit for the Malady If the Sick recover not as they expect they acquaint him that he wants somewhat and so set upon the Work anew either till he die or grow well of himself The Ombyasses in the mean time get both from the Patient and his Friends all they require as Gold Silver Corral Cows Clothes Girdles and other things The Ombyasses Ompanorats among the People of Matatane keep publick Schools to teach Children The Omptifiquili are commonly Negro's and Anakandrians which undertake the practice of Geomancy or Soothsaying in the Countrey Language call'd Squili and do such like Feats as in Europe the Books of Geomancy express onely they erect their Schemes or Work upon a Plank strew'd over with Sand whereupon they make Figures with their finger setting down the Day Hour Moneth Planet and Signs that have Dominion over the Hour according to which they Presage Strange things are attempted in this Art yet they seldom hit upon the truth but rather judge blindly by guess nevertheless they are esteem'd by all There is another sort of Ombyasses among the Negro's which the Sick also send to yet can neither Write nor Read but make onely Geomantick Figures and use Crystals Topazes Eagle-Stones Amethysts and others which they call by the general name of Filaha making the people believe God sends them these Stones by the Thunder to work Cures by which perswasion hath taken so deep root in the hearts of the Islanders that they cannot be drawn to believe the contrary They have great glistering Crystals but foul and cloudy which they say are Terachs that is having others within when they make Figures they have one of these Stones in the corner of their Tables saying That it hath power to bring activity into their fingers Vincent le Blank and Casper de Saint Bernardino Government set down six Kingdoms in this Island which Kings continually wage War one against the other But Marcus Paulus Venetus affirms That in his time it was govern'd by four Cheques but at this day every Territory hath a peculiar Lord or Dian who usually sets over every Town under his Jurisdiction a particular Philoubei that is Bailiff of the Town In the whole there is not a foot breadth of Land but belongs to some Lord or other so that it is an error and mistake to say that every one may make use of as much Land as he will There are not found in this whole Island any written Laws but all is done according to the Law of Nature being three-fold Massindili or the Princes Law Massinpah the natural Law of particular people which is no other than their own way and Massintane the Law or Custom of the Countrey The Princes Law or Massindili is a compound word of Massin that signifies Law or Custom and Hadili that signifies Command being nothing else but arbitrary Will grounded nevertheless upon Reason consisting in the doing every one Right to determine
as at this day many Stone Columns found therein and Insculp'd with Punick Letters Afterwards the Romans became Masters of it at the same time when they Conquer'd Cicily by whom deserted the Mahumetans took into possession about the Year of our Lord Eight hundred twenty eight but they were driven thence in the Year One thousand and ninety by Roger the Norman Duke of Cicily who reduced it under his own Power from whom it remain'd under the King of Cicily till overcome by the Emperor Charles the First after his Conquest of Cicily and Naples who gave it away to the Knights of St. Johns Order then call'd Knights of Rhodes and at this day Malta Knights as appeareth by Monimus of Utina exhorting Philip the Second to recieve them But for the better information of the beginning and continuance of this Order of Knights the Possessors and Lords of this Island it will be necessary to deduce the matter somewhat higher When the City Jerusalem was exceedingly harrased by the Saracens The original of St. Johns Order or Knights of Malta who possess'd the same Califf Aron used the Christians more gently because of a good understanding between Charles the Great first Emperor of Germany and him but after his death this City fell into greater miseries by quarrels between the Mahumetans of Persia and Egypt for now it was under the Persians and then under the Egyptians who at last growing Masters of the Holy-Land treated the Christians very severely and caused the Church of the Holy-Sepulchre to be Ruin'd which remain'd seven and thirty years desolate till the Raign of Constantine Monamaque Emperor of Constantinople who Rebuilt it at his own Charge with the consent of Bomensor Califf of Bomansar by others call'd Maabad Abutamin Mustansir Billa Son of Ali Taher in the Year One thousand forty eight At the same time some Nobles and Italian Merchants of the City Amalfi in the Kingdom of Naples visited much the Havens and Sea-Towns of Syria and Egypt carrying thither by Shipping rare and precious Commodities which were so acceptable to the Natives of that Countrey that the bringers were respected by all persons even the Governors and Califfs themselves by which means they had liberty to Trade every where and visit the City of Jerusalem and the Holy-Land But they having no Dwelling-place for their abode nor any Church to exercise their Religion concluded to intreat the Califf of Egypt to grant them a place in Jerusalem whereon they might build a Church with a house for their abode who immediately granted them a place near The Church of the Resurrection where they afterwards built a Church to the honor of the Virgin Mary with a Cloyster and House Afterwards they sent for from the Mountain Cassin an Abbot with Monks of the Order of St. Benedict to whom they gave the same Church and Cloyster with a proviso to receive and entertain all Christian Pilgrims or Travellers and this Church was call'd St. Mary the Latin because built by the Latin Christians On the report of this Work begun many Men and Women betook themselves thither And therefore that the Women might have a more honorable abode another Cloyster was built by the name of St. Mary Magdalene into which a certain number of Religious Women betook themselves to receive and entertain all Pilgrimesses which came thither But when at last these Cloysters began to grow too small for such great numbers as thither resorted the Sisterhood concluded to build a great Hospital or Alms-house for entertainment both of Sick and Well and put at the same time an Overseer therein chosen by the Abbot They built also next it a Church by the name of St. John Baptist because they had understood That Zacharias the Father of St. John Baptist had often travell'd to this Place These Cloysters and this Hospital for want of Revenues were only maintain'd by Alms sent to them by those of Amalfi and other parts of Italy which Traded in Syria which continu'd as long as Jerusalem remain'd in the Hands of the Infidels In which time a certain Holy Person by name Gerard was Overseer of this Hospital and over the Cloyster of Women a Roman Virgin call'd Agnes When this Gerard had serv'd this Hospital a long time he concluded with the Advice of his Benefactors to take upon him the Apparel or Habit which the Knights at this day wear that is a black Cloke or Coat with a white eight-pointed Cross upon it The like the Abbess Agnes and their Institution was allow'd by Pope Honorius the Second and the Patriarch of Jerusalem Gramay affirms That at the intreaty of this Gerard this Order was allow'd in the year Eleven hundred and thirteen by Pope Paschal the Second under the Discipline of St. Augustine which hath been ever since follow'd by them And likewise the same Pope Paschal took the same Gerard and these Hospitallers for so they were at first call'd from this Hospital under his Protection and granted them great Priviledges commanding That after the death of this Gerard they should chuse another Governor to whom was given the Title of Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem Megisser affirms That when the Christian Princes had Besieg'd Jerusalem under the Conduct of Godfrey of Bouillon Duke of Lorain as Chief Commander these Hospitallers joyn'd privately with him and by means of their Assistance beat the Turks and won the City in the year Eleven hundred and nineteen This Godfrey of Bouillon being afterward chosen King of Jerusalem by the Christians gave to this Order great Gifts and put into their Hands the Government of many Towns to defend the same In the year Eleven hundred seventy eight these Hospitallers fought with Saladine Caliph of Egypt and won a great Victory but with the loss of the Grand Master De Mozins there remaining on the Mahumetan side above five thousand slain In like manner the Knights in the same year in July under the Command of the Grand Master Garnier gave a bloody Battel to that Enemy wherein Guy the Christian King of Jerusalem and the chiefest of the Realm remain'd Prisoners Downfal of the Knights with a downfall of all the Knights The Grand Master himself mortally wounded died of his Wounds ten days afterwards The twelfth of October They are drove out of Jerusalem in the same Year Jerusalem was Conquer'd by Saladine by which means all the Christians of the Latin Church and these Hospitallers were driven out of the City which with their own Money redeem'd above thirty thousand Prisoners These did aid the Christian Princes very much in the regaining of the Holy Land and the City Akre which hapned in the year Eleven hundred ninety one the twelfth of July at which place they have since had their usual abode And notwithstanding the loss of Jerusalem the Hospitallers and Templars remain'd Masters over one part of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and made Ameury van Ansignan King of Cyprus King of