length into Congo with two friers and fower priests and ordered matters reasonablie well In the meane while Don Aluaro died and his sonne of the same name succeeded him who failed not to sollicite both Don Sebastian and Don Henrie kings of Portugall and the king of Spaine also that they would send him some competent number of preachers and ecclesiasticall persons for the augmentation of the Christian faith in his kingdome and amidst these determinations he died and a sonne of his called also Don Aluaro succeeded him During these tumults certaine other Portugall Priests went into Congo labouring to prune that vine which had beene long time giuen ouer and forsaken These men haue built them an house in the island of Loanda where do remaine sixe or seauen of their companie that are readie to goe sometimes hither and sometimes thither as neede requireth In the yeere of our Lord 1587. king Aluaro who bicause hee was not borne of lawfull matrimonie was but little esteemed by his people would needes haue one of these priests about him by whose meanes and authoritie he came to reputation and credite And God himselfe fauoured his proceedings for meeting a sister of his by the fathers side and one of her brothers with a great armie in the fielde he gaue him battaile and bore himselfe therein with such valour as he did not onely ouerthrow the forces of his enime but further slew the ring-leader and generall thereof and in the place where he was slaine he would needs build a church to the honour of Christianitie And the more by his owne example to mooue others himselfe was the very first man that put hand to this worke and likewise with edicts and fauourable proclamations he furthered and doth still aduance the preaching of the Gospell and the propagation of religion Who so is desirous to be more fully instructed concerning the Christianitie of this kingdome let him read the third and eight bookes of Osorius de Reb. gest Eman. the second booke of Philippo Pigafetta his story of Congo most properly and decently translated by the iudicious master ABRAHAM HARTWELL Of the Christian religion in the kingdome of Angola THose Portugal priests that remaine in the Iland Loanda as aboue we declared bend themselues more to the conuersion of Angola then of Congo The reason is as I suppose because the enterprise is new and more neerely concerneth the Portugals who there make war vnder the conduct of Paulo Diaz to get possession of the mountaines of Cabambe which abound with rich mines of very fine siluer It seemeth that god hath fauoured the amplification of his holy name in those parts with some myraculous victories For first in the yeere 1582 a fewe Portugals in an excursion that they made put to flight an innumerable companie of the Angolans And by this victory they brought in a manner the halfe of that kingdome into their handes and many Princes and nobles of the land vpon this were moued to request and make suit to be baptized Among whom was Songa prince of Banza the kinges Father in law whose brother and children were baptized already Tondella also the second person of Angola was conuerted many Idols were throwne to the ground and insteede thereof they erected crosses and built some churches And within this little while all the Prouince of Corimba is in a manner conuerted Also in the yeere 1584 an hundred and fiftie Portugals together with such succors as were conducted by Paule Prince of Angola who was not long before conuerted discomfited more then a million of Ethiopians In an other place we declared the readie meanes and oportunities that the Princes of Ethiopia and of India haue to assemble and bring togither such infinite armies They say that certaine Ethiopians being demaunded by a Portugal how it came to passe that so great a multitude turned their backes to so few men they answered that the Portugals strength did it not which with a blast they would haue confounded but a woman of incomparable beawty apparelled in shining light and brightnes and an old man that kept her company with a flaming sword in his hand who went aloft in the ayre before the Portugals and ouerthrew the squadrons of the Angolans putting them to flight and destruction In the yeere 1588 were conuerted Don Paulo Prince of Mocumba and with him a thousand persons more The Christian religion of Monomotapa IN the dominions of the Monomotapa the light of the faith being with incredible ease kindled was also as suddenly 〈◊〉 by the deuises of the Mahumetans For some Portugals going to the court of that monarche and giuing himselfe with some of his Princes and vassals a taste of the gospel were an occasion afterwards that Gonsaluo de Sylua a man no lesse famous for the integrity of his life then for his bloud and parentage went ouer thither from Goa in the yeere 1570. This man arriuing with a prosperous voiage in the kingdome of Inambane conuerted and baptized the king his wife children and sister with his Barons and nobility and the greatest part of his people Through whose perswasion Gonsaluo left his companions prosecuting his voiage towards the Monomotapa onely with sixe Portugals Thus hauing passed Mozambique and the mouth of the riuer Mafuta and of Colimane they came to Mengoaxano king of Quiloa where they were courteously receiued entertained And though they had licence in this place to preach the gospell yet would not Gonsaluo here stay iudging that vpon the cōuersion of the Monomotapa that of the neighbor kings would follow without delaie Embarking themselues therefore vpon the riuer Cuama they sailed along the coast of Africa eight daies till they came to Sena a very populous village where Gonsaluo baptized about fiue hundred slaues belonging to the Portugal merchants and prepared for the receiuing of the gospel the king of Inamor one of the Monomotapaes vassals In the ende Antonio Caiado a Portugall gentleman came from the court to guide Gonsaluo towardes the same place Whither being in short time come he was presently visited on the emperours behalfe and bountifullie presented with a great summe of gold and many oxen But he returning back these presents gaue the Monomotapa to vnderstand that he should know of Caiado what he desired The emperour was astonished at this his magnanimity receiued him afterwards with the greatest honor that could possibly be deuised And causing him to sit vpon the same carpet whereon also his owne mother sate he presently demaunded how many women how much ground and how many oxen thinges mightily esteemed of in those countries he would haue Gonsaluo answered that he would haue no other thing but himselfe Whereupon the emperour turning to Caiado who was their interpreter said that surely it could not be otherwise but that he who made so little account of thinges so highly valued by others was no ordinary man and so with much courtesie he sent him back to his lodging Not long time after
christall water falling into a cesterne within the porch at each corner of the saide porch standeth the image of a leopard framed of white marble which is naturally adorned with certaine blacke spots this kinde of particoloured marble is no where to be founde but onely in a certaine place of Atlas which is about an hundreth fiftie miles distant from Maroco Not farre from the garden stands a certaine woode or parke walled round about And here I thinke no kinde of wilde beasts are wanting for heere you may behold elephants lions stagges roes and such like howbeit the lions are separated in a certaine place from other beasts which place euen to this day is called The lions den Wherefore such monuments of antiquity as are yet extant in Maroco albeit they are but few do not withstanding sufficiently argue what a noble citie it was in the time of Mansor At this present al the courts and lodgings before described lie vtterly voide and desolate except perhaps some of the kings ostlery which tend his mules and horses do lie in that court which we saide euen now was to lodge archers and crossebowe-men all the residue are left for the fowles of the aire to nestle in That garden which you might haue named a paradise in olde time is now become a place where the filth and dung of the whole citie is cast foorth Where the faire and stately librarie was of old at this present there is nothing else to be founde but hens dooues and other such like foules which builde their nests there Certaine it is that the foresaid Mansor whom we haue so often mentioned was a most puissant and mightie prince for it is well knowen that his dominion stretched from the towne of Messa to the kingdome of Tripolis in Barbary which is the most excellent region of Africa and so large that a man can hardly trauell the length therof in fourescore ten daies or the bredth in fifteene This Mansor likewise was in times past Lord of all the kingdome of Granada in Spaine Yea his dominion in Spaine extended from Tariffa to Aragon ouer a great part of Castilia and of Portugall Neither did this Iacob surnamed Mansor only possesse the foresaid dominiōs but also his grandfather Abdul Mumen his father Ioseph his sonne Mahumet Enasir who being vanquished in the kingdome of Valençia lost 60000. soldiers horsemen footemen howbeit himselfe escaped returned to Maroco The Christians being encouraged with this victorie refrained not from warre till within 30. yeeres space they had woon all the townes following to wit Valençia Denia Alcauro Murcia Cartagena Cordoua Siuillia Iaen and Vbeda After which vnhappie warre succeeded the decay of Maroco The said Mahumet deceasing left behinde him ten sonnes of a full and perfect age who contended much about the kingdome Hereupon it came to passe while the brethren were at discord and assailed each other with mutuall warres that the people of Fez called Marini and the inhabitants of other regions adiacent began to vsurpe the gouernment The people called Habdulvad enioyed Tremizen expelling the king of Tunis and ordaining some other whom they pleased in his stead Now haue you heard the end of Mansor his progenie and successors The kingdome therefore was translated vnto one Iacob the sonne of Habdulach who was the first king of the familie called Marin And at length the famous citie of Maroco it selfe by reason of the Arabians continuall outrages fell into most extreme calamitie so great is the inconstancie of all earthly things That which we haue here reported as touching Maroco partly we saw with our owne eies partly we read in the historie of one Ibnu 〈◊〉 Malich a most exact chronicler of the affaires of Maroco and partly we borrowed out of that treatise which our selues haue written concerning the law of Mahumet Of the towne of Agmet THE towne of Agmet built of old by the Africans vpon the top of a certaine hill which beginneth almost from Atlas is distant from Maroco about fower and twentie miles In times past when Muachidin was prince thereof it contained moe then sixe thousand families at what time the people were very ciuill and had such plentie and magnificence of all things that many would not sticke to compare this towne with the citie of Maroco It had on all sides most 〈◊〉 gardens and great store of vines whereof 〈◊〉 grew vpon the mountaine it selfe and others on the valley By the foote of this hill runneth a faire riuer which springing foorth of Atlas falleth at length into Tensift The field which lieth neere vnto this riuer is said to be so fruitfull that it yeeldeth euery yeere fiftie fold encrease The water of this riuer looketh alwaies white albeit if a man stedfastly behold the said riuer it may seeme vnto him in colour to resemble the soile of Narnia or the riuer Niger of Vmbria in Italie And 〈◊〉 there are which affirme that the very same riuer runneth vnder ground to Maroco and not to breake foorth of the earth till it come to a certaine place very neere vnto the said citie 〈◊〉 princes in times past being desirous to know the hidden and intricate passages of the said riuer sent certaine persons into the hollow caue who the better to discerne the same carried candles and torches with them But hauing proceeded a little way vnder ground there met them such a flaw of winde that blew out their lights and perforce draue them backe to the great hazard of their liues so that they said they neuer felt the like They affirme likewise that the riuer being full of rocks which the water driueth to and fro and by reason of the manifold chanels and streames their passage was altogether hindred Wherefore that secret remaineth vnknowne euen till this day neither is there any man so hardie as to attempt the same enterprise againe I remember that I read in some histories that king Ioseph which built Maroco being forewarned by the coniecture of a certaine astrologer that the whole region should perpetually be vexed with warre prouided by arte-magique that the passage of this riuer should alwaies bee vnknowen least if any enimie should afterward practise 〈◊〉 he might cut off the course thereof from the saide citie Neere vnto this riuer lies the common high way which crosseth ouer mount Atlas to Guzula aregion of Maroco Howbeit the citie of Agmet which I haue now described vnto you hath at this day no other inhabitants but woolues foxes deere and such other wilde beasts Except onely at my being there I found a certaine Hermite who was attended vpon by an hundred persons of his owne sect all of them were well-horsed and did their best endeuour to become gouernours and commanders but their forces were insufficient With this Hermite I staide as I remember for the space of tenne daies and founde one amongst his followers with whom I had old 〈◊〉 and familiaritie
family of Idris decaying it became a pray vnto the enemie At this present the ruines of the wals are onely to be seene and certaine forlorne gardens which because the ground is not manured bring foorth naught but wilde fruits Of the towne called Homar THis towne was built by one Hali a disciple of the foresaid Mahumet vpon a little hill and by a riuers side being situate about fourteene miles to the north of Casar and sixteen miles to the south of Arzilla which although it be but a small towne yet is it well fortified and fairely built and enuironed with fruitfull fieldes vineyardes and gardens replenished with woonderfull varietie of fruits The inhabitants being most of them linnen-weauers gather and prouide great store of flaxe But euer since the Portugals woon Arzilla this towne hath remained desolate A description of the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 THe great citie of Arzilla called by the Africans Azella was built by the Romans vpon the Ocean sea shore about seuentie miles from the streits of Gibraltar and an hundred and fortie miles from Fez. It was in times past subiect vnto the prince of Septa or Ceuta who was tributarie to the Romans and was afterward taken by the Goths who established the said prince in his former gouernment but the Mahumetans wan it in the yeere of the Hegeira 94. and helde the same for two hundred and twenty yeeres till such time as the English at the persuasion of the Goths besieged it with an huge armie and albeit the Goths were enemies to the English because themselues were Christians and the English worshippers of idols yet the Goths 〈◊〉 them to this attempt hoping by that meanes to draw the Mahumetans out of Europe The English hauing good successe tooke the citie and so wasted it with fire and sword that scarce one citizen escaped so that it remained almost thirtie yeeres voide of inhabitants But afterward when the Mahumetan patriarks of Cordoua were lords of Mauritania it was againe reedified and by all meanes augmented enriched and fortified The inhabitants were rich learned and valiant The fields adiacent yeeld graine and pulse of all sorts in great abundance but because the towne standeth almost ten miles from the mountaines it sustaineth great want of wood howbeit they haue coales brought them from Harais as is aforesaid In the yeere of the Hegeira 882. this citie was suddenly surprised and taken by the Portugalles and all the inhabitants carried prisoners into Portugall amongst whom was Mahumet the king of Fez that now is who together with his sister being both children of seuen yeeres old were taken and led captiue For the father of this Mahumet seeing the prouince of Habatreuolt from him went and dwelt at Arzilla the very same time when Esserif a great citizen of Fez hauing slaine Habdulac the last king of the Marin-familie was by the fauour of the people aduanced vnto the Fessan kingdome Afterward one Saic Abra being pricked forward with ambition went about to conquer the citie of Fez and to make himselfe king howbeit Esserif by the aduise of a certaine counsellour of his being couzin vnto Saic vanquished and put to flight the saide Saic to his great disgrace Moreouer while Esserif had sent his said counsellour to Temesna to pacifie the people of that prouince being about to rebell Saic returned and hauing for one whole yeere besieged new Fez with eight thousand men at length by treason of the townesmen he easily wan it and compelled Esserif with all his familie to flee vnto the kingdome of Tunis The same time therefore that Saic besieged Fez the king of Portugall as is aforesaid sending a fleete into Africa tooke Arzilla and then was the king of Fez that now is with his yoong sister caried captiue into Portugall where he remained seuen yeeres in which space he learned the Portugall-language most exactly At length with a great summe of money his father ransomed him out of Portugall who afterward being aduanced to the kingdome was by reason of his long continuance in Portugall called king Mahumet the Portugall This king afterward attempted very often to be auenged of the Portugals and to recouer Arzilla Wherefore suddenly encountring the said citie he beat down a great part of the wall and entring the breach set all the captiue-Moores at libertie The Christians retired into the castle promising within two daies to yeeld vnto the king But Pedro Nauarro comming in the meane season with a great fleet they compelled the king with continuall discharging of their ordinance not onely to relinquish the citie but also to depart quite away with his whole armie afterward it was so fortified on all sides by the Portugals that the said king attempting often the recouerie thereof had alwaies the repulse I my selfe seruing the king in the foresaid expedition could find but fiue hundred of our companie slaine But the warre against Arzilla continued from the yeere of the Hegeira 914. to the yeere 921. Of the citie of Tangia THe great and ancient citie of Tangia called by the Portugals Tangiara according to the fond opinion of some historiographers was founded by one Sedded the sonne of Had who as they say was emperour ouer the whole world This man say they determined to build a citie which for beautie might match the earthly paradise Wherefore he compassed the same with walles of brasse and the roofes of the houses he couered with gold and siluer for the building whereof he exacted great tributes of all the cities in the world But the classicall and approoued authors affirme that it was built by the Romanes vpon the Ocean sea shore at the same time when they subdued the kingdome of Granada From the streites of Gibraltar it is distant almost thirtie and from Fez an hundred and fiftie miles And from the time that the Goths were first lordes of Granada this citie was subiect vnto Septa or Ceuta vntill it and Arzilla were woon by the Mahumetans It hath alwaies beene a ciuill famous and well-peopled towne and very stately and sumptuously built The field thereto belonging is not very fertill nor apt for tilth howbeit not far off are certaine vallies continually watred with fountaines which furnish the said citie with all kinde of fruits in abundance Without the citie also growe certaine vines albeit vpon a sandie soile It was well stored with inhabitants till such time as Arzilla was surprized by the Portugals for then the inhabitants being dismaied with rumours of warres tooke vp their bag and baggage and fled vnto Fez. Whereupon the king of Portugall his deputie at Arzilla sent one of his captaines thither who kept it so long vnder the obedience of the king till the king of Fez sent one of his kinsmen also to defend a region of great importance neere vnto the mountaines of Gumera being enemie to the Christians Twentie fiue yeeres before the Portugall king wan this citie he sent foorth an armada against it hoping
of this towne vse to paint a blacke crosse vpon their cheeke and two other blacke crosses vpon the palmes of their hands and the like custome is obserued by all the inhabitants of the mountaines of Alger and Bugia the occasion whereof is thought to be this namely that the Gothes when they first began to inuade these regions released all those from paying of tribute as our African historiographers affirme that would imbrace the Christian religion But so often as any tribute was demanded euery man to eschew the payment thereof would not sticke to professe himselfe a Christian wherefore it was then determined that such as were Christians indeed should be distinguished from others by the foresaid crosses At length the Gothes being expelled they all reuolted vnto the Mahumetan religion howbeit this custome of painting crosses remained still amongthem neither doe they know the reason thereof Likewise the meaner sort of people in Mauritania vse to make such crosses vpon their faces as we see vsed by some people of Europe This towne aboundeth greatly with figs and the fields thereof are exceeding fruitfull for flaxe and barley The townesmen haue continued in firme league and friendship with the people of the mountaines adioyning by whose fauour they liued an hundred yeeres togither without paying of any tribute at all but Barbarossa the Turke hauing woon the kingdome of Telensin put them to great distresse From hence they vse to transport by sea great store of figs and flaxe vnto Alger Tunis and Bugia wherby they gaine great store of money Here also you may as yet behold diuers monuments of the Romans ancient buildings Of the towne of Sersell THis great and ancient towne built by the Romanes vpon the Mediterran sea was afterward taken by the Gothes and lastly by the Mahumetans The wall of this towne is exceeding high strong and stately built and containeth about eight miles in circuit In that part of the towne next vnto the Mediterran sea standeth a most beautifull and magnificent temple built by the Romans the inward part whereof consisteth of marble They had also in times past an impregnable for t standing vpon a rock by the Mediterran sea Their fields are most fruitfull and albe it this towne was much oppressed by the Gothes yet the Mahumetans enioyed a great part thereof for the space almost of fiue hundred yeeres And then after the warre of Telensin it remained voide of inhabitants almost three hundred yeeres At length when Granada was woon by the Christians diuers Moores of Granada fled hither which repaired the houses and a good part of the castle afterward they began to build ships wherewith they transported their merchantable commodities into other regions and they increased so by little and little that now they are growne to twelue hundred families They were subiect not long since vnto Barbarossa the Turke vnto whom they paide but three hundred ducates for yeerely tribute Of the citie of Meliana THis great and ancient citie commonly called now by the corrupt name of Magnana and built by the Romanes vpon the top of a certaine hill is distant from the Mediterran sea almost fortie miles Vpon this mountaine are many springs and woods abounding with walnuts The citie it selfe is enuironed with most ancient and high wals One side thereof is fortified with impregnable rockes and the other side dependeth so vpon the mountaine as Narma doth which is a citie neere Rome it containeth verie stately houses euerie one of which houses hath a fountaine The inhabitants are almost all weauers and there are diuers turners also which make fine cups dishes and such like vessels Many of them likewise are husbandmen They continued many yeeres free from all tribute and exaction till they were at length made tributarie by Barbarossa Of the towne of Tenez THis ancient towne built by the Africans vpon the side of an hill not far from the Mediterran sea is enuironed with faire walles and inhabited with many people The inhabitants are exceeding rusticall and vnciuill and haue alwaies beene subiect to the king of Telensin King Mahumet that was grandfather vnto the king which now raigneth left three sonnes behinde him the eldest being called Abuabdilla the second Abuzeuen and the third Iahia Abuabdilla succeeded his father whom his brethren being ayded by the citizens went about to murther But afterward the treason being discouered Abuzeuen was apprehended and put in prison Howbeit king Abuchemmeu being after that expelled out of his kingdome by the people Abuzeuen was not onely restored to his former libertie but was also chosen king and enioyed the kingdome so long till as is before-mentioned he was slaine by Barbarossa Iahia fled vnto the king of Fez who being at length proclaimed king by the people of Tenez raigned for certaine yeeres And his yoong sonne that he left behinde him being vanquished by Barbarossa fled vnto Charles who was then onely king of Spaine But when as the ayde promised by Charles the Emperour stayed long and the Prince of Tenez was too long absent a rumour was spread abroad that hee and his brother were turned Christians whereupon the gouernment of Tenez fell immedially to the brother of Barbarossa Their fields indeed yeeld abundance of corne but of other commodities they haue great want Of the towne of Mazuna THis towne as some report was built by the Romanes and standeth about fortie miles from the Mediterran sea It hath fruitfull fields strong walles but most base and deformed houses Their temple indeed is somewhat beautiful for it was in times past a most stately towne but being often sacked sometime by the king of Telensin and sometime by his rebels and at length falling into the hands of the Arabians it was brought vnto extreme miserie so that at this present there are but few inhabitants remaining all being either weauers or husbandmen and most grieuously oppressed by the Arabians Their fields abound plentifully with all kinde of corne Neere vnto this towne there haue beene in times past many houses streets and villages which may probably be coniectured by the letters engrauen vpon marble stones The names of which villages are not to bee found in any of our histories or Chronicles Of Gezeir otherwise called Alger GEzeir in the Moores language signifieth an island which name is thought to haue beene giuen vnto this citie because it lieth neere vnto the isles of Maiorica Minorica and Ieuiza howbeit the Spanyards call it Alger It was founded by the Africans of the familie of Mesgana wherefore in old time it was called by the name of Mesgana It is a large towne containing families to the number of fower thousand and is enuironed with most stately and impregnable walles The buildings thereof are very artificiall and sumptuous and euery trade and occupation hath here a seuerall place Innes bath-stoues and temples here are very beautifull but the stateliest temple of all standeth vpon the sea-shore Next vnto the sea there is a most pleasant walke vpon that
sea and the gulfe of Tunis on the 〈◊〉 and south parts it ioyneth to the plaines of Bensart But now this citie is fallen into extreme decay miserie merchants shops there are not aboue twenty or fiue and twenty at the most and all the houses of the towne being scarce fiue hundred are most base and beggerly In my time here was a stately 〈◊〉 and a faire college also but no students were therein The townesmen though very miserable yet are they exceeding proud withall and seeme to pretend a great shew of religion And the greater part of them are either gardiners or husbandmen and are greeuously oppressed with the kings daily exactions A description of the mightie citie of Tunis THis citie is called by the Latines Tunetum and by the Arabians Tunus which name they thinke to be corrupt because it signifieth nought in their language but in olde time it was called Tarsis after the name of a citie in Asia At the first it was a small towne built by the Africans vpon a certaine lake about twelue miles distant from the Mediterran sea And vpon the decay of Carthage Tunis began to increase both in buildings and inhabitants For the inhabitants of Carthage were loth to remaine any longer in their owne towne fearing least some armie would haue beene sent out of Europe wherefore they repaired vnto Tunis and greatly enlarged the buildings thereof Afterward came thither one Hucba Vtmen the fourth Mahumetan patriarke who perswaded the citizens that no armie or garrison ought to remaine in any sea-townes wherefore he built another citie called Cairaoan being distant from the Mediterran sea thirtie and from Tunis almost an hundred miles vnto which citie the armie marched from Tunis and in the roome thereof other people were sent to inhabite About an hundred and fiftie yeeres after Cairaoan being sacked by the Arabians the prince therof was expelled and became gouernour of the kingdome of Bugia howbeit he left certaine kinsmen of his at Tunis who gouerned that citie And ten yeeres after Bugia was taken by Ioseph the sonne of Tesfin who seeing the humanitie of the foresaid prince would not expel him out of his kingdome but so long as it remained to the said prince and his posteritie Ioseph caused it to be free from all molestation Afterward Abdul Mumen king of Maroco hauing recouered Mahdia from the Christians marched toward Tunis and got possession thereof also And so Tunis remained peaceably vnder the dominion of the kings of Maroco so long as the kingdome was gouerned by the said Abdul and his sonne Ioseph and their successors Iacob and Mansor But after the decease of Mansor his sonne Mahumet Ennasir made war against the king of Spaine by whom being vanquished he fled to Maroco and there within few yeeres ended his life After him succeeded his brother Ioseph who was slaine by certaine soldiers of the king of Telensin And so vpon the death of Mahumet and of his brother Ioseph the Arabians began to inhabite the territorie of Tunis and to make often sieges and assaults against the citie it selfe whereupon the gouernour of Tunis aduertised the king of Maroco that vnlesse present aide were sent he must be coustrained to yeeld Tunis vnto the Arabians The king therefore sent a certaine valiant captaine called Habduluahidi and borne in Siuill a citie of Granada with a fleete of twentie sailes vnto Tunis which he found halfe destroied by the Arabians but so great was his eloquence and wisedome that he restored all things to their former estate and receiued the yeerely tribute After Habduluahidi succeeded his sonne Abu 〈◊〉 who in learning and dexteritie of wit excelled his father This Abu built a castle vpon a certaine high place of the west part of Tunis which he adorned with faire buildings and with a most beautifull temple Afterward taking his iourney vnto the kingdome of Tripolis and returning home by the southerne regions he gathered tribute in all those places so that after his decease he left great treasure vnto his sonne And after Abu succeeded his sonne who grew so insolent that he would not be subiect to the king of Maroco because he perceiued his kingdome to decay at the same time also had the Marin-familie gotten possession of the kingdome of Fez and so was the familie of Beni Zeijen possessed of the kingdomes of Telensin and Granada And so while all those regions were at mutuall dissension the dominions of Tunis began mightily to encrease Insomuch that the king of Tunis marched vnto Telensin and demanded tribute of the inhabitants Wherefore the king of Fez who as then laid siege against Maroco craued by his ambassadours the king of Tunis his friendship and with great giftes obtained the same Then the king of Tunis returning home conquerour from Telensin was receiued with great triumph and was saluted king of all Africa because indeed there was no prince of Africa at the same time comparable vnto him Wherefore he began to ordaine a roiall court and to choose Secretaries counsellers captaines and other officers appertaining to a king after the very same manner that was vsed in the court of Maroco And from the time of this king euen till our times the kingdome of Tunis hath so prospered that now it is accounted the richest kingdome in all Africa The said kings sonne raigning after his fathers death enlarged the suburbes of Tunis with most stately buildings Without the gate called Bed Suvaica he built a streete containing to the number of three hundred families and he built another streete at the gate called Bed el Manera consisting of more then a thousand families In both of these streetes dwell great store of artificers in the street last mentioned all the Christians of Tunis which are of the kings garde haue their aboad Likewise there is a third streete built at the gate next vnto the sea called Beb el Bahar and being but halfe a mile distant from the gulfe of Tunis Hither doe the Genoueses Venetians and all other Christian merchants resort and here they repose themselues out of the tumult and concourse of the Moores and this street is of so great bignes that it containeth three hundred families of Christians and Moores but the houses are verie low and of small receit The families of the citie togither with them of the suburbs amount almost to the number of ten thousand ' This stately and populous citie hath a peculiar place assigned for each trade and occupation Heere dwell great store of linnen-weauers and the linnen that they weaue is exceeding fine sold at a great price ouer al Africa The women of this towne vse a strange kinde of spinning for 〈◊〉 vpon an high place or on the vpper part of the house they let downe their spindles at a window or through a hole of the plancher into a lower roume so that the weight of the spindle makes the thread verie equall and euen And here the
rich men he bestoweth vpon them some gouernment or charge with prouision Wherefore for feare of confiscation after death euery one coueteth to 〈◊〉 his wealth or to remoue far from the court and the kings sight For which cause the citie of Fez commeth far short of hir ancient glorie Besides his reuenues haue beene augmented of late yeeres by mightie sums of gold which he fetcheth from Tombuto and Gago in the lande of Negros which gold according to the report of some may yeerely amount to three millions of ducates His Forces THe Xeriffo hath not any Fortresses of great importance but only vpon the sea-coast as Cabo de Guer Larache and Tetuan for as the Turks and Persians do so he placeth the strength of his state in armed men but especially in horse And for this cause he standeth not much vpon his artillerie although hee hath very great store which his predecessors tooke from the Portugals and others in Fez Maroco Tarodant and in the foresaide 〈◊〉 causing also more to bee cast when neede requireth for he wanteth not masters of Europe in this Science He hath an house of munition in Maroco where they make ordinarily six and fortie quintals of powder euery moneth as likewise also caliuers and steele-bowes In the yeere of our Lord 1569. a fire tooke hold on these houses with such furie that a great part of the citie was destroied therewith But for the Xeriffoes forces they are of two sorts the first is of two thousand seuen hundred horse and two thousand harquibuziers which he hath partly in Fez but most in Maroco where he is resident being as it were of his daily guard The second is of a roiall squadron of sixe thousand gentlemen being all of noble parentage and of great account These men are mounted vpon excellent horses with furniture and armes for varietie of colour most beautifull and for riches of ornament beyonde measure estimable for euery thing about them shineth with gold siluer pearle iewels and whatsoeuer else may please the eie or satisfie the curiositie of beholders These men besides prouision of corne oile butter and flesh for themselues their wiues children and seruants receiue further in wages from seuentie to an hundred ounces of siluer a man The third sort of forces which he hath consisteth of his * Timariotti for the Xeriffo granteth to all his sons and brothers and other persons of account or authoritie among the people of Africke or to the princes of the Arabians the benefite of great Lordships tenures for sustentation of his Cauallarie and the Alchaides themselues till the fields and afterwardes reape rice oile barly butter sheepe hens and monie and distribute the same monethly to the souldiers according to the seuerall qualitie of their persons They also giue them cloth linnen and silke to apparell themselues armes of offence and defence and horses with which they serue in the warres and if they die or be killed they allow them other A thing which was also vsed in Rome towards them that serued on publike horses Euerie one of these leaders contendeth to bring his people into the fielde well ordred for armes apparell and horses besides this they haue betweene fower and twentie and thirtie ounces of siluer wages euery yeere His fourth militarie forces are the Arabians who liue continually in their Auari for so they call their habitations each one of them consisting of an hundred or two hundred 〈◊〉 gouerned by diuers Alchaides to the end they may be readie in time of need These serue on horse-backe but they are rather to be accounted theeues then true soldiers His fift kinde of forces militarie are somewhat like vnto the trained soldiers of Christian princes and among these the inhabitants of cities and villages of the kingdome and of the mountaines are enrolled It is true that the king makes but little account of them very seldome puts armes into their hands for feare of insurrections and rebellions except in the warres against the Christians for then he cannot conueniently forbid them For it being written in their law that if à Moore kil a Christian or is slaine by him he goeth directly into Paradise a diabolicall inuention men women and those of euery age and degree run to the warres hand ouer head that at least they may there be slaine and by this meanes according to their foolish opinion gaine heauen No lesse zeale to our confusion may we perceiue in the Turks especially for defence of their sect for one would thinke they went to a marriage and not to the warre scarcely being able with patience to attend their prefixed time of going thither They repute them holy and happie that die with armes in hand against their enimies as on the contrarie those men vnhappie and of little woorth that die at home amidst the lamentation of children and outcries of women By the things aboue set downe we may easily comprehend what numbers of men the Xeriffo can bring into the field but yet we may learne better by experience For Mullei Abdala in the yeere 1562. besieged Mazagan with two hundred thousand men choaking the ditch with a mountaine of earth and beating downe the walles thereof with his Artillerie but for all this he was enforced by the valour of the Portugals and the damage which he receiued by their mines to giue ouer his siege Besides this Prince can not continue a great war aboue two or three moneths and the reason hereof is because his forces liuing on that prouision which he hath daylie comming in as well for sustenance as for aparrell and not being able to haue all this conducted thither where the war requireth it followeth of necessitie that in short time they must needs returne home for their maintenance of life and further it is an euident thing that no man can protract a war at length except he be rich in treasure Molucco who ouerthrew Sebastian king of Portugal had in pay vnder his ensignes fortie thousand horse and eight thousand foote besides Arabians and aduenturers But it is thought he could haue brought into the field seuentie thousand horse and more foot then he did Of the dominions and fortresses which the king of Spaine hath vpon the Isles and maine landes of Africa and of the great quantity of treasure and other commodities which are brought from thence BEsides Oran Mersalquibir Melilla and Pennon which the king of Spaine possesseth within the streights as likewise çeuta Tanger and Arzil which by the title of Portugal he holdeth very neere the streights of Gibraltar and Mazagan in like sort without the streights mouth twentie miles to the southward of Arzil he hath along the coast of Affrick from Cape de Guer to that of Guardafu two sorts of states for some are immedidiately vnder him and others are as it were his adherents The Ilands of Madera Puerto Santo the Canaries the Isles of Arguin of Cabo Verde the isle Del Principe with that of Sant
are certaine mightie lakes by the benefite whereof a great part of Nubia is watred and made fruitfull The Isle of Meroe MEroe called at this time by the names of Guengare Amara and Nobe being the greatest and fairestisle which Nilus maketh and resembled by Herodotus to the shape of a target containeth in bredth a thousand and in length three thousand stadios or furlongs It aboundeth with golde siluer copper iron Eben-wood palme-trees and other such commodities as are in Nubia Some write that there growe canes or reeds of so huge a bignes that the people make botes of them Heere also you haue minerall salt and lions elephants and leopards This island is inhabited by Mahumetans who are confederate with the Moores against Prete Ianni Strabo affirmeth that in old time the authoritie of the priests of this island was so great that by a meane and ordinarie messenger they woulde command the king to murther himselfe and woulde substitute an other in his roome But at length one king hauing in a certaine temple put all the saide priests to death quite abolished that monstrous custome And heere as Nilus vnfoldeth himselfe into two branches to embrace this Islande he receiueth from the east the riuer of Abagni and from the west the riuer Sarabotto which haue likewise other smaller riuers falling into them The Abassins are of opinion that the Queene of Saba which trauelled so farre to heare the wisedome of Salomon was mistresse of this isle Paulus Ionius saith here are three kings one a Gentile the second a Moore and the third a Christian subiect vnto the Prete From Meroe to Siene it is accounted fifteene daies iourney by water Abassia or the empire of Prete Ianni THe Abassins are a people subiect to Prete Ianni whose empire if we consider the stile which he vseth in his letters hath most ample confines For he intituleth himselfe emperour of the great and higher Ethiopia king of Goiame which as Botero supposeth is situate betweene Nilus and Zaire of Vangue a kingdome beyond Zaire of Damut which confineth with the land of the Anzichi and towards the south he is called king of Cafate and Bagamidri two prouinces bordering vpon the first great lake which is the originall fountaine of Nilus as likewise of the kingdomes of Xoa Fatigar Angote Baru Baaliganze Adea Amara Ambea Vaguc Tigremahon Sabaim where the Queene of Saba gouerned and lastly of Barnagaes and lorde as farre as Nubia which bordereth vpon Egypt But at this present the center or midst of his Empire as Iohn Barros writeth is the lake of Barcena For it extendeth eastward towarde the Red sea as farre as Suaquen the space of two hundred twentie and two leagues Howbeit betweene the sea and his dominions runneth a ridge of mountaines inhabited by Moores who are masters of al the sea-coast along except the porte of Ercoco which belongeth to the Prete And likewise on the west his empire is restrained by another mountainous ridge stretching along the riuer of Nilus where are founde most rich mines of golde amongst which are the mines of Damut and of Sinassij wholie in the possession of Gentiles which pay tribute vnto the Prete Northward it is bounded by an imaginarie line supposed to be drawen from Suachen to the beginning of the isle Meroe aboue mentioned which line extendeth an hundred and fiue and twentie leagues From thence the Abassin borders trend south somewhat crookedly in manner of a bowe as farre as the kingdome of Adea from the mountaines whereof springeth a riuer called by Ptolemey Raptus which falleth into the sea about Melinde for the space of two hundred and fiftie nine leagues next vnto the which borders inhabite certaine Gentiles of blacke colour with curled haire And heere the 〈◊〉 empire is limited by the kingdome of Adel the head citie whereof called Arar standeth in the latitude nine degrees So that all this great empire may containe in compasse sixe hundred threescore and two leagues little more or lesse It is refreshed and watered by two mightie riuers which conuey their streames into Nilus called by Ptolemey Astaboras and Astapus and by the naturall inhabitants Abagni and Tagassi the first whereof taketh his originall from the lake of Barcena and the second from the lake of Colue Barcena lieth in seuen degrees of north latitude Colue vnder the verie Equinoctiall The first besides Abagni ingendereth also the riuer of Zeila and the second besides Tagassi giueth essence to the riuer of Quilimanci Between Abagni and the Red sea lieth the prouince of Barnagasso betweene Abagni and Tagassi are the kingdomes of Angote and Fatigar and more towards the bay of Barbarians the prouinces of Adea and of Baru and somewhat lower that of Amara In briefe beyond the riuer of Tagassi ly the regions of Bileguanzi and of Tigremahon The Abassins haue no great knowledge of Nilus by reason of the mountaines which deuide them from it for which cause they call Abagni the father of riuers Howbeit they say that vpon Nilus do inhabite two great and populous nations one of Iewes towards the west vnder the gouernment of a mighty king the other more southerly consisting of Amazones or warlike women whereof wee will speake more at large in our relation of Monomotapa Throughout all the dominion of the Prete there is not any one city of importance either for multitude of inhabitantes for magnificent buildings or for any other respect For the greatest townes there containe not aboue two thousand housholds the houses being cottage-like reared vp with clay and couered with straw or such like base matter Also Ptolemey intreating of these partes maketh mention but of three or foure cities onely which he appointeth to the south of the Isle Meroe Howbeit in some places vpon the frontiers of Abassia there are certaine townes verie fairely built and much frequented for traffique The Portugales in their trauailes throughout the empire haue often declared vnto the Abassins how much better it were for auoiding of the outragious iniuries and losses daily inflicted by the Moores and Mahumetans both vpon their goods and persons if the emperour would build cities and castles stronglie walled and fortified Whereunto they made answere that the power of their Neguz or emperour consisted not in stone-walles but in the armes of his people They vse not ordinarily any lime or stone but onely for the building of churches saying that so it becommeth vs to make a difference between the houses of men and churches dedicated to God and of their Beteneguz or houses of the emperour wherein the gouernours of prouinces are placed to execute iustice These Beteneguz stand continually open and yet in the gouernours absence no man dare enter into them vnder paine of being punished as a traytour Moreouer in the city of Axuma esteemed by them to haue beene the seate of the Queene of Saba stand certaine ruinous buildings like vnto pyramides which by reason of their greatnes
the kingdomes of Adel and of Xoa consisteth the greatest parte of champion groundes which yeelde wheate barly and other graine most plentifully In this kingdome standes an exceeding high mountaine on the toppe whereof is a lake of twelue miles in compasse abounding with great varietie of fish and from this mountaine 〈◊〉 many riuers stored with fish also The kingdome of Damut as Sanutus affirmeth doth border vpon the kingdome of Xoa and is enclosed on either side with the lake of Barcena and the lande of Zanguebar Howbeit others place Damut betweene the kingdomes of Vangue and Goiame towarde the west which opinion seemeth most probable This countrey aboundeth with golde ginger grapes corne and beasts of all sortes The slaues of this kingdome are much esteemed and are commonly solde throughout all Arabia Persia and Egypt where they prooue most valiant soldiers The greater part of the people of Damut are Gentiles and the residue Christians who haue certaine monasteries In this kingdome is that exceeding high and dreadfull mountaine hauing one narrow passage onely to ascend by whither the Prete sendeth his nobles which are conuicted of any heinous crime to suffer ignominious death with hunger and cold About the fountaines of Nilus some say that there are Amazones or women-warriers most valiant and redoubted which vse bowes and arrowes and liue vnder the gouernement of a Queene as likewise the people called Cafri or Cafates being as blacke as pitch and of a mightie stature and as some thinke descended of the Iewes but now they are idolaters and most deadly enimies to the Christians for they make continuall assaults vpon the Abassins dispoiling them both of life and goods but all the day-time they lie lurking in mountaines woods and deepe valleies The stile vsed by Prete Ianni in his letters I the king whose name the lions doe reuerence and who by the grace of God was at my baptisme called Athani Tingil that is The incense of the virgine but now at the beginning of my raigne tooke vpon me the name of Dauid beloued of God the piller of faith descended of the tribe of 〈◊〉 the sonne of Dauid the sonne of Salomon the sonne of the piller of Sion the sonne of the seede of Iacob the sonne of the hand of Marie the sonne of Nahu according to the flesh the sonne of the holy Apostles Peter and Faul according to grace Emperour of the higher and greater 〈◊〉 and of most large kingdomes territories and iurisdictions the king of Xoa Caffate Fatigar Angote Barú Baaliganze Adea Vangue and Goiame where the fountaines of Nilus are as likewise of 〈◊〉 Baguamedri Ambea 〈◊〉 Tigremahon Sabaim the countrie of the Queen of Saba of Barnagasso and lorde as farre as Nubia which confineth vpon Egypt Certaine answeres of Don Francisco Aluarez who from the yeere 1520. for the space of sixe yeeres next ensuing had trauailed and remained in the countrey of PRETE IANNI with the Portugall ambassadour Rodrigo de Lima made vnto sundrie demaunds or questions of the Archbishop of Bragança concerning the state of the foresaide countrey and prince and of the disposition manners and customes of the people Io. Bap. Ramusius vol. 1. delle voiag fol. 254. 255. THe Ethiopian Emperour called Prete Ianni hath no setled place of abode where he continually resideth but is alwaies flitting vp and downe sometimes to one place and sometimes to another and liueth in tentes set vp in the fields enuironed with a kinde of fortification of which tents there may be in his campe of all sorts to the number of 5000. or 6000 and of horsemen and mules 50000. and vpwards It is a generall custome of the Prete and of all his subiects not to passe on horsebacke by any church so great is their reuerence to holy places but so soone as they approch thereunto they light vpon the ground and hauing passed by they mount on horsebacke againe Whensoeuer the Prete marcheth with all his troupes there is carried before him vpon the shoulders of certaine priests an altar and a consecrated stone whereon they vse to administer their communion the priests appointed to cary it vpon a frame of wood are eight in number seruing fower and fower by turnes before whom goeth a clerke with a censer and a little bell sounding at the sight and noise whereof all persons forsake the way and such as are on horsebacke dismount In all this countrey there is not any towne consisting of aboue 1600. families there are very few that haue so many neither are there any castles or walled places but 〈◊〉 manie villages and infinite numbers of people Their houses are built round al of earth flat-roofed and couered with a kind of thatch which wil last the time of a mans life being compassed about with courts or yards They haue no bridges of stone vpon their riuers but all of wood They sleep commonly vpon oxe-hides or else vpon certaine couches corded sustained with thongs made of the said hides They haue no kind of tables to eat their meat vpon but haue it serued in vpon plaine very broad platters of wood without any table-cloth at al. Also they haue certaine great deep dishes like basons made of black earth shining in maner of Iet with other cups of the same earth out of which they vse to drinke water wine Many of them eate raw flesh but others broile it vpon the coles or firebrands and some places there are so destitute of wood that the people are faine to dresse their meate with oxe-dung Their armour and weapons be Azagaie or short darts some few swords and certaine shirts of male verie long and streight and as some of our men which haue seene them doe report made of naughtie and vnseruiceable matter They haue bowes and arrowes great store but not with feathers as ours be as likewise helmets and head-peeces but very few and first brought in since they began to haue traffique with the Portugals howbeit they haue manie strong targets Of artillerie they had at our departure foureteene small yron-peeces which they had bought of certaine Turkes that vsually came to trafficke vpon the coast for which peeces the Prete willed that they should haue their vttermost demande to the end they might be the willinger to returne and bring more and he caused some of his seruants also to learne how to discharge them The riuer of Nilus I my selfe neuer saw although at one time I was within thirtie miles thereof howbeit some of our Portugales haue trauelled to the very fountaines of Nilus which are two great lakes comparable to seas situate in the kingdome of Goiame out of which hauing conueyed it selfe a small distance this riuer embraceth certaine Islets and then holdeth on his course to Egypt The reason why Nilus yeerely ouerfloweth Egypt is because the generall winter of Ethiopia holding on with most mightie and continual raines from the middle of Iune to the midst of September doth make the
inheritance Canons but priests sonnes haue no such priuilege vnlesse they be ordained by the Abuna They pay no tithes to any churches but the clergie are maintained by great possessions belonging to their churches and monasteries Also when any priest is cited he is conuented before a secular iudge Whereas I saide they sit not in their churches it is to bee vnderstoode that alwaies without the church doore stande a great number of woodden crutches such as lame men vse to goe vpon where euery man taketh his owne and leaneth thereupon all the time of their diuine seruice All their books which they haue in great numbers are written in parchment for paper they haue none and the language wherein they are written named Tigia is all one with the Abassin language but so it was called from the name of the first towne in all that empire which was conuerted to the Christian religion All their churches haue two curtaines one about their great altar with belles within which curtaine none may enter but onely priests also they haue another curtaine stretching through the midst of their church and within that may no man come but such as haue taken holy orders insomuch that many gentlemen and honorable persons take orders vpon them onely that they may haue accesse into their churches The greater part of their monasteries are built vpon high mountaines or in some deepe valley they haue great reuenues and iurisdictions and in many of them they eate no flesh all the yeere long Neither do they spende any store of fish bicause they know not how to take it Vpon the wals of all their churches are painted the pictures of Christ of the blessed virgine Marie of the apostles prophets and angels and in euery one the picture of Saint George a horseback They haue no Roodes neither will they suffer Christ crucified to be painted bicause they say they are not woorthy to behold him in that passion All their priests friers and noblemen continually carrie crosses in their hands but the meaner sort of people carrie them about their neckes Their mooueable feasts namely Easter the feast of Ascension Whitsontide they obserue at the verie same daies and times that we do Likewise as concerning the feasts of Christmas the Circumcision the Epiphanie and other the feasts of the saints they agree whollie with vs though in some other things they varie They haue great store of leprous persons who are not put apart from the rest of the people but liue in company with them and many there are who for charitie and deuotions sake do wash them and heale their wounds They haue a kinde of trumpets but not of the best and likewise certaine drums of brasse which are brought from Cairo and of woode also couered with leather at both endes and cimbals like vnto ours and certaine great basons whereon they make a noise There are flutes in like sort and a kinde of square instruments with strings not much vnlike to an harpe which they call Dauid Mozan that is to say the harpe of Dauid and with these harpes they sounde before the Prete but some what rudely Their horses of the countrey-breed are in number infinite but such small hackney-iades that they doe them little seruice howbeit those that are brought out of Arabia and Egypt are most excellent and beautifull horses and the great horse-masters also in Abassia haue certaine breeds or races of them which being new foled they suffer not to sucke the damme aboue three daies if they be such as they meane to backe betimes but separating them from their dammes they suckle them with kine and by that meanes they prooue most sightly and gallant horses Hitherto Aluarez Thus much I hope may suffice to haue bin spoken concerning the vpper or Inner Ethiopia which containeth the empire of Prete Ianni now sithens we are so far proceeded let vs take also a cursory and briefe surueie of the lower or extreme Ethiopia extending it selfe in forme of a speares point or a wedge as far as thirtie fiue degrees of southerly latitude Of the lower or extreme Ethiopia THis parte of Africa being vtterly vnknowne to Ptolemey and all the ancient writers but in these later times throughly discouered by the Portugales especially along the coast beginneth to the Northwest about the great riuer of Zaire not far from the Equinoctial from whence stretching southward to thirtie fiue degrees and then Northward along the sea-coast on the backside of Africa as far as the very mouth or enterance of the Arabian gulfe it limiteth the south and east frontiers of the Abassin Empire last before described In this part also are many particulars very memorable as namely besides sundry great empires kingdomes The famous mountaines of the moon the mightie riuers of Magnice Cuama and Coauo springing out of the lake Zembre the renowmed cape of good hope and other matters whereof we will intreate in their due places This portion of Africa is diuided into sixe principall partes namely The land of Aian the land of Zanguebar the empire of Mohenemugi the empire of Monomotapa the region of Cafraria the kingdome of Congo Aian the first generall part of Ethiopia the lower THe land of Aian is accounted by the Arabians to be that region which lyeth betweene the narrow entrance into the Red sea and the riuer of Quilimanci being vpon the sea-coast for the most part inhabited by the said Arabians but the inland-partes thereof are peopled with a black nation which are Idolaters It comprehendeth two kingdomes Adel and Adea Adel is a very large kingdome and extendeth from the mouth of the Arabian gulfe to the cape of Guardafu called of olde by Ptolemey Aromata promontorium South and west it bordereth vpon the dominions of Prete Ianni about the kingdome of Fatigar The king of this countrie being a Moore is accounted amongst the Mahumetans a most holy man and very much reuerenced by them because he wageth continuall war with the Christians taking captiue many of the Abassins and sending them to the great Turke and the princes of Arabia of whome he receiueth greate ayde for the maintenance of his warres both of horse and foote The people of Adel are of the colour of an oliue being very warlike notwithstanding that the greatest part of them want weapons Their principall city is called Anar as some are of opinion Vnto this kingdome is subiect the citie of Zeila inhabited by Mooes situate on a sandie and low soile which some suppose to be built in the very same place without the enterance of the Red sea where Ptolemey placed the ancient mart-towne of Aualites This citie is a place of great traffike for hither they bring out of India cloth elephants teeth frankincense pepper golde and other rich merchandize The territorie adioining yeeldeth abundance of honie waxe and great quantitie of oile which they make not of oliues but of a kinde of daintie plums it affourdeth likewise such
plentie of 〈◊〉 of cattell and of fruits differing from ours that they are transported by shipping to other nations Barbora likewise a citie of the Moores standeth in this kingdome of Adel and hath a commodious hauen whereunto resort many ships laden with merchandize from Aden in Arabia and from Cambaya vpon the riuer of Indus The citizens are blacke people and their wealth consisteth most of all in flesh In the yeere 1541. Gradaameth the king of this place after manie mischiefes which he had done to Claudius the emperour of Abassia being vanquished by Christopher de Gama the Indian Viceroy of Iohn the third king of Portugale hee did by meanes of the souldiers and warlike prouisions which were sent him from the Sheque or gouernour of Zebit ouercome the Portugals the Abassins Howbeit afterward hauing sent the said forces backe againe to Zebit himselfe was slaine and his whole armie ouerthrowne by king Claudius aforesaide But certaine yeeres after the successour of Gradaameth hauing in a warlike encounter subdued the Prete rode in triumph vpon a little asse signifying thereby that he ascribed not the victorie to his owne forces but to the power of God Adea the second kingdome of the land of Aian situate vpon the easterne Ocean is confined northward by the kingdome of Adel westward by the Abassin empire It is exceeding fruitful one part thereof mightily aboundeth with woods the residue being sufficiently stored with cattell corne The inhabitants being Moores by religion and paying tribute to the emperour of Abassia are as they of Adel before-named originally descended of the Arabians who many hundred yeeres agoe partly by their rich traffike and especially by force of armes became lords not onely of Aian but of all the sea-coast along as farre as Cabo de los corrientes standing in the southerly latitude of fower and twentie degrees In all which space the cities standing vpon the sea-coast before the Portugals discouered the east Indies lay open and vnfortified to the sea bicause the Arabians themselues were absolute lords thereof but were strongly walled toward the lande for feare of the Cafri or lawlesse wilde Negros who were deadly enimies to the Arabians and vtterly misliked their so neere neighbourhood Howbeit since the Portugals taking of Magadazo and diuers other townes vpon the coast they haue applied themselues very much to fortification But to returne to the matter where we left vnto the foresaid kingdome of Adea belongeth the kingdome of Magadazo so called of the principall citie therein which is a most strong beautifull and rich place and is subiect to the kingly gouernment of a Moore The territorie adiacent is exceeding fruitfull abounding with sheepe kine horses wheate barly and other kindes of graine It hath also an excellent hauen and much frequented by the ships of Aden and Cambaya which come thither laden with sundrie kindes of cloth with spices and other merchandize and from hence they carrie elephants teeth golde slaues honie and waxe The inhabitants are of an oliue-colour and some of them blacke like vnto the nations adioining and they go naked from the girdle-stead vpward and speak the Arabian toong They are but meanely weaponed which causeth them to shoote poisoned arrowes This citie was in times past head of all the townes and cities of the Moores standing along this coast for a great distance Zanguebar or Zanzibar the second generall part of the lower Ethiopia ZAnzibar or Zanguebar so called by the Arabians and Persians is that tract of lande which runneth along some parte of the dominions of Prete Ianni and from thence extendeth it selfe by the east of Mohenemugi til it ioyneth with the frontiers of Monomotapa Howbeit some there are who vnder the name of Zanzibar will haue all the south part of Africa to be vnderstood euen as far as Cabo Negro which stretcheth into the western Ocean about 18. degrees of southerly latitude so that they comprehend therein the empires of Mohenemugi and Monomotapa and all the land of Cafraria But in this controuersie wee rather chuse to follow the opinion of Sanutus affirming with him that the said maritime tract of Zanguebar as it is by vs before limited is alowe fennie and woodie countrie with many greate and small riuers running through it which extremity of moisture in those hot climates causeth the ayer to be most vnholesome and pestilent The inhabitants are for the most part black with curled haire being Idolaters and much addicted to sorcery and witchcraft They go naked all the vpper part of their bodies couering their nether partes with clothes of diuers colours and with beasts skins And this tract of lande stretching along the sea-coast from the riuer Quilimanci to the riuer of Magnice containeth the kingdomes and territories of Melinde Mombaza Quiloa Moçambique Sofala and others Melinde the most Northerly kingdome of Zanguebar situate in two degrees and an halfe of southerly latitude and stretching from the coast vp into the main for the space of an hundred miles hath a strong and stately city of the same name being seuentie miles distant from Mombaça It aboundeth with Rice Millet flesh limons citrons and all kinds of fruites but as for corne it is brought hither out of Cambaya The inhabitants especially on the sea coast are Moores and Mahumetans who build their houses very sumptuously after the manner of Europe They are of a colour inclining to white and some blacke people they haue also among them which are for the greatest part Idolaters howbeit all of them pretend a kinde of ciuilitie both in their apparell and in the decencie and furniture of their houses The women are white and sumptuously attired after the Arabian fashion with cloth of silke Likewise they adorne their neckes armes hands and feete with bracelets and iewels of golde and siluer When they go abroad out of their houses they couer themselues with a vaile of taffata so that they are not knowne but when they themselues list Vpon this coast of Melinde you haue a very safe harborough wherunto the ships that saile those seas do vsually resort In briefe the inhabitants are a kind true-harted trustie people courteous to strangers They haue alwaies beene in league with the Portugals giuing them most friendly entertainmēt reposing much cōfidence in them neither haue they euer done them any iniury The kingdome of Mombaça being the second generall part of Zanguebar and situate in three degrees and an halfe beyond the Equinoctiall line bordering to the north vpon Melinde and to the south vpon Quiloa is so called after the name of a certaine isle and citie vpon the coast both which are named Mombaça and are peopled with Mahumetans their houses are of many stories high and beautified with pictures both grauen and painted Their kings are Mahumetans and most deadly enimies to the Christians one of the which taking vpon him to resist the Portugals was himselfe quite vanquished and ouerthrowen and constrained to
Monomotapa to the riuer Coauo and beyond west with the riuer Nilus North vpon the dominions of Prete Ianni and east vpon the kingdomes of Melinde Mombaça and Quiloa hath not many yeeres ago bin discouered or at least heard of by the Portugales vpon occasion perhaps of the warres which with vnfortunate successe they haue waged against Monomotapa The emperour of this country holdeth a continuall league with the princes of Melinde Mombaça and Quiloa towards the sea for traffiques sake for they prouide his dominions with cloth of cotton cloth of silke and sundrie other commodities brought from Arabia Persia Cambaya and India which are very well esteemed in those parts but among the rest they bring especially certaine little balles of a red colour and in substance like vnto glasse being made in Cambaya of a kinde of Bitumen or clammie claie which balles they vse to weare like beades about their necks They serue also to them in stead of money for gold they make none account of Likewise with the silkes that are brought vnto them they apparel themselues from the girdle downward In exchange of all the foresaide wares and commodities they giue gold siluer copper and iuorie Howbeit vpon his Inland frontiers to the south and southwest he maintaineth continuall and bloudie warres against the emperour of Monomotapa his principall and greatest forces consisting of a most barbarous and fierce nation called by the people of Congo Giachi but by themselues Agag who inhabite from the first great lake which is the fountaine of Nilus for a certaine space vpon both sides of the said riuer and then afterward on the westerne banke as farre as the second great lake from whence Zaire hath his chiefe original thence euen to the confines of Prete Ianni They are a wilde and lawles people liuing after the manner of the ancient Scythians and Nomades and like the Tartars and Baduin-Arabians of these times a vagrant kind of life vnder cabbins and cottages in the open forrests They are of stature tall and of countenance most terrible making lines vpon their cheekes with certaine iron-instruments and turning their eie-lids backward whereby they cast vpon their enimies a most dreadfull and astonishing aspect They are man-eaters and couragious in battaile For their armour of defence they vse certaine Pauises or great targets wherwith they couer their whole bodies being otherwise naked and their offensiue weapons are dartes and daggers It is not many yeeres since these cruel sauages ranging westward from Nilus inuaded the kingdome of Congo vanquished the inhabitants in sundrie battels tooke the head citie and forced the king Don Aluaro to flee for succour and safetie vnto the isle of horses in the mouth of the great riuer Zaire being one of the extreme frontiers of his dominions Where the king himselfe was taken with an incurable dropsie and his people in great numbers died of famine who to relieue their extreme necessities sold their wiues their children and their owne selues for slaues vnto the Portugals Howbeit these warlike Giacchi notwithstanding their hautie courage and great exploits are no whit feared but rather most boldly encountered and sometimes vanquished by the Amazones or women warriers of Monomotapa Which two nations what by warlike stratagems and what by open and maine force do often fight the most desperate and doubtfull battailes that are performed in all those southern parts The empire of Monomotapa the fourth generall part of the lower Ethiopia BEnomotapa Benomotaxa or Monomotapa is a large empire so called after the name of the prince thereof who in religion is a Gentile and for extension of dominions and military forces a renowmed and mightie emperour in the language of whose subiects an emperour is signified by this word Monomotapa This empire of his lyeth as it were in an Island which containeth in compasse seuen hundred and fiftie or as some thinke one thousand leagues being limited on the north-west by the great lake whereout Nilus springeth on the south by the riuer Magnice and the tributarie kingdome of Butua or Toroa on the east it hath the sea-coast and the kingdome of Sofala which in very deed is a member thereof and the North part abutteth vpon the riuer of Cuama and the empire of Mohenemugi That part of this great Island which lyeth betweene the mouth of Cuama and the cape de los Corrientes is a very pleasant holesome and fruitfull country And from the said cape to the riuer of Magnice the whole region aboundeth with beasts both great and small but it is cold by reason of the sharp brizes which come off the sea and so destitute of wood that the people for fewel are constrained to vse the dung of beasts and they apparel themselues in their skinnes Along the banke of the riuer Cuama are diuers hilles and downes couered with trees and vallies likewise watered with riuers being pleasantly situate and well peopled Here are such plenty of Elephants as it seemeth by the great quantitie of their teeth that there are yeerely slaine betweene foure and fiue thousand Their elephants are nine cubites high and fiue cubites in thicknes They haue long and broad eares little eyes shorte tailes and great bellies and some are of opinion that Ethiopia yeeldeth as many elephants as Europe doth oxen The townes and villages of this empire are very few and their buildings are of wood and clay couered with thatch None may haue doores to their houses but onely great personages Their principal cities are Zimbas and Benamataza the first whereof is one and twentie and the second fifteene daies iourney from Sofala They serue this emperour at the table vpon their knees to sit before him is all one as with vs for a man to stand vpon his feete neither may any presume to stand in his presence but onely great lords He is tasted vnto not before but after he hath eaten and drunke For his armes he hath a spade and two dartes Tribute he taketh none but onely certaine daies seruice and giftes presented vnto him without which there is no appearing in his sight Hee carrieth whithersoeuer he go foure hundred dogs as a most sure and trustie guard Hee keepeth all the heires of his tributary princes as vassals and as pledges of their fathers loialtie There are no prisons in al his empire for sufficient testimonie being brought of the commission of any crime iustice is executed out of hand and of all offences none are punished with greater seueritie and rigour then witchcraft theft and adulterie His people are of a meane 〈◊〉 blacke and well proportioned They are Gentiles in religion hauing no idols but worshipping one onely God whom they call Mozimo They go apparelled in cloth of cotton either made by themselues or brought from other countries howbeit the king will in no case weare any forrein cloth for feare of poison or such like trecherie and the meaner sort of his subiects are clad in beasts skins Among all the armies and
1595. that those seas are at sometimes not onely free from stormie tempests but most pleasant also to saile vpon with faire and gentle weather And as the Spaniards for a long time that they might discourage all other nations from attempting nauigation vpon The south sea beyond America blinded all Christendome with a report that the streights of Magellan were vnrepasable so perhaps the Portugals to terrifie all others from sailing to the east Indies and to keepe the gaine and secrets of that rich trade entire vnto themselues haue in their writings and relations made the doubling of the cape of Buena Esperança and the crossing ouer those seas a matter of farre greater difficultie and danger then it is of late manifestly found to be The name of Buena esperança or good hope was giuen vnto this promontory by Iohn the second king of Portugall bicause that when his fleetes had once doubled this cape either outward or homeward they then stedfastly hoped in good time to performe the residue of their voiage otherwise not In the midst of this cape lieth a plot of ground of that beautie and delight as that without any humane industrie it may compare with the most artificiall gardens of Europe On the top of this place nature minding as it were to excell her-selfe hath framed a great plaine which for beautifull situation fruitfulnes of herbes varietie of flowers and flourishing verdure of all things seemeth to resemble a terrestriall paradise The Portugals terme it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnfitly The table of the cape And to the end they might not faile of the meanes to enioy so pleasant a place there is close vnder it a very good harbour which is called The port of Conception The people of this place called in the Arabian toong Cafri Cafres or Cafates that is to say lawlesse or outlawes are for the most part exceeding blacke of colour which very thing may be a sufficient argument that the sunne is not the sole or chiefe cause of their blacknes for in diuers other countries where the heate thereof is farre more scorching and intolerable there are tawnie browne yellowish ash-coloured and white people so that the cause there of seemeth rather to be an hereditarie qualitie transfused from the parents then the intemperature of an hot climate though it also may be some furtherance thereunto The Hollanders in the yeere 1595. entering the harbour of Saint Bras somewhat to the east of Cabo das Agulhas had conuersation truck with some of these Cafres whom they found to be a stoute and valiant people but very base and contemptible in their behauiour and apparell being clad in oxe and sheeps skins wrapped about their shoulders with the hairie sides inward in forme of a mantle Their weapons are a kinde of small slender dartes or pikes some whereof are headed with some kinde of mettall the residue being vnheaded and hardened onely at the points with fire They couer their priuie parts with a sheepes tayle which is bound vp before and behinde with a girdle Their horne-beasts are like those of Spaine verie well limmed and proportioned Their sheepe are great and faire not hauing any wooll on their backes but a kinde of harsh haire like goates Other particulars by them obserued for breuities sake I omit Now that we may proceede in describing the residue of Cafraria hauing sayled about the cape of Buena esperança westward albeit the coast in regard of the greatnes thereof may seem to ly directly north yet for the space of seuenteene degrees till you come to Cabo Negro the farthest Northwesterne bound of this fift part of the lower Ethiopia it trendeth somewhat to the west along which coast somewhat within the lande appeareth a mighty ranke or ridge of mountaines called by the Portugales Os picos fragosos that is the ragged points or spires being besides their excessiue height craggie rough and steepe lying bare desolate and vtterly voide of all succour and seruing for no other end but for an obiect to the windes and a mark for the tempests The residue of the coast till you come to Cabo Negro sometimes lying lowe and sometimes high sometimes shooting into the sea and sometimes again gently retiring containeth many plaines hils vallies and places most fertile and delightful some of them being alwaies of so fresh and pleasant view as they seeme to represent a continuall spring The sixt and last part of the lower or extreme Ethiopia containing the kingdome of Congo whereunto in times past were tributarie and subiect the kingdomes of Matama and Angola to the south the kingdomes of Quisama and Pangelungos to the east and to the north the kingdome of Anzicana inhabited by the Anzichi and Loango peopled by the Bramas FIrst therefore according to our proposed order that we may begin with the most southerly parts The kingdome of Matama so called after the name of the king thereof who being a Gentile ruleth ouer diuers prouinces named Quimbebe bordereth north vpon the first great lake whereout Nilus springeth and vpon the south frontiers of Angola east it abutteth vpon the western banke of the riuer Bagamidri and stretcheth south as far as the riuer Brauagul which springeth out of the mountains of the moone This coūtrey standeth in a good holesome aire aboundeth with mines of cristall other metals hath victuals great plenty And although the people thereof their neighbour-borderers doe traffike togither yet the king of Matama and the king of Angola wage war oftentimes one against another also the said riuer Bagamidri deuideth this kingdome of Matama from the great empire of Monomotapa before described which lieth to the east thereof Next followeth Angola a kingdome subiect in times past to the king of Congo the gouernour whereof not verie many yeeres ago growing exceedingly rich mightie rebelled against his soueraigne by diuers attempts shaking off the yoke of superioritie became himselfe an absolute prince This countrey by reason that the people are suffered to haue as many wiues as they list is a place most woonderfully populous They goe whole millions of them to the warres not leauing any men of seruice behinde but for want of victuals they are often constrained to leaue their enterprises halfe vndone Vpon this king Paulo Diaz who remained gouernour in these parts for the king of Portugall waged warre the reason was bicause certaine Portugall merchants and others going by way of traffike to Cabaza a towne situate an hundred and fiftie miles from the sea where the king of Angola vsually resideth they were by order from this king the same yeere that king Sebastian died in Barbarie sodainly spoiled of their goods and part of them slaine it being alleaged that they were all spies and came to vndermine the present state Whereupon Paulo Diaz prouided himselfe and with two galeots did many notable exploits on both sides of the riuer Coanza Finally hauing built a forte in a very commodious and hillie ground
hurteth none but such as do him iniurie only he will in a sporting maner gently heaue vp with his 〈◊〉 such persons as he meeteth He loueth the water beyond measure and will stande vp to the mid-body therein bathing the ridge of his backe and other parts with his long promuscis or trunke His skin is fower fingers thicke and it is reported that an elephant of this countrey being stricken with a little gunne called Petrera was not wounded therewith but so sore brused inwardly that within three daies after he died Heere are likewise reported to be mightie adders or snakes of fiue and twentie spannes long and fiue spans broad which will swallow vp an whole stagge or any other creature of that bignes Neither are they here destitute of Indie-cockes and hens partridges feasants and innumerable birds of praie both of the lande and of the sea whereof some diue vnder the water which the Portugals call Pelicans Ouer against the most southerly part of the said kingdome of Congo where it confineth with Angola lyeth an Isle called Loanda being twentie miles long and but one mile broad at the most betweene which and the maine land is the best port of all that Ocean About this Isle do haunt infinite store of whales where notwithstanding no amber at all is found which is a manifest argument that it proceedeth notfrom these creatures Here they fish for certaine little shels which in Congo and the countries adioyning are vsed in steed of mony The well-waters of this Isle when the sea ebbeth are salte but when it floweth they are most fresh and sweet In this Isle the Portugals haue a towne from whence they traffique to Congo and Angola and amongst other commodities they get euery yeere in those parts about fiue thousand slaues the custome of which trade belongeth by ancient constitutions vnto the crowne of Portugale To the north of Congo vpon the sea coast beginneth the kingdome of Loango tributarie in times past to the king of Congo It aboundeth with elephants and the inhabitants called Bramas are circumcised after the Iewish manner Next vpon them doe border the Anzichi who are possessed of large countries namely from the riuer Zaire euen to the deserts of Nubia They abound with mines of copper and with sanders both Red and Gray which are the best and some are of opinion that here groweth the right Lignum Aquilae which is of so excellent vertue in phisick They haue one supreme king with many princes vnder him They traffique in Congo and carrie home from thence salt and great shels to be vsed for coine which are brought thither from the Isle of San Tomé in exchange of their cloth of the palme tree and of Iuory but the chiefe commodities which they part from are slaues of their owne nation and of Nubia and the said shels they vse also insteed of Iewels and ornaments Both they and the Bramas before mentioned do carry for their defence in the warres certaine targets made of the skin of a beast which in Germany is called Dante their weapons offensiue be little bowes and shorte arrowes which they shoot with such woonderfull celerity as they will discharge twentie one after another before the first arrow fall to the ground They haue shambles of mans-flesh as wee haue of beeues and muttons They eat their enemies which they take in the warres their slaues which they cannot make away for a good round price they sell vnto the butchers and some will offer themselues to the slaughter for the loue of their princes and patrons so sillie they are that to do their lordes a pleasure they will not refuse present death wherefore the Portugals repose not so much trust in any kinde of slaues as in them and they are very valiant also in the warres But to returne vnto the sea-coast from the mouth of the riuer Zaire Northward the land bearing out somewhat more to the west is framed into three headlands namely Cabo primero Cabo da Caterina and the cape of Lopo Gonsalues which is a cape very well knowen in regard of the eminency and outstretching thereof Itlyeth in one degree of southerly latitude Ouer against which cape within the land do inhabite the people called Bramas in the kingdome of Loango beforementioned From hence for the space of fiue or sixe degrees till you come to Punta delgada or The slender point the coast lyeth in a manner directly North most of which tract is inhabited by a nation of Negros called Ambus North of the said slender point you haue Rio dos Camarones or the riuer of shrimpes which is full of little Isles not far from which riuer are The countries of Biafar and Medra inhabited with people which are addicted to inchantments witchcrafts and all kind of abominable sorceries Much more might be said concerning this sixt part of the lower Ethiopia but because it is in so ample and methodicall a manner described in the historie of Philippo Pigafetta most iudiciously and aptly Englished by the learned Master Abraham Hartwell I refer the reader thereunto as to the principal and the very fountaine of all other discourses which haue bin written to any purpose of Congo and the countries adioyning Of the countries of Benin Meleghete Ghinea and Sierra Leona WEstward from the countries last mentioned lyeth the kingdome of Benin hauing a very proper towne of that name and an hauen called Gurte The 〈◊〉 liue in Idolatry and are a rude and brutish nation notwithstanding that their prince is serued with such high reuerence and neuer commeth in sight but with great solemnity many ceremonies at whose death his chiefe fauorites count it the greatest point of honour to be buried with him to the end as they vainely imagine they may doe him seruice in another world This countrie aboundeth with long pepper called by the Portugals Pimienta dal rabo which is as much to say as ppeper with a tayle This tailed or long pepper so far excelleth the pepper of the east Indies that an ounce therof is of more force then halfe a pound of that other For which cause the kings of Portugale haue done what lay in them to keep it from being brought into these parts of Europe least it should too much abase the estimation and price of their Indian pepper All which notwithstanding there hath bin great quantitie secretly conueied from thence by the Portugals as likewise the English and French nations and of late yeeres the Hollanders haue had great traffique into those parts Next follow the kingdomes of Temian and Dauma and lower to the south the prouince of Meleghete a place very famous and well knowne in regard of a little red graine which there groweth being in shape somewhat like to the 〈◊〉 of Italy but of a most vehement and firy tast and these little graines are by the apothecaries called Grana Paradisi Here also is made of 〈◊〉 and the ashes of the Palme-tree a kind of
are two opinions the first is this namely because this part of the worlde is diuided from Europa by the Mediterran sea and from Asia by the riuer of Nilus Others are of opinion that this name Africa was deriued from one Ifricus the king of Arabia Foelix who is saide to haue beene the first that euer inhabited these partes This Ifricus waging warre against the king of Aslyria and being at length by him driuen out of his kingdome passed with his whole armie ouer Nilus and so conducting his troupes westward made no delay till he was come vnto the region lying about Carthage Hence it is that the Arabians do imagine the countrie about Carthage onely and the regions lying westward thereof to comprehende all Africa The borders of Africa AFRICA if we may giue credite vnto the writers of that nation being men of learning and most skilfull Cosmographers beginneth southward at certaine riuers issuing foorth of a lake in the desert of Gaoga Eastward it bordereth vpon the riuer Nilus It extendeth northward to that part of Egypt where Nilus at seuen mouthes dischargeth his streames into the Mediterran sea from whence it stretcheth westward as farre as the streites of Gibraltar and is bounded on that part with the vtmost sea-towne of all Libya called Nun. Likewise the south part thereof abutteth vpon the Ocean sea which compasseth Africa almost as farre as the deserts of Gaoga The 〈◊〉 of Africa OVR authors affirme that Africa is 〈◊〉 into fower partes that is to say Barbaria Numidia Libya and the lande of Negros Barbaria taketh beginning from the hill called Meies which is the extreme part of all the mountaines of Atlas being distant from Alexandria almost three hundred miles It is bounded on the North side with the Mediterran sea stretching thence to mount-Meies aforesaid and from mount-Meies extending itselfe to the streites of Gibraltar Westward it is limited with the said streites from whence winding it selfe out of the Mediterran sea into the maine Ocean it is inclosed with the most westerly point of Atlas namely at that Westerne cape which is next vnto the towne called Messa And southward it is bounded with that side of Atlas which lieth towards the Mediterran sea This is the most noble and worthie region of all Africa the inhabitants whereof are of a browne or tawnie colour being a ciuill people and prescribe wholsome lawes and constitutions vnto themselues The second part of Africa is called of the Latines Numidia but of the Arabians Biledulgerid this region bringeth foorth dates in great abundance It beginneth eastward at the citie of Eloacat which is an hundred miles distant from Egypt extendeth west as far as the towne of Nun standing vpon the Ocean sea Northward it is inclosed with the south side of Atlas And the south part thereof bordereth vpon the sandie deserts of Libya All the Arabians doe vsually call it The land of dates because this onely region of Africa beareth dates The third part called of the Latines Libya and of the Arabians Sarra which word signifieth a desert beginneth eastward at that part of Nilus which is next vnto the citie of Eloacat and from thence runneth westward as far as the Ocean sea Northwarde it is bounded with Numidia southward it abutteth vpon the land of Negros eastward it taketh beginning at the kingdome of Gaoga and stretcheth westwarde euen to the land of Gualata which bordereth vpon the Ocean sea The fourth part of Africa which is called the land of Negros beginneth eastward at the kingdome of Gaoga from whence it extendeth west as far as Gualata The north part thereof is inclosed with the desert of Libya and the south part which is vnknowen vnto vs with the Ocean sea howbeit the merchants which daily come from thence to the kingdome of Tombuto haue sufficiently described the situation of that countrie vnto vs. This lande of Negros hath a mightie riuer which taking his name of the region is called Niger this riuer taketh his originall from the east out of a certaine desert called by the foresaide Negros Seu. Others will haue this riuer to spring out of a certaine lake and so to run westward till it exonerateth itselfe into the Ocean sea Our Cosmographers affirme that the said riuer of Niger is deriued out of Nilus which they imagine for some certaine space to be swallowed vp of the earth and yet at last to burst foorth into such a lake as is before mentioned Some others are of opinion that this riuer beginneth westward to spring out of a certaine mountaine and so running east to make at length a huge lake which verily is not like to be true for they vsually saile westward from Tombuto to the kingdome of Ginea yea and to the land of Melli also both which in respect of Tombuto are situate to the west neither hath the said land of Negros any kingdomes comparable for beautifull and pleasant soile vnto those which adioine vnto the bankes of Niger And here it is to be noted that according to the opinion of our Cosmographers that land of Negros by which Nilus is said to run namely that part of the world which stretcheth eastward euen to the Indian sea some northerly parcell whereof abutteth vpon the red sea to wit the countrie which lieth without the gulfe of Arabia is not to be called any member or portion of Africa and that for many reasons which are to be found in the processe of this historie set downe more at large The said countrie is called by the Latines Aethiopia From thence come certaine religious Friers seared or branded on the face with an hot iron who are to be seene almost ouer all Europe and specially at Rome These people haue an Emperour which they call Prete Gianni the greater part of that land being inhabited with Christians Howbeit there is also a certaine Mahumetan among them which is said to possesse a great dominion A diuision of the fower forenamed partes of Africa BArbarie is distinguished into fower kingdomes the first whereof is the kingdome of Maroco which is likewise diuided into seuen regions or prouinces namely Hea Sus Guzula the territorie of Maroco Duccala Hazcora Tedles The second kingdome of Barbarie called Fez comprehendèth in like sort seuen regions within the bounds thereof to wit Temesne the territorie of Fez Azgara Elabat Errif Garet and Elcauz The third kingdome is called Telensin and hath three regions vnder it namely the mountaines Tenez and Algezer The fourth kingdome of Barbarie is named Tunis vnder which are comprized fower regions that is to say Bugia Constantina Tripolis in Barbarie and Ezzaba which is a good part of Numidia Bugia hath alwaies beene turmoiled with continuall warres because sometimes it was subiect vnto the king of Tunis and sometimes againe vnto the king of Tremizen Certaine it is that euen vntill these our daies this Bugia was a kingdome of it selfe and so continued till
the principall citie of that region was at the commandement of Ferdinando the king of Castile taken by one Peter of Nauarre The diuision of Numidia THis is the basest part of all Africa neither will our Cosmographers vouchsafe it the name of a kingdome by reason that the inhabitants thereof are so far distant asunder which you may easily coniecture by that which followeth Tesset a citie of Numidia containeth about fower hundred families and is in regard of the Libyan desert seuered from all places of habitation almost three hundred miles wherefore this second part is thought by diuers not to be woorthie the name of a kingdome Howbeit we will make some relation of the habitable partes of Numidia some whereof may not vnfitly bee compared with other regions of Africa as for example that of Segelmess which territorie of Numidia lieth ouer against Barbarie likewise Zeb which is situate against Bugia and the signiorie of Biledulgerid which extendeth vnto the kingdome of Tunis Reseruing therefore many particulars for the second part of this historie we wil make our entrie and beginning at those places which lie vpon the west of Numidia the names whereof be these Tesset Guaden Ifren Hacca Dare Tebelbelt Todga Fercale Segelmess Benigumi Fighig Tegua Tsabit Tegorarin Mesab Tegort and Guarghela The region of Zeb containeth fiue townes to wit Pescara Elborgh Nesta Taolac and Deusin so many cities likewise hath the territorie of Biledulgerid namely Teozar Caphesa Nefreoa Elchamid and Chalbis and from hence eastward are found the isles of Gerbe Garion Mesellata Mestrata Teoirraga Gademis Fizza Augela Birdeoa and Eloacat These are the names of the most famous places of all Numidia being bounded as is said before westward vpon the Ocean sea and eastward with the riuer of Nilus A description of the Libyan deserts which lie betweene Numidia and the 〈◊〉 of Negros THese deserts haue not as yet any certaine name amongst vs 〈◊〉 they be diuided into fiue partes and receiue all their denomination from the inhabitants which dwell vpon them that is to say from the Numidians who are in like sort themselues diuided into fiue partes also to wit the people or tribes called Zanega Ganziga Terga Leuta and Berdeoa There bee likewise certaine places which take some proper and particular name from the goodnes and badnes of the soile as namely the desert of Azaohad so called for the drought and vnfruitfulnes of that place likewise Hair albeit a desert yet so called for the goodnes and temperature of the aire A diuision of the land of Negros into seuerall kingdomes MOreouer the land of Negros is diuided into many kingdomes whereof albeit a great part be vnknowen vnto vs and remooued farre out of our trade we will notwithstanding make relation of those places where we our selues haue aboad and which by long experience are growne very familiar vnto vs as likewise of some other places from whence merchants vsed to trauell vnto the same cities wherein my selfe was then resident from whom I learned right 〈◊〉 the state of their countries I my selfe saw fifteene kingdoms of the Negros howbeit there are many more which although I saw not with mine owne eies yet are they by the Negros sufficiently knowen and frequented Their names therefore beginning from the west and so proceeding Eastward and Southward are these following Gualata Ghinea Melli Tombuto Gago Guber Agadez Cano Casena Zegzeg Zanfara Guangara Burno Gaoga Nube These fifteene kingdomes are for the most part situate vpon the riuer Niger through the which merchants vsually trauell from Gualata to the citie of Alcair in Egypt The iourney indeede is very long but yet secure and voide of danger All the said kingdomes adioine one vpon another ten whereof are separated either by the riuer Niger or by some sandie desert and in times past each one of the fifteene had a seueral king but now at this present they are all in a manner subiect vnto three kings onely namely to the king of Tombuto who is Lord of the greatest part to the king of Borno who gouerneth the least part and the residue is in subiection vnto the king of Gaoga howbeit he that possesseth the kingdome of Ducala hath a very small traine attending vpon him Likewise these kingdomes haue many other kingdomes bordering vpon the South frontiers of them to wit Bito Temiam Dauma Medra and Gorhan the gouernors and inhabitants whereof are most rich and industrious people great louers of iustice and equitie albeit some lead a brutish kinde of life Of the habitations of Africa and of the signification of this word Barbar OVr Cosmographers and historiographers affirme that in times past Africa was altogether disinhabited except that part which is now called the land of Negros and most certaine it is that Barbarie and Numidia were for many ages destitute of inhabitants The tawnie people of the said region were called by the name of Barbar being deriued of the verbe Barbara which in their toong signifieth to murmur because the African toong soundeth in the eares of the Arabians no otherwise then the voice of beasts which vtter their sounds without any accents Others will haue Barbar to be one word twise repeated forsomuch as Bar in the Arabian toong signifieth a desert For say they when king Iphricus being by the Assyrians or Aethiopians driuen out of his owne kingdome trauelled towards Aegypt and seeing himselfe so oppressed with his enimies that he knew not what should become of him and his followers he asked his people how or which way it was possible to escape who answered him Bar-Bar that is to the desert to the desert giuing him to vnderstand by this speech that he could haue no safer refuge then to crosse ouer Nilus and to flee vnto the desert of Africa And this reason seemeth to agree with them which affirme the Africans to be descended from the people of Arabia foelix The originall of the people of Africa ABout the originall of the Africans our historiographers doe much disagree For some will haue them to be deriued from the inhabitants of Palaestina because as they say being expelled out of their owne countrie by the Assyrians they came at length into Africa seeing the fruitfulnes of the soile chose it to be their place of habitation Others are of opinion that they tooke their originall from the Sabeans a people of Arabia foelix and that before such time as they were put to flight by the Assyrians or Aethiopians as hath beene aforesaid Some others report that the Africans descended from certaine people of Asia who being chased thence by reason of warres which were waged against them fled into Greece which at the same time had no inhabitants at all Howbeit the enimie still pursuing them they were forced to crosse the sea of Morea and being arriued in Africa to settle themselues there but their enimies aboad still in Greece All which opinions and reportes are to bee vnderstood onely
king ouer all Africa But Califa Elcain hearing this newes at Alchair was woonderfully afflicted in minde partly because he saw himselfe repelled from his owne kingdome and partly for that he had spent all his money which hee brought with him insomuch that he knew not what in the world to doe determining some seuere punishment for Gehoar by whose counsell he left his kingdome of Arabia Howbeit there was one of his secret counsellers a very learned and wittie man who seeing his Lord so sad and pensiue and being desirous by some good aduise to preuent the danger imminent comforted him in this wise Your highnes knoweth most inuincible Califa that fortune is most variable and that the courage of your soldiers is no whit daunted by reason of these mishaps For mine owne part as I haue heretofore shewed my selfe to be your trustie seruant so will I at this time giue you such profitable counsell whereby you may within short space recouer all those dominions which haue beene so treacherously taken from you and may without al peraduenture most easily attaine vnto your owne harts desire And this you may doe without maintaining any armie at all yea I assure you if you please to take mine aduise that I will foorthwith procure you such an armie as shall giue you great store of money and yet notwithstanding shall doe you good seruice also The Califa being somewhat 〈◊〉 these speeches asked his counsellour how this might possibly be brought to effect My Lord saith his counseller certaine it is that the Arabians are now growen so populous and to so great a number that all Arabia cannot containe them scarcely wil the yeerely increase of the ground suffice to feede their droues and you see with what great famine they are afflicted and how they are destitute not onely of habitations but euen of victuals and sustenance Wherefore if you had heeretofore giuen them leaue they would long ere this haue inuaded Africa And if you will now licence them so to doe doubt you not but that you shall receiue of them an huge masse of golde This counsell could not altogether satisfie the Califa his minde for he knew right well that the Arabians would so waste all Africa as it should neither bee profitable for himselfe nor for his enemies Notwithstanding seeing that his kingdome was altogether endangered hee thought it better to accept those summes of money which his counsellour promised and so to be reuenged of his enemie then to lose both his kingdome and gold all at once Wherefore hee permitted all Arabians which would pay him ducats apeece freely to enter Africa conditionally that they would shewe themselues most deadly enemies vnto the treacherous king of Barbarie Which libertie being granted vnto them it is reported that ten tribes or families of Arabians being halfe the people of Arabia deserta came immediately into Africa vnto whom certaine inhabitants of Arabia foelix ioyned themselues insomuch that there were found amongst them about fiftie thousand persons able to beare armes their women children and cattell were almost innumerable the storie whereof Ibnu Rachu the most diligent chronicler of African affaires whom we haue before mentioned setteth downe at large These Arabians hauing trauersed the desert betweene Aegypt and Barbarie first laid siege vnto Tripolis a citie of Barbarie which being ouercome they slew a great part of the citizens the residue escaping by flight Next of all they encountred the towne of Capes which was by them taken and vanquished At length they besieged Cairaoan also howbeit the citizens being sufficiently prouided of victuals are said to haue indured the siege for eight monethes which being expired they were constrained to yeeld at what time there was nothing in Cairaoan but wofull slaughters hideous outcries and present death This land the Arabians diuided among themselues and began to people and inhabite the same requiring in the meane space large tributes of the townes and prouinces subiect vnto them And so they possessed all Africa vntill such time as one Ioseph the sonne of Ieffin attained to the kingdom of Marocco This Ioseph was the first king of Marocco who endeuored by all meanes to aduance the friends and kinred of the late deceased king of Africa vnto the kingdome neither did he cease vntill he had expelled all the Arabians out of Cairaoan Howbeit the Arabians possessed the regions thereabout giuing themselues wholy to spoiles and robberies and the friends of the said deceased king could beare rule but in certaine places only Afterward succeeded in the kingdome of Marocco one Mansor who was the fourth king and prelate of that Mahumetan sect which was called Muachedim This man albeit his grand-fathers great grand-fathers had alwaies fauoured the posteritie and friends of the foresaid deceased African king and had restored them to their ancient dignitie deuised altogether how to oppose himselfe against them and to vsurpe all their authoritie Wherefore making a fained league with them we reade that he prouoked the Arabians against them and so very easily ouercame them Afterward Mansor brought the greatest part of the Arabians into the westerne dominions of Africa vnto the better sort of whom he gaue the habitation of Duccala Azgara and vnto the baser remnant he bequeathed the possession of Numidia But in processe of time he commanded the Numidian slaues to be set at libertie and so in despight of the Arabians he caused them to inhabite that part of Numidia which he had allotted vnto them But as for the Arabians of Azgara and of certaine other places in Barbarie he brought them all vnder his subiection For the Arabians out of deserts are like fishes without water they had indeede often attempted to get into the deserts but the mountaines of Atlas which were then possessed by the Barbarians hindred their passage Neither had they libertie to passe ouer the plaines for the residue of the Barbarians were there planted Wherefore their pride being abated they applied themselues vnto husbandrie hauing no where to repose themselues but onely in villages cottages and tents And their miserie was so much the greater in that they were constrained yeerely to disburse vnto the king of Marocco most ample tribute Those which inhabited Duccala because they were an huge multitude easily freed themselues from all tribute and imposition A great part of the Arabians remained still at Tunis for that Mansor had refused to carie them along with him who after the death of the said Mansor grew to be Lords of Tunis and so continued till they resigned their gouernment vnto the people called Abu-Haf vpon condition that they should pay them halfe the reuenues thereof and this condition hath remained firme euen vntill our daies Howbeit because the Arabians are increased to such innumerable swarmes that the whole reuenues are not sufficient for them the king of Tunis most iustly alloweth some of them their duties to the end they may make secure passage for merchants which indeede
they performe without molestation or hurt of any But the residue which are depriued of their pay betake themselues wholy to robberies thefts slaughters and such other monstrous outrages For these lurking alwaies in the woods no sooner see any merchant approching but suddenly they breake foorth depriuing him of his goodes and life also insomuch that now merchants dare not passe that way but with a garrison of safe-conduct And so they passe sometimes to their great inconuenience For they are notwithstanding constrained to giue vnto the foresaid Arabians which are in pay with the king of Tunis great summes of money and are likewise oftentimes so in danger of robbers that they lose both their goods liues Adiuision of the Arabians which inhabite Africa and are called by the name of Barbarians into diuers progenies or kinreds THE Arabians which inhabite Africa are diuided into three partes one part whereof are called Cachin the second Hilell and the third Machill The Cachin are diuided into three nations or tribes to wit the tribes of Etheg Sumait and Sahid Moreouer Etheg is diuided into three families that is to say the familie of Delleg Elmuntefig and Subair and these are dispersed into many regions Hilel are deriued into fower generations to wit the people of Benihemir of Rieh of Sufien and of Chusain The familie of Benihemir is diuided into the linages of Huroam Hucben Habrum and Mussim The tribe of Rieh are distributed into the kinreds called Deuvad Suaid Asgeg Elcherith Enedri and Garfam which kinreds possesse many dominions Machil haue three tribes vnder them to wit Mastar Hutmen and Hassan Mastar are diuided into Ruchen and Selim Hutmen into Elhasi and Chinan and Hassan into Deuihessen Deuimansor and Deuihubaidulla Deuihessen is distinguished into the kinreds called Dulein Berbun Vodein Racmen and Hamram Deuimansor into Hemrun Menebbe Husein and Albuhusein and lastly Deuihubaidulla into Garag Hedeg Teleb and Geoan All these doe in a manner possesse innumerable regions insomuch that to reckon them vp at large were a matter not onely difficult but almost impossible Of the habitations and number of the foresaid Arabians THE most noble and famous Arabians were they of the familie of Etheg vnto whome Almansor gaue the regions of Duccala and of Tedles to inhabit These Arabians euen till our times haue beene put to great distresse and hazard partly by the Portugall king and partly by the king of Fez. They haue at all oportunities if need should require a hundred thousand soldiers fit to beare armes a great part whereof are horsemen The Arabians called Sumait enioy that part of the Libyan desert which lieth ouer against the desert of Tripoly These make often inuasions into Barbarie for they haue no places allotted them therein but they and their camels doe perpetually remaine in the deserts They are able to leuie fowerscore thousand soldiers the greatest part being footmen Likewise the tribe of Sahid doe inhabite the desert of Libya and these haue had alwaies great league and familiaritie with the king of Guargala They haue such abundance of cattell that they doe plentifully supply all the cities of that region with flesh and that especially in sommer time for all the winter they stirre not out of the deserts Their number is increased to about a hundred and fiftie thousand hauing not many horsemen among them The tribe of Delleg possesse diuers habitations howbeit Caesaria containeth the greatest part of them Some also inhabit vpon the frontiers of the kingdome of Bugia who are said to receiue a yeerely stipend from their next neighbours But the least part of them dwell vpon the field-countrey of Acdes vpon the borders of Mauritania and vpon some part of mount Atlas being subiect vnto the king of Fez. The people of Elmuntefig are seated in the prouince of Azgar and are called by the later writers Elcaluth These also pay certaine yeerely tribute vnto the King of Fez beeing able to furnish about eight thousand horsemen to the warres The kindred of Sobair doe inhabit not farre from the kingdome of Gezeir being many of them vnder the pay of the king of Tremizen and are said to enioy a great part of Numidia They haue more or lesse three thousand most warlike horsemen They possesse likewise great abundance of camels for which cause they abide all winter in the deserts The remnant of them occupieth the plaine which lieth betweene Sala and Mecnes These haue huge droues of cattell and exercise themselues in husbandrie being constrained to pay some yeerely tribute vnto the king of Fez. They haue horsemen who as a man may say are naturally framed to the warres about fower thousand in number Of the people of Hillel and of their habitations HIllel which are also called Benihamir dwell vpon the frontiers of the kingdome of Tremizen and Oran These range vp and downe the desert of Tegorarin being in pay vnder the king of Tremizen and of great riches and power insomuch that they haue at all times in a readines for the 〈◊〉 six thousand horsemen The tribe of Hurua possesse onely the borders of Mustuganim These are sauage people giuing themselues wholy to spoiles and robberies and alienating their mindes from the warres They neuer come foorth of the deserts for the people of Barbarie will neither allow them any places of habitation nor yet any stipend at all horsemen they haue to the number of two thousand The kindred of Hucban are next neighbours vnto the region of Melian who receiue certaine pay from the king of Tunis They are rude and wilde people and in very deede estranged from al humanitie they haue as it is reported about fifteene hundred horsemen The tribe of Habru inhabit the region lying betweene Oran and Mustuganim these exercise husbandrie paying yeerely tribute vnto the king of Tremizen and being scarce able to make one hundred horsemen The people called Mussim possesse those deserts of Masila which extend vnto the kingdome of Bugia These likewise are giuen onely to theft and robberie they take tribute both of their owne people and of other regions adioyning vnto them The tribe of Rieeh inhabite those deserts of Libya which border vpon Constantina These haue most ample dominions in Numidia being now diuided into sixe parts This right famous and warlike nation receiueth stipende from the king of Tunis hauing fiue thousande horsemen at command The people of Suaid enioy that desert which is extended vnto the signiorie of Tenez These haue very large possessions receiuing stipend from the king of Tremizen being men of notable dexteritie as well in the warres as in all other conuersation of life The kindred of Azgeg dwell not all together in one place for part of them inhabite the region of Garet among the people called Hemram and the residue poslesse that part of Duccala which lieth neere vnto Azaphi The tribe of Elcherit dwell vpon that portion of Helin which is situate in the plaine of Sahidim hauing the people of Heah tributarie
vnto them and being a very vnciuill and barbarous people The people called Enedri are seated in the plaine of Heah but the whole region of Heah maintaineth almost fower thousand horsemen which notwithstanding are vnfit for the warres The people of Garfa haue sundrie mansions neither haue they any king or gouernour They are dispersed among other generations and especially among the kindreds of Manebbi and Hemram These conuay dates from Segelmessa to the kingdome of Fez and carrie backe againe from thence such things as are necessarie for Segelmess Of the tribe of Machil THE people called Ruche who are thought to be descended from Mastar doe possesse that desert which lieth next vnto Dedes and Farcala They haue very small dominions for which cause they are accounted no whit rich howbeit they are most valiant soldiers and exceeding swift of foote insomuch that they esteeme it a great disgrace if one of their footemen be vanquished by two horsemen And you shall finde scarce any one man among them which will not outgoe a very swift horse be the iourney neuer so long They haue about fiue hundred horsemen but most warlike footemen to the number of eight thousand Selim inhabite vpon the riuer of Dara from whence they range vp and downe the deserts They are endowed with great riches carrying euery yeere merchandize vnto the kingdome of Tombuto and are thought to be in high fauour with the king himselfe A large iurisdiction they haue in Darha and great plentie of camels and for all oportunities of warre they haue euer in a readines three thousande horsemen The tribe of Elhasis dwelleth vpon the sea-coast neere vnto Messa They doe arme about fiue hundred horsemen and are a nation altogether rude and vnacquainted in the warres Some part of them inhabiteth Azgara Those which dwell about Messa are free from the yoke of superioritie but the others which remaine in Azgar are subiect to the king of Fez. The kindred of Chinan are dispersed among them which before were called Elcaluth and these also are subiect vnto the king of Fez. Very warlike people they are and are able to set foorth two thousand horsemen The people of Deuihessen are diuided into the kindreds of Duleim Burbun Vode Deuimansor and Deuihubaidulla Duleim are conuersant in the deserts of Libya with the African people called Zanhaga They haue neither dominion nor yet any stipend wherefore they are very poore and giuen to robberie they trauell vnto Dara and exchange cattell for dates with the inhabitants there All brauerie comelines of apparell they vtterly neglect and their number of fighting menis ten thousand fower thousand being horsemen and the residue footmen The people called Burbun possesse that part of the Libyan desert which adioyneth vnto Sus. They are a huge multitude neither haue they any riches beside camels Vnto them is subiect the citie of Tesset which scarce sufficeth them for the maintenance of their horses being but a few The people of Vode enioyeth that desert which is situate betweene Guaden and Gualata They beare rule ouer the Guadenites and of the Duke of Gualata they receiue yeerely tribute and their number is growen almost infinite For by report they are of abilitie to bring into the field almost threescore thousand most skilful soldiers notwithstanding they haue great want of horses The tribe of Racmen occupie that desert which is next vnto Hacha They haue very large possessions and doe in the spring-time vsually trauell vnto Tesset for then alwaies they haue somewhat to doe with the inhabitants there Their people fit for armes are to the number of twelue thousand albeit they haue very few horsemen The nation of Hamrum inhabit the deserts of Tagauost exacting some tribute of the inhabitants there and with daily incursions likewise molesting the people of Nun. Their number of soldiers is almost eight thousand The people descended of Deuimansor THE generation of Dehemrum which are saide to deriue their petigree from Deuimansor inhabite the desert ouer against Segellmess who continually wander by the Libyan deserts as farre as Ighid They haue tributarie vnto them the people of Segelmesse of Todgatan of Tebelbelt and of Dara Their soile yeeldeth such abundance of dates that the yeerely increase thereof is sufficient to maintaine them although they had nothing else to liue on They are of great fame in other nations being able to furnish for the warres about three thousand horsemen There dwell likewise among these certaine other Arabians of more base condition called in their language Garfa Esgeh which notwithstanding haue great abundance of horses and of all other cattell A certaine part also of the people Hemrun obtaineth many and large possessions among the 〈◊〉 from whence they haue a notable yeerely reuenue brought them in this part of Hemrun maketh often excursions towards the deserts of Fighig In summer they disperse themselues all ouer the prouince of Garet possessing the east part of Mauritania They are noble and honest persons and endued with all kinde of humanitie and ciuilitie insomuch that all the kings of Fez in a manner do vsually chuse them wiues out of the same tribe needes therefore must there be great friendship and familiaritie among them The people of Menebbe doe almost inhabite the very same desert hauing two prouinces of Numidia vnder them to wit Matgara and Retebbe These also are a most valiant nation being in pay vnder the prouince of Segelmess and being able to make about two thousand horsemen The kindred of Husein which are thought to be descended of Deuimansor are seated vpon the mountaines of Atlas They haue in the said mountaines a large iurisdiction namely diuers castles euery where and many most rich and flourishing cities all which they thinke were giuen them in olde time by the vice-royes of the Marini for so soone as they had woon that kingdome the kindred of Husein affoorded them great aide and seruice Their dominion is now subiect vnto the kings of Fez and of Segelmess They haue a captaine which for the most part resideth at the citie commonly called Garseluin Likewise they are alwaies in a manner trauersing of that desert which in their language is called Eddara They are taken to be a most rich and honest people being of abilitie to furnish for the warres about sixe thousande horsemen Among these you shall oftentimes finde many Arabians of another sort whom they vse onely to be their seruants The tribe of Abulhusein doe inhabite part of the foresaid desert of Eddara howbeit a very smal part the greatest number of whom are brought vnto such extreme miserie that they haue not in those their wilde tents sufficient sustenance to liue vpon True it is that they haue built them certaine habitations vpon the Libyan deserts but yet they are cruelly pinched with famine and with extreme penurie of all things and that there might be no end of their miserie they are constrained to pay yeerely tribute vnto their kindred and parents The ofspring
and distressed life differing much in this regard from those Africans whom wee affirmed to dwell in Libya Howbeit they are farre more valiant then the said Africans and vse commonly to exchange camels in the lande of Negros they haue likewise great store of horses which in Europe they cal horses of Barbarie They take woonderfull delight in hunting and pursuing of deere of wilde asses of ostriches and such like Neither is it here to be omitted that the greater part of Arabians which inhabite Numidia are very wittie and conceited in penning of verses wherein each man will decipher his loue his hunting his combates and other his woorthie actes and this is done for the most part in ryme after the Italians manner And albe it they are most liberally minded yet dare they not by bountifull giuing make any shew of wealth for they are daily oppressed with manifold inconueniences They are apparelled after the Numidians fashion sauing that their women differ somewhat from the women of Numidia Those deserts which they doe now enioy were woont to be possessed by Africans but rhe Arabians with their armie inuading that part of Africa draue out the naturall Numidians and reserued the deserts adioining vpon The land of dates vnto themselues but the Numidians began to inhabite those deserts which border vpon the land of Negros The Arabians which dwell betweene mount Atlas and the Mediterran sea are far wealthier then these which we now speake of both for costlines of apparell for good horse-meate and for the statelines and beautie of their tents Their horses also are of better shape and more corpulent but not so swift as the horses of the Numidian desert They exercise husbandrie and haue great increase of corne Their droues and flockes of cattell be innumerable insomuch that they cannot inhabite one by another for want of pasture They are somewhat more vile and barbarous then those which inhabite the deserts and yet they are not altogether destitute of liberalitie part of them which dwell in the territorie of Fez are subiect vnto the king of Fez. Those which remaine in Marocco and Duccala haue continued this long time free from all exaction and tribute but so soone as the king of Portugall began to beare rule ouer Azafi and Azamor there began also among them strife and ciuill warre Wherefore being assailed by the king of Portugall on the one side and by the king of Fez on the other and being oppressed also with the extreme famine and scarcitie of that yeere they were brought vnto such miserie that they freely offered themselues as slaues vnto the Portugals submitting themselues to any man that was willing to releeue their intolerable hunger and by this meanes scarce one of them was left in all Duccala Moreouer those which possesse the deserts bordering vpon the kingdomes of Tremizen and Tunis may all of them in regard of the rest be called noblemen and gentlemen For their gouernours receiuing euery yeere great reuenues from the king of Tunis diuide the same afterward among their people to the end they may auoid all discord and by this meanes all dissension is eschewed and peace is kept firme and inuiolable among them They haue notable dexteritie and cunning both in making of tents and in bringing vp and keeping of horses In summer time they vsually come neere vnto Tunis to the end that each man may prouide himselfe of bread armour and other necessaries all which they carrie with them into the deserts remaining there the whole winter In the spring of the yeere they applie themselues to hunting insomuch that no beast can escape their pursuit My selfe I remember was once at their tents to my no little danger and inconuenience where I sawe greater quantitie of cloth brasse yron and copper then a man shall oftentimes finde in the most rich warehouses of some cities Howbeit no trust is to be giuen vnto them for if occasion serue they will play the theeues most slyly and cunningly notwithstanding they seeme to carrie some shewe of ciuilitie They take great delight in poetrie and will pen most excellent verses their language being very pure and elegant If any woorthie poet be found among them he is accepted by their gouernours with great honour and liberalitie neither would any man easily beleeue what wit and decencie is in their verses Their women according to the guise of that countrie goe very gorgeously attired they weare linnen gownes died black with exceeding wide sleeues ouer which sometimes they cast a mantle of the same colour or of blew the corners of which mantle are very artificially fastened about their shoulders with a fine siluer claspe Likewise they haue rings hanging at their eares which for the most part are made of siluer they weare many rings also vpon their fingers Moreouer they vsually weare about their thighes and ankles certaine scarfes and rings after the fashion of the Africans They couer their faces with certaine maskes hauing onely two holes for their eies to peepe out at If any man chance to meete with them they presently hide their faces passing by him with silence except it be some of their allies or kinsfolks for vnto them they alwaies discouer their faces neither is there any vse of the said maske so long as they be in presence These Arabians when they trauell any iourney as they oftentimes doe they set their women vpon certaine saddles made handsomely of wicker for the same purpose and fastened to their camels backes neither be they any thing too wide but fit onely for a woman to sit in When they goe to the warres each man carries his wife with him to the end that she may cheere vp her good man and giue him encouragement Their damsels which are vnmarried doe vsually paint their faces brests armes hands and fingers with a kinde of counterfeit colour which is accounted a most decent custome among them But this fashion was first brought in by those Arabians which before we called Africans what time they began first of all to inhabite that region for before then they neuer vsed any false or glozing colours The women of Barbarie vse not this fond kind of painting but contenting themselues only with their naturall hiew they regarde not such fained ornaments howbeit sometimes they will temper a certaine colour with hens-dung and safron wherewithall they paint a little round spot on the bals of their cheeks about the bredth of a French crowne Likewise betweene their eie-browes they make a triangle and paint vpon their chinnes a patch like vnto an oliue leafe Some of them also doe paint their eie-browes and this custome is very highly esteemed of by the Arabian poets and by the gentlemen of that countrie Howbeit they will not vse these fantasticall ornaments aboue two or three daies together all which time they will not be seene to any of their friends except it be to their husbands and children for these paintings seeme to bee great allurements
in the midst of the citie which was built by Hali the first king of Maroco and the son of Ioseph aforesaid being commonly called the temple of Hali ben Ioseph Howbeit one Abdul-Mumen which succeeded him to the ende he might vtterly abolish the name of Hali and might make himselfe onely famous with posteritie caused this stately temple of Maroco to be razed and to bee reedified somewhat more sumptuously then before Howbeit he lost not onely his expences but failed of his purpose also for the common people euen till this day doe call the said Temple by the first and auncientest name Likewise in this citie not farre from a certaine rocke was built a Temple by him that was the seconde vsurper ouer the kingdome of Maroco after whose death his nephew Mansor enlarged the saide Temple fiftie cubites on all sides and adorned the same with manye pillars which he commanded to be brought out of Spaine for that purpose Vnder this temple he made a cesterne or vault as bigge as the temple it selfe the roofe of the saide temple he couered with lead and at euery corner he made leaden pipes to conueigh raine water into the cesterne vnderneath the temple The turret or steeple is built of most hard and well framed stone like vnto Vespasian his Amphitheatrum at Rome containing in compasse moe then an hundreth elles and in height exceeding the steeple of Bononia The staires of the said turret or steeple are each of them nine handfuls in bredth the vtmost side of the wall is ten and the thicknes of the turret is fiue The saide turret hath seauen lofts vnto which the staires ascending are very lightsome for there are great store of windowes which to the ende they may giue more light are made broader within then without Vpon the top of this turret is built a certaine spire or pinnacle rising sharpe in forme of a sugar-loafe and containing fiue and twentie elles in compasse but in height being not much more then two speares length the saide spire hath three lofts one aboue another vnto euerie of which they ascend with woodden ladders Likewise on the top of this spire standeth a golden halfe moone vpon a barre of iron with three spheares of golde vnder it which golden spheares are so fastened vnto the saide iron barre that the greatest is lowest and the least highest It woulde make a man giddie to looke downe from the top of the turret for men walking on the grounde be they neuer so tall seeme no bigger then a childe of one yeere old From hence likewise may you plainly escrie the promontorie of Azaphi which notwithstanding is an hundreth and thirtie miles distant But mountaines you will say by reason of their huge bignes may easily be seene a farre off howbeit from this turret a man may in cleere weather most easily see fiftie miles into the plaine countries The inner part of the saide temple is not very beautifull But the roofe is most cunningly and artificially vaulted the timbers being framed and set togither with singular workmanship so that I haue not seene many fairer temples in all Italy And albeit you shall hardly finde any temple in the whole worlde greater then this yet is it very meanly frequented for the people do neuer assemble there but onely vpon fridaies Yea a great part of this citie especially about the foresaid temple lieth so desolate and void of inhabitants that a man cannot without great difficultie passe by reason of the ruines of many houses lying in the way Vnder the porch of this temple it is reported that in old time there were almost an hundreth shops of sale-bookes and as many on the other side ouer against them but at this time I thinke there is not one booke-seller in all the whole citie to be founde And scarcely is the third part of this citie inhabited Within the wals of Maroco are vines palme-trees great gardens and most fruitefull corne-fields for without their wals they can till no ground by reason of the Arabians often inrodes Know yee this for a certaintie that the saide citie is growen to vntimely decay and old age for scarcely fiue hundreth sixe yeeres are past since the first building thereof forasmuch as the foundations thereof were laide in the time of Ioseph the sonne of Tesfin that is to say in the 424. yeere of the Hegeira Which decay I can impute to none other cause but to the iniurie of continuall warres and to the often alterations of magistrates and of the common wealth After king Ioseph succeeded his sonne Hali and the sonne of Hali was ordained gouernour after his fathers decease In whose time sprung vp a factious crue by the meanes of a certaine Mahumetan preacher named Elmaheli being a man both borne brought vp in the mountaines The saide Elmaheli hauing leuied a great army waged warre against Abraham his soueraigne Lord. Whereupon king Abraham conducting another armie against him had marueilous ill successe and after the battaile ended his passage into the citie of Maroco was so stopped and restrained that he was forced with a fewe soldiers which remained yet aliue to flee eastward to the mountains of Atlas But Elmaheli not being satisfied with expelling his true soueraigne out of his owne kingdome commaunded one of his captaines called Abdul Mumen with the one halfe of his armie to pursue the distressed king while himselfe with the other halfe laide siege to Maroco The king with his followers came at length vnto Oran hoping there to haue renued his forces But Abdul Mumen and his great armie pursued the saide king so narrowly that the citizens of Oran told him in plaine termes that they would not hazard themselues for him Wherefore this vnhappie king beeing vtterly driuen to dispayre set his Queene on horsebacke behinde him and so in the night time road foorth of the citie But perceiuing that he was descried and knowen by his enimies he fled foorthwith vnto a certaine rocke standing vpon the sea-shore where setting spurs to his horse-side he cast himselfe his most deere spouse and his horse downe headlong and was within a while after found slaine among the rockes and stones by certaine which dwelt neere vnto the place Wherefore Abdul Mumen hauing gotten the victorie returned in triumphant manner toward Maroco where the foresaide Elmaheli was deceased before his comming in whose place Abdul was chosen King and Mahumetan prelate ouer the fortie disciples and tooke tenne persons to be of his priuie councell which was a new inuention in the law of Mahumet This Abdul Mumen hauing besieged the citie of Maroco for the space of an whole yeere at last ouercame it and killing Isaac the onely sonne of King Abraham with his owne hand he commaunded all the soldiers and a good part of the citizens to be slaine This mans posteritie raigned from the fiue hundred sixteenth to the sixe hundred sixtie eight yeere of the Hegeira and at length they were
dispossessed of the kingdome by a certaine king of the Tribe called Marin Now attend I beseech you and marke what changes and alterations of estates befell afterwards The family of Marin after the said kings decease bare rule till the yeere of the Hegeira 785. At length the kingdome of Maroco decreasing dayly more and more was gouerned by kings which came out of the next mountaine Howbeit neuer had Maroco any gouernours which did so tyrannize ouer it as they of the family called 〈◊〉 The principall court of this family was holden for the most part at Fez but ouer Maroco were appointed Vice-royes and deputies insomuch that Fez was continually the head and Metropolitan citie of all Mauritania and of all the Western dominion euen as God willing we will declare more at large in our briefe treatise concerning the law and religion of Mahumet But now hauing made a sufficient digression let vs resume the matter subiect where we left In the said citie of Maroco is a most impregnable castle which if you consider the bignes the walles the towers and the gates built all of perfect marble you may well thinke to be a citie rather then a castle Within this castle there is a stately temple 〈◊〉 a most 〈◊〉 and high steeple on the top where of standeth an halfe moone 〈◊〉 vnder the halfe moone are three golden spheares one bigger then another which all of them togither weigh 130000. ducates Some kings there were who being allured with the value went about to take downe the saide golden sphears but they had alwaies some great misfortune or other which hindered their attempt insomuch that the common people thinke it verie dangerous if a man doth but offer to touch the said sphears with his hand Some affirme that they are there placed by so forcible an influence of the planets that they cannot be remooued from thence by any cunning or 〈◊〉 Some others report that a certaine spirite is adiured by 〈◊〉 magique to defend those sphears from al assaults and iniuries whatsoeuer In our time the king of Maroco neglecting the vulgar opinion would haue taken down the said sphears to vse them for treasure against the Portugals who as then prepared themselues to battell against him Howbeit his counsellours would not suffer him so to doe for that they esteemed them as the principall monuments of all Maroco I remember that I read in a certaine historiographer that the wife of King Mansor to the ende she might be famous in time to come caused those three sphears to be made of the princely and pretious iewels which her husband Mansor bestowed vpon her and to be placed vpon the temple which he built Likewise the said castle containeth a most noble college which hath thirtie hals belonging thereunto In the midst whereof is one hall of a maruellous greatnes wherein publique 〈◊〉 were most solemnely read while the studie of learning flourished among them Such as were admitted into this college had their victuals and 〈◊〉 freely giuen them Of their professours some were yeerely allowed an hundred and some two hundred ducates according to the qualitie of their profession neither would they admit any to heare them read but such as perfectly vnderstood what belonged to those Arts which they professed The walles of this 〈◊〉 hall are most stately adorned with painting and caruing especially of 〈◊〉 hall where lectures were woont publiquely to be read All their porches and vaulted roofes are made of painted and glittering stones called in their language 〈◊〉 such as are yet vsed in Spaine In the midst of the said building is a most pleasant and cleare fountaine the wall whereof is of white and polished 〈◊〉 albeit low-built as in Africa for the most 〈◊〉 such wals are I haue heard that in old time here was great abundance of students but at my beeing there I found but fiue in all and they haue now a most 〈◊〉 professour and one that is quite voide of all humanitie In the time of mine abode at Maroco I grew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 acquaintance with a certaine Iewe who 〈◊〉 his skill in the law was but meane was 〈◊〉 exceeding rich and well 〈◊〉 in histories This Iewe in regard of many singular duties which he performed to his prince found the kings bountie and liberalitie extended vnto him All others which beare any publike office are in mine opinion men of no high reach Moreouer the foresaide castell as I remember hath twelue courts most curiously and artificially built by one Mansor In the first lodged about fiue hundreth Christians which carried crosse-bowes before the king whither soeuer he went Not farre from thence is the lodging of the Lord Chancellour and of the kings priuie counsell which house is called by them The house of affaires The third is called The court of victorie wherein all the armour and munition of the citie is laide vp The fourth belongeth to the great Master of the kings horse Vpon this court three stables adioine each one of which stables will containe two hundreth horses Likewise there are two other 〈◊〉 wherof one is for mules and the other for an hundreth of the kings horses onely Next vnto the stables were two barnes or garners adioining in two seuerall places in the lower of which barnes was laide straw and barly in the other There is also another most large place to laye vp corne in euerie roume whereof will containe moe then three hundreth bushels The couer of the saide roume hath a certaine hole whereunto they ascend by staires made of stone Whither the beasts laden with corne being come they powre the saide corne into the hole And so when they woulde take any corne from thence they do but open certaine holes below suffring so much corne to come foorth as may serue their turnes and that without any labour at all There is likewise a certaine other hall where the kings sonne and the sonnes of noble men are instructed in learning Then may you beholde a certaine fower-square building containing diuers galleries with faire glasse windowes in which galleries are many histories most curiously painted heere likewise the glittering and gilt armour is to be seene Next vnto this building is another wherein certaine of the kings guard are lodged then followes that wherein state-matters are discussed whereunto adioineth also another which is appointed for ambassadours to conferre with the kings priuie counsell in Likewise the kings concubines and other ladies of honour haue a most conuenient place assigned them next vnto which standeth the lodging of the kings sonnes Not farre from the castell wall on that side which is next vnto the fields may you behold a most pleasant and large garden containing almost all kinde of trees that can be named Moreouer there is a sumptuous and stately porch built of most excellent square marble in the midst whereof standeth a piller with a lion very artificially made of marble out of the mouth of which lion issueth most cleere and
occasion to effect his purpose sent word vnto Hali vpon a certaine festiuall day that after their Mahumetan deuotions were finished he shoulde come and walke with him appointing a place where he had laide a troupe of men in ambush to kill Hali at his comming which being done he went to church Hali suspecting no harme at all told his associate that now was the time wherein they might bring their purpose to effect And this intent of theirs they foorthwith declared vnto ten other of their adherents and to the end that the whole matter might go securely and certainly forward they presently assembled a great multitude of footemen which they fained that they woulde sende the next day vnto Azamor that if they were constrained to flie they might haue aide and succour in a readines All their complices being armed they came to church at the very same time when as the king with all his traine was entring thereinto and had placed himselfe next vnto the Mahumetan preacher The church was full of auditors and the king had his guard attending vpon him who bicause they knew the two foresaid yoong gentlemen to be very familiar with the king suspected none euill but suffered them to draw neere vnto his person Wherefore one of the saide yoong courtiers as though he would haue done obeizance vnto the king came before him but Hali got in at his backe and stabd him through with a dagger and at the verie same instant the other thrust him in with his sworde and so this vnhappie king imbrued in his owne bloud gaue vp the ghost The kings guarde went about to apprehend the authors of this fact but being ouermatched by the contrarie part and suspecting least the people were authors of this conspiracie they sought to saue themselues by flight And after them followed all the rest of the assemblie till the authors of the saide murther were left alone They also immediately came foorth and perswaded the people with many words that they had slaine the king for none other cause but onely in regard that he had attempted the vtter ouerthrow both of themselues and of the whole people The citizens beeing to too credulous aduaunced the two foresaid conspiratours to the gouernment of the kingdome howbeit they agreed not long thereabout but the common-wealth was diuersly tossed hither and thither sometime inclining to one sometime to another Wherefore the Portugall merchants which vsually frequented that citie in great numbers wrote vnto their king to sende foorthwith an armie of soldiers thither for they were in good hope that he shoulde most easily and with small disaduantage winne the saide citie Howbeit the king being nothing mooued with this message of theirs would not send any forces at al til he was more certainly informed by his said merchants touching the death of the king of Azaphi the dissension betweene the two new gouernours As also that they had made such a compact with a certaine captaine of the contrary faction that it was the easiest matter in the world for him to cōquer the towne For they had built them a verie strong castell vpon the sea-shore wherein their merchandize might safely be bestowed For the Portugals had perswaded the townes-men that during the great tumult about the kings death they were all of them in danger to lose both their liues and goods Wherefore into this castell among their vessels of oile and other wares they cunningly conueied gunnes and all other kind of warlike instruments but the townes-men being ignorant heere of exacted nothing of the Portugals saue onely custome due for their wares Now after the Portugales had sufficiently prouided themselues of all kinde of armour and warlike munitions they sought by all meanes an occasion to fight with the citizens At length it came to passe that a certaine Portugals seruant buying meat in the citie did so prouoke a butcher that after much quarrelling they fell to blowes whereupon the seruant feeling himselfe hurt thrust the butcher with his sworde and laide him along vpon the colde earth and then fledde speedily to the castell wherein he knewe the merchants to be The people immediately rose vp in armes and ranne all of them with one consent vnto the castell to the end they might vtterly destroy it cut the throats of all them which were therein But the guns and crosse-bowes which were there in a readines made such hauock among the townes-men that it cannot be but they were greatly daunted At this first encounter there were an hūdreth and fiftie citizens slaine outright howbeit the residue woulde not therefore giue ouer but gaue the castle daily assaults At length the king of Portugall sent aide vnto his subiects to wit fiue thousand footemen two hundreth horsemen with a great number of gunnes Which forces when the citizens sawe to approch they presently betooke themselues to their feete and fled vnto the mountaine of Benimegher neither durst any man staie in the towne but onely he that was the author of building the castle And so it came to passe that the Portugall forces woon the towne without any perill or labour Soone after the generall of the whole armie sent the builder of the castle vnto the king of Portugall But the king sent him with a certaine number of attendants backe againe to Azafi and appointed him gouernour of all the region adiacent For the Portugall king was not acquainted with their customes nether did he sufficiently know how they gouerned their common-wealth Soone after ensued the miserable desolation and ruine not onely of the citie but of the whole region thereabouts In this discourse we haue beene somewhat tedious to the end we might shew of how great euill a woman may be the instrument and what intollerable mischiefes are bred by dissension These things were a dooing as I remember when my selfe was but ten yeeres olde and being fowerteene yeeres of age I had some conference with the Portugall captaine aforesaide This captaine with an armie of fiue hundreth Portugals and more then twelue thousand Arabian horsemen giuing battaile to the king of Maroco conquered all the foresaid prouince on the behalfe of his master the Portugall king in the yeere of the Hegeira 920. as in our briefe treatise concerning the Mahumetan religion we will declare more at large Of Conta a towne in Duccala THis towne is situate from Azafi about 20. miles is said to haue bin built by the Gothes at the verie same time when they possessed the whole region of Duccala but now it is vtterly layde waste howbeit the field belonging thereto is in subiection vnto certaine Arabians which dwell in the said prouince of Duccala Of Tit a citie in Duccala THis ancient citie of Tit built of olde by the Africans vpon the Ocean sea-shoare is about twentie miles distant from Azamur It hath most large and fruitfull fields belonging vnto it The inhabitants are men of a grosse conceit who regard neither husbandrie nor
thought good to set downe for to shewe that euen Africa is not vtterly destitute of curteous and bountifull persons Of the mountaine called Tensita TEnsita is a part of Atlas beginning westward from the mountaine last before mentioned eastward extending to mount Dedes and southward bordering vpon the desert of Dara This mountaine is well stored with inhabitants hauing moe then fiftie castles about it the wals whereof are built of lime and rough stone and by reason of the southerly situation it is euer almost destitute of raine All the said castles stand not far from the riuer of Dara some being three and some fower miles distant there from The greatest prince in all this region hath vnder his command well nigh fifteene hundreth horsemen and about so many footemen as the prince of Tenueues before named And albeit these two princes are most neerely conioined in bloud yet can neither of them refraine from most cruel wars against the other It is a woonder to see what plentie of dates this mountaine affoordeth the inhabitants giue themselues partly to husbandry and partly to traffike Barly they haue in great abundance but of other graine and of flesh their scarcitie is incredible for that region hath no flockes nor droues at all The prince of this mountaine commonly receiueth for yeerly tribute twentie thousand peeces of golde euery of which peeces containeth not so much by one third part as an Italian ducate There hath alwaies beene so great amitie betweene the king of Fez and this prince that either often sendeth rich gifts vnto other My selfe I remember once saw a most magnificent gift presented to the saide king in the name of this prince to wit fiftie men slaues and fiftie women slaues brought out of the land of Negros tenne eunuches twelue camels one Giraffa sixteene ciuet-cats one pound of ciuet a pound of amber and almost sixe hundreth skins of a certaine beast called by them Elamt whereof they make shieldes 〈◊〉 skin being woorth at Fez eight ducates twentie of the men slaues cost twentie ducates a peece and so did fifteene of the women slaues euery 〈◊〉 was valued at fortie euery camell at fiftie and euery ciuet-cat at two hundreth ducates and a pound of ciuet and amber is solde at Fez for threescore 〈◊〉 Besides these were sent diuers other particulars which for breuities sake I omit I my selfe was in presence when these gifts were offred to the king the princes ambassadour was a Negro borne being grosse and of a 〈◊〉 stature and for his speech and behauiour most barbarous this fellow deliuered a letter vnto the king which was most absurdly and rudely penned but the Oration which he made in the behalfe of his prince was well woorse so that at the pronouncing thereof the king and all that were in presence could hardly 〈◊〉 from laughter but were faine to hold their hands and garments before their faces least they should haue seemed too vnciuile Howbeit his oration being ended the king caused him to be most honorablie entertained by the priest of the chiefe temple with whom himselfe and all his company hauing remained foureteene daies were at length by the kings liberalitie frankely and freely dismissed Of the mountaine called Gogideme NEere vnto the foresaid mountaiue standeth another called Gogideme This mountaine is inhabited only vpon the north part therof but the south side is vtterly destitute of inhabitāts the reason whereof they affirme to be because that when Abraham king of Maroco was vanquished and expelled out of his kingdome by his disciple Elmaheli he fled vnto this mountaine The inhabitants mooued with the kings distresse endeuoured though to small purpose all that they could to succour him whereof his disciple Elmaheli was no sooner enformed but comming with an huge armie and with great furie vpon them he destroyed all their mansions and villages and the inhabitants he partly put to flight and partly to the sword And those which now remaine there are most base beggerly and slauish people Howbeit they sell some quantitie of oyle and barley neither indeed will their soyle affoorde any other commodities They haue plentie of goates and mules but their mules and horses are but of meane stature The situation and qualitie of this mountaine will not suffer the inhabitants to be liberall Of the two mountaines called Teseuon TEseuon consisteth of two mountaines standing together beginning westward from Gogideme ending at the mountaine of Tagodast The inhabitants are oppressed with extreme pouerty for their ground will yeelde nothing but barley and mill Forth of this mountaine springeth a certaine riuer which runneth through most pleasant fields But because the mountainers neuer descend into the same fields hence it is that the Arabians onely enioy that riuer To haue said thus much of these may suffice now let vs come vnto the description of Tedles A description of the region of Tedles THE small region of Tedles beginneth westward at the riuer of Guadelhabid and stretcheth to that part of the great riuer Ommirabih where Guadelhabid taketh his beginning southward it bordereth vpon Atlas and northward it extendeth vnto that place where Guadelhabid falleth into Ommirabih This region is in a manner three square for the said two riuers springing out of Atlas run northward till approching by little and little they meet all in one Of Tefza the principall towne in Tedles TEfza the chiefe towne of all Tedles was built by the Africans vpon the side of mount Atlas some fiue miles from the plaine The towne wals are built of most excellent marble which is called in their language Tefza and hereupon the towne was so called likewise Heere doe reside most rich merchants of all sorts of Iewes here are two hundred families who exercise merchandise and diuers other trades And here you shall finde many outlandish merchants which buy from hence certaine blacke mantles with hoods commonly called Ilbernus of these there are great numbers both in Italy and Spaine Neither are there in Fez any kinde of wares which are not heere to be bought if any merchant will exchange his wares for other hee may the sooner be dispatched for the townesmen are furnished with diuers kindes of merchandise as namely with slaues horses woad leather and such like whereas if the forreiners were desirous to sell their wares for ready money they should neuer attaine to the value of them They haue golden coine without any image or superscription their apparell is decent and their women are beautifull and of good behauiour In this towne are diuers Mahumetan temples and many priests and iudges Their common-wealth was woont alwaies to be most prosperous and well-gouerned but degenerating from better to woorse they were afterward so turmoyled with dissensions and wars that certaine being expelled hence came vnto the king of Fez humbly beseeching him that by force he would restore them to their natiue countrey conditionally that all matters wel succeeding on their side they should deliuer
a certaine storie of his maketh mention of Tedsi which he saith is neere vnto Segelmesse and Dara but he declareth not whether it bee built vpon mount Dedes or no. Howbeit for mine owne part I thinke it to be the very same for there is no other citie in the whole region The inhabitants of Dedes are in very deede most base people of whom the greater part dwell in caues vnder the ground their foode is barly and Elhasid that is to say barly meale sodden with water and salt which we mentioned before in our description of Hea For heere is nothing but barly to be had Goates and asses they haue in great abundance The caues wherein their cattell lodge are exceedingly full of Nitre so that I verily thinke if this mountaine were neer vnto Italy the saide Nitre woulde yeerely be woorth fiue and twentie thousand ducates But such is their negligence and vnskilfulnes that they are vtterly ignorant to what purposes Nitre serueth Their garments are so rude that they scarce couer halfe their nakednes Their houses are very loathsome being annoied with the stinking smell of their goates In all this mountaine you shall finde neither castle nor walled towne when they builde an house they pile one stone vpon another without any morter at all the roofe whereof they make of certaine rubbish like as they doe in some places of Sisa and Fabbriano the residue as we haue saide do inhabite in caues neither sawe I euer to my remembrance greater swarmes of fleas then among these people Moreouer they are trecherous and strong theeues so giuen to stealing and quarrelling that for one vnkinde worde they wil not onely contend but seeke also the destruction one of another They haue neither iudge priest nor any honest gouernour among them No merchants resort vnto them for being giuen to continuall idlenes and not exercising any trades or handie-crafts they haue nothing meet for merchants to buy If any merchant bring any wares into their region vnlesse he be safe conducted by their captaine he is in danger to be robbed of altogither And if the wares serue not for their owne necessarie vses they will exact one fourth part of them for custome Their women are most forlorne and sluttish going more beggerly apparelled then the men So continual and slauish are the toiles of these women that for miserie the life of asses is not comparable to theirs And to be briefe neuer was I so wearie of any place in all Africa as I was of this howbeit in the yeere of the Hegeira 918. being commanded by one to whom I was in dutie bound to trauell vnto Segelmesse I could not choose but come this way IOHN LEO HIS THIRD BOOKE OF the Historie of Africa and of the memorable things contained therein A most exact description of the kingdome of Fez. THE kingdome of Fez beginneth westward at the famous riuer Ommirabih and extendeth eastward to the riuer Muluia northward it is enclosed partly with the Ocean and partly with the Mediterran sea The said kingdome of Fez is diuided into seuen prouinces to wit Temesna the territorie of Fez Azgar Elhabet Errif Garet and Elchauz euery of which prouinces had in olde time a seuerall gouernour neither indeed hath the citie of Fez alwaies beene the kings royall seate but being built by a certaine Mahumetan apostata was gouerned by his posteritie almost an hundred and fiftie yeeres After which time the familie of Marin got the vpper hand who here setling their aboad were the first that euer called Fez by the name of a kingdome the reasons why they did so we will declare more at large in our small treatise concerning the Mahumetan religion But now let vs as briefly as we may describe the foresaid seuen prouinces Of Temesna one of the prouinces of Fez. WEstward it beginneth at the riuer Ommirabih and stretcheth to the riuer Buragrag eastward the south frontire thereof bordereth vpon Atlas and the north vpon the Ocean sea It is all ouer a plaine countrie containing in length from west to east almost fowerscore miles and in breadth from Atlas to the Ocean sea about threescore This prouince hath euer almost beene the principall of the seuen before named for it contained to the number of fortie great townes besides three hundred castles all which were inhabited by Barbarian Africans In the 323. yeere of the Hegeira this prouince was by a certaine heretike against the Mahumetan religion called Chemim the sonne of Mennal freed from paying of tribute This bad fellow perswaded the people of Fez to yeeld no tribute nor honour vnto their prince and himselfe he professed to be a prophet but a while after he dealt not onely in matters of religion but in commonwealth-affaires also At length waging war against the king of Fez who was himselfe then warring with the people of Zenete it so befell that a league was concluded betweene them conditionally that Chemim shoulde enioy Temesne and that the king should containe himselfe within his signiorie of Fez so that from thencefoorth neither should molest other The said Chemim gouerned the prouince of Temesne about fiue and thirtie yeeres and his successours enioyed it almost an hundred yeeres after his decease But king Ioseph hauing built Maroco went about to bring this prouince vnder his subiection Whereupon he sent sundry Mahumetan doctors and priestes to reclaime the gouernour thereof from his heresie and to perswade him if it were possible to yeelde vnto the king by faire meanes Whereof the inhabitants being aduertised they consulted with a certaine kinsman of the foresaid gouernour in the citie called Anfa to murther the king of Maroco his ambassadours and so they did Soone after leuying an armie of fiftie thousand men he marched towards Maroco intending to expell thence the familie of Luntuna and Ioseph their king King Ioseph hearing of this newes was driuen into woonderfull perplexitie of minde Wherefore preparing an huge and mighty armie he staied not the comming of his enemies but on the sudden within three daies hauing conducted his forces ouer the riuer of Ommirabih he entred Temesne when as the foresaid fiftie thousand men were so dismaied at the kings armie that they all passed the riuer Buragrag and so fled into Fez. But the king so dispeopled and wasted Temesne that without all remorse he put both man woman and childe to the sword This armie remained in the region eight daies in which space they so razed and demolished all the towns and cities thereof that there scarce remaine any fragments of them at this time But the king of Fez on the other side hearing that the people of Temesne were come into his dominions made a truce with the tribe of Zenete and bent his great armie against the said Temesnites And at length hauing found them halfe famished neere vnto the riuer of Buragrag he so stopped their passage on all sides that they were constrained to run vp the craggie mountaines
and thickets At last being enuironed with the kings forces some of them were drowned in the riuer others were throwne downe headlong from the rocks and the residue were miserably slaine by their enemies And for the space of ten moneths there was such hauock made among the Temesnites that a sillie remnant of them was left aliue But king Ioseph prince of the Luntunes returned foorthwith to Maroco for the repairing of his forces to the end he might bid the king of Fez a battell Howbeit Temesne being bereft of her people was left to be inhabited of wilde beastes Neither had that prouince any new colonie or supply of inhabitants till that about 150. yeeres after king Mansor returning from Tunis brought thence certaine Arabians with him vnto whom he gaue the possession of Temesne And these Arabians enioyed the said prouince for fiftie yeeres till such time as king Mansor himselfe was expelled out of his kingdome and then were they also expolled by the 〈◊〉 and were brought vnto extreme miserie Afterward the kings of the familie of Marin bestowed the said prouince vpon the people of Zenete and Haoara Hence it came to passe that the said people of Zenete and Haoara were alwaies great friends vnto the Marin familie and were thought to haue defended them from the furie of the king of Maroco From which time they haue peaceably enioyed Maroco now they are growne in lesse then an hundred yeeres so mighty that they stand not in feare of the king of Fez. For they are able to bring threescore thousand horsemen to the field and haue two hundred castles at their command My selfe had great familiaritie and acquaintance with them and therefore I will not sticke to record all memorable things which I sawe among them Of Anfa a towne in Temesna THis famous towne was built by the Romans vpon the Ocean sea shore northward of Atlas sixtie eastward of Azamursixtie and westward of Rebat fortie miles The citizens thereof were most ciuill and wealthie people the fields thereto adioyning are exceeding fruitfull for all kinde of graine neither doe I thinke that any towne in all Africa is for pleasant situation comparable thereto The plaine round about it except it be to the sea northward is almost fowerscore miles ouer In olde time it was fraught with stately temples rich ware-houses and shops and beautifull palaces which the monuments as yet remaining doe sufficiently testifie They had also most large and faire gardens out of which they gather great abundance of fruit especially of melons and pome-citrons euen at this day all which are perfectly ripe by mid-Aprill So that the inhabitants vsually carrie their fruits vnto Fez by reason that the fruits of Fez are not so soone ripe Their attire is trim and decent and they haue alwaies had great traffique with the Portugals and the English Likewise they haue many learned men among them Howbeit two reasons are alleaged of the destruction of this towne first because they were too desirous of libertie and secondly for that they maintained certaine gallies or foistes wherewith they daily molested the Island of Cadiz and the Portugals Wherefore at length the king of Portugall sent a strong nauie of fiftie sailes against them the consideration whereof strooke such terrour into the inhabitants that taking such goods as they could carrie fome fled to Rebat and others to Sela and so their towne was left naked to the spoile of the enemie But the Generall of the kings fleete not knowing that they were fled put all his forces into battell-array Howbeit after a while being aduertised how the matter stood he conducted his soldiers into the citie which in one daies space they so defaced burning the houses and laying the walles euen with the ground that vntill this day it hath remained voide of inhabitants My selfe being in this place I coulde scarce refraine from teares when I seriously beheld the miserable ruine of so many faire buildings and temples whereof some monuments are as yet extant The gardens albeit they bring foorth some fruit yet are they more like vnto woods then gardens And now by reason of the king of Fez his weaknes and default this place is fallen into so great desolation as I vtterly despaire that euer it will be inhabited againe Of the citie of Mansora THis towne was built by Mansor the king and Mahumetan patriarke of Maroco vpon a most pleasant field being two miles distant from the Ocean sea fiue and twenty miles from Rebat and fiue and twenty from Anfa it contained in times past almost fower hundred families By this towne runneth a certaine riuer called by the inhabitants Guir on both sides whereof in times past were most beautifull gardens but now there are no fruits at all to be found For vpon the surprize of Anfa the inhabitants of this towne fled vnto Rebat fearing least they also should haue beene assailed by the Portugals Howbeit the wall of this towne remained all whole sauing that the Arabians of Temesne brake it downe in certaine places This towne also I could not but with great sorrow behold for easie it were to repaire it and to furnish it with new inhabitants if but a few houses were saued from ruine but such is the malice of the Arabians thereabout that they will suffer no people to reedifie the same Of the towne of Nuchaila THis little towne called by the inhabitants Nuchaila is built almost in the midst of Temesne It was well peopled in times past and then so long as the foresaid Chemim and his successours bare rule there were fayres yeerely holden whereunto all the inhabitants of Temesne vsually resorted The townesmen were exceeding wealthie for the plaines stretched almost fortie miles right foorth from each side of their towne I red as I remember in a certaine storie that they had in times past such abundance of corne as they would giue a camels burthen thereof for a paire of shooes Howbeit when king Ioseph of Maroco destroied all the region of Temesne this towne was laid waste together with all the townes and cities of the same prouince howbeit at this day certaine fragments thereof are to be seene namely some partes of the towne-wall and one high steeple Here also in the large and pleasant gardens you may see many vines and trees planted which are so olde and sear that they yeeld no fruit at all The husbandmen thereabout hauing finished their daies worke doe lay vp their rakes and other such countrey tooles in the said steeple supposing that by vertue of a certaine holy man which lieth there buried no man dare remooue them out of their place I haue often seene this towne as I trauelled betweene Rebat and Maroco Of the towne of Adendum THis towne was situate among certaine hils almost fifteene miles from mount Atlas and fiue and twenty miles from the towne last named The soile neere vnto it is exceeding fruitfull for corne Not farre from the walles thereof
springeth a certaine riuer about which place are great store of palme-trees being but low and fruitles The said riuer runneth through certaine vallies and rocks where iron-mines are said to haue beene of olde which may seeme probable for the earth resembleth iron in colour and the water in taste Here is nothing now to be seene but a few reliques and ruines of houses and pillers ouerturned for this towne was destroied at the same time when the whole region as is before declared was laid waste Of the towne of Tegeget THis towne was built by the Africans vpon the banke of Ommirabih neere vnto the high way leading from Tedles to Fez. It had in times past ciuill and wealthie inhabitants for it stood not far from the way which passeth ouer Atlas into the deserts hither were all the neighbour-people woont to resort for to buy corne And albeit this towne was razed with all the residue in the prouince yet is it after long time replanted with inhabitants Hither doe all the Arabians of Temesne bring their corne deliuering it vnto the townesmen to be kept Here are no shops nor artificers at all but certaine smithes onely which make tooles of husbandrie and horseshooes The townesmen are streightly inioyned by the Arabians their gouernours courteously to entertaine all strangers trauelling that way Merchants pay custome there for each packe of cloth to the value of a riall but for their horses and camels they giue no custome at all Often trauelling the same way the towne did not greatly please me albeit the grounds about it doe plentifully abound with cattell and corne Of the towne called Hain Elchallu THis small towne standeth on a certaine plaine not farre from Mansora About this towne grow abundance of wilde cherrie-trees and of other thornie trees bearing a round fruit not much vnlike to a cherrie sauing that it is yellow it is somewhat bigger then an oliue and the vtter part thereof is nothing pleasant in taste The fennes and marishes on all sides of the towne are full of snailes and toades which toades as the inhabitants told me are no whit venemous There is not any African historiographer which maketh description or mention of this towne because perhaps they thought it not woorthie the name of a towne or for that it was long since destroied Neither was it as I coniecture built by the Africans but either by the Romans or some other forren people A description of Rebat THis great and famous towne was built not many yeeres agoe by Mansor the king and Mahumetan patriarke of Maroco vpon the Ocean sea shore By the east part thereof runneth the riuer Buragrag beforenamed and there dischargeth itselfe into the maine sea The rocke whereon this towne is founded standeth neere the mouth of the said riuer hauing the riuer on the one side thereof and the sea on the other In building it much resembleth Maroco which Mansor willed to be a paterne thereof sauing that it is a great deale lesse then Maroco Some say that the reason why it was built in this place was for that king Mansor possessing the kingdome of Granada and a great part of Spaine besides and considering that Maroco was so far distant that if any warres should happen he could not in due time send new forces against the Christians determined to built some towne vpon the sea shore where he and his armie might remaine all summer time Some perswaded him to lie with his armie at Ceuta a towne vpon the streites of Gibraltar but Mansor seeing that by reason of the barrennes of the soile he could not maintaine an armie royall for three or fower monethes in the towne of Ceuta he caused this towne of Rebat in short space to be erected and to be exceedingly beautified with temples colleges pallaces shops stoues hospitals and other such buildings Moreouer on the south side without the walles he caused a certaine high tower like the tower of Maroco to be built sauing that the winding staires were somewhat larger insomuch that three horses a-breast might well ascend vp from the top whereof they might escrie ships an huge way into the sea So exceeding is the height thereof that I thinke there is no where the like building to be found And to the end that greater store of artificers and merchants might hither from all places make resort he appointed that euery man according to his trade and occupation should be allowed a yeerely stipend whereupon it came to passe that within few moneths this towne was better stored with all kinde of artificers and merchants then any towne in all Africa besides and that because they reaped a double gaine Here vsed Mansor with his troupes to remaine from the beginning of April till the moneth of September And whereas there was no water about the towne meete to be drunke for the sea runneth ten miles vp into the riuer and the wels likewise yeeld salt-water Mansor caused fresh water to be conueied to the towne by certaine pipes and chanels from a fountaine twelue miles distant And the conducts hee made arch-wise like vnto the conducts of Italie in many places and specially at Rome So soone as the said water-conduct was deriued vnto the towne he caused it to be diuided and sent into sundry places as namely some pipes thereof to the temples some to the colleges others to the kings pallace and the rest into the common cesternes throughout all the citie Howbeit after king Mansors death this towne grew into such decay that scarce the tenth part thereof now remaineth The said notable water-conduct was vtterly fordone in the warre betweene the Marin-familie and the successors of Mansor and the famous towne it selfe decaieth euery day more then other so that at this present a man shall hardly finde throughout the whole towne fower hundred houses inhabited the residue are changed into fields and vineyards About the foresaid rocke are two or three streetes with a few shops in them which notwithstanding are in continuall danger for they daily feare least the Portugals should surprize them because the Portugall king often determined their ouerthrow thinking if he might but win Rebat that the kingdome of Fez were easie to be conquered Howbeit the king of Fez hath alwaies endeuoured to defend the same and strongly to fortifie it against the enemie But comparing their former felicitie with the present alteration whereinto they are fallen I cannot but greatly lament their miserable case Of the towne of Sella THis towne was built by the Romans vpon the riuer of Buragrag two miles from the Ocean sea and a mile from Rebat from whence if a man will goe to the sea he must take Rebat in his way This towne also was destroied when as is aforesaid king Ioseph spoyled all Temesne Howbeit afterward king Mansor caused it to be walled round about and built therein a faire hospitall and a stately pallace into which his soldiers might at their pleasure retire themselues Here
the kings brother will make a truce Which the Portugals no sooner yeelded vnto but the sauage and merciles Moores put them euery one to the sword sauing three or fower onely who were saued at the request of a captaine in the Moores campe The Portugals Generall being sore dismaied with this slaughter for thereby he had lost all his principal soldiers craued aide of a certaine other captaine which by chance arriued there with a mightie fleete being accompanied with a great number of noblemen and gentlemen Howbeit he was so hindred by the Moores who daily did him all the villanie they could and sunke diuers of his ships that he was not able to performe that which he desired In the meane space newes was published among the Portugals of the king of Spaines death whereupon diuers ships were prouided and many Portugals were sent into Spaine Likewise the captaine of the said new forte seeing himselfe destitute of all succour leauing the forte embarked himselfe in those ships which then lay vpon the riuer But the greatest part of the fleete were cast away at their setting foorth and the residue to escape the Moores shot ran themselues a-ground on the flats and shouldes of the riuer and were there miserably slaine by the Moores Many of their ships were here burnt and their ordinance sunke in the sea So many Christians were then slaine some say to the number of ten thousand that the sea-water in that place continued red with their blood for three daies after Soone after the Moores tooke vp fower hundred great peeces of brasse out of the sea This huge calamitie befell the Portugals for two causes first because they would with such a small number make so rash an assault vpon the Moores whom they knew to be so strong and secondly whereas the Portugall-king might at his owne cost haue sent another fleete for a new supply he would by no meanes ioine his owne people and Castilians together For by reason of the diuersitie of counsels and of people there is nothing more pernicious then for an armie to consist of two nations yea the Moores certainly expect the vpper hand when they are to fight with such an armie I my selfe was present in the foresaid warre and sawe each particular accident a little before my voyage to Constantinople Of the towne called Tefelfelt THis towne is situate vpon a sandie plaine fifteene miles eastward of Mahmora and almost twelue miles from the Ocean sea Not far from this towne runneth a certaine riuer on both sides whereof are thicke woods haunted with more fierce and cruell lions then the last before mentioned which greatly endanger those trauellers that haue occasion to lodge thereabout Without this towne vpon the high way to Fez standeth an olde cottage with a plancherd chamber therein here the mulettiers and carriers are said to take vp their lodging but the doore of the said cottage they stop as sure as they can with boughes and thornes Some affirme that this rotten cottage while the towne was inhabited was a most stately inne But it was defaced in the foresaid war of Sahid A description of Mecnase THis towne was so called after the name of the Mecnasites who were the founders thereof From Fez it is 36. miles about fiftie from Sella and from Atlas almost 15. miles distant It is exceeding rich and containeth families to the number of six thousand The inhabitants hereof while they dwelt in the fields liued a most peaceable life howbeit at length they fell to dissension among themselues and the weaker part hauing all their cattell taken from them and hauing nothing in the fields to maintaine their estaste agreed among themselues to build this citie of Mecnase in a most beautifull plaine Neere vnto this towne runneth a little riuer and within three miles thereof are most pleasant gardens replenished with all manner of fruits Quinces there are of great bignes and of a most fragrant smell and pomegranates likewise which being very great and most pleasant in taste haue no stones within them and yet they are sold exceeding cheape Likewise here are plentie of damascens of white plums and of the fruite called Iujuba which being dried in the sunne they eate in the spring and carrie a great number of them to Fez. They haue likewise great store of figs and grapes which are not to be eaten but while they are greene new for their figs being dried become so brittle that they waste all to powder and their grapes when they are made raisins prooue vnsauorie Peaches and oranges they haue in so great quantitie that they make no store of them but their limons are waterish and vnpleasant Oliues are sold among them for a duckat and a halfe the Cantharo which measure containeth a hundred pounds Italian Moreouer their fields yeeld them great plentie of hempe and flaxe which they sell at Fez and Sela. In this towne are most stately and beautifull temples three colleges and ten bath-stoues Euery monday they haue a great market without the towne-walles whereunto the bordering Arabians doe vsually resort Here are oxen sheepe and other such beastes to be sold butter and wooll are here plentifull and at an easie rate In my time the king bestowed this towne vpon a certaine noble man of his where as much fruits are reaped as in the third part of the whole kingdome of Fez. This towne hath beene so afflicted by warres that the yeerely tribute thereof hath beene diminished sometime fortie thousand and fiftie thousand duckats and somtimes more and I haue red that it hath beene besieged for sixe or seuen yeeres together In my time the gouernour thereof the king of Fez his cozen relying vpon the fauour of the people rebelled against his kinsman and soueraigne Whereupon the Fessan king with a great armie besieged the towne two moneths together and because it would not yeeld so wasted and destroied all the countrie thereabout that the gouernour lost by that means fiue and twentie thousand duckats of yeerely reuenue What then shall we thinke of the sixe and seuen yeeres siege before mentioned At length those citizens which fauoured the king of Fez opened the gates and stoutly resisting the contrarie faction gaue the king and his soldiers entrance Thus by their meanes the king wan the citie carrying home to Fez the rebellious gouernour captiue who within fewe daies escaped from him This most strong and beautifull citie hath many faire streetes whereinto by conducts from a fountaine three miles distant is conueied most sweet and holesome water which serueth all the whole citie The mils are two miles distant from the towne The inhabitants are most valiant warlike liberall and ciuill people but their wits are not so refined as others some of them are merchants some artificers and the residue gentlemen They count it vnseemely for any man to send an horse-lode of seede to his husbandman or farmer They are at continuall iarre with the citizens of Fez
water thereupon which water they fetch either out of the riuer or out of some cesterne in certaine lether tankards made for the same purpose but at night each one carrieth his cloth into the foresaid cottages Neither are the medowes wherein they bleach their cloth euer destitute of grasse A most gallant prospect it is to beholde a farre off the white clothes dispersed ouer the greene medow and the christall streames of the riuer which seeme to be of an azure hue running along all which the Poets haue celebrated in their verses A description of the common place of buriall without the citie MAny fieldes there are without the citie which haue been giuen by certaine noblemen for the buriall of the dead Vpon their sepulchers for the most part they lay a long three-square stone When any noble man or any principall citizen deceaseth they lay one stone ouer his head and another ouer his feete whereon vseth to bee engrauen some epitaph with the day and yeere when the partie deceased I my selfe bestowed much labour in gathering of epitaphes which I sawe both about Fez and in other places of Barbary all which being set downe in a booke I gaue vnto the kings brother The matter of their epitaphes is diuers some tending to consolation and others to sorrow Of the sepulchres of the kings of Fez. NOrthward of the citie vpon a certaine high hill stands a palace wherein are the monuments of diuers Marin kings being most artificially hewen out of marble with epitaphes vpon them so that I cannot condignely expresse the maiestie and beautie thereof A description of their gardens WIthout the north east and south parts of the citie are great store of gardens replenished with all kinde of fruite and with stately trees Through the midst of these garden̄s they deriue some small vaine of the riuer some whereof are so full of trees that you woulde take them for groues rather then for gardens These gardens they manure not at all but only water them continually in the moneth of May whereupon they haue great abundance of fruit All their fruits saue their peaches onely are of a most delicate taste whereof so soone as they are ripe aboue fiue hundreth cart-loades are daily carried into the market besides grapes which here I do not mention But the saide fruits are carried vnto a certaine place in Fez where tribute being paide for them they are solde by criers vnto the fruiterers there present In the same place likewise after paying of tribute they sell certaine Negro-slaues Towards the east of Fez lieth a plaine fifteene miles broad and thirtie miles long this plaine is full of fountaines and freshets and is reserued for the vse of the great temple It is farmed out vnto gardiners who sowe thereupon such abundance of hemp melons turneps or nauewes radish and other such like rootes and herbes that euery summer there are saide to be gathered thereof aboue fifteene thousand cart-loads and as many in winter Howbeit the aire is verie vnholsome thereabout for the inhabitants are continually vexed with feuers and are of a yellowish colour Of that part of Fez which is called new Fez. NEW Fez beeing enuironed with an high and impregnable wall and situate on a most beautifull plaine not farre from the riuers side is almost a mile distant from old Fez and that vpon the east and south side thereof Betweene the wals of either towne to the northward entereth a certaine arme of the riuer where the foresaid milles do stande and the other part of the riuer is seuered into two branches one whereof runneth betweene new Fez and old Fez not farre from the edge of the rocke and the other passing through certaine vallies and gardens trendeth at length southward The other part of the riuer holdeth on his course by the rocke and so by the college of king Abutiman This citie of new Fez Iacob the sonne of Abdultach caused to 〈◊〉 built who was the first king of the Marin family and expelled the kings of Maroco and vsurped the kingdome vnto himselfe but the king of Telensin to the end he might make the people of Maroco beholding vnto him and might subuert the prosperous successe of the Marin family went about to hinder the king of Fez his attempts against Maroco wherefore king Iacob hauing finished the wars of Maroco determined to reuenge himselfe to the vttermost for the iniuries offered by them of Telensin But considering with himselfe that the strong townes of his owne kingdome were farre distant from Telensin he thought it a better course to builde this citie whereunto the seate roiall of all Maroco might be translated which being erected he called The white citie but it was afterward named by the inhabitants new Fez. This citie king Iacob the founder diuided into three parts whereof the first contained his roiall pallace and diuers noble mens houses vnto euery one of which he allotted a most pleasant garden Not farre from his pallace he built a most stately and sumptuous temple In another part of this citie he built a large and faire stable for the kings horses to stande in Then also he caused other palaces to be erected for his captaines and principall courtiers From the west gate to the east he appointed the market place the distance betweene which gates is a mile and an halfe and on both sides he placed artificers and merchants shops At the west gate he caused a faire portall to be set vp to harbour the watchmen and warders of the citie Not far from thence he erected two stables sufficient to containe three hundreth horses which he might vse for the protection of his owne palace The third part of the citie was appointed for the kinges guarde and attendants which were most of them borne eastwarde of Fez neither had they any other weapons but hand-bowes for crosse-bowes were not then vsed in that kingdome vnto which attendants the king allowed a large stipend but now the same place is full of beautifull temples and stoues Neere vnto the kings palace standes the mint hauing in the midst a fower-square court with certaine portals or cels rounde about it wherein the money-minters dwell Likewise there is another lodging in the midst of the same court where the gouernor of the mint with his scribes and notaries haue their aboad Here as well as in any other places whatsoeuer commoditie is raised redoundeth wholy to the king Neere vnto the mint stande the gold-smiths shops whose Consul or gouernour keepes the seale and stamps of the coine In Fez neither ring nor any other Iewell or commoditie can bee made of siluer or golde before the metall bee sealed for the offenders are most seuerely punished And the metall being sealed whatsoeuer is made thereof is weighed as if it were money The greatest part of goldsmiths dwelling in new Fez are Iewes who carrie their vessels of gold and siluer vnto a certaine place of old Fez neere vnto the grocers shops and
there sell them For in old Fez neither gold nor siluer is coined nor any Mahumetans are suffered to be goldsmiths bicause they haue vsurers among them which will sell any peece of wrought siluer or golde deerer then the weight requireth albeit the same priuilege is by the gouernours of the citie granted vnto the Iewes Some there are also that onely make plate for the citizens who are paied hire onely for their worke That part of the citie which the kings attendants or guard once possessed is now inhabited by Iewes for now a daies the kings vse no such guard The Iewes indeed first dwelt in old Fez but vpon the death of a certaine king they were all robbed by the Moores whereupon king Abusabid caused them to remooue into new Fez and by that meanes doubled their yeerely tribute They therefore euen till this day doe occupie a long street in the said new citie wherin they haue their shops and synagogues and their number is maruellously encreased euer since they were driuen out of Spaine These Iewes are had in great contempt by all men neither are any of them permitted to weare shooes but they make them certaine socks of sea-rushes On their heads they weare a blacke dulipan and if any will goe in a cap he must fasten a red cloth thereunto They pay vnto the king of Fez monethly fower hundred duckats At length within the space of an hundred and forty yeeres this new citie was enuironed with most impregnable walles and adorned with temples colleges palaces and other such buildings as serue to beautifie a citie so that I thinke there was more bestowed in garnishing of the citie then in building of the walles Without the citie-walles are built many huge wheeles or engins for the conueying of riuer-water ouer the said walles into cesternes from whence it is conueied in certaine chanels and pipes vnto the temples gardens palaces The said wheeles were built not fully an hundred yeeres past before which time water was brought vnto the citie by a certaine conduct from a fountaine ten miles distant Of which artificiall conduct a certaine Genouese beeing then in great fauour with the king is reported to haue been the author but the wheeles they say were inuented by a Spaniard and in them there is maruellous cunning workmanship for to the conueiance of so huge a quantitie of water each wheele is turned about but fower and twentie times onely in a day and a night To conclude here are but few gentlemen in this citie except such as attend vpon the court for the residue are base and mechanicall people but such as carie any shew of honestie doe so hate and disdaine the kings courtiers and gentlemen that they will by no meanes vouchsafe to marie their daughters vnto them Of the fashions and customes vsed in the kings court AMongst all the princes of Africa I neuer red of any that was created by the common suffrages and consent of the people vnto his kingdome or princedome or that was called from any strange prouince or citie to beare rule Also by the law of Mahumet no man may beare any secular authoritie which may be called lawfull saue onely the Mahumetan patriarkes and prelates howbeit the saide patriarkes authoritie decreasing daily more and more the ringleaders of such people as ranged vp and downe the deserts began to inuade places inhabited ciuilized and by force of armes against Mahumets lawe and maugre his prelates to ordaine sundrie princes As for example in the East whereas the Turkes Cordians and Tartars haue vsurped dominion ouer such as were not able to repell them So likewise in the west parts first the families of Zeneta and Luntuna then the seditious Mahumetan preachers and afterward the family of Marin got the vpper hand Howbeit the family of Luntuna is reported to haue aided the western regions to haue released them from the furie of the seditious heretiques wherein they shewed themselues friends and not enimies but afterward their tyrannie began to shew it selfe And this is the reason why they do not now a daies attaine vnto gouernment by hereditarie sućcession or by election of the people or of the nobilitie But the prince himselfe when he feeles death seazing vpon him calleth about him all his peeres and nobles and bindeth them by oath to establish his sonne brother or anie other whom he most fauoureth in his kingdome But they after the princes decease neglecting their oath will chuse any other whom they list And this is ordinarily the election of the king of Fez who so soone as he is proclaimed king chuseth foorthwith some one of his nobles to be his chiefe counsellour and on him he bestoweth the thirde part of all his kingly reuenues Then chuseth another to be his secretarie treasurer and high steward of his houshold Then is created the captaine of the horsemen appointed for the kings guard and these horsemen with their horses liue most commonly in the fieldes Lastly he appointeth a new gouernour ouer euery citie vnto whom all the tributes and reuenues of the same place redound with condition that as often as any warres betide he shall maintaine a certaine companie of horses to the kings seruice After a while also he placeth certaine deputies and commissioners ouer his people inhabiting the mountaines and ouer the Arabians subiect vnto him The gouernours of cities diuersly administer iustice according to the custome of the place Some there are also appointed by the king to collect all the tributes and reuenues of his kingdome and duly to paie the same vnto him Likewise there are others chosen whom they call in their language keepers or guardians and vnto euery one of these the king giueth some castle or village whereby he may procure his owne maintenance and be able to serue the king in time of warre Moreouer the king of Fez maintaineth a troupe of light horsemen who so long as they serue the king in his campe haue their diet allowed them out of the kings prouision but in time of peace he findeth them corne butter and pouldered flesh for the whole yeere but money they haue very seldome Once a yeere they are apparelled at the kings cost neither do they prouide for their horses either within the citie or without for the king furnisheth them with all necessaries Those that giue attendance to their horses are Christian captiues which go shackled in great chaines and fetters But when the armie remooueth any whither the saide Christians are carried vpon camels backes Another officer there is that giueth attendance onely to the camels assigning certaine pastures vnto the heards-men and diuiding fields among them and making such prouision for the kings camels as himselfe shall thinke expedient Each camel-driuer hath two camels which are laden with the kings furniture according to the appointment of the gouernour Likewise the king hath a certaine purueiour or steward whose office is to prouide keepe and distribute corne
that the citie being destitute of aide 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 king of Fez was in warres against the rebels of Mecnase would soone yeeld it selfe But contrarie to the Portugals expectation the Fessan king concluding a sudden truce with them of Mecnase sent his counsellour with an armie who encountring the Portugals made a great slaughter of them and amongst the rest slue their generall whom he caused to be caried in a case or sacke vnto new Fez and there to be set vpon an high place where all men might behold him Afterward the king of Portugall sent a new supply who suddenly assailing the citie in the night were most of them slaine and the residue enforced to flee But that which the Portugall-king could not bring to passe with those two Armadas he atchieued at length as is aforesaid with small forces and little disaduantage In my time 〈◊〉 king of Fez left no meanes vnattempted for the recouerie of this citie but so great alwaies was the valour of the Portugals that he had euer ill successe These things were done in the yeere of the Hegeira 917 which was in the yeere of our Lord 1508. Of the towne called Casar Ezzaghir that is the little palace THis towne was built by Mansor the king and Patriarke of Maroco vpon the Ocean sea shore about twelue miles from Tangia and from Septa eighteene miles It was built they say by Mansor because euerie yeere when he passed into the Prouince of Granada hee was constrained with his whole armie to march ouer the rough and ragged mountaines of Septa before he could come vnto the sea shore It standeth in an open and pleasant place ouer against the coast of Granada It was well peopled in times past part of the inhabitants beeing weauers and merchants and the rest mariners that vsed to transport the wares of 〈◊〉 into Europe This towne the king of Portugall tooke by a sudden surprise And the Fessan king hath laboured by all meanes to recouer it but euer with ill successe These things were done in the yeere of the Hegeira 863. Of the great citie of Septa SEpta called by the Latines Ciuitas and by the Portugals Seupta was according to our most approoued Authors built by the Romanes vpon the streits of Gibraltar being in olde time the head citie of all Mauritania wherefore the Romanes made great account thereof insomuch that it became verie ciuill and was throughly inhabited Afterward it was woone by the Gothes who appointed a gouernour there and it continued in their possession 〈◊〉 the Mahumetans inuading Mauritania surprised it also The occasion whereof was one Iulian Earle of Septa who being greatly iniuried by Roderigo king of the Gothes and of Spaine ioyned with the infidels conducted them into Granada and caused Roderigo to loose both his life and his kingdome The Mahumetans therefore hauing taken Septa kept possession thereof on the behalfe of one Elgualid sonne of Habdulmalic their Patriarke who then was resident at Damasco in the yeere of the Hegeira 92. From thencefoorth till within these fewe yeeres this citie grew so ciuill and so well stored with inhabitants that it prooued the most worthie and famous citie of all Mauritania It contained many temples and colledges of students with great numbers of artizans and men of learning and of high spirite Their artizans excelled especially in workes of brasse as namely in making of candlesticks basons standishes and such like commodities which were as pleasant to the eie as if they had beene made of siluer or gold The Italians haue great cunning in making of the like but their workmanship is nothing comparable to theirs of Septa Without the citie are diuers faire villages and granges especially in that place which for the abundance of vines is called The vineyards howbeit the fields are verie barren and fruitles for which cause their corne is exceeding deere Both without and within the citie there is a pleasant and beautifull prospect to the shore of Granada vpon the streits of Gibraltar from whence you may discerne liuing creatures the distance being but 12. miles Howbeit this famous citie not many yeeres since was greatly afflicted by Habdulmumen the king and patriarke who hauing surprised it razed the buildings and banished the principal inhabitants thereof And not long after it sustained as great damage by the king of Granada who besides the foresaide harmes carried the nobles and chiefe citizens captiues into Granada And lastly in the yeere of Mahumet his Hegeira 818. being taken by a Portugall-armada all the citizens did abandon it Abu Sahid being then king of Fez. and a man of no valour neglected the recouerie thereof but in the midst of his dauncing and disport being aduertised that it was lost he would not so much as interrupt his vaine pastime wherefore by gods iust iudgement both himselfe and his sixe sonnes were all slaine in one night by his Secretarie in whom he reposed singular trust because hee would haue defloured the said Secretaries wife These things came to passe in the yeere of the Hegeira 824. Afterward the kingdome of Fez being eight yeeres destitute of a king a sonne of the murthered king whom he begot of a Christian woman and who the same night that his father was slaine fled vnto Tunis succeeded in the gouernment this was Habdulac the last king of the Marin family who likewise as is aforesaide was slaine by the people Of the towne of Tetteguin now called Tetuan THis towne being built by the ancient Africans eighteene miles from the streits of Gibraltar and sixe miles from the maine Ocean was taken by the Mahumetans at the same time when they woon Septa from the Gothes It is reported that the Gothes bestowed the gouernment of this towne vpon a woman with one eie who weekly repairing thither to receiue tribute the inhabitants named the towne 〈◊〉 which signifieth in their language an eie Afterward being often assayled and encountered by the Portugals the inhabitants forsooke it and it remained fowerscore and fifteene yeeres desolate which time being expired it was reedified and replanted a new with inhabitants by a certaine captaine of Granada who together with his king being expelled thence by Ferdinando king of Castile departed vnto Fez. This famous captaine that shewed himselfe so valiant in the warres of Granada was called by the Portugals Almandali Who hauing obtained the gouernment of this towne and gotten licence to repaire it enuironed the same with new wals and built an impregnable castle therein compassed with a deepe ditch Afterward making continuall warre against the Portugals he extremely molested and endamaged their townes of Septa Casar and Tangia for with three hundred valiant horsemen of Granada he made daily incursions and inroades vpon the Christians and those that he tooke he put to continuall labour and toile about the building of his forts Vpon a time I my selfe trauelling this way saw three thousand Christian captiues who being clad in
and valiant and the mountaine it selfe aboundeth with honie barlie and all kinde of cattel Here are likewise great store of pleasant and greene pastures But since that Chasasa was taken by the Spanyards the people of this mountaine seeing that for want of soldiers they were not able to withstande the violence of their enemies abandoned their owne mountaine burnt their houses and fled vnto the mountaines next adioining Of mount Beni Sahid WEstward this mountaine extendeth almost to the riuer Nocor for the space of fower and twentie miles The inhabitants are rich valiant and liberal and entertaine all strangers with great courtesie and bountie They haue abundance of iron and of barlie and their pastures are very commodious abounding with store of cattell and yet in those pastures are their iron-mines where they sometime lacke water neither pay they any tribute at all Their houses that dig the iron are not farre distant from the iron-mines This iron the merchants sell at Fez in rude lumpes because they vse not to frame it into barres neither indeede haue they the cunning so to frame it Also they make culters spades and such like tooles of husbandrie and yet their iron hath no steele at all in it Of mount Azgangan THis mountaine beginning southward from Chasasa is inhabited with most rich and valiant people for besides the great plentie of all things in the mountaine it selfe it hath the desert of Garet adioining vpon it The inhabitants of which desert haue great familiaritie and traffique with the people of the said mountaine howbeit this mountaine also hath remained void of inhabitants euer since the taking of Chasasa Of mount Beni Teuzin THe south part of this mountaine bordereth vpon the mountaine last mentioned the length whereof from the desert of Garet to the riuer Nocor is almost ten miles and on the one side thereof lie most beautifull pleasant plaines The inhabitants are all free paying no tribute at all and that perhaps because they haue more soldiers then Tezzota Meggeo and Bedis can affoord Moreouer they are thought in times past so to haue assisted the gouernour of Meggeo that by their aide he attained vnto that gouernment They haue alwaies been great friends with the people of Fez by reason of that ancient familiaritie which they had before Fez was gouerned by a king Afterward a certaine lawyer dwelling at Fez who was borne in this mountaine so represented vnto the king the said ancient familiaritie that he obtained freedome for his countrie-men At length also they were greatly beloued by the Marin-familie perhaps bicause the mother of 〈◊〉 sahid the third king of the saide familie was borne of noble parentage in the foresaide mountaine Of mount Guardan THe north part of this mountaine ioineth vnto the former and it stretcheth in length toward the Mediterran sea twelue miles and in bredth to the riuer of Nocor almost eight miles The inhabitants are valiant rich Euery saturday they haue a great market vpon the banke of a certaine riuer and hither resort many people from the mountaines of Garet and diuers merchants of Fez who exchange iron and bridles for oile for in these mountaines grow great plentie of oliues They haue little or no wine at all notwithstanding they are so neere vnto mount Arif where the people carouse wine in abundance They were for a certaine time tributarie to the gouernour of Bedis but afterward by the meanes of a learned Mahumetan preacher the king granted them fauour to pay each man so much tribute as themselues pleased So that sending yeerely to the king some certaine sum of money with certaine horses and slaues they are put to no further charge Of the extreme part of the desert of Garet THe prouince of Garet is diuided into three parts the first whereof containeth the cities and townes the second the foresaide mountaines the inhabitants whereof are called Bottoia and the thirde comprehendeth the deserts which beginning northwarde at the Mediterran sea and extending south to the desert of Chauz are bounded westward with the foresaide mountaines and eastward with the riuer of Muluia The length of these deserts is 60. miles and the bredth thirty They are vnpleasant and dry hauing no water but that of the riuer Muluia There are many kinds of beasts in this desert such as are in the Lybian desert next vnto Numidia In sommer time many Arabians take vp their abode neere vnto the riuer Muluia and so do another kinde of fierce people called Batalisa who possesse great abundance of horses camels and other cattell and maintaine continuall warre against the Arabians that border vpon them A description of Chauz the seuenth prouince of the kingdome of Fez. THis prouince is thought to comprehend the thirde part of the kingdome of Fez. It beginneth at the riuer Zha from the east extendeth westward to the riuer Guruigara so that the length thereof is an hundred fowerscore and tenne and the bredth an hundred threescore and ten miles for all that part of mount Atlas which lieth ouer against Mauritania ioineth vpon the bredth of this region Likewise it containeth a good part of the plaines and mountaines bordering vpon Lybia At the same time when Habdulach the first king of the Marin-family began to beare rule ouer Mauritania and those other regions his kinred began also to inhabite this region This king left fower sonnes behinde him whereof the first was called Abubdar the second Abuichia the third Abusahid and the fourth Iacob this Iacob was afterward chosen king bicause he had vanquished Muachidin the king of Maroco had conquered the city of Maroco it selfe the other three brethren died in their nonage howbeit before Iacob had woon Maroco the old king assigned vnto each of them three one region a peece The other three parts were diuided into seuen which were distributed among the fower kinreds of the Marin-family and two other tribes or families that were growen in great league with the same family insomuch that this region was accounted for three regions They which possessed the kingdome were ten in number and the regions onely seuen The foresaid king Habdulach was author of the saide partition who left the region of Chauz after his decease in such estate as we will foorthwith orderly describe Of the towne of Teurerto THis ancient towne was built vpon a mountaine by the Africans not farre from the riuer Zha The fields hereof not being very large but exceeding fruitfull adioine vpon a certaine dry and barren desert The north part of the same bordereth vpon the desert of Garet and the south vpon the desert of Adurha eastward thereof lieth the desert of Anghad which is neere vnto the kingdome of Telensin and westward it is enclosed with the desert of Tafrata which bordereth likewise vpon the towne of Tezza This Teurerto was in times past a most populous and rich towne and contained about three thousand families heere also are stately palaces temples and other such
buildings to be seene The towne wall is built of most excellent marble Euer since the Marin-familie enioied the westerne kingdome of Fez this towne was an occasion of great warres for the Marin-family woulde haue it belong to the crowne of Fez but the king of Telensin chalenged it as his owne Of the towne of Haddagia THis towne was built by the Africans in manner of an Isle for it is enuironed with the riuer Mululo which not far from hence falleth into the riuer Muluia It was in times past a most populous flourishing towne but after the Arabians became lords of the west it fell by little and little to decay for it bordereth vpon the desert of Dahra which is inhabited with most lewde and mischieuous Arabians At the same time when Teurerto was sacked this towne was vtterly destroied also whereof nothing remaineth at this day but the towne wals onely Of the castle of Garsis IT standeth vpon a rocke by the riuer Muluia fifteene miles distant from Teurerto Here as in a most impregnable place the familie of Beni Marin laide their prouision of corne when as they inhabited the deserts Afterward it became subiect vnto Abuhenan the fift king of the Marin-familie It hath no great quantitie of arable or pasture ground belonging thereto but it hath a most pleasant garden replenished with grapes peaches and figges and enuironed on all sides with most thicke and shadie woods so that it is a paradise in respect of other places thereabout The inhabitants are rude and vnciuill people neither do they ought but keepe such corne as the Arabians commit vnto their custodie If a man behold the castle a farre off he woulde thinke it rather to be a cottage then a castle for the wall being in many places ruined maketh shew of great antiquitie and the roofe is couered with certaine blacke stones or slates Of the towne of Dubdu THis ancient towne was built by the Africans vpon an exceeding high and impregnable mountaine and is inhabited by certaine people of the familie of Zeneta From the top of this mountaine diuers springs come running into the towne From this towne the next plaines are distant almost fiue miles and yet they seeme to be but a mile and an halfe off for the way is very crooked and winding All the iurisdiction longing to this towne is onely vpon the toppe of the mountaine for the plaine vnderneath is vnpleasant and barren except certaine gardens on either side of a little riuer running by the foote of the hill neither haue the townesmen corne growing vpon the same hill sufficient for their prouision vnlesse they were supplied with great store of corne from Tezza so that this towne was built for a fortresse onely by the family of Marin what time they were dispossessed of the westerne kingdome Afterward it was inhabited by a certaine family called Beni Guertaggen who are lords of the saide towne euen till this day But when the Marin-family were expelled out of the kingdome of Fez the next Arabians endeuoured to winne the towne howbeit by the aide of one Mose Ibnu Chamu who was one of the saide family the Arabians were so valiantly resisted that they concluded a truce with the people of Marin and so Mose Ibnu remained gouernour of the towne after whose death his sonne Acmed succeeded him who treading iust in his fathers vertuous steps kept the saide towne in great tranquillitie euen till his dying day After him succeeded one Mahumet a man highly 〈◊〉 for his noble valour and great skill in martiall affaires This Mahumet had before time conquered many cities and castles vpon the foote of the mount Atlas southward whereof bordereth the land of Numidia But hauing gotten this towne in possession he beautified it exceedingly with store of faire houses and buildings likewise he greatly altered and reformed the gouernment of this towne and shewed such extraordinarie curtesie vnto al strangers that he grew very famous Moreouer the saide Mahumet consulted howe to get Tezza from the king of Fez offered great matters to the performance of his intent and that he might the easlier attaine his purpose he determined to go to the market of Tezza in a simple habite and so to make an assault vpon the captaine of the towne for he hoped that a great part of the townesmen whom he knew to be his friends woulde assist him in that enterprise Howbeit this practise was at length discouered vnto the king of Fez which king was called Saich and was the first of the family of Quattas and father vnto the king that now reigneth who presently assembled an huge armie and marched of purpose against Dubdu vtterly to destroy it and so comming vnto the foote of the mountaine he there encamped The people of the mountaine hauing gathered an armie of sixe thousand men hid themselues craftilie behinde the rockes suffering their enimies to ascende by certaine difficult streite passages from whence they were sure they could hardly escape so at length they brake foorth on the sodaine encountred their said enemies being wearie of ascending and because the way was very troublesome and narrow the king of Fez his soldiers could not endure their assaults but being constrained to giue backe were moe then a thousand of them throwne downe headlong and slaine In this skirmish were slaine in all to the number of three thousand Fessan soldiers and yet the king not being dismaied with so great an ouerthrow prepared foorthwith a band of fiue hundred crossebowes and three hundred Harquebuziers and determined to make a newe assault vpon the towne But Mahumet seeing that he could no longer withstand the king resolued to goe himselfe vnto him that he might if it were possible obtaine peace and to release his countrie from the furie of the enemie Wherefore putting on the habit of an ambassadour he went and deliuered a letter with his owne hand vnto the king Which the king hauing perused asked him what he thought concerning the gouernour of Dubdu Mary I thinke quoth Mahumet he is not well in his wits in that he goeth about to resist your Maiestie Then said the king if I had conquered him as I hope to doe within these few daies I would cause him to be dismembred and torne in peeces But what if he should come hither saith Mahumet to submit himselfe and to acknowledge his offence might it then please the king to admit him into fauour Then the king answered I sweare vnto thee by this my head that if he will come and acknowledge his fault in manner as thou hast said I will not onely receiue him into fauour but will espouse my daughters vnto his sonnes and will bestowe most ample and princely dowries vpon them But I am sure being distraught of his wits as thou hast said that he will by no meanes come and submit himselfe Then said Mahumet he would soone come I assure you if it pleased the king to protest this for a certaintie
extremely cold insomuch that I my selfe knew one who with drinking onely a cup thereof suffered most intolerable gripings and tortures in his bowels for three moneths after Of the towne of Sofroi THis towne being situate at the foote of mount Atlas and standing about fifteene miles southward of Fez almost in the way to Numidia was built by the Africans betweene two riuers on either sides whereof grow great abundance of grapes and all kinde of fruites The towne for fiue miles compasse is enuironed with oliue-trees but the fieldes are apt onely for hempe and barlie The inhabitants are very rich notwithstanding they goe in meane apparell and greazie with oile the occasion whereof is in that they carie oile vnto Fez to sell. There is no memorable thing in all their towne saue onely a certaine temple through the midst whereof runneth a large riuer and at the doores standeth a fountaine of most pure water Howbeit the greatest part of this towne is fallen to decay by the negligence of one of the kings brothers that now raigneth is ruined in many places Of the towne of Mezdaga THis towne being situate likewise at the foote of Atlas and standing about eight miles westward of Sofroi is compassed with a faire wall and albeit the houses thereof are but meane yet euery one hath a fountaine of cleere water belonging vnto it Most of the inhabitants are potters because they haue such abundance of porcellan earth whereof they make great store of earthen vessels and send them to be sold at Fez from whence they are but twelue miles distant southward Their fields are most fruitfull for barlie flaxe and hempe and they gather yeerely great abundance of figs and of other fruits In the forrests about this towne as also about the former are maruellous store of lions being not very hurtfull for any man may driue them away with a little sticke Of the towne of Beni Bahlul THis 〈◊〉 towne standing vpon the side of Atlas towards Fez is distant from Fez about twelue miles not farre from the high way leading to Numidia Through the midst of this towne run certaine little riuers from the next mountaine neither doth it differ much in situation from Mezdaga sauing that the south frontier thereof is ful of woods whereout the inhabitants get timber and fewell and carrie it vnto Fez to be solde They are oppressed with continuall exactions of courtiers and others neither haue they any ciuilitie at all among them Of the towne called Ham Lisnan THis towne built by the Africans vpon a certaine plaine enuironed with mountaines in the way from Sofroi to Numidia borrowed the name thereof from the fountaine of an idoll vpon the occasion following At the same time while the Africans were as yet idolaters they had a temple standing neere vnto this towne whither at certaine times of the yeere resorted in the night great multitudes of people both men and women where hauing ended their sacrifices they vsed to put out their lights and euerie man to commit adulterie with that woman which hee first touched But the women which were present at this abominable sport were forbidden to lie with any man for a yeere after and the children begotten in the saide adulterie were kept and brought vp by the priest of the temple as being dedicated to sacred vses In the same temple there was a fountaine which is to be seene at this day but neither the temple it selfe nor any monument or mention of the towne is remaining because they were vtterly demolished by the Mahumetans Of the towne of Mahdia THis towne being situate vpon a plaine betweene mount Atlas and certaine woods and riuers is about ten miles distant from the former The founder thereof was a certaine Mahumetan preacher of that nation which was borne in the next mountaine and it began to be built at the same time when the familie of Zeneta were lords of the Fessan kingdome But when king Ioseph of the Luntune family got possession of the said kingdom this towne was so wasted and destroyed that the beautifull temple with some part of the towne wall onely was left standing and the inhabitants became tributarie to the king of Fez this was done in the yeere of the Hegeira 515. Of Sahblel Marga that is The plaine of the valiant man THis plaine containeth in longth fortie and in bredth almost thirtie miles neere vnto it are certaine mountains which border vpon mount Atlas and in these mountaines are waste deserts ful of goodly timber here are likewise a great number of cottages inhabited with colliers for the most part who carrie abundance of coales from the said mountaines to 〈◊〉 The lions that are here doe so haunt the poore colliers that sometimes they deuour them From hence likewise are carried to Fez store of excellent and great beames of timber All the plaine is so barren and drie that it will scarce bring foorth any good thing at all Of the plaine called Azgari Camaren THis plaine also is inuironed around with woodie mountaines being a kinde of medowe-ground for it is couered all ouer with most pleasant herbes and grasse wherfore in the sommer time they vse to keepe their cattell heere and to defend them with high and strong hedges from the fury of the lions Of mount Centopozzi VPon this high mountaine are great store of most ancient buildings neere vnto the which there is a hole or drie pit of so great a depth that the bottome thereof can in no wise be seene Into this pit some mad fellowes will haue themselues let downe by ropes carrying a candle or torch in their hands and beneath they say it is diuided into manie roumes and as it were chambers and last of all they come to a most large place hewen out of the rocke with instruments and compassed about as it were with a wall in which wall are fower doores which lead to other more narrow places where they say that fountaines of springing water are And sometimes it falleth out that some miserably ende their liues here for if their lights chaunce to be blowen out with anie sudden blast of wind they can by no meanes finde the place where the rope hangeth but are there constrained to die for extreme famine It was told me by a certaine nobleman of Fez that there were ten persons who being desirous to see the woonders of this pit and being prepared for the same purpose went first three of them downe who when they were come to the foresaid fower doores two of them went one way and the third went alone another way And being thus diuided after they had proceeded almost a quarter of a mile there came great swarmes of bats flying about their lights insomuch that one light was put out at length being come to the springing fountaines they found there certaine white bones of men and fiue or sixe candles whereof some were new and others were olde and worne with long lying there but hauing found
them likewise which was a cause that the merchants of both partes trauelled more securely Of the towne of Gerseluin THis ancient towne was built by the Africans at the foote of one of the foresaid mountaines not farre from the riuer of Ziz. It is enuironed with an impregnable and stately wall the founder whereof was a certaine king of the Marin-familie In regard of the walles and bulwarks it is a most beautifull towne But being once entred thereinto you shall see most base and beggerly houses and scarce any inhabitants dwelling in them and that by the iniurie of certaine Arabians who when they reuolted from the Marin-familie tooke this towne and grieuously oppressed the citizens Their drie and barren fields lie open to the north Vpon the riuer are diuers mils and by the side thereof are many gardens replenished with grapes and peaches which they vse to drie in the sunne and to keepe an whole yeere They haue great scarcitie of cattell which causeth them to liue a most 〈◊〉 life This towne was built by the familie of Zeneta in stead of a fort to the end it might be a place of refuge onely in their iournie to Numidia but afterward it was surprised and vtterly destroied by the familie of Luntuna Here also are great store of such domesticall serpents as we reported to be in the mountaines of Ziz. Here endeth the third booke IOHN LEO HIS FOVRTH BOOKE OF the Historie of Africa and of the memorable things contained therein A description of the kingdome of Telensin THis kingdome beginneth westward from the riuers of Zha Muluia eastward it bordereth vpon The great riuer southward vpon the desert of Numidia and northward vpon the Mediterran sea This region was called by the Romanes Caesaria and was by them inhabited howbeit after the Romanes were expelled it was fullie possessed by the ancient gouernours thereof called Beni Habdulguad and being a generation of the familie of Magraua And it remained vnto them and their successors three hundred yeeres vntill such time as a certaine mightie man called Ghamrazen the sonne of Zeijen tooke possession thereof His posteritie changing at length their ancient name were called Beni Zeijen that is the sonnes of Zeijen and they enioied this kingdome for the space almost of 380. yeeres At length the kings of Fez of the Marin-familie greatly molested them so that those ten kings which succeeded Zeijen were some of them vnfortunate in battell some slaine some taken captiue and others expelled their kingdome and chased to the next mountaines Neither were they free from vexation of the kings of Tunis howbeit the kingdome of Telensin remained still to this familie and they continued in peace for almost an hundred and twentie yeeres being endammaged by no forren power sauing that one Abu Feris king of Tunis and his sonne Hutmen made them to pay tribute for certaine yeeres vnto Tunis till the decease of the said Hutmen This kingdome stretcheth in length from east to west 380. miles but in bredth from north to south that is from the Mediterran sea to the deserts of Numidia not aboue fiue and twentie miles which is the occasion that it is so often oppressed by the Arabians inhabiting the Numidian deserts The kings of Telensin haue alwaies endeuoured by great gifts to gaine the good will and friendship of the Numidians but they could neuer satisfie their insatiable couetice A man shall seldome trauell safely through this kingdome howbeit here are great store of merchants perhaps either because it adioineth to Numidia or else for that the way to the land of Negros lieth through it It hath two most famous frequented hauen-townes the one called Horam and the other Marsa Elcabir whither vse to resort great store of Genoueses and Venetians But afterward both these townes were taken by Don Ferdinando the Catholike king to the great inconuenience of all this kingdome for which cause the king then raigning called Abuchemmeu was expelled his kingdome and put to flight by his owne subiects afterward Abuzeijen was restored to the kingdome who had for certaine yeeres been imprisoned by his nephew Abuchemmeu howbeit he enioied the kingdome but a very short space For he was at length miserably slaine by Barbarossa the Turke who conquered the kingdome of Tremizen by force of war Whereof Abuchemmeu that was expelled by his owne subiects hauing intelligence sent to craue aide of the emperour Charles the fift whereby he hoped to recouer his kingdome Which request being granted he leuied a puissant armie and made warre against Barbarossa and hauing driuen him out he recouered his kingdome and seuerely punished them that had conspired his banishment And then he gaue the Spanish soldiers their pay sent the captaines home with great rewardes and allowed Charles the emperour a large yeerely reuenue so long as he liued After his decease succeeded his brother Habdulla who neglecting the league made before betweene the emperour and his brother and relying vpon Soliman the great Turke refused to pay any more tribute vnto the emperour Charles and hath kept possession of the kingdome till this present The greater part of this region is vntilled drie and barren especially towards the south Howbeit the sea coast is somewhat more fertill The territorie adiacent to the citie of Telensin is full of woods sauing that the westerne part towardes the sea is mountainous Likewise the regions of Tenez and Alger containe mountaines abounding with all kinde of commodities In this part ate but few cities and castles howbeit it is a most fruitfull and blessed place as we will hereafter declare in particular Of the desert of Angad THis barren drie and vntilled desert being vtterly destitute of water and wood is situate vpon the westerne frontire of the kingdome of Telensin and extendeth in length fowerscore and in bredth almost fiftie miles Here are great store of roes deere and ostriches Such merchants as trauell from Fez to Telensin passe ouer this desert not without great danger by reason of certaine Arabians which liue onely vpon theft aud robberie especially in winter when as the soldiers appointed to defend the said desert from those lewd vagabonds doe vsually retire themselues into Numidia Many shepherds there are in this desert who are daily vexed with multitudes of fierce lions which sometime seaze not onely vpon cartell but also vpon men Of the castle of Temzegzet THis castle standing in the same place where the foresaid desert adioineth vnto the territorie of Telensin and built by the Africans vpon a rocke was in times past very strong and often annoied by the people ofFez for it standeth in the high way from Fez to Telensin Through the fields adiacent runneth a certaine riuer called in their language Tefme The said fields adiacent sufficiently abound with all things necessarie for the sustenance of the inhabitants Heretofore being subiect vnto the kings of Telensin it well deserued the name of a citie but since the Arabians got
iackets of leather with hoods vpon them such as trauellers vse in Italie and by this meanes their heads are defended from raine and from snow The schollers and students are diuersly apparelled according to their abilitie and according to the fashion of their natiue countrie the doctors iudges and priestes goe in more sumptuous and costly attire The customes and rites obserued in the King of Telensin his court A Woonder it is to see how stately and magnificently the King of Telensin behaueth himselfe for no man may see him nor be admitted to parle with him but onely the principall nobles of his court each one of whom are assigned to beare offices according to their place and dignitie In this court are sundry offices and dignities and the Kings lieutenant beeing principall officer allotteth vnto each one such places of dignitie as may be correspondent to their honour and this lieutenant leuieth the kings armies and sometime conducteth them against the enemie The second officer is the Kings chiefe Secretarie who writeth and recordeth all things pertaining to the King The third is the high treasurer who is bound by 〈◊〉 office to receiue tributes and customes The fourth is the kings dispensator or almoner who bestoweth such liberalitie as the king vouchsafeth The fift is the captaine of the kings garde who so often as any nobles are admitted to the kings presence conducteth the garde vnto the palace-gate Then are there other meaner officers as namely the master of the kings stable the ouerseer of his saddles stirrops and his chiefe chamberlaine who giueth attendance onely at such times as any courtiers are admitted vnto the kings audience For at other times the kings wiues with certaine Christian captiues and eunuches doe performe that dutie The king sometimes in sumptuous and costly apparellrideth vpon a stately stead richly trapped and furnished In riding he obserueth not much pompe nor many ceremonies neither indeede doth he carrie so great a traine for you shall scarcely see a thousand horsemen in his companie except perhaps in time of warre when as the Arabians and other people giue attendance When the king goeth foorth with an armie there are not many carriages transported therein neither can you then discerne the king by his apparell from any meane captaine and though he conducteth neuer so great a garde of soldiers yet a man would not thinke how sparing he is of his coine Gold-money he coineth of baser golde then that whereof the Italian money called Bislacchi is coined but it is of a greater size for one peece thereof waigheth an Italian duckat and one fourth part He stampeth likewise coine of siluer of brasse His dominions are but slenderly inhabited howbeit because the way from Europe to Aethiopia lieth through his kingdome he reapeth much benefit by the wares that passe by especially since the time that Oran was surprized by the Christians At the same time Telensin it selfe was made tributarie which was euer before a free citie whereupon the king that was the author thereof was extremely hated of his subiects till his dying day Afterward his sonne that succeeded him demanded customes and tributes likewise for which cause being expelled out of his kingdome by the people he was enforced to craue aide of the emperour Charles the fift by whose meanes as is beforesaid he was restored vnto his said kingdome When Oran was subiect vnto the king of Telensin the region therabout paid vnto the king for yeerly tribute sometime three thousand and sometime fower thousand duckats the greatest part whereof was allowed vnto the kings garde and to the Arabian soldiers I my selfe continuing certaine monethes in this kings court had good experience of his liberalitie I haue indeede omitted many particulars in the description of this court of Telensin but because they agreed for the most part with those things which we reported of Fez I haue here passed them ouer least I should seeme too tedious vnto the reader Of the towne of Hubbed THis towne being built in manner of a castle standeth about a mile and an halfe southward of Telensin It containeth store of inhabitants who are for the most part dyers of cloth In this towne was buried one Sadi Bu Median being reputed a man of singular holines whom they adore like a god ascending vp to his monument by certaine steps Here is likewise a stately college and a faire hospitall to entertaine strangers in both which were built by a king of Fez of the Marin-familie as I finde recorded vpon a certaine marble stone Of the towne of Tefesra TThis towne standing vpon a plaine fifteene miles from Telensin hath great store of smiths therein by reason of the iron-mines which are there The fields adiacent are exceeding fruitfull for corne and the inhabitants being for the most part blacke-smithes are destitute of all ciuilitie Of the towne of Tessela THis ancient towne was built by the Africans vpon a certaine plaine extending almost twenty miles in length Here groweth such abundance of excellent corne as is almost sufficient for the whole kingdome of Telensin The inhabitants liue in tents for all the buildings of this towne are destroied though the name remaineth still These also in times past paide a great yeerely tribute vnto the king of Telensin Of the prouince called Beni Rasid THis region extendeth in length from east to west fiftie and in bredth almost fiue and twentie miles The southerne part thereof is plaine ground but toward the north it is full of fruitfull mountaines The inhabitants are of two sorts for some of them dwell vpon the mountaines in houses of indifferent good building and these imploy themselues in husbandry and other necessarie affaires Others being of a more noble condition liue onely vpon the plaines in tents and there keepe their camels horses and other cattell They are molested with daily inconueniences and pay yeerely tribute vnto the king of Telensin Vpon the foresaid mountaines are sundrie villages among which there are two principall whereof the one called Chalath Haoara and built in manner of a castle vpon the side of a certaine hill containeth to the number of fortie merchants and artificers houses the other called Elmo Hascar is the seate of the kings lieutenant ouer those regions and in this village euery thursday there is a great market where abundance of cattell corne raisins figs and honie is to be sold here are likewise cloth-merchants and diuers other chapmen which for breuities sake I passe ouer in silence I my selfe continuing for some time among them found to my hinderance what cunning theeues they were The king of Telensin collecteth yeerely out of this prouince the summe of fiue and twenty thousand duckats and it containeth so many most expert soldiers Of the towne of Batha THis great rich and populous towne was built in my time vpon a most beautifull and large plaine which yeeldeth great abundance of corne The tribute which the king of Telensin hath here amounteth to
part of the 〈◊〉 wall which the waues of the sea beat vpon In the suburbes are many gardēs replenished with all kind of fruits On the east side of the towne runneth a certaine riuer hauing many mils thereupon and out of this riuer they draw water fit for drinke and for the seruices of the kitchin It hath most beautifull plaines adioining vpon it and especially one called Metteggia which extendeth fortie fiue miles in length and almost thirtie miles in bredth and aboundeth mightily with all kindes of graine This towne for many yeeres was subiect vnto the kingdome of Telensin but hearing that Bugia was also gouerned by a king and being neerer thereunto they submitted themselues vnto the king of Bugia For they saw that the king of Telensin could not sufficiently defend them against their enemies and also that the king of Bugia might doe them great dammage wherefore they offered vnto him a yeerely tribute of their owne accord and yet remained almost free from all exaction But certaine yeeres after the inhabitants of this citie building for themselues gallies began to play the pirates and greatly to molest the foresaid islands Whereupon king Ferdinando prouided a mightie armada hoping thereby to become lorde of the citie Likewise vpon a certaine high rocke standing opposit against the towne he caused a strong forte to be built and that within gun-shot of the citie albeit the citie walles could not be endammaged thereby Wherefore the citizens immediately sent ambassadours into Spaine to craue a league for ten yeeres vpon condition that they should pay certaine yeerely tribute which request was granted by king Ferdinando And so they remained for certaine moneths free from the danger of warre but at length Barbarossa hastening to the siege of Bugia and hauing woon one fort built by the Spaniards determined to encounter another hoping if he could obtaine that also that he should soone conquer the whole kingdome of Bugia Howbeit all matters fell not out according to his expectation for a great part of his soldiers being husbandmen when they perceiued the time of sowing corne to approch without any leaue or licence they forsooke their generall and returned home to the plough-taile And many Turks also did the like so that Barbarossa failing of his purpose was constrained to breake vp the 〈◊〉 Howbeit before his departure he set on fire with his owne handes twelue gallies which lay in a riuer but three miles from Bugia And then with fortie of his soldiers he retired himselfe to the castle of Gegel being from Bugia about sixtie miles distant where he remained for certaine daies In the mean while king Ferdinando deceasing the people of Alger released themselues from paying any more tribute for seeing Barbarossa to be a most valiant warriour and a deadly enemie vnto Christians they sent for him and chose him captaine ouer all their forces who presently encountred the fort but to little effect Afterward this Barbarossa secretly murthered the gouernour of the citie in a certaine bath The said gouernour was prince of the Arabians dwelling on the plaines of Mettegia his name was Selim Etteumi descended of the familie of Telaliba and created gouernour of Alger at the same time when Bugia was taken by the Spanyards this man was slaine by Barbarossa after he had gouerned many yeeres And then Barbarossa vsurped the whole gouernment of the citie vnto himselfe and coined money and this was the first entrance into his great and princely estate At all the foresaid accidents I my selfe was present as I trauelled from Fez to Tunis and was entertained by one that was sent ambassadour from the people of Alger into Spaine from whence he brought three thousand bookes written in the Arabian toong Then I passed on to Bugia where I found Barbarossa besieging the foresaid fort afterward I proceeded to Constantina and next to Tunis In the meane while I heard that Barbarossa was slaine at Tremizen and that his brother called Cairadin succeeded in the gouernment of Alger Then we heard also that the emperour Charles the fift had sent two armies to surprize Alger the first whereof was destroied vpon the plaine of Alger and the second hauing assailed the towne three daies together was partly slaine and partly taken by Barbarossa insomuch that very few escaped backe into Spaine This was done in the yeere of the Hegeira nine hundred twentie two Of the towne of Tegdemt THis ancient towne was built as some thinke by the Romanes and Tegdemt signifieth in the Arabian language Ancient The wall of this towne as a man may coniecture by the foundations thereof was ten miles in circuite There are yet remaining two temples of an exceeding height but they are very ruinous and in many places fallen to the ground This towne when it was possessed by the Mahumetans was maruellous rich and abounded with men of learning and poets It is reported that Idris vncle to the same Idris that founded Fez was once gouernour of this towne and that the gouernment thereof remained to his posteritie almost an hundred and fiftie yeeres Afterward it was destroied in the warres betweene the schismaticall patriarks of Cairaoan in the yeere of the Hegeira 365 but now there are a few ruines onely of this towne to be seene Of the towne of Medua THis towne standing not farre from the borders of Numidia is distant from the Mediterran sea almost an hundred and fowerscore miles and it is situate on a most pleasant and fruitfull plaine and is enuironed with sweete riuers and beautifull gardens The inhabitants are exceeding rich exercising traffique most of all with the Numidians and they are very curious both in their apparell and in the furniture of their houses They are continually molested with the inuasions of the Arabians but because they are almost two hundred miles distant from Telensin they can haue no aide sent them by the king This towne was once subiect vnto the gouernour of Tenez afterward vnto Barbarossa and lastly vnto his brother Neuer was I so sumptuously entertained as in this place for the inhabitants being themselues 〈◊〉 so often as any learned man comes amongst them they entertaine him with great honour and cause him to decide all their controuersies For the space of two moneths while I remained with them I gained aboue two hundred duckats and was so allured with the pleasantnes of the place that had not my dutie enforced me to depart I had remained there all the residue of my life Of the towne of Temendfust THis towne also was built by the Romans vpon the Mediterran sea and is about twelue miles distant from Alger Vnto this towne belongeth a faire hauen where the ships of Alger are safely harboured for they haue no other hauen so commodious This towne was at length destroied by the Goths and the greatest part of the wall of Alger was built with the stones which came from the wall of this towne Of the towne of Teddeles THis towne built by
the Africans vpon the Mediterran sea and being thirtie miles distant from Alger is enuironed with most ancient and strong walles The greatest part of the inhabitants are dyers of cloth and that by reason of the many riuers and streames running through the midst of the same They are of a liberall and ingenuous disposition and can play most of them vpon the citterne and lute Their fields are fertill and abounding with corne Their apparell is very decent the greatest part of them are delighted in fishing and they take such abundance of fishes that they freely giue them to euery bodie which is the cause that there is no fish-market in this towne Of the mountaines contained in the kingdome of Telensin Of the mountaine of Beni Iezneten THis mountaine standeth westward of Telensin almost fiftie miles one side thereof bordering vpon the desert of Garet and the other side vpon the desert of Angad In length it extendeth fiue and twentie and in bredth almost fifteene miles and it is exceeding high and difficult to ascend It hath diuers woods growing vpon it wherein grow great store of Carobs which the inhabitants vse for an ordinarie kinde of foode for they haue great want of barly Here are diuers cottages inhabited with valiant and stout men Vpon the top of this mountaine standeth a strong castle wherein all the principall men of the mountaine dwell amongst whom there are often dissentions for there is none of them all but woulde be sole gouernour of the mountaine I my selfe had conuersation with some of them whom I knew in the king of Fez his court for which cause I was honorably intertained by them The soldiers of this mountaine are almost ten thousand Of mount Matgara THis exceeding high and colde mountaine hath great store of inhabitants and is almost sixe miles distant from Ned Roma The inhabitants are valiant but not very rich for this mountaine yeeldeth nought but barly and Carobs They speake all one language with the people of Ned Roma and are ioined in such league with them that they will often aide one another against the king of Telensin Of mount Gualhasa THis high mountaine standeth nigh vnto the towne of Hunain The inhabitants are sauage rude and vnciuill people and are at continuall warre with the people of Hunain so that oftentimes they haue almost vtterly destroied the towne This mountaine yeeldeth great store of Carobs and but little corne Of mount Agbal THis mountaine is inhabited with people of base condition and subiect to the towne of Oran They all exercise husbandrie and carrie woode vnto Oran While the Moores enioied Oran their state was somewhat better but since the Christians got possession thereof they haue beene driuen to extreame miserie Of mount Beni Guerened THis mountaine being three miles distant from Tremisen is well peopled and aboundeth with all kinde of fruits especially with figges and cherries The inhabitants are some of them colliers some wood-mongers and the residue husbandmen And out of this onely mountaine as I was informed by the king of Telensin his Secretarie there is yeerely collected for tribute the summe of twelue thousand ducats Of mount Magraua THis mountaine extending it selfe fortie miles in length towardes the Mediterran sea is neer vnto the towne of Mustuganin before described The soile is fertile and the inhabitants are valiant and warrelike people and of a liberall and humaine disposition Of mount Beni Abusaid THis mountaine standing not farre from Tenez is inhabited with great multitudes of people which lead a sauage life and are notwithstanding most valiant warriors They haue abundance of honey barly and goats Their waxe and hides they carrie vnto Tenez and there sell the same to the merchants of Europe When as the king of Tremizen his kinsemen were lords of this mountaine the people paied for tribute certaine thousands of ducats Of mount Guanseris THis exceding high mountaine is inhabited with valiant people who being aided by the king of Fez maintained warre against the kingdome of Telensin for aboue three-score yeeres Fruitefull fields they haue and great store of fountains Their soldiers are almost twentie thousand in number whereof 2500. are horsemen By their aide Iahia attained to the gouernment of Tenez but after Tenez began to decay they gaue themselues wholy to robberie and theft Of the mountaines belonging to the state of Alger NEre vnto Alger on the east side and on the west are diuers mountains well stored with inhabitants Free they are from all tribute and rich and exceeding valiant Their corne fields are very fruitefull and they haue great abundance of cattell They are oftentimes at deadly warre togither so that it is dangerous trauailing that way vnlesse it be in a religious mans company Markets they haue and faires vpon these mountaines where nought is to be solde but cattle corne and wooll vnlesse some of the neighbour cities supplie them with merchandise now and then Here endeth the fourth booke IOHN LEO HIS FIFTH BOOKE OF the Historie of Africa and of the memorable things contained therein A description of the kingdomes of Bugia and Tunis WHen as in the former part of this my historie I diuided Barbaria into certaine parts I determined to write of Bugia as of a kingdome by it selfe and I found indeed that not many yeeres ago it was a kingdome For Bugia was subiect to the king of Tunis and albeit for certaine yeeres the king of Telensin was Lord thereof yet was it at length recouered againe by the king of Tunis who committed the gouernment of the city vnto one of his sons both for the tranquillitie of Bugia and also that no discord might happen among his sonnes after his decease He left behinde him three sonnes the eldest whereof was called Habdulhaziz and vnto him he bequeathed the kingdome of Bugia as is aforesaide vnto the second whose name was Hutmen he left the kingdome of Tunis and the third called Hammare he made gouernour of the region of dates This Hammare began foorthwith to wage warre against his brother Hutmen by whom being at length taken in the towne of Asfacos depriued of both his eies he was carried captiue vnto Tunis where he liued many yeeres blinde but his brother Hutmen gouerned the kingdome of Tunis full fortie yeeres The prince of Bugia being most louing and dutifull to his brother raigned for many yeeres with great tianquilitie till at length he was by king Ferdinand of Spaine and by the meanes of one Pedro de Nauarra cast out of his kingdome A description of the great citie of Bugia THis auncient citie of Bugia built as some thinke by the Romans vpon the side of an high mountaine neere vnto the Mediterran sea is enuironed with walles of great height and most stately in regard of their antiquitie The part thereof now peopled containeth aboue eight thousand families but if it were all replenished with buildings it were capeable of more then fower and twentie thousand housholds for it is of a
linnen-drapers haue many shops and are accounted the wealthiest citizens in all Tunis here are also great store of grocers apothecaries taylors and of all other trades and occupations butchers here are verie many which sell mutton for the most part especially in the spring and in summer also here are abundance of all kinde of artificers euerie of which to describe would prooue tedious the apparell of their merchants priests and doctors is verie decent Vpon their heads they weare a Dulipan which is couered with a great linnen-cloth the courtiers likewise and the souldiers weare all of them Dulipans but not couered with linnen Rich men here are but few by reason of the exceeding scarcitie of all kinde of graine for a man cannot till a piece of ground be it neuer so neere the citie in regard of the manifold inuasions of the Arabians Corne is brought vnto them from other regions and cities as namely from Vrbs from Beggia and from Bona. Some of the citizens of Tunis haue certaine fields in the suburbs walled round about where they sowe some quantitie of barley and of other corne howbeit the soyle is marueluellous dry and standeth in need of much watring for which purpose euery man hath a pit whereout with a certaine wheele turned about by a mule or a camel and through certaine conueyances and passages made for the nonce they water all the vpper part of their ground now consider I pray you what great crop of corne can be reaped out of so little a field walled round about and watred by such cunning and industrie Bread they make verie excellent albeit they leaue the bran still among the flower they bake their loaues in certaine mortars such as the Egyptians vse to beat flaxe in The merchants and most part of the citizens vse for food a kinde of homely pulse or pappe called by them Besis being made of barley meale in forme of a dumpling whereupon they powre oyle or the broth of Pome-citrons And there is a certaine place in the citie where nothing but barley prepared in a readines to make the said pulse is to be sold. They vse also another kinde of foode almost as homely as the former for seething a quantitie of meale throughly in water and afterward braying it in another vessell with a pestill they powre oyle or flesh-pottage thereunto and so eat it and this meate they call Bezin but the richer sort feede themselues with more daintie meats All their milles except such as stand vpon a riuer not far from the citie are turned about either by the strength of mules or asses In this citie they haue no fountaines riuers nor welles of fresh water but they all vse raine-water taken out of cesterns sauing that there is a fountaine in the suburbs from whence certaine porters bring salt-water into the citie to sell which they thinke to be more holesome and fit for drinke then raine-water Other wels there are that affoorde most excellent water which is reserued onely for the king his courtiers In this citie there is one most stately temple furnished with sufficient number of priests and with rich reuenues Other temples there be also but not endowed with so ample reuenues here are colledges likewise and monasteries built after their maner al which are maintained vpon the common beneuolence of the citie There are certaine people in this citie whom a man would take to be distraught which goe bare-headed and bare-footed carrying stones about with them and these are reuerenced by the common people for men of singular holines Moreouer on the behalfe of one of these mad fellowes called Sidi el Dahi and for the residue of his fond societie the king of Tunis built one of the foresaid monasteries endowed the same with most ample reuenues All the houses of this citie are indifferently beautifull being built of excellent stones and adorned with much painting and caruing They haue verie artificiall pargettings or plaister-works which they beautifie with orient colours for wood to carue vpon is verie scarce at Tunis The floores of their chambers are paued with certaine shining and faire stones and most of their houses are but of one storie high and almost euerie house hath two gates or entrances one towards the street and another towards the kitchin and other backe-roumes between which gates they haue a faire court where they may walke and conferre with their friends The bath-stoues here are far more commodious then those at Fez though not so large and sumptuous In the suburbs are many pleasant gardens which yeeld fruit albeit not in great abundance yet verie excellent pome-citrons roses and other flowers here are great store especially in that place which they call Bardo where the king hath built a palace amidst those beautifull and sweete gardens On all sides of the citie within fower or fiue miles there growe such plentie of oliues that the oyle thereof sufficeth not onely the citie but is carried also in great quantitie into Egypt The wood of the oliue-trees which they cut downe they vse to burne and to make char-coales thereof neither do I thinke any place to be more destitute of wood then this Pouertie constraineth some of their women to lead an vnchast life they are decently apparelled and going foorth of the house they weare vailes or maskes before their faces like vnto the women of Fez for with one linnen-cloath they couer their foreheads and ioine thereto another which they call Setfari but about their heads they lap such fardels of linnen as they seeme comparable to the heads of Giants Most part of their substance and labour they bestow vpon perfumes and other such vanities They haue here a compound called Lhasis whereof whosoeuer eateth but one ounce falleth a laughing disporting and dallying as if he were halfe drunken and is by the said confection maruellously prouoked vnto lust Of the king of Tunis his court and of the rites and ceremonies there vsed SO soone as the king of Tunis hath by inheritance attained to his kingdome all his nobles doctors priestes and iudges binde themselues by solemne oth vnto him Immediately after any kings death his sonne and heire apparent succeedeth in the kingdome then the chiefe officer of the court called the Munafid because he is the kings vice-roy or high deputie presenteth himselfe foorthwith vnto the new king and giueth vp an account of all things which he did while the olde king liued and then at the kings appointment euerie of the nobles receiue offices from the Munafid according to their seuerall places of dignitie Another principall officer there is called the Mesuare that is the great commander and gouernour of the warlike forces who hath authoritie to increase or diminish the number of soldiers to giue them their pay to leuie armies and to conduct the same whither he thinketh good The third officer in dignitie is the Castellan who with his soldiers taketh charge of the castle and looketh to the
of the whole Island and his retinue haue their abode Not farre from hence there is a certaine village where the Christian Mauritanian and Turkish merchants haue their place of residence in which place there is a great market or faire weekely kept whither all the merchants of the Island and many Arabians from the maine land with great store of cattle and wooll doe resort The inhabitants of the Isle bring cloth thither to sell which they themselues make and this cloth togither with great store of raisins they vsually transport vnto Tunis and Alexandria to be solde Scarce fiftie yeeres sithence this Isle was inuaded and conquered by Christians but it was immediately recouered by the king of Tunis And presently after newe colonies being heere planted the foresaide castle was reedified which the kings of Tunis afterwarde enioied But after the death of king Hutmen the Islanders returned to their former libertie and presently broke the bridge from the Island to the maine lande fearing least they shoulde be inuaded by some land-armie Not long after the said Islanders slaying the king of Tunis his gouernours of the Isle haue themselues continued gouernours thereof till this present Out of this Island is gathered the summe of fowerscore thousand Dobles euery Doble containing an Italian ducate and one third part for yeerely tribute by reason of the great concourse and resort of the merchants of Alexandria Turkie and Tunis But now because they are at continuall dissension and controuersie their estate is much impaired In my time Don Ferdinando king of Spaine sent a great armada against this Island vnder the conduct of the duke of Alua who not knowing the nature of the same commanded his soldiers to land a good distance from thence but the Moores so valiantly defended their Island that the Spaniards were constrained to giue backe and so much the greater was their distresse in that they coulde not finde water sufficient to quench their extreme thirst Moreouer at the Spaniards arriuall it was a full tide but when they woulde haue returned on bourd it was so great an ebbe that their ships were constrained to put to sea least they shoulde haue beene cast vpon the sholdes The shore was drie for almost fower miles togither so that the Spanish soldiers were put vnto great toile before they coulde come to the waters side And the Moores pursued them so eagerly that they slew and tooke prisoners the greatest part of them and the residue escaped by shipping into Sicilia Afterwarde the Emperour Charles the fift sent a mightie fleete thither vnder the conduct of a Rhodian knight of the order of Saint Iohn de Messina who so discreetly behaued himselfe in that action that the Moores compounded to pay fiue thousand Dobles for yeerly tribute vpon condition of the Emperours league and good will which yeerely tribute is payde vntill this present Of the towne of Zoara THis towne built by the Africans vpon the Mediterran sea standeth eastward from the Isle of Gerbi almost fiftie miles The towne wall is weak and the inhabitants are poore people being occupied about nothing but making of lime and plaistring which they sell in the kingdome of Tripolis Their fields are most barren and the inhabitants haue continually beene molested by the inuasions of the Christians especially since the time that they woon Tripolis Of the towne of Lepide THis ancient towne founded by the Romans and enuironed with most high and strong walles hath twise beene sacked by the Mahumetans and of the stones and ruines thereof was Tripolis afterward built Of the olde citie of Tripolis OLde Tripolis built also by the Romans was after woon by the Goths and lastly by the Mahumetans in the time of Califa Homar the second Which Mahumetans hauing besieged the gouernour of Tripoli six moneths together compelled him at length to flee vnto Carthage The citizens were partly slaine and partly carried captiue into Egypt and Arabia as the most famous African Historiographer Ibnu 〈◊〉 reporteth Of the new citie of Tripolis in Barbarie AFfter the destruction of old Tripolis there was built another city of that name which city being inuironed with most high and beautifull wals but not verie strong is situate vpon a sandie plaine which yeeldeth great store of Dates The houses of this citie are most stately in respect of the houses of Tunis and heere also euerie trade and occupation hath a seuerall place Weauers here are many They haue no wels nor fountaines but all their water is taken out of cesterns Corne in this citie is at an exceeding rate for all the fields of Tripoli are as sandie and barren as the fields of Numidia The reason whereof is for that the principall and fattest grounds of this region are ouerflowed with the sea The inhabitants of this region affirme that the greatest part of their fields northward are swallowed vp by the Mediterran sea the like wherof is to be seene in the territories of Monaster Mahdia Asfacos Capes the Isle of Gerbi and other places more eastward where the sea for the space of a mile is so shallow that it will scarce reach vnto a mans nauell Yea some are of opinion that the citie of Tripolis it selfe was situate in times past more to the north but by reason of the continuall inundations of the sea it was built and remooued by little and little southward for proofe whereof there stand as yet ruines of houses drowned in certaine places of the sea In this citie were many faire temples and colledges built and an hospitall also for the maintenance of their owne poore people and for the entertainment of strangers Their fare is verie base and homely beeing onely the forenamed Besis made of barley meale for that region affoordeth so small quantitie euen of barley that he is accounted a wealthie man that hath a bushell or two of corne in store The citizens are most of them merchants for Tripolis standeth neere vnto Numidia and Tunis neither is there any citie or towne of account between it and Alexandria neither is it farre distant from the Isles of Sicilia and Malta and vnto the port of Tripolis Venetian ships yeerly resort and bring thither great store of merchandize This citie hath alwaies beene subiect vnto the king of Tunis but when Abulhasen the king of Fez besieged Tunis the king of Tunis was constrained with his Arabians to flee into the deserts Howbeit when Abulhasen was conquered the king of Tunis returned to his kingdome but his subiects began to oppose themselues against him and so that common-wealth was afterward grieuously turmoyled with ciuill dissensions and warres Whereof the king of Fez hauing intelligence marched the fifth yeere of the said ciuill warre with an armie against the citie of Tunis and hauing vanquished the king thereof and constrained him to flee vnto Constantina he so straitly besieged him that the citizens of Constantina seeing themselues not able to withstād the king of Fez opened their citie gates
to him and to all his armie Whereupon the king of Tunis was carried captiue vnto Fez and was afterward kept a while prisoner in the castle of Septa In the meane season Tripolis was by a Genouese fleete of twentie sailes surprised and sacked and the inhabitants carried away captiue Whereof the king of Fez beeing aduertised gaue the Genoueses fiftie thousand ducates vpon condition that he mightenioy the towne in peace But the Genoueses hauing surrendred the towne perceiued after their departure that most part of their ducates were counterfait Afterward the king of Tunis being restored vnto his former liberty by Abuselim king of Fez returned home vnto his kingdome and so the gouernment thereof remained vnto him and his posteritie till Abubar the sonne of Hutmen togither with his yoong sonne was slaine in the castle of Tripolis by a nephew of his who afterward vsurped the kingdome but he was slaine in a battell which he fought against Habdul Mumen who presently thereupon became Lord of Tripolis After him succeeded his sonne Zacharias who within a few moneths dyed of the pestilence After Zacharias Mucamen the sonne of Hesen and cosin to Zacharias was chosen king who beginning to tyrannize ouer the citizens was by them expelled out of his kingdome and afterward a certaine citizen was aduaunced vnto the royall throne who gouerned verie modestly But the king which was before expelled sent an armie of souldiers against Tripolis who loosing the field were all of them put to flight Afterward the king that began to raigne so modestly prooued a verie tyrant and being murthered by his kinsman the people made choise of a certaine nobleman leading as then an Hermites life and in a manner against his will appointed him their gouernour and so the gouernment of the citie of Tripolis remained vnto him and his posteritie till such time as king Ferdinando sent Don Pedro de Nauarra against it who on the sudden encountring this citie carried away many captiues with him The gouernour of Tripolis and his sonne in lawe were sent prisoners vnto Messina Where after certaine yeeres imprisonment they were restored by the Emperour Charles the fift vnto their former libertie and returned vnto Tripolis which towne was afterward destroyed by the Christians The castle of Tripolis being enuironed with most strong walles begin as I vnderstand to be replanted with new inhabitants And thus much as concerning the cities of the kingdome of Tunis Of the mountaines belonging to the state of Bugia THe territorie of Bugia is full of ragged high and woodie mountaines the inhabitants being a noble rich and liberall people and possessing great store of goats oxen and horses haue alwaies continued in libertie since the time that Bugia was surprised by the Christians The people of these mountaines vse to haue a blacke crosse vpon one of their cheekes according to the ancient custome before mentioned Their bread is made of barly and they haue abundance of nuts and figs vpon those mountaines especially which are neere vnto Zoaoa in some places of these mountaines are certaine mines of iron whereof they make a kinde of coine of halfe a pound weight They haue also another sort of siluer coine weighing fower graines a peece these mountaines yeeld abundance of wine and hempe but their linnen-cloath that they weaue is exceeding course And these mountaines of Bugia extende in length vpon the coast of the Mediterran sea almost a hundred and fiftie and in bredth fortie miles each mountaine containeth inhabitants of a diuers kinred and generation from others whom because they liue all after one manner we will passe ouer in silence Of mount Auraz THis exceeding high and populous mountaine is inhabited with most barbarous people that are wholy addicted vnto robberie and spoile From Bugia it is distant fowerscore and from Constantina almost threescore miles Also being separated from other mountaines it extendeth about threescore miles in length Southward it bordereth vpon the Numidian deserts and northward vpon the regions of Mesila Stefe Nicaus and Constantina From the very toppe of this mountaine issue diuers streames of water which running downe into the next plaines increase at length into a lake the water whereof in sommer time is salt The passage vnto this mountaine is very difficult in regard of certaine cruell Arabians Of the mountaine of Constantina ALl the north and west part of the territorie belonging to the citie of Constantina is full of high mountaines which beginning at the borders of Bugia extend themselues to the Mediterran sea euen as farre as Bona that is to say almost an hundred and thirtie miles Their fields vpon the plaines are replenished with oliues figges and all other kindes of fruites which are carried in great quantitie vnto the next townes and cities all the inhabitants for ciuill demeanour excell the citizens of Bugia and do exercise diuers manuarie arts and weaue great store of linnen cloth They are at continuall dissention among themselues by reason that their women will so often change husbands They are exceeding rich and free from all tribute and yet dare they not till their plaines both for feare of the Arabians and also of the gouernors of the next cities Euerie weeke vpon sundry daies heere is a market greatly frequented with merchants of Constantina of other places and whatsoeuer merchant hath no friend nor acquaintāce dwelling vpon the mountaines is in great hazard to be notablie cozened Vpon these mountaines they haue nether iudges priests nor yet any learned men so that when any of the inhabitants would write a letter vnto his friend he must trudge vp and downe sometime twelue and sometime fifteene miles to seeke a scribe Footemen for the warres they haue almost fortie thousand and about fower thousand horsemen The inhabitants are men of such valour that if they agreed among themselues they woulde soone be able to conquer all Africa Of the mountaines of Bona. THe citie of Bona hath on the north part the Mediterran sea on the south and west parts certaine mountaines adioining almost vnto the mountaines of Constantina and on the east side it hath most fruitfull fieldes and large plaines whereupon in times past were diuers townes and castles built by the Romains the ruines whereof are now onely remaining and the names quite forgotten All these regions by reason of the Arabians crueltie are so desolate that they are inhabited but in very fewe places and there they are constrained to keepe out the Arabians by force of armes The mountaines of Bona extend in length from east to west almost forescore miles and in bredth about thirtie miles Heere are great store of fountaines from whence certaine riuers issue running through the plaines into the Mediterran sea Of the mountaines standing neere vnto 〈◊〉 THe citie of Tunis standing vpon a plaine hath no mountaines nigh vnto it but onely on the west side towards the Meditterran sea where it hath a mountaine like vnto that which enuironeth Carthage Neere
on the north Tombuto on the east and the kingdome of Melli on the south In length it containeth almost fiue hundred miles and extendeth two hundred and fiftie miles along the riuer of Niger and bordereth vpon the Ocean sea in the same place where Niger falleth into the saide sea This place exceedingly aboundeth with barlie rice cattell fishes and cotton and their cotton they sell vnto the merchants of Barbarie for cloth of Europe for brazen vessels for armour and other such commodities Their coine is of gold without any stampe or inscription at all they haue certaine iron-money also which they vse about matters of small value some peeces whereof weigh a pound some halfe a pound and some one quarter of a pound In all this kingdome-there is no fruite to be found but onely dates which are brought hither either out of Gualata or Numidia Heere is neither towne nor castle but a certaine great village onely wherein the prince of Ghinea together with his priestes doctors merchants and all the principall men of the region inhabite The walles of their houses are built of chalke and the roofes are couered with strawe the inhabitants are clad in blacke or blew cotton wherewith they couer their heads also but the priests and doctors of their law go apparelled in white cotton This region during the three moneths of Iulie August and September is yeerely enuironed with the ouerflowings of Niger in manner of an Island all which time the merchants of Tombuto conueigh their merchandize hither in certaine Canoas or narrow boats made of one tree which they rowe all the day long but at night they binde them to the shore and lodge themselues vpon the lande This kingdome was subiect in times past vnto a certaine people of Libya and became afterward tributarie vnto king Soni Heli after whom succeeded Soni Heli Izchia who kept the prince of this region prisoner at Gago where togither with a certaine nobleman he miserably died Of the kingdome of Melli. THis region extending it selfe almost three hundred miles along the side of a riuer which fâ—lleth into Niger bordereth northward vpon the region last described southward vpon certaine deserts and drie mountaines westward vpon huge woods and forrests stretching to the Ocean sea shore and eastward vpon the territorie of Gago In this kingdome there is a large and ample village containing to the number of sixe thousand or mo families and called Melli whereof the whole kingdome is so named And here the king hath his place of residence The region it selfe yeeldeth great abundance of corne flesh and cotton Heere are many artificers and merchants in all places and yet the king honorably entertaineth all strangers The inhabitants are rich and haue plentie of wares Heere are great store of temples priests and professours which professours read their lectures onely in the temples bicause they haue no colleges at all The people of this region excell all other Negros in witte ciuilitie and industry and were the first that embraced the law of Mahumet at the same time when the vncle of Ioseph the king of Maroco was their prince and the gouernment remained for a while vnto his posterity at length Izchia subdued the prince of this region and made him his tributarie and so oppressed him with greeuous exactions that he was scarce able to maintaine his family Of the kingdome of Tombuto THis name was in our times as some thinke imposed vpon this kingdome from the name of a certain towne so called which they say king Mense Suleiman founded in the yeere of the Hegeira 610. and it is situate within twelue miles of a certaine branch of Niger all the houses whereof are now changed into cottages built of chalke and couered with thatch Howbeit there is a most stately temple to be seene the wals whereof are made of stone and lime and a princely palace also built by a most excellent workeman of Granada Here are many shops of artificers and merchants and especially of such as weaue linnen and cotton cloth And hither do the Barbarie-merchants bring cloth of Europe All the women of this region except maid-seruants go with their faces couered and sell all necessarie victuals The inhabitants especially strangers there residing are exceeding rich insomuch that the king that now is married both his daughters vnto two rich merchants Here are many wels containing most sweete water and so often as the riuer Niger ouerfloweth they conueigh the water thereof by certaine sluces into the towne Corne cattle milke and butter this region yeeldeth in great abundance but salt is verie scarce heere for it is brought hither by land from Tegaza which is fiue hundred miles distant When I my selfe was here I saw one camels loade of salt sold for 80. ducates The rich king of Tombuto hath many plates and scepters of gold some whereof weigh 1300. poundes and he keepes a magnificent and well furnished court When he trauelleth any whither he rideth vpon a camell which is lead by some of his noblemen and so he doth likewise when hee goeth to warfar and all his souldiers ride vpon horses Whosoeuer will speake vnto this king must first fall downe before his feete then taking vp earth must sprinkle it vpon his owne head shoulders which custom is ordinarily obserued by them that neuer saluted the king before or come as ambassadors from other princes He hath alwaies three thousand horsemen and a great number of footmen that shoot poysoned arrowes attending vpon him They haue often skirmishes with those that refuse to pay tribute and so many as they take they sell vnto the merchants of Tombuto Here are verie few horses bred and the merchants and courtiers keepe certaine little nags which they vse to trauell vpon but their best horses are brought out of Barbarie And the king so soone as he heareth that any merchants are come to towne with horses he commandeth a certaine number to be brought before him and chusing the best horse for himselfe he payeth a most liberall price for him He so deadly hateth all Iewes that he will not admit any into his citie and whatsoeuer Barbarie merchants he vnderstandeth to haue any dealings with the Iewes he presently causeth their goods to be confiscate Here are great store of doctors iudges priests and other learned men that are bountifully maintained at the kings cost and charges And hither are brought diuers manuscripts or written bookes out of Barbarie which are sold for more money then any other merchandize The coine of Tombuto is of gold without any stampe or superscription but in matters of smal value they vse certaine shels brought hither out of the kingdome of Persia fower hundred of which shels are worth a ducate and sixe peeces of their golden coine with two third parts weigh an ounce The inhabitants are people of a gentle and cherefull disposition and spend a great part of the night
in singing and dancing through all the streets of the citie they keepe great store of men and women slaues and their towne is much in danger of fire at my second being there halfe the town almost was burnt in fiue howers space Without the suburbs there are no gardens nor orchards at all Of the towne of Cabra THis large towne built without walles in manner of a village standeth about twelue miles from Tombuto vpon the riuer Niger and here such merchants as trauel vnto the kingdomes of Ghinea and Melli 〈◊〉 themselues Neither are the people or buildings of this towne any 〈◊〉 inferiour to the people and buildings of Tombuto and hither the Negros resort in great numbers by water In this towne the king of Tombuto appointeth a iudge to decide all controuerfies for it were tedious to goe 〈◊〉 so oft as need should require I my selfe am acquainted with Abu Bacr sirnamed Pargama the kings brother who is blacke in colour but most beautifull in minde and conditions Here breed many diseases which exceedingly diminish the people and that by reason of the fond and loathsome mixture of their meats for they mingle fish milke butter and flesh altogither And this is the ordinarie food also in Tombuto Of the towne and kingdome of Gago THE great towne of Gago being vnwalled also is distant southward of Tombuto almost fower hundred miles and enclineth somewhat to the southeast The houses thereof are but meane except those wherein the king and his courtiers remaine Here are exceeding rich merchants and hither continually resort great store of Negros which buy cloth here brought out of Barbarie and Europe This towne aboundeth with corne and flesh but is much destitute of wine trees and fruits Howbeit here is plentie of melons citrons and rice here are many welles also containing most sweete and holesome water Here is likewise a certaine place where slaues are to be sold especially vpon such daies as the merchants vse to assemble and a yoong slaue of fifteene yeeres age is sold for sixe ducates and so are children sold also The king of this region hath a certaine priuate palace wherein he maintaineth a great number of concubines and slaues which are kept by eunuches and for the guard of his owne person he keepeth a sufficient troupe of horsemen and footmen Betweene the first gate of the palace and the inner part thereof there is a place walled round about wherein the king himselfe decideth all his subiects controuersies and albeit the king be in this function most diligent and performeth all things thereto appertayning yet hath he about him his counsellors other officers as namely his secretaries treasurers factors and auditors It is a woonder to see what plentie of Merchandize is dayly brought hither and how costly and sumptuous all things be Horses bought in Europe for ten ducates are here sold againe for fortie and sometimes for fiftie ducates a piece There is not any cloth of Europe so course which will not here be sold for fower ducates an elle and if it be any thing fine they will giue fifteene ducates for an ell and an ell of the scarlet of Venice or of Turkie-cloath is here worth thirtie ducates A sword is here valued at three or fower crownes and so likewise are spurs bridles with other like commodities and spices also are sold at an high rate but of al other commodities salt is most extremelie deere The residue of this kingdome containeth nought but villages and hamlets inhabited by husbandmen and shepherds who in winter couer their bodies with beasts skins but in sommer they goe all naked saue their priuie members and sometimes they weare vpon their feet certaine shooes made of camels leather They are ignorant and rude people and you shall scarce finde one learned man in the space of an hundred miles They are continually burthened with grieuous exactions so that they haue scarce any thing remaining to liue vpon Of the kingdome of Guber IT standeth eastward of the kingdome of Gago almost three hundred miles betweene which two kingdomes lieth a vast desert being much destitute of water for it is about fortie miles distant from Niger The kingdome of Guber is enuironed withhigh mountaines and containeth many villages inhabited by shepherds and other herdsmen Abundance of cattell here are both great and small but of a lower stature then the cattell in other places Heere are also great store of artificers and linnen weauers and heere are such shooes made as the ancient Romans were woont to weare the greatest part whereof be carried to Tombuto and Gago Likewise heere is abundance of rice and of certaine other graine and pulse the like whereof I neuer saw in Italie But I thinke it groweth in some places of Spaine At the inundation of Niger all the fields of this region are ouerflowed and then the inhabitants cast their seede into the water onely In this region there is a certaine great village containing almost sixe thousand families being inhabited with all kinde of merchants and here was in times past the court of a certaine king who in my time was slaine by Izchia the king of Tombuto and his sonnes were gelt and accounted among the number of the kings eunuches Afterward he sent gouernours hither who mightily oppressed and impouerished the people that were before rich and most part of the inhabitants were carried captiue and kept for slaues by the said Izchia Of the citie and kingdome of Agadez THe citie of Agadez standing neere vnto Lybia was not long since walled round about by a certaine king The inhabitants are all whiter then other Negros and their houses are stately built after the fashion of Barbarie The greatest part of the citizens are forren merchants and the residue be either artificers or stipendaries to the king Euery merchant hath a great many of seruants and slaues who attend vpon them as they trauell from Cano to Borno for in that iourney they are exceedingly molested by certaine theeues called Zingani insomuch that they dare not trauell the same way vnlesse they be well appointed in my time they vsed crossebowes for their defence when the said merchants be arriued at any towne they presently employ all their slaues about some busines to the end they may not liue in idlenes ten or twelue they keepe to attend vpon themselues and their wares The king of this citie hath alwaies a notable garde about him and continueth for the most part at a certaine palace in the midst of the citie He hath greatest regarde vnto his subiects that inhabite in the deserts and fields for they will sometime expell their king and choose another fo that he which pleaseth the inhabitants of the desert best is sure to be king of Agadez The residue of this kingdome lying southward is inhabited by shepherds and herdsmen who dwell in certaine cottages made of boughes which cottages they carrie about vpon oxen from place to place They erect their
cottages alwaies in the same field where they determine to feede their cattell like as the Arabians also doe Such as bring merchandize out of other places pay large custome to the king and the king of Tombuto receiueth for yeerely tribute out of this kingdome almost an hundred and fiftie thousand duckats Of the prouince of Cano. THe great prouince of Cano stādeth eastward of the riuer Niger almost fiue hundred miles The greatest part of the inhabitants dwelling in villages are some of them herdsmen and others husbandmen Heere groweth abundance of corne of rice and of cotton Also here are many deserts and wilde woodie mountaines containing many springs of water In these woods growe plentie of wilde citrons and limons which differ not much in taste from the best of all In the midst of this prouince standeth a towne called by the same name the walles and houses whereof are built for the most part of a kinde of chalke The inhabitants are rich merchants and most ciuill people Their king was in times past of great puissance and had mighty troupes of horsemen at his command but he hath since beene constrained to pay tribute vnto the kings of Zegzeg and Casena Afterwarde Ischia the king of Tombuto faining friendship vnto the two foresaid kings trecherously slew them both And then he waged warre against the king of Cano whom after a long siege he tooke and compelled him to marie one of his daughters restoring him againe to his kingdome 〈◊〉 that he should pay vnto him the third part of all his tribute and the said king of Tombuto hath some of his courtiers perpetually residing at Cano for the receit thereof Of the kingdome of Casena CAsena bordering eastward vpon the kingdome last described is full of mountaines and drie fields which yeeld notwithstanding great store of barlie and mill-seed The inhabitants are all extremely black hauing great noses and blabber lips They dwell in most forlorne and base cottages neither shall you finde any of their villages containing aboue three hundred families And besides their base estate they are mightily oppressed with famine a king they had in times past whom the foresaid Ischia slew since whose death they haue all beene tributarie vnto Ischia Of the kingdome of Zegzeg THe southeast part thereof bordereth vpon Cano and it is distant from Casena almost an hundred and fiftie miles The inhabitants are rich and haue great traffique vnto other nations Some part of this kingdome is plaine and the residue mountainous but the mountaines are extremely cold and the plaines intolerably hot And because they can hardly indure the sharpnes of winter they kindle great fires in the midst of their houses laying the coles thereof vnder their high bedsteads and 〈◊〉 betaking themselues to sleepe Their fields abounding with water are exceeding fruitfull their houses are built like the houses of the kingdom of Casena They had a king of their owne in times past who being slaine by Ischia as is aforesaid they haue euer since beene subiect vnto the said Ischia Of the region of Zanfara THe region of Zanfara bordering eastward vpon Zegzeg is inhabited by most base and rusticall people Their fields abound with rice mill and cotton The inhabitants are tall in stature and extremely blacke their visages are broad and their dispositions most sauage and brutish Their king also was slaine by Ischia and themselues made tributarie Of the towne and kingdome of Guangara THis kingdome adioineth southeasterly vpon Zanfara being very populous and hauing a king raigning ouer it which maintaineth a garison of seuen thousand archers and fiue hundred horsemen and receiueth yeerely great tributes In all this kingdome there are none but base villages one onely excepted which exceedeth the rest both in largenes and faire building The inhabitants are very rich and haue continuall traffique with the nations adioining Southward thereof lieth a region greatly abounding with gold But now they can haue no traffique with forren nations for they are molested on both sides with most cruell enemies For westward they are oppressed by Ischia and eastward by the king of Borno When I my selfe was in Borno king Abraham hauing leuied an huge armie determined to expell the prince of Guangara out of his kingdome had he not beene hindred by Homar the prince of Gaoga which began to assaile the kingdome of Borno Wherefore the king of Borno being drawne home into his owne countrie was enforced to giue ouer the conquest of Guangara So often as the merchants of Guangara trauell vnto the foresaid region abounding with gold because the waies are so rough and difficult that their camels cannot goe vpon them they carrie their wares vpon slaues backes who being laden with great burthens doe vsually trauell ten or twelue miles a day Yea some I saw that made two of those iourneies in one day a woonder it is to see what heauie burthens these poore slaues are charged withall for besides the merchandize they carrie victuals also for their masters and for the soldiers that goe to garde them Of the kingdome of Borno THe large prouince of Borno bordering westward vpon the prouince of Guangara and from thence extending eastward fiue hundred miles is distant from the fountaine of Niger almost an hundred and fiftie miles the south part thereof adioining vnto the desert of Set and the north part vnto that desert which lieth towards Barca The situation of this kingdome is very vneeuen some part thereof being mountainous and the residue plaine Vpon the plaines are sundry villages inhabited by rich merchants and abounding with corne The king of this region and all his followers dwell in a certaine large village The mountaines being inhabited by herdesmen and shepherds doe bring foorth mill and other graine altogether vnknowen to vs. The inhabitants in summer goe all naked saue their priuie members which they couer with a peece of leather but al winter they are clad in skins and haue beds of skins also They embrace no religion at all being neither Christians Mahumetans nor Iewes nor of any other profession but liuing after a brutish manner and hauing wiues and children in common and as I vnderstood of a certaine merchant that abode a long time among them they haue no proper names at all but euery one is nicknamed according to his length his fatnes or some other qualitie They haue a most puissant prince being lineally descended from the Libyan people called Bardoa Horsemen he hath in a continuall readines to the number of three thousand an huge number of footmen for al his subiects are so seruiceable and obedient vnto him that whensoeuer he commandeth them they wil arme themselues and follow him whither he pleaseth to conduct them They paye vnto him none other tribute but the tithes of all their corne neither hath this king any reuenues to maintaine his estate but onely such spoiles as he getteth from his next enimes by often inuasions and
assaults He is at perpetuall enmitie with a certaine people inhabiting beyond the desert of Seu who in times past marching with an huge armie of footemen ouer the saide desert wasted a great part of the kingdome of Borno Whereupon the king of Borno sent for the merchants of Barbary and willed them to bring him great store of horses for in this countrey they vse to exchange horses for slaues and to giue fifteene and sometime twentie slaues for one horse And by this meanes there were abundance of horses brought howbeit the merchants were constrained to stay for their slaues till the king returned home conquerour with a great number of captiues and satisfied his creditors for their horses And oftentimes it falleth out that the merchants must stay three moneths togither before the king returneth from the warres but they are all that while maintained at the kings charges Sometimes he bringeth not home slaues enough to satisfie the merchants and otherwhiles they are constrained to awaite there a whole yeere togither for the king maketh inuasions but euery yeere once that at one set and appointed time of the yeere Yea I my selfe met with sundrie merchants heere who despairing of the kings paiment bicause they had trusted him an whole yeere determined neuer to come thither with horses againe And yet the king seemeth to be marueilous rich for his spurres his bridles platters dishes pots and other vessels wherein his meate and drinke are brought to the table are all of pure golde yea and the chaines of his dogs and hounds are of golde also Howbeit this king is extreamely couetous for he had much rather pay his debts in slaues then in gold In this kingdome are great multitudes of Negros and of other people the names of whom bicause I tarried heere but one moneth I could not well note Of the kingdome of Gaoga GAoga bordering westward vpon the kingdome of Borno and extending eastward to the confines of Nubia adioineth southward vnto a certaine desert situate vpon a crooked and winding part of Nilus and is enclosed northward with the frontiers of Egypt It stretcheth from east to west in length fiue hundred miles and as much in bredth They haue neither humanitie nor learning among them but are most rusticall and sauage people and especially those that inhabite the mountaines who go all naked saue their priuities their houses are made of boughes rafts and are much subiect to burning and they haue great abundance of cattel whereunto they giue diligent attendance For many yeers they remained in libertie of which libertie they were depriued by a certaine Negro slaue of the same region This slaue lying vpon a certaine night with his master that was a wealthie merchant considering that he was not far from his natiue countrey slue his saide master possessed his goods and returned home where hauing bought a certaine number of horses he began to inuade the people next adioining and obtained for the most part the victorie for he conducted a troupe of most valiant warlike horsmen against his enimies that were but slēderly appointed And by this means he tooke great numbers of captiues whom he exchanged for horses that were brought out of Egypt insomuch that at length the number of his souldiers increasing he was accounted of by all men as souerainge K. of Gaoga After him succeeded his son being no whit inferiour in valour high courage vnto his father who reigned for the space of fortie yeeres Next him succeeded his brother Moses after Moses his nephew Homara who beareth rule at this present This Homara hath greatly enlarged his dominions and hath entred league with the Soldan of Cairo by whom he is often presented with magnificent gifts which he most bountifully requiteth also diuers merchants of Egypt and diuers inhabitants of Cairo present most pretious and rare things vnto him and highly commend his surpassing liberalitie This prince greatly honoureth all learned men and especially such as are of the linage of Mahumet I my selfe being in his court a certaine noble man of Damiata brought him very rich and roiall gifts as namely a gallant horse a Turkish sworde and a kingly robe with certaine other particulars that cost about an hundred and fiftie ducates at Cairo in recompence whereof the king gaue him fiue slaues fiue camels fiue hundred ducates of that region and an hundred elephants teeth of woonderfull bignes Of the kingdome of 〈◊〉 NVbia bordering westward vpon the kingdome last described and stretching from thence vnto Nilus is enclosed on the southside with the desert of Goran and on the north side with the confines of Egypt Howbeit they cannot passe by water from this kingdome into Egypt for the riuer of Nilus is in some places no deeper then a man may wade ouer on foote The principall towne of this kingdome called Dangala is exceeding populous and containeth to the number of ten thousand families The wals of their houses consist of a kinde of chalke and the roofes are couered with strawe The townesmen are exceeding rich and ciuill people and haue great traffike with the merchants of Cairo of Egypt in other parts of this kingdome you shall finde none but villages and hamlets situate vpon the riuer of Nilus all the inhabitants whereof are husbandmen The kingdome of Nubia is most rich in corne and sugar which notwithstanding they knowe not how to vse Also in the citie of Dangala there is great plentie of ciuet and Sandall-wood This region aboundeth with Iuory likewise bicause heere are so many elephants taken Heere is also a most strong and deadly poison one graine whereof being diuided amongst ten persons will kill them all within lesse then a quarter of an hower but if one man taketh a graine he dieth there of out of hand An ounce of this poison is solde for an hundred ducates neither may it be solde to any but to forraine merchants whosoeuer buieth it is bound by an oath not to vse it in the kingdome of Nubia All such as buy of this poison are constrained to pay as much vnto the king as to the merchant but if any man selleth poison without the princes knowledge he is presently put to death The king of Nubia maintaineth continuall warre partly against the people of Goran who being descended of the people called Zingani inhabite the deserts and speake a kinde of language that no other nation vnderstandeth and partly against certaine other people also dwelling vpon the desert which lieth eastward of Nilus and 〈◊〉 towards the red sea being not farre from the borders of Suachen Their language as I take it is mixt for it hath great affinity with the Chaldean toong with the language of Suachen and with the language of Ethiopia the higher where Prete Gianni is said to beare rule the people themselues are called Bugiha and are most base and miserable and liue onely vpon milke camels-flesh and
the flesh of such beasts as are taken in those deserts Sometimes they receiue tribute of the gouernour of Suachen and sometimes of the gouernors of Dangala They had once a rich towne situate vpon the red sea called Zibid whereunto belonged a commodious hauen being opposite vnto the hauen of Zidem which is fortie miles distant from Mecca But an hundred yeeres since it was destroied by the Soldan bicause the inhabitants receiued certaine wares which should haue beene carried to Mecca and at the same time the famous port of Zibid was destroied from whence notwithstanding was gathered a great yeerely tribute The inhabitants being chased from thence fledde vnto Dangala and Suachin and at length being ouercome in battaile by the gouernour of Suachin there were in one day slaine of them aboue fower thousand and a thousand were carried captiue vnto Suachin who were massacred by the women and children of the citie And thus much friendly reader as concerning the lande of Negros the fifteene kingdomes whereof agreeing much in rites and customes are subiect vnto fower princes onely Let vs now proceed vnto the description of Egypt Here endeth the seuenth booke IOHN LEO HIS EIGHT BOOKE OF the Historie of Africa and of the memorable things contained therein Of Egypt THe most noble and famous prouince of Egypt bordering westward vpon the deserts of Barca Numidia and Libya eastward vpon the deserts lying betweene Egypt it selfe and the red sea and northward vpon the Mediterran sea is inclosed southward with the land of the foresaid people called Bugiha and with the riuer of Nilus It stretcheth in length from the 〈◊〉 sea to the land of the people called Bugiha about fower hundred and fiftie miles but in bredth it is very narrow so that it containeth nought but a small distance betweene both the banks of Nilus and the barren mountaines bordering vpon the foresaid deserts being inhabited onely in that place where Nilus is separate from the saide mountaines albeit towards the Mediterran sea it extendeth it selfe somewhat broader For Nilus about fower-score miles from the great citie of Cairo is diuided into two branches one whereof 〈◊〉 in his chanell westward returneth at length into the maine streame from whence he tooke his originall and hauing passed about threescore miles beyond Cairo it diuideth it selfe into two other branches whereof the one runneth to Damiata and the other to Rosetto And 〈◊〉 of that which trendeth to Damiata issueth another branch which discharging it selfe into a lake passeth through a certaine gullet or streit into the Mediterran sea vpon the banke whereof standeth the most ancient citie of Tenesse and this diuision of Nilus into so many streames and branches causeth Egypt as I haue beforesaid to be so narrow All this prouince is plaine and is most fruitfull for all kind of graine and pulse There are most pleasant and greene medowes and great store of geese and other fowles The countrey people are of a swart and browne colour but the citizens are white Garments they weare which are streite downe to their wastes and broad beneath and the sleeues likewise are streight They couer their heads with a round and high habite called by the Italians a Dulipan Their shooes are made according to the ancient fashion In sommer they weare garments of particoloured cotton but in winter they vse a certaine garment lined with cotton which they call Chebre but the chiefe citizens and merchants are apparelled in cloth of Europe The inhabitants are of an honest cheereful and liberall disposition For their victuals they vse a kinde of newe and extreme salt cheeses and sowre milke also artificially congealed which fare albeit they account very daintie yet cannot strangers digest it and into euerie dish almost they put sower milke A diuision of Egypt SInce the Mahumetans were Lords of Egypt it hath beene diuided into three parts For the region from Cairo to Rosetto is called the shore of Errif and from Cairo to the lande of Bugiha it is called Sahid that is to say The firme land but the region adioining vpon that branch of Nilus which runneth towardes Damiata and Tenesse they call by the name of Bechria or Maremma All Egypt is exceeding fertile but the prouince of Sahid excelleth the two other parts for abundance of corne cattle fowles and flaxe and Maremma aboundeth with cotton and sugar Howbeit the inhabitants of Marremma and Errif are farre more ciuill then the people of Sahid bicause those two prouinces lie neerer vnto the sea and are more frequented by European Barbarian and Assirian merchants but the people of Sahid haue no conuersation with strangers except it be with a fewe Ethiopians Of the ancient pedigree and originall of the Egyptians THe Egyptians as Moses writeth fetch their originall from Mesraim the sonne of Chus the sonne of Cham the sonne of Noe and the Hebrewes call both the countrie and the inhabitants of Egypt by the name of Mesraim The Arabians call Egypt it selfe Mesre but the inhabitants Chibith And Chibith they say was the man that first tooke vpon him the gouernment of this region and began first to builde houses thereon Also the inhabitants call themselues by the same name neither are there left any true Egyptians besides a fewe Christians which are at this present remaining The residue embracing the Mahumetan religion haue mingled themselues amongst the Arabians the Moores This kingdome was gouerned many yeeres by the Egyptians themselues as namely by the kings that were called Pharao who by their monuments and admirable buildings seeme to haue beene mightie princes and also by the kings called Ptolomaei Afterward being subdued vnto the Romaine Empire this kingdome since the comming of Christ was conuerted vnto the Christian religion vnder the saide Romaine gouernment since the decay of which Empire it fell into the possession of the Emperours of Constantinople who being very carefull to maintaine this kingdome were at length depriued thereof by the Mahumetans vnder the conduct of Hamrus the sonne of Hasi being appointed captaine generall ouer the Arabian armie of Homar the second Califa or Mahumetan patriarke of that name who permitting all men to haue their owne religion required nought but tribute at their hands The said captaine built vpon the banke of Nilus a certaine towne called by the Arabians Fustato which word signifieth in their language a tabernacle for when he first vndertooke this expedition he marched through wilde and desert places voide of inhabitants so that his armie was constrained to lye in tents The common people call this towne Mesre Hatichi that is to say the auncient citie which notwithstanding in comparison of Cairo may not vnfitly be called the New citie And as concerning the situation of this towne many excellent men both Christians Iewes and Mahumetans haue in these our times beene deceiued For they thinke Mesre to be situate in the same place where king Pharao in the time of Moses and king Pharao in the time of
such particulars as I know to be most certaine true concerning the court of the Soldan Vnto this high dignitie was woont to be chosen some one of the most noble Mamaluks These Mamaluks being all Christians at the first and stolne in their childhoode by the Tartars out of the prouince of Circassia which bordereth vpon the Euxin sea and being solde at Caffa a towne of Taurica Chersonesus were brought from thence by certaine merchants vnto the citie of Cairo and were there bought by the Soldan who constraining them foorthwith to abiure and renounce their baptisme caused them to be instructed in the Arabian and Turkish languages and to be trained vp in militarie discipline to the end they might ascend from one degree of honour to another till at last they were aduanced vnto the high dignitie of the Soldan But this custome whereby it was enacted that the Soldan shoulde be chosen out of the number of such as were Mamaluks and slaues by their condition began about 250. yeeres sithens whenas the family of the valiant Saladin whose name was so terrible vnto Christians being supported but by a fewe of the kinred fell to vtter decay and ruine At the same time when the last king of Ierusalem was determined to sacke the citie of Cairo which also in regard of the sloth and cowardize of the Mahumetan Califa then raigning ouer it intended to make it selfe tributary vnto the same king the iudges and lawyers of the citie with the consent of the Califa sent for a certaine prince of Asia called Azedudin of the nation of Curdu the people whereof liue in tents like the Arabians which Azedudin togither with his sonne Saladin came with an armie of fiftie thousand horsemen And albeit Saladin was inferiour in age vnto his father yet in regard of his redoubted valour and singular knowledge in militarie affaires they created him generall of the field and gaue him free libertie to bestow all the tributes and reuenues of Egypt as himselfe shoulde thinke expedient And so marching at length against the Christians he got the victorie of them without any bloudshed and draue them out of Ierusalem and out of all Syria Then Saladin returning backe with triumph vnto Cairo had an intent to vsurpe the gouernment thereof where upon hauing slaine the Califa his guard who bare principall swaie ouer the Egyptians he procured the death also of the Califa himselfe being thus bereft of his guard with a poisoned cup and then foorthwith submitted himselfe vnto the patronage of the Califa of Bagdet who was the true lawful Mahumetan prelate of Cairo Thus the iurisdiction of the Califas of Cairo who had continued lords of that citie by perpetuall succession for the space of two hundred and thirty yeeres surceased and returned againe vnto the Califa of Bagdet who was the true lawfull gouernour thereof And so the schismaticall Califas and patriarks being suppressed there grew a contention between Saladin and the Soldan of Bagdet Saladin made himselfe a soueraigne of Cairo bicause the saide Soldan of Bagdet being in times past prince of the prouinces of Mazandran and Euarizin situate vpon the riuer of Ganges and being borne in a certaine countrey of Asia laide claime notwithstanding vnto the dominion of Cairo and intending to wage warre against Saladine he was restrained by the Tartars of Corasan who made inuasions and inrodes vpon him Saladin on the other side fearing least the Christians in reuenge of the foresaid iniury would make an expedition into Syria and considering that his forces were partly slaine in the former warres and partly consumed by pestilence except a few which remained for the defence and sauegard of his kingdome began to employ himselfe 〈◊〉 buying of slaues that came from Circassia whom the king of Armenia by those daies tooke and sent vnto Cairo to be sold which slaues he caused to abiure the Christian faith and to be trained vp in feats of warre and in the Turkish language as being the proper language of Saladin himselfe and so the saide slaues within a while increased so exceedingly both in valour and number that they became not onely valiant souldiers and skilfull commaunders but also gouernours of the whole kingdome After the decease of Saladin the dominion remained vnto his family 150. yeeres and all his successours obserued the custome of buying slaues of Circassia but the family of Saladin growing at length to decay the slaues by a generall consent elected one Piperis a valiant Mamaluk of their owne companie to be their soueraigne Lord and Soldan which custome they afterward so inuiolably kept that not the Soldans owne sonne nor any other Mamaluk could attaine vnto that high dignitie vnlesse first he had beene a Christian and had abiured his faith and had learned also exactly to speake the Circassian and Turkish languages Insomuch that many Soldans sent their sonnes in their childhood into Circassia that by learning the language and fashions of the countrey they might prooue in processe of time fit to beare soueraigne authoritie but by the dissension of the Mamalukes they were alwaies defeated of their purpose And thus much briefly concerning the gouernment of the Mamalukes and of their Princes called euen till this present by a word of their owne mother 〈◊〉 by the names of Soldans let vs now speake of the honourable degrees and dignities inferiour to the Soldanship Of the principall Peere next vnder the Soldan called Eddaguadare THis man being in dignitie second vnto the Soldan and beeing as it were his viceroy or lieutenant had authoritie to place or displace any magistrates or officers and maintained a family almost as great as the family of the Soldan himselfe Of the Soldans officer called Amir Cabir THis man hauing the third place of honour was Lord generall ouer the Soldans militarie forces who was by office bound to leauie armies against the forraine enemie especially against the next Arabians and to furnish the castles cities with 〈◊〉 garisons and also had authoritie to dispend the Soldans treasure vpon such necessarie affaires as hee thought good Of Nai Bessan THE fourth in dignitie after the Soldan called Nai Bessan beeing the Soldan his lieutenant in Syria and gathering vp all the tributes of Assiria bestowed them at his owne discretion yet the Soldan himselfe was to place garrisons in the castles and forts of those prouinces This Nai Bessan was bound yeerly to pay certaine thousands of Saraffi vnto the Soldan Of the Ostadar THE fift magistrate called the Ostadar was the great master or steward of the palace whose duetie was to prouide apparell for the Soldan with victuals and other necessaries for his whole family And vnto this dignitie the Soldan vsed to aduance some one of his most ancient honourable and vertuous nobles vnder whose tuition himselfe had in times past beene trained vp Of the Amiri Achor THE sixt called the Amiri Achor was master of the horse and camels and distributed them vnto
trauelled to wit Arabia deserta Arabia felix Arabia Petrea the Asian part of Egypt Armenia and some part of Tartaria all which countries I saw and passed through in the time of my youth Likewise I will set downe my last voiages from Fez to Constantinople from Constantinople to Egypt and from thence into Italie in which Iourney I saw diuers and sundry Islands All which my trauels I meane by gods assistance being returned forth of Europe into mine owne countrie particularly to describe decyphering first the regions of Europe and Asia which I haue seen and thereunto annexing this my discourse of Africa to the end that I may promote the endeuours of such as are desirous to know the state of forren countries IOHN LEO HIS NINTH BOOKE OF the Historie of Africa and of the memorable things therein contained Wherein he entreateth of the principall riuers and of the strange liuing creatures plants and minerals of the same countrey Of the riuer of Tensist THe riuer of Tensist that we may begin in Barbarie from the westerne part of Africa springing foorth of the mountaines of Atlas which are next vnto the citie of Hanimmei to witte about the east part of the territorie of Maroco and continuing his course northwarde ouer the plaines receiueth many other riuers thereinto and at Azafi a towne of Duccala dischargeth his streames into the maine Ocean Into this mightie riuer of Tensist fall two other great riuers called Siffelmel and Niffis the one whereof springeth out of Hanteta a mountaine of Maroco and the other issuing foorth of mount Atlas neere vnto Maroco and winding it selfe along the plaines of that region disemboqueth at last into the saide mightie riuer And albeit the riuer Tensist be for the most part of an exceeding depth yet may it in diuers places be waded ouer where the water reacheth vnto the stirrups of an horseman but a footeman must strippe himselfe naked to passe ouer the same Neere vnto Maroco there is a bridge of fifteene arches builte by king Mansor vpon this riuer which bridge is accounted one of the most curious buildings in all Africa Three of the saide arches were demolished by Abu Dubus the last king and patriarke of Maroco to the ende he might hinder the passage of Iacob the first Fezsan king of the Marin familie but this attempt of his was to none effect as it sufficiently appeered by the successe thereof Of the two riuers called Teseuhin THe two riuers called by this one name springing each of them three miles asunder out of mount Gugideme and running through the plaines of Hascora exonerate themselues into the riuer called Lebich These two riuers as I haue said haue one onely name being either of them according to the African language called Teseut in the singular number and in the plural Teseuhin which signifieth listes or borders Of Quadelhabid that is to say the riuer of seruants QVadelhabid taking his original among the high and chill mountaines of Atlas and runniug through certaine narrow and vneeuen valleis holdeth on his course by the confines of Hascora and Tedle and then stretching northward ouer a certaine plaine falleth at length into the riuer of Ommirabih In Maie when the snow melteth this riuer increaseth to some bignes Of the riuer of Ommirabih THe mightie riuer of Ommirabih issuing also forth of the lofty mountaines of Atlas where the prouince of Tedle bordereth vpon the kingdome of Fez passeth through certain plaines called Adachsun and being afterward streitned among the narrow valleis it runneth vnder a stately bridge built by Ibulhasen the fourth king of the Marin family from thence trending southward it watereth the plaines situate between the regions of Duccala and Temesne and lastly disburdeneth it selfe vnder the wals of Azamor into the maine Ocean About the end of Maye they take great store of fishes in this riuer called by the Italians Lasche wherwith all Azamur being sufficiently stored they salt the said fishes and send many ships ful of them into Portugall Of the riuer of Buregrag BVregrag arising out of one of the mountaines of Atlas and continuing his course by sundrie vallies woods and hils proceedeth on ouer a certaine plaine and neere vnto the townes of Sala and Rabat being the vtmost frontiers of the Fezsan kingdome it falleth into the Ocean sea Neither haue the two foresaid townes any other port or harbour but within the mouth of the said riuer onely which is so difficult to enter that vnlesse the pilote be throughly acquainted with the place he is in great hazard of running his ship vpon the shoulds which shoulds serue instead of bulwarkes to defend either towne from the fleets of the Christians Of the riuer of Baht THis riuer issuing foorth of mount Atlas stretcheth northward by the woods and mountaines and running among certaine litle hils disperseth it selfe vpon the plaines of the prouince of Azgar and from thence it falleth into certaine fens lakes and moist valleies where they take great store of eeles and of the foresaid fishes called Lasche The inhabitants liue vpon cattell and fishing and by reason of the plentie of milke fish and butter which they eate they are much subiect vnto the disease called in Italian Morphia This riuer may continually be waded ouer except it be much increased by abundance of raine and melted snowe Of the riuer of Subu THe riuer of 〈◊〉 beginneth vpon mount Selilgo standing in Cheuz a prouince of the Fezsan kingdome And it springeth out of a great fountaine in the midst of a vaste and solitarie woode and runneth by diuers mountaines and hils from whence extending vpon the plaines it approcheth within sixe miles of Fez diuideth in sunder the regions of Habat and Azgar and at length about Mahmora a place not farre from Sala exonerateth it selfe into the Ocean sea Into this riuer fall diuers others two of which namely Guarga and Aodor spring out of the mountanes of Gumera and the residue from the mountaines of the territorie of Teza And although Subu be a large riuer yet may it in sundry places be waded ouer except in winter and the spring when as it cannot be crossed but in certaine dangerous and small boates The same riuer also which runneth through the citie of Fez called in the language of that countrey The riuer of perles entreth into the foresaid riuer of Subu This riuer of Subu aboundeth exceedingly with fish and especially with the foresaid fishes called Lasche which are there of no reckoning The mouth thereof neere vnto the Ocean sea being very deepe and broad is nauigable for ships of great burthen as the Portugals and Spaniards haue found by often experience and were not the inhabitants so slothfull it might vsually and commodiously be sailed vpon yea if the corne which is carried by the merchants of Fez ouer land through the region of Azgar were conueighed by water vp this riuer it might be solde at Fez for halfe the price Of the riuer of Luccus LVccus issuing
euen to the women of Africa Of the root called Surnag THis roote growing also vpon the westerne part of mount Atlas is said to be verie comfortable and preseruatiue vnto the priuie parts of man being drunk in an electuarie to stir vp venereal lust c. Neither must I here omit that which the inhabitants of mount Atlas do commonly report that many of those damosels which keepe cattel vpon the said mountaines haue lost their virginity by none other occasion but by making water vpon the said roote vnto whom I would in merriment answere that I belceued all which experience had taught concerning the secret vertue of the same roote Yea they affirmed moreouer that some of their maidens were so infected with this roote that they were not only deflowred of their virginitie but had also their whole bodies puffed vp and swolne THese are the things memorable and woorthie of knowledge seene and obserued by me Iohn Leo throughout al Africa which countrey I haue in all places traueiled quite ouer wherein whatsoeuer I sawe woorthy the obseruation I presently committed to writing and those things which I sawe not I procured to be at large declared vnto me by most credible and substantiall persons which were themselues eie-witnesses of the same and so hauing gotten a fitte oportunitie I thought good to reduce these my trauels and studies into this one volume Written at Rome in the yeere of Christ 1526. and vpon the tenth of March. Heere endeth the description of Africa written by Iohn Leo borne in Granada and brought vp in Barbarie A briefe relation concerning the dominions reuenues forces and maner of gouernment of sundry the greatest princes either inhabiting within the bounds of Africa or at least possessing some parts thereof translated for the most part out of Italian AFricke hath euer beene the least knowen and haunted parte in the world chiefly by reason of the situation thereof vnder the torride Zone which the ancients thought to be vnhabitable Whose opinion although in very deede it is not true bicause we knowe that betweene the two Tropickes there are most fruitefull countries as namely Abassia and the kingdomes of Angola Congo with all India new Spaine and Brasile yet neither is it altogither false For no part of the world hath greater deserts nor vaster wildernes then this of Africa These deserts which extend themselues from the Atlanticke Ocean euen vnto the borders of Egypt for more then a thousand miles and runne out sometimes two hundred and otherwhiles 300. miles in bredth diuide Africke into two parts whereof the southerly part was neuer throughly knowne to the people of Europe as also Atlas which diuideth Numidia from Africa the lesse is some impediment to the same And towards the east it seemeth that nature also ment to conceale the same by those deserts that lye bewixt the Red sea and the lande of Egypt In the first times after the floud we finde mention very often made of the kingdomes of Egypt and Ethopia and as for Ethiopia the notice we had thereof was but obscure and confused But Egypt by reason of the commodious situation thereof betweene the Mediterran and the Red seas hath alwaies beene renowmed and famous yea king Sesostris that Egyptian monarch enlarged his empire from the Atlantick Ocean euen to the Euxine sea Afterwards the kings of Numidia Mauritania the Carthaginians flourished in those prouinces which are bounded by the Meditterran sea In our times wherein all Africke hath beene and is daily enuironed there is sufficient knowledge had of the Marine parts thereof but for the inland prouinces there is not so much knowne as might be rather through want of writers then for default of discouerie trade Now therfore leauing those parts of Africa which are possessed by the Turke and the king of Spaine to a briefe narration in the last place we haue reduced al the residue of our relations to three princes that is to Prete Ianni the Monomotapa and the Xeriffo who is king of Maroco and Fez for the rest referring you to Iohn Leo and the discourse prefixed before him the Xeriffo raigneth betweene Atlas and the Atlanticke Ocean Prete Ianni about the center of Africke and the Monomotapa hath his Empire towards the Sinus Barbaricus or the Barbarian gulphe The Empire of Prete Ianni THe Empire of Prete Ianni answereth not certainly in effect although it be very large vnto the fame and opinion which the common sort and most writers haue of it For lateliest of any other Hor atio Malugucci in a certaine discourse of his touching the greatnes of states at this day would needes haue his dominion to be greater then any other princes but the king of Spaine I confesse indeede that in times past his state had most ample and large confines as may be iudged by the multitude of kingdomes with which he adorneth and setteth foorth his stile for he entitleth himselfe king of Goiame a kingdome seated beyond Nilus and of Vangue and Damut situate beyond Zaire and yet it is at this day euidently knowne that his Empire scarcely reacheth vnto Nilus yea and Iohn Barros writeth that the Abassins haue little notice of that riuer by reason of the mountaines lying betweene them and it The hart or center of his state is the lake Barcena for on the east it extendeth from Suaquen as farre as the entrance of the Red sea for the space of an hundred and two and twentie leagues howbeit betwixt the Red sea and it there thwarteth a long ranke of mountaines inhabited by the Moores who also commaund the sea-coast On the west it hath another ridge of mountaines along the channell of Nilus enhabited by the Gentiles who pay tribute vnto the Prete On the north it consineth with an imaginarie line drawne from Suaquen to the furthest part of the isle of Meroe which is an hundred and fiue and twentie leagues long From hence it maketh as it were a bow but not very crooked towards the south euen to the kingdome of Adel from the mountaines whereof springeth that riuer which Ptolemey calleth Raptus and placeth to the south of Melinde for the space of two hundred and thirtie leagues all which distance is bordered vpon by the Gentiles from whence it turneth and endeth eastward at the kingdome of Adel whose head citie is Arar in the northerly latitude of nine degrees So that this whole empire little more or lesse amounteth to sixe hundred threescore and twelue leagues in circuite The countrie which is distinguished with ample plaines pleasant hils and high mountaines most of them manurable and well inhabited bringeth foorth barley and myll for it aboundeth not greatly with other sortes of graine and likewise Taffo da guza another good and durable seede But there is mill and Zaburro which we call the graine of India or Ginnie wheate great plenty with al sorts of our pulse and some also vnknowen to vs. Some of them weare clothes of cotton
as it were out of his crowne-landes another part he leuieth of the people that pay him so much for an house and the tenth of all those mines that are digged by others then by himselfe and a third reuenue he draweth from his tributarie princes and gouernours and these giue him the entire reuenues of one of their cities so as he choose not that citie wherein they make their residence But though his wealth and reuenues be great yet are his people of little worth as well because he holdeth them in the estimation of slaues by meanes whereof they want that generositie of minde which maketh men ready to take vp armes to be couragious in dāgers as also it seemeth they haue euer their handes bound with that awefull reuerence which they beare towards their Prince and the feare they haue of him and further in that they haue no armes of defence but bad headpeeces halfe sculles and coats of maile carried thither by the Portugals Hereunto may be added his want of fortresses for neither hauing strong places whither to retire nor armes to defend themselues they and their townes remaine as a pray to the enemie their offensiue armes being vnfeathered arrowes and some darts They haue a lent of fiftie daies continuance which through the great abstinence wherein they passe all that time doth so weaken and afflict them that neither for those daies nor many other following they haue the strength to stirre abroad whereupon the Moores attend this opportunitie and assaile them with great aduantage Francis Aluares writeth that Prete Ianni can bring into the field an hundred thousand men neuerthelesse in time of neede it hath beene seene that he could make nothing so many He hath a militarie religion or order of knighthood vnder the protection of Saint 〈◊〉 whereunto euerie noble man must ordaine one of euerie three male children but not the eldest And out of these are constituted twelue thousand knights or gentlemen for the kings guarde The ende of this order is to defend the confines of the empire and to make head against the enimies of the faith Princes confining vpon the Prete Ianni THis Prince as farre as we can certainly vnderstand confineth especially with three other mightie princes one is the king of Borno another the great Turke and the third the king of Adel. The king of Buruo ruleth ouer that countrey which extendeth from Guangara towards the east about fiue hundred miles betweene the deserts of Seu and Barca being of an vneeuen situation bicause it is partly mountainous and partly plaine In the plaines there dwelleth a very ciuill people in populous and much frequented villages by reason of the abundance of graine as also there is some concourse of merchants thither On the mountaines shepheardes of great and smal beasts do inhabite and their chiefe sustenance is mill They lead a brutish life without religion with their wiues and children in common They vse no other proper names but those which are taken from the qualitie or forme of mens persons the lame the squint eied the long the stuttering This king of Borno is most mightie in men vpon whom he laieth no other imposition but the tenth of their fruits their profession is to robbe and steale from their neighbours and to make them slaues in exchange of whom they haue of the merchants of Barbarie horses He hath vnder him many kingdomes and people partly white and partly blacke He molesteth the Abassines exceedingly with theftes leadeth away their cattell robbeth their mines maketh their men slaues They fight on 〈◊〉 backe after the Gynnet fashion they vse lances with two heads darts arrowes they assaile a countrey sometimes in one part and otherwhiles in another suddenly but these may rather be termed theeues and robbers then right enimies The Turke confineth with Abassia on the east as likewise the king of Adel who hemmeth it in betweene the east and the south They disturbe the Prete exceedingly restraining the limites of his Empire and bringing his countrey into great miserie For the Turkes besides the putting of a great part of Barnagasso to sacke and spoile vpon which they entred the yeere of our Lord 1558. although they were driuen out againe haue further taken all that from the Prete which he possessed on the sea coast especiallie the portes and townes of Suaquen and Ercoco In which two places the mountaines lying betwixt Abassia and the red sea doe open and make a passage for conueiance of victual and trafficke betweene the Abassins and the Arabians And it is not long since the Lord Barnagasso was constrained to accord with the Turke and to buie the peace of his countrie with the tribute of a thousand ounces of gold by the yeere Also the King of Adel procureth hym no lesse molestation This man confineth with the kingdome of Fatigar and extendeth his dominion euen to the Red sea where he hath Assum Salir Meth Barbora Pidar and Zeila At Barbora manie shippes of Aden and Cambaia arriue with their marchandize for exchange from whence they receiue much flesh honie wax and victuals for Aden and gold Iuorie and other thinges for Cambaia A greater quantitie of victuall is carried from Zeila because there is aboundance of waxe and honie with corne and diuers fruites which are laden for Aden and for Arabia and beastes also as namely sheepe with tayles wayghing more then fiue and twentie poundes with their heads and necks all blacke but the rest of them is white as also certaine other all white with tayles a fathome long and writhen like a vine branche hauing thropples vnder their throtes like bulles There be also certaine kine with branched hornes like to wild hartes being blacke in colour and sorne others red with one onely horne vpon their foreheads of an handfull and an halfe long turning backward The chiefe city of this kingdome is Arar eight and thirtie leagues from Zeila towards the South east This king being a Mahumetan by a perpetuall profession of making war against the christians of Abassia who are the subiects of the Prete hath obteined of those Barbarians the surname of Holy He stayeth his óportunitie while the Abassins be weakened and brought downe with that long and hard fast of fiftie daies when they can scarcely go about their domesticall affaires and then he entreth into the countrey sacketh the townes leadeth the people away into seruitude and doth a thousand iniuries vnto them The Abassin slaues are of great valew out of their owne countrey whereupon the bordering and other Princes both farre and neere esteeme them much and many of them by meanes of their industrie in seruice of slaues haue become captaines and great Commanders in Arabia Cambaia Bengala and Sumatra Bicause the Mahumetan princes of the east being all tirants ouer kingdomes vsurped from the Gentiles for securitie of their state put no trust in their owne subiects but arme themselues with a multitude of strange slaues to whom they commit their
persons and the gouernment of their kingdome And among all other slaues the Abassines beare away the bell aswell for fidelitie as for sound and good complexion And bicause the king of Adel with the multitude of these Abassin slaues which he taketh in the townes and territories of Prete Ianni filleth all Egypt and Arabia in exchange of whom he hath armour munition and soldiers both from the Turke and the Arabian Princes in the yeere of our Lord 1550. Claudius king of Abassia being after this sort sorely oppressed by Gradaamed king of Adel who now for the space of fowerteene yeeres had with continuall incursions greeuously molested and disturbed him enforcing him to leaue his confines and to retire into the hart of his empire demaunded aide of Stephano Gama the Indian Viceroy of Iohn the third king of Portugale who was then with a good fleete vpon The red sea Whereupon he sent him fower hundred Portugals with a good quantitie of armes and small shot vnder the gouernment of Christopher da Gama his brother With these men by the benefit of shot he ouerthrew the enimie in two battailes but in the third the king of Adel hauing receiued a thousand Turkish harquebuziers from the gouernour of Zebit with ten peeces of artillerie the Abassins were put to 〈◊〉 and discomfited and their captaine taken prisoner and put 〈◊〉 death But the king of Adel afterwards sending backe the said Turkes he and his people were sodainly assailed neere the riuer of Zeila and mount Saual by king Claudius with threescore thousand foote and fiue hundred Abassin horse togither with those Portugales who remained of the former ouerthrow one of whom wounded Gradamed dangerously But in the moneth of March the yeere of our Lord 1559. king Claudius being set vpon againe by the Malacai Mores he was slaine in the battaile and the enimie-king acknowledging so great a victorie from the handes of God triumphed vpon an asse Adamas brother vnto king Claudius succeeded him against whom for he was halfe a Mahumetan the best part of the Abassine nobilitie rebelled and he was defeated by the Barnagasso in the yeere 1562. who hauing thus for a while disturbed the affaires of Ethiopia it seemed that they were at length asswaged reestablished vnder Alexander by the aide of the Portugals who haue carried thither armes as well of offence as defence and stirred vp the mindes and courages of the Abassines by their example to warre For all those that remained of the discomfiture giuen to Christopher Gama and diuers others which came thither afterwards and do daily there arriue and staie do marrie wiues and haue children and Alexander permitted them to elect a iudge who might execute iustice among them So that they haue and do daily bring into Abassia the manner of warfare in Europe with our vse of armes and the manner of fortifying passages and places of importance Afterwards certaine Florentines went into those countries partly vpon pleasure and partly for affaires of merchandize For Francesco di Medici great Duke of Florence had some commerce with the Abassines The Prete therefore giues entertainment and maketh much of the Frankes for so do they call the people of Europe and hardly giueth them license to depart out of his kingdome Besides these the Prete Ianni hath diuers other enimies amongst whom is the king of Dancali to whom the towne and port of Vela vpon the red sea pertaineth he confineth with Balgada The Moores also vexe him greatly which inhabite the prouince called Dobas deuided into fowerteene Signiories for though they be within the confines of Prete Ianni his empire yet notwithstanding for the most part they rebell from him they haue a lawe that none of them may marrie before he first giue testimoniall that he hath slaine twelue Christians Of the Emperour of Monomotapa COncerning the state of this mightie Emperour and of his neighbour of Mohenemugi and of the limits of both their dominions as likewise of the Amazones and Giacchi the chiefe strength of their militarie forces and other memorable matters to auoide tedious repetitions I referre the reader to the discourse going before the booke saue onely that I will heere annexe a briefe testimony out of Osorius lib 4 de reb gest Eman. which may adde some small light vnto the treatise before mentioned But saith he in this part of Ethiopia lying beyond the cape of good hope which is bounded by the south Ocean there is a most ample kingdome called Benomotapa whereunto before such time as the Portugals discouered those parts all the kinges vpon that coast were most obedientlie subiect It aboundeth with gold beyond all credite which is taken euen out of their riuers and lakes Yea many kings there are which pay yeerely tribute of gold vnto this king of Benomotapa The people worship no Idols but acknowledge one God the creatour of heauen and earth In habite and apparell they are not much vnlike to other Ethiopians They worship their king with woonderfull superstition This king in his scutcheon or coate of armes hath two signes of maiestie One is a certaine little spade with a handle of iuorie The other are two small dartes By the spade he 〈◊〉 his subiects to husbandrie that they may not through sloth and negligence let the earth lie vntilled and so for want be constrained to play the theeues The one of his darts betokeneth that he will be a seuere punisher of malefactors the other that he will by valour force of armes resist all forren inuasions The sonnes of his tributarie kings are trained vp in his court both to the end that by this education they may learne loialtie and loue towards him their soueraigne and also that they may remaine as pledges to keepe their fathers in awe and due obedience He is continually guarded with a mightie armie notwithstanding he be conioined in most firme league with all his neighbour-princes For by this meanes he supposeth that warre cannot procure him any danger at all knowing right well that oftentimes in the midst of peace it is readie to disturbe the securitie of Princes Euery yeere this king sendeth certaine of his courtiers and seruants to bestow in his name newe fire vpon all the princes and kings within his dominions that from them it may be distributed vnto others also Which is done in manner following The messenger being come to the house of any prince his fire is immediately quenched Then is there a new fire kindled by the messenger and foorthwith all the neighbours resort thither to fetch of the said new fire for their houses Which whosoeuer refuseth to performe is helde as a traiterous rebell and receiueth such punishment as is liable to high treason yea if need be an armie is leuied to apprehend 〈◊〉 to the end that being taken he may be put to such torments as are correspondent to his disloialtie Hitherto Osorius The Xeriffo commonly called The king of Maroco 〈◊〉 and Fez.
AMong all the princes of Africa I suppose that there is not anie one who in richnes of state or greatnes of power may be preferred before the Xeriffo In that his dominion which comprehendeth all that part of Mauritania called by the Romaines Tingitana extendeth it selfe north south from Capo Boiador euen to Tanger and east and west from the Atlanticke Ocean as farre as the riuer Muluia and somewhat further also in which space is comprehended the fairest fruitfullest best inhabited and most ciuill part of all Africk and among other the states the most famous kingdomes of Maroco and Fez. With the particular description whereof and of all the prouinces cities townes riuers mountaines c. therein contained the Reader may satisfie himselfe to the full in the second and third bookes of the historie of Iohn Leo before set downe These kingdomes besides their natural fertilitie are very traffickable for though the king of Fez hath no hauen of importance vpon the Mediterranean sea neuerthelesse the English French and other nations traffick much to his ports vpon the Ocean especially to Larache Santa Cruz Cabo de Guer and in other places perteining partly to the kingdome of Fez and partly to Maroco and they bring thither copper and brasse with armes and diuers commodities of Europe for which among other things they returne sugar But because these kingdomes of Maroco and Fez and diuers other Signiories and Principalities at first separate and deuided were vnited not long sithence vnder one Prince who is called the Xeriffo it will not be much from our purpose because among the accidents of our times I think there is not any one more notable or wonderfull then this to set downe here how the matter passed About the yeere of our Lord 1508 a certaine Alchaide borne in Tigumedet a towne of Dara whose name was Mahumet Benametto and who caused himselfe to be called Xeriffo being a subtile man and of a minde no lesse ambitious then learned in those sciences whereunto the Mahumetans are most addicted began to grow famous in the townes of Numidia This man vaunting himselfe to be descended of Mahumets progenie was possessed with an imagination trusting in the deuision of the States of Affricke wherein then the Portugals bore great sway of taking into his owne hands all Mauritania Tingitana For performance of this he first sent his three 〈◊〉 Abdel Abnet and Mahumet in pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina there to visit do reuerence to the sepulchre of their Seductor Mahumet The yoong men performed this voyage with so great fame and reputation of sanctitie and religion if these words may be vsed in declaring of such an impietie that in their returne the people came out to meete them kissed their garments and reuerenced them as saints They fayning themselues to be rauished into deepe contemplation went vp and downe the streetes sighing and crying out in words interrupted with lamentation yerning Alá Alá and they liued of nothing but almes Their father hauing taken them home with great mirth and ioy but yet not minding to suffer this sudden applause credit which they had obtayned by such a pilgrimage to freeze and wax cold he sent two of them which were Amet and Mahumet to Fez where being courteously receiued by the king one of them became a Reader in the Amodoraccia a most famous colledge of that citie and the the yoongest was made tutor to the same kings yoong sonnes These two seeing themselues so entirely beloued of the king and in so great fauour with the people being aduised by their father and taking occasion vpon the damage which the Arabians Moores did to those of their owne law sect vnder the ensignes of the Portugals in whose paie they serued They demaunded leaue of the king to display a 〈◊〉 against the Christians putting him in hope as indeed it fell out that they would easily draw those Moores vnto him who were followers of the crowne of Portugall and by this meanes secure the prouinces of Sus Hea Ducala Maroco with others molested euilly entreated by the Portugals This request was contradicted by Mullei Nazer brother to the king for said he if these men vnder pretence of holines and defence of their law shall haue some prosperous proceedings with armes in hand it will not afterwards be in thy power O king to bridle or bring them downe for armes make men couragious by victories they prooue insolent the rout of ambitious people are alwaies desirous of innouation But the king who had a great opinion of their sanctitie making small account of the reasons his brother alleaged vnto him gaue them a banner and drumslade and twentie horse to accompanie them with letters of recommendation to the Arabians the princes and the cities of Barbarie With these beginnings many people running headlong after their fame they ouercame Ducala and the countrey of Saphia and went forward euen as farre as Cabo de Guer which places then were subiect to the Portugals and finding themselues strong both in retinue and credite they demanded of the people who at that time liued for the most part freely and came in to none but such as they liked of themselues that seeing they now tooke vp armes for the Mahumetane law against the Christians they should aide them with their tenthes due vnto God the which were presently yeelded vnto them by the people of Dara and so they seazed by little and little vpon Tarodant where their father was made gouernour and likewise of Sus Hea Ducala and other places adioining They first planted themselues in Tednest and then in Tesarote and in a conflict 〈◊〉 Lopes Barriga a famous captaine amongst the Portugals but so they lost their owne elder brother therein And afterwards by faire words entring into the 〈◊〉 of Maroco they poisoned the king and in his stead made Amet Xeriffo to be proclaimed king of Maroco In the meane while the Arabians of Ducala Xarquia came to hand blowes with those of Garbia each partie holding themselues in the Xeriffoes fauour but the Xeriffos perceiuing the skirmish to grow hot and that many both of the one and of the other party went to wrack turned their armes against them both and enriched themselues with their spoiles In former times they vsed to send vnto the king of Fez the fift of all those booties which they got but after this victory making no reckoning of their said custom they presented him only with six horses and six camels those but silly ones wherat being mooued he sent to demand of them the fift part of their spoiles and the tribute that the king of Maroco paied him threatning otherwise warre vpon them But in the meane while this man dying Amet his sonne who was scholler to the yoonger Xeriffo was not onely content but further confirmed Amet in the Signiorie of Maroco so that in some small matter he would
acknowledge the kings of Fez for soueraigne Princes ouer that citie But on the other side the Xeriffi whose reputation and power daily encreased when the time of paying tribute came sent to certifie this yoong king that being lawfull successors to Mahumet they were not bound to paie tribute to any and that they had more right to Affrica then he so that if he would haue them his friends so it were otherwise if he ment to diuert them from this their warre against the Christians they should not want courage nor power to defend themselues Wherewith the Fessan king being offended proclaimed warre against them and went himselfe in person to the siege of Maroco but at the very first he was driuen to dislodge and afterwards returning with eighteene thousand horse amongst whom were two thousand harquebuziers or bowmen he was vanquished by the Xeriffi who had no more but seuen thousand horse and twelue hundred harquebuziers which were placed on the way at the passage of a riuer By meanes of this victorie the Xeriffi shooke off the tribute of that countrie and passing ouer Atlas they tooke Tafilete an important citie and partly by faire meanes partly by force they brought diuérs people of Numidia to their obedience as also those of the mountaines In the yeere of our Lord 1536. the yoonger Xeriffo who was now called king of Sus hauing gathered togither a mightie armie and much artillerie taken in part from the king of Fez and partly cast by the French Renegados he went to the enterprise of Cabo de Guer a very important fortification held then by the Portugals which was built and fortified sirst at the charge of Lopes Sequeira and afterward knowing their opportunitie from the king Don Emanuel there was fought on both sides a most terrible battell In the end fire taking hold on the munition and vpon this the souldiers being daunted that defended the fortresse the Xeriffo entred thereinto tooke the towne and made the greatest part of the garrison his prisoners By this victorie the Xeriffi brought in a manner all Atlas and the kingdome of Maroco to their obedience those Arabians who serued the crowne of Portugall Whereupon king Iohn the third seeing that his expences farre exceeded the reuenues which came in of his owne accord gaue ouer Safia Azamor Arzilla and Alcazar holds which he had on the coast of Mauritania This 〈◊〉 was an occasion of grieuous discord betwixt the Brothers the issue whereof was that the younger hauing in two battels subdued the elder whereof the second was in the yeere of our Lord 1554 and taken him prisoner he banished him to Tafilet and afterwards turning his armes against the king of Fez after hauing taken him once prisoner and then releasing him he yet the second time because he brake promise got him into his handes againe depriued him of his estate and in the end caused both him and his sonnes to be slaine and by meanes of his owne sonnes he also tooke Tremizen In the meane while Sal Araes viceroy of Algier fearing the Xeriffos prosperous successe gathered together a great army with which he first recouered Tremizen afterwards defeating the Xeriffo conquered Fez and gaue the gouernment thereof to Buasson Prince of Veles but this man ioyning battaile with the Xeriffo lost at one instant both his citie and kingdome In the ende Mahumet going to Tarodant was vpon the way slaine in his pauilion by the treason of some Turkes suborned thereunto by the viceroy of Algier of whom one Assen was the chiefe who together with his companions went into Tarodant and there made hauock of the kinges treasures But in their returne home they were all but fiue slaine by the people in the yeere 1559 and Mullei Abdala the Xeriffos sonne was proclaimed and saluted king Let thus much suffice to haue bin spoken of the Xeriffo whose proceedinges appeare much like to those of Ismael the sophie of Persia. Both of them procured followers by bloud and the cloake of religion both of them subdued in short time many countries both of them grew great by the ruine of their neighbours both of them receiued greeuous checkes by the Turkes and lost a part of their states for Selym tooke from Ismael Cacamit and diuers other cities of Diarbena And the viceroy of Algier did driue the Xeriffo out of Tremizen and his other quarters And euen as Selim won Tauris the head citie of Persia and afterwardes gaue it ouer so Sal Araes tooke Fez the head citie of Mauritania and then after abandoned the same The Xeriffo his reuenues or commings in THe Xeriffo is absolute Lord of all his subiects goods yea and of their persons also For though he charge them with neuer so burdensome tributes and impositions yet dare they not so much as open their mouthes He receiueth from his tributarie vassals the tenthes and first fruits of their corne and cattell True it is that for the first fruits he taketh no more but one for twentie and the whole being aboue twentie he demandeth no more then two though it amount to an hundred For euery dayes tilth of grounde he hath a ducate and a quarter and so much likewise for euerie house as also he hath after the same rate of euerie person aboue fifteene yeers old male or female and when need requireth a greater summe and to the end that the people may the more cheerefullie pay that which is imposed vpon them he alwaies demaundeth halfe as much more as he is to receiue Most true it is that on the mountaines there inhabite certaine fierce and vatamed people who by reason of the steep craggie and inexpugnable situation of their countrie cannot be forced to tributes that which is gotten of them is the tenth of their corne and fruits onely that they may be permitted to haue recourse into the plaines Besides these reuenues the king hath the towles and customes of Fez and of other cities For at the entring of their goods the naturall citizen payeth two in the hundred and the stranger ten He hath further the reuenues of milles and many other thinges the summe whereof is very great for the milles yeelde him little lesse then halfe a royall of plate for euerie Hanega of corne that is ground in Fez where as they say there are aboue foure hūdred mils The moschea of Caruuen had fourescore thousand ducates of rent the colledges and hospitals of Fez had also many thousands Al which the king hath at this present And further he is heire to all the Alcaydes and them that haue pension of him and at their deaths he possesseth their horses armour garments and al their goodes Howbeit if the deceased leaue any sonnes apt for the seruice of the warres he granteth them their fathers prouision but if they be but young he bringeth vp the male children to yeeres of seruice and the daughters till they be married And therefore that he may haue some interest in the goods of
Thomas and others neere adioining are immediately vnder his dominion These islands are maintained with their owne victuall and prouision and yet they haue also some out of Europe as in like manner they send some thither especially sugars and fruits wherewith the isle of Madera woonderfully aboundeth as also with wine And the iland of Sant Thomas likewise hath great abundance of sugars These States haue no incumbrance but by the English and French men of warre which for all that go not beyond Cape Verde At the ilands of Arguin and at Sant George de la Mina the Portugals haue planted factories in forme of fortresses by meanes of which they trade with the bordering people of Guinie and Libya and get into their hands the gold of Mandinga and other places neere about Among the adherent Princes the richest and most honorable is the king of Congo in that his kingdome is one of the most flourishing and plentifull countries in all Ethiopia The Portugals haue there two Colonies one in the citie of S. Saluador and an other in the island Loanda They haue diuers rich commodities from this kingdome but the most important is euery yeere about 5000. slaues which they transport from thence and sell them at good round prizes in all the isles and maine lands of the west Indies and for the head of euerie slaue so taken vp there is a good taxe paid to the crowne of Portugall From this kingdome one might easily go to the countrie of Prete Ianni for it is not thought to be very farre off and it doth so abound with Elephants victuall and all other necessarie things as would bring singular ease and commodity to such an enterprise Vpon the kingdome of Congo confineth Angola with whose prince of late yeeres Paulo Dias a Portugall captaine made war And the principall occasion of this warre are certaine mines of siluer in the mountaines of Cabambe no whit inferior to those of Potossi but by so much are they better as fine siluer goeth beyond that which is base and course And out of doubt if the Portugals had esteemed so well of things neere at hand as they did of those farther off and remote and had thither bent their forces wherewith they passed Capo de buena esperança and went to India Malaca and the Malucoes they had more easily and with lesse charge found greater wealth for there are no countries in the world richer in gold and siluer then the kingdomes of Mandinga Ethiopia Congo Angola Butua Toroa Maticuo Boro Quiticui Monomotapa Cafati and Mohenemugi But humane auarice esteemeth more of an other mans then his owne and things remote appeere greater then those neere at hand Betweene Cabo de buena esperança and Cape Guardafu the Portugals haue the fortresses of Sena Cephala and Mozambique And by these they continue masters of the trade with the bordering nations all which abound in gold and iuorie By these fortresses they haue speciall commoditie for their nauigation to the Indies bicause their fleetes sometimes winter and otherwhiles victuall and refresh themselues there In these parts the king of Melinde is their greatest friend and those of Quiloa and other neighbour-islands are their tributaries The Portugals want nothing but men For besides other islands which they leaue in a manner abandoned there is that of Saint Laurence one of the greatest in all the world being a thousand two hundred miles long and fower hundred and fower-score broad the which though it be not well tilled yet for the goodnes of the soile it is apt and fit to be manured nature hauing distinguished it with riuers harbours most commodious baies These States belonging to the crowne of Portugall feare no other but such sea-forces as may be brought thither by the Turkes But the daily going to and fro of the Portugall fleetes which coast along vp and downe those seas altogither secureth them In the yeere 1589. they tooke neere vnto Mombaza fower gallies and a galliot belonging to the Turkes who were so bold as to come euen thither The dominions of the great Turke in Africa THe great Turk possesseth in Africa all the sea-coast from Velez de Gumera or as some hold opinion from the riuer Muluia which is the easterne limite of the kingdome of Fez euen to the Arabian gulfe or Red sea except some few places as namely Mersalcabir Melilla Oran and Pennon which the king of Spaine holdeth In which space before mentioned are situate sundrie of the most famous cities and kingdomes in all Barbarie that is to say Tremizen Alger Tenez Bugia Constantina Tunis Tripolis and all the countrey of Egypt from Alexandria to the citie of Asna called of old Siene togither with some part of Arabia Troglodytica from the towne of Suez to that of Suachen Also in Africa the grand Signor hath fiue viceroies called by the names of Beglerbegs or Bassas namely at Alger Tunis Tripolis at Missir for all Egypt and at Suachen for those places which are chalenged by the great Turke in the dominions of Prete Ianni Finally in this part at Suez in the bottome of the Arabian gulfe is one of his fower principall Arsenals or places for the building repairing docking and harbouring of his warlike gallies which may lie heere vnder couert to the number of fiue and twentie bottomes A summarie discourse of the manifold Religions professed in Africa and first of the Gentiles AFrica containeth fower sorts of people different in religion that is to say Gentiles Iewes Mahumetans and Christians The Gentiles extend themselues along the shoare of the Ocean in a manner from Cabo Blanco or the white Cape euen to the northren borders of Congo as likewise from the southerly bounds of the same kingdome euen to Capo de buena Esperança from thence to that De los Corrientes and within the land they spred out from the Ethiopick Ocean euen vnto Nilus and beyond Nilus also from the Ethiopick to the Arabian sea These Gentiles are of diuers sorts for some of them haue no light of God or religion neither they are gouerned by any rule or law Wherupon the Arabians call them Cafri that is to say lawlesse or without law They haue but fewe habitations and they liue for the most part in caues of mountaines or in woods wherein they finde some harbour from winde and raine The ciuilest among them who haue some vnderstanding and light of diuinitie and religion obey the Monomotapa whose dominion extendeth with a great circuite from the confines of Matama to the riuer Cuama but the noblest part thereof is comprehended betweene the mightie riuer of Magnice or Spirito Sancto and that of 〈◊〉 for the space of sixe hundred leagues They haue no idols and beleeue in one only God called by them Mozimo Little differing from these we may esteeme the subiects of Mohenemugi But among all the Cafri the people called Agag or Giacchi are reputed most brutish inhabiting in woods and dens and being deuourers of
mans flesh They dwell vpon the left banke of Nilus betweene the first and second lake The Anzichi also haue a shambles of mans flesh as we haue of the flesh of oxen They eate their enimies whom they take in war they sell their slaues to butchers if they can light on no greater prise and they inhabit from the riuer Zaire euen to the deserts of Nubia Some others of them are rather addicted to witchcraft then to idolatrie considering that in a man the feare of a superior power is so naturall that though he adore nothing vnder the name and title of a God yet doth he reuerence and feare some superioritie although he know not what it is Such are the Biafresi and their neighbours all of them being addicted in such sort to witchcraft as that they vaunt that by force of enchantment they can not onely charme and make men die much more molest and bring them to hard point but further raise windes and raine and make the skie to thunder and lighten and that they can destroy all herbes and plants and make the flockes and heards of cattell to fall downe dead Whereupon they reuerence more the diuell then any thing else sacrificing vnto him of their beasts and fruits of the earth yea their owne bloud also and their children Such are likewise the priests of Angola whom they call Ganghe These make profession that they haue in their hands dearth and abundance faire weather and foule life and death For which cause it can not be expressed in what veneration they are held among these Barbarians In the yeere 1587. a Portugall captaine being in a part of Angola with his souldiers a Ganga was requested by the people to refresh the fields which were drie and withered with some quantitie of water He needed no great intreatie but going forth with diuers little bels in presence of the Portugals he spent an halfe hower in fetching suudry gambols skips vttering diuers superstitious murmurings and behold a cloud arose in the aire with lightning and thunder The Portugals grew amazed but all the Barbarians with great ioy admired and extolled vnto heauen their Ganga who now gaue out intolerable brags not knowing what hung ouer his head For the windes outragiously blowing the skie thundring after a dreadfull manner in stead of the raine by him promised there fell a thunderbolt which like a sword cut his head cleane from his shoulders Some other idolaters not looking much aloft worship earthly things such were the people of Congo before their conuersion and are at this day those that haue not yet receiued the Gospell For these men worship certaine dragons with wings and they foolishly nourish them in their houses with the delicatest meates that they haue They worship also serpents of horrible shape goats tygers and other creatures and the more they feare and reuerence them by how much the more deformed and monstrous they are Amongst the number of their gods also they reckon bats owles owlets trees and herbes with their figures in wood and stone and they do not onely worship these beasts liuing but euen their versy kins when they are dead being filled with straw or some other matter and the manner of their idolatrie is to bow downe before the foresaid things to cast themselues groueling vpon the earth to couer their faces with dust and to offer vnto them of their best substance Some lifting vp their mindes a little higher worship starres such be the people of Guinie and their neighbours who are enclined to the worship of the sunne the greatest part of them and they hold opinion that the soules of those dead that liued well mount vp into heauen and there dwell perpetually neere vnto the sunne Neither want there amongst these certaine others so superstitious as they worship for God the first thing they meete withall comming out of their houses They also hold their kings in the account estimation of Gods whom they suppose to be descended from heauen their kings to maintaine themselues in such high reputation are serued with woonderfull ceremonies neither will they be seene but very seldome Of the Iewes THe Iewes who haue bene dispersed by god throughout the whole world to confirme vs in the holie faith entered into Ethiopia in the Queene of Sabas daies in companie of a son that Salomon had by her to the number as the Abassins affirme of twelue thousand and there multiplied their generation exceedingly In that they not onely filled Abassia but spred themselues likewiseall ouer the neighbour prouinces So that at this day also the Abassins affirme that vpon Nilus towards the west there inhaibteth a most populous nation of the Iewish stock vnder a mightie K. And some of our moderne Cosmographers set downe a prouince in those quarters which they call The land of the Hebrewes placed as it were vnder the equinoctiall in certaine vnknowne mountaines betweene the confines of Abassia and Congo And likewise on the north part of the kingdome of Goiame and the southerly quarter of the kingdome of Gorham there are certaine mountaines peopled with Iewes who there maintaine themselues free and absolute through the inaccessiable situations of the same For in truth by this means the inhabitants of the mountaines speaking generally are the most ancient and freest people in that the strong situation of their natiue soile secureth them from the incursions of forraine nations and the violence of their neighbours Such are the Scottes in Britaine and the Biskaines in Spaine But to return againe to our purpose the Anzichi who extend from the bankes of the riuer Zaire euen to the confines of Nubia vse circumcision as also diuers other bordering people do a thing that must necessarilie haue been brought in by the Iewes yet remayning stil in vse after the annihilation of the Mosaicall law amongst them Some also think that the people called Cafri or Cafates at this day who are gentiles draw their originall from the Iewes but being enuironed on euery side by Idolaters they haue by little and little swarued from the law of Moses and so are become as it were insensibly Idolaters On the other side the Iewes being woonderfully increased in Spaine passed one after an other into Affricke and Mauritania and dispersed themselues euen to the confines of Numidia especiallie by meanes of traffick and the profession of goldsmithes the which being vtterly forbidden the Mahumetans is altogether practised amongst them by the Iewes as are likewise diuers other mechanicall crafts but principallie that of black smithes A thing which notablie appeareth in mount Sefsaua in the kingdome of Maroco and in mount Anteta It is said that Eitdeuet a towne in the kingdome of Maroco was inhabited by the Iewes of the stock as they affirme of Dauid who notwithstanding by little and little are growne Mahumetans The Iewes encreased afterwards in Affrick when first 〈◊〉 king of Spaine called The catholicke and after him Emanuell king of Portugal put
them forth of their dominions For then many went ouer into the kingdomes of Fez and Maroco and brought in thither the artes and professions of Europe vnknowne before to those Barbarians In Bedis Teza Elmedina Tefsa and in Segelmesse euery placeis full of them They passe also by way of traffick euen to Tombuto although Iohn Leo writeth how that king was so greatly their enemie that he confiscated the goods of those that traded with them It importeth me not to speake of Egypt because it hath euer beene as well by reason of the neernes of Palestina as for the commodity of traffick whereunto they are much enclined as it were their second countrie Here in great number and in a manner in all the cities and townes thereof they exercise mechanicall arts and vse traffick and merchandize as also take vpon them the receit of taxes and customes but aboue all other places in Alexandria and Cairo where they amount to the number of fiue and twentie thousand and the ciuiller sort among them do vsually speake the Castilian toung 〈◊〉 much may suffice to haue been spoken concerning the Iewes It now remaineth that we come to intreat of the Mahumetans of Africa Concerning whom before we make any particular relation it will not be amisse for the readers more perfect instruction to speake somewhat in generall as namely of the sinister proceedings of their first seducer Mahumet of the variety and propagation of their damned sects ouer the east and south parts of the world of the fower principall nations which are the mainteiners and vpholders of this diabolicall religion and of sundry other particulars most worthie the obseruation Of Mahumet and of his accursed religion in generall MAhumet his father was a certaine prophane Idolater called Abdalá of the stock of Ismael and his mother was one Hennina a Iew both of them being of very humble and poore condition He was borne in the yeere of our Lord 562. and was endowed with a graue countenance and a quick wit Being growne to mans estate the Scenite Arabians accustomed to rob and runne all ouer the countrie tooke him prisoner and sold him to a Persian merchant who discerning him to be apt and subtile about busines affected and held him in such account that after his death his mistresse remaining a widow scorned not to take him for her husband Being therefore inriched by this meanes with goods and credit he raised vp his minde to greater matters The times then answered very fitly for one that woulde disturbe or worke any innouation For the Arabians vpon some euill entreatie were malecontented with the Emperour Heraclius The heresies of Arrius and Nestorius had in a miserable sort shaken and annoied the church of God The Iewes though they wanted power yet amounted they to a great number The Saracens preuailed mightily both in number and force And the Romaine Empire was full of slaues Mahumet therefore taking hold on this opportunitie framed a law wherein all of them should haue some part or prerogatiue In this two Apostata Iewes and two heretikes assisted him of which one was Iohn being a scholler of Nestorius schoole and the other Sergius of the sect of Arrius Whereupon the principall intention of this cursed law was wholie aimed against the diuinitie of our Sauiour Iesus Christ wickedly oppugned by the Iewes and Arrians He perswaded this law first by giuing his wife to vnderstand and his neighbours by her meanes and by little and little others also that he conuersed with the angell Gabriell vnto whose brightnes he ascribed the falling sicknes which many times prostrated him vpon the earth dilating and amplifying the same in like sort by permitting all that which was plausible to sense and the flesh as also by offering libertie to all slaues that would come to him and receiue his law Wherefore being prosecuted hard by the masters of those fugitiue slaues led away by him he fledde to Medina Talnabi and there remained some time From this flight the Mahumetans fetch the originall of their Hegeira But questionlesse there was nothing that furthered more the enlargement of the Mahumetan sect then prosperitic in armes and the multitude of victories whereby Mahumet ouerthrew the Persians became lord of Arabia and draue the Romaines out of Syria And his successors afterwards extended their empire from Euphrates to the Atlantick Ocean and from the riuer Niger to the Pirenei mountaines and beyond They occupied Sicilia assailed Italy and with continuall prosperitie as it were for three hundred yeeres either subdued or encumbred both the east west But to returne to Mahumet his law it embraceth circumcision maketh a difference between meats pure vnpure partly to allure the Iewes It denieth the Diuinitie of Christ to reconcile the Arrians who were then most mightie it foisteth in many friuolous fables that it might fit the Gentiles looseth the bridle to the flesh which is a thing acceptable to the greatest part of men Whereupon Auicen though he were a Mahumetan writeth thus of such a law Lex nostra saith he quam de dit Mahumeth c. that is to say Our Law which Mahumet gaue vs regardeth the disposition of felicitie or miserie according to the body But there is another promise which concerneth the minde or the soule which wise Diuines had a farre greater desire to apprehend then that of the body which though it be giuen vnto them yet respect they it not nor hold it in any estimation in comparison of that felicitie which is a coniunction with truth Mahumet being dead Allé Abubequer Omar and Odoman his kinsemen each of them pretending to be his true successor wrote distinctly euerie one by himselfe Vpon which there did arise fower seuerall sects Allé was head of the sect Imemia being followed by the Persians Indians and many Arabians and Gelbines of Africa Abubequer gaue foundation to the sect Melchia embraced generally by the Arabians Saracens and Africans Omar was author of the Anefia which is on foote among the Turks in Syria and in that part of Africk which is called Zahará Odman left behim the Banefia or Xefaia as we may terme it which wanteth not followers among the foresaid nations Of these fower sects in processe of time growen sixtie eight other verie famous besides some of lesse renowme and fame Among the many Mahumetan sects there are the Morabites who lead their liues for the most part in Hermitages and make profession of Morall Philosophie with certaine principles differing from the Alcoran One of these was that Morabite which certaine yeeres past shewing Mahumet his name imprinted in his brest being done with Aqua Fortis as I suppose or some such thing raised vp a great number of Arabians in Africk and laide siege to Tripolis where being betraied by his captaine he remained the Turkes prisoner who sent his skin to the grand Signor This man being in prison said to an Italian slaue his familiar who went to visite him I
also to embrace it In times past Ethiopia was gouerned by Queenes onely Whereupon we reade in the history of the old testament that the Queene of the south came to King Salomon from Saba to heare his admirable wisedome about the yeere of the world 2954. The name of this Queen as the Ethiopians report was Maqueda who from the head-city of Ethiopia called Saba which like an Isle is enuironed on all sides by the riuer Nilus trauelled by Egypt and the Red sea to Ierusalem And she brought vnto Salomon an hundred twenty talents of gold which amount to 720000. golden ducates of Hungarie that is seuen tunnes of gold and 20000 Hungarian ducates besides This mightie sum of gold with other things of great value she presented vnto Salomon who likewise requited her with most princely giftes She contended with him also in propounding of sage questions obscure riddles Amongst other matters as it is reported by Cedrenus she brought before him certaine damosels and yoong men in maides attire asking the king how he could discerne one sexe from another He answered that he would finde them out by the washing of their faces And foorthwith he commanded all their faces to be washed and they which washed themselues strongly were found to be males but the residue by their tender washing bewraied themselues to be damosels The Ethiopian kings suppose that they are descended from the linage of Dauid and from the family of Salomon And therefore they vse to terme themselues the sonnes of Dauid and of Salomon and of the holy patriarkes also as being sprung from their progenie For Queene Maqueda say they had a sonne by Salomon whome they named Meilech But afterward he was called Dauid This Meilech as they report being growen to twentie yeeres of age was sent backe by his mother vnto his father and instructor Salomon that he might learne of him wisedome and vnderstanding Which so soone as the said Meilech or Dauid had attained by the permission of Salomon taking with him many priests and nobles out of all the twelue tribes he returned to his kingdome of Ethiopia and tooke vpon him the gouernment thereof As likewise he carried home with him the law of God and the rite of circumcision These were the beginnings of the Iewish religion in Ethiopia And it is reported that euen till this present none are admitted into any ministry or canonship in the court but such as are descended of their race that came first out of Iury. By these therfore the doctrine of God in Ethiopia was first planted which afterward tooke such deepe root as it hath since remained to all succeeding ages For the Ethiopians did both retaine the bookes of the Prophets and trauailed also to Ierusalem that they might there worship the true God reuealed in the kingdome of Israel Which manifestly appeereth out of the Historie of the Ethiopian Eunuch whose name was Indich which was a principall gouernour vnder Queene Candaces properly called Iudith For he about the tenth yeere after the death and resurrection of our blessed Sauiour trauailed for the space of two hundred and fortie miles to Ierusalem Where hauing performed due worship vnto God returning homeward as he sate in his chariot he read the prophet Esaias And by the commandement of the holy Spirit Philip one of Christ his disciples was sent vnto him And when they were both come to the citie Bethzur three miles distant from Ierusalem the Eunuch at the foote of a mountaine espied a certaine water wherein he was baptized by Philip. And being returned into Ethiopia this Eunuch baptized the Queene and a great part of her family and people From which time the Ethiopians began to be Christians who since that haue continually professed the Christian faith They beleeue also that Philip sent into Ethiopia a disciple of his called Lycanon who as they suppose ordained the verie forme of religion which they now holde Now these beginnings aswel of the Iewish as the christian religion among the Ethiopians being thus declared we are next to intreat of the doctrine religion it selfe togither with the rites ceremonies vsed at this present in the Ethiopicke church so far foorth as we can gather out of the ambassages which haue bin performed from these parts thither backe againe Besides which there is no historie nor discourse of any worth to be found which entreateth of the religion maners and customes of the Ethiopians So as it is a matter very strange that for so many hundred yeeres togither Ethiopia was so barred from our knowledge that we had not so much as any report thereof Vntill about the yeere of our Lord 1440. certaine ambassadours sent from thence to Pope Eugenius returned backe with his letters and Papall benediction to their king Which letters are most charily kept among the records of this Ethiopian king and are preserued for perpetuall monuments From which time also as though Ethiopia had beene againe quire debarred from the knowledge and conuersation of our men there were not any Europeans that went into Ethiopia nor any Ethiopians that came into Europe till the yeere of our Lord 1486. what time Iohn the second king of Portugall sent Pedro de Couilham and Alonço de Paiua to search out Ethiopia This Pedro was a man very learned eloquent skilfull in sundrie languages painfull in his endeuors fortunate in his attempts and most desirous to finde out new countries and people both by sea and land He therefore in the yeere aboue mentioned togither with his companion Alonço de 〈◊〉 who died in the voiage trauailed first to Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt from whence in the companie of certaine Mores of Fez and Tremizen he proceeded on to El Tor an hauen towne vpon the Arabian shore of the Red sea and thence to Aden situate without the entrance of the Arabian gulfe Where hauing embarqued himselfe in a ship of Mores he trauailed to Calicut Goa and other places of the east Indies and being fully informed of the state of the Spiceries he crossed ouer the maine Ocean to çofala sailed thence to Ormuz and then returned backe to Cairo From whence hauing dispatched letters vnto his king in the company of Rabbi Ioseph a Iew he made a second voiage to Ormuz and in his returne he tooke his iourney towards Ethiopia the Emperour whereof at that time was called Alexander Vnto whom when he had deliuered a letter and a mappe of the world sent from king Iohn he was most kindly entertained and rewarded with many rich gifts And albeit he most earnestly desired to returne into his owne countrey yet could he neuer obtaine leaue but had wealth honour and a wife of a noble family bestowed vpon him to asswage his desire of returning home Wherefore in the yeere 1526. which was fortie yeeres after his departure out of Portugall hee was left by Rodrigo de Lima the Portugall ambassadour still remaining in the court of Prete Ianni In all this meane
intreated them most barbarously as also those Abassins whom they had conuerted He likewise was afterwards ouerthrowne in battaile by the Turkes who stripped Ouiedo and his companions of all things that they had Whereupon they grew into such pouertie and miserie as all helpe failing them they were enforced to get their liuing with the plough and spade till they all died one after another This Ethiopian Christianitie is brought at this day to an hard point by the inuasions of the Turkes and Mores as is before declared Notwithstanding their religious men affirme that they haue prophesies of the comming of a Christian nation to their Ports from farre countries with whom they shall go to the destruction of the Mores and these they hold to bee Portugals They haue farther certaine presagements of Saint Sinoda who was an Egyptain Hermite of the ruine of Meca the recouerie of the holy sepulcher and the taking of Egypt and Cairo by the Abassins vnited with the Latines Of the Christians of the isle of Socotera VIcinitie of place and conformitie of customes inuite me to crosse the sea and to visite the Christians of Socotera This island is sixtie miles long and fiue and twentie in bredth It is situate ouer against the Red sea The people thereof receiued the faith from Saint Thomas the Apostle for they affirme that heere he suffred shipwracke and that of the broken and battered ship he built a church which is as yet extant They imitate for the most part the rites customes and fashions of the Abassins but with great ignorance and errour for being separated from all commerce with the Christians of these parts they remaine depriued of that spirituall helpe which the westerne church by communication might impart vnto them They retaine circumcision and some other Moisaicall ceremonies Also they pray for the dead and obserue ordinarie fasts hauing prefixed howers for praier and bearing great reuerence to their religion in honour whereof they build chappels wherein assembling togither with an high and loude voice they make supplications and praiers in the Hebrew toong But their farre distance as I said from these parts of Christendome the sterilitie of the island and the pouertie of the people are occasions that the little light of truth which they haue is in a manner quite eclipsed by multitudes of errors Vnto other things may be added the tyrannie of the king of Fartac a Mahumetan who subdued them about the yeere of our Lord 1482. and partly by dominion partly by affinitie and kinred and partly also by conuersation brought in amongst them the deadly poison of Mahumet From this seruitude they were deliuered by Tristan d' Acunna one of the king of Portugals captaines sixe and twentie yeeres after they fell into the same And for their better securitie he repaired the fortresse leauing therein a Portugall garrison But bicause the charges farre surmounted any benefite that came of the island not long after the said fortresse was ruinated and the island abandoned by the Portugals Iohn the third king of Portugall had a great desire to assist and free them from the tyrannie of the Turkes whereunto after the taking of Aden they were subiect But for feare of prouoking the great Turke or giuing him occasion to disturbe and molest those seas with his fleetes as also for the dispatching of other affaires he had in hand he neuer went about that enterprise Of the Christians of Nubia FRantis Aluarez in his Aethiopicke relation writeth that he being at the court of Prete Ianni there arriued certaine ambassadors frō Nubia to make 〈◊〉 vnto that prince for some priests and ministers of the Gospell and sacraments by whom they might be instructed in the Christian faith But Prete Ianni answered them that he had not enough for his owne countrey whereupon they returned home very discōtent so that hauing no helpe from the Christians on the otherside being daily sollicited by the Mahumetans vpon whom they border on many sides it is thought that at this present they remaine in a manner without any religion at all Notwithstanding at this day there are more then an hundred and fiftie churches standing with diuers other notes and signes of Christianitie Their language partaketh much with the Egyptain and no lesse with the Chaldean and Arabick Of the Christians in the king dome of Congo HItherto we haue described that little which remaineth of the ancient Christianity of Africk It now resteth that we giue some notice of that which hath beene brought in of late Congo is a kingdome about the bignes of France situate as is before said beyond the equinoctiall betweene Cabo da Catherina and Bahia das vacas It was conuerted to Christian religion by the meanes of Don Iohn the second king of Portugal in manner following Don Diego Cano a captaine of that king by his commission coasting along Africa after a great nauigation arriued at length in the great riuer of Zaire and 〈◊〉 to saile vp into it he discouered along the banks thereof many townes where he found much more affability in the inhabitants then in those of other countries which before he had discouered And that he might be able to giue the more faithfull aduertisement thereof to his king his hart moued him to go to the court of that kingdome Whither bein̄g come and courteously brought to the kings presence he shewed them the vanity of their Idolatry the high reuerence of christian faith And he found in that Prince so good a disposition as returning into Portugal besides an ambassador he was permitted to carry with him certaine youths of noble parentage to the end they might learne the Christian doctrine and be well instructed therein and being baptized also might afterwards be sent back with Portugall priests to preache the gospel and to plant the Christian faith in that kingdome These youthes remained in Portugal two yeeres and were there liberally entertained and with all diligence instructed in matters of religion and were at length with great solemnity baptized When they came to riper yeeres king Iohn sent them backe againe into their owne countrey with an honorable ambassage in whose company went for teachers and instructers of that nation three Dominick-Fryers reputed for men of exquisit learning and holy life Being arriued in Congo they first cōuerted Mani-Sogno the kings vncle with one of his sonnes After that ensued the baptisme of the king and Queene for which cause in short time there was a goodly Church erected vnder the name and title of Santa Cruz. And in the meane while there were infinit Idols burnt The king was called Iohn the Queene Leonora and his eldest sonne Alonso This Alonso was a singular good man who not being satisfied in his owne conuersion laboured also with a kind of Apostolicall zeale for the conuersion of his subiects But let no man thinke that the planting of religion can euer passe without some labour and trouble These Dominick-Fryers besides the intemperature of
the aire and vnusuall heat which consumed them were also euilly entreated by the Moci-Congi For although they shewed themselues docible and tractable enough while they were instructed onely about ceremonies and diuine mysteries because they thought that the higher those matters were aboue humaine capacity the more they sorted and were agreable to the maiestie of God neuerthelesse when they began to entreate seriously of Temperance continence restitution of other mens goods forgiuing of iniuries and other heades of Christian pietie they found not onely great hinderance and difficultie but euen plaine resistance and opposition The king himselfe who had from the beginning shewed notable zeale was now somewhat cooled who because he was loth to abandon his soothsaiers and fortune tellers but aboue all the multitude of his concubines this being a generall difficultie among the Barbarians would by no meanes giue eare vnto the Preachers Also the women who were now reiected one after another not enduring so suddenly to be banished from their husbandes brought the court and roiall citie of Saint Saluador into a great vproare Paulo Aquitino second sonne to the king put tow to this fire who would by no meanes be baptized for which cause there grew great enmity betwixt him and Alonso his elder brother who with all his power furthered the proceedings and maintained the grouth of the Christian religion During these troubles the old king died and the two brothers fought a battell which had this successe that Alonso the true heire with sixe and thirtie soldiers calling vpon the name of Iesus discomfited the huge armie of his heathenish brother who was himselfe also taken aliue and died prisoner in this his rebellion God fauoured Alonso in this warre with manifest miracles For first they affirme that being readie to enter into battaile he saw a light so cleere and resplendent that he and his companie which beheld it remained for a good while with their eies declined and their mindes so full and replenished with ioy and a kind of tender affection that cannot easily be expressed And then lifting vp their eies vnto heauen they sawe fiue shining swords which the king tooke afterwards for his armes and his successors vse the same at this day Hauing obteined this victorie he assembled all his nobles and streightly enioined them to bring all the idols of his countrey to an appointed place and so vpon an high hill he caused them all to be burned This Alonso raigned prosperously for fiftie yeeres togither in which space he exceedingly furthered by authoritie and example as also by preaching and doctrine the new-planted Christianitie Neither did Don Emanuell the King of Portugall giue ouer this enterprise for he sent from thence to Congo twelue of those Fryers which the Portugals call Azzurri of whom Fryer Iohn Mariano was head with architects and smiths for the building and seruice of Churches and with rich furniture for the same After king Alonso succeeded Don Pedro his sonne in whose time there was a Bishop appointed ouer the isle of Saint Thomas who had also committed vnto him the administration of Congo Where at the citie of Saint Saluador was instituted a colledge of eight and twentie Canons in the Church of Santa Cruz. The second bishop was of the bloud roiall of Congo who trauailed to Rome and died in his returne homeward Don Francisco succeeded Don Pedro who continued but a small space Don Diego his neere kinsman was after his decease aduanced to the crowne In whose time Iohn the third king of Portugall vnderstanding that neither the king himselfe cared greatly for religion and that the merchants and priests of Europe furthered not but rather with their bad life scandalized the people new conuerted he sent thither fower Iesuits to renew and reestablish matters of religion These men arriuing first at the isle of Saint Thomas and then at Congo were courteously receiued by the king and presently going about the busines they came for one of them tooke vpon him to teach sixe hundred yoong children the principles of christian religion and the other dispersed themselues ouer the whole countrie to preach But all of them one after another falling into tedious and long diseases they were enforced to returne into Europe At this time there was appointed ouer Congo a third bishop of the Portugall nation who through the contumacie of the Canons and clergie found trouble enough In the meane while Don Diego dying there arose great tumults touching the succession by meanes whereof all the Portugals in a manner that were in Saint Saluador except priests were slaine In the end Henrie brother to Don Diego obteined the crowne and after him for he quicklie died in the warres of the Anzichi Don Aluaro his son in law This man reconciled vnto himselfe the Portugall nation caused all the religious and lay sort dispersed heere and there throughout the kingdome to be gathered togither and wrote for his discharge to the king and to the Bishop of Saint Thomas The bishop hauing perused the letters passed himselfe into Congo and giuing some order for the discipline of the clergie he returned to Saint Thomas where hee ended his daies It so fell out that what for the absence and what for the want of Bishoppes the progression of religion was much hindred For one Don Francisco a man for bloud and wealth of no small authoritie began freely to say that it was a vaine thing to cleaue to one wife onely and afterwardes in the end he fell altogither from the faith and was an occasion that the king grew woonderfully cold They affirme that this Francisco dying and being buried in the church of Santa Cruz the diuels vncouered a part of that churches roofe and with terrible noise drew his dead carcase out of the tombe and carried it quite away a matter that made the king exceedingly amazed but yet another accident that ensued withall strooke him neerer to the hart For the Giacchi leauing their owne habitations entred like Locusts into the kingdome of Congo and comming to battaile against Don Aluaro the king put him to flight who not being secure in the head citie abandoned his kingdome and togither with the Portugall priests and his owne princes retired himselfe vnto an island of the riuer Zaire called The isle of horses Thus seeing himselfe brought to such extremitie for besides the losse of his kingdome his people died of famine and miserie and for maintenance of life sold themselues one to another and to the Portugals also at a base price for reparation of his state and religion he had recourse to Don Sebastian king of Portugall and obteined of him sixe hundred soldiers by whose valour he draue his enimies out of the kingdome and within a yeere and an halfe reestablished himselfe in his throne In his time Antonio di Glioun à Spaniard was made bishop of Saint Thomas who after much molestation procured him by the captaine of that island went at
the emperour let Gonsaluo to vnderstand that he and his mother were resolued to become Christians and that therefore he should come to baptize them But he to instruct them better in the faith deferred it off for some daies Finally fiue and twentie daies after his arriuall with vnspeakeable 〈◊〉 and preparation he gaue the water of baptisme to the king and to his mother He was called Sebastian and shee Maria. And presently after about three hundred of the principall in this emperours court were baptized Gonsaluo for his wonderfull abstinence charity wisedome and for many other his singular vertues was so reuerenced and esteemed by those people as if he had come downe from heauen among them Now as matters proceeded thus prosperously and with so desireable successe behold an horrible tempest arose which drowned the ship There were in the court fower Mahumetans most deere vnto the king These men finding out some occasion suggested vnto him that Gonsaluo was a Magioian who by witchcraftes and 〈◊〉 could turne kingdomes topsie turuie and that he was come to prie into his estate and to stir vp his people to rebellion and so by this meanes to bring his kingdome vnder subiection to the Portugals With these and such like suggestions they brought the king who was but a young man to determine the death of Gonsaluo The effect whereof was that after long praier reposing himselfe a little he was by eight of the kings seruants slaine and his body throwne into the riuer Mensigine Neere vnto the same place were with like violence put to death fiftie new-conuerted Christians This rage and furie being ouer the king was aduertised by the Principall of his kingdome and then by the Portugals of the excesse and outrage he had therein committed He excused himselfe the best he could causing those Mahumetans to be slaine who had seduced him and he sought out some others also who lay hid to put them to death Whereupon it seemed that by the death of father Gonsaluo the conuersion of this great king and of his empire should haue bin furthered and no whit hindered if the Portugals would rather haue preuailed by the word of God then by force of armes The which I say bicause insteed of sending new preachers into those countries to preserue that which was alreadie gotten and to make new conuersions they resolued to reuenge themselues by warre There departed therefore out of Portugall a good fleete with a great number of noble Portugals therein conducted by Francisco Barretto At the fame of this warre mooued against him the Monomotapa full of feare sent to demaund peace of Barretto But he aspiring to the infinite mines of gold in that kingdome contemned all conditions offered him The effect of this enterprise was that this armie which was so terrible to a mightie Monarke was in fewe daies consumed by the intemperature of the aire which is there insupportable to the people of Europe Of the fortresses and colonies maintained by the Spaniards and Portugals vpon the maine of Africa by meanes whereof the Christian religion hath there some small footing VVhich albeit in other respects they haue beene mentioned before yet heere also in this one regard it seemeth not from our purpose briefely to remember them TO the propagation of Christianity those fortresses colonies woonderfully helpe which the Castilians but much more the Portugals haue planted on the coast of Africa For they serue very fitly either to conuert infidels vpon diuers occasions or by getting an habite of their languages and customes to make a more easie way to their conuersion For those who are not sufficient to preach serue for interpreters to the preachers And thus God hath oftentimes beene well serued and with excellent fruit and effect by the indeuour of some soldiers On the coast of Africa vpon the Mediterran sea the Spaniards haue Oran Mersalchibir Melilla c. and the Portugals Tanger and çeuta and without the streights of Gibraltar Arzilla and Mazagan and in Ethiopia Saint George de la mina They haue also a setled habitation in the citie of Saint Saluador the Metropolitan of the kingdome of Congo and in Cumbiba a countrie of Angola Beyond the cape de Buena esperança they hold the fortresses and colonies of Sena Cefala and Mozambiche Heere besides their secular clergie is a conuent of Dominicans who indeuour themselues to instruct the Portugals and the Pagans also which there inhabite and do trafficke thither Of the Islands of the Atlanticke Ocean where the Spaniards and Portugals haue planted religion THe Christian name is also augmented and doth still increase in the Atlantick Ocean by meanes of the colonies conducted thither partly by the Spaniards and partly by the Portugals The Spaniards vndertooke the enterprize of the Canaries in the yeere of our Lord 1405. vsing therein the assistance of Iohn Betancort a French gentleman who subdued Lançarota Fuerteuentura They were taken againe certaine yeeres after and were first subdued by force of armes afterwards by the establishment of religion so that at this present all the inhabitants are Christians Also the Portugals haue assaied to inhabite certaine other islands of that Ocean especially Madera which was discouered in the yeere 1420. This at the first was all ouer a thicke and mightie wood but now it is one of the best manured islands that is knowne There is in the same the citie of Funcial being the seate of a bishop Puerto santo which is fortie miles distant from Madera was found out in the yeere 1428. and this also began presently to be inhabited The isles of Arguin being sixe or seauen and all but little ones came to the knowledge of the Portugals in the yeere 1443. Heere the king hath a fortresse for the traffike of those countries The islands of Cabo Verde were discouered in the yeere 1440. by Antonio di Nolli a Genoway or as others affirme in the yeere 1455. by Aloizius Cadamosto These be nine in number the principall of them is Sant Iago being seuentie miles in length where the Portugals haue a towne situate vpon a most pleasant riuer called Ribera grande which consisteth at 〈◊〉 least of fiue hundred families The isle of Saint Thomas being somewhat greater then Madera was the last island discouered by the Portugals before they doubled the cape De buena Esperança They haue heere a colonie called Pouasaon with a bishop who is also the bishop of Congo and it conteineth seuen hundred families Vnder the gouernment of Saint Thomas are the neighbour islands of Fernando Pó and that del Principe which are as it were boroughs belonging to the same The island Loanda though it be vnder the king of Congo yet is a great part thereof inhabited by the Portugals For heere is the famous port of Mazagan whither the ships of Portugall and Brasile do resort Heere the fleetes are harboured and the soldiers refreshed and heere they haue their hospitall As also heere the Portugall
the 〈◊〉 purses * Or 〈◊〉 being a kinde of garment * Ilbernus These people liue like the Tartars * Or Salt-peter * Habat * Chauz or Cheuz A dangerous seducer The horrible desolation of Temesne English traffique Anfa destroied by the Portugals Iron-mines Why king Mansor built the towne of Rebat vpon the seashore Where king Mansor was buried Iron-mines Lyons and leopards * Or Sidi * Or 〈◊〉 English traffique Sela woon by a captaine of Castilia and recouered forthwith by the king of Fez. A merchant of Genoa The occasion of the bloody wars mooued by Sahid The citie of Fez besieged for seuen yeeres together * This number as I take it should rather be 819. Most cruell and 〈◊〉 lions The Portugals attempting to build a forte within the mouth of the riuer Subu defeated of their purpose and slaine A lamentable slaughter Iohn Leo his 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Fierce lions Mecnase reduced vnder 〈◊〉 by the king of Fez. Idris the first founder of Fe Idris his 〈◊〉 valour at fifteene yeeres of age * 1526. The number and 〈◊〉 of the Mahumetan 〈◊〉 in Fez. The principall temple of Fez 〈◊〉 Caruven The reuenues of the great temple and how they are bestowed The 〈◊〉 of learning and learned men a principall cause of disorderly base gouernment Iohn Leo in his youth a notarie of an hospitall for two yeeres together * Like vnto our horse-mils The porters of Fez. * 〈◊〉 in his Italian 〈◊〉 calleth it Baioco The gouernour of the shambles in Fez. * In the Italian copie they are called Baiochi * Or 〈◊〉 A 〈◊〉 vsed in Africa how to keepe the princes tribute and merchants goods in securitie Iohn Leo was at Tauris in Persia. The punishment of malefactors in Fez. * Or Baiochi * Or 〈◊〉 A kinde of 〈◊〉 called Cuscusu The marriage of widowes The circumcision of their children 〈◊〉 Christian ceremonies 〈◊〉 among the 〈◊〉 Their funerals Rewards for poets in Fez. Three sorts of diuiners in Fez. An Arabian grammar written by Iohn Leo. Diuination and soothsaying forbidden by the lawe of 〈◊〉 Diuers Mahumetan sects 〈◊〉 sacked by the Tartars 72. principall sectes in the religion of Mahumet A booke written by Iohn 〈◊〉 of the liues of the Arabian philosophers The habitation of lepers in Fez and their gouernour * Or Aburinan The founder of new Fez. * Orturbant Engins for the conueiance of water The manner of choosing officers in the court of Fez. The king of Fez his guard How the king of Fez rideth on progresse * Or kines folkes The king of Fez his 〈◊〉 of warfare A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hunting of lions vsed by the king of Fez. Tame 〈◊〉 Tame lions A pleasant discourse how king Mansor was entertained by a fisher Read Osorius lib. 2. de rebus gestis Eman. 〈◊〉 this towne The 〈◊〉 of a prouerbe An attempt and defeate of the Portugals * 1562. The taking of Arzilla by the English Arzilla taken by the Portugals Habdulac the last king of the Marin family Read Osorius lib. 5. de rebus gestis Eman. Iohn Leo serued the king of Fez in his wars against Arzilla * Or Boetica Casar Ezzaghir taken by the king of Portugall The entrance of the Moores into Granada * Or çeuta The streits of Gibraltar from Septa but 12. miles broad Septa taken by the Portugals Abu Sahid king of Fez and his sixe sonnes slaine all in one night Threescore thousand Moores slaine * Here seemeth to be an error in the originall Zibibbo A caue or hole that perpetually casteth vp fire Wine that will last fifteene yeeres 〈◊〉 enioyed and reedified by the Spaniards Chasasa taken by the Spaniards Yron-mines * Or Tremisen The great curtesie of Mahumet toward strangers * 1526. Iron-mines Lions leopards and apes A woonderful bridge Porcellan * The beast called Dabah 〈◊〉 and tame serpents * Or Tremizen * Or Oran * Or Mersalcabir 〈◊〉 king of Tremizen restored to his kingdome by the emperour Charles the fift * 1526 Great store of ostriches A ship of great 〈◊〉 The king of Telensin taken prisoner and beheaded * Or Turbant A passage from Europe to Acthiopia through the kingdome of Tremizen Mines of 〈◊〉 A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oran taken by the Spaniards Mersalcabir surprised by the Spaniards * Perhaps 〈◊〉 Alger become tributarie to the king of Spaine A voyage performed by Iohn 〈◊〉 The citie of Bugia taken by Pedro de Nauarra The hard successe of the king of Tunis his three sonnes Hot baths A fond and senseles 〈◊〉 S. Augustine in times past bishop of Hippo. Great store of corall The fish called 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 * 1526 The building of Cairaoan Tunis subiect vnto Abdul-Mumen and other kings of Maroco * Or perhaps Andaluzia A strange kind of spinning Doble Sugar-Canes * El Mahdia The isle of Sicilie subdued by the gouernour 〈◊〉 The fruit called Habhaziz A riuer 〈◊〉 hot water The lake of lepers The armie of don Ferdinando defeated Gerbi made tributarie vnto Charles the fift by meanes of a knight of the Rhodes Plentie of dates 〈◊〉 taken by a fleete of 〈◊〉 Tripolis surprized by Pedro de Nauarra Iron-mines Most 〈◊〉 saffron The Arabians of Barca most cruell and bloodie theeues * Error The beast called 〈◊〉 The port of Gart 〈◊〉 Copper-mines The strange propertie of the palme or date-tree Indico The flesh of the Ostrich Infinit numbers of Scorpions Mines of lead and antimonie An iron-mine Deadly scorpions Great store of Manna 〈◊〉 mines A whole carouan conducted by a blinde guide who lead them by sent onely as at 〈◊〉 present the Carouans of Maroco are conducted ouer the Libyan deserts to Tombuto The Negros subiect vnto Ioseph king of Maroco Abuacre Izchia This round and white pulse is called Maiz in the west Indies The naturall commodities of Ghinea The Prince of Ghinea kept prisoner by Izchia The prince of Mâ—lli subdued by Izchia Tombuto was conquered by the king of Maroco 1589. from whencâ— he hath for yeerly tribute mightie summes of gold The king of Tombuto his daughters married vnto two rich merchants * 1526. Great scarcitie of salt in Tombuto which commoditie might be supplied by our English merchants to their vnspeakable gaine Reuerence vsed before the king of Tombuto Poysoned arrowes Shels vsed for coine like as in the kingdome of Congo Rich sale for cloth Their maner of sowing 〈◊〉 at the 〈◊〉 of Niger The 〈◊〉 of Guber slaine by Izchia Zingani Agadez tributarie to the king of Tombuto The kings of Zegzeg of Casena and of Cano subdued by Izchia the king of Tombuto Izchia Izchia The king of Zanfara slaine by Izchia and the people made tributarie Gold Izchia The desert of Seu. Fifteene or twentie 〈◊〉 exchanged for one horse A Negro-slaue who hauing slaine his Lord grew to great might and authoritie The riuer of Nilus not naeuigable betweene Nubia and Egypt The rich commodities of Nubia Most strong poyson Zingani Prete 〈◊〉 Bugiha 〈◊〉 450. miles long Gen. 10. 6. * Mesraim