of Nilus abound with all kinds of graine and pulse wherof the climate is capable as namely with beanes 〈◊〉 millet c. but wheate rie barley and grapes cannot there attaine to ripenes and perfection by reason of ouermuch moisture saue onely some small quantitie of wheat neere the deserts where the Caraguloni inhabite But their chiefe sustenance is Zaburro otherwise called Ghinie-wheate or Maiz which they sowe after the inundation of their riuers casting some quantitie of sande thereupon to defend it from the heate which otherwise would scorch the grounde too excessiuely They drinke the iuice of the palme-tree which they cut and lance for that purpose and this iuice not being tempered is as strong and headie as any wine Neither are they heere destitute of mightie adders of lions leopards and elephants but beasts for labour they haue none saue onely a small kinde of oxen and goates The horses which are brought thither by merchants liue but a short time The aire by reason of abundance of lakes bredde by the ouerflowes of their riuers is moist and grosse And heere fall most vnholesome and palpable dewes It raineth in these countries from October till the end of Iuly euery day about noone with thunder and lightning All the kingdomes and countries by vs before described from the cape of Buena esperança to the riuer last mentioned are inhabited by blacke people The most northerly are the Gialofi who spread themselues between the two foresaid riuers for the space of fiue hundred miles eastward so that the riuer Senaga is the vtmost northren bound of Negros or nations extremely blacke howbeit vpon the bankes thereof are found people of sundry colours by reason of the varietie of women Betweene this riuer of Senaga and Cabo blanco or the white cape lieth a countrey called by some Anterote being all ouer in a manner sandy barren lowe and plaine neither is there in all this distance any place of account or reckoning saue onely the isles of Arguin where of we will intreat among the isles of Africa and a territorie or towne sixe daies iourney within the maine called Hoden This towne is not walled but lieth open and consisteth of the wandring Arabians rude and homely habitations being notwithstanding a place of Rendeuous or meeting for all such as trauell in Carouans from Tombuto and other places in the lande of Negros to Barbarie The principall food of the inhabitants heere are dates and barly both which the soile yeeldeth indeed but not in so plentifull a manner and they drinke the milke of camels of other beasts for wine they haue none at all These people are Mahumetans and most deadly enimies to Christians neither abide they long in any place but runne rouing and wandring vp and downe those deserts They are themselues very populous and haue abundance of camels vpon whose backes they carrie copper siluer and other commodities from Barbarie to Tombuto and to the residue of the land of Negros From Cabo blanco to the regions of Sus and Hea which are the first prouinces described by Iohn Leo excepting a small portion onely of Biledulgerid you haue nothing but part of the vast fruitles vninhabitable desert of Libya called by the Arabians Sarra which stretcheth from the westerne Ocean as farre as the frontiers of Egypt Thus from the very bottome of the Red sea hauing coasted along the easterne and westerne shores of the most southerly partes of Africa and briefly described all the principall knowen empires kingdomes and regions within that maine which are left vntouched by our author Iohn Leo let vs now with like or more breuitie prosecute the description of the islands which are by the hand of the omnipotent creator planted round about this ample and spacious continent A briefe enumeration and description of all the most famous and knowne Islandes situate round about the coasts of Africa which haue beene omitted by IOHN LEO beginning first with the most northeasterly and so by little and little bringing our selues about the Cape of Buena Esperança neerer vnto Europe The Islands of the Red sea BOth the shores of the Red sea as well on the African as on the Arabian side are euerie where beset with many small islets and rockes which lie so thicke togither that they make the nauigation all along the said coasts to be most dangerous and difficult The isles of the Red sea most woorthie to be remembred are these following Babelmandel a little isle situate in the very mouth of the Red sea in twelue degrees containeth two leagues in compasse being from either of the firme lands three miles distant and standing about twentie paces high out of the water By Ptolemey it is called The isle of Diodorus Vpon this isle or one of the continents adioining are to be hired the most experimēted pilots for al that narrow sea euen as far as Suez And from the easterne and westerne side of this islet Strabo reporteth that the twofold enterance of the Arabian Gulfe was barred with a double chaine More to the north standeth Camaran being about eight leagues from the Arabian coast in fifteene degrees of latitude Vpon this isle are to be seene great ruines of ancient buildings It hath one indifferent good hauen and aboundeth with fresh water a thing most precious and acceptable in those parts with salt and with cattell On the other side towards Africa in fifteene degrees and an halfe standeth the isle of Dalaqua of about thirtie miles in circuite which space is almost contained in the length thereof being a place very famous for the abundance of pearles which are there caught wherewithall likewise the isle of Mua neere vnto it is richly end owed Next followeth Mazua in forme like to an halfe moone and not aboue a bow-shoot distant from the African maine betweene which isle and the continent there is an excellent hauen which is now the only porte that Prete Ianni hath in all his dominions for which as you may read before in the description of the said princes empire his lieutenant Barnagasso is constrained to pay a great yeerely tribute to the Turke Ouer against Mazua vpon the firme standeth the towne of Ercoco Vpon this little isle are diuers houses of Arabians built of lime and stone and others of claie couered with thatch North of Mazua standeth Suaquen in a certain lake made by the sea which there insinuateth it selfe within the land and frameth a most secure and commodious hauen On this small islet is built the faire and stately citie of Suaquen being almost as large as the isle it selfe wherein resideth the Turkes lieutenant or Bassa of Abassia Of the Isle of Socotera and other isles lying without the narrow entrance of the Arabian gulfe WIthout the streight of Babelmandel there are no islands woorthy of mention saue onely Socotera which as Iohn Barros supposeth was of old called by Ptolemey Dioscoridis lieth in sight of cape Guardafu
Flaccus Africa scarce breathing from bloudie warres an horrible and extraordinarie destruction ensued For whereas now throughout all Africa infinite multitudes of locustes were gathered togither had not only quite deuoured the corne on the grounde and consumed the herbes with part of their rootes and the leaues and tender boughes of the trees but had gnawne also the bitter barke and drie woode being with a violent and sudden winde hoised aloft in mightie swarmes and carried a long time in the aire they were at length drowned in the African sea Whose lothsome and putrified carcases being by the waues of the sea cast vp in huge heapes farre and wide along the shore bred an incredible stinking infectious smell whereupon followed so general a pestilence of al liuing creatures that the corrupt dead bodies of foules cattell and wilde beasts dissolued by the contagion of the aire augmented the furie of the plague But how great and extraordinarie a death of men there was I cannot but tremble to report for in Numidia where Micipsa was then king died fowerscore thousand persons and vpon the sea-coast next adioiningto Carthage and Vtica aboue two hundred thousand are saide to haue perished Yea in the citie of Vtica it selfe were by this meanes swept from the face of the earth thirtie thousand braue soldiers which were appointed to be the garrison for all Africa And the destruction was so sudaine and violent as they report that out of one gate of Vtica in one and the same day were carried aboue fifteene hundred dead corpes of those lustie yoong gallants So that by the grace and fauour of almightie God through whose mercy and in confidence of whom I doe speake these things I may boldly affirme that albeit sometime in our daies the locusts in diuers parts and vsually doe some domage which is tolerable yet neuer befell there in the time of the Christians so insupportable a mischiefe as that this scourge of locusts which being aliue are by no meanes 〈◊〉 should after their death prooue farre more pernicious and which also liuing the fruits of the earth would haue beene quite deuoured it had beene much better they had neuer died to the plague and destruction of all earthly creatures Hitherto Paulus Orosius The second testimonie taken out of the 32. and 33. chapters of the Ethiopian historie of Francis Aluarez which for the satisfaction of euerie Reader I haue put downe with all particularities and circumstances Of the great multitude of Locusts and the infinite domage that they procure in the dominions of Prete Ianni Chap. 32. IN this quarter and throughout all the dominion of Prete Ianni there is an horrible and great plague to wit an innumerable companie of Locustes which eate and consume the corne and trees of fruite and so great is the number of these creatures as it is not credible for with the multitude of them the earth is couered and the aire so ouerspred as one may hardlie discerne the sunne and further I affirme that it is a thing most strange to him who 〈◊〉 not seene it and if the domage they performe were generall through all the prouinces and kingdomes of Prete Ianni his people woulde die with famine neither coulde men possiblie there inhabite But one yeere they destroy one prouince and the next yeere another 〈◊〉 as if for example they waste the kingdome of Portugall or Castile this 〈◊〉 an other yeere they are in the quarters of Lenteio an other in Estremadura an other in Beira or betweene the riuer Dorus and Minius an other on the mountaines an other in old Castilia Aragon or Andaluzia and otherwhiles in two or three of these prouinces at once and wheresoeuer they come the earth is more wasted and destroied by them then if it had beene all ouer consumed with a fire These locusts are as bigge as the greatest grashoppers hauing yellow wings Their comming into the countrie is knowne a day before not for that we can see them but we know it by the sunne who is yellow of colour this being a signe that they draw neere to the countrie as also the earth looketh yellowe by reason of the light which reflecteth from their wings whereupon the people in a manner become presentlie halfe dead saying we are vndone for the Ambati that is to say the locustes are come And I can not forbeare to set downe that which I sawe three sundrie times and first in Barua where we had now beene for the space of three yeeres and heere we often heard it saide that such a countrey and such a realme was destroied by the Locusts and being in this prouince we sawe the sunne and the vpper part of the earth looke all yellow the people being in a manner halfe dead for sorrow But the day following it was an incredible thing to see the number of these creatures that came which to our iudgement couered fower and twentie miles of lande as afterward we were enformed When this scourge and plague was come the priestes of that place came and sought me out requesting me to giue them some remedie for the driuing of them away and I answered that I could tel them nothing but only that they shoulde deuoutly pray vnto God that he woulde driue them out of the countrie And so I went to the Ambassadour and told him that it would be very good to goe on procession beseeching God that hee woulde deliuer the countrie who peraduenture in his great mercie might heare vs. This liked the Ambassadour very well and the day following we gathered togither the people of the land with all the priests and taking the consecrated stone and the crosse according to their custome all we Portugals sung the Letanie and appointed those of the land that they should lift vp their voices aloud as we did saying in their language Zio marina Christos which is as much to say as Lord God haue mercy vpon vs and with this manner of inuocation we went ouer a peece of grounde where there were fieldes of wheate for the space of a mile euen to a little hill and heere I caused many of these locustes to be taken pronouncing ouer them a certaine coniuration which I had about me in writing hauing made it that night requesting admonishing and excommunicating them enioining them within the space of three howers to depart towards the sea or the lande of the Moores or the desert mountaines and to let the Christians alone and they not performing this I summoned and charged the birdes of heauen the beasts of the earth and all sorts of tempests to scatter destroy and eate vp their bodies and to this effect I tooke a quantitie of locusts making this admonition to them present in the behalfe likewise of them absent and so giuing them libertie I suffered them to depart It pleased God to heare vs sinners for in our returne home they came so thicke vpon our backes as it seemed that they woulde haue broken our heads
camels backs At this towne of Suez they haue no fresh water but all their water is brought them from a place sixe miles distant vpon camels backs being notwithstanding brackish and bitter The western shore of the Red sea is inhabited with people called in old time Troglodytae which at this present do all of them yeelde obedience to the great Turke who considering that the fleets of the Portugales entered very often into the Red sea and were there receiued by the subiects of Prete Gianni and did him great domage hath thereupon taken occasion not onely to conquer the Troglodytae but also to wast and subdue a great part of Barnagasso the most Northerlie prouince of the said Prete So that the audacious attempts of the Portugales in those partes haue bred two most dangerous and bad effects the one is that the Arabians haue most strongly fortified all their sea-townes which before lay naked and without fortification the other for that the Turke also hath bin occasioned thereby to make warre against the Prete Wherefore they ought not to haue vndertaken any such enterprise but with full resolution and sufficient forces to accomplish the same for lesser attempts serue to no other end but onely to rouze and arme the enimie which was before secure and quiet Neither is it heere to be omitted that in the foresaide sea a man can saile in no ships nor barks but only those of the great Turke or at least with his licence paying vnto him for tribute a good part of the fraight For this purpose he hath certaine Magazines or store-houses of timber which is brought partly from the gulfe of Satalia and partly from Nicomedia and other places vpon the Euxin sea vnto Rosetto and Alexandria from whence it is afterward transported to Cairo and thence to Suez This sea is called the Red sea not in regard that the waters thereofbe all red but as some thinke from certaine red rushes which growe vpon the shore and as others are of opinion from a kinde of red earth which in sundry places it hath at the bottome which earth dieth not the very substance of the water red but by transparence causeth it especially neere the shore to appeere of that colour Africa Troglodytica THat sandie barren and desert part of Africa which lieth betweene Nilus and the Red sea especially to the south of the tropike was in old times inhabited by the Troglodytae a people so called bicause of their dwelling in caues vnder the ground Along this westerne coast of the Red sea runneth a ridge of mountaines which being an occasion that the inland riuers can not fall into the saide sea they are forced to discharge themselues into Nilus The foresaide mountaines and sea coast are now inhabited by Mahumetans being partly Arabians and partly Turkes which not many yeeres ago haue attempted to saile that sea and to inuade the regions adioining The naturall inhabitants are a rude barbarous people and very poore and beggerly The chiefe places of habitation are Corondol a speciall good porte Alcosser a place well knowne bicause that neere vnto it the saide mountaines open themselues and giue passage to the bringing in of the fruits and commodities of Abassia Suachen esteemed one of the principall ports in all the streights and being made by an island Here resideth the Bassa of the great Turke which is called the gouernour of Abassia with three thousand soldiers or thereabout Next followeth Ercoco the onely hauen towne of the Prete lying ouer against the little isle of Mazua and heere the mountaines make an other opening or passage for transporting of victuals out of the lande of the saide Prete Ianni From hence almost to the very entrance of the Red sea the coast is at this present vninhabited forlorne and desert Likewise from Suachen to Mazua is a continuall woode the trees whereof are but of small woorth Iust within the saide entrance standeth the towne and port of Vela vnder the iurisdiction of the king of Dancali a Moore Vpon all this west shore of the Red sea as likewise vpon the contrary east shore scarcitie of water is the cause why there are so fewe and so small places of habitation and the people runne and flocke togither where they may finde any pit or fountaine of water Some curious reader might here expect because I haue nowe passed so neere the frontiers of Egypt that I should make an exact description of that most famous and fruitefull prouince and likewise of the great city of Alcair and of the inundation and decrease of Nilus all which because they are expressed in most orient liuelie colours by our author Iohn Leo I should shew my selfe both iniurious to him and tedious to all iudiciall readers in anticipating and forestalling that before the beginning of his booke which he so neere the end doth in such large and particular wise intreate of Now therefore let vs proceed to the vpper or inner Ethiopia beginning with the first and most northerly prouince thereof called Nubia Nubia PAssing therefore westward from the Island of Siene you enter into the prouince of Nubia bordering on the west vpon Gaoga eastward vpon the riuer Nilus towards the North vpon Egypt and southward vpon the desert of Goran The inhabitants thereof called by Strabo 〈◊〉 liue at this present as Francisco Aluarez reporteth a most miserable and wretched kinde of life for hauing lost the sinceritie and light of the gospel they do embrace infinite corruptions of the Iewish and Mahumetan religions At the same time when the foresaid Aluarez was in Abassia there came certaine messengers out of Nubia to make suit vnto the Prete that he would send them priests and such persons as might preach and administer the sacraments vnto them But he returned answere that he coulde not in regard of the scarcitie of great cler-giemen in his dominions The said messengers reported that the Nubians had sent often to Rome for a bishop but being afterward by the inuasions of the Moores and the calamitie of warre cut short of that assistance they fell for want of teachers and ministers into extreme ignorance of Christian religion and by little and little were infected with the impious and abominable sects of the Iewes and Mahumetans Some Portugals trauailing to those parts sawe many churches destroied by the handes of the Arabians and in some places the pictures of saints painted vpon the wals They are gouerned by women and call their Queene Gaua Their principall citie called Dangala and consisting of about ten thousand housholds is a place of great traffike bicause it is so neere vnto Egypt and the riuer Nilus All their other habitations are villages and base cottages Their houses are built of claie and couered with strawe The chiefe commodities of this region are rice stone-sugar sanders iuorie for they take many elephants as likewise abundance of ciuet and golde in great plentie The countrey is for the most part sandie howbeit there
plentie of 〈◊〉 of cattell and of fruits differing from ours that they are transported by shipping to other nations Barbora likewise a citie of the Moores standeth in this kingdome of Adel and hath a commodious hauen whereunto resort many ships laden with merchandize from Aden in Arabia and from Cambaya vpon the riuer of Indus The citizens are blacke people and their wealth consisteth most of all in flesh In the yeere 1541. Gradaameth the king of this place after manie mischiefes which he had done to Claudius the emperour of Abassia being vanquished by Christopher de Gama the Indian Viceroy of Iohn the third king of Portugale hee did by meanes of the souldiers and warlike prouisions which were sent him from the Sheque or gouernour of Zebit ouercome the Portugals the Abassins Howbeit afterward hauing sent the said forces backe againe to Zebit himselfe was slaine and his whole armie ouerthrowne by king Claudius aforesaide But certaine yeeres after the successour of Gradaameth hauing in a warlike encounter subdued the Prete rode in triumph vpon a little asse signifying thereby that he ascribed not the victorie to his owne forces but to the power of God Adea the second kingdome of the land of Aian situate vpon the easterne Ocean is confined northward by the kingdome of Adel westward by the Abassin empire It is exceeding fruitful one part thereof mightily aboundeth with woods the residue being sufficiently stored with cattell corne The inhabitants being Moores by religion and paying tribute to the emperour of Abassia are as they of Adel before-named originally descended of the Arabians who many hundred yeeres agoe partly by their rich traffike and especially by force of armes became lords not onely of Aian but of all the sea-coast along as farre as Cabo de los corrientes standing in the southerly latitude of fower and twentie degrees In all which space the cities standing vpon the sea-coast before the Portugals discouered the east Indies lay open and vnfortified to the sea bicause the Arabians themselues were absolute lords thereof but were strongly walled toward the lande for feare of the Cafri or lawlesse wilde Negros who were deadly enimies to the Arabians and vtterly misliked their so neere neighbourhood Howbeit since the Portugals taking of Magadazo and diuers other townes vpon the coast they haue applied themselues very much to fortification But to returne to the matter where we left vnto the foresaid kingdome of Adea belongeth the kingdome of Magadazo so called of the principall citie therein which is a most strong beautifull and rich place and is subiect to the kingly gouernment of a Moore The territorie adiacent is exceeding fruitfull abounding with sheepe kine horses wheate barly and other kindes of graine It hath also an excellent hauen and much frequented by the ships of Aden and Cambaya which come thither laden with sundrie kindes of cloth with spices and other merchandize and from hence they carrie elephants teeth golde slaues honie and waxe The inhabitants are of an oliue-colour and some of them blacke like vnto the nations adioining and they go naked from the girdle-stead vpward and speak the Arabian toong They are but meanely weaponed which causeth them to shoote poisoned arrowes This citie was in times past head of all the townes and cities of the Moores standing along this coast for a great distance Zanguebar or Zanzibar the second generall part of the lower Ethiopia ZAnzibar or Zanguebar so called by the Arabians and Persians is that tract of lande which runneth along some parte of the dominions of Prete Ianni and from thence extendeth it selfe by the east of Mohenemugi til it ioyneth with the frontiers of Monomotapa Howbeit some there are who vnder the name of Zanzibar will haue all the south part of Africa to be vnderstood euen as far as Cabo Negro which stretcheth into the western Ocean about 18. degrees of southerly latitude so that they comprehend therein the empires of Mohenemugi and Monomotapa and all the land of Cafraria But in this controuersie wee rather chuse to follow the opinion of Sanutus affirming with him that the said maritime tract of Zanguebar as it is by vs before limited is alowe fennie and woodie countrie with many greate and small riuers running through it which extremity of moisture in those hot climates causeth the ayer to be most vnholesome and pestilent The inhabitants are for the most part black with curled haire being Idolaters and much addicted to sorcery and witchcraft They go naked all the vpper part of their bodies couering their nether partes with clothes of diuers colours and with beasts skins And this tract of lande stretching along the sea-coast from the riuer Quilimanci to the riuer of Magnice containeth the kingdomes and territories of Melinde Mombaza Quiloa Moçambique Sofala and others Melinde the most Northerly kingdome of Zanguebar situate in two degrees and an halfe of southerly latitude and stretching from the coast vp into the main for the space of an hundred miles hath a strong and stately city of the same name being seuentie miles distant from Mombaça It aboundeth with Rice Millet flesh limons citrons and all kinds of fruites but as for corne it is brought hither out of Cambaya The inhabitants especially on the sea coast are Moores and Mahumetans who build their houses very sumptuously after the manner of Europe They are of a colour inclining to white and some blacke people they haue also among them which are for the greatest part Idolaters howbeit all of them pretend a kinde of ciuilitie both in their apparell and in the decencie and furniture of their houses The women are white and sumptuously attired after the Arabian fashion with cloth of silke Likewise they adorne their neckes armes hands and feete with bracelets and iewels of golde and siluer When they go abroad out of their houses they couer themselues with a vaile of taffata so that they are not knowne but when they themselues list Vpon this coast of Melinde you haue a very safe harborough wherunto the ships that saile those seas do vsually resort In briefe the inhabitants are a kind true-harted trustie people courteous to strangers They haue alwaies beene in league with the Portugals giuing them most friendly entertainmēt reposing much cōfidence in them neither haue they euer done them any iniury The kingdome of Mombaça being the second generall part of Zanguebar and situate in three degrees and an halfe beyond the Equinoctiall line bordering to the north vpon Melinde and to the south vpon Quiloa is so called after the name of a certaine isle and citie vpon the coast both which are named Mombaça and are peopled with Mahumetans their houses are of many stories high and beautified with pictures both grauen and painted Their kings are Mahumetans and most deadly enimies to the Christians one of the which taking vpon him to resist the Portugals was himselfe quite vanquished and ouerthrowen and constrained to
coniecturing thereby that we were not farre distant from some habitation of people Wherefore out of hand we directed our course thitherwards being constrained to leade our horses through thicke woods and ouer steepe and craggie rocks to the great hazard and perill of our liues And at length after many labours wee found shepherds in a certaine caue who hauing with much paines brought their cattell in there had kindled a lustie fire for themselues which they were constrained by reason of the extreme cold daily to sit by Who vnderstanding our companie to be Arabians feared at the first that we would do them some mischiefe but afterward being perswaded that we were driuen thither by extremitie of cold and being more secure of vs they gaue vs most friendly entertainment For they set bread flesh and cheese before vs wherewith hauing ended our suppers we laid vs along each man to sleepe before the fire All of vs were as yet exceeding cold but especially my selfe who before with great horrour and trembling was stripped starke naked And so we continued with the said shepherds for the space of two daies all which time we could not set foorth by reason of continuall snowe But the thirde day so soone as they saw it leaue snowing with great labour they began to remooue that snowe which lay before the doore of their caue Which done they brought vs to our horses which we found well prouided of hay in another caue Being all mounted the shepherds accompanied vs some part of our way shewing vs where the snowe was of least depth and yet euen there it touched our horse bellies This day was so cleere that the sunne tooke away all the cold of the two daies going before At length entring into a certaine village neere vnto Fez we vnderstood that our cartes which passed by were ouerwhelmed with the snowe Then the Arabians seeing no hope of recompence for all the paines they had taken for they had defended our carts from theeues carried a certaine Iew of our companie with them as their captiue who had lost a great quantitie of dates by reason of the snowe aforesaid to the end that he might remaine as their prisoner till he had satisfied for all the residue From my selfe they tooke my horse and committed mee vnto the wide world and to fortune From whence riding vpon a mule within three daies I arriued at Fez where I heard dolefull newes of our merchants and wares that they were cast away in the snowe Yea they thought that I had beene destrosed with the rest but it seemed that God would haue it otherwise Now hauing finished the historie of mine owne misfortunes let vs returne vnto that discourse where we left Beyond Atlas there are certaine hot dry places moistened with very few riuers but those which flow out of Atlas it selfe some of which riuers running into the Libyan deserts are dried vp with the sands but others do ingender lakes Neither shal you finde in these countries any places apt to bring forth corne notwithstanding they haue dates in abundance There are also certaine other trees bearing fruit but in so small quantitie that no increase nor gaine is to be reaped by them You may see likewise in those partes of Numidia which border vpon Libya certaine barren hils destitute of trees vpon the lower parts whereof growe nothing but vnprofitable thornes and shrubs Amongst these mountaines you shall finde no riuers nor springs nor yet any waters at all except it be in certaine pits and wels almost vnknowen vnto the inhabitants of that region Moreouer in sixe or seuen daies iourney they haue not one drop of water but such as is brought vnto them by certaine merchants vpon camels backes And that especially in those places which lye vpon the maine road from Fez to Tombuto or from Tremizen to Agad That iourney likewise is verie dangerous which is of late found out by the merchants of our daies from Fez to Alcair ouer the deserts of Libya were it not for an huge lake in the way vpon the bankes whereof the Sinites and the Goranites doe inhabite But in the way which leadeth from Fez to Tombuto are certaine pits enuironed either with the hides or bones of camels Neither doe the merchants in sommer time passe that way without great danger of their liues for oftentimes it falleth out when the south winde bloweth that all those pits are stopped vp with sande And so the merchants when they can finde neither those pits nor any mention thereof must needes perish for extreame thirst whose carcases are afterward found lying scattered here and there and scorched with the heat of the sunne One remedie they haue in this case which is verie strange for when they are so grieuously oppressed with thirst they kill foorthwith some one of their camels out of whose bowels they wring and expresse some quantitie of water which water they they drinke and carrie about with them till they haue either found some pit of water or till they pine away for thirst In the desert which they cal Azaoad there are as yet extant two monuments built of marble vpon which marble is an Epitaphe engrauen signifying that one of the said monuments represented a most rich merchant and the other a carrier or transporter of wares Which wealthie merchant bought of the carrier a cup of water for tenne thousand ducates and yet this pretious water could suffice neither of them for both were consumed with thirst This desert likewise containeth sundry kinds of beasts which in the fourth part of this discourse concerning Libya and in our treatise of the beasts of Africa we will discourse of more at large I was determined to haue written more cōcerning those things which happened vnto my self the rest of my company trauelling through the Libyan deserts vnto Gualata For somtime being sore a thirst we could not find one drop of water partly because our guide strayed out of the direct course and partly because our enemies had cut off the springs and chanels of the foresaid pits and wels Insomuch that the small quantitie of water which we found was sparingly to be kept for that which would scarce suffice vs for fiue daies we were constrained to keepe for ten But if I should commit to writing all things woorthy of memorie a whole yeare were not sufficient for me The lande of Negros is extreme hot hauing some store of moysture also by reason of the riuer of Niger running through the midst thereof All places adioining vpon Niger doe mightily abound both with cattle corne No trees I saw there but only certain great ones bearing a kind of bitter fruit like vnto a chestnut which in their language is called Goron Likewise in the same regions grow Cocos cucumbers onions and such kinde of herbes and fruits in great abundance There are no mountaines at all either in Libya or in the land of Negros howbeit diuers fennes and lakes
corne in May and in October they gather their dates but from the midst of September they haue winter till the beginning of 〈◊〉 But if September falleth out to be rainie they are like to lose most part of their dates All the fields of Numidia require watering from the riuers but if the mountaines of Atlas haue no raine fall vpon them the Numidian riuers waxe drie and so the fields are destitute of watering October being destitute of raine the husbandman hath no hope to cast his seede into the ground and he despaireth likewise if it raine not in Aprill But their dates prosper more without raine wherof the Numidians haue greater plentie then of corne For albeit they haue some store of corne yet can it scarcely suffice them for halfe the yeere Howbeit if they haue good increase of dates they cannot want abundance of corne which is sold vnto them by the Arabians for dates If in the Libyan deserts there fall out change of weather about the midst of October if it continue raining there all December Ianuarie and some part of Februarie it is wonderful what abundance of grasse and milke it bringeth foorth Then may you finde diuers lakes in all places and many fennes throughout Libya wherefore this is the meetest time for the Barbarie-merchants to trauell to the land of Negros Here all kinde of fruits grow sooner ripe if they haue moderate showers about the ende of Iuly Moreouer the land of Negros receiueth by raine neither any benefite nor yet any dammage at all For the riuer Niger together with the water which falleth from certaine mountaines doth so moisten their grounds that no places can be deuised to be more fruitfull for that which Nilus is to Aegypt the same is Niger to the land of Negors for it increaseth like Nilus from the fifteenth of Iune the space of fortie daies after and for so many againe it decreaseth And so at the increase of Niger when all places are ouerflowen with water a man may in a barke passe ouer all the land of Negros albeit not without great perill of drowning as in the fift part of this treatise we will declare more at large Of the length and shortnes of the Africans liues ALl the people of Barbarie by vs before mentioned liue vnto 65. or 70. yeeres of age and fewe or none exceed that number Howbeit in the foresaide mountaines I sawe some which had liued an hundred yeeres and others which affirmed themselues to be older whose age was most healthfull and lustie Yea some you shall finde here of fowerscore yeeres of age who are sufficiently strong and able to exercise husbandrie to dresse vines and to serue in the warres insomuch that yoong men are oftentimes inferiour vnto them In Numidia that is to say in the land of dates they liue a long time howbeit they lose their teeth very soone and their eies waxe woonderfully dimme Which infirmities are likely to be incident vnto them first because they continually feede vpon dates the sweetnes and naturall qualitie whereof doth by little and little pull out their teeth and secondly the dust and sand which is tossed vp and downe the aire with easterne windes entring into their eies doth at last miserably weaken and spoile their eie-sight The inhabitants of Libya are of a shorter life but those which are most strong and healthfull among them liue oftentimes till they come to threescore yeeres albeit they are slender and leane of bodie The Negros commonly liue the shortest time of al the rest howbeit they are alwaies strong lustie hauing their teeth sound euen till their dying day yet is there no nation vnder heauen more prone to venerie vnto which vice also the Libyans and Numidians are to too much addicted To be short the Barbarians are the weakest people of them all What kindes of diseases the Africans are subiect vnto THE children and sometimes the ancient women of this region are subiect vnto baldnes or vnnaturall shedding of haire which disease they can hardly be cured of They are likewise oftentimes troubled with the head-ache which vsually afflicteth them without any ague ioined therewith Many of them are tormented with the tooth-ache which as some thinke they are the more subiect vnto because immediately after hot pottage they drinke cold water They are oftentimes vexed with extreme paine of the stomacke which ignorantly they call the paine of the hart They are likewise daily molested with inwarde gripings and infirmities ouer their whole body which is thought to proceede of continuall drinking of water Yea they are 〈◊〉 subiect vnto bone-aches and goutes by reason that they sit commonly vpon the bare ground and neuer weare any shooes vpon their feete Their chiefe gentlemen and noblemen prooue gowtie oftentimes with immoderate drinking of wine and eating of daintie meats Some with eating of oliues nuts and such course fare are for the most part infected with the scuruies Those which are of a sanguine complexion are greatly troubled with the cough because that in the spring-season they sit too much vpon the ground And vpon fridaies I had no small sport and recreation to goe and see them For vpon this day the people flocke to church in great numbers to heare their 〈◊〉 sermons Now if any one in the sermon-tile falles a neezing all the whole multitude will neeze with him for companie and so they make such a noise that they neuer leaue till the sermon be quite done so that a man shall reape but little knowledge by any of their sermons If any of Barbarie be infected with the disease commonly called the French poxe they die thereof for the most part and are seldome cured This disease beginneth with a kinde of anguish and swelling and at length breaketh out into sores Ouer the mountaines of Atlas and throughout all Numidia and Libya they scarcely know this disease Insomuch that oftentimes the parties infected trauell foorthwith into Numidia or the land of Negros in which places the aire is so temperate that onely by remaining there they recouer their perfect health and 〈◊〉 home sound into their owne countrie which I sawe many doe with mine owne eies who without the helpe of any phisitian or medicine except the foresaide holesome aire were restored to their former health Not so much as the name of this maladie was euer knowen vnto the Africans before 〈◊〉 the king of Castile expelled all Iewes out of Spaine after the returne of which Iewes into Africa certaine vnhappie and lewd people lay with their wiues and so at length the disease spread from one to another ouer the whole region insomuch that scarce any one familie was free from the same Howbeit this they were most certainly perswaded of that the same disease came first from Spaine wherefore they for want of a better name do call it The Spanish poxe Notwithstanding at Tunis and ouer all Italie it is called the French disease It is so called likewise in
vpon the borders of Messa and was as it were the seale of all his victories and afterward by a corrupt worde it began to be called Segelmesse The common people togither with one of our African Cosmographers called Bicri suppose that this towne was built by Alexander the great for the reliefe of his sicke and wounded soldiers Which opinion seemeth not probable to me for I coulde neuer read that Alexander the great came into any part of these regions This towne was situate vpon a plaine neere vnto the riuer of Ziz and was enuironed with most stately and high wals euen as in many places it is to be seene at this present When the Mahumetans came first into Africa the inhabitants of this towne were subiect vnto the family of Zeneta which family was at length dispossessed of that 〈◊〉 by king Ioseph the son of Tesfin of the family of Luntuna The towne it selfe was very gallantly builte and the inhabitants were rich and had great traffike vnto the land of Negros Heere stoode stately temples and colleges also and great store of conducts the water whereof was drawen out of the riuer by wheeles The aire in this place is most temperate and holesome sauing that in winter it aboundeth with ouermuch moisture which breedeth some diseases But now since the towne was destroied the inhabitants began to plant themselues in the next castles and villages as we haue before signified I my selfe aboade in this region almost seuen moneths at the foresaid castle of Meniun Of the castle of 〈◊〉 THis castle was built by the Arabians in a certaine desert place twelue miles southward of the towne last described and here they keepe their wares free from the danger of their enimies Neere vnto this castle there is neither garden nor field nor any other commoditie but onely certaine blacke stones and sand Of the castle of Humeledegi THis castle was built also by the Arabians vpon a desert eighteene miles from Segelmesse like as was the former Neere vnto it lieth a certaine drie plaine so replenished with sundrie fruits that in beholding it a farre off a man would thinke the ground were strewed with pome-citrons Of the castle of Vmmelhefen IT is a forlorne and base castle founded by the Arabians also fiue and twentie miles from Segelmesse vpon a desert directly in the way from Segelmesse to Dara It is enuironed with blacke wals and continually garded by the Arabians All merchants that passeby pay one fourth part of a ducate for euery camels lode My selfe trauelling this way vpon a time in the companie of fourteene Iewes and being demaunded how manie there were of vs we saide thirteene but after I began particularly to reckon I founde the fowerteenth and the fifteenth man amongst vs whom the Arabians woulde haue kept prisoners had we not affirmed them to be Mahumetans howbeit not crediting our words they examined them in the lawe of Mahumet which when they perceiued them indeed to vnderstand they permitted them to depart Of the village of Tebelbelt THis village standing in the Numidian desert two hundred miles from Atlas and an hundred southward of Segelmesse is situate neere vnto three castles well stored with inhabitants and abounding with dates Water and flesh is very scarce amongst them They vse to hunt and take Ostriches and to eate the flesh of them and albeit they haue a trade vnto the land of Negros yet are they most miserable and beggerly people and subiect to the Arabians Of the prouince of Todga THis little prouince standing vpon a riuer of the same name hath great plentie of dates peaches grapes and figs. It containeth fower castles and ten villages the inhabitants being either husbandmen or lether-dressers And it standeth westward of Segelmesse about fortie miles Of the region of Farcala IT standeth also vpon a riuer and aboundeth with dates and other fruites but corne is greatly wanting heere Heere are in this region three castles and fiue villages It standeth southward of mount Atlas an hundred and of Segelmesse almost threescore miles The poore inhabitants are subiect to the Arabians Of the region of Teserin THis beautifull region situate vpon a riuer is distant from Farcala thirtie and from mount Atlas about threescore miles Dates it yeeldeth in abundance and containeth villages to the number of fifteene and sixe castles togither with the ruines of two townes the names whereof I coulde by no meanes enquire And the worde Teserin in the African language signifieth a towne Of the region called Beni Gumi THis region adioining vpon the riuer of Ghir aboundeth greatly with dates The inhabitants are poore and miserable and buie horses at Fez which they sell afterwarde vnto merchants that trauell to the lande of Negros It containeth eight castles and fifteene villages and standeth southeast of Segelmesse about an hundred and fiftie miles Of the castles of Mazalig and Abuhinan THey are situate in the Numidian desert vpon the riuer of Ghir almost fiftie miles from Segelmesse Inhabited they are by certaine beggerly Arabians neither doth the soile adiacent yeeld any corne at all and but very fewe dates Of the towne of Chasair THis towne standing vpon the desert of Numidia twentie miles from Atlas hath mines of lead and antimonie neere vnto it whereby the inhabitants get their liuing for this place yeeldeth none other commoditie Of the region of Beni Besseri THis little region situate at the foote of mount Atlas and abounding with all kinde of fruits saue dates will beare no corne at all It containeth three castles and a certaine iron-mine which serueth all the prouince of Segelmesse with iron Villages heere are but fewe which are subiect partly to the prince of Dubdu and partly to the Arabians and all the inhabitants employ themselues about working in the foresaid iron-mine Of the region of 〈◊〉 THis region standing seuentie miles southward of Segelmesse hath three castles and sundrie villages situate vpon the riuer of Ghir Dates it yeeldeth great plentie and but very little corne The inhabitants exercise traffique in the land of Negros and are all subiect and pay tribute to the Arabians Of the castles of Fighig THe three castles of Fighig stand vpon a certaine desert maruellously abounding with dates The women of this place weaue a kinde of cloth in forme of a carpet which is so fine that a man would take it to be silke and this cloth they sell at an excessiue rate at Fez Telensin and other places of Barbary The inhabitants being men of an excellent wit do part of them vse traffique to the land of Negros and the residue become students at Fez and so soone as they haue attained to the degree of a doctor they returne to Numidia where they are made either priestes or senatours and prooue most of them men of great wealth and reputation From Segelmesse the said castles are distant almost an hundred and fiftie miles eastward Of the region of Tesebit THe region of Tesebit being situate vpon the
Numidian desert two hundred and fiftie miles eastward of Segelmesse and an hundred miles from mount Atlas hath fower castles within the precincts thereof and many villages also which stand vpon the confines of Lybia neer vnto the high way that leadeth from Fez and Telensin to the kingdome of Agadez and to the land of Negros The inhabitants are not very rich for all their wealth consisteth in dates and some small quantitie of corne The men of this place are black but the women are somewhat fairer and yet they are of a swart and browne hue Of the region of Tegorarin THis great and large region of the Numidian desert standing about an hundred and twentie miles eastward of Tesebit containeth fiftie castles and aboue an hundred villages and yeeldeth great plentie of dates The inhabitants are rich and haue ordinarie traffique to the land of Negros Their fields are very apt for corne and yet by reason of their extreme drouth they stand in neede of continuall watering and dunging They allow vnto strangers houses to dwell in requiring no money for rent but onely their dung which they keepe most charily yea they take it in ill part if any stranger easeth himselfe without the doores Flesh is very scarce among them for their soile is so drie that it will scarce nourish any cattell at all they keepe a few goates indeede for their milks sake but the flesh that they eate is of camels which the Arabians bring vnto their markets to sell they mingle their meate with salt tallow which is brought into this region from Fez Tremizen There were in times past many rich Iewes in this region who by the meanes of a certaine Mahumetan preacher were at length expelled and a great part of them slaine by the seditious people and that in the very same yeere when the Iewes were expelled out of Spaine and Sicily The inhabitants of this region hauing one onely gouernour of their owne nation are notwithstanding often subiect to ciuill contentions and yet they do not molest other nations howbeit they pay certaine tribute vnto the next Arabians Of the region of Meszab THis region being situate vpon the Numidian desert 300. miles eastward from Tegorarin and 300. miles also from the Mediterran sea containeth sixe castles and many villages the inhabitants being rich and vsing traffike to the land of Negros Likewise the Negro-merchants togither with them of Bugia and Ghir make resort vnto this region Subiect they are and pay tribute vnto the Arabians Of the towne of Techort THe ancient towne of Techort was built by the Numidians vpon a certaine hill by the foote whereof runneth a riuer vpon which riuer standeth a draw-bridge The wall of this towne was made of free stone and lime but that part which is next vnto the mountaine 〈◊〉 instead of a wall an impregnable rocke opposite against it this towne is distant 〈◊〉 hundred miles southward from the Mediterran sea and 〈◊〉 300. miles from 〈◊〉 Families it containeth to the number of fiue and twentie hundred all the houses are built of sunne-dried brickes except their temple which is somewhat more stately Heere dwell great store both of gentlemen and artificers and bicause they haue great abundance of dates and are destitute of corne the merchants of Constantina exchange corne with them for their dates All strangers they fauour exceedingly and friendly dismisse them without paying of ought They had rather match their daughters vnto strangers then to their owne citizens and for a dowry they giue some certaine portion of lande as it is accustomed in some places of Europe So great and surpassing is their liberalitie that they will heape many gifts vpon strangers albeit they are sure neuer to see them againe At the first they were subiect to the king of Maroco afterward to the king of Telensin and now to the king of Tunis vnto whom they pay fiftie thousand ducats for yeerely tribute vpon condition that the king himselfe come personally to receiue it The king of Tunis that now is demanded a second tribute of them Many castles and villages and some territories there be also which are all subiect vnto the prince of this towne who collecteth an hundred and thirtie thousand ducates of yeerely reuenues and hath alwaies a mightie garrison of soldiers attending vpon him vnto whom he alloweth very large paie The gouernour at this present called Habdulla is a valiant and liberall yoong prince and most curteous vnto strangers whereof I my selfe conuersing with him for certaine daies had good experience Of the citie of Guargala THis ancient citie founded by the Numidians and enuironed with strong wals vpon the Numidian desert is built very sumptuously and aboundeth exceedingly with dates It hath some castles and a great number of villages belonging thereunto The inhabitants are rich bicause they are neere vnto the kingdome of Agadez Heere are diuers merchants of Tunis and Constantina which transport wares of Barbarie vnto the lande of Negros And bicause flesh and corne is very scarce among them they liue vpon the flesh of Ostriches and camels They are all of a blacke colour and haue blacke slaues and are people of a courteous and liberall disposition and most friendly and bountifull vnto strangers A gouernour they haue whom they reuerence as if he were a king which gouernour hath about two thousand horsemen alwaies attending vpon him and collecteth almost fifteene thousand ducates for yeerely reuenue Of the prouince of Zeb ZEb a prouince situate also vpon the Numidian desert beginneth westward from Mesila northward from the mountaines of Bugia eastward from the region of dates ouer against Tunis and southward it bordereth vpon a certaine desert ouer which they trauaile from Guargala to Techort This region is extremely hot sandie and destitute both of water and corne which wants are partly supplied by their abundance of dates It containeth to the number of fiue townes and many villages all which we purpose in order to describe Of the towne of Pescara THis ancient towne built by the Romans while they were lords of Mauritania and afterward destroied by the Mahumetans at their first enterance into Africa is now reedified stored with new inhabitants and enuironed with faire and stately wals And albeit the townesmen are not rich yet are they louers of ciuilitie Their soile yeeldeth nought but dates They haue beene gouerned by diuers princes for they were a while subiect vnto the kings of Tunis and that to the death of king Hutmen after whom succeeded a Mahumetan priest neither coulde the kings of Tunis euer since that time recouer the dominion of Pescara Here are great abundance of scorpions and it is present death to be stung by them wherefore all the townesmen in a manner depart into the countrey in sommer time where they remaine till the moneth of Nouember Of the citie of Borgi ANother towne there is also called Borgi which standeth about fowerteene miles eastward of Pescara Heere are a great many of
on the north Tombuto on the east and the kingdome of Melli on the south In length it containeth almost fiue hundred miles and extendeth two hundred and fiftie miles along the riuer of Niger and bordereth vpon the Ocean sea in the same place where Niger falleth into the saide sea This place exceedingly aboundeth with barlie rice cattell fishes and cotton and their cotton they sell vnto the merchants of Barbarie for cloth of Europe for brazen vessels for armour and other such commodities Their coine is of gold without any stampe or inscription at all they haue certaine iron-money also which they vse about matters of small value some peeces whereof weigh a pound some halfe a pound and some one quarter of a pound In all this kingdome-there is no fruite to be found but onely dates which are brought hither either out of Gualata or Numidia Heere is neither towne nor castle but a certaine great village onely wherein the prince of Ghinea together with his priestes doctors merchants and all the principall men of the region inhabite The walles of their houses are built of chalke and the roofes are couered with strawe the inhabitants are clad in blacke or blew cotton wherewith they couer their heads also but the priests and doctors of their law go apparelled in white cotton This region during the three moneths of Iulie August and September is yeerely enuironed with the ouerflowings of Niger in manner of an Island all which time the merchants of Tombuto conueigh their merchandize hither in certaine Canoas or narrow boats made of one tree which they rowe all the day long but at night they binde them to the shore and lodge themselues vpon the lande This kingdome was subiect in times past vnto a certaine people of Libya and became afterward tributarie vnto king Soni Heli after whom succeeded Soni Heli Izchia who kept the prince of this region prisoner at Gago where togither with a certaine nobleman he miserably died Of the kingdome of Melli. THis region extending it selfe almost three hundred miles along the side of a riuer which fâ—lleth into Niger bordereth northward vpon the region last described southward vpon certaine deserts and drie mountaines westward vpon huge woods and forrests stretching to the Ocean sea shore and eastward vpon the territorie of Gago In this kingdome there is a large and ample village containing to the number of sixe thousand or mo families and called Melli whereof the whole kingdome is so named And here the king hath his place of residence The region it selfe yeeldeth great abundance of corne flesh and cotton Heere are many artificers and merchants in all places and yet the king honorably entertaineth all strangers The inhabitants are rich and haue plentie of wares Heere are great store of temples priests and professours which professours read their lectures onely in the temples bicause they haue no colleges at all The people of this region excell all other Negros in witte ciuilitie and industry and were the first that embraced the law of Mahumet at the same time when the vncle of Ioseph the king of Maroco was their prince and the gouernment remained for a while vnto his posterity at length Izchia subdued the prince of this region and made him his tributarie and so oppressed him with greeuous exactions that he was scarce able to maintaine his family Of the kingdome of Tombuto THis name was in our times as some thinke imposed vpon this kingdome from the name of a certain towne so called which they say king Mense Suleiman founded in the yeere of the Hegeira 610. and it is situate within twelue miles of a certaine branch of Niger all the houses whereof are now changed into cottages built of chalke and couered with thatch Howbeit there is a most stately temple to be seene the wals whereof are made of stone and lime and a princely palace also built by a most excellent workeman of Granada Here are many shops of artificers and merchants and especially of such as weaue linnen and cotton cloth And hither do the Barbarie-merchants bring cloth of Europe All the women of this region except maid-seruants go with their faces couered and sell all necessarie victuals The inhabitants especially strangers there residing are exceeding rich insomuch that the king that now is married both his daughters vnto two rich merchants Here are many wels containing most sweete water and so often as the riuer Niger ouerfloweth they conueigh the water thereof by certaine sluces into the towne Corne cattle milke and butter this region yeeldeth in great abundance but salt is verie scarce heere for it is brought hither by land from Tegaza which is fiue hundred miles distant When I my selfe was here I saw one camels loade of salt sold for 80. ducates The rich king of Tombuto hath many plates and scepters of gold some whereof weigh 1300. poundes and he keepes a magnificent and well furnished court When he trauelleth any whither he rideth vpon a camell which is lead by some of his noblemen and so he doth likewise when hee goeth to warfar and all his souldiers ride vpon horses Whosoeuer will speake vnto this king must first fall downe before his feete then taking vp earth must sprinkle it vpon his owne head shoulders which custom is ordinarily obserued by them that neuer saluted the king before or come as ambassadors from other princes He hath alwaies three thousand horsemen and a great number of footmen that shoot poysoned arrowes attending vpon him They haue often skirmishes with those that refuse to pay tribute and so many as they take they sell vnto the merchants of Tombuto Here are verie few horses bred and the merchants and courtiers keepe certaine little nags which they vse to trauell vpon but their best horses are brought out of Barbarie And the king so soone as he heareth that any merchants are come to towne with horses he commandeth a certaine number to be brought before him and chusing the best horse for himselfe he payeth a most liberall price for him He so deadly hateth all Iewes that he will not admit any into his citie and whatsoeuer Barbarie merchants he vnderstandeth to haue any dealings with the Iewes he presently causeth their goods to be confiscate Here are great store of doctors iudges priests and other learned men that are bountifully maintained at the kings cost and charges And hither are brought diuers manuscripts or written bookes out of Barbarie which are sold for more money then any other merchandize The coine of Tombuto is of gold without any stampe or superscription but in matters of smal value they vse certaine shels brought hither out of the kingdome of Persia fower hundred of which shels are worth a ducate and sixe peeces of their golden coine with two third parts weigh an ounce The inhabitants are people of a gentle and cherefull disposition and spend a great part of the night
likewise many inhabitants of this suburbe maintaine families in the citie also Amongst all the buildings of this suburbe the principall is that stately college built by Soldan Hesen being of such a woonderfull height and great strength that oftentimes the colleges haue presumed to rebell against the Soldan and therein to fortifie themselues against the whole citie and to discharge ordinance against the Soldans castle which is but halfe a crosse-bowe shot distant Of the suburbe called Gemeh Tailon THis huge suburbe confining eastwarde vpon the foresaid suburbe of Beb Zuaila extendeth westward to certaine ruinous places neere vnto the olde citie Before the foundation of Cairo this suburbe was erected by one Tailon who was subiect vnto the Califa of Bagdet and gouernour of Egypt and was a most famous and prudent man This Tailon leauing the old citie inhabited this suburbe and adorned the same with a most admirable palace and sumptuous temple Heere dwell also great store of merchants and artificers especially such as are Moores of Barbarie Of the suburbe called Beb Elloch THis large suburbe being distant from the wals of Cairo about the space of a mile and containing almost three thousand families is inhabited by merchants and artizans of diuers sorts as well as the former Vpon a certaine large place of this suburbe standeth a great palace and a stately college built by a certaine Mammaluck called 〈◊〉 being counseller vnto the Soldan of those times and the place it selfe is called after his name Iazbachia Hither after Mahumetan sermons and deuotions the common people of Cairo togither with the baudes and harlots do vsually resort and many stage plaiers also and such as teach camels asses and dogs to daunce which dauncing is a thing very delightfull to behold and especially that of the asse who hauing frisked and daunced a while his master comes vnto him and tels him with a loude voice that the Soldan being about to builde some great palace must vse all the asses of Cairo to carrie morter stones and other necessarie prouision Then the asse falling presently to the ground and lying with his heeles vpward maketh his belly to swell and closeth his eies as if he were starke dead In the meane while his master lamenting the misfortune of the asse vnto the standers by earnestly craueth their friendly assistance and liberalitie to buie him a newe asse And hauing gathered of each one as much money as he can get you are much deceiued my masters quoth he that thinke mine asse to be dead for the hungrie iade knowing his masters necessity hath wrought this sleight to the end he might get some money to buie him prouender Then turning about to the asse he commandeth him with all speede to arise but the asse lyeth starke still though he command and beate him neuer so much whereupon turning againe to the people Be it knowen quoth he vnto you all that the Soldan hath published an edict or proclamation that to morrow next all the people shall go foorth of the citie to beholde a triumph and that all the honourable and beautifull ladies and gentlewomen shall ride vpon the most comely asses and shall giue them otes to eate and the christall water of Nilus to drinke Which words being scarce ended the asse suddenly starteth from the ground prancing leaping for ioy then his master prosecuting still his narration but saith he the warden of our streete hath borrowed this goodly asse of mine for his deformed and olde wife to ride vpon At these wordes the asse as though hee were indued with humaine reason coucheth his eares and limpeth with one of his legges as if it were quite out of ioint Then saith his master What sir Iade are you so in loue with faire women The asse nodding his head seemeth to say yea Come on therefore sirra quoth his master and let vs see among all these prettie damosels which pleaseth your fancie best Whereupon the asse going about the companie and espying some woman more comely and beautiful then the rest walketh directly vnto her and toucheth her with his head and then the beholders laugh and crie out amaine Lo the asses paramour the paramour of the asse Whereupon the fellow that shewed all this sport leaping vpon the backe of his asse rideth to some other place There is also another kinde of charmers or iuglers which keepe certaine little birdes in cages made after the fashion of cupboords which birds will reach vnto any man with their beaks certaine skroules contayning either his good or euill successe in time to come And whosoeuer desireth to know his fortune must giue the bird an halfepenie which shee taking in her bill carrieth into a little boxe and then comming foorth againe bringeth the said skroule in her beake I my selfe had once a skroule of ill fortune giuen me which although I little regarded yet had I more vnfortunate successe then was contained therein Also there are masters of defence playing at all kinde of weapons and others that sing songs of the battel 's fought betweene the Arabians and Egyptians when as the Arabians conquered Egypt with diuers others that sing such toyes and ballads vnto the people Of the suburb called Eulach THis large and ancient suburb of Cairo standing two miles distant from the walles of the citie vpon the banke of Nilus containeth fower thousand families Vpon the way lying betweene the suburb and this citie stand diuers houses and mils turned about by the strength of beasts In this suburb dwell many artificers and merchants especially such as sell corne oyle and sugar Moreouer it is full of stately temples palaces and colledges but the fairest buildings thereof stand along the riuer of Nilus for from thence there is a most beautifull prospect vpon the riuer and thither do the vessels and barkes of Nilus resort vnto the common stathe of Cairo being situate in this suburb at which place you shall see at some times and especially in the time of haruest aboue 1000. barkes And here the officers appointed to receiue custome for wares brought from Alexandria and Damiata haue their aboad albeit but little tribute be demaunded for the said wares because it was payd before at the port of their arriuall but those wares that come out of the firme land of Egypt allow entire custome Of the suburb called Charafa THE suburbe of Carafa built in manner of a towne and standing from mount Muccatim a stones cast and from the walles of the citie about two miles containeth almost two thousand housholds But at this day the greatest part thereof lyeth waste and destroyed Here are many sepulchres built with high and stately vaults and arches and adorned on the inner side with diuers emblemes and colours which the fond people adore as the sacred shrines monuments of saints spreading the pauement with sumptuous and rich carpets Hither euerie friday morning resort out of the citie it selfe and the suburbs great multitudes of people for deuotions sake
diuision of Africa I described the riuer called by Ptolemey Niger it would here be superfluous to make any repetition thereof wherfore let vs now proceede vnto the description of Nilus Of the mightie riuer of Nilus THE course of this riuer is in very deed most admirable and the creatures therein contained are exceeding strange as namely sea-horses sea-oxen crocodiles and other such monstrous and cruel beasts as we will afterward declare which were not so hurtfull either in the ancient times of the Egyptians or of the Romaines as they are at this present but they became more dangerous euer since the Mahumetans were lords of Egypt Meshudi in his treatise of the memorable thinges of his time reporteth that when Humeth the sonne of Thaulon was lieutenant of Egypt vnder Gihsare Mutauichil the Califa of Bagdet namely in the yeere of the Hegeira 270. there was a certaine leaden image about the bignes of a crocodile found among the ruines of an old Egyptiā temple which in regard of the Hieroglyphick characters constellations engrauen theron serued instead of an inchantmēt against all crocodiles but so soone as the saide lieutenant caused it to be broken in peeces the crocodiles began then to inuade men and to doe much mischiefe Howbeit what the reason should be why the crocodiles betweene Cairo and the Mediterran sea are harmelesse and those aboue Cairo towards the maine land should deuoure and kill so many persons it goeth beyond my skill to determine But to returne vnto the description of Nilus it increaseth as we haue saide for the space of fortie daies beginning from the seuenteenth of Iune and it continueth iust so long time in decreasing For whereas in the higher Ethiopia it raineth most abundantly about the beginning of May the course and inundation of the water is hindred all the moneth of May some part of Iune before it can attaine vnto the plaine countrey of Egypt Concerning the originall fountaine of this riuer there are manifold opinions and all of them vncertaine Some there are which affirme the same to spring out of the mountaines called by themselues The mountaines of the moone and others say that it beginneth vpon certaine plaines situate beneath the foote of the saide mountaines and issueth out of sundrie fountaines being a great way distant one from another Howbeit the former of these two auouch that Nilus with great violence falleth down from the saide mountaines into certaine deepe caues vnder the ground and commeth foorth againe at the foresaide fountaines Both of which opinions are false for neuer did any man as yet see where Nilus taketh his originall The Ethiopian merchants which resort for traffike vnto the citie of Dancala affirme that Nilus towards the south is enlarged into such a mightie lake that no man can perceiue which way the course thereof trendeth and that afterward being diuided into manifold branches running in seueral chanels and stretching themselues east and west it hindereth the passage of traueilers so that they cannot compasse those intricate windings and turnings Likewise diuers Ethiopians inhabiting vpon the plaines in manner of the Arabians say that many of them traueiling fiue hundred miles southward to seeke their camels which were straied away in the heate of their lust found Nilus to be in all places alike that is to say dispersed into manifolde armes and lakes and that they discouered sundry desert and barren mountaines where the foresaide Meshudi affirmeth emraulds to be found which seemeth more probable then that which the same author affirmeth concerning sauage men which wander vp and downe like wilde goates and feede vpon the grasse of the deserts in manner of beasts But if I recorded all the fables which our writers report concerning Nilus I shoulde seeme ouer tedious vnto the Reader Of the strange beasts and other liuing creatures of Africa MY purpose is not in this discourse to make a cōplete history of all the liuing creatures in Africa but only of such as are either not to be founde in Europe or such as differ in any respect from those that are founde And heere I intend to describe in order certaine beasts fishes and foules omitting many things reported by Plinie who was doubtlesse a man of rare and singular learning notwithstanding by the default and negligence of certaine authors which wrote before him he erred a little in some small matters concerning Africa howbeit a little blemish ought not quite to disgrace all the beautie of a faire and amiable bodie Of the Elephant THis wittie beast keepeth in the woods is found in great numbers in the forrests of the land of Negros They vse to go many in one cōpany and if they chance to meet with any man they either shun him or giue place vnto him But if the Elephant intendeth to hurt any man he casteth him on the groūd with his long snout or trunk neuer ceaseth trampling vpon him till he be dead And although it be a mightie and fierce beast yet are there great store of them caught by the Ethiopian hunters in manner folowing These hunters being acquainted with the woodes and thickets where they keepe vse to make among the trees a rounde hedge of strong boughes and raftes leauing a space open on the one side therof and likewise a doore standing vpon the plaine grounde which may bee lift vp with ropes wherewith they can easily stoppe the said open place or passage The elephant therefore comming to take his rest vnder the shady boughes entreth the hedge or inclosure where the hunters by drawing the saide rope and fastening the doore hauing imprisoned him descend downe from the trees and kill him with their arrowes to the end they may get his teeth and make sale of them But if the elephant chanceth to breake through the hedge he murthereth as many men as he can finde In Ethiopia the higher and India they haue other deuises to take the elephant which least I should seeme ouer-tedious I passe ouer in silence Of the beast called Giraffa THis beast is so sauage and wilde that it is a very rare matter to see any of them for they hide themselues among the deserts and woodes where no other beasts vse to come and so soone as one of them espieth a man it flieth foorthwith though not very swiftly It is headed like a camell eared like an oxe and footed like a neither are any taken by hunters but while they are very yoong Of the Camell CAmels are gentle and domesticall beasts and are found in Africa in great numbers especially in the deserts of Libya Numidia and Barbaria And these the Arabians esteeme to be their principall possessions and riches so that speaking of the wealth of any of their princes or gouernors he hath say they so many thousand camels and not so manie thousand ducates Moreouer the Arabians that possesse camels liue like lords and potentates in great libertie bicause they can remaine with their camels in barren deserts
the arguments and signes of the grace and fauour of God they easily fell into Apostasie whereunto the impietie of Arrius and other heretikes opened the way who for long tract of time estranging themselues more and more from the Euangelicall truth fell in the end into Atheisme as we see hath fallen out in the course of some moderne enormities But to returne from whence we haue digressed in progresse of time there grew great differences betweene the Mahumetans for their sect being no lesse sottish and foolish then wicked and perfidious the mainteiners of it were driuen to fetch reasons farre off for defence of the same But the Arabians not contented in Africa to haue subiugated with armes and with false doctrine to haue pestered Barbarie Numidia Libya and the countrey of Negroes they further on the other side assailed the lower Ethiopia both by sea and land By lande entred thereinto in the yeere 1067. Faiaia the sonne of Abubequer and by meanes of certaine Alsachi he dispersed that pestilence into Nubia and the neighbour prouinces On the other side passing the Red sea they first tooke knowledge of the coast of Ethiopia euen to Cabo de los corrientes by their continuall traffike thither and afterwards being encouraged by the weakenes of the naturall inhabitants they erected the kingdomes of Magadazo Melinde Mombazza Quiloa Mozambique and seazed on some ports of the island of Saint Laurence and gathering force by little and little they enlarged their empire within the land and established therein the kingdomes of Dangali and Adel. So that on the one side they haue spred their sect from the Red sea to the Atlantike Ocean and from the Mediterran sea to the riuer Niger and farther and on the other haue taken into their hands all the easterne coast of Africk from Suez to Cape Guardafú and from this euen to that De los corrientes and the adioining islands In which places though the people be not altogither Mahumetans yet haue the Mahumetans the weapons dominion in their hands the which how much it importeth for the bringing in of sects we may easily conceiue To conclude they haue often assailed the Prete Ianni sometimes the Turkes who haue taken from him the ports of the Red sea and otherwhiles the Moores vnder the conduct of the king of Adel who hath and doth molest them greatly leading into captituitie a great number of Abassins where they become for the most part Mahumetans Of the Christians of Africa NOw that we haue declared the miseries and darknes of Affrick it remaineth that we set downe that little light of true religion which there is the which I can not passe ouer without exceeding glorie to the Portugall nation In that they with inestimable charge and infinite trauaile haue first sought to open the way to Ethiopia and to bring the great Negus of Abassia called by vs Prete Ianni to the vnion of the christian church of Europe performing whatsoeuer after this for the conuersion of the princes of Guinia and Meleghette to the faith and yet more happily of the king of Congo and the Princes of Angola and likewise with diuers colonies sent to the ilands of the Atlantick Ocean they haue no lesse aduāced the honor of their owne nation then the propagating of the christian faith And finally passing beyond Cabo de buena esperança they haue resisted the Mahumetan sect which had now extended it selfe on the backside of Africa as far as Cabo de los corrientes Of the Christians in Egypt THe Christians of Egypt are partly strangers partlie home-borne in the country strangers come thither in regarde of traffick which there flourisheth aboue measure especiallie in the cities of Alexandria and Cairo by reason that this kingdome being most commodiously situate betweene the Red and Mediterran seas vniteth the west parts of the world with the east by meane of an infinite traffick and therefore is it as it were a ladder whereby the wealth of India and of the Eoan Ocean passeth into the lesser Asia into Africke and Europe Whereupon not onely the Venetians Florentines and Ragusians come thither in great numbers but also the French and English The naturall Christians of Egypt remaining after the spoiles and hauock of the Barbarians and the crueltie of the Saracens Mamalucks and Turkes exceed not the number of fiftie thousand persons and these dwell dispersed here and there but principallie in the cities of Cairo Messia Monfalatto Bucco and Elchiasa all placed vpon the bankes of Nilus There are also many in the prouince of Minia in which quarter appeare diuers monasteries But among the monasteries of Egypt those of Saint Anthonie Saint Paul and Saint Macarius are the principal The first lieth in Troglodytica right ouer against Sa it vpon a hill where Saint Anthony was said to be beaten by diuels the second is seated not far from this in the middest of a desert the third standeth in the wildernes to the west of Bulac This is the monasterie which in some histories is called Nitria as I thinke bicause in that quarter the waters of Nilus being thickned by the heate of the sun in low places are conuerted into salt and niter Georgia stood vpon Nilus six miles from the city of Munsia a rich and magnificent Conuent so called after the name of Saint George There were in the same more then two hundred monkes to the notable benefite and ease of pilgrimes strangers who were there curteously lodged But they dying all of the plague about some hundred and fiftie yeeres sithence the place was abandoned Now to deliuer somewhat concerning the estates of these Christians They are called by some Cofti and by others Christians from the girdle vpward for albeit they be baptized as we are yet do they circumcise themselues like to the Iewes so as a man may say their Christianitie comes no lower then the girdle-stead But that which is woorse they haue for these 1000. yeers followed the heresie of Eutiches which alloweth but of one nature in Christ by which heresie they also separate and dismember themselues from the vnion of the Church of Europe The occasion of this separation and 〈◊〉 was the Ephesine councell assembled by Dioscorus in defence of Eutiches who was now condemned in the Calcedon counsell by sixe hundred and thirtie fathers congregated togither by the authoritie of Leo the first For the Cofti fearing that to attribute two natures vnto Christ might be all one as if they had assigned him two hypostases or persons to auoid the heresie of the Nestorians they became Eutichians They say their diuine seruice in the Chaldean toong oftentimes repeating Alleluia They read the Gospell first in Chaldean and then in Arabick When the priest saieth Pax vobis the yoongest amongst them laieth his hand vpon all the people that are present After consecration they giue a simple peece of bread to the standers by a ceremonie vsed also in Greece They exercise their function in the
is recorded to be the brother of Chus and the sonne of Cham. Chibith The towne of Pharao The 〈◊〉 of Ioseph Extreme pestilence The French maladie most rife in Egypt The increase of Nilus Ancient traffique of the 〈◊〉 vnto Alexandria Alexandria surprised and sacked by the king of Cyprus The water of Nilus brought by a sluce into Alexandria Certaine Christians called Iacobites Iohn Leo was at Rasid the same time 〈◊〉 Selim the great Turke passed that way The fruits called Mose Sugar Great abundance of Sugar * 1526. Delicate drinks made of all kind of fruits 〈◊〉 Ghauri A stately 〈◊〉 These asses are somewhat like to Banks his curtall that plaid his prizes all England ouer Soothsaying birds Saint 〈◊〉 The place where balme groweth The manner of measuring the increase of Nilus This piller is called by Plinie Niloscopium The attire of the women of Cairo The libertie of the women of Cairo Birds hatched after a strange manner in Egypt The reward of new and ingenious deuises Fower seuer all sects of the Mahumetan religion permitted in the citie of Cairo An horrible kind of execution The nauel being cut is present death Women 〈◊〉 Iohn Leo was thrise in Egypt The 〈◊〉 The originall of the Mamaluks * There is such an officer in the court of England called The Maister of the Reuells The 〈◊〉 The citie of 〈◊〉 Egyptian 〈◊〉 Store of the graine called Sesama Most excellent hempe Crocodiles The place where Ioseph was buried * It is otherwise read in the x. chap. of Genesis verse 6. * Dubium Emralds Antonio Galuano maketh large mention of this citie The hauen of Chossir Suachen * Bugiha are those which in 〈◊〉 time were called Troglodytae The great trauels of Iohn Leo. * Or 〈◊〉 * Or Muluia A riuer of hot and salt water * Or Guartguessen Sundry opinions concerning 〈◊〉 The manner of taking elephants in 〈◊〉 * Here is a word wanting in the originall * In all parts of the world which the author at that 〈◊〉 knew The African 〈◊〉 are the best Three kinds of camels Camels of a woonderfull swiftnes otherwise called Dromedaries The camels great abstinence from drinke How the Camels of 〈◊〉 learne to dance Morses fedde with camels milke Targets made of a skin The manner of gathering ciuet Amber A medicine for the leprosie The craft of the Crocodile in taking both men and beasts Little birds flying into the crocodiles mouth to picke wormes from betweene their teeth The manner of taking the crocodile How the camelion killeth the serpent A strange narration A strange 〈◊〉 * Or fathomes * That is in Barbarie Numidia Libya the lande of Negros and Egypt * Of this mountaine read in the discourse before the beginning of Leo. 〈◊〉 most 〈◊〉 in gold The kings armes A 〈◊〉 course A recrely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 fire from the 〈◊〉 to his 〈◊〉 princes * Described by Leo in his fifth booke vnder the name of Lharais * Or Miramonin The maner how the Xeriffos aspired to the kingdomes of Maroco Sus and Fez. * Or the kingdomes of Maroco and Fez. * Or Abnet * Or Azaphi Artillerie cast by French Renegados Caruuen the principall Mahumetan temple in Fez being a mile and an 〈◊〉 about Read Leo lib. 3. These are a militarie order like vnto them which hold land 〈◊〉 vs vnder the 〈◊〉 of knights seruice * Mine author heere much mistaketh the matter * Or Emina * Or Haly. G. B. B. Rel. vn part 1. lib. 2. dell ' Asia With this frier Ascelline was sent Iohannes de Plano Carpini whose voiage is put downe in the first volume of the 〈◊〉 voiages Or Olouchali * Or Coptitae * As the church in all the hither parts of Europe hath beene called the western and that of Greece and Asia the 〈◊〉 church * Whātsoeuer Dresserus think eth yet diuers other authors of good note do hold the dominions of Prete Ianni to be nothing so large * These Mores are called Dobas Acts of the Apost cap. 8. verse 26. Matthew the first ambassador sent from Aethiopia to Portugall * This ambassage was at the first vndertaken by Odoardo Galuano who dying at the isle of 〈◊〉 in the Red sea it was performed by Rodrigo de Lima. Zagazabo the second ambassador sent from AEthiopia to Portugall * Whereas the Iewes circumcised the males 〈◊〉 * Yet in the time of Pope Paule the 4. were sent certaine priests with a new created Patriarke and two 〈◊〉 who notwithstanding when they went 〈◊〉 about to bring in the 〈◊〉 religion and the supremacie of the Pope were crossed by the Emperour in all their proceedings The Emperour of Ethiopia wil by no meanes admit the supremacie and religion of the Romish church Adamas a new Emperour of Ethiopia Fartac a countrey of Arabia Felix the king whereof subdued the isle of Zocotera 1482. * So are the inhabitants of Congo called * So called by Osorius lib. 3. de Reb. Gest. Eman. But by Phil. Pigafetta lib. 2. Cap. 2. Mani-Pango * Osorius de Reb. Gest. Eman. lib. 3. * Called by Philippo Pigafetto 〈◊〉 Concerning these Giacchi otherwise called Agag read the discourse of Mohenemugi before the beginning of Iohn Leo. * Not Mazagan vpon the coast of Barbarie