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
For it cannot be that any people should haue a proper kinde of speech and yet should vse letters borrowed from other nations and being altogether vnfit for their mother-language Of the situation of Africa AS there are fower partes in Africa so the situation thereof is not in all places alike That part which lieth towards the Mediterran sea that is to say from the streites of Gibraltar to the frontiers of Aegypt is here and there full of mountaines Southward it is extended about a hundred miles albeit in some places it be larger and in some other narrower From the saide mountaines vnto mount Atlas there is a very spatious plaine many little hillocks Fountaines there are in this region great store which meeting together at one head doe send foorth most beautifull riuers and christall streames Betweene the foresaid mountaines and the plaine countrie is situate the mountaine of Atlas which beginning westward vpon the Ocean sea stretcheth it selfe towards the east as farre as the borders of Aegypt Ouer against Atlas lieth that region of Numidia which beareth dates being euery where almost sandie ground Betweene Numidia and the land of Negros is the sandie desert of Libya situate which containeth many mountaines also howbeit merchants trauell not that way when as they may goe other waies with more ease and lesse danger Beyond the Libyan desert beginneth the land of Negros all places whereof are barren and sandie except those which adioine vpon the riuer of Niger or through the which any riuer or streame runneth Of the vnpleasant and snowie places in Africa ALl the region of Barbarie and the mountaines contained therein are subiect more to cold then to heat For seldome commeth any gale of winde which bringeth not some snow therwith In al the said mountaines there grow abundance of fruits but not so great plentie of corne The inhabitants of these mountaines liue for the greatest part of the yeere vpon barlie bread The springs riuers issuing foorth of the said mountaines representing the qualitie and taste of their natiue soile are somewhat muddie and impure especially vpon the confines of Mauritania These mountaines likewise are replenished with woods and loftie 〈◊〉 and are greatly stored with beastes of all kindes But the little hils and vallies lying betweene the foresaid mountaines and mount Atlas are far more commodious and abounding with corne For ' they are moistened with riuers springing out of Atlas and from thence holding on their course to the Mediterran sea And albeit woods are somewhat more scarce vpon these plaines yet are they much more fruitfull then be the plaine countries situate betweene Atlas and the Ocean sea as namely the regions of Maroco of Duccala of Tedles of Temesna of Azgara and the countrie lying towards the straites of Gibraltar The mountaines of Atlas are exceeding colde and barren and bring foorth but small store of corne beeing woody on all sides and engendring almost all the riuers of Africa The fountaines of Atlas are euen in the midst of summer extremely cold so that if a man dippeth his hand therein for any long space he is in great danger of loosing the same Howbeit the said mountaines are not so cold in all places for some partes thereof are of such milde temperature that they may be right commodiously inhabited yea and sundry places thereof are well stored with inhabitants as in the second part of this present discourse we will declare more at large Those places which are destitute of inhabitants be either extremely cold as namely the same which lie ouer against Mauritania or very rough and vnpleasant to wit those which are directly opposite to the region of Temesna Where notwithstanding in summer time they may feede their great and small cattell but not in winter by any meanes For then the North winde so furiously rageth bringing with it such abundance of snowe that all the cattell which till then remaine vpon the saide mountaines and a great part of the people also are forced to lose their liues in regard thereof wherefore whosoeuer hath any occasion to trauell that way in winter time chuseth rather to take his iourney betweene Mauritania and Numidia Those merchants which bring dates out of Numidia for the vse and seruice of other nations set foorth vsually vpon their iourney about the ende of October and yet they are oftentimes so oppressed and ouertaken with a sudden fall of snowe that scarcely one man among them all escapeth the danger of the tempest For when it beginneth to snow ouer night before the next morning not onely carts and men but euen the verie trees are so drowned ouerwhelmed therein that it is not possible to finde any mention of them Howbeit the dead carcases are then founde when the sunne hath melted the snow I my selfe also by the goodnes of almighty God twise escaped the most dreadfull danger of the foresaid snow whereof if it may not be tedious to the reader I will heere in few wordes make relation Vpon a certaine day of the foresaid moneth of October trauelling with a great companie of Merchants towards Atlas we were there about the sunne going downe weather-beaten with a most cold and snowy kinde of hayle Here we found eleuen or twelue horsemen Arabians to our thinking who perswading vs to leaue our carts and to goe with them promised vs a good and secure place to lodge in For mine owne part that I might not seeme altogether vnciuill I thought it not meete to refuse their good offer albeit I stood in doubt least they went about to practise some mischiefe Wherefore I bethought my selfe to hide vp a certaine summe of gold which I had as then about me But all being ready to ride I had no leisure to hide away my coine from them whereupon I fained that I would goe ease my selfe And so departing a while their companie and getting me vnder a certaine tree whereof I tooke diligent notice I buried my money betweene certaine stones and the roote of the said tree And then we rode on quietly till about midnight What time one of them thinking that he had staied long ynough for his pray began to vtter that in words which secretly he had conceiued in his minde For he asked whether I had any money about me or no To whom I answered that I had left my money behind with one of them which attended the cartes and that I had then none at all about me Howbeit they being no whit satisfied with this answer commanded me for all the cold weather to strip my selfe out of mine apparell At length when they could find no money at all they said in iesting scoffing wise that they did this for no other purpose but onely to see how strong and hardie I was and how I could endure the cold and tempestuous season Well on we rode seeking our way as well as we could that darke and dismall night and anone we heard the bleating of sheepe
the arguments and signes of the grace and fauour of God they easily fell into Apostasie whereunto the impietie of Arrius and other heretikes opened the way who for long tract of time estranging themselues more and more from the Euangelicall truth fell in the end into Atheisme as we see hath fallen out in the course of some moderne enormities But to returne from whence we haue digressed in progresse of time there grew great differences betweene the Mahumetans for their sect being no lesse sottish and foolish then wicked and perfidious the mainteiners of it were driuen to fetch reasons farre off for defence of the same But the Arabians not contented in Africa to haue subiugated with armes and with false doctrine to haue pestered Barbarie Numidia Libya and the countrey of Negroes they further on the other side assailed the lower Ethiopia both by sea and land By lande entred thereinto in the yeere 1067. Faiaia the sonne of Abubequer and by meanes of certaine Alsachi he dispersed that pestilence into Nubia and the neighbour prouinces On the other side passing the Red sea they first tooke knowledge of the coast of Ethiopia euen to Cabo de los corrientes by their continuall traffike thither and afterwards being encouraged by the weakenes of the naturall inhabitants they erected the kingdomes of Magadazo Melinde Mombazza Quiloa Mozambique and seazed on some ports of the island of Saint Laurence and gathering force by little and little they enlarged their empire within the land and established therein the kingdomes of Dangali and Adel. So that on the one side they haue spred their sect from the Red sea to the Atlantike Ocean and from the Mediterran sea to the riuer Niger and farther and on the other haue taken into their hands all the easterne coast of Africk from Suez to Cape Guardafú and from this euen to that De los corrientes and the adioining islands In which places though the people be not altogither Mahumetans yet haue the Mahumetans the weapons dominion in their hands the which how much it importeth for the bringing in of sects we may easily conceiue To conclude they haue often assailed the Prete Ianni sometimes the Turkes who haue taken from him the ports of the Red sea and otherwhiles the Moores vnder the conduct of the king of Adel who hath and doth molest them greatly leading into captituitie a great number of Abassins where they become for the most part Mahumetans Of the Christians of Africa NOw that we haue declared the miseries and darknes of Affrick it remaineth that we set downe that little light of true religion which there is the which I can not passe ouer without exceeding glorie to the Portugall nation In that they with inestimable charge and infinite trauaile haue first sought to open the way to Ethiopia and to bring the great Negus of Abassia called by vs Prete Ianni to the vnion of the christian church of Europe performing whatsoeuer after this for the conuersion of the princes of Guinia and Meleghette to the faith and yet more happily of the king of Congo and the Princes of Angola and likewise with diuers colonies sent to the ilands of the Atlantick Ocean they haue no lesse aduāced the honor of their owne nation then the propagating of the christian faith And finally passing beyond Cabo de buena esperança they haue resisted the Mahumetan sect which had now extended it selfe on the backside of Africa as far as Cabo de los corrientes Of the Christians in Egypt THe Christians of Egypt are partly strangers partlie home-borne in the country strangers come thither in regarde of traffick which there flourisheth aboue measure especiallie in the cities of Alexandria and Cairo by reason that this kingdome being most commodiously situate betweene the Red and Mediterran seas vniteth the west parts of the world with the east by meane of an infinite traffick and therefore is it as it were a ladder whereby the wealth of India and of the Eoan Ocean passeth into the lesser Asia into Africke and Europe Whereupon not onely the Venetians Florentines and Ragusians come thither in great numbers but also the French and English The naturall Christians of Egypt remaining after the spoiles and hauock of the Barbarians and the crueltie of the Saracens Mamalucks and Turkes exceed not the number of fiftie thousand persons and these dwell dispersed here and there but principallie in the cities of Cairo Messia Monfalatto Bucco and Elchiasa all placed vpon the bankes of Nilus There are also many in the prouince of Minia in which quarter appeare diuers monasteries But among the monasteries of Egypt those of Saint Anthonie Saint Paul and Saint Macarius are the principal The first lieth in Troglodytica right ouer against Sa it vpon a hill where Saint Anthony was said to be beaten by diuels the second is seated not far from this in the middest of a desert the third standeth in the wildernes to the west of Bulac This is the monasterie which in some histories is called Nitria as I thinke bicause in that quarter the waters of Nilus being thickned by the heate of the sun in low places are conuerted into salt and niter Georgia stood vpon Nilus six miles from the city of Munsia a rich and magnificent Conuent so called after the name of Saint George There were in the same more then two hundred monkes to the notable benefite and ease of pilgrimes strangers who were there curteously lodged But they dying all of the plague about some hundred and fiftie yeeres sithence the place was abandoned Now to deliuer somewhat concerning the estates of these Christians They are called by some Cofti and by others Christians from the girdle vpward for albeit they be baptized as we are yet do they circumcise themselues like to the Iewes so as a man may say their Christianitie comes no lower then the girdle-stead But that which is woorse they haue for these 1000. yeers followed the heresie of Eutiches which alloweth but of one nature in Christ by which heresie they also separate and dismember themselues from the vnion of the Church of Europe The occasion of this separation and 〈◊〉 was the Ephesine councell assembled by Dioscorus in defence of Eutiches who was now condemned in the Calcedon counsell by sixe hundred and thirtie fathers congregated togither by the authoritie of Leo the first For the Cofti fearing that to attribute two natures vnto Christ might be all one as if they had assigned him two hypostases or persons to auoid the heresie of the Nestorians they became Eutichians They say their diuine seruice in the Chaldean toong oftentimes repeating Alleluia They read the Gospell first in Chaldean and then in Arabick When the priest saieth Pax vobis the yoongest amongst them laieth his hand vpon all the people that are present After consecration they giue a simple peece of bread to the standers by a ceremonie vsed also in Greece They exercise their function in the
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
briefe iournall of his trauels you may see in the end of his eight booke what he writeth for himselfe Wherefore saith he if it shall please God to vouchsafe me longer life I purpose to describe all the regions of Asia which I haue trauelled to wit Arabia Deserta Arabia Petrea Arabia Felix the Asian part of Egypt Armenia and some part of Tartaria all which countries I sawe and passed through in the time of my youth Likewise I will describe my last voiages from Constantinople to Egypt and from thence vnto Italy c. Besides all which places he had also beene at Tauris in Persia and of his owne countrey and other African regions adioining and remote he was so diligent a traueller that there was no kingdome prouince signorie or citie nor scarcelie any towne village mountaine valley riuer or forrest c. which he left vnuisited And so much the more credite and commendation descrueth this woorthy Historie of his in that it is except the antiquities and certaine other incidents nothing else but a large Itinerarium or Iournal of his African voiages neither describeth he almost any one particular place where himselfe had not sometime beene an eie-witnes But not to forget His conuersion to Christianitie amidst all these his busie and dangerous trauels it pleased the diuine prouidence for the discouery and manifestation of Gods woonderfull works and of his dreadfull and iust iudgements performed in Africa which before the time of Iohn Leo were either vtterly concealed or vnperfectly and fabulously reported both by ancient and late writers to deliuer this author of ours and this present Geographicall Historie into the hands of certaine Italian Pirates about the isle of Gerbi situate in the gulfe of Capes betweene the cities of Tunis and Tripolis in Barbarie Being thus taken the Pirates presented him and his Booke vnto Pope Leo the tenth who esteeming of him as of a most rich and inualuable prize greatly reioiced at his arriuall and gaue him most kinde entertainement and liberall maintenance till such time as he had woone him to be baptized in the name of Christ and to be called Iohn Leo after the Popes owne name And so during his abode in Italy learning the Italian toong he translated this booke thereinto being before written in Arabick Thus much of Iohn Leo. Now let vs acquaint you with the Historie it selfe First therefore from so woorthy an author how could an historie proceed but of speciall woorth and consequence For proofe whereof I appeale vnto the translations thereof into Latine Italian Spanish French English and if I be not deceiued into some other languages which argue a generall 〈◊〉 of the same I appeale also to the grand and most iudiciall Cosmographer Master Iohn Baptista Ramusius sometime Secretarie to the state of Venice who in the Preface to his first volume of voiages so highly commendeth it to learned Fracastoro and placeth it euery word in the very forefront of his discourses as the principal most praise-woorthy of thē all And were renoumed Ortelius aliue I would vnder correction report me to him whether his map of Barbarie and Biledulgerid as also in his last Additament that of the kingdomes of Maroco and Fez were not particularly and from point to point framed out of this present relation which he also in two places at the least preferreth farre before all other histories written of Africa But to leaue the testimonies of others and to come neerer to the matter it selfe like as our prime and peerelesse English Antiquarie master William Camden in his learned Britannia 〈◊〉 exactly described England Scotland Ireland and the isles adiacent the which by Leander for 〈◊〉 by Damianus a Goez briefly for Spaine by Belforest for France by Munster for vpper Germanie by Guiccardini for the Netherlandes and by others for other countries hath beene performed so likewise this our author Iohn Leo in the historie ensuing hath so largely particularly and methodically deciphered the countries of Barbarie Numidia Libya The land of Negros and the hither part of Egypt as I take it neuer any writer either before or since his time hath done For if you shall throughly consider him what kingdome prouince citie towne village mountaine vallie riuer yea what temple college hospitall bath-stoue Inne or what other memorable matter doth he omit So doth he most iudicially describe the temperature of the climate and the nature of the soile as also the dispositions manners rites customes and most ancient pedigrees of the inhabitants togither with the alterations of religion and estate the conquests and ouerthrowes of the Romaines Goths and Arabians and other things by the way right woorthie the obseruation So that the Africans may iustly say to him and the English to master Camden as the prince of Roman oratours did vnto Marcus Varro the learnedst of his nation Nos in patria nostra peregrinantes errantesque tanquam hospites tui libri quasi domum deduxerunt vt possemus aliquando qui vbi essemus agnoscere Tuaetatem patriae tu descriptiones temporum tu sacrorum iura tu domesticam tu bellicam disciplinam tu sedem regionum locorum c. Which may thus be rudely 〈◊〉 Wandring vp and downe like Pilgrimes in our owne natiue soile thy bookes haue as it were led vs the right way home that we might at length acknowledge both who and where we are Thou hast reuealed the antiquitie of our nation the order of times the rites of our religion our manner of gouernment both in peace and warre yea thou hast described the situations of countries and places c. Now as concerning the additions before and after this Geographicall Historie hauing had some spare-howers since it came first vnder the presse I thought good both for the Readers satisfaction and that Iohn Leo might not appeere too solitarie vpon the stage to bestowe a part of them in collecting and digesting the same The chiefe scope of this my enterprize is to make a briefe and cursorie description of all those maine lands and isles of Africa which mine author in his nine bookes hath omitted For he in very deed leaueth vntouched all those parts of the African continent which lie to the south of the fifteene kingdomes of Negros and to the east of Nilus For the manifestation whereof I haue as truely as I could coniecture in the mappe adioined to this booke caused a list or border of small prickes to be engrauen which running westward from the mouth of Nilus to The streights of Gibraltar and from thence southward to the coast of Guinie and then eastward to the banks of Nilus and so northward to the place where it began doth with aduantage include all places treated of by Leo and excludeth the residue which by way of Preface we haue described before the beginning of his African historie Likewise at the latter end I haue put downe certaine relations of the great Princes of Africa and of the Christian
Iewish Mahumetan and Gentilish religions there 〈◊〉 The Princes of greatest account either inhabiting or at least possessing large territories there are first The grand Neguz or Christian Emperour of Abassia or the higher Ethiopia commonly called Presbyter Iohn or as Zagazabo his owne ambassadour would haue him Pretious Iohn but bicause 〈◊〉 all the Ethiopick relation of Francis Aluarez being the best that euer was written of those parts he is continually named Prete Ianni in imitation of him I also most commonly call him by that name And so likewise though Zagazabo for the more magnificent reputation of his prince will haue his dominions called Ethiopia yet with the consent of some approoued authors and also to distinguish the country of this emperour from many other regions situate both in the higher Ethiopia and in the lower I haue set it downe in my mappe and in my discourses do most vsually speake thereof vnder the name of Abassia The other great Princes intreated of in the said relations are The K. of Spaine The Turkish Emperour The Xarifo otherwise called The Miramonin or the king of Maroco Sus and Fez and the emperour of Monomotapa My methode in the discourse before Leo is after a generall preface of Africa to begin at the Red sea where Leo endeth and thence as well in the description of the maine lands as of the isles by him vntouched to proceed on southerly to the cape of Buena esperança from which cape we returne toward the north describing all along the westerne countries and isles of Africa till we haue brought our whole descriptions to an end vpon the most southwesterly parts 〈◊〉 Barbarie where our author Iohn Leo beginneth his Et quoniam as one saith turpe non est per quos profeceris agnoscere my principall authors out of whom I haue gathered this store are of the ancienter note Ptolemey Strabo Plinie Diodorus Siculus c. and amongst later writers I haue helped my selfe out of sundrie discourses in the first Italian volume of Baptista Ramusio as likewise out of Iohn Barros Castanneda Ortelius Osorius de reb gest Eman. Matthew Dresserus Quadus Isolario del mundo Iohn Huighen van Linschoten out of the Hollanders late voiages to the east Indies and to San Tomé but I am much more beholding to the history of Philippo Pigafetta to the Ethiopick relations of Francis Aluarez of Damianus a Goez and beyond all comparison both for matter and method most of all to the learned Astronomer and Geographer Antonius Maginus of Padua and to the vniuersall relations written in Italian by G. B. B. And heere before I surcease I must admonish the Reader of certaine faults escaped in some copies as namely in the description of the isles in the Barbarian bay Açotatado for Açotado in a marginall note ouer against the description of Tombuto in the seuenth booke of Iohn Leo Money for Gold in the relation of the Christianitie of Egypt Hypostasis twise togither in stead of Hypostases and in the discourse of the Christianitie of Congo Paulo Aquitino for Panso Aquitimo Other literall faults if there be any will not be hard for the Reader himselfe to amend AFRICA A generall description of all Africa togither with a comparison of the ancient and new names of all the principall countries and prouinces therein THat part of inhabited lande extending southward which we call Africa and the Greeks Libya is one of the three generall parts of the world knowen vnto our ancestors which in very deed was not throughly by them discouered both bicause the Inlands coulde not be trauailed in regard of huge deserts full of dangerous sands which being driuen with the winde put trauailers in extreme hazard of their liues and also by reason of the long and perilous nauigation vpon the African coasts for which cause it was by very few of ancient times compassed by nauigation much lesse searched or intirely known Of which few the principall were Hanno a Carthaginian captaine sent by the gouernours of that commonwelth for discouerie of the saide lande and one Eudoxus that fled from Ptolemaeus Lathyrus the king of Alexandria Howbeit in these latter times it hath beene often by the Portugals sailed round about and diligently searched especially along the shore euen from the streights of Gibraltar to the enterance of the red sea but the first Portugall that euer doubled the cape of Buena esperança and coasted the south and southeast parts of Africa in former 〈◊〉 vnknowne was Vasco da Gama in the yeere 1497. who from hence sailed to Calicut in the east Indies to the vnspeakeable gaine of the Portugals To omit Iohn Leo his etymologies of this name Africa Festus will haue it to be deriued from the Greeke worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth horror or colde and from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the particle priuatiue as who shoulde say Africa is a place free from all horror and extremitie of colde bicause it lieth open to the heauens and is sandie drie and desert Others say that it is called Africa quasi Aprica that is exposed and subiect to the scorching beames of the sunne the most part there of lying betweene the Tropicks Iosephus wil haue it so called from 〈◊〉 one of the posteritie of Abraham and others from Afer sonne to Hercules of Libya But it was by the Greekes called Libya bicause it was in old time conquered by Libs the king of Mauritania In the holie Scriptures it is called Chamesis by the Arabians and Ethiopians 〈◊〉 and by the Indians Besecath In situation shape this land of Africa is almost an islle being by a very small and narrowe neckland passing betweene the Mediterran sea and the gulfe of Arabia 〈◊〉 the red sea conioined to Asia and in extension of ground being almost twise as bigge as Europe albeit for inhabitants it is not halfe so populous Wherefore though in longitude from west to east Africa be shorter then Europe in some places yet extendeth it so farre vnto the south that Europe in that respect is nothing comparable vnto it for Africa containeth almost seuentie degrees in latitude whereas Europe stretcheth but fiue and thirtie degrees moreouer Africa is more vniforme and spacious but Europe is of a more distracted and manifolde shape being in sundry places dispersed restrained by the sea Howbeit notwithstanding Africa hath farre greater extension of ground then Europe yet is it not so populous nor so commodious to inhabite for the lande of Africa is in many places vnhabitable the principall causes whereof are the scarcitie of water the barrennes of the soile being either couered with 〈◊〉 sande dust or ashes or else being subiect to extreme heate of the sunne also there are certaine dangerous heapes of sande which being raised by the winde are driuen vp and downe like the waues of a tempestuous sea In briefe there are such abundance of venemous and hurtfull
interior Mauritania Tingitana the most rich and beautifull couutrey of Africa so named of the citie Tingis which we at this day call Tanger was sometimes also as Plinie witnesseth called Borgundiana moreouer others haue called it by the names of Mauritania Sitiphensis Hispania Transfretana and Hispania Tingitana but Solinus termeth the same Mauritania inferior The inhabitants were of old named by the Graecians Maurusij and by the Romaines Mauri but the Spaniards at this present terme them Alarabes In this part of Africa are now contained two stately kingdomes namely the kingdome of Maroco 〈◊〉 the kingdome of Fez both which are enuironed with the mountaines of Atlas the Ocean and the Mediterran seas and to the east with the riuer of Muluia Mauritania Caesariensis named according to the citie of Caesaria which was so called after the name of Claudius Caesar at this present bearing the name of Tiguident or Tegdemt which worde in the Arabian toong signifieth ancient was by Victor Vticensis termed Mauritania maior by Strabo Massilia and Massaesilia and the inhabitants thereof by Plinie Massaesuli At this present it containeth the kingdome of Tremizen as Dominias Niger and Giraua are of opinion Numidia the ancient called in the time of Ptolomey The new but by the Greekes as Plinie testifieth Metagonitis and the inhabitants thereof Numidae and Nomades is that region which lieth betweene The great riuer and the riuer Megerada ouer which countrey king Masinissa bare rule It containeth now as I coniecture the prouinces of Bugia Constantina Bona and Mezzab Howbeit at this present we vnderstande by Numidia that region which lieth betweene the mountaines of Atlas and the Libyan deserts called by Iohn Leo and Marmolius Biledulgerid or the lande of Dates bicause this is the onely region for plentie of Dates in all Africa Africa propria situate vpon the Mediterran sea betweene the regions of old Numidia and the Cyrene is called by Plinie Zeugitania who diuideth it into the ancient and the new At this present it is the kingdome of Tunis for it containeth Byzacium which by Strabo is accounted a part of Africa propria The head of this prouince in times past was Carthage whereof at this present there are nothing but ruines extant Cyrene or Cyrenaica by Plinie called Pentapolis and by the Hebrews Lebahim is esteemed by Giraua to be at this present called Corene and by Andrew Theuet Assadib but Iohn Leo and Marmolius name it Mesrata Marmarica is called by Plinie Mareotis and Libya howbeit at this present the desert of Barcha described by Iohn Leo in his sixt booke containeth a great part of Cyrenaica and all Marmarica But Libya propria retaineth till this present the name of Libya and is that part which the Arabians call Sarra which worde signifieth a desert Both the ancient Ethiopias are now possessed by the Abassins vnder the dominion of Prete Ianni Egypt retaineth euen till this day the ancient name The best moderne diuision of Africa for these our times is to adde vnto the foure general partes Barbaria Numidia Libya and the land of Negros set downe by Iohn Leo three other generall partes to wit Egypt the inner or the vpper Ethiopia containing Troglodytica Nubia and the empire of Prete Ianni and the lower or the extreme Ethiopia stretching from the said empire along the sea-coast and through the Inland euen to the Cape of Buena Esperança Thus much of Africa in generall Now it remaineth that we briefly describe in particular all the principall maine landes and islands vndescribed by Iohn Leo which thereto belong or adioyne beginning first with the Red sea one of the chiefe limites of Africa and from thence shaping our course along the easterne or farthest quarters thereof through the dominions of Prete Ianni the lande of Zanguebar the empires of Mohenemuge and Monomotapa and the region of Cafraria and then hauing doubled the cape of Buena esperança range we along the westerne partes by the kingdomes of Angola Congo Anzichi Benin Ghinea and by the capes of Sierra Leona Capo verde and the castle of Arguin till we haue brought our selues to finish our course vpon the most southwesterne partes of Barbarie from whence our author Iohn Leo beginneth his A particular description of all the knowne borders coastes and inlands of Africa which Iohn Leo hath left vndescribed collected out of sundry ancient and late writers Of the red sea THe red sea called by others the Arabian gulfe and the streight of Mecha containing in length twelue hundred miles and in bredth but one hundred is deuided into three partitions or chanels the middlemost whereof being called The large or deepe sea is without danger nauigable both day and night because it hath from fiue and twentie to fiftie fathomes water especially from the isle of Camaran euen to Suez stāding at the very bottome of the gulfe the other two partitions which are the easterne and westerne extremities are incumbred with so manie little isles and rockes as it is impossible to saile ouer them but onely by day-light and with most expert pilots which are to be hired at a small island lying ouerthwart the very mouth or entrance of the red sea which the ancient kings of Egypt if the report of Strabo be true barred with a chaine from the African to the Arabian side This sea is very skarce of fish perhaps because there fall no riuers thereinto which with their fresh and sweete waters doe much delight and nourish the fish and the strand or shore thereof is destitute of all greene grasse herbes or weedes The portes and hauens of this sea are for the most part very dangerous and difficult to enter by reason of the manifold windings and turnings which must be made to auoide the rockes At the very head or North end of this gulfe standeth Suez which heretofore seemeth to haue bin called Ciuitas Heroum and in the times of Dauid and Salomon Hazion-Geber from whence the fleetes of those partes were sent to Ophir for golde and other rich commodities Vnder the Egyptian Ptolemeys and the Romans this towne flourished exceedingly by reason of the infinite quantitie of merchandize brought thither from the east Indies and Arabia But now it is nothing so frequented partly in regard of the mighty concurse and traffique which Mecha draweth vnto it selfe and partly by reason of the Portugales conueiance of spices and other Indian commodities about the cape of Buena esperança At this present the great Turke hath there an Arsenale with certaine gallies for feare of the Portugals aforesaid against whome there haue bin dispatched from this place two greate fleetes one for the assailing of 〈◊〉 and another for Ormuz Howbeit because all the countries round about are vtterly destitute of wood it is a matter of infinite charge to furnish foorth a fleete from hence for they are constrained to fetch their timber as far as Caramania partly by sea and partly vpon
sope which hath double the force of ours For which cause it is forbidden by the Portugals who haue vpon that coast a little to the east of Cabo das tres puntas in the northerly latitude of fiue degrees a strong castle called San Georgio de lá Mina whereunto by way of traffike they draw all the gold and riches of the countries adioining Westward of these lieth the countrie of Ghinea inhabited by a people which the ancient writers called Autolatae and Ichthyophagi Ghinea is so named according to the chiefe citie thereof called Genni being situate vpon the riuer of Sanega The people of this countrie towards the sea-coast liue vpon fish and they of the inland sustaine themselues with Lizards and such like creatures in some places more temperate their food consisteth of herbes and milke They conuerse togither in great families and they fight oftentimes for water and for pastures neither haue they 〈◊〉 knowledge of learning or liberall arts So long as the sun continueth in our northren signes that is from the xj of March to the xiij of September this people in regard of extreme 〈◊〉 heat are constrained all the day time being ordinarily with them of 12. howers to retire themselues within their houses and to do all their busines in the night The countrey in most places is destitute of trees that beare fruite neither haue the greatest part of the inhabitants any haire on their bodies saue onely a thicke tuft growing vpon their heads they sell their children vnto strangers supposing that their estate cannot possiblie be impaired Vnto these naturall miseries of the place you may ad the insupportable mischiefes which are here done by the locustes for albeit these creatures do infinite harme likewise in all the inner parts of Africa yet seemeth it that this countrey of Ghinea is their most proper habitation whither they do often resort in such innumerable swarmes that like a mightie thicke cloud they come raking along in the skie and afterward falling downe they couer the face of the earth deuouring all things that they light vpon Their comming towards any place is known two or three daies before by the yellownes of the sunne But in most places where they haunt the poore people are reuenged of them by killing and driuing them in the aire for their foode which custome is commonly vsed by the Arabians and Ethiopians and the Portugals also haue found vessels full of them vpon the coast of Cambaia where they do the like mischiefes They which haue eaten of them affirme that they are of a good taste and that their flesh so much as it is is as white as that of a lobster These may seem to be al one with those grashoppers which God sent to plague Egypt and the same kind of locustes which the holy prophet Iohn Baptist fed vpon in the wildernes Moreouer along the coasts of Meleghete and Ghinea are diuers small riuers and freshets containing little water and running a slow pace which notwithstanding are the best and pleasantest things that are to be founde in these forlorne countries For wheresoeuer any little water springeth or runneth thither do the people resort partly for the watring of their scorched groūds partly to quench their own thirst Also vpō these coasts are diuers and sundry headlands which stretch into the sea as namely The faire cape The three-pointed cape The cape of Palmetrees Cabo da Verga Sierra Leona This cape last mentioned hath an exceeding high mountaine thereupon which causeth it to be seene a mightie distance off It seemeth to be the same promontorie which Hanno and Ptolemey call The chariot of the gods It is called by the name of a lyon in regard of the dreadfull thunders and lightnings which are continually heard from the top thereof howbeit neere vnto it are found apes munkeies and such other beasts as liue in temperate places Of Cabo verde Sanega and Gambra or Gambea NOrthward of Sierra Leona lieth Cabo verde or the greene cape called by Ptolemey Arsinarium and being one of the most famous headlands in all Africa It is enuironed with two riuers namely the riuer of Gambra or Gambea on the south and the riuer of Senaga on the north which last riuer is esteemed to be an arme of Ghir or Niger Gambea springeth out of the same fountaines assigned by Ptolemey vnto Niger which by all the ancient writers is placed heereabout and out of the lake of Libya It is larger and deeper then that other of Senaga and runneth a crooked course receiuing many lesser riuers thereinto One hundred and eightie leagues within the mouth of this riuer the Portugals haue a factorie or place of traffique called the factorie of Cantor Hither by exchange of sundry wares they draw the gold of all those countries In the midde way as it were vnto the said factorie there is a place called the isle of Elephants in regard of the huge numbers of those creatures The riuer of Senaga is thought to take his original out of the lakes called Chelonides It containeth certaine Isles which in regard of their rough and ragged shape are good for nothing but to breed adders and such like hurtfull things and these Isles in many places make the riuer vtterly innauigable About one hundred and fiftie leagues from the mouth thereof it falleth spouting-wise with such maine force from certaine high cliffes or rockes that a man may walke drie vnder the streame thereof The Negros in their language call this place a Bowe It is reported that Nilus doth the like at his Cataracts or ouerfals And Strabo writeth of certaine riuers of Hircania which from exceeding steepe and craggie rockes gush with such violence into the Caspian sea that whole 〈◊〉 may passe vnder them without danger of drowning Into this riuer of Senaga among many riuers vnknowne falleth one which passing through a red soile is it selfe also died red and whosoeuer drinketh of the waters first of the Red riuer and after of Senaga is constrained extremely to 〈◊〉 Along the bankes of this mightie riuer inhabite the blacke and barbarous nations of the Gialofi the Tucuroni the Caraguloni and the Bagani Finally it voideth into the sea at two mouths one of which mouthes is a mile broad And it is strange to consider how vpon the south side of this riuer the people are blacke and well proportioned and the soile pleasant and fertile whereas on the north side they are browne and of a small stature and do inhabite a barren and miserable countrie In both the said riuers of Gambra and Senaga do breed diuers strange kindes offishes and other creatures of the water as namely crocodiles sea-horses and winged serpents and hither come to drinke sundry sorts of wilde beafts The lands comprehended betweene them both by reason of their yeerely inundation for from the xv of Iune they increase fortie daies togither and are so long time decreasing after the manner
coniecturing thereby that we were not farre distant from some habitation of people Wherefore out of hand we directed our course thitherwards being constrained to leade our horses through thicke woods and ouer steepe and craggie rocks to the great hazard and perill of our liues And at length after many labours wee found shepherds in a certaine caue who hauing with much paines brought their cattell in there had kindled a lustie fire for themselues which they were constrained by reason of the extreme cold daily to sit by Who vnderstanding our companie to be Arabians feared at the first that we would do them some mischiefe but afterward being perswaded that we were driuen thither by extremitie of cold and being more secure of vs they gaue vs most friendly entertainment For they set bread flesh and cheese before vs wherewith hauing ended our suppers we laid vs along each man to sleepe before the fire All of vs were as yet exceeding cold but especially my selfe who before with great horrour and trembling was stripped starke naked And so we continued with the said shepherds for the space of two daies all which time we could not set foorth by reason of continuall snowe But the thirde day so soone as they saw it leaue snowing with great labour they began to remooue that snowe which lay before the doore of their caue Which done they brought vs to our horses which we found well prouided of hay in another caue Being all mounted the shepherds accompanied vs some part of our way shewing vs where the snowe was of least depth and yet euen there it touched our horse bellies This day was so cleere that the sunne tooke away all the cold of the two daies going before At length entring into a certaine village neere vnto Fez we vnderstood that our cartes which passed by were ouerwhelmed with the snowe Then the Arabians seeing no hope of recompence for all the paines they had taken for they had defended our carts from theeues carried a certaine Iew of our companie with them as their captiue who had lost a great quantitie of dates by reason of the snowe aforesaid to the end that he might remaine as their prisoner till he had satisfied for all the residue From my selfe they tooke my horse and committed mee vnto the wide world and to fortune From whence riding vpon a mule within three daies I arriued at Fez where I heard dolefull newes of our merchants and wares that they were cast away in the snowe Yea they thought that I had beene destrosed with the rest but it seemed that God would haue it otherwise Now hauing finished the historie of mine owne misfortunes let vs returne vnto that discourse where we left Beyond Atlas there are certaine hot dry places moistened with very few riuers but those which flow out of Atlas it selfe some of which riuers running into the Libyan deserts are dried vp with the sands but others do ingender lakes Neither shal you finde in these countries any places apt to bring forth corne notwithstanding they haue dates in abundance There are also certaine other trees bearing fruit but in so small quantitie that no increase nor gaine is to be reaped by them You may see likewise in those partes of Numidia which border vpon Libya certaine barren hils destitute of trees vpon the lower parts whereof growe nothing but vnprofitable thornes and shrubs Amongst these mountaines you shall finde no riuers nor springs nor yet any waters at all except it be in certaine pits and wels almost vnknowen vnto the inhabitants of that region Moreouer in sixe or seuen daies iourney they haue not one drop of water but such as is brought vnto them by certaine merchants vpon camels backes And that especially in those places which lye vpon the maine road from Fez to Tombuto or from Tremizen to Agad That iourney likewise is verie dangerous which is of late found out by the merchants of our daies from Fez to Alcair ouer the deserts of Libya were it not for an huge lake in the way vpon the bankes whereof the Sinites and the Goranites doe inhabite But in the way which leadeth from Fez to Tombuto are certaine pits enuironed either with the hides or bones of camels Neither doe the merchants in sommer time passe that way without great danger of their liues for oftentimes it falleth out when the south winde bloweth that all those pits are stopped vp with sande And so the merchants when they can finde neither those pits nor any mention thereof must needes perish for extreame thirst whose carcases are afterward found lying scattered here and there and scorched with the heat of the sunne One remedie they haue in this case which is verie strange for when they are so grieuously oppressed with thirst they kill foorthwith some one of their camels out of whose bowels they wring and expresse some quantitie of water which water they they drinke and carrie about with them till they haue either found some pit of water or till they pine away for thirst In the desert which they cal Azaoad there are as yet extant two monuments built of marble vpon which marble is an Epitaphe engrauen signifying that one of the said monuments represented a most rich merchant and the other a carrier or transporter of wares Which wealthie merchant bought of the carrier a cup of water for tenne thousand ducates and yet this pretious water could suffice neither of them for both were consumed with thirst This desert likewise containeth sundry kinds of beasts which in the fourth part of this discourse concerning Libya and in our treatise of the beasts of Africa we will discourse of more at large I was determined to haue written more cōcerning those things which happened vnto my self the rest of my company trauelling through the Libyan deserts vnto Gualata For somtime being sore a thirst we could not find one drop of water partly because our guide strayed out of the direct course and partly because our enemies had cut off the springs and chanels of the foresaid pits and wels Insomuch that the small quantitie of water which we found was sparingly to be kept for that which would scarce suffice vs for fiue daies we were constrained to keepe for ten But if I should commit to writing all things woorthy of memorie a whole yeare were not sufficient for me The lande of Negros is extreme hot hauing some store of moysture also by reason of the riuer of Niger running through the midst thereof All places adioining vpon Niger doe mightily abound both with cattle corne No trees I saw there but only certain great ones bearing a kind of bitter fruit like vnto a chestnut which in their language is called Goron Likewise in the same regions grow Cocos cucumbers onions and such kinde of herbes and fruits in great abundance There are no mountaines at all either in Libya or in the land of Negros howbeit diuers fennes and lakes
corne in May and in October they gather their dates but from the midst of September they haue winter till the beginning of 〈◊〉 But if September falleth out to be rainie they are like to lose most part of their dates All the fields of Numidia require watering from the riuers but if the mountaines of Atlas haue no raine fall vpon them the Numidian riuers waxe drie and so the fields are destitute of watering October being destitute of raine the husbandman hath no hope to cast his seede into the ground and he despaireth likewise if it raine not in Aprill But their dates prosper more without raine wherof the Numidians haue greater plentie then of corne For albeit they haue some store of corne yet can it scarcely suffice them for halfe the yeere Howbeit if they haue good increase of dates they cannot want abundance of corne which is sold vnto them by the Arabians for dates If in the Libyan deserts there fall out change of weather about the midst of October if it continue raining there all December Ianuarie and some part of Februarie it is wonderful what abundance of grasse and milke it bringeth foorth Then may you finde diuers lakes in all places and many fennes throughout Libya wherefore this is the meetest time for the Barbarie-merchants to trauell to the land of Negros Here all kinde of fruits grow sooner ripe if they haue moderate showers about the ende of Iuly Moreouer the land of Negros receiueth by raine neither any benefite nor yet any dammage at all For the riuer Niger together with the water which falleth from certaine mountaines doth so moisten their grounds that no places can be deuised to be more fruitfull for that which Nilus is to Aegypt the same is Niger to the land of Negors for it increaseth like Nilus from the fifteenth of Iune the space of fortie daies after and for so many againe it decreaseth And so at the increase of Niger when all places are ouerflowen with water a man may in a barke passe ouer all the land of Negros albeit not without great perill of drowning as in the fift part of this treatise we will declare more at large Of the length and shortnes of the Africans liues ALl the people of Barbarie by vs before mentioned liue vnto 65. or 70. yeeres of age and fewe or none exceed that number Howbeit in the foresaide mountaines I sawe some which had liued an hundred yeeres and others which affirmed themselues to be older whose age was most healthfull and lustie Yea some you shall finde here of fowerscore yeeres of age who are sufficiently strong and able to exercise husbandrie to dresse vines and to serue in the warres insomuch that yoong men are oftentimes inferiour vnto them In Numidia that is to say in the land of dates they liue a long time howbeit they lose their teeth very soone and their eies waxe woonderfully dimme Which infirmities are likely to be incident vnto them first because they continually feede vpon dates the sweetnes and naturall qualitie whereof doth by little and little pull out their teeth and secondly the dust and sand which is tossed vp and downe the aire with easterne windes entring into their eies doth at last miserably weaken and spoile their eie-sight The inhabitants of Libya are of a shorter life but those which are most strong and healthfull among them liue oftentimes till they come to threescore yeeres albeit they are slender and leane of bodie The Negros commonly liue the shortest time of al the rest howbeit they are alwaies strong lustie hauing their teeth sound euen till their dying day yet is there no nation vnder heauen more prone to venerie vnto which vice also the Libyans and Numidians are to too much addicted To be short the Barbarians are the weakest people of them all What kindes of diseases the Africans are subiect vnto THE children and sometimes the ancient women of this region are subiect vnto baldnes or vnnaturall shedding of haire which disease they can hardly be cured of They are likewise oftentimes troubled with the head-ache which vsually afflicteth them without any ague ioined therewith Many of them are tormented with the tooth-ache which as some thinke they are the more subiect vnto because immediately after hot pottage they drinke cold water They are oftentimes vexed with extreme paine of the stomacke which ignorantly they call the paine of the hart They are likewise daily molested with inwarde gripings and infirmities ouer their whole body which is thought to proceede of continuall drinking of water Yea they are 〈◊〉 subiect vnto bone-aches and goutes by reason that they sit commonly vpon the bare ground and neuer weare any shooes vpon their feete Their chiefe gentlemen and noblemen prooue gowtie oftentimes with immoderate drinking of wine and eating of daintie meats Some with eating of oliues nuts and such course fare are for the most part infected with the scuruies Those which are of a sanguine complexion are greatly troubled with the cough because that in the spring-season they sit too much vpon the ground And vpon fridaies I had no small sport and recreation to goe and see them For vpon this day the people flocke to church in great numbers to heare their 〈◊〉 sermons Now if any one in the sermon-tile falles a neezing all the whole multitude will neeze with him for companie and so they make such a noise that they neuer leaue till the sermon be quite done so that a man shall reape but little knowledge by any of their sermons If any of Barbarie be infected with the disease commonly called the French poxe they die thereof for the most part and are seldome cured This disease beginneth with a kinde of anguish and swelling and at length breaketh out into sores Ouer the mountaines of Atlas and throughout all Numidia and Libya they scarcely know this disease Insomuch that oftentimes the parties infected trauell foorthwith into Numidia or the land of Negros in which places the aire is so temperate that onely by remaining there they recouer their perfect health and 〈◊〉 home sound into their owne countrie which I sawe many doe with mine owne eies who without the helpe of any phisitian or medicine except the foresaide holesome aire were restored to their former health Not so much as the name of this maladie was euer knowen vnto the Africans before 〈◊〉 the king of Castile expelled all Iewes out of Spaine after the returne of which Iewes into Africa certaine vnhappie and lewd people lay with their wiues and so at length the disease spread from one to another ouer the whole region insomuch that scarce any one familie was free from the same Howbeit this they were most certainly perswaded of that the same disease came first from Spaine wherefore they for want of a better name do call it The Spanish poxe Notwithstanding at Tunis and ouer all Italie it is called the French disease It is so called likewise in
Numidian desert two hundred and fiftie miles eastward of Segelmesse and an hundred miles from mount Atlas hath fower castles within the precincts thereof and many villages also which stand vpon the confines of Lybia neer vnto the high way that leadeth from Fez and Telensin to the kingdome of Agadez and to the land of Negros The inhabitants are not very rich for all their wealth consisteth in dates and some small quantitie of corne The men of this place are black but the women are somewhat fairer and yet they are of a swart and browne hue Of the region of Tegorarin THis great and large region of the Numidian desert standing about an hundred and twentie miles eastward of Tesebit containeth fiftie castles and aboue an hundred villages and yeeldeth great plentie of dates The inhabitants are rich and haue ordinarie traffique to the land of Negros Their fields are very apt for corne and yet by reason of their extreme drouth they stand in neede of continuall watering and dunging They allow vnto strangers houses to dwell in requiring no money for rent but onely their dung which they keepe most charily yea they take it in ill part if any stranger easeth himselfe without the doores Flesh is very scarce among them for their soile is so drie that it will scarce nourish any cattell at all they keepe a few goates indeede for their milks sake but the flesh that they eate is of camels which the Arabians bring vnto their markets to sell they mingle their meate with salt tallow which is brought into this region from Fez Tremizen There were in times past many rich Iewes in this region who by the meanes of a certaine Mahumetan preacher were at length expelled and a great part of them slaine by the seditious people and that in the very same yeere when the Iewes were expelled out of Spaine and Sicily The inhabitants of this region hauing one onely gouernour of their owne nation are notwithstanding often subiect to ciuill contentions and yet they do not molest other nations howbeit they pay certaine tribute vnto the next Arabians Of the region of Meszab THis region being situate vpon the Numidian desert 300. miles eastward from Tegorarin and 300. miles also from the Mediterran sea containeth sixe castles and many villages the inhabitants being rich and vsing traffike to the land of Negros Likewise the Negro-merchants togither with them of Bugia and Ghir make resort vnto this region Subiect they are and pay tribute vnto the Arabians Of the towne of Techort THe ancient towne of Techort was built by the Numidians vpon a certaine hill by the foote whereof runneth a riuer vpon which riuer standeth a draw-bridge The wall of this towne was made of free stone and lime but that part which is next vnto the mountaine 〈◊〉 instead of a wall an impregnable rocke opposite against it this towne is distant 〈◊〉 hundred miles southward from the Mediterran sea and 〈◊〉 300. miles from 〈◊〉 Families it containeth to the number of fiue and twentie hundred all the houses are built of sunne-dried brickes except their temple which is somewhat more stately Heere dwell great store both of gentlemen and artificers and bicause they haue great abundance of dates and are destitute of corne the merchants of Constantina exchange corne with them for their dates All strangers they fauour exceedingly and friendly dismisse them without paying of ought They had rather match their daughters vnto strangers then to their owne citizens and for a dowry they giue some certaine portion of lande as it is accustomed in some places of Europe So great and surpassing is their liberalitie that they will heape many gifts vpon strangers albeit they are sure neuer to see them againe At the first they were subiect to the king of Maroco afterward to the king of Telensin and now to the king of Tunis vnto whom they pay fiftie thousand ducats for yeerely tribute vpon condition that the king himselfe come personally to receiue it The king of Tunis that now is demanded a second tribute of them Many castles and villages and some territories there be also which are all subiect vnto the prince of this towne who collecteth an hundred and thirtie thousand ducates of yeerely reuenues and hath alwaies a mightie garrison of soldiers attending vpon him vnto whom he alloweth very large paie The gouernour at this present called Habdulla is a valiant and liberall yoong prince and most curteous vnto strangers whereof I my selfe conuersing with him for certaine daies had good experience Of the citie of Guargala THis ancient citie founded by the Numidians and enuironed with strong wals vpon the Numidian desert is built very sumptuously and aboundeth exceedingly with dates It hath some castles and a great number of villages belonging thereunto The inhabitants are rich bicause they are neere vnto the kingdome of Agadez Heere are diuers merchants of Tunis and Constantina which transport wares of Barbarie vnto the lande of Negros And bicause flesh and corne is very scarce among them they liue vpon the flesh of Ostriches and camels They are all of a blacke colour and haue blacke slaues and are people of a courteous and liberall disposition and most friendly and bountifull vnto strangers A gouernour they haue whom they reuerence as if he were a king which gouernour hath about two thousand horsemen alwaies attending vpon him and collecteth almost fifteene thousand ducates for yeerely reuenue Of the prouince of Zeb ZEb a prouince situate also vpon the Numidian desert beginneth westward from Mesila northward from the mountaines of Bugia eastward from the region of dates ouer against Tunis and southward it bordereth vpon a certaine desert ouer which they trauaile from Guargala to Techort This region is extremely hot sandie and destitute both of water and corne which wants are partly supplied by their abundance of dates It containeth to the number of fiue townes and many villages all which we purpose in order to describe Of the towne of Pescara THis ancient towne built by the Romans while they were lords of Mauritania and afterward destroied by the Mahumetans at their first enterance into Africa is now reedified stored with new inhabitants and enuironed with faire and stately wals And albeit the townesmen are not rich yet are they louers of ciuilitie Their soile yeeldeth nought but dates They haue beene gouerned by diuers princes for they were a while subiect vnto the kings of Tunis and that to the death of king Hutmen after whom succeeded a Mahumetan priest neither coulde the kings of Tunis euer since that time recouer the dominion of Pescara Here are great abundance of scorpions and it is present death to be stung by them wherefore all the townesmen in a manner depart into the countrey in sommer time where they remaine till the moneth of Nouember Of the citie of Borgi ANother towne there is also called Borgi which standeth about fowerteene miles eastward of Pescara Heere are a great many of
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
Flaccus Africa scarce breathing from bloudie warres an horrible and extraordinarie destruction ensued For whereas now throughout all Africa infinite multitudes of locustes were gathered togither had not only quite deuoured the corne on the grounde and consumed the herbes with part of their rootes and the leaues and tender boughes of the trees but had gnawne also the bitter barke and drie woode being with a violent and sudden winde hoised aloft in mightie swarmes and carried a long time in the aire they were at length drowned in the African sea Whose lothsome and putrified carcases being by the waues of the sea cast vp in huge heapes farre and wide along the shore bred an incredible stinking infectious smell whereupon followed so general a pestilence of al liuing creatures that the corrupt dead bodies of foules cattell and wilde beasts dissolued by the contagion of the aire augmented the furie of the plague But how great and extraordinarie a death of men there was I cannot but tremble to report for in Numidia where Micipsa was then king died fowerscore thousand persons and vpon the sea-coast next adioiningto Carthage and Vtica aboue two hundred thousand are saide to haue perished Yea in the citie of Vtica it selfe were by this meanes swept from the face of the earth thirtie thousand braue soldiers which were appointed to be the garrison for all Africa And the destruction was so sudaine and violent as they report that out of one gate of Vtica in one and the same day were carried aboue fifteene hundred dead corpes of those lustie yoong gallants So that by the grace and fauour of almightie God through whose mercy and in confidence of whom I doe speake these things I may boldly affirme that albeit sometime in our daies the locusts in diuers parts and vsually doe some domage which is tolerable yet neuer befell there in the time of the Christians so insupportable a mischiefe as that this scourge of locusts which being aliue are by no meanes 〈◊〉 should after their death prooue farre more pernicious and which also liuing the fruits of the earth would haue beene quite deuoured it had beene much better they had neuer died to the plague and destruction of all earthly creatures Hitherto Paulus Orosius The second testimonie taken out of the 32. and 33. chapters of the Ethiopian historie of Francis Aluarez which for the satisfaction of euerie Reader I haue put downe with all particularities and circumstances Of the great multitude of Locusts and the infinite domage that they procure in the dominions of Prete Ianni Chap. 32. IN this quarter and throughout all the dominion of Prete Ianni there is an horrible and great plague to wit an innumerable companie of Locustes which eate and consume the corne and trees of fruite and so great is the number of these creatures as it is not credible for with the multitude of them the earth is couered and the aire so ouerspred as one may hardlie discerne the sunne and further I affirme that it is a thing most strange to him who 〈◊〉 not seene it and if the domage they performe were generall through all the prouinces and kingdomes of Prete Ianni his people woulde die with famine neither coulde men possiblie there inhabite But one yeere they destroy one prouince and the next yeere another 〈◊〉 as if for example they waste the kingdome of Portugall or Castile this 〈◊〉 an other yeere they are in the quarters of Lenteio an other in Estremadura an other in Beira or betweene the riuer Dorus and Minius an other on the mountaines an other in old Castilia Aragon or Andaluzia and otherwhiles in two or three of these prouinces at once and wheresoeuer they come the earth is more wasted and destroied by them then if it had beene all ouer consumed with a fire These locusts are as bigge as the greatest grashoppers hauing yellow wings Their comming into the countrie is knowne a day before not for that we can see them but we know it by the sunne who is yellow of colour this being a signe that they draw neere to the countrie as also the earth looketh yellowe by reason of the light which reflecteth from their wings whereupon the people in a manner become presentlie halfe dead saying we are vndone for the Ambati that is to say the locustes are come And I can not forbeare to set downe that which I sawe three sundrie times and first in Barua where we had now beene for the space of three yeeres and heere we often heard it saide that such a countrey and such a realme was destroied by the Locusts and being in this prouince we sawe the sunne and the vpper part of the earth looke all yellow the people being in a manner halfe dead for sorrow But the day following it was an incredible thing to see the number of these creatures that came which to our iudgement couered fower and twentie miles of lande as afterward we were enformed When this scourge and plague was come the priestes of that place came and sought me out requesting me to giue them some remedie for the driuing of them away and I answered that I could tel them nothing but only that they shoulde deuoutly pray vnto God that he woulde driue them out of the countrie And so I went to the Ambassadour and told him that it would be very good to goe on procession beseeching God that hee woulde deliuer the countrie who peraduenture in his great mercie might heare vs. This liked the Ambassadour very well and the day following we gathered togither the people of the land with all the priests and taking the consecrated stone and the crosse according to their custome all we Portugals sung the Letanie and appointed those of the land that they should lift vp their voices aloud as we did saying in their language Zio marina Christos which is as much to say as Lord God haue mercy vpon vs and with this manner of inuocation we went ouer a peece of grounde where there were fieldes of wheate for the space of a mile euen to a little hill and heere I caused many of these locustes to be taken pronouncing ouer them a certaine coniuration which I had about me in writing hauing made it that night requesting admonishing and excommunicating them enioining them within the space of three howers to depart towards the sea or the lande of the Moores or the desert mountaines and to let the Christians alone and they not performing this I summoned and charged the birdes of heauen the beasts of the earth and all sorts of tempests to scatter destroy and eate vp their bodies and to this effect I tooke a quantitie of locusts making this admonition to them present in the behalfe likewise of them absent and so giuing them libertie I suffered them to depart It pleased God to heare vs sinners for in our returne home they came so thicke vpon our backes as it seemed that they woulde haue broken our heads
or shoulders so hard they strooke against vs as if we had beene beaten with stones and cudgels and in this sort they went towards the sea The men women and children remaining at home were gotten vpon the tops or tarrasses of their houses giuing God thankes that the locusts were going away some afore and others followed In the meane while towardes the sea there arose a great cloude with thunder which met them full in the teeth and continued for the space of three howers with much raine and tempest that filled all the riuers and when the raine ceased it was a fearefull thing to behold the dead Locustes which were more then two yardes in height vpon the bankes of the riuers and in some riuers there were mightie heapes of them so that the morning following there was not one of them found aliue vpon the earth The people of the places adioining hearing this came in great numbers to enquire how this matter was effected many of the inhabitants said these Portugals be holy men and by the power of their God they haue killed and driuen away the locusts others saide especially the priests and friers of those places neere about that we were witches and by power of enchantments had driuen away the saide creatures and that for this cause we feared neither lions nor any other wilde beast Three daies after this effect there came vnto vs a Xuum that is a captaine of a place called Coiberia with men priests and friers to request vs that we woulde for the loue of God helpe them saying that they were in a manner destroied by the locustes and that place was a daies iourney off towards the sea They came to vs about euening and at the same instant I and fower other Portugals departed awaie with them we went all night and came thither an hower within daie where we found that all those of the countrey with many of the other places adioining were assembled togither for they were also molested by the locusts And assoone as we were come we went our procession rounde about the land which was seated vpon an high hill from whence we might discerne manie countries and places all yellow by reason of the multitude of locusts Such inuocatious and ceremonies being ended as we performed in the other place we went to dinner the men that were borderers requested vs to goe with them promising vs great rewardes It pleased god that as soon as we had dined we saw all the earth so cleared that there was not soe much as one locust to be seene The people seeing this and not being satisfied with the fauour and grace receiued they requested vs to goe and blesse their possessions for they were yet afraid least the locusts would returne and so wee departed Of the dommage we sawe done in another prouince by the Locustes in two sundrie places Chap. 33. AN other time also we sawe the Locustes being in a towne called Abuguna Prete Ianni sent vs to this towne which is in the kingdome of Angote and distant from Barua where we continued thirtie daies iourney to the ende that there we might be furnished with victuals Being come 〈◊〉 I went with the ambassadour Zagazabo who came into Portugall and fiue Genoueses towards a certain towne a moūtaine called Aguoan we trauailed fiue daies through places all desert destroied which places were sowen with Maiz hauing stalkes as great as those props which we vse about our vines and we might see them all broken and troden vnderfoote as if there had beene a tempest and this had the locusts done Their wheate barley and Taffo da guza were so eaten as it seemed they neuer had beene either tilled or sowne The trees were without leaues and their barkes all gnawne eaten and there was not so much as a spire of grasse for they had deuoured euery thing and if we had not beene aduised and foreseene the same for when we departed we laded our mules with victuals we and our beastes had died togither for hunger The countrey was couered all ouer with winglesse locustes and they saide that those were the seede of them which had deuoured all and that when they had gotten wings they would go seeke out the rest the number of these was so great as I am loath to report bicause I shoulde not perhaps be credited but this I may well affirme that I sawe men women and children sit as it were amazed amongst these locusts and I saide vnto them why sit you thus halfe dead and doe not kill these creatures and so reuenge your selues of the wrong that their fathers and mothers haue done you or at least that those which you kill may be able to doe you no more harme They answered taht they had not the hart to withstand the scourge of God which hee had sent vpon them for their sins And all the people of this place departed hence so that we found the waies full of men and women on foot with their children in their armes and vpon their heads going into other countries where they might finde victuall and it was great pittie to behold them We being in the saide prouince of Abuguna in a place called Aquate there came such swarmes of locustes as were innumerable which one day began to fall vpon the grounde about nine of the clocke in the morning and ceased not while night where they lighted there they staide and then the next day in the morning went away so that at three of the clocke in the afternoone there was not one of them to be seene and in this short time they left the trees vtterly destitute of leaues On the same day and hower there came an other squadron and these left neither tree nor bough vngnawen and eaten and thus did they for fiue daies one after an other they said that those were yoong ones which went to seeke their fathers and they did the like as those we sawe without wings the space that these locustes tooke vp was nine miles for which circuit there remained neither barke nor leaues vpon the trees the countrey looked not as though it had bin burnt but as though it had snowed thereupon and this was by reason of the whitenes of the trees which were pilled bare by the Locustes and the earth was all swept cleane It was Gods will that the haruest was alreadie in wee coulde not vnderstande which way they afterwards went bicause they came from the sea warde out of the kingdome of 〈◊〉 which belongeth to the Moores who are continually in warre as also we coulde by no meanes knowe the ende of their iourney or course Thus much out of Francis 〈◊〉 Of the minerals And first of miner all salt THe greater part of Africa hath none other salt but such as is digged out of quarries mines after the maner of marble or free stone being of a white red and graie colour Barbarie aboundeth with salt and Numidia is indifferently furnished