For wind as say the Philosophers is none other then Air vehemently moved as we see in a pair of Bellows and such other Some men of good credit that were in this Voyage to Guinney affirm earnestly that in the night season they felt a sensible heat to come from the beams of the Moon the which thing though it be strange and insensible to us that inhabit cold regions yet doth it stand with good reason that it so may be for as much as the nature of Stars and Planets as writeth Pliny consisteth of Fire and containeth in it a spirit of life which cannot be without Heat And that the Moon giveth Heat upon the Earth the Prophet David seemeth to confirm in his 121 Psa where speaking of such men as are defended from evils by Gods protection hee saith thus Per diem Sol non exurat te nec Luna per noctem that is to say In the day the Sun shall not burn thee nor the Moon by night They say furthermore that in certain places of the Sea they saw certain streams of water which they call spouts falling out of the Air into the Sea and that some of these are as big as the great Pillars of Churches insomuch that sometimes they fall into Ships and put them in great danger of drowning Some feign that these should bee the Cataracts of Heaven which were all opened at Noah's Flood But I think them rather to bee such fluxions and eruptions as Aristotle in his book De Mundo saith do chance in the Sea for speaking of such strange things as are often seen in the Sea hee writeth thus Oftentimes also even in the Sea are seen evaporations of Fire and such eruptions and breaking forth of Springs that the mouths of Rivers are opened Whirle-pools and fluxions are caused of such other vehement motions not only in the midst of the Sea but also in Creeks and Streights At certain times also a great quantity of water is lifted up and carried about with the Moon c. By which words of Aristotle it doth appear that such waters bee lifted up in one place at one time and do suddenly fall down in another place at another time And hereunto perhaps pertaineth it that Richard Chanceller related that hee heard Sebastion Cabot report that about the Coasts of Brasile or Rio de Platu his Ship or Pinnace was suddenly lifted from the Sea and cast upon Land The which thing and such other like wonderful and strange works of nature while we consider and call to remembrance the narrowness of mans understanding and knowledge in comparison of her mighty power wee can but cease to marvel and confess with Pliny that nothing is to her impossible the least part of whose power is not yet known to men Many things more the Travellers observed in this Voyage worthy to be noted whereof I thought good to put some in memory that the Reader may as well take pleasure in the variety of things as knowledge of the History Among other things therefore touching the manners and nature of the People this may seem strange that their Princes and Noble Men use to pounce and rase their skins with pretty knots in diverse forms as it were branched Damask thinking that to bee a decent ornament and albeit they go in manner almost naked yet are many of them and especially their women in manner laden with Collars Bracelets Hoops and Chains either of Gold Copper or Ivory their Ivory Bracelets are made of one whole peece of the biggest part of the tooth turned somewhat carved with a hole in the midst wherein they put their hands to wear it on their arms Some have on every one eight as many on their legs wherewith some of them are so galled that although they are in manner made lame thereby yet will they by no means leave them off Some also wear on their legs great Shackles of fine Copper which they think to bee no less comely they wear also Collars Bracelets Garlands and Girdles of certain blew Stones like Beads likewise some of their women wear on their bare arms certain fore-sleeves made of the Plate of beaten Gold On their fingers also they wear Rings made of Gold wires with a knot or wreath like unto that which children make in a Ring of a Rush Among other things that our men bought of them for exchange of their Wares were certain Dogs-Chains and Collars They are very wary people in their bargaining and will not lose one spark of Gold of any value they use weights and measures and are very circumspect in occupying the same they that shall have to do with them must use them gently for they will not traffick or bring in any Wares if they be ill used At the first Voyage that our English men had into these parts it so chanced that at their departure from the first place where they did Traffick one of them either stole away a Musk-Cat or took her away by force not mistrusting that that should have hindred their bargaining in another place whither they intended to go but for all the haste that they could make with full sails the fame of their misusage so prevented them that the people of that place also offended thereby would bring in no Wares insomuch that they were inforced either to restore the Cat or pay for her at their price before they could Traffick there Their Houses are made of four posts or trees and covered with boughs Their common feeding is of Roots and such Fishes as they take whereof they have great plenty There are also such flying Fishes as are seen in the Sea of the West Indies our English men salted of their Fish hoping to provide store thereof but they would not take salt and must therefore bee eaten forthwith as some say Howbeit others affirm that if they be salted immediately after they are taken they will last uncorrupted ten or twelve daies But this is more strange that part of such Flesh as they carried with them out of England which putrified there became sweet again at their return to the clime of temperate Regions They use also a strange making of Bread in this manner They grinde between two stones as much Corn as they think may suffice their family and when they have thus brought it to flower they put thereto a certain quantity of water and make thereof very thin dough which they stick upon some posts of their Houses where it is baked by the heat of the Sun so that when the Master of the House or any of his Family will eat thereof they take it down and eat it They have very fair Wheat the ear whereof is two handfulls in length and as big as a great Bulrush and almost four inches about where it is biggest the stem or straw seemeth to bee almost as big as the little finger of a mans hand or little less The grains of their Wheat are as big as our Peason round also
and very white and somewhat shining like Pearls that have lost their colour Almost all the substance of them turneth into flower and maketh little bran or none I told in one ear two hundred and threescore grains The ear is inclosed in three Blades longer than it self and of two inches broad a peece And by this fruitfulness the Sun seemeth partly to recompence such griefs and molestations as they otherwise receive by the fervent heat thereof It is doubtless a worthy contemplation to consider the contrary effects of the Sun or rather the contrary passions of such things as receive the influence of his beams either to their hurt or benefit Their drink is either water or the juice that droppeth from the cut branches of the barren Date-trees called Palmitos for either they hang great Gourds at the same branches every evening and let them hang so all night or else they set them on the ground under the trees that the drops may fall therein They say that this kinde of drink is in taste much like unto Whey but somewhat sweeter and more pleasant They cut the branches every evening because they are sealed up in the day by the heat of the Sun they have also great Beans as big as Chess nuts and very hard with a shell instead of a Husk At their return the Keels of their Ships were marvellously over grown with certain shells of two inches length and more as thick as they could stand and so big that a man might put his finger in their mouth out of which some think are generated the Fouls wee call Barnacles Among other things that chanced to them in this Voyage this is to bee observed that whereas they sailed thither in seven weeks they could not return in twenty the reason whereof is this that about the Coast Cape Virde the wind is ever at the East by reason whereof they are enforced to sail farre out of their course into the main Ocean to finde the wind at the West to bring them home going so far that they had the Sun North of them at noon CHAP. IV. Another Voyage to Guinney out of a Captains Relation WIth much ado did wee get out of the Hope the first of November ten daies after wee were in one and thirty degrees of Latitude the fifteenth of November wee got sight of that bleak place called Porto Sonto and Madera the twentieth being becalmed under Madera wee descried the Pyke of Teneriffa the Isle of Palma and Gomera twelve Leagues Eastward Palma and eight Westward from Teneriffa and the twenty third notwithstanding the cross-winds wee doubled the Isle Ferro by going something Eastward the wind continuing there for the most part North East and South East The thirtieth after a great Fog wee found our selves on the Coast of Barbary which is about sixteen Leagues to the Eastward of the River Del Oro where we were refreshed by several Fishing Carnets wee met with being under the Tropick of Cancer About twelve a clock December the eighteenth wee were thwart Cape Blank and about the two and twentieth over against the Cape Verde The six and twentieth wee were on the Coast of Guinney to whose shore wee haled but discovering some Rocks wee went a little Eastward it is a low Land and full of high trees and kept along the shore being gone too far so that what with the wind and what with the Currant running alwaies against us wee went to shore there for fresh water and trade where the first day they slighted our Commodities and over-valued their own but the second they made signs for the Diago and offered reasonable penny worths especially when wee shewed them how our Cats could catch Mice wherewith they are infinitely troubled and this was at St. Vincent under the fourth degree where the womens breasts are so big that they lay them by them thence we sailed among the ill-favoured Rocks and shelves untill Negroes meeting us with grain and inviting us to Land by a fire on the Coast wee doubled the Point Das Palmas under the fourth degree between which place and De Sesto is the greatest store of grain Much ado we had to get into the River while the Negroes on shore shewed us store of Elephants teeth good fresh Water and Goats which we had in abundance from the two Towns that were of both sides of us the people whereof esteemed little of any thing wee brought saving Manilivis and Morgarites for which wee had some small Elephants teeth ten one day and thirteen another after wee had sworn by the water of the Sea wee would not hurt them Thence wee sailed by some Cliffs Westward the sixteenth of February we fell with the Cape des Punctos a very High Land opening in three bays or Capes with Rocks before them where the winds are cross and the Currant turbulent but the people were civil and summoned by sound of Drum to Trade with us notwithstanding we were threatned from the Castle of Mina where wee took in five men to learn our Language and discover to us that Country At St. John in a great deep bay we sold Basons Cloath Knives Horse-tails Horns Caps Daggers Hats c. giving a reward to the Negroes that first boarded us and shewed us their measure and weight and how much they required of the one for the other for their bargaining there is by way of weights which they bring for so much which wee bring which they stand upon very stifly till you threaten to depart when they have bought what they think enough they make a general out cry as a sign to every man to bee gone The sixteenth of March wee went a shore to Don Devis and there came out a Boat with good store of Gold and having driven off the matter along time and having brought the measure to a nail less than three ells and their weight to an angel and twenty grains then they parted their Cloath amongst them upon the shore which they hid every one in the Wood untill they came to us again bestowing some three fathomes with four Basons upon the Portugez of the Castle of Mina for their good will As wee went along the shore the Towns were thicker and longer and the Hills blacker here wee missed many Creeks and Havens where they waved their Flags to us and wee presented their Captain with Basons and Cloath who made us a sign by the Sun that the Merchants would be there within two hours bringing us a Bottle and a Hen and requiring Hostage from us after which they offered us the civility of building up a Castle on their ground and took off most of our Stuffs and Frizes only a Portugal brigandine watched us all along that shore while wee took every day ten or eleven ounces of Gold for Belts Thimbles c. At last wee returned homeward observing the North East wind that bloweth off the shore about two a clock at night untill eight a clock in the morning and that
the Trinity which was seven Leagues Eastward off them where she sold her Wares Then they of the Trinity willed us to go Eastward off that eight or nine Leagues to sell part of their Wares in a place called Perecow and another place called Perecow Grande being the Eastermost place of both these which you shall know by a great round Hill near unto it named Monte Rodondo lying Westward from it and by the water side are many high Palm-trees From hence did they set forth homeward the thirteenth day of February and plyed along till they came within seven or eight Leagues to Cape Trepointes About eight of the clock the fifteenth day afternoon they did cast about to Seaward and beware of the Currants for they will deceive you sore Whosoever shall come from the Coast of Mina homeward let him be sure to make his way good West untill he reckon himself as far as Cape de las Palmas where the Currant setteth alwayes to the Eastward And within twenty Leagues Eastward off Cape de las Palmas is a River called De los Potos where you may have fresh water and ballast enough and plenty of Ivory or Elephants teeth This River standeth in four degrees and almost two terces And when you reckon your self as far off as Cape de las Palmas being in a degree or a degree and a half you may go West and West by North untill you come in three degrees and then you may go West North West and North West and by West untill you come in five degrees and then North West And in six degrees they met Northerly winds and great ruffling of tides and as they could judge the Currants went to the North North west Furthermore between Cape de Monte and Cape Verde go great Currants which deceive many men The twenty second day of April they were in eight degrees and two terces and so they came to the North west having the wind at North east and East North east and sometimes at East untill they were at eighteen degrees and a terce which was on May-day And so from eighteen and two terces they had the wind at East and East North east and sometimes at East South east and then they reckoned the Island of Cape Verde East South east of them they judging themselves to be forty eight Leagues off and in twenty and one and twenty degrees they had the wind more Easterly to the Southward than before And so they rann to the North west and the North North west and sometimes North and by West and North untill they came into one and thirty degrees where they reckoned themselves a hundred and fourscore Leagues South west and by South of the Island De los Flores and there they met with the wind at South South east and set their course North east In twenty three degrees they had the wind at the South and South west and then they set their course North North east and so they came to forty degrees and then they set their course North east the wind being South east and having the Isle De Flores east of them and seventeen Leagues off In the one and forty degrees they met with the wind at North east and so they ran Northwestward then they met with the wind West North west and at the West within six Leagues running toward the North west and then they cast about and lay North east untill they came in forty two degrees where they set their course East North east judging the Isle of Coruo South and by West of them and six and thirty Leagues distant from them A remembrance that the one and twentieth day of May they Communed with John Rase and he thought it best to go North east and judged himself twenty five Leagues Eastward to the Isle De Flores and in thirty nine degrees and a half Note that on the fourth day of September under nine degrees they lost the sight of the North Star Note also that in forty five degrees the Compass is varied eight degrees to the West Item in forty degrees the Compass did vary fifteen degrees in the whole Iem in thirty degrees and a half the Compass varied five degrees to the West Be it also in memory that two or three daies before they came to Cape de Tres Puntas the Pinnace went alongst the shore thinking to sell some of their Wares and so they came to Anchor three or four Leagues West and by South off the Cape de Tres Puntas where they left the Trinity Then their Pinnace came a board with all their men the Pinnace also took in more Wares they told moreover that they would go to a place where the Primrose was and received much Gold at the first Voyage to these parts and told furthermore that it was a good place but fearing a Brigantine that was then upon the Coast they did weigh and follow them and left the Trinity about four Leagues off from them and there they rode against that Town four daies so that one of the Company by his own desire and assent of some of the Commissioners that were in the Pinnace went a shore to the Town and there some others went to traffick from them being three miles off trafficking at another Town The Town is called Samma or Samua for Samma and Samma terra are the names of the two first Towns where they did traffick for Gold to the North east of Cape de Tres Puntas Hitherto continueth the course of the Voyage as it was described by the said Pilot. Now therefore it will be requisite to speak something of the Country and People and of such things as are brought from thence They brought from thence at this Voyage four hundred pound weight and odd of Gold of two and twenty Carrats and one grain in fineness also six and thirty Buts of Grains and about two hundred and fifty Elephants Teeth of all quantities of these some were measured and were nine spans in length as they were crooked some of them were as big as a mans thigh above the knee and weighed about fourscore and ten pound weight a peece They say that some have been seen of an hundred twenty five pound weight a peece Others there were which they call the Teeth of Calves of one or two or three years whereof some were a foot and a half some two foot and some three or more according to the age of the Beast These great Teeth or Tusks grow in the upper jaw downward and not in the nether jaw upward wherein the Painters and Arras-workers are deceived At this Voyage was brought from Guinney the head of an Elephant of such huge bigness that only the Bones or Cranew thereof besides the nether-jaw and great tusks weighed above two hundred weight and was as much as could be well lifted from the ground insomuch that considering also herewith the weight of two such great teeth the nether jaw with the less teeth the
wherein if you are caught you must run home and wash your cloaths and making a great straw fire lye along and hold the soles of your Feet against that fire for an hour doing this there is no harm done but neglecting it your cloaths will rot off of your backs These Worms will grow in your Legs or Thighs as if your veins swelled with a shaking and a Feavour and such pains as that you can neither sit nor lye sometimes and sometimes so as that you are not sensible of them The Worm appeareth in some like a spot or a flea-biting in some like a little Blain and in some with a little Swelling so that you may often see the Worm between the Skin and the Flesh There is no remedy against it till you see it seeking to break out and hold out it 's nose which you must immediately lay hold of lest he creep in again They are most dangerous in the Cods but the way is 1 To be quiet especially when they are in the Legs and not go much and to keep the place warm where they begin to appear when they come forth so far that a man may lay hold of them they must be gently drawn until they stop and then you must let them rest applying some exciting and provoking plaister till they come forth again and as much as comes out must be wound upon a stick or pin or bound close to the orifice with a thred that it creepeth not in again if it breaks or draws back it poysoneth or festereth the part if it comes out whole it draweth with it the corruption of the whole body and makes a man mettle proof against the Malignancy of Guinney so that I know not whether it bee their Disease or Physick something to heal or something to punish This is the common apprehension of these Worms yet have I known men that let them have their course washing the place with Salt water and though they returned into the Leg saw them consumed to nothing with ease and safety But when all comes to all this is certain that keep but fresh water of your own or dig the water of that Country some six fathomes deep under the salt-salt-water as they do in Ormus and you are as sound as a Bell. It 's true indeed that upon some showers of Rain there is such a stinck sometimes as forceth strangers to go some Leagues off into the Sea but it is as true that there is such a stinck in London that there was a man I knewupon the Exchange who could never stay in Town above an hour insomuch that he rid Twelve miles every day he came to the Exchange and tied his Horse to a Pillar there took a turn or two grew sick and immediately took his Horse and rid Post out and this at least three times a week There are some people that Swound at the smell of a Rose and others that dye at the very sight of a Violet The very Dung of some Cats is Musk in England Fancy governeth the world and I think there is little here but Opinion by that time I lived there but three quarters of a year the most noysome of these smells pleased me Use they say makes the Master and Custome is another Nature Not to spend our breath in the Air of this place There is nothing more observable in it but that there are a kinde of trade winds as they call them here that keep Ships sometimes a quarter of a year from these Coasts even after they are come within sight of them The Earth the Tillage and the Native Commodities of Guinney WHatever the Air is I am sure the Earth is rich and Plentiful it is called the Coast of Gold and the Rivers Niger and Sienga carrying down that Mettal as the Thames doth sand of which you will see more in the Chapter of Merchandize No man claimeth any Land to himself the King keeping all the Woods Fields and Land in his hands so that they neither Sow nor Plant therein but by his consent and licence which when they have obtained and have a place permitted them to Sow their Corn in then they go with theit Slaves and burn their Woods Trees Roots and Shrubs to the ground after this they take their long Chopping-knives which they call Coddon and scrape up the ground about a foot deep and let it lye eight or ten daies When they have all Tilled their Ground every man takes his seed upon their Sunday that is as you shall hear anon our Tuesday the better day the better deed and goeth to the Kings house whom they serve first and then after a Treatment of a sod Goat with Palm Wine to which they fit and sing about the burnt Roots in the honour of their Fetisso or God that their Corn might grow well and prosperously upon the Earth to their Neighbours whose allotments they Husband by turns until the whole Countrey is sowed where the Corn soon groweth up lying not long in the Ground and sprouts as high as a Mans head at which time they make a woodden House in the middle of the Field covered with Reeds wherein their Children watch the Corn and drive away the Birds wherewith they are much cumbred Their Ground being rank the Corn is very weedy yet they weed it not but let it grow up weeds and all Their Corn is of two sorts 1 Milly 2 Mais 1 Milly and that hath long Ears and is a seed of colour like Hemp-seed and long like Canary-seed having no shells but growing in a little husk which is very white within This Grain groweth ripe in three months and when cut down it lyeth a month in the Fields to dry and then the canes are cut off and bound in Sheaves the straw being reserved for Thatch making wholsome and sweet Bread when they have paid the Kings Rent every one according to his ability and furnished the poor for Gold 2 Mais called by the Spanish and Portugez Turkish Wheat and brought out of West India into St. Thomes Island and from St. Thomes hither by the Portugez is mixed with Milly and makes excellent Messellan though it is very good alone and these Negroes make Bread with it that will last three or four months their Children also eating it instead of Bread which they set a while upon the fire and then crush the Corn out of the Husk which breeds the Scurvy and the Itch. But give me Mais that makes the Wine called Chicha wherewith the Negroes are dead drunk once a week by being laid to soke in water till it is soft and indeed it groweth in a moist and salty ground as if it were a drunken Grain bearing twice a year and being not sowed like other Corn but thrust into the Ground It looks like Reeds in a Marsh ground and every Reed hath his Ears whereon the Corn groweth and notwithstanding that they are heavy Ears as big as your Cucumbers yet every Reed hath seven or
eight Ears upon it insomuch that I have told five hundred and fifty Grains upon one Reed which came of one Grain alone Here is also a Tree called Palm whose Bark they bore and draw out of it most curious sweet Wine which mingled with a little water is the best drink in the world and excellent Oyl wherewith they make their bodies shine besides this necessary use of it In the tempestuous and rainy time of April May and June the rain being sometimes so hot as if it were warm water the poor silly people are simply afraid of it and do what they can that not a drop of it fall on their bodies and if any happen to do so they shiver and shake as if they had a Feavour until they have found the way to Annoint their bodies with this Oyl so that a Negroe looks like a Spanish-leather pair of Boots well liquoured Here groweth Bunnana or the Indian Fig not on the Branches as other Fruit but on the body of the Tree covered with leaves a fathome long and three spans broad which leaves are used in their houses for paper the Tree indeed being nothing else but a few leaves patched together It is as high as a man on the top the leaves begin to spring out and rise up an end and as the young leaves come forth the old ones wither away and begin to dry until the Tree comes to his growth and the fruit to perfection The leaves in the middle have a very thick vein which divideth it in two and in the middle of the leaves out of the heart of the Tree there groweth a flower as big as an Ostridge-Egge of a russet colour which in time waxeth long like the stalk of a Colewort whereon the Figs grow close one by another when they are still in their husks they are not much unlike great Beans and so grow more and more until they be a span long and four thumbs broad like a Cucumber They are cut off before they are ripe and are in that sort hanged up in bunches which oftentimes are as much as a man can carry CHAP. II. The Wares to be carried to Guinney FIrst we bring them great store of slight Linnen-Cloath whereof there is very much spent in those Countries for they apparel themselves therewith and it is the chiefest thing they use for that purpose besides this we carry them great store of Basons Barbers Basons Basons to drink in Platters of Copper flat Basons great broad Copper-pans at the least two fathomes about and small Posnets without edges The small Basons they use to put Oyl in wherewith they annoint themselves and the greater sort of them they set in the Graves of the Dead and use them to carry diverse things in The Barbers Basons they use to wash themselves in and when they cut their hair Platters they use to lay over things to cover them withall to keep dust and filth from falling into their things The great broad Pans are by them used to kill Goats or Hogs in and to make them clean therein instead of a Tub The Posnets they use to dress their Meat in which serveth them to very good purpose they will not have them with stales as we use them here with us and many such like Basons of Copper which our Ships bring thither in great quantities and therewith fill the Countries so full that by means thereof they are sold as good cheap to the Negroes as they are bought in Amsterdam And although there are so many of these Basons brought thither and no Ware that weareth so much as Linnen yet you see but few old Copper things there and therefore you must think that there is a great store of People inhabiting further within the Land which use so great quantity of such things We carry thither great store of Kettles which they use to fetch water in out of their Pits and Valleys and some red Copper-pots Tinned within wherein they use to put Water instead of a barrel of Beer to drink as also Earthen pots out of which they use to drink Iron is used by them to make their Weapons as Assagaies Cutting-Knives Poniards c. The Assagaies and Poniards they use for the Warrs the Cutting-Knives to Till and cut up the Ground instead of Spades and some to cut Wood withall and to use about their buildings for they have no other Tools They also buy great store of Red Blew Yellow and Green Rupinish Cloath which they use for Girdles about their middles to hang their Knives Purses Poniards and such like things at They use white Spanish Serges to wear upon their bodies instead of Cloaks Rings of Copper and Brass which they wear about their arms and feet for a great pride they also use Tin things as rings about their arms but not many they use many Knives which we make with us in Holland and call them Dock Messen They also use great store of Venice Beads of all kindes of colours but they desire some colours more than others which they break in four or five peeces and then grinde them upon a stone as our Children grinde Cherry-stones and then put them upon strings made of the Bark of Trees ten or twelve together and therewith traffick much those ground Corals they wear about their Necks hands and Feet They also use round Beads and specially great round Counters which they hang and plait among their hair and let them hang over their ears Pins they use to make Fish-hooks Horse-tails they use when they dance and also when they sit still to keep the Flies from their bodies Looking-glasses and small Copper Milk-pans with many such like things they likewise make use of But the chiefest Wares that are uttered there and most among them is Linnen-Cloath Brass and Copper things Basons Kettles Knives and Corals At first wee used many times to deceive them not only in the measuring of Linnen but in delivering them broken and patch'd Basons and peeced Kettles for their mony rotten Cloath through which they might have sifted Beans Knives that were so Rusty that they could hardly without breaking pull them out of their Sheaths with such like Wares but now by use and experience they have attained to such skill in our Wares that they are almost able to surpass us therein For first when they buy any Linnen-Cloath they look if it be not too slight and thin and whether it bee white and broad for they are very curious to buy white and broad Linnen and respect not the strength so much as the breadth of it for they use to hang the Linnen about their Bodies especially the Women which desire to have it hang down from underneath their Breasts to their Knees Secondly They take Woollen-Cloath and hold it up against the light to see if it bee thin They draw the Knives out of the Sheaths to see if they be not Rusty they look upon the Basons one by one to see if they have no holes in
follow the people called Melanogetuli and Pharusit which wander in the wilderness carrying with them great gourds of water The Aethiopians called Nigritae occupy a great part of Affrica and are extended to the West Ocean Southward also they reach to the River Nigritis whose nature agreeth with the River of Nilus for as much as it is increased and diminished at the same time and bringeth forth like Beasts as the Crocodile By reason whereof it may be thought that this is the same River which the Portugals call Senega for this River is also of the same nature It is furthermore marvellous and very strange that is said of this River and that is that on the one side thereof the Inhabitants are of high stature and Black and on the other side of brown or tawny colour and low stature which thing also the Travellers in the Voyage confirm to be true There are also other People of Lybia called Garamautes whose Women are Common for they contract no Matrimony neither have respect to Chastity After these are nations of the people called Pyrei Sathio daphnitae Odrangi Mimaces Lynxamatae Dolopes Aganginae Leuci Aethiopes Xilicei Aethiopes Galcei Aethiopes and Nubi These have the same situation in Ptolome that they now give to the Kingdome of Nubia Here are certain Christians under the dominion of the great Emperour of Aethiopia called Prester John From these towards the West is a great Nation of People called Aphricerones whose Region as far as may bee gathered by conjecture is the same that is now called Regnum Orguene confining upon the East part of Guinney from hence Westward and somewhat towards the North are the Kingdomes of Gambra and Budomel not far from the River of Senega And from hence toward the inland Regions and along by the Sea Coast are the Regions of Ginota or Guinney which we commonly call Ginnee In the West side of these Regions towards the Ocean is the Cape or Point called Cabo Verde or Caput Viride that is the Green Cape to which the Portuguls first direct their course when they sail to America or the Land of Brasile Then departing from hence they turn to the right hand toward the quarter of the wind called Garbino which is between the West and the South But to speak somewhat more of Aethiopia although there are many Nations of People so named yet is Aethiopia chiefly divided into two parts whereof the one is called Aethiopia under Aegypt a great and rich Region to this pertaineth the Island Meroe embraced round about with the streams of Nilus In this Island Women reigned in old time Josephus writeth that it was sometime called Sabea and that the Queen of Saba came from thence to Hierusalem to hear the wisdome of Solomon From hence towards the East reigneth the said Christian Emperour Prester John whom some call Papa Johanner and others say that he is called Pean Juan that is great John whose Empire reacheth far beyond Nilus and is extended to the Coasts of the Red-Sea and Indian-Sea The middle of the Region is almost in sixty six degrees of longitude and twelve degrees of latitude About this Region Inhabits the People called Clodi Risophagi Babylonii Axiunitae Molili and Nolibae After these is the Region called Troglodytyca whose Inhabitants dwell in Caves and Dens for these are their Houses and the flesh of Serpents their Meat as writeth Pliny and Diodorus Siculus they have no speech but rather a grinning and chattering There are also People without Heads called Blemines having their eyes and mouth in their breast Likewise Strucogaphi and naked Gauphasantes Satyrs also which have nothing of men but only shape Moreover Oripei great Hunters Mennones also and the Region of Smyrnophora which bringeth forth Myrrhe After these is the Region of Azaniah in the which many Elephants are found A great part of the other Regions of Affrica that are beyond the Aequinoctial line are now ascribed to the Kingdome of Melinde whose Inhabitants are accustomed to traffick with the Nation of Arabia and their King is joyned in friendship with the King of Portugal and payeth Tribute to Prester John The other Aethiope called Aethiopia interiour that is the Inner Aethiope is not yet known for the greatness thereof but only by the Sea-Coasts yet is it described in this manner First from the Aequinoctial towards the South is a great Region of Aethiopians which bringeth forth white Elephants Tygers and the Beast called Rhinocerotes Also a region that bringeth forth plenty of Cynnamon lying between the branches of Nilus Also the Kingdome of Habech or Habasia a region of Christian men lying both on this side and beyond Nilus Here are also the Aethiopians called Itchthiophagi that is such as live only by Fish and were sometimes subdued by the Wars of great Alexander Furthermore the Aethiopians called Rhapsii and Anthropophagi that are accustomed to eat Mans flesh Inhabit the regions near unto the Mountains called Montes Lunae that is the Mountains of the Moon Gazaria is under the Tropick of Capricern After this followeth the rout of Affricks the Cape of Buena Speranza or Caput bonae spei that is the Cape of good hope by the which they sail from Lisbon to Calecut But by what names the Capes and Gulfs are called for as much as they are in every Globe and Card it were here superfluous to rehearse them Some write that Affrica was so named by the Graecians because it is without cold for the Greek letter Alpha or A signifieth privation void or without and Phrice signifieth cold for indeed although instead of winter they have a cloudy and tempestuous season yet is it not cold but also smoothering hot with hot showers of rain also and somewhere such scorching winds that what by one means and other they seem at certain times to live as it were in furnaces and in manner already half way in Purgatory or Hell Gemma Phrisius writeth that in certain parts of Affrica as in Atlas the greater the Air in the night season is seen shining with many strange fires and flames rising in manner as high as the Moon and that in the Elements are sometime heard as it were sometimes the sound of Pipes Trumpets and Drums which noise perhaps may be caused by the vehement and sundry motions of such fiery exhalations in the Air as we see the like in many experiences wrought by Fire Air and Wind the hollowness also and diverse reflections also and breakings of the Clouds may be great cause hereof besides the vehement cold of the middle region of the Air whereby the said fiery exhalations ascending thither are suddenly stricken back with great force for men common and dayly experience teacheth us by the whissing of a burning Torch what noise Fire maketh in the Air and much where it striveth when it is inclosed with Air as appeareth in Guns and as the like is seen in only Air inclosed as in Organ-Pipes and such other instruments that go by wind
That there bee a Committee of Seamen for regulating the Voyage 7 That the Committee keep a book of their proceedings 8 That all misdemeanours bee tried by twelve men 9 That there be the names of Gentlemen privately set down to succeed the Captains if they dye 10 That there bee an Inventory of all Tacklings Munition and Furniture drawn before they set out 11 That they pass not to the Northeastward of the sixteenth degree but keep their course by Cape de Buena Speranza 12 That they appoint places to meet in case they are separated by a tempest leaving tokens in the respective promontories 13 That you deal honestly and courteously with the Ethnicks so as to procure their friendship and good liking especially you must take care of your word and promise 14 That no man sell any thing about him but in the publick stock 15 That a Table of Orders bee set up in each Ship 16 That some Negroes bee brought over to settle a further trade The Merchandize Wares and Commodities that are most desired in Guinney 1 OLd Hats and Caps 2 Cats to catch their Mice for there it was Whittington was made an Alderman by a Cat. 3 Salt 4 Swords Daggers Knives Frize-Mantles and Gowns Clothes Red Caps Axe-heads Hammers short peeces of Iron little Belts Sheep-skin Gloves Leather-Bags 5 Manils of Brass or Iron 6 Basons most Lattin or Flanders and Ewers 7 Course tin Pots 8 Beads Corals 9 Course Red Cloath Linnen and Kersie 10 Lavers and great Dutch Kettles with handles 12 Graved Brasen Vessels 13 Horse-tails 14 Great Pins 15 Patch'd Sheets and course French Coverings 16 Sleight Flanders Casket and Chests of Roan of a low price A note of the heights of the most eminent places in the South Sea IMprimis Cape Cantin standeth in latitude thirty two degrees four minutes Item The Island Mogador standeth one and thirty degrees thirty minutes Item Cape de Ore thirty degrees twenty minutes Item Islands Canaries twenty eight degrees Item Cape Badacor twenty seven degrees thirty minutes Item Cape Verde fourteen degrees thirty minutes Item Serra Leona eight degrees Item Island called Ilha Verde seven degrees thirty minutes Soundings on the Coast of Guinney IMprimis Going unto Serra Leona having the Cape East North East off you seven Leagues off you have twenty two fathomes brown Sand and halling in you shall finde very fair shoalding you may bee bold to borrow on the Southermost shore but beware the Rock that lyeth in the fair way a good bredth off the shore two miles off the South Bay Item You may borrow hard by the Rock for on the Northern part of it there lyeth a Long Sand which runneth South East and North West distant from the South shore two Leagues and you will Anchor in fourteen or fifteen fathomes hard by the shore Item Sailing to Ilha Verde ten Leagues to the Southward of Serra Leona the course is South South West and North North East and there are betwixt them nine or ten fathomes and if you Anchor in that place you have five or six fathomes hard by the shore Item Being bound Southward you must go West South West off for fear of the shoald that is called Madera Bomba the which shoald is to the Southwards of the Island Item You must alwaies remember the great Currant that setteth along the Coast of Guinney to the Eastward CHAP. VII The Merchandize and commodities of Guinney BEfore the Pertugez came thither they had very little or no Merchandize to traffick withall only they had plenty of whatever is needfull for mans sustenance in the former time they brought their Gold unto the Portugez but the People dwelling further within land durst not venture to trade with them or any other White-men and men apparrelled therefore they do now bring their Gold to the Sea side thus Betimes in the morning they come a board our Ships with their Canoes or Scuts betimes in the morning I say for that in the morning the wind which they call Bofone bloweth off from the Land and then it is calm smooth water for about noon the wind which they call Agem-Bretton begins to blow out of the Sea and then they row to Land again the people that dwell within the Land not brooking the Sea for when they are aboard they can scarce go or stand but lye down spue like Dogs and are very Sea-sick but their Rowers or Pilots that carry them are hardy enough and rarely are sick by reason of their dayly using to the Seas But some of their Merchants when they come aboard our Ships are so sick that they cast out all that are within their bodies and by reason of their being so sick in fair weather they are so afraid of the wind when the Waves go any thing high that they make as much haste home as they can and some of them dare not venture upon the Seas to go aboard the Ships but deliver the mony to the Pilots or Factors telling them what Merchandize they desire to have and those Tolken come with the Gold aboard the Ships having a Purse which hangeth about their middles wherein they put their Gold and every several mans Gold is in a peece of cloath or paper by it self and they can tell which is every mans and what Wares hee desireth for it and sometimes they desire to have mens Gold to bestow which is called an English of Gold and of some two or three or more and when any of their mony is not weight then they put it into their Purse and carry it to the man again for if they should put any thing to it to make it full weight the Merchant would not give it them again for they weigh their Gold first upon the Land and know how much it is before they send it aboard the Ship for they credit not one the other and when they have bestowed their mony then wee must give them something to boot which they call Dache When we began to Traffick here in the Country with two or three Ships as one of Middleburgh one of Amsterdam and one of Schiedam and that all our Ships met and lay at Anchor together to sell our Wares the one Ship seeing that the other Trafficked more and vended more Wares than his fellows to finde the means to get the Merchants aboard their Ships they willed the Pilots with whom they must hold friendship for they carry the Merchants aboard to bring them aboard their Ships and they would give them something for their labours and the Pilots accordingly to get something brought them aboard that Ship which had made them that offer for they are very covetous which the other Ships perceiving willed the Pilots to bring the Merchants aboard their Ships and they would likewise give them something and they made them answer that if they would give them as much as the other did they would come aboard their Ships which they promised to do and gave them more Dache