stand two large Portugal Houses each having an exceeding great and tall Tree call'd Talbassero before the Door whose interwoven Boughs that afford a pleasant shade make a delightful Arbor whereinto they frequently go and eat and sleep there North-East from thence appears Magar Magar where the King of Cayor many times keeps his Residence Emboul and seven miles farther Eastwards Emboul where the Kings Palace is divided from the City with Pallisado's interweaved with Bands and Palmito-Boughs and on the in-side Planted with many Vines Before the Court lieth a great Plain The Court of Rayer where they use to break and exercise Horses set round with Trees Into this none may enter but such as are appointed because the King 's chiefest Wives therein have their particular Apartments yet about it at the distance of a Musquet-shot many persons dwell in small Huts or Tents making a reasonable Livelihood by petty dealing with the Servants and Attendants of the Court. Ten miles from the Palace they have Embar Embar a Town set apart onely for the Reception and Entertainment of all such as come of the Blood-Royal and may have any hopes to the Succession of the Crown Three or four miles farther Bey-hourte upon the Shore of the River Zenega is a large Hamlet termed Bey-hourte where the King's Customers and Receivers reside for the Collection of all his Revenues of all sorts thither brought to them About three miles from hence Westwards The Fort of the French the French have a Fort which they maintain to support the Trade they drive there but they pay to the King Sixteen in the Hundred for Hides whereas the Portugals pay but Ten and but a little for other Wares In this Tract we arrive at Baool Lambay whose Metropolis is Lambay where the King usually resides about two miles from whence towards the North-West lieth Sangay Sangay where sometimes the King takes his Divertisements Four miles removed Eastward stands Jamesil Jamesil and about five and fifty miles to the In-land the City Borsalo Borsalo But the Royal City of the whole Kingdom of Zenega is Tubakatum Turbakatum the Court and Chamber of the Great Jalof ¶ THese Countreys are usually infested with sultery heats The Air or temper of the Climate so that the depth of their Winter is warmer than May with us yet have they stormy and wet Weather Travaden or Stormy weather or Rains which they call Travaden that is Tempestuous accompanied with much Thunder and Lightning these begin on the Sea-Coast for the most part in June and continue till September though sometimes accidental Storms happen in October and May but without Rain These sudden Gusts arise commonly out of the South-East but the stiffest and strongest out of the East-South-East which too often prove dangerous to the Sea-men The most unhealthy time here is in October for then the Air parches with Heat but when the Winds begin to blow those Breezes temper and cool the Air and so continues till towards May. ¶ SEveral Rivers water this Countrey the Chief of which are those of Zenega and Gambea both after many meandring Courses discharg'd their full Streams into the Atlantick Ocean Ortelius believes that Zenega is the same which Ptolomy nam'd Daras or Darade but Lewis Cadamost maintains it to be the Niger of the Antients and makes it a bordering Limit to Negro-Land But that Opinion seems altogether impossible because like the Nyle Niger overflows and fertilitates the Countreys it passes through whereas Zenega leaves all lying about it very lean and barren Zenega hath as many Names as it runs through Countreys Several Names Marmol l. 8. c. 3. for the Jaloffs call it Dengueh the Turkornols Maso the Caragols name it Colle the people of Bagano Zimbala those of Tombut Iza but the Portugals not knowing its proper Name stil'd it Zenega from the Name of a Prince with whom upon their first coming into these Parts they contracted a League of Amity Johannes Barros derives this Stream from certain Lakes lying in the East The Head-Fountains by Ptolomy nam'd Chelonides the greatest whereof at present is call'd Goaga and the other Nuba The Course of it is very long and straight almost in a right line till about seventeen miles above Cape de Verde disemboguing into the Ocean In Zenega though not so full of Water as Gambea many Islands appear Islands of Zenega the greatest part whereof are full of Serpents and Wilde Beasts Nor is it much profitable otherwise to such as inhabit near being not passable in many places by reason of huge Rocks causing great and unusual Cataracts like those of the Nyle which some of the Inhabitants call Huaba others Burto that is a Bowe because sometime the Water is carried up into the Air by the force of the Wind in the manner of a Bowe Many other great Rivers run into this A strange Vertue of two Rivers especially one coming out of the South and seeming to have Red-Water between these two they say is such a strange Antipathy that whoever drinks the Water of one and presently that of the other findes himself necessitated to vomit yet neither of them produce this effect single nor both together after they have mingled their Streams and run in one Channel Several kinds of Fishes and other Creatures breed herein as the Hippopotamus or Sea-Horse Crocodiles and Serpents with little Horns yet notwithstanding all these inconveniencies the Water hath a Prolifick Quality foecundating Cattel that drink of it ¶ SIx miles Southward flows Borsalo full of great dry Sholes or Sands The River Borsalo on both sides several Villages shew themselves Fountain-Springs supply'd with fresh Water from a clear Spring that rises on the Easterly Shore A Tree four fatsiom thick by a Tree above four Fathom thick For the River Water by the flowing of the Sea is brackish near forty miles ¶ NOt far from Punto Sereno floweth a small River call'd Rio de la Grace being a Border to the Kingdom of Ale before whose Mouth lieth a Shelf many times overflow'd by the Sea from which as soon as dry fresh and sweet Water continually springs Somewhat more Southerly runs Bassangamar full of great Rocks The River Bassangamar The next is Rio des Ostro's or Oyster-River The River of Oysters deep enough for the coming in of Ships Between Borsalo and Gambea the Countrey all along is plain but full of high Trees yet wholly void of Inhabitants About three miles from Jandos Northwards The Lake Eutan is the Lake Eutan six miles long and half a mile broad In time of Rain it abounds both with Water and Fish but in a dry Season so empty that they can go over dryshod The bottom for the most part covered with Simbos or pieces of Horn and Glass which in Angola they use for Money Not far distant from hence is a Well of ten Fathom deep
A Well of sweet Water sending forth so pleasant Water as if it were dulcified with Sugar or Honey from whence all the People fetch their drink the other Wells through the whole Countrey are unwholsom The Inhabitants say A strange vertue in Water and if true 't is worth observation and enquiry that there are streams of Water of which if the Horses or Camels drink they die but all other Beasts drink thereof without prejudice of which the Natives can give no other reason but that they have found it so by experience ¶ THe whole Countrey is plain The Condition of the Soyl. and without doubt fit to bring forth all things in abundance but it lies altogether uncultivated for that Zenega and Gambea by their over-flux in the Winter lay it wholly under Water but in the Summer the heat of the Sun and want of Moysture make therein parch'd Chops wide enough to bury a Horse By these means the products of the Soyl are few which may be attributed rather to the sloth and ignorance of the Inhabitants Vegetables or Plants Sanus than the barrenness of the Earth 'T is true about Cape Verde there grow Beans of an unusual bigness besides Rice Cardamoms or Grains of Paradise and Barley each Grain as big as a Pease The little Harvest they have is in September when it rains there and the Rivers swell over their Banks The most usual Grain is Mille Mille or Mais and Indian Mais which they put into the Earth dry and onely cover it lightly with Sand without any other labor bestowed upon it by which sleight kind of Culture it grows and flourishes exceedingly whereas without that mixture of Sand the Earth first by the overflowing of the Rivers and the Rains made soft and afterwards made over hard again by the violent heat of the Sun is made barren and uncapable of bearing They have no Wine but what is made of Palm in high esteem among them Some few places yield Dates and a sort of Oyl that gives a yellow tincture to all that it is put into or mingled with Close by Porto d' Ale lieth a Wood call'd Tapa The Wood Tapa full of high Trees which give pleasant and delightful shade under which the Portuguese have their abode and shelter themselves from the scorching beams of the Sun Tobacco grows there wild Tobacco without Planting whose green Leaves plucked off the People suck or chew with great delectation And certainly if these People could be brought to labor they might propagate not onely Tobacco but all other Plants in abundance Tamerindes grow here also Tamerindes and Anana's but few Oranges and Lemmons yet there is another Fruit call'd Foles The Fruit call'd Foles in bigness and colour like an Orange but differing in taste being sowre and full of great Seeds There grows also a wild Fruit like Dates but smaller yet very sweet out of which Wine is pressed Sebanken-Wine but inferior to that of the Palm Syby-Trees afford Wine also but of great esteem and Fruit like a Coco-Nut but much smaller Kakatons are a great soft round Fruit Kakatons outwardly of a dark-green colour and tart Juice Naniples resembles a Pear-Plumb yellow without and soft having a Juice Naniples whose pleasant sharpness and cooling quality makes it useful in several hot Distempers if mingled with Water Nompata's grow to the bigness of a Wallnut upon high Trees Nompata sweet in taste and of a greenish colour Tambakumba somewhat bigger Fruit than the former Tambakumba is hot and unpleasant of taste Cotton also is naturally produced more than what the Inhabitants know what to do with and would grow in great abundance Cotton if managed with Art and Industry There grows also in great abundance small Trees about three Foot high Arbre-Tint call'd Arbre-Tint whose Leaves bruised yield a blue Colour wherewith the Natives Dye their Cloathes the manner thus Of the Leaves which in the Morning when the Dew lieth yet upon them they pull off and immediately stamp in a Mortar they make Cakes as big as ones Fist they being dri'd in the Sun divers days are often pulverised very fine and then put into Earthen Pots upon these Pots they set others bigger having a little hole at the bottom fill'd with Ashes of the same Tree mixed with Water which they let drop through the Vent into the lower Pot upon the common Colour this moistened stuff they set ten days in the Sun then scum off the uppermost which is the best and therewith colour the finest and with the undermost the coursest Cloathes The Dregs remaining are thrown away ¶ THe Countrey is exceedingly stock'd with Cattel especially Kine Cattel as appears by the Hides wherein their chiefest Trade consists which are Transported into Europe The Herdsmen are found to drive them from place to place for change of Pasture by reason of the driness of the Ground The King of Baool call'd Luchi Four keeps above six thousand Oxen the like do the Nobility and others according to their ability There are also Camels small Muletto's Asses Horses Goats and Sheep with Hair like Dogs And the Woods feed many Stags Harts and other Deer with crooked Horns like Rams-horns There is a strange Beast in Body like a Hog but Footed like a Badger that creeps in the Earth like a Mole and feeds on Ants or Pismires neither yielding them profit nor doing any damage Here are also Hares Civet-Cats Dogs and Apes The Wilderness that borders upon the Kingdoms of Cayor and Borsalo breed many wild Beasts as Lyons Tygers Leopards Wolves Elephants and Alakarons being Creatures like Crabs with two Claws and a Sting in their Tails like Scorpions for fear of which the Inhabitants when they travel through these desolate ways make great Fires in the night to secure their persons Nor are the wild Beasts all that trouble these Wastes for there are Thieves farther therein altogether as savage and inhumane as those other Beasts of Prey The Fowls there far exceed in number the Beasts such are Popinjay's Parrots Paraqueeto's some small others very large with Ash-coloured Necks and green and yellow Bodies Geese Ducks Herons Partridges with black and white spots and in Fenny places Snipes Wild-Ducks and many other small Fowl common with us in Europe Such as we know not nor have yet seen are the Akkaviak as big as a Turky with a red tuft of Feathers upon their Crown which they can raise like Bristles and spread so that they will hang over their Eyes Hearons white and black and large as Eagles but not regarded because they eat nothing but Mans-dung Pelicans with Necks so great and long as a Mans Arm. Nor is the Land more productive of Beasts Fishes than the Water is of Fish whereof there is great variety especially of Carps Crabs Pikes Herrings and other like Salmon onely differing in the whiteness of their flesh In the River De la Grace many Crocodiles breed which frequently coming on Land lye basking in the Sun but upon the sight or approach of men instantly as if afraid return into the Covert of the Water When the People which dwell on the Sea-Coasts are straitned of Provision by the scarcity of Harvest they supply themselves with Fish going with their Canoo's wherein three persons may sit out to Sea without
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
of Morocco's Concubines to the number of eight hundred under the Guard of Eunuchs but now the Residence and Seat of the Governours Without the City lie several Sconces and Redoubts made of Loam and cast up when the Castle was Besieg'd in the Year Sixteen hundred and sixty Within these Cities are several Mosques with inclosed Yards round about and without divers Mesquites The Houses especially in Old Sale are very small and slightly built Their Houses though here and there some are richly set out with Carv'd Work and Marble Pillars Generally they are but one Story high without any Windows to the Street or other opening than the Door all their Light descends from a Loover in the midst about which the Chambers are placed the whole Edifice flat-rooft for conveniency of Walking Morning and Evening for the benefit of the cool refreshing Air. The Haven is very spacious The Haven but shallow having at low Tyde not above a Foot or a Foot and a half Water though at full Sea eleven or twelve Before the Haven lyeth a Barr passable at High Water with loaden Barks and Ships either out or in whereas when the Tyde is out they must remain at the Rivers mouth and unload their Goods into small Boats out of which Landed they carry them through the Gate Sidimusa Ducala upon Asses and Camels into the City This shallowness of the Haven compels the Corsaires or Pyrates of this Place to use light Vessels that draw little Water which proves better for the Chace and more advantageous in their Pyracies and also in escaping Ships of greater Burden whereas they of Algiers Tunis and Tripolis from the convenience of their Haven put to Sea in greater Vessels The Revenue consists in Tributes and Customs of Exported and Imported Merchandise The Revenue all which pays ten in the Hundred The Countrey People under its Jurisdiction pay the tenth of all their Land-Fruits for a Tribute And the Pyrates by their Robberies against the Christians bring no small Advantage These Cities are now Govern'd by an Alcaide The Government who with his chosen Councel manage all Affairs either Martial or Civil In the Election of a new Governour or Deputy they proceed with no regularity the Commons or Plebeians sometimes setting up one from among themselves or if it were possible below themselves as they did some few Years since when without the consent of the King or Nobles running together upon the Governours death without any the least appearance of Reason they set up in this mad fit an Ass-driver and by their own Authority impowered him but he soon after his Advancement using the same severity rough handling and menaces to his new Subjects as towards his old Slave the Ass they no longer pleased with his so rigorous Government kickt him out of the Saddle and left him to conduct by those stern Rules his old Servant Other great Alterations often happen in the chusing of Governours insomuch that sometimes it hath been known that there have been three new Governours in a Moneth so often turned out either out of the Peoples hatred to them or for their own Misgovernment and yet their whole Jurisdiction reaches no farther than over a few little Cities and some wandring Advars that is Arabs This City hath from the first Foundation been subject to Commotions and Alterations but more especially since the coming of the Andaluzian Moors that were driven out of Spain as will presently appear During the continuance of the Moors in Spain which was from the Year Seven hundred and twelve for then they made their Conquests for Six or seven hundred Years they kept possession all which time the Kings of Spain made it their Master-piece to drive them out especially Ferdinando the Fifteenth for he taking into serious Consideration the great mischief by them done to the Christians and the continual Wars wherewith they infested them in the Year Fourteen hundred ninety two set fiercely upon them who seeing themselves in a straight and even brought under the power and obedience of Ferdinando seem'd to embrace Christianity though scarce in outward appearance they were such however it gain'd them a breathing while and gave them opportunities of endeavour at least to distract that State so that in the Year Sixteen hundred and ten Philip the Third King of Spain by an Edict published the Sixteenth of January banisht them out of his Kingdom The Andaluzian Moors driven out of Spain and for fear of incurring the penalties thereof above a Million of Men Women and Children of all Sexes departed within the time limited the greatest part of whom taking Ship passed into Barbary But others spread themselves into the East about Constantinople some came into France with the consent of the King who allotted them a place to dwell in conditionally they observ'd the Roman Catholick Religion wherein by performance of their Articles they so fixed themselves that at this Day some Families of them are to be found in Provence and Languedoc Such of them as pitched at Salee were admitted with freedom by the King of Fez and Morocco believing they might be useful to instruct his People in many Trades and Handicrafts Here a while they lived Peaceably yielding equal Obedience with the other Subjects but they soon started aside and with the Money which in great quantities they brought from Spain bought Arms and some Ships wherewith they apply'd themselves to Roving and Pyracy at Sea pretending at first to take from none but the Spaniards in revenge of their inflicted Banishment though indeed and in truth their malice raged upon all the Christians 'T is true at the beginning they play'd fast and loose under pretence of Trading and Merchandise setting up Spanish Flags and Colours in their Masts and Sterns and acting all in the name of Spaniards The Andaluzjans beginning to take from the Christians as they were by Birth and Language by which they did great Robberies but at last this Trick growing stale they pull'd their Vizards off and declared themselves openly Pyrates and Enemies to all Christians Whatsoever Prizes they took they pay'd to the King of Morocco as a Tribute seven or ten in the Hundred as well of Prisoners as of Merchandise Thus for a time they continued their Subjection to the King of Morocco but still waiting an opportunity to throw off the yoak and indeed they wanted not a specious pretence for under the colour of furnishing their Ships they got into their hands the best Arms in Salee of which possessed and instigated by the natural Ambition of the Countrey they were bred in they brought to pass those Designs they had been so long secretly contriving For first they made themselves Masters of the Alkassave They rise up against the King of Morocco or Castle of Salee and by that means of the City which done they disarm'd the Moors banish'd the Natives and expell'd all the King of Morocco's Officers and for their Assistance
of the Spaniards that one Muey Xek Governour of it surrendred it into the hands of the Marquess of St. Germain Generall of the King's Army ¶ A Great Morass spreads it self about it The Quality of the Place abounding both with Fish and Fowl and in the adjacent Woods are some Lyons The Countrey about Larache being Barren and Waste yields nothing but Cotton-Trees and Coal-Mines both affording sufficient Profit especially the last carrying them to Tangier and Arzille The Haven much frequented by Spanish and Italian Merchants is but a wild Road granting but small security to such as know not the safest Ridings The City prides it self in divers stately Erections of Stone encompassed with a strong Wall and defended by three large Castles It hath three Castles One of which since the Conquest of the City by the Spaniards is called by the name of S. Mary the second lying at the Mouth of the River St. Anthony and the third also dedicated to another Saint The Moors before the Spaniards possessed it maintained there a Garrison and the Spaniards at this time doe the same The Fort St. Mary hath a broad Graff and Bulwark to be entred at three Iron-Gates being maintained with sixty Brass and Iron Pieces of Ordnance In St. Anthony's Fort are planted thirty Pieces of Brass Cannon well supplied with all sorts of Ammunition The Spaniards have made up the Works about both the City and Castles esteeming it a place of very great Consequence for shelter and preservation of his Fleet having much improved the Haven Near to this lies the Mountainous People and Arabians In this very Territory appears also on the Sea-Coast the City Moximar Elgiumha according to Marmol Gemaa el Carvax a small City in a Plain thirty Miles from Fez at this day wholly Waste Kasar el Kabir or Alkazar el Quibir which signifies a large Border stands on the River Lakkus ten Miles from Arzylle containing near fifteen hundred Houses with many Mosques There were here several Cities of note all which lie buried in their own Ruines by the cruelty of the Wars ¶ THe Air of this Province is so pleasant and healthy The Condition and Constution of Azgar that the Kings of Fez in the Spring take their Progress thither not onely for their Refreshment but for their Game the Place yielding Field-Sports Hunting and Hawking From hence also Fez is furnished with Cattel and Horses The Soyl about the City Elgiumha and Kasar Elkabir yields great store of Grain Larache altogether barren abounds onely with Cotton and Fish two Miles in Circuit The City Kasar Elkabir boasts onely of curious Gardens and Orchards Planted with all variety of delicate Fruits but wants Springs so that the Citizens have no Water but what Dreyns from the Roofs of the Houses which in Barbary seems strange ¶ THe Inhabitants of this Territory commonly go neatly Clad The Customs of the Inhabitants but those of Kasar Elkabir wear onely Cotton-Garments in general they are a Mild and Quiet People rather Simple than Ingenious HABAT or EL HABAT HAbat The Borders of Habat or El Habat begins Southward at the River Guarga or Erguila and runs Northward to the Midland Sea bounded on the East with the Mountains of Gomere called Errif on the West with the Marishes of Agar being Twenty Miles long and Seventeen broad Towns on the Shore of the Atlantick Ocean are Taximus Arzylle Taximus then Arzille formerly called Zilia and by the Inhabitants Azella built by the Romans towards the West about Fourten Miles from the Mouth of the Straits and Forty Miles from Fez. This City was for some time subject to the Prince of Septa It s several Overthrows or Ceuta a Tributary to the Romans but afterwards subdued by the Goths which were driven out by the Mahometans who possessed it Two hundred and twenty years when the English took it by Storm and utterly wasted it by Fire and Sword so that Thirty years after it lay desolate but at length Repaired and Peopled by the Mahumetan Patriarch of Cordua It was vanquished by the Portugals But Alphonsus King of Portugal who for his eminent Atchievements in these Parts as a second Scipio gat the Surname of Africanus on a sudden surprised it and took Prisoners not onely all the Souldiery but also the King himself with his Sister about Seven years of Age whom he brought Captive to Portugal where they remained Seven years and then redeemed for a great sum of Money ARZYLLA of ARGILLE The CITTY of TANGER The Cape of Spartelli by the Spaniards called Cabo Esparta The Cape of Spartelli and by some taken for the Cottes of Pliny lieth between Arzille and Tangier shooting far into the Sea and the very Point guarded with a Rock On the Shore of the Great Ocean near the Straits of Gibraltar Tangier in the heighth of three and twenty Degrees and forty Minutes North Latitude stands the ancient City Tangier formerly Tingis by the Portugals Tanjar and by the Barbarians according to Strabo Tinga in the time of the Romans the Metropolis of Mauritania Tingitana It s Building and by them builded after the Conquest of Spain although the African Historiographers falsly attribute it to one Sedded Son of Had who they say was Emperour of the whole World Their Story is this That the Emperour having resolved to build a City of no less beauty then an Earthly Paradise he first encompassed it with Brazen-Walls and then covered the Roofs of the Houses with Gold and Silver which say they was not impossible for him to do in regard all the Cities in the World contributed to its building But to leave their fancies and return to the truth the History It stood while the Romans Lorded over Spain subjected to the Prince of Ceuta as we said before and continued very populous till the time of Alphonsus the Fifth King of Portugal who in the year Fourteen hundred sixty three making his third Expedition into Africa with thirty thousand Men easily became Master of the Place the Inhabitants terrified at his Power leaving it and with their chief Moveables flying to Fez. His Father King Edward in the year Fourteen hundred thirty and three had worn out his time fruitlesly in the African Wars and beleaguering of this City for he was compelled to break up the Siege and leave his Brother Ferdinand as a Pledge in the hands of Aben Sala the Emperour of Barbary till Septa should be re-delivered But the State of Portugal esteeming it dishonourable easily to surrender a place of such consequence took no notice of Ferdinand who continued there seven years in a miserable Captivity During this time they got also Tangier which with great expence and trouble having kept divers years at length finding the charge of defence to exceed the profit they absolutely assigned over their interest to our gracious Soveraign CHARLES the Second King of England Scotland France and Ireland in part
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
after a long Northern passage Marries the Sea Eastward of Metafuz near the Village of Beni Abdala Hued el Quibir Hued el Quibir by the Spaniards and Portuguese named Zinganor and taken for the Mazabath of Ptolomy shoots from the beforementioned Mount and falls into the Sea near the City Bugie Sufgemar Sufgemar the Ampsago of Ptolomy rising in Mount Auras having watered several dry and thirsty Plains gives a Visit to Constantine afterwards augmented by contributary Water of Marzoch empties it self into the midland-Midland-Sea Yadoch Yadock or Ladoch proceeding from Atlas Eastward of the City Bona unites with the Mediterrane ¶ THe Constitution of the Air in this Climate is so temperate The Air or Climate that the greatest Heats doth not parch the Leaves of the Trees nor do they fall off with the Cold. In February they commonly Blossom and in April the Fruits have a visible greatness so that in the beginning of May they have ripe Cherries and Plumbs and towards the end Apples and Pears in June Grapes fit to be gathered but in August all later Fruits viz. Figs Peaches Nutts and Olives attain a perfect maturity ¶ THe Land here is for the most part barren dry and rugged The kind of Land full of great Desarts onely the Plains Northward between Tremecen and the Midland-Sea produce good Pasturage and Feeding for Cattel and great quantities of Fruit and some Corn. ¶ THe Desarts breed Lions Ostriches Hedg-hogs Wild-Swine Harts The Beasts Camelions Leopards and Apes besides great quantities of Wild-Fowl ¶ THe Cities here are but small and thinly peopled yet conveniently seated and inhabited chiefly by Merchants who live in very noble Equipage by Trafficking into Guinee Biledulgerid and several parts of Negroe-Land The People of this Region come from several Nations The several sorts of People in Algier and therefore each differing from other both in Religion and Customs The first are Native Turks which out of Poverty remove hither out of the Levant or the East for Profit and Gain where they become Souldiers of Fortune The next are High-Land Moors called Kabaylees and Asaguen constantly following the Turks Colours both in War and Peace Then Jews and Moriscoes Exiles of Andaluzia Granado Aragon and Catalonia Besides Slaves of all Countreys dispersed every where especially in the City of Algier Without the Cities dwell none but Moors and Arabians commonly called Larbusses Arabians and Larbusses who usually make their Residence by the Rivers sides in Hutts or Tents two or three hundred together which they call Douar and one single Tent Baraque as we mentioned at large in our General Description Other Arabs range through the Desarts in great numbers not fearing the King of Algier by whose Armies if at any time overpowered they fly to the Wilderness of Biledulgerid whereinto they cannot be pursued so that the most of them at all times live in freedom Therefore Algier it self did give them a general Pension to live peaceably but now most of them pay Tribute to Algier fetched from them yearly by the Janizaries In Tremecen is another sort of Warlike People named Galans of Meliava and divided into five Tribes viz. Uled Abdala Uled Muca Uled Cacix Uled Suleyman and Uled Hamar who command and enslave the Brebers both of Algier Tenez Brebers and Bugie TREMECEN or TELENSIN THe Jurisdiction of Tremecen or Telensin formerly a distinct Government Trenecen was formerly a particular Kingdom but now incorporated to Algier of which we shall first treat though somewhat improperly in regard it is not the chief Province but because of its Neighbourhood to Fez Marmol p. l. 5. Gramay l. 7. Sanut l. 5. and for the more orderly viewing the Goasts of Barbary It derives the Denomination from the principal City named by the Affricans Telimicen but by the Europaeans corrupted into Telensin comprising formerly the Cities of Tremezen Teuzegzet Zezil Guagida Ned Roma Teberrit Ona Haresgol Hubet Tefezara Tezela Agobel Barha Marka Elquibir Oran Canastel Arzeo Mazagras Mostagan and Beni-arax together with the Desart Angued or Angad and the Mountains Beninezeten Matagara Beniguernid Tarara Agbal and Magarava but now circumscribed in narrower Limits The Cities yet left are Tremecen Hubet Tefezre and Tezele with the Mountain Beniguernid Tremecen Tremecen or Telemicen the supposed Timisi of Ptolomy by some call'd Telesin or Tremisen and by Marmol Tlemisan five small miles from the Midland-Sea Abu Texifien who Ruled about the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty raised the Walls of Hewen Stone forty Cubits high and strengthened with many Cittadels or Redoubts where-through the Citizens pass five Gates with Draw-Bridges the whole overlooked by one great Castle erected according to the Modern Architecture with many Chambers Dining-Rooms and Apartments besides Gardens and Lodgings for the Janizaries Within the City are five Colledges built Quadrangular after the Italian manner yet scarce eight Mosques remaining of an hundred and fifty whereof the City formerly boasted each having a Tower built after the Dorick method and beautified with Marble Pillars four great and eminent Baths all that are left of fifty two Inns for Strangers Venetians and Genoueses and four eminent ones for the Moors the best remains of six and thirty in former time set apart for entertainment of Travellers and relief of the Sick Most of the Streets spacious and large wherein are ten fair Market-Places where the Merchants have Ware-houses and whither the Neighbouring Countrey with Commodities come twice a Week The Houses there are much more stately and larger Their Houses than in the City of Algier having Gardens Planted with Flowers and all sorts of Fruit-Trees In the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty they reckoned six thousand Houses and in sixty two Five and twenty thousand but at this day the number by the Tyranny of the Turks is very much abated the Merchants in general removed to Fez. The Jews had there ten great Synagogues which yet were not capable of their multitudes but since the Year Fifteen hundred and seventeen their number and strength is wonderfully decreased Hubet is a Walled Town Hubet a small half mile Southward of Tremecen said to be built by the Romans and called Minara by Ptolomy placed in thirty two Degrees and ten Minutes North Latitude famous onely among the Moors for the stately Sepulchre of Sidi Bu Median a Morabout in the great Meskiet and an adjoyning Colledge and Hospital Tefzare Tefzare or Tefesre Scituate upon a Plain four miles Eastward of Tremecen surrounded with strong and high Walls and taken for the Astacilis of Ptolomy Tezele Tezele formerly Ariane destroyed by King Abuhascen and never since either re-built or inhabited Beniguernid The Mountain Benigueuid an Arm or Limme of the Great Atlas and full of Villages and People ¶ THis Countrey The Quality of the Countrey by means of the great plenty of Water both in Rivers and Wells yields abundance of Grain all sorts of
the Summer to eat in the Winter There grow also Figs Apples Pears and very much other Fruit but above all yielding great store of good Cattel as Oxen Calves and Sheep call'd by the Arabians Nedez sufficient to give Supplies of Butter and Milk not onely to the City Bona but also to Tunis and the Island Zerbes ¶ THe Mountains for the most part lie destitute of People yet full of pleasant Springs having Water enough to give a Current to several Rivers which afterwards take their course through the Plains between the Hills and the Midland Sea The Coast hereabouts yields much Coral both white red and black being a kind of Plant or Shrub growing in the Water between the Rocks ¶ THis City and Province were-Governed by Xeques and peculiar Lords of their own It s Government till the King of Tunis having subdued them built a strong Castle on the East side of the City to keep it in awe but afterwards Aruch Barbarossa in the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty coming with two and twenty Galleys and Ships into the Haven forced the Citizens to acknowledge him by which means they became Subjects to the Kings of Algier and so have ever since continued excepting for a short space that the Emperor Charles the Fifth in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty five made himself Master of it THE FORT OF FRANCE SIx Miles to the East of Bona between the Kingdoms of Algier and Tunis Peter Davity Estat Ture on Affique and between the Black and Rosie Cape you may see a Fort Commanded by the French and call'd Bastion de France that is French-Fort Formerly near this Cape of Roses stood another Building erected in the Year Fifteen hundred sixty one by two Merchants of Marseiles with the Grand Seignior's consent call'd a Fort but indeed was onely a Flat-rooft Ware-house for a residence of the French who come thither and employ the Natives Diving for Coral and under that pretence Exported all sorts of Merchandise as Grain Hides Wax and Horses which they bought there with more liberty and for less Price than in the Island Tabarka because no Turks lay there to hinder them But many years since this Structure whose Ruines yet appear was beaten down by the Algerines oppressed with a great scarcity of Provisions which the Moors reported was occasioned by the French Exporting their Corn. Afterwards in the Year Sixteen hundred twenty eight by order of Lewis the Thirteenth French King Mounsieur d'Argen Lieutenant of Narbone and chief Engineer of France was sent thither to re-build the razed Fort who took with him all Materials necessary for the Work from Marseiles and with great speed and diligence erected this Bastion But the Work was scarce begun when the Moors and Arabians came down Armed in great numbers and forced the Mounsieur to a Retreat and at present to Fortifie himself in a Half-Moon newly cast up from whence with the first opportunity he took Shipping At length the same King employed one Samson to re-attempt the same design who brought it to some perfection and was Governour of it Since which another was formed upon the Island Tabarka in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty and three This Bastion de France hath two great Courts the one to the North where the Store-Houses for Corn and other Merchandise are with many convenient Ground-Rooms for the Officers and Chief Commanders The other being more large and spacious than the former stands on a Sandy Beach where the Ships usually come to trade for Corall as we mention'd before To this adjoyns a fair and great Vaulted Chappel call'd St. Catharina in which they Celebrate their Mass and Preach having convenient Lodgings above for the Chaplains and Priests Before it there is a Church-yard and a little on one side a Garden-house set apart and us'd onely for sick and wounded Souldiers Between these two Courts towards the South standeth a great Quadrangle built all of Stone which is the Fort or Strength with a flat Roof wherein stand mounted two Mortar-Pieces and three other Brass-Pieces supply'd with a sufficient Garrison TUNIS THe Kingdom of Tunis The antient Borders at this day subject to the Great Turk compris'd formerly the Countreys of Constantine Bugie Tunis Tripolis in Barbary and Essab and by consequence the greater part of Africa the Less together with Carthage Old Numidia and other Countreys extending above a hundred and twenty miles along the Sea-Coast But now the greatest part of Bugie Constantine and Essab are wrested from it by Arms and annexed to Algier The Kingdom of Tunis then It s present Borders taken within these narrow Borders begins at the River Guadelbarbar formerly call'd Tuska dividing it on the West from Constantine as on the East the River of Caps or Capes by the Lake of Melaetses separates it from Tripolis and on the Southern Limit is the Modern Numidia Peter Dan in his Description of Barbary joyns it on the West to Algier to Barka Bona and Tripolis on the East So that by his account the Southern Part of Tunis lies Westward of Negro-Land containing but few places of note ¶ THe Rivers which run thorow and water this Countrey Its Rivers are chiefly four Guadelbarbar Magrida Megerada and Caps or Capes Guadelbarbar Guadelbarbar which Sanutus and Marmol call Hued d' Ylbarbar takes its Original out of a Hill lying a quarter of a mile from the City Urbs or Jorbus being serviceable onely to the Citizens in driving their Mills for the Current runs in so many crooked Meanders that such as travel from Tunis to Bona are necessitated with great trouble there being no Boats nor Bridges to help them to wade over five and twenty times Lastly it disembogues into the Sea by the forsaken Haven Tabarka seven miles from Bugie Magrida Magrida formerly call'd Catadt seems to be a Branch of the former flowing thorow Choros and then entring the Mediterrane near to a place call'd Marsa Megerada Megerada or rather Maggiordekka formerly Bagradag on whose Shore Pliny Gellius and Strabo say that when Attilius Zegulus was Consul for the Romans in these parts during the Punick Wars was found a Serpent of a hundred and twenty Foot long kill'd by Attilius and his Army with Arrows It rises according to Sanutus out of a Mountain bordering on the Countrey of Seb call'd by others Ursala whence giving a friendly Visit to the City Tebesse it runs Northward till discharging its Water into the mediterrane-Mediterrane-Sea about ten miles from Tunis This River swells up an unusual heighth when any great Rains fall so that the Travellers sometimes are compell'd to stay three days till that the Water abates that they may wade over for there are neither Bridges nor Boats for Ferry Tâ—UNIS ¶ MOuntains in this Kingdom are Zogoan Guislet Benitefren The Mountains and Nefuse besides some others on the South Zogoan lies six miles Southward of Tunis upon whose Side and Foot may be seen the
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
Egyptian Monarchs Pharaoh at first and afterwards Ptolomy The proper Name of the present King is Daur but by the addition of that Royal Title which signifies King call'd Burdomel Daur This Name of Burdomel The King is taken by some for a Place about Cape Verde and accordingly so set down in the Maps of Africa ¶ HEre are no peculiar or Municipal Laws The Law of the Countrey for indeed the Law or light of Nature is the onely Rule they steer by for when a Man dies and leaves behind him Wives Children Cattel Slaves and Iron wherein their chiefest Riches consists the Brothers and Sisters of the Deceased take all without any consideration of the Children whom they leave to the wide World to help themselves as well as they can As to matters of distributive Justice or punishments of Crimes they are in a manner strangers to both the greatest extravagancies being bought off and pardoned by paying of Slaves or some other Mulct to the King ¶ THeir Religion Their Religion if so we may call it is generally Paganism for they greet the New-Moon with horrible roarings and strange gestures of adoration they offer their Sacrifices in the Woods before great hollow Trees wherein they have placed Idols and this they do rather out of custom then zeal using neither form nor method in their Devotions nor any particular Assemblies but every one following the dictates of his own humor makes a God in his own Fancy which is as often varied as their Lusts or Passions raises in them other motions Some of them seem to incline to Mahumetanism and admit among them some Marabouts but so little have they prevailed upon them that they know not what the Sala means nor do the Priests any other Service than write Arabick Characters on small Papers which sew'd in little Leather Purses are worn by the Blacks on their Necks Arms Legs Heads and every part of their Bodies in great numbers firmly believing that thereby in time to come they shall be freed of all troubles and dangers to the great gain of the Marabouts who sell them at no small Prices And although they know there is a God yet have they no understanding to worship him and use Circumcision the fifth or sixth Year and then if they be asked the reason thereof they can give no other account but that it is an antient Custom received among them but farther know not None of the Priests are permitted to Marry but in their own Families nor may teach any to Read or Write without the chief Marabout's Licence They hold the Christian Religion in great abomination affirming that God who giveth all things and can do what he pleaseth and causes Thunder Lightning Rain and Wind is Omnipotent and needs neither praying to nor to be set forth in so mysterious a way as that of the Trinity and thus Heathenism and Idolatry generally possesses the whole Countrey THE KINGDOM OF GAMBEA CASSAN CANTOR AND BORSALO ADjoyning to Zenega on the North is Gambea The Kingdom of Gambea a small Kingdom by the River of the same name On the other side of the River Gambea lies the Jurisdiction of Cassan Great Cantor and Borsalo all heretofore subject to the King of Mandimanza but now have Princes as absolute as himself and acknowledging no Superior The King of Great Cantor keeps his Residence continually on the Southerly Shore of the River Gambea The King of Canter having many inferior Dominions under his Obedience The King of Borsalo commands on the North-side of the same River to Tantakonde The King of Borsalo Both these Princes have several populous Towns belonging to them but Several Towns lying on Gambea as we said all without Walls and scituate on both the Shores of Gambea which like the Nyle overflowing it Banks much enriches and fertilitates the neighbouring Soyl. The Sea-Coast hereabouts shooting from the South is very low and in that regard unless in very clear weather hard to be known but more forward the Land rises high is full of Trees and spreads North-East and South-West At the Mouth of this River stands the Town Barra Barra so named because every Ship that comes thither must give a Bar of Iron which they call Barra to the King of Borsalo Above the South-Point stands a Town call'd Nabare Nabare within a Wood. Three miles higher on the same Point lieth a Town call'd Bintam inhabited by the Portugals Bintam On the South-side of the River twenty miles from the Mouth Tankerval Tendeba appears Tankerval and not far thence a Town call'd Tendeba twelve miles from which last may be seen Jayre Jayre in a narrow Creek Half a mile beyond the Creek on the South-side lieth the River and Town call'd Jambay Jambay Mansibaer Barraconda with another named Mansibaer on the North. In the last place you come to Barraconda above which the Sea floweth not so that whoever will go higher must Row against the Stream After a tedious and toilsom Journey of ten days you arrive at Tinda Tinda above which stands Joliet Joliet Munkbaer and six days Journey from that a City call'd Munkbaer to which without great hazards there is no coming from whence in nine days you come to the City Jayr and so to Silico an In-land Town yet a place of great Trade Five and fifty miles within the Land stands Borsalo and eighty five miles Little Cassan Small Cassan Groat Cassan three miles above which the vast and great City Cassan shews it self whose side is washed by the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea and where the King keeps his Court. ¶ AMong other Rivers that water these Countreys The River Gambea one of the principal is Gambea or Gambia so call'd by the Portuguese after the example of the Blacks who call all the Tracts of Land reaching from the Mouth of it to the Gold-Coast Gambu It s Mouth is about three miles broad hath five fathom Water and lies in thirteen Degrees and nineteen Minutes North Latitude between the Zenega and Rio Grande It draws the original from the great River Niger It s Original at the place where it makes a great Lake and divides in four branches which are afterwards named Zenega Gambea Sante Domingo and the Great River all which after several long courses having visited and refreshed these hot Countreys with their pleasant Streams at last near Cape Verde pour forth their Waters into the Great Ocean but especially Gambea with so strong a Current and such abundance of Water that sixteen miles in the Sea as they say that Water may be taken up They may row up in this River against the Stream near a hundred miles but then are stopped with a strong Water-fall which with an impetuous noise pours down over the Rocks and by that means becomes unpassable The Channel is for the most part very broad especially from the Gold-Coast of Cantor or Reskate to its Mouth
Lords Government but own for their Superior the King of Quoia whose Predecessors subdued them by Arms by the Assistance of the Folgia's as hereafter we shall more fully declare Fourteen miles from Rio de Galinas to the South-East appears Cabo Monte in five Degrees and three and forty Minutes North Latitude THE KINGDOM OR COUNTREY OF QUOIA THis Kingdom scituate by Cape de Monte containeth especially two Countreys viz. Vey-berkoma and Quoia-Berkoma Vey-berkoma that is the Countrey of Vey Vey-Berkoma the Antient Name of the Inhabitants is that Tract which lieth at Cape de Monte near the River Mavah below which lieth Dauwala wherein the same River Northward of the Cape hath its Exit into the Sea The Antient Inhabitants as we said Vey are by Wars reduc'd to a small number possessing onely a parcel of ruin'd Villages or Towns insomuch that their Name is almost forgotten Another People nam'd Puy-monou Puy-Monou dwelt antiently before the Wars and Conquest of the Countrey by the Karou's in the Island Boebelech and along the Banks of the River Mavah But few of this Posterity are at present to be found being for the most part by Inter-marriages with the Karou's so united as if but one in Name and Nature Quoia-Berkoma begins at the Sea-Coast of the New-River or Rio Novo Quoia-Berkoma by the Inhabitants stil'd Magwibba and extends to Rio Paulo a Boundary between this and the Territory of Gebbe shooting out into the Land above twenty miles This Kingdom boasts great numbers of Towns and Villages most of them pleasantly seated on the Banks of the River Magwibba The first appearing in five Degrees and three and forty Minutes-North Latitude Cape de Monte. by the Inhabitants is call'd Wachkongo and by the Portugals Cabo Monte although the Countrey both on the West and East is low and over-grown with Bushes This Point to Ships sayling out of the West shews its self in the shape of a Helm but coming near it appears long with a gap in the middle Westward of this is the Road where the Ships Ride that put in to trade upon this Coast Half a mile upwards from Magwibba on the left side Jegwonga stands a Village call'd Jegwonga where the King Flamboere settled his Royal Mansion when he first left Tomvy but at present he resides on the Island Massagh in the Lake Plizoge whither he retired to avoid the hazards of the people of Dogo that invaded his Territories On the other side of the River stands the fair Town Fachoo Fachoo signifying I watch the Dead which Flamboere fortifi'd and retir'd to as a place of security upon intelligence that the Land of Folgia would make War upon him though afterwards he found it but a rumor A mile and half farther up Figgia on the same side Figgia discovers its self being formerly the Dwelling of Figgi one of King Flamboere's Brothers A mile beyond that Cammagoereia on the same Shore is seated Cammagoereia and half a mile from thence the handsome Town Jerboeffaia where the Prince of Quoia who commands the Countrey round about keeps his Court opposite to this last King Flamboere about a year since began to lay the Foundations of a new Town From thence going along the Sea-Shore lie dispersed some Salt-Towns where the Inhabitants boyl Salt out of Sea-Water In the Vales of Tomvy water'd by the River Plizoge stands a great Town or Village beset with Trees sprung up out of the Rubbish of its decayed Walls From thence to Cape de Monte lye some forsaken and wasted Villages On a Branch of the River Menoch or Aguado is scituate Faly-hammaia and two miles farther another call'd Flomy-Seggaya The Region of Quoia hath the benefit of four excellent Rivers The Countrey of Quoia is watered by four Rivers the first in the West Magwibba or Rio Novo the second Mavah the third Plizoge the fourth Menoch or Aguado The River Magwibba in Summer bears two miles and a half in breadth The River Magwibba but in Winter is broader and fuller of Water It runs from the Sea up into the Land taking a North-Easterly Course up into the Countrey in the Mouth of it are so many Banks or Shelves as great Bars that make it dangerous to be passed with small Boats although the English Portuguese and French have and still venture over it in their little Skiffs As far as Davarouia it may conveniently be passed with reasonable Vessels being very deep and four hundred foot wide but above that place by the interposition of divers Rocks which cause great Water-falls there is no passing The second call'd Mavah The River Mavah or Maffah on whose Shore formerly the Puy-monou dwelt springs from a Mountain four and twenty miles within the Countrey The Channel is wide and deep making its Exit into the Sea in the broken Land of Dauwala almost a mile Northward of Wach-kongo or Cape de Monte. Between these two Rivers along the Sea-Coast here and there they say stand certain Towns where the Inhabitants make Salt The third Plizoge meets with the Sea a mile Northward of Cabo de Monte. The River Plizoge This is sometime in dry weather very empty of Water but so continues not long being soon fully replenisht Three miles from this River appears a great Lake a mile and a half broad wherein stands the Island Massagh the Courtly Residence of the present King Flamboere on whose South-side flourish many stately Palmito-Trees The fourth Menoch or Rio Aqâ—ado The River Menoch cometh out of the Countrey above the Hondous and six or seven miles Eastward of Cape de Monte poures into the Sea It is a deep and wide River yet unpassable because of several Water-falls Cliffs and Shelves of Sand that choak it It hath on both sides Red-wood Trees Having thus given you the Scituations of Towns and Rivers in this Kingdom we will now proceed to describe the Vegetables or Plants Beasts and then the Customs or Manners of the People but by the way in regard Gala-Vy Hondo Konde Quoias Manou and Folgia lying round about participate of the same qualities with Karou already mention'd or at least with very small difference we will give you a cursory glimpse of these in particular and then carry on our intended method Gala-vy a member of Quoia shews the original source of Mavah Gala-vy near a great Wood of eight or ten days Journey in length It bears the Names of Gala-vy from its Inhabitants sprung at first from Galas but being driven out of their Countrey by the People of Hondo sought new Habitations in those places whence they were neither call'd Vy as those with whom they intermixt nor Galas their old Name but Gala-Vy that is half Galas and half Vy On the Borders of Hondo and Manoe beyond the fore-mention'd great Wood dwell the right Galas who are under the Jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Manoe and have a Prince
entituled Gallafally The next is Hondo inhabited by the Hondo-Monou Hondo scituate by the side of this Wilderness more North-Easterly then Gala-vy and contains within it the peculiar Lordship of Dogo Neighboring to these dwell the Konde-Quoia's or High-Quoia's Konde-Quoias that differ in Speech from the Maritime Quoia's Afterwards you arrive at the Kingdom of Folgia and Manou or Manoe Folgia and Manou which last is a Potent State holding in subjection most of the Countrey round about two small Rivers encompass it viz. Rio Junk and Arverado the former Folgia East and by North above Rio Junk the dividing limit between them which with the other in about five Degrees North Latitude pour into the Sea Karou whose Inhabitants took their Name from Karou-Monou The Countrey Karou is a peculiar Territory now included in Folgia by Conquest but heretofore had a Prince of their own and a Countrey large and free from any slavish yoke At the Coast of Cape Saint Anne and along to Cabo Monte and Cabo das Palmas The Winter-Season the Rain begins with May and continues to October during which time they have great and terrible Thunder and Lightning with furious North-Westerly Gusts of Wind however this continual Showering so fills and pinguifies the before-cleft and parched Earth as adapts it for the bearing of Rice and other Fruits and Grains for the whole face of the Ground is covered with Water that there can be no stirring for common converse except in Boats During this time also the Sea sets hard all along the Shore towards the North-East so that Ships which between July and September happen to fall below Cape de Monte can very hardly and not without great labour get about to the South Besides this Race makes mountainous Billows roll to the Shore so that it is in effect impossible to approach the same in Boats without danger of splitting There blows also upon this Coast a Land and Sea-Wind the first begins after midnight and continues till high-Noon the last rises after two and holds till Midnight But these Seasons once over from October to May the Weather proves pleasant and dry till endammaged by the fiery heat of the scalding Air. ¶ QUoia Berkoma Plants with the adjacent Fields are by the before-mention'd Rains so impregnated that they produce all sorts of Grain and Plants in great abundance Bonde for first there grows a great Tree call'd Bonde in height exceeding all other Trees in the Wood and scarce fathomable by six or seven Men the Bark full of great Thorns the Wood soft of which they make Canoos Stools Spoons and Dishes the Roots lying generally four or five Foot above the Earth they cut out into Planks and Boards for Doors to their Houses and many other uses with the Branches and young Sprouts Hedging the Towns because being stuck into the Ground they grow and make a Quickset-Fence the refuse of the Wood they burn and with the Ashes make a lixiviated Liquor which boyled up with old Oyl of Palm makes an excellent and very useful Sope. The Tree Bassi grows high Bassi and two or three fathom thick having a Russet-Bark which they use in Dying to give a Russet-brown Tincture as of the Trunk they make Boats and such like Utensils Kaey is also thick and high Kaey of whose hard Wood being not apt to rot they also make Canoos but the Barks and Leaves for their Medicinal Vertues they use in Physick Billegoh Billegoh a tall thick Tree whose Wood exceeds that of most Trees in hardness and of notable use in Physick The Bossy hath a dry Bark Bossy and soft Wood like the Bonde yielding also a kind of Pot-Ashes and bearing yellow Fruit good to eat and tart in taste The Mille shoots very high Mille. the Wood soft the Root like the Bonde growing above the Ground the Blacks use it in charming Potions The Borrouw grows but to an ordinary height and bigness Borrouw but upon the Bark stick crooked Thorns like the Talons of a Fowl these being chopt yield a yellowish white Juyce the like do the thick Leaves beaten and pressed which taken inwardly is an effectual Purge and so certainly good that 't is commonly used when other Remedies will not work The Wood is damp and unfit either for Service or Fewel Mammo a thick and high Tree bears a Fruit white within and of a tart taste Mammo much us'd in Physick and buried under the earth remains good a whole year Quony a high and thick Tree with a rough Bark which they use in Philters or other charming Potions mixed with water they make mortars of the wood Quony because tough and not easily split wherein they stamp Rice It bears a venomous Excrescence full of Juyce wherein the Blacks dip their Arrows that from thence contract a mortal Poyson Hoquella rises to a great heighth bearing Shell-Fruit a foot and a half long Hoquella inclosing flat Beans the Bark and Leaves have a Physical Quality and therefore in much use But the Ashes of the Shells burnt make a most useful Lye Domboch bears Fruit pleasant and frequently eaten The Bark bruised Domboch and the Juice mixt in a convenient Vehicle makes an Excellent Purgative Medicine but the wood they convert into Boats Sugar-chests and such like Kolach a Tree of ordinary size bears Fruit like Plumbs Kolach very agreeable to the Palate whose Bark also is of use in Physick Bongia rising to a more than common size and bigness Bongia of no use but in the Bark and that onely for Physick and to give a yellow tincture in Dying Duy in Growth like the former produces round Apples Duy a profitable and wholesome Food both to man and beast The Bark steeped in Wine and other Drinks make them great Cordials The Bark of Niaukony tastes hot in the mouth like Pepper Niaukony and hath won the esteem of a more than common Remedy in many Diseases The Palmito-Trees grow here frequently which young are call'd Quan Palmito-Tree have many branches with long thorns and small long Leaves which hatchel'd serves them in stead of Hemp to make Nets and Ropes grown up to the heighth of a man it bears a kind of Nuts which are as big as Olives of which the Palm-Oyl is made When it is shot up forty or fifty foot high and proportionally large the branches fall off so that it stands naked like a Maste onely with Branches and Leaves at the top the undermost by degrees still falling off while upwards new ones grow thus full grown it is call'd Tongoo and when very old affords Wine Oyl and Hemp in one year This Wine which the Blacks call Mignoll they draw out by boaring a hole in the body of the Tree where the Leaves at first began to sprout out of which the Wine distills into a Pot or Pitcher hanging on a hook in colour it resembles
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
lie three small Islanâ—â— the Sea call'd also Amboises of which the Eastermost is the biggest almost as Towring as the High Land of Amboises being very populouâ— Within these great abundance of Provision good Palm-Wine and 〈◊〉 may be had but little Trade and for that reason as little frequented 〈◊〉 before it the Ships Ride at Anchor to buy Slaves and Elephants Teeth brought thither from Kamerones The Inhabitants Inhabitants which for the most part speak Portuguese live on the middlemost Island of the three from whence they go often to the main Land 〈◊〉 get Provision and Fruit. About five miles from Amboises River of Kamarones the River Jamoce glides in a narrow Current In the middle of which Buffels Island towards the South Wall a small Island call'd Buffels Island discovers it self from which spreads a Bank of Rocks South Easterly so steep that one side of a Ship touching it on the other side may find six Fathom water Two miles within the third Point Yeeth Hole or Monoka you arrive at a place by the Whites call'd The Teeth Hole but by the Natives Monoka and opposite to that another nam'd The Monombas Hole whereto adjoyns a Village the usual Trading place At the North live the Kalbangas whose Governor nam'd Moneba hath the repute of one of the powerfullest of the adjacent Princes The Town where he keeps his Seat Royal stands scituate on a Hill very neatly Hedg'd about with Trees so that they account it the pleasantest place in all that Tract and not onely so but exceedingly stor'd with abundance of Provision as Injames Bananassen Palm Wine and Bordon Wine both of the same species but the latter the worst as growing in Fenny places The Houses are built in Quadrangular form Little Ivory can be gotten here and less Akori but many Slaves Trade which makes them cheap The Commodities desir'd there and carry'd thither by the Netherlanders are Thin beaten Bosses which they use in stead of Money Bars of Iron Copper Bars Copper Pots Hammer'd Kettles Violet Beads Paste of Oranges and Lemmons Cows Horns And such like The People which live by the River Kamerones are strong fat and lively smooth Skin'd from the top to Toe and generally of as large a stature as the lustiest Englishman Next Kamerones on the Sea Coast follow the Rivers Monoka Borba or Bourn Rio de Campo Rio Sante Benito and Rio Danger Rio Sante Benito lieth in two degrees Northern Latitude Rio Santo Benito and the Coast spreads South and North. Seven miles Southward in one degree and five and thirty minutes you come to another River and four miles farther a third abounding in Water Five miles from the last opens a Bay bearing eight Fatnom Water Six miles below which a prominant Point stil'd Cape St. John Cape of St. John fronted with a ridge of Rocks None of these Rivers are much frequented for Trade except that of Danger in one degree North Latitude The People prove ill Neighbours to each other being never free from Animosities Feuds and Quarrels upon every trifle The Island KORISKO THree or four miles Southward of Cape St. John appears an Island The Island Korisko to which the Portuguese have given the name of Ilhas des Korisko that is The Island of Lightning from the more than usually frequent Lightnings happening there when they first discover'd the place The Land towards the Sea Coast is generally Sandy Nature of the Countrey except on the North West where Stony But more within overgrown with high Trees whose Wood is Redder if Sanutus say true than that of Brasile perhaps it may be the Red Wood which the Inhabitants call Takoel The Road for Ships lieth in five and forty minutes Northward of the Line The Road or Harber and convenient for Shipping According to Sanute the Island not inhabited being indeed not above half a mile in compass but the propriety of the Benyan King The Countries lying about the River Gabon and the Cape of Lope Gonzalvez THe River Gabon The River Gabon by Linschot call'd Gaba and in some Maps Gabam lyeth under the Line The North Point of which the Seamen call the Cape of St. The Cape St. Clare Clare much resembling that of St. John and in a manner differenc'd onely in this that coming out of the Sea and approaching near the Shore they see a white Spot against it as if it were a Sayl which is not to be seen at the Cape of St. John In the Mouth this River is four miles wide but grows afterwards smaller and narrower The Island Pongo so that it is not above two miles over at the Island Pongo It s South Point is low and overgrown with Trees but the North Point almost choak'd up with Flats and Sands At the South Shore about three or four miles inwards another Point discovers it self known by the name of the Sandy Point many Crocodiles and Sea-Horses breed herein to the great damage and hazard both of the Natives and Strangers Five miles more inward you come to two little Islands the one the Inhabitants call Pongo and the Whites Parret Island The King's Isle because he keeps his Court there and the other Parrets Isle from the great abundance of Parrets breeding within it which last yields also great plenty of Bananasses Injames Oranges and other Fruits The King of Pongo hath the report of a powerful Prince they entitle him Manipongo that is Lord of Pongo as the King of Kongo Mani-Kongo 'T is true two other Princes claim a great Jurisdiction near him viz. one at Majombo and another at Gabon yet neither dare resist he Pongian and his Palaces nam'd Goliparta exceed in magnificence and extent all the rest of the Buildings which pretend to Beauty or State The Men naturally incline to Cheating and Thieving The nature of the Inhabitants but not so much among themselves as towards strangers to whom also bloudy barbarous and unnatural but the Women shew great courtesie and affability accounting it an honor to make acquaintance with them In Marriage they have no respect to neerness of Relation Marriages for the Mother may Marry her Son and the Father his Daughter The Houses have no other Walls or Partitions than Reeds Houses very neatly order'd and fastned together and cover'd with Leaves of the Bannana-Tree They lie all along on the ground when they eat Food the common People using Earthen Vessels but more eminent persons Dishes of Tin Their Food chiefly Potatoes and Injames Roasted or Boil'd and many other Roots Also Fish and Flesh mixt together but first either smoak'd or dry'd in the Sun During the Meal they never Drink but having done Eating swallow great Cups full of Water or Palm-Wine or a sort of Mead which they call Melaffo For Apparel they wear Cloth made of Mats Habit. and the Shell of the Matombe-Tree over which some hang the Skins of Apes or Sea-Cats
for Name Lovango or Barra Lovangiri yet the Blacks forget not its old Denomination Boary or Bury The Ground-plat of it takes as much in compass Bigness as our famous City of York in England but much more straglingly built It hath large streight and broad Streets of which the Inhabitants take great care that no Grass grow nor any Soil lie in them They stand in very good order and are neatly Planted with Palmito-Trees Bananos and Bakoros Form which stand as streight as it were by a Line Some of those Trees also stand behind the Houses and sometimes quite round about serving not onely for an Ornament but also for a Shelter and Shadow In the middle of which you come to a great Market-place The Court of the King by whose side stands the King's Court surrounded with a Hedge of Palm-Trees containing in circuit as much as are in ordinary Towns beautifi'd with many Houses for his Women that live six or eight together not daring to stir from their appointed Stations without the King's leave or the Overseers which use a diligent and jealous eye over them The Houses are built long-ways with two Gable Ends and a sloaping Roof which rests on long thick Posts that lie upon Stays about two or three Fathom high The breadth length and heighth of them is near alike that they may stand in equal and uniform distances and within they have sometimes two or three Rooms or Chambers apart in one of which they keep their Riches and that hath Doors at the hinder end lockt up with a double Lock some have round about a Fence of Palm-Boughs plash'd others of Bulrushes wreath'd some make Lebonge or Wickers braided together which inclose six eight or more Houses and they dwell in them as in a Precinct being to each other very trusty and in all accidents helpful Their Housholdstuff consists chiefly in Pots Calabasses Wooden Trays Housholdstuff Mats a Block whereon they put their Caps some small and great Baskets of a neat fashion into which they put their Cloathes and other trifling things Besides the aforemention'd Division of Lovango The Countrey bordering on Lovango other Territories lie about it some of which pay Tribute and others not and therefore the Tributary being Majumba Dirge and divers others are not unproperly reckon'd as Members of Lovango and put into the King's Title Majumba lieth within three or four Degrees South Latitude Cape Niger bordering in the West upon the Sea where appears a high black Point by the Portuguese named Cabo Niger that is to say The Black Point because it shews afar off by reason of Trees upon it black Next this Cape follows a Road The Road of Majumba by Seamen call'd The Road of Majumba about half a mile in length that is from the Cape Niger to the South Point being low and overgrown with Trees Within the Countrey you discover a red Mountain The Mountain Metute by the Inhabitants styl'd Metute Not far off a great Salt Lake a mile broad opens to the view out of which some Waters about half a mile Northward of Cape Niger run into the Sea but the passages are sometimes choaked up by the Waves that beats extraordinarily against them On the Shore stands the Village Majumba The Village Majumba built in one long row so near the Sea that the incroaching Waves oftentimes necessitates the Inhabitants to remove behind the Village on the North a River very full of Oysters poures its Water into the Sea and hath in its Mouth at the most not above six sometimes but three or four Foot of Water yet farther within boasts a considerable bigness breadth depth and length extending at least fifteen miles upward Southward of Lovango to the great help and conveniency of those that fetch Red-Wood which otherwise they must carry much farther whereas now they bring it in Canoos down the River Majumba is barren of Grain but yields plenty of Banano's which they call Bittebbe and Makondo of which they make Bread abundance also of Palm-Trees from whence they extract Wine and the Rivers afford plenty of Fish The People having no peculiar Prince are very rude and savage giving themselves to work all manner of mischief Here was formerly a great Trade for Elephants-Teeth Trade but now almost decay'd and lost The Manibomme that is the Deputy of Lovangiri pays for all the Red-Wood brought from Sette down the River to Majumba Ten in the Hundred The Women fish for Oysters out of the aforemention'd River fetching them up in great Trays from the bottom then opening and smoaking them they will remain good for some Moneths These smoaked Oysters as all other sorts of Flesh or Fish so smoaked in the Countrey Language are call'd Barbette Over this Territory one of the Counsellors of State to the King of Lovango Government named as we said Manibomme Commands rendring no account to his Master but onely the Red-Wood Eight or nine miles Southward lieth a Point call'd Quilongo or Sellage according to the Name of the neighboring Village This Tract of Land appears to ships at Sea Prospect of Majumba at Sea coming out of the South with two Mountains in the shape of a Womans two Breasts and therefore call'd Quanny About two miles Southward of the Breasts glides the River Quila abounding with Fish and precipitating it self with a strong Water-fall into the Sea ¶ THe Dominion of Chilongatia Mokonga is a large compass of Ground lying Northward of the River Quila in former times a free Kingdom but now by Conquest a Member of Lovango yet still enjoy their antient Customs and Priviledges paying Tribute onely The Manibeloor or Governour of Chilongo hath absolute Superiority during his life and after his Decease the People may chuse another without asking the King of Lovango leave ¶ THe Jurisdiction of Sette about sixteen miles from the River Majumba The Territory of Sette borders in the West at the Sea and water'd by a River also nam'd Sette Here grows both great and small Mille the first call'd Massa-Manponta and the other Massa-Minkale Many Potato's in the Countrey Phrase stil'd Iqua Anpotte and Palm-Wine Plants with them Malaffa as the Trees Mabba or the Nut Imba and the Pith or Kernel Inbonga This Province yields extraordinary plenty of Red-Wood besides other sorts of Timber Of this they have two sorts the one by those of Sette call'd Quines which the Portuguese us'd to buy but is not esteem'd in Lovango the other By-Sesse being much heavier and redder bears both a good Price and reputation The Root of this By-Sesse call'd Angansy Abysesse exceeds in hardness and deepness of colour which makes it much valued With this Wood the Blacks drive a great Trade all over the Coast of Angola and in Lovango dealing indeed very seldom with any other than their own People being at first brought from Sette where the Governor receives the Custom of Ten in the Hundred which we
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
gray Fowl almost like a Lapwing Pheasants little bigger than Swallows white-feather'd with gray or black Specks ringstreaked and speckled in their Bodies and therefore easie to be known from the other The Gavoitoyns or Dyvers which sit in the Water about the Cape Garagias almost the same with the Alcatraces Jan-van-Genten or white Plovers tipt with black at the end of their Wings Another sort of great Fowls call'd in Portuguese Mangas de Velludo or Velvet-Parrots have black Tufts like Velvet on their Wings and in flying hold them not steady but flutter as Pigeons As the Air is thus replenished with good Fowl no less doth the Sea Fishes and other Waters abound with the variety of Fish particularly one sort call'd Huygen in shape like Carps being of a very pleasant taste Rough Mullets Lobsters Breams and Crabs of a large size Mussles also among the Rocks and great and small Oysters with Pearls in them In Table-Bay and thereabouts play many Whales and other great Fishes Bottle-heads out of which may be boyl'd Train-Oyl as well as out of Whales The People which dwell about and near the Cape of Good Hope The Constitution of the Kaffers or Hottentots are of a middle Stature Slouch-body'd and uncomely of Person of a Tawny colour like Mulletto's But those about Flesh-Bay are somewhat smaller The Hair of their Heads in general resembles Lambs Wool short and Curl'd but the Womens thicker than the Mens especially among the Cobona's They have broad Foreheads but wrinkled clear and black Eyes but all both Men Women and Children have Camosie-Noses and blab-Lips Their Mouthes well fashion'd and bearing a proportionable bigness every way with very clean and white Teeth Their Necks are of an ordinary length with narrow Shoulders and long Arms but about the Wrists very thin their Hands well shaped their Fingers long letting their Nails grow like Eagles Talons which they count an Ornament Most of them have their Bellies long and wrinkled with Buttocks sticking out Their Legs handsom but small Calves little Feet especially the Women They are swift of Foot and so strong that some can stop an Ox in his full course The Women are little of Stature especially among the Cochoqua's or Saldanhars and some cut their Faces as if they were drawn with a Pencil The Married Women are so great Breasted that they can give them into the Mouthes of their Children to Suck behind over their Shouldets where they commonly carry them All the Kaffers are void of Literature They are Unlearned stupidly dull and clownish and in understanding are more like Beasts than Men but some by continual converse with European Merchants shew a few sparks or glimmerings of an inclination to more humanity Notwithstanding this their bruitish ignorance they observe the Laws and Customs of the Countrey with as much seriousness and observance as the most orderly People in Europe as a proof whereof you may take this Instance In the Year Sixteen hundred fifty nine when the Cape-men happen'd to be at ods and controversie with the Netherlanders being asked what cause they had for that Quarrel gave for answer that it was onely in return of the wrong done them by the Netherlanders in taking away their Seed and Lands as before we have more fully related In kindness and fidelity towards their Neighbors They are kind and faithful they shame the Dutch and all other Europeans because whatsoever one hath they willingly and readily impart it to others be it little or much Sometimes by eating the Root Dacha mixed with Water they become Drunk and then go about not knowing what they do others constrain'd by poverty seek here and there to take what they can find from any body but if it happen to come to light their Skin must pay dear for it There appears also among them some sparks of Pride for when they come to the Fort of Good Hope they cast on their filthiest greaziest and most stinking Skins and adorn their Ears and Necks with red and yellow Copper Beads supposing themselves exceeding pompously dressed Notwithstanding the meanness and poverty of their Condition yet they bear a high mind and are ambitious they will rather fall to open enmity than a Like our Quakers bow or give any reverence to each other and he that gets the Victory doth not onely play the Lord for that one time but always vaunts and braves it over his vanquished Enemy Their Clothing is very sordid The Clothing of the Men. and vile most of the Men wearing onely a Sheeps Pelt or Badgers Skin in manner of a Mantle about their Shoulders with the hairy side commonly within and ty'd under their Chin. Such a Mantle consists of three Pieces neatly sew'd together with Sinews of Beasts in stead of Threed When they go abroad or upon a Journey they throw another Sheeps-skin with the Wool on the out-side over the undermost Upon their Heads they wear a Cap of Lamb-skin with the Woolly side inward and a Button on the top Their Shoes are made of a Rhinocerot's Skin and consists of a whole flat Piece before and behind of a like heighth with a Cross of two Leatherbands fasten'd to their Feet Before their Privacies hangs a little piece of a wild Wood-Cat or ring-streaked Tyger or Jack-alls Skin ty'd behind with two Thongs DRACHT en WAPENING der HOTTENTOTS The Habit of the Women differs little from the former The Habit of the Women being a Sheep-skin Mantle on the upper part of their Bodies with the Wool inwards but somewhat longer than the Men also another Skin hanging behind to cover their back-parts and a square Piece before their Privacies On their Heads they wear a high Cap of a Sheeps or Badgers Skin bound to their Heads with a broad Fillet In all the rest following the Mens Garb. No less uncomely are their choycest Ornaments for the Men have their Hair dressed up or adorn'd with Copper-plates white little Horns and great Beads They pull all the Hair out of their Chins and daub their Faces with Black and then anoint them with Grease and Tallow and thereby seem as if they never were washed Those which dwell close by the Cape on the Shore and come to the Netherlanders Ships presently run to the Cook 's Kettle or Pottage-pot and anoint themselves with the Soot thereof which they esteem a Princely Ornament Such as are rich and have good stocks of Cattel liquor the out-side of their Mantles and Caps with Grease whereas the Poor wear them starved and unliquor'd Also most of the Princes and Kings and Kings Daughters particularly the King of Cocoquas his Vice-Roy and Daughter Mamis wear fat besmear'd Skins In their Ears they hang great bunches of Beads of which some contain ten or eleven Strings each weighing near a quarter of a Pound About their Necks they put red and yellow Copper Chains or Bracelets of Beads and upon their Arms Ivory Armlets and forwards near the Wrists Bracelets
yellowish with lank or uncurl'd Hair hanging down at length who daily come to Trade with the foremention'd Islands They of Pombo d'Okango being ask'd how many days journey they had from Okango to this Lake answer'd that at the speediest they could scarce arrive there in sixty days These Jages are like in Manners Wars and Savageness to the Jages of Ansico for they eat up all those that they take Prisoners in the Wars or serve them as Slaves and for Ornament have also Feathers stuck through their Noses and both the upper Teeth before are struck out without which marks none can be receiv'd in their Bands or Companies as we have at large before related The Kingdom of SOFALA THe Kingdom of Sofala lieth between the Rivers Magnice and Quama upon the last of which it borders in the North Borders and the Kingdom of Angoche in the South on that of Magnice and the Territory of Buttua or Toroa in the West on Monomotapa and in the East on the Indian Sea The chief City seated in an Island they call Cefola or Sofala The chief City Sofala near which the Portuguese have a strong Fort built in the year Fifteen hundred This City when the Portuguese first came to it had but a small extent and the Structures were very mean but since that much improv'd with neat built Houses Linschot places here few other Cities and Towns Geoge Nub. contrary to the fancy of divers African Geographers who reckon Hantema and Dandenia besides some stragling Huts term'd Villages on the shore as Sajona Boccha and Gasta The River Magnice seven and twenty degrees The River Magnice and forty minutes South-Latitude was at the beginning call'd by the Portuguese Rio dos Lagos that is The River of the Lake but afterwards in the year Fifteen hundred forty five Rio do Spirito Sancto Joseph Barros lib. 10. c. 1. It hath its rise as some conjecture out of the Lake Goijame and after it has flow'd along way to Sofala divides its self one of which keeps the old name and disembogues his stream into the Sea between the Fish-Cape and the Cape das Torrentas having first receiv'd three other Streams of which the chiefest is call'd by the Portuguese St. Christophers River because found on that day but by the Inhabitants Magoa the other call'd Marches from Lawrence Marches the first discoverer both which pour down from the Mountains of the Moon in the Territory of Toroa the third stil'd Arroe comes about the North from the midst of the Gold Mines of Monomatapa The other Arm of Magnice The River Quama entitul'd Cenama or Quama or Covanga takes denomination from a Castle or Fort which Pigafet says the Mahumetans possess on its shore but higher up the Inhabitants name it Sambere This arm hath more plenty of water than the other being Navigable above twenty miles and receiving the Stream of Six other great Rivers as Panhames Luangoa Arruga Manajova Grain Gold Inandire and Ruenie all which make their way through Monomotapa in many places casting up Grain-Gold it empties it full-gorg'd Channel into the Sea by seven Mouths which make seven Islands all well peopled At the mouth of this River the Portuguese have a Fort to keep the Inhabitants under obedience built in the year Fifteen hundred The Kingdom of Sofala shoots not far into the Countrey but lies wholly on the Sea-Coast in the midst of it appears the Cape das Correntas in three and twenty degrees and a half South-Latitude between which Cape and the Island of Madagacar over against this Cape lieth the Banks or Cliffs of India call'd in Portuguese Baixos da India very dangerous and causing many Shipwracks They begin about the one and twentieth degree South-Latitude in the Channel of the Coast of Sofala Matuka reacheth from Cape das Correntas to the River Cuama The Countrey of Matuka or Quama wherein are several Gold Mines belonging to Monomotapa On the Coast of Sofala in the Countrey of Matuka lieth the Capes of St. Sabastian and St. Catherine The Air is healthy and temperate The Air. the Land some places plain and in some uneven barren and desolate from the mouth of the River Magnice to the Cape das Corrintas but from thence to Quama very fruitful and populous Matuka bears not an equal evenness Sanus though being by Quama River for the most part Mountainous Scbiq Spilberg 1601. Woody and interlac'd with many Rivulets the Sea Coast low and plain full of shrubby Trees whose sweet smelling scent heretofore gave a quicker discovery than the eye could make of the place Great wild Elephants numerously overspread the Countrey Beasts which the Natives neither know how to tame or manage nor are Lions Bears Stags or Harts and Bores fewer besides Sea-Horses that sport themselves in the River Quama The Mines and Rivers afford abundance of Gold Abundance of Gold which the Blacks gather in a kind of little Purses of no small quantity The People are well-set The constitution of the Inhabitants and for the most part black though some brownish Those which dwell at Cape Carnidos are less wild than them about Aiguilhas or the Cape of Good-Hope also taller of stature and free of converse they feed on Rice Flesh and Fish They go with the upper part of their bodies naked Clothing but wear upon the nether part from the Waste to the Knees Clothes of Silk or Cotton girt to them with a Girdle whereto hangs a Dagger with an Ivory handle and winde about their heads Silk Stuff in form of a Turbant though some wear Scarlet Colour'd Caps Some of them speak Arabick Language but most use the common Language of the Countrey for you are to observe that these present people are not the proper Natives of the place but came before the Portuguese on this Coast over Sea from Arabia Faelix to Trade with those of Monomotapa And as they found greater advantage by the increase thereof they began to Plant fresh Colonies in the void and desolate Islands and at length remov'd thence into the main Countrey The Inhabitants relate The Riches Navig di Tâ—o Lopez that the Gold-Mines of Sofala afford yearly two Millions of Metigals every Metigal accounted for a Ducket and one third part and that the Ships of Zidem Meque and many other places in times of Peace have yearly fetch from thence two Millions of Gold And lastly that this is the very true Ophir from whence King Solomon had his Gold Hence King Solomon setchâ—â— his Gold Moq. lib. 4. And indeed according to the Writing of Moquett no place in Africa affords better and greater plenty of this Metal for the General of Mosambique during his three years Service in the Wars receiv'd more than three hundred thousand Esckusos or Crowns in Gold besides the Pay of the Souldiers and the third part answer'd to the King of Portugal The Inhabitants Trade
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-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-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
small Rivers lying two Miles distant from each other and take their original out of the neighboring Mountains The Faroan three Miles from the Itapaulominthiranou is a great River and Navigable for a Bark on whose Banks the Whites of Manouffi have seated themselves Lamohorik or Morombei three small Miles from Faraon comes out of the High-Land six or seven Miles towards the West Manataraven a small River lieth about six Miles from Morombei The Territory of Antavare Manouffi and Vobitsmene NOrthward of Matatane followeth Antavare scituate in one and twenty degrees and an half South-Latitude and extending to the Cape Manouffi delightfully Water'd by the Mananzau a large and fair River issuing from the steep Ascents of Ambohitsmene or the Mountains lying North and by East The Territory of Manouffi reacheth from the Cape of the same denomination to the River Mananghourou fifteen Miles more Northerly between which Cape and River lie three other Rivers Andredi Tenasatamamou and Tentamimi Antavane produces plenty of Rice Ignames Bananoes Sugar-Canes Honey Oxen Goats with all sorts of Fowl and Victual The Territory of Ambohitsmene lieth North and by West from Antavare and takes name from the aforesaid high Red Mountain in nineteen degrees and a half or twenty South-Latitude which may be seen fifteen Leagues off at Sea resembling Table-Mount at the Cape of Good Hope This ledge of Hills runs fifteen French Miles to the In-land between which and the Sea the Land appears very low Marshy and full of Lakes among which one of above fifteen Miles long and broad Upon these Mountains the people of Famantara have Zaffarahong for their place of Residence which place abounds with Gold Iron Cattel Rice Sugar-Canes Ignames Silk Clothes and other Necessaries Twelve Miles from Mananghorou Avibaha enters the Sea The River Avibaha being perhaps an Out-let of the aforesaid Lake Three Miles from thence the River Tsatsack and three other Foutchurao and a Mile and half onward Ivorhon pours down into a Bay by the Inhabitants call'd Tametavi but by the French Mariners Port aux prunes that is Plumb-Haven The Territory from Tametavi to the Bay of Antongil that is to the Countrey of Vouloulou the Long-Point the Lordship of Andouvoulhe with the Bay of Manghabei or Antongil THese Countreys begin at the Haven of Tametavi or Plumb-Haven lying in eight degrees and a half and spreading by the Sea Coast to the Bay of Antongil in the Language of the Countrey call'd Manghabei in fifteen degrees South-Latitude to the Land-wards inclos'd with the Mountains of Vohits-anghombe and Ansianach After the Plumb-Haven they have four small Rivers Fautack Faha Faho and Maroharats distant a small mile each from another After that Anacchinquets making a deep Haven with a good Sandy bottom but open to the North-East East and South-East Winds Three small Miles Northerly The Territory of Voulouilou you discover Longue-Point The Countrey about moisten'd by the River Voulouilou Five Miles further The River Ambato lieth the great River Ambato famous for the Rocks and obscure Cliffs but never comes to the Ocean Two small Miles more Northerly you come to Galemboulou in seventeen degrees and an half a large receptacle for Barks but very dangerous because of the blind Rocks and boisterousness of the Sea near which stands a Town call'd Ratsimelone but by the French Mariners St. Mala. Three Miles from Galemboulou a very fair and great River pours its self into the Sea wherein they say the small Island Ambouluossi shews it self The River Manangharou running from West to East The River of Manangharou divides its self near the Sea Coast into four distinct Channels of which it self being one retains its name from the Original to the Mouth The other three are Manansatran the second Marinhou opposite to the Island Nosti Ibrahim or St. Mary and lastly the Stream Jamiami a great and spacious River which at its Outlet into the Sea always holds seven or eight Foot Water After this followeth the River Mananghare fronting the North Point of the Island St. Mary and the South Point of Antongil Bay entring the Sea with so commodious an opening The Countrey of Audouvouche that a great Bark may easily come in or out Following along the Western Coast the Countrey of Andouvouche cometh to view that is The Bay but because of the many other as Antongil by the Inhabitants formerly call'd Manghabei for Antongil is a Portugal name proceeding from a Portuguese Sea-Captain Antonio Gillo who discover'd it It lieth in fifteen degrees South-Latitude stretching Northward and about six Miles broad In the deepest part of the Bay lieth an Island very high out of the Water two large miles about delightfully green fruitful in all sorts of Provision compleatly stor'd with fresh Water Hens Honey and Bananoes Seamen esteem it a most convenient refreshing place At the entrance of the Bay are three or four other small Islands either Sown with Rice or full of Weeds On the North side are three populous Towns with several other along the Shore neighbor'd by a great River which divided into two Arms the one running to the North the other to the West making in the middle at the parting an Island Further on to the North appears another great Town call'd by the Portuguese St. Angelo surrounded with a strong Pallisado Opposite to which on the left hand another which the Netherlanders in their first Voyage to the East-Indies in the Year Fifteen hundred ninety five named Spakenburgh consisting of about a hundred and eighty Houses West South-West from the foremention'd Island glides another River upon which a Town lieth The Grounds are exceeding good and fat well water'd and full of Grass The Condition of the Land but not over-stockt with Cattel the richest Person having scarce a Herd of four and twenty Beasts The Towns here shew more of Architecture than usual in these parts and advantageously Seated either upon the Mountains or along the River Fenced with Stakes with two Entrances or Doors onely the one to the Water the other to the side of a Wood for their flight thither when set upon by the Enemy and worsted All the People from the Plum-Haven to Antongil-Bay Customs observe the same Customs and all name themselves one among another Zaffehibrahim that is The Generation of Abraham or Nossi Abrahim from the Island Abraham whence they are sprung By their keeping holy the Saturday their whiteness of colour and some other particular Customs Flaccourt thinks them to be descended from the Stock of the Jews and Arabians who fled thither many years ago Both Men Women and Children are whiter than those of Matatane and Androbeisaha with smooth Hair hanging down at length being good natur'd mild and hospitable not inclin'd to Robbery or Murther In Dancing and Singing they seem to use some kinds of measures Footing it in pairs sometimes making distinct stops and stretching out their Arms. All their Songs consist of Epithalamiums in the Chanting whereof
which runs through all the Countrey The Air though very hot hath the repute of being healthful as receiving frequent cooleness from the fresh Breezes arising out of the Mountains It hath several Rivulets Brooks and Springs which along the Cliffs and the gaping of the Mountains pour their Water from one quarter into the other The Rivers by the French discover'd on the Coast and flowing into the Sea are the grand River Du Galet the East-River Stone-Cliffe River and the River of St. John St. Steven and St. Giles It lieth totally desolate notwithstanding the French have sometimes endeavor'd to have Planted it with some Colonies of People This Island boasts an exceeding fertility both of Plants and Beasts for first there grows Tobacco as good as any Countrey can afford abundance of Aloes Cubebs white-tail Pepper Ebony and other Wood serviceable to build Houses and Ships Trees which afford well-scented Gums Benzoia and others besides many Palmito's and other Fruit-Trees They cannot complain for want either of Fish or Flesh the Rivers plentifully affording the one and the Land the other viz. wild Swine very great Sea and Land-Turtles wild Pigeons and Drones the fairest Paraketo's in the world and many other sorts of Fowl The Sea-shores are full of Goats which are delicate Meat yet the Flesh of the wild Swine exceeds all the other for daintiness and wholsomness according to the relation of those French of Madagascar which were by the Governor banish'd three years into this Island where they preserved themselves onely by this Flesh without either Bisket or Rice or tasting any other tame or wild Beast or Fowl During their three years continuance there they averred that they perceived not the least spice of either Ague or Fever neither had pain in the Head or Teeth notwithstanding they went continually naked bare-footed and nothing on their Heads yea some of them coming sick thither immediately recover'd health In the Year Sixteen hundred fifty four a French-man call'd Antonis Thaureau went with leave of the French Governor of Madagascar with seven other of his own Nation and six Blacks to settle themselves in this Island After a Journey of twelve days arriving there they seated themselves at the side of a certain Lake which mixes its Water with the Sea at a place where a great Bay lieth a convenient Road for ships in the West-North-West part of the Island They took along with them from Madagascar five Cows with one Calf and one Steer which mixed themselves with five and thirty other very fine and fat Steers which were come of those that had been put on Shore five years before They immediately built Huts for their abode and busied themselves in making of Gardens and Planting of Tobacco Melons and all sorts of Cod-Fruits but when the Tobacco was almost ripe the same with their Huts was ruin'd by a Heuricane so that they were necessitated to Build and Plant anew In the mean time while the Season of Planting came on again being in October November and December for their Harvest is in April the aforesaid Thaureau with some of the other concluded to take a Journey round about the Island to discover the same exactly and to take notice of the Countrey but they found almost nothing but Plants of Aloes after two days Journey they came to the Sea-coast which runs from the Point in the North to the other in the South five Miles long convenient for Habitation and very delightful and pleasant Meadows water'd by seven very fine Rivers which take their original out of a great Lake surrounded with Mountains where the Standard with the Arms of France were set up by the command of Flaccourt After a stay of two years and eight moneths without receiving any relief from Madagascar and seeing no other opportunity to get from thence they betook themselves to an English Vessel which put in there in the Year Sixteen hundred fifty eight and in the Moneth of May together with their six Blacks came to the English Fort of Maderespartan on the Coast of Cormandel or Narsinge a Mile from the City St. Thomas the Apostle of India where they arrived on the twelfth day of the following Moneth with a great deal of Aloes Tobacco and Benzoin in hopes to dispose of those Commodities there but arriving they found the contrary and that one Roll of Tobacco was enough for the whole Coast to make Snuff of by reason of the little use of it And likewise the Aloes prov'd a Drug because it grew there also The Island of St. Apollonie THe Island of St. Apollonie which Francois Caucha seems to take for that of Mauritius some Chards place forty Miles Eastward of Mascareigne but Flaccourt in his Description of Madagascar makes it a distinct thing The Island of Mauritius or Cerne THe Island of Mauritius so call'd by the Hollanders for the Honour and Memory of Maurice Prince of Orange a Branch from the House of Nassaw not well knowing and uncertain of its proper Name Some wrongfully hold it to be the Cerne of Pliny and placed in eighteen Degrees and thirty Minutes of South-Latitude whereas according to Caucha it is call'd The Island of Apollonie and lieth in the Elevation of one and twenty Degrees South-Latitude close by Mascaronhas The Hollanders first touched upon it in the Year Fifteen hundred ninety eight the eighteenth of September in their second Voyage to the East-Indies under the Command of the Admiral Jacob Cornelius van Nek It s Circumference they guess at fifteen Leagues affording a Haven and convenient Road but remains void both of Men and Beasts except Cats The Air seems to be good and wholsom and there is a River found which takes its orignal out of the Mountains whereof there are many towards the Sea yet within the Countrey are very delightful Plains By reason of the many and high Mountains the whole lies almost continually cover'd with Snow and oftentimes there doth such Mists arise from them that a Man can see no farther than just down before him The Ground lies very stony and so overgrown with wild and unfruitful Trees that it is scarce passable Among them are found many Palmito's and other Trees with a green Bark and Wood underneath as black as Pitch which some have taken for the right Ebony and other Trees whose Wood appears of a deep red or very yellow like Wax Fowl are here innumerable and so tame and fearless that they will suffer a Man almost to touch them as Pigeons Turtle-Doves Cranes gray and speckled Parrots and strange Birds as big as Swans with thick Heads whereon are Skins like Lappets In stead of Wings for they have none they have upon their sides onely three or four black Quills and behind in stead of a Tail four or five small Feathers or curl'd Plumes standing somewhat higher than the other they have large and thick Feet with a great and ugly Bill and Eyes and have commonly a Stone in their Maw as big as
Ilha del Fogo or The Island of Fire Island del Fogo because of its Vomiting Smoke and Fire out of its highest Hills lieth in fourteen degrees and twenty minutes North-Latitude twelve Miles North-Westerly from the South-West Point of St. Jago On the West side you discover another Road with a Castle adjoyning Built at the foot of a Mountain but the Haven affords little conveniency by reason of the strong Current before it Those that Sail out of the East and intend for this Harbor must make to the Northward about the Countrey or else they will scarce fetch it for the Wind blows very hard and the ground is deep and runs down sloaping so that indeed none can be had but under the Castle Four Miles South-Westward from del Fogo Island del Brava lieth Ilha del Brava or The Desolate Island having on the West side a convenient Entrance for those that will take in fresh Water But the Haven lies to the South-East with fifteen Fathom Water so that an East-India Man may Ride there with his Starne moved towards the Shore Above the Haven stands a Hermitage with people South-Westward from Ilha Brava Island St. Nicholas in the Altitude of twelve degrees and almost thirty minutes appears a dry place two Ships length and one broad St. Nicholas-Isle seventeen Miles from the Salt-Island sets its North-West end in sixteen degrees and twenty minutes at the West end three Miles broad and at the East a Mile and a half and seven or eight long M. Figuredo places the Haven at the South side giving it the name of Porto de Berguira with an Islet at the entrance and to the North-West lieth beyond the Point the Haven Fuoor Fole St. Lucie Island St. Lucie a high and Hilly Island eight or nine Miles long with its South end in the Altitude of sixteen degrees and eighteen minutes At the South-East end are two small Islands as on the East South-East end the Haven with a fine Sandy Shore On the South-West towards St. Vincent lies another Harbor of twenty Fathom Water Thirty Miles Westward from the Salt-Island Island St. Vincent and two Miles West from St. Lucie lieth St. Vincent in the Altitude of seventeen degrees five Miles long It hath at the North-West side a half Oval-Bay a Mile and a half wide and surrounded with high Mountains The high Mountains of St. Anthonys-Isle defend this Bay from the West and North-West Winds so that it seems the most convenient Haven among all the Islands yet the coming to it is dangerous by reason of the strong Winds blowing impetuously from the high Mountains The South end of St. Vincent hath a little fresh Water but elsewhere cannot be had one drop St. Anthony Island St Anthony the most Northermost of all in seventeen degrees North-Latitude two Miles and a half from St. Vincent hath two high Mountains the one almost as high as the Piek of Teneriff in the Canary-Islands but both most commonly cover'd with Clouds There live about five hundred Inhabitants on this Island At the North-West end stands a Village of about twenty Huts wherein dwell about fifty Families as well Negro's as Whites Govern'd by a Captain Priest and Schoolmaster all which speak very good Portuguese but they live very poorly At the Northside is a Road in the Latitude of sixteen degrees and fifty minutes North-Latitude The unwholesomeness of the Air in all these Islands Air. breeds generally in the Inhabitants Burning-Feavers Belly-Ach and the Bloody-Flux Their Scituation being between the Equinoctial and Tropick of Cancer affords the Inhabitants two Summers When the Sun enters into Cancer which is in June it Rains there continually with Storms of Thunder Lightning and Wind which continues till the middle of October which Jarrik seems to affirm where he writes That it doth Rain there in August September and October and the Air about the middle of June gets a remarkable change growing damp and foggy with Mists out of the Sea The Portuguese find these Islands wild and desolate Plants but most of them now are Till'd and bare Rice Mayz Tares Oranges Lemons Citrons Bananoes Ignames Potatoes Cucumbers Cotton Pomegranates all sorts of Figs Coco-Nuts and Vines which bear Fruit twice a year The principal Cattel breeding here are Goats and Sheep Beasts but they have a few Oxen and Cows Fowl and Poultry increase even to admiration such are Hens Crains Turtle-Doves Turkicocks Morehens Quails and Birds which the Portuguese call Flamingo's that is Flemmings with white Feathers red Quills and a Body like a Goose Their greatest Wealth consists in Goat-skins and Salt Riches which they send in great Parcels from the Islands Del Sall Boavista Mayo and St. Lago by Shipping into Europe This as to the general we will now descend to particulars The Inland of Del Sal lies almost cover'd with Stones but without either Plants or Trees onely towards the South-East Point hard by a white Sandy Bank are seventy two Salt-Pans Many Turtels and Fish are taken between the Cliffs out of which the Slaves decoct a Train-Oil all out of the salt-Salt-Water for they have no fresh In short such is the sterility as affords no other refreshment but poor Goats yearly kill'd in great numbers for their Skins Two Miles from the Road on the South side of the Countrey is a Pond of Salt-Water nine or ten foot deep into which a Brook runs with very clear water but not held to be very wholsome because brakish St. Jago yields all sorts of Fruits having indeed a very fruitful Soyl Trees of Cedar Colcoes Oranges and the like all along beautifie the Banks of the River Ribeira Korea They have also Rice Maiz Mille Cotton and Sugar-Canes The European Herbs and Plants sent thither grow very well there but must be every year renew'd All the Wine they drink Lisbone furnishes them with but other Provisions they can spare to their Neighbors The Cattel there breeding are Oxen Horses Asses and Goats besides Hens Ilha Brava produces Figgs Mulberries and other Fruits also Mille Maiz Water-Melons and many others Some Goats but they may not be sold without leave of the Governor of St. Jago On the Island St. Nicholas are but few Trees It feeds many wild Cats and Goats close by the Shore is fresh Water in a Pond which in time of Rain flows over the Shore into the Sea St. Lucie appears Mountainous with many Woods and some fresh Water At the West side hath no other Inhabitants than Mice and Tortoises At the Watering-place of the Island St. Vincent fresh Water may be had out of Wells but not very pleasant Below on the highest Mountain there floweth a Brook whose Waters are fresh and well tasted all the rest sulphurous and brackish and for that cause unfit to drink The parch'd ground bears little but stones being every where so bare that there is neither Leaves nor Grass to be found but onely a few Shrubby Bushes
Sea-god or rather some Antike Prince Oceanus Xenophon Ogygia from †An Egyptian King Ogyges Herodotus names it from the Nile Potamitis that is River-land Lucian in Greek Melambolos from the darkness of the Soil several Writers and the bordering Moors stile this Region Ethiopia or the Land of Chus Homer will have it to be Hefestia from Hefestes or Vulcan The Modern names the Modern Turks call it El-Kebit or Cover'd-land the Arabian Mesra the Caldeans Mesrai the Assyrians Misri the Moors Gabara and Mesra the Romans from Augustus Caesar Augustanica but the antient Inhabitants call it after Ham the Son of Noah Hamia Lastly the Jews stile this Countrey Mizraim from Mizraim the Son of Ham being there the first Plantet The later Assyrians call the Egyptians Egoptes and the Mahumetans call the Christians there El-hibit and Elcupti sometimes leaving out the Article El contracting to Cupti or Ecupti but the Moors call them plain Giptu or Gibitu Herodotus makes Egypt a Present from the Nile Egypt covered with water being all Sea formerly so conjecturing from the various shells found on Summits and more rising grounds from the brackishness of the water in Pits Ponds and Trenches from the dusky soil much differing from the Neighbouring Territories but more especially from the Nile Pillar whereon formerly flowing eight Degrees prognosticated fertility when in his time rising to * Heretofore sixteen Cubits was the most it attained to as is to be seen in that Image of Nilus having sixteen Children playing about it brought from thence and Dedicated by Vespasian in the Temple of Peace but since that at Cairo it hath usually risen 23. particularly in 1610. Mr. Ge◠Sandys sixteen gave but a doubtful conjecture of a plentiful Harvest Such and the like instances not improbable intimate that the greatest part of Egypt especially where descending from the Mountains about Gran Caire it stretcheth down towards the Sea lying annually under the overflowing of the Nile rais'd its depress'd Morass from the sediments of these pudly inundations the River leaving in his retreat the fertile plunder brought from the High Lands upon the Low Countreys which mud and marling slime filling up stagnated ponds and plashes when dry'd into a swarf improv'd the soil for manuring and better confirm'd for Plantation It is to be supposed that much of it was then covered with water Most Writers with Aristotle concur in this assertion and Homer also seems to hint the same mentioning onely Thebes of this most rich and populous Countrey The Boundaries of Egypt according to the variety of Writers The Boundaries are diversly set forth Scaliger with some few placing part of Arabia with the Gulf on the East the Ethiopian Wildes and Mountains to the South the Desarts of Lybia Westward and the Mid-land Sea North. Others prescribe different limits But Ptolomy though he would seem not to meddle much in this matter yet when more nearly considered we may find him in some manner agreeing with the former bounding it Westward with Marmarica and the inner Lybia to the East with the Red Sea and part of Judea Southerly with Ethiopia and on the North with the Mid-land Sea by which Description he hath rectifyed the mistakes of sundry antient Geographers who accounted Egypt as we have said a part distinct from the other three the then known Regions of the World The Africans themselves who should know their own Countrey best bound Egypt on the South with Nubia on the North with the Mediterranean now the Sea of Damasco the Arabian Gulf washing the East and Alvahat fronting the West But Maginus a very able Geographer gives it for borders the Desarts of Arabia East the Lybian Mountains and Desarts of Barka and Nubia West Ethiopia or the Abyssines Countrey the Wastes of Bugie and Cataracts of Nile South And the Mid-land Sea North. And herewith in effect agreeth Marmol By all which it may appear that Egypt is encompassed with sandy Desarts but where it touches the Mid-land Sea Easterly towards the Red Sea lyes the Country of * The regal Metropolis was also called Thebes destroyed by Cambyses eighty furlongs long and built all upon Vaults Qua centum portarum sunt ducenti autem per unamquamque Viri egrediantur cum equis curribus Vbi multa in domibus opes reconditae jacent Hom. 11.9 Nor Thebes so much renown'd Whose Courts with unexhausted wealth abound Where through a hundred Gates with Marble Arch To battel twenty thousand Chariots march Thebes whose Wilderness being of three or four days journey in former ages becoming a retreat for divers Recluse Orders of Christians contained many Towns which were far better furnished with Monasteries and Cloysters than Houses ¶ THe Desarts of Barka Westward are a tract of ground of fifteen days journey where stood the Temple of Jupiter Hammon to whom Alexander the Great affecting the honour to be stiled his Son gave a Solemn visit Beyond the Red Sea to the South from Caire is a great Wilderness extending even to Judea and supposed to be the same wherein the Israelites made their wandering peregrination of forty years The ground here is not surfac'd with yellow Sand as that of Sahid in Egypt where the stupendious Pyramids and the Mummies so fam'd among us are to be seen but with a kind of soil whose germinating faculty or moisture being utterly exhausted with perpetual and excessive heats leaves no products unless here and there an inconsiderable shrub Another sandy Desart and more dangerous Mummies found stretches it self between Caire and the well-known Village Delbogui twenty eight days journeys and destitute of all accommodation where many casual Mummies are found supposed to be Travellers perishing there under accumulated drifts of Sand raised by sudden Tempests but now to avoid such eminent hazards all that journey those ways are convey'd in close Wooden Boxes which neither air nor light transpierceth otherwise than through small crannies ¶ THe divisions of Egypt are as various Egypt how divided as the opinions of Authors are differing Jaques Albert reckons thirteen Provincial Jurisdictions by the Inabitants called Kasssiffs or Meltoscemines six of which viz. the Kasssiffs of Girgio or Sahid Manfelout Benesuef Fiam Gize Bouhera or Baera lye toward the West from the Nile the other seven as Garbia Menoufia Mansoura Kallioubith Minio Cherkeffi and Kattia wholly to the Eastward The Kassiffe of Girgio or Sahid Kassiffes thirteen the first of the Western Provinces is a vast tract sub-divided into twelve or fourteen lesser Governments call'd there Kassifillix whereof every one hath its particular Regent or Lieutenant About a hundred years since this was accounted as a distinct Kingdom for the Government whereof a Bassa with the title of Vice-roy was usually sent thither from the Grand Seigneur at Constantinople but of late brought under the Bassa of Cairo who sends thither a Sanjacke as his Deputy The Kassiffe of Manfelout joyns to that of Girgio
the City from the Serpent Python This proof of Delta's lying under water heretofore makes us rightly to interpret Herodotus Strabo and others who maintained all Egypt to have been in the same condition whereas they must be understood by a Synechdoche to have taken a part for the whole for that Egypt in general was not drown'd with the Sea will appear from hence that it was very Mountainous and upon a continual ascent upwards to the Nile even as far as the Cataracts thereof and Ethiopia And now the Series of our Discourse having brought us to the Nile we will with as much brevity and exactness as possible describe the same by discovering his first rise and heads with his several branches and sources and setting down the Genuine causes of his annual Fluxes from the crediblest of our Modern Authors This River famous for his greatness and faecundity According to some the name of Nilus is derived from Nâ—â—â— Owâ— id est drawing new slime which may make the Earth fertile See Virg. Georg. 2. hath by antiquity many several names attributed to him The Hebrews call him Nahar-Mitzraim that is the River of Egypt the Inhabitants Nuchal which agrees with Pomponius Mela who give the same to the Head-spring of Nile and is but little different from the Hebrew Nahal or Nachal 'T is also by the Jews named Shickor or Sihor signifying black from the colour of the sediment for the same reason call'd by the Greeks Melas black And the Antients represented his Figure in black stone though all other Rivers were denoted by white Statues Some would fancy this to be Gihon mentioned in Holy Writ but with how little probability may easily be conjectured if we consider that Gihon was one of the four great Rivers that watered the Terrestrial Paradise and consequently in Asia whereas this is in Africk Homer Diodorus Xenophon and others give him the common appellation of the Countrey that is Egyptus and Plutarch names him Osyris and Syris Apollonius Triton Pliny Astraton Diodorus Aquila because of his swiftness it seems Cedrenus Chrysorrhoe Golden stream and Dyonisius Syene In the Reign of King Orus there eight hundred years before the building of Rome the same was by his Subjects known by the title of Noym or Num. Upon the Coasts of Lybia towards Syene from the name of a Princes Child there drown'd it was first call'd Nilus which also the Africans do The Abyssines stile it Abanha Father of Rivers The Negroes or Moors Takkui and from them the Abyssines Nil Takui and the two branches thereof Tagazi and Abanhi Lastly by the report of Sanutius the people of the Kingdom of Goyame call it Gihon This famous River thus severally known by variety of Names by yearly inundations doth so fertllize and fatten the earth that it provides for and furnishes the Inhabitants even with an exuberance of Plenty which proceeds from three remarkable Prerogatives wherewith Nature hath endowed him beyond all other Rivers The first is that he sends forth no foggy vapors which makes the Air very healthful and serene being continually free either from Rain Clouds Mists or Fogs Secondly he runs with so even and undisturbed a stream that there never accrews any danger from his Waves or Billows to any Boats Barks or Passengers sailing thereon but a satisfactory pleasure from his continual calm Lastly his faecundating vertue which is so great that it causeth not onely an infinite encrease in all sorts of Cattel that water there and breeds a prolifick faculty in Men and Women but produces of all things growing from the earth a Harvest plentiful even to admiration And this fertility without dispute was the cause why Egypt of old exceeded all other Nations almost for multitude of people and yet to this day after so many direful depopulations may compare with those that boast the greatest number of Inhabitants As a testimony whereof Diodorus records that there were once in it eighteen thousand strong Cities many of which as it seems were either by Time or War lay'd waste and desolate because we find in the Reign of Ptolomy Lagus onely three thousand Registred no more then remaining which by Suidas his account was in the Empire of Caesar Augustus when Diodorus lived The same Author reports that in Elder times the number of its Inhabitants were seventeen hundred thousand and that in his own time they were no less in general esteem than thirteen hundred thousand which wonderful encrease might be effected by the constant drinking the water of this River whose vertue had the power as some believed to make the Egyptian Women bring forth so often not onely two or three but sometimes six or seven nay eight Children at a Birth And this may a little abate the wonder how the Children of Israel in so short a time as two hundred years * Broughton which was all the space they sojourned in Egypt multiplyed from but seventy souls to above six hundred thousand men on foot besides Women and Children nor may those stupendious Monuments of Grandeur which even to this day bear the name of Wonders seem so strange to have been erected by the Antient Kings of this Countrey as a Remonstrance of their glorious Greatness and Magnificence if we lay into the other Scale the infinite number of people that were under their Commands all whose hands at the Princes Fiat being employed made things otherwise seeming impossible to become facile according to that of the Poet Multorum manibus grande levatur opus From these unusual Excellencies and rare Qualifications of this River the Gymnosophists of Egypt made it one of their chief Numens which they worshipped with particular Solemnities under the name of the Goddess Isis to whose care and kindness they ascrib'd their continual freedom from the terror and danger of Earthquakes and that they were never infested with any Pestilential Contagion but alwayes enjoyed a Serene wholesomeness of Air not subject to any impetuous storms or alterations of weather either from the Clouds or Windes This was the cause of those many honorable Epithetes bestowed on it by Antiquity among which one was the flowing of Osiris or rather as Abenefius an Arabick Writer hath it Osiris Arm because it did as it were reach forth to Mankind so great a Plenty of Provisions For observing that Egypt enclosed with Mountains did resemble an Arm and that the several partitions at the end seemed Fingers he appointed to the Nile the place of the Mediana or Liver-vein This like that in the body sending forth its quickning moisture by whose motion and circulation it fertilitates the whole even to such an height of abundance as makes Wonder stand amaz'd to see Nature turn Prodigal This agrees well with the Antient Poets who gave to this River many notable attributes Homer the Prince of them says it fell from Heaven out of Jupiter's Bosome from whence happily sprung the belief not onely of the old Egyptians but the later Greeks that
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
great that people should loose their hearing by it Though 't is true the Waters rush downwards two hundred foot roaring like the Breaches of the Sea in a Tempest from hence then sliding in a gentle Current over the Plains of Egypt to Cairo where the Haven of Bulach towards Villamont carryes in bredth two mile then leaving Cairo behinde him he parts into two and after into more Branches The Inhabitants for distinction sake have call'd the Tract of Land Eastward Garbiah and the places Southward near the Angle or Point of Damiata Chargnia These Branches or Arms make the several Mouthes of Nile which the Antients have especially noted to be seven But Ptolomy sets down nine which two are missing and Pliny encreases them to eleven whereof four are wanting The names of the supposed seven remaining are these The Heraclean call'd also Canopean and Naucratian The Bolbitian Sebennitian Pathmetian by Strabo nam'd Fatnian and by * In his Euterpe Herodotus Bucolian The Mendesian Tanitian and Pelusian The two wanted are Dialcos and Pineptimi But if we take the †What ever was or is their number antient or modern Maps vary among themselves for whereas Ptolomy hath set forth nine Hondius in his Map of Africa makes but eight and in that of Europe ten Ortelius in the Map of the Turkish Empire setteth down eight in that of Egypt eleven And Maginus in his Map of that Countrey hath observ'd the same number And if we enquire farther we shal find the same diversity and discord in divers others Thus we may perceive that this Account hath been always different concerning these Ostiaries of Nile Nilus as he is at present we shall finde nine Mouthes great and small the chiefest and most remarkable being the Canopean now stiled Rosetta from its neighborhood The Pelusian by some taken for the Ostiary were Damiata but seemeth rather the Tanitian from its near adjacency to Tenez The Bolbitian known by very few The Sebennitian now beareth the Name of Sturioni The Pathmetian retains the old Name The Mendetian and Damiatian by some are supposed the same though others call it Migri The Tanitian at this day known to some by the name of Kalixen and to others of Tenez or Tanez Pineptimi is taken for that which in the Maps in nam'd Brule Lastly Diolcos that is wanting Sanutius stiles Damanora Modern Geographers much abate this number Peter de la Valle his Journal Maginus Guil. Tyrius Bellonius attesting there are but three or four to wit The Rosettian and Damiatian and two other little Rivulets running between these but poor in waters We come now to the Description of the Countrey wherein for Methods sake we will begin with the Cities ¶ EGypt as we declared before is at present by the Turks divided into three Parts Description of the Westerly parts of Egypt We will take our view from the Westerly call'd Erriff extending to the Point of the Sea by Barca a Countrey belonging to Barbary and reaching from thence to Rosetta containing all the places between the two Arms of Nilus from Alexandria and Rosetta to Cairo First To the West of Barca lyes a City by the Antients call'd * A â—ort or Castle of the Arabians Plinthina and now by the Italians The Arabian Tower near adjoyning to which is the Sea Monester Busiris or Bosiri Next to the old City Busiris now term'd Bosiri on the Coast of the Mid-land Sea about twenty miles westward of Alexandria heretofore by the Christians subdu'd and totally destroy'd This Busiris whence the Busirian Precinct formerly takes its name is call'd in the Bible by Ezekiel * Cap. 30. In our English Translation it is rendred Pathros Phatures Some will have this City so call'd from the feigned †Syntagm Chorograph Aegypti Busiris who sacrificed all his Guests to Jupiter and was the most cruel Tyrant of all Egypt Others draw its Denomination from * There is in this Countrey a Pillar with this Inscription Mihi Pater est Saturnus Deorum junior sum vero Osyris Rex qui totum peragravi orbem usque ad Indiorum fines ad cos quoque sum profectus qui septentrioni subjacent usque ad Istri fontes alias partes usque ad Oceanum Dr. Brown c. Nowaccording to the best Determinations Osyris was Mizraim and Saturnus Egyptus the same with Cham after whose name Egypt is not only called in Scripture the Land of Ham but testified by Plutarch who in his Treatise De Osyride says Egypt was called Chamia a Chamo Noe filio Osyris the Egyptian Jupiter or Hercules and the Arabians from Busir the son of Cham. Kircher says it is so nam'd from the Egyptian Idol Apis signifying in their Tongue An Ox into which shape as Diodorus reports he was transformed and then the Name in the Old Egyptian Language must be Busosirin that is The Kings Ox. The Grecians confound this City with Thebes although they be distant the whole length of Egypt From the Name Busiris it may be supposed the Inhabitants worshipp'd an Ox Osiris as they hold first shewing himself in such a similitude But the truth is he was a man as they say though much controverted and a great Enricher of that Nation upon this their idolizing of an Ox and scituation of the City so near to Memphis or Cairo as also to †Called also Ez. 30.17 Aven Heliopolis which was Rameses the constant place of residence to the Israelites whence might perhaps the worship of the Golden Calf in the Wilderness take its original Not far from Bosiri lyeth Alexandria Alexandria so call'd from Alexander the Great who built it about three hundred years before the Birth of Christ chiefly employing therein the famous Architect Dinocrates Some say it was antiently call'd Noy It s several Names The Hebrews knew it by the Name of No-Ammon The Romans of Pharos Sebastia Augusta Julia Claudia Domitiana and Alexandria The Egyptians formerly styled it Racotis and say it was built by one Dalucka an Egyptian Queen after the drowning of Pharaoh in the Red-Sea The European Christians call it to this day Alexandria but the Turks Scanderoon which is the same with Alexandria De Stadt ALEXANDRIE of SCANDERIK The City AS EXANDRIA or SCANDERIX The City lyeth on the edge of the Mid-land Sea on a Sandy ground It s Scituation near the Canobian Mountains of the Nile Lee Africanus mistaken though Leo Africanus placeth it forty Miles to the Westward of Nile in regard near Cairo it begins to divide it self in two Arms and so in strictness looseth its name as he supposeth and about seven or eight hundred paces from the Haven which is very spacious for Ships but dangerous because of the two great Promontories of Rocks standing on either side in the entrance call'd by the French Diamant and Girofele but generally known by the names of the Tower Port and the Chain'd Port The former very
the Souls of the wicked they supposed to go into more vile and despicable Creatures as the dull Hippotames Horses Asses and the like And that both Gods and Kings walked up and down under such disguises to punish Vices and encourage Vertue where-ever found ¶ EGypt also hid within its Bowels great Quarries of all sorts of Marble as appears by the sumptuous Burying-places under Ground Spiers Needles and other stately Works erected in antient Times with such variety of Stone as we have already mention'd ¶ THe Air especially about Cairo and further towards the South The Air in Egypt Hot. because so near the Line is when the Sun casts his Beams perpendicularly from Cancer very Hot during which time of violent Heat all the people dwell in places under ground and in Cairo in the midst of every House are Wells containing water which not only cools their Mansions but refreshes themselves They contrive also in their Houses very great Pipes or Funnels which stand right up into the Air from the midst of the House with a broad Mouth like a Bell standing open to the North wherein the cool Air entring is sent down to the lowermost retiring Rooms under Ground For shade also in the Streets every Dwelling hath a broad Penthouse And for refreshment of their scorched Bodies they use bathing for the commodiousness whereof they have curious Bannia's of sweet and clear Water from the River Nile without mixing any Herbs or Medicinal Ingredients The Hot Air is cooled by Nilus and the Anniversary Winds The Heat also is somewhat moderated by the overflowing of Nilus at that Time and the continual blowing of cool Northerly Winds otherwise the Heat there is so vehement that neither Man nor Beast could be able to live In Winter the Air is Hot and Dry sometimes a little cool but generally very Hot and most obnoxious to the Head of all parts of the Body The Air of the Nights is cold which after Sun-rising becomes a little Warm at Noon very Hot but at Night again Cold so that its inequality breeds many Diseases ¶ THe Year may also very well though in a different way from us The Seasons of the Year are with the Egyptians fourfold be divided into four Seasons The first is Spring March or April in which the Weather is temperate They have also every Year two Summers but contingent divided into an unhealthy and intemperate and a healthy and temperate The first Summer The first being the unhealthful continues to the middle of June and the rising of the Nile The second Summer begins from the Nile's rising The second Summer and continues till September and the Decrease The Harvest consists of two other Moneths Harvest but the Brumall Season beginneth on December and continueth to March or April Winter Thus is the Year divided the Reason whereof we will a little search after First Then they placed the Spring as before is said because at that Time the Air is of a moderate and milde Temper and the Trees begin to bud and grow The first Summer causeth many Diseases and the Ground to bring forth The Spring ended the first Summer begins very hurtful both to Man and Beast during the whole time of whose continuance very hot and tedious Winds blow call'd by them Campsien from Campsi a Commander who was overwhelm'd under a great heap of Sand by these Winds and smother'd with his whole Army in the Desarts of Africa Such is the violence of these impetuous Gusts sometimes that it so raises the Sand that for three five seven or nine Days the Air is darkn'd and the Sun cannot be seen for those Atomy Clouds At this time rage many mortal Sicknesses but chiefly Soreness of the Eyes for the hot South-winds as we said How this comes to pass so drive up the scortching Sand that they seem to bring with them shining Flames the which driven through the Air hurts and prejudiceth the Body and in the Eyes breeds prickings and inflamations And that time many mortal Feavers and Phrensies rage which dispatch men in few Hours In fine all Bodies are thereby so Distempered that they abhor Food continually burning with unquenchable Thirst against which the Water of Nile is the only Remedy Strangers all this Season retire to places under Ground where they remain till other cool North-winds arise from the midland-Midland-Sea which afford a present Comfort to their inflamed and afflicted Bodies wonderfully cooling the Air. After this followeth the second Summer not so Hot because the Northerly Winds daily renew fresh and cooling Breezes and the Nile overflows his Banks What Alterations of Air happen are not sudden but come leisurely and therefore it is a healthful and wholesome Time Now the Husbandmen live at Ease because the Ground while covered with the Nile cannot be either Plowed or Tilled passing the Time in Shows Sports and other signs of Joy with Feastings and Mirth Then comes Seed-time and Harvest at the Decrease of the Nile in which are Wheat and other Fruits sown which becomes soon Ripe and are suddenly Reaped This Season is temperate and free from Sicknesses The following Winter-Moneths the Air is colder and consequently more wholesom It Rains seldom in the In-land Parts It Rains seldom in Egypt and about Cairo and what is is rather a Dew or misling than a Shower At Alexandria and Damiata and upon all Places lying near the Sea are many times great Rains but seldom or never is there any Ice Snow or Hail seen because the Air is not cold enough for it This as to the Temperature of the Air. ¶ NOw concerning the Temper and Constitution of the People Several kinds of Egyptians you may observe three sorts of Inhabitants in Egypt viz. Citizens dwelling in Cairo and other Cities wandring Arabians that live in Tents and lastly Ploughmen or Husbandmen which dwell up the Countrey Most of the Citizens are Sanguine but the Bodies of the Ploughmen and Arabians are hot and dry so are many Townsmen but the continual drinking the Nile Water often use of cooling Food or Diet and the immoderate use of Venus mightily lessen and alter the Heat and Drought Besides their continual use of Baths of sweet Water so cools them that many of those dry tan'd Complexions become Sanguine especially Women and Eunuchs They have cold Stomachs and full of Flegm proceeding from the constant using of cooling Diet as also by the over-great Heat of the Air whereby the natural Heat extracted or exhaled the Stomach is left Raw and Cold. The Egyptians are general very Gross and Corpulent The form of their Bodies especially the People of Cairo most of the Men there being so Fat that they have much Greater Thicker and Larger Breasts than Women but the Arabians are Meagre and Slender so are the Husbandmen and not only so but also hairy sweaty and almost scorched and burnt by the Sun They do all follow Venus
from Putrifaction of the Air Seldom does the Pestilence in Egypt arise from the Putrifaction of the Air. unless the Nile overflowing the Countrey too high leaves his Water a long while upon the Ground whereby the whole Land becomes as a corrupt and standing Lake that by the Southerly Winds and Summer Heat are ripened and made fit to send up infectious Vapours There being then no Natural Cause to breed this Contagion within Egypt The Pestilence is always brought over from other Places into Egypt it follows that it is brought thither from other Neighbouring and Bordering Places and especially out of Greece Syria and Barbary That which is brought thither out of Greece and Syria and falls upon Caire is very milde kills few and holds but a short time But when it comes from Barbary thither it is most pernicious and of longest continuance Such was that in the Year Fifteen hundred and eighty that raged so furiously that in a short time it clearly swept away above five hundred thousand men By the continual rising of the Dust Why the Baths are in great use among the Egyptians and extraordinary Sweating the Bodies of the People become foul nasty and verminious and therefore Baths are of very great use to cleanse and keep them sweet and free from breeding Cattel But the Women with most frequency and care use Bathing as intending or at least imagining that such Lotions make them more pleasing to their Husbands and to have a gracious and pleasant Scent in their Nostrils when they come together to recreate themselves They take little care of their Hair Alpin de mâ—de Egypt ordering it slightly according to the manner of the Countrey in a Silken Caul but are very curious elsewhere using the Razor where necessary Afterwards they anoint themselves with several rich Perfumes such as Musk Amber Civet and the like which there are bought in great abundance for a small matter as aforesaid This frequent Bathing and Anointing they use not onely for Ornament Fat Women are pleasing to the Egyptians Cleanliness and Coolness but especially to make them if lean to become plump and fat because such Women be highly esteemed of in those Parts by which means some grow Bona-Roba's and others out of all measure with fathomless Wastes like foul Sows chiefly the Jews whose Women are more liable to that undecent Extream All in general when they are Bathing the sooner to facilitate their Design What they do to be fat take nourishing cool Broaths and Cordial Jellies on purpose made of Pinguefying Ingredients to wit Bammia Melochia and Colocasia The poorer sort in the Bannias drink the Settling of the Oyl of Sesamus Seed which they call Thaine or the decoction of China Roots or the Oyl pressed out of the Indian Nuts or the Fruit of the Turpentine-Tree Sweet Almonds Hasle-nuts and Pistaches eating besides much food and Flesh of fatted Fowls with the Broath boiled to a Jelly and mixed therewith Nor do these Lotions and Unctions suffice The chasing of the Body unless attended with a threefold Frication The first is done with the naked palm of the hand anointed with the Oyl of Sesamus the second with a rough linnen cloth and the third with a course cloth of Goats-hair After which they are rubbed all over with Sope which they wash off in a Bath of warm sweet-Water And lastly they lay upon their Feet a mixture of the Powder of Archanda mixed with ordinary water and is very serviceable for moist and stinking Feet drying them speedily by its great astringency At Cairo and Alexandria great multitudes of Houses are appointed for the use of Baths which have many Caves Cellars or Chambers The Superfluity of Baths at Cairo wherein people sweat are chafed and washed containing at all times hot warm and cold Baths but usually moderately warm because principally in use among them The Egyptians keep a slender and sparing Table eating little but often The Egyptians feed sparingly but often They are not pleased with Variety but content themselves with one Dish of Meat at a meal And if Flesh eat sparingly of it as having no great appetite thereto but when they do they chuse Mutton simply cook'd without either addition or Sauce to it But of late some Merchants have begun to learn to eat Chickens They chiefly delight in moist Food Their Food and therefore commonly use Rice boiled in preserved Juices of Linse Erwetes white Cives Melochia Beets Melda Coale Bammia Cucumers or Chate the Roots of Colocasia Melons Dates Musae Fruit Figs Apricocks Peaches Oranges Lemons Citrons Granates The poor people eat Beef and Camels flesh and some Fish as Pikes or Pickerels and many other and among the rest the flesh of the Crocodile In places near the Sea Fish may be had in great abundance which they eat without distinction for the most part salted and sometime half rotten Milk and all that come of it or are made with it is with them in very great use And as they are best pleased in simple Diet of one kinde of Food They eat not many sorts of Food so a little of it contents them For many make their Dinner and Supper onely of Melons or Wheaten Bread some of such simple Broth as we mentioned before and others chew upon a green Sugar-Cane or onely with Figs or Grapes or Cucumers or some such trifling Diet. All their Pot-herbs and Fruits are moister than the European and therefore more unsavoury The Fishes are unwholesom In like manner the Fishes taken in the Nile are fat enough and pleasant in Taste but accounted unwholesom because that River hath no stony or gravelly but a sedimented bottom and the Water unsetled with a flying Lee which must of necessity make the Fishes that breed in it unwholesom The common Drink of the Countrey is the Nile Their Drink which is very sweet but the Christians and Jews drink Wine also as also some Turks and especially the Soldiers that often at Cairo take the Creature in such abundance that they return home laid athwart on Asses Backs in those mad and inebriating Frolicks no more minding their Prophets Wine-forbidding Laws The best Wine for in Egypt there grows none is brought from the Island of Candy Rhodes and Cyprus the Wine of Italy Corcyre and Zacynthe turning sowre presently This Water of Nilus The Water of Nilus very wholesom to drink which by the length of his Current and the Heat of the Sun must needs be sufficiently concocted and made thin is very wholesom for as to the dregs or muddy part thereof the Egyptians have a way to make it clear which they do in this manner As soon as the Water is brought home in Leathern Flasks or Bottles they put it in long-neck'd great earthen Jugs or Jarres with broad round Bellies anointing the edge a little with stamp'd sweet Almonds then taking a handful of the same they thrust their Arm into
made under a good Horoscope and enabled by Art to preserve Cities wherein they are kept or set up in a victorious and impregnable condition And the Architect employ'd to place those Apples not onely used the like Arts but had by Magick set several Spirits for the constant keeping of them Many Kings have endeavour'd to take them down but still some mishap hath followed to prevent them The King of Morocco himself Anno 1500. boasted he would take and bestow them upon the Portugals as a Reward for their Service in the Defence of his State but the Commons withstood it alleadging they were the greatest Ornament of Morocco and next to the Kingdom they were fit to be preserv'd In this Palace are thirty Chambers and a Hall on all sides within and without furnish'd richly with all sorts of Imagery and appointed for places of Contemplation and Study In the midst of the whole stands a very goodly Fountain canopi'd and turrited with white Marble artificially Carved and Polished ¶ ABout half an hours Journey from the City The Garden or Montserat lieth a very stately and pleasant Orchard or Garden of the Kings call'd Montserat planted with above fifteen thousand common Trees the like number of Oranges and Dates and about thirty six thousand Olive-Trees besides many other sorts of Plants Flowers and wholesome Herbs A Rivulet cometh out of the Mountain and runs quite through it watering not onely the Plants but feeding many sorts of Fish In the midst of this lieth a four-square place wherein stands a Leopard of white Marble speckel'd with black Spots to the life at every corner and round about encompast with Marble Pillars upon each of which is a Lyon spouting clear water out of his mouth To this Garden adjoyns a Park A Park of Beasts wherein are inclosed a great number of Wilde Beasts as Elephants Lyons Deer and the like In the first Court of the Palace Moquet says appear three very stately Buildings after the Morish Fashion and adorned with Fountains The second Court hath Piazzaed Walks supported with white Marble Columns so artificially built that the best Architect may admire their Workmanship And on the ground stand many Marble Vessels with clear water where the Moors wash themselves before they go to their Sala Next this are the Habitations of the Jews The Jews Dwelling-place like a second City girt with strong Walls but having one onely Gate guarded by the Moors Many Agents or Embassadours from several Princes and States of Europe use to be here resident The ordinary Houses are low Their Houses small and slight raised up onely of Loam and Chalk but the Houses of great Persons are magnificent built with Stone and flat at the top to walk upon for coolness Most of the Mosques or Churches Churches which there are very numerous are entire Marble and cover'd with Lead The River Tenzift runs through the City whose Water the Citizens use on all occasions and serves also to drive Mills for grinding Corn. ¶ THis Province abounds with Flax The Fruitfulness of the Soil about Morocco Hemp Wheat and all sorts of Grain which it vents abroad into other parts in great quantities nor yields it a less store of Dates Figs Raisins Apples Pears Olives Nuts and the like Fruits besides Cattel which afford plenty of Milk Butter and Cheese But the tops of the Mountains lye many times covered with Snow being for the most part barren and cold and at best producing nothing but Barley Eight Leagues from Morocco Agmet upon the top of a Mountain stands Agmet in former times rich and populous containing about six thousand Families but at present decay'd and affording Wolves Foxes and other wilde Beasts and Fowl a burrow and resting place Elgiumuhe or Elgiemahe by the River Xeuxaue or Sochaiu Elgiumuhe about two Miles from Mount Atlas formerly a place well inhabited but now lieth almost waste and desolate Emigiagen or Umegiagen a City and Fort eight miles Southerly of Elgiemake Emigiagen surrounded with a stony Rock in stead of a Wall Tazarat or Tesrat or Terrasast lieth upon the Banks of Eciffelmel Tazarat five miles Westerly of Morocco and seven from Mount Atlas Teneze at the foot of Atlas call'd Guidimyve or Gedmeve Teneze three miles from the River Eciffelmel Gemaagidid call'd by some Delgumuhe Gemaagidit a fair City lying upon the high Mountain Sicsive five and twenty mile from Morocco containeth about a thousand or twelve hundred Houses The City Temelet call'd by some Temelle and Mehedie Temelet lying on a Mountain Imizimiz or Imismizi on the hanging of the Hill Guidimive Imizimiz hath below it a Road which runs cross Mount Atlas and is call'd Bureix which signifies Feathers because the Flakes of Snow oftentimes flye over this City like Doun Tamdegost or Tumeglast about five mile from Atlas Tamdegost Animmey a small City on the side of a Plain Animmey about three miles from Morocco Eastward ¶ HEre also are divers great Hills such are Nefuse or Nefise Derenders Hills of Morocco Nefuse Aden and Atron lying in the West and dividing it from Hea. Very barbarous people inhabit it who live hardly The Semmede begins at the foot of Nefuse Semmede and spreads Eastward seven miles in Length The Xauxave to the Southward of Semmede Xauxave gives name to a River rising there The Mountain Sicsive is very high Sicsive and the Hill Temelet boasts of a stately City call'd Temelet The Guidimive or Gedmeve begins at the Westerly Foot of Semmede Guidimive extending East about eight miles The Hantete is so high Hantete that at a distance it sheweth continually cover'd with the Clouds touching to the West on Guidimive and reaching Eastward about six miles to Animmey which also lifts it self up to a great heighth extending from hence Eastward to the River Tecouhin ¶ THe Constitution and Nature of the Inhabitants we will now give you a touch of as in the several places wherein they are seated The Constitution of the Inhabitants and begin with them of Morocco who are well featur'd and very white The Men delight much in Hunting and Hawking and therefore keep excellent Horses which according to their Custom they manage with good judgement They take great pleasure in keeping all sorts of Fowl which are brought to them from Mount Atlas They of Elgiumuhe are diligent in Husbandry but often plunder'd by the Arabs Those of Delgumube are extraordinary neat in their Habit proud bold-spirited but very jealous The Mountaineers are ill natur'd rough and deceitful coveting from Strangers what ever they have They go meanly Habited live as beasts and feed on Barley with a little Oyl of Olives Some few of them have Converse with Jews from whom they learn some Mechanick Arts wearing onely under their Feet artificial Soals to defend them from sharp Stones and Thorns And their best Habit is meerly a
Asgar Elhabat Erif Garet and Cuz or Chaus or Sau. The Rivers which run through or rising there water this Kingdom The Rivers and after fall either into the Ocean or Midland-Sea are the Burregreg or Burregrag Subu Fez Bath Likus Homar Guir Gomer Cherzer Melulo Melukan and Muluye The River Burregreg or Burregrag formerly call'd Sala taketh the Original in the greater Atlas from whence passing through many Woods and Valleys at last dischargeth it self into the Sea between the Cities of the old and new Salle The River Subu by Ptolomy call'd Suber one of the greatest in Barbary Subu springs from Mount Ciligo or Selego a Branch of Atlas in the Dominion of Cuz or Chaus from whence it descends with so strong and swift a Current that a Stone of a hundred weight cast into it is presently thrown out again Not far from its Head is a stately Bridge made over it After a long Course and various Meandrings it runs for two miles along by Fez enriching that City and Countrey as also Asgar with its Waters So running on till it falls into the Sea by Morocco Many lesser Streams and Brooks and particularly Guarga Sador Yuavan and Halvan as also the River Fez contribute their Streams to the augmentation of this River The River Fez runs through the City Fez the Neighbours give it an Arabick Name signifying The Pearly River known to Pliny by the title Fut as to Ptolomy by that of Phuth or Thuth The Bath rises out of Atlas and gliding through Asgar receives Incremental Helps of Gurgivora and Bunzar joyning at last with Subu Lucus heretofore call'd Licos derives from Mount Gomere running from the West through the Plains of Habat and Asgar so looking at Naravigia and Basra about two miles from the Sea makes the Island Gezire then washing the Walls of Alkasar Elquikie it pours into the Ocean by L'aracch a City of Asgar making there an excellent Haven The Homar Homar so call'd from a City of the same Name by which it flows begins in the Mountain of Habat and runs into the Ocean by Taximuxi The Guir Guir by Ptolomy call'd Dyos a small Rivulet comes out of the Mountain of Temesne and loses it self in the Ocean near Almansor The Gomer Gomer springing a Mount of that Name falls into the Midland-Sea by a place call'd also Gomer The River Cherzar descends out of Errif Cherzar and enters the Sea a little way distant from Cherzar Nokar Nokar by Ptolomy call'd Mokath and by Peter Daviyte Milukar takes its Rise out of Mount Elchaus so running towards the North and dividing Errif from Gared falls into the Mediterranean Melulo Melulo a great River descended from Atlas between Sezar and Dubudu from whence visiting the barren Desarts of Tesreft and Tafrata empties it self into the Mulukan taking Head from Atlas six or seven miles from Garcylain a City of Chaus so watering the Desarts here as also Angued and Garet falls into the Mediterranean by the City Cacasa having first received the Waters of Melulo and some others Lastly Muluye The Muluye from Atlas runs from West to East till disemboguing into the midland-Midland-Sea by the City Ona it makes a handsome Haven by Ptolomy call'd Malva FEZ THe Province of Fez hath for Boundaries in the West The Territory of Fez Burrogreg or Burragrag as it comes from Temesen and stretcheth Eastward to the River Imnavan on the North Subu and part of the Sea between Salle and Mamorbe on the South the Mountains of Atlas Its Length from East to West about seventeen Miles The most Antient City of this Countrey is Sale Sale by Ptolomy Sala and by some Geographers Sella on the Northerly Shore of the Sea where the River Buragrag Beregreg Sala or Kumer flow into it Southerly and toward the South opposite to Rabat or Rabald which also is stil'd Salle so making the Old and New Sale Nor do the Cities onely differ in Name but the Inhabitants also those of Old Salle being call'd Slousi those of New or Rabald Rabbati being for the most part Andaluzians formerly driven with the Moors out of Spain Both these Cities are strongly Wall'd and Fortifi'd The Old in a Quadrangular Form with four Gates one of which towards the North is call'd Sidimusa Ducala from a Saint whose Sepulchre stands about an half hours Journey from thence and on the same side a less Gate by a Redoubt On the Land-side towards the East are two Gates one opening to the Burying-place of the Jews and the way leading to Mikanez the other a Percullis'd Gate like a square Watch-Tower SALEE The Arabians keep a daily Market in the Old City bringing thither Butter Wheat Barley Oyl Cows Sheep and other necessary Provisions In this Market under the Ground lies the Masmora or Common Prison for the Slaves receiving all its Light with divers inconveniences from Iron Grates lying even with the earth This was heretofore a large place of Receipt as appears by the Ruines of the Walls and Buildings but at present both in Buildings and Beauty falls short of New Sale Rabad or Rabald now New Sale almost also Four-square New Sale stands in a Valley between two high Precipices those on the Land-side much higher and uneasier to ascend than those on the Sea-shore A double Wall guards the Land-side the one old the other new between which they reserve a proportion of Land half as big as the Town wherein they Sow yearly several Grains The outer or new Wall defending the Entrance between the aforemention'd great Hills boasts an extraordinary Thickness and the Heighth of thirty Foot or thereabouts but towards the Sea lies in a manner open Three Gates on the Land-side give entrance into it one on the East The Gates and two on the South viz. The Gate of Morocco and the Gate of Temsina Close by the River upon a rising Ground standeth Asan Tower Asan a Four-square Tower so call'd adjacent to which is a Church built without a Roof above and without are Arches about fourteen hundred Foot long and three hundred broad with a square Steeple of Stone two hundred Foot in Compass the Ascent to whose Top is so easie and broad that sometimes attempting they scale the Top with Waggons and Horses The South Point of the Steeple being towards the Church stands with a gaping Rent receiv'd by a dreadful Thunderbolt Through the Church runs a Brook about thirty Foot deep and a hundred broad made in a Channel or Trough of Stone guessed to be intended as a Bathing-place for the Moors Here also a strong Castle call'd Alkassave Castle Alkassave seems proudly to swell into the bigness of a little City encompassed with thick Walls and a deep dry Trench Formerly it inclosed two hundred Houses which at present are most of them faln or falling onely one Tower remains whose Top is adorned with Mahumetan's Crescents This Castle was heretofore as a Seraglio for the King
hundred and fourteen set forth a Fleet to scour the Seas and also chase away the Pyrates that sculking sheltered in those Parts and in the same Spot raised a new Fortress which with the assistance of the Citadel Larache kept all the neighboring Coast and Countrey in awe and also improved the Haven for safer riding of Shipping Mequinez Mequinez and by some call'd Mecknesse and Mechnase and by the English Mikernez seventy Spanish Miles from Salee twenty from Mahmore twelve from Fez and six from the Great Atlas close by a River it is an old City by Ptolomy as Marmol says Leo Afric call'd Silde formerly furnish'd with Six thousand Houses and very strong Walls fair Churches Three Colledges twelve great Bannia's large and spacious Streets and a commodious Stream Tifelfelt Tefelfelt or Tefelfelt a small City Ptolomy's Tamusige in a Valley four Miles distant from Mahmore and three from the Ocean now nothing but Ruines and a Receptacle for wilde Arabs and the like Robbers Gemaa el Hamem Gemaa el Hamem or Gemei Elchmen or Elchmel is an old City on a Plain four Miles from Mequinez Southward East from Fez and three from Mount Atlas but much harm'd by the late Wars insomuch that the Churches and Houses stand all bare the Roofs lying on the Floors which confusion makes it rather a Den of Thieves than a City being nothing else but lurking holes for those inhumane Purchasers Hamis Metagare or Kamis Metgare Hamis Metagare close by the way that goeth from Morocco to Fez between the City Gemaa el Hamem and Fez four Miles from either of them lay formerly waste and uninhabited but afterwards by the Moors banisht out of Granada Peopled and brought to its pristine State and Condition Beni Becil or Beni Basil another City lately wasted by the Wars Beni Becil but now Repaired situate between Fez and Mequinez on the Banks of the small River call'd Heud Nye which with the Fountain Ain Zork half a Mile above the aforesaid City takes it Original out of the same Place Makarmede by Marmol taken to be the Erpis of Ptolomy Makarmede lyeth six Miles from Fez Eastward and is wasted by the same Civil Wars Habad or Rabat by some call'd Hubbed is a Castle Habad environ'd with strong Walls built by Mahumetan Priests opposite to Sale so standing that from thence they have a large Prospect of all the adjacent Countrey The Opinion is that this Town or Citadel formerly was large and very Potent but now in a low and miserable condition Inhabited by Moors and wilde Arabs that only live from hand to mouth by Forrage and Plunder having no Commerce pretending Vassalage to the Kings of Morocco Zavie or Zaquie held to be Ptolomy's Volusse built by Joseph the Second Zavie a King of the Marine Family lyeth four Miles from Fez almost wholly Ruin'd the chief remaining part being now converted into an Hospital Halvan or according to some Chanban a Wall'd Village Halvan lying two Miles Eastward from Fez at the River Sebu or Subu having without the Walls a Hot Bath with very fair Inns. But the most Eminent City of all is Fez call'd by the Mahumetans The City Fez. Western-Court and by some held to be Silde by others the Volubilis of Ptolomy This City was first founded Anno Eight hundred and one by one Idris the natural Son of Idris by his Handmaid he being a dispossessed Arabian Patriarch The Original of the Name Fez is by some brought from the Arabian word Fez signifying Gold because at the first breaking of the Ground to lay the Foundation there was Golden Oar found but others will have it from the River Fez which Waters the City It stands remoted from the Sea a hundred Miles The Form of it with rough and almost inaccessible ways to it The Form is a Quadrangular Oblong hedg'd in on every side with Suburbs all encompast with high and stately Walls wrought artificially with Brick and Free-Stone fortifi'd round about with Towers but few Redoubts according to the Modern but onely Flanker'd at the Gates which are in all eighty six some of them Water-Gates a Stream running through them So near surrounded with Hills that there remains no more Level but what the City stands upon It is divided into twelve Wards or Precincts containing sixty two spacious Markets set with Artificers and Tradesmens Shops round about above two hundred Eminent Streets together with a great number of cross and by-Lanes all which are adorn'd on both sides with large and stately Edifices besides seven hundred Mosques a great number of Colledges Hospitals Mills and common Bannia's This as to the general we shall now make a more particular Inquisition The River Fez which Paulus Jovius calls Rhasalme passes through the City in two Branches one runs Southward towards New Fez and the other West each of these again subdividing into many other clear running Channels through the Streets serving not onely each private House but Churches Inns Hospitals and all other publick Places to their great Conveniences Round about the Mosques are a hundred and fifty Common-Houses of Easement built Four-square and divided into Single-Stool-Rooms each furished with a Cock and a Marble Cistern which scowreth and keeps all neat and clean as if these Places were intended for some sweeter Employment Here also are two hundred and fifty Bridges Like London-Bridge before the Fire many of which are built on both sides that they are not onely Thorow-fares but of all Trades there There are eighty six publick Springs or Wells which afford the Citizens abundance of Water besides six hundred other in Palaces Hospitals and great Buildings The Houses are artificially built of Bricks The Houses and Stones their Fronts Carved out with all sorts of Imagery the Rooms and Galleries of Brick and Tile and pourtray'd with Flowers and variety of Colours and for the greater lustre they shine with a rare Varnish The Cielings and Beams of the Rooms are commonly Gilt Carv'd and Painted with delightful Colours the Roofs are flat and artificially laid with Pavements which in Summer are cool Reposes Here their Houses are two or three Stories high with Galleries the middle of the House lying always open with Rooms on each side having high and broad Doors furnish'd to the whole Length with a great Press or Chest of Drawers in which they lay up their Habits or what ever else they have a great esteem for The Galleries rest upon Pilasters made either of Brick or Marble painted and varnished over after the manner of a Piazza or Terrast-Walk Many Houses have Stone Cisterns ten or twelve Cubits long six or seven broad and six or seven Foot deep handsomely painted and varnished over under which stands a Marble Trough receiving the redundant Water of the Cistern They are kept pure and clean though never kept cover'd but in Summer when Men Women and Children bathe in it The Houses have also
Royal Seat of their new Government under their Prince King Abni These in the Year Seven hundred sixty and two were driven out by the Saracens and about a hundred years after that Joseph the first King of Morocco gave the Kingdom and Castle of Bugie then subdu'd by him to one Hucha-Urmeni though a Saracen without paying or doing Homage And though his Successor was disturb'd by the Arabians yet afterwards they held a fair Correspondence with Tunis But two hundred and sixty years since the Sovereign Power falling it became Tributary to the King of Telensin under which it continu'd till the Reign of Abuferiz King of Tunis who subdu'd Bugie giving it to one of his Sons call'd Habdidi Haziz with the Title of King whose Race Govern'd by Succession till Don Pedro de Navarre by Command of King Ferdinand in the Year Fifteen hundred and ten with a strong Army Conquer'd it for the Spaniard who slighted the old Castle and cast up two other new Forts on the Shore by the Haven This City and Forts Barbarossa supposing to stand in his way as opposing the Designs he had upon several parts of Barbary and at the invitation of the expell'd King came in the Year Fifteen hundred and twelve with twelve Galleys well man'd and an Assistance of three thousand Moors drawn by their King from the Mountains and pitched before the City yet after so fair a shew of his great Power eight days continually battering the Castle being discourag'd by a small Shot receiv'd in his left Arm he faintly withdrew and broke up the Siege returning to Tunis and the King to the Mountain This much troubling Barbarossa that he had so dishonourably forsaken such an Enterprise having recover'd his Wound in the Year Fifteen hundred and fourteen he renew'd the former Siege in which plying the Castle so hot and shaking it with his great Cannon it fell but the Garrison'd Souldiers retir'd into the City Then instantly he apply'd himself to the Storming of the other Castle and without doubt would have carried it though in the first Assault there remain'd an hundred Turks and as many Moors dead upon the Spot had not Martin de Reuteria with five Ships and a competent number of Souldiers came opportunely to their Assistance into the Haven whereupon Barbarossa was once more compell'd to depart to Gigeri Charles the Fifth Emperour seeing of what great consequence it was to keep this place for the more easie Conquest of Algier for the better Security thereof built a Fort upon the Hill which commanded the Castle At length those of Algier after many fruitless Attempts became Masters thereof in the Year Fifteen hundred fifty and five by the Conduct of the Bassa Sala who with three thousand Turks and thirty thousand Moors beleaguer'd in two places both the Castles as well by Land as Water First he gain'd the Castle lying on the Sea cutting off most of the Defendants then slighting it and pursuing his Success fell upon the other Fort with such fury that the Lieutenant Alonso de Peralta was forc'd to desert it and seek Refuge in the City but considering the weakness of the Town as not able to endure an Attaque surrendred the City Shipping thence according to Articles for Spain four hundred old Souldiers for which Service he was rewarded by cutting off his Head and ever since Bugie hath been under the Government of Algier GIGERI Or GIGEL THis Countrey bordering with the Sea Marmol so calls from a Village of that Name In the way between Algier and Bugie being fifteen miles from the later consisting of about five hundred mean Houses near which stands an old Castle upon a Hill almost inaccessible This Territory reacheth Southward to the Borders of the Numidian Desart containing Mount Haran being about twenty miles from Bugie and fifteen from Constantine and running Northward to the pleasant Valleys of Mesile Stefe Nekaus and Constantine ¶ THe Soil is generally barren and fit onely for Lime and Hemp which there groweth in great abundance Mount Auraz hath many Springs which so water the Plains that they are Plains that they are all Morass but dried up in the Season of the Year by the Heat of the Sun All this high Land is inhabited by Arabs a fierce and jealous people not permitting any Intercourse or the least Commerce with the Low-Landers lest they should dispossess them of their Habitations The Village Gigeri is very rich especially by the Trade they had in former times with the French who us'd to put in there for Hides and Wax The Inhabitants Traffick in small Vessels laden with Nuts and Figs to Tunis giving to the Bashaw of Algier the Tenth of all their Cargo's ¶ IN the Year Fifteen hundred and fourteen Barbarossa subdu'd this Territory The French are driven out of Gigeri and gave himself the Title of King of Gigeri And by that means when Cheridin Barbarossa his Brother and Successor in his Conquest submitted to the Grand Seignior this with the rest became subject to the Turks who disturb'd by the French that had won something upon it there were still Endeavors by the one to keep what they had got and by the others to regain what they had lost So the French in November 1664. designing to Fortifie themselves had an Assistance sent to them under the French Admiral Duke de Beaufort who arriving with a Naval Army sent a Spy to finde out the Strength of the Moors and to prevent his Discovery attir'd him in Turkish Habit promising him for a Reward of his Fidelity and care fifteen Pistols determining upon his return to fall upon the Moors with eight hundred men fifty of which he intended for an Ambuscade The Citÿ GEGERY DE STADT GIGERI◠CONSTANTINE COnstantine a Maritime Province so call'd from its Metropolis includes Its Borders according to Marmol that space of Land which the Antients named Nero Numidia containing formerly Constantine Mele Tefas Urbs Ham Samit and Beldelhuneb the Rivers Magier and Guadilbarbar dividing it from Tunis The Head City Constantine formerly according to Strabo and Mela The Head City call'd Constantine did bear the Name of Cirta Numidia and Cirta Julia having for the Founder Micipsa King of Numidia but Gramay thinks it a Roman Work by the stateliness and form of the Buildings Marmol averrs that this City was of old call'd Kulkua a Plantation of Numidia and that the Moors still entitle it Kucuntina It lieth on the South side of a very high Mountain surrounded with steep Cliffs from among which the River Sugefmart floweth so that the Cliffs on both sides serve in stead of a Rampart on the other side strengthened with high Walls of black Stone exquisitely hewen through which are but two ways into the City the one on the East the other on the West It containeth about ten thousand Houses many well Paved Streets furnished with all kind of Tradesmens Shops On the North side stands a Castle and without the
harrasing he erected this onely for a convenient Retreat for the Army and a Repository for his Booty for the security whereof he environ'd it with impregnable Walls Within he erected a stately Mosque supported with Marble Pillars two of which were of an unvaluable worth being of a red Colour and glistering intermixt with small white Spots like Porphiry but notwithstanding this Strength and Beauty yet is it destitute of water being scituate on a dry and sandy Plain Tobulte or Tabulta Tobulte according to Bertius and by some taken for Adrimentum boasts it self a Roman Foundation standing on the edge of the midland-Midland-Sea three miles Eastward of Monaster One Elugleb being chief Magistrate there by the consent of the Inhabitants erected another goodly Pile of Buildings which they nam'd Recheda adjoyning to it for a Palace for the Prince and his Retinue both which in the Civil Wars of Barbary were greatly defac'd and never since recover'd their former Lustre Arfachus Arfachus otherwise Esfakos or according to Marmol Elfachus thought by some to be Rhuspe of Ptolomy and by others Tafrute built by the Moors at the Mediterranean-Sea heretofore handsomely Wall'd and very Populous but now can shew not above four hundred mean Houses ¶ THe Sandy-Plain about Kayravan bears neither Trees The Constitution of the Countrey Corn nor Fruit so that all Necessaries are fetcht by them from other places They have no Wells nor any Springs onely Rain-water which with great diligence they preserve Nor is that of sufficiency for that also after the going out of June fails them so that they are reduc'd to great extremity About Arfachus and Tobulte there grows some Barley and Olives but the greatest part of the Land lies waste because of the Arabians pillaging ¶ THe Inhabitants of Kayravan are generally Skinners and Tanners The Nature of the Inhabitants which send their Leather to Biledulgerid and there barter and exchange it for European Cloth ¶ KAyravan is eminent for the Residence of a Mahumetan Pope Their Religion or Worship or High Priest of great esteem among them for his Sanctity and strict Observance of the Alcoran The Arabians ascribe to this place extraordinary Veneration for that their Kasiz or Priests continually here exercise their Priestly Functions maintaining that the Dead there buried cannot be damn'd because they participate so constantly of the Prayers of the Kasiz and Pope and this Belief has so far prevail'd that many great persons coming thither out of Reverence pull off their Shoes when they enter into the City as if it were a Mosque and build there Mesquites which they endow with great Revenues believing by such meritorious Works they shall go directly to their Paradice THE ISLAND OF TABARKA AND GALITA ABout six Miles from the Cape of Maskarez lieth the Island Tabarka Peter Davity Estats du Turkin Africa severed from the main Land by a Foordable Passage a Musquet Shot broad Now possessed by the French who have built there a Fort furnished with all Necessaries of War and a Garrison of Two hundred Souldiers as a Conveniency for defence and support of the Trade which they drive there with great advantage Transporting thence Hides Grain Wax and other Merchandise yet are obliged or rather compelled for that Licence to pay to the Bashaw of Tunis Four thousand Crowns and to the Bashaw of Algier Two thousand and yet for all this there is a Band of Janizaries always thereabouts to supervise their Actions and give a Check to them if they suspect any incroachment Here the French get Coral as we mentioned before Opposite to this but two Miles distant you may see the Island Galita or Galata TRIPOLIS TRipolis a Member of the Turkish Empire bears at this day the Title of a Kingdom not so much for the Largeness of its Extent or that it had peculiar Lords as that having a Bashaw from Constantinople it is nam'd out of ostentation to encrease the swelling bulk of those Titles which makes that Empire seem so Gigantick But be it one or other now it is so reckoned and containeth the Territories of Tripolis Essab Mezellata Mesrata The Partition or Cyrenaica and Barka with some Islands extending The Borders according to Peter Dan's Account Eastward along the Sea-Coast of the Island Zerby or Gerby to Egypt and Southerly to the Negroes Countrey ¶ THis City and State hath from the beginning had Lords of greatest eminency Tripoli under the Romans as first the Romans to whom it did Homage and Fealty when they were Masters of Africa but as their Strength and Glory declined shrowded themselves under the Protection of the Kings of Morocco Fez and Tunis which have possessed it by right of Birth But when the Inhabitants saw themselves oppressed by the Tyranny of Mukamur Under the Moors Son of Hesen King of Tunis they threw this yoke off their Necks first by a general Revolt then expelling the King's Lieutenant and all other his Officers and at last electing from among themselves one whom they made their Ruler or Magistrate putting all the Revenue and Support of the State into his hands In the beginning this new Lord rul'd with all gentleness but afterwards degenerating into all kinds of Tyranny his Brother in Law revenged the Cause of the City by killing him Freed from this Viper of their own breeding they impowered a Courtier of Prince Abubacer who had been a Recluse or Hermit who held the Command a few moneths till Ferdinand Vanquished by Ferdinand King of Arragon and Castile sent Don Pedro de Navarre thither with an Army who surprizing the City made all the Inhabitants Slaves and brought them away together with their Governor and his Son whom he sent first to Messina from thence to Palermo where the Emperor Charles the Fifth set him at liberty dismissing him home to Tripoli which the Christians as we said had dismantled and made untenable in all parts except the Castle which they fortifi'd with a brave Wall whereon they Planted divers great Cannon The young Prince being come to Tripoli re-peopled it in the name and on the behalf of the Emperor Charles but in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty and three together with Tunis Byserta Susa Monaster and the Island of Zerby was re-gained by Barberossa Re-gained by Barberossa who was scarcely warm in it before the Emperor Charles re-assaulted and took it By the Empetor Charles forthwith making a Present of it to the Knights of Malta who possessed it till the Year 1551. when under the Reign of Solyman the Magnificent Sinan Bashaw came and Besieged Tripoli to whom after a short time it was delivered upon honourable Articles It was brought under the Turks among which one was That the Garrison should march out with Bag and Baggage and be provided of convenient Shipping to Malta by Sinan but contrary to the Conditions most of them were plundered of their Goods two hundred of the Moors
who had served the Malteses were put to the Sword and most of the Knights of Malta sent to the Galleys and the rest the Bashaw took and made Slaves After this Victory Sinan appointed Morat Aga to be Vice-Roy and ever since the Grand Seignior sends from Constantinople every three years a Beglerbeg or Bashaw thither to support his Conquests About the Year Fifteen hundred ninety eight Sidi Haga a Marabout or Priest designing to make himself a Master of the City and Kingdom with the assistance of the meaner sort began a notable Rebellion upon the first intelligence whereof Asan Bassa Admiral at Sea Sailed thither with sixty Galleys and some Souldiers from Tunis and Algier on a sudden fell into the Marabout's Quarters whose own Men finding their error in some measure to mitigate the fury against themselves set an end to their Mutiny by presenting their Captains Head to Sinan who sent it to the Grand Seignior De Stadt TRIPOLIS THE TERRITORY OF TRIPOLI NEar the Lesser Africa and Asfatus over against the Island Querquene The Borders of the Territory of Tripoli call'd by Ananie Ceraunia the River Capez takes its Course antiently call'd Triton Westerly of which this Province takes its beginning and ends at that of Mezellata in the East so that it hath for Borders on the West Tunis and on the North the Mediterrane on the South Numidia or Biledulgerid and Lybia with the Wilderness of Zara and in the East Mezellata a large Tract of Ground but altogether waste and unfruitful The chiefest Places thereof are Old and New Tripoli Kapes Machres Elhamma and Zoara Old Tripoli by some taken for the Antient City Naples in Barbary Old Tripoli and the Great Leptis of Ptolomy This was the Birth-place of the Emperor Severus first built by the Romans afterwards possessed by the Goths and at length destroy'd by the Mahumetans in the time of Hamor their second Kalif and ever since as Sanutus saith little inhabited New Tripoli or Tripoli in Barbary New Tripoli to distinguish it from a City of the same name in Syria call'd by the Turks Terabulus and by the Moors Trebeliz or Tarabilis seated on the Sea-side is not great but full Peopled with Turks Moors The Scituation and Jews surrounded with high and defensible Stone-Walls strengthened in several places with Sconces and Bullwarks yet having but two Gates one on the South-side going out to the main Land and one on the North by the Haven adjoyning to which Gates are two Forts that on the North securing the Haven which is very pleasant and beneficial and of capacity enough to contain many Ships The Houses like those of Tunis and the Streets very well pav'd with one large Prison or Masmora for Christian Slaves whereof there are always some here though much fewer than at Tunis or Algier besides divers Mosques and some Hospitals but for the greatest part sorely decay'd through the Cruelty of the Wars Kaps Kaps or Kapis or Kapis or Kafis by Marmol call'd Kasce and by the Moors according to Mercator Kabez being the Takape of the Antients stands near the Midland-Sea environ'd with lofty Walls and strengthened with a Castle Machres Machres or Mahara a Village about thirteen miles from the Isle of Zerby with a Castle for the defence of Kaps Bay Elhamma Elhamma a Roman Platform three miles from Kapes having Walls of Hewen Stone and Gates whereon in Marble Tablets may yet be read Latin Inscriptions Zoara Zoara or Zoarat taken by the Antients for the Haven Pisidon is an antient Town by the Mediterrane thirteen miles to the East of the Island Zerby There is one more little inhabited Rasalmabes and of as little fame onely for the Name controverted by Authors some making it Gichtis others Rasalmabes and Simlerus the Gita of Antoninus The Syrtes are two a greater and a lesser the lesser is an ill Neighbour to the Gulf of Kaps near Tripoli being very dangerous by reason of the Shelves Banks and Quick-sands lying round about But the great Syrtes in the Maps are call'd The Shoals of Barbary and in Spanish Baxos de Carthage which is the same over against Ezzab Syrtes is properly a Greek word The Syrtes signifying Shifting Sands sometimes having much and then little Water and sometimes almost none at all The greater of these Syrtes is in Nine and twenty Degrees North Latitude and Forty eight Degrees of Longitude but the smaller in Two and thirty Degrees Latitude and in Three and forty Degrees Longitude The Lake Tritonis The Lake Tritinis famous in Antiquity and often mention'd by Historians and Geographers lies in the very heart of Little Africa Volateranus says there are there of the said Name viz. this of Lybia thought to be the Birth-place of Minerva another of Boetia and a third in Thessalia Ptolomy places here two that is Tritonis by Marmol call'd Kapis and the other the Lake of Pallas Diodorus after all makes mention of another near the Atlantick Ocean ¶ THe Rivers of this Kingdom The Rivers are Karsarnaker Rasalmabes and Magro otherwise Cenifes all which take their originals from Mount Atlas and discharge their Waters into the midland-Midland-Sea near the places from which they take their Names ¶ THe Countrey is all Sandy The Soyl. and so Barren that no kind of Corn by the best Husbandman be produced there so that the Inhabitants would almost perish with Hunger if Corn were not Transported thither from other places to supply their defective Harvests ¶ THere is in this City no fresh Water Their Scarcity of Water but that which runs from the tops of the Houses through Gutters Not far from Elhamma rises a great Spring to the Southward whose Waters being exceeding hot are conveyed by Pipes into the Bathes there which notwithstanding it s so distant Current yet retains the Heat so powerfully that few will adventure to go into it yet sometimes for pure necessity the Inhabitants are compell'd to drink thereof though in regard of its Sulphurous Quality it operates little towards the quenching of their thirst Lastly not far from the City is a Standing-Water call'd The Lake of the Melatson by reason of having a strange power to Cure the Leprosie Sanutus places here the Lotus-Tree which by some are call'd Mikakoliers or rather Alsiers of which Fruit being sweeter than Dates the Inhabitants make very pleasant Wine Lemmons Oranges and Dates grow here in great abundance but no other Fruits except Halbhazis which groweth under Ground to the bigness of a Bean it tastes like an Almond but is never chew'd onely sucked ¶ THe Inhabitants of Tripolis live chiefly upon Weaving and Merchandising Those of Kapes being poor Their Employment are generally Husbandmen and Fishers paying Tribute of all their Labors to the Bashaw Those of Elhamma are lazy poor and very Thieves The Zoarers burn Lime which they carry to Tripolis But all live hardly their Food being so scarce that he is
and such like Labors however want not courage or skill in Arms to defend themselves and offend their Enemies their Complexion black as Pitch their Language as their Colour peculiar to their Climate but all their Publick Devotions are performed in the old Coptick Tongue ¶ THeir Government is Monarchical Their Government and Religion Their Religion seems to relate to Christianity for in above a hundred and fifty Churches yet among them is to be seen the Image of Christ the Virgin Mary and many Saints and Martyrs Painted upon the Walls but much decayed by time and want of new Colourings Some affirm them to be neither Christians Turks Moors nor Jews but Hathen averrs they are yet Christians which Brokard confirms reporting that they Baptize one the other wherein they use hot Irons like the Abyssines with burning a Cross on some part of their Bodies and as a proof of their once being such the Patriarch of Alexandria hath Jurisdiction over them in all affairs Ecclesiastical whom they yet own using as we said before in all their Church-Services the Coptick Tongue BITO THis Kingdom hath for Borders on the West The Kingdom of Bito Guberion on the North Kano and Zegzeg on the East Temiam The chief City also call'd Bito lies in eight Degrees and ten Minutes of Northern Latitude The Inhabitants are governed by a Prince of their own TEMIAM THe Kingdom of Temiam lies neighbored in the West by the last mention'd Bito The Kingdom of Temiam in the North by Guangara the Eastern Limits are the Desart of Seth and Seu A. Anâ—u Trast 3. on the South washed by the great River Niger The chief City is Temikan The Head City Temikan scituate in eight Degrees and thirty Minutes of North Latitude where the Inhabitants are Cannibals or Anthropophagi DAUMA THe Kingdom of Dauma lies surrounded on the East by Medra The Kingdom of Dauma on the North with the Desart of Seth to the West hath the Wildes of Seu and on the South the Jews Countrey or the Kingdom of Semen The Inhabitants are very rich and govern'd by a Prince of their own Countrey who is an absolute Sovereign and when seen in publick carried up from the ground which he may not touch Sanut lib. 7. and if by chance at any time he do it is accounted ominous and he is purg'd with many Solemnities and Sacrifices MADRA MAdra also is a Kingdom conterminate in the East by Gorhan The Kingdom of Madra in the West with Dauma on the South by the Jews Countrey and on the North with Borno The chiefest Town thereof lies in eleven Degrees and twenty Minutes of Northern Latitude GORHAN GOrhan lies encompassed on the East with the Nile The Kingdom of Gorhan on the West with Medra hath Goago on the North and divided on the South by several great Mountains from Jewen-Land The People are as bruitish as wilde Beasts struggling with a thousand kindes of miseries and calamities in the Desart there being none that can understand their Language however they have a kind of Government and that too absolutely Monarchical The Countrey of the Jews or Kingdom of SEMEN SAnutus calls this Countrey in Italian Terre Giudei the Abyssines Xionuche but divers Europeans a little altering the pronunciation Semen in stead of Ximench or Ximen It lieth inclosed with Mountains and Desarts on the East extending themselves to Nile on the South to Congo and the Equinoctial-Line in the West to the Kingdom of Benin and on the North over against Davina and Medra a Countrey but little known and less conversed with and under the Domimon of the Abyssines The Desart of SETH and SEU THe Desart of Seth borders in the North on Borno in the East on that of Medra in the West on some Countreys where Gold is found in great plenty and in the South on the Kingdom of Dauma The Desart of Seu hath for Limits in the North the aforemention'd Golden Countreys in the East Dauma in the South vaste Mountains in the West the Kingdom of Benin From this Desart some affirm the great River Niger takes its beginning ¶ THus much we thought fit briefly to mention of the In-land Parts we will now lead you by the Sea-Coasts beginning at Cape Verde the farthermost Westerly Point of Negro-Land and so come to the Cape of Lopez Gonzalves and Saint Catharine The Coast of the Negro's Countrey THe furthermost Point of Negro-Land to the West is Cape Verde lying in fourteen Degrees and one and twenty Minutes Northern Latitude Three miles Southerly off which lieth a Village call'd Refrisko one mile from that another nam'd Kamino two miles further to the South-East Eudukura and a mile and a half beyond that Punto and then Porto d' Ale to the Westward of which is Punto d' Porto Ale that is The Point of the Haven of Ale On the same Shore not far from Porto d' Ale lies Cabo de Maste Porto Novo or New Haven and Punto Sereno or Bright-Point then Punto Lugar neighbors with the Village Juala on whose Southern side flow the Rivers De la Grace Barsala and Garnba on a Point of this last lies the Cape St. Mary from hence you pass to the Eastern River and that of Rha or Kasamanka and so to Cabo Roxo and the two greater and lesser Points Then appears the River Sante Domingo call'd also Jarim betwixt which and Cape Saint Mary live people known by the Names of Arriareos and Faluppos Two miles from the small rough Point the River Katcheo falls into the Sea Then Rio de les Iletas or The River of the small Islands and Rio Grande flowing into the Sea over against the Island Bisegos or Bigiohos More Southerly the River Danaluy discharges his Waters into the Sea the like do Nunno Tristan and Tabito or Vergas near Cape Virgen in the Kingdom of Sere-Lions or Bolmberre so passing to Rio das Piedras The River of Stone Pechel Palmas Pagone Kagranka Kasses Karokane Kaper and Tambasine Tagarim or Metombo and lastly Rio de Sere-Lions and Bangue which last disembogues his Stream on the South-side of Sere-Lions into the Sea as Metombo doth on the North. Upon the Coast of Sere-Lions divers Islands appear as the Bisegos De los Idolos or Idol-Isle Banannas or Bravas and the Sombreras between which last mention'd the Land makes a great Point call'd Furna de Sant Anna where four Rivers intermingle with the Sea from whence it is but a short passage to Cape Tagrin or Ledo the outermost Southerly Point of Serre-Lions Here begins Guinee extending all along to the Cape of Lopez Gonzalvez and the River Benin a large Maritime Countrey and divided into the Grain-Coast Tooth-Coast Quaqua-Coast Bants-Coast and Gold-Coast The first thing we meet with in Guinee worth taking notice of are the Rivers Rio das Palmas and Ria Galhinas running through the Countreys of Bolm Cilm and Quilliga where begins the Kingdom of Quoia wherein are
the Rivers Maguibba or Rio Nova Mava Plizoge and Monoch in Portuguese call'd Rio Aguado In five Degrees and three and forty Minutes of Northern Latitude lies Kaboc Monte twelve miles Eastward whereof rises a high Mountain call'd Cape Mesurado adjoyning to which is the River Saint Paulo and ten miles from it Rio Junk or Siunk and Saint Johns River empty their Waters into the Sea six miles East from this River stands the Village call'd Tabe-Kanee Petit-Dispo and Diepe by the Blacks nam'd Tabo Dagroh Six miles from Little Diepe the River Sestus falls into the Sea And here begins the Grain-Coast being a Tract of forty miles in Length on the Easterly Part of which lieth Little Sestus and five miles farther Cabo Baixos and then Zanwiin a small Village distant thence three miles passing on toward the East you come to Bofou or Bofoe and so to Setter and Bottowa Cape Swine appears next in order with a Village of the same name and then at little distances you come to Crow Wappen or Wabbo Drowyn Great Setter Gojaurn Garway Greyway or Grouway and lastly Cabo de Palmas or Palm Cape Here at the Village of Grouway begins Tooth-Coast so call'd from the abundance of Elephants Teeth there to be had beginning two miles Eastward of Cape Palm and ending at Cape de la Hou making a Tract of fifty miles within which are not many inhabited Towns for the first is four and twenty miles from Cape Palm and call'd Tabo the next Petiero a mile farther and close by the Sea then Taho five miles from thence and at the like distance from that Berly in four Degrees and a half of Latitude close by which St. Andrews River enters the Sea where it makes a great imbowed Reach to the South-East towards Red-Land so call'd from its red Cliffs Beyond the Red Cliffs appears Cape'de la Hou the utmost limit of Tooth-Coast from whence Quaqua-Coast commences and extends to the Village Assine the first place of Gold-Coast a mile and a half upward in a barren place void of all shelter or Trees stands a little Township call'd Koutrou or Katrou and not far from thence Jakke La-Hou within five miles of which Jak in Jakko from whence you go directly to a place adjoyning to the Sea and commonly intituled The Pit or Bottomless Lake About sixteen miles Eastward of La-Hou lieth a place call'd Kerbe La-Hou in the Bants-Coast before which place the Sea is very deep for a Stones-throw from the Shore they have forty or fifty Fathom Water Eight and twenty or thirty miles from Cape La-Hou lieth Assine where the Guinee Gold-Coast begins being twelve miles Eastward of Kerbe La-Hou and ends at the plentiful Golden Village Akera making in all a Tract of fifty miles The Kingdoms upon the Sea-Coast are Atzin Little Inkassan Anten Guaffo Fetu Sabou Fantin Aghwana Akara Labbede and Ningo In Atzin are three Villages one of which is call'd Akombene but the chiefest is Atzin Little Inkassan contains no place worthy remark save Cabo-Das-Tres-Puntas Anten reckons within it self these following Villages Bothrom Poyera Pando Takorary or Anten Maque Jaque Sakonde and Sama. Three miles from Takorary Guaffo shews it self first then Aitako or Little Commendo two miles Eastward of Sama afterwards Ampea Kotabry Aborby and Terra Pekine In Fetu on the Shore there lieth a little Hamlet which the Natives call Igwa but the Merchant corruptly Cabo Cors from its near neighborhood to Cabo Curso On the Borders of this Kingdom of Fetu stands the famous Castle of Saint George or Del Myne built by the Portuguese on whose West-side lieth Dana or Dang where the Salt River Bensa entreth the Sea as the Sweet River Utri doth half a mile more to the East In Sabou you first discover the Township of Moure and by it the Castle of Nassau built by the Hollanders Fantin shews it self Cormantine Ville two miles Eastward of Moure then Anemalo and a Cannon-shot Westwards thereof Adja In Agwana are these places of name viz. Craggy Point Soldiers Bay The Devils Mountain New Biamba Old Biamba Great Berku Jaka the principal Sea-Town Corks-brood and Little Berku all which Places have strong Rocks before their Havens In Akara on the Sea-Coast stand Soko Orsaky and Little Akara being fifteen miles Eastward of Cormantine and the last place of the Gold-Coast Two miles Eastward of Akara in the Kingdom of Lebbade stands a Town of the same Name Lastly in Ningo are four chief Ports viz. Ningo four miles from Akara and two miles from Lebbede Temina a mile from Ningo Sinko the like from Temina and Pissy all naturally fortifi'd with high Cliffs Seven miles East of Akara on the Shore Sinko comes in view from whence Journeying on still to the East you arrive at a Village where the River Rio Volta runs into the Sea between these lieth Fishers Town and not far distant Cabo Montego in a Low-land with several small Woods about it From thence Eastward to the Village Popou the Countrey is very plain and even four miles below Popou begins the Kingdom of Ardez and ends at the Town Aqua within which Tract are contained the Hamlets of Foulaen and Ardre Southward of which lies Oost a Tract of Land eight miles long boasting a handsom City call'd Jackeyne three days Journey from thence stands Jojo another good Town and a quarter of a mile farther a City named Ba. Sixteen miles Eastward of Little Arder Rio Lagas runs into the Ocean and eighteen miles farther the River Benin with a broad and wide Mouth loses it self in the Sea Four and twenty miles beyond Rio Forcado having visited the Eastern Borders of the Kingdom of Ouwerre falls into the Sea by Cape Formoso in four Degrees and eight Minutes North Latitude Fifteen miles from Cape Formoso runs the River Reael or Calberine between which Cape and River seven others have their course into the Sea the first is call'd Riotton half a mile Eastward of Formoso the second Rio Odi in the Latitude of four Degrees and ten Minutes the third fourth and fifth are call'd Rio Saint Nicholas the sixth Rio de tres Irmaus the seventh Rio Sambreiro a mile beyond which is the little Territory of Bani Two miles from the Easterly Point of Calbarine the River Loitamba so call'd by the Inhabitants but by Seamen Rio Sant Domingo has its course all about which the Countrey is very plain even and full of Trees This Coast extends it self East South-East sixteen miles Rio del Rey a very wide and great River comes next in view then Camerones Pickereen very narrow both which have on each side plain Ground but full of Bushes Between these two last named Rivers lies the High-land of Amboises by the Spaniards call'd Alta Terra de Ambosi on whose West-side lies several Villages and among others Bodi or Bodiway otherwise Tesge and three small Islands call'd The Islands of Amboises In the next place come these following Rivers viz. Monoka Borba
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
and kill him The flesh of this Creature the Blacks account good Food ¶ NOr are Beasts Insects and Reptiles onely found here but Fowls also of divers kinds particularly Qualontia being of a large size Eagle and very strong remaining most in the Woods and feeding upon the flesh of Civet-Cats and other Beasts and roosting commonly in the high Tree call'd Banda The Bastard-Eagle which they name Quolantia Clou Bastard-Eagle keeps most at the Water-side preying on Fish which swimming near the surface of the water he takes in an instant The Buzzard or Kite call'd Simby Kite feasts it self with the flesh of all other smaller Birds The Poi also a Bird of Prey Poi and accordingly arm'd with crooked Talons frequents the Sea-shore and feeds upon Crabs which with great cunning and diligence it catches Blue Parrots with red Tails are numerous roosting on the Palmeto-Trees Parrots and eating the Nuts The Comma hath great variety of fine Feathers green about the Neck Comma red Wings black Tails crooked Bills and Claws like a Parrot There is a Bird in bigness like a Thrush with black feathers Prognosticating Birds call'd Clofyf by them call'd Clofyf who as they say by the difference of his chattering prognosticates either good or bad luck insomuch that when any travel through the Woods if they hear this Bird cry about them Kybo fy offygh they take that for an ill Omen and will by no means go any farther that day On the contrary if their Journey shall be prosperous and this Bird cries in another manner which they expound Forward go on in the Folgiaske Tongue they no longer despair but proceed forward in their Journey so soon as possible They repute him an ominous and unlucky Bird and say that the Kigbofy hath sung his Song over all those that die an evil death He keeps most in places where Pismires frequent which are his principal food There is another little Bird like a Lark Fonton call'd Fonton who having found in the Woods a Buffel or Elephant or Honey in a Tree or a Tyger or Snake or any thing else whether good or bad immediately flies towards the people fluttering about them and making a noise with his wings whereupon they follow him saying Tonton kerre Tonton kerre that is We come Then he flies forward chirroping till come to the thing he would show But if they do not follow him nor regard his noise he never rests flying backward and forward till perceiving the unmindful Travellers approach near what he would discover he perches upon a tree by which sudden settling they know they are not far from something he would shew to them There are also Swallows Swallows which they call Lele or Lele-atterecna that is Day-Swallows to distinguish them from Bats which they call Lele-Sirena that is Night-Swallows The Blacks report that they have another sort of Swallows which they stile Tonga of the bigness of Pigeons but without any resemblance of the other Their Flesh proves good meat of which there is no scarcity being so numerous that sometimes sitting upon trees in flocks their great weight tears down whole branches as big as a mans leg There is yet another Bird like a Wood-pecker The Fowl which picks the Trees hollow who with his Bill makes a concave hole in trees and in that hollow breeds the young of which the Blacks relate this following story This Bird they say complained in antient times to Kanou that the people stole away his Young where ever he made his Nest desiring Kanou that for the future he would smother them when they committed such theft Whereto Kanou seem'd by promise to consent but enjoyn'd that in regard the huge trees would hinder the fall of the Heavens he first cut them down and then by weight of their fall upon the earth he would certainly smother the people There are many Turtle-Doves Turtle-Doves and Pigeons which they call Papoo and three sorts of Partridges or Pheasants with speckled feathers The first call'd Bollend hath a tuft on his head the second Kambyge bald and without feathers the third Decedeu hath black feathers mixt with small white specks and a white neck Cufonfoo is a Bird as big as a Raven Cufonfoo with black feathers and a very long and broad Bill making the Nest of earth in the Trees when the Hen sits she pulls off all her feathers to lay the young ones in and remains sitting without any going off being daily fed by the Cock that flies abroad for food There are many Tigua or Cranes Cranes which the Inhabitants of Cape de Verde call Aqua-piaffo Doco Doco a very great Fowl frequenting Moors and Marishy Grounds as wholly living on Fish Jowe Jowe a small Bird no bigger than a Linnet drops her Eggs by the way-side All these together with white and blew Herons except the Jowe Funtan and Kigbofy are by them eaten Bees in this Countrey call'd Kommokesse are not kept as in Europe Hiv'd and Hous'd but swarm as it were wild in the Woods Nesting in hollow Trees by which half the Honey is not found The Bremsems or Wasps here call'd Quun-bokessy come into the very Houses but yield no Honey but if disturb'd sting venomously insomuch that the place stung swells up with great pain Besides these they tell of a third and smaller sort of Bees than the right sort of Honey-Bees but swarm and Nest like them in Trees making Honey rancker or sharper of taste than the other brown of colour and the Wax blackish the Inhabitants name them Cubolig-boli Mescito's are here in such abundance and so plague the People that it is impossible almost to sleep or take any rest for them In the time when it rains which is about May June July August Crickets and September some Crickets call'd Gelleh fall among them from the Clouds as the Blacks themselves report which are bigger than other Crickets and afford them food Thus much we have thought fit to say concerning the Plants and Beasts we will now shew you the Employment Customs and Nature of the Inhabitants and what else relates to them ¶ THe Quoia's have no Trade The Quoia's are diligent in Tilling but maintain themselves with Sowing of Mille and Rice and by the planting other Herbs and Fruits for the Countrey being large and more than two thirds untill'd and woody every one may manure what he thinks fit and cut down as much Wood as he pleaseth After a Place hath been once Sown they let it lie Fallow two or three years till the Earth which they suppose impoverished by bearing hath recovered a new vigor by lying uncultured yet notwithstanding the before-mention'd liberty for the encouragement of such as take pains no person may Sow in a Field which hath been Ploughed by another In the middle of January or in the beginning of February The first Planting of Rice they begin first to order the
these Clothes which the Inhabitants barter for Salt which they according to their own report send abroad by Slaves or otherwise who with it travel so far into the Countrey till they come to white People that Ride on Mules and Asses and use Lances for Arms but they are not altogether white as the Europeans By this Description we cannot but imagine these Mungrel Whites they mention must without peradventure be Moors of Barbary The Blacks of other Places exchange these Cloathes for yellow Arm-Rings and sometimes but seldom for Beads Heretofore some Gold was to be had but now that Trade is lost here and carried to Akara The Government here is Monarchical Government the present Regnant King call'd Sakkoo of whom all the neighboring Territories stand in great fear because he is a Conjurer firmly believing that if he pleased to put his Arts in practise he could bewitch all his Enemies to death In the beginning of December this Sakkoo sends a Canoo to Atzyn and Little Kommany and all places on the Gold-Coast with Negro's where they throw some compounded Conjuring-stuff into the Sea using some formal words in doing it which is done onely to free it from Hericanes or Whirlwinds and tempestuous Storms So soon as this Canoo returns the Merchants come with their Cloathes to the Gold-Coast but in such order that no more may come off till the first come back for the prevention of the hinderances of one another The five Band Villages have the priority in coming off and after those of the six Band this continues till April or the beginning of May when the Sea begins to run high then the King 's Canoo comes as before using the same formality and returning the Gold-Coast Trade ends for that Year The Quaqua-Blacks have a well-govern'd State according to their Mode As for example those that are Fishers must all so remain without daring to alter their Employment As likewise all Merchants are so preferred there that no other may deal in fair Laces and Garments of Akori but they insomuch that all others who have those Commodities are necessitated to put them into the Merchants hands The method of their Worship Religion if any is Diabolical sacrificing Men to their Idols and thereto so addicted that they will not be won to alter it yet courteous enough to Strangers from whom they endeavour to conceal those abhorr'd Oblations Gold-Coast THe Gold-Coast receiv'd its Name from the abundance of Gold there to be had It spreads to the length of fifty miles from the Village Assine Gold-Coast twelve miles Eastward of Korbi Lahou to the Golden Village of Akara lying at the Sea And although some Gold may be had on the Grain-Coast and Eastward of Akara yet that Tract is not reckon'd under the Gold-Coast because the quantity is but small This although known by this single Name to the European Merchants consists in many rich Villages Kingdoms and Territories yet but small in Circumference the particular Places we will onely name here in brief being these viz. Atzyn Little Inkassan Ygwira Great Inkassan Inkassan Iggina Anten Tabeu Atty Adom Mompa Wassa Wanqui Guaffo Sabou Abramboe Kuyfora Akanien Dohoe Junta Ahim or Great Akany Akan Fantyn Aqua Sanquay Ayhwana Aquamboe Abonce Tafoe Akara Labbede Ningo Abora Quanhoe Bonoe Kammanah Equea Lataby Akaradii Insoka Gaui Aquambou or Aquimena The Kingdoms lying at the Sea are Azin or Atchin Little Inkassan Ante Guaffo Fetu Sabou Fantyn Aghwana Akara Labbede and Mingo all which are commonly visited by the English and Netherlanders chiefly and sometimes by the French which several people have in divers places particular Store-houses and Forts for the keeping of their Wares and for the Conveniency of the Trade which they have built by the permission of the Inhabitants The chiefest Villages lying at the Sea are Atzyn in the Kingdom of Atzyn the Village at Cabo tres-Puntas in Little Inkassan Takorary Botrow Poyera Pando Maque Jakquim Sakonde Sama in the Kingdom of Anten Agitaki or Little Komendo Terra Pequerime or Pekine Dana or De Myn Ampea Kotabry Aborby and two Salt-Villages in that of Guaffo Moure Sabou in the Dominion of Sabou Anemabo Adja Kormantin in that of Fantyn the Rough Poynt Soldiers-Bay Devils Mountain New Biamba Great Berku Inka Koks-bred Little Berku in that of Aywana Akara in Great Akara Labede in Labede The Territory of ATSYN or ATCHIN THe Territory of Atsyn or Atchyn or Aksem The Territory of Atsyn as the Blacks call it hath on the East little Incassan and on the North Igwira the Sea-Coast on the South with Cliffs of Stone Near the Sea three Villages are erected inhabited by Fishers Achombene the one Achorbene three miles from Cape de Tres-Puntas The second Achombene near which the Portugals in the time of King Emanuel built a small Fort but afterwards by agreement with the Blacks they rais'd another greater Castle on the main Land nam'd from the neighbouring Village The Castle of Asyn The Fort Atsyn or Atchin at present possess'd by the Netherlanders who in the Year Sixteen hundred forty two the Ninth of January before the Peace made between them and the Crown of Portugal had dispossess'd the Portugals of what strength they had there Coming at Sea out of the West this Castle in a clear Sun-shiny day yields a pleasant Prospect but coming right against it the sight is hinder'd by an Island lying before it Westward thereof runs a Rivulet which though very poor in Water yet visits several Dominions being supposed to take the original far off in the Golden-Land of Igwira Half a mile from the aforemention'd Fort The River a River passes by some thought to run through the Jurisdiction of Akana but of this no certainty nor any likely to be by reason of its many and strong Water-falls Those of the Myne used to go thither with Canoos which they laded thence with Shells for the burning of Lime but since the like Shells have been found in the Ditches of the Myne that labour is left off The next River bears the name of the Province among Merchant-strangers The Atsyn River but the Inhabitants denominate it Manku whose first sight invited the Traders to search its Channel but they soon had enough of it for they met with so many Shelves and absconded Rocks besides high and precipitious falls that it was impossible to pass them however 't is not altogether waste for the Natives dig out from under the Cliff good store of Gold and fetch it up from under the Water in Trays mixt with Earth Stones and other Rubbish The Territory of Little-Inkassan LIttle-Inkassan hath on the West Atsin The Territory of Inkassan on the North Igwira on the East Ante and in the South spreads with three Points into the Sea and therefore the Portugals have nam'd it Cabo das tres Puntas It lies in four degrees and ten minutes South-Latitude three miles Westward of Atzin Castle and fifteen miles
Garrison were refus'd Articles of Agreement but those accepted that the Beleaguerers propos'd being to this effect They shall all with their Wives and Children without reproach or abuse go forth safe with Life and Limb. Every one shall take their Apparel but no Money either Gold or Silver The Victor shall retain all the Merchandise and Slaves except twelve which the owners may keep All the Church-Ornaments and Utensils except of Gold and Silver they shall take away with them The Portugals Mulattoes and all their Housholds provided with necessary Sustenance shall be carried to the Island St. Thome The Governor of the Fort and Souldiers shall forthwith depart out of the Fort and leave all the Ammunition for War and the rest of the Merchandise to the Victor The Souldiers shall depart without Colours or Sword and neither have lighted Match nor Bullets Thus was this renowned Castle won and lost in four days The Booty The Booty of Ammunition and Arms found therein were thirty Iron Pieces of Ordnance nine thousand weight of Spice eight hundred great Iron Balls ten Fat 's of small Bullets and three hundred Stone Bullets six and thirty Spanish Swords besides Bowes Arrows and other Utensils of War As soon as the Garrison was drawn out and come over to the Island St. Thomas the Dutch took possession with an hundred and forty Men. A former attempt had been made against this Castle but succeeded unluckily the manner this The Dutch Admiral with his Fleet on the six and twentieth of August The fruitless attempt upon the Castle of Myne One thousand six hundred twenty five came into Serre-Lions to refresh his Men being most of them sick of the Bloody-Flux where he found three other Ships who had lay'n there two Moneths undergoing great Misery Sickness and other Calamities The People of both the Parties being refreshed and cured determined to win the Castle of Myne being about fifteen Ships and Ketches with which they set forth the five and twentieth of September from Serre-Lions and were the ninth of October upon the Grain-Coast between Rio St. Paulo and Rio Junk in five Degrees and an half North Latitude where they sent a Ketch to the General for the Netherlands West-India Company at Moure to acquaint him with their coming and that they intended to come with their Fleet before Kommony and to Land there Being come on the twentieth of the same Moneth before Kommony The coming to Kommany they understood that the General was gone to Akra the uttermost place of the Gold-Coast and not expected back again for three or four days This delay the Admiral and his Council of War thought would give too fair opportunity to the Enemy and therefore resolved to Land the Soldiers but this resolution was deferr'd by advice of those of the Fort of Nassau till the coming of the General because of his great Interest with the Kings of Fetu Sabou and Kommony in whose Favour much did consist But immediately after his arrival which was on the four and twentieth it was concluded the next day to go on with the Design Four Ships therefore were order'd to lie close before the Castle of the Myne to amuse the Enemy by continual Shooting for three days They Land at Terra Pekine till the other Soldiers might in the mean time draw up without interruption The five and twentieth they Land in Terra Pekine about twelve hundred Soldiers and Mariners with an hundred and fifteen Blacks brought from Maure with the General who about Noon came within a mile of the Castle of Myne and from thence after two hours rest drew within shot of it where they were saluted presently with some great Guns but without hurt and so sate down before the Castle behind a Hill with resolution that night to Entrench and make their Approaches In the mean time while the General went to the pitch of the Hill to view the Castle the Soldiers being tir'd with heat and thirst ran from their Arms and gat themselves to rest without suspicion of any Enemy Were fallen upon by the Enemy but as soon as the Commanders were come upon the top of the Mountain they were unawares fall'n upon by about two hundred Blacks who like mad furious Men fell in and made great slaughter and destruction amongst them which bred such a terrour and consternation amongst them that they threw away their Arms and leaping into the Water were drown'd There remained slain The number of the slain together with those that were drown'd three hundred seventy three Soldiers sixty six Mariners and most of the superior and inferior Officers The General wounded the General himself wounded came to extream distress and carried out of the Fight the rest fled to Kommany whither also the Ships steered their course and by this means was that Design utterly overthrown But now we return to the remainder of the precedent success Presently after the taking of this Castle the Victors sent a Canoo with Letters to the Portugal Governor of Atzin thereby requiring him to surrender that Place But he well knowing they could not come up to him in that season of the year answer'd That he would keep the Fort for the King and expect our Forces Then by advice of the whole Council of War the Redoubt upon St. Jago was repair'd as also a Battery that was fall'n adjoining to the Works of the Castle from whence they may scowre the Shore of the River and relieve the Sea-Battery On the West-side of the Castle stands a pretty large Town The Town Myna at the Myne close built by the Portugals call'd Del Myn but by the Blacks Dana or Dang extending far in length but lieth so low that at a Spring-Tide the Sea in some places runs through the Streets And on the other side runs the Salt-River Benja which not onely hinders the passage out of the Town but makes the adjacent Countrey very Moorish This River formerly was ten or eleven Foot deep at low Water but now so shallow that it is not passable for Ketches which draw four Foot Water This Town is naturally very strong being as we said shut up between the River and the Sea so that the Enemy hath no other approach than at the end of Kommany where the Portugals as a Security from the Blacks had rais'd a Stone-wall from the Sea to the River and made a Battery About half a mile from St. The River Vtri Jago floweth the River Utri but full of Cliffs and altogether unpassable yet affords this Commodity that not onely the Blacks from the Town daily fetch thence their Water but also the Ships there being within two miles no Springs to be found The Countrey hereabout yields little Fruit The constitution of the Countrey therefore most of their Food is Mille to make Bread of Safoe or Wine of Palms Sugar Ananae's Injame's Potatoe's Wine of Bordean are brought to them from Fetu Abrembe Commendo Akane
Things that to lighter Judgments may seem fabulous yet credited by Antiquity and as we may suppose not without reason Pliny for they making Pluto the God of Riches 't is no marvel if he defend his Possession thus violently and without his leave invaded and ransacked But whether those related Fancies of the Blacks be true or not signifies little however this we may be infallibly assur'd of that this Gold is gotten with great labor and trouble for if any can find two or three * An English is one Peny-weight in Gold that is four Shillings in Money Englishes in Gold in a whole Day he hath labor'd very hard and hath gotten a good days Wages for his pains The Air to all but its Natives proves very unwholsom The Air unhealthy in the Gold-Coast to Strangers as experience teacheth for all Strangers which lie on Shore whether in Forts or Store-houses are afflicted with grievous and mortal Sicknesses whereas on the contrary the Indigenae look fresh live healthy and attain to a great Age. Some of the most Ingenious Blacks attribute the cause thereof to the multiplicity of Lightning and Thunder whose frequency diffuseth the Infection as the two sorts of Winds from Sea and Land dissipate unhealthy Fogs and Vapors Foreigners which come to Guinee Worms especially this Gold-Coast are very much tormented with Worms breeding in their Bodies so also are the Blacks about Myna whereas those that live four and twenty miles lower Easterly are always free from that trouble These Worms call'd Ikkon do not affect every one equally that hath been there but some sooner others later some get them while they are yet upon the Coast others in their Voyages a third after the ending of their Voyage nay four five six yea twelve Moneths after their coming home and others have been two or three times there and never had any touch of them From whence they have their original and breed Their Original hath been much disputed some lay the cause upon their excessive use of Venus some upon their eating of Fish which have Worms in their Bodies or upon much Swimming and running into the cold Water others that they proceed from the over-much Drinking of Palmito-Wine eating of Kankaiens that is their Bread made of Mille but all these seem meer Fancies without a shew of reason for divers in all those particulars most temperate have nevertheless this Distemper whereas on the contrary others the most loose and debauched have never had any of them But those speak with most probability who say that these Vermine proceed either from a peculiar Malignity in the Air or from drinking of the Water which the Negro's draw out of Wells in some places and sell to the Whites for most true it is that several have drank much Water and yet not been afflicted with Worms but then they resided at Akara and other adjacent places but those which lie before Moure and drink of that Water shall be tormented with that Elminthick Evil. These Worms breed in several manners By what accident they come in some they bring Fevers or shaking Agues in others fainting Fits with great pain in some they cause Frensie some can neither go nor stand or lie or sit while others scarce feel a Distemper They shew themselves with a little Pimple or red Spot hard in the Flesh wherein sometimes may be seen the Worms between that and the Skin at last they cause Ulcers upon the Ball of the Foot on the Arms Knees Thighes or Hips and indeed in all fleshy places continuing with some near three Moneths whereas others have scarce any pain three Weeks yet perhaps have ten Worms hanging out of the Flesh and Skin at once The Worms are of several lengths and bigness Their Form some a Yard others a Yard and a half long and some shorter but generally as thick or big as the Bass-String of a Theorboe The Cure cannot be perfected till the Worm breaks through the Skin The Curing and thrusts out his Head then they tie it that it may not creep in again and at length draw it quite out which they do by winding the end hanging out about a Spoon if in the extracting it happens to break there commonly ensueth a renewing of the Wound The Blacks never use any means but onely wash the affected part with salt Water But the best Cure is to cleanse the Body of putrifi'd humors and to anoint the place with fresh Butter In the performing which Cure the Place where the Worm appears must be defended against Cold to prevent swelling and exulceration The Negro's The Venerial Pox. among other Sicknesses are very subject to the Venerial Pox which they cure by drinking Sarsaparilla Wounds by them call'd Mapira growing from Blows they cleanse little without using any Medicine because they have none nor any Chirurgions to apply them Swellings which will not ripen or come to Suppuration Swellings they cut with three or four long slashes then let it heal of it self whence it comes that they have so many Cuts and Scars in their Bodies They use no artificial Pbloebotomy How they let Bloud but onely cut the Flesh till the Blood comes out All the help they give the Sick is to Shave them if Parents or Children otherwise they will not offer them one drop of Water or Oyl but let them perish with hunger and perplexity The Sick are call'd Myarri and mortal Diseases Jarbakkasi and a dead Body Ou. The Men are of a middle Stature free and airy of disposition well made The Constitution of the Inhabitants strong Limm'd and swift of Foot with round Faces midling Lips but flat or Camosi'd Noses with them a beauty little Ears white Eyes with great Eye-brows and great Teeth that shine and are as white as Ivory caused by rubbing them with hard Wood wherewith they keep them always very neat and clean Their Visages seem to shine with Sweat or else foul'd with Dirt Scurf and Nastiness continuing Beardless till thirty years old their Shoulders broad Arms brawny with great Hands and long Fingers whereupon they let their Nails grow like Claws sometimes to the length of a Joynt and as a great ornament is especially used among the Nobility Lastly they have little Bellies broad Feet long Toes and furnish'd as most of the Blacks upon the Guinee Coast with large Propagators They have quick and ready Wits to help in any sudden emergency Their Kind and shew themselves withall very considerate whereunto they adde great craft and subtlety Covetousness they learn from their Cradles which makes them always craving and with such petulancy as not to receive a denial Courteous enough in outward appearance to Strangers but envious and given to revenge amongst one another and where they can play the Masters fear not to manifest their Ambition Treachery domineering and supercilious Tyranny The People neighboring the Shore both Men and Women Expert in Swimming
have great skill in Swimming but the Men within Land use it so little that they seem afraid at the sight of any great River They can keep long under Water and Dive exceeding deep wherefore the Portugals bring of the expertest from hence to the West-Indies to use them in the Pearl-fishing in the Island Margaretta Children not exceeding two years of Age betake themselves instantly to the Water and learn to Swim because unskilfulness therein is counted a great shame The Women are slender-Body'd and cheerful of disposition but have such great Breasts that they can fling them over their Shoulders and give their Children Suck that hang at their backs They have great inclinations to Dancing The Women are inclin'd to Dancing so that when they hear a Drum or other Instrument they cannot stand quiet but must shew their Skill They meet usually in the Evenings to Revel while some Dance others Play upon Instruments as Copper Panns struck with Buttons or Drums made of a hollow Tree and cover'd over with a Goats Skin or such like barbarous Musick They Dance commonly two and two together The use of Castinetto's came from Africa Leaping and Stamping with their Feet Snapping with their Fingers and Bowing their Heads one to another some have Horses Tails in their Hands which they cast one while upon one Shoulder and one while upon the other others with Wisps of Straw in their hands which they let fall then again suddenly reaching it they cast it up aloft and catch it in their hands This Dancing having continu'd an hour or an hour and a half every one returns home Besides these Evening-Pastimes they have a sort of Dancing-Schools wherein the younger Breed are taught These People are seldom free from Lice The Blacks are Lowsie though Clean. and Fleas although they keep themselves clean in their Bodies for they Wash every Morning and Evening from Head to Foot and anoint themselves with Oyl of Palm or Suet to make them look Smooth and that the Flies may not bite their Naked Body The Women moreover anoint themselves with Civet and fine smelling Herbs to be the more acceptable to their Husbands They count it a great shame to Break Wind in the presence of any they never do their Easement upon the ground but make a Hut whereinto they retire and when full burn them to Ashes They cannot Evacuate their Water in a continu'd Current as usual in humane Creatures but rather like Hoggs by intermissive girdings When they meet any of their Friends or Acquaintance in the Morning Their Salutation they Salute them with great Courtesie Imbracing one the other in their Arms and closing the two first Fingers of the Right Hand snap two or three times together each time bowing their Heads and saying Auzy Auzy that is Good Morrow Good Morrow Another as it were innate quality they have to Steal any thing they lay hands of Exquisite in Stealing especially from Foreigners and among themselves make boast thereof as an ingenious piece of Subtilty and so generally runs this vicious humor through the whole Race of Blacks that great and rich Merchants do sometimes practise small Filching for being come to the Trading Ships they are not at rest till they have taken away something though but Nails or Lead that is Nail'd to the outside of the Ships to prevent Worm-eating which no sooner done then with a singular sleight of hand they convey from one to another but if they chance to be trapp'd they all leap instantly over-Board for fear of Beating but if caught and soundly Bastinado'd then as past doubt of other punishment they never avoid the Ship but come again the next day to Trade They little esteem any Promises made to Foreigners They keep little of their Promises but break them if they can see any advantage in it in brief they are a treacherous perjur'd subtle and false People onely shewing Friendship to those they have most need of When they make a Promise or Oath to the Whites they cast their Face to the Ground then bowing speak these words thrice Jau Jau Jau every time striking their hands together and stamping upon the ground with their feet and lastly kiss their Fetisy or Sants which they wear upon their Legs and Arms. Most of their Food is Bread Most of their Food is Bread by them call'd Kankaiens Bak'd or Boil'd of Mille How it is made ready mix'd with Oyl of Palm and sometimes with green Herbs the Mille they prepare by Pounding in a Stone-Mortar afterwards cleanse it in a Woodden Shovel then the Women Grinde it every day twice upon a flat Stone which stands a mans height from the Earth with another Stone a Foot long just as the Painters usually Grind their Colours which is no small labour though little regarded by the men Thus made into Meal they mingle it with water and make Cakes or Balls as big as both ones Fists which they Boyl or Bake upon a hot Hearth bound up in Cloth Others add thereto Maizr They seldom eat Flesh Other Food but all sorts of Fish Potatoes also and Injames which they Boyl as also Bananasses Bakovens Rice and several other sorts of Fruit which the Countrey affords Their daily Drink is Water and Palm-Wine Drink yet they make another Liquor of Mace which they call Poitou The Men Drink stoutly especially hot Liquors such as Palm-Wine The Men are inclin'd to Drinking Brandy and other Wine so that the Evening seldom sees them Sober In Drinking they use strange Customs for the first Drinker must lay his Hands upon his Head and with a loud voyce cry out Tautosi Tautosi After Drinking they poure a little as an Oblation to their Fetisi upon the Earth crying aloud I. O. U. which if they omit they are perswaded it will do them no good but vomit it up presently Nor have they a less Voracity in Eating being scarcely satisfi'd with Food Gluttony in Eating their Caninus Appetitus being so insatiate that when they have as it were but newly swallow'd the last they will fall to afresh as if pin'd for hunger nor do they chew it like us but take it in broken Gobbets with the three middle-Fingers Unmannerly and throw them into their Mouthes down their Throat without ever casting it beside ¶ WAlled Cities they have none nor good Towns near the Sea Towns or Villages what they are onely upon the Shore some Villages appear of no great consequence being ill-favoredly built and worse order'd for they so stink of Dirt and Filthiness that sometimes when the Land-Wind blows the Stench may be smell'd a mile and a half in the Sea The Towns more within the Land are much bigger and fuller of Trade and People who live more at ease for such as live at the Sea are Interpreters Brokers Rowers Skippers or Seamen Servants Fishers and Slaves of the other But although as we said the Towns lie open
beating of the Sea against the Shore the Landing proves very dangerous When the Merchants have done and are ready to depart they must pay to the King two Musquets and five and twenty Pound of Gun-Powder or for want of that in Silk-Worms the worth of nine Slaves to the Carte to the Foello or Captain of the Whites and to Honga the Captain of the Boat to each of them a like Present Provisions for the Whites may be had here for a reasonable Price that is a Cask of fresh Water and a Sag of Wood for two yellow Armlets a Kof or Chest of Salt for three five Hens for four a Pot of Beer for one In time of Wars none are exempted from Service The Wars but very old Men and Children their disorderly manner of Fight you have before describ'd as also their Barbarism to the Slain and Prisoners and Method of Triumphing with their Heads and therefore we will not here repeat and cloy you with the same things again The King of Arder hath absolute and Soveraign Power over his Subjects Dominion and according as they reckon State carries a Majestick Splendor both in Clothes and Servants his Subjects tendring him great respect He Creates Noblemen and Courtiers at his pleasure and punishes Offenders not any daring to contradict Every Town as Jakkijn and Ba hath their Fidalgos or Noblemen to preside it in the King's Name who exacts a great Revenue from the Inhabitants by Order from the King When the King dies Funeral for two or three moneths after two sit waiting by him and some Servants are Strangled as an ostentation of Power not in expectation of Service in the other world The Crown descends to the Eldest or Youngest Son after their Fathers Decease and takes all his Father left but his Wives whom all but his own Mother to whom extraordinary respect is shown he imploys in his works of several kinds The Goods of the meanest sort after their decease falls to the Noblemen whose Vassals they were Their Religion consists in no appointed Meetings or setled Form Their Religion though they have Fetiseros or Priests for every Person of Quality hath his own Chaplain and if any be sick in their Family the Fetisero comes and taking Oxen Fetisero's or Priests Sheep and Hens for a Sacrifice cuts their Throats and with the Bloud besprinkles their Fetisi or Sant that is sometimes no more than an old Earthen Pot or Basket Every Family hath a Meeting once in six moneths at which their Priest offers Sacrifice to their Fetisi or Sant put under a Pot with Holes and then they enquire of what they desire to know If the Fetisi be unsatisfied the Priest can get no words from him if otherwise he hath an answer by a gracile or small-piped voice as if it came from the Fetisi whereas indeed it is a counterfeited sound by their Priests Then the Inquirer takes a Bason fill'd with Beer and Meal and gives to the Priest then suddenly somewhat in the Pot under which the Fetisi sits leaps whereupon all promising obedience to the answer and drinking a draught out of the Bason depart They believe another life after this but not for all for they say that a man after death perisheth and his bloud congeals so that none must expect any Resurrection saving those that are slain in the Wars which they averre to have found by experience and that the Bodies slain in the Wars lie not two days in the Graves But more probably this seems a cheat of their Fetisero's who in the night steal the bodies from their resting-places to make the people believe they were risen and gone to another life and to this end to make them the more stout and valiant in the Wars Sixteen miles Eastward of Little Arder Rio Laga Rio de Lagas empties his Waters into the Sea before which a Shelf lyeth that choaks the whole River except at the East-side where they may Row in with a Boat but not without danger to overset in a rowling Sea This Flood goeth in at North or North-west and so passes to a Town call'd Curamo lying on the South Curamo from which Cotton-Cloathes are brought to the Gold-Coast and with good Profit Traded for by the Europeans there The Kingdom of ULKAMI or ULKUMA ULkami or Ulkuma a mighty Countrey The Kingdom of Vlkami spreads Eastward of Arder between that and Benyn to the North-East From hence they send many Slaves partly taken in the Wars Their Trade and partly made such as a punishment for their offences to Little Arder and there sold to the Portuguese to be transported to the West-Indies The Boys in this Region are Religion or Worship according to the Mahumetan manner Circumcis'd but the Girls when they attain the Age of ten or twelve years they put a Stick up their Privacies whereon Pismires taken out of the Fields are set to eat out the Flesh The Monarchy of BENYN THe Kingdom of Benyn Borders of the Kingdom of Benyn or Benin so call'd from its chief City Great Benyn borders in the Northwest on the Kingdom of Ulkami Jaboc Jejago and Oedobo in the North on that of Jaboc eight days journey above the City Benyn in the East on the Kingdom of Istanna and Forkado and in the South on the Sea How far this Principality of Benyn spreads Bigness from South to North is as yet unknown by reason several places continue so full of great Woods that they cannot be Travell'd but it hath from East to West about a hundred Spanish Miles This Kingdom boast many good Towns Latbâ— though little at present known as lying eight or nine days journey beyond the City of Benyn besides an innumerable number of Villages and Hamlets sprinkled as Beauty-Spots on the Verge of the River but the rest of the Countrey not Inhabited so overgrown with Brambles and Bushes as makes it unpassable save onely where some narrow Paths lead from Town to Town Twenty miles or thereabouts up the same River near its Head-Spring stands a Town call'd Gotton Gotton considerable for its length and extent Nine or ten miles from which The City of Benyn but more into the Countrey Northward Benyn shews its self a City of that largeness as cannot be equall'd in those Parts and of greater civility than to be expected among such Barbarous People to whom better known by the name of Ordor It confines within the proper Limits of its own Walls three miles Bigness but taking in the Court makes as much more The Wall upon one side rises to the height of ten Feet double Pallasado'd with great and thick Trees with Spars of five or six Foot laid Crossways fasten'd together and Plaister'd over with Red Clay so that the whole is cemented into one intirely but this surrounds hardly one side the other side having onely a great Trench or Ditch and Hedge of Brambles unpassable with little
Woods The Buildings not contemptible especially the Houses of the Gentry yet cover'd with Palm-Leaves and made up of gray Earth The King's Palace is built after the method of that in Benyn but much less The Air proves very unhealthful Unwholsom Air. not onely by reason of the great Heat but also from bad and unwholsom Mists whereof Strangers Trading in the River being ignorant and carelesly lying and sleeping in the Evening or in Moon-shine oftentimes die suddenly The Soyl is so barren Plants that Grass and Corn are strangers to it but it yields many fruitful Trees as those bearing Coco-Nuts sowre and sweet Grapes with divers others also a little Pepper Baranasses in great numbers and Mandihoka of which they make Farinha or Bread By reason of the barrenness of the Fields there are neither Horses nor Cows but Poultrey they have in abundance and very large being roasted eat well Fish also and Sea-Calves whose Flesh dress'd yields a pleasing relish Both Men and Women are of comely Stature and fair Countenances according to the account of Beauty in that Countrey and all marked with three Cuts each something more than an Inch long that is one in the Forehead above the Nose and one on each side of their Head by the Temples and may wear their Hair long or short as they please Their Habit resembles those of Benyn Habit. as to Fashion but commonly made of Silk which the other may not wear fastned under their Arm-pits with a curious Girdle Every one here Marriage as in other parts of Africa may take as many Wives as he will or as he can get and sometimes the King bestows some Widows as a mark of his Favor The Whites come and Trade in the River Forkado Trade with the same sort of Wares as in Benyn which they exchange for Slaves Jasper-Stone and Akori but they hold them in great esteem and will not sell them but above the value They are no quick nor expert Dealers but cheapen a Commodity a whole Moneth onely to beat down the Price but to little purpose because the Merchant rates his Goods according to the value set by the Natives upon their Commodities which he never recedes from The Portuguese us'd in former times to trust them always which the present Traders never do so that they now bring the Slaves when they fetch their Goods The King of Owerre Government though Tributary to Benyn Governs notwithstanding his People with full Power as an absolute Prince and hath a Council consisting of three great Noble-men whose Power and Command none dare oppose The King which Govern'd in the Year Sixteen hundred forty four was a Mulato by the Portuguese and other Europeans call'd Don Anthonio de Mingo whose Father by Name De Mingo was Married to a Portuguese Maid which he brought with him out of Portugal where he had been himself in Person and had this Son born by her He goes like a Portuguese wearing always a Sword or Ponyard by his Side Their Religion comes near that of Benyn Religion onely they do not sacrifice so many Men but esteem it a great abomination and delusion of the Devil so that by a little instruction they might be brought to the Christian Faith They alllow neither Conjurers nor Witches among them In brief both the Inhabitants and the King himself maintain in some measure the Roman Religion There is a Church with an Altar in the City Owerre and on it stands a Crucisix with the Pictures of the Virgin Mary and the Apostles and two Candlesticks besides them into which the Blacks come with Beads like the Portuguese and Read their Prayers They are in general very zealous and can Write and Read and are desirous of Books Pens Ink and Paper The Coast of the Cape of Formosa to the Highland of Amboises AT the East-end of the Kingdom of Owerre Cape of Formosa shoots a prominent Point into the Sea by the Whites call'd Cabo Formosa that is The Fair Cape perhaps for its fair and pleasant appearance at Sea It lieth in the heigth of four Degrees and eight Minutes North Latitude so low and plain that they can discern no Land at five and twenty Fathom Water The Countrey between the River Benyn and Cape Formosa appears a very low Land but full of Trees About a Mile to the Westward a small River takes its course and upon the Banks of the Sea stands a Village call'd Sangma and a sandy Bank Sangma dry at Low-water Between this Cape and Rio Reael or Calabare lie seven small Rivers with broken Land The first little and narrow call'd Rio Non Rio Non. about half a Mile Eastward of Cabo Formosa The second Rio Odo in the heighth of four Degrees and ten Minutes Rio Odo four miles from Formosa and three and a half from Rio Non. The third and fourth of a like bigness and not far distant from each other The fifth Rio St. Nicholas Rio St. Nicholas The sixth Rio de tres Jermaus Rio de tret Jermaus The seventh Sambreiro the next to Calabare and spreads North-West Rio Sambreiro All these Rivers are passable onely with Boats and that in the Good Time Are not Navigable as they call it viz. from October to June yet enter the Sea such force that they discernably penetrate it above half a mile In divers Maps and Sea-Cards some others are named as Rio di Tilana Rio de St. Barbara and Rio de St. Bartholomew The Territories of Calabare Krike Moko Bani c. THe Countrey of Calabare lieth near the River of the same Name The Countrey of Calabare and the next Westward to Sambreiro or Sombreiro being about sixteen miles from Cape Formosa This River in some places very shoal The River of Calabare and therefore onely Navigable for small Ketches spreading Northerly and hath within its second Point at the Western-shore a Hamlet Wine-Village call'd by the Whites The Wine-Village from the abundance of Wine there but by the Inhabitants Fokke Then dividing into two Branches one at the Westerly-end the other at the Easterly-shore In the Eastern you find a Road or Haven for Ketches which put into this River for Trade of about two miles and a half in bigness At the North-side of the aforemention'd Branch appears the Village Calabare The Village Calabare the chiefest Place of Trade surrounded after the Countrey manner for Defence with Pallisado's and on the North having a Moorish Ground Southward of this you discover a long low Island full of Trees separated from the Continent onely by a small Pool Eight miles Westward hereof lieth a Hamlet named Belli Govern'd by a Captain Fourteen miles Westward runs the Easterly Branch whose Banks are garnish'd with divers Villages Northward of Calabare Krike a Territory call'd Krike shews it self bordering upon another named Moko Moko Southward of which last Bani at
and beautifi'd with exquisite Imagery each Cloth holding about two Spans and a half in Square which a Weaver with his greatest diligence may well spend fifteen or sixteen days in Working to finish it The second sort call'd Sokka are less by one half than the Kimbes yet many that have little handl'd their Work would easily mistake the one for the other for both are high and Cutwork with Images or Figures upon them but the turn'd side gives the distinction by the Courseness or Fineness Six of the foremention'd Pieces make a Garment which they know how to Colour Red Black or Green The two other sorts of Cloathes are a wearing for Common People being plain without Images or Figures yet have their distinctions one being closer and firmer wrought than the other These are many times Slash'd or Pink'd from the middle to the knees as old fashion'd Spanish Breeches were wont with small and great cuts Every man by promise or injunction is bound to wear a Furr-skin over his Cloathes right before his Privacies viz. of a tame Cat Otter Cattamountain great Wood or wild Cat or of an Agali or Civet Cat with whose Civet they sometimes also anoint themselves Besides these they have very fair speckl'd Skins call'd Enkiny of high Price among them which none may wear but the King and his peculiar Favorites Some Persons of high Degree when they Travel wear six or eight Skins for Garments others as the King and his greatest Nobility cause five or six Skins to be sew'd together interlac'd with many white and black speckl'd Tails of the foremention'd Enkiny Cross-wise in the midst of the Skin they set commonly round Tufts made of the aforesaid Furr and white and black Parrets Feathers and at the edges Elephants Hair spread round in winding-Trails Every one also wears a String about his middle made of the peeling of Matombe Leaves of which there are two sorts one call'd Poes-anana and the other Poes-anpoma with which they tye their Cloathes fast Besides they have two Girdles one above another that is one of fine Red or Black Cloath slightly Embroyder'd in three or four places the other of Yarn wrought in Flowers and fastned together before with double Strings call'd Pondes These Girdles are commonly three or four Inches broad wherefore the Cloathes sent thither out of Europe with broad Lists serve to be Embroider'd and Quill'd to make such Girdles Some wear Girdles of Bulrushes and young Palm Branches others of peelings of a Tree call'd Catta and in other places Emsande which they Weave and Pleit together of the same peelings Match for Guns is made which stand the Portugals in good stead Between the upper and lower Girdle they set several sorts of Ornaments and about their Necks white and black Beads the latter they call Insimba Frotta and the white Insimba Gemba but the last bears the greatest value Others wear Triangular Breast-Chains brought thither out of Europe Their Ornament and by them nam'd Panpanpane some Ivory cut in pieces and some sort of flat Scalops which they polish very smooth and round and wear them strung as Neck-Laces On their naked legs they put Brass Copper or Iron Rings about the bigness of the smallest end of a Tobacco Pipe or else trim them with black and white Beads On their Arms they wear many Rings of several fashions and light which they temper in the Forging with Oyl of Palm Over their Shoulders they hang a Sack about three quarters of a yard long sew'd together onely a little opening left to put in the hand Upon their Head they have an artificial Cap made to sit close And in their Hands either a great Knife Bowe and Arrows or a Sword for they never go without Arms. The Womens Clothes which come a little below their knees are made of the same with the Mens over which they sometimes put some fine European Stuff or Linen but without any Girdles The uppermost part of the body and the Head remains always naked and bare but on their Arms Legs and Necks many Rings Beads and other Toys Their usual Diet is fresh and smoak'd Fish especially Sardyn Food which they take with a Hook and Boyl with Herbs and Achy or Brasilian Pepper People of Quality eat with their Fish Massanga or small Mille first stamp'd with a Pestle then Boyled with Water and so Kneaded together They Swear by the King speaking these words Fyga Manilovanga Their Oath or Swearing but the highest Oath is the Drinking of Bondes Root and never used but when something is presently to be undertaken or perform'd The Bondes is onely a Root of a Tree of a russet Colour very Bitter Bondes Root or Adjuration Root and astringent and gets as they say by enchantment of the Ganga or Conjurer perfect power and vertue This Root they scrape with a Knife and put into a Pot of Water of which the accused Party takes about a Pint and half administred by a person appointed by the King for that purpose In like manner if any weighty or criminal matter either of Sorcery or Theft be laid to any ones charge and it cannot be ascertain'd by the Oracle of Ganga or their Conjurer they forthwith condemn the suspected person to drink of the Bonde-drink which is perform'd in this manner The Complainant must go to the King How the Bonde-drink is drank and beseech him to appoint an administrator of the Bondes for which he pays the King his due These Bonde-givers are about eight or ten persons appointed by the King and his Nobility who meeting under the open Heaven in a broad way sit down upon the ground and about three a Clock in the afternoon begin their work for by that the Complainers must be there who coming with their whole Retinue and Generation the Bonde-givers admonish to bring to light the righteousness of the Matter without any siding or partiality which he adjures them to with an Oath by their Fetisies which they have standing round about them Then also appears the Accus'd with his Family for seldom one person alone but commonly the whole Neighbourhood is accus'd these meet and standing in a row come by course one by one to the Bonde-givers who have a little Drum upon which they continually Beat and receiving about a Pint and a half of Liquor they retire to their places again After this one of the Bonde-givers riseth up with certain sticks of a Bacoven tree in his hands which he flings after the Accus'd requiring him to fall down and if he have no guilt to stand up and make Water in token of his Innocency Then the Bonde-giver cuts the Root before them all that every one may walk up and down over it In the doing whereof if one or other of them chance to fall then the standers by set up a loud Cry and the party fall'n lieth like a possess'd man speechless but with horrible Convulsions in all his Limbs not enduring his body
wears a four-square Pouch of a Lions skin ty'd round about with a wicker thread and above with a Collar of Leather so hanging about his neck In this Budget they have all sorts of Implements a man can think on A master of Slaves at least that may easily be gotten as all sorts of little Horns Shells small Stones Iron Bells dry'd Sprigs of Trees Herbs Feathers Gums Roots Seeds Keys Patches Shreds Gratings Scrapings Horns Teeth Hair and Nails of white little Dwarfs call'd Doend us In brief cram'd with a whole Pedlars Pack and dress'd with Feathers Strings Cords Snips of Cloth and the like To this they add two Baskets thick cover'd with Shells Feathers Iron Hooks and an Herb fetcht from a far distant Mountain in which they cut a hole where they pour in Wine of which they give often to drink The simplicity of the Maujeres deserves well to be laugh'd at for when they bring any thing upon the account of Trade into another Countrey from home perhaps forty or fifty miles they must have such a Sack of Trumpery which sometimes weighs ten or-twelve pounds aloft upon their Pack though the burden it self makes them ready to sink under it But they say that it rather takes from than adds to their carriage whereby it appears what effects the strength of imagination can do The Ceremonies of their Publick Devotions are strange and ridiculous How the service of these Mokisies is perform'd for in the first place they bring forth a Bag of Jewels then the Ganga sits down upon a Mat and with a Leather Bag thumps upon his Knee having always some little Iron Bells betwixt his fingers then again he strikes upon his breast and paints with red and white upon his Eye-lids Body and Face using many strange motions and postures of their Body Hands Head and Eyes now raising the voice to a high pitch then depressing it frequently speaking the word Mariomena whereupon those that sit round about with all the rest of the assembly answer Ka. After this hath continu'd a great space the Ganga or Conjurer begins to turn his Eyes and look as if he were distracted so that they must hold him but by vertue of a fowr Water or Juyce drawn from Cane wherewith they sprinkle him recovering he tells what he hath receiv'd from Boesy-batta and what must be done in such and such cases as of theft sickness and the like Besides this they use so many other Cheats and Delusions that if we should but name them would swell to a bulk too Voluminous for our Design Lykokoo is a black Woodden Image cut in the shape of a Man sitting and in Kinga a Town lying by the Sea-Coast where they have a common Burial-place they recite a thousand ridiculous Rhymes concerning this Kikokoo As That he preserves them from Death Sorcerers or Doojes That he keeps them from hurt by Sorcerers or Doojes as they call them That he makes the Dead arise out of the Graves in the Night and forces them to labor by going to the Shore and helping to catch Fish and to drive the Canoos in the Water and in the Day hunts them to their Graves again and the like Fictions which the elder Folks make the young believe and imprint it in them from their Infancy It happ'ned once formerly that some Mariners of a Portuguese Ship that went to Lovango in the Night stole Kikokoo out of his House and brought it on Board and in the way an Arm and the Head brake off But having occasions afterwards to go to Lovango again they durst not venture thither without restoring Kikokoo So nailing the Head and Arm again fast to the Trunk and being come upon the Road they set him in the dead of the Night into his House again The next day there arose a Report among the Blacks That Kikokoo was in Portugal and that a Ship with Goods had taken him away Afterwards there came by mishap a Portuguese Ship to strike upon the Rocks of Lovango whereupon they cried That Kikokoo had broken the Ship because the Portuguese had driven a Nail into his Head Thus they are taught at every turn to defend the Honor of the Moquisies and to misapply every Accident for confirmation of their Folly When the Bonfires of Bomba are made they lay many Drums upon the ground which they beat with their hands and feet sitting round about a Post that is set in the middle among which the Daughters of Kimbos-bombos all dance moving their Bodies Eyes and Head like mad Folks and with obscene Postures sing certain Verses wearing upon their Heads a Bush of all sorts of colour'd Feathers and on their Bodies strange fashion'd Garments with a red and white painted Rattle in each Hand In brief The more apishly they behave themselves the freer and braver they are esteem'd to be A thousand more ridiculous and bestial Ceremonies these shameless Gangaes practice at their Bonfires mocking their Moquisies and dare do whatsoever they think convenient Malemba is a Moquisie of great esteem and serves to support the King's Health It is a Mat of about a Foot and half square with a Band at the top upon which hang some small Baskets Scallops Feathers dry'd Pipes of Cassia Iron Bells Rattles Bones and other such like Trinkets all painted red with Takoel The Ceremonies belonging to this are performed with little Drums or Tabers upon which a Boy strikes with his Hand Afterwards some Painting of Takoel and Holy-water taken out of a Pot with a Brush is sprinkled upon the Ganga's and King's Body with a Song of Probation serving to the purpose Also the Nobility which peep have for their pains out of the same Pot a red Streak put upon their Bodies and have afterwards the Honor to carry away Malemba with his Pots Brushes and Cans and to hang them in their Places Moquisie Makongo they solemnize with Rattles Makongo Drums small Wicker-baskets and Red-colour'd Fish-hooks but not worth farther mentioning being all foppery Moquisie Mymy is a little Hut Mymy that stands on the back of a Way planted round with Banano's Bakovens and other Trees having an elevated Tial or Throne upon which a Basket stands full of all sorts of Trumpery not worth naming The chiefest is a Bracelet of Beads with some little Shells found on the Sea-coast by which there hangs a hollowed piece of Wood upon which they knock No Black who hath companied with his Wife that Night dare be so bold as to touch this Moquisie such an Esteem they bear to it Moquisie Kossie is a Sack with some Horns full of Whiting and other Aragh Kossy The Service is performed with Rattles long Sticks singing uncouth Songs in the Night creeping upon their Knees Washing Spitting Shouting tying Rings and Bands about their Bodies and such like things This they boast as an infallible Preservative against Thunder and Lightning and to prevent Sicknesses The Moquisie Kymaye is a Town close by Boarye
Fighting they defend themselves from the Enemies Arrows with the flat Sides thereof in stead of a Shield and turn every way with such readiness that they void all the Shafts aimed at them They wear also Ponyards in Scabbards of Serpents-skins in Belts of Elephants-hides three Fingers broad and two thick Some have Shields made of Wood cover'd with the Skin of the Beast Dant They worship the Sun as their chief Deity in the Shape of a Man Religion next to that the Moon in the Figure of a Woman But besides these every one hath his peculiar Idol When they go to Battel they sacrifice to their Idol out of which their Devil speaks very plain and tells them what they must do The Anzikos live under a peculiar King call'd the Great Makoko Government whom they report to possess thirteen Kingdoms making him one of the most Puissant in Africa The Jages have three Governors the first entitul'd Singe the second Kobak and the third Kabango of which every one leads a distinct Army They maintain continual Wars against other Blacks and eat as is before-mention'd all the Slain but sell the Prisoners and in defect of Buyers kill and eat them also Such as desire to List themselves in their Companies must first receive the usual Marks viz. knock out the two upper and the two lower Teeth before and make a hole through the middle of their Noses into which they thrust Feathers There are at present no Jages to be found of the first Race but those that now assume that Name derive their Extract out of the several Countreys wherein they have Warred and been Victorious being chosen thereto in this manner So soon as they have won a Battel The Jages how they are bred they search among the Prisoners for the handsomest Youths of whose Courage they make tryal by shooting at them by and over their Heads Wherein if any discover a fear of the Arrows as Cowards and unfit for Service they knock on the Head and eat but those that appear fearless and undaunted they make holes through their Noses and Ears knock out their Fore-teeth and so bring them up to all Savage Cruelty who by practice at last stray so far from Humanity that they exceed the natural Jages These possess not only this Countrey of Ansiko but wander almost through all Africa although now they have their chief Residence here and in the South-East of Angola The Natural Jages as the Ancientest People of Angola relate are not the Indigene of that Countrey but came many years since with an Army of an hundred thousand out of Serre-Lyons and over-ran the whole Coast beyond the Kingdom of Benguella But finding themselves too weak to make further way and not willing to return they setled hereabouts but not contented with that Resolution they ranged till they came to the Kingdom of Monomotapa who overcame them in a Fight and made them retreat Others contradict this averring it improbable at least that the Jagos should first come out of Serre-Lyons and conquer as far as the Kingdom of Benguella a Tract of above seven hundred Leagues wherein they must pass so many Kingdoms great Rivers and Mountains The Jurisdiction of KAKONGO KAkongo takes beginning in the North at the River Lovango Lovize Boundaries of the Kingdom of Kakongo in about fourteen Degrees and a half South Latitude and borders in the South and West at the Kingdom of Goy and ends at the River Sambo some Miles up in the Countrey The Chief City is pleasant and well built Chief City abounding with all sorts of Provisions From Kakongo Southwards all the Countrey by the Sea-coast for thirteen Miles and for two Miles and a half Northward of the before-mention'd River Lovango Lovize lies very low but afterwards grows Mountainous beyond this rising still higher The Blacks call it Kaskais but the Europeans the Highland of Kaskais about which place a Mile Southerly a great Water falls into the Sea This Kingdom can shew onely one good River The River of Kakongo call'd also Kakongo which mingles with the Sea in five Degrees South Latitude gliding some eighteen Leagues through the Countrey A Mile Southward of this Stream lieth the Village Molemba The Village Molemba upon a great Bay making a convenient Haven or Road for Ships The Countrey thereabouts call'd Little Kaskais spreads the Bay of Cabinde in five Degrees and five and twenty Minutes South Latitude being both before and all along the Coast very Rocky and full of Cliffs yet between the chief City and the River Sonho full of Woods pleasant Fields and high Mountains but cannot boast any Fertility because for the most part untill'd although so Populous that it dares number Inhabitants with Lovango it self The Natives are treacherous Constitution of the Inhabitants revengeful turbulent and quarrelsom yet shew but little Spirit in the Wars all their Neighbours especially those of Goy continually infesting them without fear of revenge and perhaps would utterly destroy them but that the King of Lovango interposes in their behalf whose Mediation in such Cases prevails much with all his Neighbors Trades and Handicrafts are common with these People and those of Lovango Trade such are Husbandry Fishing and dealing in Clothes black stitch'd Caps broad Irons Beetles Hammers or Mattocks Tobacco Red-wood or Takoel and Linnen which Commodities they carry to Congo Sonho and other Places and there exchange for Slaves The Merchandises brought thither out of Europe and desired by the Inhabitants are one and the same with those Vented in Lovango but the Presents given for the permission of Trade are less Their Customs Shape Cloathing Riches Administration of Justice Inheritance Government and Religion differ little or nothing from what we have already described we will not therefore nauseate the Reader with a needless Repetition The King of Cakongo may not touch or wear any European Wares A Command on the King nor dares any habited therewith touch him because forsooth commanded by the Moquisie In all other things agreeing with Lovango At the River Sonho the Kings of Lovango and Cakongo keep a continual Watch to receive the Custom of the travelling Merchant and to observe that none should act any thing prejudicial to the Countrey At the side of the River Cakongo lieth the Territory of Serre or Sarri The Territory of Sarri subject to the King of Cakongo but was some years since for a Mutiny and Rebellion against him in a manner totally laid waste Upon the Edge of this and near neighboring to Goy The Territory of Lemba a Territory call'd Lemba claims a situation being a High-land comprehending onely one Village of the same Name whither the Whites come to Trade for Elephants-Teeth Slaves and Copper the last of which they bring from more adjacent Mynes that produce every year no small quantities The Dominion of GOY. GOy borders in the West upon the Shore on the South
Apartments are Hang'd after the European manner with Hangings of Mats made with exquisite curiosity within the innermost Fence are some Gardens plenteously stor'd with variety of Herbs and Planted with several sorts of Trees within these are some Banquetting-houses whose Building though mean and sleight yet they esteem rich and costly The City boasts ten or eleven Churches that is one great one Churcher being the chief of all then the Seven Lamps Church the Church of the Conception the Church of the Victory or Triumph a fifth dedicated to St. James a sixth to St. Anthony and a seventh to St. John the other three stand within the Court-Walls viz. the Church of the Holy Ghost of St. Michael and St. Joseph The Jesuits have here a Cloyster Cloyster where they Teach and Instruct every day the Blacks in the Christian Faith in an easie and winning method Here are also Schools Schools where Youths are brought up and taught the Latine and Portuguese Tongues All these Churches and other publick Erections except the Jesuits Cloyster have the Foundations of Stone but cover'd with Straw and very meanly provided with Utensils for celebrating Divine Offices There are also two Fountains one in St. James Street Fountains and the other within the Walls of the Court both yielding good and sweet Fountains of Water A small River or rather a Branch of Lelunde call'd Vese The River Vese affording very good and well tasted Water flows in the East at the Foot of the Mountain close by the City to the great benefit of the Inhabitants for from thence the Slaves both Men and Women fetch Water daily to serve the Town The adjacent Fields by this River are made very pleasant and fruitful and therefore the Citizens have all their Gardens upon its Banks What Cattel they have are Pastur'd and kept for the most part in the City as Hogs and Goats a few Sheep but no Cows which lie in the Nights closed in with Fences joyning to their Houses Rivers which water this Kingdom Rivers descending from North to South are first Rio de las Borrenas Roxas that is The River of red Sand another at whose Mouth lieth a Street call'd in Portuguese Bacas de las Almadias that is The Gulf of Canoos Here lie three Islands the greatest and middlemost of them inhabited and provided with a convenient Haven for small Barques but the other without People harbouring onely Beasts After these The River Zair Southwards you may see the great River of Zair which according to Pigafet derives its Head out of three Lakes the first by the same Pigafet and others entituled Zambre the second Zair and the third a great Lake from whence the Nyle is supposed to draw his Original as out of the second Rise out of which the Lelunde and Coanze run but Zambre is the principal Head that feeds the River Zair being set as it were in the middle Point of Africa and spreading it self with broad Streams into the North whither according to common Opinion it sends forth Nylus to the East the great River Cuama and Coavo to the South those of Zeila Manice or Manhessen and lastly to the West this of Zair which dividing it self into several Branches moisten and pinguifies the Western part of South Africa Congo Angola Monopotapo Matamam Bagamadiri Agasymba and so to the Cape of Good Hope whereas the Nyle Cuama Coavo Zeila Manice spread over the whole Abyssine Countreys and all others on the Sea-Coast from the Mouth of the Red-Sea to the River Cuama and therein the Kingdoms of Melinda Barnacassus Quilor Mombaza Mozimba Mombara Membaca Mozambico and other strange Lands The River of Zair breaks forth with an opening above three Leagues in breadth in the Elevation of five Degrees and forty Minutes and with so great force and abundance of Water runs into the Sea that the fresh Stream coming out West-North-west and North-east and by North makes an impression therein above twelve Leagues and when you are out of sight of Land yet the Water appears black and full of heaps of Reeds and other things like little floating Islands which the force of the Stream pouring from high Cliffs tears out of the Countrey and throws into the Ocean so that the Sea-men without a stiff Gale of Wind can hardly Sail through it to get into the Road within Padron on the South-side of the River This violent and precipitate descent carries the Stream against you fourteen or fifteen miles It sends forth on both sides many Branches or Rivers to the great convenience both of the Inhabitants and foreign Tradesmen who thereby in Boats and Canoos pass from one Town to another In the Towns seated on these out-stretched Arms dwell People small of Stature probably Pigmies The Islands Bomma and Quintalla lie in the Mouth of this River In Zair Le several Islands and others higher upwards exceeding full of People who rebelling against the King of Congo set up peculiar Lords of their own That of Bomma has Mynes of Iron The Island of Bommo and though boasting many Inhabitants yet shews few or no Houses because of the Morassness of the Countrey which for the most part lieth under Water so that the Blacks with Canos go from Tree to Tree among which they have raised some places made of Leaves and Boughs on which they reside and rest themselves without any Coverture These Islanders appear strong yet well set live very beastially The Manners of the Islanders are great Sorcerers speak ore tenus with the Devil in doing of which at first they come together all on a heap and afterwards one of them runs about with a Vizard on this continues three days which expir'd they use another Ceremony and then the Fiend speaks through the vizarded Man They live in peaceable Times by bartering in time of Wars they deal in nothing but Weapons Arrows Bowes and Assagays or Lances They have no Marriages or Betrothing Marriage but from their Youth up go one to another as their Affections or Lusts lead them commixing meerly like Beasts without any Solemnity for they know Laws of no Chastity but take as many Concubines as they please nevertheless the first being the eldest hath the command and supervising over all the rest In the Island Quuntalla is an Idol made of Money which none dare approach An Idol of Money in Quuntalla but the Servants or Minister appointed to attend and take care to secure the Way to it from being discover'd themselves being obliged as often as they go thither to take a peculiar Path that no other may find Many Kings and People sacrifice to this Idol especially in Sickness several of their most costly and highest priz'd Goods which none are permitted to make use of but by length of time decay and rot for as soon as they are dedicated the Attendant carries them into a great Plain where the Idol stands surrounded with a
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-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
all other sort of Meat it being a delicate Food pleasant and delightful of taste There are also many excellent Birds with black Feathers and black Flesh either boyl'd or raw yet accounted no unwholsom Food The Haven swarms with Fishes which the Inhabitants call Marraxos and the Portuguese Tintoreas they are very ravenous after Man's-flesh for so soon as they see a Man fall into the Water by chance or go to swim they will immediately catch and devour him The Inhabitants are a mixture of Mestiffs Mahumetans and absolute Heathens yet all subject to the Portuguese The Natives of this Island are black of Complexion The Nature of the Inhatants and low of Stature with short Curl'd Hair like Wool they smell very ranck when grown warm they are by nature barbarous cruel and revengeful but withall timorous Both Sexes go naked Apparel onely the Men have a small Clout before their Privacies and the Women cover their Bodies from their Breasts half way to their Knees with course Cotton-Clothes Their Ornaments consist in three or four Strings of white Omaments green blue and red Beads about their Necks and ten or twelve Copper or Tin Armlets about their Arms. They make holes in their Ears wherein in stead of Pendants they hang pieces of Copper or Lattin cutting and carving the rest of their Skin for an Ornament Their common Food is Fish Food and Rice boyl'd in Water with Honey Their Drink is Palm-Wine and Water and a sort of Liquor call'd Arak made of Rice Their Skiffs Boats or Canoos consists all in one Piece as we often mention'd They speak generaly a kind of broken Arabick Language There are a certain sort of handsom Mats Trade made by the Inhabitants which are sent to Goa The Portuguese drive a smart Trade here with Spanish-Wine Oyl Cotton Skiffs red Beads and such like notwithstanding they have a quick Market at Sena Makuno Sofala Quamma and other places Their Arms are Bowes Armâ— Arrows or Lances but of late they have begun to learn the use of Fire-Arms The Portuguese have many years ago built a Fort supposed the strongest they possess in those Parts consisting of four Bulwarks from whence with their mounted Artillery they can defend and make good the Haven against any ordinary attempts It hath strong and well designed Flankers fortifi'd and surrounded with three double Walls and a broad Trench made about it in the Year Sixteen hundred and thirteen Several vain Onsets have the Dutch made upon this Fort but chiefly in the Year Sixteen hundred and six when after a formal Siege of thirty two days they were compell'd to withdraw first as an effect of their malice having burn'd many Ships Canoos Houses and Churches those two especially of St. Gabriel and St. Domingo beforemention'd Some of the Inhabitants by reason of the Converse and Trade of the Arabians on this Coast are drawn to Mahumetanism others are Christians but the most part of them are Idolaters The Kingdom of QUILOA THe Kingdom of Quiloa derives the Name from an Island Situation Plgaf 2. b. 8. H. lying in eight Degrees and fifty Minutes South-Latitude at the Mouth of the River Kuavo said to spring out of the Lake Zambre and according to Peter Alvarez posited so near the Main Land as if joyn'd to it and hath a stately City by some taken for the Rapta of Ptolomy with lofty Houses after the Spanish fashion all adorn'd with stately Halls Chambers and other Apartments furnished with costly Housholdstuff and accommodated both for Pleasure and Profit with sweet and fertile Gardens There lies on the Main Land of Quiloa another City call'd Old Quiloa Sanut lib. 12. built about six hundred years since by one Haly Son of Hacem King of Cyrus in Persia but yields nothing so delightful a Prospect as that mention'd before This Kingdom before the coming of the Portuguese thither spread it self along the Sea-Coast above a hundred and fifty Dutch miles for he Reigned formerly over Sofalo Quamma Angos and Mozambike but when Francois Dulmanda in the Year One thousand five hundred and five put in for this Coast with the Portuguese Fleet the King though invited to Friendship prepared for a Warlike Defence whereupon seven hundred Portuguese went on Shore who quickly took the City and put him to flight Sanutus saith this Countrey hath such an antipathy to the nature of the Europeans that the Portuguese found themselves necessitated to forsake the same notwithstanding they had built a Fort there and made no doubt but to have been the Masters thereof But later Opinions hold the Air since that to have grown more temperate for that some good and wholsom Fruits have been found growing there Osorius praises it as being water'd with many Fountains so enriching the Soyl that it produces all sorts of Grain and Fruits with little labor especially Maiz Rice Oranges Citrons and Lemons They have great store of Oxen and sheep many Hens Pigeons Beasts Turtle-Doves and several other sorts of unknown Birds divers sorts of wild Beasts in the Woods and on the Sea-shore variety of Fish Some of the Inhabitants draw their Original from Arabia such are brown some black others white Pigafet affirms them to be all white whereas on the contrary Pedro Alvarez maintains them all black Their usual Food is Maiz Rice and other Grains Carrots Food and variety of wild Fruits a fit Diet for such poor People The Merchants and better sort of Men go Habited in Cloth of Gold Apparel Silk or Cotton with Turbants on their Heads The Women wear also stately Apparel with Gold and Silver Chains on the Arms and Legs and costly Pendants in their Ears In brief they go Clothed after the Arabian or rather Turkish Mode They commonly speak Arabick but understand other Languages Language by reason of their Trading with Outlandish Merchants The Riches of the Quiloan Merchants consists in Gold and Silver Riches Ambergreece Pearls and Musk. The Inhabitants are under a peculiar King whom Linschot makes a Vassal or Tributary to the King of Mommugi They are partly Mahumetans Religion and the rest Pagans The Kingdom of Mombaza TO the Northward of Quiloa Borders on the Sea-Coast you come to the Kingdom of Mombaza so call'd from an Island in four Degrees and five Minutes South-Latitude which Sanutus makes in its Circumference to be twelve Italian miles but Jarrik onely a League or thereabouts The City being of the same Name The City Membaza built after the Italian manner bears a considerable bulk being situate on a high Rock The extent of the whole Dominion not very big bordering on one side at the City of Orgaba seated on the Banks of the River Onchit which poures her Waters into the Nyle by the Mountain Amara where the Kingdom of Melinde begins The Turks had formerly thrown up a Fortification at the Shore of this River so that none could come into the City
their Ancestors brought with them Madagaxo or Magodoxo AS you Travel more Northerly towards the Red-Sea you come to the Kingdom of Magadaxo which hath been formerly so powerful that all the Mahumetans on this Coast were subject to it The Countrey spreads it self according to Urette betwixt ninety and a hundred Leagues in breadth but he seems to include therein the Kingdom of Adea This Territory produces great abundance of Barley with variety of Fruits and feeds huge Droves of Horses and other Cattel Some of the Inhabitants are brown some black and some white yet notwithstanding this difference of complexion they agree in Language all speaking Arabick The Head City Madagaxo hath gain'd the repute of great Wealth by the Trade of the Kambayan and Aden Merchants bringing thither all sorts of Clothes Drugs and Spices and receiving from thence in Barter Gold Ivory and Wax They use in their Wars no other Arms but poyson'd Arrows The Kingdom of Adea THe Kingdom of Adea begins in the middle of Adel on the Main Land Borders bordering in the South at Madagaxo in the West at Oyja belonging to Abyssinie in the North at Adel and Eastward border'd with the Indian-Sea The most famous Place of this Realm hath the Name Barraboa that is The good Shore though it be somewhat distant from the Sea and in passing to it you go up against the Stream in a Skiff by an Arm of the River Oby or Quilmanzi The Dominion of Granze comes next having for Limits the Kingdom of Oyja Xoa and Gorage then Barra Maa which is Bad Shore because no Ships can come near it At last upon the Skirts of this Realm you find a Place call'd Ogabra Ograbra This Countrey hath many great Woods insomuch that the Inhabitants are forced to cut down the Trees to make the Ways Nature hath served them with a plentiful hand so that they want no Provision having extraordinary Herds of Cattel They have a peculiar Mahumetan Prince Government but dependent upon the Abyssine Emperor to whom he pays Tribute The Inhabitants in general are zealous of Mahomet's Superstition Religion but those of Granze are partly Idolaters and partly Christians Adel or Zeila THe Kingdom of Adel Borders so call'd by the Portuguese but by the Natives Zeila lying at the Sea-shore borders in the North at the Beglierbeyat or Provinces of the Bassa of Suaquen near the Straits of Meche in the South at Adea in the West upon Fatigar in Abyssinie and in the East at the Indian Sea Pigafet makes the Southermost Places of this Kingdom to be Meth and Barbosa together with a part of the Arabian Gulf and the Cape of Guardafu It extends in length from Zeila to the Cape of Guardafu Bigness along the Sea-coast seventy two Miles and from Guardafu along the Eastern Coast about eight and forty but in breadth fifty six The Chief City of this Kingdom is Ara situate in nine Degrees North Latitude by some call'd Arika Gurrele but by Marmol Arat who places the same eighteen Miles from Zeila he settles also here the Royal City Adel and the Towns Orgabra Migiate Sequeta Bali Mautra Doara Komizara Novecara and Soceli On the Sea-coast Pigafet tells of a small Place nam'd Asuin or Affion well stored with Provision but wanting a Haven and so consequently little frequented by Merchants Then follows the Cape of Guardafu or Guardafuy by many taken for the Aromata of Ptolomy lying in twelve Degrees and a half North Latitude and very famous because the Easterly Coast of Africa ends there It lies almost at the entrance of the Arabian Gulf so that the Ships which come out of India and will go to Aden and Ziden or to Zeila and Barbara Sail close by it On the Coast of Adel appears a Place call'd Salie which Sanutus takes for that which Ptolomy denominates Mosilon Next to Salir follows Barbara and Meth the first lieth to the North on the Shore of the Red Sea eleven Miles from the City Zeila the latter according to Sanutus a small City Afterwards cometh Zeila one of the best Places on this Coast being in eleven Degrees and twenty Minutes North Latitude six and twenty Miles saith Marmol from the Straits of Meche This City though built on a low and Sandy Ground boasts not onely a large Extent but a very convenient Haven for Ships It stands within the Kingdom of Adel in the Province Baragian which includes the two other small Jurisdictions of Dalacha and Malacha all under the Obedience of the Turks The Houses in Zeila are built of Stone and the Streets curiously Pav'd and daily frequented with Swarms of People The In-land Countreys of Adel lie even and plain The nature of the Soil onely here and there some easie and pleasant Ascents The Plains yield plentiful Returns to the Labouring and Industrious Husbandman answering his Expectation in the abundant Product both of Plants and Beasts having withal the River Haoax which takes its original out of that vast Range of Mountains on the Borders of Xaoa and Ogge and feeds the lesser Stream of Mach with Water Some have not stuck to aver it to be little inferior to the Nile but nothing near so long because it overflows not above six thousand Paces Neither doth it reach how full of Water so ever it be to the Sea but is quite drank up by the dry and thirsty Earth before it cometh so far The City Zeila hath no fresh Water within two days Journey nor other Ground than Sand but the Fields at further distance afford such Plenty of all things that out of this Haven and that of Barbara on the same Coast Ships Transport Provisions to feed Adom and Ziden especially Corn Beans Barley and Oyl not press'd out of Olives but extracted from the Seed of a Plant call'd Zerzelin or Gerzeluin or Grugioline but indeed no other than Sesamos Beasts breeding here are Sheep of two sorts Beasts one with Tails of twenty five pound weight black Necks and Heads and the remainder of their Bodies white the other quite white with Tails as long as a Mans Arm and crooked as a Vine-Branch Some of their Cows have Horns like a Stag black Hair and wilde others are red but with one Horn on their Foreheads of a Span and a half long but turning backwards The Inhabitants as far as Barbara are Olivaster-colour'd Nature of the Inhabitants but from thence more to the North about Zeila and Barrazan they grow much blacker naturally quarrelsom and apt to make Wars upon any trivial occasion They go cover'd from their Navel to their Knees with Cotton but the upper part of their Bodies remain naked onely Persons of Quality wear Coats which in Arabick they call Bernuz This Dominion possesses much Gold and Ivory besides such a liberal Provision of Victuals that they feed their Neighbors of several other Countreys They vend also Clothes Myrrhe Pepper and Slaves The Merchants of Cambaya and
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
Clergy to the very Eteche and Bishops dwell in Cloysters in the Cities and in the Wildernesses they go bare-foot never eat Flesh nor drink Wine and do besides unusual severe Penance for besides Fasting they torment themselves terribly by being bound to a Cross and so set for a whole day broyling in the Sun Others go stark naked up to the neck into a cool Brook and stay there till they are half dead Some which they call The Clergy of Libela for a Penance carry two four-square pieces of Lead of fifty or sixty pound weight which hang before their Breasts and behind their Backs with which so about them they fall upon their Knees with their Foreheads upon the Ground so that many times their Heads swell and their Bodies grow all black and blue Others sit with a great Stone about their Necks which so bows down their Heads that they cannot look up to Heaven nor move themselves from the places where they are All the Abyssines Circumcision as well Clergy as Temporality are Circumcised the eighth day after their Birth and Baptiz'd the fortieth but the Daughters the sixtieth and afterwards in their sixth year are Re-baptiz'd with Fire in this manner They take a sharp Iron which cuts on both sides and making it red hot in the Fire set therewith upon the very tip of their Nose two Marks to distinguish them from Mahumetans who are also Circumcised The Water of Baptism they Consecrate with many Ceremonies and Benedictions with which they renew their Baptism every year upon the Day of the Three Kings because upon that day Christ was Baptized The Confession of their sins they say they have by Apostolical command which they make standing after which they receive Absolution Godignus avers that they neither make known the particulars nor the number of their sins but say onely in general Habessen Habessen which signifies I have sinn'd I have sinn'd They hold onely five mortal sins fixing upon the last Chapter of the Revelations which excludes out of the holy City Sorcerers Fornicators or Adulterers Murderers Idolaters and Lyars They acknowledge but five Commandments imply'd by Christ in these Negatives I have been hungry and ye have not fed me I have been thirsty and you have not given me drink I have been a stranger and you have not let me in I have been naked and you have not clothed me I have been sick and you have not visited me I have been in prison and you have not come to me Believing that Christ will say to Reprobates onely these words at the last Day They perform Mass daily yet no more but one in every Church and that usually in the Evening an hour and a half before the going down of the Sun except on Saturdays and Sundays They ordinarily bury their Dead with a Cross and Prayers reading over them the Gospel of St. John the next day give some Alms for the benefit of their Souls They Fast every Wednesday Damian Goez in remembrance of the Council of the Jews upon the Death of Christ which was held upon that day and every Friday in Commemoration of the Death of Christ eating nothing before the going down of the Sun observing besides with other Christians several other times of Abstinence Some of the Clergy in the Cloysters always eat Flesh because they lie far from the Sea and have no Lakes nor Rivers out of which to take Fish Others eat on Fasting-days but onely an Apple with Bread and Water or else some Herbs boyl'd without Oyl or Butter and some onely Bread and Water Such as eat Fish in some Places will touch nothing that hath any Bloud but content themselves with Grashoppers Oysters Lobsters and the like Also they use upon Fasting-days a Grain call'd Camfa and another Tebba both prepar'd and made ready like Mustard Most of the Abyssines have made defection from their antient Opinions acknowledging the Roman Church to have the true Doctrine and the Pope to be Christ's Vicar for in the time of Pope Clement the seventh Prester-John sent to acknowledge him High-Priest with promise of obedience to him and his Successors and all that have succeeded him have done the same till the Year Sixteen hundred and nine when the Prince of Narel Jacob infected with the Errors of Dioscorus and Eutiches got the Crown After him the Son of Zaga-Christ who in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty and three stept into the Throne embraced the same Opinions so that he put out of the City all those that acknowledged and obeyed the Pope But Cosme Son of King Haste Jacob about the Year Sixteen hundred and thirty caused in the Kingdom of Dambea near his Court a Church to be built after the European manner of Cedar-wood and Zaga-Christ his Brother and all his Family heard Mass openly in the Kingdom of Goyame And moreover being a singular Votary of the Catholick Religion established among others those Laws That no Clergy-man that is Marry'd may administer the Lords Supper upon pain of death That no temporal Person may have any more but one Wife and That none should draw near to the Lords Table before he had made satisfaction to all whom he had wronged In the Year Sixteen hundred and twenty in the Territory of Agoas a spacious Countrey and fruitful five thousand Souls were Baptiz'd by the Portuguese Jesuits The several states of the Countreys relating to Religion are as followeth In Tigre the Turks possess the Places lying near the Sea Peter Davity Estats du Grand Kegus but the Bowels of the Kingdom are fill'd with Idolaters mixed with Christians Those of Angote are Christians without mixture so those of Xoa and Amara Damut according to Sanutus contains a mixture Leka remains wholly Christian but Bagamedi hath some Christians and some Heathens so Dambea Mahumetans wholly possess the City of Aukaguerle But Dahali contains Christians Moors and Mahumetans Gecie Moors and Idolaters Ario and Fatigar wholly Christians Those of Zingaro and Roxa are Idolaters but they of Ronazegus all Christians Goyame comprehends Heathens and Christians but Marea Goroma Zeth Concho and Mahaola lie totally involved in Idolatry Sua hath Mahumetans and Christians Bora Calava and Aga in show Christians but in heart Idolaters Dubane and Xaucale Caffers a People without any Religion Xincho Aris Evara and Arbo none but Mahumetans Daraita all Christians and lastly Agoas are most Idolaters but some Christians who have many Monasteries and Convents both of Men and Women They have a great number of Churches Churches the first and principal of all is call'd Delia Libanos that is The Mountain of Liban in the Kingdom of Goyame wherein formerly the Kings of Abyssine us'd to be buried the second Marcoza Mariam that is The Misery of Mary in the same Kingdom the third Dima or St. Maries in Goroma the fourth Macana Celacen that is The Seat of the Trinity in Amara the fifth Laboca that is Mountain of Gold dedicated to St. Michael in
Valetta Citta Vecchia or Old Malta Burgo St. Angelo or Citta Vittoriosa and the Town of St. Michael besides 60 good Villages Comin and Cominot Onely one Fort. Goze or Gozo One Castle and a good Fort and about 5000 Inhabitants Lampadowze Altogether desolate Linose Lies desolate Pantalaree Towns Pantalaree An Abyss call'd Fossa AN EXACT DESCRIPTION OF THE AFRICAN ISLANDS AS Madagascar or Saint Laurence Saint Thomas the Canary-Islands Cape de Verd Malta and others With their Names Scituations Cities Rivers Plants Beasts Manners Habits Languages Riches Religions and Dominions AFter the Description of the Main Land of Africa the Subjected Islands belonging to the same must be taken notice of and they are found partly in the Atlantick Ocean partly in the Mid-Land and partly in the Red-Sea The Isles in the Atlantick on the East of Africa are these Zokotora Madagascar or St. Laurence the greatest of all Nossihibrahim or St. Mary Bouebon or Maskarenhas or Maskareign Almirante St. Francis As Sete Jemanas Os tres Irmanas Roque Piz do Natal do Arko Don John of Miz Pemba Monfia Zanzibar Anisa Quezimba Mozambike Don John of Castro Cosmoldo As doze Ilbeos John da Novo Ilhas Primuras Angoxas Galaga Comoro or Thieves Island Aliola St. Spirito St. Christophano Mazare dos Gorajos St. Brandaon St. Apolonu Mauritius or do Ciene Diego Rois John of Lixbon dos Romaros dos Castellianos By the Cape of Good Hope lieth the Island St. Elizabeth Korwli or Robben and Dassen Island South-Westward from the Cape of Good Hope lieth the Island of Tristano Kunha but more Southerly are the Islands dos Pikos Martyn Vaz St. Maria de Agosta de Trinitad Ascension St. Helen New St. Helen Annoban St. Thome Rolletjes Princes Island Carakombo Ferdinando do Po St. Matthias Ferdinand Noronho Penedo de St. Paulo the Salt or Cape de vard Islands the Canary Islands the Islands of Borodon Madera Porto Santo The Islands in the Mediterrane are Galatha Tabarka Pantalerce Malta Goze c. In the Red-Sea Primeiras Delacca Masuan Magot Mirt Suachen c. But here we must observe that some of these being close by the Main Land of Africa are already describ'd in the foregoing part such be Zokotora Quirimba Zanzibar Mozambike Robben and Dassen Islands Corisco the Islands Amboises Bisegos De los Idolos Bravas c. The Island of MADAGASCAR or St. LAURENCE THe Island commonly by Geographers call'd Madagascar and in the Countrey Language Madecase by Theuck Albazgra by the Persians and Arabians Sazandib by the Portuguese Ilha de sam Lourengo from the first Discoverer Laurence Almeide Son of Francois Almeide Viceroy of the East-Indies for the King of Portugal who in the Year Fifteen hundred and six put with eight Ships first of all into this Island of St. Laurence Gaspar de St. Bernardino in his Journey through India by Land affirms That in the Year Fifteen hundred and eight with whom agrees Damianas de Goez it was discover'd on the outside and a little afterwards the inside scarifi'd by one Ruy Pircira de Kontinho and afterwards by Tristano da Kunha who Sail'd quite round it upon the Command of Alfonso d' Albuquerque There are that report this Island was known to the Antients Merkat Magin Ortel and that Pliny call'd it Cerne Ptolomy Menuthias and Diodorus The Island of Merchant Jol but this cannot be because they never had any knowledge of the Countreys lying Southward above Serre-Lions It spreads in length North North-East Situation Flakkourt Fraxscis Canche and South South-West Southward of the Equinoctial Line and begins with its North end from the eleventh or twelfth degree and odd minutes or according to Pyrad from the fourteenth degree and ends with its South end in the six and twentieth that is from the Cape of St. Sebastian to the Cape of St. Mary Linschot places it a hundred six and twenty Leagues from Cabo das Corinthas on the Main Coast of Africa a hundred and ten from Sofala and four and forty from Mozambike It is one of the greatest Islands in the World for the length from South to North hath been reckon'd to twelve hundred Spanish or two hundred Dutch Miles though Linschot says two hundred and twenty the breadth seventy and the Circumference nine hundred The Sea between the Island and the Main Land towards that side of the Cape of Good Hope sets with a strong Current and goeth with a mighty Tide of Ebbing and Flowing making a Channel at the Westerly entrance eighty five Miles broad and in the middle where it is narrower over against the Island Mosambike four and forty Dutch Miles but it grows wider again towards the East The Ships which go from Europe to the Indies and from thence back again Sail commonly through this Channel unless Storms and Tempests force them to Steer another course This Island hath been Canton'd into many Divisions Divided into Territories whose names we will endeavor to give you viz. Anossi or Karkanossi Manatensi or Manapani the Valley of Amboulle the Countrey of Vohitsbang Itomampo Ikondre Vattemahon Manamboule INSVLA S. LAVRENTII vulgo MADAGASCAR Anachimonssi Gringdrane Vohitsanghombe Manakargha Matatane Antainare Galemboulou Tametavi Sahaveh Vouloulou Andouvoche Manghabei Adcimoi Mandrerci Ampatre Karemboule Mahafalle Houlouve Siveh Ivoronheok and Machicore All large Territories but the biggest is Machikore being seventy French Miles long and forty broad and the most populous are Vohitsanghombe and Erindrane We will give you a particular account of each with what is remarkable therein Beginning first with Carkanossi and from thence will run up Northward to the Bay of Antongil so turn back to the South from Carkanossi to the River Ongelahe To the Northward of this great Island two or three smaller as Nosey Ibrahim or Abraham's Isle by the French nam'd St. Mary and another to the South call'd Maskarenhas or Maskareigne and by the French Bouchon The whole Coast of this Island on the East-side The spreading of the Coast spreads due North North-East and South South-West that is from the Cape of Itapere otherwise call'd Fitorah in five and twenty degrees and six minutes South-Latitude to the Bay or Inlet of Antongil and from thence to the Lands-end due North from the Cape of Itapere to the Island of Karenboule Westerly From Karemboule to the Mouth of the River Sakalite the Coast runs North-West and from thence to the seventeenth degree South-Latitude North North-East and thence to the fourteenth degree being the Road of the Island due North. The whole extent comprehends many beneficial and large Rivers that having their heads within the Land irrigate the same to a rich fecundity and at last emit their Waters into the Sea by which means there appear divers fine Bays which make convenient and safe Roads for Ships The South-side from the Cape of Itapere to Karemboule the People of Europe best know by most of whom frequented but especially by the French who have to the chief Bay assign'd the Name of Dauphin
from a neighboring Fort by them Built on the Land But the Inhabitants call it Tolonghare scituate between two Points the one call'd Itapere in five and twenty degrees and thirty minutes South-Latitude and the other the Point of Dauphin-Bay in five and twenty degrees and ten minutes Next follows the Inlet of Ranoufouthi by the Portuguese call'd The Bay of the Gallions there The Bay of Karemboule thirty Miles from the Fort of Dauphin On the South Point you find but one known Bay to which the Hollanders have given the name of Sun-Bay The discovery of the places at the Sea Coast from the Point of Antongill Southerly to the Bay of St. Augustine the French ascribe to themselves having since the Year One thousand six hundred and forty settled and Fortifi'd in the Territory of Carkanossi on the Southside and there Built the beforemention'd Fort Dauphin thereby commanding the Inland parts from the Countrey of Vohitsanghombe in nineteen degrees South-Latitude to the South end of the Island comprising the Dominions of Vohitsanghombe Gringdrane Anachimoussi Matatam Antaware or Mananzary Ambohitsmene Ehall Emboulou the little Isle Nossi Hibrahim or St. Mary Maskareigne the Territory of Lamanouf Ivourbon Itomampo Anamboule Ikondre Albssak the Grape Island the Valley of Amboulle the Lordship of Anossi or Androbeizaha Ampatre Karemboule Machikoeo Mahalle Ivoronheok Houlouwe and Siveth The Portuguese in the Year Fifteen hundred and six put in for this Island in their Voyages to the East-Indies and discover'd many places near the Sea and after them the Hollanders but neither of them penetrated so far as the French The Territory of ANOSSI or CARKANOSSI otherwise ANDROBEIZAHA THis Territory lying in five and twenty degrees and eighteen minutes Borders extending from Manatengha to the River Mandrerey in twenty six degrees Many Rivers have their passage through it Rivers as Franshere Akondre Imanhal Manambatori Manghafia Harougazarak Fautak and Sama most of which pay their Tributary Waters to Franshere This River The River Franshere otherwise call'd Ravenatte or Imours takes original out of the Mountain of Manghare in five and twenty degrees and eighteen minutes South-Latitude two small miles from Fort Dauphin falling into the Sea having first receiv'd the Water of many small Brooks as Akondre Imanhal Manamboaa Andravoulle and some other The Water of this River about a mile up in the Countrey is always brackish and at the Mouth makes a Lake or Pool call'd Ambove of a large half mile broad and deep enough to bear a Ship It feeds many Crocodiles as all the other Rivers of this Island Half a mile from the Mouth of Franshere lieth Cape St. Romain so nam'd by the French but by the Blacks Rancratte or Hehohale which shews six or seven Leagues into the Sea from the North-West Next this Cape appears a great Creek in form of a Cross extending to the Point of the River call'd Dian Pansonge or Fitorah in the middle of Tolanghare an Isle shews it self to the Northward of which you may see the Fort Dauphin and behind that the Haven of the same name From thence to Cape St. Romain the Coast bears the name of Sivoure from a Lake made by five or six small Brooks meeting therein which in time of great Rain overflows the adjacent Grounds The other Point of Dauphin-Bay is Cape Itapere next which follows the Bay of Lonkar in five and twenty degrees affording a commodious and safe Harbor for Ships and other Vessels to Ride there onely the coming in is dangerous by reason of obscure Rocks Adjoyning to this lies the Island St. Clare so styl'd by the French being a small Spot before the Haven Then passing a little forward you discover the River Manghafia able to bear good Ships at the Mouth being twenty four degrees and a half and taking original out of the Mountain Siliva Half a mile North Westward glides the small River Harangazavah and a mile and a half further that of Monambalou famous for the Rocks lying in its Mouth This Territory hath many Islands full of rich Meadows fit for the Pasturing of Cattel and the Countrey round about very fertile in the producing all sorts of Provision yielding to the curious eye a pleasant Prospect surrounded with high Mountains and Checker'd with fruitful Plains beautifully varied with delightful and easie rising Summits By the Shore of the River Franshere and the other Rivers lie many Villages the chiefest of which are Franshere Imanhal Cokomabes Andravoulle Ambometanaba Mazomamou Imouze Mazofoutouts Hatare and Fananghaa besides a great number of others Eight Miles from Fort Dauphin lies a Tract of Land call'd Vohitsmassian Vohitsmassian that is The Lucky Mountain by which the Portuguese formerly had a Fort with several Dwellings below it and Gardens with all sorts of Provisions but were at last surpriz'd and massacred by the Natives Four Miles from the beforenam'd Fort lies a naked Mountain and other neighboring Hills oftentimes digg'd by the French in hopes to find Gold or Silver but chiefly by a place where seven clear Springs rise one by another and make a Brook wherein they found many Stones mixt with a Clay or yellow Earth full of white and black Clods shining like Silver but being beaten and cleans'd was found too light Thirty Fathom above the Springs the Grass and other Plants have chang'd their natural Verdure into a fading yellow which proceeds from the sulphurous Vapors of inclos'd Minerals but on the top of the Mountain all things remain fresh and green They say the Portuguese formerly at the foot of this Mountain towards the North by digging found Gold but since their extirpation the Great ones of the Countrey have fill'd up the place This Territory comprehends two sorts of people viz. Whites and Blacks the first subdivided into three Clans nam'd Rohandrians Anakandrians and Onzatsi the last distinguish themselves into four Tribes that is Voadziri Lohavohits Ontsea and Ondeves The Whites which have come hither within these last hundred and fifty years name themselves Zafferahimini from the Mother of Mahomet call'd Himina or as others the Stock of Ramini whom they account their Predecessors or from Ramnaina Wife of Rahourod Father of Rahari and Rakouvatsi The Rohandrians are those out of which they choose their King whom they call Ompiandrian or Dian Bahouache the whole number of them being the chief Nobility and reverenc'd as Princes The Anakandrians are extracted from the Nobles but Illegitimate or else sprung from a Rohandrian Man and Woman either the Blacks the Anakandrians or the Onzatsi Those they intitle Ontampassemaka that is People of the Sand of Mecha from whence they say they are come with the Rohandrians These Anakandrians have a reddish Skin and wear long Hair Curl'd like the Rohandrians both these have the priviledge to slaughter any Cattel The Onzatsi being the meanest have their Extract from the Bastards of Anakandrians or else from the Race of the Sea-men which the Zafferamini or their Predecessors
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
of Steel in the Territories of Mahafalle Anachimoussi Inourhon Icondrean Manamboulle and in Amboulle Anossi Matatane and Manghabei good Iron Silver is very common in these Countreys yet hath none ever found there any Mynes either of Silver Copper Lead or Tin They find Gold also among the Inhabitants Minerals or Mynes not brought thither to them but found every where in great plenty and such as the Europeans have none of they call it in their Countrey Language Voulamene Voutruroa yet distinguish it into three sorts the first their In-land Gold or Gold of Malacasse pale-colour'd and is pliable as Lead an Ounce whereof is not worth ten Crowns The second Gold of Mecha or Voulameneraca which the Rohandrians brought with them out of their Countrey it being very fine and good Duckat-Gold The third that which the Christians have brought thither being hardest to be melted and by them is nam'd Voulamene Voutrouwa as they say The Gold of Malacasse was first found in the Countrey of which there are Mynes in the Territory of Anossi and elsewhere by the relation of the Blacks The In-land Gold they divide into three sorts one very fine call'd Litteharonghe the second less fine styl'd Voulamene Sautehy and a third ordinary nam'd Ahets-Lovau Precious Stones they find in the Rivers and Brooks of many kinds Precious Stones as Crystal Topazes Granats Amethysts Eagles-stones Smaragdines or Emerauds Saphyres Jacinths Jaspers Agats Blood-stones by the Inhabitants call'd Rahamanghe and by the Physitians in Greek Haematifes Cornelion Toad-stones and such like They find in several quarters of this Island divers sorts of Waters Waters some running above and some under Ground receiving a taste and quality according to the Mineral they participate of In the Valley of Amboulle ariseth a Spring with very hot Water a powerful Medicine against Sicknesses growing from Cold in the Sinews the same being drunk is a great Pectoral and cures all Diseases of the Stomach openeth obstructions in the Reins and Spleen and expells the Stone and Gravel They have in many places Springs that taste like Iron as near Fort Dauphin in Anossi which the French and the Blacks therefore call the iron-Iron-water In a high Mountain in Amboulle are Fountains of salt Water although thirty Miles distant from the Sea whereof the Natives make Salt Manghasia shews a Fountain upon a Hill out of which issues Jews-Gumme In the Precinct of Fanghaterre Westward of Mount Hiela are Brooks with white Water that taste and smell like Brimstone Houlouve Four setts of Honey and Vourouhehock afford rich Salt-Petre Caves which they name in general Tentele and make-four sorts of it Bee-Honey call'd Voatentele green Mesquite-Honey by name Sih and two sorts of Honey of Pismires one of Flying Pismires Swarming together in hollow Trees and of other Pismires a little bigger which make their Honey in Vontantames that is great Mole-hills sharp and copped above every where boared through with Ant-holes All these Honeys have a very sweet taste But besides these they tell of two other sorts of Honey one hard and sweet more resembling Sugar than Honey yet call'd Teutele Sacondre made of the Leaves of a little Tree or Shrub which at maturity turn into yellow green and red Husks some hold this to be the Tabaxir of the Arabians or Sugar of the Bomboes Cane which yields rather an unpleasant than sweet taste There is yet another sort of Honey said to be Venomous or Poysonous yet made by Bees which suck it out of the Flowers of a Tree bearing strong Poyson and found in Carakarak a member of Anossi The Inhabitants make three sorts of Wine the first and commonest of Honey the second of Sugar which they call Tovach or Tovapare being somewhat bitter of taste like new Beer or as the Kernel of an Apricock made in the Countreys of Manamboule Matatane and Hanghabei by boyling the Sugar Canes in Water to the consumption of a third part then putting it into great Callabashes it becomes Wine on the third day This Wine hath such a corrosive quality that put it into an Egg-shell it will eat the same throrow in the space of one hour The third some make of the great Bananoes Fruits putting the same into a Vessel and boyling it four or five hours of which cometh a tartish Wine like Sider They have several sorts of Oil Oile with which both Men and Women anoint their Heads and Bodies for want thereof they take Ox Suet mixt with Wax The best known and ordinariest Oils are Menachtanhe Menaen signifieth Oil Menachil Menachovivat Monachmafoutra Menach Voarave Menach Apokopouk Menach Vintag and Menach Arame Menach Tanhetanhe made of a Plant in the Countrey Language call'd Tanhetanha and by us Tree of Wonder and in Latin Ricinus Minalchis Oil they make in the Valley of Amboulle of a Fruit or Seed call'd Voankare and in Europe Sesamus Menachouvivou they extract of a Fruit as big as an Almond and hath a good taste both in Eating and Drinking Menachmafoutra made of the Kernels of the Fruits of the Dragon-Tree bears the same thickness as Oil of Nutmegs but without smell it cures Scabs and dry Tetters Voarave is drawn from the Fruit Fontsi Menachfowaha of the Fruit Apokapouk being very Poysonous Menach Vintag of a great Acron Menach Arame of the Kernel of the Fruit of the Tree from whence the Gum call'd Tacamahacha proceeds From hence Merchants bring divers sorts of Physical Earth one red Tamene in their Speech as good if not the same with that by the Apothecaries call'd Bole Armoniack another call'd Terra Sigillata Sealed Earth that properly so named brought from the Island of Lemnos and therefore also call'd Terra Lemnia yet according to Flakourt that of Madagascar no less esteem'd than the other and among the Natives call'd Tavelisse A third like Chalk excellent to wash Linen in stead of Sope being a fat Clay like the Earth of Malta which they say carry'd about one hath power to kill or drive away Snakes or Serpents or at least to resist their Poyson the Vulgar name there is Tanefoutchi They have great variety of Gums known by the general name Lite some well scented and others without any smell Of these we will reckon first Litementa or Benjoin Literame or Taccamahacca Lite Fimpi a pleasant scented Gum. Lite-Enfouraha a kind of green Rosin with a Balsom-like smell Quizominthi a black Gum which serves to Glue the Handles to their Assagays Hingue a black well scented Gum Litimithsi black like Jah very drawing but quickly grows dry and hard yet the Women use it to Gum their Faces to prevent Wrinkles it heals also Wounds and Sores Litin Bitsik Gum made by the Pismires in the Territory of Ampatre is white and hangs on a small Branch of a Tree inclosing within it small Pismires Falanoue that is Musk cometh from a Creature as big as a Cat Litineha is our Dragons Bloods Litin Barenkoko another sort of Dragons Blood Latinpane well scented
are govern'd by an evil Vitang or Planet so that these People account almost half the Year unlucky Nevertheless some among them have a little more pity and compassion towards their Children and after they have so barbarously expos'd them let their Slaves their Maid-Servants go instantly and take it thenceand Suckle it however they account it no more theirs but appropriate to the Person that takes it up or the Nurse Others are satisfi'd by performing Falis for their Children that is they sacrifice Beasts and Hens and shut them half a day as they say to prevent the malign influence of the Constellation that reigns over them for if they should let them live and not perform this Ceremony they would another day be Robbers and Murtherers of their Fathers and adicted to all Mischief If a poor unmarried Woman-Slave have a Child and her Master hath put her away she will not stick to drown the Child in the River or bury it alive in the Ground or otherwise kill it to rid her of the burthen trouble and care of bringing up If a Woman when she is great with Child and is very sick or has hard Labor they impute the fault to the Child and the Woman orders them to kill or to bury it alive If the Daughter of a Rohandrian hath had to do with a Negro before she be Married as they all do none excepted she either causes an Abortion or if she be deliver'd makes away the Child Nevertheless there are some though few that do it not but cause the Child to be carried afar off and nursed by her own Negresses Lastly If a Woman die in Labor they bury the Child alive with the Mother saying That it is better it should die than live having no Mother left to bring it up The Inhabitants both Whites and Blacks Their manner of Eating observe a peculiar and evil Custom in Eating though their Victuals is dress'd very neatly and handsomly The People of the Rohandrians eat with Rohandrians the Lohavohits with Lohavohits the Ontsoa's with their own Tribe and never intermixedly insomuch that no Rohandrian Woman married to an Anakandrian will endure that her Husband should eat with her But in Manghabei the Slaves eat with their Masters They have their Meal-times commonly in the Morning and in the Evening but the Zafferamimi make five or six Meals in a day Their usual Food is Rice Beans Voanzonrouk or little Wheat Food call'd also Voenzou or Mimes and Voamitsa-Ofekque Ignames of several sorts Coleworts which they call Sanzes and Varuattes Oxen Sheep Goats Hens Capons Turkeys by them styl'd Alcanga Ducks Pigs but never any grown Hogs except they Hunt them and then they and their whole Family eat them Many sorts of Sea and River Fish Menachil or Oyl of Sesamos and Oyl of Ovinaa Several Fruits as Vontaka Lamontes Voarats Voanattes Lotfes Sakol the Fruit Sakre Co Sugar-Canes and Bananoes They live also in time of Scarcity or Famine upon certain Roots which grow in the Water and in the Woods as Roots of Ouirandre Oumenpasso and Ouuirouzes For Sauce to their Meat they usually have Ginger Garlick-Leaves and White Pepper though at the beginning they look'd upon it as Poyson Their usual Drink is warm Water or the Broath wherein they boyl their Meat They make Wine of Honey yet they drink it not but in their Missavatsi and chief Solemnities They speak but one Language through the whole Island Language but very different in the Tone and Pronunciation some giving them a short and some a long Accent This Language hath much affinity with the Eastern especially the Arabick and great agreement with the Greek as well in the manner of Expression as in the connexing of Names and Compound-words Every thing is call'd according to the Action or manner of Operation by which it is effected as a broken Tree or Stick they call Hazonfaulac a torn Cloth Sichinrota a broken Pot Vilanghavakqui broken Thred Foulomaitou and so many other things which expresseth the copiousness of the Tongue In the manner of their speaking there happens a change of some Consonant Letters The V is chang'd into a B when the anticedent Word ends in a Consonant as for Exampie Vohits signifies A Mountain but to say Ambohits which signifies In the Mountain the V must be chang'd into B The Letter F they turn into P thus Fasso signifies Sand or the Shore but when the Word An comes before it they must say Anpasso that is In or on the Sand or Shore as also in many others The Lords Prayer is thus Amproy Antsica izau hanoutang andanghitsi angharanau hofissahots Vahouachanau hoavi aminay fiteiannau boefaizangh an tane toua andanghitsi Mahoumehanau anrou aniou abinaihane antsica aman hanau Mangbafaca hanay ota antsica Tona-Zahai Manghafaca hota anreo Mououany amanhanau aca Mahatet Seanay abin fiuet seuetse ratsi fehe hanau Metezaha hanay tabin haratsian abi Amin. The Letters which the Ombiasses or Priests make use of are the same with the Arabick and eight and twenty in number written from the right hand to the left though the Pronunciation of some of them differ from those of the Arabick These Letters about two hundred years ago were brought in among them by certain Arabians who were sent into this Island by the Caliph of Mecha and Landed in Matatane where they Married the Native Women and Instructed every one that would in the Arabick Tongue and Alchoran as they do at this day The Paper they write upon is yellow and made of the middlemost Bark of the Tree Avo almost in the same manner like that of Europe but with trouble and preparation Paper made that is They boyl the Bark two days in a great Kettle with very strong Lye of the Ashes of the Tree afterwards being tender and supple they wash it in clear Water and then in a Wooden Mortar beat it to Pap which they lay together upon a Sieve or Canvas made of small thin Reeds put together to drain and afterwards upon a Leaf of Balisier anointed with Oyl of Menachil and laid to dry in the Sun As soon as it is dry they draw it through a thick Decoction of Rice to prevent sinking of the Ink and then again lay it to dry pressing it flat and even Their Ink is made of the Decoction of the Wood Arandrantes of which the Grandees build their Houses and the Gum Carabe comes from it Ink made which they let stand till the thinner and more subtle parts exhaled it becomes thick again This Ink proves very good and durable though not so black as ours in Europe but the addition of a little Copperas makes it a pure Black It hath no need of Gum the Wood of which being boyl'd hath enough of it self and if it chance to be dry'd they boyl it up with a little Water and it becomes as good as at first Their Writing-Pens are made of Bamboes Reeds Writing-Pens which they
and Mandihoka and here and there a Vine The Inhabitants are Portuguese but few in number being but about thirty or forty Mulato's Negro's and Slaves three thousand which work in the Sugar-Mills and plant Rice Tobacco Mille and other Fruits The Island of Anaboon or Anabon ANabon or Anaboon which signifieth New or Good Year so call'd perhaps by the Portuguese because discover'd on a New-years-day it lieth in one Degree and fifty Minutes South-Latitude or as others in one Degree and a half about five and twenty Miles from St. Thomas and five and forty from Cabo de Lopez Gonzalves on the Main Coast It takes in Circumference according to Pyrard about five or six French Miles and in length not above half a Mile The Harbor appears at the North-side but very dangerous by reason of the Shoals and Rocks This Island hath a wholsom Air many Fountains Springs and Brooks with fresh Water onely a little brackish at the New and Full-Moon by reason of the high flowing of the Sea It rises with Mountains whose aspiring tops seem to kiss the Clouds and are commonly cover'd with Snow The Hills and Dales prove fruitful in all sorts of Plants and affords the Eye a pleasant and delightful sight The Shores of the Brooks stand beset with Palm-Trees out of which the Inhabitants extract the often mention'd Palm-Wine Ignames Injames Potato's Banano's Ananassen Orange-Trees Tamarind-Trees Sugar-Canes and Cotton-Trees also Rice Maiz or Turkish Wheat several sorts of Turkish Beans black Physick-Nuts and many other Trees and Plants There are many wild Swine Stags Goats Hens Pigeons black and white Cranes and other Fowl The adjoyning Sea produces many sorts of Fishes and Oysters Mercator and some others make this Island waste and desolate contrary to the truth for 't is inhabited though but meanly there being some years ago a few Portuguese with fifty or sixty Blacks which all liv'd by tilling the Ground and Fishing The Netherlanders found in the Year Sixteen hundred and five in their Voyage to the East-Indies under the Admiral Matelief two hundred Blacks on this Island The Town stands surrounded with a Breast-work for Defence and contains about a hundred Houses built of Canes besides some few of Wood belonging to the Portuguese The Blacks go stark naked both Men and Women Clothes having onely a Cotton Cloth before their Privacies The Women carry their Children on their Backs and when they will give them Suck they throw their Breasts over their Shoulders for they have them very great The Portuguese have the Command of it who send thither a Vice-Roy Government All the Inhabitants both Blacks and others embrace the Christian Religion Religion converted by the endeavor of the Portuguese The Island of St. Thomas THe Island of St. Thomas in Portuguese St. Thomee because first of all discover'd on that Saints Day yet Thevet calls it Santas Honore and the Barqarians Ponkas it lieth in the Ethiopian Sea right under the Equinoctial Line which comes through the City and the great Church and therefore no Latitude hath been ascribed to it and not far from the Cape of Lopez Gonsalvez It bears an Oval form about thirty Miles in Circumference and in length and breadth twelve Miles The chief City call'd Pavosan or Pavaose through which run two small Rivers hath its situation on an even place on the North-side of the Bay somewhat more longer than round and about half a days walking in compass containing about fifteen hundred Houses every one ten Stories high On that side towards the Sea-coast defended with some Breast-works of Stone which the Portuguese Governor raised in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven commanding every one that passed backwards and forwards by the City to bring one Stone towards the Building The Houses are erected of white and hard Wood like Oak which grows there on the Spot before behind and also on the top cover'd with Planks made fast together There stand onely on the whole Island three Stone Houses in one of which the Governor dwelleth The City boasts of three Churches whereof the biggest is intitled Conceptio or The Church of the Conception of the Virgin Mary next the Church of Isabella whereto adjoyns an Hospital and the Church of St. Sebastian a small one standing by the Castle But several other Churches stand without the City as St. Anthonies two Musquets shot distant and somewhat nearer St. Johns then you may see the Church of Maitre de Dios or The Mother of God about a Mile from the City towards the South-east and about two Miles from it towards the East Trinitado or The holy Trinity and about three Miles towards the South-east the Church of St. Anna. The Castle of St. Sebastian Castle St. Sebastian seated on an out-lying Corner at the North-side of the City and of the Bay is a handsom Building of Stone to the heighth of twenty five Foot and both of it self and by the conveniency of the place whereon it stands seems almost impregnable The Garrison within consists of a hundred Soldiers well stor'd and provided with Ammunition and Victuals besides continual Supplies are and may be brought thither by Sea without hindrance The Ground is moistned by several Brooks and Rivers of clear and fresh Water to their great enriching On the middle of this Island rises a Woody Mountain continually cover'd with Snow whence divers Brooks and Streams draw their originals The Air is very hot and untemperate moist unwholsom inimical to the People of Europe who seldom attain there to the age of fifty years whereas the Natives a People that have but little Blood oftentimes arrive to above a hundred Some affirm that a young Man in his growth coming thither shall never grow bigger but always remain at his first Stature and that a dead Corps laid in the Ground will rot and decay in four and twenty hours The cause of this unwholsomness hath been imagin'd to proceed from the over-great Heats and damp Fogs Some have reported that this malign intemperature doth not spread over the whole but confin'd chiefly to the City and occasion'd by the low situation thereof for from the Rain-water which falls down abundantly from the Hills to the Valleys are exhal'd noysom Vapors which afterwards fall down in the Evenings and Mornings with an offensive influence whose fume or dewy stream receiv'd into the Body corrupts and irritates the Blood for the avoiding which direful hazards at those times the Portuguese there resident keep within their Houses But this Air loses some of these ill qualities in June July and August by reason of the South-east and South-west dry and cool Winds which blowing over from the Coast of Ethiopia refresh the Countrey and clear the Air to the great advantage of Strangers although the Natives receive detriment thereby These Islanders as all others under the Equinoctial have two Winters not in respect of Cold but onely of Moistures one in March and another in September at which
up with the Hand and gaze at their Surprizers till knock'd on the head with Sticks From the salt-Salt-Water beating against the Cliffs a Froth or Scum remains in some Places which the heat of the Sun so purifies that it becomes white and good Salt Some of the Mountains yield Bole Armoniack and a fat Earth like Terra Lemnia The Sea will answer the pains of a patient Fisherman who must use an Angle not a Net because of the foul Ground and beating of the Sea The chief are Mackrels Roaches Carps but differing in colour from those among us Eels as big as a Mans Arm and well-tasted Crabs Lobsters Oysters of as good a rellish as our English and very good Mussles Yet all these Conveniences have not brought thither any setled Colony the King of Portugal as they say not permitting any of his Subjects to dwell there lest they should appropriate it to themselves The Cape de Verd or Salt-Islands THe Cape de Verd Islands are so call'd for their nearness to Cape Verd on the Main Coast of Africa but the Portuguese name them Ilhas Verdes Green Islands because the Sea thereabouts is always cover'd with green Weeds so thick that one can scarce discern the Water and the Ships can hardly Sail through them They are also commonly known by the name of the Salt-Islands because of the many Salt-Pans especially in Ilha del Sal Boavista Mayo and St. Jago Some take them for the Gorgons in the Atlantick Sea spoken of by Mela others for the Gorgades of Pliny an ancient Dwelling-place as the Poets feign of three Sisters the Daughters of Forkus viz. Medura Sthenio and Euryale and some stick not to believe that they were antiently call'd Hesperides from the neighboring Cape of Hespiere mention'd by Ptolomy They lie over against the Main Coast of Africa Situation between Cabo Blank and Cabo Verd from the nineteenth to the fifteenth degree of North-Latitude about two and forty Miles from the Shore Writers differ about their number very frequently Number for some reckon them twelve others eleven some nine but most agree upon ten generally known by the corrupt Portuguese names as follows Ilha del Sal Ilha Bovista Ilha Mayo Ilha del St. Jaga Ilha del Fogo Ilha del Brava Ilha del St. Niklaos Ilha del St. Lucie Ilha del St. Vincent and Ilha del St. Antonio besides some other nameless Islands The most Westerly is St. Antonio next those of St. Vincent and St. Lucie and the most Easterly Boavista All these or at least some of them are said to have been discover'd in the Year Fourteen hundred and forty by a Genoes call'd Anthonio Nolli thou Jarrik affirms the Portuguese had that honor six years after whereas Sanutus gives it to a Venetian call'd Lovis Extracted out of the House of Cadamosto sent abroad by the Infanta of Portugal to discover new Countreys The Salt-Island Salt-Island or Ilha del Sal lies with its South end on the North-Latitude of sixteen degrees and eight and thirty minutes and with the South-East Point in sixteen degrees and forty minutes It shews coming out from the Canaries or out of the North afar off very high like a Hill but nearer appears low On the North side runs a River and in the South-West a small Haven and close by that another small Island A Musket shot to the Southward of the West Point where by a long Sandy Valley fresh Water cometh out of the Mountains is a good Road for Ships Buena The Island Boavista or Boavista that is a pleasant sight perhaps for its pleasant appearance afar off at Sea they make its North Point eight Miles and its South seven Miles from the Salt-Island It may be distinguish'd at Sea from the Salt-Island by the many white Banks on the North Coast which the other hath not on that side twenty Miles some have guess'd but none know certainly its circumference There is a long River which runs from the North end North-East and North-East and by East a whole Mile and some hold that it runs into the Sea with mighty Breaks to the great hazard of adventuring Ships without a skilful Pilot. IN SULE PROMONTORII VIRIDIS Nispanis ISSAS DE CABO VERDE Belgis DE SOUTE EYLANDEN There shoots also another Rieff from the South-Point with some Rocks above and some under Water about a Mile and a half long East and East and by North from the Point Under the South-West Point where the Shore spreads West South-West and East North-East is a good Haven wherein Ships may Ride in fifteen or sixteen Fathom Water very good ground Mayo lieth eight or nine Miles South South-Westward from Boavista being the least of all and not above seven Miles in circuit It hath within some sharp Mountains and on the North side a Plain a Mile broad where a Rieff at the North-East Point shoots a good way from the Shore and likewise another to the Westward both which make a dangerous passage for Ships The common Harbor stands at the South-West side of the Shore where Ships Ride in fifteen or sixteen Fathom Water with a Sandy bottom and have the West Point of the Island North and by West and the South end of the Island St. Jago South-West On the North side lieth behind a black Point a convenient Harbor neighbour'd on the East side by a Village of ten or twelve houses The Island of St. Jago the famousest and biggest of all those of Cape de Verd Island St. Jago contains in length about twelve Miles spreading North-West and South-East at the South-East Point you come into the Road of the Island Mayo being five Miles broad From the South-East Point the Shore spreads two Miles South-West where the City Praya signifying The Strand hath its scituation on a convenient place between two Mountains on a little rising Summit surrounded with two Rivers which falling into the Sea make two Harbors one call'd Porto de Praya a spacious Bay where a hundred Ships may Ride at Anchor in fourteen Fathom Water within Musquet Shot of the Shore with a defence from the Winds Beyond Porto de Praya towards the City lieth an Out-Point in Portuguese call'd Cabo de Tubarao and North-Westward from this Cape the other Haven by the Portuguese call'd Porta Riebeirra Korea very convenient because lying between two Mountains whose middle shoots thorow by a River which takes original two Miles from thence and falls into the Sea by a Mouth a Bowe shot wide not far off which more Northward appears St. Maries Haven Jarrik places in this Island a City call'd St. Thomas seated conveniently but that 's uncertain yet the Town of St. Jago may be seen being the Metropolis of this and the other Islands and the residence of the Portugal Bishop Somewhat more Westerly on a Point a Fort or Castle shews it self two Miles from Porto de Praya and North-Westward from thence you come to Porto de Canisos
which Seamen pull up and fetch for Fuel and Coloquintida which grows in so great quantities that it cannot be destroy'd There are many Tortoises very good in taste and so big that the Sea-men who touch at this Island for fresh Water are compell'd to hale them Aboard with Ropes They come every night in June and July out of the Sea to the Land when the Inhabitants casting them upon their backs by reason of their weight they cannot turn themselves again The Countrey hath many Rocks but little Water The Goats they kill for their Skins which they send yearly to Portugal in great quantities Their Inhabitants are Blacks who live there very soberly without Recreation fetching their Water in Leather Sacks made of Goats Skins in the Year Sixteen hundred twenty three they were onely nineteen persons eight Men seven Women and four young Girls Ilha de Mayo a Rocky and dry Land with little Grass affords onely some few Figg-trees which by the heat of the Climate and dryness of the Ground never bear any ripe Fruit for though the Figgs have a promising colour yet they are insipid or tastless But Goats or Cabriets or Sheep breed so numerously that above five thousand Skins are carry'd thence yearly They have also some little Horses Asses Oxen and Cows Turkeys and Hens of the bigness of a Pheasant with white and black mix'd and speckled Feathers but all wild and in a manner untameable There are many Salt-Pans which after they have let in the Salt-Water being shut up the heat of the Sun consolidates and brings to a Gray-Salt but 't is a toilsome work to gather it and yet more troublesome to get on Ship-board because the Boats are not without great danger of being swallow'd up by the Whirlpits The Inhabitants are Whites and Blacks usually sent thither from St. Jago In the Year Fifteen hundred and five they were two hundred and five and twenty Whites and Blacks Old and Young Exiles and Slaves but in the Year Sixteen hundred twenty and eight there were onely fifty besides Women The Inhabitants have neither Corn nor Clothing unless brought them from St. Jago but there are many Goats which the Portuguese and Blacks there resident catch up with Dogs partly for the Skins and partly for the Flesh St. Anthonio has many Woods and therein several sorts of Fruits as Oranges Lemons Dates Pomegranates Sugar-Canes Bakovens and Melons One Orchard lieth in this Island of which nothing can be seen from Sea but a high Palm-Tree which the people of the Ships in the Bay of St. Vincent discern plainly and commonly send their Boats to barter Knives and other such small Toys for Fruit with the people who have a Portuguese Governor their number generally about five hundred most of them Blacks who from another Orchard bring the Fruits upon Asses to the Shore side to sell to the Sea-men In the latter end of December they have great ripe Citrons Lemons and Oranges many Bananoes but unripe Potatoes and Melons very large and singular good The Island Goree THe Island Goree lieth in fourteen degrees and fifteen minutes North-Latitude about a Stones throw from the firm Land of Cape de Verd in South South-East about half a Canon shot in length and a Musket shot in breadth This Island hath one little Bay with a Road for Ships from whence the Sea-men go Ashore no other place affording that conveniency neither hath it any Brooks or Rivers of fresh Water but fetch all they use from Cape Verd. In the Year sixteen hundred and seventeen King Biram of Cape Verd gave it to the Netherlanders who in a little time erected a Fort there The Fort SNASSAO ORANGE upon the Island GOEREE Het FORT NASSOU van Binnen met ORANJE op â— EILANT GOEREE INSULAE CANARIAE alias FORTUNATAE dictae In the Year Sixteen hundred sixty three both these Forts together with the whole Island were taken by Captain Holmes so the Royal African English Company but the year following on the four and twentieth of October by Admiral de Ruyter regain'd It was at that time possess'd with about sixty English Souldiers under Sir George Abercromy Chief Governor of the Island all which with convenient Boats for their hire were carry'd to the River Gamboa Then both the Forts together with the whole Island was left possessed with about an hundred and fifty Hollanders Commanded by Johannes Cellarius who presently caus'd the fall'n Batteries to be made up raising the upper Fort with a Breast-Work of three Foot higher and fully repairing the lower The Canary Islands or Islands of the Canaries THe Canary Islands by the consent of most eminent Geographers are held to be the Insulae fortunatae or Fortunate Islands of Ptolomy and Pliny though Ptolomy placeth them not far enough to the North setting the most Northerly part of them but at sixteen degrees North-Latitude whereas they extend to the thirtieth degree and therefore we may suppose that they mistook them for the Islands of Cape Verd last before mention'd Some will that the Canaries receiv'd that name from the Spaniards who attributed to all the proper Denomination of the most Eminent which they call'd Canary from the many Dogs found at the first discovery thereof Can signifying a Dog in Spanish whereas the name of Canary was known a long time before by Pliny and Ptolomy the Moors of Barbary call it Elbard from the Pike-Mountain of Teneriff Ptolomy computes the number of these Islands to six and names them Gramage lib. 9. c. 3. Apropite Here or Autolala Pluitalia Casperia Canaria and Centuria Pliny makes the same number but differences their names thus Ombrio great and small Junonie Capraria Niraria and Canaria There are that make Ombrio and Junonie the same with Porto Santo and Madera Pluitalia for Lancerote Casperia or Capraria for Fuerte-ventura Canaria for the Grand Canary which still holds its name At this day the Canary Islands the Holy Haven and Madera being included are seven and known to all by the same names viz. As the Island of Palma Fierro or Ferro Gomere Teneriff Grand Canary Fuerta-Ventura Lancerota or Lanceroto to which number Purchas adds Lobos Rocha Gravosa Santa Clara Alegranca and Inferno by Sanutus reckon'd in this order Vecchio Marino Sante Clare Rocho Gravosa and Alegoranca Ortelius brings among them one that he calleth Selvaia or Savage the most Northerly of all plac'd in the same rank with that of Alegranca and besides Gravosa and Coro which Thevet calleth the Heart Island But these small Spots are of such little concern that many do not so much as name them These Canary Islands whereof Lasaretto Fuerte-Ventura Grand Canary Situation and Teneriff are the chiefest they have their scituation between six and twenty degrees and thirty minutes and twenty degrees and thirty minutes North-Latitude opposite to Cape Nun in Morocco seventy or eighty Miles from the Main-Land of Barbary and nine or ten distant from each other They were for many
its equal in the World for heighth because it spires with its top so high into the Clouds that in clear Weather it may be seen sixty Dutch Miles off at Sea nor can it be ascended but in July and August lying in all the other Moneths cover'd with Snow though upon this and the near adjacent Islands none is to be seen To come to the top requires three days Journey from whence may be seen all the Islands lying about thirty Dutch Miles off in the Sea Here they find great quantities of Sulphur with abundance of Fruits Wine and Sugar The Inhabitants are reckon'd to be about the number of five thousand In the History of the Royal Society of London lately set forth by Dr. Thomas Sprat we have a Relation from some considerable Merchants and Persons worthy of Credit who went to the top of this Pico Teneriff set down in these following words The pike Mountaine upon The Island Tenerieto De PIEK-BERGH op het EILANT TENERIETO Of the Island Teneriff it self this account was given by a judicious and ingenious Man who lived twenty years in it as a Physitian and Merchant his opinion is That the whole Island being a Soil mightily impregnated with Brimstone did in former times take Fire and blow up all or near all at the same time and that many Mountains of huge Stones calcin'd and burnt which appears all over this Island especially in the South-west part of it were cast up and raised out of the bowels of the Earth at the time of that general Conflagration and that the greatest quantity of this Sulphur lying about the Center of the Island raised up the Pico to that heighth at which it is now seen And he saith That any one upon the Place that shall carefully note the situation and manner of those calcined Rocks how they lie will easily be of that mind for they lie says he three or four Miles almost round the bottom of the Pico and in such order one above another almost to the Sugar-Loaf as 't is call'd as if the whole Ground swelling and rising up together by the ascension of the Brimstone the Torrents and Rivers of it did with a sudden eruption rowl and rumble them down from the rest of the Rocks especially as is said before to the South-west for on that side from the very top of the Pico almost to the Sea-coast lie huge heaps of these burnt Rocks one under another and there still remain the very tracks of the Brimstone-Rivers as they ran over this quarter of the Island which hath so wasted the Ground beyond recovery that nothing can be made to grow there but Broom But on the North-side of the Pico few or none of these Stones appear and hence he concludes That the Vulcanio discharged it self chiefly on the South-west-side He adds farther That at the same time Mynes of several Metals were blown up some of those calcined Rocks resembling Iron Oar some Silver and others Copper particularly on the South-west part call'd Azuleios being very high Mountains where never any English-man but himself that ever he heard of was There are vast quantities of a loose blewish Earth mixed with blew Stones which have a yellow rust upon them like that of Copper or Vitriol as also many small Springs of Vitriol-water where he supposes a Copper Myne And he was told by a Bell-Founder of Oratava That he got out of two Horse-loads of this Earth as much Gold as made two large Rings And a Portuguese who had been in the West-Indies told him That his opinion was there were as good Mynes of Gold and Silver there as the best in the West-Indies Thereabouts also are Nitrous-waters and Stones cover'd over with a deep Saffron-colour'd rust tasting of Iron And farther he mentions one of his Friends which of two Lumps of Earth or Oar brought from the top of this side of the Mountain made two Silver Spoons All this he confirmed by the last Instance of the Palm-Island eighteen Leagues from Teneriff where about twelve years since so Vulcanio was fixed the violence whereof made an Earthquake in this Island so great that he and others ran out of their Houses fearing they would have fall'n upon their Heads They heard the noise of the Torrent of flaming Brimstone like Thunder and saw the Fire as plain by night for six weeks together as a burning Torch and so much Sand and Ashes brought from thence by the Wind and Clouds fell upon his Hat as would fill the Sand-box of his Inkhorn In some places of this Island groweth a crooked Shrub call'd Legnan which they bring for England as a sweet Wood. There are likewise Apricock Peach-Trees and others which bear twice a year also Pear-Trees as pregnant Almonds with a tender Shell Palms Plantains Oranges and Lemons especially the Paeguada's which have small ones within them from whence they are so denominated Also they have Sugar-Canes and a little Cotton Coloquintida c. The Roses blow at Christmas There are good Carnations and very large but no Tulips will grow or thrive there Samphire clothes the Rocks in abundance and a kind of Clover the Ground Another Grass grows near the Sea which is of a broader Leaf so luscious and rank that it will kill a Horse that eats of it but no other Beast Eighty Ears of Wheat have been found to spring from one Root but grows not very high The Corn of this is transparent like the purest yellow Amber and one Bushel hath brought forth a hundred in a seasonable Year The Canary-Birds which they bring to us in England breed in the Baranco's or Gills which the Water hath fretted away in the Mountains being places very cold There are also Quails Partridges larger than ours and exceeding beautiful great Wood-Pigeons Turtles at Spring Crows and sometimes the Falcons come flying over from the Coast of Barbary Bees are carry'd into the Mountains where they prosper exceedingly And there they have wild Goats which climb to the very top of the Pico sometimes also Hogs and multitudes of Coneys Of Fish they have the Cherna a very large and excellent Fish better tasted than any we have in England the Mero Dolphins Lobsters without great Claws Mussles Periwincles and the Clacas which is absolutely the very best Shell-fish in the world they grow in the Rocks five or six under one great Shell through the top-holes whereof they peep out with their Nebs from whence the Shells being broken open a little more with a Stone they draw them There is also another sort of Fish like an Eel which hath six or seven Tails of a Span long united to one Head and Body which is also as short Besides there they have Turtles and Cabrido's which are better than our Trouts The Island is full of Springs of fresh Water tasting like Milk which in Lalagima where the Water is not so clear and lympid they cleanse by percolating it through a kind of spungy Stone cut in form
Fort with a good number of Souldiers and the sum of fifty thousand Escues Abdala also accompanied with a great many Moors did not fail to come to the Place whereupon the Jesuit Matthias instantly with four and twenty of the chiefest of the Galleys stepping out to Land asked for the Kings Son which was promised him for a Hostage Abdala answered He was in the Fort this gave Matthias cause to suspect Treachery whereupon he would have retreated but Abdala and his Souldiers opposing fell in upon them and knockt him and all that came on Land with him to the ground Whereupon the Vice-Roy of Majorca took up his Anchors and withdrew leaving all behind him that were Landed LABES. THe Kingdom of Labes Gramay Affr. 7. l. 25. c. Marmol p. 1.5 l. 28. c. which signifies a kind of Rush in Spanish call'd Esparto of which the Frails or Baskets for Raisins are wrought is by the Turks made a Province of because Tributary to Algier The whole County is Mountainous or rather it is one of the Mountains of the Great Atlas three Miles from Kouko and ten or eleven from Bugie unto which it properly belongs on the East part of which stands a strong Fort call'd Kalaa the Residence of the Xeque or King as at Kuoko of Teleta their Sepulchres At the foot of the Hill lieth two Places Tezli and Boni where by command a Fort was cast up to withstand the Turks The Inhabitants are Brebers and Azuagaes both Warlike People observing the same Customs and Ceremonies with those of Kouko The King can bring into the Field an Army of Thirty thousand Foot and Horse yet at present pays a yearly Tribute to the Bashaw or King of Algier which commonly consists of Four hundred Horses and a thousand Goats for which there is returned to him as a Gratuity in point of Honour a Simiter set with Precious Stones TENEZ IF we would take a Journey out of these Countreys Gramay 7. l. Marm. p. 1.5.6 lying high up into the South back Northward we come to the Territory and City of Tenez one of the Midland Divisions of the Kingdom of Algier It had formerly for Borders on the West The Borders Telensin or Tremizen in the East Algier in the South the Mountains of Atlas and in the North the Midland-Sea but now with the renting off many Pieces is become much less Marmol comprehends under it Brexar Sargel Caesarea or Tiguident Mesane and Meliane but at this day Sargel and Meliane are two distinct Jurisdictions Tiguident and Mesane belong to Meliane and Brexar or Bresch subjected to Sargel The Head City is Tenez The Head City built upon the Plain half a Mile from the Mediterrane by Marmol supposed to be the ancient Laguntum of Ptolomy and by Sanutus taken for Tipasa It stands in the Mid-way between Oran and Algier Seventeen Miles Eastward of the first and as much Westward of the second distant Three Miles from Mostagan and Thirty from Telensin There is in the City a Fort with a Palace formerly the Kings Court and still the Residence of the Provincial Governour sent thither by the King or Bashaw of Algier who also in this Jurisdiction possesses many other Places as Medua formerly call'd Mara lying on the Borders of Getulia and Biledulgerid about Thirty Miles from Algier to the Inland and Forty Eastward of Telensin ¶ MOuntains here shewing themselves are Beni Abukaid Abuzaid The Mountains and Guenezeris by some call'd Guanseris Abuzaid or Zatima lieth close by Tenez to which it belongs Guenezeris very high and craggy from whose Entrails rises the River Selef ¶ THe Land hereabouts brings forth abundance of Wheat The Condition of the Land breeds very good Cattel and yields plenty of Honey Medue abounds with encircling Springs and luxuriant Valleys producing all sort of Fruits Abizaid feeds many Deer or Staggs some Honey but yields great quantities of Barley Guenezeris bears little besides Spart or Rushes and here and there sprinkling a little Tutia or Tutty ¶ THe Natives of Tenez are so homely brutish and ill-natur'd The Customs of the Inhabitants that the Neighbouring Arabs seem to have some Nobleness and Generosity in them Those of Medue are so ignorant that if a Stranger that hath any knowledge come among them they not onely freely entertain and by all good offices endeavour to keep him but also will make him an Arbitrator and Umpire for setling and reconciling all their Differences using in general a civil and decent Habit. From Tenez they Export and Barter Wheat Barley and the like Their Trade for the Imported Commodities of other Countreys and after a good Market send them out again to Algier and other Places The Abuzaidans come usually with Wax and Hides to Tenez Markets to Trade with Europaean Merchants TEBECA TEbeca or Tebesia took the Name of the Head City Gramâ—y 7.6 â— 2. â— Marâ—â— p. 1.5.6 anciently called Thabuna and belonging to the Kingdom of Tunis but now separated and divided from them together with Constantine and connected to this The Head City lieth on the Borders of Biledulgerid The Borders two and twenty miles Southward from the Mediterrane begirt with a high and strong Wall of great Hewen Stones supposed to be built by the Romans In and about these places great Antiquities Pillars and Marble Remains of Monuments with Latine Inscriptions upon them are found In a Mountain close by the City may be seen many great Gaves which the People believe to have been the Recesses of Giants Many Authors of Eminency have written that there is scarcely in Europe a goodlier Place either for magnificence or curiosity of Buildings though it have undergone many sore Storms from the Arabs At present it is of that excellency that they say Proverbially it excells all the Cities of Barbary in three things viz. the fairness of the Walls the Springs or Fountains and the Nutt-trees wherewith surrounded on all sides it seems to stand in a Wood yet the Air about it is very unhealthful and the Ground Lean and Barren HUMANBAR THe first Maritime Province of Algier is Humanbar Borders lying on the Shore of the Midland-Sea opposite to the City Almeria in Granada having for Neighbour on one side The City Humanbar Fez on the other Haresgol and Horan The principal City Humanbar by some called Hunaim by Marmol Ona and by the Moors Deiratuneyn which Ruscelig in his Addition to Ptolomy will have to be Urbara and Gramay the old Siga mentioned by Ptolomy It was by the Spaniards in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty and three Sacked and Destroyed so that it never since had any Inhabitants says Marmol but Gramay tells us it is now re-peopled and the chief place in this Dominion Haren hath a small Haven Haren strengthened with two Block-houses and a strong Wall to the Sea-side The Houses are built with various coloured Brick and plentifully served with good Water Here are two other Cities
Tebekrit viz. Tebekrit and Ned-Roma Tebekrit formerly called Thudaka now fam'd for little but its vicinity to the Mediterranean Sea Ned-Roma Ned-Roma that is New-Rome scituate upon a Plain three miles from the same Sea and one and a half from Atlas and the same which Ptolomy called Celama The Walls Houses Ruines and huge Alabaster Columns with Latin Insciptions testifie it to have been a Roman Structure not far from whence are the two great Hills Tarasa and Galhasu out of whose sides is digged Iron All the Land as well Mountains as Plains abound with Figs Apples Karrabes or St. Johns-Bread Citrons Granates Peaches Olives Melons Cotton and Flax. And some few places yield Wheat Barley and other Grain HARESGOL HAresgol another Maritime Territory so called from the City of the same Name where the Governour keeps his Residence by Marmols computation standing Eastward of Humanbar Westward of Horan about four miles from Tremezen at the influx of the River Teffene anciently called Siga into the Mediterrane on the East side towards the Sea guarded by a Castle This City in the Year Fifteen hundred and seventy by Don Pedro of Navarre was Sacked and Plundered but left by him the Arabians re-entred and possess it to this day under the Protection of the Turks who maintain a Garrison in the Fort. THE MARQUISATE OF HORAN HOran lying also by the Sea Butts on the West upon Haresgol Its Borders and to the East on Tenez and Sargel The City of Oran call'd by the Inhabitants Guharan and by some held to be the Quiza of Pliny or Buisa or Visa of Ptolomy which others contradicting say it was that which he nam'd Icosium It hath been known to former Ages by many several Names as Madura Ara and Auran whence some derive the present Oran It is the Head City of this small Tract seated at the edge of the Midland-Sea oppofite to Cartagena in Spain thirty five miles from Telensin It stands partly on the hanging of a Hill partly in a Plain having the Sea on one side and on the other Trees Brooks and Fountains The Streets are narrow crooked and without order the Houses also mean and scattering yet surrounded with indifferent handsom and high Walls but the Haven very incommodious especially as to some Winds In the most flourishing time the Inhabitants reckoned six thousand Houses besides Temples Hospitals Baths and Inns. Most of the Citizens were Weavers others lived of their yearly Revenues which they raised from their Sale of Barley the adjacent Countrey yielding little Rye or Wheat Many Merchants arrived hither from Catalonia Genoa Venice and other Places who drove a great Trade with the Citizens whose deportment towards them was very courteous and friendly They held Wars a long time with the King of Telensin who would have imposed on them a Governour which they would never admit but among themselves chose a Magistrate whom they impowered to decide all differences arising and was the Judge in all criminal Causes either as to Life or Death By this means and their unity among themselves they became at length so powerful that at their own Cost they maintained a Fleet with which they Pillaged upon all the Coasts of Spain and became as it were a Prison of Captive Christians This so provoked the Spaniard that he sent an Army thither under the Command and Conduct of the Cardinal of Spain Francis Ximenes which with the help of the Biscayners in the Year Five hundred and nine the Eighth day of May with the Loss onely of thirty men and the Redemption of twenty thousand Christian Slaves took it and much defaced its former Lustre yet still there is a stately Palace the Residence of the Kings Lieutenant a Council-House Exchange great Church and several rich Hospitals Here are two other little Cities call'd by Gramay Aghard and Agbal besides Mazagran and Mastagan both possessed by the Turks together with the Mountain Magarava Mazagran hath a Haven the same as Marmol thinks which Ptolomy named the Haven of the Gothes and is environed with high Walls and both strengthened and beautified with a great Castle Mostagan by Sanutus and others call'd Mestugam by some taken for Cartena but by others for the Trada of Ptolomy by the Sea side nine miles Eastward of Horan and one small mile from Mazagran It contains fifteen hundred Houses a fair Church a convenient Haven and on the South side a strong Castle Mount Magarava extending Nine Miles in length upon the Sea-Coast parteth Tremecen and Tenez one from another takes its Name from the Magaravaes a People so called that Inhabit there at whose feet stand both the former Towns About Mostagan the Land is very Rich and Fruitful but lieth waste and uninhabited by the continual Thieveries of the Arabs and Magarava breeds many Cattel and yields good store of Wheat The Mazagrans are untoward Their Employment and ill-conditioned being for the most part Shepherds but the Magaravaes are Warlike and of a haughty Courage not living in Houses but like the wild Arabians removing from place to place with their Cattel Their Language broken Arabick and their Lives spent without any certain order onely for convenience sake they pay to Algier an Annual Tribute of Twelve thousand Escues or French Crowns A Mile Westward of Horan by the side of a little Bay stands Marzalquibir thought to be the place which Ptolomy calleth The Great Haven and placed in Mauritania Caesariensis nor is the Opinion without great shew of Reason for that Marzalquibir Marzalquibir as Marmol says signifies in the Moorish Tongue A Great Haven and indeed it is of so vast an Extent that many think the whole World cannot shew a greater nor is the Magnitude all for it is a secure and safe Port for Shipping against all Winds and Storms This with all its advantages in the Year Fifteen hundred and five was by the Marquess de Comarez taken from the Moors and annexed to Spain under which it long hath and still doth continue SARGEL SArgel another Tributary Jurisdiction of Algier formerly a Member of Tenez so named from its chief City Sargel which some suppose to be the ancient Canuccis and others Cartena but generally in many Mapps Entituled Sargel The Romans erected it by the Mediterranean Sea Nine Miles to the East of Tenez and surrounded it with an high Wall of Hewen Stone The chiefest Monuments are the remaining Ruines of a Magnificent Temple built all of Marble or Alabaster a stupendious Work and worthy the Roman Grandeur brought to that Ruine by Cayne the Califf of Cairavan when he took the City from the Arabians and destroyed it from which time it lay desolate untill the Year Fourteen hundred and ninety two when the Moors banished out of Granada pitching there began to People and Re-build it De STADT ALGIER ¶ TWo miles Eastward of Sargel appears a Mountain The Mountain of Karapula which the Turks call Carapula the Moors Giraflumar and the Christians
of a Bason The Vines which afford those excellent Wines grow all about the Island within a Mile of the Sea such as are planted farther up are not esteem'd nor will they thrive in any of the other Islands Concerning the Guanchio's or antient Inhabitants he gave this full account The third of September about twelve years since he took his Journey from Guimar a Town for the most part inhabited by such as derive themselves from the antient Guanchio's in the Company of some of them to view their Caves and the Corps buried in them a favour they seldom or never permit to any having the Corps of their Ancestors in great veneration and likewise being extremely against any molestation of the Dead but he had done several Eleemosinary Cures among them for they are very poor yet the poorest think themselves too good to Marry with the best Spaniard which endeared him to them exceedingly otherwise it is death for any Stranger to visit these Caves and Bodies The Corps are sew'd up in Goat-skins with Thongs of the same with very great curiosity particularly in the incomparable exactness and evenness of the Seams and the Skins are made very close and fit to the Corps which for the most part are entire the Eyes clos'd Hair on their Heads Ears Nose Teeth Lips and Beard all perfect onely discolour'd and a little shrivell'd likewise the Pudenda of both Sexes He saw about three or four hundred in several Caves some of them standing others lying upon Beds of Wood so hardned by an Art they had which the Spaniards call Curay to cure a piece of Wood that no Iron can pierce or hurt it These Bodies are very light as if made of Straw and in some broken Bodies be observ'd the Nerves and Tendons and also the String of the Veins and Arteries very distinctly By the relation of the most antient of this Island they had a particular Tribe that had this Art onely among themselves and kept it as a thing sacred and not to be communicated to the Vulgar These mixt not themselves with the rest of the Inhabitants nor Marry'd out of their own Tribe and were also their Priests and Ministers of Religion But when the Spaniards conquer'd the Place most of them were destroy'd and the Art perisht with them onely they held some Traditions yet of a few Ingredients that were us'd in this business they took Butter some say they mixed Bears-grease with it which they kept for that purpose in the Skins wherein they boyl'd certain Herbs first a kind of wild Lavender which grows there in great quantities upon the Rocks secondly an Herb call'd Lara of a very gummy and glutinous consistence which now grows there under the tops of the Mountains thirdly a kind of Cyclamen or Sow-bread fourthly wild Sage which grows plentifully upon this Island These with others bruised and boyl'd up with Butter rendred it a perfect Balsom This prepar'd they first unbowel the Corps and in the poorer sort to save Charges took out the Brain behind after the Body was thus order'd they had in readiness a Lixivium made of the Bark of Pine-Trees wherewith they washt the Body drying it in the Sun in Summer and in the Winter in a Stove this repeating very often Afterward they began their Unction both without and within drying it as before this they continu'd till the Balsom had penetrated into the whole Habit and the Muscle in all parts appear'd through the contracted Skin and the Body became exceeding light then they sew'd them up in the Goat-skins as was mention'd before The Antients say that they have above twenty Caves of their Kings and great Personages with their whole Families yet unknown to any but themselves and which they will never discover Lastly he says That Bodies are found in the Caves of the Grand Canaries in Sacks quite consumed and not as these in Teneriff Antiently when they had no knowledge of Iron they made their Lances of Wood hardned as before mention'd They have Earthen Pots so hard that they cannot be broken Of these some are found in the Caves and old Bavances and us'd by the poorer People that find them to boyl Meat in Their Food is Barley Parched and then Ground with little Stone-Mills and mingled with Milk and Honey which they always carry with them in Goat-skins at their Backs To this day they drink no Wine nor care for Flesh they are very ingenious lean tall active and full of courage for they will leap from Rock to Rock from a very prodigious heighth till they come to the bottom sometimes making ten Fathom deep at one Leap in this manner First they Tertiate their Lances which are about the bigness of a Half-Pike and aim with the Point at any piece of a Rock upon which they intend to light sometimes not half a Foot broad in leaping off they clap their Feet close to the Lance and so carry their Bodies in the Air the Point of the Lance comes first to the place which breaks the force of their fall then they slide gently down by the Staff and pitch with their Feet on the very place they first design'd and so from Rock to Rock till they come to the bottom But their Novices sometimes break their Necks in the learning He told also and the same was seriously confirm'd by a Spaniard and another Canary Merchant there in the Company That they Whistle so loud as to be heard five Miles off and that to be in the same Room with them when they Whistle were enough to endanger the breaking of the Tympanum of the Ear and added That he being in Company of one that Whistled his loudest could not hear perfectly in fifteen days after He affirms also that they throw Stones with a force almost as great as that of a Bullet and now use Stones in all their Fights as they did antiently Thus far Mr. Sprat Gomere IN the West of Teneriff lieth Gomere in six and twenty Degrees and a half North-Latitude a barren Island yet producing Wine and Sugar Palma THe Island of Palma the most Westerly of all the Canaries lieth twelve Miles Northward of Ferro and four from Gomere in eight and twenty Degrees North-Latitude It is small but exceeding fruitful hath plenty of Pasture affords many Grapes and Coleworts Sugar and other Fruits and abounds with Cheese and Milk but the chiefest Trade consists in Wine Ferro or Iron-Isle THe Island call'd by the Spaniâ—rds Hierro by the Portuguese Fierro and by the Italians Ferro which all signifie Iron lieth four Miles from Gomere in six and twenty Degrees and forty Minutes North-Latitude and held by some undoubtedly to be the Pluitalia of Ptolomy or Ombron or Pluvialia of Pliny and Solinus It comprehends some Towns of which the chief possesseth a Cloyster and a Church of St. Francis it hath little Water and that which they have is brackish and unsavory but this inconvenience and want receives a strong supply from a