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-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
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
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
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
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-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
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
in former times the Red-Sea overflow'd all Egypt and by its Water took away the colour from the green springing Soyl but after the Water began to fall away and lessen it remain'd at length with so little moisture that the Sun-beams which shine down in that place with very great power make a reflexion of the red Sand from the bottom which seeming to give a tincture to the Water from its ruddiness gave the occasion of denominating it the Red-Sea though Pliny will have it from a King who Reigned here and in Greek was call'd Erithreos that is Red. To this Opinion inclin'd Pomponius Mela Aristotle and others But Quintus Curtius is of a contrary Judgment maintaining that this Sea was call'd the Red-Sea from the Egyptians who were drown'd in it when they pursu'd the Israelites in the Year after the Creation Two thousand three hundred fifty and four according to the computation of Michael Zapuler in his Description of the Holy Land Johannes de Castro formerly Vice-Roy to the King of Portugal in the Indies affirms that the red colour of this Sea ariseth from the great quantity of Corral growing at the bottom Others that the Rivers which pour into this in the midst of Winter having flow'd through Countreys of a red colour'd Earth make the Water seem red and consequently gave it the Name Certain it is that all the Water is like that in the great Sea and saltish In this Sea befell the Miracle which the holy Scriptures mention when Moses with his Rod commanded a Way for the passage of the Israelites to the number of six hundred thousand Men Women and Children not reckon'd and wherein Pharaoh in pursuit of them as he supposed flying twelve thousand Foot-Soldiers and fifty thousand Horsemen were swallow'd In this Sea are many strange and remarkable things as Trees growing Branches of Corral Mushroms Meremaids flying Fishes and other wondrous Creatures But how great diligence soever they have used none could ever take any of them although common and at all times seen along the Coast for the Egyptians believe that they and theirs by the killing such a Creature should die within a year as they say they have found by experience And out of that conceit when in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty one one was taken alive in the Nyle by the City Rosetta the Bey or Governor of the City commanded it presently to be put into the Water again though a Venetian had bought it for five and twenty Piasters and rather than incur the hazard return'd him his Money Gaspar de San Bernardino in his Journey to the Indies by Land saith the Entrances into the Red-Sea lie in twelve Degrees and forty Minutes being no other than two Points of Land one on Africa side call'd Rosbel and the other on the Coast of Arabia lying right over against it nam'd Ara. In the midst of the Passage lieth the Island Mium between which and the Main Land of Asia runneth a Channel nine or ten Yards deep and a large League broad as another on Africa side shoots down to the depth of sixteen Yards but useless because it hath no convenient Haven for Ships and many dangerous Shelves and Banks From this Port inwards the Sea widens all along till towards the end where it grows narrower and narrower the broadest part is not above thirty Leagues or Spanish Miles Petrus della Valla a Noble-man of Rome in the second Part of his Travels describes the Red-Sea as followeth In some places of the Red-Sea unpassable for its shallowness they gather up a finer sort of Corral than the common especially useful to be set in deep Caves and Grotts because it represents perfectly the shapes of little Trees with great delight to the Eyes of curious beholders In these Vegetables many times by varying colours or transparency Nature plays and sports it self with great curiosity The Inhabitants of these Parts pass this Sea in little Barques made of Planks joyn'd together not with Nails but certain Pitcht Towe Many Commodities are brought in these Boats to Cairo which the Proprietors take in pieces afterwards and sell the Planks at dear Rates and then return home by Land to their Houses This way of building Boats without Iron-Nails seems to be no Novelty considering Strabo the Geographer many Ages since speaks of Leather-Boats used by the Arabians for pastime in the Red-Sea As also of some other made of Osiers and Brush-wood with which the Egyptians passed over the Nyle I somewhat marvel'd says the foremention'd Petrus della Valla at the Name this Sea beareth for that it is not as the Black-Sea which is so call'd from the blackness or muddiness of the Water For the Water of this is so clear and pure that Men may see to the bottom and shews afar off like other Seas The Sand is also like that of other Seas so that it hath borrow'd its Name no otherwise than from the King Erithreos who as Strabo saith lieth buried in an Island of the South-Sea and hath given the Name of Red to the whole and not onely to the Arabian Gulf but whether so or no we will not dispute but content our selves that the holy Scriptures calleth it so in several places Upper-Ethiopia Or the EMPIRE of ABYSSINE Otherwise call'd PRESTER-JOHN'S-COUNTREY AByssine Name otherwise Prester-John's Countrey is by Marmol call'd The Kingdom of the Abixins or Abexin or rather Abassia or Abaxia and Habas or Elhabas as the Coast of the Red-Sea the Coast of Abex The name Abyssine derives its Original either from the Inhabitants by the Arabians call'd Abassi or Habasschi and by adding the Arabian Particle El comes to Elhabashi as that by the alteration of the guttural Letters makes Abassinia and Abyssines or from the people Abassenos which divers of the Antients among whom Stephanus in his Book of the Cities Davity placeth in Arabia Felix supposing they came from Africa over thither Some imagine that they took denomination from a Territory of Ethiopia nam'd Abyssi lying under the Jurisdiction of Prester-John under that Title including Ethiopia below Egypt mention'd by Ptolomy Terra Cinnamomifera or The Cinnamon Land of the Antients a great part of the Troglodytian Arabia with some of Libya AETHIOPIA SUPERIOR vel INTERIOR vulgo ABISSINORUM sive PRESBITERIIOANNIS IMPERIOR Notwithstanding all these losses and dismembrings the common Vogue stretches it to that vast magnitude as makes it exceed all Europe having in circumference above seventeen hundred Dutch and according to Pigafet four thousand Spanish miles but we dare be bold to aver that at this day it doth not exceed Spain alone in bigness and that in Africa are many other Kings which possess many more Kingdoms and are of greater power than this so much famed Abyssine To reduce then this unsettlement to some certainty Bigness the length taken from Egypt or rather from Bugia and Nubia to the Kingdom of Monomotapa Pigafet reckons to five hundred and Cluverius to five
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
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
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 Encrease whereas the Moderns say that time onely is the Encrease which is between the least and greatest depth of Water and the other wherein the Water returns into his own Channel The Decrease The Nile then flows by degrees from the later end of June How long the Nile increases in Egypt At the first very little scarce rising up two or three fingers in twenty four hours nor much more any day after while the Sun remains in Cancer but when the Sun passes into Leo it rises first half a foot afterwards half a foot and a palm immediately a foot and lastly a whole cubit almost every day so continuing till the full height Thus the Grounds lying near the River are first moistened afterwards those afar off and at last all Egypt over Then the Earth which a little before was dry Land becomes Navigable and the River whose Channel in many places was scarce broader than a Furlong enlarges to * Above thirty English miles three hundred Furlongs nor would it stay there if the Hills on both sides did not curb and hinder it The Nile in this expansion at his height which ordinarily happens the Sun in the middle of Leo though sometimes when in the fifth or sixth degree of Libra doth not presently decrease but continues many times at the same depth twenty days and more till the Sun enters Virgo then by degrees lessening and running away before which time all the Dikes Ditches and Damms are opened to receive and detain the water Then may it easily be perceived how the Waters retire gradatim first from the Grounds of Upper Egypt that border upon Ethiopia afterwards from the High-grounds of Lower Egppt which naturally comes to pass for the Water glides through the High-grounds not running off indeed but kept up in Ditches that the Mud which improves the Land may be ready to be spread so much the nearer At length after the Autumnal Equinox the Water returns into its natural Channel and that which was thus long by Dikes kept up in the Upper-grounds let out by Sluices first in Upper and after in Lower Egypt And although sometimes there is a difference in the rising of the Nile according to the little or much rain falling in Ethiopia yet the whole Countrey is clear'd and the Water return'd to its Channel before our eight and twentieth of September whereupon immediately the Grounds are ploughed with small Coulters and made fit for Sowing and the Countrey-man when the Sun enters Scorpio The Nile almost always either increasing or decreasing puts his Seed into the Earth however though in its own Channel the River ceases not lessening till the end of May the next year It remains now that from this Overflowing of the Nile The Current of Nile sometimes swift and sometimes flow we shew the swiftness or slowness of his Current and how it varies at several times for the making which appear you are to know that in Ethiopia it flows up at least twenty days and sometimes a whole moneth ere it begins to rise in Egypt at the beginning scarce running a league in an hour whereas when the Water is come to the highest it passes so swiftly forward that if the Channel of the Nile be above four hundred and fifty leagues and more in length as by reason of its windings and reaches some running almost point-blank backwards it may well be upon an equal calculation it will appear that it may run three leagues in one hour we must confess it is not so swift in Egypt because the Channel is like a Sea about ten leagues broad which causes it necessarily to flow slower whereas it 's circumscribed and confined in narrow limits in Ethiopia and so consequently goes there more swift But now to return to our quest of the Head Sources or Fountains of this famous River The Head-Springs of Nile where as supposed Vossius Vossius gives us this account Although the Head-springs of other Rivers are not onely in places far distant from their mouths It receives all its water out of Ethiopia in regard where Rain falls Brooks and small Channels are usually found which by their confluence make the great ones full it is clear otherwise with the Nile being onely indebted to Egypt for a passage not receiving any addition of Waters there for all Egypt except where bordering on the Sea is altogether void of Rain but comes out of that part of Ethiopia that now is call'd Abyssine so that with reason there must we look for the Head-veins of Nile Among the many Heads ascribed thereto the farthest and most Southerly making the rivers Maleg and Anguet which joyn in the Countrey of Damut and make the West Channel retaining the name Maleg till after a course of fourscore leagues it falls into the middle Channel accounted the chief beginning in the Hilly Countrey of Sakala The Sea Bar-Dambea wherein also lies the large Sea Dambea eighty and eight leagues long and about two hundred over call'd Bar-Dambea by the Inhabitants first falling in the Countrey of Bagameder thence gliding forward through the Regions of Amaharam Olekam Gauz Bizamo and Gongos and increased by the addition of other Rivers turns towards the North visiting the Fields of Fasculo at last intermingling with the River Malegt where it borders upon Nubia The third Channel is the rich River Takaze rising from three Springs on the borders of the Kingdom of Angola whence after a Western course between Daganam and Haogam it winds towards the North by the Kingdom of Tygre and dividing the Region of Syre turns Eastward Afterwards falling into the River Mareb or Marabo which begins near Baroa they joyntly water the Countrey of Dengiri call'd by the Moors who enjoy it Ballai and unites at last with the Nile by the City Jalak There are the three Rivers which principally make up the Nile and enrich his Bosome with such plentiful Streams Thus far have we traced the opinions of Kircher and Vossius Now we proceed to declare what the Cataracts thereof be divers having written strange things thereof But first as to the name It is call'd by Pliny and other Latine Authors and by the people also who live thereabouts Catadupae and by the present Inhabitants Katadhi which in their Tongue signifies A Rushing Noise This happens at the Hill Gianadel where his even Current is broken by the sharp rocks through or over which it makes passage The place of this Fall according to the Antients contains * Above six miles fifty Furlongs filled up with huge and inaccessible rocks over which the Nile making his way falls with such an impetuous force and prodigious noise that as the Antients write the people who dwell thereabouts were all deaf by reason thereof But Experience now adays hath taught us that this Noise hath no such effect whilst the River keeps his usual stream but when he begins to rise the Noise encreases but yet is never so
others extend the Limits further Bulach by some supposed Babylon a Port belonging to Cairo on the East Bulach having formerly four thousand houses There dwell now Artificers and Tradesmen especially such as deal in Corn Oyl and Sugar The stately Churches and Palaces fronting the Nile yield a pleasant and delightful prospect although its beauty is much diminish'd and impair'd by the several Wars in which it had no mean share of Suffering Between Bulach and Grand Caire Lesbrechi lyeth a great place by the Inhabitants nam'd Lesbrechi frequently drown'd with the Nile which a little below Bulach divides into many branches whereof one runneth to Alexandria another to Damiata and others to several other places From Bulach to Grand Caire the Land is all flat and the way very pleasant being much frequented with Travellers but the most beautiful part is a place call'd Usbechia in the Suburbs near the City gate this Usbechia is a round piece of Land encompass'd about with Houses which yield a prospect infinitely pleasant not onely when the Fields are deck'd with Flowers but also when by the recess of Nile it seems like a drayn'd Pond full of various sorts of living Fishes Charaffa Charaffa otherwise Caraffar or Massar another part of the Suburbs lyes two Miles from Cairo it contained formerly two thousand Houses which extended seven Miles in circuit but long since this place where formerly the Sultans kept their Court hath lyen waste Here were many Monuments built with high and stately Arches and within adorn'd with several carv'd Images which the superstitious people worshipped as Consecrated Reliques of Saints covering the Floors with Tapestry Here also is a Custom-house whence the Wares which come from Sahid pay their Duties and there at this day Joseph's seven Granaries for Corn so suppos'd are shewed to Strangers Old Cairo stands conveniently towards the East Old Cairo but un-walled although Drusius bestows upon it a Wall of four and twenty Miles At this day as Belloon says there are scarce Houses enough to make a small Village which is inhabited by Greek Christians and Armenians Pet. de la Vall. This Old Cairo Peter de la Valla supposes to be the antient Egyptian Babylon now lying full of ruinous heaps the Houses few and standing every where at distance one from another wherein now some few Christians inhabit here were according to the same de la Valla several Churches whereof one dedicated to St. Barbara with some Reliques of her and other Saints St. Barbara's and St. Georges Churches another of St. George built upon a Hill so as it may be viewed both from the Old and New Cairo and the Countrey round about with great delight Another was heretofore probably the Church of the Coptists built upon the ruines of a small House wherein they say the Virgin Mary dwelt a long time while she was in Egypt The Reliques of this Holy House are yet to be seen under the great Altar of this Church in a deep dark place with some small Pillars whereupon the Altar rests and some remainders of pieces of Timber Besides these Suburbs lying without Grand Caire there are three other Suburbs as Beb-zuaila or Beb-zuila Gemethailon and Beb-elloch The Suburb Beb-zuaila The Suburb Beb-zuaila otherwise Missuletiffe or Miffruletich lyeth at the going out of the Gate bearing the same name containing about two thousand Houses and from West to South about a mile and a half and towards the North about a mile to the Suburb Beb-elloch Here are many Mosques and fair Halls for Guilds especially one built by Soldan Hesen as also a Castle of the Soldans at this day the Court of the Turkish Bassa's lying at the foot of the Fountain Mochattan surrounded with strong and great Walls The Palaces being many and large are pav'd with various-colour'd Marble and the Rooms rarely Painted and richly Gilt. The Windows curiously made with Painted glass of several colours and the Doors of excellent Wood carved and wrought with all sorts of Artificial work and gilded Here formerly resided the Soldans Wives Children Attendants Waiters and Life-guard And in times of Feasting they shew'd here their Magnificence at the State-Receipts and Entertainments given to Ambassadors when brought to Audience or otherwise admitted to more private Courtly invitations The great Suburb Gemethailon The Suburb Gemethailon reaching Westward to some decay'd places of Old Caire was founded before the erecting of Cairo it self by one Tailon a Subject to the Califfe or Governor of Bagdet a Commander in Egypt who left the old City and came to dwell in this Suburb where he built a Stately Palace and a Magnificent Mosque Here also dwell Tradesmen and Artificers who for the most part are Moors of Barbary The Suburb Beb-ellock which is none of the least Beb-ellock Suburb stands about a mile from Grand Caire having in it near three thousand Houses inhabited severally by Artificers of all sorts In a void and spacious part whereof is a great Palace with a Court of Justice founded by a Mammalucke nam'd Jasbach then one of the Sultans Councellors from whom it took the name Jasbachia The common people hereof after the Mahumetan Publick * The Turks Divine Service Sahala is ended give themselves up to all lasciviousness and Debaucheries and seeing of vain Sights and idle Shews for out of the City Stage-players Juglers and Morrice-Dancers present themselves shewing many Camels Asses and Dogs in a ridiculous manner Dancing to make sport Fencing Masters also and Singers who by their Gestures and Songs seem to act to the life Egypt Conquer'd by the Arabians Grand Caire lyeth very near the middle of Egypt The scituation of Grand Caire about two thousand paces to the Eastward of Nile between the ruines of Old Caire and the Circassiers-street upon a plain below the foot of the Hill Elmucattant or Moncatun where is a strong Castle giving to the City the repute of a most remarkable Fortification In this City are and reside persons of almost all Nations How inhabited coming thither to Trade and Merchandise But the principal inhabitants are Moors Turks Jews Coptists Grecians and Armenians At this day it is the prime of all the Egyptian Cities exceeding in bigness Rome Constantinople Villamont It s compass and most others by us accounted the greatest being in circuit according to Villamont two and twenty Leagues so that a Horseman in full speed can scarce ride about it in ten hours but Grand Caire Old Caire and the Suburbs are three Dutch Miles long but Villamont says Old and New Caire together with Bulach and Chatafat are thirty Leagues long and twenty broad The City is Walled round except on the side next Nile The form of it Villamont Belloon Villamont says the form of it is Oval but Belloon Triangular of which the Castle lying upon a Hill makes one Angle whence the Walls are the second and thence going to to the North shapes
Travel from Cana over the fore-mention'd Sandy Desart There are many Granaries for the reception of Corn brought thither from Cana. It is probable that Livius Sanutus says that this Haven is that of the Old City Berenice because they lye in the very same elevation yet some will have it to be Miosormus There is also Conza formerly Metacompsus not far from the City Asna Conza on the Southermost borders of Egypt some of the Antients placed Elephantis or Elephantina of which at this day the name onely remains The last City to the South of Egypt lying on the Nilus is Asna formerly call'd Siena but got the name Asna from the Arabians for the word Siena being the same with the Arabian Zeyâ—â—a which signifies Foul Sanutus lib. 9. they thought the City too fair to bear that Name and therefore chang'd Siena into Asna that is Fair the City indeed being very beautiful the Romans wasted most part of it but it hath since been much more stately rebuilt by the Mahumetans The Inhabitants drive a subtle Trade in the Kingdom of Nubia partly in Vessels sailing up the Nile and partly by Land through the Desart by which way of Transportation they are become considerable in Cattle Corn and Money In the City which is of a large extent and by the Moors according to Marmol call'd Gavera there yet appear many fair Edifices and particularly a very curious Sepulchre with Egyptian and Latin Inscriptions There is also a deep Well into whose bottom the Sun shines at Noon A deep Well while he passes too and again through the Northern signs To this place or a little further the Nile is Navigable but beyond no Vessel can pass oppos'd and stop'd by the Cataracts and therefore they Land their Goods below and carry them over Land then again shipping when they are past the precipice and come into smooth water Eastward from Asna is the antient and great City Asuan or Assuan The City Assuan by some taken to be Conza or Metacompsus and borders upon the Desart Buche through which they Travel by the City Suaquen to the Red Sea Neighboring with the Moors and by Marmol placed in Egypt Beyond this they pass not up the Nile Sanutus because of the fore-mention'd precipices It is very hot there in Summer and the Inhabitants are Tawny of colour not caused so much by the great heat as by their commixture with the People of Nubia and the Moors In several places about this City are many antient Buildings and Towers there call'd Barba which makes some imagine that heer stood Thebes In circuit five mile in length three miles out of whose Ruines Asuan was built Strabo gives it eighty Stadia or Furlongs in length of which City of Asuan Albufeda the Arabian thus writes Asuan is a City of the upper Theban Countrey lying by the side of the Eastern Desart wherein stands the famous Needle or Spire the greatest Monument of Antiquity partly for its huge Carv'd Stones and partly for the variety of curious Imagery upon it And that many Obelisks and Pyramids have been there Herodotus Diodorus and others testifie Herodotus Diodorus Beyond this the utmost border of the Turkish Dominions in Egypt there are no Seats or Habitations worth the mentioning onely some few Huts or Cottages where Tawny people of Buchia dwell that speak a Tongue scraped together out of the Egyptian Arabian and Moorish Languages Several other small Cities Sanutus and inconsiderable places by length of time decay'd are by Sanutus and other Geographers with few words touched upon such are these Thura in the East lying close by Cairo Sachila and Pharsono lying beneath the Lake Maeris Narnita and Nitriota above it Elmena Libelezait Saguan Dakat all poor and thin peopled places of which the first is to the inland in the mid-way between the Red-Sea and Nile but the other lye close by the Sea side King Pharaoh's Angle Pharaoh's Angle or Point from whence Moses with his people in a wonderful manner passed through the Red Sea Corondal Aziruth and Aphaca places on the Red-Sea lying not far one from another with few or no Inhabitants The seven Wells Seven Wells call'd by the Italians Zette Pozzi is a place in a dry Tract of Land where at this day appear some tokens of the Old Wells or Fountains of Water that gave name to the place Menuia and Cosera lye in the Island Heracleopolites Sanutus but thinly inhabited The like also are Veneria and Ansena two Neighboring places Besides the Island Michias The two Islands of Heracleopolites and Cynopolites lying by Cairo and the Island Elephantina there are Heracleopolites and Cynopolites or the Isle of Dogs both lying in the Nile placed by Sanutus in Egypt The Metropolis of the later is Cynopolis Cynopolis or Dog-town because the Inhabitants for the most part worshipped a Dog but at this day 't is call'd Monphalus The Island Heracleopolites Heracleopolis so call'd from Heracleopolis that is Hercules City because Hercules was worshipped in it is fifty miles in circuit and fruitful in Olives and other Fruit-Trees Here was the Icneumon the mortal Enemy of Crocodiles and Serpents worshipped Besides all these Cities The Number of Villages in Egypt there are many Villages in Egypt for above Delta both Southward and Northward of Cairo Sanut there are four thousand and in Delta twenty thousand whose Grounds and Meadows are once a year water'd by the Nile As to the Soil The Soil of Egypt is dry and thirsty in it self it is Sandy very Barren and so dry and seared that unless it lye under water many dayes as at the overflux of Nile it will never become fertile Therefore the Egyptians often drown their Gardens and Orchards so by long soaking to make them fruitful whereby their Pot-herbs and Salletting are very waterish and more insipid or flashy than in Europe But although the Soil be of it self thus steril It is made fat by Nilus yet the fruitful Nilus with his fat Mud makes it fertile and fit for Tillage and in some places so luxuriant that they often mix the fatness of the Soil with Sand to temper and allay it This onely over-flowing of the Nile made Egypt to be esteemed not onely the Granary of Rome but of the whole then known world for it fed all the Roman Provinces with Corn a third part of the year exposing besides abundance into remoter Countreys Pliny reports that the ground there was so exceedingly fruitful that one onely Seed planted in the Earth would bring forth a hundred fold But this wonderful fertility was attended with this inconvenience that the rich Product was not lasting and from this very same cause they dispatch'd them away to their Neighbor Nations of the Arabian Desart Palestine Syria Constantinople and Europe especially Sugar Cassia Sena-leaves several Gums and other Inland Commodities Kassia Colekasia Datura The Delta's boast theirs
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
that their Gum proceeds not only from this but is a Compound-product of many other because in Egypt and Arabia no sorts of Summer Trees are to be found but this Sant onely The Mauz Mauz or Muza or Muza by which name also the Fruit is known groweth in several places of Egypt and especially about Damiata but in much greater abundance in Guinee and Ethiopia where we shall speak more fully of it Egypt produces also several sorts of fair and beautiful Flowers Why the flowers in Egypt lose their smell as Hyacinthus Daffadil and the like brought over from Constantinople by the Turkish Bashaw's but keep not long any esteem because here their fragrancy is presently lost In Egypt are no Poplars Belon but Myrtles in abundance Here is also a sort of Rue call'd Hermale wherewith the Arabians Turks and Egyptians perfume themselves every morning with perswasion that the scent thereof drives away evil Spirits Here also grow very great Pomegranats Villamont out of which they press a very pleasant Wine as also Pomecitrons Oranges Lemons Figs with other sorts of Fruits which grow not in these Countreys but they have no Eglantine Wallnuts or Hasel-nuts Flax. nor several other European Fruits Some places produce a Lint that makes Russet Flax Pier. Hierogl lib. 53. especially about Rosetta where the In habitants plant such abundance that they serve with it several forreign Countreys Among all the rich Commodities of this Countrey In Egypt is no Wine produced there is no Wine but what Merchants import from other places the flatness of the Region hindering the Planting and Dressing of Vineyards Radzovil yet Prince Radzovil in his Book of Travels writeth that he saw a Vineyard as he went to El Mattharea Secondly the Mahumetans to whom by the Alcoran drinking of Wine is forbidden root up such Vine-stocks as are at any time by the Christians planted out of obedience as they pretend But is brought thither from other places however notwithstanding their zeal many of the Turks strong Wine and suffer Wine of Candia Cyprus and Mount Libanus and of the Island Zant and Cephalonia to be imported so that they have no want thereof though none grows there As to Gardens and Husbandry there are few of the one How Tilage is done in Egypt and little of the other here but abundance of Wheat and other Grain being sowed upon the bare Mud which Nilus at his Overflux left upon the Land without other labor of Ploughing or Tilling than the running it over with a wooden Harrow the better to drive and settle the Seed therein This shall suffice to have spoken concerning Plants or Vegetables we shall now proceed to enumerate Quadrupedes Fowls and Fish wherein it hardly gives place to any other Region in the world ¶ FOur-footed Beasts by reason of the great plenty of Grass Meadows and Pastures excellent Trees and shady Groves bred up and nursed by the Nile are here for the most part very large as Bees Oxen Camels Horses Asses Bellon lib. 2. cap. 25. Goats and Sheep which last are fat and fleshy with a Dew-lap like Oxen and long spreading Tayls that hang upon the ground The Mutton Veal Beef and Lamb is singularly sweet and delicious but somewhat moist and watry The Goats very numerous about Alexandria Goats with long Ears have Ears hanging down to the ground and at the end four or five fingers broad curling upwards There is another kinde of these that are wilde Wilde Goats by the present Natives call'd Gazelles but known to the antient Greeks by the name of Orygis commonly running in great Herds in the Fields and Woods which the Inhabitants shoot or kill with Guns Their Hair and Tayls Eyes and Eye-brows resemble Camels fore-footed like a Hare shorter before than behinde They have a black Horn and bleat like tame Goats but are Beardless very nimble in climbing but unweildy to descend on plain ground very swift The Horns of the Male exceed those of the Female standing very straight onely at the end a little crooked Pliny says they have but one Horn and which is more remarkable if true when the Dog-star ariseth they look stedfastly upon it performing some gestures as it were of Adoration to it Here also are a kinde of Apes the Baboon call'd in Greek Cynocephalus Cynocephalus The Drill or Baboon Arist lib 2. cap. 7. Hist Animal that is Dogs-head for the likeness of that part to a Dog They are much larger stronger and wilder than the other with Teeth sharp and set close together This Beast according to the testimony of Horus had a very extraordinary property which was to urine every hour For these and other rarities observ'd by the Egyptian Priests in this Creature it was of frequent use among the Hieroglyphicks to denote and signifie several Mysteries Chameleon is a Greek word and signifies A Little Lion Chameleon Bellonius says they frequent about Cairo and many other places in the Hedges and Bushes it bears some little resemblance of the Crocodile from which different in Colour Head Their shape Tongue Eyes and Feet It creeps not but walks upon all four the Head long and sharp like a Hog the Neck very short and Eyes which having no Eye-lid can turn about on every side This is a sluggish and dull Animal holding the Head carelesly and the Mouth always gaping lolling out the Tongue and so catching Flies Grashoppers Caterpillars Palmer-worms and such like in stead of Teeth having one entire Jaw-bone indented like a Saw but useless swallowing whole what ever Food it takes wanting both Spleen and Bladder dunging or rather muting like a Hawk The Back hath a hard and rough Skin beset with some few prickles the two fore Feet Bellonius saith have three Claws inwards and two outwards but the hinder Feet three outwards and two inwards with hooked Nails or Talons It hath a strange and ridiculous manner of gate or movement It s gate is ridiculous for stretching both feet on each side at once together and so alternately the other makes such a shuffling gradation one Shoulder jetting foremost the other out-stepping that with a continual untoward hank and loose that it makes Spectators laugh as if it were a match which side should come first to the Goal But he is so nimble in running up Trees that he seems rather to flie wherein he makes great use of his Tail to lay hold on the Boughs especially in coming down whence we may gather that the Camelion more frequents trees than the ground Nor give the motions of the Eyes less cause of Comical admiration It stirs the Eyes wonderfully for he does not as other Creatures who turn both Eyes at once after the same object But somtime like our squinters not only look two opposite ways at once but more seeing right forward with one Eye and looking up with the other aloft another while to
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
other Mountains viz. Equebdenon or rather Mequeb Huan a large one boasting seventy two small Villages before the Spaniards had Casafa but since that much thinner of Inhabitants Benisahia reaching Eastward from Casafa to the River Nokor in Length eight miles and containing about an hundred and eighteen Villages Besides Azgangan Beneteuzin and Guardan remarked onely for their Monuntainous Qualities ¶ THis Dominion The Constitution of the Territories though it hath many yet wants some Necessaries for humane Sustenance particularly Water many Places having no other than the Rain-water they can catch The whole Countrey except the Hill Benesahid being dry and barren like the Desarts of Numidia ¶ THe Desarts feed abundance of all sorts of Cattel the chiefest Riches of the Inhabitants So also the Mountains Echebdeaon Benesahid and Azgangan But those Mountains about Meggeo inclose in their Bowels much Iron which they barter or exchange with the Merchants of Fez for Oyl ¶ MOst of the Inhabitants are very generous The Manners or Customs of the Inhabitants milde and affable especially the Citizens of Meggeo and the People of Benesahid And such is their Temperance that they drink no Wine although their Neighbors of Erriff make great quantities CHAUS CHaus The Borders of the Territory of Chaus by Marmol call'd Cuz the seventh and last Province but not the least of this Kingdom being in effect a third part of the whole having on the East the River Zha or Ezaha to the West that of Guraigura in Length from East to West near forty six miles and in Breadth about forty It s Bigness For it contains all the Parts of Atlas over against the Moors Countrey a great part of the Plains of Numidia and the Mountains bordering upon Lybia Teurert is placed among the chiefest Cities of this Jurisdiction Teurert scituate on a Hill near the River Zab fronting on the North the Desart of Garet to the South looking on the Wastes of Adduhra on the East those of Angah bordering on Telensin and in the West on the Wildes of Tafrata adjoyning to Tezza Hadagia Hadagia a little Town erected at the Conflux of the Rivers Melule and Muluye first spoil'd by the Arabians of the Desart Darda and afterwards during the Wars of Teurert utterly demolish'd But the Turks have re-peopled and beautifi'd it so that now it flourishes no less than at any time heretofore Garsis formerly Galafa erected upon a Rock near the River Muluie Garsis five miles from Teurert fortifi'd with a Castle and made a Store-house for Corn by the Marin Kings The Wall and all the Houses built of Black Touch. Dubdu a very Antient City Dubdu in the heighth of twenty five Degrees North Latitude upon a high Mountain principally inhabited by the People of Zenete Meza or Tezar a strong Town two miles from Mount Atlas twelve from Fez. Meza forty from the Great Ocean and seven from the Midland-Sea in former times was accounted the Third of the whole Kingdom having a far greater Mosque than any in Fez and five thousand Houses all meanly built except the Palaces of the Nobility and Colledges which carry more state The Jurisdiction of this City is very great and comprises several Mountains upon which several People dwell Sophroy a little City at the foot of Mount Atlas Sophroy four miles Southward of Fez close by the Road leading to Numidia Mezdaga another small place three miles West from Sophroy Mezdaga and four to the South from Fez environ'd with a good Wall but the Buildings very slight yet each house necessarily accommodated with a Fountain of Water Benihublud of old call'd Beuta distant from Fez three miles Benihublud and water'd with several Streams flowing from the adjacent Hills Hamlisnan otherwise nam'd Ain el Ginum that is The Fountain of Idols Hamlisnan because in old time the people meeting in the Temple scituate near a standing-Pool did commit all sorts of uncleanness Menhdia or Mehedia seated upon Mount Arden Menhdia about three miles from Hamlisnan formerly in the Civil Wars of the Countrey laid waste but since Peopled anew and repair'd by the Arabians Tezerghe a small City built in form of a Castle by a Rivers side Tezerghe at the foot of Mount Cunâ—igelgherben Umengiveaibe and Gerceluin two old decay'd Towns Vmengiveaibe Gercelum the first not far from Atlas the later near the Mountain Zis now of little note but heretofore strongly wall'd by the Kings of the Marin Family ruling in these Parts ¶ WIthin this Tract of Land are two great Plains the one call'd Sabblelmarga that is The Field of Contention being forty miles long and ten broad having neither Houses or Towns but a few small Huts lying here and there dispersedly the other vulgarly nam'd Azagari Commaren ¶ Mountains here be Matgara or Matagara two miles from Teza Mountains difficult to be climb'd up by reason of the narrowness of the way Cavata no better condition'd than the former yet contains fifty Villages with two fair Springs that feed and supply two Rivers Megeze shewing forty Villages Baronis noted onely for the Name Beniguertenage reasonably Peopled Guceblen otherwise call'd Guibeleyn thirteen miles in Length and two in Breadth neighboring upon Dubdu and Banyasga Benirifften and Selelgo or Ciligo out of which runs a River with so strong a Fall downwards that will drive before it a stone of an hundred weight The River Subu also takes his Rise from hence being the greatest in all Mauritania There also appear the Mountains Benyazga and Azgan which last in the East Butteth upon Selelgo West on the City Sophroy South on the Mountains above the River Muluye and to the North on the Plains of Fez Mount Miabir that is Hundred-pit Hill upon whose top stand some old Buildings near which there lieth a deep Hole or Pit that they can find no bottom of it by Fathoming Cunaigelgherben or Condigetherben not far from Miabir but altogether without Inhabitants partly by reason of the vehement and sharp Cold and partly for the multitudes of Lions and Leopards there breeding upon whose top riseth a high Rock frequented with infinite Flights of Crows and Ravens whence some imagine the Mountain took Name Kunai-gel-gherben properly signifying a multitude of Ravens The passage by it is dangerous in regard oftentimes out of the North so strong Drifts of Snow rowl from thence that Travellers have been buried under them without hopes or possibility of recovery Yet the Neighbouring Arabs called Beni Essen usually frequent them for the coolness of the Water and refreshment of the Shades The Mountains Benimerasen and Mazetraze Mezitalze the last from West to East about ten miles in length and four miles in breadth borders upon Temesne Mount Zis thirty four miles long and fourteen broad Butting East on Mazetraze West on Tedle and Mount Edis South on part of Numidia called Segelmesse and North on the Plain of Edeksen and Guregra
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
City are many old Buildings and some Ruines signs of its former Greatness and about half a mile distant from it a Triumphal-Arch built after the Roman fashion From the City they go to the River by steps cut out in a Rock within which is a Vault whose Roof Columns and Floor are all of the same Piece Not far off rises a Fountain of warm Water a little Eastward of which by a little Rill of fresh Water is a Structure of Marble garnished with Carved Images which the Common People imagine to have been an Academy and that the Master and Scholars for their wickedness were metamorphos'd into those Statues Sanutus placeth the City Chollo Kollo formerly call'd Kullu and now by some Alkol by others Kol and Kollo near Constantine being built by the Romans at the edge of the Mediterrane-Sea adjoyning to a high Mountain but open and without Walls It hath a Castle founded upon a Rock with a convenient Road for Ships formerly much frequented by Genouese and French Merchants Sukaicada Sukaicada about thirty miles from Constantine hath also a Haven full of Trading and a Street-way running from it a mile and a half in Length Five or six miles from Constantine The Village Estore not far from the Cape of Gigeri lieth the Village Estore famous for its Antiquity and a small but convenient Haven ¶ THe Mountains are many The Mountains of Constantine covering the whole Coast from the North to the West and so to the East beginning at the Mountains of Bugie and reaching alone the Mediterranean-Sea about thirty miles from whence arise many Fountains and Rivers that taking their Course through the Plains by their fertilizing Streams greatly enrich the Places through which they pass Here also appear scatter'd up and down many Ruines of Streets and Castles built by the Romans ¶ THe Land about Constantine is bountiful to the Countreyman rendring to his labour a thirty-fold return nor are the Mountains much behind yielding good Corn besides plenty of Olives Figs and other Fruits yet nevertheless through the insolency of the Arabians are but thinly inhabited In the beforemention'd warm Bath there is abundance of Snails with shells which the silly Women cried out upon for Evil Spirits and Devils attributing to them the cause not onely of all Diseases but other evil Occurrents As a remedy of all mishaps coming by them they use to kill a white Hen and thrust it with their feet into a Dish so bringing it with a Wax-Candle to the Bath and leaving it which is soon conveigh'd away and eaten I hope you will not think by the Snails ¶ THe Inhabitants of the City Constantine are rich proud and clownish but withall couragious those of Kollo friendly and courteous great Traders and Lovers of Arts and Sciences The Mountaineers are much Civiler here than in Bugie but ignorant in all parts of Literature however they learn and use many Handicraft Trades and without doubt would much improve themselves if they would leave off those continual Wars they manage among themselves about their Wives which often run over from one Mountain to another to get change of Men. By this means generally the Men are Souldiers so that they can bring into the Field forty thousand Men of the which perhaps four thousand Horse The Citizens of Constantine Kollo and Gigeri yea and the Alarbs come to their Weekly Markets to whom without exception they equally sell what Fruits or other Commodities they have ¶ THe whole Government is Commanded by a Provincial Lieutenant It s Government Residing in Constantine Heretofore they had Kings of their own but in the Year Fourteen hundred and twenty becoming subject to Tunis the Kings thereof bestowed it as a Principality on their eldest Sons but at last in the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty after Cheredine Barbarossa had taken Kollo those of Constantine weary of the Trunsian yoke voluntarily yielded themselves up into the hands of Barbarossa since which they have remained free from Tunis BONA PLiny and Ptolomy call'd this Countrey The Royal Hippon Its Borders for distinction from Diarrython Hippon but the Inhabitants in the Moorish Tongue name it Bederna now a Member of Algier though heretofore computed under Constantine It lies encompassed with Mountains on the West and South and which reach about twenty miles that is from Bona to Begge and in breadth eight miles ¶ THe City Bona famous for having been the Episcopal See of St. Augustine The City Bona. is said to be built by the Romans upon sharp and very high Cliffs on the Mediterranean Sea having both within and without many Wells and Springs Sanutus and John Leo say that Bona lieth at present waste and depopulate and another City call'd Beldelhuneb or Beledel Ugneb built out of its Ruines whereas yet Marmol a Writer worthy of belief averrs that the City which the Europeans call Bona got the Name of Beledel Ugneb from the Moors so making them both one as indeed they are The compass thereof is small and the Streets very narrow so that it hath kept nothing of the former Beauty and antient Glory which it boasted of in the time of the Antient Father St. Augustine having been several times destroy'd by the Moors and Saracens particularly in Four hundred and Forty the very year wherein St. Augustine died A small Quarter of a Mile Southwards from the City lieth a remarkable Plain where yet are to be seen the Marks and Monuments of the Monastery and Cloyster which that Father caus'd there to be built which by the Foundation may be judg'd to have contain'd about an hundred Paces in Length and thirty in Breadth Near the Ruines of this Structure is a very fair and large Fountain which the Moors of this place do to this day call Saint Augustines Well Eastward of Bona lieth a handsome Cittadel built by the King of Tunis wherein the Governor keeps his Residence it is strongly fortifi'd and well provided with great Cannon and other Ammunition as well for fetching the Revenue from the Alarbs as to keep the Countrey in awe The usual Garrison two hundred Janizaries Mele or Mile Mele. formerly Tenare stands also near the Sea yielding Obedience at present to the Algerines but before subject to Constantine from which distant three miles The Walls are old and ruinous the Houses sometime three thousand now very few and those thinly inhabited yet the great Conduit in the very heart of the place is no little advantage to such as dwell there Tabarka Tabarka seated on the Sea-Coast and famous onely for the Coral-fishery close by it opposite thereto lies an Island of the same Name between which and the main Land is the distance of a mile and half ¶ THe Soyl of this Territory well deserves the Attribute of Bona The Soil of the Country Good abounding with fresh Valleys rich in Grain and delightful in the shadow of Jujuben-Trees whose Fruit the Inhabitants gather in
accounted a rich Man that can lay up two Tunns of Corn for his own use ¶ THe Revenue Tributes and Customs The Revenue and Trade which the Bassa receives yearly amounts to a hundred and eighty thousand Ducats Gramay all which come from the Customs set upon Exported and Imported Commodities the Poll-Money or Tribute of the Jews and the Contributions fetcht in by the Flying Armies of Dragoons from the Moors and Arabians in the Countrey The Venetians used formerly to Trade hither with their Galleys but have long discontinued going farther to Alexandria or Scandaroon there being no City of note between that and Tripolis The chiefest Trade now is in Blacks or Negro's which formerly were sold in Sicilia but now in Turky But when we have said all we must conclude that their Pyracies at Sea brings in their greatest Gain for though it be the most inconsiderable of all the Corsaire Towns yet they do much mischief which the fitness of their Scituation doth exceedingly promote though it is a place that usually all Christian Ships Laden with Merchandise to Alexandria Siorte or Seide Aleppo and other Ports that way must pass by THE ISLAND OF GERBES OR ZERBY THe Island of Gerbes The Names Ptolomy calld Meninx or Lotofagites Antoninus Gerba Mercator Zetha Thevet Glaukon the Spaniards Gelves the Arabians formerly according to Ananie Gezira and at present Algelbens and the now Inhabitants Gelbens Pliny saith it lies two hundred Paces to the West Entrance of the little Syrtes and so close to the Shore of the Main Land that it was formerly annexed by a Bridge which the Inhabitants upon the Report of an intended Invasion pulled down Leo Africanus Bigness and Gramay give it four Miles in Compass but Pliny inlarges its Length to eight Miles and its Breadth to six scituate in two and thirty Degrees Northern Latitude Ptolomy places two Cities on this Island Places Meninx and Gerra but Pliny three namely Meninx on the side next Africa Thoar on the other side and Sibele between which they say was overthrown in the Year Eleven hundred fifty nine and the whole Island wasted by the King of Sicily But at the present there are no Cities nor any thing else but some Huts scatter'd here and there far from one another onely on the North side there be some Villages under the Protection of the Fort wherein lies a Garrison of the Turks Thevet tells us there sometime were here Zadaique Zibida Camusa Agimur Borgi Rochere and Kantare but little remains of them besides the Names ¶ THe Ground The Soyl. though plain and even yet is sandy and barren so that the Inhabitants notwithstanding they use great care with all their industry get onely a small pittance of Barley But Dates Figs Olives and Grapes grow here without Cultivating The Island and the neighboring Shore Lotus-Tree produceth also the Lotus whose Fruit grows to the bigness of a Bean at first yellow but often changing Colour before it be perfectly ripe This Fruit is of so sweet and pleasant a Taste that the People from the eating thereof are call'd Lotofagi that is Lotus-Eaters This Name the Greeks imposed who for its extraordinary Deliciousness feigned that Forreigners after the eating of it forget their Native Countrey which Homer taking notice of recites that some of Ulysses Fellow-Travellers in their wandring falling in here inticed by the sweetness of this Fruit Homer would not return again His words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tost with cold Winds upon the raging Main The tenth the (b) The Ancients agree not on the Seat of these Lotophagi Artemidor◠says that they inhabited the Desarts of Africa South of Mauritania from the Atlantick Ocean even to Cyrene Others say that it is the Island Meninx which lies before the lesser Syrtis which is here denoted because there is abundance of those Lotus-trees in that Island which bear a very pleasant fruit and an Altar of Vlysses's still remaining Lotophagian Coasts we gain Who feed on Flowr's we din'd and water'd there When Thirst and Hunger satisfied were Two then to make Discovery I sent Of our prime men with them a Herald went Who found the Lotophagi planted there They pleasant Lotus for them did prepare Not meaning Harm now they who Lotus eat Ne'r mind returning to their Native Seat These whilst they shreek acting distracted Pranks I forc'd aboard and fasten'd to their Banks Then shipt I all the rest lest they should eat Sweet Lotus and their Native Soyl forget Most of the Inhabitants are Merchants carrying Cloth to Alexandria Leo 6. d. Sanut 5. b. and Raisins not onely thither but Barter with them to several other places Their Language the Morisk or antient African ¶ FOrmerly this Island had a particular Xeque but now is wholly under the Bashaw of Tripoli who raiseth from hence a great Revenue The Emperor Charles the Fifth Conquered it at the same time with Tripoli and put it under the Jurisdiction of the Vice-Roy of Sicily who kept it not long being deprived thereof by the Dukes d' Alva and Medina Coeli EZZAB EZzab or rather Azzab containeth the Countreys of Mecellata Mesrata Taurka and the Mountains Garian and Beniguarid This Territory begins at the Westerly end of the Mountains Garian and Beniguarid and ends at the outermost Borders of the Territory of Mesrata on the East Sanutus makes Ezzab to contain Ras Axara Tessuta Rasamisar Lepida formerly Eoa and Ruscelli Commenting upon Ptolomy believes it from the similitude of the Name Leptis out of whose Ruines Tripoli rose ¶ GArian a high and cold Mountain three Miles in length The Mountain Garian and as much in breadth lieth Northward of Great Atlas about four Miles from Tripoli and notwithstanding the sharpness of its Air is yet well inhabited containing by common repute a hundred and thirty Villages Beniguarid eighteen miles from Tripoli and a part of the Great Atlas boasts above an hundred and fifty inhabited Villes This Countrey affords little Corn but abundance of Dates Olives and Saffron held to excell all in these Parts both for Colour and goodness and is Transported to Gran-Cayre where it is sold dearer by a third part then other Saffron The Inhabitants of Mount Garian are faint-hearted and continually molested and Cow'd by the Arabs but those of Beniguarid are so Warlike that they not onely preserved their Liberty but kept both the Kings of Tripoli and
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-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 ¶
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-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-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
and by the receiving of many other Streams becomes full of water and gliding also easier by reason of the breadth to the great ease of all Vessels that go up against the Stream By the Village Tinga the River is fordable but none dare venture to wade through it but the Blacks for fear of the Crocodiles however on both its Shores are many Villages and within its bosome divers small Islands Twelve miles upwards of Tondebu half a mile above the Creek Jayre on the left hand lies a little Island betwixt the which and the main Land the Stream is no broader than a Musquet-shot shallow and runs in many Meanders but higher on the left side is four or five fathom deep About two miles about Mansibaer lies another Island that so straightens the passage that without great trouble they cannot go through it Not far from Nabare half way between the Mouth of the River and the Gold place of Cantor or Reskate lieth Elephant-Island so call'd for the great number of Elephants which breed there ¶ THe Air in this Countrey is continually hot The Air. though with some little variation from the beginning of June till the end of September in which time it rains every day at Noon and at Night from the East and South-East continual Lightnings and Thunder But the greatest Rains falls from May till the beginning of August which causes the Rivers to swell and overflow their Banks and that proves a very unhealthful time for the first Rains falling upon the naked people cause blotches and spots and on the Clothes of the Whites it breeds Worms but after a little time that inconvenience vanishes ¶ ALl along the Banks of Gambea and about Cassan Vegetables or Plants Tobacco grows plentifully which the Portugals fetch with Sloops both green and dried without making up in Rolls Cotton also with Mille Rice Lemons Oranges Apples and Ananasses but not in such abundance as some have written On the Sea-Coast are Trees above seventeen Paces in compass and not twenty in height whereas further into the Countrey they are tall and slender ¶ BEasts fit for labour and service breeding here are Camels The Beasts small Horses and Asses But they have besides many Cows and Oxen as appears by their Hides yearly brought into Europe as also Goats Sheep Deer red and fallow with divers others besides the Wilde Beasts found in the Wildernesses viz. Lyons Tygers Baboons Otters Elephants and the like This plenty of Cattel makes Provision in those places so cheap that about Gambea you may buy a Beast of three or four hundred weight for a Bar of Iron although at Cape de Verde they pay four or five Bars for the like ¶ THe people heretofore were savage and cruel but since they have in some sort by the Converse of Christian Merchants received some notions of Religion they are become tractable and courteous The Kings as we said keep a Majestick Port according to their manner of State seldom appearing in publick to their Subjects They are all great lovers of Brandy and will drink thereof even to excess Their propensity to Brandy And if any Forreigner Merchant or other desires Audience of the King he can by no means sooner effect it than by presenting him with a Bottel of Brandy The King of Great Cassan call'd Magro who spoke the Portugal Tongue The King of Cassan a great Sorcerer yet could not be won to Christianity was well skill'd in Necromantick Arts whereof one Block in a Journal of his Travels gives a particular account We will onely instance in one or two of his prestigious actions He commonly wore as many inchanted Chains without trouble as would have over-loaden a strong Man One time to shew his Art he caused a strong Wind to blow but confined it onely to designed limits so that the next adjoyning places were not sensible of any violent motion Another time desiring to be resolved of some questioned particular after his Charms a smoke and flame arose out of the Earth by which he gathered the answer to his demand ¶ MOst of the Wealth of the Inhabitants consists in Slaves Their Riches though some have Gold for among them are few Artificers and those that are onely Weavers and Smiths Artificers who are ill provided of Tools for their Work yet make shift therewith The Smiths make short Swords and knowing how to harden the Iron form the Heads of their Assagay's or Lances Darts or Arrows and all sorts of Instruments with which they Dig the Earth Their Bellows are a thick Reed or hollow piece of Wood in which is put a Stick wound about with Feathers which by the moving of the Stick makes the Wind. The Iron which they Forge is brought over out of Europe thither in Bars in Pieces of eight or ten Inches long and are exchanged with great gain in barter for their In-land Commodities The Weavers make Cloathes of Cotton which by the Merchants are carried to Serre-Lions Serbore and the Gold-Coast and there barter'd for Ivory red Wood and Gold These Cloathes because made also about Cape Verde are call'd Cape de Verde Cloathes being of three sorts the best and chiefest call'd Panossakes are two Ells and a half long and an Ell and a half broad whitened upon the Ground and with Lists commonly of eight Bands sew'd together the second Bontans two Ells long and an Ell and a half broad very neatly Strip'd having six Lifts sew'd together but the third sort named Berfoel are great Cloathes made with blue Stripes all which are commonly bought for Iron that is one Panossakes for one Bar of Iron three Bontans for two Bars and two great Barfoel Cloathes for one Bar. ¶ EVery one Their Tillage be he Spiritual or Temporal old or young must Till his own Ground if he intends to eat the King onely and some chief Nobles and antient decrepid people excepted for the doing whereof they use no Ploughs but dig the Earth with a kind of Mattocks in the time of their Rain because then the Ground is softened ¶ THeir Food is Mille Their Food Shell-Fruit Milk and some Flesh They Bake no Bread but boyl it as we in these Countreys do Puddings which they eat hot Their Drink is Palmito-Wine and for want of that Water but the Priests with their whole Families drink no sort of strong Drink but only Water ¶ THe Houses Their Houses like those in Zenega are onely round Huts with Walls of Reed Lime and Earth covered with Canes and environ'd with a Pallisado or Hedge of Canes ¶ THe Habit of this People Cloathes Sanutu◠as well Men as Women is onely a Shirt that reaches down to their Knees with long wide Sleeves a pair of Cotton Breeches and little white Hats with a Plume of Feathers in the middle The Maidens cut and prick their Breasts Thumbs Arms and Necks with Needles in fashion of Embroidery and burn in these marks that they
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
Hair How their Hair is drest wherein they observe no particular fashion for one cuts it like a half-Moon another Crossways the third with three or four Tufts so that amongst fifteen men hardly two are alike They wear as an Ornament on their Arms Rings of Ivory strip'd and streak'd with Crosses three or four on one Arm and about their Necks a String of Venetian Crystal or Coral which they break into pieces but persons of Eminency wear them commonly of Gold As also on their Legs Strings of small Christal mix'd with Golden Studds and other Ornaments of Gold At their Feet they have commonly some Wisps or other stuff hanging kept for their Sants which they call Fetisies On their Heads some wear Caps made of the Peeling of Trees with a long Tail ty'd to it in stead of a Hat-band dy'd and drawn with several Colours Others have Caps or Hats of Sedge or Reeds a third Hats with broad Brims Woven of green Bulrushes a fourth made of Dogs-skins and Cabriets or Sheep-skins The Women go Apparell'd in Linnen for the most part fasten'd or ty'd close under their Breasts somewhat above the middle and reaching to the Knees with a Girdle of a hand-breadth Red Blew or Yellow to which hang their Knives Purses and Keys for an Ornament besides many Tassels of their Sants or Fetisies Thus they go Cloth'd in the house but when they walk abroad they lay off this Garment and washing their Bodies from top to Toe put on a longer coming down to their Feet like a Petticoat over which as the former girt close being Mantlewise they throw another of Say or other such thin Stuff Their Heads are finely drest and their Hair neatly Plaited The Head-gear of the Women in the midst with a Tuft trim'd round about with Strings anointed with Oyl of Palm in their Hair they have usually long slender Kammeties or Bodkins with two Teeth about the length of a Finger with which they thrust in their Hair when any thing troubles them also in Salutation they draw these Bodkins out of their Heads and stick them in again Upon their Foreheads they have three or four Cuts about the length of the first Joynt of a Finger so also on their Cheeks which being swell'd up they Paint with several Colours Beneath their Brows they make white Strokes and stick their Faces full of white Spots which at a distance seem like Pearls They hang in their Ears Brass and Tin Rings and put on their Arms Copper and Ivory Armlets and on their Legs Rings of Copper Young unmarri'd Maids wear many small Iron wreath'd Rings on one Arm. But the chiefest Pride consists in their Shining Teeth which they pick and rub with a certain piece of Wood till they become as smooth clean and white as polish'd Ivory The People lying near the Shore Their Employment maintain themselves either by Fishing Boiling of Salt Tilling of Land or Merchandise as also by being Factors and Interpreters to those which come out of the Countrey with Gold to Trade upon the Coasts with the Whites but the Inland some by Husbandry others by Trading many by Plaiting Caps of Bulrushes or Dogs or Kabriten skins Others Weave Caps Purses and Garments of the Peeling of Trees Painted with all sorts of Colours and very Artificially made as though Woven of Flax or Hemp. The Inhabitants of Atzyn Ante Guaffo Terra Pekine and Cabo Cors maintain themselves by Fishing Those of Little-Inkassia by Husbandry and Burning of Lime They of Labbede though lying near the Sea make their best livelyhood by keeping of Cattel and making of Salt The Blacks of the Town Moure use the Fishing Trade but the chiefest help they have is Merchandize and to entertain the Akanists which come to them with Gold The People of Sabou as most of the Inlanders bestow their whole time and labour in Tilling and Manuring their Fields whereby in the Town Moure lying on the Sea-Coast in the Kingdom of Sabou Provision of Mille Injam's Fruit Hens and other things may be had cheaper than in any other place of the Gold-Coast Their manner of Tillage proves very laborious How the Lands are Till'd being done by the hand without help either of Horses or Oxen and besides they are forc'd to clear the Land of Wood which cut down to ground the Stumps and Roots they burn to Ashes which serve them in stead of Marl or Dunging The Seed-time Seed-time with them begins commonly on the twentieth of April in the Rainy-Season when the Soyl is moistned and become soft then every man with his whole Family goes into the Field and takes his best Cloathes and Jewels with him They are greatly busied wherewith he adorns his Wife Children and Slaves giving them also plenty of Victuals with Wine of Palm in the Evening returning home follow'd by his Retinue Singing and Dancing The next day they begin to Sow the Land of their King and Braffo The King's Land first Till'd or Captain of the Town under whom they live for which they are entertain'd with Wine of Palm boyl'd Mutton and other Food afterwards every Man takes care for himself In the midst of the Field so soon as the Mille springs up and comes to Blossom they erect a little wooden Hut Thatcht with Straw where they set their Children to keep little Birds out of the Corn. These People are so Lazy Their Laziness in Tilling Land that seldom any of them will sow more than he shall have need of that Year for his Family whereupon oftentimes by ill-thriving of the Grain caus'd by excessive Drowth or the multitude of Locusts there ariseth a great Famine yet these in certain hazards prevail not to make them more industrious one reason whereof among other may be for that none have any propriety in Land but the King holds all Woods None possesseth any Land of his own Fields and Lands so that none without his leave may Sowe or Cultivate to his best advantage for improvement Every man may take as many Wives as he pleaseth or can maintain Marriage and besides if he enjoy other women his Wives may not hinder him from so doing but he must give every one of them the worth of five or six Shillings to satisfie and quiet them whereas on the other side if the Woman flies out to another man the Husband may put her away and sell her When a young Man hath intention to Marry Woeing before Martiage and hath seen a Maid he likes he requests the Parents to have her to his Wife which if she be not a Slave they will easily consent to especially if the Bride-Gift be offer'd that is about a Mark for the Parents and as much in two little Cloathes for the Bride who then is brought to the House with her Companions who stay there with her for eight days that the Bridegroom may settle his Affections and make himself acquainted with the Maid And notwithstanding
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
the Sea-Coast comes the Lordship of Bani wherein is seated a pretty large Town by Name Kuleba the Residence of a Deputy-Lieutenant who Commands over eight or ten adjacent Townships All the Blacks inhabiting the Easterly-shore of the greater Calabare Those of Calabare are Cannibals towards the North are Cannibals for they eat up whatever Enemies they kill but their Prisoners they sell for Slaves The Number One they call Barre Two Ma Three Terre Four Ni Five Sonny c. The Women here have a peculiar way of Circumcision with Pismires as before related in Arder and therefore we shall not repeat it In Moko they have Coin'd Money made of Iron in form of a Roach the Rundle as big as the Palm of a Hand with a Handle about an Inch long The Whites give here in Barter for Slaves Trade great Copper Armlets long-fashion'd and with a round Bowe very neatly made else the Blacks who are very curious therein will not buy them also red and smooth Copper Bars the smoother the better every Piece of a Pound and a quarter weight and about an Ell long for fourteen of those they purchase a good Slave The Blacks fashion these Bars longer and thinner which they divide into three parts and then bray'd or twist them together like a Rope made of three Strings which they fashion into great and small Armlets and Collers or Neck-bands for the Armlets term'd Boctu brought thither by the Whites they use onely in stead of Money The Blacks in this River use great Canoos Canoos wherein twenty Row on each side can carry sixty or eighty Men and are cut out of the entire Body of a Tree by burning and cutting it hollow and some near sixty nay seventy Foot long sharp before and behind but wide in the middle having Planks laid cross from side to side and fastned which lie a hand-breadth over on which Planks and on the edges of them such as manage the Boat sit which they drive forward not with Rowing but with Padling On each side hang two great Shields How they are Arm'd with some Bowes and Wooden Assagays or Launces to defend themselves against the Assaults of their Enemies Every Canoo hath also a Hearth near which the chiefest of the Boat have their Sleeping-places When they stay out a Nights with their Canoos How they make Tents over their Canoos they make a Tent over them with Mats hang'd upon Polls set up in holes of the sitting-Planks under this covert they lay small flat Sticks bound together with Rushes whereupon they lie down to rest and sleep but the Slaves lie dispers'd about the bottom of the Boat The Slaves brought by the Blacks to sell at the River Calabare From whence the Slaves come which the Netherlanders buy come most from the East and are the same which they take Prisoners alive in the Wars for those that are kill'd they eat as we said before Eastward of Great Calabare about two miles from its East Point The River Loitomba glides the River Loitomba otherwise Rio Sante Domingo whose East corner a petty Town shews it self large and full of Merchants who Travel into the Countrey to buy Slaves which they sell again to the Whites After Loitomba follows Old Calabare by some stil'd Old Kalhorgh The River of old Calabare passing through a Plain but Woody Countrey from the East Point of Rio Reael to this the Coast spreads East South East sixteen miles Next you come to Rio del Key a very great and wide River Rio del Key with three Fathom Water and a Muddy Ground neither troubled with Sandy Shoales nor Rocks At the Northerly Shore thereof lieth a Township over which some years since one Samson had the Command but driven out by those of Ambo he hath ever since maintain'd himself by Robbing for his Village was so wasted by Fire that very few Houses remain'd and those all made of Palm Canes from the top to the bottom as well the Sides as the Roof The Countrey far and near is all low and marshy Ground Constitution of the Countrey so that there is no fresh Water but that which runs from the Village or gathered from the Roof of the Houses The People living up higher call'd Kalbongos are very subtil and cunning Nature of the Inhabitants so that a White must look well to himself Both Men and Women go naked onely a small covering before their Privacies and so barbarously cruel that the Parents sell their Children the Husband his Wife and one Brother and Sister the other and as to decency or order scarce a degree above Beasts The Men tie the top of their Virile part with a piece of Bark Apparel or else put the same in long Callabashes the rest of their Bodies remain Naked onely Painted with Red Colours They wear their Hair Pleited in several Fashions and many have their upper Teeth fil'd as sharp as Bodkins or Needles chiefly supporting themselves by catching Fish When any amongst them stands accus'd Oath he clears himself by taking an Oath in this manner He cuts himself in the Arm and sucks up his own bloud and this they repute a sufficient Purgation and this custom those inhabiting the high Land of Amboises in Ambo and Botery also observe This River affords many Slaves for Copper Bars Trade and likewise for counterfeit Corral Beads and Copper Basons which on the Gold-Coast for their sleightness cannot be sold Akori also and Elephants Teeth against Knives and Assagayes or Lances the Teeth generally so large that three pieces make a hundred weight Between Rio del Key and that of Kamarones narrow but deep Rivers Little Kamaroms makes his way from whence the Coast spreads East South East about three miles with low and Woody Land and a plain Shore The Trade here agrees in all points with that at Rio del Rey Trade but differ in speech for here they call the number One Mo Ba Two Melella Three Meley Four Matam Five The Territory of AMBOSINE or the High Land AMBOISES THis Lordship of Amboisine The Territory of Amboises by the Europeans call'd the High Land of Amboses because they suppose it to be as high as the Pick of Tenariffe and by the Spaniards therefore nam'd Alta Terra de Ambosi takes place between Rio del Rey The Village Bodi and Kamarones At the West side thereof lie divers Villages among others Bodi or Bodiwa otherwise Cesge The Countrey produces great plenty of Grain Nature of the Countrey but no Palm-Wine which want the Inhabitants supply by a Root call'd Gajanlas which they boile in water and make a Drink of pleasant in taste but hurtful for the belly if taken in excess Other Provisions they have in such quantities that Seameâ— esteem it a good and desirable place to refresh in The Islands of AMBOISES FOur miles to the South East of this High Land The Islands of Amboises
mention'd before Some Hens and Goats breed here though not in great numbers but the Woods afford all sorts of wild Beasts The Inhabitants feed upon Mille Banano's and wild Creatures Between Sette and the Cape Lope-Gonzalvez lieth Gobby a Territory having Morasses Lakes and Rivers all Navigated by Canoos The chiefest Town lieth about a days Journey from the Sea-shore The Rivers feed many Water-Elephants and divers Fishes but the Land breeds few Cattel besides Beasts of Prey Though the People claim a kind of propriety in Wives yet is it such as merits not to be brought under the name of Marriage not for that they take as many as they can but because when any Friend comes to visit the Husband he immediately as a mark of amity prostitutes one of his Wives to him And in all other Cases gives such liberty that Women taken in Adultery receive commendations and rewards rather than obloquy and punishment A Man when first Married gets not esteem nor regard among the Womans Friends till he hath smartly beaten and boxed his Wife and thenceforward they reckon him one of that Family And this usage hath by custom become so naturaliz'd that a Woman suspects her Husbands Love unless he frequently beat her Their Language hath affinity with that of Lovango Language differing onely in some few words so that they easily understand each other They make great Wars upon their Neighbors especially those of Comma between Cape de Lope-Gonzalvez and Gobby The Commodities brought out of Europe thither are Musquets Powder bright Copper Kettles white and brown Linnen and ordinary Cloth Their Arms consist in Arrows Arms. Bowes and Assagays the first they call Insetto the second Matta or Boeta and the third Janga and Zonga The Government of the Countrey remains at this time in the hands of a Woman In all other Customs Religions and Conjurations they agree with those of Lovango onely they are more deceitful and treacherous ¶ DIngy borders at Lovango The Territory of Dingy Cadongo and Vango a great Countrey and full of Towns and Villages A Tributary to the Lovangian King yet hath its own Lords which Rule by succession As to the Plants Beasts Customs of the Inhabitants Governments and Religions take here this brief account This Countrey of Lovango affords divers sorts of Fruit Plants viz. Massa-Mamponta or great Mille Massa-Minkale or little Mille and red Mille which they use in stead of Tares There grow also Potato's call'd Limbale Ampaita Bakovens Injames with them Imbale Emtogifto or Ginger and other strange Fruits as Goebes Mandonyns or Dongo and Fonsi and some Herbs the chief of which they account Insansy bitter of taste Imboa and Insua Purceline and wild Fetherfew They have also Malanga or Pumpkins Mampet or Sugar-Canes Mihenga a juicy Fruit but they Plant no more of it than they can eat from hand to hand and Maye-Monola or Tobacco Grain of Paradice by them stil'd Indonga-Anpota grows here but in no quantities because neither Sown nor Planted Also great abundance of Banano's and Mandioque or Farinha of which they make Bread Of the Leaves of Majaera they make a pretty relishing and savory Food dressing it with smoaked Fish Palm-Oyl Salt and Achy or Brasile Pepper but their common Food is Fondy or Sonsy made of the Flour of Mille. There are also many Calabasses which grown ripe they dry and make Dishes of for several uses A sort of little Apples grows on low Trees which prove a very refreshing Fruit and good to put into Drink as Spice or as the Kola There is a larger sort thereof call'd Cucomba crude sowre and corroding but boyl'd tastes very well The Kola grows on great Trees in Husks ten and twelve together and yields Fruit once a year This as experience teacheth eaten in the Evening hinders sleep The Root Melando Melando whose Leaf climbeth up on a Tree or Pole like our Hops eaten gives an Aromatick taste Cassia Fistula Cassia Fistula or Pipe Cassia they use in their Witchcrafts and Enchantments Of Oranges Oranges Lemons and Coco-Nuts Lemons and Coco-Nuts they have but few for setting no value on them they will not bestow the pains to transplant and propagate them Achy Achy or Brasilian Pepper groweth wild and much used so also Cotton All these Fruits continue the whole year through except between Majumba and Cabo de Gonzalvez whose Inhabitants use Bananos in stead of Bread and Fish for other Provision Matombe Trees grow numerously Matombe but yet exceeded by the vast multitude of Palm Trees These Matombes afford first good Wine which they drink in stead of that of Palm but not so strong The Branches make Rafters and Laths for the Houses and Couches to Sleep on The Leaves are used for Tiles and Fence off the greatest Rains All the Garments worn in Lovango are made of these Leaves which they use also in stead of Money having no sort of Mettal Coyn'd but because the Matombe Leaves are not so strong as those of the Palm the Clothes made thereof are in less esteem seldom making of it any other than course Jago-Clothes Their manur'd ground is so furtile that it affords three Crops The Seed ground viz. small Mille little Beans and Wigge that is sown with Mille as Rape with us Some have their Lands one two or three miles others a day or two's Journey from their Dwellings whether they go at Seed-time and remain with their Families till they have Sow'd their Ground then return to their Habitations again They Plough not the Land but break it up with an Instrument like a Hoe How their Land is Plow'd or rather a Masons Trowel but broader and hollower Hoggs Cabrietes or Sheep Goats Cows and all sorts of Fowls The living Creatures breed more plentifully here than in any other places on the Coast of Congo or Angola The Inhabitants are strong Limb'd The kind of Inhabitants large of Stature and decent in Behavior commonly jealous of their Wives yet themselves Wanton and Unchast covetous and greedy to attain Riches yet generous and free hearted one to another very much addicted to Drinking Wine of Palm yet slighting our European Wine no Zealots in matters of Religion yet extreamly Superstitious so that it is pity they want the knowledge of Real and Divine Truths The Men wear long Garments Their Cloathing reaching from then middle down to their Feet and below border'd with Fringe but leave the upper part of their Body naked The Stuffs whereof they are made may be divided into four sorts one of which none may wear but the King and those he permits out of singular Favor or as marks of Dignity They are call'd sometimes Libongo otherwhiles Bondo which no Weavers are permitted to Sell upon pain of Death There are two other sorts usually sold the best call'd Kimbes being a Habit for the greatest Nobleman made very fine and with curious Workmanship Flowr'd Fit for Handkerchiefs
Borders of the Kingdom of Goy at the River Zair or upon Congo upon Cakongo on the North whose chief City delightfully situate on a Plain near the Shore boasts many Inhabitants where several small Rivers have their Out-lets into the Sea whose Waters both refresh and fatten the Soyl they pass through On the Coast by the River Zair you discover Punto de Palmerino Punto de Paomerino and six hours Journey towards the Bay of Cabinde where the Portuguese Ships take in fresh Provision The Bay Cabinde passing to Lovando St. Paulo This is a good Road for Ships in regard they may be plentifully furnished with Provision at reasonable Rates always provided that the Governor have due respects tendred to him by considerable Presents Both Men and Women give themselves wholly up as it were to wantonness yet towards Strangers they are churlish and uncivil Constitution of the Inhabitants not onely exacting from them beyond reason but defrauding them by many subtil and slye inventions The Countrey abounds with Mille Beans and Fish But the Portuguese have a Store-house to buy Cloathes call'd Panos Sambos the proper Commodity of this Place because made no where else made Tufted like our Plushes but without Flowers or Imagery To Barter for these they bring out of Majumba red Wood which the Natives chuse at the highest Price before the richest European Merchandise resting in their original simplicity without desire of better knowledge from abroad for they never Travel from home but onely when the King sends them as Agents to any of his Neighbors with whom he holds a League of Amity This Kingdom in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty one Destruction of the Kirgdom of Goy was absolutely conquer'd by the Duke of Sonho who established his Son in the place of the Deceased King by whose assistance the Father afterwards got a great Victory over the Cokongian whose chief City he ruin'd and burn'd The King of Congo takes upon him the Title of Lord over both those last mention'd but hath neither Tribute nor Subjection from them for each hath an absolute and independent Soveraignty within his own Dominion The Kingdom of CONGO IN the description hereof great differences arise among Geographers Borders of the Kingdom of Congo some make it begin in the East at the Territories of Lovoto and Quilango in six Degrees and a half South Latitude and to extend thirty or forty miles into the Countrey as far as the a So we render it in English Dukedom of Sonho bordering the Western part with the before-nam'd Sonho and spreading in the North to the River Zair Pigafet and Linschot conterminate it in the North with Lovango and Ansiko in the South with Angola and Malemba on the East setting the Crystal Salt-Petre and Silver Mountains with the Rivers Verbele and Cakongo saith Jarrik and the People Giagnas or Galas deadly Enemies to Congo and in the West with the Ocean Marmol places for Boundaries in the North Benyn on the East the Islands of the Azzinguis or Anzigos and Mondequestes which dwell about the Lake Zambea out of which 't is said the River Zair taketh its original the People of Pangudingos Quilos Bambos Condongos Sonnos Libros Bankares Zakilos and Maria Bigness on the South the Mountains of the Moon which divide it from Abyssiny and Kaffrari or the Region of the Kaffers Some reckon the greatest breadth to a hundred and twenty Leagues and its length by the Coast seventy two The common Division of it is into six Dukedoms Division viz. Bamba Songo or Sonho Sundo Pango Batta and Pombo The Dukedom of Bamba lying in the North reaches Westward to the Coast of the Rivers Amaois and Dantis in the South to Angola and hath for Borders in the East according to Pigafet by the Lake Chelande or Aquilonde the Territory of Sissina On the Sea-Coast of this Territory Pigafet places divers Lordships as Lembo Dondi Bengo Koanza Kazzansi and to the In-land Angazi Chingengo Motello Chabonda and many other of smaller note Others who seem to have been diligent searchers herein intermix with the aforenam'd these following being say they Govern'd by several Lords in the Name of the King of Congo which the Portuguese call Sabos or Sovasen Such are Vamma Roansa Hany Kalle Kovangongo Engombia Muchama Kahonde or Cabonda Motemmo Kanvangongo Moffoula or Mussula Motemma Quingongo Oanda Quina Bamba Bumby Ensala Lovoto Quitungo The Dominion of Vamma Dominion coasting the River Danda lieth at the Sea-Coast Next this up the River are seven or eight small Provinces but of so little Power and Command that the Names thereof are not mention'd Further up the River you come to Koansa Koansa under which and the foremention'd Manivamma stand all the other little Sovasen Then follows the Jurisdiction of Kalle Kalle situate a little to the South and Commanding over some small Tracts of Land Kanvangongo neighbors this Kanvangongo and somewhat Southerly lieth Engombia Muchama or according to others Engombia Cabonda giving Laws to divers petty Lordships adjoyning REGNA CONGO et ANGOLA From the foremention'd River Danda Northward Motemmo Kanvangong appears Motemmo Kanvangongo as at the West on the Sea-Coast lieth the a So we may call them Earldom of Mussula comprehending within it the Provinces of Pumbo and Bamba and holding under his Obedience all the Countreys from Danda to the River Loze along the Sea-Coast The Sovas of Mossulo is very strong but nevertheless not so powerful as the Konvangongo Here grow some Nutmegs Eastward of Motemmo Konvangongo comes Motemmo Quingengo and about the South-East Kahende formerly one of the most potent in this Tract but at present very much weakned This Jurisdiction of Kahende as also that of Quingengo Kahende lieth six or eight days Journey from Konvangongo shooting to the East to these two all the Countrey Eastward from Konvangongo begins the Territory of Ambuela or Amboille a distinct Government of it self without relation to Congo South and South-West of Ambuela you come to Oanda Oanda divided from the former by the River Loze and borders in the West upon Bamba It is a great and mighty Countrey subject to Congo but was in the Year Sixteen hundred forty six over-run and laid waste by the King of Gingo and the People carried away for Slaves Next Oanda Eastward follows Quina containing a small compass of Ground Quina and less Power On the West of Oanda going down to the Sea-Coast Bamba touches between shoots a corner of Pembo Then come you to the Dukedom of Bamba to the South or South-West of which lieth the Province of Bumby inconsiderable for Strength or People bordering in the West upon Mussulo Between Pembo and Quina lieth Ensala whose Governor hath the Title of Mansala in the Year Sixteen hundred forty three he opposed the King of Congo who requesting aid from the Hollanders they sent him a
Wall of Elephants-Teeth in stead of Stone and there hanging upon Poles remain till they be quite rotten These Islanders also have particular Heads and chief Officers Government chosen by most Voices Several other Rivers pay their tributary Waters to increase the swelling Current of Zair the most eminent are Umbre Brankare and Barbale Umbre by Sanutus call'd Vambere rises in the North out of a Mountain in Negro-Land and loseth it self on the East-side in the Zair Brankare as Pigafet or Bankare as Sanutus calleth it taketh the original out of the same Mountain and after a long course discharging his Meandring Stream into the Sea saith the same Sanutus but Pigafet from the information of Edward Lopez averrs it mingleth with Zair on the Easterly Borders of Pango not far from the Foot of the Crystal Mountain The River Barbele so call'd by Linschot or Verbele by Pigafet springs out of the same Lake which the same Author makes the Head-Source of Nylus to flow from after which it shooteth through the Lake Aquilumde and visiting the City of Pango it enlargeth the Zair with the addition of its Water Southward of the Mouth of the River Zair shoots out a Promontory The Cape of Padron call'd in Portuguese Cabo de Padron who above a hundred years since erected a small Chappel and set up a Cross and about five miles from Padron is the Residence of the Earl of Sonho where the Netherlanders Trade A little way within Padron lieth St. Pauls Point affording a convenient Road for Ships A mile and a half from thence lieth a Creek call'd Pampus Rock Pampus Rock More on Southwards you come to the Rivers Lelunde or Lolongo Ambris Enkekoquematari Loze Onza Libonge Danda and Bengo Lelunde running between Zair and Ambris The River Lelunde hath its Head-Spring in the same Lake with Coanza or Quanza so passing close by the Foot of the Mountain where the Royal City St. Salvadore stands runs down from thence with many windings West-North-west to the Sea into which it falls with a strong Current but in the Summer so shallow that 't is not passable with Vessels of any Burden The Blacks frequent it with Canoos notwithstanding the hazard of Crocodiles which in great abundance breed there Next you come to Ambris Ambris lying in six Degrees South Latitude a great River and full of Fish but Rocky at the entrance yet passable enough for small Boats It hath the same original with Lelonde taking likewise its course not far from St. Salvadore the Water seems muddy caused by the swiftness of the Stream at whose Edges begins the Dukedom of Bamba Thirty miles up this River is a Ferry A Ferry where every Traveller for his passage over must pay a certain Toll to the King of Congo On the South Banks of it many people inhabit who get their Living by making Salt boyl'd of Sea-water in Earthen Pots and proves gray and sandy yet they carry it to Pambo and several other Places and drive a great Trade therewith Enkokoquematari is the next Enkokoquematari whose beginning lies undiscover'd to the Europeans and the whole in a manner of no use great Flats and Sands stopping up the Mouth so that it will not bear a small Boat and within so scanty of Water that a Canoo can hardly make way Loze Loze another mean Brook yet up in the Countrey passable for a Boat About twenty miles upward you must pass a Ferry where all Travellers for going over must pay Custom to the Duke of Bamba Onza or as Pigafet Onzoni is Fordable and not to be Sail'd by any Vessels because of its shallowness Lihongo Lihongo by some call'd Lemba can boast neither greater depth or better qualities Danda The River Danda. a little more Southward hath at the Mouth five or six Foot Water 't is full of Fish and feeds many Crocodiles and Sea-Horses and affords on each side fruitful Grounds somewhat high on the South-side but on the North for half a mile low Grounds Bengo The River Bengo by some taken for a Branch of Danda with Quanza another lying makes the Island Lovando it affords good Sailing with Sloops about fourteen miles upward and in the Mouth sometimes seven or eight Foot Water notwithstanding the Flats of Sand. It comes a great distance out of the Countrey and so inundates in the time of Rain viz. March April and May that with the violence of its Stream it sometimes carrieth away much of the Earth on one side which either joyns again on the other or else driven into the Sea The Winter there bears almost an equal temper with our Summer The Climate of Air. so that the People alter nothing of their Apparel nor require the warmth of Fire at that Season of the Year for the difference between Winter and Summer is scarely discernable onely the Air so long as it Rains is a little Cooler but the wet Season once past the Heat is almost intolerable especially two hours before and after Noon The Winter commences in mid March The Seasons of Rain and the Summer in September in the former the great Rains begin and continue March April May June July and August during which time they have scarce a clear day the lesser Rain in September and November The Summer on the other side is exceeding hot and dry This Countrey Congo is watry from the several Rivers hath great store of Water so that the Inhabitants are very curious in their choice of it for they will not drink the usual and every where to be had but take care for the freshest and best as appears by them of St. Salvadore who make not use of such as the adjoyning Plains afford them but cause their Slaves to fetch other more sound and healthy as they suppose out of Fountains a little lower on the North-side The Lands in the time of Rain by the muddiness of the water The King of the Land are made exceeding fruitful and fit to bring forth all manner of things The Dukedom of Batta and other lying round about hath fat and fertile ground affording all manner of Provision The Territory of Pembo especially about Saint Salvadore because of the fresh and serene Air abounds with rich Pastures Plants and produceth many flourishing and thriving Trees Here grows a kind of Grain by the Inhabitants call'd Luko Luko not unlike our Rye but smaller this they Grind into Meal by a Hand-Mill and make Bread of it Abundance also of Mille which the Natives call Mazza Manputo Mille or Mazza or Portuguese Corn as also Mais or Turky-Wheat wherewith they fat their Hogs and Rice in such plenty that it hardly bears any price Lemmons Oranges and Pome-Citron-Trees grow in every corner bearing fruit of a pleasant yet brisk taste also Bananasses Dates Coco-Nuts and Palm-Trees besides others producing Colas which the Inhabitants chaw as the Indians Betel
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
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
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-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
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
Island of that name exceeding those her two neighbors of St. James and St. George living all three near at the Mouth of the River Meginkate Over against St. Georges Island but at the distance of an English mile you may see a Point call'd Cabo Ceira being a hanging Islet joyn'd to the Main-Land of Africa by a small Istbmus overflow'd at High-Water but at other times passable on Foot The Countrey of Mozambike is very fertile in producing many sorts of Fruits Plants as Rice Citrons Oranges and Mille which the Blacks are compell'd to guard and defend against Elephants by the kindling of Fires whereof these Beasts are very much afraid There groweth also a certain Plant call'd Pao or Wood of Antak which creeps along the ground and is very like the Herb Aristolachia or Heart-Wort The Fruit is long small with green Seeds or Grains The Roots have a strange vertue in curing a Disease call'd Antak which seizes on the Foreigners by conversing with the Blacks and can be expell'd by no other Medicine The Inhabitants make Wine of Mille which they call Huyembe or Pembe Here is no want either of tame or wild Fowl Animals nor of Stags or Harts wild Hogs Cows Oxen and Elephants which last are so numerous that the Inhabitants dare not travel without fire to defend them from their assaults Wild Hens breed in the Woods being speckled with many small white and gray spots their Heads are much less than our common Hens with a short Comb but thick and of a high colour and not onely the upper part of the Head but also part of the Neck cover'd with a blue Skin like a Turky Many Silver Gold and other Mynes are found in the Countrey The People have short Curl'd Hair The Constitution of the Inhabitants great Lips long Visages and very large Teeth They go stark naked onely a blue little Clout before their Privacies They Paint ther Bodies with divers Colours but account it the greatest Ornament to have streaks of a certain red Earth They make in each Lip three holes in which they hang Bones Jewels and other things But this Fashion and Trimming eminent People onely use They feed in general upon all sorts of Fruit Food and Flesh of Beasts yet they eat also the Flesh of Men taken Prisoners in the Wars but they esteem the Flesh of Elephants as the choycest Dainty They are revengeful and treacherous dull of understanding and inured to labour like Beasts not grutching to be Slaves Every Lordship or Province produces a several Language Language yet it proves no hindrance to their converse one with another Their Riches consist in Gold Riches found in the Rivers Ivory Ebony and Slaves yet are so fearless of any attempts to be made upon them that they debar no Foreigners to come into their Havens the Portuguese onely excepted Their Weapons of War are Arrows Battel-Axes but can neither boast any number of People nor extent of Land The Inhabitants are according to Linschot some Heathens and some Mahumetans but Pyrard averrs they have neither Religion nor Laws but that they are onely Kaffers The Island MOSAMBIKE THe Island Mosambike half a Mile from the Main Land contains about three quarters of a League in length a quarter in breadth the whole compass not exceeding a League and a half with a white Shore It extendeth South and North along the Main Land between which and this Isle and Fort appears the Bay serving for a convenient Haven Land-lockt from all Winds being very large and carrying eight or ten Fathom Water Within a Stones-throw of which the Ships ride at Anchor This Island hath the Main Land on the North and two other uninhabited small Islets on the South the one nam'd St. James or Jago and the other St George but neither affording any conveniency not being inhabited being wholly overgrown with Shrubs and Bushes Some place two Cities upon Mosambike-Isle affirming the one to be plentifully peopled by Portuguese and the other with Blacks but Pyrard makes the whole so fully inhabited that it seems but one Town comprehending within its Circuit a very large and strong Fort together with five or six Churches Chappels and Cloysters From the Description of the Navigation to the East-Indies made by Verhoeven in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven it appears that the City of Mosambike is very large having good Walls fine Houses and some Churches and Cloysters wherewith agrees Paul van Caerden in the Journal of his Voyage to the East-Indies Moquet allots to the City not above two hundred Houses but Linschot leaves all the places open and unwall'd except the Castle where the Portuguese Governor with his Soldiers have their Residence Garias de Silva Figueora in his Persian Embassy comprises in the City an hundred and fifty Houses but most of them built of Wood Straw and Palm-Tree Leaves For the deciding these different Relations we may suppose that the first Writer who placeth two Cities here mistook two Villages for Cities and Linschot himself mentions the Dwellings severally making one part of the old Fort commonly call'd Fortarez a Velha and another of some Houses close by it Others may have taken a great number of Houses standing close together to be a City however it is we may modestly guess that at the time of these Writers things were found thus There is a Cloyster of St. Domingo with a rich Hospital said to have been a Castle in former time built by the Kings of Portugal into which those of that Nation are put coming sick from Sea Besides St. Anthony St. Dominick and St. Gabriel's Church all lying without the Fort they have another Nossa Seniora do Balvarte built close under the Fort. The Air being generally more than warm proves very unwholsom Air. insomuch that few live there any while free from dangerous Distempers which no doubt are much augmented by the want of fresh Water there being onely one small Spring of little consequence in a Thicket of Palm-Trees so that most of them drink salt Water mingled with a little of that fresh This great Drought sufficiently declares that the Land proves barren Unfruitfulness of the Soyl. and unfit to produce any thing Yet provident Nature hath recompenced the want of all other Provision with Coco-Nuts Oranges Citrons Ananassed-Figs and other Indian-Fruits but these onely in manured and well cultivated Gardens They have neither Wheat nor Rice growing but all brought from the Main Land or from Goa and the East-Indies so also Raisins or Grapes and Spanish-Wines with several other Necessaries both for benefit and sustenance so that it is much dearer living here than in any other Place possessed by the Portuguese in this Coast Here breed great Herds of Oxen Cows Sheep Beasts with Tails as big as a fifth part of their Bodies Bucks Goats and Swine whose Flesh hath gain'd such an esteem that the Doctors oftentimes order the Sick to eat it and forbid them
of Turks Mahumetans and Arabians The Haven of Arquico or Ercocco THe Haven of Ercocco otherwise call'd Arquico and by Jarrick held to be the Adule of the Antients lieth against the Island of Mazuan five or six miles from Mount Bisan in fifteen Degrees and a half It was formerly a Port belonging to the Abyssines but since that taken from them by the Turks to whom at present they are subject The heat of the Air causeth an infertility in the Soyl as to Corn and Grain but as well those as the Maritime Parts afford several sorts of Trees as Willows Jujubes and Tamarinds which two last are no despicable Commodity to the Europeans The Inhabitants are Blacks and go all naked with a Skin onely before their Privacies As well Men as Women have upon their Heads Coverings resembling a Coronet and the Hair bound up round The Haven submits to the Commands of a Turkish Bashaw Sanutâ—â— and by that means inhabited principally with Mahumetans taking up the rooms of Christians by them dispossess'd In the Red-Sea lie the several Islands of Mazuan Paimuras Delacca Mayot Suachem and some other The Island of Mazula ON the Coast of Habex in the Red-Sea you discover the Island Mazua or Mazuan possessed by the Turks at this day who in the year Fifteen hundred fifty and seven did take it away from the Abyssines Thevet places it half a French mile distant over against Ercocco in fifteen Degrees and forty Minutes North-Latitude Between Mazuan and Donkale the Turks had formerly a Castle call'd Dafalo which the Abyssines took and sleighted When the South-winds blow hard no Ships without danger can approach the Coast The Islanders are good Soldiers but the Women give themselves over to loose living accounting it no dishonor to have many Gallants while they remain unmarry'd nor is their profession of Mahumetanism a small encouragement thereto the greatest promises of their Prophet aiming at no higher satisfactions The Island of Dalaca THevet calls this Island Dalaca others Dalaccia Delaqua Delalaca Dalaqualacari and Daleck It lies below Mazua a little more Southerly but by Sanutus set opposite to Mazua five miles from the Main Land of the Abyssines in sixteen Degrees North-Latitude saith Andrew Corsali but according to Huez in fourteen Degrees and twenty Minutes Marmol placeth it it eighteen Miles from Mazua and gives it one City of the same Name with the Island Sanutus extends it in compass to eighty Italian miles four reckon'd to one of the Dutch but Corsali accounts it twenty French miles This Island boasts a healthy Air and plenty of fresh Water which happening very seldom in these Countreys invites many People thither 'T is high and barren but pleasant for both the Hills and Dales have lovely Groves of Trees yielding a delightful shadow but no Fruit contrary to Thevet who makes this Island abound with Oranges and Lemons adding moreover that in March the whole Air is perfum'd with a most delicious scent There grows little Corn or Grain but what they have as also Honey Barley and Butter they fetch from the Abyssines yet they have very fair Pastures and full of Grass which feed Cows Camels and many Goats The Inhabitants an expert and Warlike People are either black or tawny of Colour sowre of Countenance treacherous and inveterate Enemies of the Turks against whom they hold Wars continually They speak distinctly bear no regard to foreign Merchants from whom notwithstanding their most serious engagements they steal whatever they can meet with Their Language is more difficult and obscure than the Turkish Persian or Indian but their Habit if so we may call it differs not from the last before-mention'd Their Government seems Monarchical Government one Person giving the Rule both to this and the adjacent Islands Their Religion is as great a mixture as their People Religion of whom most take Christianity from the Abyssines some are Mamalukes fled thither after the loss of Egypt besides Arabian Mahumetans of the Persian Sect and others pretended Musselmans professed Enemies to the other The Island of Bebel-Mandel PAssing from North to South you arrive at an Island now known by the Name of Bebel-Mandel but antiently call'd The Island of Diodorus situate in the midst of the Red-Sea which it divides into two Channels not above a mile from the Main Land of Arabia and the like distance from Abyssinia towards the Cape of Zeila so that the King of Egypt formerly shut up this Passage on his side with an Iron Chain drawn from one to the other Pigafet will have one of the Channels towards the West-side to be five and twenty Italian miles or five Dutch miles wide with a good Bottom and the common Passage for great Ships but the other scarce a large Dutch mile wide full of Rocks Shelves and Banks of Sand. It lieth in twelve Degrees and fifty Minutes North-Latitude Thevet calls it Muim and makes it two French miles in compass having some few Trees but otherwise wholly barren Formerly the Abyssines and Arabians of Aden made great Wars against the Possessors thereof by which it became subject sometimes to the Christians and then to the Moors till at last the Portuguese utterly laid it waste and so left it without hope of re-peopling The Island Suachem or Suaquem by Marmol call'd Suaquum standing according to Thevet East and West contains fifteen or sixteen French miles in compass but Rosaccio makes it much less and divides it almost from the City of the same Name beautifi'd with many fair built Houses Maginus supposeth the Haven of this Place to be the Sebastian Mouth mention'd by Ptolomy Over against Adel in the Red-Sea lieth the Island Barbora already mention'd About Suez inhabit two sorts of Christians one Circumcised nam'd Jacobites the other Uncircumcised commonly call'd Melaquiters The Inhabitants of these Islands and the Places on the Coast of the Red-Sea Trade with the Arabians over against it Sanutus saith that in the Haven of Chessir they have many Huts made with Mats wherein they stow the Wares carry'd from Cairo to Mecha The Moors of Ziden convey to Suez all sorts of Spicery Drugs precious Ambergreece which they bring from the Indies and transport from thence upon Camels to Cairo In like manner the Merchants bring from Cambaya into Asia and from all Arabia to Barbora all sorts of Clothes Beads or Motamugo's Elephants-Teeth and other Commodities The Red-Sea by the Moors call'd Bahar Queizum by others The Arabian Bay Red-Sea Gaspar Sam. Bernardino and Streights of Mecha the Burial-place of Mahomet lieth between the Coast of Ethiopia and Abyssine in Africa so that it parts Asia and Africa At the entrance of this Sea lie two Harbors the one call'd Guardafuy and the other Fartague The breadth between them is sixty Leagues or Spanish Miles and the length five hundred that is an hundred to the Straights of Bebel-Mandel and four hundred from thence to Suez where it ends Geminiano a Jesuit averr'd that
from the River Mareb it visits the Kingdom of Denghini the Moors Bagihos or Fuches and at length pours its Water by the City Jalak into the Nyle The Rivers Anquet and Maleg lying furthest and most Southerly The Rivers Anquet and Maleg arise in Damut so flowing through Bizamo and joyning their Streams make the Westerly Channel of the Nyle yet retain the name of Maleg for eighty Miles till meeting with the middle Current of the Nyle they lose their less known resuming its more famous Name In the South of Abyssinie two other well-known Rivers discover themselves The River Haoax the one call'd Zebe and the other Haoax which latter by Godignus call'd Oara springs out of a vast Mountain upon the united Borders of Xaoa and Ogge whence flowing North-East and increased by the conjunction of the River Machi passeth into Adel or Zeila and so through the midst of Gurrule with a full Stream insomuch that Godignus hath not feared to affirm it to surpass the Nyle in Plenty of Water onely it reacheth nothing near so far for it hath not as the Nyle and other Rivers its Out-let into the Sea but is trencht away by the Husbandmen of Adel into many Brooks and Rivulets for the watering of their Grounds because it seldom raineth in that Conntrey The other call'd Zabee beginneth in the Kingdom of Narea The River Zabee and shoots at the beginning to the West with a strong Current Thence it floweth Southwards and encompasseth the Dominion of Gingiro Afterwards passing to the South and as Godignus will have it by Mombaza floweth into the Sea But Johannes Barros asserts it to be Oby having near Melinde its Out-let into the Sea changing the name into Quilmanzi The before-mention'd Godignus reckons five Lakes of eminency in those Parts Lakes viz. Aicha Dambeabahar or Bar-dambea Zella Zacala and Zoay Aicha the smallest of all lieth in the Kingdom of Angote Dambea-bahar The Lake Bar-dambea or Bar-dambea is so call'd by the Abyssines partly for its bigness and partly from its Situation in the Kingdom of Dambea but Ptolomy stiles it Coloe and Joannes Barros and Mercator Barcena In the common Maps it hath two Names that to the South part Zambre and the North part Zaire where they say the River Zaire which parts Congo and Angola taketh its original lying in thirty Degrees and a half South Latitude and receiveth a great increase of Water out of many several Streams and Brooks which pour down out of the circumadjacent Mountains Plains and Woods It reacheth according to Godignus in length sixty Italian Miles four of which make a German Mile and in breadth five and twenty But Balthazar Tellez a Portuguese Jesuit makes its greatest length on the South-side to be twenty and the breadth taken in the midst and broadest place ten or twelve Spanish Miles They say this Lake can shew eight and twenty Islands viz. Deck which contains twenty Acres of Land the others less Upon seven or eight of which there are Jesuits Cloysters now by length of time much decay'd Most of these little Spots are fruitful producing Oranges Lemons Pome-citrons and other Fruits The Water of the Lake is light very clear healthy to drink and full of Fish besides Sea-Horses which come on Land and devour the Fruits of the Field to the great prejudice of the Husbandmen And therefore there is a Reward appointed to all that kill them who have also a further advantage in selling their Flesh accounted a good Food and their Skins to make Alenga's far more useful to such as ride than Spurs because they jerk hard and strike better But here breed neither Efts Lizards nor Crocodiles though they abound in other places of the Nyle perhaps because these Creatures love not a clear Water and rather chuse troubled and muddy Streams Therefore the Cattel feed in safety upon these Shores and the People inhabit there without any disturbance The Abyssines of these Islands pass this Lake with small Boats made of the Plant call'd Papyrus by the ancient Grecians of which also the Egyptians formerly made Boats and used the Leaves in stead of Paper whereof we have treated more largely before in Egypt This Lake about the Summer Solstice increases for from the vast Mountains of Dambea pour down exceeding many great Streams Dambea whereby it would swell exceeding high if it did not find an Out-let into the greatest Channel of the Nyle Many have thought that the Nyle takes its original out of this Lake but without good ground it being rather a Receptacle for it to pass through However it is certain That this Lake affords it a convenient Supply by the way Into one of these Islands the Emperor banishes Rebels and Out-laws and in another strengthned with a Fort keeps part of the Treasure of the Empire The Lake Zella Zella or Zoay lieth in the Kingdom of Oecie or Ogge on that side towards the Kingdoms of Adel and Mombaza The Lake of Xacala Xacala or Sacala lieth not far from that of Zella and each about a days Journey in length Sanutus sets in the beginning of Amara on the East-side the Lake of St. Stephen two Miles long and half a Mile broad and an Island in it in which stands St. Stephen's Cloyster This Empire hath many and very high Mountains viz. Mountains In the Kingdom of Tigre between Fremona and Dambea one call'd Lamalmon Balthazar Tellez and another adjoyning call'd Guca It is half a days Journey to climb up to the top by an Ascent going always round and turning by steps like a pair of winding Stairs but with very dangerous Precepices and steep falls On the top lieth a great Plain a Mile about where the wearied Travellers and Caravans bait and rest themselves because the next day they have a very troublesom and dangerous way to go through very small narrow and sharp and on each side so steep that the sight cannot reach the depth By these narrow Paths coming to the bottom you meet with Lamalmon three hundred Cubits high like a continaul Hewn Rock which out in the Countrey seems a high and strong Castle where the Passage is narrow and troublesom yet Nature hath provided it with certain Steps in manner of winding Stairs which run up from one side to the other very steep and exceeding dangerous to climb up Aloft upon this Mountain also is a Plain about half a Mile in compass and a Musket-shot broad The People in this Mountain live in safety without fear of being assaulted by their Enemies and richly provided of Fresh-water and Victuals From the top of this Mountain they have the Prospect of the whole Kingdom of Tigre Northwards and North-Westwards lieth a Ridge of Mountains which all together make as it were a great Fence or Inclosure The Kingdom of Amara appears full of craggy steep Mountains among which the Ape-Hills are not the least There are also certain Ports call'd Aquisagi hewn in the
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
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