the mountaine and which lieth betweene the towne and the riuer Neither doe they enioy that gratis for they yeerely pay vnto the Arabians for tribute the third part of their corne Of the new towne of Delgumuha VPon the top of a certaine high mountaine was built in our time a most large and impregnable forte being enuironed on all sides with diuers other mountaines and called by the inhabitants New Delgumuha Beneath the said mountaine springeth Asifinuall which word signifieth in the African toong the riuer of rumor because that breaking foorth by the side of the hill with a monstrous noise it maketh a most deepe gulfe much like vnto that which the Italians call Inferno di Tivoli The said forte containeth almost a thousand families It was sometime gouerned by a certaine tyrant which came thither out of the king of Maroco his court Here may you finde great store of soldiers both horsemen and fooremen They gather yeerely tribute of the people bordering vpon Atlas to the summe of a thousand crownes They haue alwaies had great league and familiaritie with the Arabians each of whom haue accustomed to salute and gratifie the other with mutuall gifts for which cause they haue oftentimes much prouoked the kings of Maroco against them They haue alwaies beene great louers of ciuilitie and haue worne neat and decent apparell neither shall you find any corner in the whole towne which is not well peopled In this towne are plentie of artificers for it is but fiftie miles from the citie of Maroco Vpon the said mountaine there are great store of gardens and orchards which yeeld the inhabitants abundancè offruit yeerely They reape likewise barlie hempe and cotton and their goates are almost innumerable Likewise they haue many priests and iudges but as touching their mindes they are ignorant froward and exceedingly addicted to ielousie In this towne I aboad certaine daies with a kinsman of mine who while he dwelt at Fez being impouerished with extreme studie of Alchimie was constrained to flee vnto this towne where in processe of time he became Secretarie vnto the gouernour Of the citie of Imizmizi VPon a certaine part of Atlas standeth a citie called Imizmizi Westward it is distant from new Delgumuha about fourteene miles and this citie the Arabians are reported to haue built Neere vnto this citie lieth the common high way to Guzula ouer the mountaines of Atlas being commonly called Burris that is A way strowed with feathers because snow falles often thereupon which a man would thinke rather to be feathers then snow Not far from this towne likewise there is a very faire and large plaine which extendeth for the space of thirtie miles euen to the territorie of Maroco This most fertile plaine yeeldeth such excellent corne as to my remembrance I neuer saw the like Sauing that the Arabians and soldiers of Maroco doe so much molest the said plaine countrie that the greater part thereof is destitute of inhabitants yea I haue heard of many citizens that haue forsaken the citie it selfe thinking it better to depart then to be daily oppressed with so many inconueniences They haue very little money but the scarcitie thereof is recompenced by their abundance of good ground and their plentie of corne In the time of my aboad with them I went vnto a certaine Hermite which they called Sidi Canon which famous and woorthie man gaue me such friendly entertainment as I cannot easily expresse Of the three townes of Tumelgast THese three townes called by the name of Tumelgast are situate vpon a plaine about thirtie miles from Maroco and fourteene miles northward of Atlas being replenished with palme-trees vines and all other trees that beare fruit Their fields are very large and fertill were they not continually wasted by the lewd Arabians So few are the inhabitants of these three townes that I thinke there are not in all aboue fifteene families all which are ioined in affinitie and kinred vnto the foresaid hermite for which cause they are permitted to till some part of that plaine without paying of any tribute vnto the Arabians Saue onely that they entertaine the Arabians when they trauell that way Their lowly and base habitations a man would take rather to be hogs-cotes then dwelling places for men hence it is that they are so continually vexed with fleas gnats and other such vermine Their water is exceeding salt This prouince also I perused in the companie of my deere friend Sidi 〈◊〉 who went thither to gather vp the tribute of the countrie on the behalfe of the king of Portugall This Sidi was appointed gouernour ouer all that circuit which is called by them Azafi Of the towne of Tesrast THis towne is situate vpon the banke of the riuer Asifelmel It standeth westward of Maroco fourteen miles about twētie miles from Atlas Round about this towne they haue diuers gardens enclosures abounding with dates and corne and the chiefe part of the inhabitants earne their liuing with gardening Howbeit sometimes the increase of their riuer is so great that it drowneth all their gardens and corne-fields And they are by so much the more miserable in regard that the Arabians all summer-time doe possesse the whole region deuouring all things which the poore husbandmen by their great care and industrie had prouided With these people I made no longer tarrying but onely till I could haue well baited my horse howbeit in that short time I hardly escaped with life and goods from certain Arabian theeues A most exact description of the great and famous citie of Maroco THis noble citie of Maroco in Africa is accounted to be one of the greatest cities in the whole world It is built vpon a most large field being about fourteene miles distant from Atlas One Ioseph the sonne of Tesfin and king of the tribe or people called Luntuna is reported to haue beene the founder of this citie at that very time when he conducted his troupes into the region of Maroco and setled himselfe not farre from the common high way which stretcheth from Agmet ouer the mountaines of Atlas to those deserts where the foresaid tribe or people doe vsually inhabite Here may you behold most stately and woonderfull workmanship for all their buildings are so cunningly and artificially contriued that a man cannot easily describe the same This huge and mighty citie at such time as it was gouerned by Hali the sonne of king Ioseph contained moe then 100000. families It had fower and twenty gates belonging thereto and a wall of great strength and thicknes which was built of white stone and lime From this citie the riuer of Tensift lieth about sixe miles distant Here may you behold great abundance of temples of colleges of bath-stoues and of innes all framed after the fashion and custome of that region Some were built by the king of the tribe of Luntuna and others by Elmunchidin his successor but the most curious and magnificent temple of all is that
the Africans vpon the Mediterran sea and being thirtie miles distant from Alger is enuironed with most ancient and strong walles The greatest part of the inhabitants are dyers of cloth and that by reason of the many riuers and streames running through the midst of the same They are of a liberall and ingenuous disposition and can play most of them vpon the citterne and lute Their fields are fertill and abounding with corne Their apparell is very decent the greatest part of them are delighted in fishing and they take such abundance of fishes that they freely giue them to euery bodie which is the cause that there is no fish-market in this towne Of the mountaines contained in the kingdome of Telensin Of the mountaine of Beni Iezneten THis mountaine standeth westward of Telensin almost fiftie miles one side thereof bordering vpon the desert of Garet and the other side vpon the desert of Angad In length it extendeth fiue and twentie and in bredth almost fifteene miles and it is exceeding high and difficult to ascend It hath diuers woods growing vpon it wherein grow great store of Carobs which the inhabitants vse for an ordinarie kinde of foode for they haue great want of barly Here are diuers cottages inhabited with valiant and stout men Vpon the top of this mountaine standeth a strong castle wherein all the principall men of the mountaine dwell amongst whom there are often dissentions for there is none of them all but woulde be sole gouernour of the mountaine I my selfe had conuersation with some of them whom I knew in the king of Fez his court for which cause I was honorably intertained by them The soldiers of this mountaine are almost ten thousand Of mount Matgara THis exceeding high and colde mountaine hath great store of inhabitants and is almost sixe miles distant from Ned Roma The inhabitants are valiant but not very rich for this mountaine yeeldeth nought but barly and Carobs They speake all one language with the people of Ned Roma and are ioined in such league with them that they will often aide one another against the king of Telensin Of mount Gualhasa THis high mountaine standeth nigh vnto the towne of Hunain The inhabitants are sauage rude and vnciuill people and are at continuall warre with the people of Hunain so that oftentimes they haue almost vtterly destroied the towne This mountaine yeeldeth great store of Carobs and but little corne Of mount Agbal THis mountaine is inhabited with people of base condition and subiect to the towne of Oran They all exercise husbandrie and carrie woode vnto Oran While the Moores enioied Oran their state was somewhat better but since the Christians got possession thereof they haue beene driuen to extreame miserie Of mount Beni Guerened THis mountaine being three miles distant from Tremisen is well peopled and aboundeth with all kinde of fruits especially with figges and cherries The inhabitants are some of them colliers some wood-mongers and the residue husbandmen And out of this onely mountaine as I was informed by the king of Telensin his Secretarie there is yeerely collected for tribute the summe of twelue thousand ducats Of mount Magraua THis mountaine extending it selfe fortie miles in length towardes the Mediterran sea is neer vnto the towne of Mustuganin before described The soile is fertile and the inhabitants are valiant and warrelike people and of a liberall and humaine disposition Of mount Beni Abusaid THis mountaine standing not farre from Tenez is inhabited with great multitudes of people which lead a sauage life and are notwithstanding most valiant warriors They haue abundance of honey barly and goats Their waxe and hides they carrie vnto Tenez and there sell the same to the merchants of Europe When as the king of Tremizen his kinsemen were lords of this mountaine the people paied for tribute certaine thousands of ducats Of mount Guanseris THis exceding high mountaine is inhabited with valiant people who being aided by the king of Fez maintained warre against the kingdome of Telensin for aboue three-score yeeres Fruitefull fields they haue and great store of fountains Their soldiers are almost twentie thousand in number whereof 2500. are horsemen By their aide Iahia attained to the gouernment of Tenez but after Tenez began to decay they gaue themselues wholy to robberie and theft Of the mountaines belonging to the state of Alger NEre vnto Alger on the east side and on the west are diuers mountains well stored with inhabitants Free they are from all tribute and rich and exceeding valiant Their corne fields are very fruitefull and they haue great abundance of cattell They are oftentimes at deadly warre togither so that it is dangerous trauailing that way vnlesse it be in a religious mans company Markets they haue and faires vpon these mountaines where nought is to be solde but cattle corne and wooll vnlesse some of the neighbour cities supplie them with merchandise now and then Here endeth the fourth booke IOHN LEO HIS FIFTH BOOKE OF the Historie of Africa and of the memorable things contained therein A description of the kingdomes of Bugia and Tunis WHen as in the former part of this my historie I diuided Barbaria into certaine parts I determined to write of Bugia as of a kingdome by it selfe and I found indeed that not many yeeres ago it was a kingdome For Bugia was subiect to the king of Tunis and albeit for certaine yeeres the king of Telensin was Lord thereof yet was it at length recouered againe by the king of Tunis who committed the gouernment of the city vnto one of his sons both for the tranquillitie of Bugia and also that no discord might happen among his sonnes after his decease He left behinde him three sonnes the eldest whereof was called Habdulhaziz and vnto him he bequeathed the kingdome of Bugia as is aforesaide vnto the second whose name was Hutmen he left the kingdome of Tunis and the third called Hammare he made gouernour of the region of dates This Hammare began foorthwith to wage warre against his brother Hutmen by whom being at length taken in the towne of Asfacos depriued of both his eies he was carried captiue vnto Tunis where he liued many yeeres blinde but his brother Hutmen gouerned the kingdome of Tunis full fortie yeeres The prince of Bugia being most louing and dutifull to his brother raigned for many yeeres with great tianquilitie till at length he was by king Ferdinand of Spaine and by the meanes of one Pedro de Nauarra cast out of his kingdome A description of the great citie of Bugia THis auncient citie of Bugia built as some thinke by the Romans vpon the side of an high mountaine neere vnto the Mediterran sea is enuironed with walles of great height and most stately in regard of their antiquitie The part thereof now peopled containeth aboue eight thousand families but if it were all replenished with buildings it were capeable of more then fower and twentie thousand housholds for it is of a
the aire and vnusuall heat which consumed them were also euilly entreated by the Moci-Congi For although they shewed themselues docible and tractable enough while they were instructed onely about ceremonies and diuine mysteries because they thought that the higher those matters were aboue humaine capacity the more they sorted and were agreable to the maiestie of God neuerthelesse when they began to entreate seriously of Temperance continence restitution of other mens goods forgiuing of iniuries and other heades of Christian pietie they found not onely great hinderance and difficultie but euen plaine resistance and opposition The king himselfe who had from the beginning shewed notable zeale was now somewhat cooled who because he was loth to abandon his soothsaiers and fortune tellers but aboue all the multitude of his concubines this being a generall difficultie among the Barbarians would by no meanes giue eare vnto the Preachers Also the women who were now reiected one after another not enduring so suddenly to be banished from their husbandes brought the court and roiall citie of Saint Saluador into a great vproare Paulo Aquitino second sonne to the king put tow to this fire who would by no meanes be baptized for which cause there grew great enmity betwixt him and Alonso his elder brother who with all his power furthered the proceedings and maintained the grouth of the Christian religion During these troubles the old king died and the two brothers fought a battell which had this successe that Alonso the true heire with sixe and thirtie soldiers calling vpon the name of Iesus discomfited the huge armie of his heathenish brother who was himselfe also taken aliue and died prisoner in this his rebellion God fauoured Alonso in this warre with manifest miracles For first they affirme that being readie to enter into battaile he saw a light so cleere and resplendent that he and his companie which beheld it remained for a good while with their eies declined and their mindes so full and replenished with ioy and a kind of tender affection that cannot easily be expressed And then lifting vp their eies vnto heauen they sawe fiue shining swords which the king tooke afterwards for his armes and his successors vse the same at this day Hauing obteined this victorie he assembled all his nobles and streightly enioined them to bring all the idols of his countrey to an appointed place and so vpon an high hill he caused them all to be burned This Alonso raigned prosperously for fiftie yeeres togither in which space he exceedingly furthered by authoritie and example as also by preaching and doctrine the new-planted Christianitie Neither did Don Emanuell the King of Portugall giue ouer this enterprise for he sent from thence to Congo twelue of those Fryers which the Portugals call Azzurri of whom Fryer Iohn Mariano was head with architects and smiths for the building and seruice of Churches and with rich furniture for the same After king Alonso succeeded Don Pedro his sonne in whose time there was a Bishop appointed ouer the isle of Saint Thomas who had also committed vnto him the administration of Congo Where at the citie of Saint Saluador was instituted a colledge of eight and twentie Canons in the Church of Santa Cruz. The second bishop was of the bloud roiall of Congo who trauailed to Rome and died in his returne homeward Don Francisco succeeded Don Pedro who continued but a small space Don Diego his neere kinsman was after his decease aduanced to the crowne In whose time Iohn the third king of Portugall vnderstanding that neither the king himselfe cared greatly for religion and that the merchants and priests of Europe furthered not but rather with their bad life scandalized the people new conuerted he sent thither fower Iesuits to renew and reestablish matters of religion These men arriuing first at the isle of Saint Thomas and then at Congo were courteously receiued by the king and presently going about the busines they came for one of them tooke vpon him to teach sixe hundred yoong children the principles of christian religion and the other dispersed themselues ouer the whole countrie to preach But all of them one after another falling into tedious and long diseases they were enforced to returne into Europe At this time there was appointed ouer Congo a third bishop of the Portugall nation who through the contumacie of the Canons and clergie found trouble enough In the meane while Don Diego dying there arose great tumults touching the succession by meanes whereof all the Portugals in a manner that were in Saint Saluador except priests were slaine In the end Henrie brother to Don Diego obteined the crowne and after him for he quicklie died in the warres of the Anzichi Don Aluaro his son in law This man reconciled vnto himselfe the Portugall nation caused all the religious and lay sort dispersed heere and there throughout the kingdome to be gathered togither and wrote for his discharge to the king and to the Bishop of Saint Thomas The bishop hauing perused the letters passed himselfe into Congo and giuing some order for the discipline of the clergie he returned to Saint Thomas where hee ended his daies It so fell out that what for the absence and what for the want of Bishoppes the progression of religion was much hindred For one Don Francisco a man for bloud and wealth of no small authoritie began freely to say that it was a vaine thing to cleaue to one wife onely and afterwardes in the end he fell altogither from the faith and was an occasion that the king grew woonderfully cold They affirme that this Francisco dying and being buried in the church of Santa Cruz the diuels vncouered a part of that churches roofe and with terrible noise drew his dead carcase out of the tombe and carried it quite away a matter that made the king exceedingly amazed but yet another accident that ensued withall strooke him neerer to the hart For the Giacchi leauing their owne habitations entred like Locusts into the kingdome of Congo and comming to battaile against Don Aluaro the king put him to flight who not being secure in the head citie abandoned his kingdome and togither with the Portugall priests and his owne princes retired himselfe vnto an island of the riuer Zaire called The isle of horses Thus seeing himselfe brought to such extremitie for besides the losse of his kingdome his people died of famine and miserie and for maintenance of life sold themselues one to another and to the Portugals also at a base price for reparation of his state and religion he had recourse to Don Sebastian king of Portugall and obteined of him sixe hundred soldiers by whose valour he draue his enimies out of the kingdome and within a yeere and an halfe reestablished himselfe in his throne In his time Antonio di Glioun à Spaniard was made bishop of Saint Thomas who after much molestation procured him by the captaine of that island went at
are certaine mightie lakes by the benefite whereof a great part of Nubia is watred and made fruitfull The Isle of Meroe MEroe called at this time by the names of Guengare Amara and Nobe being the greatest and fairestisle which Nilus maketh and resembled by Herodotus to the shape of a target containeth in bredth a thousand and in length three thousand stadios or furlongs It aboundeth with golde siluer copper iron Eben-wood palme-trees and other such commodities as are in Nubia Some write that there growe canes or reeds of so huge a bignes that the people make botes of them Heere also you haue minerall salt and lions elephants and leopards This island is inhabited by Mahumetans who are confederate with the Moores against Prete Ianni Strabo affirmeth that in old time the authoritie of the priests of this island was so great that by a meane and ordinarie messenger they woulde command the king to murther himselfe and woulde substitute an other in his roome But at length one king hauing in a certaine temple put all the saide priests to death quite abolished that monstrous custome And heere as Nilus vnfoldeth himselfe into two branches to embrace this Islande he receiueth from the east the riuer of Abagni and from the west the riuer Sarabotto which haue likewise other smaller riuers falling into them The Abassins are of opinion that the Queene of Saba which trauelled so farre to heare the wisedome of Salomon was mistresse of this isle Paulus Ionius saith here are three kings one a Gentile the second a Moore and the third a Christian subiect vnto the Prete From Meroe to Siene it is accounted fifteene daies iourney by water Abassia or the empire of Prete Ianni THe Abassins are a people subiect to Prete Ianni whose empire if we consider the stile which he vseth in his letters hath most ample confines For he intituleth himselfe emperour of the great and higher Ethiopia king of Goiame which as Botero supposeth is situate betweene Nilus and Zaire of Vangue a kingdome beyond Zaire of Damut which confineth with the land of the Anzichi and towards the south he is called king of Cafate and Bagamidri two prouinces bordering vpon the first great lake which is the originall fountaine of Nilus as likewise of the kingdomes of Xoa Fatigar Angote Baru Baaliganze Adea Amara Ambea Vaguc Tigremahon Sabaim where the Queene of Saba gouerned and lastly of Barnagaes and lorde as farre as Nubia which bordereth vpon Egypt But at this present the center or midst of his Empire as Iohn Barros writeth is the lake of Barcena For it extendeth eastward towarde the Red sea as farre as Suaquen the space of two hundred twentie and two leagues Howbeit betweene the sea and his dominions runneth a ridge of mountaines inhabited by Moores who are masters of al the sea-coast along except the porte of Ercoco which belongeth to the Prete And likewise on the west his empire is restrained by another mountainous ridge stretching along the riuer of Nilus where are founde most rich mines of golde amongst which are the mines of Damut and of Sinassij wholie in the possession of Gentiles which pay tribute vnto the Prete Northward it is bounded by an imaginarie line supposed to be drawen from Suachen to the beginning of the isle Meroe aboue mentioned which line extendeth an hundred and fiue and twentie leagues From thence the Abassin borders trend south somewhat crookedly in manner of a bowe as farre as the kingdome of Adea from the mountaines whereof springeth a riuer called by Ptolemey Raptus which falleth into the sea about Melinde for the space of two hundred and fiftie nine leagues next vnto the which borders inhabite certaine Gentiles of blacke colour with curled haire And heere the 〈◊〉 empire is limited by the kingdome of Adel the head citie whereof called Arar standeth in the latitude nine degrees So that all this great empire may containe in compasse sixe hundred threescore and two leagues little more or lesse It is refreshed and watered by two mightie riuers which conuey their streames into Nilus called by Ptolemey Astaboras and Astapus and by the naturall inhabitants Abagni and Tagassi the first whereof taketh his originall from the lake of Barcena and the second from the lake of Colue Barcena lieth in seuen degrees of north latitude Colue vnder the verie Equinoctiall The first besides Abagni ingendereth also the riuer of Zeila and the second besides Tagassi giueth essence to the riuer of Quilimanci Between Abagni and the Red sea lieth the prouince of Barnagasso betweene Abagni and Tagassi are the kingdomes of Angote and Fatigar and more towards the bay of Barbarians the prouinces of Adea and of Baru and somewhat lower that of Amara In briefe beyond the riuer of Tagassi ly the regions of Bileguanzi and of Tigremahon The Abassins haue no great knowledge of Nilus by reason of the mountaines which deuide them from it for which cause they call Abagni the father of riuers Howbeit they say that vpon Nilus do inhabite two great and populous nations one of Iewes towards the west vnder the gouernment of a mighty king the other more southerly consisting of Amazones or warlike women whereof wee will speake more at large in our relation of Monomotapa Throughout all the dominion of the Prete there is not any one city of importance either for multitude of inhabitantes for magnificent buildings or for any other respect For the greatest townes there containe not aboue two thousand housholds the houses being cottage-like reared vp with clay and couered with straw or such like base matter Also Ptolemey intreating of these partes maketh mention but of three or foure cities onely which he appointeth to the south of the Isle Meroe Howbeit in some places vpon the frontiers of Abassia there are certaine townes verie fairely built and much frequented for traffique The Portugales in their trauailes throughout the empire haue often declared vnto the Abassins how much better it were for auoiding of the outragious iniuries and losses daily inflicted by the Moores and Mahumetans both vpon their goods and persons if the emperour would build cities and castles stronglie walled and fortified Whereunto they made answere that the power of their Neguz or emperour consisted not in stone-walles but in the armes of his people They vse not ordinarily any lime or stone but onely for the building of churches saying that so it becommeth vs to make a difference between the houses of men and churches dedicated to God and of their Beteneguz or houses of the emperour wherein the gouernours of prouinces are placed to execute iustice These Beteneguz stand continually open and yet in the gouernours absence no man dare enter into them vnder paine of being punished as a traytour Moreouer in the city of Axuma esteemed by them to haue beene the seate of the Queene of Saba stand certaine ruinous buildings like vnto pyramides which by reason of their greatnes
hurteth none but such as do him iniurie only he will in a sporting maner gently heaue vp with his 〈◊〉 such persons as he meeteth He loueth the water beyond measure and will stande vp to the mid-body therein bathing the ridge of his backe and other parts with his long promuscis or trunke His skin is fower fingers thicke and it is reported that an elephant of this countrey being stricken with a little gunne called Petrera was not wounded therewith but so sore brused inwardly that within three daies after he died Heere are likewise reported to be mightie adders or snakes of fiue and twentie spannes long and fiue spans broad which will swallow vp an whole stagge or any other creature of that bignes Neither are they here destitute of Indie-cockes and hens partridges feasants and innumerable birds of praie both of the lande and of the sea whereof some diue vnder the water which the Portugals call Pelicans Ouer against the most southerly part of the said kingdome of Congo where it confineth with Angola lyeth an Isle called Loanda being twentie miles long and but one mile broad at the most betweene which and the maine land is the best port of all that Ocean About this Isle do haunt infinite store of whales where notwithstanding no amber at all is found which is a manifest argument that it proceedeth notfrom these creatures Here they fish for certaine little shels which in Congo and the countries adioyning are vsed in steed of mony The well-waters of this Isle when the sea ebbeth are salte but when it floweth they are most fresh and sweet In this Isle the Portugals haue a towne from whence they traffique to Congo and Angola and amongst other commodities they get euery yeere in those parts about fiue thousand slaues the custome of which trade belongeth by ancient constitutions vnto the crowne of Portugale To the north of Congo vpon the sea coast beginneth the kingdome of Loango tributarie in times past to the king of Congo It aboundeth with elephants and the inhabitants called Bramas are circumcised after the Iewish manner Next vpon them doe border the Anzichi who are possessed of large countries namely from the riuer Zaire euen to the deserts of Nubia They abound with mines of copper and with sanders both Red and Gray which are the best and some are of opinion that here groweth the right Lignum Aquilae which is of so excellent vertue in phisick They haue one supreme king with many princes vnder him They traffique in Congo and carrie home from thence salt and great shels to be vsed for coine which are brought thither from the Isle of San Tomé in exchange of their cloth of the palme tree and of Iuory but the chiefe commodities which they part from are slaues of their owne nation and of Nubia and the said shels they vse also insteed of Iewels and ornaments Both they and the Bramas before mentioned do carry for their defence in the warres certaine targets made of the skin of a beast which in Germany is called Dante their weapons offensiue be little bowes and shorte arrowes which they shoot with such woonderfull celerity as they will discharge twentie one after another before the first arrow fall to the ground They haue shambles of mans-flesh as wee haue of beeues and muttons They eat their enemies which they take in the warres their slaues which they cannot make away for a good round price they sell vnto the butchers and some will offer themselues to the slaughter for the loue of their princes and patrons so sillie they are that to do their lordes a pleasure they will not refuse present death wherefore the Portugals repose not so much trust in any kinde of slaues as in them and they are very valiant also in the warres But to returne vnto the sea-coast from the mouth of the riuer Zaire Northward the land bearing out somewhat more to the west is framed into three headlands namely Cabo primero Cabo da Caterina and the cape of Lopo Gonsalues which is a cape very well knowen in regard of the eminency and outstretching thereof Itlyeth in one degree of southerly latitude Ouer against which cape within the land do inhabite the people called Bramas in the kingdome of Loango beforementioned From hence for the space of fiue or sixe degrees till you come to Punta delgada or The slender point the coast lyeth in a manner directly North most of which tract is inhabited by a nation of Negros called Ambus North of the said slender point you haue Rio dos Camarones or the riuer of shrimpes which is full of little Isles not far from which riuer are The countries of Biafar and Medra inhabited with people which are addicted to inchantments witchcrafts and all kind of abominable sorceries Much more might be said concerning this sixt part of the lower Ethiopia but because it is in so ample and methodicall a manner described in the historie of Philippo Pigafetta most iudiciously and aptly Englished by the learned Master Abraham Hartwell I refer the reader thereunto as to the principal and the very fountaine of all other discourses which haue bin written to any purpose of Congo and the countries adioyning Of the countries of Benin Meleghete Ghinea and Sierra Leona WEstward from the countries last mentioned lyeth the kingdome of Benin hauing a very proper towne of that name and an hauen called Gurte The 〈◊〉 liue in Idolatry and are a rude and brutish nation notwithstanding that their prince is serued with such high reuerence and neuer commeth in sight but with great solemnity many ceremonies at whose death his chiefe fauorites count it the greatest point of honour to be buried with him to the end as they vainely imagine they may doe him seruice in another world This countrie aboundeth with long pepper called by the Portugals Pimienta dal rabo which is as much to say as ppeper with a tayle This tailed or long pepper so far excelleth the pepper of the east Indies that an ounce therof is of more force then halfe a pound of that other For which cause the kings of Portugale haue done what lay in them to keep it from being brought into these parts of Europe least it should too much abase the estimation and price of their Indian pepper All which notwithstanding there hath bin great quantitie secretly conueied from thence by the Portugals as likewise the English and French nations and of late yeeres the Hollanders haue had great traffique into those parts Next follow the kingdomes of Temian and Dauma and lower to the south the prouince of Meleghete a place very famous and well knowne in regard of a little red graine which there groweth being in shape somewhat like to the 〈◊〉 of Italy but of a most vehement and firy tast and these little graines are by the apothecaries called Grana Paradisi Here also is made of 〈◊〉 and the ashes of the Palme-tree a kind of
the towne vnto the king This condition was accepted and the king hauing a thousand braue horsemen readie to doe the feat ioyned fiue hundred horse and two hundred gunners on horsebacke vnto them Moreouer he wrote vnto certaine Arabians which are commonly called Zuair and haue almost fower thousand horesemen at commaund that if need so required they would come in and ayde his troupes Ouer the saide armie the king appointed as captaine one Ezzeranghi a most valiant and redoubted warriour Who hauing pitched his tents neere vnto the towne began presently to giue the townesmen an assault But when he had done his best the warlike citizens easily gaue him the repulse Moreouer the Arabians called Benigeber were comming with fiue thousand horsemen to succour the towne Which so soone as Captaine Ezzeranghi was aduertised of he raised his siege and went suddenly to meete with the foresaid Arabians whom after he had discomfited in three daies he then safely returned to lay new siege The citizens seeing themselues cut off from all hope of the Arabians ayde began seriously to treat of peace with the enemie which the easlier to obtaine they promised to defray all the kings charges layde out in this expedition and to pay him for yeerly tribute moe then ten thousand ducates howbeit with this prouiso that they for whose cause the king had sent the said armie if they entred the towne should bee secluded from all Magistracie and gouernment But they hearing of these conditions spake vnto the Captaine in manner following Sir if it shall please you to restore vs vnto our former dignitie and state we will procure you aboue an hundreth thousand ducates Neither is there cause why any man should feare any iniurie or violence for we protest vnto you that no man shall be a farthing endamaged by vs onely we will exact at our aduersaries handes the reuenues of our possessions which they haue these three yeeres vniustly detained from vs. The summe whereof will amount vnto thirtie thousand ducates all which we are most willing to bestow vpon you in regard of those labours which you haue vndergone for our sakes Moreouer the reuenues of the whole region shall bee yours which will come to twentie thousand ducates And the Iewes tribute shall yeeld you ten thousand more Vpon these speeches the Captaine returned answere vnto the citizens that his master the king of Fez had most faithfully promised those which mooued him vnto this warre that he would neuer forsake them till they had attained their harts desire for which cause he was more willing to haue them gouerne then the townesmen which were now in possession and that for many reasons wherefore saith he if you be determined to yeelde vnto the king assure your selues that no inconuenience shall light vpon you but if you will to the ende remaine peruerse and obstinate be yee assured also that the king will deale most extremely with you This message was no sooner knowen vnto the people but foorthwith they began to be distracted into diuers factions some there were which stood for the king and others chose rather manfully to fight it out then that the king should be admitted insomuch that the whole citie resounded with brawlings quarels and contentions This tumult came at length by spies vnto the Captaines eare who presently caused halfe his forces to take armes and by their meanes in three howers space he wan the citie with little slaughter on his part For those townesmen that fauoured the king did what they could on the inside to set open the gates and so did the assailants on the outside neither did any resist their attempts by reason of the foresaid ciuill dissensions Whereupon Captaine Ezzeranghi entring the citie caused the kings colours to be aduanced in the market-place and vpon the wals charging his horsemen to range about the citie that no citizens might escape by flight and last of all made a proclamation vnto all his souldiers that they should not vpon paine of death offer any iniurie vnto the townesmen Then he caused all the chieftaines of the contrarie faction to be brought prisoners vnto him to whom he threatned captiuitie and thraldome till they should disburse so much as the king had spent in that expedition the totall summe was twelue thousand ducates which the wiues and kinsfolkes of the captiues presently payde Neither could they yet obtaine their libertie for the exiles for whose cause the king had sent that armie demaunded restitution of all their goods which the other had for certaine yeeres detained from them The captiues therfore were committed that night the next morning lawyers atturnies came to plead on both sides before a iudge the captaine Howbeit after a great deale of tedious fending and proouing hauing concluded nothing at all the captaine was so weary that he left them and went to supper Afterward he caused the captiues to be brought foorth wishing them to pay the sums demaunded for saith he If you come before the king of Fez he wil make you to disburse more then twise the value At which words being terrified they wrote vnto their wiues if they woulde euer see them aliue to procure them money by some meanes Eight daies after the women brought as many golde rings bracelets and other such iewels as were valued at eight and twenty thousand ducates for they had rather bestowe these for the ransome of their husbandes then to reueale their great wealth bringing foorth all their costly ornaments as if their money had beene quite exhaust When therefore the king and the exiles were fully satisfied insomuch that nothing seemed nowe to let the said captiues from libertie the captaine spake vnto them in this wise Sirs I haue signified though vnwillingly vnto my master the king all matters which haue here passed betweene vs for I dare by no meanes release you till the kings letters authorize me so to do Howbeit I wish you to be of good cheere for sithens you haue honestly restored to euery man his owne there is no doubt but your selues shall shortly be set at libertie The same night the captaine called a friend of his whose counsell he founde oftentimes to take good effect and asked him by what meanes he might without suspicion of guile or trechery wring any more sums of money from them Whereunto his friend replied make them beleeue quoth he that you are willed by the kings letters to put them all to death howbeit that you will not for pitties sake deale so extremely with innocent persons but that you will send them to Fez to receiue punishment or pardon at the kings pleasure Heereupon the kings letters were counterfeited which the day following the captaine with a lamētable voice published vnto his two forty prisoners My friends quoth he so it is that the king hauing receiued some sinister and wrong information that you should go about to make a conspiracie most firmely enioineth me by these his letters to put
for which cause they pay no tribute vnto the king of Fez vnlesse it be for their fieldes which is very little They reape much commoditie out of those mountaines for there groweth great abundance of boxe whereof the Fessan combes are made A description of Errif one of the seuen regions of Fez. WEstward this region beginneth neere vnto the streites of 〈◊〉 and extendeth eastward to the riuer of Nocor which distance containeth about an hundred and fortie miles Northward it bordereth vpon the Mediterran sea and stretcheth fortie miles southward vnto those mountains which lie ouer against the riuer Guarga and the territorie of Fez. This region is very vneeuen being full of exceeding colde mountaines and waste deserts which are replenished with most beautifull and straight trees Here is no corne growing they haue great store of vines figs oliues almonds The inhabitants of this region are valiant people but so excessiuely giuen to drinking that they scarcely reserue wherewithall to apparell themselues Head-cattell they haue but fewe howbeit vpon their mountaines they haue great plentie of goates asses and apes Their townes are but few and their castles and villages are very homely built without any plancher or stories much like to the stables of Europe and are couered with thatch or with the barke of trees All the inhabitants of this region haue the balles of their throat-pipes very great and are vnciuill and rude people Of the towne of Terga THis small towne as some thinke built by the Goths vpon the shore of the Mediterran sea is distant from the streites of Gibraltar about fowerscore miles and containeth to the number of fiue hundred families The towne wall is of no force The inhabitants are most part of them fishers who getting great abundance of fish salt them and carrie them to sell almost an hundred miles southward This towne was in times past well stored with people but since the Portugals entered the same region it hath fallen greatly to decay Not farre from this towne groweth abundance of 〈◊〉 vpon the ragged and cold mountaines And albeit the inhabitants are valiant yet are they rusticall and void of all humanitie Of Bedis otherwise called Velles de 〈◊〉 THis ancient towne built vpon the Mediterran sea shore 〈◊〉 by the Spaniards Velles de Gumera containeth about sixe hundred families Some writers there are that affirme it to be built by the Africans and others by the Gothes so that it remaineth as yet vncertaine who were the true founders therof It standeth betweene two high mountaines and not farre from it there is a faire and large valley from whence commeth a little riuer or streame to the towne alwaies when it raineth In the midst of the towne standeth the market place which containeth great store of shops Here is also a verie stately temple to be seene Water for drinke is exceeding scarce among them for they are all constrained to resort vnto one pit or well being in the suburbes neere vnto the sepulchre of a certaine man that was in times past very famous among them Howbeit in the night it is dangerous to fetch water from thence because it is so full of blood-suckers or horse-leeches The townesmen are of two sorts for some be fishers and the residue are pirates which daily doe great harme vnto the Christians Vpon the mountaines grow great store of wood verie commodious for the building of ships and of galleies The inhabitants of which mountaines are almost wholly employed about carrying of the said wood from place to place They haue very little corne growing for which cause most of them eate barley bread Their principall foode are certaine fishes which the Italians call Sardelli together with other like fishes They haue such abundance of fish that one man alone is not able to draw vp a net wherefore whosoeuer will assist the fishermen in that busines are rewarded with good store of fishes for their labour yea sometimes they will freely bestow fishes vpon such as passe by They salt the foresaid Sardelli and send them to the mountaines to be sold. In this towne there is a long street inhabited with Iewes wherin dwell sundry vintners that sell excellent wines So that in calme euenings the citizens vse to carrie wine aboord their barkes in the sea and to spend their time in drinking and singing In this towne standeth a faire castle but not strong wherein the gouernour hath his aboad And neere vnto this castle the saide gouernour hath a palace whereunto belongeth a most pleasant garden Vpon the shore the gouernour buildeth galleies and other ships wherewith they greatly molest the Christians Whereupon Ferdinando king of Spaine taking a certaine Iland within a mile of the towne built a fort thereon and so planted it with ordinance and souldiers that neither their temples nor themselues walking in the streets were free therefrom but were daily slaine Wherefore the gouernour of the towne was constrained to craue ayde from the king of Fez who sent out a great 〈◊〉 against the Christians but they were partly taken and partly slaine so that verie few escaped backe vnto Fez. The Christians kept this isle almost two yeeres and then it was betrayed by a false trecherous Spaniard who slew the gouernour of the isle because he had taken his wife from him into the Moores possession and all the Christians were slaine not a man of them escaped saue onely the Spanish traitour who in regard of his treason was greatly rewarded both by the gouernour of Bedis and also by the king of Fez. Being at Naples I heard the whole relation of this matter from a certaine man that was present at all the former exploits who said that they were done about the yeere of our Lord 1520. But now the said island is most diligently kept by a garrison of souldiers sent from Fez for Bedis is the neerest hauen-towne vnto Fez vpon the Mediterran sea shore although it be an hundred and twenty miles distant Euerie yeere or euerie second yeere the Venetian galleies vse to resort vnto this isle and to exchange wares for wares with the inhabitants or sometimes to buy for readie money which wares the Venetians transport vnto Tunis Venice Alexandria and sometime to Barutto Of the towne of Ielles THis towne being built vpon the Mediterran sea shore is almost sixe miles distant from Bedis the hauen thereof is very commodious and much frequented by ships in fowle and tempestuous weather Not farre from this towne are diuers mountaines and waste deserts growing full of pine trees In my time it remained voide of inhabitants by reason of certaine Spanish pyrates which haunted the same and now there are but a few poore cottages of fishers who standing in dayly dread of the Spaniards keepe continuall and circumspect watch to see if they can escrie any ships making towards them which if they do they flee foorthwith vnto the next mountaines bringing from 〈◊〉 a sufficient number of armed men to withstand
quinces and pome-citrons and dwelling but fiue and thirtie miles distant from Fez they carrie all their fruits and commodities thither They are almost all gentlemen and verie proude and high minded so that they would neuer pay any tribute at all for they know that their mountaine is so fortified by nature that it cannot easily be subdued here likewise all such as are banished out of Fez except onely adulterers are friendly entertained for the inhabitants are so iealous that they will admit no adulterers into their societie The king of Fez granteth them many priuileges and fauours in regard of the great commodities which he reapeth out of their mountaine Of mount Beni Guazeuall THis mountaine is almost thirtie miles long and about fifteen miles broad it is diuided into three parts and betweene this and the mountaines aforesaid run certaine little riuers The inhabitants are most valiant warlike people but extremely oppressed and burthened with exactions by the gouernor of Fez who euery yeere demaundeth of this mountaine for tribute eighteen thousand ducates the mountaine indeed aboundeth with grapes oliues figs and flaxe whereby great summes of mony are raised howbeit whatsoeuer they can gather goeth presently to the gouernour of Fez who hath his officers and receiuers in the mountaine which doe miserably oppresse and bribe the inhabitants in this mountaine are a great number of villages and hamlets that containe some an hundred and some two hundred families and aboue of most expert trained soldiers they haue aboue fiue twentie thousand are at continuall war with those that border vpon them But the king of Fez for those that are slaine on both parts requireth great sums of mony so that he gaineth much by their dissensions In this mountaine there is a certaine towne indifferently well peopled and furnished with all kinde of artificers whereunto the fields belonging maruellously abounde with grapes quinces and pome-citrons all which are sold at Fez here are likewise great store of linnen weauers and manie iudges and lawyers They haue also a good market whereunto the inhabitants of the neighbour mountaines resort Vpon the top of this mountaine there is a certaine caue or hole that perpetually casteth vp fire Some woondering greatly at the matter haue cast in wood which was suddenly consumed to ashes I my selfe neuer saw the like miracle in any other place so that a great manie thinke it to be hell-mouth Of mount Benigueriaghell IT standeth neer vnto the mountaine last mentioned and yet the inhabitants of these mountaines are at continnall warre and discord At the foot of this mountaine there is a large plaine which extendeth to the territorie of Fez and through the same runneth that riuer which the inhabitants call Guarga This mountaine greatly aboundeth with oyle corne and flaxe for which cause here are great store of linnen-weauers The greatest part of al their commodities is gathered for the kings vse so that they which otherwise would prooue exceeding rich becom by this meanes starke beggers and that especially by reason of the courtiers continuall extortions They are people of an ingenuous and valiant disposition Souldiers they haue almost twelue thousand and to the number of threescore villages Of mount Beni Achmed THis mountaine is eighteene miles long and seuen miles broad It is verie steepe and containeth many waste deserts and yeeldeth likewise great store of grapes oliues figs howbeit the soile is not so apt for corne All the inhabitants are continually oppressed with the exactions of the Fessan king At the foote of this mountaine are diuers springs and small streames the water whereof is muddie and vnpleasant in taste for in regard of the nature of the sande or earth it tasteth of chalke There are many in this place the balles of whose throte-pipes are verie great and sticke farre out like vnto those abouementioned All of them drinke pure wine which being boyled will last fifteene yeeres howbeit they boyle not all their wine but some they keepe vnboyled and they yeerely make great quantity of boiled wine which they vse to put in vessels that are narrow at the bottome and broad at the top They haue euerie weeke a great market where wine oyle and raisins are to bee sold. The people of this mountaine likewise are extreme poore and beggerly as a man may coniecture by their apparell They haue had continuall and ancient quarrels among themselues which make them oftentimes fall together by the eares Of mount Beni Ieginesen THis mountaine bordereth vpon Beni Achmed stretcheth in length almost ten miles And betweene it and mount Beni Achmed runneth a certaine small riuer The inhabitants are too much addicted to drunkennes by reason that their wines are so excellent No fruits grow vpon this mountaine but onely great abundance of grapes Goates they haue which liue continually in the woods neither haue they any other flesh to eate but goates-flesh I my selfe had great acquaintance with the inhabitants by reason that my father had some possessions vpon the mountaine but he hardly got any rents or money at their hands for they are the woorst paymasters that euer I knew Of mount Beni Mesgalda THis mountaine bordereth vpon the mountaine last mentioned and vpon the riuer of Guarga The inhabitants make great store of liquid sope for they know not how to make hard sope At the foote of this mountaine there is a large plaine possessed by certaine Arabians who haue often combates with them of the mountaine They pay yeerly to the K. of Fez an huge summe of mony and it is a woonder to see with what new exactions they are daily burthened In this mountaine are many Doctors of the Mahumetan lawe and diuers inferior students who put the inhabitants to great damage Themselues forsooth will drinke wine and yet they perswade the people that it is 〈◊〉 for them to drinke it albeit some do giue them little credit The inhabitants of this mountaine pay in respect of others no great tribute and that perhaps because they maintaine the foresaid Doctors and students Of mount Beni Guamud THis mountaine standeth so neere vnto the territorie of Fez that they are diuided onely by a riuer All the inhabitants make sope out of which commoditie the king of Fez reapeth sixe thousand ducates of yeerely tribute The villages of this mountaine are about fiue and twentie in number All the sides thereof bring foorth corne and cattell in great abundance sauing that they are sometimes destitute of water The inhabitants are verie rich and carrie all kinde of wares to Fez where they gaine exceedingly by them This mountaine yeeldeth nothing but is commodious for mans vse From Fez it is almost ten miles distant Of Garet one of the seuen Prouinces of the Fessan kingdome HAuing described all the chiefe townes and mountaines of the prouince of Errife it now remaineth that we say somewhat of Garet which is the sixt Prouince of Fez. This Prouince beginneth westward from the riuer
Iewish Mahumetan and Gentilish religions there 〈◊〉 The Princes of greatest account either inhabiting or at least possessing large territories there are first The grand Neguz or Christian Emperour of Abassia or the higher Ethiopia commonly called Presbyter Iohn or as Zagazabo his owne ambassadour would haue him Pretious Iohn but bicause 〈◊〉 all the Ethiopick relation of Francis Aluarez being the best that euer was written of those parts he is continually named Prete Ianni in imitation of him I also most commonly call him by that name And so likewise though Zagazabo for the more magnificent reputation of his prince will haue his dominions called Ethiopia yet with the consent of some approoued authors and also to distinguish the country of this emperour from many other regions situate both in the higher Ethiopia and in the lower I haue set it downe in my mappe and in my discourses do most vsually speake thereof vnder the name of Abassia The other great Princes intreated of in the said relations are The K. of Spaine The Turkish Emperour The Xarifo otherwise called The Miramonin or the king of Maroco Sus and Fez and the emperour of Monomotapa My methode in the discourse before Leo is after a generall preface of Africa to begin at the Red sea where Leo endeth and thence as well in the description of the maine lands as of the isles by him vntouched to proceed on southerly to the cape of Buena esperança from which cape we returne toward the north describing all along the westerne countries and isles of Africa till we haue brought our whole descriptions to an end vpon the most southwesterly parts 〈◊〉 Barbarie where our author Iohn Leo beginneth his Et quoniam as one saith turpe non est per quos profeceris agnoscere my principall authors out of whom I haue gathered this store are of the ancienter note Ptolemey Strabo Plinie Diodorus Siculus c. and amongst later writers I haue helped my selfe out of sundrie discourses in the first Italian volume of Baptista Ramusio as likewise out of Iohn Barros Castanneda Ortelius Osorius de reb gest Eman. Matthew Dresserus Quadus Isolario del mundo Iohn Huighen van Linschoten out of the Hollanders late voiages to the east Indies and to San Tomé but I am much more beholding to the history of Philippo Pigafetta to the Ethiopick relations of Francis Aluarez of Damianus a Goez and beyond all comparison both for matter and method most of all to the learned Astronomer and Geographer Antonius Maginus of Padua and to the vniuersall relations written in Italian by G. B. B. And heere before I surcease I must admonish the Reader of certaine faults escaped in some copies as namely in the description of the isles in the Barbarian bay Açotatado for Açotado in a marginall note ouer against the description of Tombuto in the seuenth booke of Iohn Leo Money for Gold in the relation of the Christianitie of Egypt Hypostasis twise togither in stead of Hypostases and in the discourse of the Christianitie of Congo Paulo Aquitino for Panso Aquitimo Other literall faults if there be any will not be hard for the Reader himselfe to amend AFRICA A generall description of all Africa togither with a comparison of the ancient and new names of all the principall countries and prouinces therein THat part of inhabited lande extending southward which we call Africa and the Greeks Libya is one of the three generall parts of the world knowen vnto our ancestors which in very deed was not throughly by them discouered both bicause the Inlands coulde not be trauailed in regard of huge deserts full of dangerous sands which being driuen with the winde put trauailers in extreme hazard of their liues and also by reason of the long and perilous nauigation vpon the African coasts for which cause it was by very few of ancient times compassed by nauigation much lesse searched or intirely known Of which few the principall were Hanno a Carthaginian captaine sent by the gouernours of that commonwelth for discouerie of the saide lande and one Eudoxus that fled from Ptolemaeus Lathyrus the king of Alexandria Howbeit in these latter times it hath beene often by the Portugals sailed round about and diligently searched especially along the shore euen from the streights of Gibraltar to the enterance of the red sea but the first Portugall that euer doubled the cape of Buena esperança and coasted the south and southeast parts of Africa in former 〈◊〉 vnknowne was Vasco da Gama in the yeere 1497. who from hence sailed to Calicut in the east Indies to the vnspeakeable gaine of the Portugals To omit Iohn Leo his etymologies of this name Africa Festus will haue it to be deriued from the Greeke worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth horror or colde and from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the particle priuatiue as who shoulde say Africa is a place free from all horror and extremitie of colde bicause it lieth open to the heauens and is sandie drie and desert Others say that it is called Africa quasi Aprica that is exposed and subiect to the scorching beames of the sunne the most part there of lying betweene the Tropicks Iosephus wil haue it so called from 〈◊〉 one of the posteritie of Abraham and others from Afer sonne to Hercules of Libya But it was by the Greekes called Libya bicause it was in old time conquered by Libs the king of Mauritania In the holie Scriptures it is called Chamesis by the Arabians and Ethiopians 〈◊〉 and by the Indians Besecath In situation shape this land of Africa is almost an islle being by a very small and narrowe neckland passing betweene the Mediterran sea and the gulfe of Arabia 〈◊〉 the red sea conioined to Asia and in extension of ground being almost twise as bigge as Europe albeit for inhabitants it is not halfe so populous Wherefore though in longitude from west to east Africa be shorter then Europe in some places yet extendeth it so farre vnto the south that Europe in that respect is nothing comparable vnto it for Africa containeth almost seuentie degrees in latitude whereas Europe stretcheth but fiue and thirtie degrees moreouer Africa is more vniforme and spacious but Europe is of a more distracted and manifolde shape being in sundry places dispersed restrained by the sea Howbeit notwithstanding Africa hath farre greater extension of ground then Europe yet is it not so populous nor so commodious to inhabite for the lande of Africa is in many places vnhabitable the principall causes whereof are the scarcitie of water the barrennes of the soile being either couered with 〈◊〉 sande dust or ashes or else being subiect to extreme heate of the sunne also there are certaine dangerous heapes of sande which being raised by the winde are driuen vp and downe like the waues of a tempestuous sea In briefe there are such abundance of venemous and hurtfull
they performe without molestation or hurt of any But the residue which are depriued of their pay betake themselues wholy to robberies thefts slaughters and such other monstrous outrages For these lurking alwaies in the woods no sooner see any merchant approching but suddenly they breake foorth depriuing him of his goodes and life also insomuch that now merchants dare not passe that way but with a garrison of safe-conduct And so they passe sometimes to their great inconuenience For they are notwithstanding constrained to giue vnto the foresaid Arabians which are in pay with the king of Tunis great summes of money and are likewise oftentimes so in danger of robbers that they lose both their goods liues Adiuision of the Arabians which inhabite Africa and are called by the name of Barbarians into diuers progenies or kinreds THE Arabians which inhabite Africa are diuided into three partes one part whereof are called Cachin the second Hilell and the third Machill The Cachin are diuided into three nations or tribes to wit the tribes of Etheg Sumait and Sahid Moreouer Etheg is diuided into three families that is to say the familie of Delleg Elmuntefig and Subair and these are dispersed into many regions Hilel are deriued into fower generations to wit the people of Benihemir of Rieh of Sufien and of Chusain The familie of Benihemir is diuided into the linages of Huroam Hucben Habrum and Mussim The tribe of Rieh are distributed into the kinreds called Deuvad Suaid Asgeg Elcherith Enedri and Garfam which kinreds possesse many dominions Machil haue three tribes vnder them to wit Mastar Hutmen and Hassan Mastar are diuided into Ruchen and Selim Hutmen into Elhasi and Chinan and Hassan into Deuihessen Deuimansor and Deuihubaidulla Deuihessen is distinguished into the kinreds called Dulein Berbun Vodein Racmen and Hamram Deuimansor into Hemrun Menebbe Husein and Albuhusein and lastly Deuihubaidulla into Garag Hedeg Teleb and Geoan All these doe in a manner possesse innumerable regions insomuch that to reckon them vp at large were a matter not onely difficult but almost impossible Of the habitations and number of the foresaid Arabians THE most noble and famous Arabians were they of the familie of Etheg vnto whome Almansor gaue the regions of Duccala and of Tedles to inhabit These Arabians euen till our times haue beene put to great distresse and hazard partly by the Portugall king and partly by the king of Fez. They haue at all oportunities if need should require a hundred thousand soldiers fit to beare armes a great part whereof are horsemen The Arabians called Sumait enioy that part of the Libyan desert which lieth ouer against the desert of Tripoly These make often inuasions into Barbarie for they haue no places allotted them therein but they and their camels doe perpetually remaine in the deserts They are able to leuie fowerscore thousand soldiers the greatest part being footmen Likewise the tribe of Sahid doe inhabite the desert of Libya and these haue had alwaies great league and familiaritie with the king of Guargala They haue such abundance of cattell that they doe plentifully supply all the cities of that region with flesh and that especially in sommer time for all the winter they stirre not out of the deserts Their number is increased to about a hundred and fiftie thousand hauing not many horsemen among them The tribe of Delleg possesse diuers habitations howbeit Caesaria containeth the greatest part of them Some also inhabit vpon the frontiers of the kingdome of Bugia who are said to receiue a yeerely stipend from their next neighbours But the least part of them dwell vpon the field-countrey of Acdes vpon the borders of Mauritania and vpon some part of mount Atlas being subiect vnto the king of Fez. The people of Elmuntefig are seated in the prouince of Azgar and are called by the later writers Elcaluth These also pay certaine yeerely tribute vnto the King of Fez beeing able to furnish about eight thousand horsemen to the warres The kindred of Sobair doe inhabit not farre from the kingdome of Gezeir being many of them vnder the pay of the king of Tremizen and are said to enioy a great part of Numidia They haue more or lesse three thousand most warlike horsemen They possesse likewise great abundance of camels for which cause they abide all winter in the deserts The remnant of them occupieth the plaine which lieth betweene Sala and Mecnes These haue huge droues of cattell and exercise themselues in husbandrie being constrained to pay some yeerely tribute vnto the king of Fez. They haue horsemen who as a man may say are naturally framed to the warres about fower thousand in number Of the people of Hillel and of their habitations HIllel which are also called Benihamir dwell vpon the frontiers of the kingdome of Tremizen and Oran These range vp and downe the desert of Tegorarin being in pay vnder the king of Tremizen and of great riches and power insomuch that they haue at all times in a readines for the 〈◊〉 six thousand horsemen The tribe of Hurua possesse onely the borders of Mustuganim These are sauage people giuing themselues wholy to spoiles and robberies and alienating their mindes from the warres They neuer come foorth of the deserts for the people of Barbarie will neither allow them any places of habitation nor yet any stipend at all horsemen they haue to the number of two thousand The kindred of Hucban are next neighbours vnto the region of Melian who receiue certaine pay from the king of Tunis They are rude and wilde people and in very deede estranged from al humanitie they haue as it is reported about fifteene hundred horsemen The tribe of Habru inhabit the region lying betweene Oran and Mustuganim these exercise husbandrie paying yeerely tribute vnto the king of Tremizen and being scarce able to make one hundred horsemen The people called Mussim possesse those deserts of Masila which extend vnto the kingdome of Bugia These likewise are giuen onely to theft and robberie they take tribute both of their owne people and of other regions adioyning vnto them The tribe of Rieeh inhabite those deserts of Libya which border vpon Constantina These haue most ample dominions in Numidia being now diuided into sixe parts This right famous and warlike nation receiueth stipende from the king of Tunis hauing fiue thousande horsemen at command The people of Suaid enioy that desert which is extended vnto the signiorie of Tenez These haue very large possessions receiuing stipend from the king of Tremizen being men of notable dexteritie as well in the warres as in all other conuersation of life The kindred of Azgeg dwell not all together in one place for part of them inhabite the region of Garet among the people called Hemram and the residue poslesse that part of Duccala which lieth neere vnto Azaphi The tribe of Elcherit dwell vpon that portion of Helin which is situate in the plaine of Sahidim hauing the people of Heah tributarie
but you shall see commonly two or three of them together by the eares By nature they are a vile and base people being no better accounted of by their gouernours then if they were dogs They haue neither iudges nor lawyers by whose wisedome and counsell they ought to be directed They are vtterly vnskilfull in trades of merchandize being destitute of bankers and money-changers wherefore a merchant can doe nothing among them in his absence but is himselfe constrained to goe in person whithersoeuer his wares are carried No people vnder heauen are more addicted vnto couetise then this nation neither is there I thinke to bee found among them one of an hundred who for courtesie humanitie or deuotions sake will vouchsafe any entertainment vpon a stranger Mindfull they haue alwaies beene of iniuries but most forgetfull of benefites Their mindes are perpetually possessed with vexation and strife so that they will seldome or neuer shew themselues tractable to any man the cause whereof is supposed to be for that they are so greedily addicted vnto their filthie lucre that they neuer could attaine vnto any kinde of ciuilitie or good behauiour The shepherds of that region liue a miserable toilsome wretched and beggerly life they are a rude people and as a man may say borne and bred to theft deceit and brutish manners Their yoong men may goe a wooing to diuers maides till such time as they haue sped of a wife Yea the father of the maide most friendly welcommeth her suiter so that I thinke scarce any noble or gentleman among them can chuse a virgine for his spouse albeit so soone as any woman is married she is quite forsaken of all her suiters who then seeke out other new paramours for their liking Concerning their religion the greater part of these people are neither Mahumetans Iewes nor Christians and hardly shall you finde so much as a sparke of pietie in any of them They haue no churches at all nor any kinde of prayers but being vtterly estranged from all godly deuotion they leade a sauage and beastly life and if any man chanceth to be of a better disposition because they haue no law-giuers nor teachers among them he is constrained to follow the example of other mens liues maners All the Numidians being most ignorant of naturall domesticall commonwealth-matters are principally addicted vnto treason trecherie murther theft and robberie This nation because it is most slauish will right gladly accept of any seruice among the Barbarians be it neuer so vile or contemptible For some will take vpon them to be dung-farmers others to be scullians some others to bee ostlers and such like seruile occupations Likewise the inhabitants of Libya liue a brutish kinde of life who neglecting all kindes of good artes and sciences doe wholy apply their mindes vnto theft and violence Neuer as yet had they any religion any lawes or any good forme of liuing but alwaies had and euer will haue a most miserable and distressed life There cannot any trechery or villanie be inuented so damnable which for lucres sake they dare not attempt They spend all their daies either in most lewd practises or in hunting or else in warfare neither weare they any shooes nor garments The Negros likewise leade a beastly kinde of life being vtterly destitute of the vse of reason of dexteritie of wit and of all artes Yea they so behaue themselues as if they had continually liued in a forrest among wilde beasts They haue great swarmes of harlots among them whereupon a man may easily coniecture their manner of liuing except 〈◊〉 conuersation perhaps be somewhat more tolerable who dwell in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and cities for it is like that they are somewhat more addicted to 〈◊〉 Neither am I ignorant how much mine owne credit is 〈◊〉 when I my selfe write so homely of Africa vnto which countrie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 debted both for my birth and also for the best part of my education Howbeit in this regarde I seeke not to excuse my selfe but onely to appeale vnto the dutie of an historiographer who is to set downe the plaine truth in all places and is blame-woorthie for flattering or fauouring of any person And this is the cause that hath mooued me to describe all things so plainly without glosing or dissimulation wherefore here I am to request the gentle Reader friendly to accept of this my most true discourse albeit not adorned with fine words and artificiall eloquence as of certaine vnknowne strange matters Wherein how indifferent and sincere I haue shewed my selfe it may in few words appeere by that which followeth It is reported of a lewd countriman of ours that being conuicted of some heinous crime he was adiudged to be seuerely beaten for it Howbeit the day following when the 〈◊〉 came to doe his busines the malefactor remembred that certaine yeeres before he had some acquaintance and familiaritie with him which made him to presume that he should find more fauour at his hands then a meere stranger But he was fowly 〈◊〉 for the executioner vsed him no better then if he had neuer knowne him Wherefore this caitife at the first exclaiming vpon his executioner oh saith he my goodfriend what maketh you so sterne as not to acknowledge our olde acquaintance Hereupon the executioner beating him more cruelly then before friend quoth he in such busines as this I vse to be mindfull of my dutie and to shew no fauour at all and so continually laying on he ceased not till the iudiciall sentence was fulfilled It was doubtlesse a great argument of impartiall dealing when as respect of former friendship could take no place Wherefore I thought good to record all the particulars aforesaid least that describing vices onely I should seeme to flatter them with whom I am now presently conuersant or extolling onely the vertues of the Africans I might hereafter be saide to sue for their fauour which I haue of purpose eschewed to the end that I might haue more free accesse vnto them Moreouer may it please you for this purpose to heare another resemblance or similitude There was vpon a time a most wily bird so indued by nature that she could liue as well with the fishes of the sea as with the fowles of the aire wherefore she was rightly called Amphibia This bird being sommoned before the king of birds to pay her yeerely tribute determined foorthwith to change her element and to delude the king and so flying out of the aire she drencht herselfe in the Ocean sea Which strange accident the fishes woondring at came flocking about Amphibia saluting her and asking her the cause of her comming Good fishes quoth the bird know you not that all things are turned so vpside downe that we wot not how to liue securely in the aire Our tyrannicall king what furie haunts him I know not commanded me to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to death whereas no silly bird respected euer his commoditie as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Which most vniust
in the midst of the citie which was built by Hali the first king of Maroco and the son of Ioseph aforesaid being commonly called the temple of Hali ben Ioseph Howbeit one Abdul-Mumen which succeeded him to the ende he might vtterly abolish the name of Hali and might make himselfe onely famous with posteritie caused this stately temple of Maroco to be razed and to bee reedified somewhat more sumptuously then before Howbeit he lost not onely his expences but failed of his purpose also for the common people euen till this day doe call the said Temple by the first and auncientest name Likewise in this citie not farre from a certaine rocke was built a Temple by him that was the seconde vsurper ouer the kingdome of Maroco after whose death his nephew Mansor enlarged the saide Temple fiftie cubites on all sides and adorned the same with manye pillars which he commanded to be brought out of Spaine for that purpose Vnder this temple he made a cesterne or vault as bigge as the temple it selfe the roofe of the saide temple he couered with lead and at euery corner he made leaden pipes to conueigh raine water into the cesterne vnderneath the temple The turret or steeple is built of most hard and well framed stone like vnto Vespasian his Amphitheatrum at Rome containing in compasse moe then an hundreth elles and in height exceeding the steeple of Bononia The staires of the said turret or steeple are each of them nine handfuls in bredth the vtmost side of the wall is ten and the thicknes of the turret is fiue The saide turret hath seauen lofts vnto which the staires ascending are very lightsome for there are great store of windowes which to the ende they may giue more light are made broader within then without Vpon the top of this turret is built a certaine spire or pinnacle rising sharpe in forme of a sugar-loafe and containing fiue and twentie elles in compasse but in height being not much more then two speares length the saide spire hath three lofts one aboue another vnto euerie of which they ascend with woodden ladders Likewise on the top of this spire standeth a golden halfe moone vpon a barre of iron with three spheares of golde vnder it which golden spheares are so fastened vnto the saide iron barre that the greatest is lowest and the least highest It woulde make a man giddie to looke downe from the top of the turret for men walking on the grounde be they neuer so tall seeme no bigger then a childe of one yeere old From hence likewise may you plainly escrie the promontorie of Azaphi which notwithstanding is an hundreth and thirtie miles distant But mountaines you will say by reason of their huge bignes may easily be seene a farre off howbeit from this turret a man may in cleere weather most easily see fiftie miles into the plaine countries The inner part of the saide temple is not very beautifull But the roofe is most cunningly and artificially vaulted the timbers being framed and set togither with singular workmanship so that I haue not seene many fairer temples in all Italy And albeit you shall hardly finde any temple in the whole worlde greater then this yet is it very meanly frequented for the people do neuer assemble there but onely vpon fridaies Yea a great part of this citie especially about the foresaid temple lieth so desolate and void of inhabitants that a man cannot without great difficultie passe by reason of the ruines of many houses lying in the way Vnder the porch of this temple it is reported that in old time there were almost an hundreth shops of sale-bookes and as many on the other side ouer against them but at this time I thinke there is not one booke-seller in all the whole citie to be founde And scarcely is the third part of this citie inhabited Within the wals of Maroco are vines palme-trees great gardens and most fruitefull corne-fields for without their wals they can till no ground by reason of the Arabians often inrodes Know yee this for a certaintie that the saide citie is growen to vntimely decay and old age for scarcely fiue hundreth sixe yeeres are past since the first building thereof forasmuch as the foundations thereof were laide in the time of Ioseph the sonne of Tesfin that is to say in the 424. yeere of the Hegeira Which decay I can impute to none other cause but to the iniurie of continuall warres and to the often alterations of magistrates and of the common wealth After king Ioseph succeeded his sonne Hali and the sonne of Hali was ordained gouernour after his fathers decease In whose time sprung vp a factious crue by the meanes of a certaine Mahumetan preacher named Elmaheli being a man both borne brought vp in the mountaines The saide Elmaheli hauing leuied a great army waged warre against Abraham his soueraigne Lord. Whereupon king Abraham conducting another armie against him had marueilous ill successe and after the battaile ended his passage into the citie of Maroco was so stopped and restrained that he was forced with a fewe soldiers which remained yet aliue to flee eastward to the mountains of Atlas But Elmaheli not being satisfied with expelling his true soueraigne out of his owne kingdome commaunded one of his captaines called Abdul Mumen with the one halfe of his armie to pursue the distressed king while himselfe with the other halfe laide siege to Maroco The king with his followers came at length vnto Oran hoping there to haue renued his forces But Abdul Mumen and his great armie pursued the saide king so narrowly that the citizens of Oran told him in plaine termes that they would not hazard themselues for him Wherefore this vnhappie king beeing vtterly driuen to dispayre set his Queene on horsebacke behinde him and so in the night time road foorth of the citie But perceiuing that he was descried and knowen by his enimies he fled foorthwith vnto a certaine rocke standing vpon the sea-shore where setting spurs to his horse-side he cast himselfe his most deere spouse and his horse downe headlong and was within a while after found slaine among the rockes and stones by certaine which dwelt neere vnto the place Wherefore Abdul Mumen hauing gotten the victorie returned in triumphant manner toward Maroco where the foresaide Elmaheli was deceased before his comming in whose place Abdul was chosen King and Mahumetan prelate ouer the fortie disciples and tooke tenne persons to be of his priuie councell which was a new inuention in the law of Mahumet This Abdul Mumen hauing besieged the citie of Maroco for the space of an whole yeere at last ouercame it and killing Isaac the onely sonne of King Abraham with his owne hand he commaunded all the soldiers and a good part of the citizens to be slaine This mans posteritie raigned from the fiue hundred sixteenth to the sixe hundred sixtie eight yeere of the Hegeira and at length they were
saw any altar he would command his armie there to make a stand and lowly kneeling on his knees would say these words following Thou knowest oh Lord my God that I came hither for none other cause but to release the people of Duccala from the Arabians and cruell Christians which attempt of mine if thou thinkest to be vniust let me onely feele the punishment of this offence for these my followers are guiltlesse And thus we ranged vp and downe the greene hill one whole day but at night we returned vnto our tents The next day it was king Mahumets pleasure to goe on hunting and hauking whereupon his hounds and haukes which he had in great abundance were brought foorth howbeit that sport yeelded nought but wilde geese duckes turtle-doues and other fowles But the day following the king called for his hounds faulcons and eagles their game were hares deere porcupikes roe-deere woolues quailes and starlings and by reason that none had hunted or hawked there an hundred yeeres before they had very good pastime And after we had here staied certaine daies the king with his armie marching vnto the said Elmadin a towne of Duccala willed all his learned men and priestes which hee had brought with him to returne vnto Fez. But my selfe as ambassadour and a certaine number of soldiers he sent vnto Maroco this was done in the 922. yeere of the Hegeira and in the yeere of our Lord 1512. A description of the region of Hascora THis region is bounded northward with certaine mountaines which adioine vpon Duccala westward with a riuer running by the foote of mount Hadimmei which we called before Tensift and eastward by the riuer Quadelhabid that is the riuer of seruants which riuer diuideth Hascora from Tedles And so likewise the hils of Duccala doe separate Hascora from the Ocean sea The inhabitants of this region are far more ciuil then the people of Duccala This prouince yeeldeth great abundance of oyle of Marockin skinnes and of goates of whose haire they make cloath and sadles And hither do all the bordering regions bring their goat-skins whereof the foresaid Marockin or Cordouan leather is made This people hath great traffique with the Portugals with whom they exchange the foresaid leather and sadles for cloath Their coine is all one with the coine of Duccala Also the Arabians vsually buy oyle and other necessaries our of this region Now let vs in order describe all the townes and cities of the saide region Of Elmadin a towne in Hascora THis towne of Hascora being called by the inhabitants Elmadin is built vpon the side of mount Atlas and containeth 〈◊〉 then two thousand families It standeth almost fourescore and ten miles eastward of Maroco and about 60. miles from Duccala Heere may you finde many leather-dressers and all other kinde of artizans with a great multitude of Iewish merchants This towne is enuironed with a certaine wood which is full of oliue and walnut-trees The inhabitants are continually in a manner oppressed with warres among themselues and against a certaine little towne beeing fower miles distant from thence Neither dare any come vpon the plaine lying betweene these two townes saue women onely and slaues except he be well and strongly guarded So that 〈◊〉 man is faine to maintaine an harquebusier or archer for his defence whom he monethlyalloweth ten or twelue pieces of gold which are woorth sixeteene ducates Italian Likewise in Elmadin there are certaine men of great and profound learning which are appointed to be iudges and notaries Whatsoeuer tribute or custome strangers doe pay is deliuered vnto certaine treasurers and customers of the towne which imploy it afterward for the publike benefite They are likewise constrained to pay certaine tribute vnto the Arabians for sundrie possessions which they enioy in the foresaide valley but that money gaineth them at the Arabians hand ten times so much or more In my returne from Maroco I thought good to trauell by this towne where I was right sumptuously entertained by one of Granada my countrey-man who was exceeding rich hauing serued as an archer in this region for fifteene yeeres And albeit the towne of Elmadin had a stately hospitall wherein all merchants trauelling that way were entertained at the common charge yet my countrey-man would not suffer vs there to lodge but for three daies together most curteously welcommed my selfe nine courtiers and all the seruants and retinue which we brought with vs vnto which companie of ours the townesmen presented some of them calues some lambes and some other brought hens Seeing vpon a time so many goates in the towne I merily demaunded of my countrey-man why he gaue vs no kids-flesh to eate hee answered that that was accounted among them of all others the most base and homely meate Their faire and beautifull women are so fonde of strangers that if secret occasion be offered they will not refuse their dishonest companie Of the citie of Alemdin NEere vnto the foresaide towne standeth another commonly called Alemdin being situate fower miles to the west thereof in a valley amidst fower most high hils whereupon the place is exceeding cold The inhabitants are merchants artizans and gentlemen families it containeth to the number of one thousand This towne hath been at continuall war with the towne last before mentioned but in our time both of them were by the meanes of a certaine merchant brought in subiection vnto the King of Fez as we will now declare There was a merchant of Fez which had a paramour in this towne whom he determined foorthwith to marrie but when the marriage day was come this merchant was beguiled of his loue by the gouernour of the towne himselfe which disappointment grieued him full sore albeit he dissembled the matter as well as he could Returning home to the King of Fez the said merchant presented vnto him most rich and costly gifts making humble suite vnto his maiestie that hee would allow him an hundred principall archers three hundred horsemen and fower hundred footemen saying that himselfe would maintaine them all at his owne costs and charges and would winne the said towne of Alemdin for the Kings behalfe and would assure the King seuen thousand ducates for yeerely tribute This offer pleased the King right well and that he might declare his princely liberalitie he would not suffer the merchant to giue wages vnto any but onely to the archers And so with all expedition he commanded his gouernour of Tedles to prouide the saide merchant so many horsemen and so many footmen and two captaines ouer the armie At length comming before Alemdin they besiged it sixe daies which being expired the townesmen told their gouernour in plaine termes that they would not for his cause incur the king of Fez his displeasure nor suffer any inconuenience Whereupon he putting himselfe in a beggers weede attempted to escape away but being knowen and apprehended he was brought before the merchant who committed him to prison And so the townesmen
each one of you to death which though it be ful sore against my wil yet needs I must obey my prince if I wil not wittingly runne vpon mine owne destruction And then shedding some fained teares sithens quoth he we can vpon the sodaine deuise no better course I thinke it most conuenient to send you with a troupe of horsemen vnto the king whose wrath perhaps you may by some meanes pacifie Whereupon the captiues growing farre more pensiue then before recommended themselues vnto God and to the captaines clemencie requesting his good will with many teares And foorthwith there comes one in among them who aduised them to make vp some round summe of money therewithall to trie if they could appease the king and seemed likewise to intreat the captaine that he woulde by his letters stande their friend to the king Heereunto the captiues agreeing with one voice promised that they would giue the king a great summe of golde and woulde most liberally reward the captaine The captaine as though forsooth this condition much disliked him asked at length how much golde they ment to send the king one saide that he woulde disburse a thousand ducates another that he would giue fiue hundreth and the third eight hundreth But the captaine making shew that this was too little saide that he was loth to make signification of so small a summe vnto the king howbeit better it were for you quoth the captaine to goe your selues vnto the king with whom perhaps you shall make a more reasonable end then you are aware of But they fearing hard measure if they should be caried vnto the king were far more importunate with the captaine then before that he would to his power be good vnto them Wherefore the captaine as though at length he had been mooued with their vehement petitions spake vnto them in this wise heere are of you my masters two and fortie noble rich persons if you wil promise two thousand ducates a man I will signifie on your behalfe so much vnto the king and so I hope to perswade him but if this condition will not please him then must I needs send you to make answere for your selues This condition they al of them yeelded vnto howbeit with this prouizo that euery man should giue proportionablie to his wealth and that they might haue for the paiment fifteene daies of farther respite The twelfth day following the captaine fained that he had receiued letters from his king signifying that the king for his sake woulde shewe the captiues more fauour The fifteenth day he had paied vnto him eightie fowre thousand ducates neither coulde he sufficiently woonder how in so small a towne among two and fortie inhabitants onely such huge sums of money could so readily be found Then wrote he vnto his king how all matters had passed demaunding what should be done with the gold And so the king foorthwith sent two of his secretaries with an hundreth horsemen to fetch home the saide golde vnto Fez. The captiues being restored to their libertie presented the saide captaine with horses slaues ciuet and such like gifts to the value of two thousand ducates giuing him exceeding thankes for their libertie and requesting him to take their presents in good woorth for had not their treasure beene quite consumed they saide they woulde haue bestowed farre greater vpon him Wherefore from thence forward that region was subiect vnto the king of Fez and to the foresaide captaine Ezzeranghi till he was trecherously slaine by certaine Arabians Moreouer the king receiueth from that citie euen at this present twentie thousand ducats for yeerely tribute I haue in this narration beene indeede somewhat more large then neede required howbeit perhaps I did it bicause I my selfe was present in al the expedition and was an earnest mediatour for the citizens release neither saw I euer to my remembrance a greater masse of golde then was by subtiltie drawne from them Yea the king himselfe neuer had so much golde in his coffers at one time for albeit he receiueth yeerely thirtie thousand ducates yet neuer could he store himselfe with so much at once nor his father before him These things were done in the yeere of the Hegeira 915. and in the yeere of our Lord 1506. And here I would haue the reader to consider what mans industrie and wit may doe in getting of money The King maruelled much at this summe of gold but afterward he had greater cause to woonder at the wealth of a certaine Iewe who payed more out of his owne purse then all the forenamed captiues And his riches were the cause why the King of Fez exacted fiftie thousand ducates from the Iewes for that they were said to fauour his enimies I my selfe bare him companie that went in the Kings name to receiue the sayd summe of the Iewes Of Efza a towne of Tedles THis towne standeth two miles from Tefza and containeth almost sixe hundred families being built vpon a little hill at the foote of mount Atlas In this towne are many Moores and Iewes which make Bernussi The naturall inhabitants are either artificers or husbandmen being in subiection to the gouernours of Tefza Their women are excellent spinsters wherby they are saide to gaine more then the men of the towne Betweene this towne and Tefza runneth a certaine riuer called by the inhabitants Derne which springing foorth of Atlas runneth through the plaines of that region till at length it falleth into Ommirabih On both sides of this riuer are most beautifull and large gardens replenished with all kindes of fruits The townesmen here are most liberall and curteous people and will permit merchants trauelling that way freely to come into their gardens and to take thence as much fruit as they will No people are slower then they for paying of debts for albeit the merchants lay downe readie money to receiue Bernussi within three moneths yet are they sometime faine to stay an whole yeere My selfe was in this towne when the kings armie lay in Tedles and then they yeelded themselues to the king The second time that the kings generall of his armie came vnto them they presented him with fifteen horses and as many slaues Afterward they gaue him fifteene kine in token that they were the kings loyall subiects Of Cithiteb THis towne was built by the Africans vpon an high hill almost tenne miles westward of Efza Well peopled it is with rich and noble inhabitants and because Bernussi be here made it is alwaies frequented with store of merchants The top of the said high mountaine is continually couered with snow The fields adioyning to the towne are full of vineyards and gardens which bring foorth fruits in such abundance that they are nought woorth to be sold in the markets Their women are beautifull fat and comely being adorned with much siluer their eies and haire are of a browne colour The inhabitants are so stout and sullen that when the other cities of Tedles yeelded to
the kings brother will make a truce Which the Portugals no sooner yeelded vnto but the sauage and merciles Moores put them euery one to the sword sauing three or fower onely who were saued at the request of a captaine in the Moores campe The Portugals Generall being sore dismaied with this slaughter for thereby he had lost all his principal soldiers craued aide of a certaine other captaine which by chance arriued there with a mightie fleete being accompanied with a great number of noblemen and gentlemen Howbeit he was so hindred by the Moores who daily did him all the villanie they could and sunke diuers of his ships that he was not able to performe that which he desired In the meane space newes was published among the Portugals of the king of Spaines death whereupon diuers ships were prouided and many Portugals were sent into Spaine Likewise the captaine of the said new forte seeing himselfe destitute of all succour leauing the forte embarked himselfe in those ships which then lay vpon the riuer But the greatest part of the fleete were cast away at their setting foorth and the residue to escape the Moores shot ran themselues a-ground on the flats and shouldes of the riuer and were there miserably slaine by the Moores Many of their ships were here burnt and their ordinance sunke in the sea So many Christians were then slaine some say to the number of ten thousand that the sea-water in that place continued red with their blood for three daies after Soone after the Moores tooke vp fower hundred great peeces of brasse out of the sea This huge calamitie befell the Portugals for two causes first because they would with such a small number make so rash an assault vpon the Moores whom they knew to be so strong and secondly whereas the portugall-Portugall-king might at his owne cost haue sent another fleete for a new supply he would by no meanes ioine his owne people and Castilians together For by reason of the diuersitie of counsels and of people there is nothing more pernicious then for an armie to consist of two nations yea the Moores certainly expect the vpper hand when they are to fight with such an armie I my selfe was present in the foresaid warre and sawe each particular accident a little before my voyage to Constantinople Of the towne called Tefelfelt THis towne is situate vpon a sandie plaine fifteene miles eastward of Mahmora and almost twelue miles from the Ocean sea Not far from this towne runneth a certaine riuer on both sides whereof are thicke woods haunted with more fierce and cruell lions then the last before mentioned which greatly endanger those trauellers that haue occasion to lodge thereabout Without this towne vpon the high way to Fez standeth an olde cottage with a plancherd chamber therein here the mulettiers and carriers are said to take vp their lodging but the doore of the said cottage they stop as sure as they can with boughes and thornes Some affirme that this rotten cottage while the towne was inhabited was a most stately inne But it was defaced in the foresaid war of Sahid A description of Mecnase THis towne was so called after the name of the Mecnasites who were the founders thereof From Fez it is 36. miles about fiftie from Sella and from Atlas almost 15. miles distant It is exceeding rich and containeth families to the number of six thousand The inhabitants hereof while they dwelt in the fields liued a most peaceable life howbeit at length they fell to dissension among themselues and the weaker part hauing all their cattell taken from them and hauing nothing in the fields to maintaine their estaste agreed among themselues to build this citie of Mecnase in a most beautifull plaine Neere vnto this towne runneth a little riuer and within three miles thereof are most pleasant gardens replenished with all manner of fruits Quinces there are of great bignes and of a most fragrant smell and pomegranates likewise which being very great and most pleasant in taste haue no stones within them and yet they are sold exceeding cheape Likewise here are plentie of damascens of white plums and of the fruite called Iujuba which being dried in the sunne they eate in the spring and carrie a great number of them to Fez. They haue likewise great store of figs and grapes which are not to be eaten but while they are greene new for their figs being dried become so brittle that they waste all to powder and their grapes when they are made raisins prooue vnsauorie Peaches and oranges they haue in so great quantitie that they make no store of them but their limons are waterish and vnpleasant Oliues are sold among them for a duckat and a halfe the Cantharo which measure containeth a hundred pounds Italian Moreouer their fields yeeld them great plentie of hempe and flaxe which they sell at Fez and Sela. In this towne are most stately and beautifull temples three colleges and ten bath-stoues Euery monday they haue a great market without the towne-walles whereunto the bordering Arabians doe vsually resort Here are oxen sheepe and other such beastes to be sold butter and wooll are here plentifull and at an easie rate In my time the king bestowed this towne vpon a certaine noble man of his where as much fruits are reaped as in the third part of the whole kingdome of Fez. This towne hath beene so afflicted by warres that the yeerely tribute thereof hath beene diminished sometime fortie thousand and fiftie thousand duckats and somtimes more and I haue red that it hath beene besieged for sixe or seuen yeeres together In my time the gouernour thereof the king of Fez his cozen relying vpon the fauour of the people rebelled against his kinsman and soueraigne Whereupon the Fessan king with a great armie besieged the towne two moneths together and because it would not yeeld so wasted and destroied all the countrie thereabout that the gouernour lost by that means fiue and twentie thousand duckats of yeerely reuenue What then shall we thinke of the sixe and seuen yeeres siege before mentioned At length those citizens which fauoured the king of Fez opened the gates and stoutly resisting the contrarie faction gaue the king and his soldiers entrance Thus by their meanes the king wan the citie carrying home to Fez the rebellious gouernour captiue who within fewe daies escaped from him This most strong and beautifull citie hath many faire streetes whereinto by conducts from a fountaine three miles distant is conueied most sweet and holesome water which serueth all the whole citie The mils are two miles distant from the towne The inhabitants are most valiant warlike liberall and ciuill people but their wits are not so refined as others some of them are merchants some artificers and the residue gentlemen They count it vnseemely for any man to send an horse-lode of seede to his husbandman or farmer They are at continuall iarre with the citizens of Fez
both to the kings houshold and to his armie This man in time of warre hath tenne or twelue tents to lay vp corne in and euery day with change of camels he sendeth for newe corne least the armie shoulde be vnprouided of victuals he hath also cooks at his command Moreouer there is a gouernour or mastergroome of the stables who prouideth for the kings horses mules and camels and is furnished with all necessaries by the steward There is another also appointed ouerseer of the corne whose dutie it is to prouide barly and other prouender for the beasts and this man hath his scribes and notaries about him who diligently set downe all particular expenses for they must giue vp a perfect account vnto the chiefe steward They haue also a certaine captaine ouer fiftie horsemen which horsemen may well be called purseuants for they are sent by the secretarie in the kings name to do his busines Likewise the Fezzan king hath another captaine of great name being as it were gouernour of his guard who in the kings name may compell the iudges to do iustice and to put their sentences in execution This mans authoritie is so great that sometimes he may commit principal noblemen to ward may seuerely punish them according to the kings commandement Moreouer the said king hath a most trusty chancelor who keepeth the great seale and writeth and signeth the kings letters He hath also a great number of footemen the gouernour of whom accepteth and dismisseth whom he thinkes good and giueth to euery one wages according to his agilitie and desert And whensoeuer the king commeth in place of iudgement the saide gouernour alwaies attendeth vpon him and is in a manner his high chamberlain Also there is another that taketh charge of the carriages and baggage of the armie and causeth the tents of the light horsemen to be carried vp and downe on mules and the tents of the other soldiers on camels There are likewise a company of ensigne-bearers who in marching on a iourney carrie their colours wrapped vp but he that goeth before the armie hath his banner displaied and of a great height And euery one of the saide standard-bearers knoweth most exactly alwaies fords of riuers and passages through woods wherefore they are for the most part appointed to guide the armie The drummers of whom there are great store in the kings host plaie vpon certaine drums of brasse as bigge as a great kettle the lower part whereof is narrow the vpper broad being couered with a skin These drummers ride on horsebacke hauing alwaies on the one side of their horses a great waight hanging downe to counterpoize the heauines of their drums on the other side They are allowed most swift horses bicause the Moores account it a great disgrace to loose a drum The said drums make such a loude and horrible noise that they are not onely heard a farre off but also strike exceeding terrour both vpon men and horses and they are beaten onely with a buls pizzle The musitions are not maintained at the kings charge for the cities are bounde at their costs to send a certaine number of them to the warres who according to their demeanour in the warres are admitted or not admitted vnto the kings table This king hath also a certaine master of ceremonies who sitteth at his feete in the senate-house and commandeth each man to sit downe and to speake according to his dignitie All the maide-seruants in the kings familie are Negro-slaues which are partly chamberlains and partly waiting-maids And yet his Queene is alwaies of a white skin Likewise in the king of Fez his court are certaine Christian captiues being partly Spanish and partly Portugale women who are most circumspectly kept by certaine Eunuchs that are Negro-slaues The king of Fez hath very large dominions but his reuenues are small to wit scare three hundreth thousand ducats the fift part whereof redoundeth not to the king for the remainder is diuided into sundrie portions as we haue before signified Yea the greater part of the said reuenues is paide in corne cattle oile and butter all which yeeld but small store of money In some place they pay a ducate and one fourth part tribute for euery acre but in other places a whole family paieth but so much In some other regions each man aboue fifteene yeeres of age paieth as much tribute also Neither are the people of this great citie more vexed with any thing then with paying of their tributes and impositions Heere also is to be noted that the Mahumetan gouernours the priests onely excepted may not exact greater reuenues then those that Mahumet hath allotted vnto them namely of euery of their subiects which possesseth 100. ducates in ready money they are to haue two ducates an halfe for yeerely tribute Euery husbandman likewise is bound to pay for tribute the tenth part of all his corne And all the saide tributes he appointed to be paied vnto the patriarke who should bestow that which was superfluous for the Prince to haue vpon common vses namely for the releeuing of poore impotent people and widowes and for maintaining of wars against the enimie But since the Patriarches began to decay the Princes as we haue beforesaide exercised tyrannie For it was not sufficient for them to exact all the forenamed tributes and riotously to consume the same but also to vrge people vnto greater contributions so that all the inhabitants of Africa are so oppressed with daily exactions that they haue scarcely wherewithall to feed and apparell themselues for which cause there is almost no man of learning or honesty that will seeke any acquaintance with courtiers or will inuite them to his table or accept any gifts bee they neuer so pretious at their hands thinking that whatsoeuer goods they haue are gotten by theft and briberie The King of Fez continually maintaineth sixe thousand horsemen fiue hundreth crossebowes and as manie Harquebusiers being at all assayes prepared for the warres who in time of peace when the king goeth on progresse lye within a mile of his person for being at home in Fez he needeth not so strong a guard When he wageth warre against the Arabians that be his enemies because the forenamed garison is not sufficient he requireth ayde of the Arabians his subiects who at their owne costs finde him a great armie of men better trained to the warres then his owne souldiers before-mentioned The pompe and ceremonies of this king are but meane neither doth he willingly vse them but onely vpon festiuall daies and when meere necessitie requireth When the king is to ride foorth the master of ceremonies signifieth so much vnto certaine herbengers or postes whereupon the herbengers giue notice thereof vnto the kings parents vnto his nobilitie his senatours captaines guardians and gentlemen who presently arrange themselues before the palace gate At the kings comming foorth of the palace the herbengers appoint vnto each man his place and order
of artificers and merchants Vpon this mountaine dwelleth one called Sidi Heli Berrased being lord ouer many mountaines This Sidi Heli brought some ciuilitie into this mountaine rebelled against the king of Fez and maintained continuall warre against the Portugals The inhabitants of the villages of this and the foresaid mountaines are free from all taxation and tribute bicause 〈◊〉 serue vnder their captaine as well for horsemen as for 〈◊〉 Come heere groweth small store but great plentie of flaxe There are 〈◊〉 woods and many fountaines vpon this hill and the inhabitants go all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of mount Beni Gebara THis mountaine is very steepe and of a woonderfull height out of the foote whereof spring certaine riuers Vines and figges here are great store but no corne at all and the inhabitants weare most base attire They haue abundance of goats oxen of so little a stature that a man would take them to be calues of halfe a yeere olde Euery weeke they haue a market being furnished with very few commodities Hither doe the merchants of Fez resort and the muletters or carriers which conueie fruits out of this mountaine vnto Fez. In times past it was subiect vnto a certaine prince of the king of Fez his kinred and there were collected out of this mountaine almost two thousand ducates of yeerely tribute Of mount Beni Ierso THis mountaine in times past was exceedingly well peopled Heere was likewise a faire colledge built wherein the Mahumetan lawe was publikely taught for which cause the inhabitants were freed from all tributes and exactions Afterward a certaine tirant being assisted by the king of Fez made this mountaine to become tributarie vnto him but first he put the inhabitants to flight and then destroied the colledge wherein were founde bookes woorth more then fowre thousand ducates and the learned and famous men he cruelly put to the sword This was done in the 918. yeere of the Hegeira which was in the yeere of our Lord 1509. Of mount Tezarin THis mountaine called by the inhabitants Tezarin standeth neer vnto the foresaid Beni Ierso aboundeth greatly with fountaines deserts vineyards Vpon the top thereof stand diuers ancient buildings which so farre foorth as I can coniecture were erected by the Romains And here as is before signified certaine fond people continually search in caues and holes of the earth for the Romains treasure All the inhabitants of this mountaine are most ignorant people and greatly oppressed with exactions Of mount Beni Busibet THis is a most cold mountaine and therefore it yeeldeth neither corne nor cattell both by reason of the extreme coldnes and the barrennes thereof Moreouer the leaues of the trees are not fit for goates to feede vpon They haue so great plentie of nuts that they abundantly furnish the citie of Fez and all other neighbour cities and townes therewith All their grapes are blacke whereof they make a certaine pleasant meate called Zibibbo They make likewise great store of must and wine They are clad in certaine woollen clokes or mantles such as are vsed in Italy these mantles haue certaine hoods which couer their heads and visages so that you can scarce discerne them to be men and they are particoloured with blacke and white spots In winter the merchants that resort vnto this mountaine to carrie away nuts and raisins vnto Fez can scarce finde any meate to eate for there is neither corne nor flesh but onely onions and certaine salt fishes which are extreme deere They vse likewise to eate sodden must and beanes dressed after their manner and this is the daintiest fare that this mountaine can affoord and their sodden must they eate with much bread Of mount Beni Gualid IT is an exceeding high and steepe hill and the inhabitants are very rich for of their blacke grapes they make the foresaid meate called Zibibbo Almonds figges and oliues they haue in great abundance neither pay they any tribute vnto the king of Fez but onely each family one fourth part of a ducate to the end they may haue free libertie to buie and sell in Fez market And if any citizen of Fez doth them any wrong when they take him or anie of his kinred in their mountaine they will not suffer him to returne home to Fez till sufficient recompence be made These people go decently apparelled and they haue a priuilege granted that whatsoeuer persons are banished out of Fez may freely remaine in their mountaine yea they will bestow their liuing gratìs vpon such banished persons so long as they continue amongst them And doubtles if this mountaine were subiect vnto the king of Fez it would affoord him yeerely for tribute sixe thousand ducates for it containeth mo then sixe hundreth rich families Of mount Merniza THis mountaine standèth iust by the former the inhabitants being endued with the same nobilitie libertie and wealth that the people of the former are endued with The women of this mountaine for any light iniurie offered by their husbands leauing foorthwith their saide husbands and children will depart vnto some other mountaine and seeke them newe paramours fit for their humor For which cause they are at continuall warre one with another neither will they be reconciled till he that is last possessed of the woman pay her former husband all such money as he spent in the solemnizing of her marriage and for this purpose they haue certaine iudges that make their poore clients spend almost all their whole substance Of mount Haugustian IT is an exceeding high and a cold mountaine containing great store of springs and abundance of vines bearing blacke grapes togither with plentie of figs of honie and of quinces howbeit the sweetest and fairest quinces grow vpon a plaine at the foote of the hill Likewise they are well stored with oile and are free from all tribute and yet there is not one of them but in token of a thankefull minde will sende great gifts vnto the king of Fez hence it is that they may freely and securely traffique with the people of Fez of whom they buie great store of corne wooll and cloth They are most ciuilly and decently apparelled especially such as dwell vpon the principall part of this mountaine who are most of them either merchants or artificers and a great many of them gentlemen Of Mount Beni Iedir THis is a great and well peopled mountaine but it yeeldeth nought but grapes whereof they vse to make the foresaid Zibibbo and wines The inhabitants were in times past free from all tribute howbeit in regard of their daily robberies and outrages committed against other people the gouernour of Bedis being aided with some souldiers of Fez subdued them all and depriued them of their libertie in this mountaine there are about fiftie farmes or granges which scarcely pay fower hundred ducates for tribute Of Mount Lucai THis mountaine is of a wonderfull height and verie difficult to ascend The inhabitants are exceeding rich hauing great abundance of raisins figs almonds oyle
them likewise which was a cause that the merchants of both partes trauelled more securely Of the towne of Gerseluin THis ancient towne was built by the Africans at the foote of one of the foresaid mountaines not farre from the riuer of Ziz. It is enuironed with an impregnable and stately wall the founder whereof was a certaine king of the Marin-familie In regard of the walles and bulwarks it is a most beautifull towne But being once entred thereinto you shall see most base and beggerly houses and scarce any inhabitants dwelling in them and that by the iniurie of certaine Arabians who when they reuolted from the Marin-familie tooke this towne and grieuously oppressed the citizens Their drie and barren fields lie open to the north Vpon the riuer are diuers mils and by the side thereof are many gardens replenished with grapes and peaches which they vse to drie in the sunne and to keepe an whole yeere They haue great scarcitie of cattell which causeth them to liue a most 〈◊〉 life This towne was built by the familie of Zeneta in stead of a fort to the end it might be a place of refuge onely in their iournie to Numidia but afterward it was surprised and vtterly destroied by the familie of Luntuna Here also are great store of such domesticall serpents as we reported to be in the mountaines of Ziz. Here endeth the third booke IOHN LEO HIS FOVRTH BOOKE OF the Historie of Africa and of the memorable things contained therein A description of the kingdome of Telensin THis kingdome beginneth westward from the riuers of Zha Muluia eastward it bordereth vpon The great riuer southward vpon the desert of Numidia and northward vpon the Mediterran sea This region was called by the Romanes Caesaria and was by them inhabited howbeit after the Romanes were expelled it was fullie possessed by the ancient gouernours thereof called Beni Habdulguad and being a generation of the familie of Magraua And it remained vnto them and their successors three hundred yeeres vntill such time as a certaine mightie man called Ghamrazen the sonne of Zeijen tooke possession thereof His posteritie changing at length their ancient name were called Beni Zeijen that is the sonnes of Zeijen and they enioied this kingdome for the space almost of 380. yeeres At length the kings of Fez of the Marin-familie greatly molested them so that those ten kings which succeeded Zeijen were some of them vnfortunate in battell some slaine some taken captiue and others expelled their kingdome and chased to the next mountaines Neither were they free from vexation of the kings of Tunis howbeit the kingdome of Telensin remained still to this familie and they continued in peace for almost an hundred and twentie yeeres being endammaged by no forren power sauing that one Abu Feris king of Tunis and his sonne Hutmen made them to pay tribute for certaine yeeres vnto Tunis till the decease of the said Hutmen This kingdome stretcheth in length from east to west 380. miles but in bredth from north to south that is from the Mediterran sea to the deserts of Numidia not aboue fiue and twentie miles which is the occasion that it is so often oppressed by the Arabians inhabiting the Numidian deserts The kings of Telensin haue alwaies endeuoured by great gifts to gaine the good will and friendship of the Numidians but they could neuer satisfie their insatiable couetice A man shall seldome trauell safely through this kingdome howbeit here are great store of merchants perhaps either because it adioineth to Numidia or else for that the way to the land of Negros lieth through it It hath two most famous frequented hauen-townes the one called Horam and the other Marsa Elcabir whither vse to resort great store of Genoueses and Venetians But afterward both these townes were taken by Don Ferdinando the Catholike king to the great inconuenience of all this kingdome for which cause the king then raigning called Abuchemmeu was expelled his kingdome and put to flight by his owne subiects afterward Abuzeijen was restored to the kingdome who had for certaine yeeres been imprisoned by his nephew Abuchemmeu howbeit he enioied the kingdome but a very short space For he was at length miserably slaine by Barbarossa the Turke who conquered the kingdome of Tremizen by force of war Whereof Abuchemmeu that was expelled by his owne subiects hauing intelligence sent to craue aide of the emperour Charles the fift whereby he hoped to recouer his kingdome Which request being granted he leuied a puissant armie and made warre against Barbarossa and hauing driuen him out he recouered his kingdome and seuerely punished them that had conspired his banishment And then he gaue the Spanish soldiers their pay sent the captaines home with great rewardes and allowed Charles the emperour a large yeerely reuenue so long as he liued After his decease succeeded his brother Habdulla who neglecting the league made before betweene the emperour and his brother and relying vpon Soliman the great Turke refused to pay any more tribute vnto the emperour Charles and hath kept possession of the kingdome till this present The greater part of this region is vntilled drie and barren especially towards the south Howbeit the sea coast is somewhat more fertill The territorie adiacent to the citie of Telensin is full of woods sauing that the westerne part towardes the sea is mountainous Likewise the regions of Tenez and Alger containe mountaines abounding with all kinde of commodities In this part ate but few cities and castles howbeit it is a most fruitfull and blessed place as we will hereafter declare in particular Of the desert of Angad THis barren drie and vntilled desert being vtterly destitute of water and wood is situate vpon the westerne frontire of the kingdome of Telensin and extendeth in length fowerscore and in bredth almost fiftie miles Here are great store of roes deere and ostriches Such merchants as trauell from Fez to Telensin passe ouer this desert not without great danger by reason of certaine Arabians which liue onely vpon theft aud robberie especially in winter when as the soldiers appointed to defend the said desert from those lewd vagabonds doe vsually retire themselues into Numidia Many shepherds there are in this desert who are daily vexed with multitudes of fierce lions which sometime seaze not onely vpon cartell but also vpon men Of the castle of Temzegzet THis castle standing in the same place where the foresaid desert adioineth vnto the territorie of Telensin and built by the Africans vpon a rocke was in times past very strong and often annoied by the people ofFez for it standeth in the high way from Fez to Telensin Through the fields adiacent runneth a certaine riuer called in their language Tefme The said fields adiacent sufficiently abound with all things necessarie for the sustenance of the inhabitants Heretofore being subiect vnto the kings of Telensin it well deserued the name of a citie but since the Arabians got
iackets of leather with hoods vpon them such as trauellers vse in Italie and by this meanes their heads are defended from raine and from snow The schollers and students are diuersly apparelled according to their abilitie and according to the fashion of their natiue countrie the doctors iudges and priestes goe in more sumptuous and costly attire The customes and rites obserued in the King of Telensin his court A Woonder it is to see how stately and magnificently the King of Telensin behaueth himselfe for no man may see him nor be admitted to parle with him but onely the principall nobles of his court each one of whom are assigned to beare offices according to their place and dignitie In this court are sundry offices and dignities and the Kings lieutenant beeing principall officer allotteth vnto each one such places of dignitie as may be correspondent to their honour and this lieutenant leuieth the kings armies and sometime conducteth them against the enemie The second officer is the Kings chiefe Secretarie who writeth and recordeth all things pertaining to the King The third is the high treasurer who is bound by 〈◊〉 office to receiue tributes and customes The fourth is the kings dispensator or almoner who bestoweth such liberalitie as the king vouchsafeth The fift is the captaine of the kings garde who so often as any nobles are admitted to the kings presence conducteth the garde vnto the palace-gate Then are there other meaner officers as namely the master of the kings stable the ouerseer of his saddles stirrops and his chiefe chamberlaine who giueth attendance onely at such times as any courtiers are admitted vnto the kings audience For at other times the kings wiues with certaine Christian captiues and eunuches doe performe that dutie The king sometimes in sumptuous and costly apparellrideth vpon a stately stead richly trapped and furnished In riding he obserueth not much pompe nor many ceremonies neither indeede doth he carrie so great a traine for you shall scarcely see a thousand horsemen in his companie except perhaps in time of warre when as the Arabians and other people giue attendance When the king goeth foorth with an armie there are not many carriages transported therein neither can you then discerne the king by his apparell from any meane captaine and though he conducteth neuer so great a garde of soldiers yet a man would not thinke how sparing he is of his coine Gold-money he coineth of baser golde then that whereof the Italian money called Bislacchi is coined but it is of a greater size for one peece thereof waigheth an Italian duckat and one fourth part He stampeth likewise coine of siluer of brasse His dominions are but slenderly inhabited howbeit because the way from Europe to Aethiopia lieth through his kingdome he reapeth much benefit by the wares that passe by especially since the time that Oran was surprized by the Christians At the same time Telensin it selfe was made tributarie which was euer before a free citie whereupon the king that was the author thereof was extremely hated of his subiects till his dying day Afterward his sonne that succeeded him demanded customes and tributes likewise for which cause being expelled out of his kingdome by the people he was enforced to craue aide of the emperour Charles the fift by whose meanes as is beforesaid he was restored vnto his said kingdome When Oran was subiect vnto the king of Telensin the region therabout paid vnto the king for yeerly tribute sometime three thousand and sometime fower thousand duckats the greatest part whereof was allowed vnto the kings garde and to the Arabian soldiers I my selfe continuing certaine monethes in this kings court had good experience of his liberalitie I haue indeede omitted many particulars in the description of this court of Telensin but because they agreed for the most part with those things which we reported of Fez I haue here passed them ouer least I should seeme too tedious vnto the reader Of the towne of Hubbed THis towne being built in manner of a castle standeth about a mile and an halfe southward of Telensin It containeth store of inhabitants who are for the most part dyers of cloth In this towne was buried one Sadi Bu Median being reputed a man of singular holines whom they adore like a god ascending vp to his monument by certaine steps Here is likewise a stately college and a faire hospitall to entertaine strangers in both which were built by a king of Fez of the Marin-familie as I finde recorded vpon a certaine marble stone Of the towne of Tefesra TThis towne standing vpon a plaine fifteene miles from Telensin hath great store of smiths therein by reason of the iron-mines which are there The fields adiacent are exceeding fruitfull for corne and the inhabitants being for the most part blacke-smithes are destitute of all ciuilitie Of the towne of Tessela THis ancient towne was built by the Africans vpon a certaine plaine extending almost twenty miles in length Here groweth such abundance of excellent corne as is almost sufficient for the whole kingdome of Telensin The inhabitants liue in tents for all the buildings of this towne are destroied though the name remaineth still These also in times past paide a great yeerely tribute vnto the king of Telensin Of the prouince called Beni Rasid THis region extendeth in length from east to west fiftie and in bredth almost fiue and twentie miles The southerne part thereof is plaine ground but toward the north it is full of fruitfull mountaines The inhabitants are of two sorts for some of them dwell vpon the mountaines in houses of indifferent good building and these imploy themselues in husbandry and other necessarie affaires Others being of a more noble condition liue onely vpon the plaines in tents and there keepe their camels horses and other cattell They are molested with daily inconueniences and pay yeerely tribute vnto the king of Telensin Vpon the foresaid mountaines are sundrie villages among which there are two principall whereof the one called Chalath Haoara and built in manner of a castle vpon the side of a certaine hill containeth to the number of fortie merchants and artificers houses the other called Elmo Hascar is the seate of the kings lieutenant ouer those regions and in this village euery thursday there is a great market where abundance of cattell corne raisins figs and honie is to be sold here are likewise cloth-merchants and diuers other chapmen which for breuities sake I passe ouer in silence I my selfe continuing for some time among them found to my hinderance what cunning theeues they were The king of Telensin collecteth yeerely out of this prouince the summe of fiue and twenty thousand duckats and it containeth so many most expert soldiers Of the towne of Batha THis great rich and populous towne was built in my time vpon a most beautifull and large plaine which yeeldeth great abundance of corne The tribute which the king of Telensin hath here amounteth to
Hegeira 915. Of the towne called Vrbs. BY the name of this towne it sufficiently appeareth that the Romans were the first founders thereof Situate it is vpon the most beautifull plaine of al Africa which by reason of the abundance of fountaines is so wel stored with corne that from thence to Tunis which standeth 190. miles northward of this place and to other regions adioyning great plentie of corne is transported In this towne are to bee seene sundrie monuments of the Romans as namely images of marble and euerie where vpon the walles are sentences in Latin letters engrauen the towne-walles are most artificially and sumptuously built This towne the Gothes being assisted by the Moores surprised when as it contained the chiefe treasure and wealth that the Romanes enioyed in all Africa Afterward it remained for certaine yeeres desolate being at length notwithstanding inhabited a new yet so that it deserueth rather the name of a village then of a towne Not far from this towne runneth a certaine riuer vpon the which are diuers water-milles and this riuer taketh his beginning from a little hill but halfe a mile distant from the towne All the inhabitants are either weauers or husbandmen and are continually molested by the king of Tunis Howbeit if the fertilitie of the soyle the pleasantnes of the place and the holesome disposition of the aire were as well knowne to the king as they are to my selfe I thinke verily that he would leaue Tunis and goe and dwell in this region The Arabians are well acquainted with the place for from hence they yeerely transport great store of corne vnto their deserts Of the towne of Beggia THis towne built by the Romans vpon a mountaine almost twentie miles distant from the Mediterran sea and about eightie miles westward of Tunis standeth right in the way from Tunis to Constantina But because the name of this towne is no Arabian name it seemeth that the first name hath been oftentimes corrupted and changed The ancient walles of this towne are as yet standing and it is a most defensible place and well furnished with all kinde of necessaries It is inhabited with great store of weauers and husbandmen and the fields thereof are so large and fruitfull for all kindes of graine that the people of the same region could not sufficiently manure them vnlesse they were assisted by certaine bordering Arabians and yet a great part of their fields lieth vntilled howbeit they send continually great store of corne vnto Tunis The king of Tunis surchargeth them with continuall and greeuous exactions which is the cause why their estate so mightily decaieth Of the towne called Hain Sammit THis towne was in my time founded by the king of Tunis being distant almost thirtie miles from Beggia It was built they say of purpose that none of the fields thereabout might lie vntilled But it hath since beene destroied by the Arabians at the commandement of the king of Tunis and now there remaineth a tower and certaine other buildings onely whereof some haue roofes vpon them and others none Of the towne of Casba THis towne built by the Romans vpon a large plaine of twelue miles compasse is fower and twentie miles distant from Tunis The towne-wall remaineth strong as yet but the towne it selfe is destroied by the Arabians and the fields lie vntilled and all by the negligence of the king of Tunis and of the inhabitants of the same region Of the castle of Choros THis castle founded not many yeeres past by the Africans vpon the riuer of Magrida and being about ten miles distant from Tunis is enuironed with most fruitfull fields Neere vnto this towne groweth a certaine wood greatly abounding with oliues At length it was destroied by certaine Arabians called Beni Heli which make perpetuall warre against the king of Tunis and liue onely vpon theft and robberie Of the towne of Biserta THe ancient towne of Biserta otherwise called Bensart founded by the Africans vpon the Mediterran sea thirtie fiue miles from Tunis is but of a small bignes and is inhabited with most miserable people Neere vnto this towne entreth a certaine creeke or arme of the sea which at the first being very narrow increaseth by little and little into a maruellous bredth On either side there of dwell great store of fishers and husbandmen and westward of the said creeke lieth a most large and fruitfull plaine called Mater which is greeuously molested by the king of Tunis and by the Arabians In this creeke are taken abundance of fishes and after the moneth of October they catch a certaine fish called by the Africans Giarrafa which I take to be the same that is at Rome called Laccia for then by reason of the abundance of raine that falleth the salt water of the baye becommeth somewhat fresh wherewith those fishes they say are much delighted Very deepe it is and affoordeth good fishing till the end of May but then the fishes begin to decrease and to be much drier in taste then before like vnto the fishes taken in the riuer of Fez. Of the great citie of Carthage THis famous and ancient citie was built at the first by a certaine people that came out of Syria But others say that it was founded by a queene The African chronicler Ibnu Rachich is of opinion that it was built by a certaine people that came from Barca being expelled thence by the king of Egypt wherefore I cannot in this place affirme any certaintie as touching the founders thereof for besides that the African historiographers disagree about this matter there is none that hath left any writing thereof ancienter then the decay of the Roman empire when as all the Romans that were found in Africa were expelled by the Goths But afterward Tripolis of Barbaria and Capis being taken by the Mahumetans the inhabitants of them both went vnto Carthage whither the principall Romans and Goths had retired themselues who endeuoured by all meanes to withstand the Mahumetans and after many skirmishes the Romans fled to Bona and the Goths left Carthage for a pray vnto the Mahumetans so that it remained desolate many yeeres after till a certaine Mahumetan patriarke called Elmahdi brought in new colonies howbeit he could scarce furnish the twentith part with inhabitants There are to be seene at this day certaine ruines of the citie-walles till you come to a deepe and large cesterne And there remaineth as yet also a certaine conduct which conueieth water to the citie from a mountaine thirtie miles distant being like vnto the conduct of the great palace at Rome Neere vnto Carthage likewise are certaine great and ancient buildings the description whereof is out of my remembrance On the west and south part of this citie are diuers gardens replenished with all kinde of fruites which are carried from thence to Tunis in great abundance The plaines adioining to this citie are exceeding fruitfull though not very large for vpon the north part thereof lieth a mountaine the
rich men he bestoweth vpon them some gouernment or charge with prouision Wherefore for feare of confiscation after death euery one coueteth to 〈◊〉 his wealth or to remoue far from the court and the kings sight For which cause the citie of Fez commeth far short of hir ancient glorie Besides his reuenues haue beene augmented of late yeeres by mightie sums of gold which he fetcheth from Tombuto and Gago in the lande of Negros which gold according to the report of some may yeerely amount to three millions of ducates His Forces THe Xeriffo hath not any Fortresses of great importance but only vpon the sea-coast as Cabo de Guer Larache and Tetuan for as the Turks and Persians do so he placeth the strength of his state in armed men but especially in horse And for this cause he standeth not much vpon his artillerie although hee hath very great store which his predecessors tooke from the Portugals and others in Fez Maroco Tarodant and in the foresaide 〈◊〉 causing also more to bee cast when neede requireth for he wanteth not masters of Europe in this Science He hath an house of munition in Maroco where they make ordinarily six and fortie quintals of powder euery moneth as likewise also caliuers and steele-bowes In the yeere of our Lord 1569. a fire tooke hold on these houses with such furie that a great part of the citie was destroied therewith But for the Xeriffoes forces they are of two sorts the first is of two thousand seuen hundred horse and two thousand harquibuziers which he hath partly in Fez but most in Maroco where he is resident being as it were of his daily guard The second is of a roiall squadron of sixe thousand gentlemen being all of noble parentage and of great account These men are mounted vpon excellent horses with furniture and armes for varietie of colour most beautifull and for riches of ornament beyonde measure estimable for euery thing about them shineth with gold siluer pearle iewels and whatsoeuer else may please the eie or satisfie the curiositie of beholders These men besides prouision of corne oile butter and flesh for themselues their wiues children and seruants receiue further in wages from seuentie to an hundred ounces of siluer a man The third sort of forces which he hath consisteth of his * Timariotti for the Xeriffo granteth to all his sons and brothers and other persons of account or authoritie among the people of Africke or to the princes of the Arabians the benefite of great Lordships tenures for sustentation of his Cauallarie and the Alchaides themselues till the fields and afterwardes reape rice oile barly butter sheepe hens and monie and distribute the same monethly to the souldiers according to the seuerall qualitie of their persons They also giue them cloth linnen and silke to apparell themselues armes of offence and defence and horses with which they serue in the warres and if they die or be killed they allow them other A thing which was also vsed in Rome towards them that serued on publike horses Euerie one of these leaders contendeth to bring his people into the fielde well ordred for armes apparell and horses besides this they haue betweene fower and twentie and thirtie ounces of siluer wages euery yeere His fourth militarie forces are the Arabians who liue continually in their Auari for so they call their habitations each one of them consisting of an hundred or two hundred 〈◊〉 gouerned by diuers Alchaides to the end they may be readie in time of need These serue on horse-backe but they are rather to be accounted theeues then true soldiers His fift kinde of forces militarie are somewhat like vnto the trained soldiers of Christian princes and among these the inhabitants of cities and villages of the kingdome and of the mountaines are enrolled It is true that the king makes but little account of them very seldome puts armes into their hands for feare of insurrections and rebellions except in the warres against the Christians for then he cannot conueniently forbid them For it being written in their law that if à Moore kil a Christian or is slaine by him he goeth directly into Paradise a diabolicall inuention men women and those of euery age and degree run to the warres hand ouer head that at least they may there be slaine and by this meanes according to their foolish opinion gaine heauen No lesse zeale to our confusion may we perceiue in the Turks especially for defence of their sect for one would thinke they went to a marriage and not to the warre scarcely being able with patience to attend their prefixed time of going thither They repute them holy and happie that die with armes in hand against their enimies as on the contrarie those men vnhappie and of little woorth that die at home amidst the lamentation of children and outcries of women By the things aboue set downe we may easily comprehend what numbers of men the Xeriffo can bring into the field but yet we may learne better by experience For Mullei Abdala in the yeere 1562. besieged Mazagan with two hundred thousand men choaking the ditch with a mountaine of earth and beating downe the walles thereof with his Artillerie but for all this he was enforced by the valour of the Portugals and the damage which he receiued by their mines to giue ouer his siege Besides this Prince can not continue a great war aboue two or three moneths and the reason hereof is because his forces liuing on that prouision which he hath daylie comming in as well for sustenance as for aparrell and not being able to haue all this conducted thither where the war requireth it followeth of necessitie that in short time they must needs returne home for their maintenance of life and further it is an euident thing that no man can protract a war at length except he be rich in treasure Molucco who ouerthrew Sebastian king of Portugal had in pay vnder his ensignes fortie thousand horse and eight thousand foote besides Arabians and aduenturers But it is thought he could haue brought into the field seuentie thousand horse and more foot then he did Of the dominions and fortresses which the king of Spaine hath vpon the Isles and maine landes of Africa and of the great quantity of treasure and other commodities which are brought from thence BEsides Oran Mersalquibir Melilla and Pennon which the king of Spaine possesseth within the streights as likewise çeuta Tanger and Arzil which by the title of Portugal he holdeth very neere the streights of Gibraltar and Mazagan in like sort without the streights mouth twentie miles to the southward of Arzil he hath along the coast of Affrick from Cape de Guer to that of Guardafu two sorts of states for some are immedidiately vnder him and others are as it were his adherents The Ilands of Madera Puerto Santo the Canaries the Isles of Arguin of Cabo Verde the isle Del Principe with that of Sant
intreated them most barbarously as also those Abassins whom they had conuerted He likewise was afterwards ouerthrowne in battaile by the Turkes who stripped Ouiedo and his companions of all things that they had Whereupon they grew into such pouertie and miserie as all helpe failing them they were enforced to get their liuing with the plough and spade till they all died one after another This Ethiopian Christianitie is brought at this day to an hard point by the inuasions of the Turkes and Mores as is before declared Notwithstanding their religious men affirme that they haue prophesies of the comming of a Christian nation to their Ports from farre countries with whom they shall go to the destruction of the Mores and these they hold to bee Portugals They haue farther certaine presagements of Saint Sinoda who was an Egyptain Hermite of the ruine of Meca the recouerie of the holy sepulcher and the taking of Egypt and Cairo by the Abassins vnited with the Latines Of the Christians of the isle of Socotera VIcinitie of place and conformitie of customes inuite me to crosse the sea and to visite the Christians of Socotera This island is sixtie miles long and fiue and twentie in bredth It is situate ouer against the Red sea The people thereof receiued the faith from Saint Thomas the Apostle for they affirme that heere he suffred shipwracke and that of the broken and battered ship he built a church which is as yet extant They imitate for the most part the rites customes and fashions of the Abassins but with great ignorance and errour for being separated from all commerce with the Christians of these parts they remaine depriued of that spirituall helpe which the westerne church by communication might impart vnto them They retaine circumcision and some other Moisaicall ceremonies Also they pray for the dead and obserue ordinarie fasts hauing prefixed howers for praier and bearing great reuerence to their religion in honour whereof they build chappels wherein assembling togither with an high and loude voice they make supplications and praiers in the Hebrew toong But their farre distance as I said from these parts of Christendome the sterilitie of the island and the pouertie of the people are occasions that the little light of truth which they haue is in a manner quite eclipsed by multitudes of errors Vnto other things may be added the tyrannie of the king of Fartac a Mahumetan who subdued them about the yeere of our Lord 1482. and partly by dominion partly by affinitie and kinred and partly also by conuersation brought in amongst them the deadly poison of Mahumet From this seruitude they were deliuered by Tristan d' Acunna one of the king of Portugals captaines sixe and twentie yeeres after they fell into the same And for their better securitie he repaired the fortresse leauing therein a Portugall garrison But bicause the charges farre surmounted any benefite that came of the island not long after the said fortresse was ruinated and the island abandoned by the Portugals Iohn the third king of Portugall had a great desire to assist and free them from the tyrannie of the Turkes whereunto after the taking of Aden they were subiect But for feare of prouoking the great Turke or giuing him occasion to disturbe and molest those seas with his fleetes as also for the dispatching of other affaires he had in hand he neuer went about that enterprise Of the Christians of Nubia FRantis Aluarez in his Aethiopicke relation writeth that he being at the court of Prete Ianni there arriued certaine ambassadors frō Nubia to make 〈◊〉 vnto that prince for some priests and ministers of the Gospell and sacraments by whom they might be instructed in the Christian faith But Prete Ianni answered them that he had not enough for his owne countrey whereupon they returned home very discōtent so that hauing no helpe from the Christians on the otherside being daily sollicited by the Mahumetans vpon whom they border on many sides it is thought that at this present they remaine in a manner without any religion at all Notwithstanding at this day there are more then an hundred and fiftie churches standing with diuers other notes and signes of Christianitie Their language partaketh much with the Egyptain and no lesse with the Chaldean and Arabick Of the Christians in the king dome of Congo HItherto we haue described that little which remaineth of the ancient Christianity of Africk It now resteth that we giue some notice of that which hath beene brought in of late Congo is a kingdome about the bignes of France situate as is before said beyond the equinoctiall betweene Cabo da Catherina and Bahia das vacas It was conuerted to Christian religion by the meanes of Don Iohn the second king of Portugal in manner following Don Diego Cano a captaine of that king by his commission coasting along Africa after a great nauigation arriued at length in the great riuer of Zaire and 〈◊〉 to saile vp into it he discouered along the banks thereof many townes where he found much more affability in the inhabitants then in those of other countries which before he had discouered And that he might be able to giue the more faithfull aduertisement thereof to his king his hart moued him to go to the court of that kingdome Whither bein̄g come and courteously brought to the kings presence he shewed them the vanity of their Idolatry the high reuerence of christian faith And he found in that Prince so good a disposition as returning into Portugal besides an ambassador he was permitted to carry with him certaine youths of noble parentage to the end they might learne the Christian doctrine and be well instructed therein and being baptized also might afterwards be sent back with Portugall priests to preache the gospel and to plant the Christian faith in that kingdome These youthes remained in Portugal two yeeres and were there liberally entertained and with all diligence instructed in matters of religion and were at length with great solemnity baptized When they came to riper yeeres king Iohn sent them backe againe into their owne countrey with an honorable ambassage in whose company went for teachers and instructers of that nation three Dominick-Fryers reputed for men of exquisit learning and holy life Being arriued in Congo they first cōuerted Mani-Sogno the kings vncle with one of his sonnes After that ensued the baptisme of the king and Queene for which cause in short time there was a goodly Church erected vnder the name and title of Santa Cruz. And in the meane while there were infinit Idols burnt The king was called Iohn the Queene Leonora and his eldest sonne Alonso This Alonso was a singular good man who not being satisfied in his owne conuersion laboured also with a kind of Apostolicall zeale for the conuersion of his subiects But let no man thinke that the planting of religion can euer passe without some labour and trouble These Dominick-Fryers besides the intemperature of