foure hundred thousande men of warre and yet that number is but onely the sixt parte of the whole kingdome though indeede it be the better parte and the stronger The principall Citty of this Prouince lieth in the plaine which is betweene the riuer Loze and Ambrize and is called Panza which is a common name for euery towne There dwelleth the Lorde of the Prouince and it is distant from the sea a hundred miles In this Signorie also doo the hilles beginne where the mines of Siluer and other Mettalles are founde and so stretch out towardes the kingdome of Angola It is very rich for vpon the coast of the sea there they haue great store of the Lumache which are vsed for Moneyes ouer all the kingdome of Congo Besides there is also a greater trafficke Market for slaues that are brought out of Angola then in any place els For there are yearely bought by the Portingalles aboue fiue thousand head of Negroes which afterwardes they conueigh away with them and so sell them into diuers parts of the worlde The people of this Prouince are in armes the most valiant of all the Kingdome of Congo They go armed like the Sclauonians with long and large swords that are brought them out of Portingal There are among them very mighty men that wil cleaue a slaue in the middest at one blowe and cut of the head of a Bull at one stroke with one of those swordes And that which is more and will peraduenture seeme incredible one of these valiant men did beare vppon his arme a certaine vessell of wine which was the fourth parte of a Butte and might waigh about 325. pound vntill it was cleane emptied Moreouer they do carry bow and arrowes whereat they are very quicke and nimble and withall their long Targets made of the Dants skin whereof we told you before when we made mentiō of the Anzichi The Creatures that are founde in this Prouince are first the Elephantes which doo breed ouer all the kingdome of Congo but principally in the countrey of Bamba because it aboundeth in Woodes in pastures and in waters more then any of the rest by reason of the many riuers that runne through it And therefore the countrey is as it were appropriated to nourishe and breede such a kinde of beaste as is indeede of an vnreasonable bignesse For Signor Odoardo tolde me that hee had oftentimes taken the measure of an Elephantes foot in the dust one of them was in plain Diameteer fower spannes broade Whereby if you frame the whole circle of the foote accordingly you may by proportion finde out the bignesse of the whole bodie of the beast This foot they cal Malo-Manzao that is to say the Foot of an Elephant And if in Portingal in Italy in Germany ther haue been seen in our times any of these creatures that were far lesser in respect of the aforesaid hugenes you must vnderstande that they were but young and brought into those countreyes in their tender age of purpose to make them tame But in these quarters they say that the Elephantes doe liue an hundred and fiftie yeares and that vntill the middle of their age they continue still in growing And to confirme this truth hee added that he had seene and waighed diuerse of their teeth which are not of home as some thinke and their waight amounted to 200. pounds a peece after the rate of xii ounces to euery pound In the language of Congo the Elephants tooth is called Mene-Manzao that is to say The tooth of an Elephant and their young ones are called Moana-Manzao that is a young Elephant Their eares are greater then the greatest Targattes that the Turks vse to weare in length sixe spans in shape like an Eg towards their sholders they grow to be narrower sharper With their ears with their tronke and with their tayle they beate away the flies that trouble them yea and some haue leaft it in writing that where they cannot reach with their tronke with their eares or with their taile they will gather their skinne together and so nip the poore flies to death betweene the wrincles They haue in their taile certaine hayres or bristles as bigge as rushes or broome-spriggs of a shining black colour The older they bee the fayrer and stronger they be and of great price among them For the people of that countrey doe greatly esteeme them because the noble men and women of the kingdome of Angola and of the Ambundi their neighbours doe vse to adorne and bedecke their neckes withal therefore do loue them for that they are indeede very fayre and rare and grow vpon so goodly a beast They are very stronge and like a twined corde so that if a man shall striue to breake them asunder with both his handes hee shall not bee able with all his force and strength to cracke them but rather spoyle his handes with them And for the cause lately rehearsed many there are which waiting for the Elephantes when they ascend some steepe and narrowe way doe come behinde them and with very sharpe kniues cut of their tayles the poor beast being not able in those straits to turne back to reuenge it selfe not with his tronke to reach his enemie And this they do onely to haue those haires which they sell for two or three flaues a peece Other light couragious persons there are that trusting much to their swiftnes in running do he in a waite and set vpon the poore beastes behinde whiles they are in feeding and at one blow attempt to cut off their tayles so endeauour to saue themselues by running away in a rounde For the greatnes of the beast is such as outright it is very swift because it maketh very large strides though in deede but slowe and in the plaine is farre quicker then any lustie horse but in turning rounde it looseth much time and so the huntseman escapeth in safetie And therefore many haue beene surprised and slaine by the Elephantes that haue sought to escape from them by running away outright Our Auncestors being not well enformed in these matters haue leaft in writing that the Elephantes could not ly down vpō the ground but that they vsed to lean themselues against a tree which being before weakened or sawed in sunder by the hunters both the Elephantes and the tree fel downe to the earth and so were taken But Signor Odoardo affirmed vpon his credit that they lay downe vpon the ground that they kneeled vpon their knees and that they woulde with both their fore-feete leape vpon the trees to feede on the leaues stoope downe to drink of the waters that were in their caues and that they had their iointes as other creatures haue sauing that in some partes they do somewhat differ from others as for example frō the hoofes of their fore-feete vp to their shoulders you shall not perceaue that they haue any
arrowes and their other weapons as we told you when we spake of the Bramas They make great store of cloth of the Palme trees whereof wee made mention before but these are lesser and yet very fine They haue greate aboundance of Kine and of other cattell before named They are in Religion Pagans their apparell after the fashion of the people of Congo They maintaine warre with their bordering neighbours which are the Anzichi and the inhabitants of Anzicana when they enterprise warre against the Anzichi then they craue aide of the people of Congo and so they remaine halfe in freedome and halfe in daunger of others They worship what they list and hold the Sunne for the greatest God as though it were a man and the Moone next as though it were a woman Otherwise euery man chooseth to himselfe his owne idol and worshippeth it after his owne pleasure These people would easily embrace the Christian Religion For many of them that dwell vpon the borders of Congo haue beene conuerted to Christendome and the rest for want of Priestes and of such as should instruct them in true religion do remaine stil in their blindnes Chap. 11. Of the third Prouince called Sundi THis Prouince of Sundi is the neerest of all to the Citty of Congo called Citta di San-Saluatore the Citty of Saint Sauiours and beginneth about 40. miles distant from it and quite out of the territory thereof and reacheth to the riuer Zaire and so ouer the same to the other side where the Caduta or Fall is which wee mentioned before and then holdeth on vpwardes on both sides towards the North bordering vpon Anzicana and the Anzichi Towardes the South it goeth along the said riuer Zaire vntill you come to the meeting of it with the Riuer Bancare and all along the bankes thereof euen to the rootes of the mountaine of Christall In the bounds of the Prouince of Pango it hath her principall Territory where the Gouernour lyeth who hath his name from the Prouince of Sundi and is seated about a daies iourney neere to the Fall of the Riuer towardes the South This Prouince is the chiefest of all the rest and as it were the Patrimony of all the kingdome of Congo and therefore it is alwaies gouerned by the Kinges eldest Sonne and by those Princes that are to succeede him As it fell out in the time of their first Christian King that was called Don Iohn whose eldest sonne that was Gouernour here succeeded him and was called Don Alfonso And euer sithence the Kinges of Congo haue successiuely continued this custome to consigne this Gouernement to those Princes which are to succeede in the kingdome As did the king that nowe is called Don Aluaro who was in this Gouernment before Don Aluaro the King his father died and was called Mani-Sundi And here by the way you must note that in all the Kingdome of Congo there is not any person that possesseth any proper goodes of his owne whereof hee may dispose and leaue to his heyres but all is the Kinges he distributeth all offices all goodes and all landes to whomsoeuer it pleaseth him Yea and to this law euen the Kinges owne sonnes are subiect So that if any man do not pay his tribute yearely as hee ought the King taketh away his Gouernement from him and giueth it to another As it happened to the king that now liueth who at the time that Signor Odoardo was at the Courte being of his owne nature very liberall and bountifull beyond measure and one that bestowed much vpon his seruants could not discharge those impositions that the king had layed on him Whereupon he was by the king depriued of his reuenews of his gouernement and of his royall fauour that is to say in that language hee was Tombocado as we will declare more at full in the seconde part of this discourse Many Lords there are that are subiect to the Gouernour or Sundi The people do trafficke with their neighbour Countries felling and bartering diuers things As for example falt clothes of sundry colours brought from the Indies and from Portingale and Lumaâ—â—â—â—â— to serue for their coine And for these commodities they doo exchaunge cloth of Palme trees and Iuory and the skinnes of Sables and Marternes and certaine girdles wrought of the leaues of Palme trees which are greatly esteemed in those partes There groweth in these countries great store of Christall and diuers kinds of mettall but Iron they loue aboue all the rest saying that the other mettalles are to no vse for with Iron they can make kniues and weapons and hatchers and such like instruments that are necessary and profitable for the vse of mans nature Chap. 12. Of the fourth Prouince called Pango THe Prouince of Pango in auncient time was a free kingdome that was gouerned of it selfe bordereth on the North vppon Sundi on the South vpon Batta on the West vpon the Countie of Congo and on the East vpon the mountaines of the Sunne The principal Territory where the Gouernours dwelling is hath the same name that the Prouince hath viz. Pango It standeth vpon the Westerne side of the Riuer Barbela and in olde time was called Pangue-lungos and in time afterwardes the worde was corrupted and chaunged into Pango Through the middest of this Prouince runneth the riuer Berbela which fetcheth his originall from the great Lake whence the riuer Nilus also taketh his beginning and from another lesser Lake called Achelunda and so dischargeth it selfe into Zaire And although this be the least Countrey of all the rest yet doth it yeeld no lesse tribute then the rest This Prouince was conquered after the Countrey of Sundi and made subiect to the Princes of Congo and is now all one with it both in speech and manners neither is there any difference at all betweene them The present Gouernour thereof is called Don Francesco Mani-Pango and is descended from the most auncient nobilitie of all the Lordes of Congo and in all consultations touching the State he is sent for because he is nowe an olde man and of great wisedome For hee hath remained in the gouernment of this region for the space of fiftie yeares and no man euer complained of him neither did the king at any time take his gouernement from him The trafficke of this Prouince is like the trafficke of Sundi Chap. 13. Of the fift Prouince called Batta THe boundes of this Prouince are towards the North the Countrey of Pango on the East it taketh quite ouer the Riuer Barbela and reacheth to the Mountaines of the Sunne and to the foote of the Mountaines of Sal-Nitre And on the South from the said Mountains by a line passing through the meeting of the riuers Barbela and Cacinga to the mountaine Brusciato that is to say Scorched Within these boundes is Batta contayned and the Principall Cittie where the Prince dwelleth
description therof PaÌ„go the chief town of this Prouince Don Francisco chiefe Gouernour of Pango The fift Prouince Batta the description thereof Batta the chiefe towne of all Batta The Preeminence of the Gouernour of Batta Don Pedro chiefe Gouernour of Batta The K. of CoÌ„go wil not suffer any natural borne subiect in Congo to haue an Arcubuse The reason why the K. of Congo permitteth Mani-Batta to haue Arcubusiers in his Prouince The Giacâ—â—â— The conditions of the people of Batta Their traffick The sixt Prouince Pemba and the situation thereof Don Antonio cheife Gouernor of Pemba The chiefe Cittie of all Congo is situate in this prouince of PeÌ„ba The Courtiers c. dwel for the most part in Pemba Conclusion of this booke The contents of the seconde booke The Territory of the chiefest Cittie in all Congo contayneth in compasse 20. miles about The chief Citty called San-Saluadore The situation of the Citty The mountaine wherevpon it standeth The soile the ayre the waters and the cattell The Otheiro The reason why they built in this place Fiue miles froÌ„ the bottome of the hill to the toppe A riuer at the hill foote The particucular situation of the Cittie A seuerall place for the Portingalles The principall Church and market place Good store of water The plaine very fruitfull Seuerall sortes of graine Luco White Milles called the Mazza of Congo Maiz Diuers kinds of trees bearing fruit Banana Diuers kindes of Palme-trees The oyle of Palme The bread of Palme The fruit of the Palme The wine and Vineger of Palme Great store of stone to build with all Lime timber and cattel to carry and draw Want of workmen to build Stuffe for building ships housing Hearbs and fruites The first trafficke of the Portingalles into Congo Mani Sogno the K. vncle entertaineth the Portingals Mani-Sogno conuerted become a Christian. The King of Congo promiseth to becom a Christian. The K. of Portingall sendeth Priestes to the K. of Congo to instruct him Mani-Sogno promoteth the Christian Religion The ships returne from Portingall 1491. Mani-Sogno his traine entertayneth the Portingals Mani-Sogno buildeth a Church Mani Sogno his sonne baptized What names the people of Congo had before they were christened A sermon coÌ„tayning the summe of Christian Religion Mani Sogno rehearseth the Sermon to his people The Portingals go to the Court to baptise the king The Courtiers of Congo meet the Portingals The king him selfe recceyueth them The Portingal Embassadour declareth his Embassage The K. reioyceth at the Embassage The people reioyce at it The K. vieweth the Presents sent vnto him by the K. of Portingall Consultation among the Portingals for the Christening of the K. for the building of a Church An insurrection raised by the Deuill to hinder the progresse of Christian Religion Mani-Sundi goeth against the rebelles The K. buildeth in haste a Church of timber The K. Q. of Congo Christened The Church of S. Saviours The Latine historie of the Indies doth report amisse of this rebellion Diuers Lordes baptised The K. goeth in person against the rebels and discomfiteth theÌ„ Mani-Sundi christened and many other with him Mani-Pango resisteth the Gospell Mani-Pango and his complices accuse Mani-Sundi to his father The K. depriueth Mani-Sundi of his gouernment Mani-Sogno maketh intercession for his brother Mani-Sundi restored The funerall of K. Iohn celebrated by K. Alfonso Mani-Pango rebelleth against his brother The Kinges power both slender and timorous The king to his souldiers The Kinges Souldiers depart from him Mani-Sogno meeteth with them The Fugitiues returne and aske the King forgiuenes The K. giueth thankes to God The King erecteth a Crosse of a great length A vision appeared to him The Armes of the King of Congo The proude message of Mani-Pango to the King The Kinges answere The King rewardeth his followers Certain timorous fugitiues runne to the Campe of Mani-Pango A stratagem of Mani-PaÌ„go Mani-Pango assaulteth the Cittie Mani-Pango discomfited without any fight Mani-Pango the seconde time discomfited in like manner Mani-Pango assaulteth the Cittieon both sides at once The stratagem of Mani-Pango turneth to his owne destruction The death of Mani-Pango The Rebelles yeeld to the kings mercie The building of the Church called Saint Crosses K. Alfonso dispatcheth the Portingal Embassadour mother of his owne into Portingall The K. commandeth all Idolles to be brought in all other things that are contrary to Christian Religion Their deuout worshipping of Idols Witches The K. burned all the Idols The king commandeth euery Lorde to build a Church in the Cittie of his owne gouernment The K. buildeth 3. Churches One to Saint Sauiour The second to our Ladie of Helpe The third to S. Iames The ships returne from Portingall with Friers Priestes King Alfonso dyeth Don Piedro succeedeth him The Isle of S. Thomas beginneth to be inhabited The King of Portingall sendeth one to be Bishop of the Isle of S. Thomas and of Congo The entertainment of the Bishop in Congo The Bishoppe foundeth the Cathedrall Church of S. Crosses The Bishop dyeth The second B. dyeth The K. Don Piedro dyeth Don Francesco succeedeth dyeth Don Diego the fift King The K. Diego very sumptuous The third B. of S. Thomas of Congo Dissention betweene the Friers and Priests the new Bishop After the death of K. Diego three Princes at once challenge the Kingdom and all three slaine The Portingalles slaine dispearsed Don Henrico created king K. Henrico dieth Don Aluaro succeedeth and so the stocke of of the ancient Kings of Congo ceased K. Aluaro restoreth the Portingals The B. of S. Thomas returneth into Congo The B. of S. Thomas dieth K. Aluaro liueth licentiously Francesco Bulla Matare an ill companion counsellour to the King Bullamatare dyeth What people the Giachas are Their conditions weapons The Giachas spoile the prouince of Batta The Giachas come to the Royall Cittie of Congo K. Aluaro flieth into the Isle of Horses The Giachas surprise the Cittie and rule ouer all the kingdom The King those that followed him plagued with an extreame famine Many of the bloud Royall sold for slaues to the Portingalles King Aluaro falleth into a Dropsie K. Aluaro sendeth to the K. of Portingall for succor Don Sebastian the King of Portingal sendeth succour vnto him Francesco di Gouea restoreth the King and driueth the Giachas out of Congo Francesco di Gouea after foure yeares returneth into Portingal with letters for mo Priestes The K. becommeth a good Christian marieth The K. of Portingal sendeth to make search in Congo for mettal Mines Francesco Barbuto disswadeth the King from making the search auoydeth it by pollicy The inconuenience of not suffering the mettall mines to be digged melted The K. sendeth new Embassadours into Portingall for mo priests The Portingal K. delayeth to send mo Priestes The King of Congo sendeth Don Sebastiano Aluarez to entreat for Priestes to redeeme certaine of his nobilitie that were in
marchants shippe the Negroes goe forth with their boates to fetch them and to take the oyle out of them which being mingled with pitch they vse to trimme their vessels withall Vpon the ridges or backes of these creatures there growe many Shelfishes made like Snailes Cockles and Whelkes whereof Signor Odoardo affirmed that hee had seene great store He was also of opinion that Amber commeth not from these fishes For ouer all the coast of Congo where there is an infinite number of them you shal not finde either Ambregriz or any other Amber blacke or white in any place And yet if it should come from these creatures there must haue beene of necessity great store of it founde vpon these Shores The principall hauen of this Island hath his entrance towardes the North and on that side it is halfe a mile broade and of a very great depth Vpon the firme land directly ouer against the Island is a towne called villa di San Paulo altogether inhabited with Portingalles and their wiues which they brought with them out of Spaine and yet it is not fortified All this channell is very full of fish especially of Sardinaes and of Anchioues whereof there is so great store that in the winter time they will of themselues leape vp to land Other kindes of most excellent fishes there are as Soles and Sturgeons and Barbelles and all manner of dainty fish and great Crabbes in straunge aboundance and all very wholesome so that the greatest parte of the people that dwel about the banks there do liue vpon them Into this channell runneth the Riuer called Bengo which is a very great one nauigable vpwardes xxv miles This Riuer with that other of Coanza whereof I tolde you before doe make the Isle of Loanda because when their waters do meete together they leaue their sande and filth behind them and so increase the Island There runneth also into it another great Riuer called Dande which wil receiue vessels of an hundred tunne then another Riuer called Lemba which neither hath Hauen neyther do any Shippes enter into it Very neere vnto this there is also another Riuer called Ozone which issueth out of the same Lake whence Nilus likewise springeth and it hath a hauen Next to Ozone there is another called Loze without any hauen and then another great one with a hauen called Ambriz which runneth within foure leagues neere to the Royall Citty of Congo Last of all is the Riuer Lelunda which signifieth a Trowtfish and watereth the rootes of that great hil wheron the pallace of Congo standeth called by the Portingalles the Oteiro This Riuer Lelunda springeth out of the same Lake from whence Coanza issueth and taketh into it by the way another Riuer that commeth from the great Lake and when it doth not raine then you may passe ouer Lelunda on foote because it hath so little store of water in it Next vnto this is the Zaire a huge Riuer and a large and in deed the greatest in all the kingdome of Congo The original of this Riuer commeth out of three Lakes one is the great Lake from whence Nilus springeth the second is the little Lake aboue mentioned and the third is the second great Lake which Nilus engendreth And certainely when you will consider the aboundance of water that is in this Riuer you will say that there was no nede to haue any fewer or lesser springes to make so huge a streame as this carrieth For in the very mouth of it which is the onely entraunce into it the Riuer is 28. myles broad and when it is in the height of his increase he runneth fresh water 40. or 50. miles into the sea and sometimes 80. so that the passengers doe refresh themselues withal by the troublesomnes of the water they know the place where they are It is nauigable vpwardes with great barkes about 25. miles vntill you come to a certaine straite betweene the rockes where it falleth with such a horrible noise that it may be hearde almost 8. miles And this place is called by the Portingalles Cachiuera that is to say a Fall or a Cataracte like to the Cataractes of Nilus Betweene the mouth of this Riuer and the fall thereof there are diuers great Islands well inhabited with townes and Lordes obedient to the king of Congo which sometimes for the great enmitie that is among them doo warre one against another in certaine boates hollowed out of a stocke of a tree which is of an vnmesurable bignes these boats they call Lungo The greatest boates that they haue are made of a certaine tree called Licondo which is so great that sixe men cannot compasse it with their armes and is in length of proportion aunswerable to the thicknesse so that one of them will carrie about 200. persons They rowe these boates with their oares which are not tyed to any loopes but they holde them at libertie in their handes and moue the water therewith at pleasure Euery man hath his oare and his bowe and when they fight together they lay downe their oare and take their bowe Neyther do they vse any other Rudders to turne and gouerne their boates but onely their oares The first of these Islandes which is but a little one is called the Isle of Horses because there are bredde and brought vp in it great store of those creatures that the Greekes call Hippopotami that is to say Water-horses In a certaine village within this Islande doe the Portingals dwel hauing withdrawen themselues thether for their better securitie They haue their vesselles to transporte them ouer the water to the firme lande vpon the south banke of the Riuer which lande is called the hauen of Pinda where many shippes doe ryde that arriue therein In this Riuer there are liuing diuerse kinds of creatures and namely mighty great Crocodiles which the Countrey people there call Caiman and Water-horses aboue named And another kind of creature that hath as it were two hands and a taile like a Target which is called Ambize Angulo that is to say a Hogge-fishe because it it as fat as a Porke The flesh of it is very good and thereof they make Larde and so keepe it neyther hath it the sauour or taste of a fish although it bee a fishe It neuer goeth out from the fresh water but feedeth vpon the grasse that groweth on the banks hath a mouth like the mozell of an Oxe There are of these fishes that weigh 500. poundes a peece The fishermen vse to take them in their little boates by marking the places where they feed and then with their hookes and forkes striking and wounding them they drawe them dead forth of the water and when they haue cut them in peeces they carry them to the king For who soeuer doth not so encurreth the penaltie of death and so doe they likewise that
this day you may see diuers of them that are kept for a maruaile And because they are very rare the Chiefe Lordes there doo curiously preserue them and suffer the people to worship them which tendeth greatly to their profite by reason of the giftes and oblations which the people offer vnto them There are there also to be found Chameleons which haue fower feete and breede vpon the rockes and liue of the winde and the aire of the bignesse and likenesse of an Efte with a sharpe heade and a tayle like a sawe They are for the most parte of the colour of the skie but somewhat more duskie and greenish and if you stand to looke a while vpon them you shall see them chaunge themselues into diuers colours They dwell much vpon high rockes and trees to the ende they may take aire wherewith they are nourished Other serpentes there are that are venemous that carrie vpon the tippe of their taile a certaine little roundell like a bell which ringeth as they go so as it may be hearde It may be it was there set by nature of purpose that people should beware of them and it is founde by experience that these belles and the heades of the serpents are very good remedies against an ague and against the trembling of the hart These kindes and sortes of lande-Creatures are to be founde in these regions besides others also that are commonly to be had in other countries It resteth now that we speake somewhat touching Birdes and first of all of the Eastriche because it is bigger then all the rest These Eastriches are found in those partes of Sundi and of Batta that are towardes the Muzambi The young Eastriches doo spring out of their egges being warmed and disclosed by the eye heate of the Sunne Their feathers are vsed in steede of Ensignes and Banners in warre mingled with some plumes of the Peacocke and are fashioned in the likenesse of a shadowe against the Sunne And forasmuch as I am fallen into the speech of Peacockes I must tell you by the way that in the partes of Angola there are Peacockes brought vp priuately in a certaine woode that is compassed about with walles and the king will not suffer any other bodie to keepe those birdes but onely himselfe because they are for the Royall Ensignes as I tolde you before And it is read in auncient histories of Alexander the Great that he did also priuiledge this Birde at such time as he first saw it in Europe There are also Indie-Cockes and Hens and Geese and Duckes of all sortes both wilde and tame Partriches so many as children take them with ginnes Other birdes they haue likewise as Pheasantes which they call Gallignoles Pigeons Turtles and of these small birdes called Becca fichi an infinite number Birdes of prey as Eagles-Royall Faulcons Gerfaulcons and Sparhaukes and others great store which notwithstanding the people neuer vse to hauke withall Birdes of the sea as Pellicanes for so the Portingalles do call them white and great which swimme vnder the water and haue their throates so wide that they will swallow a whole fish at once This bird hath so good a stomacke and naturally so hot that it easily digesteth the fish that it swalloweth whole and the skinne of it is so hoat that the people of that countrey do vse to weare them and to warme their colde stomackes withall and therefore make great reckoning of them There are many white Herons and Gray Bittours that feede in the washes there and are called Royall Birdes Other Fowles there are of the likenesse of a Crane with a red bill and redde feete as bigge as Storkes and their feathers for the most part redde and white and some darke graye Goodly birdes they are to looke too and the people of the countrey doo call them Flemminges because they doo much resemble them and are good meat to eate They haue Parrattes of gray colour great and very talkatiue others of greene colour but they are little ones not so talkatiue They haue likewise certaine smal little birds which they call Birds of Musicke and yet greater thē the Canarie Birds of feather bill red some greene with their feet bill only black some all white some gray or dunne some all blacke and this kinde is more sweet in their notes then all the rest aforenamed for you woulde thinke that they talked in their singing Others there are of diuers colours but they do all sing in sundrie sorts so that the chiefe Lords of those countreyes from auncient times to this day haue continually kept them in cages and greatly esteemed them for their song Chap. 10. Of the Prouince of Sogno which is the Countrey of the Riuer Zaire and Loango THis Countrey is bounded with the Riuer Ambrize towardes the North in seauen degrees and a halfe and so trauersing the Riuer Lelunda and the Riuer Zaire it endeth at the Rockes called Barreuras Vermellias that is to say the Redde pittes which are in the borders of the Kingdome of Loango In the middest of this Prouince there is a certaine Territory called by the same name Sogno where the Gouernour of the Countrey dwelleth The chiefe Lordes that rule this Prouince are called Mani-Sogno that is Princes of Sogno and are commonly of the blood Royall The Prince that gouerneth there at this day is called Dō Diego Mani-Sogno He hath vnder his dominiō many other petty Lords other prouinces that in olde time were free and liued by themselues as the people of Mombalas situate somwhat neere to the Cittie of Congo which are now subiect to this gouernement And on the other side of the Riuer Zaire towardes the North is the Prouince of Palmar that is to say of Palmes because there is great store of Palme trees growing therein Other Lordes there are that border vpon the King of Loango who was sometime subiect to the King of Congo but in processe of time he became a free Lord and now professeth himselfe to be in amity with the king of Congo but not to be this vassall The people that are vnder these Lords in those borders are called the Bramas and they reach within land vnder the Equinoctiall line towardes the East to the boundes of Anzicana all along the Mountaines which diuide them from the Anzichi vpon the North. They are called by the people of Loango Congreamolal because they were subiect to Congo In this Countrey of Loango there are many Elephants and great store of Iuory which they doo willingly exchaunge for a little iron so that for the naile of a shippe be it neuer so small they will giue a whole Elephantes tooth The reason thereof is either because there groweth no iron in that place or els they haue not the skill to get it out of the mines where it groweth But all the iron they can get they employ for heading of their
dead is Don Aluaro father to the King that now is renewed and made another of the same bignes that the first was of in remembraunce of such a miracle For the old Crosse was in time decaied and consumed and quite fallen downe The aforesaid vision did greatly confirme the minds of the Cittizens which before were quailed and did wonderfully appall and fully terrifie the enemies when they vnderstood the news thereof Notwithstanding Mani-Pango sent vnto the King signified vnto him and to all the rest that were with him that if they did not incontinently yeelde themselues and deliuer the Cittie vnto him and create and sweare him for their King and withall abandon and relinquish their newe Christian Religion he would put them all to the edge of the sworde but if they would so do hee woulde freely pardon them Herevnto the Lordes that stood on the Kinges parte answered that they were most ready to die in defence of their Prince and of the Christian Faith But in particular the King sent him this message that he nothing feared his terrible threates but rather as his kind brother was very sory euen from his hart to see that he walked in darkenes and strayed out of the way of light that the kingdome did by law belong vnto him and was not fraudulently vsurped by him And that the Religion which he had receyued was assuredly deliuered him from God who no doubt woulde protect and maintaine him therein And withall besought him that he would estraunge himselfe from his false beliefe and worshipping of the Deuill wherein he had beene nourished and brought vp and that he wold be baptized for so hee shoulde become the childe of God and mertie the Glorie Celestiall Then the King sent to fetch his iewelles and other rich ornamentes of housholde which he had at home and the better to encourage these Lordes that tooke his part hee most graciously distributed them amongst them all wherewith they remayned very greatly satisfied and bounde themselues to prosecute his enterprise and to followe his ensigne with a most ardent courage This being done the very same night the one halfe almost of the base people that were in armes being surprised with a very great feare did secretly flie into the Campe of Pango and hauing thus reuolted gaue Mani-Pango to vnderstand that the King and all the rest of his retinue were vtterly dismaied and discouraged that euery man was deuising with himselfe how he might escape that they had none other meane to saue themselues but onely by taking the lane that leadeth downe to the Riuer which as wee haue tolde you was distant from the Cittie about the space of a mile At the end of which lane betweene the Riuer and the hill there was a little Moore about two foot deepe on the right hande and on the left hand were the mountaines and the garrisons of Pango that had besieged beset the hill so that there was none other issue for them to escape but onely by passing ouer the Moore which was in length as farre as the shotte of an Arcubuse could reach and as much in bredth and then to come to the Riuer Mani-Pango beleeuing all this that they had related vnto him sent presently to stop that passage with planting sharpe stakes in the bottome of the Moore which were couered with water to the ende that if his enemies shoulde flie in the darke of the night because they would not be seene they shoulde be all staked and taken therein All that night he with all his armie remayned in great ioy and awaited the fresh morning that he might giue the assault vpon the Cittie bethinking himselfe in the meane while what course might be most easie and conuenient for him to attempt the same But Don Alfonso on the other side hauing confessed himselfe and consulted with all the most faithful and loyall frendes that hee had expected his enemie who assuring himselfe of the victorie and hauing now granted all the Cittizens goodes and all the states and Gouernementes of the kingdome to his great Lords about him very earely in the morning with a furious violence gaue assault to the Cittie on that side which is towardes the North where the great and wide plaine restrayning it selfe into a narrow straite entreth as it were into a rounde circle naturally compassed about with certaine hilles and then maketh a large way as broade as a man maye shoote with a Gunne vntill you come to the site or place where the Cittie standeth which is a little plaine of two miles compasse wherein as it hath beene tolde you the Cittie and the Church and the Lordes houses and the kings court are situate In this place did Don Alfonso with those few that he had with him settle himselfe against the Pagans and against his Enemie Brother who before hee coulde confront the Kinge was vtterly discomfited dispearsed and put to flight Wherevppon the king perceyuing that he was ouerthrowne and driuen to runne away was wonderfully amazed not knowing himselfe how this matter came to passe seeing that he had not ioyned battel nor fought with his enemies and therefore must needes thinke that it so fell out by some hidden and secreate meanes to him vnknowne Notwithstanding the day following Mani-Pango returned to the assault in the same place but hee was in the same manner once again discomfited and constrained to flie whereby hee knew assuredly that this his losse and ouerthrow was not occasioned by the valour of his enemies but onely by some miracle So that the people of the Cittie mocking and scorning those Idolaters and taking stomacke vnto them for these two victories thus happened beganne nowe to make no reconing of them and woulde with all violence haue runne vpon them To whome their aduersaries made this aunswere Tush you are not the men that haue thus vanquished vs but it was a certaine faire Lady all in white which with her admirable brightnesse had blindeded vs and a Knight riding vppon a white palfrey that had a redde Crosse vppon his breast and hee it was that fought against vs and turned vs to flight Which when the King vnderstoode he sent to tell his brother that of those two the one was a Virgin the Mother of Christ whose faith he had embraced and the other was S. Iames who both were sent from God to succour and relieue him and that if he also would become a Christian they would likewise shew great grace and fauour vnto him But Mani-Pango would not accept of this message but all the night following did put himselfe in a readinesse to besiege the Cittie vpon both sides at once the one with one part of his Armie at the straite aboue mentioned and the other with another parte of his people himselfe in his owne person compassing about by the lane that ascendeth from the riuer and so in a place vtterly vnprouided of eyther watch or ward he
steede for Gouernour vnder the title of King one Don Aluaro a young man of twentie and fiue yeares of age sonne to his wife by another husband But Don-Henrico dyed shortly after the warre was ended and therevpon the saide Don Aluaro was with the common consent of them all elected King of Congo and generally obeyed of euery man And thus fayled the Royall Stocke of the auncient Kinges of Congo in the person of Don Henrico But Don Aluaro was a man of good iudgement and gouernenent and of a milde disposition so that he did presently appease all these tumults in his kingdome caused all the Portingals that by the last warres were dispearsed ouer all the countries thereaboutes to bee gathered together aswell religious persons as lay men by their meanes hee was much better confirmed in the Catholike Faith then he was before Moreouer he vsed them very courteously and cleared them of all faultes that were laide to their charge declaring vnto them by gentle discourses that they had not beene the occasion of the former troubles as euery man wold confesse and acknowledge and to that effect he determined with him selfe to write a large information touching al these accidentes to the King of Portingall and to the Bishoppe of S. Thomas which he did accordingly and dispatched certain Messengers vnto them with his letters When the Bishoppe of S. Thomas vnderstode these newes he was very glad thereof and whereas before he durst not aduenture to go into the Kingdome of Congo in the heate of all those troubles he did now presently take ship and sayled thether where he imployed himselfe wholly with all his authoritie to pacifie the former dissentions and to set downe order for all such matters as concerned the worshippe of God and the office of his Priestes And a while after hee had so done hee returned to his habitation in the Isle of Saint Thomas where by meanes of sicknes he finished his dayes And this was the third time that those partes remayned without a Bishop Nowe it came to passe that for want of Bishoppes the King and the Lordes and the people likewise began to waxe cold in the Christian Religion euery man addicting himselfe licentiously to the libertie of the flesh and especially the King who was induced therevnto by diuers yong men of his owne age that did familiarly conuerse with him Among whom there was one principall man that was both a Lorde and his kinsman called Don Francesco Bullamatare that is to say Catche-Stone This man because he was a great Lorde and wholly estranged from all instructions of Christianitie walked inordinately after his owne pleasure and did not sticke to defende openly That it was a very vaine thing to keepe but one wife and therefore it were better to returne to their former auncient custome And so by his meanes did the Deuill open a gate to the ouerthrowe and destruction of the Church of Christ in that kingdome which vntill that time with so great paine and trauaile had beene there established But afterwardes the man did so wander and stray out of the way of truth that he fell from one sinne to another and in the end quite relinquished and abandoned all true Religion Yet at the last the said Francesco dyed and was solemnely buried like a noble Lorde in the Churcb of Saint Crosses although he was notoriously suspected and spotted for his false Religion But it fell out and a maruellous case it is to confirme the righteous in their good belief to terrify the wicked that in the night time certain Spirits of the Deuill vncouered a part of the roofe of S. Crosses Church where he was enterred and with a great and horrible noyse which was heard all ouer the Cittie they drew him out of his Tombe and carryed him away And in the morning the Church doores were found shut the roofe broken and the graue without the body of the man By this extraordinarie signe the King was at the first aduertised of the great fault that hee had committed and so were the rest also that followed him in his course but notwithstanding because there was no Bishop in that kingdome to giue him good counsell and the King but a young man and vnmarried although he remained somewhat sound in the Christian Faith yet he continued still in the licentiousnes of the flesh vntill such time as God had chastized him with another seuere discipline as you shall hereafter vnderstand Chap. 5. The incursions of the people called Giachas in the kingdome of Congo Their conditions and weapons And the taking of the Royall Cittie FOr not long after there came to robbe and spoyle the Kingdome of Congo certaine nations that liue after the manner of the Arabians and of the auncient Nomades and are called Giachas Their habitation or dwelling is about the first Lake of the Riuer Nilus in a prouince of the Empyre of Moenemugi A cruell people they are and a murderous of a great stature and horrible countenance fed with mans flesh fierce in battell and valorous in courage Their weapons are Pauises or Targates Dartes and Daggers otherwise they go all naked In their fashions and dayly course of liuing they are very sauage and wilde They haue no King to gouerne them and they leade their life in the forrest vnder cabbins and cottages like shepheardes This people went wandring vp and downe destroying and putting to fire and sworde and robbing and spoiling all the countries that they passed through till they came to the Realme of Congo which they entred on that side where the Prouince of Batta lyeth Those that first came forth to make resistance against them they ouerthrew and then addressed themselues towards the Cittie of Congo where the King remained at that time in great perplexitie for this victorie that his enemies had gotten in the Countrey of Batta yet some comfort hee tooke to himselfe and went out against his aduersaries with such souldiers as he had in the same place where in times past Mani-Pango fought with the King Don Alfonso he ioyned battell with them In which encounter the King being halfe discomfited retired into the Cittie wherein when he perceyued that he could not remaine in good safetie being vtterly forsaken of the grace of God by reason of his sinnes and not hauing that confidence in him that Don Alfonso had he thought good to leaue it for a pray to his aduersaries and to betake himselfe io an Islande within the Riuer Zaire called Isola del Cauallo that is to say the Isle of Horse where hee continued with certaine Portingall Priestes and other principal Lordes of his Kingdome And thus were the Giachi become Lords and maisters of the Cittie Royall and of the whole Realme For the naturall inhabitants fled away and saued themselues in the mountains desert places but the enemies burned and wasted Cittie and Churches all and spared
is likewise called Batta In auncient time it was called Aghirimba but afterwardes the word was corrupted and it is now called Batta It was in old time a very strong and a great Kingdome voluntarily of it selfe without any war it ioyned it selfe with the kingdome of Congo peraduenture because there was some dissention among their Lords and therefore it hath more preheminence then the rest of the Prouinces of the kingdome of Congo in priuiledges and liberties For the Gouernment of Batta is alwaies assigned to one that is of the bloode of the Kings of that countrey at their choise and pleasure hauing no more respect to one then to another so that he be of the stocke and bloud Royall neyther to the eldest sonne nor to the second Neither yet goeth this Gouernement by inheritaunce but the king of Congo as is told you before doth dispose it at his own pleasure to whō he thinketh best to the end they shold not vsurpe it by way of succession or by rebellion Hee dwelleth neerer the king then any other Gouernour or Lorde of the kingdom of Congo is the secōd person therin neither may any man gainsay his arguments reasons as they may any of the rest for it is so decreede among them Nowe if the line of the king of Congo should chaunce to faile so that there were none of that blood to succeed the succession shall fall vpon the gouernour of Batta Hee that now gouerneth there is called Don Pedro Mani-Batta Sometimes he eateth at the kinges owne table but yet in a baser seat then the kinges seat is and that also not sitting but standing which is not graunted to any other Lord of Congo no nor to the sons of the king himselfe His Court and his traine is little lesse then the Court traine of the king of Congo For he hath Trompets and Drummes and other instrumentes going before him as becommeth a Prince and by the Portingalles he is commonly called the Prince of Batta because as it is said if the succession shoulde faile in the bloode of the kinges of Congo the empire of the whole kingdome must light vpon some one of this stocke Hee doth holde continuall warres with the Pagans that border vpon him and hee is able to gather together about 70. or 80. thousand fighting men And because hee doth still mayntaine warre with the people that are next him he hath liberty graunted vnto him to entertaine Arcubusiers that shall bee of his owne naturall subiectes For the king of Congo will not suffer any other Gouernour of any other Prouinces nor any of their children to haue any Arcubusiers that are borne within their Countrey but onely the Portingalles Signor Odoardo demaunding once of the King why he did not giue leaue to his other Gouernours to retaine shot about them the King aunswered that if peraduenture they should rebell against him with a thousand or two thousande Arcubusiers he should not haue any possibility to make them resistance And forasmuch as wee haue told you that the King hath graunted licence onely to the prince of Batta to entertaine Arcubusiers in his owne countrey it is fitte you should vnderstand that hee doth it vpon very necessary occasion For towardes the East of Batta beyond the mountaines of the Sunne and of Sal-Nitre vpon the bankes of the East and West of the riuer Nilus in the borders of the Empire of Mohenhe-Muge there liueth a nation which by the people of Congo are called Giaquas but in their own language they are called Agag Very fierce they are and warlicke much giuen to fight and pillage and make continuall inroades into the Countries neere adioyning and sometimes among the rest into the Prouince of Batta So that this Countrey must needes be in continuall Armes and stande vpon good guarde and maintaine Arcubusiers to defende themselues from them The Prince of Batta hath many Lordes vnder him and the naturall people of this Prouince are called Monsobos and their language is well vnderstoode by the inhabitants of Congo They are farre more rude and rusticall then the Moci-Conghi and the slaues that are brought from thence doo proue more obstinate and stubborne then those that come from other Countries Their trafficke is the same that the trafficke of the other countreyes are whereof we haue last intreated And the profite which the king receyueth from Batta amounteth to double asmuch as he receiueth out of any two of the other Prouinces before mentioned Chap. 14. Of the sixt and last Prouince called Pemba THe Prouince of Pemba is seated in the heart and middle of the Kingdome of Congo compassed and comprised within the boundes before described whose Goueruernour is called Don Antonio Mani-Pemba seconde sonne to King Don Aluaro that dead is and brother to the king that raygneth at this present And forasmuch as his father did loue him dearely he assigned vnto him this Gouernement because he knew not what better thing to giue him sauing the Realme it selfe which in deed he would willingly haue bestowed on him for that he was more like vnto him in quality nature then his eldest son was But it would not be by reason of the lawe of the Kingdome which wold not haue yeelded therevnto This countrey is the very Center and middest of all the state of Congo and the originall of all the auncient Kings and the Territorie where they were borne and the chiefe and principall seat of all the other Prouinces and Principalities And therefore the chiefe and royall Citty of all that Empire is assigned to this Prouince whereof we will heareafter deliuer you a full information The Gouernour of Pemba dwelleth in a Territorie of the same name situate at the foote of the Scorched Mountaine along the Riuer Loze which riseth out of the Lake and runneth through the Region of Bamba into the sea The Courtiers and Lordes and seruitors belonging to the king of Congo haue their goods and possessions and reuenewes in this Prouince because it is neerest to the Court very conuenient for the conueighing of their victuailes and their other stuffe vnto the Court Some of these Lordes in that parte specially that bordereth vpon the aforesaid Prouince of Bamba haue much a doo to keep fight and defende themselues from the people of Quizama because they are neerest vnto them For this people as wee tolde you did rebell against the king of Congo and reuolted from him and doe professe that they will bee at libertie and gouerned of themselues And here will we end the first booke which consisteth of the description of the kingdome of Congo in generall and of his borders and in particular of all the sixe Prouinces thereof Now it remayneth that wee proceede forwarde to the second booke Wherein we will treate of the situation of the Cittie of Congo and of the Territorie therevnto belonging of the first christening of the king
of his manners of his Court and of other conditions appertayning to the politicke and militarie Gouernment of these people And afterward we will describe vnto you the kingdomes neere adioyning and all the regions thereaboutes towardes the South euen till you come to the Cape of Good Hope and the riuers and countries of the Ocean that is right against India and within land the kingdomes of Presbiter Iohn touching also by the way the spring and original of Nilus and the causes of his wonderful encrease which sundry fooles doe account to bee a Miracle THE SECOND BOOKE Chap. 1. Of the situation of the Royall Cittie of the Kingdome of Congo ALthough the chiefe and Royall Cittie of the Kingdome of Congo bee after a sort comprehended within the Prouince of Pemba yet notwithstāding forasmuch as the gouernement thereof and the territorie therevnto belonging which may in compasse amount to the space of twenty miles about doeth depende wholly of the king of Congo himselfe wee will place it in a seuerall regiment and intreate of it by it selfe This cittie is called San Saluatore or Saint Sauiours and in times past in that country language it was called Banza which generally signifieth the Court where the king or the Gouernour doeth ordinarily soiourne It is seated about 150. miles from the sea vpon a great and a high Mountaine being almost all of a rocke but yet hauing a veyne of iron in it whereof they haue great vse in their housing This mountaine hath in the toppe of it a great plaine very well manured and furnished with houses and villages contayning in circuite about ten miles where there doeth dwell and liue the number of a hundred thousand persons The soile is fruitfull and the ayre fresh holesome and pure there are great store of springes of indifferent good water to drinke and at certaine times doo not harme any man and of all sortes of cattell great aboundance The toppe of the mountaine is seuered and distinguished from all the rest of the hill which is about it and therefore the Portingalles doe call it The Otheiro that is to say a Viewe or a Watch Tower or a Singular height from whence you may take a sight of all the Champeigne round about Onely towardes the East and towardes the Riuer it is verye steepe and rockie For two causes did the first Princes of this Kingdome place this habitation in the foresaide Height of this Mountaine First because it lyeth in the very middest and as it were in the Center of all the Realme from whence he may presently send ayde to any part of his Kingdom that may stand in neede of reliefe secondly because it is situated in a Territory that is by Nature mounted aloft hauing a very good ayre and of greate safetie for it cannot be forced By the chiefe common high way that goeth vp to the Citie and looketh towardes the Sea being distant from thence 150. Miles as hath bene told you which way is very large and competent though it go somewhat about incompasse you shall ascende fiue Myles from the bottom to the toppe of the Mountayne At the foote thereof on the East syde there runneth a Riuer wherevnto the women doe descend by the space of a myles walke to washe their clothes In diuerse other partes thereof there are sundry valleyes planted manured neyther do they suffer any part of the countrey thereaboutes to be left vntilled or vnvsed because it is the countrey where the Court remaineth The Cittie is seated in a corner or angle of the hill towards the Southeast which Don Alfonso the first christian king did compasse about with walles and gaue vnto the Portingalles a seuerall place for themselues shut vp likewise within walles Then did he also inclose his owne pallace and the Kinges howsen with another wall and in the middest betweene these two enclosures left a great space of ground where the principal Church was built with a faire market place before it The doores and gates aswell of the lodginges of the Lords as of the Portingalles inhabitations do open on the side of the said Church For in the vppermost ende of the market place do diuers great Lords of the Court dwel and behinde the Church doeth the market place runne into a narrow street where there is also a gate and beyond that gate many houses towardes the East Without these walles which do inclose the kinges houses and the Cittie of the Portingalles there are a number of other buildinges erected by diuers Lordes euery man making his seuerall choice of the place which he thinketh most fit conuenient for his dwelling neere vnto the Court So that the greatnes of this Citie cannot well be determined or limited Beyond these walles also that thus do compasse this Citty there is a great champaigne plaine full of villages and sundry pallaces where euery Lorde possesseth as it were a whole Towne within him selfe The circuite of the Portingalles cittie contayneth about a mile and the kings housen as much The walles are very thick the gates are not shutte in the night time neyther is there any watch or ward kept therein And although that plaine doeth lie verie high aloft yet is there great aboundance of waters in it so that there is no want thereof But the Court and the Portingalles Cittie do al drinke of a certaine fountaine that springeth continually towardes the North and lyeth downe the hill as farre as a Gunne will shoote And from hence they doe fetch all their water and bring it to the Cittie in vesselles of wood of earth and of leather vpon the backes of their slaues All this plaine is very fruitfull and well manured It hath meadowes full of grasse and trees that are alwayes greene It beareth sundrie sortes of graine but the principall and beste of all is called Luco which is very like to Mustardseede but that it is somewhat bigger When it is grinded with Hand-Quernes for so they vse to doe it yeeldeth a very white meale whereof they make bread that is both white and also of a very good sauour and holesome withall neyther doth it giue place to our wheat in any sort sauing that they doe not celebrate the Sacramente with it Of these graines there now is great store ouer all the Kingdom of Congo but it is not long since that this seede was brought thether from that parte of the riuer Nilus where it falleth into the second Lake There is also a white kinde of Millet called the Mazza of Congo that is to say the Corne of Congo and another graine which they call Maiz but they make no account of it for they giue it to their hogges neyther doe they greatly esteeme of Rice The foresaid Maiz they commonly terme by the name of Mazza-Manputo that is to say the Portingalles Corne for they call a Portingall Manputo There are moreouer
trauell out of India to Europe are constrained of necessitie to touch at Mozambique to furnish themselues with victuailes This Island when the Portingalles discouered India was the first place where they learned the language of the Indians prouided themselues of Pilots to direct them in their course The people of this kingdome are Gentiles Rusticall and rude they be of colour blacke They go all naked They are valiaunt and stronge Archers and cunning Fishers with all kinde of hookes As you go on forwardes vpon the foresaide coasts there is another Islande called Quiloa in quantitie not great but in excellency singular For it is situate in a very coole and fresh ayre It is replenished with trees that are alwaies greene and affordeth all varietie of victuailes It lyeth at the mouth of the Riuer Coauo which springeth out of the same Lake from whence Nilus floweth and so runneth about sixtie miles in length till it commeth neere to the sea and there it hath a mightie streame and in the very mouth of it maketh a great Islande which is peopled with Mahometans and Idolaters and a little beyonde that towardes the Coast on the West you may see the said Island of Quiloa This Islande is inhabited with Mahometans also which are of colour something whitish They are well apparelled trimly adorned with cloth of silke and Cotton Their women do vse ornaments of Gold and Iewelles about their handes and their neckes and haue good store of houshold stuffe made of siluer They are not altogether so black as the men are and in their limmes they are very well proportioned Their houses are made of Stone and Lime Timber very well wrought and of good architecture with gardens and orchardes full of hearbes and sundry fruites Of this Islande the whole Kingdome tooke the name which vppon the Coast extendeth it selfe from Capo Delgado the Cape Delicate that bordereth Mozambique Quiloa is situate in nine degrees towards the South from thence it runneth out vnto the aforesaide Riuer of Coauo In olde time the Kingdome of Quiloa was the chiefest of all the Principalities there adioyning and stoode neere to the sea but when the Portingalles arriued in those countries the King trusted so much to himselfe that he thought he was able with his owne forces not onely to defend himselfe against them but also to driue them from those places which they had already surprised Howbeit the matter fell out quite contrary For when it came to weapons hee was vtterly ouerthrowen and discomfited by the Portingals and so fled away But they tooke and possessed the Island and enriched themselues with the great spoyles and booties that they found therein They erected there also a Fortresse which was afterwarde pulled downe by the commandement of the King of Portingall because hee thought it not necessary considering that there were others sufficient enough for that Coast. And here we may not leaue behinde vs the Isle of S. Laurence so called by the Portingalles because they did first discouer it vpon that Martyrs feast day It is so great that it contayneth in length almost a thousande miles and standeth right ouer against the coast which we haue described beginning directly at the mouthes of the Riuer Magnice which are in twenty and sixe degrees of the South and so going forwardes to the North it endeth right against the mouthes of Cuama in the kingdome of Quiloa Between this Island and the firme lande there is as it were a channell which at the entrie Westwarde is three hundred and fortie miles broade in the middest where it is narrowest ouer against the Islande of Mozambiche an hundred and seuentie miles and for the rest it enlargeth it selfe very much towards India and contayneth many Isles within it The ships that go from Spaine into India or returne from India to Spaine doo alwayes for the most parte passe and saile in and through this channell if by time or weather they be not forced to the contrary And surely this Islande deserueth to be inhabited with a better people because it is furnished with singular commodities For it hath many safe sure hauens It is watred with sundry Riuers that cause the earth to bring forth fruits of diuers kinds as Pulse and Ryce and other graine Oranges Limons Citrons and such like fruite Flesh of all sorts as Hennes c. and venison as wilde Boare and Deere and such like all this of a very good tast and relish because the soyle is very fat their fish also is exceeding good The inhabitants are Pagans with some of the sect of Mahomet among them They are of the colour which the Spaniardes call Mulato betweene blacke and white Very warlicke they are giuen to their weapons which are bowes and arrows and dartes of very light wood strengthned with Iron whereof they make the heads of their dartes which are crooked like hookes and these they wil cast and throw most slightly and cunningly They vse also Targattes and Iackes that are made of certain beasts-skins wherewith they saue themselues in fight from the blowes of their enemies This Islande is deuided among seueral Princes that are at enmitie one with another for they are in continuall warres and persecute one another with Armes There are diuers mynes of Gold of Siluer of Copper of Iron and of other Mettalles The sauage people doo not vse to saile out of the Island but onely from one side to the other they goe coasting along the shoares with certaine barks that are made but of one stocke of a tree which they hollowe for that purpose The most part of them doo not willingly entertaine straungers neyther will they consent that they shoulde trafficke or conuerse with them Notwithstanding in certaine portes the Portingalles do vse to trade with the Islanders for Amber Waxe Siluer Copper Ryse and such other thinges but they neuer come vpon the lande In the channell before mentioned there are diuers Islandes some greater and some lesse inhabited with Mahometans The chiefe of them is the Isle of Saint Christopher and then of Santo Spirito another called Magliaglie and so the rest as the Isles of Comoro Anzoame Maiotto and some other But let vs returne to the sea side and prosecute the Coast of the kingdome of Quiloa where we leaft Next vnto it is the kingdome of Mombaza in the height of three degrees and a halfe towardes the South which taketh the name from an Islande inhabited with Mahometans which is also called Mombaza where there is a fayre Cittie with houses that haue many Sollers furnished with pictures both grauen and painted The king thereof is a Mahometan who taking vpon him to resist the Portingalles receyued the same successe that happened to the king of Quiloa so that the city was ransacked spoyled by his enemies who found therein good store of Gold and Siluer and Pearle and Cloth of Cotton
to such an excessiue compasse and widenes that it is a wonder as may be seene in the discourse touching the Cape of Good-Hope and all these kingdomes of Congo and the Countreyes there adioyning where there are Lakes of so extraordinarie a bignesse that in the languages of those Regions they are not called Lakes but Seas And thus you see how the Riuer Nilus in the times and seasons before mentioned on the one side doeth runne most furiously from those Countries into the North to water Aegypt and the Riuer Zaire and the Riuer Nigir on the other side Westwarde and Eastwarde and towardes the South other huge and monstrous Riuers which at certaine determined and limited times doo neuer faile to encrease as Nilus doeth And this is the effect of them which is ordinarily seene euery yeare especially in Cairo and ouer all Aegypt where Nilus beginneth to ryse about the ende of Iune and continueth his rising till the twentith of September as I haue seene my selfe But the occasion and cause of this encrease hath beene vntill this present time very secret and obscure and although the ancient writers beginning euen at Homere haue after a sorte and in generall tearmes leaft in writing that Nilus doeth increase by raine yet haue they not so distinctly and plainely discoursed thereof as Signor Odoardo hath done and testified the same by his owne view and knowledge For some there were that haue assigned the cause of this ouerflowing to bee the raine that commeth from the Mountaines of the Moone Others haue attributed it to the snowes that are melted in those Mountaines yet Nilus doth not swell or ryse any thing neere to the Mountaines of the Moone but a great way from them towards the North and besides that the season of winter doeth rather breed Snow then yeeld any heate to melt it And now that I haue with good diligence enquired of Signor Odoardo these matters aboue written vpon such pointes as I had before plotted to my selfe and hee also propounding the rest vnto mee of his owne meere motion like a man of high conceite as in truth he is and satisfying me with such aunsweres as are set downe in this discourse yet I doo assure my selfe that euery man will not rest fully contented and satisfyed herewith especially such as are curious and practised in matters of the worlde and skilfull in the Sciences The Geographer woulde peraduenture desire to vnderstand more and the Phisician and the maister of Mineralles and the Historiographer and the Marchaunt and the Marriner and the Preacher and some others that are different from these in respect of their profession But Signor Odoardo hath promised with as much speed as possible he may to returne to Rome from Congo whether he sayled presently after he had finished this treatise which was in May 1589. with very ample informations and further instructions for the supplying of that which here wanteth touching Nilus and his originall and such other matter In the meane time that little which is contayned in these few leaues is not very little But yet if perhaps there be any thing found therein that may be eyther profitable or straunge or delightfull or fit to passe away the time and to driue away Melancholie let it bee wholly ascribed to the right noble and Reuerend Father my Lorde Antonie Migliore Bishop of San Marco and Commendador of Santo Spirito who was the authour of this worke to be published for the common benefit FINIS A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS CONtayned in the first Booke of The Report of the Kingdome of Congo THe iourney by Sea from Lisbone to the Kingdome of Congo Chap. I. fol. 1. Of the temperature of the ayre of the kingdome of Congo and whether it bee very colde or hot whether the men bee white or blacke Whether are more or lesse blacke they that dwell in the hilles or those that dwell in the plaines Of the winds and the raines and the snowes in those quarters and of what stature and semblaunce the men of that Countrey are Chapter II. fol. 13. Whether the children which are begotten by Portingalles being of a white skinne and borne in those Countries by the women of Congo be blacke or white or tawney like a wilde Oliue whom the Portingalles call Mulati Chap. III. fol 18. Of the circuite of the kingdome of Congo and of the borders and confines thereof And first of the Westerne Coast. Chap. IIII. fol. 20. Of the North coast of the Kingdome of Congo and the confines thereof Chap. V. fol. 30. Of the East coast of the Kingdome of Congo and the Confines thereof Chap. VI. fol. 38 Of the Confines of the Kingdome of Congo towardes the South Chap. VII fol. 43. Of the circuite of the Kingdome of Congo possessed by the King that now is according to the foure borders aboue described Chap. VIII fol. 58. The sixe Prouinces of the Kingdome of Congo and first of the Prouince of Bamba Chap. IX fol. 60. Of the Prouince of Sogno which is the Countrey of the Riuer Zaire and Loango Chap. X. fol. 94. Of the third Prouince ealled Sundi Chap. XI fol. 96. Of the fourth Prouince called Pango Chap. XII fol. 99. Of the fifth Prouince called Batta Chap. XIII fol. 100. Of the sixt and last Prouince called Pemba Chap. XIIII fol. 104 A Table of the Chapters contayned in the seconde Booke OF the situation of the Royall Cittie of the Kingdome of Congo Chap. 1. fol. 107 Of the Originall beginning of Christendome in the Kingdome of Congo and how the Portingalles obtayned this trafficke Chap. II. fol. 118. Don Iohn the first Christian King being dead Don Alfonso his sonne succeeded Of his warres against his brother Of certaine miracles that were wrought and of the conuersion of those people Chap. III. fol. 133. The death of King Don Alfonso and the succession of Don Piedro How the Island of S. Thomas was first inhabited of the Bishop that was sent thether Other great accidentes that happened by occasion of Religion The death of two Kinges by the conspiracie of the Portingalles and the Lords of Congo How the Kings lineage was quite extinguished The banishment of the Portingals Chap. IIII. fol. 150. The incursions of the people challed Giachas in the Kingdome of Congo Their conditions and weapons And the taking of the Royall Cittie Chap. V. fol. 159. The King of Portingall sendeth ayde and an Embassadour to the King of Congo The knowledge of the Mettall Mines which abound in Congo is denyed the King of Portingall At the same time the King of Congo dispatcheth Embassadours to the King of Spaine to request Priestes of him and what befell vnto them He sendeth diuers proofes of the mettalles The vowe of Odoardo Lopes Chap. VI. fol. 163 Of the Court of the King of Congo Of the apparell of that people before they became Christians and after Of the Kinges Table and manner of his Court Chap. VII fol. 177 Of the
Saint Thomas Isle in Portingall Don Sebastiano was faine to returne into Congo without any Priestes Antonio de gli Oua sent by the Portingall King to be Bishop of S. Thomas aud Congo He is persecuted by the Captain of S. Thomas He is honorablie receyued by the K. of Congo Don Sebastian K. of Portingal ouerthrowen in Africa Don Henrico the Cardinall succeedeth Philip K. of Spaine succeedeth the Cardinall K. Philip sendeth Sebastiano di Costa to Congo to signifie his arriuall to the Crowne of Portingall The King of Congo offereth K. Philip of Spaine the discouery of the Mettall mines in Congo with request for Priestes Costa dyeth by the way and his message knowen by letters that were found The King of Congo sendeth Odoardo Lopez to the King of Spaine to the Pope with letters of credence and instructions The Embasage of Odoardo Lopez to the K. of Spain His Embassage to the Pope Odoardo Lopez at the Islandes of Cape Verde The Isle of Cubagoa The Isle of S. Margarete Cumana or the new kingdom of Granada in the West Indies The ship sunk in the hauen Odoardo Lopez stayeth in Cumana a yeare and a halfe The King of Congo sendeth Don Piedro Antonio and Gaspar Diaz a Portingal with the same Embassage which hee sent by Lopez Don Piedro taken by the English and by misfortune drowned and his sonne with him Gaspar Diaz escaped and arriued in Spaine but returned into Congo without doing any thing at all The blacknes of a mans skinne is not caused by the heat of the sunne Odoardo Lopez sayleth to San Domingo Lopez in a Portingal ship commeth with the fleete to Terzera to S. Lucar to Siuile so into Portingal Lopez goeth to the Spanish Court in Madrill Aluaro King of Congo dieth K. Philip busied about the conquest of England Odoardo Lopez chaungeth his kind of profession Lopez goeth to Rome where he was kindly entertayned by the Pope The vow of Odoardo Lopez to erect a Seminary an Hospitall in Congo The Pope remitteth the whole matter to the K. of Spaine The auncient apparell of the King of Congo and his Courtiers The auncient apparell of the maaner sort Their new kind of apparell The Court of Congo now imitateth the Court of Portingall The custome and lawes of Congo Their manner of assemblies Their instruments of Musicke Their Phisick Their medicine for an Ague Their medicine for the head-ache other griefes of the body is letting of blood Their medicine for the French pocks Their Purgations Curing of woundes The kingdom of Matama R. Brauagul R. Magnice The mountaines of the Moone The Lake Gale Camissa 1. The sweet Riuer The False Cape The Cape of the Needles Another note That the colour of blacke in mens skins doeth not proceed from the heat of the Sunne The Cape of Good-Hope very dangerous This is a Point of the Cape of Good-Hope Why it is called the Cape of Good-Hope Seno Formoso Seno del Lago Riuer of Saint Christopher Terra do Nadal Capo della Pescheria R. Magnice The Kingdome of Buttua The Kingdom of Monomotapa R. Brauagul Store of Gold Mines The originall of the Riuer Magnice Three Riuers runne into Magnice 1. R. Nagoa 2. R. Margues Nilus ariseth not out of the Mountaines of the Moone 3. R. Arroe The R. of Cuama The kingdom of Sofala The commodities of Sofala Gold Iuory and Amber The Inhabitants of Sofala The Empire of Monomotapa full of Gold-Mines Salomons Gold The people of Monomotapa The K. of Monomotapa maintaineth many Armies Left-handed Amazons The situation of the Empire of Monomotapa The kingdom of Angoscia The kingdom of Mozambique R. Meghincate The Island of Mozambique The inhabitants of Mozambique The kingdome of Quiloa The Island of Quiloa the inhabitants thereof The King of Quiloa ouerthrowen by the Portingals and driuen out of the Island The commendation of the Isle of S. Laurence Historia della China Part. 3. Cap. vltimo La grand ' Isola di S. Lorenzo lunga 275. leghe larga 90. id est The great Island of S. Laurence is in length 275. leagues and in breadth 90. leagues The last Chapter of the historie of the Kingdome of China printed in Macao the first Latine booke that euer was printed in China maketh mention of this Island by the name of Madagascar in these words Madagascar trecentas fere leucas comprehendit id ist Madagascar containeth almost 300. leagues The inhabitants of the Isle of Saint Laurence Their weapons Sundry Islands in the channel The kingdom of Mombaza rich in Gold Siluer and Pearle The cittie of Mombaza spoyled as Quiloa was The kingdom of Melinde The tayle of a sheepe in Melinde wayeth commonly 25. or 30. pound Leo Aser affirmeth that he hath seene tayles of Egyptian Sheepe that weighed 50. l. a peece and sometimes 120. l. a peece The women inhabitants of Melinde Three Isles 1. Monsie 2. Zanzibar 3. Pemba The Empire of Mohenemugi The Giaechas or Agagi The Amazones Many good hauens The Cape of Guarda Fuy Diuers Ports on the sea coast towards the Red Sea The Red Sea The two entrances into the redde sea The length of the red sea 1200 miles The Empire of Prete Gianni Bel-Malechi his chiefe Cittie He is very rich A law for apparell His people are Christians A great solemnitie vpon the feast of the Assumption of our Ladie The right name of Prete Gianni The Riuer Nilus Ptolemie disproued Nilus doth not hide him selfe vnder the ground and then arise againe as some say The true spring of Nilus is out of the first Lake The second Lake The people that dwelleth about the second Lake The Island of Meroe The R. Coluez The R. Abagni The R. Saraboe The Isle of Syene The two braunches of Nilus falling into the Mediterranean sea The cause of the encrease of Nilus The seuerall courses of sundrie great Riuers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. The Riuer that falleth from head Hom. Odis 4. The conclusion of this booke