no other Town within three hundred miles of it In this Country are abundance of Dates whence it s called Dactylorum regio This fruit is most of â—heir food and with the stones of them they feed their Goats which makes them fat and causeth them to give store of milk The air hath this property that it presently cures all that have the French disease and come into it The chief Cities are Stafilet Dausen Dara Lapsa and Teffet Lybia hath on the East Nilus on the VVest the Atlantick Ocean On the North Numidia and on the South the Land of Negroes In this Country Arius the Heretick was born who denyed the perpetual divinity of Christ. It is now called Sarra i. e. a Desart because the whole Country is full of sandy Desarts through which Merchants use to travel eight dayes together without the sight of either River Lake Bush or Tree The chief Cities are Huadan Guargata and Toherraum They have neither King nor Lawes but are governed by the chief man in every Tribe They are most Gentiles they have some Mahometans amongst them The Land of Negroes described The Land of Negroes hath on the East Aethiopia superior On the West the Atlantick Ocean On the North Lybia and on the South the Kingdome of Manicongo The people are very ignorant and bruitish most of them Gentiles yet are there some Mahometans and Christians amongst them They took the Portugal ships when they first saw them for great birds with white wings their guns for the work of the Devil and bag-pipes for living Creatures The Nobles in the presence of the King never look him in the face but sit on their buttocks with their elbows on their knees and their hands on their faces they anoint their hair with fat of fishes which makes them stink abominably They have abundance of gold and silver very pure and fine It s watered with the River Niger which from the fifteenth of June overflows its banks for the space of forty dayes and is so many more before it returns into its channel which makes the fields very fruitful In one place Niger hides it self for six miles under ground The second River is Senega upon whose Northern bank the people are cole black but on the South only tawny The Chief Kingdomes are 1 Gualata where they have no Laws 2 Guinie where there is neither Town nor Castle except Mina built by the Portugals 3 Tombutum where the Inhabitants spend all their time in singing and dancing The King hereof is the richest of all the Princes in those parts of Africa keeping a royal Palace and hath for his guard three thousand horsemen and footmen sance number 4 Melli which is three hundred miles long the Inhabitants are rich civil and industrious 5 Cana where are Plenty of Lemons and Pomegranats 6 Gialoâ—ie where the people are so nimble that they will leap upon a horse when hee gallops and stand upright when hee runs turn themselves about and suddenly sit down mount and dismount in a trice 7 Benin where the people rase their skins with three lines drawn to the Navel without which they think they cannot bee saved Both men and women go naked till they bee married and then they wear a cloath from the wast to the knees 8 Nubia where there is a poison so exceeding strong that the tenth part of a grain will kill a man in a quarter of an hour It s sold for one hundred Duckats the ounce 9 Bornum where the people have neither wives nor children that they call their own nor names but are only distinguished by some external accident 10 Goaga where the King hath no revenues but what hee winnes from his enemies 11 Ganaga where the King hath nothing but what his Nobles please daily to allow him The Country of the Mandigos described In Guinie upon the River Gambra live the Mandingos The River abounds with Crocodiles River-horses Torpedoes running-fishes c. On the banks of it are many Geese Ducks Hernes Curlews Storks Plovers c. On the Land are Beeves Goats Guinie Hens c. The people are perfeclty black and live a very idle life except it bee in their seed-time and harvest their usual food is Rice or some Grain boiled their drink is water or Dullo made of Grain like our Ale Their houses are round covered with Reeds many of them built together and compassed with a wall of Reeds six foot high to defend them from wild-beasts which yet many times much endanger them There are Ant-hills cast up by Pismires some of them twenty foot high and in compasse able to contain twelve men which with the heat of the Sun are baked into that hardnesse that our English which trade thither for gold use to hide themselves in the ragged tops of them when they take up their stands to shoot at Deer or other beasts The Town wherein the King dwels is seated on the River compassed about with Hurdles ten foot high and fastened to strong poles On the outside is a Trench of great breadth beyond which the Town is again circled with Posts set close together of about five foot high their Armes are Azegaies or Javelins made of Reeds six foot long with an Iron Pike artificially made and dangerous they have others that they cast like Darts with barbed heads as also swords about two foot long Some have Bows and Arrows made of Reeds headed with Iron poisoned when any of them come to the King they presently kneel down and comming nearer they lay their hands first upon the ground then upon their head then comming to him they lay their hand with much submission upon the Kings thigh and so retire back the King answers them with nodding his head They are generally cloathed in cloth made of Cotton whereof there is plenty their apparrel is a shirt to their knees and a pair of breeches they are mostly bare-headed their hair bedecked with Gregories made of leather of several fashions which whilst they wear they think that no evil can betide them The King hath two wives sitting by him laying their hands on his naked skin stroaking and gently pulling the same VVhen the woman is with child shee lyes no more with her husband till the child bee weaned The wives live in great servitude beating their Grain in Morters they never are admitted to sit and eat with their husbands you shall never see kissing or dalliance betwixt husband and wife nor brawling amongst the wives though one man hath many and they equal each woman hath her several house for the night and when they appear in the morning they salute their husbands kneeling laying their hands on his thigh her apparrel is loose and party-coloured from the wast upward shee is bare to shew her painted razed body whereof they are proud turning themselves to shew it and well pleased when you handle it Few either of men or women are without Tobacco-pipes made of earth well glazed about two inches long
In form its square each way One thousand five hundred miles over The circuit above four thousand miles The Country is generally plain and fruitfull full of sweet and Navigable Rivers which are no lesse inhabited than the Cities and villages There are in it six hundred Cities two thousand walled Towns and four thousand unwalled one thousand Castles and Villages numberlesse it feeds above sixty millions of men and boyes besides women which bee not inrolled The whole Empire is divided into fifteen Provinces each of which hath a Metropolis full of people fairly built and very spatious One of their Kings to keep out the Tartars built a wall of one thousand and two hundred miles in length six fathom high twelve yards thick it was twenty and seven years in building though constantly wrought upon by seven hundred and fifty thousand men Pequin the now Regal City of China described Pequin is in compasse thirty Leagues or fourscore and ten English miles environed with two walls upon which are innumerable Towers and Bulwarks It hath three hundred and sixty gates each having over it a Castellet with two Towers and a draw-bridge There are in it three thousand eight hundred Temples wherein are continually sacrificed birds and wild beasts and amongst these four very admirable for their curiosity and costlinesse The streets are long and large the houses fair encompassed with Iron and Latten grates at each street end is a Triumphal Arch shut up at nights in the chief whereof are Watch-bells There are one hundred and twenty large Channels of water and over them eighteen hundred rich and fair bridges There are in this City one hundred and twenty Shambles one hundred and twenty market-places besides in every street five or six shops wherein they sell flesh poultry and Bacon There are without the City sixteen hundred Garden-houses belonging to persons of Principal note And twenty four thousand Sepulchres of Mandarines Justices of Peace with their little gilded Chappels encompassed with Grates of Iron and Latten with rich Arches at their entries The gardens groves Tanks and Fountains have their walls lined within with fine Porcelane which makes a gallant shew There are also store of other houses with great walls in which are Gardens and groves with game for hunting which belong to several companies The City of Nanquin described The City of Nanquin is thirty and six miles in compasse circled with three strong walls and ditches the Kings Palace in it is vast and glorious the other buildings many the inhabitants are reckoned to bee twenty thousand the Temples are above a thousand the streets fair and the people industrious The Country of Quinsay described Quinsay borders upon Cochin-china The whole Countrey is well watered and the Rivers abound with fish which they use to take with Cormorants The People are of an Olive colour wear their hair very long their eyes are commonly black their noses little their eyes small their beards deformedly thin their nailes oft-times as long as their fingers serving as a mark to distinguish the gentry by The better sort are cloathed in silk and Satten the meaner in black cloth made of Cotton their coats long and quilted made to tye under the left arm after the Asâ—â—tick mode their sleeves are long and strait at hand their shooes oft of the same stuff with their coats some have them richly imbroidered some knit their hair in cawls of silk in horse-hair some and some in fillets of gold or silver Others wear high Caps or Felts made of fine twigs round and mixed with silk of divers colours c. The women are modest a light vail of fine linnen wholly covering them They are generally proud crafty jealous voluptuous and given to Musick Poetry Painting and stage-playes They eat in porcellane and have their diet in many small dishes minced which they take up with two sticks of bone or Ivory for to touch their meat or their mouths with their fingers is held absurd and impious they all sit on stools and eat on Tables No Beggars are suffered amongst them for if they bee young the whip rewards them but if they bee old and lame the Hospital relieves them murther they punish with death adultery and theft with the Strappado They exceedingly honor and reverence their Parents they obey them at all times in all places marry not without their assent they honor them bee they never so mean relieve them bee they never so poor at their death shew loyalty and duty and seldome mourn lesse than two or three years They arrogate all sorts of excellencys in Art or Science as peculiar to their Nation they think their speech which mostly consists of Monosyllables the most sweet and Rhethorical of any in the world They say they are the antientest of all other People and that they borrow nothing from any other but all other from them They say they were the first inventers of Letters Guns Painting Tillage and Navigation For all which they say That they only see with two eyes and all others but with one They are great Gamesters and when they have lost all stake their wives and children whom they part with till they can redeem them they so firmly believe the Resurrection that sometimes they lend money to bee repayed in the world to come Though their houses outwardly are but mean yet oft-times the insides are lined with excellent good Marble Porphyry and Serpentine When the Husband dyes the wife mourns exceedingly puts sackcloath next her skin for three years is scarce seen to laugh and abstains from publick Feasts and pastimes There hath often been great warres between the Tartars who lived beyond the vast wall before mentioned and the Chineses as Anno Christi 1206 which lasted for seventy and seven years at which time the Tartars wholly conquered that potent Empire extinguished the imperially family of the Sunga's erected a new family of their own which they called Ivena of which Tartarian race nine Emperors governed successively the Kingdome of China for the space of seventy years in peace but at the end thereof a contemptible person of the Chineses called Hugh presumed to rise up against them acting first the part of an high-way man and wanting neither courage nor companions in a short time made up the vast body of an army fought with and after many signal victories in the year 1368. finally drove them out of the Kingdome of China receiving for his pains the whole Empire and was the first erector of the Imperial family of the Taiminges who enjoyed the Kingdome in peace for two hundred and fifty years The last of them was called Vanley who from the year 1573 to 1620 governed the Kingdome of China with much prudence and equity But about that time the Tartars being multiplied and receiving many injuries from the Chineses they again take armes invade China and with mighty successe began and continued the wars till the year 1653 at which time they had made a full conquest
most delight And in contempt do paint the Devil white Aethiopia superior or the Kingdome of the Abyssines Is bounded on the North with Egypt on the South with the Mountains of the Moon on the East with the Red-Sea and on the VVest with the Country of the Blacks The King hereof is called Prete Janny or Presbyter John they are mungril Christians The King hath under him seventy petty Kings which have their several laws and customes The Country yeelds Orenges Lemmons Citrons Barley Sugar Honey c. Aethiopia inferior is on every side begirt with the Sea except on the North which is bounded with the Mountains of the Moon It consists of five Kingdomes 1 Aiana which abounds with Gold Ivory Honey Wax Corn large sheep c. 2 Zanguabar in which is Mosambique 3 Monomopata wherein are plenty of Gold Mines The King is served with great pomp and hath a guard of two hundred Mastiffs 4 Cafraria in which is the cape of Good hope alwayes stormy to the Spaniards whence one was very angry with God for suffering the English Hereticks to passe by it so easily and not giving his good Catholicks the like speed 5 Manicongo where in many parts the Inhabitants are men-eaters selling such flesh in their Shambles Egypt hath on the East the Red-Sea on the VVest Barbary on the North the Mediterranean and Aethiopia superior on the South It was called the Granary of the VVorld for though it hath rain but seldome yet Nilus overflowing makes it very fruitful the chief Cities are Grand Cairo and Alexandria see afterward a more full discription of it The Islands belonging to Africa Described The Atlantick Islands are 1. that of Saint Thomas lying directly under the Aequinoctiall line inhabited by the Portugalls and yeilding plenty of Sugar 2. Prince Island lying between the Aequator and Tropick of Capricorn a fertile place 3. The Gorgades being nine in number lying neer to Cape Virde they abound in Goats and the chief of them is called St. James 4. The Canaries for their fruitfulnesse called The fortunate Islands they are seven in number the cheif is called the Grand Canary they yeild excellent wines 5. The Hesperides not far from the Gorgades where the soil is very fruitful the weather continually fair and the air very temperate The Aethiopick Islands are 1. The Island of Saint Laurence or Madagascar which is four thousand miles in compasse and longer than Italy rich in all commodities for mans use The people are very barbarous and most of them black yet there is some white amongst them supposed to bee transplanted out of China 2. Socatrina or Socotera which lyes at the mouth of the Red-sea and is sixty miles in length and twenty five in breadth It s very dry and barren yet hath diverse good drugs in it From thence cometh our Aloes Socotrina The Principal Countries in Africa more largely Described Africa is usually divided into 1 Egypt 2 Barbary 3 Numidia 4 Lybia 5 The land of Negro's 6 Aethiopia interior 7 Aethiopia exterior 8 And the Islands as was aforesaid A more full Description of Egypt This Country of Egypt containeth in length from Siene to the Mediterranean Sea five hundred sixty and two miles and in breadth from Rosetta to Damietta above one hundred and forty miles yet in some places it s not above thirty seven miles broad The Inhabitants are tawny and brown From its fruitfulnesse it was called Horreum Populi Romani The Roman Granary where Lucan saith The Earth content with its own wealth doth crave No forreign Marts nor Jove himself they have There hopes alone in Nilus fruitful wave Dr. Heilen This Nilus is divided towards the Sea into seven Channels It swelleth above its banks by the space of forty days beginning upon the 15th day of June and is forty days more decreasing and returning into its banks During this inundation the Cattle live on hills and in the Towns unto which they are aforehand driven and foddered till the return of the water into its Channel The Towns and Villages stand all upon tops of hills and in the time of the flood appear like so many Islands and the people by boats have free intercourse all the while In the mud left upon the fields are many creatures ingendred by the heat of the Sun Whence Ovid And when the seven mouth'd Nile the fields forsakes And to his ancient Channel him betakes The tillers of the ground live creatures find Of sundry shapes int h ' mud that 's left behind Dr. Heilen This River is almost three thousand miles long and being the only River of Egypt affords the only drink to the Egyptians and indeed it s very good water The Paper made of Sedges called Papiri growing by this River afforded Ptolemy Philadelphus materials for Books in that brave Library of Alexandria but understanding that Attalus King of Pergamus used this Egyptian Paper for to exceed him in another Library hee prohibited the carrying of it out of Egypt whereupon Attalus invented Parchment called from his City Pergamena and before these inventions they wrote either on the inside of the bark of a tree called Liber whence wee call our Books Libri Or on Tables made of wood called Caudex whence came our Codex Or on Tables covered over with wax whence Tabellarius is a letter Carryer and the pin which they wrote with was called Stylus which was afterwards used for that peculiar phrase used by any as Negligens Stylus exercitatus Stylus Sometimes they wrote in leaves as the Sybils did their Prophesies called Sybillae folia whence we call it a leaf of paper Pharos is a little Island over against Alexandria in which Ptolemaeus Philadelphus built a watch-tower for the benefit of Saylors the chief workman was Sostratus of Gnidos It was all of white Marble of a wonderfull height ascended by degrees and in the top were many Lanthorns with lights in the night to direct those that travelled by Sea for the admirable structure it was counted one of the wonders of the world The chief Cities in Egypt described The Grand Cairo described The Grand Cairo in Egypt is accounted one of the greatest Cities in the world It is situated upon a most beautiful plain neer unto a certain Mountain called Mucatun about two miles from the River Nilus It 's invirond with stately walls and fortified with Iron Gates In it are built most stately and admirable Palaces and Colledges and most sumptuous Temples There are also many Bath stoves very artificially built It aboundeth with all sorts of Merchandise out of all parts of the World There is in it a famous Burse Exchange called Canen Halili wherein the Persian Merchants dwell It 's built very stately in the manner of a King's Palace of three stories high Beneath it are many rooms whither Merchants resort for the exchange of their costly wares as all sorts of Spices precious stones Cloth of India c. There is also a stately Hospital the yearly
buyers costly mirth and admiration to prevent which the Marriners upon the delivery of each beast either kill it quickly or fasten their horns with cords to stakes placed there on purpose The Kingdome of Sofala Described Sofala is situate on the cost of Eastern Ethiopia neer the Sea here the Portugals traffick to Manica a Land of much Gold within land above threescore Leagues the women perform the offices of Tillage and Husbandry In it are many sorts of fruit as Pomgranats which bear all the year some green some ripe and some in flowers Fig-trees which yeild black Figs all the year about Oranges Limes Vines which bear twice a year in January and July Ananas Sugar canes Palm-trees which yeild infinite Cocoes and Wine Guiny Wheat and Rice There are abundance of Hens Goats Kine Wild beasts and wild Swine In Manica grow little trees on Rocks which are dry most part of the year but if you cut off a bough and put it into water in the space of ten hours it springs and flourisheth with green leaves In some parts they have store of Orenges and Lemons The King of this Country is called the Quitive they are Gentiles Hee hath above one hundred women whereof one or two are his Queens and many of them are his Aunts Cosins Sisters and Daughters all whom hee useth promiscuously when hee dies his Queens must dye with him to do him service in the other world The Kingdome of Monomopata Described Monomopata is above two hundred Leagues long On the North-West lies the Kingdome of Abutua where is much fine Gold yet their greatest riches they count their Cattle On the East it hath the River Zambeze On the South-West it extends to the Ocean and Southward it s bounded with the River Inhanabane The King hath many women whereof one is principal None may speak with him except hee bring a present The King and his Subjects wear a white Perewinkle in their foreheads for a jewell fastened in their hair and the King hath another great one on his breast None of them cut the hair of their heads or beards yet they grow not long they live commonly to ninety or one hundred years when the King dyes his Queen must drink poyson to serve him in another World It abounds so with Elephants that about five thousand are yearly killed for their teeth-sake There are said to bee three thousand Mines of Gold The Kingdome of Congo or Manicongo Described The Kingdome of Congo hath on the West the Ocean On the South the Caphars and Mountains of the Moon On the East those Hills from which the Rivers issue and run into the Fountains of Nilus and on the North the Kingdome of Benin The most Southerly part is called Quimbibe a great and mighty Kingdome extending from Bravagal to Bagamidri the air is wholesome the earth out-outwardly furnished with store of fruits inwardly with Mines of Christal and other mettals Angola is another Province of Congo a great Kingdome and very populous Cabazza is the Royal City one hundred and fifty miles from the Ocean from this Country the Portugals use to carry above twenty thousand slaves yearly into Brasile They are Heathens have their Idols of wood in the midst of their Towns in fashion like a Negro which they call Mokisso's they take as many wives as they please there are Mines of Silver and excellent Copper they have many Kine but love Dogs-flesh better which they feed for the Shambles their houses are fashioned like Bee-hives Horse-tails are great Jewels amongst them for one of which they will give two slaves Congo properly so called extendeth Westward three hundred seventy five miles Northward five hundred and forty Southward six hundred crossing over the Mountains of the Sun and the Mountain of Christal It s divided into six Provinces Bamba Songo Sundi Pango Batti and Pemba Bamba is the greatest and richest there are Mines of silver and on the Sea-shore shells which they use in stead of mony Amongst them there are some very strong men who will cleave a slave in the middle or cut off a Bulls head at one blow There are certain creatures as big as Rams having wings like Dragons long tails and chaps with diverse rows of teeth they live upon raw flesh their colour is blew and green and they have but two feet the Pagan Negroes worship them for Gods The Rivers of Congo are many the greatest whereof is Zatre In all of them are River-horses and Crocodiles and they overflow as doth Nilus There are whole Mountains of Porphiry Jasper white Marble and other Marbles and one that yeelds fair Jacinthes straked with natural veins When any of the Inhabitants dye they have no power to bequeath their goods to their kindred but the King is heire general to all men The Kingdome of Loango described Loango is the Noâ—therly neighbour of Congo right under the Line the Country stretcheth two hundred miles within Land the people are called Bramanes and the King Mani Loango they are circumcised after the manner of the Jews as all the rest of the Nations in those Countries use to bee they have abundance of Elephants and wear cloaths of Palm they are Heathens and use many superstitions they have their Mokisso's or Images to which they offer several things Beyond the Country of Loango are the Anzigues the cruellest Cannibals that are under the Sun for in other places they eat their enemies or their dead but here they eat their Country-men and kins-folk and keep shambles of mans flesh as with us of Beef or Mutton They have many Mines of Copper and great quantity of Sanders both red and gray They are excellent Archers they are circumcised and worship the Sun for their greatest God and the Moon next Ethiopia Superior called also Abassia described It is watered with four principal Rivers and as many huge Lakes The first River is Taucea running Northward but drunk up by the thirsty sands before it can come to the Sea It hath bordering upon it Mountains of admirable height and inaccessible The second River is Oara larger than Nilus that emptieth it self into the Sea of Zeila the water is very clear but the superstitious Abassines refuse to drink of it because in its passage it watereth some Mahometan Regions The third is Gabea and the fourth is Nilus One of the Lakes is called Dambea threescore mile long and five and twenty broad It abounds with fish and River-horses and in it are many Islands in which traitors are confined The Abassine soil is for the most part hollow and in the midst of the plains rise many Rockie-hills which in times of war serve them for Fortresses The whole Country abounds with Mettal-Mines but the inhabitants partly through ignorance and partly for fear of the Turks if the riches of their Country should bee discovered suffer them to lye hidden in the earth only they make use of so much Iron as lyes upon the surface of the earth Of plants and
hand It hath in it above three hundred Emeralds Rubies the greatest in the World Above fifty Saphires Turqueses Balazes Amethists Spinels Topazes Jacinths Chrysolites c. Nature here playing the Jeweller and representing a Map of the worlds Gemmes in this one Jewel without and infinitely beyond all Art of Man Bernardo de Vecheti a Jeweller being sent thither by Francis de Medicis Duke of Florence to see it accounted it beyond all estimation and value The Emperor also hath made him Tables with thousands of stones set in them In this hill are kept the Princes of the Blood Royal as in a prison and never return thence except they bee chosen Emperors Anno Christi 1608. there were six of them These meet all together when they please to recreate themselves by hauking hunting c. and they have grave persons to instruct them in learning and vertue Purchas Pilgrimage p. 677. c. The chiefest Cities in Abassia or Aethiopia superior Described The chiefest Cities in this Empire are 1. Saba in which are four Gates made of Alabaster and Jasper wrought with antique work and the doors thereof curiously carved It hath in it five thousand great and sumptuous houses the streets are spacious and so shaded with Pent-houses that a man may walk without being offended by either Sun or rain The other Cities are 2. Aruma 3. Cossomum 4. Zameta the seat of Barnagasso or the Vice-Roy 5. Suacen before described 6. Tanape 7. And Zembra The Kings Court also is a wandring City For his Pavilions and Tents belonging to him and his retinue being pitched take up ten miles in compasse In this Empire are seventy Tributary Kingdomes the chief whereof are 1. Barnagassum which lyeth towards the Red-sea and borders on the Turks 2. Tigremaon famous for her Mines of Gold 3. Angote where the Inhabitants use Salt Pepper and Iron instead of mony and feed on raw flesh 4. Amara where is that famous Mountain before described 5. Guagere which is an Island in the River Nilus one hundred seventy and five miles long and one hundred twenty and five broad c. The Natives call this Emperor The Negus His revenues are so great that besides the expences of his Court and Camp he coffers up three millions every year The Islands in the Red-Sea belonging to Africa Described That which is now called the Red-Sea or Arabian Gulph that parts Asia from Africa is in length one thousand and two hundred miles in breadth for the most part one hundred It s so full of sholds that â—xcept they keep the channel in the middest there is no sailing but by daylight At the entrance into it stands the I le of Babel mandel or Babmandel which the ancient Kings of Egypt used to chain up to keep the passage Sues is neer the bottome of this Sea where the Turk hath his Arsenal and Gallies for those Seas The Timber is brought out of Caramania by Sea by the River Nilus and by Cammels the rest of the way at incredible charges Some think that Pharaoh was here drowned Others think that the passage of the Israelites was at Tor where this Sea is not above nine miles over Ezion Geber was a Port hereabouts whence Solomon sent his Fleet to Ophir for Gold c. Bernice was a Port in the Red-sea where the Indian Drugs and Spices were unladen in the time of the Roman Empire and from thence carried to Alexandria in Egypt Zidem is twelve leagues from Mecca where since the ships used to unlade their Spicery as formerly they did at Bernice A little further is the I le of Mehun and then the I le of Cameran one of the hotest places in the world then Dalaqua where they get pearls It s one hundred twenty and five Leagues long and twelve broad Mazzua is another Island which makes Ercocco a good Haven There are diverse other small Iles in which there is nothing memorable The chiefest Islands belonging to Africa Described Madagascar Described Madagascar or St. Laurence Island is the greatest Island in the World being a thousand miles in length and in some places four hundred miles in breadth It s full of Towns people Minerals Beasts Woods waters and what 's requirable in a fruitful land It s a good place for victualling as they passe into the East-Indies the air quick and healthfull It s divided into four Kingdomes each King with their Ebony Scepters ruling his people being jealous of each others greatnesse The Sea Towns are infected with Mahometisme the midland eclipsed with black Idolatry Nature hath taught them Laws they punish Murther with death adultery with publick shame and theâ—t with banishment Fishing delights them more than Tillage The people are generally strong couragious and proper The men cover their naked bodies in warre with strong and Massy Targets their right hand brandishing a long neat pike or lance of Ebony barbed with Iron kept as bright as silver which they can throw with excellent dexterity and skill Their colour is black they anoint their naked bodies with Grease and Tallow proud to see their skin shine and are not offended with the stink their hair is long black and curled They wear a few leaves plaited about their wasts but are elsewhere naked their ears are bored and wide they pink and cut their flesh and whilst the men seek their prey abroad the women keep constantly at home and spin The boys marry at ten and the maids at twelve years old They know no Letters Nihil scire nil jucundius The earth is rich in Minerals Gold Silver Iron Copper c. but hearing of the cruelty and covetousnesse of the Portugals they prohibit the diging of them If you will buy any thing of them they give it in exchange for Agats Helitropians Jasper and long red Cornelian beads which they prefer before all the Diamonds of India and of which they are so proud that the owner bee hee Subject or King is oft dethroned for it one string of them being able to put them all into a combustion Bracelets Copper-chaines beads bells and Babies are much esteemed for which you shall have in exchange sheep with great tails Beeves Bufaloes Camels Antilops Red-deer Leopards Goats Milk Hens Eggs VVheat Barley Rice Oranges Lemons Lymes Pomcitrons Plantanes Sugar Canes Ginger Toddy Coconuts c. Herb. Travels Their time of marriage is for men at twelve and for women at ten They have a kind of Bean growing on trees the Cod whereof is two footlong The Island of Mohelia described Mohelia another Island beyond it where the houses are made of Reeds or straw fitted to the heat of such a torrid climate The Inhabitants are cole black have great heads big lips flat noses sharp chins huge limbs go naked having only a few plantane leaves about their wastes to veil their modest parts they cut and pink in several works their skins face armes and thighs striving to exceed each other in variety Tobacco is of great account
and Peel a poor Harbour facing Ireland It abounds with springs of water which make diverse usefull Rivolets the soil is indifferently fruitfull yet much of it is mountainous It yeilds Rie Wheat Barley but especially Oates of which they make their bread It s stored with Beasts Sheep of a course wooll Horses of a small size and Goates there is no want of Fish and plenty of Fowl The Aire is quick and healthful Frosts short and seldome Snow will soon dissolve because of the vicinity of the Sea and its subject to extraordinary high winds The Inhabitants are civil and laborious their drink water their meat Fish their bedding generally hay or straw they are much addicted to the musick of the Violine so that there is scarce a family but more or lesse can play upon it they are ingenious in learning manifactures and bear a great esteem and reverence to the publick service of God Naturally they are unchaste Anno Christi 1649. it was given by the Parliament to Thomas Lord Fairfax as a reward of the great services he had done for them The Azores Islands Described The Islands of Azores are nine in number Tercera St. Michael St. George St. Mary Pico Fayall Graciosa Flores and Corvo They are named Azores from the many Ayeries of Goshawks found there Of these Tercera is the greatest and fruitfullest It abounds with Oil Wine Corn Oade Fruits c. Her best Town is Angra her best Fort Brazeil her Haven bad to Anchor in Pico is the highest being as some say above fifteen miles to the top which is many times seen cleerly but about the middle of it hang the clouds It s about ten miles in circuit It s for the most part composed of Brimstone so that many times from the top issue forth flames of fire as out of Aetna Below are umbragious shades and cold Rivolets into which when the vomited fire is forced those opposite Elements eccho forth their discontents in an hideous noise In the Island of Tercera are some fountains the water whereof is so hot that it will boil an egg There is also another fountain that turns wood into stone and a Tree that grows by it hath that part of the root which grows in the water petrified the other that is out is Wood as of other trees A more particular description of the Kingdomes and Countries contained in the continent of Europe Spain Described Spain was seized upon by the Sweves Goths and Vandals Anno Christi 168. who remained in possession thereof more than four hundred years till their King Rodrigues with almost all his Nobility was defeated by the Saracens who were brought in by a certain Earl in revenge of the dishonour of his daughter whom the King had ravished These Saracens maintained themselves there above seven hundred years as well against the French as the Spaniards themselves who endeavoured to expell them It was formerly divided into twelve Kingdomes which were all reduced to one by Ferdinand and Isabel Anno Christi 1474 except that of Portugal which was subjugated by Philip the second and peaceably possessed by him and his heirs till the year 1640 as above It was in the reign of the aforesaid Ferdinand that the Indies and many other Islands were found out the riches whereof hath much augmented the potency of Spain and made her to aspire to the Monarchy of the world The chief Rivers in Spain are 1. Tagus formerly famous for his golden sands It riseth in the mountain of Seira Molina running by the City of Toledo and then smoothly gliding by the walls of Lisbon in Portugal it pays his tribute to the Western Ocean 2. Ana now Guadiana which rising about the same place afterwards runs under-ground for the space of fifteen miles as our Mole in Surrey doth 3. Baetis now Guadalquiver 4. Duerus that runneth from its head in the hills of Bâ—iscay Westward 5. Iberus which having his head in the same Mountains runs Eastward almost four hundred miles of which two hundred is navigable The chief hills are 1. Aurentius Saltus stretching from the Pyrenean Mountains towards Portugall 2. Siera Morena declining from the middest of Spain towards the straits of Gibraltar 3. Seira Nevada which crosses the Kingdome of Granata from East to West steep hills amongst which the people speak the Arabick tongue perfectly Whilst the Saracen Moors possessed Spain they divided it into twelve Principallities as 1. Leon and Oviedo having on the East Biscay on the South Castile on the North the Ocean on the West Gallicia It yeildeth little yet swift horses called Hobbies The chief Towns are 1. Aviles on the sea side 2. Palenza 3. Oviedo 4. Astorga 5. Leon. 2. Navarre having on the East the Pyrenean mountains on the West Iberus on the North Biscay and on the South Aragon The chief Cities are 1. Victoria 2. Viana 3. Sanguessa 4. Pampelune the Metrotropolis of the Country Anno Christi 1512. in the reign of Queen Katherine who was married to John of Albert the King of Spain raising an Army under pretence of rooting out the Moors suddenly surprized this Kingdome unprovided for resistance and keeps it till this day though the French have often attempted the recovery of it 3 Corduba comprehending Andaluzia Granada and Estremadura Andaluzia is the richest and fruitfullest Country in all Spain the chief Towns are 1. Corduba the Metropolitan whence comes our true Cordovan Leather made of the skins of a Sardinian Beast Neer this City is a wood thirty miles long consisting all of Olive trees 2. Marchena where are the best Jennets in all Spain 3. Medina Sidonia the Duke whereof was General of the Armado in eighty eight 4. Lucar di Barameda an haven Town 5. Xeres a haven Town also whence come our Xeres Sack commonly called Sherry-Sacks 6. Tariffa seated at the end of the Promontory towards Affrick 7. Sevil the fairest City in all Spain in compasse six miles environed with beautiful walls and adorned with many magnificent buildings of Palaces Churches and Monasteries and hath under its jurisdiction twenty thousand small Villages It s also divided into two parts by the River Baetis yet both are joyned together by a beautifull and stately Bridge Hence come our Sevil Oranges and from hence goeth the Indian Fleet. Analuzia in Spain as well for plenty of all blessings of the Earth as for the pleasures and delights of the fields is a meer terrestrial Paradise The horses which shee produceth are so swift in course that they seem according to the Proverb to be engendred by the Wind. Spain feeds an infinite number of Sheep especially in Castile where is made most excellent Cloath and the wooll for the superlative finenesse thereof is transported into other Countries In other parts it is barren through the lazinesse of the people as some think who love much better to put their hands to the Sword than to the plough The people are melancholy and cholerick sober and content with a little spending
hath very spatious Piazza's Shee hath six Hospitalls three for the poor and three for Pilgrims Shee hath a place called Monte de Pieta set up on purpose to root out the Jews usury who used to demand twenty per cent for Brocage Shee hath other two Hospitals for Orphans and poor children There are thirty eight thousand Crowns deposited in the hands of several persons of quality to whom the poorer sort may repair with their pawns and if it bee under thirty shillings they pay no use for their mony if it bee above they pay five per centum for relieving the poor The City of Millan described The City of Millan in Italy lies within a stately wall of ten miles compasse It s situated in a great Plain and hath about it green Hills delightful Meadows navigable Rivers enjoyes an wholesome air and the fertile Country about it furnisheth it with all store of necessary provision The City it self is thronged with Artisans of all sorts There bee many stately Churches in it and before that of St. Lorenzo there stand sixteen Marble Pillars being a remnant of the Temple of Hercules But of all the Churches the Cathedral is most costly 'T is all of white Marble and about it are five hundred Statues of the same There is a late building added to it which is very glorious especially for the huge Pillars of Granito an excellent sort of Marble Private mens houses also in Millan are not inferiour to those of other Cities in Italy The streets are of a more that common breadth and there are very many Gardens within the Walls The greatest Hospital in Italy is that in Millan which is a square of Columnes and Porches six hundred Roods about seeming fitter to bee a Court for some King than an Hospital for the poor The Castle in Millan is accounted by all Engineers the fairest and strongest Citadel in Europe Riamund's Mer. Ital. The City of Naples described Naples the Metropolis of that Kingdome stands upon the shore of the Mediterranean Sea It s reckoned the third City in Italy and so great are the delights that nature hath allotted to this place that it is still frequented by persons of great quality The streets of it are generally well paved of free stone large and even The houses are very uniform built flat on the top to walk on a notable convenience in those hot Countries Another like accommodation which this City hath against the heat is the Mole which is an Artificial street casting it self into the Sea whither all the Gentry at the evenings resort to take the Fresco. Amongst the Palaces that of the Vice-Kings is the fairest It hath three Castles and the Churches generally are very curious and costly filled with Marble Statues This City is exceeding populous and consequently vicious Hee that desires to live a chaste life must not set up there For as their Gardens are well filled with Oranges so their houses want not Lemmons there are usually thirty thousand Courtesans registred that pay taxes for their pleasure Near unto Naples is Virgil's Tomb upon an high Rock And the Crypta Neapolitana in the rocky Mountain Pausylippus cut thorow very high spacious and well paved so that for the space of a mile two Coaches may go on front under the earth In the midst is a Madonna with a Lamp perpetually burning Not far off is the Hill of Brimstone on which neither grass nor any herb grows but 't is all white with ashes and ever casts out of several holes a continual smoak with flames making the very earth to boil The ground is hollow underneath and makes an hideous noise if struck upon with an hammer On the other side Naples is the Mountain of Vesuvius brother to Aetna upon the top whereof is a terrifying spectacle viz. a Vorago or hole about three miles in compass and half as much in depth and in the midst is a new hill that still vomits thick smoak which the fire within hath raised within these few years and it still daily increaseth Pliny the Naturalist being too inquisitive after the cause of this fire changed life for death upon this Mountain Idem Virgil made a Talisman or Brazen Fly which hee set upon one of the Gates of the City of Naples which for the space of eight years kept all manner of Flies from comming into the City Gaffarels Unheard of Curiosities part 2. chap. 7. See more there The City of Florence described Florence is the Capitol City of Tuscany situated at the bottom of very high hills and environed on all sides with the same except on the West side before which lies a plain Country This City is divided into two by the River Arno over which are built four Bridges of stone upon one of the two chief is the Goldsmiths street upon the other which is a very stately structure stand the four quarters of the year in Marble Opposite unto which stands a vast Columne with a Statue of Justice in Porphyrie at the top Hard by is the Palace of Strossie admirable for the immensity of its Fabrick on the left hand whereof is the Merchants Vault supported with many fair Pillars and before it a brazen Boar jetting forth water Before that is the great place in the middest whereof is the great Duke Cosmus on horseback in brass near unto which is a Fountain the like to which Italy affords not Round about the Laver is the Family of Neptune in brasse with his Colosse of Marble in the middest born up by four horses In this same Piazza is a Porch arched and adorned with some Statues amongst which that of Judith in brass with the rape of the Sabines three persons in several postures cut all out of one stone Just against it is the Palazzo Vechio at the entrance whereof stand two Colossi the one of David the other of Hercules trampling on Caous excellent pieces Within is a Court set about with pillars of Corinthian work Above is a very spacious Hall with divers Statues Near to it is the richest of Treasures the great Dukes Gallery in the uppermost part whereof are contained as many wonders as things some to bee admired for the preciousness and Art others for their rarity and antiquity On each side of the Gallery stand above fourescore Statues One an Idoll brought from the Temple of Apollo in Delphos Another of Scipio Africanus holding up his gown under his Arm Then two curious triumphant Pillars Over the Statues hang rare pictures the most famous Scholars on the one side and Souldiers on the other At the right hand of this Gallery are several Stanza's full of curiosities wherewith the spectators are astonished both in regard of the richnesse and rarity thereof In the first Room is an Altar totally compacted of Jewels and precious stones The value inestimable In the next is a Table with Flowers and Birds in their natural colours of precious stones with a Cabinet worth two hundred thousand Crowns covered with
Tyrant opens to the South having a lofty Gate-house engraven with Arabick Characters set forth with Gold and Azure all of white Marble This gate leadeth into a stately Court three hundred yards long and about one hundred and fifty wide at the farther end whereof is another gate hung with shields and Cymiters this leads into a second Court full of tall Cypresse-trees being not much lesse than the former It is Cloistered round about covered with lead handsomely paved and supported with Columns of Marble which have Chapiters and Bases of Copper On the left hand is the Divano kept where the Bassa's of the Court do administer Justice Beyond this Court on the right hand is a street of Kitchins and on the left stalles large enough for five hundred horses Out of the second Court is an entrance into the third surrounded with the Royal buildings large curious and costly Without on the North side stands the Sultan's Cabinet in form of a sumptuous summer-house where hee of ten olaceth himself with variety of Objects and from whence taking barge hee passeth to the delightfull places of the adjoyning Asia In the Seraglio also are many stately rooms appropriated to the season of the year which are called Rooms of fair prospect into which the Sultan goeth sometimes alone but more usually with his Concubines for his recreation Within a fine little Court adorned with very many delicate Fountains is the Chamber wherein hee gives audience to Ambassadors c. one part whereof is spread with very sumptuous Carpets of gold and Crimson velvet embroydered with very costly Pearls upon which the grand Signeur sitteth the walls of the room are covered with fine white stones having divers sorts of leaves and artificial Flowers curiously wrought upon them which make a glorious shew A little Room adjoyns to it the whole inside whereof is covered with silver plate hatched with gold the floor being spread with rich Persian Carpets of silk and gold There are belonging to the Sultan's lodgings very fair gardens of all sorts of flowers and Fruits that can bee found in those parts with many very pleasant walks enclosed with high Cypresse-trees on both sides and fountains in such abundance that almost in every walk there are some of them Besides the former rooms which are very many for the Sultan's own use there are also the womens lodgings wherein the Queen the Sultanaes and all the Kings women do dwell and they have in them bed-chambers dining rooms with-drawing rooms and all other kinds of rooms necessary for women In another place there are divers Rooms and lodgings for all the principal and inferiour Officers so well furnished that nothing is wanting that is fit and necessary Amongst which are two large buildings one his Wardrob the other his Treasury with very thick walls Iron windows and Iron doors In the Seraglio are Rooms for Prayer Bagnoes Schools Butteries Kitchins Stillatories Swimming places places to run horses in wrestling places butts to shoot at and all the commodities that may adorn a Prince's Court. There is also an Hospital for such as fall sick in the Seraglio in which there are all things necessary for diseased persons And another large place wherein is kept Timber Carts c. to have them neer hand for the use and service of the Seraglio Over the Stables there is a row of rooms wherein is kept all the furniture for the horses which is of an extraordinary value for the Bridles Petorals and Cruppers are set so thick with jewels of divers sorts that they cause admiration in the beholders and exceed Imagination The Grand Signior's Bed-chamber hath the walls covered with stones of the finest China mettal spotted with flowers of divers colours which make a very dainty shew The Antiportaes were of cloath of gold of Bursia and their borders of Crimson Velvet embroidered with gold and Pearls The posts of his Bedstead were of silver hollow and instead of knobs on the tops there were Lyons of Crystall the Canopy over it was of cloth of gold and so were the Bolsters and Matteresses the floor was covered with very costly Persian Carpets of silk and gold and the Pallats to sit on and Cushions were of very rich cloth of gold In the hall adjoyning is a very great Lanthorn round and the bars of silver and gilt set very thick with Rubies Emeralds and Turkesses the panes were of very fine Crystal which made a very resplendent shew There was also a Bason and Ewre to wash in of massie gold set with Rubies and Turkesses In Constantinople is a Piazza in which is raised upon four Dice of fine Mettal a very fair Pyramid of mingled stone all of one peice fifty Cubits high carved with Heroical letters resembling the Agulia of Rome in whose top were the enclosed ashes of Julius Caesar In the same Piazzo also is a great Pillar of Brasse made with marvellous Art in form of three serpents wreathed together with their mouths upward There are in Constantinople eighteen thousand Mosques great and small In the chief place of it are two Burses built four square high and round at top each having four gates opening upon four streets round about garnished with shops stuffed with all sorts of rich and costly wares of inestimable value as precious stones Pearls Sables and other rich Furs of all sorts Silk and cloath of gold Bows Arrows Bucklers and Swords Here also they fell Christian Slaves of all ages as wee sell horses the buyers looking them in the eyes mouth and all other parts which is done every forenoon except Fridayes which is their Sabbath The Bassa's also in sundry places have built fair houses encompassed with high walls which outwardly have no beauty but inwardly full of all riches and pleasure the world can afford For they use to say that they build not to please passers by but for their own Commodity The Turkish Empire Described The Grand Signior who hath his seat in the stately and Imperiall City of Constantinople hath under his command the chiefest and most fruitful parts of the three first known parts of the world In Europe he hath all the sea coasts from the confines of Epidaurus the utmost bound of his Empire in Europe Westward unto the mouth of the River Tanais now called Don with whatsoever lyes from Buda in Hungary to the Imperial City of Constantinople in which space is comprehended the greater part of Hungary all Bosna Servia Bulgaria with a great part of Dalmatia Epirus Macedonia Grecia Peloponesus Thracia the Archipelago with the rich Islands contained therein In Affrica he possesseth from the river Mulvia the bounder of the kingdom of Fesse to the Arabian Gulph or Red-sea Eastward except some sea-towns held by the King of Spain and from Alexandria Northward unto the City of Asna Southward In which space are contained the famous Kingdomes of Tremizen Algiers Tunes and Egypt with divers other great Cities and Provinces In Asia all is his from the Hellespont