a heap of Ashes there provided sticks the Branch of a Tree and drinking water out of a Bason spouts it upon the Branch and then daubeth his Face with the Ashes after which the Devil out of the Tree gives answer to the Kings questions The Nobility likewise adore certain Trees esteeming them Oracles and they report the Devil sometimes appears to them like a black Dog and otherwhile answers them without any visible apparition Some worship a Bird called Pittoie spotted and painted as it were with Stars and resembleth the voice of a Bull To hear this Bird low in their Journey is reckoned a good Omen they saying their Fetisso promises them good Fortune and so they set a Vessel of Water and Wheat in the place where they hear it And as the Earth and Air yield them Deities so the Sea yields certain Fishes whom they Canonize upon this account they never take the Tunny Fish the Swordfish they eat but dry the Sword on his back which is held in great Veneration Yea the Mountains are not without honour and if they did not pacifie their Anger by setting daily Presents of Meat and Drink thereon they believe they would bend their sullen Brows and as their High Tops threaten to scale Heaven would overwhelm the Earth and destroy them all Neither has Nature alone this priviledge but Art likewise is concerned in making Gods composed sometimes of filthy things as of a piece of putrified Earth anointed with Suet Grease and Oil of Palms with five or six Parrot Feathers upright in the middle to which morning and night they pay their Devotions when it Thunders Rains hard or the wind blows strong there is not one to be seen in the Streets all hide themselves in their Houses and cry The Gods of the Whites are angry The Devil is so dreadful to them they tremble at naming him and say he beats them and makes them do evil things for their Fetisso which every one carries about him some are only the ends of Horns filled with Dung others as the heads of some Creature and the like which their Priests sell them at their own price and pretend they found them under the Fetiche Tree When any one Dies they make a new Fetisso or Ring of Straw and conjure it to keep company and protect the dead in their Journey to the other World They lay the Corps on a Matt upon the ground wrapt in Woollen with a Stool covered with a Goat-skin under the head the body is then strowed with Ashes the Arms laid by its side and the Eyes open'd this continues half a day the best beloved Wife sitting by the Husband as the Husband doth by his first Wife crying Aury and wiping her Face with a wisp of Straw Other Women go round the House and Corps singing and beating on Basons The Eldest Morini or Gentleman goes from House to House with a Bason into which every one puts the value of Twelve Pence in Gold with this they buy a Cow with whole Blood the Fittessero or Priest appeaseth the Fetisso The Friends and Kindred assembling prepare a Hen and then seating themselves in a corner of the dead mans House they place all his Fetisso's or Gods on a row the greatest in the midst adorning them with Garlands of Pease and Beans and then sprinkle them with the Blood of the Hen and hang a Chain or Garland of Herbs about their Necks after this the Hen being boyl'd the VVomen set it in the midst of his Fetisso's and the Priest taking water into his Mouth amidst his Charms spits it out on the Fetisso's and plucking the Herbs from his Neck he makes a Ball of them wherewith he besmears his Face which Ball hereby is made a Fetisso and the Party deceased is now at rest In the mean time the dearest of his VVives fills all the House with Mourning the Neighbours and Friends assisting with Songs and Dances At length they take up the Corps and carry it to the Grave which is about four foot deep and covered with Stakes that nothing may fall therein The VVomen come about the Sepulchre and expostulate thus with him in a pitiful and lamenting voice Alas why didst thou dye Thou hadst so much VVheat so much Maiz thou wast beloved of thy Family and they had great care of thy Person why wouldst thou dye what have we deserved wherein have we offended thee what discontent have we ever given thee to oblige thee to leave us If he be a man they add Thou wert so valiant so generous thou hast overthrown so many Enemies thou hast behaved thy self gallently in so many Fights who shall now defend us from our Adversaries Wherefore then wouldst thou dye Others cry He is dead that brave Huntsman that excellent Fisherman that valiant Warriour that great destroyer of Portugals that generous Defender of our Countrey he is departed this VVorld Then they throw on a little Earth but none can get into the Corps for he hath with him his Houshold Stuff Armour and whatsoever he used in his life time and VVine too if he loved it to drink in the other VVorld Lastly they cover the Sepulchre with a Roof to defend all from Rain If the King dyes greater Solemnity is used yea his Nobles thinking so great a Personage ought to have Attendants one offers to him a Servant another a VVife a third his Son or Daughter even many of both Sexes to wait upon him all whom are suddenly slain and their Bloody Carcasses buried with him yea the Kings VVives who loved him best refuse not this last and everlasting Service but are willing to dye that they may again live with him The Heads of the Slain are set upon Poles round about the Sepulchre Meat Drink Cloths Arms and other Utensils are buried with them After the Funeral they go to the Sea and there use other Ceremonies some washing while others play on Basons and Instruments where the VViddow or VViddower is laid backward on the water with divers words of complaint at last they return back to the dead Mans House where they drink themselves drunk and wash away all further sorrow IV. Dickeys Cove THis Fort hath Ten Guns very good Saker and Minion It lies on the Southern Part of Guinea and hath four Palankers strongly built of Lime and Stone VVith a Garrison of Thirty white men besides Blacks and Mulattoes There is a Place called Cape Miserado by the Portugals either because it is incompassed with Rocks that lye under water and would inevitably destroy any Vessel which should come nearer than half a League or because the French who were formerly Massacred here cryed out Misericorde Misericorde Mercy Mercy Besides the Natives of this place being very cruel they have denominated the River and called it Duro as being hard and fatal to the Europeans The Government of this Countrey is absolute and unlimited Monarchy so that the King is the only and sole Judge in all Causes and though he
the Harbour where the Governour lives And about 300 paÌ„ces distant on the West of the Fort is a small Dutch Town of about 60 Houses low but well Built with Stone Walls from a Quarry close by The Countrey for near an 100 Mileâ—… up is pâ—…etty well setled with Farms and yeilds good Crops of Wheat Barley Pease c. to the industrioâ—… Dutch Families and also to a considerable â—…mber of 〈◊〉 Protestants some of whom Bless God that their King hath banished them their Native Countrey since they are now setled in a Lâ—…nd of â—…eace plenty and security There are great quantities of Grapes of which the French make excellent white wine of a pale yellow colour but sweet pleasant and strong There are also Cows Goats Hogs Horses and Sheep very large and fat Ducks Geese Hens and Turkeys are very numerous So are Ostriches who lay their Eggs in the Sâ—…nd one of which will very well suffice 2 men They have plenty of several sorts of Fish one not so big as a Herring of which they pickle great Quantities yearly and send them to Europe On the backside of the Town towards the mountains the Dutch East-India Company have a large House and a Garden 3 mile long incompassed with a high Stone Wall full of divers sorts of Herbs Flowers Roots and Fruits with spacious Gravel Walks and Arbours watered with a Brook which descends from the Mountains and being cut into many Channells is conveyed into all parts of the Garden This water is afterward in Pipes carried into the Sea so far that a Longboat may come under the Pipe which is raised to some height and by turning a Cock will fill all the Casks with fresh water with the greatest conveniency and is the best Watering Place in the World The Hedges that make the Walks of this Garden are very thick and 9 or 10 foot high They are kept heat and even by continual pruning They keep each sort of Fruit by themselves as Apples Pears Pomogranats and abundance of Quinces all which thrive well The Roots and Garden Herbs have also their distinct places hedged in apart which makes the whole extream pleasant and beautiful Great numbers of Negro Slaves are continually weeding and working therein All Strangers are allowed liberty to walk there but not to tast of the fruit without leave The Dutch that live in the Town get well by the Ships that touch there When the Men come ashoar to refresh themselves they must give 3s or a Dollar a day for their entertainment tho' Bread and Flesh is as cheap here as in England Besides they buy good penniworths of several Commodities from Seamen which they sell again to the Countrey Farmers at a dear rate none of which live within 20 Miles of the Harbour The high Tax that the Company lays upon drink makes it very dear There are but 3 Houses in the Town that sell strong liquor One where they sell only Wine and you must buy no where else but by stealth the Vintner paying a considerable price to the Company So that you may sometimes buy as much privately for 8d as you give 18d for there but if the Person that sold it be known he is ruined There is another House for Beer and Mum and a Third sells only Brandy and Tobacco The Natives or Hottentots do likewise fell Beef and Mutton privately at an under rate which else must be bought only of the Companies Butchers all others being prohibited buying of the Hottentots And so we leave the Cape of Good Hope The Factories of the Honourable East-India-Company in Persia. With an Account of the Religion Government and other notable Remarks in that Kingdom Also the Life and Doctrines of Mahomet the Grand Impostor HAving clear'd our way let us now Sail m rrily toward the Indies doubting first the Cape of Good Hope and then passing by Madagascar called also St. Lawrence one of the greatest Island in the World stored with all manner of Provisions but inhabited by a barbarous and Heathenish People yet stout warlike and very numerous Over against which on the Continent of Africa are Z fala and Mazambique where the Portugals have got footing and may be strongly supposed to be the places whither Solomon sent his Navy of Ships built at Eziongebar which stood on the Banks of the Red Sea in Arabia the Happy the Countrey of that famous Queen of the South who hearing of his Wisdom and Renown took her Journey thence to visit the Court of King Solomon From that place Solomon sent his Ships for Gold and Silver and Ivory coasting all along the African shore the Art of Navigation being then unknown And the Marriâ—…ers steering without Chart or Compass were necessitated to keep the Neighbouring Lands always in sight as doubtless they did these places being stored with those rich Commodities above other parts of Africa The Portugals Dutch and English discovered these Countries of India in the last Age and have since setled themselves by Forts and Castles there The Portugals first brakâ—… the Ice who in 1494. sailing from Lisbon under Vasco de Gama doubled the Cape of Good Hope and succeeded so well as to Conquer and Fortify several places in many Countreys of Asia and the Islands thereof In 1595. the Dutch set out a Fleet from Amsterdam to India wherein they used such extraordinary dexterity with their Cannon Law and Steel Arguments that they made themselves Masters of 28 Forts and Castles and of forty four or forty five Factories in a short time In 1600. the English began their Discoveries under Sir Iames Lancaster with four Ships whose endeavours were so blest and by the good Government of the Honourable East-India-Company prospered so well that they setled their Residence and Factories in twenty four several plaees of note as at Ormus and Iasques in the entrance of the Persian Gulf under the Persian Monarch At Cambaja Surat Agria and other places in the Great Mogols Countrey At Maslapatan Armagon Petipoly Pattana Siam and other places on the Coast of Cormandel and the Continent of Asia At Achin Ticko Iambo Prianian on the Isle of Sumatra At Bantam Iacatra and Iaparra on the Island of Iava At Socodana and Beniermasa on the Island of Borneo At Macassar in the Isle of Celebs At Poleroon on the Isle of Banda At Firando in Iapan And lastly at Amhonio Hitto and other of the Molucco's which they quietly enjoyed till our covetous Neighbours deprived us of some of them and others were deserted on several accounts The honourable the East-India Company was incorporated in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and hath been confirmed with divers Immunities added to their Charter by all the succeeding Kings so that now they have as ample Priviledges as any Company whatsoever and are found beneficial to the Nation by the great Trade they drive in Importing so many rich Commodities from India Persia and Arabia They export from hence Peices of Eight Dollars Broad cloaths Perpetuana's Gunpowder
secretly bribed those Factors to carry their Passengers and Merchants aboard their own Ships and not the English obliging them to Trade only with the Dutch Which Craft the English perceiving used the same Arts to ingage the Factors to themselves so that out-vying each other these Brokers commonly gained to themselves six or seven per Cent. to the vast prejudice of all Trade upon these Coasts since this ill Custom must be kept up by all Succeeding European Merchants It was observed that many Negro Merchants who dwelt up in the Countrey coming to buy Wares of the Dutch with great quantities of Gold and divers Slaves thirty or more according to their Quality to carry back the Goods they should purchase and taking their Lodgings in the Houses of these Brokers whom they acquainted with their full Commissions and Intentions and to whom they delivered their Gold these Factors would go aboard the Flemish Ships with them to Trade and Barter and if the Negro Merchants were not skilled in the Portugal Tongue these Brokers would bid the Hollanders not to speak the Morisco Language to them because they Inhabited far within the Land thereby giving the Dutch the watch-word that they meant to deceive their Countreymen and afterward divide the Spoil so that the knaviâ—…h Factor connived at the extravagant prizes of the Hollanders to draw the more Gold from the Merchant whom he likewise cheated sometimes by putting some of his Gold into his Mouth Ears or otherwise which the Merchant Negro finding wanting in the Scale adds to the Cheat himself by blowing into the Christians Ballance to make it weight The bargain being finished and the Negro again landed the Factor returns back to the Ship to share his ill got gains with the Flemings This way of proceeding was very detrimental to the English and other Christians Trading on these Coasts so that unless they connive with these Factors their Voyage will be lost and their Goods unsold In 1553. Thomas Windam and Anthony Pintado a Portugal in two English Ships Traded along these Coasts as far as Benin where they presented themselves to the King who sate in a great Hall the Walls whereof were made of Earth without Windows the Roof of thin Boards open in divers places his Nobles never look him in the Face but sit with their Buttocks on the ground and their hands before their Faces not looking up till the King commands them when they depart they go backward turning their Faces still toward him The next year Captain Iohn Lock Sailed into these Parts to Trade for Gold and Elephants Teeth And after him Captain Towerson made several Voyages thither who at the River of St. Vincent observed a kind of Pease growing on the Shore like Trees with stalks twenty seven paces long At Cape Tres Puntas they made him Swear by the Water of the Sea that he would not hurt them before they would Trade with him Aban a Negro King treated them kindly with a Pot of Palm or Coco-Wine which they draw out of Trees The People are handsom and well proportioned having nothing disagreeable in their Countenances but the blackness of their Complexion some of them have flattish Noses all little Ears the People go all Naked till they are married and then are clothed from the middle to the knees At the Marriage of their Daughters they give half an Ounce of Gold to buy Wine for the Wedding the Bride in the presence of her Friends swears to be true to her Husband which the man doth not who have as many Wives as they can maintain yet the first has this preheminence so that he can never take another but by her permission but because the multitude of Wives and Children are counted the greatest honour and riches in that Countrey they often perswade their Husbands to take more and glory therein the first Wife likewise has the priviledge to lye with her Husband three Nights successively whilst the rest must be content only with one so that they live very quietly together A Merchant or Captain will have thirty or forty the King of Benin had six hundred wherewith he went in Solemn Procession every year The King of Fetu's Son had fourteen Sons and twelve Daughters and kept an hundred Slaves to wait upon them At Cape Gonsalvo they pink and colour their bodies and offer their Wives to Strangers The King uses his own Daughters when grown up as Wives and the Queens with the like incestuous abomination make use of their own Sons Their Women are unfaithful Discoverers of Natures hidden secrets not being ashamed to be delivered publickly in the sight of Men Boys and Girls They circumcise both Sexes after Travel they accompany not their Husbands in three months As soon as she is delivered they give her a drink made of Rice Mays Water Wine and Mallaguett like our Pepper after which she lyes warm three or four hours and then rises washes her self and Child and so falls to her work as before Next they give it a name usually of some Christian they are obliged to then wrapping it in a kind of Blanket or Skin they lay it upon Rushes where it continues above five weeks then the Mother tyes it to a board and carries it on her back with the Legs under her arm-pits and the hands tyed about her neck where it hangs all day and never comes off till it goes to bed and yet few or none prove lame or deformed notwithstanding the shaking of their bodies they give them the breast over their shoulders and this may be the reason of the flatness of their Noses by their knocking them continually against the Back and Shoulders of the Mother while she is walking or at work for it is observed that the Children of their Gentry whose Mothers do not labour nor carry their Infants about them have very comely Noses they wash and rub their Children every Morning with Oil of Palms When they are seven or eight years old they hang a Net about their Necks made of the Bark of a Tree full of Fetiches or little Gods to secure them from the Devil who they believe would else carry them away They hang their Hair full of Shells and Coral about the Arms and Legs with several Feticho's of different qualities one being an Antidote against Vomiting a second against dangerous Falls a third prevents Bleeding a fourth causes Sleep a fifth secures them against Wild Beasts and the like giving to each Fetisso a different name They soon learn to speak go and swim When they are born they are not black but red About seven year old they learn to spin Thred make Nets and go a Fishing with their Fathers and feed as they do picking up any nasty thing in the Streets which they eat with good Appetites The Boys and Girls are all naked which makes them have no sense of shame or modesty they being neither reproved nor corrected by their Parents They are excellent at Swimming even at this Age
so that if their Canoe overset at Sea ther are very little concerned all of them swimming back again to the place from whence they came and consequently they can Dive with great dexterity and fetch up any thing from the bottom About twelve their Fathers instruct them how to make a Canoe and catch Fish The Merchants bring their Sons acquainted with Europeans and with the Mystery of Trade At eighteen they begin to set up for themselves two or three together hiring a House and purchasing a Canoe they then cover their Nudities grow amorous and their Fathers look out Wives for them The Girls clean the Houses pick the Rice beat the Mays make the Bread clean the Kitchen buy and sell at Market make Baskets of Rushes and Matts which they weave extream curiously but their chief care is to provide Meat and Drink for their Parents secure their Goods and all other kinds of good Huswifry when grown up they are very lascivious and boast of their Gallantries especially with Strangers whom they seem to affect above their own Men They are very careful to keep their Teeth white have Wit enough but are very wanton with the Young Fellows stark naked to please whom they wash comb and plait their hair with great curiosity some paint their Foreheads and Eyebrows red and white and hang Pendants in their Ears all love Ribbons especially red they have Necklaces of Coral and Bracelets upon their Wrists Arms and Legs when they go abroad they weare a piece of Silk Taffaty or other Stuff wrapt about from the breast to the midleg and have always a great bunch of Keys though never a Coffer nor Trunk to open the Virgins make it their whole business to appear acceptable especially to white men and are seldom barren before though not very fruitful after Marriage For many years the English frequenting these Coasts made little benefit thereby for the Inhabitants perceiving their Gold so earnestly desired by all Nations set such a rate thereon and having been often beguiled they grew more wary in their bargaining and to the measure and goodness of their Commodities and though at first they knew no distinction of Christians but thought the Portugals and all other white men to be of the same Nation yet they have since learned the particular manners and dealing of each Countrey and have found the fairest Trade from the English who are therefore most welcome to them and speed best of any other Nation Especially since the Traders into these parts were Incorporated by their Charter dated Ian. 20. 1662. and intituled The Company of Royal Adventurers of England Trading into Africa or the Guinea Company The Limits of their Trade being from Sally in South Barbary to Cape de bona Esperanza or the Cape of Good Hope within which Limits all English Ships are prohibited to Trade unless Authorized by them The Commodities exported by the Royal Company to Africa are Iron Copper Slesias Sheets Says Perpetuana's Cowries Welch Plains Manillos Boysades Chints Romberges Coral Callico's Nicanies Clouts Amber Powder Muskets Batteries of all sorts Buckshaws Knives and Sheaths Swords Tallow c. For which they import from thence to England Gold Elephants Teeth Hides Malagueta or Ginny Pepper Red Wood Ambergreece with several other good Commodities besides numbers of Negroes for supplying the American Plantations to their great advantage The Royal African Company have Erected the following Forts and Castles upon the Coast for Securing their Commerce On the North Part of Guinea I Iames Fort in the River Gambia II. The Fort of Sierna Leona in Bence Island III. Sherbrow in York Island On the South Part of Guinea IV. Dickies Cove V. Comenda VI. Cape Coast Castle VII Fort Royal VIII Annamabo IX Winnebah X. Acra I. Iames Fort. THis Fort was formerly secured with eight Peices of Cannon but was demolished by the French in the late War It is now rebuilding much stronger and designed to have ninety Guns and a Garrison of Two Hundred and Fifty Europeans besides Negro's and Mulatto's The Government of this Place is reckoned worth about Two Thousand pound a year It is Scituate near Cape Verde so called from its continual greenness which makes it a delectable place being a Promontory which throws it self into the Sea covered with green Trees and causing a beautiful Prospect by reason of their evenness seeming as if planted by a line the Natives have generally small Bellies long Legs broad Feet long Toes sharp Sight quick Wits are Envious curiously Neat Thieves Letcherous subject to the Pox of which as well as their Pudenda they are not the least ashamed yet hold breaking wind backward a great incivility and wondred at the Hollanders for offering them such contempt They have Stomachs like Estridges as appears by their strange and usual repasts when they go to Market they wash from Head to Foot and put on other Cloths They buy only for one day Their Bread is made by stamping their Millet as we do Spice in a woodden dish steeping it over night with a little Maiz and in the morning laying it on a stone they grind it with another stone as Painters do their Colours till it be dough which they then temper with fresh Water and Salt and make Rolls thereof twice so big as a mans Fist baking them a little on the Hearth and then eat them Their Viands are raw flesh handfuls of Corn large draughts of Aqua Vitae Dogs Catts Buffles Elephants though stinking like Carrion and a thousand Magots crawling on them They have little Birds like Bullfinches which hang their Nests on the small ends of branches of Trees for fear of Snakes these they eat alive Feathers and all The Negro's say that up in the Countrey they eat dried Snakes and the guts of Dogs raw which our Author hath seen and a Boy who was left on Ship-board in pawn for Money would privately kill the Hens that he might eat the raw Guts They likewise eat raw stinking Fish dried in the Sun yet can dispence with dainties when they have them They make a kind of Ale of Mays and Water boyl'd together and putting it into a Vessel as large as a Kilderkin four or five place themselves round and drink it off each sending a little Pot full to his best beloved Wife They lay their hands upon the Head of him that drinks and cry aloud thrice Tautosi He must not drink off all but leave a little to throw on the ground to his Fetisso saying I ou spouting out some on the Arms and Legs of their Fetisso's supposing that otherwise they should not drink in quiet They are great drinkers and feed as unmannerly as Swine sitting on the ground not swallowing one Morsel after another but tear their meat to pieces and throw it into their Mouths which stand gaping to receive it they are always hungry and would eat all day long Yea the Europeans have great Appetites while they are there He that gets most drinks most
a Cloud they intercept the Sun and having eaten the fruits and leaves they leave their spawn behind who are worse than themselves devouring the very barks of the naked Trees Orosius says that one time after they had done all this mischief they did worse by their deaths for being carried by a strong wind into the Sea and again cast up dead on the Shore their putrified Carcases caused such a Pestilence that in Numidia only there died eight hundred thousand and on the Sea coast near Utica and Carthage two hundred thousand In some places they forced the People to leave the Countrey it being so desart and destroyed that they left nothing to sustain them and lookt as if it had snowed by reason of the Trees without barks The fields of Maiz were as if trodden down after a Tempest of Rain and Thunder they lay above two yards thick upon the Rivers Bank In the River Nilus in the time of Mauricius the Emperour at the place where Grand Cario now standeth a Giant-like Monster was seen from the bottom of his belly upward he appeared like a Man with Flaxen hair frowning Countenance and strong Limbs After he had continued in the view of multitudes three hours there came out of the VVater another like a VVoman with a comely Face part of her black hair hanging down and part gathered into a knot her face was fair rosie Lips fingers and breasts well composed the rest of her body hid under water from Morning to Sun-set they fed their greedy Eyes with this spectacle which then sunk down into the water and was never seen more X. Acra THis is a Strong Fort erected all of Stone and consists of 4 Palankers 25 Guns and 70 white men besides Blacks Mr. Ogilby in his History of Africa names several other Places belonging to the Royal African Company as Madre Bomba Cormantyn Ianasia Eniacham Rio Nuno Rio Grande Serbro Cestos Achin Auta Ardra Benin with Old and New Calabar But I am assured that these mine aforementioned are all the Castles and Forts of which they are possest at this time This Countrey unknown to the Ancients is properly a part of Negroland and called Guinea from the heat hereof The Air is so extream hot and unwholsome especially to strangers many of whom live but a short time after their arrival that were it not for the Rains and Coolness of the Nights it would be altogether uninhabitable It is governed by several Sovereigns the Chief of whom is called Emperor of Guinea to whom divers other Kings and Princes are subject The Capital City is Arda Next to him is the King of Benin esteemed a powerful Prince having several large Territories subject to him Upon the Death of her Husband in the kingdom of Benin the Wife is absolutely subject to her own Son if she have any and cannot be sold for a Slave without leave from the King A late Author gives the following List of the Forts Factories and Places of Trade wherein the Royal African Company are concerued on the Coast of Guinea On the Golden Coast. James Fort in an Island in the River Gambia Sierra Leona upon Bence Island On the Coast of Malaguette Sherborow in York Island Druwâ—…n On the Quaqua Coast Rio de St. Andro Ieaque Ieaque C St Apolonia Aymo in Comore Bay Succundo Cabo Corso Fredecht Burg sold to us by the Danes Annishan unfortifi'd Anmamabou Aggau of no defence In the Kingdom of Loango Moango Mulemba Cabenda The Captivity and Deliverance of John Watts an Englishman from Slavery under the King of the Buckamores and the King of Calanach near Old Mallabar in Guinea HAving met with the following Relation I shall conclude the Account of Guinea therewith In 1668 An English Ship bound for Guinea Sailing to Old Calabar they entred a River called the Cross-River into Pirats-Island after they had taken in their Negro's and were ready to Sail the Master called up the Boatswain and three Men more to look out the Copper Bars that were left and carry them on Shore to sell The Boatswain with his small Company desired they might have Arms not believing they were so harmless a People as reported they took with them three Musquets and a Pistol and so rowed toward the Shore but their Match unhappily fell into the Water and the Ship being fallen down lower toward the Sea quite out of sight and they ashamed to go back without dispatching their business Iohn Watt's went ashore to the first House to light the match but before he was twenty Rods from the Water side he was seized on by two Blacks or rather Tawny-Moores and by them haled half a Mile up into the Countrey and thrown with great violence upon his Belly and so compelled to lye till they stript him and more Company coming they were so eager for his poor Canvas Apparel that some they tore off others they cut off and with that several pieces of his flesh to his intolerable pain With these Rags they made little Aprons to cover their Privities clothing being very scarce there The Boatswain seeing Watts carried away resolved with his two Companions to venture their Lives to have him again and arming themselves they were suddenly beset with a dosen men in several Canoes but they valiantly maintained their Boat three hours for after two or three Musquets were discharged they defended themselves with their Oars and Boat hooks The Boatswain received a mortal wound in his Groin and fell down in the Boat the other two adventured into the River endeavouring by swimming to escape the Hands of these cruel Infidels but the Negro's with their swift Canoes soon overtook them and brought them on Shore to the other They took the Boatswain out of the Boat and instead of endeavouring to preserve what Life remained in him one of them with a keen Weapon instantly cut off his Head And while he was yet reeking in his Blood they in a barbarous manner cut off pieces of Flesh from his Buttocks Thighs Arms and Shoulders and broil d them on the Coals and with much impatience eat it before his Companions Faces to their great astonishment About a Fortnight after one of the Company fell sick And instead of being his Physicians to cure him they were his Butchers to Murther him cutting off his Head and broiling and eating his Flesh rejoicing exceedingly at this rich Banquet Ten days after the other fell sick whom they used in the very same manner Watts continued still in Health though the Natives daily expected such another Banquet because it seems it is not their Custom to kill those that are well and so resolved to sâ—…ll him his Master was free to discourse especially since he had before learned the Tata Language in the West-Indies which is easily attained being comprehended in few words and all the Negro's speak it He began to discourse his Master of the reason of their cruelty who told him he should be content for if he were not
placed between a Negro's Legs with others to guide this small Vessel for fear he should leap over-board and swim to the Ship At a distance he haled her in English to the great surprizal of those within her the Negro's let him stand up and show himself to the Captain to whom he gave an Account hoâ—… four were left there and he only remained alive It was some time before they bargained though the Captain was resolved not to leave him behind Several times the Negro's padled away with their Canoe resolving not to part with him but what with his intreaties and promises he perswaded them to the Ship again and at last they delivered him on board for forty five Copper and Iron Bars about the bigness of a mans Finger When he came on board his Hair was long and his Skin tawny like a Mulatto having gone naked all the time he was there and usually anointed himself with Palm-Oyl The Sea men charitably apparalel'd him and he arrived safely in England with a thankful Heart for so happy a deliverance And here I shall conclude the view of Guinea A View of St. Helena an Island in the Ethiopian Ocean in Africa Now in possession of the Honourable East-India-Company where their Ships usually refresh in their Indian Voyages With an account of the Admirable Voyage of Domingo Gonsales the Little Spaniard to the World in the Moon by the help of several Ganza's or Large Geese An Ingenious Fancy written by a late Learned Bishop BEfore I come to relate the Acquisitions of the English in India c. I will make a halt at St. Hellens or Hellena which is now possest by the Honourable East-India-Company It is called the Sea Inn because the English and other Nations stop there as a place for watering and refreshment in their Long Voyages to India It was formerly seized by the Dutch but retaken May 6th 1673 by Captain Munday with a Squadron of English Ships and 3 Rich Dutch East-India Ships made Prizes in the Harbor since which the Company have fortified and secured it against any future invasion of Dutch Portuguese or Spaniards It was called Santa Helena by the Portuguese who discovered it on St. Hellens Day being April 2. There is no Island in the World so far distant from the Continent or main Land as this It is about Sixteen Leagues in Compass in the Ethiopick-Sea in 16 Degrees of South Latitude about 1500 Miles from the Cape of Good Hope 360 from Angola in Africa and 510 from Brasile in America It lyes high out of the Water and surrounded on the Sea-coasts with steep Rocks having within many Cliffs Mountains and Valleys of which one is named Church-Valley where behind a small Church they climb up to the Mountains To the South is Apple-Dale so called from the abundance of Oranges Lemons and Pomegranats enough to furnish five or six Ships On the West side of the Church Ships have good Anchorage close under the Shore to prevent the Winds which blow fiercely from the adjacent high Mountains The Air seems temperate and healthful so that sick men brought ashore there in a short time recover Yet the heat in the Valleys is as intollerable as the cold upon the Mountains It commonly rains there five or six times a day so that the barenness of the Hills is not occasioned for want of Water of which it hath two or three good Springs for furnishing Ships with fresh Water The ground of its own accord brings forth wild Pease and Beans also whole Woods of Orange Lemon and Pomegranat Trees all the year long laden both with Blossoms and Fruit good Figs abundance of Ebony and Rose-trees Parsly Mustard-seed Purslain Sorrel and the like The Woods and Mountains are full of Goats large Rams and wild Swine but difficult to be taken When the Portuguese discovered it they found neither four-footed Beasts nor Fruit-trees but only fresh Water They afterward planted Fruit-trees which so increased since that all the Valleys stand full of them Partridges Pigeons Moor-hens and Peacocks breed here numerously whereof a good Marksman may soon provide a Dinner for his Friends On the Cliff-Islands on the South are thousands of grey and black Mews or Sea-Pies and white and coloured Birds some with long others with short Necks who lay their Eggs on the Rocks and suffer themselves to be taken with the Hand gazeing at their Surprizers till they are knocked on the Head with sticks From the salt-Salt-Water 〈◊〉 against the Clâ—…s a 〈◊〉 or Scum remains in some places which the heat of the Sâ—…n so purifies that it becomes white and good Salt some of the Mountains yield Bole Armonâ—…ck and a fat Earth like Terra Lemnia The Sea will answer the pains of a patient 〈◊〉 who must use an Angle not a Net because of the foul ground and beating of the waves the chief are Mackrâ—… Roach â—…p but differing in colour from those among us Eâ—…s as big as a mans Arm and well tasted Crabs Lobsters Oysters and Mussels as good as English IT is in this Island that the Scene of that notable fancy called The Man in the Moon or a discourse of a Voyage thither by 〈◊〉 Gonsales is lay'd written by a Learned Bishop saith the ingenious Bishop Wilkins who calls it a pleasant and well contrived fancy in his own Book intitaled A Discourse of the New World tending to prove that it is possible there may be another habitable World in the Moon Wherein among other curious arguments he affirms that this hath been the direct opinion of divers ancient and some Modern Mathematicians and may probably be deduced from the Tenents of others neither does it contradict any Principle of reason nor Faith And that as their World is our Moon so our World is theirs Now this small Tract having so worthy a Person to vouch for it and many of our English Historians having published for Truth what is almost as improbable as this as Sr. Iohn Mandavil in his Travels and others and this having what they are utterly destitute of that is Invention mixed with Judgment and was judged worthy to be Licensed 50 years ago and not since reprinted whereby it would be utterly lost I have thought fit to republish the Substance thereof wherein the Author says he does not design to discourse his Readers into a belief of each particular circumstance but expects that his new discovery of a New World may find little better entertainment than Columbus had in his first discovery of America though yet that pâ—…r espial betrayed so much knowledge as hath since increast to vast Improvements and the â—…en Unknown is now found to be of as large extent as all the other known World That there should be Antipodes was once thought as great a Paradox as now that the Moon should be habitable But the knowledge of it may be reserved for this our discovering Age wherein our Virtuosi can by their Telescopes gaze the Sun into Spots and dâ—…ry Mountains in the
Shock they all arose carrying me fortunately to the Land of which you need not doubt but I was very joyful though it was a miserable fight to behold my Friends and acquaintance in that woâ—…ul distress of whom yet many escaped better than they expected for the English lanching out their Cock-boats discovered more generous tempers than we are pleased to allow them taking compassion of their calamity and endeavouring with all diligence to save them from the fury of the Waves though with much danger to themselves among others they took up our Captain who as Father Pacio since told me having put himself with twelve others into the Cock-boat was forced to yield to one Captain Raymundo who carried him and our Pilot along with them in their Voyage to the East-Indies whither they were bound but it was their hard fate by a breach of the Sea neer Cape Buona Esperanca to be swallowed of the Merciâ—…ess Waves whose Rage they a while before had so hardly escaped The rest as I likewise heard who were about twenty six Persons they took into their Ship and set them a land at Cape Verde As for my self being now ashoar in an Island inhabited by Spaniards I reckoned I was safe but found my self mistaken for it was my hap to pitch upon that part of the Isle where the Pike begins to rise which is inhabited by a Savage People who live upon the sides of that Hill the top whereof is for the most part covered with Snow and formerly accounted for its Steepness inaccessible either for man or Beast yet these Salvages fearing the Spaniards keep as neer the top as they can never coming down into the fruitful valleys but to seek for Booty a crew of these Out-Laws happened to spy me soon after I landed and thinking they had got a prize approacht me with all speed I guest their design before they came within half a Mile when perceiving them come down the Hill directly toward me with long slaves and other Weapons I thought it necessary to secure my self from these Villains who out of hatred to us Spaniards would have cut me to peices The Countrey was Sandy but the Pike beginning to lift up it self I espled in the side a white Cliff which I hoped my Ganza's would take for a Mark and being put up would make all that way whereby I might be carried so far that those Barbarous Raskals should not overtake me before I got to some Spaniards House or hid my self till by the covert of the night I might travel to Laguna the chief City of the Island three Miles off So I setled my self upon my Engine and let loose the Reins to my Gansa's who by good fortune took all one course though not just the way I aimed at But what of that O Reader prick up thy Ears and prepare thy self to hear the strangest chance that ever happened to any Mortal and which I know thou wilt not have the grace to believe till thou seest the like Experiment which I doubt not in a short time may be performed My Gansa's like so many Horses that had gotten the bit between their Teeth made not their flight toward the Cliff I intended though I used my wonted means to direct the Leader of the Flock that way but with might and main took up toward the top of the Pike and never stopt till they came there a place in vulgar estimation though since experimentally contradicted fifteen Miles in height What kind of place this was I would gladly relate but that I hasten to matters of greater Importance When I was set down there my poor Gansa's fell to panting blowing and gaping for breath as if they would all have died so I did not trouble them a while forbearing to draw them in which they never use to indure without strugling but little did I expect what followed It was now the season that these Birds take their flight away as our Cuâ—…ko's and Swallows do in Spain toward Autumn and as I afterward found being mindful of their usual Voyage just when I began to settle my self to take them in they with one consent rose up and having no other higher place to make toward to my unspeakable fear and amazement struck bolt upright and never left towring upward still higher and higher for the space as I guest of an Hour after which I thought they laboured less than before till at length Ah wonderful they remained immoveable as steadily as if they had sate upon so many perches the lines slacked neither I nor the Engine moved at all but continued still as having no manner of weight I found then by Experience what no Philosopher ever dream't of namely that those things we call heavy do not fall toward the center of the Earth as their natural place but are drawn by a secret property of the Globe of the Earth or rather something within it as the Load-stone draweth Iron which is within the Compass of its attractive Beams For though my Gansa's could continue unmoved without being sustained by any thing but the Air as easily and quietly as a Fish in the Water yet if they forced themselves never so little it is impossible to imagine with what swiftness they were carried either upward downward or side ways I must ingenuously confess my horrour and amazement in this place was such that had I not been arm'd with a true Spanish Resolution I should certainly have died for fear The next thing that disturb'd me was the swiftness of the motion which was so extraordinary that it almost stopt my breath if I should liken it to an Arrow out of a Bow or a Stone thrown down from the top of an high Tower it would come vastly short of it Another thing was exceeding troublesom to me that is the Illusions of Devi's and Wicked Spirits who the first day of my arrival came about me in great numbers in the likeness of Men and Women wondring at me like so many Birds about an Owl and speaking several Languages which I understood not till at last I met with some that spoke good Spanish some Dutch and others Italian all which I understood And here I had only a touch of the Suns absence once for a short time having him ever after in my sight Now though my Gansa's were entangled in my lines yet they easily seized upon divers kinds of Flies and Birds especially Swallows and Cuckoes whereof there were multitudes even like Motes in the Sun though I never saw them eat any thing at all I was much obliged to those whether Men or Devils I know not who among divers discourses told me If I would follow their Directions I should not only be carried safe home but be assured to command at all times all the pleasures of that place To which motion not daring to give a flat denial I desired time to consider and withal intreated them though I felt no hunger at all which may seem strange to help
Elephants Teeth Lead Amber Looking-Glasses Sizars Knives Beads Bracelets Feathers Coral Quicksilver Vermillion Allom Brimstone and many others For which they Import all sorts of Spices Cotton-yarn Callicoes Pintadoes Tamerinds Sanders Spikenard Bezoar Alloes Mirrhe Rubarb Opium Frankincense Cassia Borax Calamus Mirabolans Green Ginger Sugars Sugar Candy Camphire Sandal Wood Benjamin Musk Civet Ambergreece Rice Indico Silks both Raw and Wrought Salt Petre Precious Stones of several sorts Pearl Mother of Pearl Gold Silver Christal Cornelian Rings Agats Lacqure Furrs and Skins of Wild Beasts Porcelane Copper China Roots Tea Sanguis Draconis China Wares of divers sorts with several other Commodities and Drugs Of Ispahan or Spawhawn and Gambroon in the Kingdom of Persia. DEsigning to give some Account of Persia wherein these Factories are setled I shall begin with Ispahan This is the Capital City of all Persia and the Residence of the King being in the Center of his Empire scituate in a great Plain which extends 3 ways 15 or 20 Leagues healthy and pleasant beautified with stately Pallaces delicious Gardens magnificent Piazza's and wealthy Bazars or Market-places only the Streets are narrow and dark to prevent the burning Rays of the Sun and annoyed with Loads of Ordure and Filth In the Summer dusty and in the Winter dirty In this City the East-India Company have a Factory as also at Bussora Gambroon or Gomrow is a City of great Commerce guarded with 2 Castles wherein are planted 80 Brass Cannon The Air is so hot and unwholsome that no Stranger can live there above 3 or 4 Months in the Year but retire to the Mountains 2 or 3 days Journey off All Nations that Traffick upon the Indian Seas and the Land Caravans carry Commodities thither and bring from thence Velvets Raw Silk and other Persian Goods This City of Gombroon where the English have a Factory is risen upon the Ruins of Ormus as you will hear which besng once the Staple of the Eastern World and where we once had a famous Factory I shall give some account of it Ormus is an Island in the Persian Gulf about 20 Miles in compass Stony and full of Rocks and in a manner barren of all Necessaries except Salt wherewith the very Rocks are covered and of Salt Stone many Houses built So destitute of all things fitting for the Life of Man that they had their Victuals yea the Water they drank from the adjoining Countreys the Summer so hot that the People rest in Caves covered with Wood and stand or sit in Water up to the Chin and have Loopholes in their Houses to let in the Wind yet in regard of the Scituation it was one of the richest Empories in the World the Wealth of Persia and India being brought thither and conveyed hence by Water to the River Euphrates and so by Boats or on Camels Backs to Aleppo Alexandria Tripoly and thence dispersed into all the Countries of the Mediterranean Sea The only City was of the same name with the Island founded 700 years ago by Mahomet Danku descended from the Kings of Saba in Arabia Felix who with many Families of the Sabeans passed over the Streights into Carmenia and the Isles adjoining and liking the Scituation of this Island built this City in it which he called Ormus or Armuzium the name of the Promontory wherein it lies It was seated at one end of the Isle about 2 Miles in compass well built with a fair Market place some Churches and a well fortified Castle furnished for a Siege by reason of its wealth and resort of Merchants grown to such esteem that it gave occasion to this distich Si terrarum Orbis quaequa patet Annulus esset Illius Ormusium Gemma decusque foret Were all the World a Ring this Isle alone Might of that Ring be thought to be the Stone It was first under its own King whose Dominion extended also to some part of the Continent on either side and over all the rest of the Islands within the Gulf His revenue was of no great yearly due till the coming of the Portugals thither by whom it was discovered under the Conduct of Albukerque in 1509. Who having fortified some part of it for their own defence made it the Staple of Trade for Indian Merchandize which so inricht the same that the Revenues of those Kings though Vassals and Tributaries to the Portugals amounted to an Hundred and Forty Thousand Seriffs yearly In this flourishing state it stood till 1622. when Abbas the Sultan of Persia having received some affronts from the Portuguess or desirous to remove the Trade from Ormus to some Port of his own gave Order to Emangoli Chan the Duke of Shiras to besiege it with Fifteen Thousand Men Who despairing of prevailing by his Land Forces only furnished himself with Ships and Cannon of some English Merchants to whom he promised many things which he never performed For being once Master of the City he utterly destroyed it removing the Canon to Lar the Wealth thereof to his own Treasury at Shiras and the Materials of the Houses to Gombroon the Portuguess and Christian Natives passing over to Muskat in Arabia Felix Since which though the English Captains that ventured in it were disappointed of the Rewards they expected yet so much Honour hath been given by the King of Persia to the English Nation that the Agent who resides at Gombroon takes Custom of all Strangers who Traffick thither The Religion of the Persians With the Life and Doctrines of Mahomet the Grand Impostor THE Persians are generally Mahometans of the Sophian Sect and the difference and hatred is so great between them and the Turks though both own Mahomet for their Law-giver that they are absolutely irreconcileable Now because this horrible Impostor has infatuated so great a part of the World with his blasphemous Dotages I will here give a breif Account of his Life and also of his Doctrine as it is comprehended in his Holy Book as they call it or the Alcoran Mahomet the Son of Abdalla an Idolatrous Pagan was born after his Fathers death at Iaâ—…hrip an obscure Village of Arabia Foelix but now become a City called Medina Talnahi or the Town of the Prophet to which a multitude of Mahometans go in Pilgrimage every Year His Mother named Hemina was a perverse Jewess both by Birth and Religion who dying when he was but 2 Years old left him to the caâ—…e of his Uncle Abdal Muâ—…alib He unable to give him any other Education than the Irreligion and Ignorance of his Countrey afforded him sold him at 10 Years of Age to the Ishmaelites after the barbarous Customs of the Arabians who exposing him to Sale in the open Market he was bought by one Abdal 〈◊〉 wealthy Merchant By him he was imployed as a Slave in all Servile Offices till observing his great Wit and fitness for better Services he at last used him as his Factor sending him with his Camels and Loads of Merchandize into Syria Persia
himself being so ambitious of praise that he would hear more than he could possibly deserve yet had he not fallen into the smart hands of the Wits of those times he might have passed better On a time a Merchant who came from England met Tom. Crryat travelling toward East-India and told him that when he was in England King Iames I. inquired after him and when he had certified him of his meeting him the King replyed Is that Fool yet living our Pilgrim was much concerned because the King spake no more nor better of him saying that Kings would speak of poor men what they pleased Another time the English Ambassador gave him a Letter with a Bill to receive ten pound to the Counsul of Aleppo wherein were these words Sir when you shall hand these Letters I desire you to receive the Bearer of them Mr. Thom. Coryat with Courtesy for you shall find him a very honest poor Wretch and further I must intreat you to furnish him with ten pounds which shall be repay'd c. Our Pilgrim liked the gift well but the Language much displeased him saying That my Lord Ambassador had even spoiled his Courtesy in the carriage thereof so that if he had been a very Fool indeed he could have said very little less of him than he did to call him honest poor Wretch and to say no more of him was tâ—… say as much as nothing and his favour does rather trouble than please me when I was at Venice said he a Person of Honour wrote thus on my behalf to Sr. Hen. Wotton then Ambassador there My Lord good Wine needs no Bush neither a worthy man Letters Commendatory because whithersoever he goes he is his own Epistle this said he was some Language on my behalf At length his Letter was phrased to his mind but he never lived to receive his money A little before his death he seem'd apprehensive thereof for swounding away once upon his recovery he declared the occasion was for fear he should die in the way toward Surat whither he intended to go and be buried in obscurity and none of his Friends know what became of him he travelling now as he usually did alone Upon which the Ambassador willed him to stay longer which he thankfully refused and presently turned his face for Surat which was then about three hundred English Miles distant and lived to come safe thither where being over-kindlâ—… treated by some English who gave him Sack which they had brought from England he calling for it as soon as he heard of it and Crying Sack Sack is there such a thing as Sack pray give me some Sack and drinking of it though not immoderately being very temperate it increased his Flux that he had then upon him which caused him in a few days after his tedious and troublesome Travels for he went most on foot to come at this place to his Iourneys end for here he overtook death Dec. 1617. and was buried at Swalley under a little Monument likt those in our Church-yards The Factories of the Honourable East-India Company in the Island of Sumatra SUmarra is accounted one of the largest Eastern Islands in length about 700 and in breadth above 200 where the English have two very considerable Factories named Achen and York Fort. York Fort. IT lyes to Leagues from the Continent of Asia Six Kings command therein the King of Acheen is best known to us They have so well defended their Island that the Europeans could never erect any Fort or Castle in it There is a Mountain that casts forth Fire like Mount Etna The Pepper here is better than that of Malabar because the Land is more moist They find Gold in Grains and in little peices after great Flouds of Water The Inland Countrey is inhabited by Barbarians who kill and eat the Bodies of their Enemies being seasoned with Pepper and Salt The City of Acheen is the best in the Island lying half a League from the Sea upon a Plain by the side of a very shallow River upon the bank thereof there is a Fortress built Our English first setled their Trade here in the reign of Q Elizabeth whose name was then famous for her expoits against the Spaniards The Q. Letters to this King were received with much Pomp the King entertained the Messenger with a Banquet presented him with a Robe and a peice of Callicoe wrought with Gold and gave his Passport for the Generals security for whom he sent six Elephants wiâ—… Drums Trumpets Streamers and many Attendants The chief Elephant was about 14 Foot high having a small Cactle like a Coach covered with Velvet on his back in the midst was a great Bason of Gold with a rich Covering of Silk wherein the Letter was put The General was mounted on another Elephant and being arrived the Dishes wherein he was treated were of Gold their Wine is of Rice wherein the King drank to the General out of his Gallery 4 Foot higher than where he fate it 〈◊〉 as strong as Aqua Vitae After the â—…ast some Young Women danced and played on the Musick the King sent a Letter and a Present to the Q. and upon parting asked if they had the Psalms of David and caused them to sing one which he and his Nobles seconded with a Psalm as he sayd for their Prosperity Another considerable English Factory was at Bantam on the Isle of Java Major tho chief City in the Island at the foot of a Mountain whence issue three Rivers two running by the Walls and the other through the City yet not deep enough to admit any Ships The Houses are very mean consisting of three chief Streets The Natives are Heathens and believe when they dye their Souls enter into some Bird Beast or Fish and so eat neither Flesh nor Fish Toward the South are many of the Turkish Religion some called â—…aquiâ—…s are desperate Vilains who having been at Mecca to visit Mahomets Tomb run through the Streets and kill all they meet with their poysoned Daggers thinking they do God and Mahomet good service and shall be saved thereby If any of these Mad men are killd their Followers bury them as Saints erecting them a Tomb which they visit and bestow Alms upon the Keeper thereof I remember saith my Author that in 1642. a Vessel of the Great Mogols returned from Mecca to Surrat with a great number of these Faquirâ—… or Derviches and one of them was no sooner landed and had said his Prayers but he took his Dagger and ran among several Dutch Marriners unlading goods upon the Shore and â—…fore they were aware this desperate Wretch had wounded 1â—… of them whereof 13 died at length the Sentinel shot him through the Body so that he fell down dead the other Faquirs and Mahometans upon the place took up the Body and buried it and in 15 days erected him a fair Monument Every year the English and Hollanders pluckt it down but when they are gone the Faquirs