David numbred in his time no less than 1300000 fighting Men besides the Tribes of Levi and Benjamin But alas such were the crying Sins of its Inhabitants that it not only spew'd them out as it had done those who dwelt before them But the Almighty being highly provok'd by their many and repeated Abominations hath turn'd that fruitful Land into barrenness for the wickedness of them who dwelt therein For such is the dismal State of this Country at present that besides the Turkish Yoke under which it groans the greatest part thereof is not only laid waste but even where duly manur'd 't is generally observ'd that the Soil is not near so fertil as formerly The longest Day in the Northmost part of this Country is about 14 Hours ¼ the shortest in the Southmost is about 10 Hours and the Nights proportionably Such is the mean and depauperated State of this Country at present that we may now reckon it destitute of all Commodities for the Merchant its Inhabitants now-a-days being mere Strangers to all manner of Commerce In its flourishing Condition under the Kings of Judah and Israel the People thereof did indeed manage a very considerable Trade abroad and that chiefly by the two famous Emporiums of Tyre and Sydon abovemention'd besides the Ships of Tarshish which Solomon sent yearly to the Land of Ophir and so noted were these two Maritime Cities of old for Merchandizing that the Evangelical Prophet Isaiah 23. 8. denouncing the overthrow of Tyre calls it The Crowning City whose Merchants are Princes and whose Traffickers are the Honourable of the Earth And Verse 3. he termeth Sydon a Mart of Nations But so fully accomplisht is the Prophetical Denounciation against 'em both and so low and despicable is their Condition at present that I heartily wish all flourishing Cities of Christendom might be so wise as seriously to reflect on the same and to take timely warning by them especially considering that most of our Populous and Trading Cities are now such Dens of Iniquity that their Inhabitants may justly dread That 't will be more tollerable for Tyre and Sydon in the day of judgment than fâ—r them In the Southern Parts of Palestine is Asphaltis or Asphaltites so term'd from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Bitumen that noted Lake of Judaea where the abominable Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah formerly stood otherways call'd the Dead Sea and remarkable at present for abundance of Sulphurous Vapours which still ascend in so great a measure that no Bird is able to fly from one side of the Lake to the other 'T is also observable for good store of Apples growing near its Banks which appear very lovely to the Eye but being toucht and cut up prove mere naught being nothing else but a heap of nauseous Matter 2. Nigh to the place of the Ancient Sarepta are many Caves and Apartments hewen out of the firm Rock which some vainly imagine to have been the Habitation of Men in the Golden Age before Cities in these Parts of the World were well-known But others with greater shew of probability take 'em for the Caves of the Sidonians mention'd in the Book of Joshua under the Name of Mearah 3 Not far from the once noted City of Tyre are several large square Cisterns which still go by the Name of Solomon's among the Christians of that Country but why so call'd they can give no other reason than bare Tradition 4. At St John d' Acre the Ancient Ptolemais are yet to be seen the Ruins of a Palace which acknowledgeth Richard I. King of England for its Founder and the Lion pissant is still visible upon some of the Stones 5. On Mount Carmel are some Remains of a Monastry of Carmelite Fryers with a Temple dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and under it is a private Cell or Cave which Travellers alledge to be the ancient residing Place of the Prophet Elias On the same Mountain are found a great many Stones that have the lively Impression of Fishes Bones upon ' em As also abundance of petrifi'd Fruit particularly Plumbs or Stones of that resemblance 6. Not far from the Brook Cedron stands a part of the Pillar of Absalom which he erected in his life-time out of an ardent desire to Eternize his Name and nigh to it is a great heap of small Stones which daily encreaseth because either Jew or Mahometan passing by seldom fails to throw one at the same and that out of abhorrency of the Son's Rebellion against the Father 7. In the Mountains of Judah is a remarkable Spring where Philip is said to have baptiz'd the Ethiopian Eunuch whereupon 't is call'd by the Name of The Ethiopian Fountain and hath a Church adjacent erected 't is probable out of Devotion in Honour of the Place and Memory of that Fact Yet by the by 't would seem that this were not the place of the Ethiopian's Baptism because those rocky and declining Mountains are hardly passable on Horse-back much less in a Chariot 8. Nigh to the asoresaid Fountain is a considerable Cave where 't is reported St. John the Baptist did live from the seventh Year of his Age till he appear'd in the Wilderness of Judaea as the promis'd Elias 9. At Bethlehem is the goodly Temple of the Nativity erected by St. Helena Mother of Constantine the Great who call'd it St. Mary's of Bethlehem 'T is now possess'd by the Franciscans of Jerusalem and is still intire having many Chappels and Altars but those little frequented except it be upon extraordinary Occasions 10. In the Mountains of Juda are the Remains of an Ancient Church built by St. Helena and dedicated to St. John the Baptist and that in the place where Zachary the Prophet was born And nigh to it where the Blessed Virgin did Visit her Cousin Elizabeth is a Grotto in which 't is said that the Body of Elizabeth lies interr'd 11. Upon the left hand in going out of the City of Jerusalem by the Gate of Joppa is Mount Sion on whose top are still to be seen the Ruins of the Tower of David which was once a Building of wonderful Strength and admirable Beauty 12. Upon Mount Calvary is the stately Temple of the Holy Sepulchre built by the aforesaid Virtuous St. Helena and hitherto visited by Multitudes of Christians who slock to it from all Parts of the World either out of Devotion or Curiosity It 's divided into a vast multitude of Appartments containing many Chappels and Altars which for the most part receive their Names from some remarkable Circumstance of our Saviour's Passion besides those peculiar to Christians of different Nations at Jerusalem particularly the Abyssines Armenians Georgians Cophtes Jacobites Maronites c and at the entry of one of those Chappels is the Sepulchre of Godfrey of Boulogn on one hand and that of his Brother Baldwin's on the other But Lastly In and about Jerusalem besides the Observables abovemention'd are these following Particulars viz a Mosque erected in
Jaen Chief Town Idem E. to S. W. upon the Guadalquivir or nigh to it Cordova Idem Archbishoprick of Sevilla Idem Bishoprick of Cadiz Idem D. of Medina Sidonia Idem Southward §. 6. Granada a Kingdom Cont. the Bishoprick of Almeria Ch. Town Idem Southward upon the Sea-Coast Guadix Idem E. to S. W. Archbishoprick of Granada Idem Bishoprick of Malaga Idem §. 7. Murcia a Kingdom Contain Murcia properly so call'd Ch. T. Murcia E. to W. Territory of Lorca Idem Cartagena Idem Southward upon the Sea-Coast §. 8. Valencia a Kingdom Contains the Provinces of Millares Chief Town Villa Hermosa N. to S. Xucar Valencia Segura 〈◊〉 §. 9. Catalonia a Principality Contains the Territ of Puigcerda Chief Town Idem N. E. to S. W. upon the Ebro La seu d' Urgel Idem Balaguer Idem Lerida Idem Tortosa Idem Girona Idem E. to W. nigh unto or upon the Sea-coast Barcelona Idem Villa Franca de Panades Idem Terragona Idem To these add the Country of Rousillon Chief Town Perpignan S. of Narbone in Lower Languedoc §. 10. Arragon a Kingdom Contains the Bishopricks of Jaca Chief Town Idem N. W. to S. E. Huesca Idem Balbastro Idem Archbishopr of Saragosa or Caragoca Idem upon the Ebro Bishopricks of Taracona Idem N. to S. Alborazin Idem Tervel Idem §. 11. Navarr a Kingdom Contains the Majorships of Pampelona Chief Town Idem N. to S. Olita Idem Tudela Idem Estella Idem W. to E. Sanguesa Idem §. 12. Old Castile a Province Contains the Territories of â—â—rgos Chief Town Idem W. to S. E. Rioja Logronno Calahorra Idem Soria Idem E. to W. on the Douro Osma Idem Valladolid Idem Segovia Idem 56 m. S. E. of Valladolid Avila Idem 63 m. S. §. 13. New Castile comprehending Extrema Dura Being divided into North the Tago Middle between the Tago and Guadiana South of Guadiana North contains the Towns of Coria W. to E. Placentia Toledo Madrid All 3 N. E. of Toledo Alcala de Henares Guadalaxara Middle contains the Towns of Alcantara upon the Tago Merida upon the Guadiana Truxille 36 miles N. E. of Merida Cuensa upon the Xucar South contains the Towns of Badajos From W. to E. Ellenera Cividad Rea Alcaraz §. 14. Leon a Kingdom Being divided into North the Douro C. T. in N. are Palencia E. to S. W. on the Douro Toro Zamora Leon N. to S. W. Astorga South C. T. in S. are Salamanca N. to S. E. S. W. of Alva Cividad Rodrigo S. W. of Salamanca THIS large Continent being now Subject to two distinct Sovereigns viz His Catholick Majesty and the King of Portugal I shall separately consider these two Sovereignities Therefore SPAIN THIS Country formerly Iberia Hesperia and by some Spania is term'd by the Italians Spagna by its Natives EspaÌ„na by the French Espagne by the Germans Spamen and by the English Spain so call'd as some fancy from a certain King nam'd Hispanus others from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 raritas vel penuria because of its scarcity of Inhabitants But the most receiv'd Opinion is That it came from Hispalis now Seville the chief City of the whole Country in former times The Air of this Country is generally very pure and calm being seldom infested with Mists and Vapours but in the Summer so extreamly hot especially in the Southmost Provinces that 't is both dangerous ' and inconvenient for the Inhabitants to stir abroad about Noon from the middle of May to the last of August The opposite Place of the Globe to Spain is that part of Zelandia nova or some of the ill known Continent lying between 190 and 202 Degrees of Longitude with 36 and 44 Degrees of South Latitude The Soil of this Country it lying in the 6th and 7th North Climate is in many places very Dry and Barren several of the Inland Provinces being either overgrown with Woods or cumbered with Sandy and Rocky Mountains and others whose Soil is naturally fertil are for the most part wholly neglected lying waste and uncultivated for many Years and that by reason of the fewness or rather the detestable Laziness of its Inhabitants But this defect of Corn and other Grain which ariseth partly from the Nature of the Country but more from the Temper of the People is sufficiently supplied by various sorts of excellent Fruits and Wines which with little Art and Labour are here produc'd in great plenty The longest Day in the Northmost part of this Country is about 15 Hours ¼ the shortest in the South is 9 Hours ¼ and the Nights proportionably The chief Commodities of this Country are Wines Oyls Sugar Metals Rice Silk Liquorish Honey Flax Saffrom Annifeed Raisins Almonds Oranges Lemons Cork Soap Anchovies Sumack Wooll Lamb-Skins and Tobacco c. Nigh to the City of Cadiz is an old ruinous Building now converted into a Watch-Tower which some would fain perswade themselves to be the Remains of Hercules his Pillars so much talkt off by the Ancients In the City Granada is the large Sumptuous Palace of the Moorish Kings whose inside is beautifi'd with Jasper and Porphery and adorn'd with divers Arabick and Mosaick Inscriptions At Terragona in Catalonia are to be seen the Ruins of an Ancient Circus in the Street call'd la Placa de la Fuente and at Segovia in Old Castile are the Remains of a Noble Aqueduct built by the Emperor Trajan and supported by an Hundred and Seventy seven Arches in double Rows reaching from one Hill to another Without the Walls of Toledo was an ancient large Theatre some part whereof is yet standing Here also is an admirable Modern Aqueduct contriv'd by Joanniltus Turrianus a Frenchman according to the Order of Philip II. At Orense in Gallicia are several Springs of Medicinal hot Waters wonderfully esteem'd off by the ablest Physicians At the City of Toledo is a Fountain whose Waters near the Bottom are of an Acid Taste but towards the Surface extreamly Sweet Near Guadalaxara in New Castile is a Lake which never fails to send forth dreadful Howlings before a Storm The Cathedral Church of Murcia containing above four hundred Chappels is remarkable for its curious Steeple which is so built that a Chariot may easily ascend to the Top thereof Many talk of a Ship of Stone with Masts Sails and Tackling to be seen in the Port of Mongia in Gallicia As to the River Guadiana its diving under Ground from whence 't was formerly call'd Anas the same iâ— so notorious that we need say nothing of it Archbishopricks in this Kingdom are those of Compostella Granada Tarragona Burgos Sevil Valentia Saragossa Toledo Bishopricks in this Kingdom are those of Oviedo Malaga Jacca Segovia Lugo Cartagena Balbatro Cuenza Mondonedo Segorve Terver Cividad Reale Corunna Origuella Albarazin Siguenza Tuy Barcelona Pamplona Leon Orense Tortosa Valladolid Salamanca Cordova Lerida Calahorra Toro Cadiz Solsona Placentia Astorga Jaen Vich Coria Palencia Guadix Tarazona Avila Zamora Almeria
all other Parts of Italy besides The most remarkable Monuments of Antiquity in Rome it self are these following 1. Amphitheatres particularly that call'd the Old Amphitheatre now term'd the Coliseo because of a Colossean Statue that stood therein begun by Vespasian and finish'd by Domitian 2. Triumphal Arches as that of Constantine the Great nigh to the old Amphitheatre erected to him in Memory of his Victory obtain'd over the Tyrant Maxentius with this Inscription Liberatori Urbis Fundatori Pacis That of T. Vespasian the ancientest of all the Triumphal Arches in Rome erected to him upon his taking the City and spoiling the Temple of Jerusalem That of Septimius Severus to be seen nigh the Church of St. Martinas Add to these the Triumphal Bridge whose Ruins are still visible nigh Pont Angelo so much reputed of old that by a Decree of the Senate none of the meaner sort of People were suffer'd to tread upon the same 3. Thermae or Baths as those of the Emperor Antoninus Pius which where of a prodigious bigness according to that of Ammianus Marcellinus who speaking of 'em says Lavacra in modum Provinciarum exstructa Those of Alexander Severus the goodly Ruins whereof are to be seen nigh the Church of St. Eustachioâ—t and lastly the Ruins of Thermae Constantinianae still visible in Monte Cavallo formerly Mons Quirinalis 4. Several remarkable Pillars particularly that call'd Colonna d' Antonino erected by M. Aurelius Antoninus the Emperor in Honour of his Father Antoninus Pius and still to be seen in the Corso being as yet 175 Foot high That call'd Colonna Trajana set up in Honour of Trajan and now to be found in Monte Cavallo That call'd Colonna Rostrata still extant in the Capitol erected in Honour of Dulius and deckt with Stems of Ships upon his Victory over the Carthaginians the same being the first Naval Victory obtain'd by the Romans To these we may add the two great Obelisks one before Porta del Populo and the other before the Church of S. John de Lateran formerly belonging to and now the chief Remainders of the famous Circus Maximus which was begun by Tarquinius Priscus augmented by J. Caesar and Augustus and at last adorn'd with Pillars and Statues by Trajan and Heliogabalus We may also add those Three Pillars of admirable Structure now to be seen in Campo Vaccino which formerly belong'd to the Temple of Jupiter Stator built by Romulus upon his Victory over the Sabines together with Six others on the side of the Hill mounting up to the Capitol three of which belong'd once to the Temple of Concord built by Camillus and the other three to the Temple of Jupiter Tonans built by Augustus upon a narrow escape from a Thunder-bolt And finally In the rank of Pillars we may place the famous Milliarium still reserv'd in the Capitol which is a little Pillar of Stone with a round Brazen Ball on its top erected at first by Augustus Caesar in Foro Romano from whence the Romans reckon'd their Miles to all parts of Italy Other noâ—ed Pieces of Antiquity in Rome and not reducible to any of the former Classes are chiefly these 1. The stately Ruins of Palâ—â—â— Magiore or the great Palace of the Roman Emperors once 〈…〉 over the greatest part of the Palatine Hill 2. The Ruins oâ— Templum Pacis which are nigh the Church of St. 〈…〉 in Campo Vaccino built by T. Vespasian who adorn'd the same with some of the Spoils of the Temple of Jerusalem 3. The Roâ—unda or Pantheon built by Agrippa and dedicated to all Gods many of whose Statues are still extant in the Palace of Justiniani reserved there as a Palladium of that Family 4. The Mausoleum Augusti near S. Rock's Church but nowextreamly decay'd And lastly The very Plate of Brass on which the Laws of the Ten Tables were written â—â— still to be seen in the Capitol Remarkable Monuments of Antiquity in the Kingdom of Naples are these following 1 The Grotte of Pausilipus being a large Cart-way about a Mile long cut under ground quite throâ—â— Mountain near the City of Naples made as some imagine by Lucullus but according to others Cocceius Nerva 2. Some Remains of a fair Amphitheatre and Cicero's Accademy nigh Puzzuolo as also the Arches and Ruins of that prodigious Bridge being three Miles long built by Caligula between Puzzuolo and Baiae to which Building Suetonius the Historian seems to allude when he taxeth that Emperor with his Substructiones insanâ— 3. The Foundation of Baiae it self and some Arches with the Pavement of the very Streets all visible under Water in a clear Sun shine day 4. The Elisian Fields so famous among the Poets and extreamly beholden to them for their Fame being only an ordinary Plat of Ground still to be seen nigh the place where the City of Baiae stood 5. The Piscina Mirabilis which is a vast Subterranean Building nigh the Elesian Fields design'd to keep fresh Water for the Roman Gallies who used to harbour thereabouts 6 The Ruins of Nero's Palace with the Tomb of Agrippa his Mother nigh to the aforesaid Piscina as also the Baths of Cicero and Tritola and the Lacus Avernus so noted of old for its infectious Air. 7. The Grotte of the famous Stbylla Cumaea nigh to the place where Cumoe stood as also the Sulphureous Grotta de'l Cane nigh to the Grotte of Pausilipus abovemention'd Lastly The obscure Tomb of that well known Poet P. Virgâ—itus Maro in the Gardens of S. Severino nigh to the entrance of the Grotte of Paustlipus To all these we may here subjoin that noted and most remarkable Prodigy of Nature the terrible Vulcano Vesuvius about seven Miles from the City of Naples Remarkable Monuments of Antiquity in all other Parts of Italy are chiefly these 1. The Via Appia a prodigious long Causway of five days Journey reaching from Rome to Brundusium and made at the sole Charges of Appius Claudius during his Consulate 2. Via Flaminia another Causway of the same length reaching from Rome to Rimini and made by the Consul Flaminius who imploy'd the Soldiers therein during the time of Peace 3. Via Aemilia reaching from Rimini to Bologna and pav'd by Aemilius Lepidus Collegue of Flaminius 4. The old Temple and House of Sybilla Tyburtina to be seen at Tivoli a Town about fifteen Miles from Rome 5. An Ancient Triumphal Arch yet standing near Fano a Town in the Dutchy of Urbine 6. The very Stone upon which Julius Caesar stood when he made an Oration to his Men persuading 'em to pass the Rubâ—con and advance streight to Rome The same is to be seen upon a Pedestal in the Market-place of Rimini 7. A rare Amphitheatre in Verona erected at first by the Consul Flaminius and repaired since by the Citizens and now the intirest of any in Europe as also another intire at Pola in Istria being of two Orders of Tuscan Pillars plac'd one above another 8 The Ruins of an Amphitheatre in Padua part of
People are mightily stain'd by many notorious Vices which reign among them particularly those of Revenge and Lust Jealousy and Swearing to all of which they 're so excessively given that even a modest Narrative would seem incredible As for the Female Sex a vulgar Saying goes of them that they 're Magpies at the Doors Saints in the Church Goats in the Garden Devils in the House Angels in the Streets and Syrenes at the Windows The present Language of Italy is a Dialect of the Latin which was the Ancient Language of this Country Almost every Province and City hath its peculiar Idiom but that of Tuscany is reckon'd the purest and best polisht of all others and is that which Persons of Quality and Learning usually speak Pater-Noster in Italian runs thus Padre nostro che sci ne Cielo sia sanctificato il tuo nome venga il tuo Regno sia fatta la tua volonta st come in ciclo cosi encora in terra Dacci hogli il nostro pane cotidiano é rimettiâ—i i nostri debiti si come encor noigli remettiano a i nostri dâ—bitori E non ci indurre in tentatione ma liberaci dal male Amen The Government of Italy can't be duly considered without looking back unto the Chief Divisions of that Country abovemention'd there being so many different Sovereignties therein independent on one another and not subjected to one Head The whole being therefore divided into Upper Middle and Lower according to the aforesaid Analysis I. The Upper or Lombardy being again divided into one Principality five Dutchies two Republicks and one Bishoprick That one Principality viz Piedmont is under the Duke of Savoy The five Dutchies viz. those of Montferrat Milan Parma Modena and Mantua are under several Sovereigns For Montferrat is partly under the Duke of Savoy and partly under the French King Milan is under the King of Spain for which he is dependent on the Emperor Parma is mostly under its own Duke who is feudatary to the Pope paying yearly ten thousand Crowns Modena is under its own Duke who is dependent on the Emperor And Mantua is mostly under its own Duke who is feudatary to the Emperor The two Republicks being those of Venice and Genoa of whom particularly afterwards are govern'd by their Senare and Magigistrates The one Bishoprick being that of Trent is subject to the House of Austria II. The Middle Part being divided into the Land of the Church the Dukedom of Tuscany and the Republicks of Luca and St. Marino The Land of the Church or St. Peter's Patrimony is for the most part in the Hands of the Pope and rul'd by several Governors set over its various Divisions who are generally not a little severe upon the Subject His Holiness the Pope by Virtue of the Jurisdiction of the Roman See is both Temporal and Spiritual Sovereign thereof and is commonly stil'd by Roman Catholicks the Chief Ecclesiastick of all Christendom the Patriarch of Rome and the West the Primate and Supream Governor of Italy the Metrapolitan of those Bishops Suffragan to the See of Rome and Bishop of the most famous St. John of Lateran The Dukedom of Tuscany is for the most part under its own Duke except the Towns of Siena for which he is Tributary to Spain and Orbitellio which belongeth also to the Spaniard This Duke is esteem'd the Richest and most Powerful of all the Italian Princes but his manner of Government is generally reckon'd too pressing and uneasy to the Subject The Towns and Republicks of Luca and St. Marino are govern'd by their own Magistrates as free States But of them afterwards III. The Lower Part of Italy being the Kingdom of Naples is subject to the Spaniard for which he is Homager to the Pope and accordingly sends his Holiness yearly a White Horse and 7000 Ducats by way of acknowledgment It is govern'd by a Vice-Roy appointed and sent thither by his Catholick Majesty who is usually one of the Chief Grandees of Spain and is commonly renew'd every thrid Year These Vice-Roys as in most other of the Spanish Governments during their short Regency do industriously endeavour to lose no time in filling their own Coffers and that by most grievous Exactions on the poor Subject So severe indeed are the Spaniards upon the Neapolitans that the King's Officers are commonly said to suck in the Dutchy of Milan and to Fleece in the Island of Sicily but to Fley off the very Skin in the Kingdom of Naples so that the People of this Country which is one of the best in Europe are most miserably harrass'd by these hungry and rapacious Vultures Besides these Princes in Italy abovemention'd there are several others who are under the Protection of some higher Power particular that of the Emperor the Pope or the King of Spain To the Government of Italy we may add the four following Republicks viz. those of Venice Genoua Luca. St. Marino I. Venice This Republick is under an Aristocratical Government the Sovereignty of the State being lodg'd in the Nobility or certain number of Families enroll'd in the Golden Book call'd the Register of the Venetian Nobles Their Chief Officer is the Duke or Doge whose Authority is a meer Chimera and he no better than a Sovereign Shadow Precedency being all he can justly claim above the other Magistrates Here are establisht Five Principal Councils viz. 1 That term'd the Grand Council comprehending the whole Body of the Nobility by whom are elected all Magistrates and enacted all Laws which they judge convenient for the Publick Good 2 That term'd the Pregadi commonly call'd the Senate of Venice consisting of above an hundred Persons who determine Matters of the highest Importance as those relating to Peace or War Leagues and Alliances 3 The College consisting of Twenty four Lords whose Office is to give Audience to Ambassadors and to report their Demands to the Senate which alone hath Power to return Answers 4 The Council of Ten consisting of Ten Noblemen whose Office it is to hear and decide all Criminal Matters This Court whose Jurisdiction is extraordinary great is yearly renew'd and Three of these Noblemen call'd the Capi or Inquisitors of State are chosen Monthly to which Triumvirate is assign'd such a Power in judging of Criminals that their definitive Sentence teacheth the chiefest Nobleman of the State as well as the meanest Artificer if they are unanimous in their Voices otherways all the Ten are consulted with II Genoua is under an Aristocratical Government very like to that of Venice for its Principal Magistrate hath the Name or Title of Duke but continueth only for two Years to whom there are Assistant eight Principal Officers who with the Duke are call'd the Seigniory which in Matters of the greatest Importance is also subordinate to the Grand Council consisting of Four hundred Persons all Gentlemen of the City which Council with the Seigniory do constitute the whole Body of the Commonwealth This State is much
Goddess Ceres at Eleusis about four Hours from Athens a part of whose Statue is yet to be seen And at Salonichi are several stately Christian Churches particularly those of S. Sophia Gabriel and the Virgin Mary now converted into Mahometan Mosques the last of which is a Noble Structure environ'd on each side with Twelve Pillars of Jasper Stone and as many Crosses upon their Chapiters remaining as yet undefac'd by the Turks But the Chief Rarities of Greece may be reckon'd those various Monuments of Antiquity to be seen at Athens The Chief of which are these following 1. The Acropolis or Citadel the most Ancient and Eminent Part of the City 2. The Foundations of the Walls round the City suppos'd to be those erected by Theseus who enlarg'd the same 3. The Temple of Minerva now a Turkish Mosque as intire as yet as the Rotonda at Rome and is one of the most beautiful Pieces of Antiquity that 's extent this Day in the World 4 The Panagia Spiliotissa or Church of our Lady of the Grotto 5. Some magnificent Pillars particularly those commonly reckon'd the Remains of Adrian's Palace of which there were formerly six Rows and twenty in each Row but now only seventeen stand upright and are fifty two Foot high and seventeen in Circumference at the Base Here likeways is a Gate and an Aqueduct of the said Emperor 6. The Stadium or Place where the Citizens us'd to run Races encounter Wild Beasts and celebrated the famous Games term'd 〈◊〉 7. The Hill Musaeum now call'd To Seggio by the Inhabitants so 〈◊〉 from the Poet Musaevs the Disciple of Orphens who was wont there to recite his Verses 8. Some Remains conjectured to be those of the Arâ—opagus and Odâ—um or Theater of Musick 9 The Ruins of many Temples especially that of Augustus whose Front is still intire consisting of four Dorick Pillars as also those of Theseus Hercules Jupiter Olympius Castor and Pollux c. 10. The Tower of Andronicus Cyrrhastes or Temple of the Eight Winds still intire 11. The Phanari or Lanthorn of Demosthenes being a little Edifice of White Marble in Form of a Lanthorn which is also intire For a particular Description of all these Rarities both at Athens and other Parts of Greece with many remarkable Inscriptions both in Greek and Latin Vid. Wheeler's Travels Archbishopricks in this Country are chiefly those of Amphipoli Malvasia Saloniki Larissa Patras Adrianople Tarsa Napoli di Romania Janna Athens Corinth Bishopricks in this Country are chiefly those of Scotusa Misitra Glykaeon Granitza Modon Argiro Castro Salona Thalanta Caminitza Delvino Livadia Amphissa Arges Butrinto No Universities in this Country though once the Seat of the Muses but in lieu of them are Twenty four Monastries of Caloyers or Greek Monks of the Order of St. Basil who live in a Collegiate manner on the famous M. Athos now term'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Holy Mountain where the younger Sort are instructed in the Holy Scriptures and the various Rites of the Greek Church and out of these Colleges are usually chosen those Bishops who are subject to the Patriarch of Constantinople The Greeks most famous of old both for Arms and Arts and every thing else that 's truly valuable are so wonderfully degenerated from their Forefathers that instead of those excellent Qualities which did shine in them particularly Knowledge Prudence and Valour There 's nothing now to be seen among them but the very Reverse or Contrary of these and that in the highest degree Such is the Pressure of the Ottoman Yoak under which they groan at present that their Spirits are quite sunk within 'em and their very Aspect doth plainly declare a disconsolate and dejected Mind However the unthinking Part of them do so little consider their present Slavish Subjection that there 's no People more Jovial and merrily dispos'd being so much given to Singing and Dancing that 't is now become a Proverbial Saying As merry as a Greek The Trading Part of them are generally very Cunning and so enclin'd to over-reach if they can in their Dealings that Strangers do not only meet with much more Candour among the Turks but if one Turk seem in the least to discredit anothers Word or Promise his Reply is still at hand I hope you don't take me for a Christian Such is that Blot which these Imprudent Professors of Christianity have cast upon our most Holy Religion in the Eyes of its Numerous and Implacable Adversaries The Languages here in use are the Turkish and Vulgar Greek the first being peculiar to the Turks and the other to the Christians a Specimen of the former shall be given in the last Paragraph of this Section As for the other I can't omit to mention the mighty difference there is betwixt it and the Ancient Greek not only in respect of the many Turkish Words now intermixt but also in the very Pronounciation of those which yet remain unalter'd as I particularly observ'd by conversing with several of the Greek Clergy and being present at some of their Publick Prayers Yea the knowledge of the Ancient Greek in its former Purity is not only lost among the Vulgar Sort of People but also almost extinguisht even among those of the highest Rank few or none of their Ecclesiasticks themselves pretending to be Masters of it Pater-Noster in the best Dialect of the modern Greek runs thus Pater hemas opios I se ces tos Ouranous hagiasthito to Onoma sou na erti he basilia sou to thelema sou na ginetez itzon en te Ge os is ton Ouranon To psomi hemas dose hemas simeron Kae-sichorase hemos ta crimata hemon itzon kae hemas sichorasomen ekinous opou mas adikounkae men ternes hemas is to pirasmo alla soson hemas apo to kako Amen So many brave and valiant Generals did Greece formerly breed that Strangers usually resorted thither to learn the Art of War and such were the Military Atchievements of this People both at home and abroad and so far did the force of their Arms extend that under their Great Alexander was erected the third Potent Monarchy of the World But alas such hath been the sad Catastrophe of Affairs in this Country and so low and lamentable is its Condition at present that nothing of its former Glory and Grandeur is now to be seen For its poor and miserable Natives are now strangely cow'd and dispirited its once numerous and flourishing Cities are now depopulated and meer heaps of Ruins its large and fertil Provinces are now laid waste and lie uncultivated And lately the whole and still a great Part of the Country doth now groan under the heavy Burden of the Turkish Yoke and its various Divisions are rul'd by their respective Sangiacs in Subordination to the Grand Signier See the last Paragraph of this Section The establisht Religion in this Country is that of Mahometanism but Christianity for its number of Professors
and Citta or Civitta Vecchia Archbishopricks and Universities none The Inhabitants of this Island not reckoning the Slaves are for the most part very Civil and Courteous to Strangers and follow the Mode of the Sicilians in Habit. They also resemble the Sicilians in some of their worst Qualities being extremely Jealous Treacherous and Cruel A corrupt Arabick doth here mightily prevail being hitherto preserv'd by the frequent Supplies of Turks taken and brought in from time to time But the Knights and People of any Note understand and speak several European Languages particularly the Italian which is authoriz'd by the Government and us'd in publick Writings This Island after many turns of Fortune was presented by the Emperor Charles V. to the Order of the Knights of St. John of Hierusalem whose place of Residence it hath hitherto been since the loss of Rhodes and is now govern'd by the Patron of that Order stil'd the Grand Master of the Hospital of St. John of Hierusalem and Prince of Malta Gaules and Goza The Knights did formerly consist of eight different Languages or Nations whereof the English was the sixth but now they 're only seven For Arms the Grand Master beareth a White Cross commonly call'd the Cross of Jerusalem with four Points The establisht Religion in Malta is that of the Church of Rome which is made essential to the Order no Person of a different Perswasion being capable to enter therein This Island receiv'd the Blessed Gospel in the Apostolick Times CANDIA THIS Island the famous Crete of the Ancients is term'd by the French Candie by the Germans Candien by the Italians Spaniards and English Candia so call'd from its chief Town Candie built by the Saracens who from their new Town gave the Island a new Name The Air of this Island is generally reckon'd to be very Temperate and Healthful to breath in but the South-winds are sometimes so boisterous that they much annoy the Inhabitants The opposite Place of the Globe to Candia is that part of the vast Pacifick Ocean between 231 and 236 Degrees of Longitude with 34 and 37 Degrees of South Latitude This Island is bless'd with a very rich and fertil Soil producing in great abundance both Corn Wine Oyl and most sorts of excellent Fruits The length of the Days and Nights in Candia is the same as in the Northmost Parts of Barbary Of which afterwards The chief Commodities of this Island are Muscadel-Wine Malmsey Sugar Sugar-Candy Honey Wax Gum Olives Dates Rasins c. North of Mount Psilorili the famous M. Ida is a remarkable Grotto dug out of the firm Rock which divers of our Modern Travellers would fain perswade ' emselves to be some Remains of King Minos's Labyrinth so much talk'd off by the Ancients Before the Turkish Conquest of this Island there was one Archbishop who had Nine Suffragans but since they chang'd their Masters the number of such Ecclesiasticks is neither sixt nor certain The Inhabitants of this Island were formerly given to Piracy Debauchery and Lying especially the last and so noted were they for the same that a notorious Lye was commonly term'd Mendacium Cretense For this detestable Vice were they reproach'd by one of their own Poets Epimenides out of whose Writings the Apostle citeth these words K 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tit. 1. 12. Their Experience in Maritime Affairs was indeed very great and they 're represented as a very considerable People among the Ancients for their Skill in Navigation The present Inhabitants being Turks and Greeks their respective Characters are already given page 174 181. Languages here in use are the Vulgar Greek and Turkish especially the former the number of Greeks on the Island being far greater than that of the Turks For a Specimen of which Languages Vid. page 175 and 181. This Island after a bloody and tedious War of Twenty four Years between the Turks and Venetians was at last constrain'd to submit to the Ottoman Yoak Anno 1669. under which it hath ever since groan'd and is now govern'd by a Turkish Sangiack whose place of Residence is usually at Candie the Capital City of the whole Island See the Danuubian Provinces page 182. Christianity according to the Greek Church is here profess'd by Tolleration but Mahometanism is the Religion establisht by Authority This Island receiv'd the Light of the Blessed Gospel in the Apostolick Age. CYPRUS THIS Island known anciently by divers Names besides the present particular those of Acamantis Amathusa Aspelia Cryptos Cerastis Macaria and Aerosa is term'd by the Italians Isola di Cypro by the Spaniards Chypre by the French Cypre and by the Germans and English Cyprus so call'd as most imagine from K 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Cypress wherewith this Island did mightily abound in former times There being several Lakes and some Natural Salt-pits in Cyprus from which abundance of noxious Vapours daily arise these intermixing ' emselves with the Body of the Atmosphere do render the Air very gross and unhealthful to breath in especially during the sultry Heat of Summer The opposite Place of the Globe to this Island is that part of the Pacifick Ocean between 235 and 240 Degrees of Longitu with 33 and 35 Degrees of South Latitude Cyprus was formerly bless'd with so rich and fruitful a Soil that from its Fertility and several Mines found therein the Greeks bestow'd upon this Island the desirable Epithet of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Beata But now 't is remarkable for neither of these especially the former being in most Parts extremely Barren though commonly represented otherways The length of the Days and Nights in Cyprus is the same as in the Northmost Parts of Barbary of which afterwards they both lying under the same Parallel of Latitude The chief Commodities of this Island are Silk Cotton Oyl Honey Saffron Rubarb Colliquintida Scammony Turpentine Black and White Allum c. On the Eastern Part of this Island stands the famous Famagousta remarkable at present for its Mordern Fortifications and Eterniz'd in Fame for the unfortunate Valour of the Venetians Anno 1571. under the Command of Signior Bragadino against the furious Assaults of Selymus the Second with his numerous Army conducted by Piuli and Mustapha 2. Not far from the present Famagousta are the Ruins of an Ancient City generally esteem'd to have been that call'd formerly Salamina and afterwards Constantia which was ransack'd by the Jews in the time of the Emperor Trajan and finally destroy'd by the Saracens in the Reign of Heraclius 3. Nigh that Promontory commonly call'd The Cape of Cats but formerly Curias are the Ruins of a Monastry of Greek Caloyers which gave the Cape its Name from a remarkable Custom to which these Monks were oblig'd viz. Their keeping a certain number of Cats for the hunting and destroying of many Serpents that infested those Parts of
fertil abounding with Oyl and Wine and most sorts of Grain and Fruits But much of the Inland Provinces lie uncultivated a thing too common in most Countries subject to the Mahometan Yoke The length of the Days and Nights is the same here as in Greece they both lying-under the same Parallels of Latitude The chief Commodities of this Country are Raw Silks Goats-Hair Twisted Cotten Cordovants of several Colours Calicuts white and blew Wooll for Matrisses Tapistries Quilted Coverlets Soap Rhubarb Galls Valleneed Scommony Opium c. Not far from Smyrna by the Turks Ismyr is a certain kind of Earth commonly call'd by the Franks Soap-Earth which boileth up out of the Ground and is always gathered before Sun-rising and that in such prodigious Quantity that many Camels are daily imploy'd in carrying Loads of it to divers Soap-Houses at some distance where being mix'd with Oyl and both boil'd together for several Days it becomes at last an excellent sort of Soap 2. Nigh to Smyrna are the Vestigia of a Roman Circus and Theatre and thereabouts is frequently found variety of Roman Medals 3. About two easy days Journey East from Smyrna are some Remains of the Ancient Thyatira as appears from ten or twelve remarkable Inscriptions still to be seen for which Vid. Wheeler 's Travels from Page 230 to 236. and therefore Tyreth a small Village twenty Miles South-East of Ephesus is falsely taken for it by the Ignorant Greeks 4. At Mylasa formerly Melasso in Caria are noble Remains of Antiquity particularly a magnificent Temple of Maible built in Honour of Augustus Caesar and the Goddess of Rome as appears from an Inscription upon the Front which is still intire Here also is a stately Column call'd the Pillar of Menander with a little curious Temple but uncertain for what or by whom erected 5. At Ephesus now call'd Ajâ— Salove by the Turks are yet to be seen some Ancient Christian Churches particularly that of St. John the intirest of 'em all and now converted into a Mahometan Mosque as also the Vestigia of a Roman Amphitheatre Circus and Aqueduct together with a large heap of stately Ruins generally reckon'd those of the once magnificent Temple of Diana the great Goddess of the Ephesians 6 At Laodicea by the Turks Eske-hissar which is utterly forsaken of Men and now the Habitation of wild Beasts are still extant three Theatres of white Marble and a stately Circus all so intire as yet that they would seem to be only of a Modern date 7. At Sardis by the Turks Sart or Sards now a little nasty beggarly Village though once the Royal Seat of rich King Craesus are the Remains of some stately Ancient Architecture with several imperfect Inscriptions 8. At Pergamos which still retains the Name of Pargamo and is observable for being the place where Parchment was first invented are the Ruins of the Palace of the Atalick Kings Here is also the Ancient Christian Church of Sancta Sophia now converted into a Mahometan Mosque As for Philadelphia the last of the famous Seven Churches of Asia now call'd by the Turks Allach Scheyr i. e. The City of God 't is remarkable at present for nothing so much as the considerable number of Christians dwelling in it they amounting to two thousand and upwards The State of Christianity being very deplorable through most Parts of the Ottoman Dominions and not only the chief Ecclesiasticks of the Christian Churches viz. Patriarchs Archbishops and Bishops but also their very Sees being frequently alter'd according as their Tyrannical Master the Turk proposeth advantage by such Alterations and whereas a great many Titular Bishops yea Archbishops and some Patriarchs are often created it is equally vain to expect as impossible to give an exact List of all the Ecclesiastical Dignities in those Parts whether Real or Nominal Let it therefore suffice once for all to subjoin in this place the most remarkable of the Christian Ecclesiasticks through all Parts of the Asiatick and African Turky still referring the Reader to the same as he travelleth through the various Parts of this vast Empire These Ecclesiasticks being Patriarchs Archbishops and Bishops The chief Patriarchs besides him of Constantinople already mention'd in Europe are those of Jerusalem Alexandria and Antioch as also two Armerian one of which resideth at Ecmeasin a Monastry in Georgia and the other at Sis in Aladuha and lastly one Nestorian whose place of Residence is commonly at Mosul in Diarbeck The chief Archbishopricks together with the European are those of Heraclea Adrianople Patras Saloniki Corinth Proconesus Athens Nicosia Amasia Malvasia Janna Scutari Amphipoli Monembasia Tyana Napoli di Romania Methynna Tyre Larissa Phanarion Berytus The chief of the many Bishopricks besides the European are those of Ephesus Trebisonde Amasia Ancyra Drama Nova Caesarea Cyzicus Smyrna Cogni Nicomedia Metylene Rhodes Nice Serra Chio Calcedon Christianepeli S. John D'Acre As for Universities in this Country the Turks are such Enemies to Letters in general that they not only despise all Humane Literature or acquired Knowledge but the very Art of Printing the most effectual means of communicating Knowledge is expresly inhibited by their Law so that the Reader must not expect to find the Seats of the Muses among them It 's true the Jesuits and some other Orders of the Roman Church where establisht in these Countries do usually instruct the Children of Christian Parents in some publick Halls erected for that purpose but these small Nurseries of Learning are so inconsiderable that they deserve not the Name of Colleges much less the Title of Universities The Inhabitants of this large Country being chiefly Turks and Greeks a particular Character of 'em both is already given in Europe when treating of Greece and the Danubian Provinces to which I refer the Reader The prevailing Languages in this Country are the Turkish and Vulgar Greek a Specimen of which is already given when treating of Turky in Europe This large Country being intirely subject to the heavy burden of the Ottoman Yoke is govern'd by four Beglerbegs in Subordination to the Grand Signior the first of 'em resideth at Cotyaeum about thirty Leagues from Byrsa the second at Cogni formerly Iconium the third at Amasia in the Province of the same Name and the last at Marat the principal City of Aladulia See Turky in Europe page 182. The establisht Religion of this Country is that of Mahometanism but Persons of all Professions being tollerated in these Parts as elsewhere through the Turkish Dominions here are great multitudes of Christians particularly Greeks and those of all sorts as Armenians Jacobites Maronites Nestorians Melchites c. and intermixt with these is a considerable number of Jews Christianity was planted betimes in this Part of the World and that by the Preaching and Writings of the Inspir'd Apostles especially St. John the Divine here being the Seven famous Churches to which he wrote viz. those of Ephesus
highly probable that this individual Part of the Bay was the very place of the Whale's delivery it being the nearest to Nineveh of any in the Levant Which conjecture I humbly suppose is somewhat more reasonable than that of some dreaming Ancients who vainly imagin'd that the monstrous Fish did almost surround one fourth part of the World in seventy two hours and that when big with Child Archbishopricks Bishopricks Universities See Natolia The Inhabitants of this Country are mostly Turks and Greeks whose respective Characters are already given in Turky of Europe pages 174 and 181. as also many Jews and Armenians with other sorts of Christians intermixt of whom the Reader may find some Account towards the latter part of this Section when we come to treat of Palestine and the Euphratian Provinces The chief Language of this Country is the Turkish for a Specimen of which Vid. page 181. the Ancient Syriac being lost among ' em The various Europeans here residing do commonly use the Lingua Franca This Country being subject unto and successively rul'd by the Seleucidae the Romans the Saracens the Christians and Sultans of Egypt was at last conquer'd by the Turks in the time of Selimus I. Anno 1517. under whose heavy Yoke it hath ever since groan'd and is at present govern'd by its particular Bassa appointed by the Grand Signior whose place of Residence is ordinarily at Aleppo the principal City of this Province and thought to be the Aram Sobah mention'd in Holy Scripture But the whole Country of Syria according to its Modern Extant is subject to three Bassa's the first commonly residing as aforesaid at Aleppo the second at Damascus in Phaenice and the third at Tripoli of Syria Subordinate to each of these Bassa's both here and in other Parts of the Ottoman Dominions are various Cadi's or Judges who hear and determine the several Causes whether Civil or Criminal which at any time happen between Man and Man And here I can't omit one particular which as 't is a mighty disparagment to this People so I wish 't were peculiar to them viz. their Mercenary Distribution of Justice for not always the Equity of the Cause but the Liberality of the Party does ordinarily determine the Matter As some of our English Factories in these Parts of the World have experienc'd more than once See the Ensigns Armorial of the Grand Signior page 182. The establisht Religion of this Country is that of Mahometanism the Essential Tenets of which are already set down page 182. to which I remit the Reader But since one thing enjoyn'd by that Religion is the most excellent and necessary Duty of Prayer I can't omit one laudable Practice of this People in that Point I mean not only their imitable frequency in performing this Duty but also their most commendable fervency and seriousness in the performance of it For whenever they set about the same they Address themselves to the Almighty with all profound Respect and Reverence imaginable and in the humblest Posture they can sometimes standing often kneeling and frequently prostrating themselves on the Ground and kissing the same and during the whole performance their very Countenance doth plainly declare the inward Fervour and Devotion of their Mind Yea so exact and punctual are they in observing the various Hours appointed for Prayer and so serious and devout in performing that Duty that the generality of us Christians have too good Reason in both these Respects to say with the Poet Pudet haec opprobria nobis c. The Muezans or Marabounds being those Persons who call the People to Prayers use commonly these words Allah ekber allah ekber allah ekber eschadou in la illah illallah hi allc salla hi alle salla allah ekber allah ekber allah ekber la illa illalah i. e. God is great God is great God is great give Testimony that there is but one God Come yield your selves up to his Mercy and pray him to forgive you your Sins God is great God is great God is great there is no other God but God Dispers'd over all this Country and intermixt with the Turks are many Jews and various sorts of Christians particularly Greeks Armenians Maronites c. but most lamentable is the State of those Christians at present not only in respect of that woful Ignorance under which they universally labour and the Turkish Slavery and Insolence to which they 're expos'd but also in point of those dismal Heats and Divisions those numerous Factions and Parties now among 'em For so bitterly inveterate are they against one another and to such a height do their Animosities frequently come as to give fresh Occasion to the Common Enemy to harass them more and more Christianity was planted very early in these parts of the World most of this Country being watered with the Blessed Gospel in the Apostolick Age. Phaenicia or Phaenice THIS Country very famous of old but now of a very sad and melancholy Aspect and groaning under the Turkish Yoke hath undergone such dismal Devastations by the destroying Arabs that there 's nothing now remarkable in it save a few Ancient Maritime Cities mostly in Ruines which yet maintain something of Trade with Strangers as particularly Damascus call'd by the Turks Scham St. John d'Acre formerly Ptolemais and lastly Sure and Said which were the Ancient Tyre and Sydon Leaving therefore this desolate Country we pass on to Palestine or Judaea THIS Country most memorable in Holy Scripture and sometimes stil'd Canaan from Canaan the Son of Cham sometimes the Land of Promise because promis'd to Abraham and his Seed and sometimes Judaea from the Nation of the Jews or People of the Tribe of Juda is term'd by the Italians and Spaniards Palestina by the French Palestine by the Germans Palestinen or das Gelobte-land by the English Palestine or The Holy Land It 's call'd Palestine quasi Philistim from the Philistins once a mighty Nation therein and Holy Land because 't was the Scene of the Life and Sufferings of the ever Blessed and most Holy Jesus the glorious Redeemer of Men. The Air of this Country excepting those Parts adjacent to the Lake of Sodom of which afterwards is so extraordinary pleasant serene and healthful to breath in that many of its present Inhabitants do frequently arrive to a considerable Age. The opposite Place of the Globe to Palestine is that part of the vast Pacifick Ocean between 245 and 250 Degrees of Longitude with 29 and 32 Degrees of South Latitude This Country situated partly in the 4th and 5th North Climate and not exceeding seventy Leagues in length from North to South and thirty in breadth from East to West was blessed with an extraordinary rich and fertil Soil producing all things in such abundance that the Scripture terms it a Land flowing with Milk and Honey yea so wonderful was the fertility thereof and such vast multitudes of People did it maintain that King
scarce The length of the Days and Nights in them is much the same throughout the whole Year the Latitude of the Northmost of 'em being inconsiderable The chief Commodities of these Islands are Cinamon Gold Silver most sort of Spices Rice Honey Precious Stones c. In Ceylon is that remarkable Mountain commonly call'd Adam's Pike which is of a great height and reported to send forth sometimes from its top both Smoke and Flame In many of the Maldive Islands grows that Tree bearing the Cacoa or India Nuts which is very remarkable for its various uses for out of it is yearly drain'd a large Quantity of Juice which being drawn at certain Seasons and prepared after different manners do taste exactly like excellent Oyl Butter Milk as also some sorts of Wine and Sugar Of the Fruit they usually make Bread and the Leaves serve as Paper to write upon And as for the Trunk of the Tree they imploy it either in building of Houses or Ships These Islands likeways abound with variety of pretty white Shells which are much admir'd and pass current as Money in many Parts of the Adjacent Continent Archbishopricks Bishopricks Universities None The Natives of these Islands being for the most part Tall and Strait of Body are esteem'd a Lazy Proud and Effeminate Sort of People yet some of 'em are reputed to be good Artificers in Metals Most of 'em go stark Naked except what Natural Instinct prompteth them to cover To wear long Hair is the only priviledge of the King and Soldiers The Inhabitants of the Maldives have a peculiar Jargon of their own Those who reside on the Sea-Coasts of Ceylon understand a little Dutch and something of the Portugueze Tongue The Maldives are mostly subject to one Sovereign who hath his ordinary Residence in Male the chief of all those Islands And Ceylon is govern'd by its own King residing at Candea to whom several little Princes are Tributary but much of the Sea-Coasts is possess'd by the Dutch The Maldive Sovereign is said to assume the Title of Sultan King of Thriteen Provinces and Twelve thousand Islands viz. those of the Maldives their number being generally accounted such The Natives of this mighty Cluster of Islands are partly Mahometans partly Idolaters especially the latter Paganism being the most predominant of the two And so much for Asia and the Asiatick Islands Now followeth AFRICA by R. Morden CHAP. III. Of AFRICA Divided page 44. into Egypt Capital City Cairo Barbary Fez. Bildulgerid Dara Zaara or the Desart Zuenziga The Land of the Negroes Tombute Guinea Arda Nubia 〈◊〉 Ethiopia Exterior or Inf. 〈◊〉 Interior or Sup. 〈◊〉 To these add the African Islands Of all which in Order Therefore SECT I. Concerning Egypt  d. m. Situated between 52 06 of Long. It s greatest Length from N. E. to S. W. is about 650 Miles 62 40 between 21 10 of Latit Breadth from E. to W. is about 310 Miles 30 00 It comprehenâ—◠〈◊〉 or the Lower Egypt Chief Town Alexandria Northward Bechria or Middle Egypt Cairo Sahid or Upper Egypt Sahid Southward The Coasts of the Red-Sea Cossir THIS Country much the same with Ancient Egypt and variously nam'd of old as Misraim by the Jews Augustanica by the Romans Oceana by Perosâ—s Ogâ—gâ—a by Xâ—uophon Potamia by Herodotus and Hefostia by Homer c. is term'd by the Italians Egitto by the Spaniards Egypto by the French Egypte by the Germans Egypten and by the English Egypt so call'd as many imagine from Egyptus Son of Belus and Brother to Danaus The Air of this Country is very hot and generally esteem'd extremely unwholesome being always infected with nauseous Vapours ascending from the fat and sâ—imy Soil of the Earth That it never Rains in Egypt as some have boldly affirm'd may deservedly claim a place among the Vulgar Errors of the World The opposite Place of the Globe to Egypt is part of Mare Pacificum lying between 232 and 242 Degrees of Longitude with 21 and 31 Degrees of South Latitude Egypt â— lying in the 4th and 5th North Climate was and is still accounted as fertil a Country as any in the World the Soil being wonderfully fatned by the yearly overflowing of the Nile It 's exceeding plentiful of all sorts of Grain and for its vast abundance of Corn in former times 't was commonly term'd Horreum Populi Romani The longest Day in the Northmost Parts is about 14 Hours ½ the shortest in the Southmost is 10 Hours ½ and the Nights proportionably The chief Commodities of this Country are Sugar Flax Rice all sorts of Grains and Fruits Linnen-Cloath Salt Balfam Senna Cassia Butargio c. In and near to Ancient Alexandria now term'd by the Turks Scanderick or Scanderie are many considerable Remains of Antiquity particularly the ruin'd Walls of that ancient famous City with a considerable number of Towers several of which are almost intire Here also are divers stately Porphyry Pillars and several curious Obelisks of pure Granet especially that which bears the Name of Pompey's Pillar some of 'em still standing others thrown down and all adorn'd with variety of Hieroglyphicks For a particular Account of such Pillars with a curious Draught of divers of 'em representing both their true Dimensions and Hieroglyphick Characters Vid. Philos Trans N. 161. and 178. To these Curiosities we may add the once proud Palace of Cleopatra now wholly in Ruins being so defac'd that 't is hardly discernible if ever such a stately Structure was in that place 2 In the Ancient Castle of Grand Caire are several Remarkables worthy of Observation which Strangers with some difficulty obtain leave to see The chief whereof are these Three First The Arcane which is a frightful dark Dungeon and that as they tell you into which the Patriarch Joseph was thrown down Secondly A very large Ancient Room with about thirty Pillars of Thebaick Stone as yet standing which still bears the Name of Joseph's Hall Lastly In this Castle is a prodigious deep Pit with a Spring of good Water in its bottom a Rarity in Egypt which the Natives term Joseph's Well From this Pit some Travellers are pleas'd to talk of an Artificial Communication under Ground between the Pyramids on one hand and the Town of Swez on the other For a farther account of these Particulars Vid. Thevenot 's Travels Part I. c. 9. 3. A few Miles West of Grand Caire are the Egyptian Pyramids call'd by the Turks Pharaon Doglary and by the Arabs Dgebel Pharaon i. e. Pharaoh's Hills those famous Monuments of Antiquity which 't would seem devouring Time could not consume The biggest of 'em hath these Dimensions viz. Five hundred and twenty Foot high upon a Base of six hundred and two Foot square two hundred and fifty Steps from top to bottom each Step being two Hands broad and almost four high and its Top being flat is able to contain thirty Men. 4. Adjacent to
the biggest Pyramid is a monstrous Figure of a prodigious greatness call'd Sphinx and by Herodotus Anarosphinx The Bust being all of one Stone represents the Face and Breasts of a Woman whose Head according to Pliny is a hundred and twenty Foot in Circumference and forty three long It 's also a hundred sixty two from the top of the Head to the lowest part of the Belly But these Dimensions are different from those of some Modern Travellers who say That 't is but twenty six Foot high and fifteen from the Chin to one of the Ears and the rest proportionably 5. Near to Grand Caire are several deep Subterranean Cavities hewen out of the firm Rock and having variety of Hieroglyphicks inscrib'd on the Walls in which repose several of the famous Egyptian Mummies and in some of those Repositories of the Dead it is that certain Lamps are said to have been found which constantly burn without consuming till expos'd to the open Air. 6 In the famous River of Nile is abundance of Crocodiles those terrible and devouring Animals now accounted the same with that Creature mention'd in the Book of Job under the Name of Leviathan commonly taken for the Whale but falsly as Bochart De Animalibus S. S. Part 2. Cap. 16 17 18. hath fully demonstrated A compleat Skeleton of this Animal about four Yards three quarters long may be seen in the Repository of Gresham Colledge being presented to the Royal Society by that truly Worthy and Ingenious Gentleman the Honourable Sir Robert Southwell To these Curiosities of Egypt I might here add that Supernatural but Fictitious Prodigy that 's reported to be yearly seen near to old Caire viz. The Annual Resurrection of many dead Bones on Holy Wednesday Thursday and Friday according to the old Calendar which both Turks and Christians in those Parts do firmly believe and that by the means of some pious Frauds of a few designing Santo's among them Archbishopricks Bishopricks Universitities See Natolia page 262. The Egytians now a-days being Persons of a low Stature tawny Complexion and of spare Bodies are generally reckon'd Cowards Luxurious Cruel Cunning and Treacherous They much degenerate from their Ancestors in every thing save only a vain Affectation of divining which some as yet pretend unto The chief Language commonly us'd in this Country is the Turkish and Vulgar Arabick or Moriâ—k especially the latter The Arabs brought in their Language with their Conquests which hath been preserved here ever since but the Cophti's still retain the use of the Ancient Egyptian Tongue which is very different from all the Oriental Languages especially in their Religious Performances In places of any considerable Traffick many of the European Tongues are understood and spoken This Country very famous of old both in Sacred and Prophane History being a Province of the Turkish Empire is govern'd by a particular Bassa or Beglerbeg who commonly resideth at Grand Cairo which Post is generally esteem'd the most Honourable Government of any belonging to the Port having under him no less than fifteen different Governments as also a powerful Militia commonly reckon'd the most considerable of all the Ottoman Empire See Turky in Europe page 182. The Inhabitants of this Country being Moors Turks and Arabs besides the Natural Egyptians are for the most part stricter Observers of Mahomet's Doctrine than any People elsewhere through all the Ottoman Dominions Here also are Jews in great numbers as also many Christians call'd Cophti who follow the Errors of Eutyches and Dioscorus yet not concurring with them in every Point The Christian Faith was first planted here by St. Mark who is universally acknowledg'd to have been the first Bishop of Alexandria SECT II. Concerning Barbary  d. m. Situated between 04 16 of Long. its greatest Length from W. to E. is about 2300 Miles 52 10 between 24 40 of Latit Breadth from N. to S is about 380 Miles 35 00 Barbary comprehends the Kingdoms of Morocco Chief Town Idem From W. to E. Fez Idem Rlensen Idem Algiers Idem Tunis Idem Tripo'i Idem Barca Idem Barbary being the most considerable at least the best known Country of all Africa I shall in particular consider its Divisions Therefore Chief Towns in Morocco are Taradunt Found from S. to N. Gazula Morocco Tednest Ehn din Teszca Fez are Fez in the main Land From S. to N. E. upon the Sea-Coast Beniz Saliee Larach Arzilla Tanger now demolish'd Ceuta Telensin are Oraâ— From W. to E. Tenâ— Chief Towns in Algiers are Algier From W. to E. Bugia Gigiari Bona Tunis are Beggia From W. to E upon the Sea-Coast Biserta Tunis Mahometa Susa Tripoli are Tripoli From W. to E. Lebida Misurata Barca are Barca From S. to N. Zadra THIS Country comprehending Mauritiana of the Ancients as also Africa propria and Lybia is term'd by the Italians Barbaria by the Spaniards Berberia by the French Barbarie by the Germans Barbaryen and by the English Barbary so call'd by the Saracens from Barbar which signifieth a murmuring Sound because this People seem'd at first to their Conquerors to pronounce their Language after a strange murmuring manner Others do rather imagine that the Romans upon their Conquest of this Country call'd it Barbaria and its Inhabitants Barbarians because of the Rudeness and Barbarity of their Manners The Air of this Country is indifferently temperate and generally esteem'd very heathful to breath in The opposite Part of the Globe to Barbary is part of Mare de'l Zur and Mare Pacificum lying between 184 and 232 Degrees of Longitude with 24 and 35 Degrees of Southern Latitude This Country lying in the 4th and 5th North Climate is very fertil in Corn and most kinds of Fruit although 't is full of Mountains and Woods especially towards the Mediterranean Sea It breadeth many kinds of Beasts particularly Lyons and Leopards with many Apes and some Elephants besides abundance of Cattle The longest Day in the Northmost Parts is about 14 Hours ¼ the shortest in the Southmost 10 Hours â…“ and the Nights proportionably The chief Commodities of this Country are Honey Wax Oyl Sugar Flax Hemp Hides Cordevants Dates Almonds Mantles c. On Mount Zagoan about six Miles South from Tunis are many Ruins of an old Castle built by the Ancient Romans with several Latin Inscriptions as yet to be seen upon divers Marble Stones 2 From the aforesaid Mountain to the City of Carthage was once a curious Aqueduct and upon Mount Guestet in the same Neighbourhood are some plain Vestigia of Roman Magnificence still visible to this Day 3. In the City of Morocco are two magnificent Temples one built by Ali and the other by Addul Mumen which deserve the particular regard of a curious Traveller 4. In the Palace Royal of the Morocco Emperors a Building of a vast Extent and term'd by the Natives Alcacave or Michouart is a stately Mosque with a very high Turret on
at other times on all four and so near is their resemblance to Human Shape that many of the Negroes either take them for Real Men imagining that by long continuance in the Woods they 're become Demi-Brutes or look upon them as the spurious Issue of unnatural Commixtures Some of our Modern Travellers would fain perswade the World that such Creatures are the Genuin Off-spring either of the Ancient Satyrs or Pygmies so famous among the Poets and so frequently mention'd by Pliny who spoke much of them by hear-say But others with more shew of probability do reckon them specifically the same with the Apes of Borneo already mention'd page 289. For a full and satisfactory Account of this remarkable Creature with a nice Examination of the various Conjectures about it I must refer the Reader to a particular Treatise on that Subiect now preparing for the Press by the Learned Dr. Teyson Archbishopricks Bishopricks Universities None The Natives of this Country are great Idolaters very Superstitious and much given to Stealing In Complexion they 're of the blakest sort and most of 'em walk quite Naked without the least shame Some of 'em on the Sea-Coast are given to Trading and understand Commerce tollerably well but generally they 're a cheating proud lazy and sluttish kind of People Remarkable is one fundamental Law or rather an Ancient Custom among some People upon the Quaqua-Coast viz. That every Person is oblig'd to betake himself to the same Trade or Imployment which his Fore-fathers have follow'd Upon the Death of a Husband in the Kingdom of Benin the Widow becomes wholly subject to her own Son if any and may be reckon'd among his number of Slaves only with this difference that she can't be sold without leave obtain'd from the immediate Prince of the Country where they live To kill a considerable number of Slaves at the Funeral of any great Person was a Custom almost universal through all Pagan Countries and particularly here but much worn out in these latter Ages The chief Language in this Country is that call'd Sungai which is also understood and spoken in several Adjacent Countries particularly Tombut and Melli. Of the several Tongues in use upon the Golden Coast That of the Acanistes is most universal being current almost all Guinea over except Anten Acara Ningo and Sinco which have each their particular Dialects The Trading Part of 'em understand and speak Portugueze This Country owneth Subjection to several Sovereigns the chief of whom is ordinarily stil'd the Emperor of Guinea to whom divers other Kings and Princes are subject Next to him is the King of Benin who is esteem'd a powerful Prince having several States Subject and Tributary unto him Paganism is the Religion of this Country the Profession whereof is attended with many ridiculous Superstitions and in some places on the Golden Coast that Diabolical Custom of offering up Human Sacrifices is still in use but not so current as formerly The Pythagorcan Opinion embrac'd by a great part of the Heathen World prevails mightily here Those of the Kingdom of Benin do own a Supreme Being whom they call by the Name of Orifa acknowledging him as the Creator of Heaven and Earth but think it needless to serve him because say they he being Infinitely Good will be sure not to hurt them On the very contrary Account they 're very careful in paying their Devotions and offering Sacrifices to the Devil or some bad Spirit who they think is the cause of all their Calamities They likeways offer up a yearly Sacrifice to the Sea reckoning thereby to appease the Waves and procure calm and peaceable Weather In several other parts of this Country are neither Idol nor Temple and many of the People seem to entertain but very slender hopes of a future State and wholly deny the Resurrection of the Body except those who are kill'd in the Wars Which Exception hath been undoubtedly inculcated upon 'em by some of their Princes and that probably out of a Political Design SECT VII Concerning Nubia  d. m. Situated between 42 00 of Long. It s greatest Length from N. E. to S. W. is about 840 Miles 57 00 between 09 30 of Latit Breadth from E. to W. is about 570 Miles 23 00 Nubia North the River Nuba chief Towns are Samna South Nubia THIS Country known formerly under the same Name is term'd by the Italians and Spaniards Nubia by the French Nubie by the Germans Nubien and by the English Nubia so call'd from its Ancient Inhabitants the Nubi or Nubii or according to others the Nobadoe and Nobades and finally some would derive its Name from Nuabia once the Capital City of the whole Country The Air of this Country is every where extreamly hot it being seldom qualifi'd with Showers of Rain The opposite Place of the Globe to Nubia is part of Mare de'l Zur lying between 220 and 240 Degrees of Longitude with 9 and 23 Degrees of Southern Latitude The Soil of this Country it lying in the 2d and 3d North Climate is said to be very fertil in those Parts adjacent to the River Nile but elsewhere 't is generally very barren being cumbered with many formidable Mountains of Sand. Here is good store of Elephants some Sugar-Canes and as several report a few Mines of Gold The longest Day in the Northmost Parts is about 13 Hours ½ the shortest in the South-most 11 Hours ½ and the Nights proportionably The chief Commodities of this Country are Gold Civet Sugar Ivory Arms c. In divers Parts of Nubia are still extant the Ruins of many Christian Churches being reckon'd one hundred and fifty in all with several Pictures of our Blessed Saviour the Virgin Mary and many Saints Most observable is that strange subtile Poyson produc'd in this Country one Grain thereof being able to kill ten Men in a quarter of an Hour It 's commonly sold at an hundred Ducats an Ounce but never to Strangers unless they promise by Oath not to use it in these Parts of the World Remarkable is this Country for being the Birth-place of the famous Nubian Geographer Archbishopricks Bishopricks Universities None The Nubians of a Colour extraordinary Black are said to be a strong couragious and cunning sort of People much given to War very Laborious and many of 'em exceeding Wealthy there being establisht a considerable Traffick between them and the Merchants of Grand Caire in Egypt The Nubians have a particular Language of their own which hath some Affinity with the Arabick and Chaldean as also some agreement with the old Egyptian Tongue This Country is govern'd by its own Independent King who is said to be a very Powerful Prince One of his Predecessors call'd Cyriacus upon Information of the Christians being oppress'd in Egypt is reported to have rais'd one hundred thousand Horse for their relief This spacious Country was once Christian but the Ministry