lying in a Lake of the River Plyzoge whither the Dogo-Monou with Fleets following to Attaque him were in a manner totally subdu'd by Flansire's people The Coast from Cape de Mesurado to the Grain-Coast ABout twelve miles Eastward from Cape de Monte lieth Cape de Mesurado Cape de Mesuâ—ado a high Mountain at the North Point A mile and a half The River St. Paul or two mile Eastward of which the shallow River of St. Paul falls into the Sea passable onely with Boats and Sloops The Land about Cape de Monte and this River containing about ten miles and a half is low over-grown with Bushes and Brambles but the Cape a high Mountain and runs with the South Point steep down in the Sea and seems to Sea-men coming from the South an Island because the low Grounds on the other side cannot be seen The Countrey about the Cape de Mesurado is call'd Gebbe Gebbe and the People Gebbe-Monou subjected and conquered as in the manner newly related Nine or ten miles from Cape Mesurado lieth Rio Junk Rio Junk also in Portuguese call'd Rio del Punte having a violent Stream yet at the deepest not above eight Foot Water by which impediment made passable not without great labour and difficulty The Land hereabout over-grown with Bushes and Brambles yet standing higher may be farther seen to the Sea On the South-end of Rio Junk some little Groves appear upon a rising Ground beyond which to the In-land three swelling Hills raise heads to a heighth discernable far off at Sea Eight miles from Rio Junk St. Johns River empties its Streams into the Sea The River St. John being shaded with lofty Trees The Coast reacheth betwixt both South-East Easterly Eastward of this River within the Countrey a high Mountain shews it self in the shape of a Bowe being high in the middle and low at both ends Six miles from it lieth a Village call'd Tabe Kanee and a little forward to the Sea a Cliff where the Land begins to grow low and so continues to Rio Sestos In the mid-way between Tabe Kanee and Sestos stands a small Village call'd Petit Dispo with an adjoining Cliff like the former Three miles from Del Punte you meet with the Brook Petit or Little-water by the Blacks call'd Tabo Dagron perhaps from the Name of the King who has the Command there The Grain-Coast THe Grain-Coast so call'd by the Europeans The Grain-Coast from the abundance of Fruits and Grain there growing the chief of which named by Physicians and Apothecaries Grain of Paradise takes its beginning at the River Sestos and reaches two miles beyond Cape de Palm being a Tract of forty miles though some make it begin at Cape de Monte or Serre-Lions and end as before Divers Geographers make this whole Coast one Kingdom The Kingdom of Melli. and name it Mellegette or Melli from the abundance of Grain of Paradise there growing which the Natives call Mellegette And they not onely give it the Grain-Coast but further include within it the Jurisdiction of Bitonen But Leo Africanus circumscribes it with other Limits Other Borders of the Kingdom of Melli. for in the North he bounds it with Geneva or Genni below Gualata on the South with certain Wildernesses and Mountains in the East Gago and in the West divers great Woods adding further that the chiefest City named Melli lying thirty days Journey from Tombute contains above six thousand Houses and gives Name to the whole But we will not farther dispute this matter but proceed to set before you the Places and Rivers lying upon and within this Coast Six miles from Petit Brook The River Sestos and nine from Rio Junk the River Sestos glides with a smooth strong Current between high Cliffs on either side Westward of which the Countrey appears woody Here the Grain-Coast takes its beginning Three miles up this Water stands the King's Village where commonly the Ships lie at an Anchor to Trade A mile and a half Eastward you come to Little Sestos Little Sestos a Village neighbor'd by a Cliff extending into the Sea and having one Tree upon it as a Land-Mark Five miles forward lieth Cabo Baixos Cabo Baixos that is Dry Head by reason of the Shelf lying before it in the Sea It is a round Hill a mile and a half from the Main Land Eastward of Cabo Baixos you may see a white Rock appearing far off coming by Sea out of the South like a Ship with a Sail. And farther into the Sea many others which threaten great danger to the ignorant Sea-man and the rather because most of them are cover'd with Water Three miles from hence the Village Zanwyn shews it self Zanwyn with a River of the same Name on whose Banks stands a great Wood where are many tall and lofty Trees A mile Easterly lies the Hamlet Bofow and half a mile thence Little Setter distant from which three miles you may view the Village Bottowa seated on the rising of a high Land near the Sea-Coast opposite to Cape Swine and to the Southward a Village of the same Name by a small Rivers side Four miles more Eastward you discover the little Town Sabrebon or Souwerobo then to a place named Krow which directs you presently to a prominent Cape with three black Points From Bottowa the Coast reaches South-East and by East for five miles with low and uniform Land little known to Sea-men onely before Setter and Krow some high and bare Trees raise themselves into the Air like Masts of Ships laid up Passing four or five miles from Krow you come to a Village call'd Wappen Wappen or Wabbo in a Valley with a Stream of fresh Water adjoining and five or six streight Trees on the East-side Before Wappen lieth an Island and by it the greatest Cliff in all this Coast besides many smaller and farther on the right hand another Cliff united on the East with the Land at whose Edge lieth a Pond whereinto the fresh Water falls out of the Woods Hither the Sea-men bring their Casks commonly into the Village which the Blacks fill with Water receiving for their pains Cotton-Seed or Beads The like Pond is by Krow behind the Cliffs whither also the Sea-men commonly go with their Boats to fetch fresh Water which the Blacks bring them in Pots out of the Woods and receive the like reward From Wappen you come next to Drowya thence to Great Setter Great Setter by the French call'd Parys adjoyning to which rises a large Pool of fresh water This Tract runs South-East and by South About three miles from Great Setter you may discover the Township of Gojaven and two miles more forward Garway Goaven Garway Greyway close by Cape de Palm and two miles to the East another Village call'd Greyway or Grouway Here a small River passes but full of Rocks and Sandy Banks yet passable enough with Boats along the Southern Shore
where some few Houses are erected From hence all Ships that arrive there plentifully furnish themselves both with fresh Water and Wood. Next in order comes the high Point Cabo das Palmas or Cape Palm Cape de Palm in four Degrees and fifteen Minutes North Latitude on whose Westerly Corner are three round Hills and a little farther within Land a round Grove of Palm-Trees which may be seen far at Sea from whence this Point took the Name of Cabo das Palmas Near to this in Sandy-Bay arriving Ships finde a convenient Harbour A mile Easterly of which up into the Countrey appears a long Mountain looking like double Land From the first Point of Palm Cape a ledge of Rocks shoot South South-East a mile into the Sea and before them a great Shelf two miles long between them the Tide runs very strong to the East having ten or eleven fathom Water Two miles more Eastward Gruway the Village Gruway stands seated at the end of the Grain-Coast This whole Shore is very full of Rocks for which reason the Ships which Ride there are in no little danger In February March and April here is fair and clear Weather with cooling Breezes and gentle Westerly Winds In the middle of May there begin South and South-East Winds The Air. which bring with them not onely stormy Gusts as Hericanes but also Thunder Lightning and great Rains that continue June July August September October November December and to the latter end of January During part of this time the Sun being in the Zenith or Vertical Point of the Heavens sends down its Beams perpendicular The Land here yields great plenty of Mille Cotton Rice Grain of Paradise or Melegette good Palmeto-Wine besides divers sorts of Grain especially that call'd of Paradise or Melegette The Plant that bears Melegette hath thick Leaves better than three inches long and three broad with a thick rib in the middle out of which shoot many Veins which have a Spicie-taste like those of the Seed The Fruit is but little of size cover'd with a poisonous tough Russet-colour'd or rather Pale-brown Shell and under that a Film fill'd with many smooth and pointed small Seeds white within biting as Pepper and Ginger The unripe Grains are red and pleasant in taste The greatest smoothest and Chess-nut-colour'd are the best and the blackest the worst No kind of Beasts are here wanting by which means there is all necessary Provision to be had for Seamen The Blacks in these Parts are very envious to all Strangers The kind of the Inhabitants and steal from them what ever they can lay their hands on so that it behoves all Dealers to have a circumspect eye over their Goods And in some places they must be careful of themselves for being Cannibals they eat whomsoever they can get into their power 'T FORT TACARAY ofte WITSEN and about half flood a fathom and a half deep but within very dry and narrow that it gives little advantage either to the Natives or Seamen At the West-side of it rises a Rocky and steep Hill full of Brambles and Trees but on the East-side a Sandy Bank by which as it were split it runs in two small Vills one to the North-west into the Countrey and the other North-east but as we said both dry and not Navigable Near St. Andrew's River the Sea-Coast bellies out to the South-east as far as the red-Red-Land Between the fourth and fifth Cliff some high Trees grow in a Valley whose edge is remarked with two little Vills the one named Tabattera the other Domera Having left behind you the Red Cliffs you come to Cape La-Hou Cape de Labou the utmost limit of this and the beginning of Quaqua-Coast which spreads it self to Assine the whole Land hereabouts low and poor over-grown with Brambles and Trees yet a mile and a half Eastwards lyeth a Village call'd Koutrou Koutrou or Katrou Five miles from this Cape stands the Village Jakke La-Hou in a very barren spot five miles farther Jak in Jakko and six miles beyond that the Bottomless-pit so call'd from its unfathomable deepness for the Seamen having Sounded with their longest Lines and Plummet could never reach the bottom This Hole is in the Sea not above a Musquet-shot from the Shore so that the Ships which come about this Pit must come to an Anchor betimes to prevent danger Three miles from this Pit on the Shore runs a small River Eastward into the Countrey From Cape de La-Hou to the aforesaid Pit the Coast spreads Eastwardly with double Land Sixteen miles Eastward bi La-Hou takes place Corbi Labou before which the Sea runs very deep for a stones cast from the Shore it has forty and fifty Fathom water Eight and twenty or thirty miles from the Cape La-Hou Assine is seated the Village Assine where the Guinny-Gold-Coast begins full of high Woods but the Land low the houses such as they are stand on the Sea-shore so that they may easily be seen in the passing by Two miles from Assine stands a Hamlet call'd Abbener or Albine Albine a little to the West of a four-square Wood. Then follows in order Taboe and two miles farther Cape Apolony Taboe being a rising ground and seeming to Sailers like three great Hills In Jernon a little Village scituate on the side of this Promontory the Netherlanders have a Storehouse All along this whole Coast grow many Palm-Trees nor is it destitute of other Conveniences yielding extraordinary variety both of Fruits and Plants The Inhabitants as we mention'd before are call'd Quaqua's because when they see any Trading-Ships approach they declare their welcome by crying aloud Quaqua These People by their Aspect seem the unseemliest of all the upper Coast but are indeed the modestest and honestest and most courteous for they esteem it a great shame either at meeting to Salute or at parting to take leave with a Kiss When they come to the Ships to Trade they put their Hands in the Water and let some drop into their Eyes by which they testifie as by an Oath their uprightness and hatred to all Cheatings or Knavish actions Drunkenness they not onely abstain from They shun Drunkenness but abominate for the avoiding which they will drink no Palmito-Wine but a smaller sort call'd De Bordon or Tombe and that also mixt with Water alledging that from Drunkenness proceed many Quarrels the two frequent occasions of Murders and other inconveniencies which are all prevented by Sobriety and Temperance The chief Merchandise to be had here Merchandise are Elephants-Teeth of a larger size than usually elsewhere but withall dearer Some Cloathes also sold here which the Europeans and other Traders from the Name of the Coast call Quaqua-Cloathes being of two sorts the one bound with five Bands or Strings the other with six from the number of the bindings giving denominations to the Places they are sold in Cape Lahou yields many of
in the Tartarian Tongue A Kingdom full of Mountains and Desarts contains Tartary Scythia and the Countreys of Gog and Magog Now Cathay is divided into the greater and the less Great Cathay spreads through an unfrequented Tract of Land namely from the Mountain Caucasus between that side of the Icy Sea and the Mountains of China to the Indian Sea whereas some will have it joyn at the out-lying Point of America But Little Cathay is that Countrey which borders on North-China commonly call'd Thebes In all this far spreading Countrey of Cathay one may see that this supposed most mighty Emperor Prester-John had the Dominion over seventy two Kingdoms partly Christians and partly Heathens though by the great numbers of Kingdoms he hath gotten many Names to the great distraction both of Historians and Geographers For some make him to be one and the same with the great Cham others call him Ashid some with the Abyssines call him Juchanes Belul that is Precious John Some as Godignus with no improbable Reasons will have it that by his Subjects for their high esteem of the Prophet Jonas he is call'd Joanne a Name common to all those that ever did possess this Kingdom though in these Western Parts he is commonly call'd by the Latin Churches Joannes with the additional surname of Prester not that he ever was a Priest but because according to the Custom of the Arch-bishop in the time of Peace had a Cross carried before him at his going out but ontring upon the Wars two Cross-bearers went before him the one with a Cross of Gold and the other with a Cross beset with Precious Stones for a token of his defending the Worship of God for which reason Scaliger derives his Name from the Persian Word Prestigiani which signifieth Apostolick which the Europeans understanding amiss call'd him in stead of Prestigiani Prester-John Many years did this Kingdom of Prester-John flourish in Asia till it fell to one David who by one of his supreme Commanders call'd Cinge chosen Emperor by the Army and the Scythians who in stead of Prester styl'd him Uncam In the Year Eleven hundred seventy eight it was overcome in Battel whereby the glory of this Empire and the Name of Prester-John came in effect to an end to the great loss and prejudice of Christendom But by what mistake the Name of Prester-John came to the Emperor of Abyssine we will in brief declare When the Portuguese with their Fleets were busie in discovering strange Countreys there was a great noyse through all Europe of Prester-John and his Excellency reported a most powerful Emperor Lord of many Kings and of the Christian Religion but unknown in what place he had his abode For which cause when Pike Kovillan sent by John the second King of Portugal first over the Mediterranean Sea and afterwards by Land to seek out this Prince coming into India and hearing that in Abyssine or that Ethiopia which lieth below Egypt was a great and powerful Prince who professed the Christian Religion he went thither and finding many things in him which was reported of the true Prester-John he took him for the same Person and was the first that call'd him by that Name which others that went the ensuing year into Abyssine follow'd and so easily brought the mistake into Europe the Emperor of Abyssine being ever since call'd Prester-John Yet Damianus a Goez in his Book of the Nature and Customs of the Abyssines positively denies that the King of Abyssine was ever call'd Prester-John so that in truth that Name properly belongs to the foremention'd Prince of Asia But seeing that Custom hath almost made it a Law and the Kingdom of Prester-John in Asia already overwhelm'd the Name of Prester-John may conveniently be applied and fixed upon the Abyssine King of Africa professing the Christian Religion Every Substitute Kingdom as Tigre Gambea Goiame Amara Narea hath a Deputy to Rule it in the Name of the Emperor and the like hath every Territory Besides the Vice-Roy of Tigre bears the Title Tigra Mahon and must always be of the Royal Stock Him of the Countrey next to the Red Sea they stile Barnagas that is King of the Sea not that he properly Commands over the Countreys by the Sea for they are under the Turks but because the Countrey over which he Commands lieth nearer to Sea than any other part of Tigre He hath his abode most in the City Barva or Debaroa and winneth great Respect as well among his own People as Strangers The Government of the Kingdom is administred with Discretion and Justice which hath advanced the honor of the King both at home and abroad The Judges shew great severity in punishing Offenders according to the several qualities of their Crimes viz. such as shrink from the right and true Faith and change their Opinion the People stone to death but those which totally Apostatize or blaspeme God and the Ghost are publickly burn'd alive Murderers they deliver to the nearest Relations of the Murthered to revenge themselves on him according to their pleasure Thieves have their Eyes put out and afterwards by Judgment are appointed for Slaves of the Empire and given to the Guides with whom they may go all the Countrey over to earn their Living by Singing and Playing on Instruments but with this Proviso not to stay above one day in a place upon penalty of losing their lives Other small Offences they punish with Whipping In the Succession of the Crown the eldest takes place after the Father but for want of Issue-male the most worthy Person of the next in Blood is chosen Others affirm that Seniority creates no Claim but that the Crown falls to him whom the Father makes choice of on his Death-bed but that seems improbable because the intended Successor lives at large in the Courts whereas the rest are kept on the Mountain Amara and if he die another whom the greatest at the Court do judge fittest for the Crown is sent for out The great and famous Island Meroe lies divided between three Kings which oftentimes War with one another the first is a Mahumetan Moor the second an Idolater descended from the Blood of the right Ethiopians the third a Christian Abyssine and acknowledges that King for his Lord. The first King of Ethiopia or Abyssinie The Order or List of the Kings of Abyssine whereof we have certain knowledge by the information of holy Scripture was Chus the Son of Cham who took possession thereof immediately after the Flood six other Kings following him whose Names and the time of their Reign remains unknown But when the Royal Seat was planted in the City Axum where it remained till the coming in of Christ they began to keep a Chronological Register but was afterwards transplanted to Sceva or Saba The Kings that Reigned in Axum and Saba are set down to the number of a hundred fifty eight by the following order  Years Arue Reigned 400 Agabo his Father a Murtherer
Shores just the contrary yet both scituated alike under the Torrid Zone in which Season happen great Floods both from the Ocean and sudden Falls from the Mount Gatis not far distant The like is found also at Cape Rosalgate and Guardafuy the utmost Eastern Point of Africa ¶ BUt to make a deeper and more exact Disquisition is that all Arabia towards the East of Africa lies enclosed with Mountains whose Rocky Battlements appear above the Clouds their swoln Ridges extending themselves in a long continued Wall reach from the bottom of the Arabian Gulf to the Islands of Curiamurie these towery Hills of so prodigious height not onely put to a stand all Windes and Rain but turn them in their hurrying Eddyes so dispersing every way as well as in the two out-stretching Capes of Mosamde and Rosalgate though they lye much lower than the rest of the Sea Coast On these Rocky Ascents appearing to Sea-ward rough and rugged the poor Arabians in a very sad condition make their residence These people have Winter with those of Coromandell for their remoter Suns brings them Cold and Wet but those who dwell on the other side of the Mountains towards the Coast of Frankincense have the same seasons with those of Malabar so these Mountains work the like effect on the Arabians as Gatis on the Indians their Winter falling in June July and September both in the Land of Frankincense Arabia Felix and the whole Coasts of the Curiamurian Isles unto the Lake Babalmandab Near the Arabian Gulf in Ethiopia you will meet there also the like alterations and the same seasons of the year as at Guardafuy and the Kingdom of Adell and all along the Ethiopick Coasts to the Mouth of Babalmandab as we have or those of Coromandell finding in December and January their hardest weather Then they which live betwixt twenty and thirty miles off the Coast have their Colds more milde and their Rains so temperate and harmless they seem rather a comfort than a disturbance Nature conferring on them such refreshing Coolness but if you venture farther up into the Countrey then the Scene changing you are tormented with excessive Heat for at the same instant while Winter smiles on the Shore it rages farther up and their gentle Rains below so unequal to their deluging Showres above that then there is no travelling any way all Passages being obstructed with Floods so sudden and violent that many perish there with extream Cold meerly from the raw Defluxes of chilling waters such alterations the Mountain Dabyri Bizan causes The Portugees and Hollander have also discovered many more such places in Congo and Angola where their Winter and violent Rains commence in the Vernal Equinox and continue March April and May their milder showres in the Autumnal September and October so that in some places they have two Seasons their former and later Rain for those steep Mountains whence Zaire Coansa Bengo and other great Rivers descend obstruct the course of the Air and the Land-windes being hot and dry but the South-west winde coming from Sea brings Rain hence it is manifest that Africa under the Torrid Zone is for the most part Habitable ¶ AMongst the Ancients Ancient Discoveries of it Hanno a Carthaginian set forth by that State discovered long since much of the Coasts of Africa but pierced not far the Inland Countrey nor did his Voyage give any great light that they might after steer by though translated from the Punick Language into Greek and published by Sigismund Gelenius at Bazill in 1533. and in the Reign of Necho King of Egypt some Phenicians from the Red-sea sayl'd by the Coast of Africa to Gibraltar from thence returning the same way they came Of which * Herodotus wrote nine Books of History according to the number of the Muses entituling them in order by one of their Names Herodotus in his †Fourth Book Melpomene says The Phenicians sayling from the Red-sea came into the Southern Ocean and after three years reaching Hercules Pillars return'd through the Mediterranean reporting wonders how that they had the Sun at Noon on their Starboard or North-side to which I give little Credit and others may believe as they please Nor did Sataspes Voyage in the Reign of Xerxes King of Persia in the year of the world 3435. give us any better Hints of which thus Herodotus in the same Book Sataspes Teaspes son ravishing a Virgin and Condemned to be Crucified by the Mediation of his Mother Darius Sister was to suffer no more than to undertake a Voyage round Africa which he but sleightly perform'd for passing Gibraltar he sayl'd to the utmost Point called Siloe * Perhaps Bon Speranza or Cape de Verd. from thence sayling on Southward but being weary returning the same way he came made a strange Relation to Xerxes how he had seen remote Countreys where he found few People in Tyrian Purple but such as when they drew near Land forsook their Abodes and fled up into the Mountains and that they onely drove some of their Cattel thence doing them no further Damage Adding also that he had sayl'd round Africa had it not been impossible To which the King giving small credit and for that Sataspes had not perform'd his Undertakings remitted him to his former Sentence of Crucifying ¶ AS little avail'd that Expedition of the * A People inhabiting Tunis Nasamones to this Discovery who as Herodotus relates in his †Second Book Euterpe chose by lot five young men of good Fortunes and Qualifications to explore the African Desarts never yet penetrated to inform themselves of their Vastness and what might be beyond These setting forth with fit Provision came first where onely wilde Beasts inhabited thence travelling west-ward through barren Lands after many days they saw a Plain planted with Trees to which drawing near they tasted their Fruit whilest a Dwarf-like People came to them about half their stature neither by speech understanding the other they led them by the hand over a vast Common to their City where all the Inhabitants were Blacks and of the same size by this City ran towards the East a great River abounding with Crocodiles which Etearchus King of the Ammonians to whom the Nasamones related this supposed to be the Nile This is all we have of Antiquity and from one single Author who writ 420 years before the Incarnation which sufficiently sets forth the Ignorance of the Ancients concerning Africa ¶ BUt what they knew not and thought almost impossible to be known is common for the secrets of the Deep and remotest Shores are now beaten and tracted with continual Voyages as well known Roads are since Vasques de Gamma a Portugees Anno 1497. first opened the Discovery and finish'd to the no small Honor of the Nation his intended Design for that People having got ground upon the Spaniard widening the bredth of their commodious Sea-coasts first fell on the Moors in Africa taking several of their best
the richest Ground of all Egypt Delta is fruitful for the rest beyond Catro to the Moors Countrey is but barren except two or three Leagues in bredth on each side the River Nile the rest of the places beyond are dry and sandy Desarts The Countrey of Errif produceth excellent Rice and other Fruits Errif though towards Alexandria some places are cover'd with Sand and the Gardens there all produce very unsound Fruit. The Lands of Becheira Becheira lying round about the River are extraordinarily rich but the places between the Eastern Channel towards Damiata and Syria are Mountainous and without water over-whelmed with Sand. Suez and Bocchir and the Land about the Lake Mareotis by Alexandria have nothing but great sandy Desarts Sanutus says Sanutus the ground about Alexandretta is unfruitful Bellonius whereas Peter Bellonius in that place saw growing Rice Wheat Barly and other Fruits About Rosetta grows a kind of Red Rice in great abundance and the like about Damiata ¶ EGypt is also singularly rich in the production of variety of wholsom Plants Egypt is rich in Plants Herbs Trees and other Vegetables some common in Europe but many utterly unknown transported from thence such are The Datura Colocasia Sebesten Cassia Fistula Elhanna Lablab Melochia Sesban Sophera Absus Sempsen Berd Chate Abdellavi Batechia El Mavi Negel El Jalib Tamaris-Tree Dedal-Tree Mauz or Muza Carob Sant and many other of some of which we have spoken already Among other their groweth in Egypt a kinde of Night-shade nam'd Datura Datura Alpinus de Plant. crotic or Tatura by the common people and by Dodoneus in his Book of Plants is call'd Strammonie as the Fruit is by Avicenna held to be the Nut-Methel This Plant Datura shoots into the ground with a long thick and brushy Root of a very unpleasing savour The Stalk being slender broad and round grows to the height of four or five Cubits divided into several Branches on which hang dark brown-coloured Leaves deeply indented on each side The Blossom is very sweet-scented and pleasant to the eye beneath small above broad and white without and within follow'd by roundish Fruit inclosed in a prickly Shell full of yellowish Seeds The Seeds eaten will cast one for a time into a kind of blockish inebriation The use of it It is commonly us'd among the Egyptian High-way-men made up with bread which dose so prepared they have a subtle way to administer by insinuating themselves into the Company of Merchants following the Caravan and under pretence of safe conduct taking together their repast they convey these Loaves instead of Bread of which eating they grow strait besotted while they take the Plunder of their Gold Silver and other rich Commodities The Curtezans of the Countrey use the like Trade What the Whores in Egypt perform therewith giving such as they intend to rifle a quarter of an Ounce of this Bread with Wine or other Drink The same power is also ascribed to the Blossom No Plant is more known among the Egyptians nor more used than Colocasia Colocasia Alpinus de Plantis Egypt by the Arabians in Egypt call'd Culcas These greatly provoke Venus whether eaten raw or boyled whole Fields are over-grown with these Plants though none whether Stranger or Inhabitant which seems a wonder It Blossoms not in Egypt have ever seen it bear either Blossoms Fruits or Stalks Prosper Alpinus had a round Root for there are of two sorts a round and a long sent him out of Alexandretta But in Italy it doth and the reason thereof that Blossom'd in his Garden at Venice in April in form and bigness resembling the Blossom of the Aron or Calves-foot though with Stalks and all it is no longer than the Palm of ones Hand Now why this Root in Egypt it s own proper Countrey should bring forth neither Blossoms nor Stalks and in Italy usually does it proceeds onely from the fatness of the Soil in Egypt which makes them increase onely in Leaves and Roots whereas in Italy being a Forrein and leaner Soil the Roots and Foliage are small and the upper part drawing the nourishing moisture is the cause it sometimes brings forth Stalks and Blossom Two sorts of Sebesten-Trees are found here Sebesten a wilde one like the Damsin-Tree and a Garden one which hath thicker and broader Leaves than the wilde The Blossom is small and white succeeded by a Fruit not unlike the small Damsin with threesquare Kernels The Fruits of the wilde Sebesten-Tree are smaller and later ripe than the Garden which are bigger and better The Decoction is very prevalent against the Cough Ruptures Pluretick Stitches in the Side Hoarseness Agues and all Distempers of the Breast and Lungs The Juice of the Fruit hanging the whole year upon the Tree and ripe in Harvest makes excellent Birdlime the same stamped and washed and wrought into the form of a Plaister or Cataplasm the Egyptians use against all hard Swellings The Tree by Physitians call'd Cassia Fistula The Pipe Cassia-Tree by the Arabians in Egypt Sagiar El Selichet and by the Turks Chai'ar Xambar that is Black Cassia flourishes in great plenty in low and marshy places lying near the Sea the Stock Branches Leaves and Shell which are smooth of a pale ashy colour resemble the Nut-tree but more Leavy The Buds or Blossoms are very like the Primrose smelling well especially early in the Morning so that the Egyptians delight to walk under their shade Every Blossom hath in the mid'st of it many small Strings which at length become great and turn thick Trunks or hollow Pipes which ripen all the year long and at all times continue hanging on the Tree The Egyptians gather these Pipes at Cairo onely in Summer time when many other green ones appear out of the Blossom which at length as the first grow dusky That which grows in and about Damiata hath thick Shells but little Pelp or Juice within but those of Cairo and Alexandria are thinner Husked and more full which are accounted the best being of two sorts that is Reddish which they call Abis and are the best the other are Black Prosper Alpinus opinions that the Pipes which open with shaking are the best but that is not so because they are dry and withered such as by a hard Winter and Stormy Winds are shaken or fall from the Tree are unfit for use Wherefore some good Husbands to prevent that do with a string tye fast together many Pipes of the same Branch The Pelpy Juyce of the Pipes The use of Cassija the Egyptians use as we do that is stamped and given in Potion mixed with Wine or other Liquor being hot and moist in the first degree makes a gentle Purge driving Flegm and Choller out of the Stomach and Bowels cleansing and allaying the heat of the Blood The Juyce mix'd with fine Sugar and taken inwardly is esteemed a certain Cure of all Diseases
power of Nature to look with very fixed Eyes upon its Beams and for that cause they sometime pourtray the Sun in the form of a Hawk Those who had willingly or unwillingly kill'd a Hawk or the Bird Ibis Herodot were without hope of pardon condemn'd to die Nay so high was their Veneration of it that they ceremoniously buried a dead Hawk and brought it to the City Bulis It hath been observ'd The Egyptians have taken several Letters from the forms of Beasts that the antient Egyptians took several of their Letters from the forms of the Legs Head and Beak of the Bird Ibis and this sacred Hawk as also from the Ox and the Dog both by them reputed religious These four Beasts were of the highest esteem not only for their use in Hieroglyphical Writing but also because in their High-times of Solemnity call'd Comasien they usually carried them in Procession according to the Testimony of Clemens Alexandrinus Herodotus writes That in former times about Thebes small bodied Serpents with two horns on the crown of their Heads and very harmless were found which being dead they buried in the Temple of Jupiter because they believed them dedicated to him The same Herodotus reports but from hear-say That near the City Brutus close by Arabia were Serpents with wings which flew thence in the beginning of Lent into Egypt but the Bird Ibis met and fell upon them in their flight and by their deaths anticipated any prejudice from their arrival for which benefit the Ibis was held in great adoration As the Land is ennobled by producing great store of Plants Beasts and Fowls so the Nile hideth in its bosom a vaste abundance of Fishes of which the Crocodile and Hippopotamus or Sea-horse which are Amphibii be the most noted and chief And though the Crocodile keeps in several Rivers of Asia and America as in the River Ganges about Bengala and in the Niger in Africa yet Nilus feedeth the greatest as though a more peculiar of that than any other Rivers The Crocodile Herodotus tells us Crocodile the antient Egyptians about Elephantina call Champsa and in the Dominion of Syena according to Strabo Suchus but the Ionians or Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Crocodiles The Indians name it Cayman the Arabians and Jews says Megistus Corbi and in Kirchers Egyptian Lexicon it stands expressed by the name of Picharuki This wonderful Creature has very great Eyes with little balls or apples It s Form whose Back-bone consists of sixty Joynts his Feet furnish'd with sharp nails and splaying outwards and the Tail proportionable to the Body lessening by degrees to the end This Serpent as we may call it runs swiftly but can neither deviate to the right or left or turn about easily but with a stiff formality goes directly forward by reason of the inflexible Joynts of the Back-bone by which means it is often avoided They say it can live four whole Moneths without food but when hungry will cry or weep like a man Some dare affirm though untruly that it lives of Mud or Slime for it eats dead fish and humane flesh Peter Martyr relates in his Babylonish Embassy Peter Martyr that one of them was taken that had three young Children in his Mouth When they ingender the Male turns the Females Belly upward The Breeding of them otherwise for the shortness of their Feet they cannot well couple After that Coition the Female lays sixty Eggs each as big as a Goose Egg upon which they sit to hatch sixty days Some conceit that they bury their Eggs in the Sand and hatch their young ones by the heat of the Sun but that is not so however there is no Creature that from so small a beginning comes to such an extraordinary bigness some being found to exceed thirty Foot in Length They bear enmity to the Ichneumon Buffel Tyger Hawk Hog-fish Dolphin It bears Enmity against other Beasts Scorpions and Men but hold friendship with Hogs and the Trochilus which is a small Fowl with a sharp point or pin on the Head Trochilus that when the Crocodile is glutted with Fish and sleeping with his Mouth open comes searching his own Food and by picking cleanseth his Mouth Teeth and Gullet Lee. Afric Others suppose this little Bird picketh out the Worms breeding between the Teeth who ingratefully would eat it up for requital but that the sharp Pin on the Birds Head pricking his Jaws makes him open them by which means the Bird escapes Several Eastern People eat them as good Food The Flesh of it is eaten which was customary also here onely forbidden to Apollonopolitans whether it was because the Daughter of King Psammitichus as you may read in Herodotus was devoured by a Crocodile or out of hatred to the Heaven-invading Typhon who as they say was Metamorphosed into one is not yet determined however in Arsinoe which Strabo calls At Arsinoe it was counted sacred The City of Crocodiles it was counted Sacred and fed with Bread Flesh and Wine The Original of which Veneration without doubt proceeded from fear for that the Crocodiles which in great abundance in the Lake Moeris lay close by the City continually waiting to make a Prey both of Men and Beasts by that means glutted should not be greedy after Prey but neither Fear or Reverence of that could prevail with the People of the Neighbour City Heraclea to hinder them from giving Worship to the Ichneumon it s most mortal Enemy The Hippopotamus Hippopotamus or the Sea-Horse or Sea-Horse not so call'd from any Similitude it bears with a Horse but from the bigness the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek sometimes seeming to bear the Signification of Great as well as Horse haunts the †Proteus the Son of Oceanus and Tethys is feigned to be the Keeper of Sea-Calves or Horses Nyle says Pliny though indeed found also in the River Niger and many other Places Barboza Barboza averres he saw many of them in Gophale leaping out of the Sea to the Land and returning again And others have seen the like in the great Sea near Petzore Aristotle Elian and others have done something towards its Description But Fabius Columna in his Observations of Amphibious Creatures hath exactly shewed this in a Salted Skeleton brought from Damiata into Italy by Nicolaus Zerenghi The Form of it Master-Surgeon of Narn It hath no likeness of a Horse the Body resembling an Ox and the Legs a Bear From Head to Tail thirteen Foot long and four and a half broad The Belly was rather flat than round The Compass of his Legs was a Yard and his Foot twelve Inches in breadth Each Claw had three Divisions The Head two Foot and a half broad three Foot long and seven Foot about The whole of a very large Size The Mouth is fleshy shrivel'd and very wide The Eyes an Inch broad and twice as long The Ears little and but
Court up and down which certain Chiaus's pass to and again with Pots full of Water to offer those to drink that desire it All the Affairs of this Divan are propounded and resolv'd in the Turkish Tongue so that there is a necessity that all the Officers do understand and speak it otherwise they cannot be admitted into the same And this is practised amongst them thereby to testifie how much they value and esteem the Turkish Empire And for this cause it is that they have always in the Divan an Interpreter of Languages of which they ordinarily make use to understand the Christians and Moors when they have any Complaint or Petition to present there being no Nation in that place which hath not his Truchment to explain his thoughts These Officers and Councellors of State being in this manner assembled the Aga propoundeth with an audible voice that which is then to be debated addressing himself first to the Bashaw if he be present and to the twenty four Ajabachy's Which being done he puts the thing to the Vote of the whole Divan and requires their opinion and resolution in the Case which is taken in this manner After that the four Officers which are call'd Bachouldala'es have heard the Proposal of the Aga they make it to be understood to the whole Divan in a loud voice without stirring from their places The word thus past unto the last of the Officers remounts from one to another with a strange voice and murmuration when it happens that the thing doth not please the assembly And that being done the Aga giveth his Determinations according as the Vote was for or against the Proposal that he made In the mean time amongst this confus'd variety of Opinions they observe not for the greater part of the time either Order or Law but are constrain'd to conclude the Affair indifferently either with Justice or Injustice as it best pleaseth these goodly Councellors who being for the most part Mechanicks know not how either to write or read so that consequently in their ridiculous Advice they are guided onely by the motion of their Passion and of their bruitish Ignorance wherein sometimes they fall to hot Contests As particularly upon the Twenty sixth of August in the Year One thousand six hundred thirty four there happened to arise a great Difference betwixt the Bashaw and the Assembly The noise thereof was such or to say better the howlings were so great that no man ever heard any thing so frightful In this Commotion they pusht one the other with design to rush upon the Bashaw and seem'd to argue with each other who should be the first that should lift up his arm to strike For it is a Custom that he that beginneth the Tumult in lifting up his hands which he holdeth across in the Assembly is sure that whether he have right on his side or no he shall be seiz'd on and put into a Sack and thrown into the Sea Which yet did not happen at that time for that in the end the Bashaw and the Aga found out a way to appease the Tumult Where it is farther to be noted that the Women who have Complaints to offer assemble sometimes to the number of an hundred of their Kinswomen and Friends who all veil'd repair to the Gate of the Divan and there cry Charala that is to say Justice of God and are very readily heard ¶ IN the last place we will briefly give an Account of the Emperour Charles the Fifth when he besieg'd this City and of the great Loss he suffer'd therein This Prince in the Year One thousand five hundred forty one Charles the Fifth besieges Algier having Embarqued upon the Sea an Army of Twenty two thousand Men aboard Eighteen Gallies and an hundred tall Ships not counting the Barques and Shallops and other small Boats in which he had engaged the principal of the Spanish and Italian Nobility with a good number of the Knights of Maltha he was to Land on the Coast of Barbary at a Cape call'd Matifou From this Place unto the City of Algier a flat Shore or Strand extends it self for about four Leagues the which is exceeding favourable to Gallies There he put ashore with his Army and in a few days caused a Fortress to be built which unto this day is call'd The Castle of the Emperor In the mean time the City of Algier took the Alarm having in it at that time but Eight hundred Turks and Six thousand Moors poor-spirited men and unexercised in Martial affairs besides it was at that time Fortifi'd onely with Walls and had no Out-works Insomuch that by reason of its weakness and the great Forces of the Emperour it could not in appearance escape taking In fine it was Attaqued with such Order that the Army came up to the very Gates where the Chevalier de Sauignac a Frenchman by Nation made himself remarkable above all the rest by the miracles of his Valour For having repulsed the Turks who having made a Sally at the Gate call'd Babason and there desiring to enter along with them when he saw that they shut the Gate upon him he ran his Ponyard into the same and left it sticking deep therein They next fell to Battering the City by the Force of Cannon which the Assailants so weakened that in that great extremity the Defendants lost their Courage and resolved to surrender But as they were thus intending there was a Witch of the Town His Fleet and Army overthrown and wrack'd by Witchcraft whom the History doth not name which went to seek out Assam Aga that Commanded within and pray'd him to make it good yet nine Days longer with assurance that within that time he should infallibly see Algier delivered from that Siege and the whole Army of the Enemy dispersed so that Christians should be as cheap as Birds In a word the thing did happen in the manner as foretold for upon the Twenty first day of October in the same Year there fell a continual Rain upon the Land and so furious a Storm at Sea that one might have seen Ships hoisted into the Clouds and in one instant again precipitated into the bottom of the Water insomuch that that same dreadful Tempest was followed with the loss of fifteen Gallies and above an hundred other Vessels which was the cause why the Emperour seeing his Army wasted by the bad Weather pursued by a Famine occasioned by wrack of his Ships in which was the greatest part of his Victuals and Ammunition he was constrain'd to raise the Siege and set Sail for Sicily whither he Retreated with the miserable Reliques of his Fleet. In the mean time that Witch being acknowledged the Deliverer of Algier was richly remunerated and the Credit of her Charms authorized So that ever since Witchcraft hath been very freely tolerated of which the Chief of the Town and even those who are esteem'd to be of greatest Sanctity among them such as are the Marabou's
the Densans are Stout and Warlike Borgia feeds many Artificers but more Husbandmen ¶ ONe part of this Territory stands under the Jurisdiction of the Arabians Their Government another under the Kings of Kouko and Labez the third the Turk lays his claim to But Paskare Anno Fifteen hundred sixty two was rent from the King of Tunis by the practises of one Tachea a Marabout who making himself Master they could never be reduced to the former Government THE TERRITORY OF BILEDULGERID BIledulgerid The Territory of Biledulgerid or Beledulgerid which is a single Province yet gives Denomination to all Numidia as we said before signifying Date-Land extendeth to the Realm of Tunis beginning at Teskare so reaching to the Coasts belonging to the Isles of Zerbes bordering on the East at Cyrene one Point shoots far from the Mediterrane for Tousar and Cafta two stretched-out Arms of the Province reckon seventy five Miles from the Midland-Sea This Countrey hath onely three Cities Teusar The first Teusar antiently erected by the Romans near a Desart and water'd by a small River replenished from the Southern Mountains is divided in two Divisions one stands possest by the Natives and the other by the Arabians since the Mahumetans deserted it having destroy'd the place The second Kafsa Kafsa also a Colony of the Romans stands in Longitude forty and in Latitude twenty seven Degrees and ten Minutes and hath a strong Fort with Walls of Touch or Black-Stone being five and twenty Cubits high and five broad There are also stately Mosques and spacious Streets pav'd with Black-Stone The middle of the City is adorn'd with several Fountains standing within a Quadrangular Wall The City Nefzara in Longitude forty two Degrees and fifteen Minutes and in Latitude thirty Degrees consisting of three inclos'd or wall'd Villages close together is very populous ¶ THe Air of this Province is generally hot and that of Kafza is so bad The Air. that the Inhabitants are always troubled with Agues and Feavers The whole Tract of Land of Tousart is befriended with a handsome River and that of Kafza onely by a warm Stream not potable unless it stands an hour or two cooling This Countrey also dry bares no Corn but abounds in Dates But the Kassan Countrey hath not onely the best but the greatest quantity of Dates and also Olives of all the adjacent Territories Neither want they store of Flax and are well provided with Potters Earth of which they make very fine Earthen War This Countrey as far as Tripoli is under the Government of Tunis Teorregu TEorregu borders on Tripoli nearest to the Desarts of Barka having three good Forts and six and twenty Villages The Inhabitants distanced far from other well-peopl'd places are very poor Jasliten or Jassitin JAsliten or Jassitin is a small Canton near the Mediterrane-Sea between Kafza and Trioply in Longitude two and forty Degrees and fifty Minutes and in Latitude eight and twenty This Countrey hath also store of Dates and is under the Jurisdiction of Tripoli Gademez GAdemez a Countrey Southward from the midland-Midland-Sea sixty miles containing sixteen wall'd Cities and ninety two Villages Zieglerus the chiefest Seat is Gademez by Zieglerus taken for the Oasis of Ptolomy This Territory also rich in Dates is slenderly accommodated with Grain and Flesh The Inhabitants deal much in negro-Negro-Land They were under the Kingdom of Tunis but now forsooth boast themselves a Free-State Fassen or Ferssen FAssen a great Countrey borders Agadez and the Lybick Desarts There is no other inhabited place in those Wilds but onely Augele but the whole Countrey contains eight and fifty Wall'd Towns and a hundred open Villages the chief Seat being in Longitude forty four and in the Latitude twenty six These want no Dates though Corn and Flesh which other places supply except Camels which there they make their usual Food They obey a Supream Authority who receives and pays all that belongs to the Publick Lybia or Zaara 305. Lybick Nun Towns Nun the Metropolis besides a Cape of the same Name Zenega Towns Zenega Anterobe Arquin Port Cavallero Rivers Rio de Oro or Golden-Stream Mountains Mountain of the Sun or Bojador Tagaza Towns Tegaza the chief with many Salt-Pits and divers Villages Zuenziga Towns Zuenziga Gogden Hayr or Terga Towns Terga Agadez Lempta Towns Iguidi Berdoa Towns Three fortifi'd and six Villages Augele Towns Three inclos'd with Walls besides many Villages Syrte Towns One onely nam'd Syrte and that in effect a heap of Ruines Algequet Towns Three inclos'd for defence besides many Villages LYBIA OR ZAARA THe Antient Grecians as Herodotus Diodorus and others Several meanings of the Name Lybia call'd all Africa Lybia but afterwards this general Name was contracted into a narrower Circuit and Signification Ptolem. Geogr. lib. 4. and appropriated onely to a small part of this vast Region and this also divided into the proper or Exterior and Interior-Lybia whereas some call onely the Exterior Lybia The peculiar Lybia was properly that part of Africa which reaches from Alexandria to Cyrene Procop. de Edit Just lib. 6. compassing the Countrey of Barka This is that part of the Countrey which Ptolomy expresseth under that Name whereas some as Philippus and also Cluverius call this proper antient Lybia Exterior Lybia taking in the Desart of Delphocat and Gaoga and place it on the West side of the Nyle and spread it to the Negro's Countrey ¶ LYbia Interior or Inward Lybia according to Ptolomy hath in the North The Borders of Inward Lybia the two Mauritania's that is the Caesarian Mauritania and the Tingitana Tangâ—ian-Moors Countrey the East a part of Marmarica and Ethiopia below Egypt in the South Inward Ethiopia and in the West the Atlantick Ocean But the Modern Lybia which contains a part of Interior Lybia agrees not with the Antient Lybia Bounds but is by the late Geographers included within other Borders as hereafter ¶ THe New Lybia hath for North Confines the Desart of Numidia The Borders of the Modern Lybia or Biledulgerid with a part of their Nun Eastward Egypt the City Elockat and the Kingdom of Gaoga conterminate to the South Negro-Land the West washed with the Atlantick Ocean along whose Coast it reacheth from that part of Nun which belongeth to Biledulgerid or Numidia to the River of Zenega or Niger which divides the Whites and Blacks A Partition between the Whites and Black But to set forth the Bounds thereof more accurately its Northern Confines range all along with that Negro-Land that hath the River Zenega which passeth on by these Countreys in the form of a long narrow Towel almost to the Nyle it is a Tract of sixty Spanish Miles ¶ THe original of the Name Lybia the Grecians derive from a Woman The original of the Name of Lybia Herodotus Aldrete Antigued lib. 3. cap. 6. a Native of that Countrey call'd Lybia some from a greater Lady Lybia the Daughter
Egyptian Monarchs Pharaoh at first and afterwards Ptolomy The proper Name of the present King is Daur but by the addition of that Royal Title which signifies King call'd Burdomel Daur This Name of Burdomel The King is taken by some for a Place about Cape Verde and accordingly so set down in the Maps of Africa ¶ HEre are no peculiar or Municipal Laws The Law of the Countrey for indeed the Law or light of Nature is the onely Rule they steer by for when a Man dies and leaves behind him Wives Children Cattel Slaves and Iron wherein their chiefest Riches consists the Brothers and Sisters of the Deceased take all without any consideration of the Children whom they leave to the wide World to help themselves as well as they can As to matters of distributive Justice or punishments of Crimes they are in a manner strangers to both the greatest extravagancies being bought off and pardoned by paying of Slaves or some other Mulct to the King ¶ THeir Religion Their Religion if so we may call it is generally Paganism for they greet the New-Moon with horrible roarings and strange gestures of adoration they offer their Sacrifices in the Woods before great hollow Trees wherein they have placed Idols and this they do rather out of custom then zeal using neither form nor method in their Devotions nor any particular Assemblies but every one following the dictates of his own humor makes a God in his own Fancy which is as often varied as their Lusts or Passions raises in them other motions Some of them seem to incline to Mahumetanism and admit among them some Marabouts but so little have they prevailed upon them that they know not what the Sala means nor do the Priests any other Service than write Arabick Characters on small Papers which sew'd in little Leather Purses are worn by the Blacks on their Necks Arms Legs Heads and every part of their Bodies in great numbers firmly believing that thereby in time to come they shall be freed of all troubles and dangers to the great gain of the Marabouts who sell them at no small Prices And although they know there is a God yet have they no understanding to worship him and use Circumcision the fifth or sixth Year and then if they be asked the reason thereof they can give no other account but that it is an antient Custom received among them but farther know not None of the Priests are permitted to Marry but in their own Families nor may teach any to Read or Write without the chief Marabout's Licence They hold the Christian Religion in great abomination affirming that God who giveth all things and can do what he pleaseth and causes Thunder Lightning Rain and Wind is Omnipotent and needs neither praying to nor to be set forth in so mysterious a way as that of the Trinity and thus Heathenism and Idolatry generally possesses the whole Countrey THE KINGDOM OF GAMBEA CASSAN CANTOR AND BORSALO ADjoyning to Zenega on the North is Gambea The Kingdom of Gambea a small Kingdom by the River of the same name On the other side of the River Gambea lies the Jurisdiction of Cassan Great Cantor and Borsalo all heretofore subject to the King of Mandimanza but now have Princes as absolute as himself and acknowledging no Superior The King of Great Cantor keeps his Residence continually on the Southerly Shore of the River Gambea The King of Canter having many inferior Dominions under his Obedience The King of Borsalo commands on the North-side of the same River to Tantakonde The King of Borsalo Both these Princes have several populous Towns belonging to them but Several Towns lying on Gambea as we said all without Walls and scituate on both the Shores of Gambea which like the Nyle overflowing it Banks much enriches and fertilitates the neighbouring Soyl. The Sea-Coast hereabouts shooting from the South is very low and in that regard unless in very clear weather hard to be known but more forward the Land rises high is full of Trees and spreads North-East and South-West At the Mouth of this River stands the Town Barra Barra so named because every Ship that comes thither must give a Bar of Iron which they call Barra to the King of Borsalo Above the South-Point stands a Town call'd Nabare Nabare within a Wood. Three miles higher on the same Point lieth a Town call'd Bintam inhabited by the Portugals Bintam On the South-side of the River twenty miles from the Mouth Tankerval Tendeba appears Tankerval and not far thence a Town call'd Tendeba twelve miles from which last may be seen Jayre Jayre in a narrow Creek Half a mile beyond the Creek on the South-side lieth the River and Town call'd Jambay Jambay Mansibaer Barraconda with another named Mansibaer on the North. In the last place you come to Barraconda above which the Sea floweth not so that whoever will go higher must Row against the Stream After a tedious and toilsom Journey of ten days you arrive at Tinda Tinda above which stands Joliet Joliet Munkbaer and six days Journey from that a City call'd Munkbaer to which without great hazards there is no coming from whence in nine days you come to the City Jayr and so to Silico an In-land Town yet a place of great Trade Five and fifty miles within the Land stands Borsalo and eighty five miles Little Cassan Small Cassan Groat Cassan three miles above which the vast and great City Cassan shews it self whose side is washed by the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea and where the King keeps his Court. ¶ AMong other Rivers that water these Countreys The River Gambea one of the principal is Gambea or Gambia so call'd by the Portuguese after the example of the Blacks who call all the Tracts of Land reaching from the Mouth of it to the Gold-Coast Gambu It s Mouth is about three miles broad hath five fathom Water and lies in thirteen Degrees and nineteen Minutes North Latitude between the Zenega and Rio Grande It draws the original from the great River Niger It s Original at the place where it makes a great Lake and divides in four branches which are afterwards named Zenega Gambea Sante Domingo and the Great River all which after several long courses having visited and refreshed these hot Countreys with their pleasant Streams at last near Cape Verde pour forth their Waters into the Great Ocean but especially Gambea with so strong a Current and such abundance of Water that sixteen miles in the Sea as they say that Water may be taken up They may row up in this River against the Stream near a hundred miles but then are stopped with a strong Water-fall which with an impetuous noise pours down over the Rocks and by that means becomes unpassable The Channel is for the most part very broad especially from the Gold-Coast of Cantor or Reskate to its Mouth
many other Vice-Roys under him as of Bursalo Jaloffo and Bersetti who commanded the Kingdoms of Boloquo Bintao and Hondigu but now these have taken the Title of Kings and regard this Mandimansa little or nothing every one governing his Countrey with full Power without acknowledging him or any other for their Superior The Mandingians were antiently altogether given up to the Delusions of the Devil worshipping Stocks and Stones and keeping among them many Sorcerers South-sayers and Witches nor have they yet detested those old and wicked Customs but of late years Mahumetanism hath much prevail'd among them brought first thither by the trading Moors and Turks and since increased by the Natives who went to serve in Forreign Wars The chief Bexerin or High-Priest hath his Residence in the chief City of the Kingdom and deeply skill'd in Necromantick Arts wherein he hath instructed the King of Bena who makes great advantage thereof in revenging himself of his Enemies whom he variously torments as his malice or necessity incites him BENA and SOUSOS THe Kingdom of Bena and Sousos The Kingdom of Bena and Sousos deriving its Name from the Inhabitants of its principal Town which is named Sousos stands scituate about nine days Journey from the Way that leads to the Kingom of Torra and Serre-Lions but more Northerly of those and Southerly from Mandinga ¶ THis Countrey is very Hilly and Mountainous The Nature of the Countrey all whose sides are plentifully furnish'd with shady Groves of green-leaved Trees and here and there scattered some Valleys veined with cleer and purling Brooks From the colour of the Earth in the Mountain they conjecture that the Iron Mines inclosed within their bowels are of finer Ore than most in Europe Within the covert of the Woods lurk many Serpents curiously spotted with so many lively colours as are scarce to be found in any other Creatures The King whom the Inhabitants stile King of Serpents keeps commonly one of them in his Arms which he stroaks and fosters as it were a young Child and so highly esteemed that none dare hurt or kill it ¶ WHen any one dies The manner of their Funerals the nearest Relations of the Deceased and next Neighbors have notice of it whereupon they immediately begin to make a howling noise so hideous as to Strangers is terrible afterwards the Friends and Kindred go to accompany the Funeral howling and crying as they pass on which is redoubled by the frightful shreeks of such as go forth to meet and receive them They bring with them Cloth Gold and other things for a Present to the Grave which they divide into three equal parts one for the King the other for the nearest Relations to whose care the Funeral is left but the third part is buried with the Corps for they believe as we said before that the Dead shall find in the other World whatsoever is so laid up at their Interrment ¶ THe Kings and other great Lords are buried in the night very privately and in unknown places The Funerals of the King and other Grandees Jarrik lib. 5. c. 48. in the presence onely of their nearest Kindred Which privacy they use in all probability to prevent the stealing away the Goods and other Wealth which in great quantities they put into the Grave with them especially what ever Gold in their lives they had hoarded And for the more certain concealment they stop the Rivers and guard all ways round about until they have so levell'd the place that not the least mark appears discoverable This is used towards the greatest and most honourable but frequently over the Graves of persons of meaner repute some small Huts are erected sometimes made of Cloth other while of Boughs whither their surviving Friends and Acquaintance at set-times repair to ask pardon for any offences or injuries done them while alive and so continue as long as the Weather permits it to stand ¶ THe Jurisdiction of this King reaches over seven Kingdoms The Kings Authority and yet he is under Konche the Emperor of all the Sousos ¶ THe Inhabitants as all the rest are Idolaters Their Religion and use certain Letters or Characters written by the Brexerins to preserve them from Diseases THE KINGDOM OF SERRE-LIONS OR BOLMBERRE THe Mountain looking into the Sea and known to the English French The Mountain and Kingdom of Serre-Lions and Dutch by the Name of Serre-Lions as also the whole Kingdom first obtained this Title from the Portugals and Spaniards who call'd it Serra Lioa and at last Siera Liona that is The Mountain of the Lioness The cause of which Name is conjectur'd to be drawn from hence Why it is so call'd for that from the hollow of its Concave Rocks whereon the Sea beats when the Winds bluster and the stormy Billows rage proceeds a terrible noise like the furious roarings of a robbed Lioness adding moreover that from the top of this Hill which lieth continually cover'd with Clouds which the violent heat of the Sun-Beams darting perpendicularly upon it twice in the year cannot disperse there is continually heard a rattling of Thunder with frequent flashes of Lightning whose resounding Ecchoes may be distinctly observ'd twenty five miles off at Sea ¶ THe Inhabitants name this Countrey in their own Language Bolmberre The Bigness which signifies Low and good Land and especially hath respect to the low and fruitful Tract of Serre-Lions which taketh beginning at Cape de Virgen and endeth at Cape de Tagrin or Ledo lying in eight Degrees and thirty Minutes North Latitude and is easie to be known at Sea because it is exceedingly higher than the Countrey Northward and runs far into the Sea The Mountain about the Point is high and doubled spreading along the Sea South-East and South and by East but the Countrey Northerly of the Point is low and flat ¶ THis Kingdom containeth above thirty Rivers which all empty themselves into the Great Ocean and most of them having broad streams neighbored with pleasant Valleys and flowing between Groves of Orange-Trees and their Banks on both sides edg'd with fair Towns and Villages to the great delight of Passengers The first River by Cape de Virgen is by the Portuguese call'd Rio das Piedras that is The Stone-River because of the many Stones therein It is a very great River and divides the Countrey with several Arms making many Islands stiled Cagasian or Cagakais where the Portugals have built a strong Fort for the conveniency of their Trade In the next place the Maps of the Countrey have set Rio Pichel Rio Palmas Rio Pogone Rio de Cangranca Rio Casses Rio Carocane Capar and Tambasine which two last take their original from the Mountains of Machamala upon which may be seen a stately Work of Chrystal with several Pyramids of the same Matter Lastly The River Mitombo they describe the River Tagarin otherwise Mitombo but at present by the English Portugals Dutch and other-Traders call'd Rio. de
Lords Government but own for their Superior the King of Quoia whose Predecessors subdued them by Arms by the Assistance of the Folgia's as hereafter we shall more fully declare Fourteen miles from Rio de Galinas to the South-East appears Cabo Monte in five Degrees and three and forty Minutes North Latitude THE KINGDOM OR COUNTREY OF QUOIA THis Kingdom scituate by Cape de Monte containeth especially two Countreys viz. Vey-berkoma and Quoia-Berkoma Vey-berkoma that is the Countrey of Vey Vey-Berkoma the Antient Name of the Inhabitants is that Tract which lieth at Cape de Monte near the River Mavah below which lieth Dauwala wherein the same River Northward of the Cape hath its Exit into the Sea The Antient Inhabitants as we said Vey are by Wars reduc'd to a small number possessing onely a parcel of ruin'd Villages or Towns insomuch that their Name is almost forgotten Another People nam'd Puy-monou Puy-Monou dwelt antiently before the Wars and Conquest of the Countrey by the Karou's in the Island Boebelech and along the Banks of the River Mavah But few of this Posterity are at present to be found being for the most part by Inter-marriages with the Karou's so united as if but one in Name and Nature Quoia-Berkoma begins at the Sea-Coast of the New-River or Rio Novo Quoia-Berkoma by the Inhabitants stil'd Magwibba and extends to Rio Paulo a Boundary between this and the Territory of Gebbe shooting out into the Land above twenty miles This Kingdom boasts great numbers of Towns and Villages most of them pleasantly seated on the Banks of the River Magwibba The first appearing in five Degrees and three and forty Minutes-North Latitude Cape de Monte. by the Inhabitants is call'd Wachkongo and by the Portugals Cabo Monte although the Countrey both on the West and East is low and over-grown with Bushes This Point to Ships sayling out of the West shews its self in the shape of a Helm but coming near it appears long with a gap in the middle Westward of this is the Road where the Ships Ride that put in to trade upon this Coast Half a mile upwards from Magwibba on the left side Jegwonga stands a Village call'd Jegwonga where the King Flamboere settled his Royal Mansion when he first left Tomvy but at present he resides on the Island Massagh in the Lake Plizoge whither he retired to avoid the hazards of the people of Dogo that invaded his Territories On the other side of the River stands the fair Town Fachoo Fachoo signifying I watch the Dead which Flamboere fortifi'd and retir'd to as a place of security upon intelligence that the Land of Folgia would make War upon him though afterwards he found it but a rumor A mile and half farther up Figgia on the same side Figgia discovers its self being formerly the Dwelling of Figgi one of King Flamboere's Brothers A mile beyond that Cammagoereia on the same Shore is seated Cammagoereia and half a mile from thence the handsome Town Jerboeffaia where the Prince of Quoia who commands the Countrey round about keeps his Court opposite to this last King Flamboere about a year since began to lay the Foundations of a new Town From thence going along the Sea-Shore lie dispersed some Salt-Towns where the Inhabitants boyl Salt out of Sea-Water In the Vales of Tomvy water'd by the River Plizoge stands a great Town or Village beset with Trees sprung up out of the Rubbish of its decayed Walls From thence to Cape de Monte lye some forsaken and wasted Villages On a Branch of the River Menoch or Aguado is scituate Faly-hammaia and two miles farther another call'd Flomy-Seggaya The Region of Quoia hath the benefit of four excellent Rivers The Countrey of Quoia is watered by four Rivers the first in the West Magwibba or Rio Novo the second Mavah the third Plizoge the fourth Menoch or Aguado The River Magwibba in Summer bears two miles and a half in breadth The River Magwibba but in Winter is broader and fuller of Water It runs from the Sea up into the Land taking a North-Easterly Course up into the Countrey in the Mouth of it are so many Banks or Shelves as great Bars that make it dangerous to be passed with small Boats although the English Portuguese and French have and still venture over it in their little Skiffs As far as Davarouia it may conveniently be passed with reasonable Vessels being very deep and four hundred foot wide but above that place by the interposition of divers Rocks which cause great Water-falls there is no passing The second call'd Mavah The River Mavah or Maffah on whose Shore formerly the Puy-monou dwelt springs from a Mountain four and twenty miles within the Countrey The Channel is wide and deep making its Exit into the Sea in the broken Land of Dauwala almost a mile Northward of Wach-kongo or Cape de Monte. Between these two Rivers along the Sea-Coast here and there they say stand certain Towns where the Inhabitants make Salt The third Plizoge meets with the Sea a mile Northward of Cabo de Monte. The River Plizoge This is sometime in dry weather very empty of Water but so continues not long being soon fully replenisht Three miles from this River appears a great Lake a mile and a half broad wherein stands the Island Massagh the Courtly Residence of the present King Flamboere on whose South-side flourish many stately Palmito-Trees The fourth Menoch or Rio Aqâ—ado The River Menoch cometh out of the Countrey above the Hondous and six or seven miles Eastward of Cape de Monte poures into the Sea It is a deep and wide River yet unpassable because of several Water-falls Cliffs and Shelves of Sand that choak it It hath on both sides Red-wood Trees Having thus given you the Scituations of Towns and Rivers in this Kingdom we will now proceed to describe the Vegetables or Plants Beasts and then the Customs or Manners of the People but by the way in regard Gala-Vy Hondo Konde Quoias Manou and Folgia lying round about participate of the same qualities with Karou already mention'd or at least with very small difference we will give you a cursory glimpse of these in particular and then carry on our intended method Gala-vy a member of Quoia shews the original source of Mavah Gala-vy near a great Wood of eight or ten days Journey in length It bears the Names of Gala-vy from its Inhabitants sprung at first from Galas but being driven out of their Countrey by the People of Hondo sought new Habitations in those places whence they were neither call'd Vy as those with whom they intermixt nor Galas their old Name but Gala-Vy that is half Galas and half Vy On the Borders of Hondo and Manoe beyond the fore-mention'd great Wood dwell the right Galas who are under the Jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Manoe and have a Prince
Eastward of Albine The Principality of Anten ANten lying about seven miles from Cape de Tres Puntas The Kingdom of Anten and ten from Atsin hath neighboring on the West Little-Inkassan towards the North-West Igwira on the North North-West Mompa in the North Adom in the North-East Tabu and in the East Guaffo the whole River full of Villages inhabited by Fishermen as amongst others Botrow Pogera Pando Takorari or Anten Maque Jaque Sakonde Sama whereof Takorari is the chief behind which lies a remarkable Promontory with a convenient Road or Haven for Ships At Botrow the Netherlands have a considerable Fort. The King of Anten keeps his Court about three or four miles up in the Countrey commanding all the Countrey as well the In-land Villages as those that lie at the Sea A mile Eastward of Anten Rio St. George falls into the Sea close by whose Banks the Village Jabbe is seated Near Tekorari the Hollanders some years since built a Fort from the neighboring Village call'd The Fort of Tekorari The Fort of Witsen or Tekorari but to themselves known by the Name of Witsen originally belonging to the Dutch West-India Company but before the great War between the Crown of England and the States of Holland by them remitted to the States-General In the Year Sixteen hundred sixty and four in the Moneth of April Sublued by Captain Holmes this Fort was attacqu'd by Captain Holms and one Joseph Cubits in behalf of the Royal African English Company with two of the Kings Men of War six Frigats and some other Ships and by them with no great difficulty won but regained again the next Year on the fifteenth of January Recover'd by De Ruyter by Admiral De Ruyter being at that time onely mann'd by four or five in health and about as many more sick English-men and leaving in it seven Iron-Guns six or eight Pounders Immediately upon the retaking the Guns being drawn off to the Ship De Ruyter caus'd it as not to be maintain'd without many people and great Charges with Twelve hundred pound of Powder to be blown up into the Air and totally dismantl'd The Negro's of the Myne in the mean time Plunder'd Takorari The Negets of the Myne are sent to assist De Ruyter and laid it waste by Fire and Sword out of malice which they had against the Blacks of Takorari there came down thither about nine hundred in three hundred Canoos who having as it were by surprize won the Victory exercis'd great cruelty upon such Prisoners as they took cutting off their heads with which they went Dancing and Leaping up and down and at last carri'd them home in token of Victory These Negro's of the Myne were well Arm'd according to their Countrey fashion some of them having Caps made like Helmets adorn'd with Feathers and Horns of Beasts and Swords hanging before upon their Belly whereon instead of Handles they put Bones of Tygers Lions and other Beasts Their Faces generally Painted with Red and Yellow so also on their Bodies which made a very strange and terrible sight Three miles lower stands a large Town call'd Sama containing about two hundred Houses under the Government of one Braffo nevertheless both he and his men own as their Superior Lord the King of Gavi whom they serve in his Wars in time of need and pay him Tribute The Portugeuese had in this Village a Stone Bulwark with a Store-house but now decay'd and deserted by them but by reason of the great conveniency of the River for fresh water and the adjacent Grounds for Fire-wood the Netherlanders have Rebuilt and possess it and have rais'd the middle foursquare Battery fourteen Foot high and a Store-house whither those of Adom and Wassen come to Traffick with them Close under the Town runs a handsome River whose Water is fresh and pleasant Two three or four miles upwards but higher up is full of Cliffs and Rocks so that it is not passable although for a while it was conceited otherwise till experience manifested the contrary for several of the Traders there hoping to have got some advantage by it in their Gold-trade sent six persons in a Ketch with three weeks Provision to search who turn'd back the thirteenth day relating that they had Row'd up eleven or twelve days but were not able to get any further because of the forcible fall of the Water six or seven Foot higher and that above they discover'd so many Cliffs and Rocks that it was impossible to get through them Anten is a plentiful Countrey producing great store of Fowl The Condition of the Countrey and Poultry of several sorts besides great variety of Fruits and Vegetables especially Injame's Ananasse's and Palmitor's from which so much Palm-wine is extracted that the Blacks come ten or twenty miles to fetch it thence in Canoo's and carry it up the whole Gold-Coast The people along the Shore maintain themselves by Fishing Their Maintenance and in the Countrey by Handy-labor and Husbandry They have always held themselves in an indifferent neutrality towards all people Trade and formerly were sought to sometimes by the English sometimes by the Dutch to Trade with them but they finding the Gold they had was brought to them from Igwira and Mempa in small quantities signifying little neither of them prosecuted it any further The best Conveniences to be had among them are Water Wood and Ballast for Ships The Government is mixt being constituted of a Braffo or Captain and Cabosero's or Chiefs of the People The Jurisdiction of GUAFFO or GREAT-COMMENDO GUaffo or Great-Commendo The Kingdom of Guaffo or Commany borders in the West on Anten and Tabeu having a small River for a Boundary between both in the North-West on Adom in the North on Abramboe in the East on Fetu and in the South on the Sea Formerly Commendo Fetu and Sabou were united under one Prince and the Inhabitants then as now by strangers call'd Adossenie's as those of Fantijn Fantenie's but at present divided into three several Kingdoms On the Shore lie several Towns as Aitako or Agitaki otherwise Little-Commendo but by the Portugal's call'd Aldea de Torres being the head Town on the Shore scituate on the Borders of Fetu two miles and an half Eastward of Sama then Ampea or Apene Cotabry Aborby Terra Pekine and half a mile Eastward another Commendo Within the Countrey stands a great City upon a Mountain by the Inhabitants stil'd Guaffo and by the Europeans Great-Commendo for a distinction from Little-Commendo before-mention'd lying near the Sea Most of those Towns have suffered terrible devastations by those of the Myne who use on a sudden to invade them by Water burning and spoiling all before them being not able to cope with the Guaffin's at Land but they of Abramboe once made War against this Countrey by Land got the Victory and kill'd their King All sorts of Fruit and Provision are daily brought to Market in
Priviledges for now he may buy Slaves and Trade for other things which before he had no permission to do They take great care therefore about it although perhaps the acquiring cost them all they are worth and thereby are much poorer than before but he soon gets it up again by Presents brought him from others each according to his ability And now as soon as he hath gain'd an Estate again he bestows it upon Slaves wherein their Riches and Reputation consists These keep one among another a yearly time of Feasting where they make good Cheer new Paint the Cows Head and hang it about with Ears of Mille. Besides this the Nobility in general keep one Feast upon the sixth day of July where they Paint their Bodies with Stripes of red Earth and wear on their Necks a Garland of green Boughs and Straw as a Badge of their Nobility In the Evening they all come as Guests to the House of the Braffo where they are entertain'd with exceeding Mirth and Feasting even to Excess and Drunkenness These People are so conceited of their old Idolatrous Customs Religion or Worship that they deride as it were the Religion of the Whites under what Name or Notion soever Several times have the Portuguese and French by Jesuits sent thither endeavour'd to convert them to the Christian Faith yet never have been able hitherto to effect any thing worth relating And thus have we travell'd through the Gold-Coast The Coast from Rio Volta to Arder SEven Miles Eastward from Akara The River Rio da Volta on the Shore lieth a Town call'd Sinko twelve Miles from that the River Rio da Volta falls into the Sea Coming with Ships before this River the Entrance seems very little because of a Shelf which lies before it and closeth it up yet more within Land it may be discern'd to run with an open and wide Channel Between Sinko and Rio Volta standeth a Town call'd Ley whose Inhabitants maintain themselves by selling Cows wherewith though at a dear Rate they furnish themselves with Meat Three Miles from Rio Volta lieth a Point call'd in Portuguese Cabo Montego a low Countrey having little Wood and the Shore spreading East South-East From Cabo Montego Eastwards the Coast shoots out with a great Belly so that from one Corner to the other Observe Spanish Miles or Leagues as we said before such as twenty five make a Degree it is ten Miles Sailing The Countrey seems Craggy yet water'd with a small River whose Mouth is stopp'd with Sand and hath Trees on the East Quarter Beyond all the Land lies flat as far as Popo or Popou and shadow'd with good Boscage THE KINGDOM OF ARDER THis Kingdom of Arder contains about twelve Miles in length The Kingdom of Arder beginning four Miles Eastward of Popou and ending at Aqua Three Miles Eastward of Popou on the Shore appears a Town named Foulaen The Town Foulaen five Miles Eastward of which on the same Coast you come to Little Arder Little Arder three hundred Rods in length beyond which about fifty Rods from the Shore runs a River of brackish Water From Popou the Coast reacheth East and by South to Arda and for eight Miles low Land spotted here and there with Trees Two Miles Westward of Arder stand four Woods A Mile to the North North-East of Arder Jakkeins you may see Jakkein a Town so call'd from the Governor thereof The City is encompass'd fifteen hundred Rod about with an Earthen Wall and includes a stately Palace the Residence of the Governor and water'd with a small Rivulet Three days Journey from Jakkein lieth the Jojo Jojo and a quarter of a Mile farther a Town call'd Ba surrounded with a Mud Wall Ba. over which a Fidalgo Commands in the King's Name On the Sea-Coast stand two Gates and on the Land-side runs a fresh River which reacheth to Benyn About twelve Miles to the North North-East up in the Countrey lieth Great Arder an open Village and straglingly built but containing in circuit as the Natives report above three Miles They may conveniently Ride to Arder on Horseback or be carri'd in a Litter or Waggon there runneth so straight a Way thither from the Shore In the mid-way stands a Retiring place for Travellers where they brew Beer of Mille. The King hath his Residence in this Village and two Palaces but he dwells onely in one the other being reserv'd as a Retirement upon casualty of Fire Both these Palaces are environ'd with an Earthen Wall of four or five Foot thick with Coverings of Reeds and have several Chambers and Apartments within Here are no Wall'd Cities but open Villages in abundance fitly scituate for Merchandise and defensible for the Inhabitants The Air proves unhealthy to the Whites The air unhealthy for the greatest number of them that go to Land are quickly seiz'd by a Sickness which for the most part kill 's whereas the Natives are very fresh and sound and attain a great Age. This Tract of Land is every where plain and fruitful thin of Woods The conditions of the Land but full of fine Villages the Ways very convenient to Travel in and several full-stream'd Rivers that irrigate and with their Waters fertilize the Ground The Valleys are enricht with divers Fruits throughout the whole year Their Fruits as Injames Potato's Oranges Lemons Coco-Nuts Palm-Wine and such like The Injames are eaten either boyl'd broil'd or roasted with Butter for Sawce In the Marshes of Arder they make much Salt which those of Kuramo buy and carry away with great Canoos Here breed many Horses The Houses are meer Mud-walls two or three Foot thick Houses and cover'd with Straw Their Houshold-stuff no other than that before described on the Gold-Coast Houshold-stuff and as there also for Ornament hang on the Walls their Arms viz. Shields Assagays or Lances Bowes and Arrows In Places of retirement or as we may call them Inns Beer of Mille. between the Shore and Great Arder and in the Town Offer they brew Beer of Mille in this manner First they steep the Mille in Water till it shoots afterwards dry it in the Sun then stamp it to Meal in great Mortars and poure upon it boyling hot Water They know also to make this Mash Work with Yeast and to make it thick or thin as they please But this Beer by the heat of the Mille will soon sowre and drinking of it causeth the Scurvey but mixed with Water makes a good wholsom Drink Their Bread made of Mille they call Kanties and their other Victuals Kade Food being green Herbs Rice Beef Pork Cabrietes or Mutton Dogs and Hens The Men have three Habit. sometimes four Garments hanging about their Middles one shorter than another so that part of them all may be seen but the upper part of the Body and Feet up to the Knees remain naked The better sort have very sumptuous Cloathing of
Woods The Buildings not contemptible especially the Houses of the Gentry yet cover'd with Palm-Leaves and made up of gray Earth The King's Palace is built after the method of that in Benyn but much less The Air proves very unhealthful Unwholsom Air. not onely by reason of the great Heat but also from bad and unwholsom Mists whereof Strangers Trading in the River being ignorant and carelesly lying and sleeping in the Evening or in Moon-shine oftentimes die suddenly The Soyl is so barren Plants that Grass and Corn are strangers to it but it yields many fruitful Trees as those bearing Coco-Nuts sowre and sweet Grapes with divers others also a little Pepper Baranasses in great numbers and Mandihoka of which they make Farinha or Bread By reason of the barrenness of the Fields there are neither Horses nor Cows but Poultrey they have in abundance and very large being roasted eat well Fish also and Sea-Calves whose Flesh dress'd yields a pleasing relish Both Men and Women are of comely Stature and fair Countenances according to the account of Beauty in that Countrey and all marked with three Cuts each something more than an Inch long that is one in the Forehead above the Nose and one on each side of their Head by the Temples and may wear their Hair long or short as they please Their Habit resembles those of Benyn Habit. as to Fashion but commonly made of Silk which the other may not wear fastned under their Arm-pits with a curious Girdle Every one here Marriage as in other parts of Africa may take as many Wives as he will or as he can get and sometimes the King bestows some Widows as a mark of his Favor The Whites come and Trade in the River Forkado Trade with the same sort of Wares as in Benyn which they exchange for Slaves Jasper-Stone and Akori but they hold them in great esteem and will not sell them but above the value They are no quick nor expert Dealers but cheapen a Commodity a whole Moneth onely to beat down the Price but to little purpose because the Merchant rates his Goods according to the value set by the Natives upon their Commodities which he never recedes from The Portuguese us'd in former times to trust them always which the present Traders never do so that they now bring the Slaves when they fetch their Goods The King of Owerre Government though Tributary to Benyn Governs notwithstanding his People with full Power as an absolute Prince and hath a Council consisting of three great Noble-men whose Power and Command none dare oppose The King which Govern'd in the Year Sixteen hundred forty four was a Mulato by the Portuguese and other Europeans call'd Don Anthonio de Mingo whose Father by Name De Mingo was Married to a Portuguese Maid which he brought with him out of Portugal where he had been himself in Person and had this Son born by her He goes like a Portuguese wearing always a Sword or Ponyard by his Side Their Religion comes near that of Benyn Religion onely they do not sacrifice so many Men but esteem it a great abomination and delusion of the Devil so that by a little instruction they might be brought to the Christian Faith They alllow neither Conjurers nor Witches among them In brief both the Inhabitants and the King himself maintain in some measure the Roman Religion There is a Church with an Altar in the City Owerre and on it stands a Crucisix with the Pictures of the Virgin Mary and the Apostles and two Candlesticks besides them into which the Blacks come with Beads like the Portuguese and Read their Prayers They are in general very zealous and can Write and Read and are desirous of Books Pens Ink and Paper The Coast of the Cape of Formosa to the Highland of Amboises AT the East-end of the Kingdom of Owerre Cape of Formosa shoots a prominent Point into the Sea by the Whites call'd Cabo Formosa that is The Fair Cape perhaps for its fair and pleasant appearance at Sea It lieth in the heigth of four Degrees and eight Minutes North Latitude so low and plain that they can discern no Land at five and twenty Fathom Water The Countrey between the River Benyn and Cape Formosa appears a very low Land but full of Trees About a Mile to the Westward a small River takes its course and upon the Banks of the Sea stands a Village call'd Sangma and a sandy Bank Sangma dry at Low-water Between this Cape and Rio Reael or Calabare lie seven small Rivers with broken Land The first little and narrow call'd Rio Non Rio Non. about half a Mile Eastward of Cabo Formosa The second Rio Odo in the heighth of four Degrees and ten Minutes Rio Odo four miles from Formosa and three and a half from Rio Non. The third and fourth of a like bigness and not far distant from each other The fifth Rio St. Nicholas Rio St. Nicholas The sixth Rio de tres Jermaus Rio de tret Jermaus The seventh Sambreiro the next to Calabare and spreads North-West Rio Sambreiro All these Rivers are passable onely with Boats and that in the Good Time Are not Navigable as they call it viz. from October to June yet enter the Sea such force that they discernably penetrate it above half a mile In divers Maps and Sea-Cards some others are named as Rio di Tilana Rio de St. Barbara and Rio de St. Bartholomew The Territories of Calabare Krike Moko Bani c. THe Countrey of Calabare lieth near the River of the same Name The Countrey of Calabare and the next Westward to Sambreiro or Sombreiro being about sixteen miles from Cape Formosa This River in some places very shoal The River of Calabare and therefore onely Navigable for small Ketches spreading Northerly and hath within its second Point at the Western-shore a Hamlet Wine-Village call'd by the Whites The Wine-Village from the abundance of Wine there but by the Inhabitants Fokke Then dividing into two Branches one at the Westerly-end the other at the Easterly-shore In the Eastern you find a Road or Haven for Ketches which put into this River for Trade of about two miles and a half in bigness At the North-side of the aforemention'd Branch appears the Village Calabare The Village Calabare the chiefest Place of Trade surrounded after the Countrey manner for Defence with Pallisado's and on the North having a Moorish Ground Southward of this you discover a long low Island full of Trees separated from the Continent onely by a small Pool Eight miles Westward hereof lieth a Hamlet named Belli Govern'd by a Captain Fourteen miles Westward runs the Easterly Branch whose Banks are garnish'd with divers Villages Northward of Calabare Krike a Territory call'd Krike shews it self bordering upon another named Moko Moko Southward of which last Bani at
Apartments are Hang'd after the European manner with Hangings of Mats made with exquisite curiosity within the innermost Fence are some Gardens plenteously stor'd with variety of Herbs and Planted with several sorts of Trees within these are some Banquetting-houses whose Building though mean and sleight yet they esteem rich and costly The City boasts ten or eleven Churches that is one great one Churcher being the chief of all then the Seven Lamps Church the Church of the Conception the Church of the Victory or Triumph a fifth dedicated to St. James a sixth to St. Anthony and a seventh to St. John the other three stand within the Court-Walls viz. the Church of the Holy Ghost of St. Michael and St. Joseph The Jesuits have here a Cloyster Cloyster where they Teach and Instruct every day the Blacks in the Christian Faith in an easie and winning method Here are also Schools Schools where Youths are brought up and taught the Latine and Portuguese Tongues All these Churches and other publick Erections except the Jesuits Cloyster have the Foundations of Stone but cover'd with Straw and very meanly provided with Utensils for celebrating Divine Offices There are also two Fountains one in St. James Street Fountains and the other within the Walls of the Court both yielding good and sweet Fountains of Water A small River or rather a Branch of Lelunde call'd Vese The River Vese affording very good and well tasted Water flows in the East at the Foot of the Mountain close by the City to the great benefit of the Inhabitants for from thence the Slaves both Men and Women fetch Water daily to serve the Town The adjacent Fields by this River are made very pleasant and fruitful and therefore the Citizens have all their Gardens upon its Banks What Cattel they have are Pastur'd and kept for the most part in the City as Hogs and Goats a few Sheep but no Cows which lie in the Nights closed in with Fences joyning to their Houses Rivers which water this Kingdom Rivers descending from North to South are first Rio de las Borrenas Roxas that is The River of red Sand another at whose Mouth lieth a Street call'd in Portuguese Bacas de las Almadias that is The Gulf of Canoos Here lie three Islands the greatest and middlemost of them inhabited and provided with a convenient Haven for small Barques but the other without People harbouring onely Beasts After these The River Zair Southwards you may see the great River of Zair which according to Pigafet derives its Head out of three Lakes the first by the same Pigafet and others entituled Zambre the second Zair and the third a great Lake from whence the Nyle is supposed to draw his Original as out of the second Rise out of which the Lelunde and Coanze run but Zambre is the principal Head that feeds the River Zair being set as it were in the middle Point of Africa and spreading it self with broad Streams into the North whither according to common Opinion it sends forth Nylus to the East the great River Cuama and Coavo to the South those of Zeila Manice or Manhessen and lastly to the West this of Zair which dividing it self into several Branches moisten and pinguifies the Western part of South Africa Congo Angola Monopotapo Matamam Bagamadiri Agasymba and so to the Cape of Good Hope whereas the Nyle Cuama Coavo Zeila Manice spread over the whole Abyssine Countreys and all others on the Sea-Coast from the Mouth of the red-Red-Sea to the River Cuama and therein the Kingdoms of Melinda Barnacassus Quilor Mombaza Mozimba Mombara Membaca Mozambico and other strange Lands The River of Zair breaks forth with an opening above three Leagues in breadth in the Elevation of five Degrees and forty Minutes and with so great force and abundance of Water runs into the Sea that the fresh Stream coming out West-North-west and North-east and by North makes an impression therein above twelve Leagues and when you are out of sight of Land yet the Water appears black and full of heaps of Reeds and other things like little floating Islands which the force of the Stream pouring from high Cliffs tears out of the Countrey and throws into the Ocean so that the Sea-men without a stiff Gale of Wind can hardly Sail through it to get into the Road within Padron on the South-side of the River This violent and precipitate descent carries the Stream against you fourteen or fifteen miles It sends forth on both sides many Branches or Rivers to the great convenience both of the Inhabitants and foreign Tradesmen who thereby in Boats and Canoos pass from one Town to another In the Towns seated on these out-stretched Arms dwell People small of Stature probably Pigmies The Islands Bomma and Quintalla lie in the Mouth of this River In Zair Le several Islands and others higher upwards exceeding full of People who rebelling against the King of Congo set up peculiar Lords of their own That of Bomma has Mynes of Iron The Island of Bommo and though boasting many Inhabitants yet shews few or no Houses because of the Morassness of the Countrey which for the most part lieth under Water so that the Blacks with Canos go from Tree to Tree among which they have raised some places made of Leaves and Boughs on which they reside and rest themselves without any Coverture These Islanders appear strong yet well set live very beastially The Manners of the Islanders are great Sorcerers speak ore tenus with the Devil in doing of which at first they come together all on a heap and afterwards one of them runs about with a Vizard on this continues three days which expir'd they use another Ceremony and then the Fiend speaks through the vizarded Man They live in peaceable Times by bartering in time of Wars they deal in nothing but Weapons Arrows Bowes and Assagays or Lances They have no Marriages or Betrothing Marriage but from their Youth up go one to another as their Affections or Lusts lead them commixing meerly like Beasts without any Solemnity for they know Laws of no Chastity but take as many Concubines as they please nevertheless the first being the eldest hath the command and supervising over all the rest In the Island Quuntalla is an Idol made of Money which none dare approach An Idol of Money in Quuntalla but the Servants or Minister appointed to attend and take care to secure the Way to it from being discover'd themselves being obliged as often as they go thither to take a peculiar Path that no other may find Many Kings and People sacrifice to this Idol especially in Sickness several of their most costly and highest priz'd Goods which none are permitted to make use of but by length of time decay and rot for as soon as they are dedicated the Attendant carries them into a great Plain where the Idol stands surrounded with a
and hath fifteen and sixteen Foot Water so that the great Ships may come before it About the North Point of Katon-belle lieth the Good Bay Good Bay so call'd by reason of its ground of Anchoring The Countreys upon the Sea-Coast are fruitful and low but the in-In-lands high and overgrown with Woods A mile and a half from Katon-belle you discover a fresh River that falls into the Sea but in the times of Rain The Bay of Benguella having good Ground for Ships to ride at an Anchor reaches from one Point to the other a mile and a half in breadth On the North-side stands the Foot of Benguelle built four-square with Pallizado's and Trenches and surrounded with Houses which stand in the shadow of Bananos Orange Lemon Granate-Trees and Bakovens Behind this Fort is a Pit with fresh Water Here lie seven Villages that pay to those of Bengala the tenth part of all they have for Tribute The first Melonde the second Peringe both about a League from the Fort Under Benguelle are seven Villages and a mile one from another the other five are Maniken Somba Maninomma Manikimsomba Pikem and Manikilonde of all which Manikisomba is the biggest and can bring three thousand Men into the Field Here formerly lived some Portuguese which afterwards out of fear of the Blacks fled to Massingan but were most of them kill'd in the way On the West Point of the Bay of Benguelle is a flat Mountain call'd in Portuguese Sombriero from its shape representing afar off a three-corner'd Cap and by it an excellent Bay having at the South-east-side a sandy Shore with a pleasant Valley and a few Trees but no Water fit to drink Four miles from thence they have a Salt-Pan which produces of gray Salt like French Salt as much as the adjacent Countreys can spend In Bengala is a great Beast The Beast Abada call'd Abada as big as a lusty Horse having two Horns one sticking out in his Forehead and another behind in his Neck that in the Forehead is crooked but smooth rises sloaping before and very sharp but at the Root as thick as an ordinary Man's Leg being many times one two three or four Foot long but that in the Neck shorter and flatter of colour black or a sad gray but being fil'd appears white the Head not so long as the Head of a well-shaped Horse but shorter and flatter with a Skin Hair'd like a Cow and a Tail like an Ox but short a Mayn like a Horse but not so long and cloven Feet like a Deers but bigger Before this Beast hath attained the full growth the Horn stands right forward in the midst of the Forehead but afterwards grows crooked like the Elephant's-Teeth When he drinks he puts his Horn first in the Water for prevention as they say against Poyson The Horn they report to be an excellent Medicine against Poyson The Horn is good against Poyson as hath oftentimes been proved but they find more efficacy in one than another occasioned by the timely and untimely killing of the Creature The trial of their goodness the Portuguese make in this manner They set up the Horn with the sharp end downwards on a Floor and hang over it a Sword with the Point downwards so as the Point of the one may touch the end of the other If the Horn be good and in its due season or age then the Sword turns round of it self but moves not over untimely and bad Horns The Bones of this Beast ground small and with Water made into Pap they prescribe as a Cure against inward Pains and Distempers being applied outwardly Plaister-wise The Kingdom of MATAMAN or rather CLIMBEBE THe Kingdom of Mataman Name commonly so call'd took that Denomination from its King the proper and right Name according to Pigafet being Climbebe or Zembebas Its Borders Borders as the same Author Linschot Peter Davitius and other Geographers hold in the North upon Angola Eastwards on the Westerly Shore of the River Bagamadiri to the South it touches upon the River Bravagul by the Foot of the Mountains of the Moon near the Tropick of Capricorn which the chiefest Geographers make a Boundary between this Kingdom and those Mountains and the Countrey of the Kaffers to the West along the Ethiopick-Sea that is from Angola or Cabo Negro in sixteen Degrees South Latitude to the River Bravagul a Tract of five Degrees and fifteen Minutes every Degree being reckon'd fifteen great Dutch Leagues or threescore English Miles Two Rivers chiefly water this Kingdom Rivers viz. Bravagul and Magnice the first takes its original out of the Mountains of the Moon Linschot or the River Zair and unites its Waters with those of Magnice springing out of a Lake by the Portuguese call'd Dambea Zocche and falling in the South-east into the Indian-Sea The Places of this Kingdom coasting the Sea are these Next the Black Cape right Eastward you may see the beginning of the Cold Mountains Mountains of the Moon on some Places for the abundance of Snow with which they lie cover'd are call'd The Snowy Mountains Then you come to the Crystal Mountains Crystal Mountains that shoot Northerly to the Silver Mountains and to Molembo by which the River Coari hath its course and makes a Border to the Kingdom of Angola At the Southerly Coast of Cymbebas near the Sea Calo Negro in sixteen Degrees and sixty Minutes South Latitude appeareth Cabo Negro or The Black Point so denominated because of its blackness whereas no other black Land can be seen from the one and twentieth Degree South Latitude On the top of this Point stands an Alabaster Pillar with an Inscription but so defaced by the injuries of Time and Weather that it is hardly legible and formerly upon the Head of it a Cross raised but at present fall'n off and lying upon the Ground The Coast from hence spreads a little North-east and East-North-east The spreading of the Coast The Countrey round about shews nothing but barren and sandy Hills without green and high sandy Mountains without any Trees More Southerly in the heighth of eighteen Degrees you come to a Point by the Portuguese call'd Cabo de Ruy piz das Nivez or Cabo de Ruy Pirez having to the Northward a great Inlet with sandy Hills and the Shore to the Black Point but Southward a High-land altogether sandy and reacheth to nineteen Degrees Farther to the South in nineteen Degrees and thirty Minutes lies a Bay call'd Golfo Prio and Prias das Nevas with double Land and full of Trees afterwards you come to the open Haven of Ambros in the one and twentieth Degree then going lower to the Southward the Sea-Coast resembles what we mention'd in the North shewing high white sandy Hills barren Land and a bad Shore A good way to the Westward of Cabo Negro lies a great Sand in the Sea in Portuguese call'd Baixo de Antonia de Viava or The
by one of its chiefest Mouths near the Kingdom of Melinde The Portuguese Writers will have this River Quilmanzi to be the same with Zebee which rises out of Maria a Territory in the Abyssynes from a place call'd Boxa and from thence running South with a swift course into the Kingdom of Gingiro Other Portuguese affirm That it lieth no more than a thousand Paces from Melinde being a very great River flowing out of the Abyssine Countrey but that they could never attain the full knowledge thereof because those that were sent to discover it were driven back and assaulted by the Inhabitants The Air is very Unhealthy Feaverish and Corrupt Air. and no less unwholsome are the products of the Earth caus'd partly from the Moorassness of the Grounds and partly from the multitude of Rivers and Lakes which makes this Countrey a great pack of Islands The Inhabitants are black having short curl'd Hair The constitution of the Inhabitants they go from the shoulders down to the middle naked but have their nether parts cover'd with party colour'd Clothes or wild Beasts Skins the Tails whereof especially among people of Quality hang down behind The Blacks on the Sea-Coast and of the near adjacent Islands Food live upon Fruits the flesh of wild Beasts and milk of the Cattel which they breed especially the Moors call'd Beduines who dwell a little deeper into the Countrey and Trade with the Kaffers Gold is none of the least advantages drawn from this Countrey Riches wherewith it so abounds for which onely they get a supply of all other necessaries The Natives of the main-Main-Land are Idolaters Religion but the Islanders almost all Mahumetans extracted from certain Arabians exil'd from their Countrey for introducing of some Heresie in their Religion as following the Doctrine of one Zaid Nephew of Hocem Son of Haly whereupon they were call'd Emossayders The Islands of QUIRIMBA OVer against Zanguebar L'Ambassade de D. Garvas Figuerra en Perse lie the Islands of Quirimba extending above fifteen miles along the Coast to the out-lying Point call'd in Portuguese Cabo del Gabo They are not all of one equal bigness nor alike distant from the Main-land and sever'd one from another by Channels so small and shallow that at low-Water they may be Waded over And although each Island hath its particular name yet the Portuguse call them all Quirinba The Islands were formerly inhabited by the Arabians as may plainly appear by the Ruines of the Houses and Mosques being built by people less barbarous than those that have their Residence there at this day of Lime Stone and Tiles like the Cities of Quiloa Monbaza and Melinde But since the Portuguese began to set forth their Ships to the East-Indies the Souldiers and Mariners out of a natural hatred and antipathy to all Mahumetans thought it not enough to rob them burn their Houses and Mosques and to carry them away for Slaves but with a sweeping Rage sparing neither Age nor Sex destroy'd all of the remainder These Islands many years since lay waste and void of people till some Portuguese from the Main-Land wafted themselves over thither and planted them and so became subject to the Governor of Mayambique about three and thirty miles from thence from whence every year cometh a Judge to decide Controversies The Lord of every Island hath his House built of Stone and Lime wherein resides his Wife Children and Slaves of both Sexes as also Friends and Servants whom they hire to have their assistance against the Negro's of the Main-Land which by their living so near are ready enough to do them a mischief And therefore both themselves and Slaves are Arm'd with Muskets Pistols and other Weapons Most of these Islands are not above half a mile or a mile in compass but very fruitful full of Palmito-Trees Oranges Figs Grapes Herbs and Pome-Citrons and excellently accommodated with fresh Water They have besides many Oxen Cows Goats and an infinite number of Fowl among which Wild-Pigeons and Turtle-Doves but Corn Rice Drugs dry'd and confected Fruits are brought to them from Ormus The Island of Quirinba is the biggest and was the first Peopled yet hath onely twenty five Houses inhabited by Portuguese and Mesties they stand not close together but lie scatter'd here and there two or three together Every one of these little Islands hath their own Governor which every three year are chang'd From Gou they receive a Dominican Priest who celebrates Mass and performs all other Sacred Duties to which end there stands a Cloyster in the midst of the Houses whither all those of these Islands come to do their Devotion The second of these Islands call'd Oybo Oybo is not so big as Quirinba but the Air more temperate and fresher so that a man may well say that the whole makes one pleasant Garden moisten'd and besprinkled in many places with the best and most wholsomest Waters in the world The other Islands have no Road nor Haven where Ships can come to an Anchor because in the deepest Channel at a low Ebb there is not three Foot water Over this Island Oybo a Portuguese Commands who dwells in a great and handsome House with Chambers below and above and behind it a Garden incompass'd with a Stone-Wall of two Fathom high with Spiers at the top so that it may seem in stead of a Bulwark This with assistance of his Houshold Family who are all Arm'd may be defended against any Incursion of the Blacks from the Main-Land if they should offer to attempt it but they live in good Peace one with another because of their mutual Trade The Kingdom of MONGALO and ANCHE or ANGOS UPon one side of the River Quama lieth Mongalo a Tract of Land inhabited by Mahumetans or Moors They have abundance of Gold brought thither from Monomotapa not far from thence you see the River Ango by Pigafet call'd in Italian Agnoscia by Moquet in French Angoche but by Barbosa Angos The Countrey produces great store of Mille Rice and Cattel The Inhabitants are of a middle Stature but very black they go with the upper part of the body naked but cover'd from the Girdle downward with Cotton and Silk Clothes Some wear Turbants upon their heads and others Caps made of Silk Stuff They use a peculiar form of Speech though many of them speak Arabick Language These Moors of Angos are all Merchants Trading in Gold Ivory Cotton Silk Their Customs Clothes and Kambain Beads or Bracelets The Cotton Silk Cloth and Beads they receive from the hands of the Merchants of Quiloa Mombaze and Melinde which bring them thither in small Baskets or Almides cut out of the whole Wood. They own no Governor unless one who speak their proper Language and by profession a Mahumetan yet all their care doth not keep them from a mixture of Heathenism The Kingdom of MOZAMBIKE A Little beyond Angos appeareth the Kingdom of Mozambike so call'd from the
Cities near the Atlantick Henry Duke of Viseo yongest Son of Henry the I. encourag'd by this good Success resolved to make this his Business and sparing no Cost invited from Spain and Italy expert persons for his purpose skilful in Navigation and Mathematical Sciences by whose help and diligence in 1420. he found Madera in 28. the Isle * These Names were all given by the Portugees at their first Discovery of the places Porto Sancto in 40. Cape de Verd and in 52. the Coasts of Guinee After this Prince laid open thus a new Way for Discoveries having gotten the honor to be the first that made the Portugees Sea-men being of a great Age he dyed in 1463. after whose death those Seas lay fallow twenty years which King John the Second afresh furrowed then up again and first discovered Angola and Congo St. Georges Isle conducted by Diego Cou in 1486. next year resolving to try further hoping to sayl round Africa and so finde a new Way to the East-Indies and assisted by Bartholomew Diar passing Cape Verd first found the Princes Isle thence steering South-ward reach'd the Great Southern Cape from thence either daunted by cross Windes rough Seas or mutinous Mariners they returned leaving the honor of this Great Enterprize to the fore-mentioned Vasques de Gamma for which imploy'd by Emmanuel King of Portugal after the Discovery of St. Johns Isle and St. Hellens he attempted the same Cape which Diar durst not then first calling it Cabo de Bona Esperanza there being first encouraged with hopes of finding the much desired way to the East-Indies Thence doubling this Great Point they steer'd northward Africk on their * The Left hand or north-side Larboard reaching the Coasts of Quiloa Mozambique Mombara and Melinde contracting an Amity with the Melindian King by whose assistance he found the Port Caliculo in the East-Indies from thence returning with unexpressible Joy and eternal Honor to Lisbon in 1500. The next year after Alvares Capralde with twelve Ships and fifteen hundred men prosecuted the Design but suffering Shipwrack on the Coast of Brazil desisted but the following year the former Vasques and his brother Stephen reassum'd the Undertaking with greater zeal and vigour afterward by Ferdinand Almeida and Alfonso de Albukerque and so from time to time by several of that Nation and last of all by the English and Hollanders By this means the Moderns were exactly informed of the particulars of Africa when the Ancients knew no more than the Limits of the Roman Empire and some parts belonging to Egypt hearing strange Stories of Beasts and Monsters whence arose this Adage Africa semper aliquid apportat novi Strange Monsters Africk always breeds ¶ THe Romans divided this Region into six Provinces The Roman Division first the Sub-Consulship in which were Carthage and Tunis called properly and especially by them Africa Next the Consulship of Numidia wherein was Cyrte now Constantine Bysacena being a part of that proper Africa which contained Adrumetum last the Tripolitan Consulship Tripoly being the Head City and two Mauritania's one Imperial containing Algier and Telesin the other Mauritania Tingitana the Realms of Morocko and Fez and Egypt which they also possess'd and these Inhabitants made no further discovery than what was known before so pinching up Africa that all was comprehended within Barbary excepting Egypt and some fragments of Numidia yet Plinie though a Roman mentions many other Nations as the Murri subdued by Suetonius Paulinus and Garamantes by Balbas the Romans also possessed Cyrenaica which they joyned to Creta Mela bounds Africa with the Nile and so also Dionysius scarce mentioning farther than Mauritania Numidia and Cyrenaica placing Egypt in Asia Strabo so shrinks Africk that he pities their ignorance that made it a third part of the World saying that Africa joyn'd to Europe would not both quadrary with Asia but Ptolomy knowing further did better swelling it to twelve Provinces as the two Mauritania's Numidia Cyrenaica Marmorica the inward and proper Lybia upper and lower Egypt Ethiopia under Egypt inward or south Ethiopia For by his Maps may be plainly seen that what lyes five or six degrees beyond the Equator he knew nothing of saying expresly that 64 degrees under the Southern Elevation were all Terrae Incognitae so the Ancients did not what they should in its Description Marmol p. 1. l. 2. cap. 2. 3. but what they could they contracting its Limits much more than Ptolomy taking Egypt and all betwixt the Nile from Africk conferring it on Asia Leo Africanus their most Eminent Author and curious Searcher of his Native Countrey in 1526. boasted that he had been through all yet makes no more than four Provinces as Barbarie Numidia or Biledulgerid Lybia and negro-Negro-land giving Nile for its bounds not the Arabian Gulf with the Streights of Sues to the Mid-land Sea so bestowing a great part of Egypt upon Asia Eastward and as Marmol says not once mentioning upper Ethiopia or Abyssine nor the nether nor many other places discovered by the Portugues since besides all that is now called New Africa extending from the sixteenth degree of Northern Latitude to the Great Southern Cape discovered by Vasques de Gamma ¶ THe most apt and usual Division of Africk Africa as now divided with the unanimous consent of late Geographers is as we shall here in a short Survey present ye The Main Land not reckoning the Isles they divide into * Provinces seven Parts Egypt Barbarie Biledulgerid the Desart Sarra Negro-land Inner or Upper Ethiopia or Prester John and the Outward or Nether Ethiopia Egypt is divided into the Upper Middle or Lower Barbarie makes six Divisions as the Kingdoms of Fez Marocco Tunis Tremesa and Dara and Barka onely not Monarchical Biledulgerid contains three Realms Targa Bardoa and Gaoga The Land of Locusts and four Wildernesses Lempta Haire Zuenziga and Zanbaga the Desart Sarra makes no Division Negro-land boasts nineteen Kingdoms Gualate Hoden Genocha Zenega Tombuti Melli Bittonnin Guinee Temian Dauma Cano Cassena Bennin Zanfara Guangara Borno Nubia Biafra and Medra Upper Ethiopia makes also nineteen Dafela Barnagasso Dangali Dobas Which seven Regions contain in all fifty Kingdoms and but one Re-publick Trigemahon Ambiaucantiva Vangue Bagamadiri Beleguance Angote Balli Fatigar Olabi Baru Gemen Fungi Tirut Esabella and Malemba Nether Ethiopia contains Congo Monomotapa Zanciber and Ajan The Isles belonging to Africa in the Straights are Malta opposing Tripoli Islands belonging to Africa in number twenty four in the Ocean Porto Sancto the Maderas Canaries the Isles of Cape de Verd or the Salt-Islands the Isles of Ferdinando Poo the Princes Island St. Thomas St. Matthews Ascension Anbon St. Helens the Isle of Martin Var Tristan de Cunha the Island Dos Pikos St. Marie de Augosta and the Trinity all which lye west from the Main Land Northward from the Cape of Good Hope and towards the East of Africk are the Isles of Elizabeth
and Cornelius Madagascar or St. Laurence St. Maries Comore and Mauritius and Socotara in the Mouth of the Arabian Gulf near the utmost Point of Guardafuy and other less Islands ¶ THe Hills of most remark are the Great and Lesser Atlas Hills the Mountains of the Sun the Salt-petre Hill Sierre Lyone Amara Mount Table and Os Picos Fragosos The Great Atlas call'd by the Natives Aydvacall as Marmol tells us and as Aug Curio Anchisa and by Olivarius Majuste runs thorow Africa as Taurus thorow Asia or the Alps Europe beginning in Marmarica and from thence extended to the west divides Barbary from Biledulgerid and though it hath many gaps and oft discontinues yet holds he on from Jubell Meyes to the utmost Mountains of Cehel and the Coast of Masra about twenty miles from Alexandria west-ward the Atlantick Ocean stops his course near the City Messa changing his name Aydvacall which often happens both to him and the lesser Atlas taking new Denominations from the several places they pass by No Mountain in all Africa is more celebrated by the ancient Poets than this amongst many take these from their Prince Virgil 4 Aen. Jamque volans apicem latera ardua cernit Atlantis duri Coelum qui vertice fulsit Atlantis cinctum assiduè cui nubibus atris Piniferum caput vento pulsatus imbri Nix humeros infusa tegit tum flumina mento Praecipitant senis glacie riget horrida barba And now the craggy top and lofty side Of Atlas which supporteth Heaven he spy'd A Shash of sable Clouds the Temples bindes Of Pine-crown'd Atlas beat with Rain and Windes Snow cloathes his Shoulders his starch'd Beard is froze And from the old Mans Chin a River flows All Writers affirm his wondrous height that he seems to reach the sky That side which views the Ocean to which he gave his Name is rugged bald and dry that towards the Land seems hairy with Bushes and shady with leavy Trees and watred with Springs so being made fertile in producing all sorts of Fruit that by day his Inhabitants not see well and that by night the Mountain seems to shine and send forth flames and as some say is full of Satyrs and abounds with Echoes resounding like Flutes Trumpets and Tabors The Lesser Atlas call'd Lant coasts with the Mid-land Sea there known by the Name of Errif extended from Gibraltar unto Bona the Spaniards call both Atlas'es Montes Claros or the Shining Mountains because their eminency renders them perspicuous far off or that their Spires shine above the Clouds Thus Diego de Torres But the Moors saith Strabo call them Dyris On the Cape where the Atlantick shoots into the Mediterranean Sea opposite to Europe appears the Mountain Abyle now by the Spaniard call'd Sierra Ximiera or Sierra de las Monas that is Ape-hill against this shews Calpe in Spain these are the Herculean Pillars so much celebrated with a ne plus ultra by ancient Writers The Chrystal Mountain according to Pigafet in his Congo shoots to the Sky his spiry and un-inhabitable Towers on the Eastern skirts of that Province there are found rich Mines of Chrystal Near which is the Mountain of the Sun so call'd from its wondrous height and being barren of all Vegetables On the same side Eastward appears the Salt-petre Hill so nam'd from the abundance fetcht from thence This Mountain divides the River Sarbeles whose sides are so watered by its parted Streams Amara that gives the vast Kingdom of Amara denomination consists of most high and inaccessible Hills which stand as Out-works to a strong Fort in the middle where the Kings Sons have Education kept with double Guards till their Fathers decease then the next Heir taken from thence enjoys the Crown The Mountains of the Moon which lye betwixt the Tropick of Capricorn and the Great Southern Cape are the highest in Africa or Europe now call'd by the Inhabitants Betsh they are Ledges of barren Rocks always cloath'd with Snow and continued Ice extending to the Coasts of Ceva in Goyame Eminent Writers would prove though false that the Head of the Nile springs amongst these And Ptolomy hath left on Record that his Overflowings are fed with the dissolution of these Mountains Snow At the Cape of Good Hope appears the Table-Mount so call'd from the flatness of its Crown like a Diamond so squar'd not far from the Shore on the South-side of a pleasant River from whence by a Cliff they scale the top no way else any accession being very steep and wondrous high seen from the * From the Sea Offin nine or ten leagues three or four hours before a Storm it seems to frown and grow sullen then veyling with more thick and opacous Clouds Westward from this is Mount Lyons either supposed their Palace being a Receptacle of those Royal Beasts or that the Hill resembles a Lyon couchant Near Mount Table are those the Spaniards call Os Picos Fragosos and the Italians Pici Fragosi signifying sharp or rough such being their aspiring tops continually covered with Snow all ranging in order one by another at whose foot runs a great and swift River which comes down from the Countrey On the Border of Guinee appears another Mount Lyons Sierra Leona in Spanish in Portugues Sierra Lioa there are several other Mountains in Africk of wonderful height and wealthy in Mynes but we pass them over till we speak of them at large in their due place and Descriptions of their several Countreys ¶ THis Region abounds also with many great Lakes Lakes the chiefest is that they call the Zaire or Zembre which Linschot takes to be the Old Triton out of whose bosom issues two famous Rivers that water the Kingdom of Congo the Coanze and Lalande Some affirm that from the Nile Zambere or Couama have here their original of which more at large hereafter ¶ NOr are here great Rivers wanting as the Nile the Niger Rivers call'd by the Spaniards and Italians Rio Grande or the Great River also Sanaga or Sanega the Gambre Zaire Couama and Holy Ghost River all which by their flyings out and overflowings make more fertile their neighboring Margines what concerns the Nile best known to us in Europe we will discourse at large when we make our entry into Egypt and of all his Benefits accrewing to that Countrey and so of the rest in their order ¶ AS for the Soyl it is very rich producing all sorts of Vegetables Animals The Soyl. and Minerals what ever of these Europe or Asia boasts Africa hath besides no small production of its own which the other have not unless brought over by Merchants and Travellers with us presented for strange Monsters in Shews at Fairs Markets and the like Such as are in common with us I shall not mention but those Creatures most of them peculiar to that Countrey but all strangers to Europe will require an exact Inquisition and here a room to
the Portugues into those parts have received the Gospel At this day Africa is possess'd by five sorts of Religions viz. Christians Five sorts of Christians Africa by whom possess'd at this time Jews Caffers Idolaters and Mahumetans The Christians in Africa are partly Strangers and partly Natives whereof some Slaves to the Turks and Barbarians others are free people Of these again some are Orthodox as to Fundamentals such are they under the Government of the King of Spain the Venetians English Netherlanders and Genoese c. Others Heterodox Superstitious and Schismatical as in Prester John's Countrey and some part of negro-Negro-land Others live here and there scatter'd as the Armenians Maronists Georgians Thomists and Grecians the first acknowledge the Patriarch of Alexandria the last the Patriarch of Constantinople and the rest have their own peculiar Prelates Here likewise on the Sea-coast several sorts of people at certain seasons of the year assemble to Negotiate and Trade with the English Hollanders French Trade and Commerce Danes c. who make constant and frequent Voyages over the whole Coast of Barbary along the Mediterranean Sea unto the Streights of Gibraltar and from thence to Cape de Verd and the Cape of Good Hope the two first of whom have rais'd Forts and Fortresses in divers places on the Coast of Guinee to secure and confirm their Trade Many Jews also are scatter'd over this Region Judaism spread through Africa some Natives boasting themselves of Abrahams seed inhabiting both sides the River Niger Others are Asian Strangers who fled thither either from the desolation of Jerusalem by Vespasian or from Judea wasted and depopulated by the Romans Persians Saracens and Christians Or else such as came out of Europe whence they were banish'd viz. Out of some parts of Italy in the year 1342. Out of Spain in the year 1462. Out of the Low-Countreys in 1350. Out of France in 1403. Out of England in 1422. These all differ in habit and are divided into several Tribes having no Dominion though both wealthy and numerous but despised of all Nations and so abominated by the Turks that they are not admitted to be Mahumetans unless first Baptized And then no otherwise made use of than to receive their Customes and gather in their Taxes The Caffers or Libertines who hold many Atheistical Tenets live together promiscuously without Ceremonies like our Familists * Or Hectoring Debauchees that make their summum bonum a distolute life hating business and all manner of ingenuity or Adamites following their sensuality and unbridled lust inhabiting from Mosambique to the Cape of Good Hope The Idolaters are numerous in Negro-land Upper and Lower Ethiopia and towards the great Ocean except as we hinted before some few who by the industry of the Portugueses and Spamards have been converted and baptized in several places The Mahumetans possess at this present a great part of Africa arriving there from Asia and Arabia of whom we will a little enlarge Some of them are Non-conformists living uncontrouled and without Laws nor acknowledging any Principality having their Meeting-places in the Wildernesses of Lybia Barka and Biledulgerid Those of Marocco Fez and some Ethiopian people have their Kings whereas the Inhabitants of Algiers Tunis Tripoli and Egypt are govern'd by Deputies and Lieutenants that is Turkish Bassa's ¶ MAhomet was born When Mahumetism began and Mahomet born as most Authors hold in the Reign of the Emperor Mauritius Anno Christi 592. though some would have it eleven years sooner others sixteen years later at a mean Village in Arabia call'd Itrapea his Father an Ishmaelite Abdellas his Mother a Jewess by name Cadiges different you see both in Nation and Religion They say he was twenty three years in brooding of his Monstrous Issue the Alcoran dying in the Emperor Constantius his time in 655. at the Age of sixty three years though some stick not to say he poyson'd himself in the thirty fourth year of his age NOVA AEGYPTI TABULA ¶ THe Mahumetans have divers Sects Divers Sects of Mahumetans the first follow the Alcoran in the literal sense of this Sect are many Marabouts among the Arabians The second follow Elhesibnu Abilhazen born in the City of Bafra and the Father of it eighty years after Mahomet's Decease he left no book behind him but taught his Disciples certain Rules and Commands which Mahomet never prescribed which after was carry'd down to Posterity by Tradition They are numerous in Egypt and Cyrene where they usually spend their time in Poesie Dancing glad Acclamations singing Love-Songs and the like The third Sect had for Founder one Elhari Ibnu Esed born at Bagadat a hundred years after the former he left his Disciples some Books but the whole Fraternity was shortly after condemned by the Mufti and whole Divan of their Doctors yet after eighty years it revived again under another famous Teacher whose fortune no better than the former he and his followers were condemned to death but upon better defence of their Doctrine they were released and since that continued a hundred years until Maliksach of the Turkish race descending from the greater Asia banish'd all of this opinion whereupon some fled to Cairo and the rest sheltred in Arabia Under this cloud they continued near twenty years to the Reign of Kaselsah Nephew of Maliksach when Nidan Elmule one of his Councel and a man of a daring Spirit much enclining to this Doctrine so restor'd it with the help of one Elgazulli who wrote divers learned Expositions thereon that he reconciled the Doctors aforesaid to them of this Sect on condition that the Doctors should be stiled The Preservers of Mahomet's Law and these his Disciples The Correctors of it This Agreement lasted till the ruine of Bagadat by the Tartars since which they have dispers'd themselves almost over all Asia and Africa accounting all other Mahumetans Hereticks while themselves by the vulgar are reputed Saints though guilty of all manner of impieties They Elect one High-Priest whom they name Eloth There are many other Mahumetan Sects as the Cabalists Sanaquites c. Seventy two Sects of Mahumetans amounting in all to seventy two By some all these are reduced to two viz. that of Lashari spreading over all Africa Egypt Syria Arabia and Turky And that of Imamie embraced over all Persia and in the City of Corazan These two Sects differ in many points for the Arabian Lashari maintain that God is Author of good and evil But the Persian Imamie say he is onely Author of good The Persians hold God onely to be Eternal but the Turks say the Law is so also The Persians believe the Souls in bliss see not God but in his works whereas the Turks affirm he shall be visible in his * That is corporally herein agreeing with the old Hereticks the Authropomorphites who ascribed humane figure unto God after which they conceived he created man in his own likeness Essence The Persians
more his torrent with impetuous waves Drawn up against his rage A second the Ocean from whence they supposed that superabundance of water came at that season The third was rain because as Democritus writes at that time in the Southern parts great quantities of rain pours down the Trade-winds driving the clouds that way Anaxagoras a great Naturalist holds the melting of the snow in the Ethiopian Mountains as a cause agreeing therein with Euripides Aquam pulchram deserens Fluminis Nili quae extera defluit Nigrorum hominum tunc tumefacit undas Quum Aethiopicae nives liquuntur Then leaving pleasant streams of Nile Issuing from the Negro soil Who annually his Banks o'reflows At Thaws of Aethiopian Snows But Ephorus a Scholar of Isocrates says it proceeds from an abundance of moisture all the Winter retained in Subterranean Caverns which at the approach of the Summer solstice break forth and evaporate like Sweat by an insensible transpiration to such a quantity as produces the rising of the River Contrary to which Lucan l. 10. says thus Vana fides veterum Nilo quod crescat in arva Aethiopum prodesse nives non Arctos in illis Montibus aut Boreas testes ubi Sole perusti Ipse color populi calidisque vaporibus Austri Adde quod omne caput fluvii quodcunque soluta Praecipitat glacies ingresso Vere vanescit Prima tabe nivis Slight antient Saws that Nile his banks o'reflows From melting swoln of Ethiopian Snows No Boreas hoars those hills their people tan'd With sweltring Southern Windes and scalding Sand No streams in brimmers from their Fountains post Till Spring dissolves the hoards of Winter frost Kircher in his Enquiries upon this subject first makes the natural scite and disposition of the Ethiopian Mountains a prime and the condition of the Channel a second cause but after coming more home to the point he gives two more probable One when their mouths are so obstructed they cannot discharge their Water Another when the Channels receive more than they are wont or can contain This later happens either through molten Snow or the falling of excessive Rain Thales one of the seven Grecian Sages asserts the former opinion Anaxagoras and most other Philosophers the second and in truth the belief that the increase of Rivers proceeds from violent Rains hath obtained the greatest credit being manifest not onely in Countreys lying under the North-Pole but even in Mountainous parts under the Line such as tâ—â— Hills of Andes in America and the Mountains of the Moon in Africk These great Rains come not from the Clouds driven thither by annual Windes but from those exhaled in Ethiopia it self which are so much the greater as the Sun-beams there in a perpendicular line have the greater vigour to attract for which reason at the Suns coming out of Gemini the matter causing Nile to overflow is onely preparing but when the Sun enters Cancer then the Nile and other Rivers pass over their Banks among whom the great African River Niger then passing between mighty Mountains in West-Ethiopia dischargeth himself into the Ocean With this of Kircher agrees Odoardo Lopez saying Odoardo Lopez there Rains fall from the beginning of March till August not by drops as with us in Europe but pouring down as it were by whole Payls or Buckets full with such impetuousness that they cause all streams to swell above their Banks The reasons of the overflowing of Nile being thus shewn Kircher starts up two new Difficulties viz. Why the mentioned Rains fall the Sun passing the Northern Signs and not at any other time The second Why the Rains which fall in the Moors Countrey do not cause the same overflowing Or why Egypt onely in the overflowing of Nile should so much participate of it as to seem no Land but all Main Sea As to the first it is to be observ'd Why the Rain falls in the Moors Countrey when the Sun is in the North. that a constant effect cannot be produced without a certain and constant cause Now the Position of the Sun and natural Scituation of the Ethiopian Mountains are the chiefest and greatest cause of these Rains and the overflowing of Nile and some other Rivers for wise and provident Nature hath made these Mountains especially those between the Equinoctial and the Winter Tropick in 22 degrees of Southern Latitude and which encompass the Southerly Ethiopia on the East South and West to be as hollow or concav'd Burning-glasses which lying to the Sun in his Northern Latitude fitly gathers and so concenters his Beams that they reverberate such a fiery heat as makes extraordinary Exhalations by which abundance of thick Clouds are consequently engendred which crouded and thrust together by the Trade-windes at that time always Northerly and beaten towards the capacious Receptions of the aforesaid Mountain Convexities are dissipated thence at length by the fervent cold descending from the tops of the Hills and so are dissolved and come pouring down in hideous Showres or rather in Streams Floods or Rivers of Rain from whence it appears that Nature hath set them as Receptacles of Vapors and Clouds for how much the scituation of Mountains not onely in Ethiopia but also in other parts of the World conduce to the breeding of Windes and Rain is not strange to any who have made search into Natural Causes To the second 't is answer'd Why the Nile overflowâ— onely in Egypt and not in the Moors Countrey That the Channels of Nile are the cause of its overflowings For as the Channels of Rivers running between the sides of Mountains are deeper so they can swallow the greater quantity of waters because the Mountains hinder their overflowing and running away On the other side where the Channels are shallow and go through flat places and wide extended Grounds with Banks low the more overflowing they are subject to The great Mountains therefore pouring down waters between their narrow Openings and Precipices into the Nile makes it flow far and near over its shallow Channels not able to contain that abundance And for this reason all the flat Grounds in the Moors Countrey are subject to the like Nilian overflowings As therefore the natural Scituation and Position of the Mountains which are so conjoyn'd as we before said and the Plains surrounded by them serving for a Laboratory as it were The shallowness of the banks in Egypt a cause of the overflowing of Nile to make Rain in is an infallible cause of Showres at set-times So also must the Natural Position and Constitution of the Channel of Nile be held for a certain cause of his overflowing Now the reason why these Rains fall when the Sun is in the Northerly Signs Why it rains when the Sun is in the Northern Signs must be attributed to Annual Winds call'd by the Portuguese General or Trade-Windes which at the Suns entrance into Capricorn come blustering out of the North and turn the Clouds to Rain but when the
from Putrifaction of the Air Seldom does the Pestilence in Egypt arise from the Putrifaction of the Air. unless the Nile overflowing the Countrey too high leaves his Water a long while upon the Ground whereby the whole Land becomes as a corrupt and standing Lake that by the Southerly Winds and Summer Heat are ripened and made fit to send up infectious Vapours There being then no Natural Cause to breed this Contagion within Egypt The Pestilence is always brought over from other Places into Egypt it follows that it is brought thither from other Neighbouring and Bordering Places and especially out of Greece Syria and Barbary That which is brought thither out of Greece and Syria and falls upon Caire is very milde kills few and holds but a short time But when it comes from Barbary thither it is most pernicious and of longest continuance Such was that in the Year Fifteen hundred and eighty that raged so furiously that in a short time it clearly swept away above five hundred thousand men By the continual rising of the Dust Why the Baths are in great use among the Egyptians and extraordinary Sweating the Bodies of the People become foul nasty and verminious and therefore Baths are of very great use to cleanse and keep them sweet and free from breeding Cattel But the Women with most frequency and care use Bathing as intending or at least imagining that such Lotions make them more pleasing to their Husbands and to have a gracious and pleasant Scent in their Nostrils when they come together to recreate themselves They take little care of their Hair Alpin de mâ—de Egypt ordering it slightly according to the manner of the Countrey in a Silken Caul but are very curious elsewhere using the Razor where necessary Afterwards they anoint themselves with several rich Perfumes such as Musk Amber Civet and the like which there are bought in great abundance for a small matter as aforesaid This frequent Bathing and Anointing they use not onely for Ornament Fat Women are pleasing to the Egyptians Cleanliness and Coolness but especially to make them if lean to become plump and fat because such Women be highly esteemed of in those Parts by which means some grow Bona-Roba's and others out of all measure with fathomless Wastes like foul Sows chiefly the Jews whose Women are more liable to that undecent Extream All in general when they are Bathing the sooner to facilitate their Design What they do to be fat take nourishing cool Broaths and Cordial Jellies on purpose made of Pinguefying Ingredients to wit Bammia Melochia and Colocasia The poorer sort in the Bannias drink the Settling of the Oyl of Sesamus Seed which they call Thaine or the decoction of China Roots or the Oyl pressed out of the Indian Nuts or the Fruit of the Turpentine-Tree Sweet Almonds Hasle-nuts and Pistaches eating besides much food and Flesh of fatted Fowls with the Broath boiled to a Jelly and mixed therewith Nor do these Lotions and Unctions suffice The chasing of the Body unless attended with a threefold Frication The first is done with the naked palm of the hand anointed with the Oyl of Sesamus the second with a rough linnen cloth and the third with a course cloth of Goats-hair After which they are rubbed all over with Sope which they wash off in a Bath of warm sweet-Water And lastly they lay upon their Feet a mixture of the Powder of Archanda mixed with ordinary water and is very serviceable for moist and stinking Feet drying them speedily by its great astringency At Cairo and Alexandria great multitudes of Houses are appointed for the use of Baths which have many Caves Cellars or Chambers The Superfluity of Baths at Cairo wherein people sweat are chafed and washed containing at all times hot warm and cold Baths but usually moderately warm because principally in use among them The Egyptians keep a slender and sparing Table eating little but often The Egyptians feed sparingly but often They are not pleased with Variety but content themselves with one Dish of Meat at a meal And if Flesh eat sparingly of it as having no great appetite thereto but when they do they chuse Mutton simply cook'd without either addition or Sauce to it But of late some Merchants have begun to learn to eat Chickens They chiefly delight in moist Food Their Food and therefore commonly use Rice boiled in preserved Juices of Linse Erwetes white Cives Melochia Beets Melda Coale Bammia Cucumers or Chate the Roots of Colocasia Melons Dates Musae Fruit Figs Apricocks Peaches Oranges Lemons Citrons Granates The poor people eat Beef and Camels flesh and some Fish as Pikes or Pickerels and many other and among the rest the flesh of the Crocodile In places near the Sea Fish may be had in great abundance which they eat without distinction for the most part salted and sometime half rotten Milk and all that come of it or are made with it is with them in very great use And as they are best pleased in simple Diet of one kinde of Food They eat not many sorts of Food so a little of it contents them For many make their Dinner and Supper onely of Melons or Wheaten Bread some of such simple Broth as we mentioned before and others chew upon a green Sugar-Cane or onely with Figs or Grapes or Cucumers or some such trifling Diet. All their Pot-herbs and Fruits are moister than the European and therefore more unsavoury The Fishes are unwholesom In like manner the Fishes taken in the Nile are fat enough and pleasant in Taste but accounted unwholesom because that River hath no stony or gravelly but a sedimented bottom and the Water unsetled with a flying Lee which must of necessity make the Fishes that breed in it unwholesom The common Drink of the Countrey is the Nile Their Drink which is very sweet but the Christians and Jews drink Wine also as also some Turks and especially the Soldiers that often at Cairo take the Creature in such abundance that they return home laid athwart on Asses Backs in those mad and inebriating Frolicks no more minding their Prophets Wine-forbidding Laws The best Wine for in Egypt there grows none is brought from the Island of Candy Rhodes and Cyprus the Wine of Italy Corcyre and Zacynthe turning sowre presently This Water of Nilus The Water of Nilus very wholesom to drink which by the length of his Current and the Heat of the Sun must needs be sufficiently concocted and made thin is very wholesom for as to the dregs or muddy part thereof the Egyptians have a way to make it clear which they do in this manner As soon as the Water is brought home in Leathern Flasks or Bottles they put it in long-neck'd great earthen Jugs or Jarres with broad round Bellies anointing the edge a little with stamp'd sweet Almonds then taking a handful of the same they thrust their Arm into
of the Marriage-Portion with Donna Catharina Daughter of the most Illustrious Family of Portugal now our Soveraign Lady and His Majesties Royal Consort who in her Right duly possessed thereof hath not onely much improved the Fortifications but also erected a stupendious Mold a strong and safe Harbour for Shipping from whence he may take cognisance or speak with any that pass the Straits of Gibraltar by which it stands either into the Mediterrane or Atlantick Ocean and the Garrison of English now there fear not at all what the power of the Moors can or dare do by Land ¶ THe Countrey round about yields little Corn The Condition of the Countrey but there are many Gardens which produce Citrons Lemons and other Fruits in abundance The Mountains adjoyning to the City are replete with fertile Vineyards but more toward the Inland the whole is covered with Sand. At the Mouth of the Straits stands Kosar Ezzakir Kosar Ezzachir known vulgarly by the name of Alcacar or Alcaser The Founder was Mansor King of Morocco who built it as a fit conveniency from whence to Embarque for an easie passage to Granada The Passage thence to Granada Alphonsus the First King of Portugal in the Year Fourteen hundred forty and eight took it with a triumphal Victory But in the Year Fourteen hundred and forty nine the King of Morocco twice Attaqued it strongly but was by the Valour of the Portuguese bravely Repulsed In the same Straits stands Ceuta so called both by the Spaniards and Portugals by Melle Septa and by Ortelius taken for the Lexiliss of Ptolomy distant not above three Miles from the Coast of Granada The Straits three Miles over at the narrowest from which separated by that Strait so narrow that Men and Beasts may be seen and distinguished from the one or the other Shore It has had many Masters as the Romans into whose place came the Goths whom the Mahumetans dispossessed as themselves at last were in the Year Fourteen hundred and fifty by John King of Portugal This is a Place considerable and reasonably well built notwithstanding the fatal miseries it three several times underwent both by Fire and Sword first under Habdul-Mumin King of Morocco the second under Mahometh of Granada the third under the Kings of Portugal who the severity of the War passed to encourage others to build beautified it with a strong Castle and Palace A little distant from this lies an inclosed Ground Vinnones called the Vinnones that is Vine-Hill for the great abundance of Vines there growing and indeed that 's all it can boast for the other Grounds are Barren and which is the reason of the extream dearness of all sorts of Grain there ¶ THe Inland Places are these Ezagen Ezagen three Miles from the River Guarga and twenty Miles from Fez having abundance of excellent Springs and Fountains Beni-Teuds Beni Teude or Bani Teud supposed the Baba of Ptolomy or Julia Campestris of Pliny in a pleasant Plain on the same River fifteen Miles from Fez containing heretofore Eight thousand Buildings but now lieth Waste So also Mergo Mergo by Marmol called Amergo by others Tokoloside five Miles from Beni Teude the Ruines of its Walls still shew some Latine Inscriptions though much obliterated Tansor Tansor by Marmol called Tansert and by the Arabians Tehart and Triside two Miles from Amergo between Fez and Mount Gomere Agle Agle or Aguile a Walled City close to the River Guarga or Erguile formerly spoiled by the English but at present recovered and reasonably well peopled Narangia Narangia three Miles from Ezagen on the River Lukkus At the Mouth of which three Miles from the Sea and fifteen from Fez appears the Island Gezire by the Spaniards called Gratiosa and perhaps is the Cerna mentioned by Ptolomy Close by Narangia The Ruines of Bezat but more into the Land may be seen the Ruines of Bezat by some called Lixa and by others Besara or Besra It stood in a Plain between two Mountains three and thirty Miles from Fez and seven from Casar el Kabir boasting of the number of two and twenty thousand Buildings Homam also heretofore a flourishing Pile of Buildings Homam but now a ruinous Heap Tettigin or Tetuan by the Inhabitants call'd Tetuain about seven miles from Ceute and eleven from the Atlantick Ocean The Name signifies An Eye gotten from a crooked Countess who rul'd over this place The banish'd Moors of Granada did it much mischief but it hath recover'd its pristine Beauty having within strong Walls and a deep and broad Trench eight hundred well built Houses ¶ THis Dominion hath eight eminent Mountains viz. Rahone The Mountaint of Habat Benefensecare Beni Aroz Chebib Angera Quadres Beniguedarfeth Rahone or Arahone riseth close by Ezagen extending in Length ten miles and in Breadth four Beni Aroz by Marmol stil'd Beni Maras close to Kasar Elkabir seven miles long and onely three broad Chebib or Beni Telit eight miles from Tangier noted for six or seven small wall'd Villages there standing Beni Hassen a very high Mountain Angera about eight miles South of Little Kasar is three miles long and one mile broad Quadres otherwise Huat Idris and Vateres borders on Beni Aroz lying between Ceute and Tituan And lastly Beniguedarfeth adjoyning to Teteuain ¶ THis Province is well water'd and exceeding fertile The Condition of Habat especially from Ezaggen to the River Guarga being ten miles wherein lye nothing but Gardens Then from Beniteude to the Mountain Gumere containing forty miles as also round about Homam are abundance of Corn-Fields and Pastures well stockt with Cattel Rabone yields plenty of Grapes out of which they press both White and Red Wine Homar and Angere afford Flax. Benefensecare great quantity of excellent Honey Tansor feeds great Cattel sufficient to supply their Neighbors Lions also breed there but so faint-hearted that upon the noise of Women or Children they flye So that they have a Proverb in this Countrey concerning Cowards That they give their Tails to the Cows to eat ¶ THe People of Mergo have a high Conceit of themselves The Manners or Customs of the Inhabitants as being of a frank and generous Nature but are indeed covetous rude and ignorant so are those of Tansor Those of Bafra were formerly very courteous and simple or sincere but with the Change of the State have so alter'd their Manners that now they are quite contrary The Mountaineers are strong of Body very laborious and active but unwillingly submit to any Command being strangers to all Laws and good Order ERRIF ERrif hath on the East the River Nakor The Borders of Errif on the West the Territory of Habat on the North part of the Midland-Sea and on the South the Mountains over against the River Guarga in the Province of Fez Extending in Length from East to West fourteen and in Breadth from North to South eight miles
The Houses upon the Mountains are made of Clay or Loame and covered with Barks of Trees or Rushes wherein they shelter their Cattel from the extremity of Weather There is also in this Jurisdiction a strange Bridge over the River Subu A strange Bridge between the two high Mountains Beni Jasga and Selelgo which the Inhabitants for conveniency of passage from one to the other have built in this manner They have set two great Beams on either Shore of the River to each whereof hangs a Pully through which run two great Cables with a Basket fastened to one of them wherein ten Men may easily sit and when any would go over he puts himself into the Basket tied to the uppermost Rope and so drawing the lowermost conveys himself to the one or other side ¶ THe greatest part of this Countrey is Rough and Craggy The Quality of this Territory Dry and Barren excepting one little Spot replenished with Gardens and watered with smooth purling Rivulets ¶ THe Lands about Teze and Matgare are extraordinary fertile and the Air very clear and wholsom Garsis boasts of many well-planted Gardens fruitful Valleys full of Vines black and red Grapes but not good to make Wine Megese and Beniguersenage bear much Flax and the latter Wheat Olives Citrons and Quinces The Gardens of Benijesseten afford Grapes Dates and Peaches the last of which the Inhabitants cut into four pieces and dried in the Sun is accounted a great Dainty The Mountains in general are Woody wherein harbour many wild Beasts such as Lions Leopards Apes besides abundance of good Cattel viz. Sheep bearing a very fine Fleece which the Women make into Coverlets and Cloth so fine that at Fez they give any Rates for it Goats profitable both for their Milk and Skins Horses Asses and Mules not onely profitable to the Inhabitants by their Labour but upon Sale yielding very good Barter The Mountains Zis and Gerseline produce an incredible multitude of Serpents Tame that they creep into the Houses and are as familiar as Catts and Dogs they twine themselves about what they eat and eat what is given them without hurting any body unless first disturbed or abused ¶ THe People of Megese and Zis are White Strong-limmed Swift of Foot The Quality of the Inhabitants and active Horsemen They of Tezerghe are homely but the Women of Baronis very white handsom shaped and well set Those of Benijesseten are Clownish Ignorant and void of all Education living as Beasts whereas on the contrary the Inhabitants of Mazattase Benijasga and Gueblen are lovers of Learning of civil Deportment and Courteous ¶ NOr are their Conditions more various than their Habits The Habit of the Inhabitants for the Mazetasians go neatly Clad the Baronians wear much Silver they of Benijesseten Iron Rings and Pendants labour in the Woods or tend Cattel for the most part going Bare-foot or at best wearing Shoes made of Bulrushes Those of Zis wear onely a Woollen Shirt girt about their Loyns with a Towel without any Covering upon their Heads Winter or Summer ALGIER THe Kingdom of Algier so called from the Head City of the same Name The Kingdom of Algier includes at this day according to Peter Davity Reyame de Alger p. 166. the ancient Cesarian or Imperial Mauritania yet excludes Dara bestowing * Introd Geogr. lib. 4. cap. 109. it on Numidia or Biledulgerid whereas Cluverius Treats of it under Barbary as wholy included in Mauritania Caesariensis without any relation to Biledulgerid This Kingdom together with Bugie Constantine Its Borders and other adjacent Territories heretofore a Member of Tremecen or Telensin but now it self incorporated into this hath for Borders in the West Mauritania Tingitana Easterly part of Fez from which divided by the Rivers Zis and Muluy on the South the Desarts of Numidia and Biledulgerid on the East Tunis and on the North the Surges of the Midland-Sea It runs along by the Coasts of the Mediterrane It s Extent from the Mouth of the River Muluye to that of Susgemar being in length from West to East above an hundred and-fifty Spanish miles though in other places not above twenty Peter Dan in his History of Barbary augments it to an hundred sixty and two French miles that is in the East by Tabarka to the Kingdom of Tunis and the West by Oran to the Kingdom of Fez. Marmol divides the whole into four Provinces viz. Tremecen or Telensin Tenez The Partition Algier and Bugie Gramay in his Description of Africa says The Turks divide it into ten lying towards the Sea and into ten towards the Inland and each of which hath a City called Alzier Bugia Gigeri Constantine Bona Sargel Horan Humanbar Haresgol Tebesse Beniarax or Beniaraxid Miliane Angad Tenez and Tremecen or Telensin formerly a Kingdom of it self besides the Kingdom of Kouco Labez Tikarte and Huerguela which two last now belong to Numidia ¶ THe chiefest Rivers watering the whole Countrey The Rivers of Algier are Zis Hued Habra Tesne Mina Xilef Celef Ceffaye Hued el Harran Hued el Hamiz Hued Icer Hued el Quibir Sufgemar Marsoch and Yadoch all which rise out of the Great Atlas and finish their course in the Midland-Sea The Ziz The River Ziz. a large Stream deriving his Head as we mentioned before from Atlas floweth through the Desart of Angued and at last joyning with Hued Habra falls into the Mediterrane the Waters hereof are very clear and well replenished with Fish Hued Habra Hued Habra ariseth in Tremecen and uniting with Zis in the Plains of Cira changes its Name to Cirat so passing the desolate City Arzeo empties her Waters into the Mediterrane Tesne Tesne by Ptolomy called Siga and by the Natives Harelgol a little Brook descending from Atlas takes a Northern course through the Desart of Angued and so giving a Visit to Tenzegzet falls into the Sea five miles Westward of Oran Mina Mina a midling River called by Ptolomy Chylemath runs from Atlas Northward falling into the Sea near Arzeo Zilef Zilef formerly called Cartena a great River springs out of Guanecexis and passing through the Plains of Tremezen intermingles his Waters with the Sea near Mostagan Both the sides of it are inhabited by Rich and Warlike Arabians called Fledsueid which can bring into the Field above Two thousand Horse and Three thousand Foot Celeph Celeph supposed to be the Chinalaph of Ptolomy whose Banks are shadowed with pleasant Groves adjoyning waters the Metiasian Valleys at length disemboguing into the Sea three miles from Algier Ceffaye Ceffaye or Soffaye or Soffaye the Save of Ptolomy enters the Mediterrane close by Metafuz Eastward of Algier Hued el Harran Huid el Harrax Hued el Hamiz and Hued el Hamiz Winter Rivers but Summer Brooks mix with the Sea between Algier and Ceffaye Hued Icer Hued Icer thought to be Ptolomy's Serbere springs from Atlas and
the Arabians also in awe in regard they were able to bring twenty thousand Men into the Field many of which were Musquetiers who were so well Exercised and Disciplined that more then once they have put the Turks to flight yet at present they own themselves Subjects to the Bashaw of Tripoli Paying him the same Tribute they did the King of Tripoli who was supposed to draw from thence yearly eighty thousand Ducats MECELLATA THis Territory being the great Syrtes by the Arabians call'd Ceirat el Quibir lieth about eight miles from Tripoli by the Sea-Coast Ptolomy names its chief Town Makomaka or rather Calummacula There are still three other populous Villages call'd of old Aspis Sakramasa and Pyrgos Eufranta and by the Moderns Lard Cedick and Eufrata Not far thence on the Sea-Coast stands Sibaka by Ptolomy named Aporisburgh then the Cape of Sorta formerly the Point of Hippie Nain taken for Ptolomy's Philenes and by the Roman Historiographers the Altar of the Philenii highly reverenced by the Carthaginians being the Sepulchres of the Philenii two Brothers who sacrificed their lives for the safeguard of their Countrey The Countrey yields exceeding plenty of Dates Olives and Oyl They can bring six thousand Men into the Field are under a particular Lord having with their Neighbors the Arabs sometimes Peace and sometimes War as they are necessitated At this day they are Subjects to the Turks though Gramay maintains they acknowledge neither Turks nor Arabians yet follow the Mahumetan Platform in the way of their Worship MESRATA Or CYRENAICA THis Province of Mesrata Marmol calls Cyrenaica or Pentapolis and the Moderns Korene and the Moors Ceyret Cyrenaica once part of the Antient Lybia beginning by the unanimous Consent of all Geographers at the Philenian Altar beforementioned and did extend as Mela and Strabo averre to the Valley of Katabathmus in Egypt and to Nylus by consequence comprehending Marmarica At this present Mesrata is distant about nineteen miles from Tripoli Westward of the Territory of Mesellata and Eastward of Barka containing five Cities from whence call'd Pentapolis which carries as much in its signification Their Names be these Cyrene Berenice by Mela call'd Hesperia Apollonia Ptolemais and Arsinoe or Teuchire Cyrene the Birth-place as Strabo witnesses of Callimachus Eratosthenes Carneades and Aristippus all Antient Philosophers and Olivarus upon Mela denominates it Korene Berenice as the same Olivarus reports is now vulgarly stil'd Berrich Apollonia Bonaudria Ptolimais Tolomete Arsinoe and Teuchire Trochata But Marmol retains the old Name Cyrene and as to the rest Berenice he names Berbik Arsinoe or Teuchira Trokara Ptolemais Eptolometa Apollonia Bon Andrea which differ very little from Olivarus ¶ THe chiefest Places upon the Coast beginning from the West Strength are these Alcudie by Ptolomy call'd Autemalan an old Fort Cape Sabbia formerly Promontorium Drepanum the Salt Pans known to the Romans by the Name Stationes Maritimae Zanara was the Haven Diarchea or the Birds Island Camara or Cambra according to Mercator formerly Hercules Tower Carkora a Fort heretofore Diachersis Teionis or Teiones once the Cape of Briois and lastly Ardbry antiently the Coast of Briois Further up the Coast of Pentapolis stands Berbick or Bernich or indeed Bernice and Hesperides because some have here placed the Gardens of Hesperides so fam'd among the Poets ¶ THe onely River of note is Milet by Ptolomy call'd Lathon or Lethon which some have imagin'd to be Lethe the River of Oblivion Having past this River we come to the Cities Trokara Tolomata and Zadra formerly call'd Ausigda Longifana or Longifaria in elder time the Temple of Aptuch the Fort of Aras Ausen by the Italians call'd Cape Carane and Raxalsen the Point of Fikos Afterward Bon-Andrea or Apollonia with its Haven heretofore Naustathmes Forceli once Erythron Favora antiently Chersis and Darna or Dardania of old the Point Zephyrium to the East of Mesrata bordering upon Marmarica or Barka Lastly to the Inland Cyrene Arguide Quereda and Napolis Cyrenaica formerly was very Rich but now lies for the most part waste and unhabited because of the Arabians who continually oppress this Countrey with Robbing and Spoiling ¶ THe Mesratines are Warlike and Rich Riches Trading with the Christians for European Wares which they transport to negro-Negro-Land and exchange for Blacks to make Slaves as also for Civet Musk and other Commodities which they afterwards sell to the Turks for great gain ¶ THey can bring into the Field an Army of ten thousand Men Places with which they make Wars continually against their troublesom Neighbours the Pilfering Arabs nor could they be brought to pay Tribute tō the King of Tunis however they are subjected at present to the Great Turk yet as Gramay says their Governours are of their own Countrey onely they own him their Superior rendring some small Acknowledgments TAURKA TAurka is a small Countrey about thirteen miles in compass yet abounds with such plenty of Dates and Corn as sufficiently serves their own occasions with some to spare for their Neighbours although their Valleys by their Sandiness are somewhat barren The people are all Husbandmen and live in Hutts made of the Branches of Date-trees They are at present subject to the Turk against whom in the Year Fifteen hundred and sixty seven they made an Insurrection but after a stout Battel maintain'd four Days with great slaughter of the Turks overpower'd by number or rather wearied out than Conquered the Taurkians were necessitated to yield upon Conditions viz. to lay down Arms and Disband and Pay three thousand Ducats as a Fine for their Delinquency BARKA Or MARMARICA IT seemeth that this Name of Barka is of great Antiquity for Ptolomy places hereabouts a People call'd Barrceitors which contradicts not their Residence in Cyrene because Strabo and Mela extend that Countrey to Katabathmus in Egypt and to the Nyle and so by Consequence comprehended Ptolomy's Marmarika and our Modern Barka So Strabo sets the Marmarides in Cyrenaica whereas there is no mention of Marmarika in that place Marmol saith it is now call'd Barka but the Arabians name it Sahart Barka that is A stormy Wilderness or Cyrat Barka The passage of the Storm and who ever intends to go by Land from Barbary to Egypt must go through it It is a great Desart beginning on the Easterly Borders of Mesrata and reacheth from the Cape of Arraxaltin or Raxaltin by Ptolomy denominated the great Chersonesus to the Point Glaukun on the Borders of Alexandria or Scanderoon Bigness being in length above two hundred sixty eight miles from West to East and in breadth from North to South from the Midland-Sea to Numidia above thirty The most eminent Places are the Cape of Raxaltin Places mention'd but just before the Haven Trabucho formerly of Batrachus Farther to the In-land lieth first Augele then Lako formerly Antipirgus Cape Lako or the Point Kalyonium Mosolomar Port but since the Haven Salone although before of Panorme This brings you to the
great Katabathmus by Ruscelius named Carto a great Valley reaching to Egypt Opposite to this but more deep into the Countrey was the Oracle and Temple of Jupiter Hammon four hundred thousand Paces from Cyrene say both Pliny and Solinus in the midst of a Sandy Desart three miles in length Gramay by mistake sets it in the Desart of Lybia and Leo Africanus in Numidia between Jasliten and Teorreque but where-ever it stood they call it now in Arabick Hesachbir that is A Heap of Stone Afterwards followeth the Haven formerly call'd Selin now Soudan having but a narrow Entrance but spacious and convenient within Next appears Laguixi formerly Trifachi of late time Raxa taken for the Paresonium of Ptolomy and Strabo although Mercator rejects that opinion and maintains Paresonium to have been Alberton Farther to the In-land stands the chief City Barka from whence the Countrey taketh its Name All the whole Countrey is almost nothing but a barren Wilderness Their Soyl. that hath neither Water for refreshment or use or Soyl fit for Tillage which makes them live very poorly A few Dates they have indeed but of little consequence to supply so great a Tract of Land Some Sheep and Camels they are Masters of but make little Profit of them the scarcity of Pasturage and Fodder making them so Lean that they are unfit for use or service Nay such is the unhappy necessity of the People that Parents often send their Children over to Sicily to become Servants and undertake all sorts of Drudgery onely for their sustenance The Arabians that possess Barka are ill-favour'd and crooked of Body and Conditions driven by want continually to Rob so that no Carravan dare pass along the Sea-Coast opposite to the Desart but take their way sixty miles about to the In-land When these Arabians go to steal in Biledulgerid The Arabian's Robbery and ransack Pilgrims and Travellers they give them hot Milk to drink then lift them up by their Legs with their Heads down so that of necessity all must break forth that is in their Body which Excrements these Villainous Thieves search in hope therein to find some Ducats supposing Travellers coming that way out of fear have swallowed their Money But the places on the Sea-Coast are better ordered Their Government being subject to the Turks and under the immediate Command of the Bashaw of Tripoli who usually sends to Barka the principal City a Kadiz to administer Justice All the People are Mahumetans excepting the wild Arabs in the Desarts Their Religion who live by Rapine and Villany without any sence of Religion Honesty or Goodness Biledulgerid or Numidia 283. comprehends Sus and Ydausquerit Sus proper Cities or Towns Idrunadayf Iduguneus Argon the three chief besides Idjauson Merit Deusdisdud Deusenez Indeuzell Arrahala Ayhakeli and Tizitit Rivers Darha Ziz and Ghir Extuka Towns Targuez the Metropolis with 40 Townships and Castles subject to it Nun Towns Nun the chief City Idaguazinguel Idanbaquil Deurseumugt and Hilela Tesset Towns Tesset the head-City Ufran or Ufaran Towns It hath four Fortifi'd but not nam'd Rivers One and that but small Aka Towns None onely three Villages Dara Dara containing Towns Banesbick Quiteva Sizeri Tagumadert Tenzeda Tragadell Tenzulin Tameguerut Temerguit Tabernast and Assa Rivers Dara Mountains Atlas in part Tafilet Itata Towns Itata Tafilet prop. Towns Tafilet Sugulmesse Sugelmesse Towns Segelmesse Teneghet Tebubassan Manuun Mazalig Abuhinam and Kasayr besides 350 Cities more great and small not nam'd Rivers Ziz. Monutains Mezetazu Telde Queneg Matgara Retil Tebelhelt Togda Forkala Tezerin Berrigumi Benibesseri Guachde Fighie Terebit Tegorarin Messab Tekort Guargula Zeb Towns Zebbell Gastir and Tamarakrost besides 12 small Forts and 26 Villages Helet and some Forts on the River Fez. None nam'd but Forts Essuoihila Humeledegi and Ummelhesen Three very populous and 12 Villages Four Villages 10. Three small ones and 4 Villages Six small ones and 15 Villages Eight of considerable strength besides 15 Hamlets Three Fortifi'd places Three fair ones The River Ghir Three strong ones Four Villages eight Three and fifty Fortresses and 100 Villages Six Strong-Holds besides Villages Tekurt the Turaffilum of Ptolomy Guargala Zeb Peskare Nefta Teolocha and Deusca Biledulgerid proper Biledulgerid Cities Teusar Kafza Nefzara Teoreque Three good Forts 26 Villages Jasliten Towns Jasliten Gademez Towns Sixteen Wall'd and ninety two Villages Fassen Towns Augele besides 58 Wall'd Cities and a hundred open Villages NUMIDIA OR BILEDULGERID ANtient Numidia by Ptolomy call'd New Numidia Antient Numidia and by the Grecians according to Pliny Metagonites takes its beginning as the same Pliny at the River Ampiaga now named Sufegnia and endeth at the River Tuska now call'd Guadel Barbar which Region some now comprise under the Kingdom of Telensin or Tremecen But some observe that Ptolomy hath not set forth in particular the proper Bounds of Numidia though they may well say that he hath conterminated this Countrey with the Rivers Sufegmar and Jadogh by the Moderns call'd Ampsiaga and Rubrikat near Bona which Territory containeth part of Constantine and a part of Bugie But Maginus settles Numidia otherwise that is between the River Magior formerly known by Audus where Ptolomy fixeth his Numidian-Bay and the River Megerada or Magrada call'd Bagrada near Carthage under which also a part of the Kingdom of Tunis may be comprised The Numidia which now we know is that part of Africa Modern Numidia which by some is placed between Lybia and the Mountain Atlas Leo Africanus and likely takes in no little share of Ptolomy's antient Description for some endeavour to make out that its Borders extend farther taking in most part of Bugie and the Kingdom of Tunis and a good share of the Caesarian Mauritania in the Territory of Dara ¶ THe spacious Dominions of this vast Countrey Numidia Name the Arabians call Biledulgerid from the chief Province thereof or according to Anani Guaten-Tamar both signifying date-Date-land so named from the abundance of that Fruit which that Countrey produceth more than any other part of Africa ¶ NUmidia takes its beginning Eastwards at the City of Elokar Borders five and twenty Spanish miles from Egypt stretching Westward to Nun whose utmost Confines Border the Atlantick Ocean its Northern Boundaries are the Skirts of Mount Atlas the South the Desarts of Lybia ¶ THe most eminent Regions which this World of Ground contains Territories are Tesset Dara Tafilet Segelmesse Zeb and Biledulgerid This last as we said gives the Denomination to all Numidia But there are other Countreys within this its spreading Circuit especially Westward as shall appear hereafter ¶ BIledulgerid Bigness or Numidia reckons in length six hundred miles in breadth where at widest three and fifty The chief People which now Plant this large Countrey on the West are according to Marmol the Musamades Hilels Zaragans and Quicimas and the meaner sort are call'd Gemis signifying a Masseline of several Nations ¶
THe most eminent Rivers watering Biledulgerid Rivers are Darha Ziz Ghir to which some adde the Sus Leo Africanus rather belonging to the Kingdom of Morocco as we have already set forth Darha Darha descending from Mount Atlas on that side which Borders the Countrey of Haskora thence running Southwards through a Land of the same Name loseth it self in many Rivulets first making luxurious Vales amidst the Desarts The River Ziz Ziz. falls branching it self also from Atlas then recollected into one Stream glides Southward straitned with several Mountains washing the Feet of Mount Gersolim Afterward visiting the Countreys of Chenegh Matgara Reteb and Segel-Messe thence losing it self in a Desart appears again at Fort Sugaihila From thence carried on making no stop till in the middle of a barren Sand choak'd up it becomes a Lake by none frequented but a few Hunting Arabs The River Ghir also derives from Atlas Ghir which Sanutus puts under twenty two Degrees Northern Latitude and five and twenty Degrees and a half Longitude which gliding Southward through Desarts cometh at last to Benignumi and from thence to a Sandy Wild where obstructed it makes a Lake as the former Besides those aforementioned Rio Blanko there are other less or second rated Rivers of which the first is the White River in Portuguese call'd Rio Blanko which falling from a Hill and running through the chief Province Biledulgerid commixeth its Streams from many Mouths with the Great Ocean But Buzedor springs not from a Mountain Buzedor but in Campaigne and so also gliding through Biledulgerid disembogues where it leaves its Name to the Town Buzidor into the same Sea The Dry River Dry River so call'd from its Channel being so often bankrupt in Summer scarce then having any Streams to carry Contribution to the Sea the French call Seche being rather a Brook than a River falling from the Highlands of Numidia not far from the Sluces of Ifran whence descending betwixt the Cape Bojador and the City Nun ends in the Ocean The Lebech Lebech also rising in a Hilly Countrey in its Descent swollen with the Waters of many other petty Streams loseth it self in its full greatness near Albena in the Atlantick Main Teseut Teseut or Teseutin the one in the Singular signifying A Shore the other in the Dual or Plural number Shores are two Rivers which rise within a small mile one from another in Mount Gegudeme which gliding through pleasant Plains and the Territory of Askore then both uniting their Streams with the River Lebick leave there their Denomination Hemissin boasts its Birth also from the Mountain in Biledulgerid Hemissin falling into the Sea near a place which the Sailers call Ansulim The River Tarkala Tarkala which taketh its Name from the Countrey thorow which it glides is but small and its Fountain not far distant though some suppose it springs from the Northern Hill so hasting till stagnated it becomes a Standing-Pool which often swelling turns into Morass the adjacent Valleys But Togdaa falls more probably from the Northern Mountains Togdaa and though little at first yet waters the Countrey of its own Name and running Southward from small grows great and sluggish so ending its progress there settles in a Standing-Water The warm River call'd by the Hollanders The Heet Revier being warm like a Bath descending from Atlas first fertilizing the Plains of Biledulgerid accommodating also the City Teolach and Nefta acquiesceth at last in the Desarts there becoming also a Standing-Pond Techort Techort another small River rushing from the Mountains bordering on Lybia running by the City Techort ends amongst Sandy Wilds in large Plashes The Brook Teusart descending from a Mountain runs Southward Teusart loseth motion in the Desart and so spreading it self becomes a shallow Fen. ¶ THe Soyl of Biledulgerid is hot and dry The Numidian Soyl. being very much attemper'd with the moisture which these foremention'd Rivers contribute most of them watering the Countrey quite thorow to the Desart of Lybia This Territory bears little Corn but superabounds with Dates and other fruitful Trees but in less quantities They have there also the Lotus and the Plant Euforbium with some other Rarities of that kind That part of Biledulgerid that borders Lybia yields but a small Product being craggy and barren Mountains whose Skirts are of as little value bearing nothing but inconsiderable Shrubs Brambles and Thorns a dry Sterility ruling over all for want of Water ¶ ALl Numidia is infected with various and deadly biting Serpents abroad The Beasts and within with Scorpions as dangerous which especially rage in Summer killing many They have store of Ostriches Camels and Goats and some breeds of Horses Their Corn-Harvest falls in April their Dates they gather in September and the middle of October but if Rain happens in April or September they neither sowe nor reap but their stor'd up Dates which are alwayes abundant supplies the Effects of a bad Year by which means though the Seasons prove intemperate they know no Famine yet though the Date grows there so plentifully that they never lack yet they would rather have a good Fruit-year than a Corn-year because the Arabian Merchants and others bring them in store of Grain which they willingly barter for Dates There groweth much of the Wood call'd Anil so useful for Dying Besides ravening wilde Beasts and venomous Serpents they suffer also much by the molestation of an East-Wind which raising such Tempests of Sand and beating on their Faces gets into the Eyes of those that travel making them always blear'd and sore otherwise the Air of it self is very healthy and oftentimes for an hundred years together they know no Pestilence Small Pox nor any other such like Distempers ¶ THe Inhabitants of Numidia are generally long liv'd The Constitution of the Inhabitants onely Scorbutick in so high a manner that their Teeth often drop out supposed to proceed from their constant eating of Dates whose sweetness so incrassates the Blood making slower the Circulation that this their Diet seems to be the chief cause of that Distemper They are also weak-sighted and much troubled with sore Eyes which accidentally happens from the Sandy Commotions carried on by the foremention'd noxious Eastern Winds They are by Nature jealous libidinous and ignorant not courting neither Knowledge or Learning nor minding how to live in a plentiful manner but though they are sedentary and slothful yet they are deceitful treacherous and murdering Robbers But some few of this Region are not guilty of this their sordid Condition but are more generous ingenious very civil and truly valiant ¶ THey eat much Camels Flesh Their Food and the Ostrich they esteem as a Dainty their Drink is Camels Milk and the Liquor in which the Flesh is boil'd not once so much as tasting clear Water Amongst their other Qualities there are some that are so nastily sordid that not
onely they never wash their Feet but look upon it as an abomination to have clean Hands or any part of their Bodies ¶ THey Arabs that dwell in Biledulgerid The Numidian Arabs are for the most part deform'd and lean their Complexion a deep Sallow and not much troubled with Hair on their Chins they are subtle and cruel They are also long-liv'd and healthy Frication and not Sweating all the Physick these Arabs use which some ascribe to their Frications and avoiding what ever causes Sweat which is the onely Physical Application they use All their Recreations are pursuing the Ostrich and several sorts of Hawking which they much delight in The Grandees pride themselves in their attendance of Negroes but the Common People having no Servants domineer over their Wives exercising Supream Authority putting them not onely to Womens but Mens Drudgeries as dressing and sadling their Horses and whatsoever business else either in House or Field There are some of these Arabs that are Students at Fez and such Proficients that they Commence Doctors and Professors of the Mahumetan Laws and Religion others follow Traffick But in most parts of Numidia many of them are addicted to Poetry attaining to such a heighth that they set forth in Heroick Verse long Epick Poems like Homer or Virgil at large with high Fancy celebrating the valiant Acts of their former Princes and Conquerors and also they are good at Pastorals and such business of the Field But in Songs Sonnets Madrigals and the like which express the various Passions of sad Amours and always dying Lovers they are most exquisite in beyond belief ¶ THese Arabs are of a mild and sweet disposition Their Disposition generous and bountiful Apparel if their Fortunes answer They are Habited like the Numidians onely their Women differ in their Dress These though Poets live sparingly and think themselves highly Caress'd with a few Dates and dry'd Figs. ¶ THeir Habitations are Hutts and Tents Their Houses sometimes two hundred together which being like a Village pitched in a round order defends their Cattel like a Wall which are always placed in the middle They have onely two passages which they stop up with Thorns so to keep out Lyons and other Beasts of Prey They live together in Tribes and remove to better Pasturage like the Tartars and they reckon their Riches in their Stock of Dates and Store of Camels Yet these Countreys are Inhabited partly by other Africans and their own Numidians and by Arabians which drove out the antient Inhabitants and settled themselves in the Desarts bordering date-Date-land and on the other part the Numidians made themselves Masters of the Wilds that belonged to the Blacks or Negro's These People are distinguished into three sorts the first live without either Law Religion or Order the second are Non-conformists to all Orders but keeping of their Herds and Cattel which they drive from place to place every one having their own Beasts distinguished as their proper Goods Having no more Law then onely Meum and Tuum so they mark their Cattel that they never wrangle the third observe both Law and Religion and are Tributary to the Kings of Fez and Morocco whose Dominion extends to the Countrey of Dara Tafaletta and Ytata There are Turks also residing amongst them of which more hereafter ¶ IN the declination and fall of the Roman Empire Their Government this Region was Governed by Kings but when over-run by the Invading Arabians Their Religion and falling asunder it was snatcht up and shar'd by many petty Princes Their Religion Most of these People are Mahumetans SUS And the Countrey of YDAUSQUERIT THe chief Tracts of Lands in Numidia Westward are those that Border on the Ocean extending from Barbary and the Cape of Aguer to the Cape of Nun. ¶ THis Countrey they call'd The wide-spreading Sus bordering in the West Sus. with the Atlantick-Sea in the South with the Lybick Islands taking in a part of Nun in the East confined with the Territory of Dara and in the North with the other Sus belonging to Barbary ¶ THe chiefest Inhabitants are all Extracted originally from the African Breberians and are divided into Tribes or Families which they call Gemies as we said before signifying a Maslin People The first of these were the Offspring of the Ydausquerits call'd by a special Name Hilela who possess many Cities and Forts as Ydiauzon Merit Deudysdud Deuseniz Yndeuzel Arrahala Ydeunadayf Argan Deuquinsus Aytiakoli and Tizitit Among which the chiefest places are Ydeunadayf lying about fifty miles from Taradan to Zahara on the South Ydeuquinsus and Argon which all make but one onely Gemie or Family named Quincina and are Consociates with the Souldiery of the House of Hilela ¶ THis Countrey affords great store of Grain Wheat and Barley and in some places store of Oranges Lemmons and several sorts of such brisk or sharp-relishing Fruits as are frequent in Spain and Portugal It breeds also plenty of Cattel and such store of Horses that they are reckon'd up by thousands Extuka EXtuka Extuka a Territory of the wide-spreading Sus in which are reckon'd to be above forty Cities and Castles is inhabited by the African Breberians of Miceamunda The chiefest Place of which is Targuez strengthened with a Fort lying on a rising Hill the Residence for the Xeque or Lord. Their Neighbors are the other Breberians that are also Possessors of several wall'd Cities and Castles the chiefest of which are Ydaguazinguel Ydanbaquil Deursumugt and Hilela This Countrey is Mountainous and onely fit to produce Barley and feed Goats of which there are plenty Nun. NEar the Western Ocean are several Forts and Cities inhabited by the meaner Breberians Nun. and call'd Ydeuzel but their chief Countrey lying in the wide-spreading is Nun according to the Name of its Head-City This spacious Tract of Land lying between Numidia or Biledulgerid and Lybia or Zahara of which the greatest part belongeth to Zahara both which suffer extreamly in being harrassed by the many Incursions of the spoiling and pillaging Arabs which skulk in the Desarts wandring up and down with their Tent-Villages Near the City Nun Cape of Nun. lieth Cape Nun or Non so call'd by the Portuguese because they say whensoever any were returning home they were ask'd if they would come thither again who answer'd still in the Negative Voice Non. This Countrey affords no Grain except a little Barley and a few bad Dates therefore the Inhabitants are constrain'd to fetch their Provisions from the Kingdom of Gualata Tesset TEsset a part of Numidia a Countrey in the Wide-spreading Sus Tesset is so call'd from a City near the Borders of Nun towards the Lybian Desart twenty nine Degrees and ten Minutes Northern Latitude This Countrey on one side for threescore miles lieth desolate without any Inhabitants The Town is well fortifi'd with Brick-Walls which become hard onely by baking in the Sun and containeth about four
Matgara beyond the foremention'd High-way There are many handsome Forts on the River Fez the chiefest they call Helet the Residence of the Governor who hath inhaunced the Customs of the Merchandise yearly to thirty thousand Ducats Retell or Arratama THe Dominion of Retell borders on Matgara and reaches Southward along the River Fez thirty miles distance from the River-Countrey of Sugulmesse on the East confin'd with an inhabited Mountain and in the West on a Sandy Plain which the Arabians make their Rendezvouz when they come out of the Desart There are many fortifi'd Places or Sconces Retell hath abundance of Dates yet covetous and narrow-hearted Inhabitants who by the Arabians under whom they submit are handled like Slaves Essuoihila Humeledegi and Ummel-hesen NOt far from the Territory of Sugulmesse are three small Forts or Holds Essuoihila the one is call'd Essuoihila or Zuaihilla a small place about three miles from the Jurisdiction of Sugulmesse to the South in a Desart close by which glides the River Ziz from thence going on to the Lybian Wildernesses The second Fort Humeledegi lieth about five miles from Sugulmesse Humeledegi also in the Desart The third Ummel-hesen is a place of small convenience Vmmel-hesen built by the Arabians upon a very barren Spot just in the way which leads from Dara to Sugulmesse The Walls seem to be all of Touch the Stones are so black But round about the first Castle are found neither Gardens nor Orchards nor any Ground that bears Fruit and nothing in prospect but Sand and black Stones The Fields about Humeledegi produce in great abundance a Fruit which at first sight seem to be Peaches Tebelbelt THe Countrey of Tebelbelt or Tabelbelt Tebelbelt lieth in the midst of a Desart about the Mountain Atlas and five and twenty from Sugulmesse to the South This Countrey hath also three populous Towns and twelve Villages The chief City lieth in three and twenty Degrees and ten Minutes Longitude and twenty Degrees and thirty Minutes Northern Latitude There are many Dates Their Food but they want Water and have few Cattel for the Inhabitants supply their Tables with Ostriches and store of Red-Deer They drive a poor Trade of Merchandise in Negro-Land and pay Contribution to the Arabians Todga THe small Territory of Todga takes its Denomination from the River Todga Todga which confines it about ten Miles Westward of Sugulmesse It hath four Towns and ten Villages This Countrey abounds in Dates Peaches Figs and Grapes likewise all sorts of Grain Most of the Inhabitants are Husbandmen and Tanners Farkala THe Countrey Farkala or Ferkala Farkala a small River also conterminates about five and twenty miles from the Mountain Atlas to the South and five and twenty Miles from Sugulmesse Here are three small Towns and four Villages This Countrey affords Dates and other Fruits but little Grain and that bad The Inhabitants are poor and under subjection of the Arabians Tezerin TEzerin Tezerin which signifies in the African Tongue Cities yet shews no more than six small Towns and fifteen Villages and scarce seen two others long since demolish'd This borders on a River fifteen Miles from Atlas and eight from Farkala There is great plenty of Dates Beni-gumi THe Countrey of Beni-gumi 〈◊〉 skirted with the River Ghir about thirty miles to the South from Sugulmesse contains eight strong Towns and fifteen Villages This Countrey also yields many Dates but hath poor Inhabitants who for Wages undertake mean Service at Fez With the Money they so earn they buy Horses and put them off to the Merchants which travel to negro-Negro-Land The Cities Mazalig and Abuhinam ON the Banks of the River Ghir thirteen Miles from Sugulmesse stand in a wilderness two small Cities call'd Mazaligh and Abuhinam Mazaligh in the Longitude of three and twenty Degrees and ten Minutes and in the Latitude of thirty Degrees and twenty Minutes The Tract of Land thereabouts produces no sort of Grain and nothing but a few Dates The Inhabitants are under the Jurisdiction of the Arabians Kasayr THere is also a small City found call'd Kasayr Kasayr which Sanutus bringeth with the foregoing under Sugulmesse and stands in a Wilde five miles from Atlas It s Tract of Land hath store of Mines of Lead and Tinn by which Mettal the Inhabitants carrying great store of it to sell at Fez maintain themselves Beni-Besseri THe Countrey of Beni-Besseri lieth at the Foot of Mount Atlas Beni-Besseri and hath three fortifi'd Places and some Villages They have store of all sorts of Fruits except Dates they have an Iron-Mine wherein the Inhabitants old and young do labour The Inhabitants are under the Lord of Dubu and the Arabians Guachde THe Countrey of Guachde lieth one and twenty Miles Guachde or thereabouts from Sugulmesse in the West and containeth three fair Cities near the River Ghir and many Villages It abounds in Dates but there is little Corn. The Inhabitants traffick in the Negroes Countrey and are Tributary to the Arabians Fighie THe Countrey of Fighie hath three strong Villages or Towns Fighie standing in the midst of a Desart thirty miles Eastwards from Sugulmesse Dates grow here in exceeding plenty The People are Ingenious The Disposition of the Inhabitants some Trading to negro-Negro-Land others Commencing at the Schools in Fez. The Women make Woollen and Linnen-Cloth as Gramay affirms as fine as Silk or Lawn which they sell at Fez and Telensin and other places of Barbary at great Rates Tesebit or Tesevin TEbesit lieth in a Desart Tesebit sixty three Miles on the East from Sugulmesse and twenty five from Atlas comprising four Towns and eight Villages which lie upon the Borders of Lybia on the way which leadeth from Fez and Telensin to the Kingdom of Agadez Here groweth nothing but Dates and some Barley The Men are most of them Blacks and the Women are well featur'd and comely but brown They are a poor People Tegorarin TEgorarin Tegorarin or Taguriri a great and spacious Countrey lieth amidst the Numidian Desarts about thirty Miles from Tesebit to the East containing three and fifty Fortresses and above an hundred Villages The chiefest Seat lieth in eight and twenty Degrees Longitude and in thirty Degrees Northern Latitude This Countrey also abounds exceedingly in the Production of Dates The Soyl is barren and store of Corn-Ground which they water as we do our Gardens by reason of the Drought and though a barren Soyl yet are much improv'd by Husbandry and Manuring by which account Strangers which come with store of Horses and Camels pay nothing for their Lodging but onely their Dung which they leave there laying of it up with as great care as if a treasure Nay they take it very ill if any of their Guests happen to ease themselves without doors By the scarcity of Cattel Flesh is very dear there for the Ground is so dry that scarce any Grass will grow
Libidinous The Disposition of the Inhabitants delighting much in dalliance and wanton Amours having no Laws or Customs prohibiting such Venerian courses nor ought elss following the dictates of their own Nature and what they are most inclinable to Betwixt those that follow Cattel roving up and down and those that live settled in Hamlets and Villages the disparity is great the last being naturally Affable affectionate in Friendship never failing those whom they profess kindness to extreamly hospitable to all Strangers still striving to endear them also valiant and faithful to their trust whereas those shifting Drovers relish altogether of their own beastial Employment worse than the Cattel which they feed for what Nature hath deni'd them viz. Science they though not incapable despise abominating Knowledge or Literature They are so far from Honesty or Honor that they will Hoot at and scorn to keep Company with such pitiful Fellows that will scruple in the least at Cheating Robbing nay Murdering if need be and for a small Gratuity nay sometimes gratis any of their Kindred Brother or Father such is their sordid baseness that they care not on the other side whoever vitiates or prostitutes their Sisters Daughters Mothers or their own Wives the word Cuckold or Wittal signifying nothing All their study whole endeavour and business besides a little Hunting is onely mischief either to Rob or Cheat their Companions and driving their Cattel into the Wilderness where they may never be found which done they makeit their May-game to laugh and jeer at one another Thus they spend the whole course of their lives not staying above three days in a place ¶ THese Their Food otherwise so vitious Churls are sober drinking little and that Camels Milk which in the Mornings they take warm in the Evening light Suppers onely a little dri'd Flesh Stewed in Milk and Butter of which every one eats a morsel then for their better digestion they sup in the Palm of their Hand some of the Broth closing all with a second Dish of Camels Milk which whilst they may have it abounding most in the Spring they regard not Water And also the Camels themselves whilst they find Grass drink no Water ¶ NEither are they proud Their Cloathing most of them going stark naked some accounting themselves very fine with a Lappet before them covering what modesty requires Some strut about thinking themselves very gay with pieces of black Cloth Sasge-wise foulded about their Heads But their Captains or Grandees look on themselves as Princes in a blew Cotton Jump or Jacket with wide Sleeves which they account good Truck from the Negro Merchants The People of this Countrey when they Travel are mounted on Camels sitting on a Saddle betwixt the Bunch and Neck and in stead of Spurs use a sharp Stick like a Goad with which when they grow slow they prick in the shoulders so making them mend their pace The Camels in stead of a Bit or Snaffle in their Mouths they manage with a Head-stall and Reins thrust through two holes which are made in their Nostrils Their Beds are hard being Matted-Bull-rush and Sea-sedges Their Lodgings Their Tents are made of course Camel-hair-cloth and some of course Wooll which they gather amongst the Dates Betwixt these Lybians and the Numidians dwell a sort of poor Arabs but stouter than the Lybick Arabs who follow Hunting their Game being onely Porcupines and Ostriches yet have a good Breed of Horses The Language they speak is that of Barbary rough like their Countrey Their Language Though these have no prescrib'd Laws or ruling Customs Their Government and all good manners banished from thence yet they are all subject to the Obedience of one Lord sole Monarch who by Arbitrary Power reigns and rules them as if one body at his pleasure That small Religion which they have is Mahumetane Their Religion The Desart Zanhaga or Zenega ZEnega also call'd by Marmol and others Zanhaga or Zenega The Desart of Zenega Leo Afric 6. Decl. is a Desart bordering the Atlantick Ocean from the Countrey of Nun one part belonging to Lybia the other to Numidia some places being inhabited to the River of Zenega which separates the Whites and Blacks The Limits between the Whites and the Blacks ¶ THe Borders are in the North the Countreys of Nun and Dara The Borders in the East the Wilderness of Tegaza in the South the people Benays and Jaloes and the Kingdoms of Gualata Geneva Melley and Tombut and lastly in the West the Ocean On the Sea Coast about three and thirty miles from Cape Nun The Cape of Bojador lieth Cape Bojador formerly call'd The Mountain of the Sun since The Point of the Canaries but as Mercator sets forth The Arsinarium Point of Ptolomy but others know it by the name of Cabo Verde or Green-Head What Bojador fignifieth But this Name Bojador signifies no more in Portugal than a winding or doubling Cape for the crooking Shore bended like a Bow in Sayling makes the Prospect of the adjacent Coast suddenly vary by opening and shutting in the Points one with another The Portugals at first durst not adventure beyond this Cape for the Stream hurrying swiftly over the Shoals being full of Whirlingeddies the Waves boyling like Liquor in a Cauldron being very terrible to behold stopped there their Voyage till one Gill Yanes also a Portugal sent out by King Henry in the Year Fourteen hundred thirty three went stoutly by it undaunted at such Chymera's and then gave it the Name which it bears at this day About seventeen miles Southward of Cape Bojador lieth a Space of Land on that Coast which the Portugals call'd Angra de los Ruvos so nam'd from the great abundance of Fowls that haunt there Eight miles farther is a Tract of Ground nam'd Angra des Cavelleros that is The Countrey of Horses Augres dos Cavelleros or steed-Steed-Land Yet eight miles more Southward they find a River whose Current sets to the In-land but soon returning ends its short progress in the Sea it is by the Portugals call'd Rio do Oro The River of Gold that is The Golden Stream because the Inhabitants oftentimes redeem'd some of their Natives taken Prisoners by the Portugals The first Gold brought to Portugal paying there their Ransoms in Gold which was the first Africk Gold the Portugals were masters of Eight miles more Southward Angra de Gouzalo de Sintra is a piece of Land call'd Angra de Gonzalo de Sintra next that the Haven Kavallero and about seventeen miles farther Cabo Blanko or White-Head discover'd first by Nunno Tristan and Antonis Gonzales Anno 1441 Sanutus lying in twenty Degrees and a half North Latitude At this Cape beginneth the Coast of Anterote so call'd from a little Town there reaching to the River Zenega Cabo Blanko makes a Bay by some call'd The Gulf of Arguin named from a neighbouring Isle it is a wild and
Serre-Lions and Bangue Mountains Mesurado Guinee Rivers Rio das Palmas and Rio Galhinas Maguibba Rio Nova Mava Plizoge and Monoch Rio Junke St. Johns River Sertos St. Andrews River Towns and Villages Kings Village Little Sestos Zanwyn Bofow Little Setter Bobowa Sabrebon Krouw Wappen Drowya Great Setter Gojaven Garway Greyway Tabo Pelicaro Tahoe Berby Assin Albin Tabat Atzyn Takorary besides 50 others Zenega or the Countrey of the Jaloffs Towns Bcere Emdoen Jandos Emduto Endir Sanqueng Magar Emboul Embar Bey-hoarte Lambay Sangay Jamesil Borsalo Tubakatum the Royal Seat of the Great Jalaffe Geroep Jawesil Rivers and Lakes Zenega Gambea Borsalo Basseangamar Rio des Ostros or Oyster River The Lake Eutan Mountains Machamala where are Crystal Rocks Gambea Cassan Cantor and Borsalo Towns Barra Nabare Bintam Tankerval Tendeba Jayre Jambay Mansibaer Barraconda Tinda Joliet Munk-baer Jair Silico Little Cassan and Jongo Rivers Gambea Buramos Towns Jarim St. Domingo Katcheo Guinala and Biguba Towns Guinala Biguba Balola Mandinga and Sousos Towns Sango Sousos Serte-lions or Bolmberre Rivers Rio Pechel Rio Palmas Rio das Piedras Pogone Cangrama Casses Catocane Capar Tambasine Tagarine Bangue Towns Serboracasa Bagos Tomby the Seat of the English Os Alagoas Baga Quoya Towns Jegwonga Fachoo Figgia Cammagoerna Jerboeffaia Falyhammaya Flomy-Seggaya Rivers Magwibba Mavah Plizoge and Menoch Guaffe Towns Aguaki or Little Commendo Ampea Cotabri Aborbi Terra Pekine Great Commendo Fetu Towns and Forts Igwa Takorari Adia and Anemabo Castel del Mina or St. George Sabou Towns Moure Sabou Fort Nassau Fantyn Akara and Labbede Towns Fantyn Kormantin Soko Little Akara Great Akara Labbede Ningo Temina Sinko Pissy Adom Towns Mompa Wassa Wanguy Abrambor Kuyforo Bono Atty Akanien Inta and Ahim Akam Aqua Sanquay Aquumboe Abunce Kuahoe Tafoe Abotra Quaho Cammana Equea Lataby Akaradi and Insoko Arder Towns Foularn Little Arder Jakkeyn Joyo Ba Great Arder Benyn Towns Benyn a City Gotton Koffo and one onely River call'd Arbo Other in a manner unknown Territories are Isago Jabo Odobo Istanna Gabo Forkado Amboyses Highland Calabare Krike Moko Bani Korisko Rivers Rio Non Rio Odo Rio St. Nicholas Rio de tres Jermans Sambreiro Calabare Camarones Jamoce Rio de Campo Rio San Benito Rio Danger and Gabon NEGRO-LAND Or the Countrey of BLACKS THis Countrey spreading from the North to the South that is from the Desart of Lybia to the Banks of the River Niger is at this day with a general Name call'd negro-Negro-Land or The Countrey of the Blacks or Negro's which Marmol placeth in Nether Ethiopia withall adding that the Arabians call it Beledla Abid and Beled Geneva and the Africans of Barbary call it Geneva Sinch and Neuha All the Inhabitants of this Province were call'd by the Antients as Pliny and the Geographer Ptolomy Ethiopian Nigrites or according to the Orthography of Dionysius in his Book of the Scituation of the Earth calls them Negretes as some have call'd them in Greek Melanes which Stephanus de Vrbibus as the former Name signifieth Blacks perhaps derived from the colour of the Inhabitants or nature of the Soyl and because of the Desarts which spread from the Mountain Atlas to the River de Niger Callimackus Hym. in lic or else because Niger casts up a black or duskish Sedement some Rocks appearing amidst in the River which seem as if burnt The most will have it that the People have gotten their Name from the River Niger which moisteneth their Countrey however others have it yet some of the former Reasons seem to have great appearance of probability In this Countrey are placed also Ptolomy's Ethiopian Aganginers the Africans or Gamfasantins Perosers Matirers Ptoemfaners Nubians Atlanticans Garamantins and other antient People besides ¶ THis Countrey hath on the East for Borders the Nyle on the West The Borders the Atlantick on the North the Desart of Lybia on the South partly the Ethiopian Ocean and partly the Abyssine or Prester-John's Countrey being the old Borders of Congo as also the Kingdom of Lovango and other Countreys lying Southward towards the Equinoctial Line In this Countrey are many Kingdoms and Territories partly to the In-land In-Land places of the Negro's Countrey and partly to the South along the Sea-Coast the In-land Kingdoms every one having the Denomination from its Metropolitan are â—ualata Guinee Melli Tombut Gago Guber Agadez Kano Kasene Zegzeg Zanfara Guangara Burno Gaoga Nubie Bito Temiam Dauma Medra Gorhan Semen and the Desart of Seth and Seu. The first fifteen being Kingdoms lie for the most part on the Banks of the River Niger through which the Merchants of Gualata travel to Kairo and Alkair it is a long way yet commodious and without danger The other as Bito Temiam Dauma Medra and Gorhan lie far Eastward from the other The Dominions verging the Coast stretching from East to West Countrey lying at the Sea are the Kingdoms Zenega or Countrey of the Jalafs the Kingdom of the Barceziins the People Arriareos and Faluppos the Kingdom of Kasanga's or Kasamanse the People Burama's the Bisego's or Bigiohos Islands of the Kingdom of Guivale Biguba Mandinga Bena Sousas Serre-Lions or Bolmberre the Islands de los Idoles Bravas all Guinea with its Territories Coasts and Kingdoms belonging thereto as the Territory of Balm Cikon and Quiligia the Kingdom of Quoia the Green-Coast The most noted Tooth-Coast the Quaqua or Fowl-Coast five or six Bands-Coast and the Golden-Coast with the Kingdoms belonging to it the Kingdom of Arder Ulkami Beniin Isago Jaboe Odobo Istanna Gaboe Biafar Ouwerre or Forkado the Territory of Calcarien Krike Moko Bani the Territory of the Ambissines or the High-Land of Amboises and Corisco Every one of which shall here following have their peculiar place first beginning with the most In-land Countreys or Centre of all these vaste Dominions But the greatest Extent of negro-Negro-Land from Cape de Verde The Length or Green-Head being the most Westerly Point lying at the Sea to Tangale a City in Lybia close by the Nyle 3430 English miles The Breadth reckons eight hundred fifty and five German miles or seven and fifty Degrees Longitude and accounts for its greatest Breadth being from the Kingdom of Gualata to the Cape of Lopez Gonzalvez three hundred and eighty miles and a half 1522 English miles or five and twenty Degrees and a half that is from the three and twentieth Degree and thirty Minutes North Latitude taken from the Kingdom of Gualata to the second Degree South Latitude near the Cape of Lopez Gonzalvez Amongst all the Rivers The River Niger which in great number cut through this Countrey the River Niger is the most eminent which by the Arabians is now call'd Hued Nigar Sanutus and by some is taken for the River Asana of Pliny or Asanaga of Solinus as also some hold Niger and Gambea to be one and the same River and others will have it that Niger is Rio Grande or The Great River both which opinions
seem to have appearance of Truth because the chiefest Geographers of this Age hold Gambea and Zenega to be two Branches of the Niger Yet some will have it Original Leo p. 1. that the Niger taketh its Original out of a Lake Eastward of the Desart Seu gliding from thence to the West and in the Atlantick disburthens its self But the Arabian and African Geographers assert that Niger is a Branch of the Nyle which running under ground after a great distance shews his so long-lost Streams again And that the Niger proceeds from the same Head or Fountain they also affirm from these Evidences First that they both breed one and the same sorts of Fish especially the Hipopotamus or Sea-Horse and overflow the Ground inriching the Neighboring Countreys near the same time and in the same manner as the Nyle The Antients themselves among whom Pliny make Nylus and Niger to be of one Nature or Quality and adde moreover that it produceth Reeds and the Papyrian or Paper-Plant as Nylus doth which the Egyptians used to write on as we on our Paper The Modern Geographers make Niger to take its Original out of a Lake call'd The Black Lake bordering on the Kingdoms of Medra and Vanque and make it also serve for a Boundary between the Abyssine or Prester-Johns Countrey and negro-Negro-Land Afterwards it cuts through the Countreys of Biafar and Nubia diving about eighteen miles under ground and at last appears again and makes the great Lake of Borna lying upon the Borders of four Kingdoms From thence it floweth through these Realms Guangara Biafara Kassena Zegzeg and Kano and makes another great Lake call'd Sigisma or Guarda which in the South moisteneth the Kingdoms of Mandinga Guber and Gago and in the North that of Kano and Agadez gliding out of this Lake it runs to the West then rushing towards the North close by the Kingdom of Tombut and in the South hard by Melli spreads it self into a third ample Lake Niger parts into four Branches from thence branching into four Rivers near which losing its own Name Niger receives four new Denominations The first of which is call'd The River of Saint-John which in the Bay of Arguin falls in the Ocean whose Mouth makes the Haven Tofia The second running direct West which we have so often mention'd is Zenega The third gliding by degrees also West is call'd Gambea but the last Branch of Niger parts instantly into two other Branches one of which is call'd Sante Domingo and the other which taketh its Course to the South in Portuguese Rio Grande Each of these Branches boast of whole Kingdoms bordering their Banks as Guihala and Biguba according to the Name of those Rivers Rio Grande or The Great River distinguishes it self from the other Rivers in eleven Degrees Latitude and after having dispatch'd two Branches more from its own which are call'd Guinala and Biguba between the Islands of Bisegos falls into the Sea Sante Domingo otherwise call'd Jarim The River Sante Domingo is held by some for the eminentest River of the whole Coast because of the abundance of Slaves sold near its Banks It seems to be a Branch of Rio Grande which near the Bay call'd Esteirs Katerina ends its Progress in the Sea Many of the other Rivers gliding down from the In-land water the Coast of Negro-Land and fall into the Ocean But of these in their own particular place as of the other Rivers being Arms of Niger as Zenega and Gambea shall be treated of in the Kingdom Zenega between which they are included All these foremention'd Branches and Sub-branches swell and over-flow in the same manner and near the same time with the Nyle when the Sun in their Zenith enters Cancer all the benefit the Nyle brings to Egypt the like accommodation the Niger with other Rivers brings to Negro-Land Niger together with other Rivers beginning from the fifteenth of July rises forty days and retreating as long all which time till it draw within its circumscribed bounds the Low-Lands Plains and level Countrey becomes a Sea all places covered with Water as in Egypt where also during that time the Travellers are Rowed up and down in Boats The equal over-flowing of this River with the Nyle Isaac Vostius de Nili aliorum fluminum is not occasioned by the vicinity of the Springs of those Rivers belonging to the Nyle as the received Opinion but because their Head Fountains lie almost the same distance from the Equinox as we have declared at large Concerning the temper of the Air condition of the Soyl Vegetives Animals and the Constitution Modes and Manners of the Inhabitants their Riches their Policies in Government and several Religions of the Negro's Countrey in general shall here briefly be declared and as to what belongs to the materials of every Kingdom shall also in particulars be handled but observe that their Plants Beasts Men and Languages differ very much from neighboring Countreys under the Equator though the temperature of the Air and all the mutations thereof as Heat Cold Wind and Rain are not unlike but in a manner one and the same By the over-flowing of Niger Zenega and Gambea as also by the Rains negro-Negro-Land is moistened and made exceeding fruitful in all manner of terrene Products especially Mille and Rice both being the chiefest Bread-corn of the Inhabitants The Countrey is in some parts plain and others Hilly but about the Banks of the River Niger it is very level and watered by several standing Pools left there by the retreating River which are planted about with shady Groves Recesses for ravenous Beasts and Elephants This Dominion fosters not onely tame but also wild Beasts in great numbers The Natives are very black but the Features of their Faces and their excellent Teeth being white as Ivory make up together a handsom Ayre and taking comeliness of a new Beauty they are well Limm'd and much addicted to Venus Their Languages are divers Their Language Gualata Tombut the In-land Guinee Melli and Gago there all these use onely one Tongue call'd Sungai but in the Kingdom of Kano Kalsene Zegzeg Guangura and Guber they have another call'd Guber and another in the Kingdom of Borno which is like that of Gaoga Likewise those of Nubia have a peculiar Speech of their own a Maslin of the Arabick Chaldee and some Coptick or Egyptian Besides along the Sea-Coast their Dialects differ every three or four miles distance but on the Coast of Guinee a particular Language Of which more hereafter As for their Governments Their Government some of them know none neither ever scarce heard of any but live in a confused Ataxy sway'd on all occasions like tumultuous Herds and at other times like tame Cattel feeding and following their idle pleasures But the rest are all Monarchical living under Laws Order and Princes Leo Eerst Decl. In the first place the King or rather Emperour of Tombut to whom they pay Tribute and
acknowledge as their Supream Ruler over these fifteen Kingdoms in the In-land as Gualata Guinee Melli Tombut Gago Guber Agadez Kano Kasena Zegzeg Zanfara Guangura Burno Gaogo and Nubia besides the King of Burno reigns over another Moiety acknowledging no Superior the rest of the In-lands are subject to the Gaogo's but in times past they were all absolute Kings doing Homage nor Fealty to no other Also the whole Sea-Coast of Negro-Land from Cape de Verde to Lovango stands divided into several Monarchies The Religion of the In-land Negro's Their Religion most of them antiently worshipped one God call'd Guighime that is Lord of Heaven this Perswasion of theirs not being inculcated by any Priests who study Rites and Ceremonies imposing a reverential awe on their Disciples and Proselytes but Instinct and the meer dictates of Nature which brings as soon to the acknowledgment of a Deity something not subordinate but infinitely supream governing all After this they were instructed in the Mosaick Laws which they long and zealously observed till some of them being converted to the Christian Faith wholly ecclipsed the Jewish then Christianity flourishing many years till Mahumetanism at last over-spreading all Asia and these parts of Africa they being still greedy of Novelty fell into Apostacy drinking in the poyson of this new and dire Infection so that Christianity is in a manner extirpated some few Professors of the Gospel after the Coptick or Egyptian manner yet remaining in Gaoga But those Southern People that inhabit the Coast from Cape de Verde to the Kingdom of Lovango sticking to their first Tenets are still all Idolaters as hereafter in particulars shall be declared THE KINGDOM OF GUALATA THe Kingdom of Gualata whose Inhabitants are call'd Benay's hath received its Denomination also from its Metropolitan possessing three great and populous Villages and some delightful Gardens and Date-Fields lying twenty and five miles from the Atlantick Observe these and the forementioned are for the most part Spanish Miles sixty Southward of Nun and about thirty to the Northward of Tombut Fenced in on every side with the rising Banks of the River Zenega or Niger Sanutus sets down in this Dominion a place call'd Hoden lying in the In-land six days Journey from Cabo Blanko in nineteen Degrees and a half Northern Latitude where the Arabians and Karavans that come from Tombut and other places of Negro Land travelling through the same to Barbary stay and refresh themselves ¶ THis Countrey which produceth nothing but Barley and Mille The Plants or Vegetables hath also great scarcity of Flesh yet the Tract of Land about Hoden abounds with Dates and Barley and hath plenty of Camels Beeves and Goats but their Beeves are a smaller Breed than ours of Europe This Countrey abounds in Lyons and Leopards terrible to the Inhabitants and also Ostriches whose Eggs they account a Dainty ¶ BOth Sexes are very Black they are Civil and Courteous to Strangers The Constitution and Manners of the Inhabitants like their Neighbors in the Lybick Desarts the Inhabitants of the City Gualata live very poorly whereas those of Hoden live plentifully having Barley-bread Dates and Flesh and supply their want of Wine by drinking Camels Milk and other Beasts ¶ BOth Men and Women in Gualata have their Heads and Faces commonly cover'd with a Cloth Their Cloathing and the Men of Hoden also wear short white Jackets but the Women think it no shame to go stark naked covering their Heads onely with a Caul of Hair dy'd red Their Language Their Language is call'd Sungai These Arabs of Hoden also like others never continue long in a place but rove up and down with their Cattel through the adjacent Wildes ¶ THose of Lybia Their Trade so long as the Countrey of Negro's stood under their Jurisdiction had formerly planted the Royal Residence of their Kings in Gualata which brought great Concourse of Barbary Merchants thither but since the Countrey fell into the hands of a powerful Prince call'd Heli the Merchants forsook this place and settled their Staples at Tombut and Gago But the people of Hoden still drive a Trade in Gualata and resort also thither in great numbers with their Camels laden with Copper Silver and other Commodities from Barbary and other Countreys to Tombut and many places in negro-Negro-Land bringing no worse Returns from thence than Gold The King of Gualata Anno 1526. being in Battel overcome by the King of Tombut upon Articles paying him a yearly Tribute was restored to his Throne ¶ THese People Their Government though govern'd by Kings are not under the Prescript of any Laws nor have Courts of Judicature in their chief Towns there to summon and punish Malefactors but live in a rambling manner promiscuously every one endeavoring to be his own Judge and Arbitrator their Will being their Law ¶ THe Gualatans onely worship Fire Their Religion but those of Hoden extracted from the Arabs are a sort of Mahumetans professed Enemies to Christianity THE KINGDOM OF GUINEE OR GENOVA THis Kingdom The Kingdom of Genova which many call Guinea though not the same differing from our present Guinee lies by the Sea which reacheth along the Coast from Cape Serre Lions to Cape Lopez Gonzalves by the African Merchants call'd Gheneva Leo 7. Decl. by the Arabians according to Marmol Geneua and by the Natives Geuni or Genii ¶ IT hath for its Northern Borders The Borders the Kingdom of Gualata where the Wilderness runs ninety Miles long on the East that of Tombut and on the South Melle and runs in a Point to the Atlantick at the place where Niger falls in the same Ocean along whose Banks another Angle runs above eighty French Leagues This whole Countrey notwithstanding the vasteness of its Extent boasts neither Cities Towns nor Fortresses but one single Village yet that so large that not onely the Kings keep their Courts and Royal Residence there but also there is a University where Scholars Commence and the Priests receive their Orders and several Dignities besides a settled Staple for the Merchants of this Kingdom ¶ YEt this Place of so great Concourse hath but mean Buildings Their Houses onely small Huts and Hovels of Loam and thatched rang'd in a round order the Doors or Entries so low and narrow that they are forc'd to creep in and out which we may suppose are no statelier built because they expect annually in July August and September to be under water with the overflowing of the Niger then in prepared Vessels and Boats made for that purpose in which the King first loads the Furniture and Houshold-stuff of his low-rooff'd Palace then the Scholars and Priests their University-Goods and next the Merchants and Inhabitants their Moveables and last of all the Water increasing themselves as if they entred the Ark and at the same time the Merchants of Tombut come thither and joyning Fleets traffick with them on the Water This
Kingdom abounds in Rice Barley Cotton Cattel and Fish but their scarcity of Dates are supply'd them from Gualata and Numidia ¶ THe Inhabitants according to their manner go handsomely clad in black and blue Cotton of which they also wear Head-Shashes Their Clothing but their Priests and Doctors are habited onely in white Cotton ¶ THese People make great advantage of their Cotton-Clothes Their Trade which they barter with the Merchants of Barbary for Linnen Copper Arms Dates and other Commodities This Kingdom was formerly under the Luntiins a people of Lybia whose King was afterwards made Tributary to Soni-Ali King of Tombut his Successor Ischia obtaining a Signal Victory on a great Battel against the King of Guinee took him Prisoner and sent him to Gago where in miserable Captivity he died close Prisoner Thus the King of Tombut now grown Master of all Guinee reduc'd it into a Province setting his Lieutenant over them and then caus'd a great Market to be proclaim'd in the Metropolis of the whole Countrey THE KINGDOM OF MELLI THe Kingdom of Melli The Kingdom of Melli. likewise so nam'd from their prime Village the Residence of their King hath for its Northern Confines Gheneoa or Guinee Southward Desarts and barren Mountains in the East the Jurisdiction of Gago Westerly bounded with a mighty Forrest which runs sixty miles along the Banks of Niger to the Verges of the Ocean The Village Melli is very large The Village Melli. and contains above six thousand Families standing thirty days journey from Tombut The Countrey abounds in Corn Flesh and Cotton and hath a King but Tributary to those of Tombut ¶ HEre they are all Mahumetans Their Religion and have Mosques in which wanting Colledges they not onely perform their daily Devotions but in the Temples instruct their people and Disciples in their Laws and Doctrine These were the first Apostates from Christianity to Mahumetanism These People formerly were govern'd by a great Prince of Royal Extract descended from a Prince of Lybia Uncle to the King of Morocco the Renowned Josephus The Sovereignty continued in his Progeny until Uzchea King of Tombut Anno 1520. made the then King of Melli Tributary and so reduc'd all these Countreys under his Subjection THE MONARCHY OF TOMBUT OR TONGUBUT THe Kingdom of Tombat hath its Denomination from a City founded The Kingdom of Tombat as they say by King Mense Suleyman Anno 1221. about three miles from an Arm of Niger lying a hundred and eighty miles from the Countrey of Dara or Sugulmesse ¶ THis City gloried formerly in great Fabricks The City Tombat and sumptuous Buildings but now condemn'd to simple Huts and Hovels and onely boasting one stately Mosque and a magnificent Palace for the King built by a famous Architect of Granada Three miles from Tombut Kabra on the Banks of Niger stands another great Town call'd Kabra or Kambre being a convenient Port for the Merchants to travel from thence to the Kingdom of Melli in Guinea ¶ THis Countrey abounds with fresh-Water-Springs Corn Cattel The Disposition of the Countrey Milk and Butter but what savors all Salt is very scarce for a Camels Load goes often there at fourscore Ducats being brought over Land from Tegaza about a hundred miles distant from Tombut They use small Horses with which they ride up and down the City and the Merchants travel with them but their best Horses they have from Barbary whose numbers when they arrive are Registred which at any time is above twelve the King makes choice of the primest of them paying the Price they would go at ¶ THe Inhabitants especially those of the City Tombut The Manners of the Inhabitants are a People usually merry and of a chearful Disposition and spending most part of the Night in Singing Dancing and Revelling up and down through all the Streets They keep a great many Slaves both Men and Women Students which are highly esteem'd amongst them are there frequent and bred up at the Kings proper Charge Here are store of Arabick Books and Manuscripts brought from Barbary and not to be purchas'd but at a great Value Here are also many Tradesmen and Artificers especially Cotton-Weavers Their common Diet is a Dish made of Flesh Fish Butter and Milk hasht and stew'd together ¶ ALl the Women Their Clothing except the Slavesses go with their Heads and Faces cover'd They have no stamp'd Coyn but plain Pieces yet bigger and lesser all of pure Gold This King or Emperor of Tombut ruling vaste Dominions that yield him inexhaustible Treasure which he piles up in Bars or Billets of pure Gold some of them weighing if the report be true Thirteen hundred pound Weight ¶ MAny Merchants of Fez Their Trade Morocco and Gran-Cayre resort to Tombut for the Trade of Gold which was brought thither by the People of Mandinga in so great abundance that oftentimes the Merchants having disposed of all their Commodities which they barter with them for that Mettal it becomes a Drug and either left there till the next Return or else they carry it home again ¶ THis Countrey Their Government according to Marmol a Prince governs stil'd Emperor of Melli who dwelling in a magnificent Palace takes such state upon him that no Ambassadors or Envoys from Forreign Countreys making their Addresses are admitted to Audience but in posture of humble Suppliants kneeling with dejected Countenances throwing dust upon their heads In the City Kabra the King hath a Commissary who Hears Judges and Determines all Causes and Differences either concerning the Crown or other private Arbitrations betwixt the Subjects THE KINGDOM OF GAOGA THe Kingdom of Gaoga The Kingdom of Gagao or Goagao as Marmol calleth it lying by the unanimous consent of the chiefest Geographers in the same Elevation where Ptolomy placeth the Lake or Pool Chelidones bordering Westward on the Kingdom of Borno East on Nubia and South near the Nylean Desart which conterminates the North with the Wild of Seth. It passeth by the South of Egypt spreading from the West to the East a hundred and twenty five miles in length reckoning as much in breadth This Countrey abounds with Cattel and Goats but the People are in a manner savage and ignorant of all Civility and Literature nor under any form of Government especially the Mountaineers or Highlanders which go stark naked in the Summer onely retaining so much modesty that they wear a Lappet before them concealing their Privities They dwell in Huts or rather Arbors their whole defence against Sun Wind and Rain are Boughs of Trees set up and plac'd together Their chief Employment is onely in Cattel the whole Nation being onely Herdsmen yet they are a kinde of Christians after the Egyptian manner THE KINGDOM OF GUBER THe Kingdom of Guber inclos'd between very high Mountains The Kingdom of Guber is about seventy five miles Eastward from Gago with a barren Desart between them
about ten miles distance from the Niger It compriseth a great number of Villages and Hamlets the chiefest of which wherein formerly the King kept his Court contains about six thousand Houses and hath imparted its Name to the whole Kingdom This Countrey lies Annually under the overflowing of the Niger which causes a great Return by plentiful Harvests of Barley Rice and Mille Their Goats and Cattel though numerous are but small These Inhabitants are Reclaim'd being of a Civil Behaviour expert in Handicrafts weaving and making good Cotton-Cloth sufficient Tanners but exquisite Shoemakers their Ware supplying the Markets of Tombut and Gago whither they are sent in great parcels THE KINGDOM OF AGADEZ THe Kingdom of Agadez being more Easterly than that of Gualata The Kingdom of Agadez stretches its Limits to the North. The Metropolitan thereof also call'd Agadez stands upon the Confines of Lybia the nearest place to the White People except Gualata of all Negro-Land This Countrey abounds with much meadow-Meadow-Land having store of Springs and Grass it also yields much Manna which is not onely their common and best Food but makes them a most excellent and cordial Drink which together keeps them in good condition always strong and healthy Yet they want no store of Cattel nor Goats The Agazons for the most part are Strangers settling there their Staples of Merchandise trading to Forreign Countreys The Natives are Artificers or Souldiers but the Southern People follow Pasturage breeding Cattel and Goats their Receptacles are sleight Arbours of implicated Boughs like the Arabs or Mats with which they rove up and down Those of the Lybick Desarts insult over the Kings of Agadez and though they are Tributary to the people of Tombut where they might complain yet they carry so high a hand over them that they supplant and plant the Royal Throne deposing and establishing whom they please being commonly in such Removals one of their Favorites or nearest Relations THE KINGDOM OF KANO THe Kingdom of Kano The Borders of the Kingdom of Kano a great Realm is about a hundred twenty five miles Eastward from the River Niger and ninety from the Kingdom of Agadez The Head City also call'd Kano stands in the middle of the Countrey in thirty and a half Longitude and seventeen Degrees Northern Latitude and invested with a woodden and chalkey Wall as also their Houses are made of the same materials This Countrey in many places is full of Springs especially in the Mountains which are overgrown with many Orange and Lemmon-Trees which bear Fruit of an excellent Relish it also abounds in Wheat Rice and Cotton-Trees of which they make Cloth They have also many Beeves and Goats The Countrey Inhabitants follow both Grasing and Tillage The City People are Merchants and Artificers This King of Kano was formerly so powerful that he made the Kings of Zegzeg and Kassene Tributaries to him THE KINGDOM OF KASSENE THe Kingdom of Kassene to the Eastward of Kano The Kingdom of Kassene possesseth nothing but sleight Huts in the manner of Villages standing one by another The Countrey is mountainous and barren yet fruitful in Barley and Tares The Natives are Cole-Black and have Camisie Noses and thick Lips The Air of their Face much differing from their Neighbors their Noses and Lips so broad and thick that they leave them scarce Cheeks or Chin. The former Government was absolute under a Prince but the last of the Line being made away by Ischia King of Tombut under pretence of assisting him joyn'd it as a Province to his own Kingdom THE KINGDOM OF ZEGZEG THis Kingdom of Zegzeg borders in the East on the Kingdom of Kano The Kingdom of Zegzeg about thirty miles from Kassene The Villages and Houses are of the same form as in the Kingdom of Kassene The chiefest City being also Zegzeg lies in six and thirty Degrees and forty Minutes Longitude and in fourteen Degrees and forty Minutes North Latitude The Countrey in some places Flat and in others Mountainous is subjected to various Weather the Valleys exceeding hot and the Mountains excessive cold insomuch that they make great Fires in the middle of their Halls spreading the red hot Cinders under their Bedsteads which being high from the Ground secures them from the Fire but warms them exceedingly They are rich and drive a great Trade with other People The Valleys are so well watered that they are made luxuriously fruitful abounding in Corn and all other Products of the Soyl. This was also under a King but trapann'd both of Life and Crown by Izchia King of Tombut who annexed it to his Empire THE KINGDOM OF ZANFARA Or GANFARA THe Kingdom of Zanfara The Kingdom of Zanfara a fruitful Countrey abounding in Corn Rice Barley and Cotton borders in the East on Zegzeg The Inhabitants The Inhabitants exceeding Black and of large Stature broad-Faced Camosca-Noses thick-Lipt are savage and of wild disposition and also Subjects to the King of Tombut THE KINGDOM OF GUANGARA or GANGARA THis Kingdom confines on the South with that of Zanfara The Kingdom of Guangara and hath in the South-East some Countreys stored with Gold The inhabited places are onely Villages built with Huts except the chiefest which in greatness and fairness exceeds all the other lies in four and forty Degrees and a half Longitude and in fourteen North Latitude The Natives are surly and clownish dull of apprehension they traffick much abroad the Slaves carrying their Packs or Fardels of Goods on their Shoulders and some on their Heads in large dri'd Calf-skins so carrying them to barter to the Southern and Gold-Countreys for the Wayes are not passable being so ruffled with Woods Briers and Thorns that to all Beasts of burthen they are inaccessible The King if occasion require can raise seven thousand Foot many of them good Archers and five hundred Horse he governs by an Arbitrary Power his Will is his Law his Subjects no better than Slaves yet his greatest Revenue he raises out of his yearly Customs of Exported and Imported Goods THE KINGDOM OF BORNO THe wide-spreading Kingdom of Borno also call'd Burney The Borders of the Kingdom of Borno formerly a Dwelling-place as appears by the Customs thereof of the antient People of Atlas or as Cluverius will have it Garamantes hath on the West for Borders the Kingdom of Guangara with a vast Desart above a hundred and twenty five miles Eastward and lieth near the Head-Fountain of Niger in the Wild of Seu in the South of Seth in the North the Desarts which reach to that side of Barka Urreta sets down for Borders in the East Gaoga and Nubia in the South Histor de La. Ethiop l. 1. c. 32 the Kingdom of Kiofara and Ethiopia or Abyssine in the West the Inward Lybia or Sarra and in the North Berdoa It lieth according to Urreta from the sixteenth to the twentieth Degree Northern Elevation and as Marmol above eighty miles to the East There are
and such like Labors however want not courage or skill in Arms to defend themselves and offend their Enemies their Complexion black as Pitch their Language as their Colour peculiar to their Climate but all their Publick Devotions are performed in the old Coptick Tongue ¶ THeir Government is Monarchical Their Government and Religion Their Religion seems to relate to Christianity for in above a hundred and fifty Churches yet among them is to be seen the Image of Christ the Virgin Mary and many Saints and Martyrs Painted upon the Walls but much decayed by time and want of new Colourings Some affirm them to be neither Christians Turks Moors nor Jews but Hathen averrs they are yet Christians which Brokard confirms reporting that they Baptize one the other wherein they use hot Irons like the Abyssines with burning a Cross on some part of their Bodies and as a proof of their once being such the Patriarch of Alexandria hath Jurisdiction over them in all affairs Ecclesiastical whom they yet own using as we said before in all their Church-Services the Coptick Tongue BITO THis Kingdom hath for Borders on the West The Kingdom of Bito Guberion on the North Kano and Zegzeg on the East Temiam The chief City also call'd Bito lies in eight Degrees and ten Minutes of Northern Latitude The Inhabitants are governed by a Prince of their own TEMIAM THe Kingdom of Temiam lies neighbored in the West by the last mention'd Bito The Kingdom of Temiam in the North by Guangara the Eastern Limits are the Desart of Seth and Seu A. Anâ—u Trast 3. on the South washed by the great River Niger The chief City is Temikan The Head City Temikan scituate in eight Degrees and thirty Minutes of North Latitude where the Inhabitants are Cannibals or Anthropophagi DAUMA THe Kingdom of Dauma lies surrounded on the East by Medra The Kingdom of Dauma on the North with the Desart of Seth to the West hath the Wildes of Seu and on the South the Jews Countrey or the Kingdom of Semen The Inhabitants are very rich and govern'd by a Prince of their own Countrey who is an absolute Sovereign and when seen in publick carried up from the ground which he may not touch Sanut lib. 7. and if by chance at any time he do it is accounted ominous and he is purg'd with many Solemnities and Sacrifices MADRA MAdra also is a Kingdom conterminate in the East by Gorhan The Kingdom of Madra in the West with Dauma on the South by the Jews Countrey and on the North with Borno The chiefest Town thereof lies in eleven Degrees and twenty Minutes of Northern Latitude GORHAN GOrhan lies encompassed on the East with the Nile The Kingdom of Gorhan on the West with Medra hath Goago on the North and divided on the South by several great Mountains from Jewen-Land The People are as bruitish as wilde Beasts struggling with a thousand kindes of miseries and calamities in the Desart there being none that can understand their Language however they have a kind of Government and that too absolutely Monarchical The Countrey of the Jews or Kingdom of SEMEN SAnutus calls this Countrey in Italian Terre Giudei the Abyssines Xionuche but divers Europeans a little altering the pronunciation Semen in stead of Ximench or Ximen It lieth inclosed with Mountains and Desarts on the East extending themselves to Nile on the South to Congo and the Equinoctial-Line in the West to the Kingdom of Benin and on the North over against Davina and Medra a Countrey but little known and less conversed with and under the Domimon of the Abyssines The Desart of SETH and SEU THe Desart of Seth borders in the North on Borno in the East on that of Medra in the West on some Countreys where Gold is found in great plenty and in the South on the Kingdom of Dauma The Desart of Seu hath for Limits in the North the aforemention'd Golden Countreys in the East Dauma in the South vaste Mountains in the West the Kingdom of Benin From this Desart some affirm the great River Niger takes its beginning ¶ THus much we thought fit briefly to mention of the In-land Parts we will now lead you by the Sea-Coasts beginning at Cape Verde the farthermost Westerly Point of Negro-Land and so come to the Cape of Lopez Gonzalves and Saint Catharine The Coast of the Negro's Countrey THe furthermost Point of negro-Negro-Land to the West is Cape Verde lying in fourteen Degrees and one and twenty Minutes Northern Latitude Three miles Southerly off which lieth a Village call'd Refrisko one mile from that another nam'd Kamino two miles further to the South-East Eudukura and a mile and a half beyond that Punto and then Porto d' Ale to the Westward of which is Punto d' Porto Ale that is The Point of the Haven of Ale On the same Shore not far from Porto d' Ale lies Cabo de Maste Porto Novo or New Haven and Punto Sereno or Bright-Point then Punto Lugar neighbors with the Village Juala on whose Southern side flow the Rivers De la Grace Barsala and Garnba on a Point of this last lies the Cape St. Mary from hence you pass to the Eastern River and that of Rha or Kasamanka and so to Cabo Roxo and the two greater and lesser Points Then appears the River Sante Domingo call'd also Jarim betwixt which and Cape Saint Mary live people known by the Names of Arriareos and Faluppos Two miles from the small rough Point the River Katcheo falls into the Sea Then Rio de les Iletas or The River of the small Islands and Rio Grande flowing into the Sea over against the Island Bisegos or Bigiohos More Southerly the River Danaluy discharges his Waters into the Sea the like do Nunno Tristan and Tabito or Vergas near Cape Virgen in the Kingdom of Sere-Lions or Bolmberre so passing to Rio das Piedras The River of Stone Pechel Palmas Pagone Kagranka Kasses Karokane Kaper and Tambasine Tagarim or Metombo and lastly Rio de Sere-Lions and Bangue which last disembogues his Stream on the South-side of Sere-Lions into the Sea as Metombo doth on the North. Upon the Coast of Sere-Lions divers Islands appear as the Bisegos De los Idolos or Idol-Isle Banannas or Bravas and the Sombreras between which last mention'd the Land makes a great Point call'd Furna de Sant Anna where four Rivers intermingle with the Sea from whence it is but a short passage to Cape Tagrin or Ledo the outermost Southerly Point of Serre-Lions Here begins Guinee extending all along to the Cape of Lopez Gonzalvez and the River Benin a large Maritime Countrey and divided into the Grain-Coast Tooth-Coast Quaqua-Coast Bants-Coast and Gold-Coast The first thing we meet with in Guinee worth taking notice of are the Rivers Rio das Palmas and Ria Galhinas running through the Countreys of Bolm Cilm and Quilliga where begins the Kingdom of Quoia wherein are
the Rivers Maguibba or Rio Nova Mava Plizoge and Monoch in Portuguese call'd Rio Aguado In five Degrees and three and forty Minutes of Northern Latitude lies Kaboc Monte twelve miles Eastward whereof rises a high Mountain call'd Cape Mesurado adjoyning to which is the River Saint Paulo and ten miles from it Rio Junk or Siunk and Saint Johns River empty their Waters into the Sea six miles East from this River stands the Village call'd Tabe-Kanee Petit-Dispo and Diepe by the Blacks nam'd Tabo Dagroh Six miles from Little Diepe the River Sestus falls into the Sea And here begins the Grain-Coast being a Tract of forty miles in Length on the Easterly Part of which lieth Little Sestus and five miles farther Cabo Baixos and then Zanwiin a small Village distant thence three miles passing on toward the East you come to Bofou or Bofoe and so to Setter and Bottowa Cape Swine appears next in order with a Village of the same name and then at little distances you come to Crow Wappen or Wabbo Drowyn Great Setter Gojaurn Garway Greyway or Grouway and lastly Cabo de Palmas or Palm Cape Here at the Village of Grouway begins Tooth-Coast so call'd from the abundance of Elephants Teeth there to be had beginning two miles Eastward of Cape Palm and ending at Cape de la Hou making a Tract of fifty miles within which are not many inhabited Towns for the first is four and twenty miles from Cape Palm and call'd Tabo the next Petiero a mile farther and close by the Sea then Taho five miles from thence and at the like distance from that Berly in four Degrees and a half of Latitude close by which St. Andrews River enters the Sea where it makes a great imbowed Reach to the South-East towards Red-Land so call'd from its red Cliffs Beyond the Red Cliffs appears Cape'de la Hou the utmost limit of Tooth-Coast from whence Quaqua-Coast commences and extends to the Village Assine the first place of Gold-Coast a mile and a half upward in a barren place void of all shelter or Trees stands a little Township call'd Koutrou or Katrou and not far from thence Jakke La-Hou within five miles of which Jak in Jakko from whence you go directly to a place adjoyning to the Sea and commonly intituled The Pit or Bottomless Lake About sixteen miles Eastward of La-Hou lieth a place call'd Kerbe La-Hou in the Bants-Coast before which place the Sea is very deep for a Stones-throw from the Shore they have forty or fifty Fathom Water Eight and twenty or thirty miles from Cape La-Hou lieth Assine where the Guinee Gold-Coast begins being twelve miles Eastward of Kerbe La-Hou and ends at the plentiful Golden Village Akera making in all a Tract of fifty miles The Kingdoms upon the Sea-Coast are Atzin Little Inkassan Anten Guaffo Fetu Sabou Fantin Aghwana Akara Labbede and Ningo In Atzin are three Villages one of which is call'd Akombene but the chiefest is Atzin Little Inkassan contains no place worthy remark save Cabo-Das-Tres-Puntas Anten reckons within it self these following Villages Bothrom Poyera Pando Takorary or Anten Maque Jaque Sakonde and Sama. Three miles from Takorary Guaffo shews it self first then Aitako or Little Commendo two miles Eastward of Sama afterwards Ampea Kotabry Aborby and Terra Pekine In Fetu on the Shore there lieth a little Hamlet which the Natives call Igwa but the Merchant corruptly Cabo Cors from its near neighborhood to Cabo Curso On the Borders of this Kingdom of Fetu stands the famous Castle of Saint George or Del Myne built by the Portuguese on whose West-side lieth Dana or Dang where the Salt River Bensa entreth the Sea as the Sweet River Utri doth half a mile more to the East In Sabou you first discover the Township of Moure and by it the Castle of Nassau built by the Hollanders Fantin shews it self Cormantine Ville two miles Eastward of Moure then Anemalo and a Cannon-shot Westwards thereof Adja In Agwana are these places of name viz. Craggy Point Soldiers Bay The Devils Mountain New Biamba Old Biamba Great Berku Jaka the principal Sea-Town Corks-brood and Little Berku all which Places have strong Rocks before their Havens In Akara on the Sea-Coast stand Soko Orsaky and Little Akara being fifteen miles Eastward of Cormantine and the last place of the Gold-Coast Two miles Eastward of Akara in the Kingdom of Lebbade stands a Town of the same Name Lastly in Ningo are four chief Ports viz. Ningo four miles from Akara and two miles from Lebbede Temina a mile from Ningo Sinko the like from Temina and Pissy all naturally fortifi'd with high Cliffs Seven miles East of Akara on the Shore Sinko comes in view from whence Journeying on still to the East you arrive at a Village where the River Rio Volta runs into the Sea between these lieth Fishers Town and not far distant Cabo Montego in a Low-land with several small Woods about it From thence Eastward to the Village Popou the Countrey is very plain and even four miles below Popou begins the Kingdom of Ardez and ends at the Town Aqua within which Tract are contained the Hamlets of Foulaen and Ardre Southward of which lies Oost a Tract of Land eight miles long boasting a handsom City call'd Jackeyne three days Journey from thence stands Jojo another good Town and a quarter of a mile farther a City named Ba. Sixteen miles Eastward of Little Arder Rio Lagas runs into the Ocean and eighteen miles farther the River Benin with a broad and wide Mouth loses it self in the Sea Four and twenty miles beyond Rio Forcado having visited the Eastern Borders of the Kingdom of Ouwerre falls into the Sea by Cape Formoso in four Degrees and eight Minutes North Latitude Fifteen miles from Cape Formoso runs the River Reael or Calberine between which Cape and River seven others have their course into the Sea the first is call'd Riotton half a mile Eastward of Formoso the second Rio Odi in the Latitude of four Degrees and ten Minutes the third fourth and fifth are call'd Rio Saint Nicholas the sixth Rio de tres Irmaus the seventh Rio Sambreiro a mile beyond which is the little Territory of Bani Two miles from the Easterly Point of Calbarine the River Loitamba so call'd by the Inhabitants but by Seamen Rio Sant Domingo has its course all about which the Countrey is very plain even and full of Trees This Coast extends it self East South-East sixteen miles Rio del Rey a very wide and great River comes next in view then Camerones Pickereen very narrow both which have on each side plain Ground but full of Bushes Between these two last named Rivers lies the High-land of Amboises by the Spaniards call'd Alta Terra de Ambosi on whose West-side lies several Villages and among others Bodi or Bodiway otherwise Tesge and three small Islands call'd The Islands of Amboises In the next place come these following Rivers viz. Monoka Borba
or Boura Rio de Campo Rio Sante Benito and Rio Danger five miles from thence is a great Bay or Haven from which six miles Southward lieth a prominent Point call'd St. Johns Cape Fronted with a Ledge of Rocks About three or four miles Southward of St. Johns Cape lies the Island near the Main Land call'd Ilhas des Korisko that is The Island of Lightning Fifteen miles more Southerly under the Equinoctial Line runs the River Gabon or Gaba as Linschot calls it and not far off Point Santa Clare and eight miles Southward the Cape of Lopes Gonzalvez in six and forty Minutes of South Latitude Lastly the River Olibatta with the Cape of St. Katharine and Ferdinando Vaz Peter Davity Rotiere Jarrik Samuel Bruno Linschoten and other Geographers Limit this Coast of Guinee in this manner From the River Zenega to Cape Verde the East reaches with its Creeks about four and twenty miles Near to the Cape Verde and the Kingdom of Jalofs Rio de Barbazin falls into the Sea adjacent to which are the Barbasins or Berbisins Countreys and the Kingdoms of Ale and Brokallo the last of which lieth by the River Gambea fifteen miles from Cape Verde about which Kadamust and Sanutus place the small Kingdoms of Gambea and Mandinga and Southward of these appears Cape St. Mary from whence to the River Sant Domingo it is reckoned seventeen miles All which places are inhabited by two sorts of People call'd Arriareos and Faluppo's through whose Countrey the River Kaza Manca takes its course till mingling with the Sea having on its Northerly Shore the People Iahundas on the Southerly the Benhuns and in the East the Boramo's Before the Mouth of Rio Sante Domingo lie the small inhabited Islands call'd Byagosar and Bysegos Between these Islands flows Rio Grande or The Great River on the North-side lieth the Kingdom of Guinala whence you go directly to the Haven of Bigubia or Santa Cruix where the Portugals have a Fort All the Territory is inhabited by Negro's call'd Beafers Upon a separate Branch of Rio Grande by the Haven of Bolola live a People which the Portugals call Tangos-Maos or Lancados From the Southerly Point of Rio Grande to the Cape Virgen the Mallus or Malluces Vagai and Korolines inhabit and here begins the Countrey of Serre Lions wherein is Cabo Ledo and Rio Das Gamboas with three Islands call'd De Bravas and the Cape of St. Anne lying in seven Degrees North Latitude From Cabo Ledo to Cape St. Anne is about ten miles after which follows the River Das Palmes and somewhat farther Rio das Gallinas Hen-River From Serre-Lions to this place it is forty miles From hence to Cape de Monte eighteen and from that to Cape Mesurado sixteen and within two miles thereof Mata St. Mary where the Grain-Coast doth begin From Mata St. Mary to the River St. Paul are six miles where the Mountains of the same Name very high and craggy stretch themselves six or seven miles along the Coast From Rio de St. Paulo to Rio Junk are six and from that to Rio Cestos two miles whereto neighbors the Kingdom of Bitonin a Member and Subject to that of Melli. Opposite to these appears the little Island of Palmes close by which are Ilhas Blancos the two white Isles from which to Cabo Formoso is commonly reckon'd five miles Then going forward you arrive at the Cape de Baixas where Rio dos Genueveses and St. Vincents Stream flow into the Sea next which lieth Rio dos Escalvos that is The River of Slaves close by St. Vincents Cape Then Cabo dos Palmas in four Degrees of North Latitude and twelve miles from the Cape of Clement Next we come to the Rivers of Maio Sueryo de Costa Rio Bobra or Cobra and Mancum upon this last stands Fort Agem or Axiem near Akombene Ville at whose side lies the Cape of tres Puntas in North Latitude of four Degrees and a half The Ivory Coast reaches from Cabo de Palmas to the Cape tres Puntas where the Gold Coast begins comprehending many Kingdoms and extending to Rio Volta wherein first appears Anten a place rich in Merchandise Next Jabbe Chama formerly a Castle of the Portugals then the Village Agitaki by others call'd Little Commendo and not far off the Castle of St. George de Mine built by the Portugals as upon the Point of Cape de Curso the Hollanders have erected Nassau Fort in honour of the worthy Family of Aurange so famously Instrumental in raising them from the meanest degree of Distress to make them capable of assuming the High and Mighty Titles they now use Not far from thence lies Moree or Morre the chiefest place of Trade in the whole Kingdom of Sabou then comes the great and famous Fort of Kormentine or Karmandin with the places and Kingdoms thereunto belonging viz. First Biamba then Berku next Akara or Akkra the Principal Town of the Kingdom of that Name having in the North the Kingdom of Akanie whose Inhabitants go to trade for Gold with other Blacks far up into the In-land Rio Lagos comes next in order beyond which to Landward lies the Kingdom of Dauma from Rio Lagos to that of Benin is about twenty and five miles and thence to Cape Formoso as much Afterwards in five Degrees North Latitude you come to the Royal River vulgarly Rio Reeal from whence to Rio dos Kamarones is thirty miles near neighbor to which is plac'd the Territory of Ambosine whereon abuts the Kingdom of Capons that reacheth far into the South and lies one Degree and a half in South Latitude then the Coast shooteth from the East to the South to the River Angra From which to the Stream of Gabon or Gaba lying at the Equinoctial Line are nine miles From the River Gabon to the Cape of Lopez Gonzalvez lying one Degree Southward of the Equinoctial is about five miles and a little Southerly Rio de Pero Diaz or Poeradia wherein breed Sea-Horses and Crocodiles and lastly Rio de Ferdinando Vaz In short the Coast of Guiny as Peter Davity holds reacheth to the Cape of St. Katharine and from thence to two Degrees and a half South Latitude to the Borders of the Kingdom of Lovango Thus having in brief run over the Coast of Negro-Land we shall hereafter describe at large the Kingdoms Countreys and Places lying more into the Land THE KINGDOM OF ZENEGA OR COUNTREY OF JALOFS Together with the Dominions belonging to it of CAYOR BAOOL IVALA ALE c. MArmol names this Countrey Gelofe and the Inhabitants thereof Gelofs Lib. 9. Jarric l. 5. c. 44. Marmol 9. Borders of the Kingdom of Zenega but others call it The Kingdom of Zenega By which Name in the common Maps or Charts it is set down This Kingdom reaching far into the Main-Land and bordering to the North on Guinee lieth between the two Arms of the River Niger the one call'd Zenega the other Gambea but by Ptolomy Darade and Stachiris It bordereth Eastward on the
Cross Haven which the Portuguese possess The Countrey by means of the clear and serene Air is very healthful and pleasant to live in The King always appears in great State and when he goeth abroad The King's State is attended with a strong and numerous Guard of Bowe-men He keeps also fifty great and fierce Dogs which he arms as it were in tann'd Skins of Sea-Cows that are so hard and strong they can scarcely be cut each Dog in the day time hath a Keeper but in the night they are let loose for there is no other Watch in this City but these Dogs and such is their fierceness no body dares stir in the Streets without the hazard of his life for they will fall upon every one without regard This Dog-Watch was at first set up against the Thieves who in the nights used to break open the Houses and steal the Blacks to sell for Slaves This King gives a Hat to his Governors which is an Ensign of Honour of whom he has under him seven which are not onely his Homagers but his Slaves When the King dies there comes into the Street twelve Men call'd Schiten When the King's Death is proclaimed and by whom cloathed in parti-coloured long Coats made of Feathers with as many Claromen or Pipers before them which sound mournfully yet shrill there they proclaim his Decease whereupon every one with a white Cloth thrown over them comes out of their Houses and do nothing all that day but walk about the Streets in a mournful posture his Friends Relations and Servants in the mean time assemble to chuse a Successor The Funeral Afterwards the Corps is washed and the Intrals burnt before their Idol but the Ashes preserved to be Interr'd with the Body which lies as it were in State for a Moneth at the expiration whereof prepared for Burial the Subjects bring out of all parts of the Kingdom Balsom Myrrhe Ambergreece Musk and other Perfumes to burn and smoke about the Corps which lastly is carried to the Burying-place by six of the most eminent persons cloathed in white Silk Coats followed in the first place with Musick playing mournful Tunes and after them with a great many people on foot some of which cry aloud other sing Funeral Elegies last of all the Princes of the Blood ride on Horseback in white Habit. By the Grave are his Women and Servants which in his Lifetime he most affected together with his Favourites and Horses which are all put to death and buried with the Royal Corps which is done to this end that he may be served by them in the other World as they believe and are taught This slaughter is performed in a terrible manner viz. after the cutting off their Fingers and Toes they break their Bones by stamping all to pieces and when it is beat enough they throw it out in the presence of all the others that are to undergo the same fortune for the avoiding which cruelty many Servants after they have sufficiently provided for themselves either leave the King's Service in his Life and fly away or else they retire and hide themselves in time when they see he is without hope of recovery ¶ THe King's Jurisdiction extends over six Kingdoms Their Power and Dominion besides those wrested from him as we said before and for the better and more orderly management of State-Affairs has a Privy-Council consisting of many Lords of which one who is the second person in the Kingdom is President ¶ THey worship Their Religion as the Cassanga's abundnace of Idols the chief of which they name China which is to say God although a long time since by the Preaching of some Portugal Jesuits they are said to have embraced the Roman Religion The King himself with a great number of Nobles in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven desired of Emanuel Alvarez a Jesuit to be Baptized which he upon farther examination finding their unstedfastness deni'd THE KINGDOM OF BIGUBA AT the Nether-Arm of Rio Grande The Kingdom of Biguba above the River Guinala lieth the Kingdom of Biguba The chiefest place thereof is the Haven of Biguba and a little higher the Haven of Balola inhabited by the Tangos-Maas but the Village of the Haven Biguba the Portugals possess The Beafers lead the same manner of life as the People of Guinala The Tangos-Maas are extracted out of the Portugal Blood but have united themselves with the Blacks and live now no less barbarously than they as if they had never heard of Christianity in some places going all naked and Carving their Skins after the manner of the Countrey ¶ THey live under a Monarch as those of Guinala after whose death the most powerful of the Family obtain the Crown but not without great contest so that in the interim they are all in Arms committing all kinds of extravagant outrages till by Conquest reduced under the obedience of him that lays the strongest claim They are like the Beafers Idolaters although some are already by the Jesuits brought to the Christian Faith THE KINGDOM OF MANDINGA ON both sides of the River Gambea live a sort of Blacks The Kingdom of Mandinga which have enlarged their Seat above a hundred and twenty miles up into the Countrey so that they command a Tract of Land that spreads it self in breadth from nine to eleven Degrees North Latitude which the Spaniards call Mandimenca after the Name of one of their Kings by others Mandinga by Marmol Mani-Inga and by the French and Dutch The Kingdom of Mandinga The chief City is Sango some miles more Easterly than the Cape de Palmas The Countrey is watered with many Rivers all which after long courses through several places at last contribute their streams to replenish and augment those of the more famous River Gambea ¶ THe Inhabitants of Mandinga are reputed the best of all Guinee The Valour of the Inhabitants yet are barbarous of nature deceitful and treacherous to Merchants and Strangers but among themselves and Neighbors thought expert Horsemen so that they go into divers Kingdoms to serve as Troopers not onely being readily entertain'd into Pay but for their Skill in Martial Affairs and tried Valour have the Van of their Armies admitted into the best Commands and allowed large Priviledges to oblige them to stay in their Service ¶ THe Arabian and other Merchants drive a great Trade here for Gold Gold-Trade which they say this Countrey abounds with besides other Commodities which at Tombut the chief City they are admitted freely to barter for ¶ THe King of Mandinga some years since was so puissant The Power of the King that almost all the Kings and People of Upper-Guinee obey'd and paid him Tribute especially the Cassanga's and the other Kingdoms lying at the River Gambea Heretofore he held the Seat of his Empire in the In-land and gave the lower Countreys lying on the West Sea to one Chabos and Faim Braso placing moreover
Serre-Lions This River taking its course Northward of the Point of Serre-Lions is at the Mouth twelve miles broad but on the North-side half way choaked up with divers Shelves of Sand which divide it into three Channels one runs along the North-side the other in the midst but the great Channel Coasts by the South which is the deepest of all The Portugals pass onely in the two small Channels with Boats for in the third or great Channel they dare not venture Also between the Island Tasso lying in this River and the South there be many small Currents passable with little Vessels but not with great Ships Another call'd Bangue glides on the South-side of Serre-Lions into the Sea as Mitombo on the North-side so that the Mountain by these two Rivers lieth inclosed in manner of a hanging Island and maketh the prominent Point call'd The Cape of Serre-Lions as we have often said Cabo de Serre-Lions but so narrow that the Blacks take their Canoos upon their Shoulders and carry them over On both Shores of this River lie several Towns and Countreys those to the North-side are call'd Bolm which signifies Low but they on the South are in their Language named Timna On the outermost Point to the Mouth stands the Town Serboracasa and on another Point lying on a yellow sandy Bay a mile and a half distant they have the first place where the Ships which frequent this Coast take in fresh Waters The Countrey about Serboracasa is call'd Serbore Serbora extending from the Sea to the Town Bagos A mile Eastward of Serbore beginneth another Dominion Observe the Miles on these Coasts are all Spanish or Potugal either formerâ—â— mention'd or hereafter following govern'd by one Semaura an ill natur'd man and for every small trifle picks a quarrel with the King of Serbora Eight or ten Paces within the Shore is the second Watering-place The second Watering-place where the Water drills easily down the side of a little rising Ground About two miles farther lies a flat Shore full of Trees and between them a small open place through which a Brook descends from above which at low Water runs away over the Beach A Musquet-shot distance thence into the Land stands a Town where Don Andreas Brother of the King of Bolm-berre resides here the River hath a strong Current which two miles and a half upwards splits it self into three Branches one to the North-East having red Sand hath Water enough to bear great Ships but the middlemost by reason of the shallowness Shelfs of Sand and Cliffs may onely be passed with Skiffs and small Boats Three miles from the first Watering-place appears Bagos Bagos a Town seated under the shadow of a little Wood and a mile and half Eastward upon a prominent Point you see Tomby a pleasant Seat Tomby where the English usually lie with their Ships at Anchor After that the Island Tasso is seen a far off seeming to be firm Land Thirty two miles up the River lieth the Kingdom of Mitombo The Kingdom of Mitombo on whose South-side the Village Os Alagoas is scituate Os Alagoas whither the Blacks will let no White People besides the Portugals come all others they anticipate with Skiffs and Floats The Islands De los Idolos Bravas c. ALong the Coast of Serre-Lions lie several Islands particularly twelve miles and a half Southward of the Cape de Virgen those of Tamara and Veu Usvitay commonly call'd Los Idolos which West and by South from the Point appear as joyn'd to the Continent but afterwards shew themselves as they are in truth Islands which afford all sorts of fresh Provisions to the Seamen and good Tobacco The people are self-will'd and mistrustful and will not suffer any Dutchmen to come into their Towns The most advantageous Commodities vented there are Salt and Brandy to for which they have in Exchange Elephants-Teeth and Gold To the South end of Serre-Lions near the Islands Banannes appears to Ships sailing by a very high Mountain raising his Head into the Clouds call'd Machamala whereof we shall have occasion to speak more largely in a short space Near the South-end of Serre-Lions half a mile in the Sea lie the Islands Bravas being a high Land full of Trees the biggest having a Spring of fresh Water Five miles from hence lie on the South-East against the Point three other little Islets call'd Sombreras Between the Sombreras and Bravas is the place where Jacob le Maire in the Year Sixteen hundred and fifteen found four Rivers among which the Westermost having large Banks had depth and breadth enough for great Ships The next running in between the Trees they might stand on either side of the shore and not be able to see Land on the other thereabouts it was wild and waste without any signs of inhabiting but they saw many wild Beasts as Elephants Buffles Boars Civet-Cats and such like The third had a Bank that hinder'd the coming in of Ships Three or four miles upward lay a low Land full of Lemon-Trees whose Fruits notwithstanding it was in the time of the Rain hung most of them ripe upon the Trees The fourth was a small River within the Point of the Island Sombreras whose Water is deep and Salt where the Sea-men coming on Shore found Crocodiles Turtles and Oisters on the Trees The afore-mention'd Bay here and there hath Shole-water Furna de Sante Anna. about five six seven or eight Fathom and muddy Ground which runs between the Sombreras-Islands Easterly and Furna de Sante Anna whence come many Rivers amongst which the chiefest is Gambea Twelve miles upward of Gambea being as far as it is Navigable with small Vessels lies a Place call'd Kancho in the height of seven Degrees being very low Land whereto adjoyn some Islands ¶ THis Countrey of Serre-Lions according to the Description of Jarrick many take for the healthfullest place of all Guinee and the Air much wholsomer than that of Portugal so that seldom any die by other infirmity than that of Old Age. The same Air as Jarrick adds is much better for a mans health than in many places of Europe being neither too cold nor too hot by reason of the cool Winds which blow there continually which is worth observation considering the nearness of its scituation to the Equinoctial And truly under the favor of that Author we may question his Assertion seeing in the Summer viz. in June and July it is there dark and close rainy Weather with South and South-West Winds as also because the Rain-water in all the neighboring parts of Serre-Lions and along the Sea-Coast is of so unwholsom a quality that where-ever it falls on the bare Body it causes Swellings and Blotches on the Skin and breeds a sort of strange Worms in the Cloathes besides the River-water in April is very offensive and dangerous to drink by reason the Ground through the Summer excessive heats and the stench of
Language call'd The Bolmish Tongue being hard to learn and difficult to pronounce whereas that of the people of Timna dwelling to the South is easie The Capez and Kumba's are subject to their particular Princes who sit in publick to administer Justice and decide their Differences and to that end have near their Palaces several terrassed Walks call'd Funko's in every of which is rais'd a Throne cover'd over with fine Mats where the King sits and on each side plac'd long Forms for the Noblemen call'd Solatequies that is Councellors with whose advice he determines the Causes The Method this first appears the Party Complainant with his Proctors and Advocates call'd by them Troens attir'd with several sorts of Feathers having Bells at their heels and Staves in their hands to lean on when they Plead they put a Mask before their Faces that they may not be afraid but speak freely before the King what they have to say after the Cause is pleaded on both sides and the Councellors have given their opinion upon it the King pronounces the definitive Sentence with present Execution against the party cast When the King Creates one of these Councellers How the King's Lords of his Council are made he causes him to come into the Funko where being set upon a wooden Stool curiously wrought and carv'd and appointed onely for this Solemnity he girts him with a bloudy Fillet of a Goats-skin about the Temples afterwards Rice-meal is strowed over it and presently a red Cap put upon his Head And that the people may take notice of this new-conferr'd Honour he is carried about in Triumph upon the shoulders of certain Officers to that purpose appointed These Ceremonies perform'd the new-made Lord makes an Entertainment wherein they spend three days in all kind of Mirth and divertising Pastimes setting forth divers Skirmishes and other jocose Exercises according to the fashion of the Countrey At last they kill an Oxe and divide the flesh among the common people ¶ WHen the King dies his youngest Son inherits the Dominion The antient manner of chusing of a King or if there be no Male-Issue then the Brother or nearest Relation succeeds But before they proclaim him they fetch him out of his House and carry him bound to the Palace where he receives an appointed number of strokes with a Rod. Then unbound and Habited in his Royal Robes he is conducted very ceremoniously to the Funko where the chiefest Nobles of the Kingdom have assembled and seated on the Throne when one of the gravest Olatequi declares in a large Speech the Right and Priviledge of the new King which ended delivers into the new King's hand the Insignia Regalia that is an Axe with which the Heads of Offenders are cut off and thenceforth he remains an absolute Soveraign peaceably and receives all Services and Tributes These were the antient Customs while the Kingdom was free but since by the Conquest of one Flansire Grandfather of the present King of Quoia or Cabo Monte it was subjected to Quoia Bolmberre is Governed by a Vice-Roy Bolmberre is become a Province and Governed by a Vice-Roy who receives the Dignity and Title of Dondagh that is King from the Quoia's as themselves took it from the Folgia's but they have thrown off that Yoke and at this day the Quoian King as Supream not onely gives Laws to Bolmberre but also to the Principalities of Boluma and Timna having also left his old Title Flamboere and from the Portugals by whom converted to Christianity received the Name of Don Philip. The King has four Brothers The Residence of the King and his Brothers who separately hold their Residence in distinct places in the South Countreys the eldest five or six miles beyond the Town Bugos the second call'd Don Andreas at the second Watering-place before-mentioned the third Don Jeronimo at the third Point of the South River the fourth Don Thomas in a Town call'd Thomby All that Tract of Land lying by the Sea The Dominion of King Fatuma from the North-side of the River Serre-Lions to Rio das Pedras together with the Isle De los Idolos are under the Jurisdiction of Fatuma a Potent Prince commanding far up into the In-lands and holding as his Tributaries the Kings Temfila Teemsertam and Don Michaell a converted Christian The People before the coming of the Jesuit Barreira Their Religion lay wholly drencht in Idolatry but he converted many to the Christian Faith and in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven Baptized the King his Children and many others giving to the King at his Baptism the Name of Philip as we said before to which the Portugals flatteringly added Don and because he was King of Serre-Lions call'd him Don Philip the Lyon But they little practice the good Instructions taught them but still retain with the generality of the People their old heathenish Customs as shall be declared afterwards in the Description of the Kingdom of Quoia The English Trade Hollanders and other people that come into these Parts to traffick carry out of Europe several sorts of Commodities which they barter and exchange with great advantage the principal are these Iron Bars Linnen Basons Earthen Cans All sorts of speckled Glass-Buttons Counterfeit Pearles of several sorts Copper Meddals Bracelets and Armlets Pendants and such like Small Cutlasses Seamens Knives Fine Bands Ordinary Lace Chrystal Ordinary Painted Indian Cloathes Spanish Wine Oyl of Olives Brandy Wine All sorts of great Bands Waste-bands wrought with Silk which the Women buy to wear about their middles On the Island in the River of Serre-Lions The English Fort subdued by the Netherlanders the English possessed a small Fort erected for the more secure managing of their Trade which in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty and four the tenth of December the Dutch under the Conduct of the Admiral De Rutter with a Fleet without reason surpriz'd and took wherein they found four or five hundred Elephants-Teeth a good number of Copper-Kettles Iron Bars and about sixty or seventy Lasts of Salt the later parcels with some other inconsiderable Merchandises they left there but the Teeth and other Wares of consequence they brought over in the returning Ships GUINE WE are to observe Several acceptations of the Name Guine that the English Portuguese and Dutch greatly differ in their Descriptions of this Countrey though in the general Name they seem to agree for the Portugals divide Guine into the Upper and Lower comprising under the Name of the Upper the whole Tract of Land lying by the Sea inclos'd between the River of Zenega and the Borders of the Kingdom of Congo and under the Lower the Kingdoms of Congo and Angola whereas others bring Congo and Angola together with Monomotapa Zanzibar and Ajan under the Exterior as they include Abyssine or Prester-Johns Countrey wholly in the Interior Ethiopia But by the English and Netherlanders Guine is circumscribed in much narrower Limits allowing it no more
or Quarts to drink in the Morning and not at any other time In the mean time they conjure and perswade themselves that if the Captive be guilty of the Crime he will die or else not At last vomiting the Quony he is held to be quit but if he cannot do that though at first he brings up a little Froth he dies and the Body is either burnt or else cast into the River But if it happen that they cannot receive any answer or but such as is uncertain and Amphibological resting thereon though with much dissatisfaction they forthwith without farther enquiry interre the Corps Yet nevertheless they go to a Jakehmo or Soothsayer a vagrant sort of People who have no certain Dwelling-place but rove up and down and before they answer any question run about distractedly one with a certain kind of Pots or Cups another sounding a Horn the rest with Tabers or little Drums making a great noise and hurliburly seeking and calling for the Sovahmo from whom when they have received any information concerning the guilty person then they proceed to the trial with the Quony in the manner aforesaid ¶ IN Right of Inheritance or possessing of Goods this method is observed The Inheritance When the Man dies and leaves behind him some Children that are under Age the elder Brother takes the possession of all the Slaves Wives Children moveable and not moveable Goods of his Father except his own Mother Thus taking upon himself the government of the Family after time of mourning finished he draws to the place of Exercises before the King in presence of all his acquaintance with his Father's Bowe in his hand and his Quiver of Arrows at his back one end of the Bowe he sets upon the Ground holding the other end in his hand in that posture he declareth openly that resolving to be valiant and to follow his Father's course he will now give a proof before all the Spectators After he hath shewed his skill and activity he presents himself before the King in the same posture as before saying He is resolved to bear the burthen of his Family to give the Children under Age an Example to Till the Ground to defend the Right of his Family and what else befits him After the Decease of this Son the next eldest Brother takes all But if the eldest Son live and have Children then his younger Brothers and their Children have onely so much of the Estate as shall keep them till they come to Manhood and maintain the Slaves or Slavesses given him in his Father's life-time for it is the custom in that Countrey that people of ability bestow upon their Children as well Sons as Daughters from their Infancy some Slaves But if the Father dies leaving onely Daughters either his Father's Brother if living or else his Father's Brother's Son that the Name may not be extinct shall inherit But if there be no Male-issue of the Father's side the King is Heir and takes as well Slaves as Goods and Women to him allowing a sufficient maintenance to some trusty Person for the bringing up of the Children ¶ THe Quoia's speak not onely their own Timnian Their Language Hondian Mendian and Folgian Languages but also those of Gala and Gebbe The People of Gebbe and Folgia differ in Speech but little however the Folgian being the smoothest and the noblest is call'd Mendi-ko The Lordly-Tongue partly as we said for its Elegancy and Smoothness partly because of the Dominion the Folgia's hold over the Quoia's and Gebbe-Monou that is the People of Gebbe for Monou in that Idiom signifies People They of Konde-Quoia or High-Quoia differ in Dialect from the Quoia's near the Sea ¶ IN the Head of the Constellation Taurus Signs of their Summer and Winter-Seasons are five Stars near the Pleiades which they call Manja-Ding that is Lords-Childe upon which they look to know whether it be Midnight They have no Hours or past Midnight but know not how to divide Time into Hours nor how to reckon the Age of the Moon Those that dwell in Daula look upon these five Stars appearing in the Evening to the West as a Sign of a Raining-time ¶ THe Authority and Greatness of Quoia Their Strength and Power is at present supported more by Wisdom and Policy than by Power because the subjected Countreys of Cilm Bolm and Bolmberre are accounted more powerful than it This the Parable of King Flamboers Brother nam'd Cia-Haddo seem'd to hint to Flamboere's eldest Son threatning Massakoey Lord of Bolm to take his Countrey There was said he in antient time a Fowl with a very fine red Head and Neck but beyond that thin of Feathers and a small Train but for his beautiful out-side appearance was by other Birds chosen King This Bird sensible of his own defects kept in a Bottel and when the Council of Fowls was assembled put the Head and Neck onely out till at length by course of time the great Sacrifice was to be made to the Idol Belli in the Wood which none but the King in Person might perform at which time compell'd to dissert his Bottle his poverty and wants were discover'd to his great damage Thus far Cia-Haddo And without doubt he discover'd a great Prudence in that witty Apothegm for to prevent discovery it is not permitted to the People lying Northwards to pass through the Easterly Countreys nor for those of the East to go with their Ambassadors or Merchants through the West Countrey and this as we said that they should not discover the Secrets and Conveniences or Inconveniences of the State therefore they of Quoia keep them at distance and traffick for Eastern Wares at reasonable Rates which they vent to the West in Exchange for such as are fit for Barter and Exchange with European Merchants for such Commodities as yield ready Truck with those of the East In like manner also the People of the Upper Countreys prohibit the Quoians to travel through their Land for it is a particular favour that the King of Quoia may take to Wife the Daughter of the King of Manou and at his pleasure pass through the Folgian Territories ¶ WE will next proceed to their Government The Government and first begin with Quoia-Bercoma at present Commanded by a King with the Title of Dondagh his Name Flamboere the Fourth Grandson of one Bokwalla formerly Prince of the Karou's who by the assistance of the Folgians conquering the Veyes after a tedious War laid here the Foundations of a Potent Monarchy to his Successors invited thereto by the fertility of the Soil and an innate ambition and thirst of Soveraignty This acquired Grandeur hath been supported with such Policy that the Inhabitants at all publick Meetings and Solemnities to this day Sing He descended from above This King like his Ancestors holds in subjection Folgia The King of Quoia holds subject the Folgia's the Region of Cape de Monte and the adjacent places formerly
Substitutes to gather their people together and to meet him at an appointed Rendezvouz but they had made a private confederacy with Gammina their Masters brother by whose instigation they neglected and slighted his Commands Flansire knowing nothing of this Combination between his Brother and his Provincial Governours Flansire draws towards Serre-Lions after he had committed the Lieutenantship of his Kingdom and the care of his Wives and Children to the Protection of his Brother marched forth with his eldest Son Flamboere the present King of Quoia not doubting but that his Provincials durst not have a thought to leave him First therefore he went by Land to the River Galinhas and from thence with Canoos over the Islands Banannes to take with him the People that were driven from Serre-Lions as we lately mention'd and so passed directly to Serre-Lions where Landing with his Forces He comes with his Forces to Land he began a sharp War with Dogo Falma This Dogo Falma had been heretofore a great Man in favour with the King of Dogo or Hondo but had attempted and lay with one of the King's Wives Dogo Falmab punish'd by the King of Hondo whereat the King was so enraged that not contented the offence according to custom should be bought off with Gifts or Slaves he caused his Ears to be cut off and banished him his Presence but length of time so wore out the King's fury that Dogo Falma was admitted again to the Court where he had not long been but he began to shew his insolence His Speech to the King upon his having punishment and at length accosted the King in these terms Sir King considering the wickedness committed against you my Lord and Master I am obliged to thank you for your gracious Sentence by which I am punished that every one that looks upon me derides and scorns me and the rather because the punishment is unusual and the like offence customarily bought off with Goods and Slaves Now as you were pleased to punish me so I desire the like offence in others may be punished in the same manner It may happen that some of the King's Servants or Subjects may fall into the same Lapse but if it be either deni'd or not performed I shall complain against my Lord the King in the Ways and in the Woods to the Jannanen and Belli that is to all the Spirits and Daemons The King having heard this audacious Speech took council upon it and notwithstanding his implicite menace determin'd that the punishment inflicted on him should not follow upon all But nevertheless to pacifie him in some measure and take off his complaint he made him General of an Army He is made General of Serre-Lions to recover Serre-Lyons out of the hands of Kandaqualla who presided there for Flamboere To repel this Invader Flansire as we said was come to Serre-Lyons with an Army and made sharp War at length by the help of some Whites he fell upon the Town Falmaha and with axes cutting down the Tree-wall at last they forc'd an Entrance and set the Houses on fire The Town of Falmah is taken and burnt whose fury soon increased to an impossibility of being quenched Whereupon Dogo Falmah finding himself unable to resist fled whom King Flamboere with the Karou's pursu'd though to no purpose however Flamboere won great reputation at this time for his valour the people crying him up in these terms Dogo Falmah Jondo Moo that is Pursuer of Dogo Falmah Thus Flansire reconquer'd Bolmberre Gammanah stands up against Flansire and settl'd Kandaqualla again in his Lieutenantship and then Retreated with his Company intending to return to his Wife and Children But on the way he receiv'd notice that his Brother Gammanah whom he had given Commission to manage the State and supervise his Family in his absence had usurp'd his Dominion and kill'd all his Sons he could come at and taken his Wives to himself and set up his Residence by Rio de Galinhas as a convenient place to intercept or impede his Brothers return And as commonly fluctus fluctum sequitur one trouble falls in the neck of another so here this Rebellion of his Brother was attended with an Invasion of the Gebbe-Monou who dwell about Cabo Mesurado who fell into Dowala and Cape de Monte The Gebbe-Monou's fall upon Dowala where they burnt the Town and lead away Prisoners all persons they could meet with intending to make them Slaves Flansire understanding these mischiefs marched towards the River Maqualbary with all speed but complaining to the Kanon and Jananie's that is to God and the Angels of his distress in these words To you onely it is known that my Father left me rightful Heir in his Kingdom which falls to me by the Laws of the Land seeing I was the Eldest Son and that my Brother hath rebelled against me and hath set himself up to be Lord be you Judges between him and me in this intended Fight and let it if the Cause be unjust that he manages against me come upon his own head Thereupon he passed with all his Souldiers over the River where the Armies suddenly met and his Brother with great number of his men slain he got a compleat Victory but still kept the Field although no further opposition appeared against him In this time while the King remain'd encamp'd in the Field to be the more ready against any other appearing Rebels his Son Flamboere went with a Squadron of Souldiers into the Woods to hunt Civet-Cats and by his Sports trained far into them they discover'd some of the Rebels busie in burying the dead body of the Usurper but as they perceiv'd Flamboere and his followers immediately they betook themselves to flight imagining he had purposely come with that Force to find them out and left the Corps behind them with three Shackell'd Slaves intended to have been dispatch'd at his Grave according to custom By this means ascertain'd of Gammanah's death when they least expected it they took and brought the three Slaves to Flansire who having understood out of their mouthes all circums tances of what had happen'd and how all things stood in the Countrey he sent them to their fellow-Rebels to admonish them to come to him to ask him pardon and to assure them that he would not think of their misdeeds Which goodness of the Kings though presented by the mouth of these Slaves wrought the desir'd effect for the Rebels immediately submitted and receiv'd their pardon This Rebellion thus quash'd Flansire subdues the People of Gebbe-Monou King Flansire with all his Power march'd to Cape Mesurado to reduce the Gebbe-Monou which he did with great slaughter and the Spoil of the Countrey and then retir'd with his Forces home again taking his habitation in his old City Tomby till the Dogo Monou made a new Insurrection to revenge the losses of Dogo Falmah at first he left the Town and retir'd to Massagh an Island
and Sonquay in the North by the Kingdom of Aquumboe and the Countrey of Abonce in the East at Great-Akara and in the South spreads along the Sea-shore Agwana hath divers Villages and Mountains near the Sea as the Rough-Point a Village of Fisher-men Souldiers-Bay and The Devils-Hill New-Abrembee Old-Abrembee Great-Berku scituate on a Mountain four Miles from Akara Jako-Kox-broot and Little-Berku where Water'd by a small River All these places have Stony Cliffs before their Havens From Cormantin the Coast reacheth East and by South The spreading of the Coast to The Devils-Mountain about six Miles from thence to Berku a Tract of five Miles East and by North from Berku one Mile Westward to Akara a Tract of five Miles East North-East Beyond Kox-broot lieth low Land replenish'd with small Trees but the Countrey within is high and Mountainous In Berku breed many Hens sufficient to eat among themselves and to sell cheap to strangers and their Drink call'd Pitouw is like our small Beer The Inhabitants have the repute of Stout and Warlike People The Nature and Maintenance of the Inhabitants but in Peaceable times maintain themselves by Husbandry and Fishing Yet some of them are good Artists both in Iron and Gold of the first making good Arms and of the second curious Gold-Chains and other neat Pieces of Workmanship In this Territory is but a small Trade for European Wares There is little Trade and therefore little frequented the best dealing is for Slaves of Berku with the Akerasche Merchants which come thither who exchange them for Serges viz. a Piece of Serge for a Slave or else two ounces of Gold THE KINGDOM OF AKARA THis Kingdom contains in Circuit The Borders of the Kingdom of Akara ten or twelve miles having on the West Aguana and the Countrey of Abonce on the North the Dominion of Aboura and Bonoe on the East that of Labbeda and Ningo and on the South the Sea Near whose Shore are three Villages viz. Soko Little Akara fifteen miles Eastward of Kormantyn and Orsaky Having gone four miles into the Countrey you come to Great Akara where the King keeps his Residence Provision here is very scarce especially Fruits and Bread-Corn so that whatever Whites put into this Place to Trade must upon necessity provide themselves well with all necessary Provision The King hath and not without cause the repute of a Potent Prince The Kings Power being able in time of War to bring fifteen or sixteen thousand Men into the Field He hath a more absolute Soveraignty over his Subjects than any of his Neighbors so that he is an unlimited Monarch and for the more sure confirming his Jurisdiction keeps good Correspondency with all Whites without shewing more favour to one than another The Little Akara has been many years the chiefest place of Trade upon the Gold-Coast next Moure and Kormantyn Trade where Foreign Merchants carry Iron and Linnen which they exchange in Barter for Gold with much greater gain than on the other places of the Gold-Coast but the Linnen must be finer than ordinary otherwise the Blacks will not meddle with it While Trading here was free to all that is till the Hollanders West India Company had ingross'd it to themselves the Haven of Akara produced a third part of the Gold that was to be had on all the Gold-Coast which was brought thither to sell from the Countreys of Abonce and Akamen All the Wares which the Inhabitants buy they sell again at the Market of Abonce two hours Journey beyond Great Akara which they hold three times a Week with great resort of People out of all the neighboring Territories The King of Akara suffers none out of Aquemhoe and Aquimera to come through his Countrey and Trade with the Whites but reserves that freedom to his own Subjects onely who carry the Wares brought from the Europeans to Abonce and exchange them there with great profit Neither would this King suffer the Whites to set up a Store-house on Shore for Trade but forc'd to ride with their Ships Ketches and Sloops before the Haven yet some few years since he sold to the Dutch a piece of Ground whereon he hath permitted them to build a Store-house Adjoining to this they have so far incroached The Store-house of Akara as to raise a little Fort of Stones sixty two Foot long four and twenty broad and flat above overlay'd with thick Planks strongly mortis'd together and strengthned round about with high Breast-works Port-holes and defensive Points for keeping off an Enemy At Great Akara the King hath appointed a Captain over the Merchants Overseer of the Trade with full power to set a Tax or Price for Selling to prevent all Quarrels Differences and Controversies which might otherwise arise of whom the Merchants stand in greater awe than of the King himself for he not onely punishes Offenders according to his pleasure but in case that any Dissentions happen he stops up all the Ways if they do not pay him according to his Amercement THE KINGDOM OF LABBEDE LAbbede a small Territory hath on the West Great Akara The Borders of the Countrey Labbede on the North and the East the Kingdom of Ningo on the Sea-Coast two miles Easterly from Little Akara lies one and the onely Village call'd Labbede a delightful place Wall'd and fortifi'd with Cliffs by the Sea-shore The Countrey hereabouts has plain and many well-water'd Meadows convenient for Pasturage of Cattel The Trade of the Inhabitants consists chiefly in Cows Maintenance whereof they breed some up themselves and others they fetch over-over-Land from Ley a Place eight or ten miles lower which they then sometimes sell again to the Akraman Blacks and to those of the uppermost Places The Government of this Countrey belongs to a petty Government yet absolute Prince THE TERRITORY OF NINGO OR NIMGO THe Countrey Ningo hath on the West Borders of the Kingdom of Ningo Great Akara on the North Equea and Little Akara On the Sea-Coast in this Territory are four places Ningo three or four miles from Akora and two from Labbede Temina one mile from Ningo Sinko a mile from Temina and Pissy all with Cliffs before the Walls in the Sea Ningo abounds with Cattel which the Akarians buy and carry to sell with Canoos to Moure Within the Countrey stands another fair City call'd Spicei where grow many good Oranges The Inhabitants generally support themselves by Fishing Maintenance which they do in a strange manner and with as uncouth Implements being like Baskets or Coops such as they put Chickens under with which going along the Shore in the Night with Lights they throw them over those Fishes which they get sight of Ningo Sinko Pissy some years since Places of good Trade but having now for a long time given out no Gold they are not visited by the Merchants who for that cause go no lower than Akara where as it is before
related the Gold-Coast is reckon'd to end Thus much we have thought fit to speak of the Maritime parts of the Gold-Coast want of knowledge not affording farther Discoveries We now go to the In-land Countreys beginning with Igwira lying on the West of the Gold-Coast THE KINGDOM OF IGWIRA THe Kingdom of Igwira borders on the South The Kingdom of Igwira on Atzin and Small Inkassia on the North upon Great Inkassia and on the East on that of Mompa It is reported to yield great quantities of Gold for the Blacks say It is full of Gold that the Gold which comes from Assine and Albine fifteen miles Westward of Cape de tres Puntas is all Igwira's Gold At Little Commendo liv'd for some years two Citizens which had with a small stock of Merchandise so manag'd their affaris that they return'd back very Rich but the Ways are somewhat dangerous by reason of Thieves In this place the Portugals had a Fortification wherein they Traded and brought their Merchandise in Canoos up the River which flows through Igwira but after the Netherlanders began to frequent it the Portuguese soon deserted the place THE KINGDOM OF GREAT-INKASSIA OR INKASSAN GReat-Inkassia or Inkassan hath on the South Igwira in the East Great Inkassia Wassa and Wanquy These People are little esteem'd for Trade There is little Trade but they come sometimes and take their way throw the Kingdom of Adom and bring some small quantity of Gold especially if there be no Shipping before Assine and Albine The DOMINION of INKASSAN-IGGYMA THis Territory hath on the South great Inkassan Inkassan-Iggyma and on the East Wassa and Wanqui Little Commerce have the Whites in matter of Trade with these People The LORDSHIP of TABEU TAbeu a small Tract Tabeu borders on the South at the Kingdom of Anten lying at the Sea on the West and North on that of Adom and on the East on Guaffa where a small River makes a Boundary to both Men Women and Children drive altogether a Trade with Hens Mille and other Wares to Sama where the Hollanders have a Fort formerly all this used to be brought up by the Portuguese and sent to the Myne THE KINGDOM OF ADOM ADom lies Eastward of Tabeu and Guaffo Adom to the North of Wassa on the East North-East of Abramboe The Inhabitants come sometimes and bring Gold on the Shore by Small-Commendo to the Merchants there Dealing but this onely if the ways of Ante be not obstructed by Wars Mompa MOmpa hath on the West Igwira Mompa on the North Great-Inkassia Wassa and Adom and on the East Anten towards the Shore VVassa THe Countrey of Wassa hath for Borders on the North Wanque Wassa in the East Abramboe and Kuiforo on the West Great-Inkassia on the North-West Inkassia-Iggoma Full of Gold It hath the repute to yield great quantity of Gold insomuch that the Inhabitants are always at Work upon it neither caring to Till or Ear their Land that single Commodity bringing from their Neighbours store of Provision Most of these People come with those of Adom to Traffick there for Gold at the Sea-shore with the Whites for European Wares VVanquy WAnquy hath on the West Kassa Iggyma on the South Wassa Wanquy and on the North Bonoe It hath Gold and good Cloth which the Inhabitants who drive a Trade with the Akanists in the Countrey know how to make very Artificially Abramboe THis Territory borders on the West at Adom and Wassa Abrambe in the South at the Kingdom of Guaffa or Commendo lying at the Sea in the North at Kuyforo in the North-East at Akamy in the East at Atti and in the South-East on Fetu It is a very populous Countrey Trade and most of the Inhabitants maintain themselves by Husbandry yet many come also every Week to Moure to the Whites to barter Gold for Cloth and Linnen but especially Iron They are a Warlike People and no great friends of the Akanists because long since in the Wars with them many of them were Slain and most of their Towns Burnt yet they were afterwards united again in a new League of Friendship Kuyforo IT hath for Borders on the West Wassa on the South Abramboe Kuyfora on the North Bonoe and in the East Akany The Land wholly without Wood and the People mean and simple with whom Forreigners have little Commerce Bonoe BOnoe lies encompass'd on the West with Wanquy Bonoe on the South with Kuyforo on the East with Akany and Inta A Place little known and of small Trading Atty THe Territory of Atty is circumscribed in the West by Abramboe Atty on the South by Fetu Sabou and Fantyn and in the North by Dahoe The Inhabitants maintain themselves most by Tillage but us'd before the Wars with those of Sabou to trade with Forreign Merchants which the Akanists have taken from thence Here is held a great Market or Fair extraordinarily crowded with a full concourse of People from far distant places who come thither to Purchase Iron and other Wares bought of the Whites Akanien THis Kingdom Akanien whose Inhabitants are known to Traders by the name of Akanists hath for Boundaries in the West Kuyforo and Bonoe in the South Dahoe Atty and Abramboe on the North Inta and in the East Akim or Great-Akamy The Akanists are a plain-dealing people The Custom and Nature of the Inhabitants just and honest in point of Trade and to defend their Priviledges stout in the Wars knowing well how to use both Shields Azagians and Swords Their Language holds great affinity with that of Fetu Language Atty Sabou Commendo Abramboe and Attyn but more pleasant and consequently more acceptable Such as Trade on the Sea-shore besides their own usually speak Portugals They are Rich in Gold They are rich and great Traders and Slaves and so great Traders that two Thirds of the Gold which the Whites fetch yearly from the Gold-Coast comes from their hands For they come to the Sea-shore to Little-Commendo Kormantyn and Moure where many of them dwell with their Wives and Children They shew great Industry and Diligence Travelling with the Goods they Buy from the Whites carry'd by their Slaves to divers Markets up in the Countrey and passing through the countreys of Atty Sabou and other Neighbouring Regions without hindrance enjoying every where much Freedom and for their Merchandise are courteously entertain'd by the People Inta and Ahim. INta hath in the South Akany in the West and North Unknown Land Inta in the East Ahim and Akam Little can be said of this Place as to matter of Trade Ahim otherwise call'd Great-Akany hath on the West for Limits Akany on the South Aqua and Sonqua on the North Inta Akam Kuahoe and in the East Aqumboe The Inhabitants are naturally Stately and Proud Their Nature which proceeds from their Wealth consisting chiefly in Slaves These come very seldom to
the Sea-shore to Trade with the Whites Trade but wholly deal in the Countrey with their Neighbours giving Gold for Clothes and other Wares which most frequently they have from the Countrey of Abonce or else from the Akanists their next Neighbours Akam AKam touches in the West upon Into as the South on Ahim in the North Akam an unknown Land and in the East on Kuahoe and Taffo little known and as little taken notice of because they have nothing fit for Commerce Aqua AQua hath on the West Atty and Dahoe Aqua in the South the Territory of Fantyn lying at the Sea and on the North Ahim. A place of little consequence belonging to Fantyn The TERRITORY of SANQUAY SAnquay lieth in the South on Fantyn in the North on Akim Sanquay and in the East on Agwana The People live hardly being forc'd for supply of Provision to come to the Rough Point to buy Fish which by reason of their remote distance seldom comes home other than stinking It yields obedience to the King of Agwana The TERRITORY of AQUUMBOE AQuumboe hath in the West Aquumboe Ahim in the North Quahoe in the South Agwana in East the Countrey Abonce and Aboera of little farther note or value than onely to be named Abonce THis small Countrey borders on the West Abonce at Aquumboe on the South at Agwana on the North at Amboera on the East upon Great Akara and part of Aboera Here is held the Market of Great Akara though about two hours Journey behind it whither resort out of divers Countreys several sorts of People Kuahoe KUahoe hath on the West Kuahoe Akam on the South Aquumboe and Ahim on the North Tafoe on the East Aboera and Kamana The Inhabitants are deceitful and false and therefore little esteemed by their Neighbors Tafoe THe Countrey of Tafoe lies bounded on the West Tafoe by Aka on the South by Kuahoe on the East by Kammana and Kuahoe 'T is reported to yield great store of Gold which the Natives bring chiefly to Abonce but some small quantities to Moure Aboera THe Territory of Aboera hath on the West Aboera Aquumboe on the North Kuahoe and Kammana on the South Abonce and Great Akara on the East Bonce It possesses much Gold which the Inhabitants of Abonce bring to the Market of Great Akara and there Truck for foreign Commodities Quahoe QUahoe hath on the South Kammana and Small Akara and on the West Quahoe Tafoe From hence also they bring Gold to accommodate and enrich the Market of Great Akara Kammana KAmmana hath on the West Kuahoe on the North Quahoe on the South Kammana Aboera and Bonoe on the East Equea Lataby and Small Akara The Inhabitants follow Husbandry and not onely get their own Living thereby but furnish and feed many of their Neighbors Bonoe BOnoe touches on the West upon Aboera on the North upon Kammana Bonoe on the South hath Great Akara and on the East the Territory of Equea and Ningo The People drive a Trade and carry their Merchandise to sell onely among their Neighbors Equea THe Territory of Equea hath on the West Bonoe on the North Equea Kammana on the South Ningo and Lataby on the North. The Inhabitants maintain themselves by Traffick Lataby LAtaby borders on the West upon Equea and Kammana Lataby on the North and East on Small Akara on the South upon Ningo and Latibo The Natives hold here also a great Fair or Market whither all sorts of Wares are brought but much exceeded by that at Abonce Akarady AKarady hath for Limits in the West Akarady Kammana on the North Quahoe on the South Lataby and Ningo This Countrey abounds with Gold which as likewise all that which comes to Akara is as well cleared of Dross as that brought by the Akarists which the Inhabitants bring for Vent to all the adjoining Markets and Factories The Land hereabouts hath few Trees and those also yielding little profit whereas Kormantyn and other places lying upward have many to be admired for their fertility and usefulness Insoko INsoko lieth Insoko according to the report of the Akarists four or five days Journey from the Sea-shore but that the Countreys between are for the most part unknown to them because they very seldom go to Insoko by reason of the great numbers of Thieves that haunt the Ways The Inhabitants make very fine Cloathes Their Cloathes whereby those which making a safe Voyage return from thence home again may gain vast Riches they are bought for Royals of Eight or other Pieces of Silver and sometimes for fine Linnen but as the same Akanists say know nothing either of Gold or Copper neither have they any Concern in it Thus much as to the Countrey in general we will now proceed to declare a more particular Relation of its Nature Air Plants Beasts Customs and Religions and what else obviously we meet with concerning the same ¶ THe whole Gold-Coast The Nature of the Countrey especially about Myna appears Wild Desolate Mountainous and full of Woods having such narrow Ways that two cannot go together and those so incumbred and over-grown with Brambles and Trees that the Sun can hardly through their density be discern'd in short they are fit hiding-places for Thieves and yet few such found there From Cape de Tres Puntas to Akara it lies high and higher up into the Land the Soil is fruitful intermingled with good Pasturage very convenient for the Feeding of Cattel in as also for Planting of Mille and other Corn the Shore extending East North-East The People here know not what a Frost means There is no Prest so that indeed we may justly say they have no Winter but one continual Summer covered by the continual Heats of the Air and Sun yet notwithstanding this certain warm temperature of the Clime hath distinguish'd the Seasons of the Year attributing some Moneths to Summer others to Winter by peculiar observing the difference of the Weather and accordingly they reckon it Winter when the Sun shines in a Perpendicular Line from the Vertical Point of the Heavens upon their Heads which happens in April and June and they judge it Summer when the Sun is farthest from them which is in October November December and February the reasons whereof we will endeavour briefly to give you In January blow along this Coast out of the South-West hard Sea-Storms but harder in February which sometimes bring with them a Hericane and sometimes Rain In the latter end of March and beginning of April great Tempests a rise both at Sea and Land by the Portuguese call'd Ternados and by the Inhabitants Agombrettou attended with great Rains mixt with Thunder Lightning and Earthquakes which continue to the end of May They foresee the coming of this strange Weather by the clouding of the Skie in the South-East yet then is the Sowing-time for Mille. The Ternados past the
Jurisdiction extends over many Cities Towns and Villages wherein none of his Neighbors can equal him Besides he holds as Tributaries the Kingdom of Istama Forkado Jaboe Isago and Oedobo For the more orderly Government of the Kingdom he makes three chief Counsellors in Great Benyn call'd by the Portuguese Figdares who manage the Affairs of the whole Countrey under the King besides whom none superior to them but the Field-Martial and the King's Mother These have Command over every Corner and Quarter of the City and draw great Profit from thence their Names of Office being Ongogue Ossade and Arribo These send into every City or Town a certain number of Noble-men call'd also Fiadoors who decide all Causes except such as relate to Life and Limb and may condemn the guilty Person according to the greatness of his Offence in a Mulct or Penalty but those greater Trials are sent to Benyn to be decided where the Courts of Justice sit But the Judges oftentimes though unknown to the King yet not without the connivance of some of the greatest Fiadoors are Brib'd to partiality The present King keeps a thousand Wives The King of Benyn keeps many Wives for by the Death of his Father Kambadie such Women as had been taken up for his use but never known by him became his Sons by Inheritance the rest with whom the Father had familiarly conversed may never Marry again but are shut up together in a Cloyster and kept by Eunuchs This Prince makes great Wars against his Neighbors towards the East and North winning from them many Cities and Towns He makes great Wars and thereby enriching his Treasury with great Booty of Jasper-Stones and other things He keeps such a reserv'd State Comes but once a year out of his Court. that he appears but once a year at the chief Festival out of his Court before the Commons and then on Horseback adorn'd with all sorts of Royal Ornaments and attended with three or four hundred Noble-men both on Horseback and on Foot and many Musitians before and after in that manner as is mention'd in the foregoing Description of the City of Benyn But he rides not far onely fetching a little compass soon returns As an Ornament to this short Cavalcade he exposes to sight some tame Leopards Chain'd which he keeps for his Recreation many Dwarfs and Fools to shew mimick Tricks and antick Postures and make Pastime for the People At this Festival ten twelve thirteen or more Slaves for the honour of the King are put to death which they believe after they have been a while dead are going to another Countrey and there reviving enjoy the greatest felicity imaginable Upon another Day the King sheweth his Riches consisting in Jasper-Stone Coral and other Commodities before all Men hanging out to publick view and then he bestows many Presents of Slaves Women and other things on the well-deserving And also confers on his Favorites many Offices which concern the Government of Cities and Towns The King's Mother The King's Mother is in great Honour for her greater honour hath a particular Palace without the City rich and stately built where she keeps Court with many Women and Maids Attendants and so highly esteem'd that her Counsel is us'd in all Causes of the Land yet nevertheless by a particular Custom which they term Law the King and his Mother may not see one another as long as they live When a King dies The Funeral of the King a great Cave is digg'd in his Court broad below and narrow above and so deep that the Diggers must be drown'd in the Water In this Cave they put the Corps and then all his Favorites and Servants appear to accompany and serve him in the other Life and when they are gone down to the Corps in the Cave they set a great Stone over the Mouth the People that day and night standing round about it The next day some go to the Cave and removing the Stone ask them within What they do and If none be gone to serve the King To which then perhaps nothing else is answer'd but No. The third day they ask the same Question and then sometimes receive answer That such are the first and those and those are the second whom they highly praise and esteem happy At length after four or five or more days the Men dead and none left to give answer they give account thereof to the new establish'd King who presently makes a great Fire over the Cave whereat spending a great quantity of Flesh to give away to the Common-People so solemnizeth his Inauguration After the Cave stopp'd many Men as they pass along the Streets and some in their own Houses are struck down dead whose Heads cover'd with a Cloth none dare remove but so let it lie to be devour'd by Carnifferous Fowl which are of these two sorts one call'd Goere and the other Akalles Some hold opinion that into the foremention'd Cave no living but onely the Trunks of beheaded Men are put as also that they throw in great part of his Royal Vesture Houshold-stuff and other Wealth By the King's Order yearly Festivals are kept The Festival time of the deceased King in Commemoration of the deceased Kings wherein they make horrible Sacrifices of Men and Beasts to the number of four or five hundred but never more than three and twenty in a day most of them Malefactors who have deserv'd Death and reserv'd in the Trunk of a Tree for this Time But if it happen that there be not Malefactors enough then the King to compleat the number sends for some of his Servants in the Evening into the Streets to take all those that go without Lights and bring them into the Prison If the surprised be a poor or idle person he must expect no favor but hurri'd to Prison soon receives his doom but a rich Man may redeem himself The greatest Fiadoors cannot excuse their Slaves from this duty but by another And in this manner the Fetisero's intending to make a humane Sacrifice to the Devil gets a Man by order from the Court which they may dispose of as they please The Crown descends to the Sons and for want of Sons to the Brothers When the King lieth upon his Death-bed he sends for one of his Nobility The Inheritance whom they call Onegwa to whom he declares the right of Succession and who shall be his Heir which this Noble-man does reveal to none till a competent time after the King's Death but then takes upon him the oversight of the deceased King 's Goods and Children who come with great humility and Salute him not as yet knowing who shall Inherit the Crown Every one makes address to this Onegwa with great respect in hopes of future advantage but he continues silent till the appointed time when sending for the Owe-Asserry that is the General tells him which Son the deceased King appointed to Inherit the Crown whereupon the
red Parakitoes Cranes Storks with red Bills and red Legs and half white and half black Feathers There are also Owls which they call Carjampemba that is Devils because their appearing presages ill luck This Region produces two sorts of Bees Bees one that Hive in the Woods in hollow Trees and the other in the Roofs of Houses The Pismires Pismires by them styl'd Ingingie are of four sorts the biggest have sharp stings with which they raise swellings upon men the other three are somewhat smaller Ensingie Eusingie is a little Beast with a Skin speckled black and grey The Entiengio a small Creature very curiously streak'd slender body'd with a fine Tail and Legs never comes upon the earth for the very touch thereof proves mortal to it therefore keeps in the Trees and hath always twenty black Hair'd Creatures call'd Embis attending that is ten before it and ten behind it This they take in Snares and when the ten first are taken the ten behind betake themselves to flight by which means the Animal bereav'd of its Life-guard at last is also taken The Skin of this little Beast bears such a value that the King onely may wear it unless perhaps by particular favour some great Lords may be admitted among which the Kings of Lovango Cakongo and Goy are taken in Some have reported In Congo are no Gold-Mines that about Saint Salvadore there are Gold-Mines but without any ground of probability because the Portuguese are greedy of Gold having convers'd so long in the Countrey would not have left them undiscover'd But they find many Copper-Mines in several places But of Copper especially in Pembo near the before-nam'd City whose Mettal shews so deep a tincture of yellow that reasonable Artists have mistaken for Gold but upon proof the errour becomes quickly rectifi'd The like Mines are found in Songo yielding better Copper than that of Pembo whereof in Lovando the Purple Armlets are commonly made which the Portuguese carry to Calabare Rio de Rey and other places In Bamba Silver-Mines and other saith Linschot there are Mines of Silver and other Mettals and in Sundo to the East-side of Crystal and Iron the last bearing the highest value because it makes Knives Swords and other Weapons Quarries of Stone they meet with frequently Stones as also Rocks of red Marble besides many precious Gemms as Jasper Porphirie Jacinth and the like The Inhabitants of Congo The kind of the Inhabitants known by the name of Macikongen are very black yet some few differ being onely a kind of Olive-Colour their Hair black curl'd their Bodies of a middle stature and well Set the whites of their Eyes of a Sea-green and their Lips not so thick as other Blacks wherein those of Congo differ from the other Blacks especially from those of Nubia and Guinee Although some of them be surly and proud Their condition yet in general they carry themselves very friendly towards strangers being of a mild conversation courteous affable and easie to be overcome with reason yet inclin'd to drink especially Spanish-Wine and Brandy Such as converse much with them discern a quickness of reason and understanding ordering their conceits and discourses so rationally that the most knowing Persons take great delight in their facetious humor In the Wars they shew little Courage for the most part going by the lose if the Portuguese give them no assistance for twenty Whites will put to flight a thousand Congoians These of Sango are a proud lazy and luxurious people but have a winning behavior and volubility of speech beyond those that dwell on the Northside of the River Zaire These of Bamba have the repute of the most Warlike and strongest of all in these parts for they are such men that can cut a Slave in two in the midst with a Sword or strike off the head of an Ox at a blow And which is more seeming incredible that one of their strongest men can with one Arm hold up a vessel of Wine which weighs three hundred and five and twenty pound weight till the Wine be drawn out at the Spigget They have all a native propensity to Stealing and what they so get They are inclin'd to stealing they drink out instantly with their best Companions in Wine one of which goes before the maker of this Feast and other Friends crying aloud Behold the King of Congo doing him that honour for the good Chear and Courtesie receiv'd from him that day In the ways from the Cities Saint Salvadore and Lovando Saint Paulo many discarded Noblemen fall'n into disfavor with the King keep in great Troops and Companies Robbing and Plundering all Travellers till restor'd again into the Princes Grace They much practice the villanous Art of Poysoning They are given to poyson one another whereby for the smallest trifle they execute a fatal revenge They are severely punish'd But those that use it had need have a care for if the Author or Contriver be detected he must die without mercy which severity they abate nothing of at present and for discovery so strict inquiry is made that it is very difficult to pass unknown by which means this inhumane Custom begins to decay Those of Sango wear Coats from the Navel to the Ankles and Mantles over the rest but the Women cover their Breasts They play at Cards for Pastime Their Play Staking little Horns or Shells reckon'd among them as current Money The Citizens of Congo maintain themselves chiefly by Merchandize Their maintainance but the Countrey people by Tilling of Land and keeping of Cattel Those about the River Zaire live by Fishing others by drawing of Tombe-Wine and some by Weaving When they travel from one place to another The Congoians do not ride on horseback but are carryed by men they ride not but are carry'd by men in Hammacks as the foregoing Plate sets forth or else sitting upon a kind of Biers made fast with a Cord to a Pole upon the shoulders of their Slaves or by hir'd people with an Umbrella overhead to prevent the scorching of the Sun wherefore those that will go speedily take with them many Slaves for their Journey that when the first grow weary he may be carry'd by the other They Marry and Betroth in Congo after the manner of the Christians but will not be circumscrib'd thereby from keeping every one as many Concubines as they can provide Clothes and Expences for When the young Maids in Congo dispose themselves for a double Estate they go into a dark house and Paint themselves red with Oyl and Takoel Wood of Majumba staying therein about a moneth and then chooseth out her eldest Free-man that hath been most diligent and serviceable to her and takes him to Husband When any Man or Woman among them dies they blame the Survivor The cause of the death of Man or Woman is laid upon the Survivor firmly believing such Persons cannot die by
and Pride The King's State though falling short of Congo whose Princes have been instructed to bear a Majestick Port by the Portuguese so long resident among them The Treasure and Riches of this great Prince consists chiefly in Slaves The King's riches Simbos of Lovando Boesies or small East-India Horns and some Clothes things with the Whites of a small value but by them esteem'd more than the best Gold or Silver He keeps continually a mighty and very numerous Army upon his borders His power to prevent the Innovation of an implacable Enemy call'd Mujako who lives Northward from him of whom we have as yet no other knowledge than to guess him powerful in regard he could never be subdu'd by Makoko In the Desarts of this Kingdom inhabit those little men mention'd before to shoot and kill the Elephants and sell their Teeth to the Jages as they again to those of Congo and Lovango who exchange them for other commodities with the Portuguese and other Europeans The Kingdom of GIRIBUMA or GIRINGBOMBA THis Principality hath its scituation to the North-East of Makoko The Kingdom of Giringboâ—nba and the King thereof very powerful holding as his Tributaries fifteen other great Lords yet willingly never drawn to quarrel with his neighbours especially of Makoko with whom he holds a firm allyance which is the easier maintain'd because they all agree in their heathenish Superstition East South East from the great Makoko you arrive at another mighty Kingdom call'd Monimugo and by others Nimeamay whose Jurisdiction reaches to the borders as some say of the Kingdoms of Mombase Quiloe Soffale as in the Description of those Countreys shall be more spoken of at large POMBO THe Countrey properly call'd Pombo lieth more than a hundred Leagues from the Sea Coast and as some say touching upon Aethiopia superior Abysine Others divide Pombo into divers Kingdoms stretching themselves as far as a great Lake perhaps the Lake Zambre between both the Seas But the certain place where this Lake arrives is altogether unknown which no White ever yet heard of or hath seen onely the Portuguese relate that a certain Kaffe of Mosambique which travel'd cross through the main Land of Saffola to Angola came by it Both the Portuguese and Blacks that live in Lovango The trade of the Portuguese to Pombo Congo and Lovando Saint Paul drive a great trade here by their Servants sent thither with Merchandize who chiefly for Slaves Which is drove by Slaves or Fombo's Elephants Teeth and Panos Limpos barter and exchange Canary Malago or Medera-Wines great Simbos Boxes and other Commodities These Servants or Pomberos have yet other Slaves under them sometimes a hundred or a hundred and fifty which carry the Commodities on their heads up in the Countrey as we have heretofore related Sometimes those Pomberos stay out a whole year and then bring back with them four five and six hundred new Slaves Some of the faithfullest remain oftentimes there sending what Slaves they have bought to their Masters who return them other Commodities to trade with anew The Whites are necessitated to drive their Trade in this manner Why the Whites cannot go to Pombo by reason according to their relation it is impossible for them to wade through the badness of the ways and undergo so great hunger and trouble as attends that Journey besides the unwholesomeness of the Air which causes extraordinary swellings in the heads of the Whites Their journey from the Sea-Coast out of Lovango and Lovando Saint Paul to Pombo proves very toilsome to the Blacks themselves because there be many Rivers which sometimes after the Rain grow so deep but they stop the other hazards often arising by the barbarous Jages This Province owns for its supream Lord and Governor the great Makoko The Dukedom of AMBUILLA or AMBOILLE EAstvvards of Quingengo one days Journey The Dukedom of Ambuilla begins the Dukedom of Ambuila or Amboille in the North and North-East divided by the River Loze from Oande On the East side this Dukedom hath the Territory of Quitere Quiandange and to the South Kanvangombe where the Rivers Danda and Loze as some say take their original This Principality hath many pleasant Fields Trees and Fruits and abounds with Cattel as Goats Sheep Hogs and Cows It was never subject to Congo It is not subjected to the Kingdom of Congo but vies with it for wealth and magnitude holding in subjection above fifteen Domiâ—ions whereof the five chiefest are Matuy-Nungo Pingue Hoiquyanbole Ambuibe and Lovando the other not nam'd This Countrey affords many Slaves and the Trade driven there is in Pombo The Kingdom of ANGOLA or rather DONGO THis Countrey by the Portuguese call'd Angola Angola is the name of the Governors and not of the Countrey lies between the River Danda and Quansa the name of Angola belongs not properly to the Land but is the Title of the Prince who assum'd and continues it from the first King thereof who fell off from Congo to whom it belong'd by right of inheritance the right name being Dongo although formerly It is rightly call'd Dongo and still by some call'd Ambonde and the Inhabitants Ambond's It spreads in the West to the Sea Coast and then from Danda or Bengo Borders to the River Quansa a tract of about fifteen miles but runs about a hundred miles up into the Countrey Jarrik gives it for borders in the North the Kingdom of Congo in the South that of Mataman in the East Malemba or Majemba and in the West the Sea where it spreads saith he from the River Quansa about ten degrees South Latitude and ends at the Sea near Cowes-bay a tract of five and thirty Leagues Pigafet adds to it all the Countreys from Cowes-bay before-mention'd to Cabo Negroe a tract of about fifty more This Kingdom of Angola for so we shall stile it is water'd by divers Rivers as Bengo Quansa Lukala and Kalukala The River Quansa for Danda and Bengo are included before in Congo The River Quansa lying in nine degrees and twenty minutes South-Latitude four miles and a half Southward off The Sleepers-Haven or six miles from Cape de Palmarinko and five to the Northward of Cape Ledo It s original hath an uncertain original for it is reported that no Whites have ever been so far as where the same rises But the common opinion holds that it comes out of the great Lake Zambre by many made the head of the Rivers Zaire Nyle Niger and many others It hath been liken'd to the River Lukar Course in Spain being at the entrance about half a League wide and at the Northside deepest to come in with Ships It carries but twelve foot in depth at high-water ebbing and flowing about four foot but within they find water enough yet Navigable no higher than the Village Kambambe by reason of the strong water-falls It runs up from the East to the West very
full of winding Reaches by reason whereof from the Mouth to Motahoama is thirty Leagues Sailing whereas the direct way is but twenty In Sailing by it the opening can hardly be seen at the Sea by means of a black and woody Island lying right before it Several Islands discover themselves herein The Island Massander for about nine miles up it divides into two Arms which include an Island about four miles long and half a mile broad call'd Massander or Massandera This Island produces many sorts of Fruits especially Mandikoka which planted there grows extraordinary thick of which they make great quantities of Tharinka or Maiz also Mille three times a year besides Palm-Trees and a Fruit nam'd Gojaves Ten or twelve miles above this Motchiama lieth another intituled Motihiama three miles long and half a mile broad very low ground excepting two Mountains beset with all sorts of Plants and Herbs and Feeding there are many Goats Sheep Hogs and Hens Some years ago five or six Families of Portuguese liv'd here who had many Slaves and maintain'd themselves chiefly with Mandihoka Lucala The River Lucala by Pigafet call'd Luiola comes out of Amboille having its head near the rise of the River Danda and running South Westward till about six and twenty miles from the Sea joyning with Quansa and by that mixture loosing its name The small River Kalukala runs cross the Territory of Ilamba with such extraordinary Creeks and Meanders that there is hardly one of the two and forty Dominions wherein this Kingdom is divided that lieth above an hours walk from it Some Lakes appear at the corners of Quansa or Bengo the chiefest whereof may be seen in the Lordships of Quihailo Angolome and Chame Angola containeth divers inferior Ditions Territories of the Kingdom of Augola as Lovando Sinso Ilamba Ikollo Ensaka Massingan Embakka Kabamba every one of which comprehends several Provinces rul'd by particular Jovassens or Governors viz. Lovando contains nine and thirty Ilambas forty two Ikollo and Ensaka divers but uncertain Massingan twelve which some bring under Ilamba Kambamba sixty and Embakko sixty In Lovando The City Lovando Saint Paulo stands the City Lovando Saint Paulo on the rising of a Hill by the the Sea-Coast On the Northside of this appears another Mountain call'd Mora Saint Paulo somewhat higher than that of the City and so steep that its with much difficulty ascendable yet on the sides thereof the Jesuites have erected a Cloyster neighbour'd by three or four adjoyning houses LOANDAâ—â— S. PAULâ—â— This City was built by the Portuguese in the Year Fifteen hundred seventy eight when Paulus Dias de Nevais was sent thither to be the first Governor for them in this Countrey The City takes in a great compass of Ground being built with many fair Houses Churches and Cloysters but neither Wall'd nor Fortifi'd Some Forts are raised at the Water-side for the securing of the Haven Before the subduing of it by the Netherlanders in the Year Sixteen hundred forty one the Portuguese had six Churches there two greater one call'd Saint Maria de la Conception and the other Corpo Santo and four lesser one for the Jesuits nam'd Saint Antonio one for the Blacks stil'd Saint Gosce one Cloyster and Church for the Franciscans and an Alms-house with a Church intituled Misericordia Over this Alms-house besides the Receptions for Poor are four and twenty Chambers for the Governor and other Officers viz. a Steward a Doctor a Barber an Apothecary and others This House hath some Revenues of Land which being but mean hath been augmented by a Rate upon Ships for every Ship which puts in there must pay two Rees to the Treasurers of this House Sinso is the Countrey situate to the North of Lovando Sante Paulo up the River Bengo Ilamba or Elvama a large Tract of Land above an hundred Miles in length Ilamba beginning South-East and East-South-East from the Territory of Ikollo and spreading from the River Bengo to Quansa and from Kalumba to Massinga still growing wider the further you go and every where so well Peopled that in two or three Miles distance is a Village which proceeds from the Negroes separating themselves from each other by peculiar Marks So that the whole stands divided into two and forty Dominions The first of these neighbouring Ikollo is call'd Chonso Dominions of the Territory of Ilamba and afterwards the rest lie one behind another according to their Order viz. Namboa Quolomba Bamba Golungo Makea Kombi Quitendel Etombe Quitalla Kambkaita Andalladongo Quiambatta Nambaquiajamba Kangola Quihaito Chombe Angolome Gumbia Massingan or Massagan Kaoulo Kahango Karanga-Pase Guenka-Atombe Hiangonga Quilambe Quapanga Kabanga Kabuto Kandalla Gongue Kahonda Kunangonga Mossunguapose Kamanga Kalunga Bagolunge Quibilacapose Koslakase Nambua Kallahanga Nimenesolo These are the chiefest which make up Ilamba and wherein may be rais'd ten or twelve thousand Fighting Men arm'd with Bowes and Arrows The Sovasen maintain the Boundaries so exactly that never any Complaint is heard of one wronging or incroaching upon another unless it be in open Wars and then the Conquerer becomes wholly Master of his Enemies Countrey This Territory can shew neither Artificial Forts or Natural Fastnesses of Woods for a Defence against their Enemies some little Groves may be seen upon Hills but so inconsiderable as hardly worth mentioning Yet these People cannot easily be conquer'd because they use such good Discipline shooting their Arrows either lying upon the ground or kneeling From Ilamba North-west and West-north-west lies Ikollo Ikollo Ensaka takes beginning six or seven Miles Eastward of Lovando Saint Paulo Ensaka and situate between the two Rivers Quansa and Bengo 'T is but a small Jurisdiction and may be travell'd through in half a day Here in some few Places the Inhabitants Till their Ground Two or three Miles in the Countrey on the Hills stands a Wood enclosed about with Bushes and Thorns to the great accommodation and strengthening of the whole For if the Inhabitants should retire thither it were impossible to force them out save onely for want of Water there being none but what the Rivers Quansa and Bengo bring thither Nine Miles Eastwards Massingan and above the Island of Motchiama in the Province of Missingan or Massagan stands a small Town of the same Name where the Portuguese have a Fort erected between Quansa and Sunda the last of which environs it on the North as the former on the South And about the distance of two hours walk intermingle their Streams from which Conjunction the Town derives its Appellation Massingan signifying A mixture of Waters It was at first an open but pretty large Village but since augmented with many fair Stone-Houses whereby at length 't is become a City The first Portuguese Governor of Angola in the Year Fifteen hundred seventy eight by command of his Master erected this City of Lovando Saint Paulo and also the Fort there when by the help of the Congeses he
warred against the King of Angola in the Countrey And now inhabited by many Families of Portuguese besides Mulattoes and Blacks Kambamba edges upon Quansa The Tertltory of Kambamba where stands a Village denominated also Kambamba Eastward of Massingan about a dayes Journey The Portuguese have a Fort here also wherein divers Families reside and many Free Blacks that have good store of Slaves About eight days passage up the River Lukala The Territory of Embakka you arrive at Embakka where is a Village of the same denomination twelve days Journey from the Sea side In this place the Portuguese have their Bounds beyond it claiming no Interest The unwholsomness of the Air breeds divers Sicknesses Constitution of the Air and Sicknesses especially violent and burning Fevers which kill in few Hours unless prevented by frequent Phlebotomy The Pox is so common among them Pox. that they think it no Disgrace and for Remedy use Oyntments and Physical Herbs taken inwardly but through want of Skill the Cure remaining imperfect many die They have another frequent Distemper call'd Bitios de Kis suprising them with Melancholy great pain in the Head Faintness and soreness of Limbs and makes their Eyes stand out staring as if they would fall out The Cure which immediately must be used upon the appearance of the Symptomes they perform by washing the Fundament very clean and putting a Pill made of a quarter of a rinded Lemmon therein with the Finger holding it in as long as may well be endur'd which is not done without great pain and burning a sign of the right Bitios This Medicine though seeming but mean yet proves the onely Remedy against this Disease if timely applied But if the Distemper be grown inveterate and far rooted which the swelling out and opening of the end of the Gut and a whitish loosness testifies then a Mixture of Juyce of Tobacco-leaves Salt and Vinegar steeped together two hours then stamped in a Mortar and so much thereof put into the Fundament as can well be done and kept there as long as possible reduces the Part again to its proper condition and absolutely cures the Disease But this Medicine is so painful and hardly to be endured that the sick Person must be fast held by two strong Men else he can never receive the intended Advantage The Bitios also are cured by frequent Clysters or Serringing the Fundament-Guts with the purified Decoction of the Plant Orore de Bitos and dried Rose-leaves mixt with one or two Yelks of Eggs and a little Allom and Oyl of Roses For the preventing hereof so soon as the tokens of it are perceived the Fundament must first be well cleansed then a Medicine made of a new-laid Egg well beaten with a little Rose-water and Sugar with which mix White Lead scraped small then dipping fine Lint into it put it up into the Fundament Observe here That White Lead is taken for a rare Cure against this Evil. Another Disease sorely afflicts them taking away in a manner their Sight so that they grow Pur-blind but by applying the raw Liver of a Hey regain their former Health Few escape the misery of sore Legs whose malignity is such as will hardly admit Cure They labor under another sort of Distemper Beriberi which the Indians call Beriberi being a Lameness of all the Limbs and supposed to have its original from the ill curing of the Bitios and not cleansing the Blood enough The best Medicine against this is to anoint the Joynts before a Fire with an Oyl by the Indians call'd Man-Tennah which in the Island of Sumatra drops out of the Rocks like Stone-oyl and proves very wholesom and serviceable against all Colds weakness of Limbs and Strains The Boasi is a Malady very common and pernicious rotting off the Nose Boasi Hands Feet Fingers and Toes spreading from Joynt to Joynt with great pain until without Remedy it brings them to their End Embasser a usual Sickness proceeds from the hardness of the Spleen Embasser which makes them grow melancholy yellow of colour heavy-hearted and faint But Broath made of the Root of the Tree Embotta that part especially that lies to the Morning-Sun restores their Health Of the Branches of this Tree being very strong and tuff they make Bowes The Small-Pox also rages here much Small Pox. and by reason of their unskilfulness in the use of fitting Medicines proves many times very mortal The Land about Lovando for want of convenient Moisture proves barren The nature of the Soil but on the opposite side by the River Bengo fruitful yielding store of Mandiboka Mille Beans and many sorts of Fruits and Herbs which upon the Portuguese first arrival was over-grown with Bushes and Brambles But the Portuguese Governor of Lovando Ferdinando de Sousa in the Years Sixteen hundred twenty nine and thirty commanded the Inhabitants every one acording to the number of Slaves they had to take each of them a piece of Ground at the River and clear it from the Bushes Brambles and Weeds and make it fit for Sowing and Planting by which they brought it to the present Fertility This Labor at first was ill resented by the Inhabitants who were drawn to it with great difficulty but when they tasted the Profit and saw the Fruitfulness every one sought to get a Plantation and took so much Ground as they could Manure In this manner the Ground was planted with Mille Beans and all sorts of Herbage and by Time and Practice the People still improving became not onely a necessary Plantation but as it were a pleasant Garden for the whole Countrey But afterwards in the Year Sixteen hundred forty one when the Netherlanders took the City Lovando Saint Paulo all was burn'd and ruin'd So that this Tract of Land formerly as we said a Garden of Pleasure became afterwards a Den for Lions Tygers and other wild Beasts However after some time a Peace being settled between the Dutch and Portuguese their joynt Endeavors restor'd it to the former Beauty and Fertility The chiefest Products of these Parts are small and great Mille Plants whereof they make Bread Chesnut-colour'd Beans call'd Enkossa a fatning and delicate Food yet too much eating of them causes a pain in the Belly Also Oranges Lemons Dates Bananos Ananasses Potatoes Cocos Arosses and Palm-oyl-Trees Anones Guajaves Wine or Gegos Anones Anones so call'd by the Portuguese from a Duke which brought this Fruit first thither is a pleasant Fruit very delightful in taste Ash-colour'd as big as ones Hand and almost round like a Pine-apple Guajaves Guajaves or Gojava so call'd by the Portuguese by the Natives Cienko and by the Dutch Granate-Pears is a Fruit very delicious in taste but the coldness of its Quality makes it thought unwholesom Arosses Arosses or Granate-plums a Fruit almost like Guajaves but smaller wholesom to eat and of a pleasing sharp taste Gegos grows on high Trees Gegos in
a Dance by them call'd Quimboara in which they say the Devil certainly enters one of them and out of him informs them of future and answers to past events But now many of them by the endeavour of the Portugal Jesuites The Angolians become Christians have been brought to the Catholick Religion especially in the year fifteen hundred eighty four at which time many thousands receiv'd Baptism insomuch that in Fifteen hundred and ninety there were above twenty thousand Families of Angolians found that were Christians and in the same year fifteen hundred more were converted the Portuguese to this day labour very much in the same good Work Every Sova hath a Chaplain in his Banza or Village to Christen Children and Celebrate Mass which on many works effectually to their confirmation though others in publick appearing Christians yet in private adhere to their damnable Idolatry The Supervising and Command of Lovando Sante Paulo Government of the City Lovando Sante Paulo by the Portuguese and the rest of Angola subject to the King of Portugal in matters of State lies in the hands of a Governor two Bradores or Burgesses and one Ovidor or Chief Justice for matters Criminal and two Judges call'd Jeuses with one Secretary The King of Portugal hath great Revenues from Angola The Revenues of the King of Portugal from Angola partly by the yearly Tributes of the Sovasen and partly by the Customs and Taxes set upon Exported and Imported Goods and Slaves This Revenue for all Rights and free Transportation to Brazil Rio dela Plata and other places is said to amount to a great summe of Money yearly which in Lisbon is Farm'd to one or more by the name of Contractadore who keeps his Factor in Lovando in the nature and with the authority of Consul deciding all matters of Trade and Money-businesses He hath to attend him one Secretary two Notaries and two Porteras or Door-keepers The Church-Government of the Portuguese in Lovando a Bishop manages Church-Government who is Suffragan of him of the Island of Sante Thombe by reason that Island prescribes antiquity and as shewing the first claims to be there the Mother-Church of the Christians The Island of LOVANDO BEfore the City Lovando Sante Paulo in eight degrees The Island Lovando and eight and forty minutes South-Latitude lies the Island of Lovando five miles with its North-Point to the West of the River Bengo making a good and convenient Haven for Shipping The whole being not above seven miles in length but in the broadest place it is not above half a League over insomuch as those that Sail by in a Ship may easily see the Sea run between it and the main Land Pigafet supposes it to have begun from the setlings of Sand and Mud thrown up there in heaps by force of the two greater Waters of Bengo and Quansa The whole spot appears an even Champaign but very dry and Sandy onely in some places may be seen a few Bushes and Brambles and on the North-side here and there some Haw-thorn Shrubs The Land by the Sea-side shoots down so steep and sloaping that the Sea not above a Musket-shot from the Shore hath above seven or eight and twenty Fathom Water and a mile from thence a Line of a hundred Fathom can reach no ground Pigafet places on this Island seven Towns Towns call'd Libar by the Inhabitants call'd Libar or Libata but Linschot will hardly allow them Villages however the Portuguese attribute to the best the title of Sante Esprit Here are two Churches or Chappels for the exercise of Religion and the Portuguese have divers Gardens and Orchards wherein grow Oranges Lemmens Citrons Pomegranates excellent Figs Bananos Coco-nuts Grapes and other Fruits but Corn is so great a stranger to it that they are compell'd to fetch Supply from other places This little Tract produces the great Tree by the Natives call'd Ensada by Clusius the Indian Fig-Tree by Linschot in Portuguese Arbor de Raiz that is the Rooting-Tree It springs up commonly with one thick body to a great height at the top shooting forth many branches from which pendulously descend several small Strings of a Golden colour which once touching the ground take fast root and spring up again like new Plants and in short time increase to a large Bulk from whence as the former fall new Pendulums that rooting again spread and so ad infinitum so that sometimes one single Tree will extend its bounds above a thousand paces and seems like a little Wood or Thicket The great Sprouts with so many close Boughs deny the Sun-beams a peeping place to view the inside of those vaulted Cavities whose redoubled Mazes yield three or four times reiterated Ecchos to such whose retirements draw them thither for divertisement and shadow The Leaves of the young Boughs resemble those of the Quince-Tree being of a whitish green and woolly The Fruit within and without red springs between the Leaves of the young Branches like an ordinary Fig. Very credible eye-witnesses report that under one of these Trees three thousand men may shelter Under its outermost or first Bark Of its Bark Clothes are woven they find somewhat like a Thred or Yarn which being beaten cleans'd and drawn out at length the common People make Cloth of This Tree grows also in Gon and the Indies where the Inhabitants by cutting away the thin Boughs make Arbors under them for cooleness and shade It seems contrary to the ordinary rules of experience Pigafet and therefore strange that digging here two or three hands breadth deep very swift Water rises at the time of the Seas flowing whereas digging at the time of ebb it cometh forth salt or brackish The Islanders use Canoos of the bodies of Date Trees joyn'd together in which they fight at Sea Formerly the Jages abode here but the Portuguese drove them out in the year Fifteen hundred seventy eight and pursu'd them to Massingan at the same time raising a Fort there for their security Under this Island are the Simbos taken up Here is the fishing of Simbos which carry'd to Congo and other places go for current Money so that this place may justly be term'd the Mint of Congo This Island obeys the King of Congo although by report The Island Lovando is under Congo beyond it he doth not possess one foot of ground Southward of Bengo upon the main Land however by that he claims to himself all the Revenue of the Fishery aforesaid and hath his Governor to oversee the same and take the King 's due which is indeed what he pleases and by compute amounts to eleven thousand Duckets Annually And although on all the Shores of Congo these fashion shells are found yet those of Lovando have the highest esteem by reason of their thin and shining black or gray colour This Island makes the Haven before the City Lovando Barra de Korimba where lieth two Entrances one on the South
call'd Barra de Korimba formerly bearing above five Fathom water but is at present almost fill'd up and choak'd with Sand on the other side of this Entrance heretofore the Portuguese had two Batteries but the force of the water hath almost wash'd them away About two miles from Barra de Korimba on the main Land Punto de Palmarinho appears a little Promontory in Portuguese call'd Punto del Palmarinho A mile and a half more Southerly lieth the Sleepers-Haven Sleepers-Haven and also the Clay-Ovens or Lime-Kilns where the Portuguese burn Lime and Oyster-shells Four miles and a half from Sleepers-Haven you come to the River Quansa where formerly stood a Fort of the Netherlanders which we mention'd before call'd Moll 's The Territory of Quisama or Quissamba THe Territory of Quisama or according to Pigafet Quissamba The Territory of Quisama lieth on the South-side of the River Quansa and spreads thence twenty miles upward and more This Countrey as the rest comprehends divers Dominions It is divided into diver Dominiens of all which Motchima claims the rule as chief Lord viz. Zourube Godgo Zautatsa Molunua Katakahajo and Zuino The Natives here need not complain of Nature as a Step-mother the Land without any great labour producing abundance of Mille for Bread besides other useful Plants and Trees as particularly The Alikonda eight or ten Fathom round but very porus and weak Trees Alikenda fit for no use but to make Trays to hold water their innermost Bark some convert into a kind of Thred whereof they make Aprons or Coats to wear about their bodies The Portugueses Quacumburez which the natives call Quisamo Trees Quacumburez never grows bigger than a mans Waste with few Leaves but thick and large the Wood so tender that a strong man with a Sword may cut it quite in two out of the rifts in the body flows a great deal of juyce like Milk but of so poysonous and destroying a quality that if any one should get the least drop thereof in their Eyes they would instantly grow blind The same juyce pour'd into the water will immediately cause the Fish to swim at the top as if they were dead The Blacks hold the shadow of this Tree poyson and will not be perswaded to rest under it for they say that the juyce is so great a corrosive as 't will gnaw their bowels in pieces without possibility of help or Antidote as hath been experienc'd by a Lord that was poyson'd with it by his Slaves The Beasts breeding in these Parts Beasts are Hogs Goats Bucks Sheep wild Cows Elephants Tygers and Leopards In short the same conveniences may be had here as in Ilamba and Enraka Fresh Water they have none Want of Water save such as is gather'd in the time of Rain and preserv'd in Troughs made of hollow Trees and the Places where they keep them are reserved by the Fetisies command with so strict a secrecy that if by misfortune any fall into the Enemies hand he will rather be cut in pieces than be brought to discover them In the Lordships of Zuina Salt-Mynes Gungo and Katta Kabajo great Mountains lift up their Heads whose open'd sides shew many Salt-pits which those Blacks subject to the Sovasen under whose power they are may freely fetch out by their Slaves paying the appointed Custom This they dig out in Pieces of a Dutch Ell long and a Hand broad every one weighing eighteen or twenty Pounds as clear as a piece of Ice or Crystal and as white as our best Salt and of so good a savor that a little Piece put in a Pot or Kettle give both the Liquor and Meat a pleasant seasoning From the bowels they dig Iron Iron-Mynes but enough onely to make Arms and Implements for Tillage or Husbandry The best Trade of these Quisamites consists in the fore-recited Salt and Mille Trade which they exchange for Slaves to be employ'd in the digging of it for they work not themselves out of an opinion of their noble Extract And not onely the Blacks but the Portuguese also buy great quantities of it for their People no other being to be got unless from Lovando The Blacks of Lovando appropriate to themselves the whole Countrey on the South-side of Quansa for twenty Leagues The Island of LIBOLO IN the next place follows The Territory of Libolo towards the South Libolo bordering with one Point to the East on the Empire of Monopotapa but in the South at Rio Longo near Benguelle 'T is parted into many Sub-divisions thirty of which the Portuguese brought under some years ago and keep them still in strict Command and obedience reaping great advantage from Cattel which are the same here as we mention'd before in other parts of Angola and exceeding them in nothing but plenty of Bees and Honey More we cannot inform you of from hence for that they lie as yet undiscover'd to our European Merchants The Countrey of BENGUELA or BEGALA THis Countrey Modern Geographers place at the Sea-Coast and make it spread from the River Quansa to Cabo Negro in the heighth of sixteen Degrees though others will have it go farther than Rio Longo in eleven Degrees and four Minutes South Latitude The Places Rivers Bays and Villages lying at the Sea-Coast within that compass may be these About three miles from the South Point of Quansa lieth Maysotte-Bay before which a small Rock hides it self Three miles and a half forward you arrive at Cabo Ledo And five from thence appears Cabo de tres Puntas Cabo Ledo And two miles yet Southerly Cabo Falso And five beyond that another Six miles and a half from Cabo St. Bras lieth Hens-Bay Hen-Bay so call'd from the abundance of Hens thereabouts and between both Benguella Viella that is Old Benguela a Champaign and very fruitful Countrey The Hen-Bay contains about a mile and a half in breadth holding ten or twelve Fathom Water with muddy Ground On the South-side stands a great Village on a Hill where large Cows Sheep Hens and Elephants-Teeth may be had yet they have no fresh Water Three miles and a half from this Bay lieth Rio Longo Rio Lengo otherwise call'd Rio Moreno in eleven Degrees and four Minutes South Latitude so shallow at the Mouth that a small Boat cannot go in or out without difficulty In former times the Portuguese attempted to enlarge the Entrance into this River but by reason of its shoalness the strong Water-falls and great numbers of Rocks they found it not feasible Five miles from Rio Longo appears a great Village nam'd Manikikongo upon the Ascent a high Mountain where the Portuguese once had a Store-house and bought Cows Hogs and Elephants-Teeth for Linnen and East-India pressed Clothes The Inhabitants here are very earnest for Musquets and Powder Eleven miles from Manikikongo runs the Salt River Katon-belle dividing it self in two or three Branches being free from all Winds
Cazado dangerous to Sailers being sometimes cover'd with Water The Air bears a good temper and the Earth though sandy towards the Sea yet affords all things necessary for the use of Man The Mountains rich not onely in Crystal but other Minerals Northerly it becomes more full of Trees to the heighth of two and twenty Degrees South Latitude from whence there drives into the Sea a hundred and fifty Miles from the Shore certain green Weeds call'd Saigossa and seems as a Mark to Sea-men whereby they know how near they are to the Main Land of Africa At a great distance also are seen many Mews or Sea-Pies with black Feathers at the end of their Wings which assure the Mariners by their appearance two or three together that they are infallibly near the African Continent The Government of this Jurisdiction rests in the hands of a King Government who as an absolute Monarch Commands all at his pleasure yet some Lords whose Commands lie by the Sea-shore pride themselves with the empty Title of Kings while they neither possess Wealth or Countreys whose Products are sufficient to make them known to Foreigners of the least esteem Kaffrarie or the Countrey of Kaffers otherwise call'd Hottentots KAffrarie The Countrey of the Kaffers or according to Marmol Quefrerie took Denomination from the Kaffers the Natives thereof which others name Hottentots by reason of their lameness and corruption of Speech without either Law or Religion Maginus spreads this Countrey along the Sea-Coast from the West-side of Cabo Negro lying in sixteen Degrees and fourteen Minutes to Cape of Good Hope or Cabo de bona Esperansa and from thence up Northward to the River Magnice otherwise call'd St. Esprit but with what ground of reason we must leave to de determin'd Sanutus begins Kaffrarie at the Mountains of the Moon near the Tropick of Capricorn in three and twenty Degrees and a half South Latitude so along the Western Coast to the Cape of Good Hope This beginning of Kaffrarie according to most Authors Davitii Lahasse Ethiopie p. 475. from that remarkable Boundary the Tropick of Capricorn hath been indisputably setled but they spread the end of it as we said to the Cape of Good Hope and Zanguebar Between which Northward along the Sea-Coast are none or very few distinct Kingdoms and therefore this being the outermost Southern Borders may not inconveniently be extended to Zanguebar so that the whole Tract lying Southward of Zanguebar and the Kingdom of Monomotapa are to be understood in the general Name of Kaffrarie So then according to this last limiting it hath on the East and South the Indian and in the West the Ethiopick-Sea which meet together to the Southward of the Cape of Good Hope and on the North at Mataman and Monopotapa This Countrey so Bounded lieth encompassed in the North with those high cold bushy and sharp Mountains of the Moon always cover'd with Snow nevertheless it hath about the Cape in some places several large and pleasant Valleys into which flow divers Rivulets from the Hills It is not divided into any particular or known Kingdoms yet inhabited by several People some Govern'd by Kings others by Generals and some are without any Government at all We will give you a glimpse of them in their Customs and Natures as far as any Discovery hath hitherto given us any information and that from the hands of such as for some time lived on the Spot The chiefest People hitherto discover'd in this Southerly part of Africa are the Gorachouqua's Goringhaiqua's Goringhaikona's Kochoqua's Great and Little Kariguriqua's Hosaa's Chaniouqua's Kobona's Sonqu's Namaqua's Heusaqua's Brigoudins and Hankumqua's the eight first neighbor the Cape and the farthest not above threescore miles from it The three first viz. Gorachouqua's and Goringhaiqua's have their Dwellings within four or five hours Journey of the Great Cape but the Gorinhaikona's or Water-men are within a quarter of an hours walk from thence GORINGHAICONAS THe Goringhaicona's or Water-men have a Governor call'd Demtaa who was once taken Prisoner by the Hollanders but was afterwards by carrying himself with Civility released and setled in his old Dominion Their best Seat contains scarce five Houses and not above fifty People with Women and Children living in a condition of Poverty below all the rest of the Hottentots GORACHOUQUAS THe Gorachouqua's are about three or four hundred fighting Men besides Women and Children and maintain themselves by Pasturage and Profit of good Cattel as Sheep and Cows Their Governor call'd Chora hath a Brother call'd Jakin both going in tallow'd Skins but they have great store of Cattel GORINHAIQUAS THe Goringhaiqua's or Cape-mans by reason that they always lived nearest to it are more than equal in People to those last mention'd for they can between both raise about a thousand fighting Men yet all their Towns and Villages make up but ninety five poor Huts cover'd with Mats These People obey a Governor whom they call Gogosoa who was in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty two according to the averment of such as had been there a hundred years of age and had two Sons the eldest nam'd Osinghiakanna and the other Otegnoa both which alway sought to over-Rule their Father but chiefly the eldest by inventing all means to make him away In the Year Sixteen hundred fifty nine The original of the War between the Gorinbaiqua's and the Notherlanders there grew between these People and the Hollanders a Dissention for the possession of the Countrey about the Cape where the Natives endeavor'd to turn them out alledging they had possessed it beyond all remembrance and with such malice did they manage it that they slew many of the Dutch when they saw opportunity at the same time robbing them also of Cattel which they drove away so swift that they could not be shot always chusing to Fight in stormy and rainy Weather as well knowing that then they could do but little Execution with their Arms. These upon information received by advice of one of their own People by them call'd Nomoa and by the Netherlanders Doman who went from thence to Battavie in one of the Companies Ships and stay'd there five or six years observing their actions with such inquisitive diligence that he remembred no small part thereof Doman being come again to the Cape in those Ships which were order'd for Holland kept a great while amongst them in Dutch Habit but at last betook himself to his old Companions informing and instructing them in all the actions and intentions of the Netherlanders as also the manner and use of their Arms. He together with another stout Soldier by the Hottentots call'd Garabinga were always their Captains and with great skill and conduct led on and brought off their followers always with success After the War had continued three Moneths A Skirmish between five Hottentots and five Netherlanders in August Sixteen hundred fifty and nine on a Morning went out five Hottentots one of
Soldanha-Bay Memoires de Thomas Roe where the Soldanhars have their chief Residence Some would make the Countrey lying at this Bay an Island contrary to the receiv'd Opinion of all Geographers and to support their Fancy aver That it is divided from the Main Land of Africa by a deep Bay at the South-East side and on the East side by a small River below Table-Mountain and inhabited by five or fix hundred People CABO DE BONE ESPERANSE At Table-Bay and the foot of the Table-Mountain The Fort or strength of the Netherland West-India Company the Netherlanders have a Fort for the defence and shelter of their Shipping in their Voyages Built in a Quadrangular form Fortifi'd with a great many Pieces of Ordnance and a convenient Garrison of Souldiers strong enough to repulse any Army of native Assailants By which they have a Garden of fifteen Acres of ground Planted with several Trees and Fruits besides the Plantation on the other side of Table-Mountain full as big again A Governor Commands this Fort assisted by two Merchants a Book-keeper or Clerk Accomptant some Assistants and a Serjeant over the Souldiers all which are chief Men and Councellors Without this Fort divers free people of several Nations have their residence transported out of Holland and maintain themselves chiefly by Tillage and Planting but they pay for their Priviledge a part of their Harvest to the Governor for the Benefit and Advantage of the Company In the Latitude of four and thirty degrees and forty minutes Eastward of the Needle-Cape lieth another Bay first call'd Flesh-Bay Flesh-Bay by reason of the abundance of Cattel to be had there This Bay wherein lyeth a small Island standing open to all Winds except on the North and at the West-side runs a Brook of fresh Water from the Mountain yielding no small refreshment to Sea-men Eight or ten miles Eastward you arrive at Fish-Bay Fish-Bay so nam'd from its abundance of Fishing Fifteen or twenty miles Eastward hereof in the elevation of four and thirty degrees and thirty minutes you discover Muscle-Bay so call'd by the Dutch Muscle-Bay but by the Portuguese Seno Formoso that is Faire-Bay Next Seno Formoso follow Seno del Lago that is The Bay of the Lake Faire-Bay because the Sea hath wash'd into the Shore in such a manner that it seems to be a great Lake rather than a Bay containing many Islands and Havens and amongst others Ilehos Ctaos Between these are three Capes plac'd in the Maps viz. Cabo de Sante Fransisko Cabo das Sorras and Cabo do Aregito and an Isle call'd The Island of Content Somewhat higher Northerly the River St. Christopher glides along Rio de Santo Christian the Portugnese call it Rio de Sante Christian and the Inhabitants Nagoa in whose Mouth three Islands are seen Next this River appears a Tract of Land by the Portuguese call'd Terra de Natal that is The Land of the Nativity of Christ so call'd from the day of its first discovery The Southermost Countrey of these parts is water'd by three known Rivers besides many other unknown Rivers viz. The Sweet and Salt River and Rio de Jakquelina Just about the foot of Lion-Mountain flows the Sweet River Sweet-Rivers which takes its beginning out of the descent of Table-Mount and runs down very swiftly through not above knee-deep Pigafet will have this River take its Original out of the Lake Gale between the Mountains of the Moon on the West-side and to fall into the Sea by False-Cape whereas the common African Maps place there the River Kamissa To the East beyond Terra de Natal opposite to this little River in the year Sixteen hundred forty and four some few Dutchmen erected a Fort or Bulwark with four Angles for the defence of this fresh water but they never finished it Half a mile Eastward runs the Salt-River so call'd from its plenty of Salt for on a great place of Sand three or four miles upwards by heat and drought so much fine and white Salt continually grows that a Ship might soon be Laden therewith Rio de Jackquelina hath its Original within the Countrey and its Out-let about half a mile Eastward into Table-Bay As to the Air quality of the Soyl Plants Beasts Customs Food Cloathing Arms Language Religion and Worship of this people in general we cannot say much that little we shall speak will have onely relation to the Hottentots lying close to the Cape as the Garouchouquas Goringhuiquas Goringhaiconas Cochoquas or Saldanhans great and little Cariguriquas and Hosaas for of the rest viz. the Vanouquas Cabonas Sonquas Mamaquas Heusaquas Brigoudys Hancumquas hitherto little or no information hath been had other than that in general they agree with those that lie nearest to the Cape The Air about the Cape of Good-Hope is always Serene Air. Clear and Temperate and by consequence very Healthy because neither the Heat parches nor the Cold pierces too much In June and July blow the stiffest and sharpest storms of Wind from the Southerly Points which continue till December mix'd with Mists Snow and Frost so that the waters in June and July are often Frozen the thickness of the back of a Knife The Vale-Winds Wind. or Hurricans blow sometimes so terribly from the Mountains which are commonly cover'd with thick Clouds which hover there and break with that violence as if all above ground would be rent to pieces At this time when the Winds bluster and tear so horribly they make a hollow Sea at the Point which too often proves dangerous for Ships It Rains there in the Winter that is in May or June so extreamly as if it did almost pour down whereby the low grounds are laid under Water yet without any prejudice for after the falling away of the Water the ground appears more fresh and flourishing The Soyl about the Cape is in some places very rich and ferile fit to be Husbanded and to produce all manner of Fruits although other parts be full of Clay Stony Gravelly or Sandy some Trees grow here and there but so hard and knotty as makes them fit onely for Fuel yet the natives report that in the Countrey there grow such Trees that a hundred men may shelter themselves under one of them perhaps the Indian Fig-Tree by Linschot call'd Arbar de Rais. There grow in the Winter Plants especially among the Saldanhars certain little roots which they eat some of them have a taste like Anniseeds others like Jerusalem-Artichokes others as Acorns The Valleys and Plains under lie verdur'd with Grass and sweet Herbs which being boyl'd with fresh Meat make a pleasant Sallet Close by the Fort of Good-Hope on a Mountain call'd The Vineyard the Netherlanders have Planted forty thousand Vine-stocks which all at this day send forth lusty Sprouts and Leaves and bear Grapes in such abundance that sometimes they press Wine of them They have there also Peaches Apricocks
they lay him naked upon the earth and cruelly beat him with a Rope full of knots which punishment the Judges themselves are subject to and the greatest Lords and Magistrates besides the Confiscation of their Estates and Offices If the Judges have any difficult business whereof they can find no proof they give the suspected person the Bark of a Tree cut small in Water and if he can keep that potion without Vomiting they clear him otherwise they condemn him to death These People are for the most part Pagans they call their chiefest God Maziry that is The Creator of all things They shew great reverence to a certain Maid call'd Peru in whose honor they shut up their Daughters in Cloysters as Recluses Moreover Religion they set apart as Sacred some days of the Moon and the Birth of their King but the innumerable number of Erroneous Opinions darkens all the Splendor of their Belief which they should have to God the Creator of Heaven and Earth But the earnest endeavour of the Portuguese Jesuites hath converted many to Christianity and brought them to receive Baptism In the Year Fifteen hundred and sixty the King himself with his Mother and above three hundred Nobles and chiefest Lords of the Realm were Baptiz'd by the hands of the Jesuit call'd Gonzales Sylveyra but afterwards at the instigation of some Mahumetans he was slain by the King's command with the imputation of a Sorcerer but a little time discovering their malice they made satisfaction for his undeserv'd death with the loss of their own Heads The Kingdom of AGAG and DORO with the Territory of TOROKA or BUTUA AMongst the substitute Dominions of Monomotapa are Agag and Doro bordering in the East on the New-Land and in the West at the Kingdom of Takua Toroka or Torea by some call'd Butua or Buttua takes beginning according to Linschot and Pigafet at the Fish-Cape and so to the River Magnice or Sante Esprit having in the South the foot of the Mountains of the Moon and the aforemention'd Cape in the North the River Magnice and in the West the Stream of Bravagull The chiefest Cities are Zenebra and Fatuka In this Countrey far to the In-land on a Plain The building Simbaoe in the middle of many Iron-Mills stands a famous Structure call'd Simbaoe built square like a Castle with hew'n Stone of a wonderful bigness the Walls are more than five and twenty Foot broad but the heighth not answerable above the Gate appears an Inscription which cannot be read or understood nor could any that have seen it know what people us'd such Letters Near this place are more such Buildings call'd by the same name signifying a Court or Palace and for that all the places where the Emperor at any time makes his abode are call'd Simbaoe this Building is guest to be one of the King's Houses The Inhabitants report it a work of the Devil themselves onely Building with Wood and aver that for strength it exceeds the Fort of the Portuguese at the Sea-shore about a hundred and fifty miles from thence The Emperor keeps a Garrison in it as well for the safeguard of the place as of several women he maintains there A little way from the Sea-shore are many beautiful places richly Verdur'd with Grass and stockt with Cattel but destitute of Wood so that the Inhabitants use the dry'd Dung of Beasts for Fuel They have many rich Gold-Mines whereof Boro Gold Mines and Quitici are the names of two lying about a mile and a half from Sofala The Habit of the People is but mean Clothes being onely the rough Skins of Beasts The Wealth of the Countrey besides the beforemention'd Mines Riches consists in Elephants-Teeth whereof they sell infinite numbers and Salt which they send abroad into most parts of Africa to their no small advantage The City Fatuka boasts great abundance of Gold Silver and Pretious-Stones beyond all her neighbors They have a Prince of their own but a Vassal to the Emperor Government his name Buro The Countrey of INHAMBANE and INHAMIOR THis Kingdom lies a little within the Countrey under the Torrid Zone Jarrik lib. 5. c. 9. having for its Metropolis a City call'd Tonge The heat is so great that the people of Europe residing there for Trade are not able to endure it but are discommoded by several strange and troublesome diseases The Inhabitants generally keep to their ancient Idolatry though many by the diligence of the Portugal Jesuites have embrac'd the Christian Religion and in particular as we told you Gonzalves Silveyra in the year Fifteen hundred and sixty Baptiz'd the King and his whole Court The place where the King keeps his Court lieth about half a mile from the Town Sema the residence of many Portuguese The Kingdom of MONOE-MUGI or NIMEAMAYE THe great Kingdom of Monoe-Mugi The borders of the Kingdom of Monoe-Mugi Pigafet lib. 2. c. 9. Conge Jarrik lib. 3. c. 3. or Mohememugi by others call'd Nimeamaye scituate over against Mombaza Quiloa and Melinde hath for Northern borders Abyssinies or Prester-John's Countrey and the Kingdom of the great Makoko in the South Monomotapa and Mosambique in the East Mombaza and Quiloa in the West on the River Nyle on the North-side between that and Prester-John's Countrey lie some small Kingdoms which being weak of Forces sometimes pay Tribute to the King of Monoe-Mugi and sometimes to the Abyssines These Countreys abound with Gold Silver Copper and Elephants The Inhabitants said to be white Skin'd and of bigger stature than the Europeans go naked on the upper part of their bodies Cloathing but over their nether parts wear Silk or Cotton They use also for Ornament Chains or Bracelets of Chymical Stones which glister like Glass and are brought from Cambaye These Beads serve them also in stead of Money Gold being of no value with them This King holds an amicable correspondence with Quiloa Melinde and Mombaza by which means Silks Cotton-Stuffs the aforesaid Beads of Cambaye and many other Commodities are brought into the Countrey and barter'd for Gold Silver Copper and Ivory He liveth also in a League of Peace with the great Makoko whereby from hence some Black Merchants have Converse and Trading with the Portuguese that keep their Markets in the Kingdom of Fungeno as also in Pombo d' Okango At the end of this Kingdom on the East by information of some Black Merchants of the Kingdom of Nimeamaye given to several Portuguese lieth a great Lake out of which many Rivers by them unknown take their Original adding moreover that in this Lake are abundance of Islands inhabited by Blacks and that on the East-side of these Lakes Land may be seen where sometimes they hear the sound of Bells perhaps brought thither by the Abyssines and discern some Buildings which they suppose Churches from this East-side sometime in Boats there came Tauney-Men and by chance Blacks yet the sides of the Lake are possess'd by persons
yellowish with lank or uncurl'd Hair hanging down at length who daily come to Trade with the foremention'd Islands They of Pombo d'Okango being ask'd how many days journey they had from Okango to this Lake answer'd that at the speediest they could scarce arrive there in sixty days These Jages are like in Manners Wars and Savageness to the Jages of Ansico for they eat up all those that they take Prisoners in the Wars or serve them as Slaves and for Ornament have also Feathers stuck through their Noses and both the upper Teeth before are struck out without which marks none can be receiv'd in their Bands or Companies as we have at large before related The Kingdom of SOFALA THe Kingdom of Sofala lieth between the Rivers Magnice and Quama upon the last of which it borders in the North Borders and the Kingdom of Angoche in the South on that of Magnice and the Territory of Buttua or Toroa in the West on Monomotapa and in the East on the Indian Sea The chief City seated in an Island they call Cefola or Sofala The chief City Sofala near which the Portuguese have a strong Fort built in the year Fifteen hundred This City when the Portuguese first came to it had but a small extent and the Structures were very mean but since that much improv'd with neat built Houses Linschot places here few other Cities and Towns Geoge Nub. contrary to the fancy of divers African Geographers who reckon Hantema and Dandenia besides some stragling Huts term'd Villages on the shore as Sajona Boccha and Gasta The River Magnice seven and twenty degrees The River Magnice and forty minutes South-Latitude was at the beginning call'd by the Portuguese Rio dos Lagos that is The River of the Lake but afterwards in the year Fifteen hundred forty five Rio do Spirito Sancto Joseph Barros lib. 10. c. 1. It hath its rise as some conjecture out of the Lake Goijame and after it has flow'd along way to Sofala divides its self one of which keeps the old name and disembogues his stream into the Sea between the Fish-Cape and the Cape das Torrentas having first receiv'd three other Streams of which the chiefest is call'd by the Portuguese St. Christophers River because found on that day but by the Inhabitants Magoa the other call'd Marches from Lawrence Marches the first discoverer both which pour down from the Mountains of the Moon in the Territory of Toroa the third stil'd Arroe comes about the North from the midst of the Gold Mines of Monomatapa The other Arm of Magnice The River Quama entitul'd Cenama or Quama or Covanga takes denomination from a Castle or Fort which Pigafet says the Mahumetans possess on its shore but higher up the Inhabitants name it Sambere This arm hath more plenty of water than the other being Navigable above twenty miles and receiving the Stream of Six other great Rivers as Panhames Luangoa Arruga Manajova Grain Gold Inandire and Ruenie all which make their way through Monomotapa in many places casting up Grain-Gold it empties it full-gorg'd Channel into the Sea by seven Mouths which make seven Islands all well peopled At the mouth of this River the Portuguese have a Fort to keep the Inhabitants under obedience built in the year Fifteen hundred The Kingdom of Sofala shoots not far into the Countrey but lies wholly on the Sea-Coast in the midst of it appears the Cape das Correntas in three and twenty degrees and a half South-Latitude between which Cape and the Island of Madagacar over against this Cape lieth the Banks or Cliffs of India call'd in Portuguese Baixos da India very dangerous and causing many Shipwracks They begin about the one and twentieth degree South-Latitude in the Channel of the Coast of Sofala Matuka reacheth from Cape das Correntas to the River Cuama The Countrey of Matuka or Quama wherein are several Gold Mines belonging to Monomotapa On the Coast of Sofala in the Countrey of Matuka lieth the Capes of St. Sabastian and St. Catherine The Air is healthy and temperate The Air. the Land some places plain and in some uneven barren and desolate from the mouth of the River Magnice to the Cape das Corrintas but from thence to Quama very fruitful and populous Matuka bears not an equal evenness Sanus though being by Quama River for the most part Mountainous Scbiq Spilberg 1601. Woody and interlac'd with many Rivulets the Sea Coast low and plain full of shrubby Trees whose sweet smelling scent heretofore gave a quicker discovery than the eye could make of the place Great wild Elephants numerously overspread the Countrey Beasts which the Natives neither know how to tame or manage nor are Lions Bears Stags or Harts and Bores fewer besides Sea-Horses that sport themselves in the River Quama The Mines and Rivers afford abundance of Gold Abundance of Gold which the Blacks gather in a kind of little Purses of no small quantity The People are well-set The constitution of the Inhabitants and for the most part black though some brownish Those which dwell at Cape Carnidos are less wild than them about Aiguilhas or the Cape of Good-Hope also taller of stature and free of converse they feed on Rice Flesh and Fish They go with the upper part of their bodies naked Clothing but wear upon the nether part from the Waste to the Knees Clothes of Silk or Cotton girt to them with a Girdle whereto hangs a Dagger with an Ivory handle and winde about their heads Silk Stuff in form of a Turbant though some wear Scarlet Colour'd Caps Some of them speak Arabick Language but most use the common Language of the Countrey for you are to observe that these present people are not the proper Natives of the place but came before the Portuguese on this Coast over Sea from Arabia Faelix to Trade with those of Monomotapa And as they found greater advantage by the increase thereof they began to Plant fresh Colonies in the void and desolate Islands and at length remov'd thence into the main Countrey The Inhabitants relate The Riches Navig di Tâ—o Lopez that the Gold-Mines of Sofala afford yearly two Millions of Metigals every Metigal accounted for a Ducket and one third part and that the Ships of Zidem Meque and many other places in times of Peace have yearly fetch from thence two Millions of Gold And lastly that this is the very true Ophir from whence King Solomon had his Gold Hence King Solomon setchâ—â— his Gold Moq. lib. 4. And indeed according to the Writing of Moquett no place in Africa affords better and greater plenty of this Metal for the General of Mosambique during his three years Service in the Wars receiv'd more than three hundred thousand Esckusos or Crowns in Gold besides the Pay of the Souldiers and the third part answer'd to the King of Portugal The Inhabitants Trade
of death but there must continue ten days worshipping the Moon within which time if it doth not Rain they cut off his Hand Before the beginning of Lent all the most Eminent assemble and offer Sacrifice to the Moon of an hundred Goats and Kids Heads They observe Lent like the Christians but they begin it with the New Moon in April and keep the Solemnity sixty days during which time they eat no Milk Butter Flesh nor Fish but onely Herbs and Dates or Rice and Honey which they buy in the Cities of the Arabians They are so zealous Observers of this Fast that if they find any to have broken it for the first time they cut off two Fingers of his Right-hand the second time the whole Hand and the third time the Arm. Every Temple of which there are many hath a Caciz call'd by them Hodamo that is a Governor or Judge in Church-matters but holds the Office but one Year which he enters upon by receiving a Staff the Badge of his Authority and wearing always a Cross of a Span and half long about him which he may not part with upon pain of the loss of his Hand In the Temples whereinto at the Rising and Setting of the Moon they enter they use a Stick of two or three Spans long upon which with another Stick they give certain Strokes thrice in the Day and thrice in the Night held by them for a Work of great Holiness Afterwards they go in Procession three times round about the Church-yard turning thrice after every Circuit then they take an Iron Pan made in form of a plain deep Scale hanging upon three Chains into which they put Splinters of sweet Wood and hold the Bason over the Fire then they first perfume the Altar thrice afterwards the Temple Doors and say with a loud voice some Prayers in the Temple and in the Church-yard requesting of the Moon to do good to them onely and no other People At the performance of this Solemnity the Hodamo holdeth upon the Altar a lighted Candle made of Butter for they have none of Wax or Tallow and therefore they have in their Temples Dishes of Butter wherewith they also every day anoint the Cross and other Sticks lying upon the Altar They go upon a certain day of the year with the greatest Cross in Procession round about the Temple and cause it to be carry'd by one chosen out of the whole Assembly whose Fingers after the ending of the Procession they chop off and present him with a little Stick with certain marks upon it for a token that he should be prejudic'd by no body whereupon thenceforth he is held in much greater honor than others They follow in many Churches the Ceremonies and Customs of Nestorius because they were for a long time Govern'd by Ecclesiastical Rulers which came from Babylon They have no set-Day of the Week to go into their Temples but assemble on the Procession-days or when any new occasion calls them They are Circumcis'd like the Moors and if they know any one that is not Circumcis'd they cut off his Fingers for no Uncircumcis'd may enter into their Temples yea the very Women themselves clap their hands at their Husbands if they be not Circumcis'd They bear a great hatred against all Christians nevertheless some are of opinion that they have suck'd in much of the Heresie of the Jacobites and that formerly many were Converted by Francis Xavier According to the Observations of Sir Thomas Roe Ambassador from the King of England to Persia there were in the Year Sixteen hundred and fifteen upon this Island four sorts of People that is Arabians not Natives but Shipt over thither together with many others by order of the King of Kaxem when they subdu'd it These never appear before the Sultan without kissing his Hand The second sort are a kind of Slaves who labor continually in his service and prepare and dress the Aloes The third are Beduins the most antient Inhabitants against whom a long time the King of Socotora made War They live in great numbers upon the Mountains and are at this day left in Peace upon promise to shew their Obedience and let their Children be instructed in the Doctrine of Mahomet The fourth being indeed the right Proprietors of the Countrey are a gross Body'd and miserable People which have no constant abode in the night lying in the Woods and going always stark naked they live by Roots hold no converse with others and lead a life almost like Beasts Trogloditica or New Arabia THe Modern Geographers as Maginus and others name the Countrey or Space of Land lying between the Nile and the Red-Sea properly New Arabia but the Inhabitants according to Castaldus call it Sirfi The Antients nam'd it Trogloditica and Ptolomy The Countrey of the Arabians and Egyptians The Inhabitants were by the Grecians call'd Ichthiophagi that is Fish-eaters by Eustathius Erembers by Diodorus Molgers and Bolgers and in the holy Scripture according to the testimony of Arias Montanus they are call'd Ghanamim and by Pliny Therotho's that is to say Hunters for their swiftness and dexterity in Hunting In the bounding of this Countrey great diversity arises amongst Geographers Ptolomy extends Trogloditick Arabia from the City Suez by the Red-Sea three or according to Peter de la Valla scarce a days Journey and a half from Cairo to Mount Elephas at this day call'd Felte so that he compriseth under it the Sea-Coast of the Kingdoms of Barnagas and Adel. Some extend the Limits in the South to the Territory of Brava the Kingdom of Magadoxo and the River Quilanzi yet make it begin at the forenam'd Suez but a third sort narrow it to the Cape of Guardafuy and some to the Island Mazua in the Red-Sea The chiefest Places as you go from North to South near Suez according to Maginus are these though Belloon gives them to the Nether-Egypt The Haven and Point of Pharos where they say the Children of Israel went over the Red-Sea on dry ground the Seven Wells call'd Sette Pozzi in Italian the Haven of Alkosser or Chessir Sanutus on the other side compriseth a part of this New Arabia viz. all the aforesaid Places from Suez to Chessir under Egypt wherein we have follow'd those who have formerly described Egypt They call the Tract of Land from Chessir to the Sea lying over against the Haven of Suaquena Batrazan In eighteen Degrees and forty Minutes lieth the Haven of Suaquem in the Territory of Canphila in a Hollow of the Sea close by the People call'd Nubiers and Bello's The whole Coast of this Countrey lieth clogged with high rough and unpassable Mountains so set back to back that no access can be had to the Inland Countreys of Ethiopia and the Abyssines but through the Haven of Ercocco and Suachem and that so troublesom that Travellers can scarce go above three or four English miles in a day The Inhabitants at this day are made up of a mixture
Goyame the sixth dedicated to Agapite stands in Dambea the seventh St. Saviours in Abagamedri the eighth dedicated to the Virgin Mary built of very fine hew'n Stone with nine Portals but was destroy'd by the King of Adel or Zeila and the Saracens so that at this day it remains a heap of Ruines in respect of its former Lustre In the adjoyning Cloyster all sorts of Abyssines were kept together with the Chronicles of the Kings as well those Anointed and Crown'd in this Church as those that were not There is another Church call'd Abagarami or Batta-Abagarima also dedicated to the Virgin Mary but ruin'd by the Turks however still retaining marks of its antient beauty in a Painted and Varnisht Arched Roof All these Churches have adjacent Cloysters But besides the beforenamed they have many other Churches dedicated for the most part to the holy Trinity Jesus Christ or St. Saviour to the holy Cross the Virgin Mary St. Michael or some other Saint Gala's or Jages IN the South of Abyssine and Eastward of the Kingdom of Congo over against the Sun and Saltpetre-Mountain and on either side of the Nyle upon the Borders of Monoe-Mugi certain salvage and Warlike People reside by those of Congo call'd Giaqua's but in that Countrey Language Agaz according to Pigafet and Linschot by the Abyssines as Jarrick asserts Gala's or Galla's by Andrew Batel an English-man who lived among them six Moneths Jagges or Jages but by themselves Imbangola's by which Name as Batel well observes upon it they seem to have proceeded from the Imbiers or Galla's of Serre-Lions which Peter Davity says can be no other than the Cumba's who at this day possess many Regions towards the South which they have wrested by force of Arms from the Abyssine Empire whose manner of life we have at large before related In several places of Africa especially in Abyssine there grows a Plant call'd by the Moors Muz and Gemez by the East-Indians Melapolanda by the Egyptians Mauz by the Natives of St. Thomas Island Abella by the Greeks and Latins Maxgraita in the Scripture Dudaim by others Pharaohs Figs and Apples of Paradise some conceiting that Adam eat of this Fruit among whom are the Learned St. Augustine Moses Berzepha Bishop of Syria Nicephorus Calistus Ambrosius and most of all the Rabbies It groweth to the heighth of a Pomegranate-Tree without any Branches and but few Leaves resembling a Reed for at first they appear rowl'd up together but afterwards spread themselves wide and growing to six or seven Yards in length and almost one in breadth so that any may shelter themselves from the scorching of the Sun under one of them which some make a strong argument to prove that with the Leaves of this Tree the Father of Mankind cover'd himself in Eden upon the discovery of his nakedness The Fruit resembles a small Cucumber but hangs together in Bunches the Rhind of a Gold-yellow colour lovely to look on and fragrant in smell The Fruit within somewhat like that of a Cucumber but tender juicy sweet without Stones or Kernels and wondrous delicious to such as use to eat it Another Plant The Plant Bahabab which the Egyptians call Bahabab or Baobab groweth wild here bearing Fruit in bigness and fashion like a Gourd but the Leaves bearing the similitude of those of an Orange-Tree The Fruit pluck'd from the Tree hath not onely a most delicious taste but quencheth the Thirst and cooleth extraordinarily Thus have we led you a toylsom Journey through the Heats and Wastes of Africa in the Main Land we will now give you a short sight of the Islands belonging to it and so leave you to your contemplations of what you have read and observed therein The African Islands 659. stand in this order Madagascar Carkanossi Towns Franshere Imanhal Cokombes Andravoulle Ambonnetanaha Mazomamou Imouze Mazesâ—â—touts Hatare and Fananghaa besides others and the Fort Dauphine Rivers Franshere Akondre Imanhal Manambaton Manghafia Harougazarak Foutak and Sama. Mountains Vohitsmassian the Naked Mountain and some others Manatengha Towns Amboulle Izame Rivers Manatengha Vohitsbang Rivers Daviboulle Dandraghinta Sandrivinangha Monamboudrou Massianash Mananghare Itomampo Rivers Itomampo Jonghainow Morqua Mangharak Eringdrane Rivers Mangharak Marsiatre Matatane Rivers Outhaivon Manghasiouts Mananghare Mana Irin Itapoulabei Itapoulosirire Itapaulomaiâ— thairanou Faroan Lamohorik Manataraven Mananzau Andredi Tenasataniamou Teraâ—minri Avibaha Tsabsacke Fouchurao Juorhon Manghabei Rivers Voulouilou Maransatran Marinhou Jamiami Mandreri Towns Rabsimelone St. Angelo besides four other very Populous Ampatte Towns None onely some large Villages and one Fort. Rivers Manamboulle Manamba Menerandre The Salt-River Siveh Youronbehok Yorlaghe Mountains Hiecla and another Hill Mackicore Rivers Ranoumanithi Ranoumene Sohavianh Soumada Manatangh St. Apollony Nothing considerable scarcely inhabited Mauritius Isle or Cerne Affording nothing but Beasts and Fowl The Islands Primicras Onely some scatter'd Huts Gomorre and Gomara Reasonably well peopled but without Towns the Houses built of Stone dawb'd over with Mortar The Island of Ferdinand Po No People of Europe have ever Traded there and consequently unknown Princes Island One Town inhabited by Portuguese and Slaves to about 3000. Anaboon One Town and some few Villages St. Thomas Towns Pauosan well-fortified St. Sebastians Castle Rivers Two small ones without name Ilha Rolles Ilha des Cabres Caracombo St. Matthias Ascension Island All places in a manner desolate and void of Inhabitants onely Carocombo has one remarkable Hut but many more remarkably immodest Women But they all produce variety of Foul and some Beasts St. Hellen Few Houses but several Cliffs Mountains and Valleys The chief known Church-Valley and Apple-Dale but without Inhabitants Cape Verd or Salt Islands Ilha del Sal A small River and a little Haven Boavista In a maner unknown further than sight onely one River falls into the Sea Mayo Some Mountains one handsom Plain and a dangerous Road for Ships St. Jago Towns Praya St. Jago the Metropolis of all these Islands and a Bishops See surrounded with two little Rivers Del Fogo One Castle and several burning Mountains Del Brava Neither Town nor Village onely one Haven above which stands an Hermitage St. Nicholas Two Havens viz. Porto de Berguera and Fuoor Fole St. Lucy One Harbor but within very Hilly St. Vincent Many high Mountains a convenient Bay but dangerous to come to and little fresh Water St. Antonio Two high Mountains one Village containing about 50 Families and in the whole about 500 Inhabitants Gorce No Rivers or Brooks only two Forts held by the Hollanders Canary Ilands are Grand Canary Towns The Metropolis of the whole a Bishops See besides Galdar and Guya with many dispersed Cloysters Fuertaventure Towns Lanagla Tarafalo and Pozo Negro Lanecrotte Towns Cayas Teneriffe Towns Sancta Cruz Lagana Ortom and Garrico The famous Mountain call'd the Pike of Ten 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gomere Palma Both without Inhabitants Ferro Some Towns and a little Water Holy Haven Altogether void of People Madera Towns Funzal Manchico Malta Towns
impossible to come into them but through the Gates The Natives addict themselves extraordinarily to Robbing and Pillaging of their Neighbors not onely of Goods but also of their Wives for which reason great Feuds arise amongst them which oftentimes break into an open Hostility This Province can bring three thousand men into the Field Every Village here as in the former hath a Lord amongst which one hath the preheminence of Command over the other The River of Mandrery parting Carcanosse and Ampatra glides very swift but lies for the most part stopt up It takes original out of the same Mountain with that of Itomampo and falls at the last by the South into the Sea Many Rivers bring hither their tributary Streams as Maropia taking his course by Icondre Manamaboulle and Mananghare Manamboulle descending from the Mountain Hiela and Mananghare issuing from the same on the South-west side Mananghare is inhabited with a People so unaccustom'd to War that every Great Man appropriates his Neighbors Countreys to himself as if he were the rightful Owner whereupon none will either Till or Manure the Land but let it lie waste and become a shelter for wild Hogs and Oxen. The Mountain Hiela towres up with a lofty heighth sending from its sides the River Manampani This Hill boasts a great number of Inhabitants and divides the Valley of Amboulle Machicore and the Carcanossi one from another Westward of which last appears a Territory call'd Encalidan between which also and the Valley Amboulle a small Tract styl'd Caracarack Caremboulle The Territory of Caremboulle a small Countrey about six Miles in length and three or four in breadth borders in the South on the Sea Westwards on the Bay of Caremboulle and East at Ampatre where also the River Manambouve gives it a limit The River Manambouve hath a full Stream about thirty French Miles from that of Mandrerey beginning in Machicore and running to Caremboulle a Course of fifteen or twenty Miles Twenty French Miles Westward the small Rivulet Manamba joyns with the Sea Menerandre another small River two Miles from Manamba poures down out of Machicore and runs South-South-west Four Miles from that are two other little Brooks that fetch their original out of a small adjacent Mountain The Coast of Caremboulle the outermost South-side of Madagascar stretcheth East and West but beginneth from the River Manamba to run North-west to that of Manerandre and from thence to Manamba and Machicore The Land of Caremboulle is dry and parched yet hath some few good Pastures stock'd with Cattel In Ampatre grows abundance of Cotton whereof they make Clothes and some Silk The Territory of Mahafalle Houlouve Siveh and Youronhehok MAhafalle seated farther to the West with the Sea-coast reacheth to the Salt-River call'd in Portuguese Sacalite about fifteen French Miles from Manomba and Hachicore This River lying in five and twenty Degrees South-Latitude cometh out of the Region of Houlouve beginning at the Mouth of the said Sacalite and shooteth into the Countrey two days Journey Siveh runneth along the Sea-coast about four Miles in length After Siveh followeth Youronhehok wherein appears the Bay of St. Augustine Yonglahe a great River receiveth on its North-side The River Yonglahe besides many petty Brooks the Water of three larger Streams viz. Ranoumanathi Ongehahemassei and Sacamare It riseth out of the Mountain of Manamboulle and runs to the West having its outlet Southerly into the Sea by a very fair Bay call'd by the Portuguese St. Augustine but by the Inhabitants Ongelahe It lieth in three and twenty Degrees South-Latitude defended from hurtful Winds and from the South to the North-west passable for great Ships yet hath some Cliffs lying on both sides dangerous for their coming in On the South-side of the Bay the French have erected a Fort resembling four small Bulwarks surrounded with Stakes or Pallisado's and a Trench of three Fathom broad and two Foot deep in Water having on one side a Way in the Trench above ten Foot broad by which they enter into the Fort. About the Year Sixteen hundred forty and four the English Landed here four hundred Men but near three hundred with the Captain dy'd by the Feverish malignity of the Air and Hunger at last the remainder were deliver'd from the jaws of Death by means of a Ship that Touched at this Place and carry'd them from thence for all usually in their Voyages to the East-Indies make some stay here for refreshing and bring their Sick there to Land to recover their health The Territory of Machicore THe Territory of Machicore a great Countrey stretcheth the whole length of the River Yonghelahe that is East-North-East and West-South-west seventy French Miles and the like difference from East to West but from the North to the South not above fifty that is from the aforesaid River to Ampatre and Mahafalle but lies utterly waste This Province as also those of Concha Manamboulle Alfissach and Mahafalle stood formerly under the Government of one Lord call'd Dian Balonalen that is Master of a hundred thousand Parks Then was the whole in Peace and flourished in happiness and Riches even to excess But after the death of Balonalen who left several Sons they fell into Wars for the Inheritance in such a measure that they were all extirpated From Onghelahe right Northwards appear two great Rivers the one call'd Ranoumanithi spoken of before and Ranoumene which comes out of Anachimoussi and poures its Water in two and twenty Degrees South-Latitude into a Bay near the Sea and a third less known by the name of Ranoumanithi running towards the West-South-west into a Bay in twenty Degrees South-Latitude This Countrey the Portuguese call Terra del Gada that is The Countrey of Cattel from the vast Herds thereof breeding in it There are three other Rivers run towards the West the one Sohavianh the other Soumada and the third Manatangh all flowing into a great Bay in nineteen Degrees Higher to the Northward the French have hitherto little knowledge of this Island and the Portuguese have for these many years discover'd all upon the Sea-coast except some few Places as the Countrey or Bay of Paxel of St. Andrew Cabo di Donna nostra Cunha Rio de St. Andreas Rio de Diego Soares and lastly the Cape of St. Sebastian the uttermost North-west Point of this Island We will proceed now to give you some account of the general state of the Island They find Iron and Steel in great abundance which they work and cleanse with more ease and less labour than with us for the Smiths take a Basket full of the Mineral as they find it ready and lay it upon red hot Coals between four Stones set and closed about with Clay and blown up with a pair of Bellows made in manner of a Wooden Pump with which blowing the Mineral within an hours time melts and so drawn off and forced into Bars or Staves of three or four pound There are also as they say Mynes
differences such as have done others wrong to punish them in their Estates or Goods A Thief must recompence his theft fourfold if he have wherewithal if not he must pay for it with his life or be his Slave which he stole the Goods from The Natural Law or Massinpah concerns every ones particular method in Working Speaking Merchandize Gesture and manner of Life Massintane is the settled Custom of the Countrey not onely there but in more civilized Places held for a firm Law in all Cases This here extends to the way of Planting necessary Provisions Building of Towns Wars publick Rejoycings Dancings Exercises of Arms and many other matters The Antiquity of this Massintane hath so prevail'd that the Law of the Prince stands upon no other foundation so that it cannot be alter'd nor indeed will they alter it for any cause whatsoever That which they have receiv'd from hand to hand by Tradition from their Fore-fathers they esteem more than any thing else that can be taught them As for instance in the manner of Tilling their Ground if any should tell them that the Earth must be digg'd deep or stirr'd and broken with a Plough they would not hearken thereto but instantly reply Their Ancestors us'd no such Custom The Person that is hurt or wrong'd may do himself right without bringing the Offender before his Lord for they make no more of killing a Thief than they do about a venomous Serpent or other Vermin Perjur'd Persons and breakers of their Oath are punish'd with heavy Penalties and the Women sometime kill'd by their Husbands for it When a Marry'd Woman departs from her Husband and hath a Child by another man that Child must belong to the Marry'd Husband till the Woman without consent Marrieth another to which nevertheless he will not agree till his Tacq that is the Brides Portion which he paid to the Womans Father at his Marriage be restor'd to him again These arise also continual quarrels and differences among particular people upon Trifles as either about the Cattel which run into one or others Torraks and spoil or eat up their Rice or Slander and wrong or if one Neger steps over another lying on the Ground or treads upon his Legs without speaking Jossles against another unawares for all which he is liable to be punish'd by the Judge The Island of Saint Mary otherwise called Nossi Hibrahim THe Isle of St. Mary commonly call'd Nossi Hibrahim that is Abraham's-Isle lieth from the sixteenth to the seventeenth degree South-Latitude opposite to the River Manangare and stands the nearest from Madagascar two small Miles and at the farthest four containing in length from South to North about eleven and in breadth from East to West full two Miles To the South of this Island lieth another small one in the shape of a Tre-Angle separated by a Channel of thirty yards broad and two foot deep in some places and in others deeper This Island hath curious Meadows with Grass where the Cattel of St. Maries Isle go to Pasture The Island of St. Mary stands encompass'd with Rocks over which at the time of High-Water the Canoos go but at Low-Tide they are dangerous within a foot or half a foot of the Surface On the Shore are found Rocks of white Corral which the Negro's seek and sell to the French The whole is cut thorow by small Rivers and Springs by which means together with its natural fatness the Ground proves infinitely fertile and all over Sown with Rice whereof sometimes they gather two Crops in a year there are also large Sugar-Canes Pease Bananoes Ananassen and better to Bake than in any place of Madagascar The Air is very moist so that scarce one day in the year passeth without Rain and sometimes it Showres six days together without ceasing The Cattel are very large and fat feeding at pleasure On the Easterly Shore much Ambergreece hath been found of which the Negro's make Burnt-Offerings on the A Mounouques or Burying-places of their Fore-fathers Besides several sorts of Gums which they use for sweet Scents and likewise Taccamahacca in great abundance There grows a Tree by the Natives call'd Thionti and its Fruit Voathions which is no sooner fallen from the same but it Roots in the Earth and makes such a close Thicket that it is impossible to go thorow it There are about ten or twelve Villages Inhabited since the French have had their abode there so that the Governor of Antongil which used formerly to War against this Island continually dare not come thither for fear of the French The whole contains about six hundred Inhabitants which call themselves Zaffe-Hibrahim that is Children of Abraham The Chief Commander hath to name Raignasse or Raniassa Son of Ratsiminon that is Head because onely acknowledged by them as Head of the Stock of Abraham in this Island and Madagascar The Islanders maintain themselves by Planting of Rice Ignames Bananoes Sugar-Canes Pease and Beans and Fishing for Houzites a sort of Fish which they carry to sell at St. Lawrence paying to the Governor the fifth part for Tribute which also they do of Rice and other Plants These Islanders will enter into no League with the Christians yet Trade with them because it seems they have retain'd somewhat of the Antient Judaism The Island of Maskareigne otherwise called BOURBON THe Island of Maskareigne or Maskarenhas so call'd from the first Discoverer a Portuguese out of the Family of Maskarenhas by some call'd Apollime but by the French from the houses of Bourbon Isle de Bourbon who in the Year Fifteen hundred sixty nine by Flakour then Commander of the Island of Madagascar for the French East-India Company took possession of it for them It lieth to the East of Madagascar in one and twenty degrees and a half South-Latitude being fifteen Leagues long and ten broad and full eight days Journey in circumference There is not one convenient Haven by reason of the Rocks on the Shore which makes the coming of Ships to this Island oftentimes dangerous but there are several Roads the best of which lieth West and North-East the next is on the Northside and another on the Southside surrounded with Rocks with an entrance scarce wide enough for one Ship to come in at near which the French have built a Chappel for St. Paul At the Southside of this Island stands a Mountain which continually Burns and Vomits out Fire as another on the Island Del Fuoga one of the Cape de Verd Islands and the Mountain Hekla in Ysland from the South to the Eastside lieth a Tract of Land of twenty Miles quite burnt up by the sultry heat of the Air however this Countrey doth seem to have been very good formerly The Burning begins from the South-Point and takes its course aloft over the Mountains As you travel cross thorow the Countrey from the South to the West you may find a small Tract of Land of about six Miles wherein is a Lake whence issues a small River
in-sides are adorn'd in very good Order with all sorts of Defensive Arms as Cuirasses Coats of Mail Caskets Head-pieces Shields Back-swords Halberds Pikes Half-Lances Muskets Dags Ponyards Pistols Snap-hances and such like Above hang many Bowes and other Weapons us'd of old by the Knights of Rhodes In brief there are sufficient of all sorts to equip six and thirty thousand Men. There are three or four compleat Suits of Armor Cap-a-pe the middlemost being that which the Grand Master De la Valette in the Siege in the year Sixteen hundred sixty five us'd There is also a Piece of Cannon upon the Carriage made of Leather but with so great Art and Curiosity that it seems verily an Iron Piece All these Arms are kept very clean and bright by Officers to that onely purpose appointed Every Knight notwithstanding all this Provision hath his Arms by himself in his own House as have also the Citizens and Countrey People The Banjert is a large House or Prison wherein many Slaves of all Nations are bought and sold They have a Custom-house Treasury Chancery and Magazine for Wine and Corn a Castle for the Courts of Justice Princely Stables for Horses and a separate Field with all Conveniences for the Founding of Great Ordnance The Castle of St. Elmo built upon a Rock on the Out-point of Valette towards the Sea is as it were encompass'd with several fair and large Havens three on the right side and five on the left all guarded by the Castle of St. Angelo built on the Point of Burgo or Citta Vittorioso Between this Castle and Valette are Corn-pits hewn in the Rocks In the great Haven over against Valette are two long slips of Land Fort St. Angelo with their Points in one whereof seated upon a Rock lieth the Castle St. Angelo and besides it nothing remarkable but an old small Church built first by the Clergy of this Order wherein you may see the Tomb of the Grand-Master Philip de Villiers d' Isle Dam who there with the Order after the loss of Rhodes in the year Fifteen hundred and thirty the six and twentieth of October took his first Residence after eight Years Adventures It was formerly strengthen'd with many Bulwarks and Walls provided with Wells of Water a Magazine of Arms together with a Palace for the Knights but since the Siege of the Turks in the Year Sixteen hundred fifty five greatly decay'd Here stands also an Hospital for sick and poor Diseased Mariners who are serv'd by the Junior Knights with Silver Vessels in good order Lastly A Yard or Dock for the Building of Galleys with Barrakes or Store-houses adjoyning neighbor'd by the stately Mansion of the General of the Galleys Beyond this upon the same Rock stands Citta Vittorioso so call'd because of the foremention'd Siege which it endur'd from the Turks It was built by the Grand Master Philip de Villiers d' Isle Dam when the Knights had first the Possession of this Island given them and at this day conveniently Fortified It contains in Circuit half a Mile wherein about twelve hundred Houses and these following Churches viz. St. Andria Maria della Carne St. Spirito Santo St. Laurenzo by the Market La Muneiata St. Scholastique a Cloyster of Nuns and Grecian Church The Inquisitor hath there also a Palace for his Residence On the other Slip of Land Fort St. Michael more inwards lieth the City call'd La Isula at the East end whereof stands St. Michaels Fort parted only from the main Land by a deep Trench the whole erected about the year Fifteen hundred and six by the Grand Master Claudius de la Sangle and now strongly Fortified according to the Modern way It hath in compass about a small Mile and chiefly inhabited by Mariners who continually keep Vessels abroad against the Turks Between Burgo and La Isula lies a Haven wherein all the Capers and Galleys of Malta harbor with their Prizes as well Turks as Christians The Entrance at the coming of the Turkish Fleet was chain'd up In La Isula are four Churches Maria Porto Salvo Madama de Victoria St. Philippo Nere and St. Julian At the end of the Haven beyond the City on the East side lieth Burmola as being without the City inhabited by Strangers together with two Havens one call'd La Marza and the other La Marza Picciola that is The Small Haven Citta Vecchia Old Malta or The Old City which Ptolomy call'd by the Name of the Island Melite and others Old Malta is said to have been built by the Carthaginians but the Inhabitants know it by the Name of Medina deriv'd from the Arabick Language in memory of the Arabians who so call'd it from a City of the same denomination in Arabia the Sepulchre of Mahomet The principal Church is that of St. Peters being the first which the Christians built in this Island after the Preaching of the Apostle St. Paul Without the City stands another dedicated to St. Agatha where upon the Altar sits a white Marble Image of St. Agatha Preaching Under this Church is a Grot with two or three Entrances yet few People venture into it because of the several strange Meanders and dismal narrowness of the place and therefore one of these Entrances being more dangerous than the rest was closed up by Command They go in by a Rope made fast above by which they slide down carrying with them burning Torches Towns Towns in Italian call'd Casals and by the Inhabitants in Arabick Adhamet Jerome of Alexandria in his Siege of Malta computed to be about five and forty Bosio to forty others scarce to six and thirty but the Knights themselves according to Davity reckon them sixty The Parish (a) Or Nasciaro Naxarro for this Island the Knights have divided into several Parishes hath under it according to Bosio the Towns of Gregoor (b) Or Mossa Musta and Muslimet the Parish Bircarcara the Towns Tard Lia Balsan Bordi and Man Then followeth the Parish of Cordi but without any annexions The Parish of St. Mary of (c) Or Di Loreto Birmiftuch contains the Towns Luka Tarcien Gudia Percop or Corcap (d) Or Saf Saphi (e) Or Mechabib Mikabiba and Farrugh That of (f) Or Siggo Siguiau the Towns (g) Or Gighibir Quibir (h) Or Scilia Siluch and Cidere That of (i) Or Sabbug St. Catherine the Towns Biscatia Zakar Asciak Gioanni and Bisbu The Parish of Zarrik takes in (k) Or Grendi Crendi Leu (l) Or Miliers Meleri (m) Or Bukkaro Bukakra and Maim Then the Parochial Towns of Zabugi Muxi and Alduvi and lastly that of Dingli comprehending some small Villages Two or three Miles Northward of Valetta appeareth Nasciaro grac'd with a very fine Church to which adjoyns a Garden of Pleasure call'd by the name of the Grand Master St. Anthony being very large and divided into several Quarters all full of Vines Oranges Lemons Pomegranates Citrons Olives and other
as at this day many Stone Columns found therein and Insculp'd with Punick Letters Afterwards the Romans became Masters of it at the same time when they Conquer'd Cicily by whom deserted the Mahumetans took into possession about the Year of our Lord Eight hundred twenty eight but they were driven thence in the Year One thousand and ninety by Roger the Norman Duke of Cicily who reduced it under his own Power from whom it remain'd under the King of Cicily till overcome by the Emperor Charles the First after his Conquest of Cicily and Naples who gave it away to the Knights of St. Johns Order then call'd Knights of Rhodes and at this day Malta Knights as appeareth by Monimus of Utina exhorting Philip the Second to recieve them But for the better information of the beginning and continuance of this Order of Knights the Possessors and Lords of this Island it will be necessary to deduce the matter somewhat higher When the City Jerusalem was exceedingly harrased by the Saracens The original of St. Johns Order or Knights of Malta who possess'd the same Califf Aron used the Christians more gently because of a good understanding between Charles the Great first Emperor of Germany and him but after his death this City fell into greater miseries by quarrels between the Mahumetans of Persia and Egypt for now it was under the Persians and then under the Egyptians who at last growing Masters of the Holy-Land treated the Christians very severely and caused the Church of the Holy-Sepulchre to be Ruin'd which remain'd seven and thirty years desolate till the Raign of Constantine Monamaque Emperor of Constantinople who Rebuilt it at his own Charge with the consent of Bomensor Califf of Bomansar by others call'd Maabad Abutamin Mustansir Billa Son of Ali Taher in the Year One thousand forty eight At the same time some Nobles and Italian Merchants of the City Amalfi in the Kingdom of Naples visited much the Havens and Sea-Towns of Syria and Egypt carrying thither by Shipping rare and precious Commodities which were so acceptable to the Natives of that Countrey that the bringers were respected by all persons even the Governors and Califfs themselves by which means they had liberty to Trade every where and visit the City of Jerusalem and the holy-Holy-Land But they having no Dwelling-place for their abode nor any Church to exercise their Religion concluded to intreat the Califf of Egypt to grant them a place in Jerusalem whereon they might build a Church with a house for their abode who immediately granted them a place near The Church of the Resurrection where they afterwards built a Church to the honor of the Virgin Mary with a Cloyster and House Afterwards they sent for from the Mountain Cassin an Abbot with Monks of the Order of St. Benedict to whom they gave the same Church and Cloyster with a proviso to receive and entertain all Christian Pilgrims or Travellers and this Church was call'd St. Mary the Latin because built by the Latin Christians On the report of this Work begun many Men and Women betook themselves thither And therefore that the Women might have a more honorable abode another Cloyster was built by the name of St. Mary Magdalene into which a certain number of Religious Women betook themselves to receive and entertain all Pilgrimesses which came thither But when at last these Cloysters began to grow too small for such great numbers as thither resorted the Sisterhood concluded to build a great Hospital or Alms-house for entertainment both of Sick and Well and put at the same time an Overseer therein chosen by the Abbot They built also next it a Church by the name of St. John Baptist because they had understood That Zacharias the Father of St. John Baptist had often travell'd to this Place These Cloysters and this Hospital for want of Revenues were only maintain'd by Alms sent to them by those of Amalfi and other parts of Italy which Traded in Syria which continu'd as long as Jerusalem remain'd in the Hands of the Infidels In which time a certain Holy Person by name Gerard was Overseer of this Hospital and over the Cloyster of Women a Roman Virgin call'd Agnes When this Gerard had serv'd this Hospital a long time he concluded with the Advice of his Benefactors to take upon him the Apparel or Habit which the Knights at this day wear that is a black Cloke or Coat with a white eight-pointed Cross upon it The like the Abbess Agnes and their Institution was allow'd by Pope Honorius the Second and the Patriarch of Jerusalem Gramay affirms That at the intreaty of this Gerard this Order was allow'd in the year Eleven hundred and thirteen by Pope Paschal the Second under the Discipline of St. Augustine which hath been ever since follow'd by them And likewise the same Pope Paschal took the same Gerard and these Hospitallers for so they were at first call'd from this Hospital under his Protection and granted them great Priviledges commanding That after the death of this Gerard they should chuse another Governor to whom was given the Title of Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem Megisser affirms That when the Christian Princes had Besieg'd Jerusalem under the Conduct of Godfrey of Bouillon Duke of Lorain as Chief Commander these Hospitallers joyn'd privately with him and by means of their Assistance beat the Turks and won the City in the year Eleven hundred and nineteen This Godfrey of Bouillon being afterward chosen King of Jerusalem by the Christians gave to this Order great Gifts and put into their Hands the Government of many Towns to defend the same In the year Eleven hundred seventy eight these Hospitallers fought with Saladine Caliph of Egypt and won a great Victory but with the loss of the Grand Master De Mozins there remaining on the Mahumetan side above five thousand slain In like manner the Knights in the same year in July under the Command of the Grand Master Garnier gave a bloody Battel to that Enemy wherein Guy the Christian King of Jerusalem and the chiefest of the Realm remain'd Prisoners Downfal of the Knights with a downfall of all the Knights The Grand Master himself mortally wounded died of his Wounds ten days afterwards The twelfth of October They are drove out of Jerusalem in the same Year Jerusalem was Conquer'd by Saladine by which means all the Christians of the Latin Church and these Hospitallers were driven out of the City which with their own Money redeem'd above thirty thousand Prisoners These did aid the Christian Princes very much in the regaining of the Holy Land and the City Akre which hapned in the year Eleven hundred ninety one the twelfth of July at which place they have since had their usual abode And notwithstanding the loss of Jerusalem the Hospitallers and Templars remain'd Masters over one part of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and made Ameury van Ansignan King of Cyprus King of
of Epaphus Son of Jupiter others would force the Name Lybia from the Arabick word Lebib which signifies Excessive Heat Now the Arabs call this Land Zaahara Zaara or Sarn that is The Desarts ¶ THe migrating Arabs The Arabian division of Lybia that so often in great companies shift their eaten up Stations for fresh Pasturage roving through this Lybia divide it now into three parts according to the diversity of the Soyl and varieties of Places to which they progress for the Sandy bearing neither Shrub nor Grass they call Tehel the Stony or Gravel Countrey Zaara and all that which is Morass or Boggy being always green Azgar And lately it hath been divided into ten Cantons Other Partitions into ten Territories or Desarts or Desarts in which there are some populous places the first that which belongs to the Lybick Nun to the Desart of Zenega or Zanaga Tagaza Zuenziga Hayr or Terga Lempta Berdoa Augele Serte and Alguechet every one so call'd from their Metropolis Cluverius on the other side brings the Desarts Lempta Hayr Zuenziga Zanhaga and the Kingdom of Targa and Berdoa under Biledulgerid and extends Sarra all the length of the Kingdom of Gaoga quite to Gualata ¶ MOst of the People of Lybia have their Dwelling-places about the River Zenega Where the People of Lybia have their chiefest dwelling-places a branch of the River Niger that they may the better drive their Trade and hold Commerce with the Negro's ¶ THis Lybia The Air. or Sarra hath so excellent and wholsom Air that it not onely excludes all Diseases from the Inhabitants but makes a Cure on all others that have long despaired of their recoveries of health so that from Barbary and other adjacent Countreys they thither repair and suddenly shaking off their weakness and Malady they return sound and able ¶ THe Soyl is very hot and dry The Water and hath great scarcity of Water none to be found but here and there in Pits or Wells and them for the most part brackish for in some places they travel six or seven days finding no Water so that the Merchants Trading from Fez to Tombut or from Telensin to the Kingdom of Agadez Bottle it up in Goat-skins and carry their provision of Liquor on Camels Backs But though the Way be much more troublesome which goeth from Fez to Gran-Cayre through the Wilderness of Lybia they have the benefit of a great Lake in their passage where the People of Ceu and Gorhan dwell Ieo Eerst Decl. Marmel lib. 1. cap. 14. and lib. 8. cap. 1. But in the other Road from Fez to Tombut they find some Springs covered over with Camels Hides out of which they draw their Water as in little Buckets with the Shank-bones of the same Creature The Merchants adventure more by Land than ours at Sea putting themselves oft in greater dangers especially if they set forth in Summer for then usually arise in those Countreys Southern Winds which raise abundance of Sand that new congealed drifts cover those Pits so deep that all Marks are lost whereby they may recover them again scarce guessing where they were they often fainting with thirst perish there as may appear by many of their dead Bodies found in the Way by following Travellers To prevent which misery in this necessitous exigent no other means being left they kill their Camels and squeeze the Water out of their Bowels and Maws which when they set forth they Tun up in their Bellies in such a quantity as would suffice them ten or twelve days this they refresh themselves withall and oft save their lives till they find some formerly known Pit yet in many places Camels Milk may be had ¶ THis Countrey is scatteringly inhabited and but thinly peopled The Soyl of the Countrey In the Rainy Season when wet Weather begins which commonly happens in mid August and continues to the end of November but sometimes stretching out a Moneth or two nay almost three Moneths longer then the Countrey flourishes with Grass and Herbage and the Temperature makes Travelling very pleasant and well accommodated for then there is neither scarcity of Water nor Milk the necessity of which at other times makes the whole Countrey a Map of misery But if those that observe their times to Travel set forth upon the advantage of the expected Season if then it happens as sometimes it falls out a general or second Drought then not onely Travellers are put to run the risque but the Inhabitants lose the Product of the whole year ¶ THere are some barren Mountains which bear nothing but inconsierable Shrubs Briers and Thorns The Vegetables The most fertile Soyl of all Lybia Manured produces onely Barley and but a few Dates by which we may judge the sterility of that Countrey Their chief support are Camels which there they have in abundance whose Flesh and Milk supplies sufficiently what their barren Earth and droughty Air denies them ¶ THey have also Adimmain Beasts not unlike Sheep The Animals See p. 24 which we have before mentioned and Ostriches But the People have also added to their other suffering viz. sudden incursions of wild Beasts and deadly biting Serpents preying both on Men and Cattel but most of all they are miserably infested with Locusts which in vast Armies clouding the Skie in their speedy March from Arabia and other Eastern parts take up their Quarters in those Desarts which what-ever they yield though little they utterly destroy enabling them for greater expeditions and their second flights to the Fare and Plunder of richer Countreys Barbary and Spain But a worse mischief when they are gone they leave behind them viz. their Spawn which produceth a more ravenous and greedy generation who heavy and unweildy not fit for flight sit down on the Trees and Plants and eat not onely the Leaves but the Bark and Rinds making all over a Famine which the Arabs call Jarat Yet the Inhabitants of the Arabian Wilds are hard enough for them though they spoyl theirs as other Countreys making them quit scores by eating the Eaters which they esteem savoury balances of the accounts of their losses ¶ HEre are five sorts of People Sects or Tribes as Zanaga's Guenazeries Several sorts of People in Lybia or Zerenziga's Terga's Lempta's and Bardoa's some of which are call'd Habexes others Breberians Natives of the Countrey one part reaching in Villages amongst Morass and Fenny Grounds and the others flitting from place to place for fresh Pasture for their Cattel like the wandring Arabs ¶ MAny of the Inhabitants are Meagre The Constitution of the Inhabitants Lean and more or less Deformed yet their so seemingly weak Constitution gives them strength and good health to the sixtieth year of their age The Women are something gross but their Arms and Legs their supporters are slender like Sticks or Tabletressles they are rather Brown than Fair their Speech and Behaviour Comely ¶ Both Sexes are naturally
unsafe Road not onely lying open to the Sea-winds but full of blind Rocks and shifting Sands and a sprinkling of small Isles like Warts upon the Sea Beyond this Southward The Islands of Arguin opens another Bay in which are the Isles of Arguin and the Seven Cliffs which had once peculiar Names but now call'd onely Arguins from a Fort built on the chiefest of them by Alphonso first King of Portugal Its Names Anno 1441. But these were their former Names The White Island that the Portugals call Blanca because of the white Sands The Island of Skins by the In habitants call'd Adeger lying about two miles from the main Land Ilheo or Little Island otherwise call'd The Island de Las Garcas or Crane Isle not far from the main Land Nar and Tider two more near the Coast and lastly Arguin which now gives the denomination to all the rest long since possessed and fortifi'd by the Portugals Castle of Arguin whose Fort lies on a commanding Point strong built all of Stone four hundred and five and twenty Foot in circuit defended on the Land-side with a Wall or Out-work of eleven Foot thick and four and twenty high It hath also three Batetries two towards the Land and one to the Sea This Fort hath more than ordinary accommodation sixteen handsom Rooms of State and Address with their Apartments a large Kitchin good Cellars and other Offices and close by accommodated with a Fountain of fresh Water But in Sixteen hundred thirty and three on the nine and twentieth of January onely with three Ships of the Netherland West-India Company though so defensive the Portugals surprized with a pannick fear delivered it up to the Hollanders The Main Land Coasting this Bay is dry and barren but about five miles there are some Shrub and Heathy Grounds from whence those of Arguin fetch their Fewel Formerly there dwelt upon this Isle some Moors call'd Sebek-Moors who liv'd by Fishing and some Trade giving the fifth part of their Gain to the Castle Also the French Fisher-men yearly in December January and February using large Nets above fourscore Fathom long Fish up and down this Bay for Grampos's which they cut up at Land and dry in the Sun making Train-Oyl of them And also hereabouts the Portugals drive a notable Trade with the wild Arabs and the Whites bartering their Woollen and Linnen Cloth Silver course Tapestry but most of all Corn for Blacks Gold and Ostrich-Plumes They bring thither also Horses which yielded them a dozen or fifteen Slaves Under the Desart of Zannaga is also contained The Wild of Azoat The Desart of Azoat so call'd because of the general dryness and infertility reaching from the Pool of Azoat to that of Azoan near thirty miles distance from Tombut Here are to be seen two Stone Monuments with Inscriptions upon them signifying who were there Interr'd and the cause of their lying there which was thus One of them a wealthy Merchant travelling through those Defarts over-power'd by invincible Necessity suffering strangely by Thirst met by chance with a poor Carrier who had not yet spent all his Water though under the same calamity with whom he contracted at no less Rate than ten thousand Ducats which he laid down upon the Spot for the Moiety thereof but so it happened that neither of them had any great purchase for the Water being divided was soon exhausted and proved not sufficient to save either so that languishing with extream drought they both lost their lives and were there Interr'd The Desart of Zenega inhabited by the People Zanaga's is wondrous hot and hath little or no Water but what is bitter and brackish and those Pits or Wells are at least twenty miles one from another But the Wild of Zenega is destitute of all Water seldom or never raining there having but one Pit in all the way of thirty miles This Soyl is all Sandy and utterly unfruitful being a vast Plain so flat and level that the Traveller hath no mark to find his way or know where he is but is forced to steer his Coast by the Sun and Trade-Winds which blow always Easterly and other little knowledges they gather by former Prints from the Claws of Fowl as Crows Ravens and such like which always wait upon the Caravans as on great Armies expecting Prey for none ever travel through this Desart but with great Company This Countrey produces a kind of Grain like Wheat Plants or Vegetables which grows of its own accord without Sowing But those near the Banks of the River Zenega reap Barley not wanting Dates having also good store of Camels Goats and other Cattel The Inhabitants of these Desarts are Breberians Ludays Duleyns and Zenega's or Zanaga's by Sanutus call'd Azaneghes and some Arabs Sanutus who live upon others sweat and labour stealing their Cattel which they convey to Dara and elsewhere there bartering them for Dates Sometimes the Arabians of Beni-Anir pillage this Countrey between Nun and the City Tagaost Tegaza THe Desart of Tegaza so call'd from the chief Town Tegaza The Desart of Tegaza which hath also this denomination from the great quantity of Salt which is brought thither and from thence convey'd through this Wild to other Countreys This populous Dominion Borders Eastward on Zanaga's This Countrey though well inhabited is vexed in Summer with a dangerous South-Wind whose scorching blast strikes many blind and it hath also great scarcity of fresh Water Here are many Pits of pure white Salt round about which the Salt-boylers The Salt Pits being Strangers pitch their Huts and Tents and their business being done return with the Caravan to Tombut and there sell that Commodity being there very dear Those of Dara also send their Tivar Gold to Tombut The Gold of Tioar dispersing it from thence to Taragbel and Morocco Zuenziga THe Desart of Zuenziga Zuenziga beginning Westward on the Borders of Tegaza reaches Eastward to the Wilds of Haya Northerly confin'd with the Desart of Sugulmesse Tebelbelt and Beni-horai on the South with the Wilderness of Ghor lying near the Kingdom of Huber belonging to Negro-Land The Desart of Gogden is compris'd under that of Zuenziga The Inhabitants of the Desart of Zuenziga are call'd Guaneziries and Zuenziga's The Merchants which travel out of these Parts and from Tremecen to the City Tombut and the Kingdom of Isa must cross this Desart and that of Gogden This Zuenzigan Wild is much dryer and worse to be travell'd through than Zanaga very many being often choak'd for want of Water And that of Gogden hath in nine days Journey no Water except what falls from Heaven in sudden showers and onely in one place where Lading their Camels every one supplies his own private store There grow also many Dates in the Desart of Zuenziga on these Borders of Numidia ¶ AMongst the Inhabitants of this Countrey there are also Arabs call'd Hemrum The Inhabitants who take Tribute of Sugulmesse for
their plough'd-Plough'd-Lands These as other Arabs rove up and down changing Pasture as far as Yguid they have store of Cattel and Dates and are so numerous that they have brought under their Contribution a great part of Biledulgerid They have other great Arabs Assisters as the Garfa and Esbeh which are looked upon as Nobles descended from famous Ancestors whom the Kings of Barbary have often courted desiring to make Alliance with them The Desart of Hayr or Terga THe Desart of Hayr The Desart of Hayr so call'd from a populous Town there yet by some call'd Terga from the Tergans of Little Africa hath for its Western Borders the Wilds of Zuenziga in the East that of Yguid in the North Its Borders the Wilderness of Tuat Teguirin and Mezzeb in Biledulgerid on the South conterminates with the Desarts near the Kingdom of Agade in Negro-Land spreading it self in some places the breadth of sixty mile that is from Biledulgerid to the Negroes Countrey The Air of this Desart is so temperate that in many places there is abundance of Grass and though other parts be very sandy yet nothing so bad to travel in as that of Zanaga or Zuinziga because it hath store of Springs and deep Wells with sweet and fresh Water but more especially on the Verges of Zuenziga On its Southern Limits near Agadez they find great store of Manna which early in the Morning the Inhabitants gather and carry to the Markets of that City which the Negroes mix with Water making it their Food being as they suppose very much refreshing and wholesome So that Strangers are not so often sick in Agadez though the Air be not so healthy as at Tombut this Cordial not being there so frequent ¶ THis Desart hath also wilde Arabs call'd Uled Huscein Arabians of Hayr which though they belong to the Numidian Countrey fetch in Winter larger Rovings with their Cattel as far as the Desart and sometimes to the Skirts of Atlas though they have few Laws yet they are all under one Government and these great Arabians have a meaner sort of little Arabs under them which live in the condition of Subjects or Servants some of which settle in Fenny Places and follow Tillage But the general business of the foremention'd is to steal and spirit away poor Negroes from thence carrying them to Barbary and Biledulgerid there selling them for great Rates as Slaves The Desart of Iguidi or Lemta THe Desart Iguidi or Lemta The Desart of Lemta taking its Name Iguidi from its chiefest Seat and Lemta from the Name of the Inhabitants The Borders borders in the West on the Wild of Hayr Eastward on that of Berdoa Northward on the Desart of Tekort Guerguela and Gademez in Biledulgerid and to the South Verges with a Desart near Kano in Negro-Land Between this and that of Sugulmesse lieth the Countrey of the Morabitins or Morabites which others call Almoravides Here is dangerous travelling for Merchants which pass from Constantine to the Negroes Countrey the Inhabitants being rude savage and beastial robbing all theymeet and taking all they lay their hands on They have also an antient feud and hatred against those of Guergula a Territory in Biledulgerid which they cruelly massacre putting to death when and where they come within their power In this Desart dwell also certain Arabians call'd Hemrum Kayd and Yahya mingled among the Lempta's The Desart of Berdoa THis Wild hath on the West for Borders the Wilderness Lempta The Desart of Berdoa The Borders on the East that of Augele on the North Fessa in Numidia and Barka and on the South it conterminates with a Desart bordering on the Kingdom of Borno a hundred ninety eight miles from Nylus it contains three fortifi'd Towns and six Villages It is very dry Plates and dangerous for travelling yet convenient for those of Gadamez or Numidia Allies to the Berdoaners The inhabited places have good Water and plenty of Dates The VVilderness of Augele BY some taken for the Countrey Augiles The Desart of Augele described by Mela hath for its Western Borders the Wild of Berdoa on the North the Desart of Barka and Marmarica and spreads in the form of a Towel to the Mediterranean-Sea opposite against Syrtes on the East the Wilds of the Levetans which reach to the Nyle It compriseth three inclosed Towns and many Villages a hundred and twenty miles distant from Nylus Their abundance of Dates answers all which supplies them with Corn and other Necessaries This Countrey is molested also with deadly biting Serpents The Desart of Serte and Alguechet THe Sertan Wild The Desart of Serte and Alguechet divided from the five other more eminent hath for its Western Borders the Desart of Augele on the South the Kingdom of Gaogo on the East Egypt There are yet to be seen the Ruines of the City Serte Also on the South of Serte four and twenty miles from Egypt the Countrey of Alguechet with three inclosed Towns and many Villages and whole Groves of Dates The Inhabitants are black and though stored with Dates yet are poor and Covetous and Tributary to a Xeque or King In this Dominion live eminent Arabians call'd Uled Yahaia Uled Said and Uled Sumeir being able to raise an Army of thirty thousand Horse and an innumerable number of Foot Yet they possess no fortifi'd Towns but live in Tents and are Masters of the Campaigne NIGRITARUM REGIO Negro-Land 3.5 contains In the Inland Gualata Towns Three very large and populous besides the Metropolis Gualata Rivers Zenega or Niger Mountains None of any remark Guinee or Genoua Neither Cities Towns nor Fortresses but one single village the Seat of the King and a University Melli The Village Melli with some Desarts and barren Mountains Tombut Towns Tombut Cabra or Kambre Rivers Niger Guber Towns Guber besides a great Number of Villages and Hamlets Agadez Towns Agadez Kano Towns Cano the head City and some Mountains Kassene Nothing but slight Huts in the manner of Villages Zegzed Towns Zegzed a City with some excessive cold Mountains Zanfara Some Villages consisting of mean Huts Gangara Some Villages consisting of mean Huts Borno Towns Borno the principal about which many smaller Cities Hamlets and Villages Gago Towns Gago the Metropolis standing by the River Zenega the rest of the inhabited Places are Villages and Hamlets Nubia Towns Tenepsus Kondari Dangala Nubia the Metropolis Kusa Ghatua Dankala Jalake and Sala besides Villages Bito Towns Onely Bito Temiam Towns Temikan alone Dauma Each one poor Town Madra Each one poor Town Gorhan Each one poor Town Semen A Countrey little known and less convers'd with Upon the Sea-coast about Cape-Verde Towns and Villages Refrisko Camino Punto Porto Novo Ivala Rivers De la Grace Barsala Garnba Rha St. Domingo Katcheo Rio de les Iletas Rio Grande Danalves Nunno Tristan Tabito Rio das Piedras Pechel Palmas Pagone Kagranka Kasses Karokane Kaper Tambefine Tabarim Rio de
Garrison were refus'd Articles of Agreement but those accepted that the Beleaguerers propos'd being to this effect They shall all with their Wives and Children without reproach or abuse go forth safe with Life and Limb. Every one shall take their Apparel but no Money either Gold or Silver The Victor shall retain all the Merchandise and Slaves except twelve which the owners may keep All the Church-Ornaments and Utensils except of Gold and Silver they shall take away with them The Portugals Mulattoes and all their Housholds provided with necessary Sustenance shall be carried to the Island St. Thome The Governor of the Fort and Souldiers shall forthwith depart out of the Fort and leave all the Ammunition for War and the rest of the Merchandise to the Victor The Souldiers shall depart without Colours or Sword and neither have lighted Match nor Bullets Thus was this renowned Castle won and lost in four days The Booty The Booty of Ammunition and Arms found therein were thirty Iron Pieces of Ordnance nine thousand weight of Spice eight hundred great Iron Balls ten Fat 's of small Bullets and three hundred Stone Bullets six and thirty Spanish Swords besides Bowes Arrows and other Utensils of War As soon as the Garrison was drawn out and come over to the Island St. Thomas the Dutch took possession with an hundred and forty Men. A former attempt had been made against this Castle but succeeded unluckily the manner this The Dutch Admiral with his Fleet on the six and twentieth of August The fruitless attempt upon the Castle of Myne One thousand six hundred twenty five came into Serre-Lions to refresh his Men being most of them sick of the Bloody-Flux where he found three other Ships who had lay'n there two Moneths undergoing great Misery Sickness and other Calamities The People of both the Parties being refreshed and cured determined to win the Castle of Myne being about fifteen Ships and Ketches with which they set forth the five and twentieth of September from Serre-Lions and were the ninth of October upon the Grain-Coast between Rio St. Paulo and Rio Junk in five Degrees and an half North Latitude where they sent a Ketch to the General for the Netherlands West-India Company at Moure to acquaint him with their coming and that they intended to come with their Fleet before Kommony and to Land there Being come on the twentieth of the same Moneth before Kommony The coming to Kommany they understood that the General was gone to Akra the uttermost place of the Gold-Coast and not expected back again for three or four days This delay the Admiral and his Council of War thought would give too fair opportunity to the Enemy and therefore resolved to Land the Soldiers but this resolution was deferr'd by advice of those of the Fort of Nassau till the coming of the General because of his great Interest with the Kings of Fetu Sabou and Kommony in whose Favour much did consist But immediately after his arrival which was on the four and twentieth it was concluded the next day to go on with the Design Four Ships therefore were order'd to lie close before the Castle of the Myne to amuse the Enemy by continual Shooting for three days They Land at Terra Pekine till the other Soldiers might in the mean time draw up without interruption The five and twentieth they Land in Terra Pekine about twelve hundred Soldiers and Mariners with an hundred and fifteen Blacks brought from Maure with the General who about Noon came within a mile of the Castle of Myne and from thence after two hours rest drew within shot of it where they were saluted presently with some great Guns but without hurt and so sate down before the Castle behind a Hill with resolution that night to Entrench and make their Approaches In the mean time while the General went to the pitch of the Hill to view the Castle the Soldiers being tir'd with heat and thirst ran from their Arms and gat themselves to rest without suspicion of any Enemy Were fallen upon by the Enemy but as soon as the Commanders were come upon the top of the Mountain they were unawares fall'n upon by about two hundred Blacks who like mad furious Men fell in and made great slaughter and destruction amongst them which bred such a terrour and consternation amongst them that they threw away their Arms and leaping into the Water were drown'd There remained slain The number of the slain together with those that were drown'd three hundred seventy three Soldiers sixty six Mariners and most of the superior and inferior Officers The General wounded the General himself wounded came to extream distress and carried out of the Fight the rest fled to Kommany whither also the Ships steered their course and by this means was that Design utterly overthrown But now we return to the remainder of the precedent success Presently after the taking of this Castle the Victors sent a Canoo with Letters to the Portugal Governor of Atzin thereby requiring him to surrender that Place But he well knowing they could not come up to him in that season of the year answer'd That he would keep the Fort for the King and expect our Forces Then by advice of the whole Council of War the Redoubt upon St. Jago was repair'd as also a Battery that was fall'n adjoining to the Works of the Castle from whence they may scowre the Shore of the River and relieve the Sea-Battery On the West-side of the Castle stands a pretty large Town The Town Myna at the Myne close built by the Portugals call'd Del Myn but by the Blacks Dana or Dang extending far in length but lieth so low that at a Spring-Tide the Sea in some places runs through the Streets And on the other side runs the Salt-River Benja which not onely hinders the passage out of the Town but makes the adjacent Countrey very Moorish This River formerly was ten or eleven Foot deep at low Water but now so shallow that it is not passable for Ketches which draw four Foot Water This Town is naturally very strong being as we said shut up between the River and the Sea so that the Enemy hath no other approach than at the end of Kommany where the Portugals as a Security from the Blacks had rais'd a Stone-wall from the Sea to the River and made a Battery About half a mile from St. The River Vtri Jago floweth the River Utri but full of Cliffs and altogether unpassable yet affords this Commodity that not onely the Blacks from the Town daily fetch thence their Water but also the Ships there being within two miles no Springs to be found The Countrey hereabout yields little Fruit The constitution of the Countrey therefore most of their Food is Mille to make Bread of Safoe or Wine of Palms Sugar Ananae's Injame's Potatoe's Wine of Bordean are brought to them from Fetu Abrembe Commendo Akane
and exchang'd in Barter for half Gold half Fish This Town with the neighbouring Land the Portugals boasted for the pleasantness and most fertile place on the whole Coast and as an effectual proof thereof would often bestow upon other Traders some gifts of Apples Coco-Nuts and such like things which they though without reason thought grew there but now the contrary is most evident for Moure Kormantine and other Towns in that Tract in pleasantness Plants and Provisions far exceed it 'T is true however this Town goes beyond the rest for number of Inhabitants being able in time of War to raise two thousand men fit for service They are a mixture of Black 's and Mulattoe's which last being Portuguez Christians amount to the number of two hundred or thereabouts The whole maintain themselves with Fishing Their Employment going out to Sea with four or five hundred Canoo's and in every Canoo two or three persons they sell the Fish to them of Fetu Abrembo and Commendo for Mille Wine of Palm Sugar and the like as is before-mention'd The Jurisdiction of Myne was divided between the Kings of Guaffo and Fetu but this burthen the Portugal's remov'd so that it seems a kind of Corporation under the subjection of the Castle and hath several superior Officers of their own and in that state and condition they are at this day The constitution of which Government they have thus modell'd The Government of the Town the Myne every Quarter or Precinct the whole Town being divided into three is rul'd by a peculiar Braffo or Captain and Kaboseroe's or Officers but they all assemble upon any emergency in the house of the chiefest Captain where they first exhibit all complaints and from thence remit them to the Commander in Chief of the Castle for redress from whose sentence there is yet an appeal to the General who concludes the whole matter and all parties rest satisfi'd with his Determination and by this means they live quietly and peaceably But if any difference arise between them and the Commender's or Fetuan's for the more speedy decision thereof the whole Commonalty taking the injury done to a particular person as to themselves immediately complain to the General with request that the Rights and Priviledges of the Members prejudic'd may be ratifi'd and to that end that he would promise with power to obtain remedy In such occasions the Portugal's always readily interpos'd and accompany'd them to War against the adverse party whereby at length they came to be of great repute for Valor among their Neighbours They are all as hath been said expert Fishers being not onely their chief employment but of such esteem that they are priz'd beyond all Artificers Of what they catch they pay to the Castle the fifth Fish for Custom Some few get a living by Polishing of Coral which is brought thither Their Religion hath some tincture of Christianity The Religion and worship which they learnt from the Portuguese with whom they Inter-marry'd from which mixture have proceeded several Mulattoe's there resident THE KINGDOM OF SABOU THis Dominion borders in the West on the Kingdom of Fetu The Borders of the Kingdom of Sabou in the North on that of Atty in the East on Fantyn and in the South on the Sea On the Sea-Coast thereof lie three Towns the middlemost is call'd Moure by others The Dutch Church-yard because many of them are there bury'd Another Town call'd by the name of the Kingdom Sabou where the King hath his Residence a mile and half or two miles in to the Landward and of a reasonable bigness Moure Moure standing in five degrees and ten minutes North Latitude upon a rising ground near the Castle of Nassau is a pretty large Town almost as big as Myna but not so rich or populous by a fourth part being not able to raise above two hundred men the largeness of the extent arising from the wide distances of the Houses one from another This Town was the first with whom the Hollanders at the beginning when they endeavour'd to Trade along this Coast had friendship and gave them License to come a Shore whereupon the Portugal's for spight came one night and brake all their Canoo's in pieces Formerly Moure so long as the Portugal's held the Castle of Myna was wont to be the most Eminent place of Trade on the whole Gold-Coast for the Dutch because of their Ships came to Anchor there and the Blacks came out of the Countrey thither along the Shore to Trade The Akanist's bring still much Gold thither and as long as they stay there hire dwellings of the Moureans The Inhabitants maintain themselves chiefly by Fishing which the people of Sabou come to buy of them for Food though of late some of them are become Factors for other Blacks The People paying some Tribute are under the King of Sabou yet are govern'd by a peculiar Braffo or Captain and Caboseroe's of their own Sabou Sabou the Residence of the Kings is a pretty large Town and close built with Houses The Countrey hereabouts is very Fruitful yielding plentiful Provisions of Victual as Mille Injames Fruit Hens and the like which are in this Town of Moure more easily and at a cheaper Rate to be had than in any other places of this Coast because those of Sabou use more diligence in Labouring and Sowing their Fields than their Neighbours The Castle CORMANTINE Kasteeâ— van CORMANTâ— The King of Sabou whose Command reacheth about five miles round The Power of the King of Sabou can bring into the Field Fifteen hundred Arm'd Men and held good correspondence with the Dutch till upon complaint of the Mourean's too much oppress'd by him they took up Arms against him in their behalf In the time of the late deceas'd King either by the Black 's of Atty their Neighbours or the Akanist's who hated him for his great falshood they were continually molested But because his Successor was reported to be a good and upright Prince the Akanist's and others ceas'd to molest them and ever since have continu'd an amicable Commerce They of Sabou account themselves couragious Souldiers as they are indeed The Valour of the Inhabitants for where those of Atty Invaded him with many thousands he stoutly oppos'd them and cut off some hundreds of their Heads Near the Town of Moure a mile Eastward from Cape de Kors The Fort Nassau appeareth Fort Nassau built some years since by the command of the General States but now in the possession of the West-India Company It was never any sure Defence against the Blacks for the Round being made of sleight Earth fell down every year but now since the taking of the Castle Myne they have cut off one Half-Moon and brought the Curtains in the four corners into one and covered the remaining Line of Earth with Clay in stead of Stone and made up with Corners or Flankers of Clay so that this Fort is
other Commodities but the dearest Merchandises are Frankincense Pepper and Myrrhe which they barter for Gold Their Arms are Lances or Darts and Back-swords Arms. They use many Bowes and Arrows but not with Feathers For defence they put on Helmets and very strong round Shields Pieces of Cannon and Muskets they bought of the Portuguese at a dear Rate yet use for the most part Darts Arrows and Slings The Horse-men in whom their greatest Strength consists wear long Coats of Mail which come down to their Knees close Helmets and round Shields with Scymitars and Lances They that go without a Helmet to the Wars cover their Heads with red Hair Caps like those of the Mamalucks in Aegypt They provide themselves also with Elephants Arm'd and loaden with Towers and have Copper Trumpets and Drums brought thither from Cairo with other Drums of Wood cover'd over with a Skin as among us The King of Abyssine hath many Enemies but chiefly upon one side the Turk who planted themselves along the Red Sea and not only wrested that whole Coast from him but lends his other Enemies great Assistance On the other side lieth the Emperor of Monomotapa who continually keeps his Realm in Arms. The King of Congo neighbors close by that of Goyame who is said to have kept himself quiet since he made Peace with King David But the most dangerous and strongest Enemies are the Galas or Galles as the Abyssines call them who in the foregoing Age have bereaved the Abyssines of a third part of their Dominions But those of Tigrai have oftentimes worsted them and especially in the year Sixteen hundred and seven When Prester-John doth intend to make War against the Nubians or any other People he causes a Cloth in form of a Banner to be carried on the top of a Lance to proclaim the War through all the Countrey The Government is absolutely Monarchical Government and the Chief known by the Title of Acegue that is Emperor for the great number of Kingdoms he was wont to possess But his Subjects entitle him Negus that is King the Moors Asiklabassi and the Arabians Sultan Asiklabassi But in his Letters to the European Princes and others he calls himself Negus Negas that is King of Kings by reason of his Substitute Kings or Viceroys Off-spring of the Tribe of Judah Son of David Son of Solomon Son of the Pillar of Sion Son of the Seed of Jacob Son of the hand of Mary Son of Nahu according to the Flesh Emperor of the Upper or Higher Ethiopia King of Xaoa Caffate Fatigar Angote Baru Amarr Baga Mediri Dambea c. We generally call him Prester-John and by some in corrupt Latin Pretiose Joannes that is Precious John to which last Name two Abyssines coming into Europe gave occasion themselves for when these heard in Europe that the Emperor was every where call'd Prester-John they endeavor'd to preserve the Title seeking to find out Words of their Mother-Tongue from which the same might be derived for which purpose they consultd Belulgian Beldigiam and other Names Amongst those which first introduced the Word Belulgian here in Europe was one Zagarab an Ambassador sent from the Emperor of the Abyssines to John the third King of Portugal and another Abyssine call'd Peter who at the same time accompanied Francois Alvarez a Portuguese Priest as Ambassador to Pope Clement the seventh The first caus'd Damaiaco a Goez the second Paulus Jovius to mistake the Name asserting that Belulgian is a compound word of Belul and Gian the first signifies Precious and the other John as if they would hint by that Name that there was nothing more precious than the Abyssines Others would have it that Prester-John was a corrupt word of Pharasta-Jan that is to say A Lyon on Horseback because this Emperor is said to exceed all the Kings of Africa as the Lyon excells all the Beasts They give also the Title of Lyon because descended from the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah alledging that he had Meliloc for his Predecessor that is King of Excellency Son of Makeda Queen of Sheba which came to hear the Wisdom of Solomon But it is certain the Name of Prester-John neither proceeded from Belulgian nor Beldigian nor Pharasta-Jan or from any other such like Abyssine Word but it was by accidentally apply'd to the Abyssine Emperor when he first of all began to be known to the King of Portugal But the better to discover the truth we must observe that as the Kings of Egypt were by a general Name first call'd Pharaohs and afterwards Ptolomies those of Persia Xerxes and Artaxerxes and afterwards Sofi the Moorish Kings Xeriffs and the Roman Emperors Caesars so is also the Name of Prester-John a general Name and signifies a Royal Title or Dignity of some Christian Princes who Reigned a very long time ago But these Prester-Johns have not Reigned in Ethiopia or in any other part of Africa as many imagine contrary to the opinion of the most experienced Geographers who unanimously agree they Reign'd in Asia yet in what Place not fully known for some making them to have been Kings of Cathay causeth greater doubt and obscurity by reason that in the next following years it came to be known that Cathay belong'd to China as Matthias Riccius and after that Benedictus Goez both Jesuits and next them several others have found But besides the Tract of Land by the Name of Cathay plac'd within the Confines of China Godignus and with him Kircher judge it to be probable that there is yet a greater Countrey about the Asiatick Scythia Seres Massagetania and other neighboring People bordering in the South and West at the Confines of China which had the Name of Cathay of which many years ago Prester-John had the Dominion This Countrey Ptolomy calls Scythia beyond the Mountain Imaus and the Inhabitants Dalanguer and Negrecet begins at the Foot of Mount Taurus and spreads to the Icy Sea dividing Scythia in two Paulus Marcus the Venetian calls it The Dominion of the great Cham and the holy Scripture according to the testimony of Arias Montanus Gog and Magog One of the chiefest Kingdoms of this Great Cathay is Tebeth near the Kingdom of Belor or Balor the antient Dwelling-place of the Zaker near which the Geographers according to the example of Marcus Paulus the Venetian place the City Cambalu so then Cathay compasseth that whole Part of Asia Cambalu is by many taken for the great City Poking in China which Ptolomy placeth beyond the Mountain Imaus and borders in the East on the Ocean and China in the South on the Head-Spring of the River Ganges at the Mountain Caucasus Parapanisus and Aria in the West on whole Scythia within the Mountain Imaus and lastly in the North at the Icy Sea Whereby it appears that all Great Tartary lying beyond the Mountain Imaus with the Name of Cathay must be understood to be the Countreys of Gog and Magog for Cathay which signifieth